ant property question

[E Weibust]

I have 2 questions.
1. How do I get property to point at a file?
Something like this:

  <property name="java.source" location="src"/>
  <property name="jardir" location="dist"/>

but for a file.
Such as:

  <property name="jarfile" location="${jardir}/XXX.jar"/>

2. Why do people sometimes use the "java.source" syntax and other times just "jardir"? I see no reason for sometimes using "word.word". Why not just "source"? Why the "java." before source?
Thanks.

[Nathaniel Stoddard]

Properties are not really that specific. They just allow us to specify a name and value for something. It doesn't restrict us to how the property is interpreted. Our use of the property in some context is what determines its semantics.
As far as the use of periods in properties, it is just a way to create a hierarchy of properties, or at least separate words. Just consider it something some people (like me) do to make things more readable and consistent.

[E Weibust]

Nathaniel thanks for the quick reply.
Regarding your answer to my first question. Are you saying that my way for creating a property that represents a file is correct? I patterned it after the numerous examples I've found of properties pointing to directories. And from a *nix point of view a file and dir are the same(at least similar in "path" concept). I guess I'm confused on this because of filesets, patternsets, and stuff like that.
Regarding my second question. Are you saying there is no difference in "java.src", "java_src", and "javaSrc"?
Thanks

[Nathaniel Stoddard]

1) regarding the differences ... no, as long as you type in the same thing it doesn't matter what the name of the property is. It is just a string value.
2) regarding paths and files, you are correct and doing it just fine. Some tasks in ant require you to differentiate between directory paths and filenames. <pathelement> for example will want you to specify a directory with the "path" attribute, while specifying a file should be done with the "location" attribute.
Like I said before, the property spec is the same. All that differs is where you inject it in the rest of your build file.

[E Weibust]

Beating a dead horse. Would the following be appropiate for setting up a jar dir/file?

  <property name="java.jardir" location="dist"/>
  <property name="jar.file" location="${java.jardir}/hello.jar"/>
  <target name="archive" depends="compile" description="Packages compiled code into a JAR">
    <jar destfile="${jar.file}"
         basedir="${java.build}"/>
  </target>

Thanks...

[Nathaniel Stoddard]

Looks good to me.
I suppose the moral of the story is to explore your naming preferences, decide what works best for you, and follow it consistently.