diff --git a/src/main/java/altk/comm/engine/CommEngine.java b/src/main/java/altk/comm/engine/CommEngine.java
index 1c62254..dffbdea 100644
--- a/src/main/java/altk/comm/engine/CommEngine.java
+++ b/src/main/java/altk/comm/engine/CommEngine.java
@@ -100,6 +100,28 @@ public abstract class CommEngine extends HttpServlet
         myException = null;
     }
     
+    /**
+     * Relocates a filepath relative to runtime directory if filepath is not absolute.
+     * @param filepath
+     * @return
+     */
+    public String relocateToRuntimeDir(String filepath)
+    {
+		if (filepath.startsWith("/")) return filepath; // no change to absolute path
+	
+		String relocated = filepath;
+		
+		// The next 2 lines take care of pre-git era meaning convention of filepath in properties.
+		// Then, the runtime is relative to the current working directory of tomcat.
+		// Now they are relative to the runtimDirPath obtained from the tomcat tomcat context.
+		// These 2 lines an be deleted when all CommEngines in production are in the git era.
+		String unwanted_prefix = engineName + "/";
+		if (filepath.startsWith(unwanted_prefix)) relocated = filepath.substring(unwanted_prefix.length());
+		
+		relocated = runtimeDirPath + "/" + relocated;
+		return relocated;
+    }
+    
     /**
      * Invoked by servlet container during initialization of servlet.
      */
@@ -131,8 +153,10 @@ public abstract class CommEngine extends HttpServlet
         		String key = (String)e.nextElement();
         		if (key.toLowerCase().endsWith(".file"))
         		{
-        			prop.setProperty(key, runtimeDirPath + "/" + prop.getProperty(key));
-        			System.out.println(key + "=" + prop.getProperty(key));
+        			String filepath = prop.getProperty(key);
+        			String relocate = relocateToRuntimeDir(filepath);
+					prop.setProperty(key, relocate);
+        			System.out.println(key + "=" + relocate);
         		}
         	}
             PropertyConfigurator.configure(prop);