how to reference a bean of another xml file in spring

Question

I have a Spring bean defined in an xml file. I want to reference it from another xml file. How can I go about it?

Answer 1

You may also go about this by loading multiple Spring bean configuration files in the code :

ApplicationContext context = new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext(
    new String[] {"Spring-Common.xml", "Spring-Connection.xml","Spring-ModuleA.xml"});

Put all spring xml files under project classpath:

project-classpath/Spring-Common.xml
project-classpath/Spring-Connection.xml
project-classpath/Spring-ModuleA.xml

However, the above implementation is a lack of organizing and error prone, the better way should be organized all your Spring bean configuration files into a single XML file. For example, create a Spring-All-Module.xml file, and import the entire Spring bean files like this :

Now you can load a single xml file like this :

ApplicationContext context = 
    new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext(Spring-All-Module.xml);

Note In Spring3, the alternative solution is using JavaConfig @Import.