diff --git a/aspectwerkz/plugin.jelly b/aspectwerkz/plugin.jelly
index 6cbca4e4..d30deff0 100644
--- a/aspectwerkz/plugin.jelly
+++ b/aspectwerkz/plugin.jelly
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@
 <!--
   =============================================================================
     AspectWerkz plugin for Maven.
+    
+    Definition: AW supports 2 types of Aspects/Advice/Pointcuts definition: 
+    - xmldef   : Advice are defined as extending *Advice classes (BeforeAdvice,
+                 AroundAdvice, etc). Custom javadoc attributes can be used to 
+                 link code to weave with advices.
+    - attribdef: Advices and pcds are defined purely using custom javadoc
+                 attributes (@Execute, @Aspect, etc).
   =============================================================================
 -->
 <project 
@@ -19,6 +26,26 @@
 
     <ant:mkdir dir="${maven.build.dir}"/>
 
+    <!-- Location of the XML definition file. If "xmldef" mode is used, then 
+         the location of thus file is the location where attributec has 
+         generated its xml file
+         (i.e. ${maven.aspectwerkz.build.definition.file}). If "attribdef"
+         mode is used then this property should point to its source 
+         location. -->
+    <j:choose>
+      <j:when test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.mode') == 'xmldef'}">
+        <j:set var="maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file"
+            value="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.build}"/>
+      </j:when>
+      <j:when test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.mode') == 'attribdef'}">
+        <j:set var="maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file"
+            value="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.src}"/>
+      </j:when>
+      <j:otherwise>
+        <ant:fail>Valid values for [maven.aspectwerkz.mode] are [xmldef] and [attribdef] only.</ant:fail>
+      </j:otherwise>
+    </j:choose>
+
     <path id="classpath.main">
         <ant:pathelement location="${maven.dependency.classpath}"/>
         <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('aspectwerkz:aspectwerkz')}"/>
@@ -30,72 +57,134 @@
 
   <!--
      ========================================================================
-       Compile AW javadoc attributes.
+       Compile javadoc attributes and generate an XML definition file. Used
+       only in xmldef mode.
      ========================================================================
   -->
   <goal name="aspectwerkz:attributec" prereqs="aspectwerkz:init"
-    description="Compile AspectWerkz javadoc attributes">
+      description="Compile AspectWerkz javadoc attributes (xml-defined aspects)">
 
-    <!-- TODO: only run attributeC if sources are newer than target
-         XML definition file -->
+    <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.mode') == 'xmldef'}">
+      
+      <!-- TODO: only run attributeC if sources are newer than target
+           XML definition file -->
              
-    <ant:java dir="${maven.build.dir}" failonerror="true" fork="true"
-        classname="org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.metadata.AttributeC">
+      <ant:java dir="${maven.build.dir}" failonerror="true" fork="true"
+          classname="org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.metadata.AttributeC">
 
-      <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.definition.validate" 
-          value="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.validate}"/>
+        <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.definition.validate" 
+            value="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.validate}"/>
 
-      <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.src.dir}"/>
-      <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.build.definition.file}"/>
-      <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.definition.merge.file') != null}">
-        <ant:arg line="-m ${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.merge.file}"/>
-      </j:if>
-      <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.uuid') != null}">
-        <ant:arg line="-u ${maven.aspectwerkz.uuid}"/>
-      </j:if>
+        <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.src.dir}"/>
+        <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file}"/>
+        <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.merge') != null}">
+          <ant:arg line="-m ${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.merge}"/>
+        </j:if>
+        <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.uuid') != null}">
+          <ant:arg line="-u ${maven.aspectwerkz.uuid}"/>
+        </j:if>
 
-      <ant:classpath>
-        <ant:path refid="classpath.main"/>
-        <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('qdox:qdox')}"/>
-        <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('jrexx:jrexx')}"/>
-      </ant:classpath>
+        <ant:classpath>
+          <ant:path refid="classpath.main"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('qdox:qdox')}"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('jrexx:jrexx')}"/>
+        </ant:classpath>
 
