def fromFile(filename):
        """
        Parses the inputted xml file information and generates a builder
        for it.
        
        :param      filename | <str>
        
        :return     <Builder> || None
        """
        xdata = None
        ydata = None

        # try parsing an XML file
        try:
            xdata = ElementTree.parse(filename).getroot()
        except StandardError:
            xdata = None

        if xdata is None:
            # try parsing a yaml file
            if yaml:
                with open(filename, 'r') as f:
                    text = f.read()

                try:
                    ydata = yaml.load(text)
                except StandardError:
                    return None
            else:
                log.warning('Could not process yaml builder!')

        # load a yaml definition
        if type(ydata) == dict:
            typ = ydata.get('type')
            module = ydata.get('module')
            builder = Builder.plugin(typ, module)
            if builder:
                return builder.fromYaml(ydata, os.path.dirname(filename))
            else:
                log.warning('Could not find builder: {0}'.format(typ))

        # load an xml definition
        elif xdata is not None:
            typ = xdata.get('type')
            module = xdata.get('module')
            builder = Builder.plugin(typ, module)
            if builder:
                return builder.fromXml(xdata, os.path.dirname(filename))
            else:
                log.warning('Could not find builder: {0}'.format(typ))

        return None