A named path is a variable that defines the location of a frequently used file or folder. A user provides a named path when specifying a file path in Metrics Management. For example, when creating a data export, a user provides a named path to specify the destination for the XML data export file, instead of manually browsing to the location. A link can use a named path to locate a document, application, or web site.
A named URL is a variable that defines part or all of a web address. To create a URL link to a document, a user provides the named URL and linked document name.
By default, a Metrics Management database contains the system named paths and editable named URLs described in Table 1‑2. A system named path can be renamed, but its path definition cannot be edited. System named paths cannot be deleted.
Table 1‑2 System named paths and editable named URLs
Named path
Description
Application Path
Path to the Metrics Management Client folder
My Documents
Path to the user’s My Documents folder
Program Files
Path to the Program Files folder
TempPath
Path to the user’s Temp folder
When you create a named path or URL, note the following restrictions:
The name of a named path cannot contain the percent sign (%).
Metrics Management does not validate the path or URL that you provide. If you provide an invalid path or URL, a user receives an error message on attempting to open the named path.
As a best practice, consider using a named path to a central repository for linked documents. Create one named path to a main directory and separate named paths to its subfolders. Store linked documents in the subfolders and use both named paths definitions to create links. Using this approach, if you move the main directory, you only change the main directory named path definition, instead of changing paths for each link.
How to define a named path
1 Choose Setup➛Configure➛Options.
2 In Named Paths and URLs, as shown in Figure 1‑29, perform any of the following tasks:
Figure 1‑29 Specifying named paths and URLs
To create a named path:
1 Choose Add. Add Named Path or URL appears.
2 In Name, type a path name.
3 In Path or URL, choose Browse to navigate to a file location or folder, as shown in Figure 1‑30. Then, choose OK.
Figure 1‑30 Adding a named path
To create a named URL, choose Add. In Path or URL, provide the URL, for example, http://www.mycompany.com/sales/reports/.
To edit a named path or URL, select the path and choose Edit. In Name, provide a new name and edit the path or URL.
To delete a named path, select the path and choose Remove.
To restore the name of a system named path, choose Default.
The name of a named path cannot contain the percent sign (%).
