# Creating Ant buildfiles

Ant buildfiles are just text files, so the most straightforward way to create an Ant buildfile in Eclipse is:

1. File > New > File.
2. Enter a name for the file.
3. Click Finish.

By default the Ant editor only has an association with `build.xml` named files. As the user you can designate the Ant editor to be considered for all xml files.

1. File associations can be set using the Window > Preferences > General > Editors >File Associations
2. Add an association between `*.xml` and the Ant editor.

Now, as long as the file has a .xml extension, Eclipse will consider it to be a possible Ant buildfile, and will enable Ant-related actions when it is selected. Until a file has Ant buildfile content, you will need to open it using Open With > Ant Editor.

An example is the use of project builders, where an Ant buildfile is created for an Eclipse plug-in that contains predefined targets that are useful for deploying the plug-in.

Editing Ant buildfiles
Running Ant buildfiles
Saving & Reusing Ant options
Running Ant buildfiles
Creating a project builder Ant buildfile
Ant buildfiles as project builders
Executing project builders
External tools
Non-Ant project builders
Stand-alone external tools