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**CSIDL** (constant special item ID list) values provide a unique system-independent way to identify special folders that you use frequently by applications, but which may not have the same name or location on any given system. For example, the system folder may be "C:\Windows" on one system and "C:\Winnt" on another.

The Clarion and ABC template chains now include support for CSIDL folders for both INI and your application's data files.

The support for storing your INI file to CSIDL locations is found in the **Global Properties > Actions > General** dialog.

The support for redirecting your data files to a designated CSIDL location is found in the **Global Properties > Actions > File Control** dialog.

The templates allow you to store the INI and data files in a common CSIDL location, or if you prefer you can store your INI files in one CSIDL location and your data files in another.

Below are the CSIDL locations that are supported in the Templates, but you can easily use any Special Folder by using the SpecialFolder CLASS directly (see [[how to get special folder information.htm|How to Get Special Folders]])

**CSIDL_PERSONAL**

The virtual folder that represents the My Documents desktop item. This is also equivalent to CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS.

**Examples:**

| XP | C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents |
| Vista | C:\Users\User Name\Documents |
| Windows 10 | C:\Users\User Name\Documents |

**CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS**

The file system directory that contains documents that are common to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents.

**Examples:**

| XP | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents |
| Vista | C:\Users\Public\Documents |
| Windows 10 | C:\Users\Public\Documents |

**CSIDL_APPDATA**

The file system directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data.

**Examples:**

| XP | C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Application Data |
| Vista | C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming |
| Windows 10 | C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming |

**CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA**

The file system directory that serves as a data repository for local (non-roaming) applications. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data.

**Examples:**

| XP | C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Application Data |
| Vista | C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local |
| Windows 10 | C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local |

**CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA**

The file system directory that contains application data for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data. This folder is used for application data that is not user specific. For example, an application can store a spell-check dictionary, a database of clip art, or a log file in the CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA folder. This information will not roam and is available to anyone using the computer.

**Examples:**

| XP | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data |
| Windows 8 | C:\ProgramData |
| Windows 10 | C:\ProgramData |

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In addition to setting the following root folders, you can optionally set up subfolders by your company and then by your product, For example, using the **CSIDL_PERSONAL **option:

**Company Folder:** //SoftVelocity//

**Product Folder:** //Invoice//

**Result:**

| XP | C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\SoftVelocity\Invoice |
| Windows 8 | C:\Users\User Name\Documents\SoftVelocity\Invoice |
| Windows 10 | C:\Users\User Name\Documents\SoftVelocity\Invoice |

If the //Company Name// subfolder is blank, the //Product Name// subfolder is attached to the CSIDL location.

**See Also:** [[path  return current directory .htm|PATH]], [[setpath  change current drive and directory .htm|SETPATH]], [[exists  return file existence .htm|EXISTS]], [[how to get special folder information.htm|How to Get Special Folders]]