5.10. Properties Management

5.10.1. Overview

This section explains how to manage properties.

Value that needs to be managed as properties can be classified into following two categories.

Sr. No.	Classification	Description	Example
	Environment dependent setting	The setting needs to be changed according to the environment on which the application is running. It depends on non-functional requirements such as system configuration.	Database connection information (connection URL, connection user, password, etc) Destination of the file storage (directory path etc) more …
	Application settings	The settings that can be customize the application behavior. It depends on functional requirements.	Password valid days Reservation period days more …

Note

In this guideline, it is recommended to manage these settings as properties (properties file).

If an application is mechanized such a way that acquires setting from the properties, there is no need to re-build the application even if there is any changes in these values. Therefore it is possible to release the tested application on production environment.

About how to release the tested application, refer to “Removing Environment Dependency”.

Tip

Values that are managed as properties can be acquired from JVM system properties (-D option) or OS environment variables. About access order, refer to “How to use”.

Values that are managed as properties can be used at the following two locations.

• Bean definition file
• Java classes managed by DI container

5.10.2. How to use

5.10.2.1. About properties file definition

Properties file values in Java class and bean definition file can be accessed by defining <context:property-placeholder/> tag in bean definition file.

<context:property-placeholder/> tag reads the group of specified properties files

and can fetch values for properties files key xxx specified in ${xxx} format in @Value annotation or bean definition files.

Note

When specified in ${xxx:defaultValue}format and when key xxx is not set in properties file, defaultValue is used.

See the method below for defining a properties file

bean definition file

• applicationContext.xml
• spring-mvc.xml

<context:property-placeholder location="classpath*:META-INF/spring/*.properties"/>  <!-- (1) -->

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	In location, set the resource location path. Multiple paths separated by comma can be specified in location attribute. By performing above settings, read properties file under META-INF/spring directory of class path. Once these settings are done, just add the properties file under META-INF/spring. For details on location value, see Reference.

Note

<context:property-placeholder> needs to be defined in both applicationContext.xml and spring-mvc.xml.

Properties are accessed in the following order by default.

1. System properties of active JVM
2. Environment variables
3. Application definition properties

As per default setting, properties file defined in application is searched and read after all environment related properties (JVM system properties and environment variables) are read.

Read sequence can be changed by setting local-override attribute of <context:property-placeholder/> tag to true.

By performing these settings, the properties defined in application are enabled with higher priority.

bean definition file

<context:property-placeholder
    location="classpath*:META-INF/spring/*.properties"
    local-override="true" /> <!-- (1) -->

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	Access properties in the following order when local-override attribute is set to true. 1. Application definition properties 2. System properties of active JVM 3. Environment variables

Note

Normally the above settings are sufficient. When multiple <context:property-placeholder/> tags are specified, read order can be defined by setting order attribute value.

bean definition file

<context:property-placeholder
     location="classpath:/META-INF/property/extendPropertySources.properties"
     order="1" ignore-unresolvable="true" /> <!-- (1) -->
<context:property-placeholder
     location="classpath*:/META-INF/spring/*.properties"
     order="2" ignore-unresolvable="true" /> <!-- (2) -->

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	By setting the order attribute to a value which is less than (2), properties file corresponding to location attribute is read before (2). When a key overlapping with the key in properties file read in (2) exists, value fetched in (1) is given preference. By setting ignore-unresolvable attribute to true, error which occurs when key exists only in properties file of (2) can be prevented.
(2)	By setting the order attribute to value greater than (1), properties file corresponding to location attribute is read after (1). When a key overlapping with the key in properties file read in (1) exists, value fetched in (1) is set. By setting ignore-unresolvable attribute to true, error which occurs when key exists only in properties file of (1) can be prevented.

5.10.2.2. Using properties in bean definition file

See the example below of datasource configuration file.

In the following example, it is assumed that properties file definition ( <context:property-placeholder/> ) is specified.

Basically, property value can be set by setting properties file key in bean definition file using ${} placeholder.

