public static void setupLogging(String log4jPath) {
		//set up the logging
		try {
			if (log4jPath != null)
				log4jPath = log4jPath + File.separator + "log4j.properties";
			else 
				log4jPath = System.getProperty(log4jPathProperty);
			if (log4jPath == null)
				log4jPath = System.getProperty("user.dir") + File.separator + "log4j.properties";
			System.out.println("log4jPath: " + log4jPath);
			PropertyConfigurator.configure(log4jPath);
			log.debug("Utility.setuplogging: logging started");
			return;
		} catch (Exception e) {
			System.err.println("Utility-setupLogging: an error ocurred in starting the logging: " + e.getMessage() );
		}
	} //end of setupLogging