diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 22e3570..09463c5 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 ############
 
 #change to the directory that the file lives in
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 #import the dbus stuff
 import gobject
 import dbus
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ logging_enabled = True
 class FlushWriter:
     def __init__(self):
         print os.getcwd()
-        self.file = open('data/wicd.log','w')
+        self.file = open(wpath.log + 'wicd.log','w')
         self.file.write(self.__getPrettyTime() + ' :: ')
 
     def write(self,data):
@@ -104,9 +106,9 @@ class ConnectionWizard(dbus.service.Object):
         dbus.service.Object.__init__(self, bus_name, object_path)
 
         #set variables needed to run - these probably won't be changed too often
-        self.app_conf = "data/manager-settings.conf"
-        self.wireless_conf = "data/wireless-settings.conf"
-        self.wired_conf = "data/wired-settings.conf"
+        self.app_conf = wpath.etc + 'manager-settings.conf'
+        self.wireless_conf = wpath.etc + 'wireless-settings.conf'
+        self.wired_conf = wpath.etc + 'wired-settings.conf'
         self.hidden_essid = None
         self.wifi = networking.Wireless()
         self.wired = networking.Wired()
diff --git a/dapper.py b/dapper.py
index d8e7b25..3c07d78 100644
--- a/dapper.py
+++ b/dapper.py
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 ## USE TRAY.PY INSTEAD
 ## nothing bad will happen if you do
 ## but that is not the preferred method
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 import gtk,locale,gettext,signal
 import egg.trayicon
 import gobject, dbus, dbus.service
diff --git a/edgy.py b/edgy.py
index c3eff5b..81e4035 100755
--- a/edgy.py
+++ b/edgy.py
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@
 ##this will only work in Edgy and above because of gtk requirements
 ##to run the tray icon
 ########
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 import gtk, gobject, dbus, dbus.service, os, sys, locale, gettext, signal, time
 if getattr(dbus, 'version', (0,0,0)) >= (0,41,0):
     import dbus.glib
diff --git a/gui.py b/gui.py
index 7f709cc..f89f78a 100644
--- a/gui.py
+++ b/gui.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 try:
     import pygtk
     pygtk.require("2.0")
@@ -337,22 +339,22 @@ class PrettyWirelessNetworkEntry(PrettyNetworkEntry):
         strength = int(strength)
         if daemon.GetWPADriver() == 'ralink legacy':
             if strength <= 60:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-100.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-100.png')
             elif strength <= 70:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-75.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-75.png')
             elif strength <= 80:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-50.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-50.png')
             else:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-25.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-25.png')
         else:
             if strength > 75:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-100.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-100.png')
             elif strength > 50:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-75.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-75.png')
             elif strength > 25:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-50.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-50.png')
             else:
-                self.image.set_from_file("images/signal-25.png")
+                self.image.set_from_file(wpath.images + 'signal-25.png')
         self.expander.setSignalStrength(strength)
         
     def setMACAddress(self,address):
diff --git a/misc.py b/misc.py
index 2c45416..477784b 100644
--- a/misc.py
+++ b/misc.py
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@
 #        Copyright (C) 2007 Adam Blackburn
 #
 
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 import re
 def Run(cmd,include_std_error=False):
     if not include_std_error:
@@ -91,9 +93,9 @@ def ParseEncryption(network):
         y+=1
     #write the data to the files
     #then chmod them so they can't be read by evil little munchkins
-    fileness = open("encryption/configurations/" + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower(),"w")
-    os.chmod("encryption/configurations/" + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower(),0600)
-    os.chown("encryption/configurations/" + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower(), 0, 0)
+    fileness = open(wpath.networks + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower(),"w")
+    os.chmod(wpath.networks + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower(),0600)
+    os.chown(wpath.networks + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower(), 0, 0)
     #we could do this above, but we'd like to permod (permission mod) them before we write, so that it can't be read
     fileness.write(z)
     fileness.close()
diff --git a/networking.py b/networking.py
index e554c82..86d9417 100644
--- a/networking.py
+++ b/networking.py
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
 ## MUST BE IMPORTED VIA import networking
 ## TO ANOTHER PROJECT IF YOU WISH TO USE IT
 
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 
 #import the library of random functions that we need here
 #this is also written by me, for this purpose
@@ -351,8 +353,8 @@ class Wireless:
 
                     print "generating wpa_supplicant configuration file..."
                     misc.ParseEncryption(network)
-                    print "wpa_supplicant -B -i " + self.wireless_interface + " -c \"encryption/configurations/" + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower() + "\" -D " + self.wpa_driver
-                    misc.Run("wpa_supplicant -B -i " + self.wireless_interface + " -c \"encryption/configurations/" + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower() + "\" -D " + self.wpa_driver)
+                    print 'wpa_supplicant -B -i ' + self.wireless_interface + ' -c "' + wpath.networks + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower() + '" -D ' + self.wpa_driver
+                    misc.Run('wpa_supplicant -B -i ' + self.wireless_interface + ' -c "' + wpath.networks + network["bssid"].replace(":","").lower() + '" -D ' + self.wpa_driver)
 
             print "flushing the routing table..."
             self.lock.acquire()
diff --git a/tray.py b/tray.py
index e060956..420b548 100644
--- a/tray.py
+++ b/tray.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
-import os,sys
+import os
+import sys
+import wpath
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(),sys.argv[0]))))
+    wpath.chdir(__file__)
 import gtk
 if gtk.gtk_version[0] >= 2 and gtk.gtk_version[1] >= 10:
     import edgy
diff --git a/wpath.py b/wpath.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25e5b06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wpath.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""Path configuration and functions for the wicd daemon and gui clients.
+
+chdir() -- Change directory to the location of the current file.
+
+"""
+
+import os
+
+# The path containing the wpath.py file.
+current = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)) + '/'
+
+# These paths can easily be modified to handle system wide installs, or
+# they can be left as is if all files remain with the source directory
+# layout.
+lib = current
+images = lib + 'images/'
+encryption = lib + 'encryption/templates/'
+bin = current 
+etc = current + 'data/'
+networks = lib + 'encryption/configurations/'
+log = current + 'data/'
+
+def chdir(file):
+    """Change directory to the location of the specified file.
+
+    Keyword arguments:
+    file -- the file to switch to (usually __file__)
+
+    """
+    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(file)))
+