Configuring multiple similar beans

[jonmor]

I need to configure quite a lot of data access object (DAO) beans in my applicationContext.xml file:

<bean id="addressDAO" class="mypackage.dao.AddressDAOImpl">
<property name="sessionFactory"><ref local="sessionFactory"/></property>
</bean>
<bean id="userDAO" class="mypackage.dao.UserDAOImpl">
<property name="sessionFactory"><ref local="sessionFactory"/></property>
</bean>

etc.

I was wondering whether there were any shortcuts for configuring multiple beans with the same properties? For example, it might be done like this:

<property-applicator>
<property name="sessionFactory"><ref local="sessionFactory"/></property>
<property name="otherProperty"><ref local="otherBean"/></property>
<bean id="userDAO" class="mypackage.dao.UserDAOImpl"/>
<bean id="otherDAO" class="mypackage.dao.OtherDAOImpl"/>
<bean id="anotherDAO" class="mypackage.dao.AnotherDAOImpl"/>
</property-applicator>

It might come in handy if it doesn't already exist.

[ojolly]

There is already such a feature.
Creates a bean with attribute abstract="true". It is not an instanciable bean but it can be referenced by new beans to inherit its properties. You need not set a class attribute in it (but I don't know if you can add one). Then you write your real bean like <bean id="dao1" parent="myAbstractBean" class="...">.

HTH

Olivier

[jonmor]

So, I presume that I can just put the property tag in the parent bean declaration and it will be used by all the child beans? I knew I'd seen something like this - I think it was to do with transactions, but the same applies, of course.

[ojolly]

So, I presume that I can just put the property tag in the parent bean declaration and it will be used by all the child beans?

exactly.
About the class stuff, you may or may not precise it in the abstract/parent bean,a s you wish.

Olivier