if(text == null) return ""; String txt = text.substring( start_index, end_index ); return txt;
    public String getSubstring() {        // new code for whitepsace handling        if(master != null) {            if(start_index == -1 || end_index == -1) {                return master;            }            if(end_index < start_index) {                u.p("warning: end is less than start: " + end_index + " < " + start_index);                u.p("master = " + master);                return master;            }            return master.substring(start_index, end_index);        }                if(text == null) return "";        String txt = text.substring( start_index, end_index );        return txt;    }