# File reference

The file reference is the name of a file in the master
dictionary to which the user is currently logged. It can also be a
synonym file name. The file name can be preceded by the literal word
dict to access the dictionary of the file instead of the data portion
of the file. The default is data. In some cases, data may be specified
to indicate only the data portion of the file.

To reference another account’s master dictionary or file
from TCL, path names are used. The path name may be used in place
of the file name in any TCL or AQL sentence.

A path name may
be entered in one of the four forms below:

| account.name,dict.name,file.name, | Fully qualified form, specifying all elements of the path name. |
| --- | --- |
| account.name,file.name, | Defaults the dictionary name to the same as the file name. |
| dict.name,file.name | Defaults the account name to the current account. |
| file.name | Defaults the account name to the current account and the dictionary name to the same as the file name. |
The form below references a master dictionary, defaulting
to:

```
mds,host.name: account.name,,
account.name,,
```
Commands requesting a destination or source with a to: or from: prompt, such as copy and CTRL+CP (cut and paste from a specified item), expect an item-ID
(or item list), or a file reference, or a file reference and item-ID.
To name a path or file, the file reference must be preceded by a left
parenthesis.

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Source: https://d3codex.com/definitions/file-reference/ - part of the D3Codex reference.