diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_CommonHeaders.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_CommonHeaders.h
index e86abc3b31..ceb0751a74 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_CommonHeaders.h
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_CommonHeaders.h
@@ -25,7 +25,34 @@
 #ifndef JUCER_COMMONHEADERS_H_INCLUDED
 #define JUCER_COMMONHEADERS_H_INCLUDED
 
+//==============================================================================
+struct TargetOS
+{
+    enum OS
+    {
+        windows = 0,
+        osx,
+        linux,
+        unknown
+    };
+
+    static OS getThisOS() noexcept
+    {
+       #if JUCE_WINDOWS
+        return windows;
+       #elif JUCE_MAC
+        return osx;
+       #elif JUCE_LINUX
+        return linux;
+       #else
+        return unknown;
+       #endif
+    }
+};
+
+typedef TargetOS::OS DependencyPathOS;
 
+//==============================================================================
 #include "../Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.h"
 #include "../Utility/jucer_Icons.h"
 #include "../Utility/jucer_MiscUtilities.h"
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.cpp b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.cpp
index 5948b27434..e767a1c690 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.cpp
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.cpp
@@ -29,28 +29,22 @@ public:
 };
 
 //==============================================================================
-namespace PathSettingsHelpers
-{
-    bool checkSdkPathContainsFile (const String& path, const String& fileToCheckFor)
-    {
-        return File::getCurrentWorkingDirectory().getChildFile( path + "/" + fileToCheckFor).existsAsFile();
-    }
-}
-
 PathSettingsTab::PathSettingsTab (DependencyPathOS os)
 {
     const int maxChars = 1024;
 
-    vst2PathComponent       = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (getPathByKey (DependencyPath::vst2KeyName, os), "VST SDK",  maxChars, false));
-    vst3PathComponent       = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (getPathByKey (DependencyPath::vst3KeyName, os), "VST3 SDK", maxChars, false));
+    StoredSettings& settings = getAppSettings();
+
+    vst2PathComponent       = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (settings.getGlobalPath (Ids::vst2Path, os), "VST SDK",  maxChars, false));
+    vst3PathComponent       = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (settings.getGlobalPath (Ids::vst3Path, os), "VST3 SDK", maxChars, false));
 
    #if ! JUCE_LINUX
-    rtasPathComponent       = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (getPathByKey (DependencyPath::rtasKeyName, os), "RTAS SDK", maxChars, false));
-    aaxPathComponent        = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (getPathByKey (DependencyPath::aaxKeyName, os),  "AAX SDK",  maxChars, false));
+    rtasPathComponent       = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (settings.getGlobalPath (Ids::rtasPath, os), "RTAS SDK", maxChars, false));
+    aaxPathComponent        = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (settings.getGlobalPath (Ids::aaxPath, os),  "AAX SDK",  maxChars, false));
    #endif
 
-    androidSdkPathComponent = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (getPathByKey (DependencyPath::androidSdkKeyName, os), "Android SDK", maxChars, false));
-    androidNdkPathComponent = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (getPathByKey (DependencyPath::androidNdkKeyName, os), "Android NDK", maxChars, false));
+    androidSdkPathComponent = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (settings.getGlobalPath (Ids::androidSDKPath, os), "Android SDK", maxChars, false));
+    androidNdkPathComponent = pathComponents.add (new TextPropertyComponent (settings.getGlobalPath (Ids::androidNDKPath, os), "Android NDK", maxChars, false));
 
     for (TextPropertyComponent** component = pathComponents.begin(); component != pathComponents.end(); ++component)
     {
@@ -66,20 +60,23 @@ PathSettingsTab::~PathSettingsTab()
 
 void PathSettingsTab::textPropertyComponentChanged (TextPropertyComponent* textPropertyComponent)
 {
-    String keyName = getKeyForPropertyComponent (textPropertyComponent);
+    Identifier keyName = getKeyForPropertyComponent (textPropertyComponent);
+
+    Colour textColour = getAppSettings().isGlobalPathValid (keyName, textPropertyComponent->getText())
+                            ? Colours::black
+                            : Colours::red;
 
-    Colour textColour = checkPathByKey (keyName, textPropertyComponent->getText()) ? Colours::black : Colours::red;
     textPropertyComponent->setColour (TextPropertyComponent::textColourId, textColour);
 }
 
