diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/build.xml b/utilities/anttasks/build.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ab1cf855a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utilities/anttasks/build.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!-- ====================================================================== 
+
+     Create:
+     
+     1) DirDifferenceResourceCollection - 
+          A new resource collection that will allow us to efficiently merge
+            a primary directory with an overriding directory.
+          A file in the primary directory is included in the resource collection
+            if there is no matching file in the blocking directory
+
+     ====================================================================== -->
+<project name="antTypesAndTasks" default="all">
+
+	<property name="source.dir" location="./src" />
+	<property name="antclasses.dir" location="./classes" />
+	<property name="lib.dir" location="./lib" />
+
+	<path id="compile.classpath">
+		<pathelement location="${lib.dir}/ant.jar" />
+	</path>
+
+	<!-- ================================= 
+          target: all              
+         ================================= -->
+	<target name="all" description="compile the custom types and tasks">
+		<javac srcdir="${source.dir}"
+		       destdir="${antclasses.dir}"
+		       debug="true"
+		       encoding="UTF8"
+		       includeantruntime="false"
+		       source="1.6">
+			<classpath refid="compile.classpath" />
+		</javac>
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- ================================= 
+          target: clean              
+         ================================= -->
+	<target name="clean" description="start from scratch">
+		<delete dir="${antclasses.dir}" />
+		<mkdir dir="${antclasses.dir}" />
+	</target>
+
+
+</project>
diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection$DirectoryFilter.class b/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection$DirectoryFilter.class
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..610bbcfa7
Binary files /dev/null and b/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection$DirectoryFilter.class differ
diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection$NonDirectoryFilter.class b/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection$NonDirectoryFilter.class
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b9537fcc5
Binary files /dev/null and b/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection$NonDirectoryFilter.class differ
diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection.class b/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection.class
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..25048a683
Binary files /dev/null and b/utilities/anttasks/classes/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection.class differ
diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/lib/ant.jar b/utilities/anttasks/lib/ant.jar
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..704717779
Binary files /dev/null and b/utilities/anttasks/lib/ant.jar differ
diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/AbstractDirResourceCollection.java b/utilities/anttasks/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/AbstractDirResourceCollection.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b461fba32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utilities/anttasks/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/AbstractDirResourceCollection.java
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+/* $This file is distributed under the terms of the license in /doc/license.txt$ */
+
+package edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.utilities.anttasks;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileFilter;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildException;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.DataType;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Resource;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.ResourceCollection;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.FileResource;
+
+/**
+ * Include all files that are in the primary directory, but do not have matching
+ * files in the blocking directory.
+ */
+public abstract class AbstractDirResourceCollection extends DataType implements
+		ResourceCollection {
+	protected List<FileResource> files = null;
+	protected File primaryDir;
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean isFilesystemOnly() {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Insure that the list has been filled and return an iterator to the list.
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public Iterator<? extends Resource> iterator() {
+		fillFilesList();
