diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 395cb61..516071c 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -2,12 +2,18 @@ apply plugin: 'java'
 repositories{
   mavenCentral()
 }
+Properties properties = new Properties()
+properties.load(project.rootProject.file('project.properties').newDataInputStream())
+def releaseVersion = properties.getProperty('ReleaseVersion')
+def getDate() {
+    return new Date().format('yyyyMMddHHmmss')
+}
 
 sourceCompatibility = 1.8
 jar {
     manifest {
         attributes("Implementation-Title": "w2phtml",
-                   "Implementation-Version": "0.5.0",
+                   "Implementation-Version": releaseVersion,
 		   "Main-Class" : "w2phtml.Application",
 		   "Class-Path" : "jasp.jar parser.jar")
     }
@@ -41,7 +47,7 @@ jar {
 task xhtml(type: Jar) {
     manifest {
         attributes("Implementation-Title": "w2phtml",
-                   "Implementation-Version": "0.5.1",
+                   "Implementation-Version": releaseVersion,
 		   "Built-By": "litvinovg",
                    "RegistrationClassName" : "org.openoffice.da.comp.writer2xhtml.W2XRegistration",
                    "Class-Path" : "jasp.jar parser.jar")
@@ -71,12 +77,10 @@ task xhtml(type: Jar) {
 	include 'w2phtml/xhtml/**/**/*.properties'
     from sourceSets.main.output
     include 'org/**/*'
-    
-    
-   
 }
+
 task oxt(type: Zip){
-    dependsOn xhtml
+    dependsOn = [ 'xhtml', 'setVersion' ]
     archiveName 'w2phtml.oxt'
     from 'src/main/oxt/writer2xhtml' 
     include '*' 
@@ -86,3 +90,9 @@ task oxt(type: Zip){
     from 'src/main/idl/writer2xhtml'
     include 'writer2xhtml.rdb' 
 }
+task setVersion(){   
+   ant.taskdef(name: 'xmltask', classpath: 'buildPlugins/xmltask.jar', classname: 'com.oopsconsultancy.xmltask.ant.XmlTask') 
+   ant.xmltask(source: 'src/main/oxt/writer2xhtml/description.xml', dest: 'src/main/oxt/writer2xhtml/description.xml', report:'true') {
+     replace(path: "//*[local-name()='version']/@value", withText: "${releaseVersion}")
+   }
+}
diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index bf5362f..0000000
--- a/build.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,299 +0,0 @@
-<!-- 
-  ############################################################################
-  # This is the Ant build file for writer2latex
-  # Original: Sep 2004 (mgn)
-  # version 1.9.1 (2018-03-06)
-  ############################################################################
--->
-<project name="w2l" default="help" basedir=".">
-
-    <!-- set this property to the location of your SO/OOo installation -->
-	<property name="OFFICE_CLASSES" location="src/main/lib" />
-	<property name="URE_CLASSES" location="src/main/lib" />
-    <!-- set this property to the location of the java 6 bootstrap classes (rt.jar) -->
-	<property name="JAVA6_RT_JAR" location="src/main/lib/rt.jar" />
-
-    <description>writer2latex - build file</description>
-
-    <target name="help" description="Displays usage information">
-        <echo>Usage: ant &lt;target&gt;
-          The following targets are supported:
-          all
-              Build nearly everything
-          compile
-              Compile all file except the tests.        
-          jar
-              Create the standalone jar file.
-          oxt
-              Create extension packages for OOo
-          distro
-              Create the distribution packages
-          javadoc
-              Create the javadoc documentation in target/javadoc. 
-          clean
-        </echo>
-    </target>
-
-    <!-- configure the directories -->
-    <property name="jarfile" value="writer2latex"/>
-    <property name="basename" value="writer2latex19"/>
-    <property name="distrofile" value="${basename}1alpha.zip" />
-    <!--<property name="sourcedistrofile" value="${basename}source.zip" />-->
-    <property name="src" location="src/main/java"/>
-    <property name="source.distro" location="src/main/distro" />
-    <property name="classes" location="target/classes"/>
-    <property name="javadoc" location="target/javadoc"/>
-    <property name="tmp" location="target/tmp"/>
-    <property name="target" location="target"/>
-    <property name="target.lib" location="target/lib"/>
-    <property name="source.idl" location="src/main/idl"/>
-    <property name="source.lib" location="src/main/lib"/>
-    <property name="org.json" value="json-20140107.jar"/>
-    <property name="org.jbibtex" value="jbibtex-1.0.14.jar"/>
-    <!-- classpath for the application; needs java-uno classes -->
-    <path id="main.class.path"> 
-        <!-- java uno classes -->
-    	<filelist dir="${URE_CLASSES}"
-	        files="jurt.jar,juh.jar,ridl.jar"/>
-        <filelist dir="${OFFICE_CLASSES}"
-    		files="unoil.jar"/>
-    	<!-- third party jars -->
-    	<filelist dir="${source.lib}"
-	        files="${org.json},${org.jbibtex}"/>
-        <!-- additional uno interfaces generated from idl -->
-        <pathelement path="${source.idl}/writer2latex"/>
-        <pathelement path="${source.idl}/writer2xhtml"/>
-    </path> 
-
-    <target name="all"
-            description="Build nearly everything"
-            depends="javadoc,jar,oxt,distro" />
-
-    <target name="compile"
-            description="Compile the Java files (without tests)">
-        <!-- create empty output directory for classes if not present -->
