Sync file paths

[jean01]

I am using xampp as a local development server.
When I upload my sites, I always have problems getting the file paths correct.
I have resorted to creating a php function where I record paths to all my files then I can get my files working with only a few changes.

But there must be an easier way as using this approach means that every <link, every <a, every <script has a <?php echo ... ?> in it.

I have searched this board but I either get too many or too few hits.

Any advice or links to discussions of this topic would be appreciated.