+		return files.iterator();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Insure that the list has been filled and return the size of the list.
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public int size() {
+		fillFilesList();
+		return files.size();
+	}
+
+	public void setPrimary(File primaryDir) {
+		this.primaryDir = primaryDir;
+	}
+
+	protected abstract void fillFilesList();
+
+	/**
+	 * The directory path must be provided, and unless the optional flag is set,
+	 * must point to an existing, readable directory.
+	 */
+	protected void confirmValidDirectory(File dir, String label,
+			boolean optional) {
+		if (dir == null) {
+			throw new BuildException(label + " directory not specified.");
+		}
+		if (!dir.exists()) {
+			if (optional) {
+				return;
+			} else {
+				throw new BuildException(label + " directory '" + dir.getPath()
+						+ "' does not exist.");
+			}
+		}
+		if (!dir.isDirectory()) {
+			throw new BuildException(label + " directory '" + dir.getPath()
+					+ "' is not a directory.");
+		}
+		if (!dir.canRead()) {
+			throw new BuildException(label + " directory '" + dir.getPath()
+					+ "' is not readable.");
+		}
+	}
+
+	protected void includeAllFiles(File primary) {
+		for (File file : primary.listFiles(new NonDirectoryFilter())) {
+			files.add(buildResource(file));
+		}
+		for (File primarySubDir : primary.listFiles(new DirectoryFilter())) {
+			includeAllFiles(primarySubDir);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * All file resources are based on the original primary directory.
+	 */
+	protected FileResource buildResource(File file) {
+		String primaryBasePath = primaryDir.getAbsolutePath();
+		String filePath = file.getAbsolutePath();
+		if (!filePath.startsWith(primaryBasePath)) {
+			throw new IllegalStateException("File is not a descendant "
+					+ "of the primary directory: file='" + file
+					+ "', primary='" + primaryDir + "'");
+		}
+
+		String pathPart = filePath.substring(primaryBasePath.length());
+		if (pathPart.startsWith(File.separator)) {
+			pathPart = pathPart.substring(1);
+		}
+
+		// System.out.println("Resource: b='" + primaryDir + "', name='" +
+		// pathPart + "'");
+		return new FileResource(primaryDir, pathPart);
+	}
+
+	public class DirectoryFilter implements FileFilter {
+		@Override
+		public boolean accept(File file) {
+			return file.isDirectory();
+		}
+	}
+
+	public class NonDirectoryFilter implements FileFilter {
+		@Override
+		public boolean accept(File file) {
+			return !file.isDirectory();
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/utilities/anttasks/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection.java b/utilities/anttasks/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c9d15da5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utilities/anttasks/src/edu/cornell/mannlib/vitro/utilities/anttasks/DirDifferenceResourceCollection.java
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+/* $This file is distributed under the terms of the license in /doc/license.txt$ */
+
+package edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.utilities.anttasks;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileFilter;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildException;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.DataType;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Resource;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.ResourceCollection;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.FileResource;
+
+/**
+ * Include all files that are in the primary directory, but do not have matching
+ * files in the blocking directory.
+ */
+public class DirDifferenceResourceCollection extends DataType implements
+		ResourceCollection {
+	private List<FileResource> files = null;
+	private File primaryDir;
+	private File blockingDir;
+	private boolean blockingOptional;
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean isFilesystemOnly() {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Insure that the list has been filled and return an iterator to the list.
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public Iterator<? extends Resource> iterator() {
+		fillFilesList();
+		return files.iterator();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Insure that the list has been filled and return the size of the list.
+	 */
+	@Override
+	public int size() {
+		fillFilesList();
+		return files.size();
+	}
+
+	public void setPrimary(File primaryDir) {
+		this.primaryDir = primaryDir;
+	}
+
+	public void setBlocking(File blockingDir) {
+		this.blockingDir = blockingDir;
+	}
+
+	public void setBlockingOptional(boolean blockingOptional) {
+		this.blockingOptional = blockingOptional;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * If the list hasn't already been filled, fill it with all files in the
+	 * primary directory that are not blocked by files with the same path under
+	 * the blocking directory.