-String PathSettingsTab::getKeyForPropertyComponent (TextPropertyComponent* component) const
+Identifier PathSettingsTab::getKeyForPropertyComponent (TextPropertyComponent* component) const
 {
-    if (component == vst2PathComponent)       return DependencyPath::vst2KeyName;
-    if (component == vst3PathComponent)       return DependencyPath::vst3KeyName;
-    if (component == rtasPathComponent)       return DependencyPath::rtasKeyName;
-    if (component == aaxPathComponent)        return DependencyPath::aaxKeyName;
-    if (component == androidSdkPathComponent) return DependencyPath::androidSdkKeyName;
-    if (component == androidNdkPathComponent) return DependencyPath::androidNdkKeyName;
+    if (component == vst2PathComponent)       return Ids::vst2Path;
+    if (component == vst3PathComponent)       return Ids::vst3Path;
+    if (component == rtasPathComponent)       return Ids::rtasPath;
+    if (component == aaxPathComponent)        return Ids::aaxPath;
+    if (component == androidSdkPathComponent) return Ids::androidSDKPath;
+    if (component == androidNdkPathComponent) return Ids::androidNDKPath;
 
     // this property component does not have a key associated to it!
     jassertfalse;
@@ -107,104 +104,6 @@ void PathSettingsTab::resized()
     }
 }
 
-//==============================================================================
-Value& PathSettingsTab::getPathByKey (const String& key, DependencyPathOS os)
-{
-    getAppSettings().pathValues[key].referTo (getAppSettings().projectDefaults.getPropertyAsValue (key, nullptr));
-    Value& value = getAppSettings().pathValues[key];
-
-    if (value.toString().isEmpty())
-        value = getFallbackPathByKey (key, os);
-
-    return value;
-}
-
-//==============================================================================
-String PathSettingsTab::getFallbackPathByKey (const String& key, DependencyPathOS os)
-{
-    if (key == DependencyPath::vst2KeyName || key == DependencyPath::vst3KeyName)
-        return os == DependencyPath::windows ? "c:\\SDKs\\VST3 SDK"
-                                             : "~/SDKs/VST3 SDK";
-
-    if (key == DependencyPath::rtasKeyName)
-    {
-        if (os == DependencyPath::windows)   return "c:\\SDKs\\PT_80_SDK";
-        if (os == DependencyPath::osx)       return "~/SDKs/PT_80_SDK";
-
-        // no RTAS on this OS!
-        jassertfalse;
-        return String();
-    }
-
-    if (key == DependencyPath::aaxKeyName)
-    {
-        if (os == DependencyPath::windows)   return "c:\\SDKs\\AAX";
-        if (os == DependencyPath::osx)       return "~/SDKs/AAX" ;
-
-        // no RTAS on this OS!
-        jassertfalse;
-        return String();
-    }
-
-    if (key == DependencyPath::androidSdkKeyName)
-        return os == DependencyPath::windows ? "c:\\SDKs\\android-sdk"
-                                             : "~/Library/Android/sdk";
-
-    if (key == DependencyPath::androidNdkKeyName)
-        return os == DependencyPath::windows ? "c:\\SDKs\\android-ndk"
-                                             : "~/Library/Android/ndk";
-
-    // didn't recognise the key provided!
-    jassertfalse;
-    return String();
-}
-
-//==============================================================================
-bool PathSettingsTab::checkPathByKey (const String& key, const String& path)
-{
-    String fileToCheckFor;
-
-    if (key == DependencyPath::vst2KeyName)
-    {
-        fileToCheckFor = "public.sdk/source/vst2.x/audioeffectx.h";
-    }
-    else if (key == DependencyPath::vst3KeyName)
-    {
-        fileToCheckFor = "base/source/baseiids.cpp";
-    }
-    else if (key == DependencyPath::rtasKeyName)
-    {
-        fileToCheckFor = "AlturaPorts/TDMPlugIns/PlugInLibrary/EffectClasses/CEffectProcessMIDI.cpp";
-    }
-    else if (key == DependencyPath::aaxKeyName)
-    {
-        fileToCheckFor = "Interfaces/AAX_Exports.cpp";
-    }
-    else if (key == DependencyPath::androidSdkKeyName)
-    {
-       #if JUCE_WINDOWS
-        fileToCheckFor = "platform-tools/adb.exe";
-       #else
-        fileToCheckFor = "platform-tools/adb";
-       #endif
-    }
-    else if (key == DependencyPath::androidNdkKeyName)
-    {
-       #if JUCE_WINDOWS
-        fileToCheckFor = "ndk-depends.exe";
-       #else
-        fileToCheckFor = "ndk-depends";
-       #endif
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // didn't recognise the key provided!
-        jassertfalse;
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    return PathSettingsHelpers::checkSdkPathContainsFile (path, fileToCheckFor);
-}
 