Properties file

database.url=jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/shopping
database.password=postgres
database.username=postgres
database.driverClassName=org.postgresql.Driver

bean definition file

<bean id="dataSource"
    destroy-method="close"
    class="org.apache.commons.dbcp2.BasicDataSource">
    <property name="driverClassName"
              value="${database.driverClassName}"/>  <!-- (1) -->
    <property name="url" value="${database.url}"/>  <!-- (2) -->
    <property name="username" value="${database.username}"/>  <!-- (3) -->
    <property name="password" value="${database.password}"/>  <!-- (4) -->
    <!-- omitted -->
</bean>

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	By setting ${database.driverClassName}, the value for read properties file key database.driverClassName gets substituted.
(2)	By setting ${database.url}, the value for read properties file key database.url gets substituted.
(3)	By setting ${database.username}, the value for read properties file key database.username gets substituted.
(4)	By setting ${database.password}, the value for read properties file key database.password gets substituted.

As a result of reading the properties file key, the values are replaced as follows:

<bean id="dataSource"
    destroy-method="close"
    class="org.apache.commons.dbcp2.BasicDataSource">
    <property name="driverClassName" value="org.postgresql.Driver"/>
    <property name="url"
              value="jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/shopping"/>
    <property name="username" value="postgres"/>
    <property name="password" value="postgres"/>
    <!-- omitted -->
</bean>

5.10.2.3. Using properties in Java class

It is possible to use properties in Java class by specifying @Value annotation in the field wherein properties values are to be stored.

To use @Value annotation, the corresponding object needs to be stored in DI container of Spring.

In the following example, it is assumed that properties file definition ( <context:property-placeholder/> ) is specified.

External reference is possible by adding @Value annotation to variables and setting properties file key in value using ${} placeholder.

Properties file

item.upload.title=list of update file
item.upload.dir=file:/tmp/upload
item.upload.maxUpdateFileNum=10

Java class

@Value("${item.upload.title}")  // (1)
private String uploadTitle;

@Value("${item.upload.dir}")  // (2)
private Resource uploadDir;

@Value("${item.upload.maxUpdateFileNum}")  // (3)
private int maxUpdateFileNum;

// Getters and setters omitted

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	By setting ${item.upload.title} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key item.upload.title gets substituted. uploadTitle is substituted by “list of update file” in String class.
(2)	By setting ${item.upload.dir} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key item.upload.dir gets substituted. org.springframework.core.io.Resource object created with initial value “/tmp/upload” is stored in uploadDir.
(3)	By setting ${item.upload.maxUpdateFileNum} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key item.upload.maxUpdateFileNum gets substituted. maxUpdateFileNum is substituted by 10.

Warning

There could be cases wherein properties values are to be used in static methods of Utility classes etc.; however properties value cannot be fetched using @Value annotation in classes for which bean definition is not done. In this case, it is recommended to create Helper class with @Component annotation and to fetch properties values using @Value annotation. (This class needs to be included in the component-scan scope.) Classes in which values from properties file is to be used, should not be made Utility classes.

5.10.3. How to extend

Extension of method for fetching properties values is explained below. This can be achieved by extending org.springframework.context.support.PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer class.

The example below illustrates a case wherein encrypted properties file is used.

5.10.3.1. Decrypting encrypted values and using them

To strengthen security, properties file needs to be encrypted in some cases.

The example below illustrates decryption of encrypted properties values. (No specific encrypting and decrypting methods are mentioned.)

bean definition file

• applicationContext.xml
• spring-mvc.xml

<!-- (1) -->
<bean class="com.example.common.property.EncryptedPropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer">
    <!-- (2) -->
    <property name="locations"
              value="classpath*:/META-INF/spring/*.properties" />
</bean>

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	Define the extended PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer instead of <context:property-placeholder/>. <context:property-placeholder/> tag should be deleted.
(2)	Set “locations” in name attribute of property tag and specify the path of the properties file to be read, in value attribute. The method of specifying path of the properties file to be read is same as About properties file definition.