+	 */
+	private void fillFilesList() {
+		if (files != null) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		confirmValidDirectory(primaryDir, "Primary", false);
+		confirmValidDirectory(blockingDir, "Blocking", blockingOptional);
+
+		files = new ArrayList<FileResource>();
+		includeUnblockedFiles(primaryDir, blockingDir);
+
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * The primary and blocking directory paths must be provided, and must point
+	 * to existing, readable directories.
+	 */
+	private void confirmValidDirectory(File dir, String label, boolean optional) {
+		if (dir == null) {
+			throw new BuildException(label + " directory not specified.");
+		}
+		if (!dir.exists()) {
+			if (optional) {
+				return;
+			} else {
+				throw new BuildException(label + " directory '" + dir.getPath()
+						+ "' does not exist.");
+			}
+		}
+		if (!dir.isDirectory()) {
+			throw new BuildException(label + " directory '" + dir.getPath()
+					+ "' is not a directory.");
+		}
+		if (!dir.canRead()) {
+			throw new BuildException(label + " directory '" + dir.getPath()
+					+ "' is not readable.");
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Include any file from the primary directory that does not match a file in
+	 * the blocking directory.
+	 * 
+	 * Include all files from any subdirectory that has no matching subdirectory
+	 * in the blocking directory.
+	 * 
+	 * Include all unblocked files from any subdirectory that has a matching
+	 * subdirectory in the blocking directory.
+	 * 
+	 * NOTE: if a file is matched by a subdirectory, the file is blocked. If a
+	 * subdirectory is matched by a file, an exception is thrown.
+	 */
+	private void includeUnblockedFiles(File primary, File blocking) {
+		for (File file : primary.listFiles(new NonDirectoryFilter())) {
+			if (!isBlocked(file, blocking)) {
+				files.add(buildResource(file));
+			}
+		}
+		for (File primarySubDir : primary.listFiles(new DirectoryFilter())) {
+			File blockingSubDir = findMatchingDir(primarySubDir, blocking);
+			if (blockingSubDir == null) {
+				includeAllFiles(primarySubDir);
+			} else {
+				includeUnblockedFiles(primarySubDir, blockingSubDir);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	private boolean isBlocked(File file, File blocking) {
+		return new File(blocking, file.getName()).exists();
+	}
+
+	private File findMatchingDir(File primary, File blockingParent) {
+		File dir = new File(blockingParent, primary.getName());
+		if (!dir.exists()) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		if (!dir.isDirectory()) {
+			throw new BuildException("Directory '" + primary
+					+ "' is blocked by a non-directory '" + dir.getPath() + "'");
+		}
+		return dir;
+	}
+
+	private void includeAllFiles(File primary) {
+		for (File file : primary.listFiles(new NonDirectoryFilter())) {
+			files.add(buildResource(file));
+		}
+		for (File primarySubDir : primary.listFiles(new DirectoryFilter())) {
+			includeAllFiles(primarySubDir);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * All file resources are based on the original primary directory.
+	 */
+	private FileResource buildResource(File file) {
+		String primaryBasePath = primaryDir.getAbsolutePath();
+		String filePath = file.getAbsolutePath();
+		if (!filePath.startsWith(primaryBasePath)) {
+			throw new IllegalStateException("File is not a descendant "
+					+ "of the primary directory: file='" + file
+					+ "', primary='" + primaryDir + "'");
+		}
+
+		String pathPart = filePath.substring(primaryBasePath.length());
+		if (pathPart.startsWith(File.separator)) {
+			pathPart = pathPart.substring(1);
+		}
+
+		// System.out.println("Resource: b='" + primaryDir + "', name='" +
+		// pathPart + "'");
+		return new FileResource(primaryDir, pathPart);
+	}
+
+	public class DirectoryFilter implements FileFilter {
+		@Override
+		public boolean accept(File file) {
+			return file.isDirectory();
+		}
+	}
+
+	public class NonDirectoryFilter implements FileFilter {
+		@Override
+		public boolean accept(File file) {
+			return !file.isDirectory();
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/webapp/build.xml b/webapp/build.xml
index 83db044bf..938453455 100644
--- a/webapp/build.xml
+++ b/webapp/build.xml
@@ -13,29 +13,30 @@
 	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
           properties                      
          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+	<property name="corebase.dir" location="." />
+
+	<!-- 
+		If calling from a Product build script, these properties already point to 
+		the product-related locations, so setting them here has no effect. 
+	-->
+	<property name="appbase.dir" location="${corebase.dir}" />
 	<property name="build.dir" location=".build" />
-	<property name="webapp.dir" location="." />
+	<property name="deploy.properties.file" location="config/deploy.properties" />
 
