A Perforce view maps file names from the depot into the client workspace (for a client view), into another part of the depot (for a branch view), or into a label namespace (for a label view).
A view is one or more mappings, and each mapping is a pair of file names on a line. The left side always refers to the depot namespace; the right side refers to the depot, label, or client namespace. Each name is in Perforce syntax, meaning it begins with // and the depot, client, or label name, and is followed by the actual file name within the depot or client. Perforce syntax uses /'s as directory separators. e.g. //depot/dir/file.c
Mappings can contain wildcards, as long as the wildcards are matched between the left and right sides. The wildcards are:
| matches any characters except / | |
| matches any characters, including / | |
| like *, but used to reorder the path |
If more than one mapping line refers to the same files, then the later mapping line overrides the earlier one. A mapping line that begins with - specifically excludes those files that match that mapping.