diff --git a/docs/guide/en/source/appendixes/coretypes.xml b/docs/guide/en/source/appendixes/coretypes.xml
index c7eee9fe12..0a6f579dfb 100644
--- a/docs/guide/en/source/appendixes/coretypes.xml
+++ b/docs/guide/en/source/appendixes/coretypes.xml
@@ -110,7 +110,15 @@ the large, complex Bar project.
                         <entry>The directory, to which the paths given in <literal>files
                             </literal>or <literal>listfile</literal> are relative.</entry>
                         <entry>n/a</entry>
-                        <entry>Yes</entry>
+                        <entry>Yes (or file)</entry>
+                    </row>
+                    <row>
+                        <entry><literal>file</literal></entry>
+                        <entry><literal role="type">String</literal></entry>
+                        <entry>The directory, to which the paths given in <literal>files
+                        </literal>or <literal>listfile</literal> are relative.</entry>
+                        <entry>n/a</entry>
+                        <entry>Yes (or dir)</entry>
                     </row>
                     <row>
                         <entry><literal>files</literal></entry>
diff --git a/etc/phing-grammar.rng b/etc/phing-grammar.rng
index e22784e615..ad77e7915f 100644
--- a/etc/phing-grammar.rng
+++ b/etc/phing-grammar.rng
@@ -684,7 +684,10 @@
                         <data type="IDREF"/>
                     </attribute>
                     <group>
-                        <attribute name="dir"/>
+                        <choice>
+                            <attribute name="dir"/>
+                            <attribute name="file"/>
+                        </choice>
                         <optional>
                             <choice>
                                 <attribute name="id">