} else {
// create filter based on some attributes
if (attrs.getNamedItem("nodeType") != null) {
filter = new NodeTypeItemFilter();
} else if (attrs.getNamedItem("isNode") != null) {
filter = new IsNodeFilter();
} else if (attrs.getNamedItem("name") != null) {
filter = new NameItemFilter();
} else if (attrs.getNamedItem("isMandatory") != null) {
filter = new IsMandatoryFilter();
}