## Build List

This function builds lists in a specified named variable or field where each item in the list is separated by a specified delimiter. If the delimiter resolves to be empty when the action is executed, a default (\~) will be assumed.

The list is obtained from a field or named variable where list elements are separated by a specified delimiter. Note that the source and destination delimiters do not have to be the same

The source delimiter can take two forms. When String is specified, the source delimiter is treated as a single item. Example: if the Artist field contains artists separated by the word and, you could specify a source delimiter of and as the delimiter in order to extract each artist.

When Characters is specified, the source delimiter is treated as a sequence of single characters, each of which will separate fields. Example: if the Artist field contains artists separated either by , or & characters, you would specify a source delimiter of ,& as the delimiter in order to extract each artist.

With one exception text fields may contain any of the escape sequences described in Escape Sequences. The only exception is when the source delimiter is Characters, it is not evaluated for escape sequences. Note when running stepwise escape sequences are evaluated only once based on the first file's field values.

The constructed list is the set of merged values found in the fields associated with the selected files or in a specified source named variable. When run in stepwise mode, the constructed list will contain every unique item. Empty elements are ignored. When determining uniqueness, alphabetic case will be ignored if the Case insensitive option is enabled. Spaces are ignored before and after each element.

When the source delimiter is empty, regardless of the type, every field is treated as a single item. Example: If running stepwise with the Artist field and no source delimiter, the effective list will be all unique Artist fields.

There are three modes which determine the order of items in the list:

> As found
>   List elements are placed in the order in which they were found when accumulating the list. This is the least efficient method.
> Sorted
>   The list elements are placed in ascending alphabetic order. If the Case insensitive option is enabled the sort function will also be an as in the Finder sort.
> Any
>   The order in which list elements are placed is indeterminate. This is the most efficient method.