code: public static String getPropery(String key, PropertyOwner propertyOwner, Map<String,Object> properties, String defaultValue)
      {
          String returnValue = null;
          if (propertyOwner != null)
              returnValue = propertyOwner.getProperty(key);
          if (properties != null) if (returnValue == null)
              returnValue = (String)properties.get(key);
          if (returnValue == null)
              returnValue = defaultValue;
          return returnValue;
      }
docs: A utility to get the property from the propertyowner or the property.