code: public static Map<String, String> propertiesTagAction(String action, ServletRequest req) throws CmsException {
  
          CmsFlexController controller = CmsFlexController.getController(req);
  
          // now read the property from the VFS
          Map<String, String> value = new HashMap<String, String>();
          CmsPropertyAction propertyAction = new CmsPropertyAction(req, action);
          if (null != propertyAction.getVfsUri()) {
              value = CmsProperty.toMap(
                  controller.getCmsObject().readPropertyObjects(propertyAction.getVfsUri(), propertyAction.isSearch()));
          }
          return value;
      }
docs: Internal action method.<p>
  
  @param action the search action
  @param req the current request
  
  @return String the value of the property or <code>null</code> if not found (and no defaultValue provided)
  
  @throws CmsException if something goes wrong