diff --git a/macros/src/lib.rs b/macros/src/lib.rs
index bb25b57..598f090 100644
--- a/macros/src/lib.rs
+++ b/macros/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use std::fs;
+
 use proc_macro::TokenStream;
 use quote::quote;
 use syn::{
@@ -7,6 +9,10 @@ use syn::{
 };
 use syn::{parse, LitInt, Result};
 
+const DATA_DIR: &str = "data";
+const EXAMPLE_DIR: &str = "examples";
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 struct IncludeData {
     year: String,
     day: String,
@@ -63,20 +69,29 @@ impl Parse for IncludeData {
     }
 }
 
-fn get_stream(dir: &str, data: Result<IncludeData>) -> TokenStream {
-    match data {
-        Ok(id) => {
-            let path = format!("../../../{}/{}/{}.txt", dir, id.year, id.day);
-            quote! {
-                static DATA: &str = include_str!(#path);
+fn canonicalize(dir: &str, input: Result<IncludeData>) -> Option<String> {
+    let pathname = match input {
+        Ok(id) => Some(format!("{}/{}/{}.txt", dir, id.year, id.day)),
+        Err(_) => None,
+    };
+    if let Some(p) = pathname {
+        match fs::canonicalize(p.clone()) {
+            Ok(canon) => {
+                if canon.is_file() {
+                    Some(canon.to_str().unwrap().to_string())
+                } else {
+                    println!("ERROR: {:?} is not a file", canon);
+                    None
+                }
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                println!("ERROR: {} does not exist: {}", p, err);
+                None
             }
         }
-        Err(_)=> {
-            quote! {
-                static DATA: &str = "";
-            }
-        }
-    }.into()
+    } else {
+        None
+    }
 }
 
 /// includes Data from Advent of code
@@ -93,10 +108,33 @@ fn get_stream(dir: &str, data: Result<IncludeData>) -> TokenStream {
 /// ```
 #[proc_macro]
 pub fn include_data(data: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
-    get_stream("data", parse::<IncludeData>(data))
+    let input = parse::<IncludeData>(data);
+    let mut path = canonicalize(DATA_DIR, input.clone());
+    if path.is_none() {
+        path = canonicalize(EXAMPLE_DIR, input)
+    }
+    match path {
+        Some(p) => quote! {
+            static DATA: &str = include_str!(#p);
+        }
+        .into(),
+        None => quote! {
+            static DATA: &str = "";
+        }
+        .into(),
+    }
 }
 
 #[proc_macro]
-pub fn include_example(data: TokenStream)->TokenStream {
-    get_stream("examples", parse::<IncludeData>(data))
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+pub fn include_example(data: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
+    match canonicalize(EXAMPLE_DIR, parse::<IncludeData>(data)) {
+        Some(p) => quote! {
+            static DATA: &str = include_str!(#p);
+        }
+        .into(),
+        None => quote! {
+            static DATA: &str = "";
+        }
+        .into(),
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/bin/2024/01.rs b/src/bin/2024/01.rs
index 8f8ab3b..2ee455e 100644
--- a/src/bin/2024/01.rs
+++ b/src/bin/2024/01.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use advent_of_code::strings::{parsenumber, splitspace};
-use adventofcode_macros::include_data;
+#[allow(unused_imports)]
+use adventofcode_macros::{include_data, include_example};
 
 include_data!(2024 01);