application.getInitParameter

[NY...@aol.com]

Hello Developers,
 
I was wondering if using the debug variable in web.xml and setting it to  
true, than using function calls such as application.getInitParameter is a  
succesful way to debug a web service.
 
If so, I am having trouble getting the application variable instantiated  
because it seems to be a pre-declared variable in JSP files however not so in a  
straight-forward Java program. Am I correct in this thinking?
 
And hopefully somebody could help me get it instantiated and give me advice  
concerning the practicality of using this type of method. Thanks,
James Crosson