Java class

• Extended PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer

public class EncryptedPropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer extends
    PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer { // (1)
    @Override
    protected void doProcessProperties(
            ConfigurableListableBeanFactory beanFactoryToProcess,
            StringValueResolver valueResolver) { // (2)
        super.doProcessProperties(beanFactoryToProcess,
            new EncryptedValueResolver(valueResolver)); // (3)
    }
}

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	Inherited PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer, should extend org.springframework.context.support.PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer class.
(2)	Override doProcessProperties method of org.springframework.context.support.PropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer class.
(3)	Call doProcessProperties of parent class; however, use valueResolver( EncryptedValueResolver ) valueResolver wherein valueResolver is implemented independently. In EncryptedValueResolver class, decrypt when encrypted values of properties file are fetched.

• EncryptedValueResolver.java

public class EncryptedValueResolver implements
                                    StringValueResolver { // (1)

    private final StringValueResolver valueResolver;

    EncryptedValueResolver(StringValueResolver stringValueResolver) { // (2)
        this.valueResolver = stringValueResolver;
    }

    @Override
    public String resolveStringValue(String strVal) { // (3)

        // Values obtained from the property file to the naming
        // as seen with the encryption target
        String value = valueResolver.resolveStringValue(strVal); // (4)

        // Target messages only, implement coding
        if (value.startsWith("Encrypted:")) { // (5)
            value =  value.substring(10); // (6)
            // omitted decryption
        }
        return value;
    }
}

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	Inherited EncryptedValueResolver should implement org.springframework.util.StringValueResolver.
(2)	When EncryptedValueResolver class is created in constructor, set StringValueResolver inherited from EncryptedPropertySourcesPlaceholderConfigurer.
(3)	Override resolveStringValue method of org.springframework.util.StringValueResolver. If the values fetched from properties file are encrypted, these must be decrypted in resolveStringValue method. The process mentioned in steps (5) and (6) is just an example, the process differs depending on type of implementation.
(4)	The value is being fetched by specifying key as an argument of resolveStringValue method of StringValueResolver set in constructor. This value is defined in properties file.
(5)	Check whether values of properties file are encrypted. The method to determine whether the values are encrypted differs depending on type of implementation. Here, the value can be considered encrypted if it starts with “Encrypted:”. If the values are encrypted, decrypt them in step (6) and if they are not encrypted, return them as is.
(6)	Encrypted values of properties file are being decrypted. (No specific decryption process is mentioned.) Decryption method differs depending on type of implementation.

• Helper to fetch properties

@Value("${encrypted.property.string}") // (1)
private String testString;

@Value("${encrypted.property.int}") // (2)
private int testInt;

@Value("${encrypted.property.integer}") // (3)
private Integer testInteger;

@Value("${encrypted.property.file}") // (4)
private File testFile;

// Getters and setters omitted

Sr. No.	Description
(1)	By setting ${encrypted.property.string} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key encrypted.property.string is decrypted and then substituted. Value decrypted in String class is substituted in testString.
(2)	By setting ${encrypted.property.int} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key encrypted.property.int is decrypted and then substituted. Value decrypted in integer type is substituted in testInt.
(3)	By setting ${encrypted.property.integer} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key encrypted.property.integer is decrypted and then substituted. Value decrypted in Integer class is substituted in testInteger.
(4)	By setting ${encrypted.property.file} to @Value annotation value, the value for read properties file key encrypted.property.file is decrypted and then substituted. In testFile, File object is stored as initial value which is created using the decrypted value (auto conversion).

Properties file

The values encrypted as properties values are prefixed with “Encrypted:” to indicate that they are encrypted. Although one can view the contents of properties file, but cannot understand them as the values are encrypted.

encrypted.property.string=Encrypted:ZlpbQRJRWlNAU1FGV0ASRVteXhJQVxJXXFFAS0JGV1Yc
encrypted.property.int=Encrypted:AwI=
encrypted.property.integer=Encrypted:AwICAgI=
encrypted.property.file=Encrypted:YkBdQldARkt/U1xTVVdfV1xGHFpGX14=