code: public static String getSerializedAttributes(final String prefix,
                                                   final Properties attributeProperties)
      {
          final StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer();
          appendSerializedAttributes(buf, prefix, attributeProperties);
          return buf.toString();
      }
docs: Returns an XML-string with serialized configuration attributes.
  Used when serializing {@link org.apache.ojb.broker.metadata.AttributeContainer} attributes.
  @param prefix the line prefix (ie indent) or null for no prefix
  @param attributeProperties the properties object holding attributes to be serialized
  (null-safe)
  @return XML-string with serialized configuration attributes (never null)