@classmethod<EOL><INDENT>def getString(cls, prop):<DEDENT>
if cls._properties is None:<EOL><INDENT>cls._readStdConfigFiles()<EOL><DEDENT>envValue = os.environ.get("<STR_LIT>" % (cls.envPropPrefix,<EOL>prop.replace('<STR_LIT:.>', '<STR_LIT:_>')), None)<EOL>if envValue is not None:<EOL><INDENT>return envValue<EOL><DEDENT>return cls._properties[prop]<EOL>
Retrieve the requested property as a string. If property does not exist,
        then KeyError will be raised.

        Parameters:
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        prop:        name of the property
        retval:      property value as a string