Should I provide file name with Relative Path or Absolute Path?

When provide a file name, you have choice of using relative path or absolute path:

1. If you provide a file name with an absolute path, the system will go to the directory of the given path to locate the file.

Providing an absolute path is a good practice for Windows system files or installed program files. Because those files are usually installed in fixed directories.

For example: "C:\windows\System32\cmd.exe" has the absolute path. The system will go to "\windows\System32" on drive C to find the file.

2. If you provide a file name with a relative path, the system will start from the current directory and follow the given path to reach the target directory to locate the file.

Providing a relative path is a good practice for a program to locate its supporting files like configuration files and library files, Because those files are usually installed together with the program in sub-directories.

For example, the following commands shows you how to run the java.exe program with a library file given in relative path name format "..\lib\plugin.jar":

C:\fyicenter>cd "\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin"
C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin>java.exe -jar ..\lib\plugin.jar

⇒ File Name with or without File Extension

⇐ File Name with or without Drive Letter

⇑ File Name and File Path

⇑⇑ Windows Batch File Tutorials