code: public void readExternal(ObjectInput in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException
     {
        orderNumber = in.readInt();
  
        byte[] data = new byte[in.readInt()];
        if (data.length > 0)
        {
           in.readFully(data);
           value = new String(data, Constants.DEFAULT_ENCODING);
        }
        else
        {
           // The value cannot be null so it must be initialized to an empty String
           value = "";
        }
     }
docs: {@inheritDoc}