-    </ant:java>
+      </ant:java>
+
+    </j:if>
 
   </goal>
 
   <!--
      ========================================================================
-       Tranform source code by weaving aspects to them (offline mode).
+       Weave aspects at build time (offline mode). Works for both "xmldef"
+       and "attribdef" modes.
      ========================================================================
   -->
-  <goal name="aspectwerkz:transform" 
-    prereqs="aspectwerkz:init,aspectwerkz:attributec,java:compile"
-    description="Weave aspects to sources (offline mode)">
+  <goal name="aspectwerkz:weave" 
+      prereqs="aspectwerkz:aspectc,aspectwerkz:aspectwerkc"
+      description="Weave aspects (offline mode)"/>
 
-    <!-- TODO: Add support for extension classes -->
-    
-    <ant:java dir="${maven.build.dir}" failonerror="true" fork="true"
-        classname="org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.compiler.AspectWerkzC">
+  <!--
+     ========================================================================
+       Weave "attribdef" aspects at build time (offline mode).
+     ========================================================================
+  -->
+  <goal name="aspectwerkz:aspectc" prereqs="aspectwerkz:init,java:compile">
 
-      <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.transform.verbose" 
-          value="${maven.aspectwerkz.transform.verbose}"/>
-      <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.transform.filter" 
-          value="${maven.aspectwerkz.transform.filter}"/>
-      <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.definition.file" 
-          value="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file}"/>
+    <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.mode') == 'attribdef'}">
 
-      <ant:arg value="-verify"/>
-      <ant:arg file="${maven.build.dest}"/>
+      <!-- TODO: only run aspectc if sources are newer than target
+           XML definition file -->
+
+      <ant:java dir="${maven.build.dir}" failonerror="true" fork="true"
+          classname="org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.attribdef.definition.AspectC">
+
+        <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.verbose') == 'true'}">
+          <ant:arg value="-verbose"/>
+        </j:if>
+
+        <!-- Path to source dir -->
+        <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.src.dir}"/>
+
+        <!-- Path to classes dir -->
+        <ant:arg file="${maven.build.dest}"/>
+
+        <!-- (optional) Path to where weaved classes will be generated -->
+        <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.build.dir}"/>
+
+        <ant:classpath>
+          <ant:path refid="classpath.main"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('aspectwerkz:aspectwerkz-core')}"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('qdox:qdox')}"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('bcel:bcel')}"/>
+        </ant:classpath>
+         
+      </ant:java>
+
+    </j:if>
+
+  </goal>
+
+  <!--
+     ========================================================================
+       Weave "xmldef" aspects at build time (offline mode).
+     ========================================================================
+  -->
+  <goal name="aspectwerkz:aspectwerkc"
+      prereqs="aspectwerkz:init,aspectwerkz:attributec,java:compile">
+
+    <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.mode') == 'xmldef'}">
+
+      <!-- TODO: Add support for extension classes -->
+
+      <ant:java dir="${maven.build.dir}" failonerror="true" fork="true"
+          classname="org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.compiler.AspectWerkzC">
+
+        <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.aspectwerkz.verbose') == 'true'}">
+          <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.transform.verbose" value="true"/>
+        </j:if>
         
-      <ant:classpath>
-        <ant:path refid="classpath.main"/>
-        <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('ant:ant')}"/>
-        <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('aspectwerkz:aspectwerkz-core')}"/>
-        <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('bcel:bcel')}"/>
-      </ant:classpath>      
+        <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.transform.filter" 
+            value="${maven.aspectwerkz.transform.filter}"/>
+        <ant:sysproperty key="aspectwerkz.definition.file" 
+            value="${maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file}"/>
+
+        <ant:arg value="-verify"/>
+
+        <ant:arg file="${maven.aspectwerkz.build.dir}"/>
+        
+        <ant:classpath>
+          <ant:path refid="classpath.main"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('ant:ant')}"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('aspectwerkz:aspectwerkz-core')}"/>
+          <ant:pathelement location="${plugin.getDependencyPath('bcel:bcel')}"/>
+        </ant:classpath>      
   