 //==============================================================================
 struct AppearanceEditor
@@ -469,7 +368,7 @@ String AppearanceSettingsTab::getName() const noexcept
 GlobalPreferencesComponent::GlobalPreferencesComponent()
    : TabbedComponent (TabbedButtonBar::TabsAtTop)
 {
-    preferenceTabs.add (new PathSettingsTab (DependencyPath::getThisOS()));
+    preferenceTabs.add (new PathSettingsTab (TargetOS::getThisOS()));
     preferenceTabs.add (new AppearanceSettingsTab);
 
     for (GlobalPreferencesTab** tab = preferenceTabs.begin(); tab != preferenceTabs.end(); ++tab)
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.h
index 9e9f66714f..21637c8392 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.h
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.h
@@ -43,14 +43,10 @@ public:
 
     void resized() override;
 
-    static Value& getPathByKey (const String& key, DependencyPathOS);
-    static String getFallbackPathByKey (const String& key, DependencyPathOS);
-    static bool checkPathByKey (const String& key,  const String& path);
-
 private:
     void textPropertyComponentChanged (TextPropertyComponent*) override;
 
-    String getKeyForPropertyComponent (TextPropertyComponent*) const;
+    Identifier getKeyForPropertyComponent (TextPropertyComponent*) const;
 
     OwnedArray<TextPropertyComponent> pathComponents;
 
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Android.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Android.h
index 324db7175a..6b6361e76e 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Android.h	
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Android.h	
@@ -753,17 +753,13 @@ private:
 
     void initialiseDependencyPathValues()
     {
-        sdkPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::androidSDKPath),
-             DependencyPath::androidSdkKeyName,
-             DependencyPath::getThisOS()
-        )));
-
-        ndkPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::androidNDKPath),
-             DependencyPath::androidNdkKeyName,
-             DependencyPath::getThisOS()
-        )));
+        sdkPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::androidSDKPath),
+                                                               Ids::androidSDKPath,
+                                                               TargetOS::getThisOS())));
+
+        ndkPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::androidNDKPath),
+                                                               Ids::androidNDKPath,
+                                                               TargetOS::getThisOS())));
     }
 
     //==============================================================================
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_CodeBlocks.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_CodeBlocks.h
index 40b9265bb3..5482278265 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_CodeBlocks.h	
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_CodeBlocks.h	
@@ -405,33 +405,16 @@ private:
 
     void initialiseDependencyPathValues()
     {
-        DependencyPathOS pathOS = isLinux() ? DependencyPath::linux : DependencyPath::windows;
+        DependencyPathOS pathOS = isLinux() ? TargetOS::linux
+                                            : TargetOS::windows;
 
-        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
-             DependencyPath::vst2KeyName,
-             pathOS
-        )));
-
-        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
-             DependencyPath::vst3KeyName,
-             pathOS
-        )));
+        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vstFolder), Ids::vst2Path, pathOS)));
+        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder), Ids::vst3Path, pathOS)));
 
         if (! isLinux())
         {
-            aaxPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-                 getSetting (Ids::aaxFolder),
-                 DependencyPath::aaxKeyName,
-                 pathOS
-            )));
-
-            rtasPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-                 getSetting (Ids::rtasFolder),
-                 DependencyPath::rtasKeyName,
-                 pathOS
-            )));
+            aaxPath.referTo  (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::aaxFolder), Ids::aaxPath, pathOS)));
+            rtasPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::rtasFolder), Ids::rtasPath, pathOS)));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h
index 3c1a9eccd1..a374bbd989 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h	
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h	
@@ -559,29 +559,21 @@ protected:
 
