code: public static int decode(byte[] src, int srcOffset, BigDecimal[] valueRef)
          throws CorruptEncodingException
      {
          return decode(src, srcOffset, valueRef, 0);
      }
docs: Decodes the given BigDecimal as originally encoded for ascending order.
  
  @param src source of encoded data
  @param srcOffset offset into encoded data
  @param valueRef decoded BigDecimal is stored in element 0, which may be null
  @return amount of bytes read from source
  @throws CorruptEncodingException if source data is corrupt
  @since 1.2