*/

    public static String getProperty( String key, String def ) {
        return prp.getProperty( key, def );
    }

    /**
     * Retrieve a <code>String</code>. If the property is not found, <code>null</code> is returned.
     */

    public static String getProperty( String key ) {
        return prp.getProperty( key );
    }

    /**

     * cannot be converted to an <code>int</code>, the provided default
     * argument will be returned.
     */
    public static int getInt ( Properties props, String key, int def ) {
        String s = props.getProperty(key);
        if ( s != null ) {
            try {
                def = Integer.parseInt(s);
            }
            catch ( NumberFormatException nfe ) {
                log.error("Not a number", nfe);