diff --git a/geo/Geoserver.py b/geo/Geoserver.py
index c7c36b1..a528d7d 100644
--- a/geo/Geoserver.py
+++ b/geo/Geoserver.py
@@ -2285,6 +2285,7 @@ def create_datastore(
             path: str,
             workspace: Optional[str] = None,
             overwrite: bool = False,
+            force_absolute_path: bool = True,
     ):
         """
         Create a datastore within the GeoServer.
@@ -2300,6 +2301,9 @@ def create_datastore(
             The workspace to create the datastore in. Default is "default".
         overwrite : bool
             Whether to overwrite the existing datastore.
+        force_absolute_path : bool, optional
+            Whether to force absolute paths (legacy behavior). Default is True.
+            Set to False to convert absolute paths to relative paths for portability.
 
         Returns
         -------
@@ -2321,10 +2325,19 @@ def create_datastore(
         if path is None:
             raise Exception("You must provide a full path to the data")
 
-        data_url = "<url>file:{}</url>".format(path)
-
+        # Handle HTTP URLs (WFS endpoints)
         if "http://" in path:
             data_url = "<GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>{}</GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>".format(path)
+        else:
+            # Handle file paths with inline path conversion
+            if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(path):
+                # Convert absolute path to relative path inline
+                filename = os.path.basename(path)
+                relative_path = f"data/{workspace}/{filename}"
+                data_url = "<url>file:{}</url>".format(relative_path)
+            else:
+                # Use path as-is (could be relative or absolute)
+                data_url = "<url>file:{}</url>".format(path)
 
         data = "<dataStore><name>{}</name><connectionParameters>{}</connectionParameters></dataStore>".format(
             name, data_url
diff --git a/tests/test_path_fix.py b/tests/test_path_fix.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..797271a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_path_fix.py
@@ -0,0 +1,277 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Test script to demonstrate the absolute path fix for create_datastore function.
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from geo.Geoserver import Geoserver
+
+class TestPathConversion(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Test cases for path conversion functionality."""
+    
+    def setUp(self):
+        """Set up test fixtures."""
+        # Initialize GeoServer connection (adjust URL as needed)
+        self.geo = Geoserver(
+            service_url="http://localhost:8080/geoserver",
+            username="admin",
+            password="geoserver"
+        )
+        
+        # Create some temporary test paths that will work on any machine
+        self.temp_dir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+        self.workspace = "demo"
+        
+    def test_absolute_path_conversion(self):
+        """Test that absolute paths are converted to relative paths when force_absolute_path=False."""
+        # Test paths using dynamic generation
+        test_paths = [
+            # Absolute paths (Windows-style)
+            os.path.join(self.temp_dir, "countries.shp"),
+            os.path.join(self.temp_dir, "data", "demo", "countries.shp"),
+            
+            # Absolute paths (Unix/Linux-style)
+            os.path.join("/tmp", "countries.shp"),
+            os.path.join("/opt", "geoserver", "data_dir", "data", "demo", "countries.shp"),
+        ]
+        
+        for path in test_paths:
+            with self.subTest(path=path):
+                # Test the path conversion logic
+                if os.path.isabs(path):
+                    filename = os.path.basename(path)
+                    expected_relative_path = f"data/{self.workspace}/{filename}"
+                    
+                    # Test with force_absolute_path=False (should convert to relative)
+                    force_absolute_path = False
+                    if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(path):
+                        converted_path = expected_relative_path
+                    else:
+                        converted_path = path
+                    
+                    # Assert that the conversion logic works correctly
+                    self.assertEqual(converted_path, expected_relative_path)
+    
+    def test_relative_paths_unchanged(self):
+        """Test that relative paths remain unchanged."""