-        <mkdir dir="${classes}"/>
-        <!-- compile the application code -->
-        <javac srcdir="${src}" 
-               destdir="${classes}"
-               encoding="us-ascii"
-        	   source="1.6"
-        	   target="1.6"
-	     	   classpath="${source.lib}/${org.json}:${source.lib}/${org.jbibtex}:${source.lib}/junit-4.12.jar"
-        	   bootclasspath="${JAVA6_RT_JAR}"
-        	   includeantruntime="false"
-               debug="on">
-            <classpath refid="main.class.path"/>
-        </javac>
-        <copy todir="${classes}">
-            <fileset dir="${src}">
-                <include name="**/*.xml"/>
-                <include name="**/*.properties"/>
-            </fileset>
-        </copy>
-    </target>
-
-    <target name="jar"
-            depends="compile"
-            description="Create writer2latex jar file containing all compiled classes except OOo components and test cases.">
-	    <!-- make a jar from the classes not matching magic testcase identifiers-->
-        <mkdir dir="${target.lib}"/>
-        <jar jarfile="${target.lib}/${jarfile}.jar">
-            <fileset dir="${classes}">
-                <patternset>
-                    <exclude name="**/*Test.class"/>
-                    <exclude name="**/AllTests.class"/>
-		    		<include name="**/*.xml"/>
-		    		<include name="**/*.properties"/>
-                	<include name="**/*.class"/>
-                    <!-- do not include OOo components in standalone library -->
-                	<exclude name="org/openoffice/**/*"/>
-                </patternset>
-            </fileset>
-        	<!-- include third party libraries -->
-        	<zipgroupfileset dir="${source.lib}" includes="${org.json}" />
-            <manifest>
-                <attribute name="Built-By" value="${user.name}"/>
-                <attribute name="Main-Class" value="writer2latex.Application"/>
-                <attribute name="Class-Path" value="jaxp.jar parser.jar"/>
-            </manifest>
-        </jar>
-    </target>
-	
-    <!-- Create extension package for OOo 2.0.4+ -->
-    <target name="oxt"
-            depends="jar"
-            description="Create extension package for installation with OOo 2.0.4+">
-        <mkdir dir="${target.lib}"/>
-        <mkdir dir="${tmp}"/>
-
-        <!-- First extension: writer2latex.oxt -->
-		
-        <!-- Create jar with relevant files  -->
-        <jar jarfile="${tmp}/writer2latex-filter.jar">
-            <fileset dir="${classes}">
-                <patternset>
-                    <exclude name="**/*Test.class"/>
-                    <exclude name="**/AllTests.class"/>
-		    		<include name="**/*.xml"/>
-                	<include name="**/*.class"/>
-		    		<include name="**/*.properties"/>
-                    <exclude name="writer2latex/Application.class"/>
-                    <exclude name="writer2latex/xhtml/**/*"/>
-                	<exclude name="org/openoffice/da/comp/writer2xhtml/**/*"/>
-                </patternset>
-            </fileset>
-        	<!-- include third party libraries -->
-        	<zipgroupfileset dir="${source.lib}" includes="${org.json},${org.jbibtex}" />
-            <!-- also include uno interface as generated from idl -->
-            <fileset dir="${source.idl}/writer2latex">
-                <include name="org/**/*"/>
-            </fileset>
-            <manifest>
-                <attribute name="Built-By" value="${user.name}"/>
-                <!-- OOo needs this to register the filter: -->
-                <attribute name="RegistrationClassName" value="org.openoffice.da.comp.writer2latex.W2LRegistration" />
-                <attribute name="Class-Path" value="jaxp.jar parser.jar"/>
-            </manifest>
-        </jar>
-
-        <!-- Pack extension -->
-        <zip destfile="${target.lib}/writer2latex.oxt">
-            <zipfileset dir="src/main/oxt/writer2latex" prefix="" />
-            <zipfileset dir="${tmp}" includes="writer2latex-filter.jar" />
-            <zipfileset dir="${source.idl}/writer2latex" includes="writer2latex.rdb"/>
-        </zip>
-		
-        <!-- delete the jar for this extension -->
-        <delete file="${tmp}/writer2latex-filter.jar" />
-		
-		
-        <!-- Second extension: writer2xhtml.oxt -->
-
-        <!-- Create jar with relevant files  -->
-        <jar jarfile="${tmp}/writer2xhtml-filter.jar">
-            <fileset dir="${classes}">
-                <patternset>
-                    <exclude name="**/*Test.class"/>
-                    <exclude name="**/AllTests.class"/>
-                	<include name="org/openoffice/da/comp/w2lcommon/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="org/openoffice/da/comp/w2lcommon/**/*.properties"/>
-                	<include name="org/openoffice/da/comp/writer2xhtml/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/api/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/base/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/epub/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/office/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/util/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/xhtml/**/*.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/xhtml/**/*.xml"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/xhtml/**/*.properties"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/xmerge/**/*.class"/>
