[Springframework-developer] Embedding a tag inside of the <bean /> tag

[Bryant H. <bry...@ho...>]

Hello,
  I seem to remember a some what similar question to this a few weeks =
back.  So I have a BeanPostProcessor that I've written that applies some =
additional attributes to arbitrary objects.  I'd like to use the =
extensible XML support in Spring to be able to do something like the =
following:

<bean id=3D"..." class=3D"...">
   <myns:newtag attr1=3D"..." attr2=3D"..." />
   <myns:newtag attr1=3D"..." />
</bean>

Basically inserting a new tag within the bean definition that is similar =
to the <property /> tag in terms of min/maxoccurs.  Each one creating a =
BeanPostProcessor that will apply its changes to the bean it is defined =
within.  Now I've looked over the tutorials and I've seen two types of =
extensions.

One is adding an attribute from an alternate namespace e.g.

<bean id=3D"..." class=3D"... myns:extra-attr />

This involves writing a Decorator that has access to the bean definition =
and holder, but won't work for me because my tag can be applied multiple =
times with different attributes of its own.

The other using a namespace extension where a <bean> tag would already =
be allowed e.g.

<bean id=3D"..." class=3D"...">
   <property name=3D"prop">
       <myns:newtag ... />
   </property>
</bean>

I can see how this works because the bean definition created via my =
parser just gets set directly into the property.  In my case I don't =
need or have a property that I can hang my new bean definition off of.  =
It's just a BeanPostProcessor that I want to create behind the scenes.  =
In fact, the only reason I want to embed it inside the bean definition =
is because I'd like to imply that this tag applies to this bean =
(otherwise I'll need to provide the name of the bean so that my post =
processor can ignore other beans).

So I can see how I'd write an extension as follows:

<bean id=3D"some.id" class=3D"..." />
<myns:newtag bean=3D"some.id" attr1=3D"..." attr2=3D"..." />
<myns:newtag bean=3D"some.id" attr1=3D"..." />

The above example would be straight forward to implement based on the =
examples but the fact that I have to tie it to my original bean =
definition (by specifying bean=3D"some.id") is what I was trying to get =
around by embedding the tag within the bean definition itself.

Any suggestions on how I can do this?  If I just embed my namespaces XML =
inside of a bean definition will it get invoked and if so, will it add =
my bean to the bean factory or does it need a property do hang it off =
of?

Thanks,

Bryant