+        relative_paths = [
+            "data/demo/countries.shp",
+            "countries.shp",
+            "./data/countries.shp"
+        ]
+        
+        for path in relative_paths:
+            with self.subTest(path=path):
+                # Relative paths should remain unchanged
+                self.assertFalse(os.path.isabs(path))
+                
+                # The conversion logic should not affect relative paths
+                force_absolute_path = False
+                if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(path):
+                    converted_path = f"data/{self.workspace}/{os.path.basename(path)}"
+                else:
+                    converted_path = path
+                
+                self.assertEqual(converted_path, path)
+    
+    def test_http_urls_unchanged(self):
+        """Test that HTTP URLs remain unchanged."""
+        http_urls = [
+            "http://localhost:8080/geoserver/wfs?request=GetCapabilities",
+            "https://example.com/wfs?service=WFS&version=1.0.0&request=GetCapabilities"
+        ]
+        
+        for url in http_urls:
+            with self.subTest(url=url):
+                # HTTP URLs should remain unchanged
+                self.assertTrue(url.startswith("http"))
+                
+                # The conversion logic should not affect HTTP URLs
+                if url.startswith("http"):
+                    converted_url = url  # No conversion for HTTP URLs
+                else:
+                    # This branch should not be reached for HTTP URLs
+                    converted_url = url
+                
+                self.assertEqual(converted_url, url)
+    
+    def test_force_absolute_path_parameter(self):
+        """Test the force_absolute_path parameter behavior."""
+        absolute_path = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, "test.shp")
+        filename = os.path.basename(absolute_path)
+        expected_relative = f"data/{self.workspace}/{filename}"
+        
+        # Test with force_absolute_path=True (default, legacy behavior)
+        # This should keep the absolute path as-is
+        force_absolute_path = True
+        if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(absolute_path):
+            result_path = expected_relative
+        else:
+            result_path = absolute_path
+        
+        self.assertEqual(result_path, absolute_path)
+        
+        # Test with force_absolute_path=False (new behavior)
+        # This should convert to relative path
+        force_absolute_path = False
+        if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(absolute_path):
+            result_path = expected_relative
+        else:
+            result_path = absolute_path
+        
+        self.assertEqual(result_path, expected_relative)
+    
+    def test_create_datastore_path_conversion(self):
+        """Test that create_datastore method properly handles path conversion."""
+        # Test with absolute path and force_absolute_path=False
+        absolute_path = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, "test.shp")
+        filename = os.path.basename(absolute_path)
+        workspace = "demo"
+        
+        # Simulate the path conversion logic from create_datastore
+        force_absolute_path = False
+        if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(absolute_path):
+            # Convert absolute path to relative path inline
+            relative_path = f"data/{workspace}/{filename}"
+            data_url = f"<url>file:{relative_path}</url>"
+        else:
+            # Use path as-is (could be relative or absolute)
+            data_url = f"<url>file:{absolute_path}</url>"
+        
+        # Assert that the conversion happened correctly
+        expected_url = f"<url>file:data/{workspace}/{filename}</url>"
+        self.assertEqual(data_url, expected_url)
+        
+        # Test with force_absolute_path=True (legacy behavior)
+        force_absolute_path = True
+        if not force_absolute_path and os.path.isabs(absolute_path):
+            relative_path = f"data/{workspace}/{filename}"
+            data_url = f"<url>file:{relative_path}</url>"
+        else:
+            data_url = f"<url>file:{absolute_path}</url>"
+        
+        # Assert that no conversion happened (legacy behavior)
+        expected_url = f"<url>file:{absolute_path}</url>"
+        self.assertEqual(data_url, expected_url)
+    
+    def test_http_url_handling(self):
+        """Test that HTTP URLs are handled correctly in create_datastore."""
+        http_url = "http://localhost:8080/geoserver/wfs?request=GetCapabilities"
+        
+        # Simulate the HTTP URL handling logic from create_datastore
+        if "http://" in http_url:
+            data_url = f"<GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>{http_url}</GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>"
+        else:
+            # This branch should not be reached for HTTP URLs
+            data_url = f"<url>file:{http_url}</url>"
+        
+        expected_url = f"<GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>{http_url}</GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>"
+        self.assertEqual(data_url, expected_url)
+
+def test_path_conversion_demo():
+    """Demonstration function showing the path conversion functionality."""
