From the NannyMUD documentation

LAST CHANGE

2000-12-19

FUNCTION

NAME
        expand_file_name - Expand a relative filename.


SYNTAX
        string expand_file_name(string file)

DESCRIPTION
        This function returns a canonical pathname to a file given as a
        relative filename. A canonical filename is required to clone, load
        or otherwise reference an object in the mud. The argument 'file'
        will be relative to the directory in which the object calling the
        function lies. Normal unix expansion is done, but no pattern matching.


EXAMPLE
        ~/foo           is /players/yourname/foo
        ~foo/bar        is /players/foo/bar
        ../foo          is foo in the previous directory
        ./foo           is foo in this directory
        /foo/bar        is /foo/bar