code: public static boolean getBooleanProperty(String key, Properties props)
      {
  
          String s = props.getProperty(key);
  
          if (null == s || !s.equals("yes"))
              return false;
          else
              return true;
      }
docs: Searches for the boolean property with the specified key in the property list.
  If the key is not found in this property list, the default property list,
  and its defaults, recursively, are then checked. The method returns
  <code>false</code> if the property is not found, or if the value is other
  than "yes".
  
  @param   key   the property key.
  @param   props   the list of properties that will be searched.
  @return  the value in this property list as a boolean value, or false
  if null or not "yes".