byte[] b=str.getBytes();  addInt(b.length);  _buffer.put(b); _buffer.put((byte)0); }
    private void addString(String str)    {        if (str==null)        {            addInt(0xFFFF);            return;        }        // TODO - need to use a writer to convert, to avoid this hacky        // conversion and temp buffer        byte[] b=str.getBytes();        addInt(b.length);        _buffer.put(b);        _buffer.put((byte)0);    }