## 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.