(user_resources)=

# File Locations

PME stores user-created files in a dedicated directory.
Scripts, icons, backups, and export data are all kept here.

## Default Location

| OS | Path |
|----|------|
| Windows | `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Pie Menu Editor\` |
| macOS | `~/Documents/Pie Menu Editor/` |
| Linux | `$XDG_DOCUMENTS_DIR/Pie Menu Editor/` (fallback: `~/Documents/Pie Menu Editor/`) |

These directories are independent of the add-on and Blender's config folder.
Updating the add-on or upgrading Blender will not affect these files.

## Directory Structure

```
Pie Menu Editor/
├── scripts/                    # User scripts
│   ├── autorun/                # Scripts that run automatically on PME startup
│   └── examples/               # Copied from bundled templates
│       ├── command_*.py
│       └── custom_*.py
├── icons/                      # Custom icons
├── backups/                    # Automatic backups
│   └── backup_YYYY.MM.DD_HH.MM.SS_<environment-id>.json
├── exports/
│   └── examples/               # Preset examples copied on first launch
│       ├── 3d_view_numpad_pie.json
│       ├── mesh_select_mode_pie.json
│       └── ...
└── logs/                       # Log files
```

## Changing the Location

You can change the root directory from {guilabel}`Preferences` > {guilabel}`Settings` > {guilabel}`Resources`.

```{note}
After changing the path, PME will reference the new directory. Existing files are not moved automatically — copy them manually.
```

## Sharing Across Machines

The resource folder is independent of Blender and the add-on, so you can sync it across machines using Syncthing, Dropbox, Git, etc.
Automatic backup filenames include an environment identifier so that change detection and retention remain separate for each Blender environment in a shared folder.
Existing backups without an identifier remain in place.

## Menu Definition Storage

Menu definitions (Pie Menus, Popup Dialogs, etc.) are stored in Blender's settings file (`userpref.blend`), not in this resource directory.

To share or back up menu definitions as files, use {guilabel}`Export` > {guilabel}`All Menus` to write them as JSON.

```{seealso}
See the Changelog for details on the JSON Schema v2 export format.
```

---

:::{dropdown} File Layout (1.19.2 and earlier)

In PME 1.19.2 and earlier, user resources were stored inside or adjacent to the add-on directory.
Overwriting or removing the add-on could delete scripts and icons.

### Directory Structure

```text
addons/
├── pie_menu_editor/              # Add-on package
│   ├── scripts/
│   │   ├── autorun/              # Auto-run scripts on startup
│   │   │   └── functions.py      # System file
│   │   └── ...
│   ├── icons/                    # Custom icons (PNG)
│   ├── examples/                 # Example configurations
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── ...
└── pie_menu_editor_data/         # User data (separate from add-on)
    └── backups/                  # Automatic backups
```

### Folder Roles

`pie_menu_editor/scripts/autorun/`
: Scripts that run automatically when PME starts. `functions.py` is a system file.

`pie_menu_editor/icons/`
: Custom icons (PNG format). Located inside the add-on directory, so may be lost on overwrite updates.

`pie_menu_editor_data/backups/`
: Automatic backup storage. Located in a separate directory from the add-on, so preserved during overwrite updates.

### Blender Add-on Directory Locations

The `addons/` directory above is located at:

| OS | Path |
|----|------|
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\Blender Foundation\Blender\<version>\scripts\addons\` |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/Blender/<version>/scripts/addons/` |
| Linux | `~/.config/blender/<version>/scripts/addons/` |

```{seealso}
For migration steps to PME2, see {ref}`installation`.
```
:::