     void initialiseDependencyPathValues()
     {
-        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
-             DependencyPath::vst2KeyName,
-             DependencyPath::windows
-        )));
-
-        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
-             DependencyPath::vst3KeyName,
-             DependencyPath::windows
-        )));
-
-        aaxPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::aaxFolder),
-             DependencyPath::aaxKeyName,
-             DependencyPath::windows
-        )));
-
-        rtasPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::rtasFolder),
-             DependencyPath::rtasKeyName,
-             DependencyPath::windows
-        )));
+        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
+                                                                Ids::vst2Path,
+                                                                TargetOS::windows)));
+
+        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
+                                                                Ids::vst3Path,
+                                                                TargetOS::windows)));
+
+        aaxPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::aaxFolder),
+                                                               Ids::aaxPath,
+                                                               TargetOS::windows)));
+
+        rtasPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::rtasFolder),
+                                                                Ids::rtasPath,
+                                                                TargetOS::windows)));
     }
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE (MSVCProjectExporterBase)
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Make.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Make.h
index 16a463dd74..15eff85a8c 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Make.h	
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_Make.h	
@@ -350,17 +350,13 @@ private:
 
     void initialiseDependencyPathValues()
     {
-        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
-             DependencyPath::vst2KeyName,
-             DependencyPath::linux
-        )));
-
-        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
-             DependencyPath::vst3KeyName,
-             DependencyPath::linux
-        )));
+        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
+                                                                Ids::vst2Path,
+                                                                TargetOS::linux)));
+
+        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
+                                                                Ids::vst3Path,
+                                                                TargetOS::linux)));
     }
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE (MakefileProjectExporter)
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h
index 060b831a33..26b20064bc 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h	
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project Saving/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h	
@@ -1504,28 +1504,16 @@ private:
 
     void initialiseDependencyPathValues()
     {
-        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
-             DependencyPath::vst2KeyName,
-             DependencyPath::osx
-        )));
-
-        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
-             DependencyPath::vst3KeyName,
-             DependencyPath::osx
-        )));
-
-        aaxPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::aaxFolder),
-             DependencyPath::aaxKeyName,
-             DependencyPath::osx
-        )));
-
-        rtasPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (
-             getSetting (Ids::rtasFolder),
-             DependencyPath::rtasKeyName,
-             DependencyPath::osx
-        )));
+        vst2Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vstFolder),
+                                                                Ids::vst2Path, TargetOS::osx)));
+
+        vst3Path.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::vst3Folder),
+                                                                Ids::vst3Path, TargetOS::osx)));
+
+        aaxPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::aaxFolder),
+                                                               Ids::aaxPath, TargetOS::osx)));
+
+        rtasPath.referTo (Value (new DependencyPathValueSource (getSetting (Ids::rtasFolder),
+                                                                Ids::rtasPath, TargetOS::osx)));
     }
 };
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.cpp b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.cpp
index 4c7504b784..55c187ffc2 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.cpp
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.cpp
@@ -12,24 +12,16 @@
 #include "jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.h"
 #include "../Application/jucer_GlobalPreferences.h"
 
-//==============================================================================
-const String DependencyPath::vst2KeyName = "vst2Path";
-const String DependencyPath::vst3KeyName = "vst3Path";
-const String DependencyPath::rtasKeyName = "rtasPath";
-const String DependencyPath::aaxKeyName = "aaxPath";
-const String DependencyPath::androidSdkKeyName = "androidSdkPath";
-const String DependencyPath::androidNdkKeyName = "androidNdkPath";
 
 //==============================================================================
-
 DependencyPathValueSource::DependencyPathValueSource (const Value& projectSettingsPath,
-                                                      String globalSettingsKey,
+                                                      Identifier globalSettingsKey,
                                                       DependencyPathOS osThisSettingAppliesTo)
   : projectSettingsValue (projectSettingsPath),
     globalKey (globalSettingsKey),
     os (osThisSettingAppliesTo),
-    globalSettingsValue (PathSettingsTab::getPathByKey (globalKey, os)),
-    fallbackValue (PathSettingsTab::getFallbackPathByKey (globalKey, os))
+    globalSettingsValue (getAppSettings().getGlobalPath (globalKey, os)),
+    fallbackValue (getAppSettings().getFallbackPath (globalKey, os))
 {
     globalSettingsValue.addListener (this);
 }
@@ -41,7 +33,7 @@ bool DependencyPathValueSource::isValidPath() const
     if (! appliesToThisOS())
         return true;
 
-    return PathSettingsTab::checkPathByKey (globalKey, getValue().toString());
+    return getAppSettings().isGlobalPathValid (globalKey, getValue().toString());
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.h
index 70b5ecd390..346a8f01eb 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.h
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Project/jucer_DependencyPathPropertyComponent.h
@@ -11,36 +11,6 @@
 #ifndef JUCER_DEPENDENCYPATHPROPERTYCOMPONENT_H_INCLUDED
 #define JUCER_DEPENDENCYPATHPROPERTYCOMPONENT_H_INCLUDED
 
