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
if ( element == null )
			return value;
		DesignElement tmpElement = element.getElement( );
		while ( tmpElement != null )
		{
			Module root = tmpElement.getRoot( );
			if ( root == null )
				break;
			String externalizedText = root.getMessage( key, locale );
			if ( externalizedText != null )
				return externalizedText;
			if ( !tmpElement.isVirtualElement( ) )
				tmpElement = tmpElement.getExtendsElement( );
			else
				tmpElement = tmpElement.getVirtualParent( );
		}
		return value;
	}
	/**
	 * This API is only for helping GUI to draw the dimension joint condition
	 * editor pad. When user extends an library cube to design, the hierarchy
	 * handle from the joint condition should be same with the virtual hierarchy
	 * in the reprot design cube.
	 * 
	 * @param conditionHierarchy
	 *            the hierarchy handle from the dimension joint condition
	 *            structure.
	 * @param cubeHierarchy
	 *            the hierarchy handle from the cube.
	 * @return