title: Multiple .properties files in a Java project
body: <p>I would like to find an expedient way to switch between multiple <code>.properties</code> files for different deployment configurations.</p>
  
  <p>My initial inclination is to create a separate file, <code>selector.properties</code>, whose single property is used to determine the proper file:</p>
  
  <p><code>properties.file=deploymentConfiguration1.properties</code></p>
  
  <p>...for one deployment, or:</p>
  
  <p><code>properties.file=deploymentConfiguration2.properties</code></p>
  
  <p>...for the next deployment.</p>
  
  <p>Another developer on my team has an <code>ApplicationProperties</code> class wherein:</p>
  
  <p><code>private static final String PROP_FILE="someFileName.properties";</code></p>
  
  <p>...is the means to do this.  However, I want to switch properties files <strong>without</strong> rebuilding!  Thanks in advance for your input.</p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT:</strong> Maybe I should have been more clear initially, but this is for a set of web services packaged as an AAR. I will just drop it into the web server and let Tomcat and Axis2 do their thing.</p>
  
  <p>So, I don't think some of the answers with command-line params will work in this context.</p>