@Override
  @SuppressWarnings({"nls", "boxing"})
  protected void initialize(Class<?> type, Object oldInstance, Object newInstance, Encoder enc) {
    super.initialize(type, oldInstance, newInstance, enc);

    List list = (List) oldInstance;
    Statement setterStm = new Statement(oldInstance, "setSize", new Object[] {list.getSize()});
    enc.writeStatement(setterStm);

    int count = list.getItemCount();
    Expression getterExp = null;
    for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
      getterExp = new Expression(list, "getItem", new Object[] {i});
      try {
        // Calculate the old value of the property
        Object oldVal = getterExp.getValue();
        // Write the getter expression to the encoder
        enc.writeExpression(getterExp);
        // Get the target value that exists in the new environment
        Object targetVal = enc.get(oldVal);
        // Get the current property value in the new environment
        Object newVal = null;
        try {
          newVal = new Expression(newInstance, "getItem", new Object[] {i}).getValue();
        } catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException ex) {
          // The newInstance has no elements, so current property
          // value remains null
        }
        /*
         * Make the target value and current property value equivalent
         * in the new environment
         */
        if (null == targetVal) {
          if (null != newVal) {
            // Set to null
            setterStm = new Statement(oldInstance, "add", new Object[] {null});
            enc.writeStatement(setterStm);
          }
        } else {
          PersistenceDelegate pd = enc.getPersistenceDelegate(targetVal.getClass());
          if (!pd.mutatesTo(targetVal, newVal)) {
            setterStm = new Statement(oldInstance, "add", new Object[] {oldVal});
            enc.writeStatement(setterStm);
          }
        }
      } catch (Exception ex) {
        enc.getExceptionListener().exceptionThrown(ex);
      }
    }
  }