private File getFile(String pathPattern, String basedirSysProp, String altLocationSysProp) {
        // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Alright, here's the justification for all the regexp wizardry below...
        //
        // Continuum and other server-like apps may need to locate the user-level and
        // global-level settings somewhere other than ${user.home} and ${maven.home},