-    </ant:java>
+      </ant:java>
+
+    </j:if>
     
   </goal>
     
diff --git a/aspectwerkz/plugin.properties b/aspectwerkz/plugin.properties
index 63ce2b04..53f1ea84 100644
--- a/aspectwerkz/plugin.properties
+++ b/aspectwerkz/plugin.properties
@@ -1,22 +1,52 @@
+#============================================================================
+# Properties for the AspectWerkz plugin for Maven
+# ===========================================================================
+
+# AW supports 2 types of Aspects/Advice/Pointcuts definition: 
+# - xmldef   : Advice are defined as extending *Advice classes (BeforeAdvice,
+#              AroundAdvice, etc). Custom javadoc attributes can be used to 
+#              link code to weave with advices.
+# - attribdef: Advices and pcds are defined purely using custom javadoc
+#              attributes (@Execute, @Aspect, etc).
+# You need to tell the plugin how you have defined your AW 
+# Aspects/Advices/Pointcuts. The 2 valid values are "xmldef" and "attribdef".
+maven.aspectwerkz.mode = attribdef
+
 # Location of AW sources
 maven.aspectwerkz.src.dir = ${basedir}/src/main
 
-# Location of the AW XML definition file that will be created by the
-# attribute compilation (when calling <aspectwerkz:attributeC>).
-maven.aspectwerkz.build.definition.file = ${maven.build.dir}/aspectwerkz.xml
+# Location where weaved classes will be generated.
+maven.aspectwerkz.build.dir = ${maven.build.dest}
 
 # Decide whether definition validation is turned on or off.
 maven.aspectwerkz.definition.validate = false
 
-maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file = ${maven.aspectwerkz.build.definition.file}
+# Verbose mode
+maven.aspectwerkz.verbose = false
 
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# attribdef mode properties
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Location of the XML definition file.
+maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.src = ${basedir}/conf/aspectwerkz.xml
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# xmldef mode properties
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Location of the AW XML definition file that will be created by the
+# attribute compilation (when calling <aspectwerkz:attributeC>). This is only
+# used in "xmldef" mode.
+maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.build = ${maven.build.dir}/aspectwerkz.xml
+
+# TODO: explain property here
 maven.aspectwerkz.transform.filter = no
-maven.aspectwerkz.transform.verbose = no
 
 # (optional). Definition file to be merged with the main definition file. 
-# Used by the <aspectwerkz:attributeC> goal.
-# maven.aspectwerkz.definition.merge.file =
+# Used by the <aspectwerkz:attributeC> goal. Only for "xmldef" mode.
+# maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.merge =
 
 # (optional). UUID to use. If not specified a default one will be automatically
-# generated. Used by the <aspectwerkz:attributeC> goal.
+# generated. Used by the <aspectwerkz:attributeC> goal. Only for "xmldef" mode.
 # maven.aspectwerkz.uuid = 
diff --git a/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/maven.xml b/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
index bc0bacbf..2ea6ae84 100644
--- a/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
+++ b/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
   <goal name="testPlugin">
     <attainGoal name="clean"/>
-    <attainGoal name="aspectwerkz:transform"/>
+    <attainGoal name="aspectwerkz:weave"/>
   </goal>
          