-//==============================================================================
-class DependencyPath
-{
-public:
-    enum OS
-    {
-        windows = 0,
-        osx,
-        linux,
-        unknown
-    };
-
-    static OS getThisOS()
-    {
-       #if JUCE_WINDOWS
-        return DependencyPath::windows;
-       #elif JUCE_MAC
-        return DependencyPath::osx;
-       #elif JUCE_LINUX
-        return DependencyPath::linux;
-       #else
-        return DependencyPath::unknown;
-       #endif
-    }
-
-    const static String vst2KeyName, vst3KeyName, rtasKeyName, aaxKeyName,
-                        androidSdkKeyName, androidNdkKeyName;
-};
-
-typedef DependencyPath::OS DependencyPathOS;
 
 //==============================================================================
 /** This ValueSource type implements the fallback logic required for dependency
@@ -54,7 +24,7 @@ class DependencyPathValueSource : public Value::ValueSource,
 {
 public:
     DependencyPathValueSource (const Value& projectSettingsPath,
-                               String globalSettingsKey,
+                               Identifier globalSettingsKey,
                                DependencyPathOS osThisSettingAppliesTo);
 
     /** This gets the currently used value, which may be either
@@ -95,7 +65,7 @@ public:
 
     bool appliesToThisOS() const
     {
-        return os == DependencyPath::getThisOS();
+        return os == TargetOS::getThisOS();
     }
 
     bool isValidPath() const;
@@ -124,9 +94,9 @@ private:
     {
         // only use the global settings if they are set on the same OS
         // that this setting is for!
-        DependencyPathOS thisOS = DependencyPath::getThisOS();
+        DependencyPathOS thisOS = TargetOS::getThisOS();
 
-        return thisOS == DependencyPath::unknown ? false : os == thisOS;
+        return thisOS == TargetOS::unknown ? false : os == thisOS;
     }
 
     /** the dependency path setting as set in this Introjucer project. */
@@ -134,7 +104,7 @@ private:
 
     /** the global key used in the application settings for the global setting value.
         needed for checking whether the path is valid. */
-    String globalKey;
+    Identifier globalKey;
 
