I've the same problem, and I think to solve the problem we need to change the digesters rules to accept another rule (like a composite pattern)
An example will make my point more clear. public void parse() { ... Digeter d = new Digester(); Rule r = new xxxxRule("a"); r.addXxxxRule("b"); d.addRule(r); ... } -- Pablo Nussembaum mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: +54-11-4382-6400 int 123 Datatransfer S.A.