By default, Gap4 expects files to be in the current directory. In dialogues which request filenames, full pathnames can be specified, however it is generally tidier to keep files specific to a particular project in the same directory as the project database. Creating new databases and opening new databases will change directory to the directory containing the opened project.
It is possible to change the current directory by selecting "Change directory" from the File menu. Be warned that changing to a directory other than that containing the database and the trace files may mean that gap4 can no longer find the trace files. The solutions to this problem are discussed elsewhere (see section Trace File Location).