Using JAXB to create referenced objects according to an attribute

Consider the following xml:

<Config>
    <Paths>
        <Path reference="WS_License"/>
    </Paths>

    <Steps>
        <Step id="WS_License" title="License Agreement" />
    </Steps>
</Config>

      

        
        
        
      

    

The following JAXB classes:

public class Path {

    private String _reference;

    public String getReference() {
        return _reference;
    }

    @XmlAttribute
    public void setReference( String reference ) {
        _reference = reference;
    }

}

      

        
        
        
      

    

and

public class Step {

    private String _id;
    private String _title;

    public String getId() {
        return _id;
    }

    @XmlAttribute
    public void setId( String id ) {
        _id = id;
    }

    public String getTitle() {
        return _title;
    }

    @XmlAttribute
    public void setTitle( String title ) {
        _title = title;
    }

}

      

        
        
        
      

    

Instead of storing the reference in the Path object as a String, I would like to store it as a Step object. The relationship between these objects is reference and identification attributes. @XMLJavaTypeAdapter attribute - path? Can anyone be kind enough to provide an example of correct usage?

Thank!

EDIT:

I would also like to do the same technique with an element.

Consider the following xml:

<Config>
    <Step id="WS_License" title="License Agreement">
        <DetailPanelReference reference="DP_License" />
    </Step>

    <DetailPanels>
        <DetalPanel id="DP_License" title="License Agreement" />
    </DetailPanels>
</Config>

      

        
        
        
      

    

The following JAXB classes:

@XmlAccessorType(XmlAccessType.FIELD)
public class Step {

    @XmlID
    @XmlAttribute(name="id")
    private String _id;

    @XmlAttribute(name="title")
    private String _title;

    @XmlIDREF
    @XmlElement(name="DetailPanelReference", type=DetailPanel.class)
    private DetailPanel[] _detailPanels; //Doesn't seem to work

}

@XmlAccessorType(XmlAccessType.FIELD)
public class DetailPanel {

    @XmlID
    @XmlAttribute(name="id")
    private String _id;

    @XmlAttribute(name="title")
    private String _title;

}

      

        
        
        
      

    

The _detailPanels property in the Step object is empty and the link does not work. Is it possible to create a link without creating a new JAXB object containing only a link to the DetailPanel?

Thanks again:)!