Use a default property list. : Properties « Collections « Java Tutorial

1. Java Tutorial
2. Collections
3. Properties

import java.util.Properties;
import java.util.Set;

class PropDemoDef {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    Properties defList = new Properties();
    defList.put("Florida", "Tallahassee");
    defList.put("Wisconsin", "Madison");

    Properties capitals = new Properties(defList);

    capitals.put("Illinois", "Springfield");
    capitals.put("Missouri", "Jefferson City");
    capitals.put("Washington", "Olympia");
    capitals.put("California", "Sacramento");
    capitals.put("Indiana", "Indianapolis");

    Set states = capitals.keySet();

    for (Object name : states)
      System.out.println(name + " / " + capitals.getProperty((String) name));

    String str = capitals.getProperty("Florida");
    System.out.println("The capital of Florida is " + str + ".");
  }
}