 	<property name="war.dir" location="${build.dir}/war" />
 	<property name="war-webinf.dir" location="${war.dir}/WEB-INF" />
 	<property name="war-classes.dir" location="${war-webinf.dir}/classes" />
 	<property name="war-resources.dir" location="${war-webinf.dir}/resources" />
-	<property name="war-lib.dir" location="${war-webinf.dir}/lib" />
 
 	<property name="test-classes.dir" location="${build.dir}/testclasses" />
 
-	<property name="servletjars.dir" location="${build.dir}/servletjars" />
-
 	<property name="javac.deprecation" value="true" />
 
 	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
           paths: for compiling and running                      
          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
 	<path id="compile.classpath">
-		<fileset dir="${war-lib.dir}">
-			<include name="**/*.jar" />
-		</fileset>
-		<fileset dir="${servletjars.dir}">
+		<fileset dir="${appbase.dir}/lib">
 			<include name="**/*.jar" />
 		</fileset>
 	</path>
@@ -46,9 +47,7 @@
 	</path>
 
 	<path id="test.run.classpath">
-		<!-- This holds data files and a special log4j.properties -->
-		<pathelement location="${webapp.dir}/test" />
-
+		<pathelement location="${appbase.dir}/test" />
 		<pathelement location="${test-classes.dir}" />
 		<path refid="test.compile.classpath" />
 	</path>
@@ -77,12 +76,6 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
           target: properties                      
          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
 	<target name="properties">
-		<!--
-			If calling from a Product build script, then this property
-			already points to the deploy.properties file of the Product. 
-		-->
-		<property name="deploy.properties.file" location="config/deploy.properties" />
-
 		<fail message="You must create a &quot;${deploy.properties.file}&quot; file.">
 			<condition>
 				<not>
@@ -118,7 +111,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 			</condition>
 		</fail>
 
-		<property name="solr.home" location="${vitro.home.directory}/solr" />
+		<property name="solr.home.dir" location="${vitro.home.directory}/solr" />
 	</target>
 
 	<!-- ================================= 
@@ -126,7 +119,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
          ================================= -->
 	<target name="clean" depends="properties" description="--> Delete all artifacts.">
 		<delete dir="${build.dir}" />
-		<delete dir="${solr.home}" excludes="data/**/*" includeemptydirs="true" />
+		<delete dir="${solr.home.dir}" excludes="data/**/*" includeemptydirs="true" />
 	</target>
 
 	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
@@ -140,7 +133,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 
 		<!-- copy all sorts of web stuff (with or without themes) into the war directory. -->
 		<copy todir="${war.dir}">
-			<fileset dir="${webapp.dir}/web">
+			<fileset dir="${appbase.dir}/web">
 				<!--
 					If a product doesn't want the core themes, it can
 					set this property and they will be skipped. 
@@ -150,7 +143,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 		</copy>
 
 		<copy todir="${war-webinf.dir}">
-			<fileset dir="${webapp.dir}">
+			<fileset dir="${appbase.dir}">
 				<!-- copy the JARs into the war directory -->
 				<include name="lib/*" />
 				<!-- these are already in Tomcat: we mustn't conflict. -->
@@ -160,10 +153,10 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 		</copy>
 
 		<!-- use the production Log4J properties, unless a debug version exists. -->
-		<available file="${webapp.dir}/config/debug.log4j.properties"
+		<available file="${appbase.dir}/config/debug.log4j.properties"
 		           property="debug.log4j.exists" />
 		<copy tofile="${war-classes.dir}/log4j.properties" filtering="true" overwrite="true">
-			<fileset dir="${webapp.dir}/config">
+			<fileset dir="${appbase.dir}/config">
 				<include name="default.log4j.properties" unless="debug.log4j.exists" />
 				<include name="debug.log4j.properties" if="debug.log4j.exists" />
 			</fileset>
@@ -177,19 +170,11 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 			<fileset file="${deploy.properties.file}" />
 
 			<!-- copy any xml files from source tree to the war directory -->
-			<fileset dir="${webapp.dir}/src" includes="**/*.xml" />
-		</copy>
-
-		<!-- copy the servlet JARs into their own directory, to compile against. -->
-		<copy todir="${servletjars.dir}">
-			<fileset dir="${webapp.dir}/lib">
-				<include name="jsp-api.jar" />
-				<include name="servlet-api.jar" />
-			</fileset>
+			<fileset dir="${appbase.dir}/src" includes="**/*.xml" />
 		</copy>
 
 		<!-- copy the context file into the war directory -->
-		<copy file="${webapp.dir}/context.xml" tofile="${war.dir}/META-INF/context.xml" />
+		<copy file="${appbase.dir}/context.xml" tofile="${war.dir}/META-INF/context.xml" />
 	</target>
 
 	<!-- ================================= 
@@ -197,14 +182,14 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
          ================================= -->
 	<target name="compile" depends="prepare" description="--> Compile Java sources">
 		<!-- deletes all files that depend on changed .java files -->
-		<depend srcdir="${webapp.dir}/src"
+		<depend srcdir="${appbase.dir}/src"
 		        destdir="${war-classes.dir}"
 		        closure="false"
 		        cache="${build.dir}/.depcache">
 			<classpath refid="compile.classpath" />
 		</depend>
 
