code: public String[] read(int wanted_elt) throws DevFailed
  	{
  
  //
  // Throw exeception if the wanted element is stupid and if there is no element
  // stored in he black box
  //
  
  		if (wanted_elt <= 0)
  		{
  			Except.throw_exception("API_BlackBoxArgument",
  					       "Argument to read black box out of range",
  					       "BlackBox::read");
  		}
  		if (nb_elt == 0)
  		{
  			Except.throw_exception("API_BlackBoxEmpty",
  					       "Nothing stored yet in black-box",
  					       "BlackBox::read");
  		}
  			
  //
  // Limit wanted element to a reasonable value
  //
  
  		if (wanted_elt > max_elt)
  			wanted_elt = max_elt;
  		
  		if (wanted_elt > nb_elt)
  			wanted_elt = nb_elt;
  		
  //
  // Read black box elements
  //
  
  		String[] ret = new String[wanted_elt];
  	
  		int read_index;
  		if (insert_elt == 0)
  			read_index = max_elt - 1;
  		else
  			read_index = insert_elt - 1;
  		for (int i = 0;i < wanted_elt;i++)
  		{
  			build_info_as_str(read_index);
  			ret[i] = new String(elt_str);
  		
  			read_index--;
  			if (read_index < 0)
  				read_index = max_elt - 1;
  		}
  		
  		return ret;
  	}
docs: --------------------------------------------------------------------------