Re: [xml-dev] Internal references to other element values

<!DOCTYPE config 
[
  <!ENTITY map1 "bob" >
  <!ENTITY map2 "mcbob" >
]>

 <config>
 <map1>&map1;</map1>
 <map2>&map2;</map2>
 <tasks>
 <task>
 <subdirectory>&map1;abc\def</subdirectory>
 </task>
 <task>
 <subdirectory>&map2;uvw\xyz</subdirectory>
 </task>
 </tasks>
 </config>

with whatever that your system needs for the DOCTYPE declaration.

Use internal entities remove constants to a  header.

If you don't want to use DOCTYPE, but can run a post-processor,
stick in a simple xlink and use XPath to locate the text.

Cheers
Rick Jelliffe