-		<javac srcdir="${webapp.dir}/src"
+		<javac srcdir="${appbase.dir}/src"
 		       destdir="${war-classes.dir}"
 		       debug="true"
 		       deprecation="${javac.deprecation}"
@@ -220,7 +205,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
           target: test              
          ================================= -->
 	<target name="test" depends="compile" unless="skiptests" description="--> Run JUnit tests">
-		<javac srcdir="${webapp.dir}/test"
+		<javac srcdir="${appbase.dir}/test"
 		       destdir="${test-classes.dir}"
 		       debug="true"
 		       deprecation="${javac.deprecation}"
@@ -235,7 +220,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 		      fork="yes"
 		      failonerror="true">
 			<classpath refid="test.run.classpath" />
-			<arg file="${webapp.dir}/test" />
+			<arg file="${appbase.dir}/test" />
 			<arg value="${testlevel}" />
 		</java>
 	</target>
@@ -258,7 +243,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 		<echo file="${revisionInfo.build.file}">${revisionInfo.timestamp}
 </echo>
 
-		<javac srcdir="${webapp.dir}/../utilities/buildutils/revisioninfo"
+		<javac srcdir="${appbase.dir}/../utilities/buildutils/revisioninfo"
 		       destdir="${test-classes.dir}"
 		       debug="true"
 		       deprecation="${javac.deprecation}"
@@ -282,19 +267,19 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
           target: prepareSolr                      
          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
 	<target name="prepareSolr" depends="properties">
-		<property name="solr.distrib.dir" location="${webapp.dir}/../solr" />
+		<property name="solr.distrib.dir" location="${appbase.dir}/../solr" />
 		<property name="solr.example.dir" location="${solr.distrib.dir}/exampleSolr" />
 		<property name="solr.context.config.example"
 		          location="${solr.distrib.dir}/exampleSolrContext.xml" />
 		<property name="solr.war" location="${solr.distrib.dir}/apache-solr-3.1.0.war" />
 
-		<property name="solr.docbase" location="${solr.home}/solr.war" />
+		<property name="solr.docbase" location="${solr.home.dir}/solr.war" />
 		<property name="solr.context.name" value="${webapp.name}solr" />
-		<property name="solr.context.config" location="${solr.home}/${solr.context.name}.xml" />
+		<property name="solr.context.config" location="${solr.home.dir}/${solr.context.name}.xml" />
 
-		<!-- Create and copy the example directory to the solr.home directory. -->
-		<mkdir dir="${solr.home}" />
-		<copy todir="${solr.home}">
+		<!-- Create and copy the example directory to the solr.home.dir directory. -->
+		<mkdir dir="${solr.home.dir}" />
+		<copy todir="${solr.home.dir}">
 			<fileset dir="${solr.example.dir}" includes="**/*" />
 		</copy>
 
@@ -303,7 +288,7 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 			<fileset file="${solr.war}" />
 		</copy>
 		<war destfile="${solr.docbase}" update="true">
-			<classes dir="${webapp.dir}/config/solr/" />
+			<classes dir="${appbase.dir}/config/solr/" />
 		</war>
 
 		<!-- if no mask is define, go with an unsecured installation. -->
@@ -360,12 +345,12 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
          ================================= -->
 	<target name="licenser" description="--> Check source files for licensing tags">
 		<property name="licenser.properties.file"
-		          location="${webapp.dir}/config/licenser/licenser.properties" />
+		          location="${appbase.dir}/config/licenser/licenser.properties" />
 		<property name="licenser.label" value="Vitro core" />
 
 		<echo message="Checking license tags on ${licenser.label}" />
 
-		<exec executable="ruby" dir="${webapp.dir}/../utilities/licenser" failonerror="true">
+		<exec executable="ruby" dir="${appbase.dir}/../utilities/licenser" failonerror="true">
 			<arg value="licenser.rb" />
 			<arg value="${licenser.properties.file}" />
 			<redirector outputproperty="licenser.test.output" alwayslog="true" />
diff --git a/webapp/product-build.xml b/webapp/product-build.xml
index 3a3970123..285cd762f 100644
--- a/webapp/product-build.xml
+++ b/webapp/product-build.xml
@@ -29,56 +29,60 @@
 		Everything else hangs from the build directory. 
 	-->
 	<property name="build.dir" location="./.build" />
-	<property name="war.dir" location="${build.dir}/war" />
-	<property name="war-webinf.dir" location="${war.dir}/WEB-INF" />
-	<property name="war-classes.dir" location="${war-webinf.dir}/classes" />
-	<property name="war-resources.dir" location="${war-webinf.dir}/resources" />
-	<property name="war-lib.dir" location="${war-webinf.dir}/lib" />
-	<property name="test-classes.dir" location="${build.dir}/testclasses" />
-	<property name="servletjars.dir" location="${build.dir}/servletjars" />
-	
-	<property name="javac.deprecation" value="true" />
+	<property name="appbase.dir" location="${build.dir}/appBase" />
 
