code: public static List<Object> convertList(List<Object> input, String attributeName) {
  
          List<Object> result = new ArrayList<Object>(input.size());
  
          for (Object item : input) {
              try {
                  result.add(PropertyUtils.getProperty(item, attributeName));
              } catch (Exception e) {
                  // specified attribute is not implemented, return empty list
                  return Collections.emptyList();
              }
          }
  
          return result;
      }
docs: Returns a list of attribute values specified by the attribute name of the items of the given list.<p>
  
  @param input the list of objects to obtain the attribute values from
  @param attributeName the name of the attribute to obtain
  @return a list of attributes specified by the attribute name of the items of the given list