diff --git a/proposal/sandbox/filterreaders/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LoadProperties.java b/proposal/sandbox/filterreaders/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LoadProperties.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cf1ab9ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proposal/sandbox/filterreaders/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/LoadProperties.java
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+/*
+ * The Apache Software License, Version 1.1
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2002 The Apache Software Foundation. All rights
+ * reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ * the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *
+ * 3. The end-user documentation included with the redistribution, if
+ * any, must include the following acknowlegement:
+ * "This product includes software developed by the
+ * Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org/)."
+ * Alternately, this acknowlegement may appear in the software itself,
+ * if and wherever such third-party acknowlegements normally appear.
+ *
+ * 4. The names "The Jakarta Project", "Ant", and "Apache Software
+ * Foundation" must not be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ * from this software without prior written permission. For written
+ * permission, please contact apache@apache.org.
+ *
+ * 5. Products derived from this software may not be called "Apache"
+ * nor may "Apache" appear in their names without prior written
+ * permission of the Apache Group.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE APACHE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION OR
+ * ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
+ * USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+ * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
+ * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ * ====================================================================
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many
+ * individuals on behalf of the Apache Software Foundation. For more
+ * information on the Apache Software Foundation, please see
+ * .
+ */
+package org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs;
+
+import org.apache.tools.ant.Task;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.Project;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildException;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.AntFilterReader;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.FilterReaderSet;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Parameter;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Parameterizable;
+
+import java.io.*;
+import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
+import java.util.Vector;
+
+/**
+ * Load a file's contents as Ant Properties.
+ *
+ * @author Magesh Umasankar
+ * @created 20 February 2002
+ */
+public final class LoadProperties extends Task {
+
+ /**
+ * Source file
+ */
+ private File srcFile = null;
+
+ /**
+ * Holds filterReaderSets
+ */
+ private final Vector filterReaderSets = new Vector();
+
+ /**
+ * Sets the srcfile attribute.
+ *
+ * @param srcFile The new SrcFile value
+ */
+ public final void setSrcFile(final File srcFile) {
+ this.srcFile = srcFile;
+ }
+
+ /**
+ * read in a source file's contents and load them up as Ant properties
+ *
+ * @exception BuildException if something goes wrong with the build
+ */
+ public final void execute() throws BuildException {
+ //validation
+ if (srcFile == null) {
+ throw new BuildException("Source file not defined.");
+ }
+
+ if (!srcFile.exists()) {
+ throw new BuildException("Source file does not exist.");
+ }
+
+ if (!srcFile.isFile()) {
+ throw new BuildException("Source file is not a file.");
+ }
+
+ FileInputStream fis = null;
+ BufferedInputStream bis = null;
+ Reader instream = null;
+
+ try {
+ final long len = srcFile.length();
+ final int size=(int) len;
+
+ //open up the file
+ fis = new FileInputStream(srcFile);
+ bis = new BufferedInputStream(fis);
+ instream = new InputStreamReader(bis);
+
+ String text = processStream(instream, size);
+ if (!text.endsWith("\n")) {
+ text = text + "\n";
+ }
+
+ int index = 0;
+
+ if (text != null) {
+ while (index != -1) {
+ int oldIndex = index;
+ index = text.indexOf("\n", oldIndex);
+ if (index != -1) {
+ String line = text.substring(oldIndex, index);
+ if (line.endsWith("\r")) {
+ line = line.substring(0, line.length() - 1);
+ }
+ int equalIndex = line.indexOf("=");
+ int spaceIndex = line.indexOf(" ");
+ int sepIndex = -1;
+
+ if (equalIndex != -1 || spaceIndex != -1) {
+ if (equalIndex == -1) {
+ sepIndex = spaceIndex;
+ } else if (spaceIndex == -1) {
+ sepIndex = equalIndex;
+ } else {
+ sepIndex = Math.min(spaceIndex, equalIndex);
+ }
+ }
+
+ if (sepIndex != -1) {
+ String key = line.substring(0, sepIndex);
+ String value = line.substring(sepIndex + 1);
+ if (value != null && value.trim().length() > 0) {
+ project.setNewProperty(key, value);
+ }
+ }
+
+ ++index;
+ }
+ }
+ }
+
+ } catch (final IOException ioe) {
+ final String message = "Unable to load file: " + ioe.toString();
+ throw new BuildException(message, ioe, location);
+ } catch (final BuildException be) {
+ throw be;
+ } finally {
+ try {
+ if (fis != null) {
+ fis.close();
+ }
+ } catch (IOException ioex) {
+ //ignore
+ }
+ }
+ }
+
+ /**
+ * Process the input by passing it through the reader chain.
+ */
+ private final String processStream(final Reader inputReader, final int size)
+ throws BuildException, IOException {
+
+ Reader instream = inputReader;
+ final char[] buffer = new char[size];
+ final int filterReadersCount = filterReaderSets.size();
+ final Vector finalFilters = new Vector();
+
+ for (int i = 0; i < filterReadersCount; i++) {
+ final FilterReaderSet filterset =
+ (FilterReaderSet) filterReaderSets.elementAt(i);
+ final Vector filterReaders = filterset.getFilterReaders();
+ final int readerCount = filterReaders.size();
+ for (int j = 0; j < readerCount; j++) {
+ final AntFilterReader afr =
+ (AntFilterReader) filterReaders.elementAt(j);
+ finalFilters.addElement(afr);
+ }
+ }
+
+ final int filtersCount = finalFilters.size();
+
+ if (filtersCount > 0) {
+ for (int i = 0; i < filtersCount; i++) {
+ final AntFilterReader filter =
+ (AntFilterReader) finalFilters.elementAt(i);
+ final String className = filter.getClassName();
+ if (className != null) {
+ try {
+ final Class clazz = Class.forName(className);
+ if (clazz != null) {
+ final Constructor[] constructors =
+ clazz.getConstructors();
+ final Reader[] rdr = {instream};
+ instream =
+ (Reader) constructors[0].newInstance(rdr);
+ if (Parameterizable.class.isAssignableFrom(clazz)) {
+ final Parameter[] params = filter.getParams();
+ ((Parameterizable)
+ instream).setParameters(params);
+ }
+ }
+ } catch (final ClassNotFoundException cnfe) {
+ throw new BuildException(cnfe, location);
+ } catch (final InstantiationException ie) {
+ throw new BuildException(ie, location);
+ } catch (final IllegalAccessException iae) {
+ throw new BuildException(iae, location);
+ } catch (final InvocationTargetException ite) {
+ throw new BuildException(ite, location);
+ }
+ }
+ }
+ }
+
+ int bufferLength = 0;
+ String text = null;
+ while (bufferLength != -1) {
+ bufferLength = instream.read(buffer);
+ if (bufferLength != -1) {
+ if (text == null) {
+ text = new String(buffer, 0, bufferLength);
+ } else {
+ text += new String(buffer, 0, bufferLength);
+ }
+ }
+ }
+ return text;
+ }
+
+ /**
+ * Add the FilterReaderSet element.
+ */
+ public final void addFilterReaderSet(FilterReaderSet filter) {
+ filterReaderSets.addElement(filter);
+ }
+
+//end class
+}