-
-	<!-- Is there a "src" directory in the product? -->
-	<property name="product.source.dir" location="./src" />
-	<available property="product.sources.exist" file="${product.source.dir}" />
-
-	<!-- Is there a "test" directory in the product? -->
-	<property name="product.test.dir" location="./test" />
-	<available property="product.tests.exist" file="${product.test.dir}" />
-
-	<!-- Is there a "themes" directory in the product? -->
-	<property name="product.themes.dir" location="./themes" />
-	<available property="product.themes.exist" file="${product.themes.dir}" />
-
-	<!-- Is there a modifications directory in the product? -->
-	<property name="product.modifications.dir" location="./modifications" />
-	<available property="product.modifications.exist" file="${product.modifications.dir}" />
+	<dirname property="vivoProduct.basedir" file="${ant.file.vivoProduct}" />
+	<path id="anttasks.classpath">
+		<pathelement location="${vivoProduct.basedir}/../utilities/anttasks/classes" />
+	</path>
 
 	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          paths: for compiling and running                      
+          custom Ant types                      
          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-	<path id="compile.classpath">
-		<fileset dir="${war-lib.dir}">
-			<include name="**/*.jar" />
-		</fileset>
-		<fileset dir="${servletjars.dir}">
-			<include name="**/*.jar" />
-		</fileset>
-	</path>
+	<typedef name="dirDifference"
+	         classname="edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.utilities.anttasks.DirDifferenceResourceCollection"
+	         classpathref="anttasks.classpath" />
 
-	<path id="test.compile.classpath">
-                <pathelement location="${product.test.dir}"/>
-		<pathelement location="${war-classes.dir}" />
-		<path refid="compile.classpath" />
-	</path>
+	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
+          target: product-prepare                      
+         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+	<target name="product-prepare" depends="product-prepare-lib">
+		<mkdir dir="${appbase.dir}" />
+		<mkdir dir="${appbase.dir}/web" />
+		<mkdir dir="${appbase.dir}/src" />
 
-	<path id="test.run.classpath">
-		<pathelement location="${test-classes.dir}" />
-		<path refid="test.compile.classpath" />
-	</path>
+		<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/web">
+			<dirDifference primary="${inner.basedir}/web" blocking="${product.modifications.dir}" />
+		</copy>
+		<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/web">
+			<fileset dir="${product.modifications.dir}" />
+		</copy>
 
+		<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/config">
+			<fileset dir="${inner.basedir}/config" />
+		</copy>
+
+		<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/src">
+			<dirDifference primary="${inner.basedir}/src"
+			               blocking="./src"
+			               blockingOptional="true" />
+		</copy>
+		<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/src">
+			<fileset dir="./src" />
+		</copy>
+
+		<copy tofile="${appbase.dir}/context.xml" file="${inner.basedir}/context.xml" />
+	</target>
+	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
+          target: product-prepare-lib                      
+         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+	<target name="product-prepare-lib">
+		<mkdir dir="${appbase.dir}/lib" />
+
+		<available property="product.lib.exist" file="./lib" />
+		<mergedirs suffix="lib" flag="${product.lib.exist}" />
+		<copydir suffix="lib" flag="${product.lib.exist}" />
+	</target>
 
 	<!-- ================================= 
           target: describe              
@@ -99,6 +103,121 @@
 		<innercall target="clean" />
 	</target>
 
