[Simpleweb-Support] sugestion for simple-xml library....

[-=}\\*/{=- <rui...@gm...>]

hi,

i've been coding the last days and would like to suggest some method
of inheriting from a parent node parent when specifying the "empty"
parameter.
http://simple.sourceforge.net/download/stream/doc/javadoc/org/simpleframework/xml/Attribute.html#empty()

example of usage... i'm loading the server directly from a xml
(configuration) file which will describe several contexts... i would like
to be able to define default parameters in the ancestor/root nodes...
another solution would be to be able to define free namespaces that declare
defaults... maybe something like:
<root>
  <namespacce-ignored-tag attr0="default value" attr1="other default value"
if-not-distinguished-by-tag-name-maybe-by-a-special-attr-that-also-refers-a-xpath-to-the-defaultable-nodes="*">
    <context/>
    <context attr0="overriding ancestor default"/>
  </namespacce-ignored-tag>
</root>

i think using the special attribute with xpath selection is better as it
leaves the tag free for something like <defaults-for-public-servers
SimpleXPath="*" or _SXP_="*" ... >, making the code more readable and
allowing to specify the affected nodes (but not non descendants).
both options would be nicer... <_SimpleDescendantDefaulter_...> or simply
<_SDD_ ...>

maybe option to provide the special attribute/element name to the Persister.

converting variableNames into/from variable-names... would also be nice...

if there is already a way to do these or similar please tell me.

cheers,
  rui