# TimestampSelector

The TimestampSelector task takes either a nested <path> element, or a path reference, and sets either a named property, or a `path` instance to absolute pathnames of the files with either the N latest or earliest modification dates (based on the `age` attribute)

## Parameters

Attribute | Description | Required
--- | --- | ---
property | The property to set with the most recently modified file. Mutually exclusive with the `outputsetid` attribute. | Yes, if `outputsetid` is not specified.
outputsetid | The id of a `path` instance which will contain the resulting list of files. This id should not already exist. Mutually exclusive with the `property` attribute | Yes, if `property` is note specified.
count | The number of files to find. If more than 1, than the files in the output appear in the order indicated by the `age` attribute. | No. Defaults to `1```
age | The age of the files to retrieve, either `eldest` or `youngest`. Defaults to `youngest`. | No. Defaults to `1```
pathSep | The path separator to separate paths with when using the `property` attribute in conjunction with the `count` attribute | No. Defaults to `,```
pathref | Id of the path to find the most recently modified file in. | No, if a `path` subelement is specified.

## Parameters specified as nested elements

### path

Path is used to select sets of files or directories in which to find the most recently modified file

## Example

### Using a path reference

        <path id="mypath">
           <fileset dir="${log.dir}">
             <include name="update*.log" />
           </fileset>
        <path>
        <timestampselector property="most.recent.logs"
                            pathref="mypath" count="3"
                            pathsep=";" />

        <echo message="${most.recent.logs}" />

### Using a nested `path` element

        <timestampselector property="most.recent.logs"
                            count="3"
                            pathsep=";" >
          <path>
             <fileset dir="${log.dir}">
               <include name="update*.log" />
             </fileset>
          <path>
        </timestampselector>

        <echo message="${most.recent.logs}" />

### Outputing to a `path` element

        <timestampselector outputsetref="most.recent.logs"
                            pathref="mypath" count="3">
          <path>
             <fileset dir="${log.dir}">
               <include name="update*.log" />
             </fileset>
          <path>
        </timestampselector>

        <copy todir="somedir">
          <path refid="most.recent.logs" />
        </copy>

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