In the Global Variables section of the User Guide, the following is said:

“The path variable is substituted with the template group and template name you specify, and it will automatically include your base site path.”

Is the base site path the URL (and index file) specified in the General Configuration or the URL specified in the preferences for each weblog?

If it is the URL from General Configuration, am I then correct in assuming that you can’t use the path variable if you use multiple entry points for EE (either in regular subdirectories or in subdirectories that are setup as their own domains) , but rather have to hardcode all the paths?

It comes from the General Configuration setting in a standard setup.  Since it’s a “global variable” (available everywhere) there’s no way EE could know which of the ‘weblog’ paths you might want.

However, if you’re using the subdomains/multidomains/entry points bit, then part of what you are specifying is your $site_url which, I’m pretty sure, will be used in these cases as it basically “overrides” the General Configuration setting for that subdomain/domain/whatever.

Ah, okay, that makes sense. Thanks.