}
    }

    /**
     * Normalizes a configuration path.
     *
     * @param path The path to normalize.
     * @return The normalized path.
     */
    public String normalizeConfigPath(final String path) {

        if (StringUtil.isBlank(path)) {
            return StringUtils.EMPTY;
        }

        final String p = path.trim();
        if (p.startsWith("#")) {