FileList

FileLists are explicitly named lists of files. Whereas FileSets act as filters, returning only those files that exist in the file system and match specified patterns, FileLists are useful for specifying files that may or may not exist. Multiple files are specified as a list of files, relative to the specified directory, with no support for wildcard expansion (filenames with wildcards will be included in the list unchanged). FileLists can appear inside tasks that support this feature or as stand-alone types.

Attribute Description Required
dir The base directory of this FileList. Yes
files The list of file names. This is a list of file name separated by whitespace, or by commas. Yes, unless there is a nested file element
refid Makes this filelist a reference to a filelist defined elsewhere. If specified no other attributes or nested elements are allowed. No

Nested element: file

Since Apache Ant 1.6.2

This represents a file name. The nested element allows filenames containing white space and commas.

Attribute Description Required
name The name of the file. Yes

Examples

<filelist
    id="docfiles"
    dir="${doc.src}"
    files="foo.xml,bar.xml"/>

The files ${doc.src}/foo.xml and ${doc.src}/bar.xml. Note that these files may not (yet) actually exist.

<filelist
    id="docfiles"
    dir="${doc.src}"
    files="foo.xml
           bar.xml"/>

Same files as the example above.

<filelist refid="docfiles"/>

Same files as the example above.

<filelist
    id="docfiles"
    dir="${doc.src}">
    <file name="foo.xml"/>
    <file name="bar.xml"/>
</filelist>

Same files as the example above.