this.log.debug("converting xml:" + xml + " and xsl:" +
                  xsl + " to area tree");
        try {
            final File xmlFile = new File(this.baseDir + "/" + xml);
            final SessionConfig configuration = new SessionConfig();
            try {
                configuration.parseOption("base-directory",
                        xmlFile.getParentFile().toURI().toURL().toExternalForm(),
                        SessionConfig.PRECEDENCE_DEFAULT);
            } catch (final IOException e) {
                this.log.error("Error setting base directory");
            } catch (final ConfigurationException e) {