I understand what you mean. Because the only way to actually get the KeySet of the underlying Map is through the Type object, which can't be done with an open ended type property Unless you add the key via MutableCompositeMetaType.addItem(String itemName, String itemDescription, MetaType itemType) I am not so against having to do that process. If that is what it takes to make it general purpose. I can also see how you can get the basic information you need for addItem (except for the itemDescription) from the set(String key, MetaValue value) I would like to avoid the Table types. They seem overkill for configuration properties. They could probably hold the entire set of DS properties within that one Value type object. :) View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4126837#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...