+	<!-- ================================= 
+          target: deploy              
+         ================================= -->
+	<target name="deploy"
+	        depends="product-prepare"
+	        description="--> Build the app and install in Tomcat">
+		<innercall target="deploy" />
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- ================================= 
+          target: compile              
+         ================================= -->
+	<target name="compile" depends="product-prepare" description="--> Compile Java sources.">
+		<innercall target="compile" />
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- ================================= 
+          target: test              
+         ================================= -->
+	<target name="test" depends="product-prepare" description="--> Run JUnit tests">
+		<innercall target="test" />
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- ================================= 
+	      target: revisionInfo              
+	     ================================= -->
+	<target name="revisionInfo"
+	        depends="product-prepare"
+	        description="--> Store revision info in build">
+		<innercall target="revisionInfo" />
+		<antcall target="productRevisionInfo" />
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
+	      target: productRevisionInfo                      
+	     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+	<target name="productRevisionInfo" unless="skipinfo">
+		<property name="revisionInfo.product.dir" location="${ant.file}/.." />
+		<property name="revisionInfo.build.file" location="${war-resources.dir}/revisionInfo.txt" />
+
+		<java classname="edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.utilities.revisioninfo.RevisionInfoBuilder"
+		      fork="no"
+		      failonerror="true">
+			<classpath refid="test.run.classpath" />
+			<arg value="${ant.project.name}" />
+			<arg file="${revisionInfo.product.dir}" />
+			<arg file="${revisionInfo.build.file}" />
+		</java>
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- ================================= 
+          target: war              
+         ================================= -->
+	<target name="war"
+	        depends="product-prepare"
+	        description="--> Build the app and create a WAR file">
+		<innercall target="war" />
+	</target>
+
+	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+          MACROS
+    	 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
+
+	<!--
+    			Call a target in the inner script.
+    		-->
+	<macrodef name="mergedirs">
+		<attribute name="suffix" />
+		<attribute name="flag" />
+		<sequential>
+			<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/web">
+				<dirDifference primary="${inner.basedir}/web" blocking="${product.modifications.dir}" />
+			</copy>
+			<copy todir="${appbase.dir}/web">
+				<fileset dir="${product.modifications.dir}" />
+			</copy>
+			<ant dir="${inner.basedir}" inheritall="false">
+				<!-- pass the properties that are needed. -->
+				<propertyset>
+					<propertyref name="build.dir" />
+					<propertyref name="skip.core.themes" />
+					<propertyref name="deploy.properties.file" />
+				</propertyset>
+				<additionalProperties />
+				<target name="@{target}" />
+			</ant>
+		</sequential>
+	</macrodef>
+
+	<!-- 
+	===========================================================================
+	===========================================================================
+	===========================================================================
+	NOT YET USING ANYTHING BELOW HERE
+	===========================================================================
+	===========================================================================
+	===========================================================================
+	-->
+
+	<!-- Is there a "src" directory in the product? -->
+	<property name="product.source.dir" location="./src" />
+	<available property="product.sources.exist" file="${product.source.dir}" />
+
+	<!-- Is there a "test" directory in the product? -->
+	<property name="product.test.dir" location="./test" />
+	<available property="product.tests.exist" file="${product.test.dir}" />
+
+	<!-- Is there a "themes" directory in the product? -->
+	<property name="product.themes.dir" location="./themes" />
+	<available property="product.themes.exist" file="${product.themes.dir}" />
+
+	<!-- Is there a modifications directory in the product? -->
+	<property name="product.modifications.dir" location="./modifications" />
+	<available property="product.modifications.exist" file="${product.modifications.dir}" />
+
 	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
           target: productPrepare                      
          - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
@@ -126,146 +245,12 @@
 	</target>
 
