def fix_path(s):
    """
    Returns a path with problematic characters replaced by safer ones.
    """
    s = s.replace('[','_b_')
    s = s.replace(']','_d_')
    #s = s.replace('=','_e_')
    s = s.replace(':','_i_')
    s = s.replace('|','_j_')
    s = s.replace('\\','_k_')
    #s = s.replace('/','_l_')
    s = s.replace('(','_p_')
    s = s.replace(')','_q_')
    s = s.replace('*','_s_')
    #s = s.replace('#','_x_')
    s = s.replace('<','_v_')
    s = s.replace('>','_y_')
    s = s.replace('?','_z_')
    return s