Weird Classloader Scenario - Is This Possible?

[Ma...@micorp.com]

Hi,

We have a fairly generic servlet framework that is used across more than 
one web app deployed to tomcat 4.1.30 on win2k using java 1.4.2_03-b02. 
The framework was initially included in the WEB-INF/lib for each 
application.  However, I was hoping the framework jar could reside in 
shared/lib.  This framework code basically uses a request handler to pass 
incoming requests to a webapp-specific request processor.  The request 
handler instantiates a request processor via 
handler.getClass().getClassLoader().loadClass(SOME_PROCESSOR).newInstance(). 
 Basically, as expected, the classloader fails to load the request 
processor class with the framework jar now in shared/lib.

Is there a loader scheme that I can use in the shared/lib jar that can be 
used to instantiate classes from my webapp (WEB-INF/classes)?

Thanks!
Matt Hanson