Deployment Descriptor - run time modification

Question

As EJB spec states that deployment descriptor is for dynamic modification of EJB properties.
I don't understand that once we give these (EJBs) JAR files to customer, how customer can change deployment descriptors which are hidden inside JAR files.
Is there any tool which will open these JARs and modify the deployment descriptors.
Any other comments are appreciated.
I am using BAS 4.5 and JBoss 2.4.4.

Answer 1

Greetings,
As EJB spec states that deployment descriptor is for
dynamic modification of EJB properties.Actually, the deployment descriptor allows for "post compile-time customization" of beans by means of the "declarative deployment model"...
IOW, the DD provides information that is to be made available to the bean by its runtime environment (container), which information is provided in between compile-time and runtime. Such information may provide customization data ("Environment References"), make resources available (reference links), and/or provide security information (role references). The bean ("component", actually, since web-tier components now also benefit from deployment descriptors ;), can then get access to this information during it's runtime as required. Typically, this means customization data - which, of course, allow the bean to initialize its state for the application/enterprise in which it runs - though, role-references may be used to fine-grain security authorizations; reference links, however, may be thought of as working in the opposite direction - they are handled transaparently by the container - since, in essence it is the bean that is providing link value.
I don't understand that once we give these (EJBs) JAR
files to customer, how customer can change deployment
descriptors which are hidden inside JAR files.Technically, it is the "bean descriptor", possibly the "assembly (application) descriptor", that is given to the end user (either the application assembler or deployer...), since the deployment descriptor is not created until actual deployment. ;)
Of course, the real issue here is "component customization": the customer does not modify the DD, but rather provides values for the lookups the component is making (which lookups -as well as other details about what's expected from them - are provided to the customer along with the component), during either the assembly and/or deployment phases (each of which may produce their own DD levels).
Is there any tool which will open these JARs and
modify the deployment descriptors.In a manner of speaking... the vendor's deployment tool provides the intended capability.
Any other comments are appreciated.
I am using BAS 4.5 and JBoss 2.4.4.Regards,
Tony "Vee Schade" Cook