docs: protected void load()
      {
          properties = new Properties();
  
          String filename = getFilename();
          
          try
          {
              URL url = ClassHelper.getResource(filename);
  
              if (url == null)
              {
                  url = (new File(filename)).toURL();
              }
  
              logger.info("Loading OJB's properties: " + url);
  
              URLConnection conn = url.openConnection();
              conn.setUseCaches(false);
              conn.connect();
              InputStream strIn = conn.getInputStream();
              properties.load(strIn);
              strIn.close();
          }
          catch (FileNotFoundException ex)
          {
              // [tomdz] If the filename is explicitly reset (null or empty string) then we'll
              //         output an info message because the user did this on purpose
              //         Otherwise, we'll output a warning
              if ((filename == null) || (filename.length() == 0))
              {
                  logger.info("Starting OJB without a properties file. OJB is using default settings instead.");
              }
              else
              {
                  logger.warn("Could not load properties file '"+filename+"'. Using default settings!", ex);
              }
              // [tomdz] There seems to be no use of this setting ?
              //properties.put("valid", "false");
          }
          catch (Exception ex)
          {
              throw new MetadataException("An error happend while loading the properties file '"+filename+"'", ex);
          }
      }