(user_resources)=

# Scripts & Data Location

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.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.

## 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`.
```
:::