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Additional Upgrade Information - How do I customize my Linux/Unix Mathematica 4.2 layout?

This information is relevant only for users who have customized their Mathematica layout and want to keep their changes when upgrading.

$AddOnsDirectory or $UserAddOnsDirectory is the preferred location for any customized files in Mathematica 4.2. Copy any customized files to the corresponding locations in Mathematica 4.2 to keep your changes. Files added or modified by users typically fall into four categories: preferences, style sheets, palettes, and add-on packages. Possible locations for customized files in each category for Mathematica Versions 4.1 and earlier are listed in the table below.

The default locations of customized files are specified in terms of three symbolic directories:

•	`$PreferencesDirectory` refers to the directory where user preferences for Mathematica 4.1 and earlier are stored.

•	`$UserAddOnsDirectory` replaces `$PreferencesDirectory` as the location of user preferences in Mathematica 4.2.

•	`$TopDirectory` refers to the top-level directory containing all the files in a Mathematica installation.

Type of File Possible Locations in Mathematica Versions 4.1 and earlier Reason for Moving
Preferences $PreferencesDirectory/FrontEnd/,
$PreferencesDirectory/Kernel/,
$TopDirectory/Configuration/Kernel/ preserves user–defined preferences read at start–up
Palettes $TopDirectory/SystemFiles/FrontEnd/Palettes/,
$TopDirectory/Configuration/FrontEnd/Palettes/,
$PreferencesDirectory/Palettes causes user–defined palettes to be listed in the File>Palettes menu
Style Sheets $TopDirectory/SystemFiles/FrontEnd/StyleSheets/,
$TopDirectory/Configuration/FrontEnd/StyleSheets/,
$PreferencesDirectory/StyleSheets/ causes user–defined style sheets to be listed in the Edit>StyleSheet menu
Add–on Packages $TopDirectory/AddOns/Applications/,
$TopDirectory/AddOns/Autoload/,
$TopDirectory/AddOns/ExtraPackages/,
$TopDirectory/Configuration/AddOns/,
$PreferencesDirectory/AddOns/ makes user–installed add–ons accessible from within Mathematica

$TopDirectory refers to the top-level folder containing the files that make up the Mathematica layout. It is set by default to usr/local/mathematica/x.x, where x.x is the Mathematica version number. $PreferencesDirectory refers to the folder where Mathematica preferences are stored. It is set by default to Mathematica/x.x in the user's home directory, where x.x is the Mathematica version number.

To find the exact locations of any of these directories for a given Mathematica installation, start Mathematica, type $AddOnsDirectory, $UserAddOnsDirectory, $PreferencesDirectory or $TopDirectory in a notebook and press SHIFT-ENTER. The command will be evaluated by the kernel, and the pathname of the directory will be printed in your notebook.

Here are some examples of typical files you might want to move to your Mathematica 4.2 layout.

•	An initialization file stored in$PreferencesDirectory/FrontEnd in your old Mathematica folder should be copied to $UserAddOnsDirectory/FrontEnd in your Mathematica 4.2 folder.

•	A custom style sheet stored in $PreferencesDirectory/StyleSheets in your old Mathematica folder should be copied to $UserAddOnsDirectory/StyleSheets in your Mathematica 4.2 folder.

•	A custom palette stored in $TopDirectory/SystemFiles/FrontEnd/Palettes in yur old Mathematica folder should be copied to $TopDirectory/SystemFiles/FrontEnd/Palettes in your Mathematica 4.2 folder.

•	An add-on package stored in $TopDirectory/AddOns/Applications in your old Mathematica folder should be copied to $TopDirectory/AddOns/Applications in your Mathematica 4.2 folder.

Download this FAQ as a Mathematica 5.2 Notebook

Questions or comments? Send email to support@wolfram.com.