code: def load_properties
        # the properties file
        file = default_properties_file
        # the access properties
        props = file && File.exists?(file) ? load_properties_file(file) : {}
        # Load the Java application jar path.
        path = props[:classpath] || props[:path] || infer_classpath
        Java.expand_to_class_path(path) if path
        # Get the application login properties from the remoteService.xml, if necessary.
        unless props.has_key?(:host) or props.has_key?(:port) then
          url = remote_service_url
          if url then
            host, port = url.split(':')
            props[:host] = host
            props[:port] = port
          end
        end
        unless props.has_key?(:database) then
          props.merge(infer_database_properties)
        end
        props
      end
docs: Loads the caTissue classpath and connection properties.