code: public void setParameter( String key, Object obj ) {
          if (key.equals("novalue")) { //$NON-NLS-1$
              novalue = obj;
          } else if (key.equals("matrixtype")) { //$NON-NLS-1$
              Integer dmtype = (Integer) obj;
              matrixType = dmtype.intValue();
          }
      }
docs: utility to set particular parameters