 
-	<!-- ================================= 
-          target: compile              
-         ================================= -->
-	<target name="compile" description="--> Compile Java sources.">
-		<innercall target="compile" />
-		<antcall target="productCompile" />
-	</target>
-
-	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          target: productCompile                      
-         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-	<target name="productCompile" depends="productPrepare" if="product.sources.exist">
-		<property name="product.classes.dir" value="${build.dir}/${ant.project.name}/classes" />
-		<mkdir dir="${product.classes.dir}" />
-		<javac srcdir="${product.source.dir}"
-		       destdir="${product.classes.dir}"
-		       debug="true"
-		       deprecation="${javac.deprecation}"
-		       encoding="UTF8"
-			   includeantruntime="false"
-		       optimize="true"
-		       source="1.6">
-			<classpath>
-				<path refid="compile.classpath" />
-				<pathelement location="${build.dir}/war/WEB-INF/classes"/>
-			</classpath>
-		</javac>
-		<copy todir="${build.dir}/war/WEB-INF/classes" overwrite="true">
-			<fileset dir="${product.classes.dir}" />
-		</copy>
-	</target>
-
-	<!-- ================================= 
-          target: test              
-         ================================= -->
-	<target name="test" description="--> Run JUnit tests">
-		<innercall target="test" />
-		<antcall target="productTest" />
-	</target>
-
-	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          target: productTest                      
-         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-	<target name="productTest" depends="productCompile" if="product.tests.exist" unless="skiptests">
-		<javac srcdir="${product.test.dir}"
-		       destdir="${test-classes.dir}"
-		       debug="true"
-		       deprecation="true"
-		       encoding="UTF8"
-			   includeantruntime="false"
-		       optimize="false"
-		       source="1.6">
-			<classpath refid="test.compile.classpath" />
-		</javac>
-
-		<java classname="edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.testing.VitroTestRunner"
-		      fork="yes"
-		      failonerror="true">
-			<classpath refid="test.run.classpath" />
-			<arg file="${product.test.dir}" />
-			<arg value="${testlevel}" />
-		</java>
-	</target>
-<!-- ================================= 
-          target: revisionInfo              
-         ================================= -->
-    <target name="revisionInfo" description="--> Store revision info in build">
-        <innercall target="revisionInfo" />
-    	<antcall target="productRevisionInfo" />
-    </target>
-
-	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          target: productRevisionInfo                      
-         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-    <target name="productRevisionInfo" depends="productTest" unless="skipinfo">
-		<property name="revisionInfo.product.dir" location="${ant.file}/.." />
-		<property name="revisionInfo.build.file" location="${war-resources.dir}/revisionInfo.txt" />
-
-		<java classname="edu.cornell.mannlib.vitro.utilities.revisioninfo.RevisionInfoBuilder"
-		      fork="no"
-		      failonerror="true">
-			<classpath refid="test.run.classpath" />
-			<arg value="${ant.project.name}" />
-			<arg file="${revisionInfo.product.dir}" />
-			<arg file="${revisionInfo.build.file}" />
-		</java>
-    </target>
-
-	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          target: deploySolr
-          
-          This must be visible so a second-level product like CornellVivo can call it.                      
-         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-    <target name="deploySolr" >
-        <innercall target="deploySolr" />
-    </target>
-
-	<!-- ================================= 
-          target: deploy              
-         ================================= -->
-	<target name="deploy" description="--> Build the app and install in Tomcat">
-		<!-- the inner "deploy" would just do a sync that will be done by productDeploy -->
-		<innercall target="revisionInfo" />
-		<antcall target="deploySolr" />
-		<antcall target="productDeploy" />
-	</target>
-
-	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          target: productDeploy                      
-         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-	<target name="productDeploy" depends="productRevisionInfo">
-		<property name="webapp.deploy.home" value="${tomcat.home}/webapps/${webapp.name}" />
-
-		<mkdir dir="${webapp.deploy.home}" />
-
-		<sync todir="${webapp.deploy.home}" includeemptydirs="true">
-			<fileset dir="${build.dir}/war" />
-		</sync>
-	</target>
-
-	<!-- ================================= 
-          target: war              
-         ================================= -->
-	<target name="war" description="--> Build the app and create a WAR file">
-		<innercall target="revisionInfo" />
-		<antcall target="productWar" />
-	</target>
-
-	<!-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-          target: productWar                      
-         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -->
-    <target name="productWar"  depends="productRevisionInfo">
-		<jar basedir="${build.dir}/war" destfile="${build.dir}/${webapp.name}.war"/>
-    </target>
-
 	<!-- ================================= 
           target: jar              
          ================================= -->
 	<target name="jar" depends="revisionInfo" description="--> Build the app and create a JAR file">
-		<jar basedir="${build.dir}/war/WEB-INF/classes" destfile="${build.dir}/${webapp.name}.jar" />
+		<jar basedir="${build.dir}/war/WEB-INF/classes"
+		     destfile="${build.dir}/${webapp.name}.jar" />
 	</target>
 
 	<!-- ================================= 
@@ -310,6 +295,7 @@
 				<!-- pass the properties that are needed. -->
 				<propertyset>
 					<propertyref name="build.dir" />
+					<propertyref name="appbase.dir" />
 					<propertyref name="skip.core.themes" />
 					<propertyref name="deploy.properties.file" />
 				</propertyset>