     /** on what operating system should this dependency path be used?
      note that this is *not* the os that is targeted by the project,
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_PresetIDs.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_PresetIDs.h
index c4f29e7452..add7a9962a 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_PresetIDs.h
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_PresetIDs.h
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ namespace Ids
     DECLARE_ID (vst3Folder);
     DECLARE_ID (rtasFolder);
     DECLARE_ID (auFolder);
+    DECLARE_ID (vst2Path);
+    DECLARE_ID (vst3Path);
+    DECLARE_ID (rtasPath);
+    DECLARE_ID (aaxPath);
     DECLARE_ID (flags);
     DECLARE_ID (line);
     DECLARE_ID (index);
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.cpp b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.cpp
index d5d58d5697..3a3a894d6a 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.cpp
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.cpp
@@ -216,3 +216,104 @@ void StoredSettings::ColourSelectorWithSwatches::setSwatchColour (int index, con
 {
     getAppSettings().swatchColours.set (index, newColour);
 }
+
+//==============================================================================
+static bool doesSDKPathContainFile (const String& path, const String& fileToCheckFor)
+{
+    return File::getCurrentWorkingDirectory().getChildFile( path + "/" + fileToCheckFor).existsAsFile();
+}
+
+Value StoredSettings::getGlobalPath (const Identifier& key, DependencyPathOS os)
+{
+    Value v (projectDefaults.getPropertyAsValue (key, nullptr));
+
+    if (v.toString().isEmpty())
+        v = getFallbackPath (key, os);
+
+    return v;
+}
+
+String StoredSettings::getFallbackPath (const Identifier& key, DependencyPathOS os)
+{
+    if (key == Ids::vst2Path || key == Ids::vst3Path)
+        return os == TargetOS::windows ? "c:\\SDKs\\VST3 SDK"
+                                       : "~/SDKs/VST3 SDK";
+
+    if (key == Ids::rtasPath)
+    {
+        if (os == TargetOS::windows)   return "c:\\SDKs\\PT_80_SDK";
+        if (os == TargetOS::osx)       return "~/SDKs/PT_80_SDK";
+
+        // no RTAS on this OS!
+        jassertfalse;
+        return String();
+    }
+
+    if (key == Ids::aaxPath)
+    {
+        if (os == TargetOS::windows)   return "c:\\SDKs\\AAX";
+        if (os == TargetOS::osx)       return "~/SDKs/AAX" ;
+
+        // no AAX on this OS!
+        jassertfalse;
+        return String();
+    }
+
+    if (key == Ids::androidSDKPath)
+        return os == TargetOS::windows ? "c:\\SDKs\\android-sdk"
+                                       : "~/Library/Android/sdk";
+
+    if (key == Ids::androidNDKPath)
+        return os == TargetOS::windows ? "c:\\SDKs\\android-ndk"
+                                       : "~/Library/Android/ndk";
+
+    // didn't recognise the key provided!
+    jassertfalse;
+    return String();
+}
+
+bool StoredSettings::isGlobalPathValid (const Identifier& key, const String& path)
+{
+    String fileToCheckFor;
+
+    if (key == Ids::vst2Path)
+    {
+        fileToCheckFor = "public.sdk/source/vst2.x/audioeffectx.h";
+    }
+    else if (key == Ids::vst3Path)
+    {
+        fileToCheckFor = "base/source/baseiids.cpp";
+    }
+    else if (key == Ids::rtasPath)
+    {
+        fileToCheckFor = "AlturaPorts/TDMPlugIns/PlugInLibrary/EffectClasses/CEffectProcessMIDI.cpp";
+    }
+    else if (key == Ids::aaxPath)
+    {
+        fileToCheckFor = "Interfaces/AAX_Exports.cpp";
+    }
+    else if (key == Ids::androidSDKPath)
+    {
+       #if JUCE_WINDOWS
+        fileToCheckFor = "platform-tools/adb.exe";
+       #else
+        fileToCheckFor = "platform-tools/adb";
+       #endif
+    }
+    else if (key == Ids::androidNDKPath)
+    {
+       #if JUCE_WINDOWS
+        fileToCheckFor = "ndk-depends.exe";
+       #else
+        fileToCheckFor = "ndk-depends";
+       #endif
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // didn't recognise the key provided!
+        jassertfalse;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return doesSDKPathContainFile (path, fileToCheckFor);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.h b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.h
index fefa0a6ce9..136450a685 100644
--- a/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.h
+++ b/extras/Introjucer/Source/Utility/jucer_StoredSettings.h
@@ -41,13 +41,6 @@ public:
     void flush();
     void reload();
 
-    //==============================================================================
-    void valueTreePropertyChanged (ValueTree&, const Identifier&) override  { changed(); }
-    void valueTreeChildAdded (ValueTree&, ValueTree&) override              { changed(); }
-    void valueTreeChildRemoved (ValueTree&, ValueTree&, int) override       { changed(); }
-    void valueTreeChildOrderChanged (ValueTree&, int, int) override         { changed(); }
-    void valueTreeParentChanged (ValueTree&) override                       { changed(); }
-
     //==============================================================================
     RecentlyOpenedFilesList recentFiles;
 
@@ -71,11 +64,14 @@ public:
 
     StringArray monospacedFontNames;
 
-    ValueTree projectDefaults;
-    std::map<String, Value> pathValues;
+    //==============================================================================
+    Value getGlobalPath (const Identifier& key, DependencyPathOS);
+    String getFallbackPath (const Identifier& key, DependencyPathOS);
+    bool isGlobalPathValid (const Identifier& key, const String& path);
 
 private:
     OwnedArray<PropertiesFile> propertyFiles;
+    ValueTree projectDefaults;
 
     void changed()
     {
@@ -91,6 +87,13 @@ private:
     void loadSwatchColours();
     void saveSwatchColours();
 
+    //==============================================================================
+    void valueTreePropertyChanged (ValueTree&, const Identifier&) override  { changed(); }
+    void valueTreeChildAdded (ValueTree&, ValueTree&) override              { changed(); }
+    void valueTreeChildRemoved (ValueTree&, ValueTree&, int) override       { changed(); }
+    void valueTreeChildOrderChanged (ValueTree&, int, int) override         { changed(); }
+    void valueTreeParentChanged (ValueTree&) override                       { changed(); }
+
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (StoredSettings)
 };