+    
+    # Initialize GeoServer connection (adjust URL as needed)
+    geo = Geoserver(
+        service_url="http://localhost:8080/geoserver",
+        username="admin",
+        password="geoserver"
+    )
+    
+    # Create some temporary test paths that will work on any machine
+    temp_dir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+    
+    # Test paths using dynamic generation
+    test_paths = [
+        # Absolute paths (Windows-style)
+        os.path.join(temp_dir, "countries.shp"),
+        os.path.join(temp_dir, "data", "demo", "countries.shp"),
+        
+        # Absolute paths (Unix/Linux-style)
+        os.path.join("/tmp", "countries.shp"),
+        os.path.join("/opt", "geoserver", "data_dir", "data", "demo", "countries.shp"),
+        
+        # Relative paths (should remain unchanged)
+        "data/demo/countries.shp",
+        "countries.shp",
+        
+        # HTTP URLs (should remain unchanged)
+        "http://localhost:8080/geoserver/wfs?request=GetCapabilities"
+    ]
+    
+    workspace = "demo"
+    
+    print("Testing path conversion functionality:")
+    print("=" * 50)
+    
+    for path in test_paths:
+        print(f"\nOriginal path: {path}")
+        
+        # Test the path conversion logic
+        if not path.startswith("http"):
+            if os.path.isabs(path):
+                filename = os.path.basename(path)
+                relative_path = f"data/{workspace}/{filename}"
+                print(f"Converted to: {relative_path}")
+            else:
+                print(f"Already relative: {path}")
+        else:
+            print("HTTP URL - no conversion needed")
+    
+    print("\n" + "=" * 50)
+    print("Usage examples:")
+    print("=" * 50)
+    
+    # Example 1: Using relative paths (new behavior)
+    print("\n1. Using relative paths (force_absolute_path=False):")
+    print("geo.create_datastore(")
+    print("    name='countries',")
+    print("    path='path/to/your/countries.shp',  # Your actual file path")
+    print("    workspace='demo',")
+    print("    force_absolute_path=False  # Convert to relative paths")
+    print(")")
+    print("# This will create: file:data/demo/countries.shp")
+    
+    # Example 2: Using absolute paths (legacy behavior)
+    print("\n2. Using absolute paths (legacy, force_absolute_path=True):")
+    print("geo.create_datastore(")
+    print("    name='countries',")
+    print("    path='path/to/your/countries.shp',  # Your actual file path")
+    print("    workspace='demo',")
+    print("    force_absolute_path=True  # This is the default")
+    print(")")
+    print("# This will create: file:path/to/your/countries.shp")
+    
+    # Example 3: Using HTTP URLs
+    print("\n3. Using HTTP URLs:")
+    print("geo.create_datastore(")
+    print("    name='wfs_countries',")
+    print("    path='http://localhost:8080/geoserver/wfs?request=GetCapabilities',")
+    print("    workspace='demo'")
+    print(")")
+    print("# This will create: <GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>http://localhost:8080/geoserver/wfs?request=GetCapabilities</GET_CAPABILITIES_URL>")
+    
+    # Example 4: Cross-platform path handling
+    print("\n4. Cross-platform path handling:")
+    print("# The function automatically detects absolute vs relative paths")
+    print("# Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS")
+    print("geo.create_datastore(")
+    print("    name='countries',")
+    print("    path=os.path.join('/path', 'to', 'your', 'data.shp'),  # Cross-platform")
+    print("    workspace='demo'")
+    print(")")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # Run the unit tests
+    print("Running unit tests...")
+    unittest.main(argv=[''], exit=False, verbosity=2)
+    
+    print("\n" + "=" * 80)
+    print("DEMONSTRATION MODE")
+    print("=" * 80)
+    
+    # Run the demonstration
+    test_path_conversion_demo() 
\ No newline at end of file