// load existing data
final PreferencesImpl savedData = this.load(prefs.getBackingStoreManager(), prefs.getDescription());
if ( savedData != null ) {
// merge with saved version
final PreferencesImpl n = savedData.getOrCreateNode(prefs.absolutePath());
n.applyChanges(prefs);
prefs = n;
}
this.writePreferences(prefs, session);
}
// now process children