---
title: "Environment Variables"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/11083.html"
section_path: "Configuration > Information for administrators > Environment Variables"
description: "You set the following environment variables, e.g.,to make certain directories/files accessible for different Cinema 4D versions or users."
---

# Environment Variables

You set the following environment variables, e.g.,to make certain directories/files accessible for different Cinema 4D versions or users.

Under Windows (no environment variables may be set under macOS for security reasons) it looks like this:

![Image: 012861.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/012861.jpg)

The following environment variables exist:

- **OCIO**: Here you can enter the path to an OpenColorIO configuration file. Within the [Scene Settings](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/DDOC-DOCUMENT_GROUP_PROJECTSETTINGS.html.md), you will find the *Project Settings* with *color management*, where you can refer to this variable using *$(OCIO)* in **OpenColorIO Config.** . If this variable is not defined or the defined path is invalid, the OCIO configuration file integrated in Cinema 4D is automatically used.
- **g_additionalModulePath**: Set a path à la c:\\plugins (or a network path) to load plug-ins that are located outside the Cinema 4D program directory (can also be conveniently done in the program preferences - tab "Plug-ins" ).
- **C4D_SCRIPTS_DIR**: Set a path à la c:\\scripts (or a network path) here to be able to load Python scripts in any Cinema 4D version.
- **g_prefspath**: Set a path here to convert all user-specific data (e.g. layout, user settings, etc.) into a separate directory instead of the default directory specified by the operating system (main menu: Edit/Preferences/Preferences Folder).
- **g_internalHelpHTMLView=true**: Calls the help in a Cinema 4D window (no matter what is defined in the Preferences).
- **g_externalHelpHTMLView=true**: Calls up the help in the operating system browser (regardless of what is defined in the program settings).
- **g_offlineHelp=true**: With this option, Cinema 4D always calls local help (regardless of what is defined in the program preferences) and does not require Internet access (see also [here](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/PREFSINTERFACE-PREF_INTERFACE_MAIN_GROUP.html.md).).
- **g_offlineHelpPathOverride**: Set a path here to use help downloaded from the Maxon website from different Cinema 4D installations.
- **g_connectwatchfolder**: Set a path that is regarded as a monitored folder.
- **g_connectdatabase**: This variable can be used to connect a database.

For path specifications, several paths can be separated by a semicolon (**;**).

When using the **command line renderer**, please note that paths defined in environment variables must be set in quotation marks (e.g. *g_connectdatabase "D:\\folder presets\\P1"*).

> **Tip:** Note:Variables beginning with **g_** can also be used as command line arguments.