Solaris Common Desktop Environment: Advanced User's and System Administrator's Guide

Desktop Search Paths and Their Environment Variables

The desktop search paths are created at login by the desktop utility dtsearchpath. The dtsearchpath utility uses a combination of environment variables and built-in locations to create the search paths.

The environment variables that dtsearchpath reads are called input variables. These are variables set by the system administrator or end user. The input variables use the naming convention DTSP*.

When dtsearchpath runs at login time, it assembles the values assigned to these variables, adds built-in locations, and creates values for output variables. There is an output variable for each search path.

Table 9–2 Desktop Search Path Environment Variables

Search Path For: 

Output Environment Variable 

System-Wide Input Variable 

Personal Input Variable 

Applications 

DTAPPSEARCHPATH

DTSPSYSAPPHOSTS

DTSPUSERAPPHOSTS

Database [Actions, data types, and Front Panel definitions]

DTDATABASESEARCHPATH

DTSPSYSDATABASEHOSTS

DTSPUSERDATABASEHOSTS

Icons 

XMICONSEARCHPATH, XMICONBMSEARCHPATH

DTSPSYSICON

DTSPUSERICON

Help data 

DTHELPSEARCHPATH

DTSPSYSHELP

DTSPUSERHELP

Components use the values of the output variables. For example, Application Manager uses the value of the application search path (DTAPPSEARCHPATH) to locate application groups.