diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/AbstractFileSet.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/AbstractFileSet.java
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index 000000000..cf99bf0ac
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+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/framework/AbstractFileSet.java
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+/*
+ * Copyright (C) The Apache Software Foundation. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This software is published under the terms of the Apache Software License
+ * version 1.1, a copy of which has been included  with this distribution in
+ * the LICENSE.txt file.
+ */
+package org.apache.myrmidon.framework;
+
+/**
+ * An abstract base class for all FileSets.
+ * FileSets represent a pattern anchored by a root.
+ *
+ * @author <a href="mailto:peter@apache.org">Peter Donald</a>
+ * @version $Revision$ $Date$
+ */
+public class AbstractFileSet
+    extends PatternSet
+{
+    private boolean m_defaultExcludes = true;
+
+    /**
+     * Add the default excludes to FileSet.
+     */
+    public final void setDefaultExcludes( final boolean defaultExcludes )
+    {
+        m_defaultExcludes = defaultExcludes;
+    }
+
+    public final boolean includeDefaultExcludes()
+    {
+        return m_defaultExcludes;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Merge specified PatternSet into this patternSet.
+     */
+    public final void addPatternSet( final PatternSet set )
+    {
+        append( set );
+    }
+}