# OpenDirectoryPath

Opens a directory specified by a pathname.

### Synopsis

`Directory *OpenDirectoryPath( char *thePath )`

### Description

This function opens a directory. It allocates a new directory structure, opens the directory, and prepares for a traversal of the contents of the directory. Unlike `OpenDirectoryItem()`, you specify the file for the directory by its pathname rather than by its item number.

### Arguments

thePath
  An absolute or relative pathname (a null- terminated text string) for the file to use for the directory, or an alias for the pathname.

### Return Value

The function returns a pointer to a directory structure that is created or NULL if an error occurs.

### Implementation

Folio call implemented in file folio V20.

### Associated Files

directoryfunctions.h, filesystem.lib

### See Also

``OpenDiskFile`(), OpenDiskFileInDir(), OpenDirectoryItem(), CloseDirectory()`