 </project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/project.properties b/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/project.properties
index 8baa0290..bf03a41c 100644
--- a/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/project.properties
+++ b/aspectwerkz/src/plugin-test/project.properties
@@ -2,7 +2,4 @@
 # P R O J E C T  P R O P E R T I E S
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-maven.aspectwerkz.uuid = test
-maven.aspectwerkz.definition.merge.file = ${basedir}/conf/aspectwerkz.xml
-maven.aspectwerkz.definition.validate = true
-maven.aspectwerkz.transform.verbose = yes
+maven.aspectwerkz.verbose = true
diff --git a/aspectwerkz/xdocs/goals.xml b/aspectwerkz/xdocs/goals.xml
index 6d18f9d3..33e2a267 100644
--- a/aspectwerkz/xdocs/goals.xml
+++ b/aspectwerkz/xdocs/goals.xml
@@ -10,13 +10,16 @@
       <goal>
         <name>aspectwerkz:attributec</name>
         <description>
-          Compile AspectWerkz javadoc attributes.
+          Compile AspectWerkz javadoc attributes for xml-defined aspects
+          (i.e. <code>maven.aspectwerkz.mode = xmldef</code>).
         </description>
       </goal>
       <goal>
-        <name>aspectwerkz:transform</name>
+        <name>aspectwerkz:weave</name>
         <description>
-          Weaves aspects on byte code (offline mode).
+           Weave aspects at build time (offline mode). Works for both "xmldef"
+           (<code>maven.aspectwerkz.mode = xmldef</code>) and "attribdef" 
+           (<code>maven.aspectwerkz.mode = attribdef</code>) modes.
         </description>
       </goal>
     </goals>
diff --git a/aspectwerkz/xdocs/properties.xml b/aspectwerkz/xdocs/properties.xml
index 1b3bf94e..cd87b092 100644
--- a/aspectwerkz/xdocs/properties.xml
+++ b/aspectwerkz/xdocs/properties.xml
@@ -6,29 +6,51 @@
     <author email="vmassol@apache.org">Vincent Massol</author>
   </properties>
   <body>
-    <section name="AspectWerkz properties">
+    <section name="AspectWerkz generic properties">
       <table>
         <tr>
           <th>Property</th>
           <th>Optional?</th>
           <th>Description</th>
         </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.mode</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            AW supports 2 types of Aspects/Advice/Pointcuts definition: 
+            <ul>
+              <li>
+                <strong>xmldef</strong>: Advice are defined as extending 
+                *Advice classes (BeforeAdvice, AroundAdvice, etc). Custom 
+                javadoc attributes can be used to link code to weave with 
+                advices.
+              </li>
+              <li>
+                <strong>attribdef</strong>: Advices and pcds are defined 
+                purely using custom javadoc attributes (@Execute, @Aspect,
+                etc).
+              </li>
+            </ul>
+            You need to tell the plugin how you have defined your AW 
+            Aspects/Advices/Pointcuts. The 2 valid values are 
+            <code>xmldef</code> and <code>attribdef</code>.
+            The default value is <code>attribdef</code>.
+          </td>
+        </tr>
         <tr>
           <td>maven.aspectwerkz.src.dir</td>
           <td>Yes</td>
           <td>
             Location of aspect sources. Default location is
-            <code>${basedir}/src/aspectwerkz</code>.
+            <code>${basedir}/src/main</code>.
           </td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
-          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.build.definition.file</td>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.build.dir</td>
           <td>Yes</td>
           <td>
-            Location of the AW XML definition file that will be created by the
-            attribute compilation (when calling the 
-            <code>aspectwerkz:attributeC</code> goal). Defaults to
-            <code>${maven.build.dir}/aspectwerkz.xml</code>.
+            Location where weaved classes will be generated. Default to
+            <code>${maven.build.dest}</code>.
           </td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
@@ -40,7 +62,54 @@
           </td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
-          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.definition.merge.file</td>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.verbose</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            Decide whether to use verbose output or not during execution of
+            this plugin's goals. Defaults to <code>false</code>.
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </table>
+    </section>
+
+    <section name="AspectWerkz properties specific to 'attribdef' mode">
+      <table>
+        <tr>
+          <th>Property</th>
+          <th>Optional?</th>
+          <th>Description</th>
+        </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.src</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            Location of the XML definition file. Default to
+            <code>${basedir}/conf/aspectwerkz.xml</code>.
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </table>
+    </section>
+
+    <section name="AspectWerkz properties specific to 'xmldef' mode">
+      <table>
+        <tr>
+          <th>Property</th>
+          <th>Optional?</th>
+          <th>Description</th>
+        </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.build</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            Location of the AW XML definition file that will be created by the
+            attribute compilation (when calling the 
+            <code>aspectwerkz:attributec</code> goal). This is only used in 
+            <code>xmldef</code> mode. Defaults to
+            <code>${maven.build.dir}/aspectwerkz.xml</code>.
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.definition.file.merge</td>
           <td>Yes</td>
           <td>
             Definition file to be merged with the main definition file.
@@ -55,6 +124,13 @@
             automatically generated. This property is not defined by default.
           </td>
         </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.aspectwerkz.transform.filter</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            TODO: explain property here. Defaults to <code>no</code>.
+          </td>
+        </tr>
       </table>
     </section>      
   </body>