[Qt-creator] Qt Build Settings can use $BUILDIR. Why not Project Run Settings?

[Ed Sutton]

My goal is to make a Qt project runnable from any user's Linux home directory (no hard coded paths).   Are Qt variables not accessible in the Project Run Settings?

In my Qt project file I set:
   TARGET = democlient
   DESTDIR = ../bin

I tried setting the "working directory setting" found under Project->Run Settings->Running Executable->Working Directory?

   DESTDIR
   $DESTDIR
   $$DESTDIR
   $${DESTDIR}

The compile output says:

   Starting /home/esutton/rpm/BUILD/libfesvideo-1.2.309/example-democlient/bin/democlient...
   Cannot change to working directory '$DESTDIR': No such file or directory

Thanks in advance for any tips or direction ( I am still learning Linux and Qt ).

-Ed