System variables
Some of the settings available in the console require specifying the path on the target computers.
It is advisable to use system variables (where appropriate) to make sure the path is valid on all target computers.
Here is the list of the predefined system variables:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%
The All Users profile folder.
Typical path:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
%APPDATA%
The Application Data folder of the logged-in user.
Typical path:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming
%LOCALAPPDATA%
The temporary files of Applications.
Typical path:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local
%PROGRAMFILES%
The Program Files folder. A typical path is C:\Program Files.
%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%
The Program Files folder for 32-bit applications (on 64-bit systems).
Typical path:
C:\Program Files (x86)
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES%
The Common Files folder.
Typical path:
C:\Program Files\Common Files
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES(X86)%
The Common Files folder for 32-bit applications (on 64-bit systems).
Typical path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
%WINDIR%
The Windows directory or SYSROOT. A typical path is C:\Windows.
%USERPROFILE%
The path to the user's profile folder.
Typical path:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}
On macOS, the user's profile folder corresponds to the Home folder. Use $HOME or ~ when configuring exclusions.
%SYSTEMDRIVE%
This is a system-wide environment variable found in Windows NT and its derivatives. Its value is the drive where the system directory is located.
The typical drive is C:
%COMMONAPPDATA%
Directory containing application-specific data that is used by all users.
Typical path:
C:\ProgramData
%COMMONDESKTOP%
Directory containing the files and folders that appear on the desktops for all users.
Typical path:
C:\Users\Public\Desktop
%COMMONDOCUMENTS%
Directory containing document files common to all users.
Typical path:
C:\Users\Public\Documents
%COMMONMUSIC%
Directory containing music files common to all users.
Typical path:
C:\Users\Public\Music
%COMMONPICTURES%
Directory that serves as a repository for image files common to all users.
Typical path:
C:\Users\Public\Pictures
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES%
Directory containing components shared across applications.
Typical path:
C:\Program Files\Common Files
%COMMONPROGRAMFILES(x86)%
Directory containing components shared across 32-bit applications (on 64-bit systems).
Typical path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
%COMMONVIDEO%
Directory containing video files common to all users.
Typical path:
C:\Users\Public\Videos
%DESKTOP%
The logical Desktop of the logged-in user.
Typical path:
C:\Users\%username%\Desktop
%MYDOCUMENTS%
The documents folder of the logged-in user.
Typical path:
C:\Users\%username%\Documents
%MYMUSIC%
The music folder of the logged-in user.
Typical path:
C:\Users\%username%\Music
%MYPICTURES%
The pictures folder of the logged-in user.
Typical path:
C:\Users\%username%\Pictures
%MYVIDEO%
The videos folder of the logged-in user.
Typical path:
C:\Users\%username%\Videos
%PROGRAMDATA%
The ProgramData hidden folder.
Typical path:
C:\ProgramData
%SYSTEM%
The Windows system directory.
Typical path:
C:\Windows\System32
%SYSTEM(x86)%
The Windows system directory for 32-bit applications (on 64-bit systems).
Typical path:
C:\Windows\System32