-                	<!-- include the portions of w2l necessary to convert formulas -->
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/StarMathConverter.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/CharClasses.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/Token.class"/>
-                   	<include name="writer2latex/latex/TGroup.class"/>
-                   	<include name="writer2latex/latex/SmTokenTableEntry.class"/>
-                   	<include name="writer2latex/latex/SmTokenTable.class"/>
-                   	<include name="writer2latex/latex/SmToken.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/LaTeXDocumentPortion.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/LaTeXConfig.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/util/HeadingMap.class"/>
-                    <include name="writer2latex/latex/util/StyleMap.class"/>
-                	<include name="writer2latex/latex/i18n/*.class"/>
-                </patternset>
-            </fileset>
-            <!-- also include uno interface as generated from idl -->
-            <fileset dir="${source.idl}/writer2xhtml">
-                <include name="org/**/*"/>
-            </fileset>
-            <manifest>
-                <attribute name="Built-By" value="${user.name}"/>
-                <!-- OOo needs this to register the filter: -->
-                <attribute name="RegistrationClassName" value="org.openoffice.da.comp.writer2xhtml.W2XRegistration" />
-                <attribute name="Class-Path" value="jaxp.jar parser.jar"/>
-            </manifest>
-        </jar>
-
-        <!-- Pack extension -->
-        <zip destfile="${target.lib}/writer2xhtml.oxt">
-            <zipfileset dir="src/main/oxt/writer2xhtml" prefix="" />
-            <zipfileset dir="${tmp}" includes="writer2xhtml-filter.jar" />
-            <zipfileset dir="${source.idl}/writer2xhtml" includes="writer2xhtml.rdb"/>
-        </zip>
-		
-        <!-- delete the jar for this extension -->
-        <delete file="${tmp}/writer2xhtml-filter.jar" />
-
-        <!-- Third extension: w2lconfig.oxt -->
-    	
-    	<!-- Pack extension -->
-        <zip destfile="${target.lib}/w2lconfig.oxt" basedir="src/main/oxt/w2lconfig"/>
-
-        <!-- Fourth extension: xhtml-config-package.oxt (xhtml sample configuration package) -->
-
-        <zip destfile="${target.lib}/xhtml-config-sample.oxt" basedir="src/main/oxt/xhtml-config-sample"/>
-            
-    </target>
-	
-    <!-- Create distribution packages -->
-    <target name="distro" depends="jar,oxt"
-            description="Create Writer2LaTeX distribution">
-		
-        <zip destfile="${target.lib}/${distrofile}">
-
-            <!-- Add misc files (documentation, readmes, scripts etc.) -->
-            <zipfileset dir="${source.distro}" prefix="${basename}"/>
-		
-            <!-- Add default configurations (copied from source tree) -->
-            <zipfileset dir="${src}/writer2latex/latex/config"  prefix="${basename}/config" />
-            <zipfileset dir="${src}/writer2latex/xhtml/config"  prefix="${basename}/config" />
-		
-            <!-- Add jar and oxt's -->
-            <zipfileset dir="${target.lib}" prefix="${basename}"
-             includes="${jarfile}.jar,writer2latex.oxt,writer2xhtml.oxt,w2lconfig.oxt,xhtml-config-sample.oxt"/>
-        </zip>
-		
-        <!-- Pack the source distribution -->
-        <!--<zip destfile="${target.lib}/${sourcedistrofile}">
-            <zipfileset dir="." includes="source/**/*,build.xml" prefix="${basename}" /> 
-        </zip>-->
-			 
-    </target>
-
-    <target name="clean"
-            description="Remove unneccesary files and directories.">
-        <delete dir="${classes}"/>
-        <delete dir="${javadoc}"/>
-		<delete dir="${target.lib}" />
-        <delete dir="${tmp}" />
-        </target>
-
-    <target name="javadoc"
-            description="Create JavaDoc HTML pages.">
-        <mkdir dir="${javadoc}" />
-        <javadoc 
-             encoding="us-ascii"
-             destdir="${javadoc}"
-             author="true"
-             version="true"
-             use="true"
-			 breakiterator="true" 
-             splitindex="true"
-             notree="false"
-             nonavbar="false"
-             noindex="false"
-             nodeprecatedlist="false"
-             nodeprecated="false">
-            <classpath refid="main.class.path"/>
-            <packageset dir="${src}" defaultexcludes="yes" />
-        </javadoc>
-        <copy todir="${javadoc}">
-            <fileset dir="${src}">
-                <include name="**/*.gif"/>
-                <include name="**/*.png"/>
-            </fileset>
-        </copy>
-    </target>
-
-</project>
diff --git a/buildPlugins/xmltask.jar b/buildPlugins/xmltask.jar
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b815813
Binary files /dev/null and b/buildPlugins/xmltask.jar differ
diff --git a/project.properties b/project.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b5f29e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ReleaseVersion=0.5.3
diff --git a/settings.gradle b/settings.gradle
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61b9187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/settings.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+rootProject.name = 'w2phtml'
+