Bug 207120 Please model provide an API for data type conversion.
Currently, there're two data types: column data type and parameter data type. But they're inconsistent. Could model provide APIs for conversion between the two types. Thanks. In addition: please check the code into head and 2.2.1 branch, because we have a 2.2.1 bug to fix.
model/org.eclipse.birt.report.model/src/org/eclipse/birt/report/model/api/ModuleUtil.java
parse( handler, inputStreamToParse, filename );
		return ModelUtil.checkVersion( handler.version );
	}
	/**
	 * Checks whether the opening design file holds a version number before the
	 * some specific features is supported. This method is used to remind user
	 * that opening the file may need convert the original file automatically.
	 * 
	 * @param fileName
	 *            the file name with full path of the design file
	 * @return a list whose entry is of <code>IVersionInfo</code> type. Each
	 *         kind of automatical conversion information is stored in one
	 *         instance of <code>IVersionInfo</code>. Note that if the design
	 *         file does not exist, or it is an invalid design file, an instance
	 *         of <code>IVersionInfo</code> will also generate. If the size of
	 *         the return list is 0, there is no auto-conversion.
	 */
	public static List checkVersion( String fileName )
	{
		List rtnList = new ArrayList( );
		InputStream inputStream = null;
		URL url;
		try
		{
			url = new URL( fileName );
			inputStream = url.openStream( );
		}
		catch ( MalformedURLException e2 )
		{