Pathnames
A pathname is the volume directory name, followed by any number of subdirectory names, followed by the filename. The entire pathname is preceded by a slash; furthermore, each name within the pathname is separated by a slash. This slash is called a delimiter.
To get to a particular file, ProDOS looks at the pathname for the volume directory name. ProDOS then finds that volume and looks in the volume directory for the location of the next subdirectory in the pathname. ProDOS then looks in that directory for the location of the file. You can have as many subdirecories as you want as long as the total number of characters in the pathname dosen't exceed 64.
Prefixes
You may not want to type a complete pathname every time you want to locate a file. ProDOS can store a partial pathname, called a prefix. This prefix stores care of as many subdirectories as you wish; you only type the rest of the pathname, such as the filename. ProDOS appends this after the prefix, completing the pathname, and then looks for the file you want.
To set a prefix with the ProDOS User's Disk:
1) boot from this diskette,
2) enter the filer
3) select P from the filer menu
4) enter your refix, the first character of which should be a slash.
When a you want a file and you want to use the prefix you've entered, don't type a slash for the first character, just type the rest of the pathname, e.g. the filename.
When you want a file and you want ProDOS to ignore the prefix you've entered, type a slash for the first character. This does mean, however, you have to type in the complete pathname, starting with the volume name.