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### 18.5 GDB Data Files

gdb will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files are kept in a directory known as the data directory.

You can set the data directory's name, and view the name gdb is currently using.

`set data-directory` directory
  Set the directory which gdb searches for auxiliary data files to directory.

`show data-directory`
  Show the directory gdb searches for auxiliary data files.

You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time ‘`--with-gdb-datadir`’ option. If the data directory is inside gdb's configured binary prefix (set with ‘`--prefix`’ or ‘`--exec-prefix`’), then the default data directory will be updated automatically if the installed gdb is moved to a new location.

The data directory may also be specified with the `--data-directory` command line option. See Mode Options.