# Scope language syntax reference

You can use the scopes language to specify project [scopes](configuring-scopes-and-file-colors.html): sets of files, directories, and subdirectories.

## Sets of files

* To add a single file, use a filename (for example, `MyDir/MyFile.txt`)

* To add all the files in a directory without subdirectories, use an asterisk after a slash (for example: `file:src/main/myDir/*`)

* To add all the files in a directory with subdirectories, use an asterisk after a double slash (for example, `file:src/main/myDir//*`)

## Logical operators

When you define scopes, you can use logical operators:

```
&& for AND
|| for OR
! for NOT
```

Also, you can use parentheses to join logical operators into groups. For example, the following scope includes either <a> and <c>, or <b> and <c>:

```
(<a>||<b>)&&<c>
```

## Create a new scope from existing scopes

You can make a new scope from several existing scopes. In this case, you can reference the existing scopes by using `$` `$MyScope`.

For example, the `$Scope1||$Scope2` pattern places in a scope all files from `Scope1` and `Scope2`.

## Defining scopes

Scopes are defined in the [Scopes](settings-scopes.html) dialog in the following ways:

Manually
: In the Pattern field, specify file masks. Alternatively, click the Expand button (                        ![the Expand button](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app-client.general.expandComponent.svg)) and type the pattern in the editor.

Using the Mouse Pointer
: In the tree view, select files and directories. To include or exclude files and directories, use the following buttons: Include, Include Recursively, Exclude, and Exclude Recursively. For more information about the buttons, refer to [Define a new
: scope](configuring-scopes-and-file-colors.html#creating-a-new-custom-scope).
:
:
:
: When you click the buttons, CLion creates an expression and displays it in the Pattern field.

## Examples

* `file:*.js||file:*.coffee` - include all JavaScript and CoffeeScript files.

* `file:*js&&!file:*.min.*` - include all JavaScript files except those that were generated through minification, which is indicated by the `min` extension.

* `!file:*/.npm//*` - exclude all `.npm` folders.

## See also

### Reference

[Scopes](settings-scopes.html)

### Procedures

[Scopes and file colors](configuring-scopes-and-file-colors.html)

### External Links

[JetBrains CLion Blog](http://blog.jetbrains.com/clion/)