# File Encoding Extension XML Reference

Describes a file encoding extension. You use a file encoding extension to specify how a file should be handled when parsing. For example, if you wanted files with an .htm extension to be treated by the IDE in the same way as files with an .html extension, your extension XML might look like the following:

    <extension-xml>
        <file-encoding appliesTo="htm" treatAs="html"/>
    </extension-xml>

Note: The <extension-xml> element is the root for any extension descriptor. For this kind of extension, the <extension-xml> element's id attribute value must be "urn:com-bea-ide:encoding".

## <file-encoding> Element

Specifies that files with the specified extension should be handled with the specified encoding class, or that they should be handled in the same way as other, specific kinds of files.

<extension-xml>
<file-encoding>

### Syntax

    <file-encoding
        appliesTo="fileExtension"
        [class="pathToIcon"]
        [treatAs="descriptiveTextForDocumentType"]
    >

### Attributes

Attribute | Description
--- | ---
appliesTo | Required string. The extension or extensions for files this encoding extension applies to.
class | Optional string. The fully-qualified name of a class to use for handling files with this extension.
treatAs | Optional string. The extension of files whose handler should be used to handle files this encoding extension applies to.

### Hierarchy

Parents: <extension-xml>.

Children: None.