/**
     * Retrieve a boolean value. If the property is not found, the value of <code>def</code> is returned.
     */
    public static boolean getBoolean ( Properties props, String key, boolean def ) {
        String b = props.getProperty(key);
        if ( b != null ) {
            def = b.toLowerCase().equals("true");
        }
        return def;
    }


    /**