Question: is it possible to read server credentials from the settings.xml within a pom.xml? I would like to download files as described [here](http://evgeny-goldin.com/wiki/Copy-maven-plugin#Downloading_files%3a_HTTP.2C_SCP.2C_FTP), but avoid to put the credentials in version control.

Thanks in ahead!

Answer: 
I think what you are looking for is profile based properties like shown below:

```
<profile>
    <id>jira</id>
    <properties>
        <jiraUser>user</jiraUser>
        <jiraPassword>password</jiraPassword>
    </properties>
</profile>

```

You may reference these with `${jiraUser}` and `{jiraPassword}` in your POM. Make sure to activate the profile in your `settings.xml`.
What do you mean by settings.xml within a pom.xml (Sorry admin for Posting this in Answers instead of comments, since I cant add comments I am doing this in Answers)