public int getBeginning(int index) {
        if (this.beginpos == null)
            throw new IllegalStateException("A result is not set.");
        if (index < 0 || this.nofgroups <= index)
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("The parameter must be less than "
                                               +this.nofgroups+": "+index);
        return this.beginpos[index];
    }