diff --git a/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/handlers/file_handlers.py b/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/handlers/file_handlers.py
index be8de55b..9a3485bf 100644
--- a/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/handlers/file_handlers.py
+++ b/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/handlers/file_handlers.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import functools
 
 from mgear.core import pyqt
+from mgear.core import string
 from mgear.vendor.Qt import QtWidgets
 
 from mgear.anim_picker.widgets import basic
@@ -35,47 +36,60 @@ def _exportData(data, file_path):
         print(e)
 
 
-def _convert_path_token(file_path):
-    """convert ANIM_PICKER_PATH env var to a full path
+def replace_token_with_path(file_path):
+    """
+    Replaces the token [ANIM_PICKER_PATH] in the string with the value of
+    the environment variable ANIM_PICKER_PATH.
 
     Args:
-        file_path (str): file path
+        file_path (str): String containing the token to be replaced.
 
     Returns:
-        str: file path with updated token to path
+        str: The string with the token replaced by the full path.
+
     """
-    path_token = "[{}]".format(ANIM_PICKER_VAR)
-    if file_path and path_token in file_path:
-        if os.environ.get(ANIM_PICKER_VAR, ""):
-            file_path = file_path.replace(
-                path_token, os.environ.get(ANIM_PICKER_VAR, "")
-            )
-    return file_path
+    env_path = os.getenv(ANIM_PICKER_VAR)
+
+    if not env_path:
+        return file_path
 
+    return file_path.replace(
+        f"[{ANIM_PICKER_VAR}]", string.normalize_path(env_path)
+    )
 
-def convert_path_token(f):
-    @functools.wraps(f)
-    def wrap(*args, **kwargs):
-        if args:
-            list(args)[0] = _convert_path_token(args[0])
-        else:
-            kwargs["file_path"] = _convert_path_token(kwargs["file_path"])
-        x = f(*args, **kwargs)
-        return x
 
-    return wrap
+def replace_path_with_token(file_path):
+    """
+    Replaces the full path in the string with the token [ANIM_PICKER_PATH],
+    if the path starts with the value of the environment variable
+    ANIM_PICKER_PATH.
+
+    Args:
+        file_path (str): String containing the full path to be replaced.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: The string with the full path replaced by the token.
+
+    """
+    env_path = os.getenv(ANIM_PICKER_VAR)
+
+    if env_path and file_path.startswith(env_path):
+        return file_path.replace(
+            string.normalize_path(env_path), f"[{ANIM_PICKER_VAR}]"
+        )
+
+    return file_path
 
 
-@convert_path_token
 def read_data_file(file_path):
     """Read data from file"""
+    file_path = replace_token_with_path(file_path)
     msg = "{} does not seem to be a file".format(file_path)
     assert os.path.isfile(file_path), msg
     pkr_data = _importData(file_path) or {}
     return pkr_data
 
 
-@convert_path_token
 def write_data_file(file_path, data={}, force=False):
     """Write data to file
 
@@ -85,6 +99,7 @@ def write_data_file(file_path, data={}, force=False):
     f (bool): force write mode, if false, will ask for confirmation when
     overwriting existing files
     """
+    file_path = replace_token_with_path(file_path)
 
     # Ask for confirmation on existing file
     if os.path.exists(file_path) and not force:
diff --git a/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/picker_node.py b/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/picker_node.py
index 0fb87c7e..351ab2f3 100644
--- a/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/picker_node.py
+++ b/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/picker_node.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def write_data(
 
         # Write data to file
         if to_file:
-            file_handlers.write_data_file(file_path=file_path, data=data)
+            file_handlers.write_data_file(file_path, data=data)
             self._set_str_attr(self.__FILE_ATTR__, value=file_path)
 
         # Write data to node attribute
@@ -251,7 +251,9 @@ def read_data_from_file(self):
         file_path = self.get_file_path()
         if not file_path:
             return
-        if not os.path.exists(file_path):
+        if not os.path.exists(
+            file_handlers.replace_token_with_path(file_path)
+        ):
             return
 
         return file_handlers.read_data_file(file_path)
diff --git a/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/widgets/overlay_widgets.py b/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/widgets/overlay_widgets.py
index 8590a272..9fe76e79 100644
--- a/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/widgets/overlay_widgets.py
+++ b/release/scripts/mgear/anim_picker/widgets/overlay_widgets.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 from mgear.vendor.Qt import QtGui
 from mgear.vendor.Qt import QtCore
 from mgear.vendor.Qt import QtWidgets
+from mgear.core import string
 
 # debugging
 # from PySide2 import QtGui
@@ -176,12 +177,19 @@ def select_file_event(self):
             return
         global _LAST_USED_DIRECTORY
         _LAST_USED_DIRECTORY = os.path.dirname(file_path)
-        self.file_path_le.setText(file_path)
+        self.file_path_le.setText(
+            file_handlers.replace_path_with_token(file_path)
+        )
 
     def select_file_dialog(self):
         """Get file dialog window starting in default folder"""
         picker_msg = "Picker Datas (*.pkr)"
-        path_module = _LAST_USED_DIRECTORY or basic.get_module_path()
+        if os.environ.get(file_handlers.ANIM_PICKER_VAR, ""):
+            path_module = string.normalize_path(
+                os.environ.get(file_handlers.ANIM_PICKER_VAR, "")
+            )
+        else:
+            path_module = _LAST_USED_DIRECTORY or basic.get_module_path()
         file_path = QtWidgets.QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(
             self, "Choose file", path_module, picker_msg
         )
@@ -198,6 +206,7 @@ def select_file_dialog(self):
     def _get_file_path(self):
         """Return line edit file path"""
         file_path = self.file_path_le.text()
+
         if file_path:
             return str(file_path)
         return None