To be more specific: the value of the section-names are either of the form [repos-name:path] or the form [path]. If you're using the SVNParentPath directive, then it's important to specify the repository names in your sections. If you omit them, then a section like [/some/dir] will match the path /some/dir in every repository. If you're using the SVNPath directive, however, then it's fine to only define paths in your sections—after all, there's only one repository