code: public Integer getInitialValue()
     {
        if(childNode.getAttribute("initial-value") != null && !childNode.getAttribute("initial-value").equals("null"))
        {
           return Integer.valueOf(childNode.getAttribute("initial-value"));
        }
        return null;
     }
docs: Returns the <code>initial-value</code> attribute
  @return the value defined for the attribute <code>initial-value</code>