.. _bpy.types.UserPreferencesFilePaths:
.. _prefs-file-paths:

**********
File Paths
**********

The *File* section in *Preferences* allows you to configure auto-save preferences
and set default file paths for blend-files, rendered images, and more.

Locations for various external files can be set for the following options:

.. figure:: /images/editors_preferences_section_file-paths.png

   Preferences File Paths section.

.. hint::

   The default path ``//`` refers to the folder of the currently open ``.blend`` file
   (see :ref:`files-blend-relative_paths` for details).


Data
====

Fonts
   Default location to browse for :ref:`text object <modeling-text-index>` font files.
Textures
   Default location to browse for image textures.
Scripts
   An additional location to search for Python scripts
   (see `Scripts Path`_ below).
Sounds
   Default location to browse for sound files.
Temporary Files
   The location where temporary files are stored,
   leave blank to use the systems temporary directory
   (see :ref:`temp-dir` for details).


Scripts Path
------------

By default Blender looks in several directories (platform dependent) for scripts.
By setting a user script path in the preferences an additional directory is used.
This can be used to store your own scripts and add-ons independently of the current Blender version.

You will need to create specific sub-folders in this path which match the structure of the ``scripts``
folder found in Blender's installation directory.

The following subdirectories will be used when present:

``startup/``
   Modules in this folder will be imported on startup.
``addons/``
   Add-ons located here will be listed in the add-ons preferences.
``modules/``
   Modules in this folder can be imported by other scripts.
``presets/``
   Presets in this folder will be added to existing presets.

.. note::

   Blender will need to be restarted for all changes to the users scripts to take effect.


Render
======

Render Output
   Where rendered images/videos are saved.
Render Cache
   The location where cached render images are stored.


Applications
============

Image Editor
   The path to an external program to use for image editing.

.. _prefs-file_paths-animation_player:

Animation Player
   The program used for playing back rendered animations via
   :ref:`View Animation <topbar-render-view_animation>`.

   By default this is set to *Internal* which uses Blender's built-in
   :ref:`animation player <render-output-animation_player>`.

   This has the advantage that all image formats supported by Blender can be played back
   and no 3rd party application needs to be installed.


Development
===========

Only Visible when *Developer Extras* is enabled.

I18n Branches
   The path to the ``/branches`` directory of your local svn-translation copy, to allow translating from the UI.


Known Limitations
=================

Permissions on Windows
----------------------

Be sure that you have the right privileges for running the executable accessing the path defined.
On Windows for instance, if the option *"Run this program as an administrator"* is enabled for the executable,
it will lead to a failure to open the editor due to a limitation within the OS User Account Control.
Running a program with elevated privileges is potentially dangerous!