code: public void validateAttribute(String attribute) throws CompatibilityException {
                  try {
                          super.validateObject(attribute);
                  } catch (CompatibilityException e) {
                          throw new CompatibilityException("Unknown attribute: " + attribute, e);
                  }
          }
docs: Checks if the given attribute is known, i.e. is contained in the
  attribute list.
  
  @param attribute Attribute to be checked.
  @throws IllegalArgumentException If the given attribute is not known.