code: int  getFirstChar(int category)  {
          RangeDescriptor   rlRange;
          int            retVal = -1;
          for (rlRange = fRangeList; rlRange!=null; rlRange=rlRange.fNext) {
              if (rlRange.fNum == category) {
                  retVal = rlRange.fStartChar;
                  break;
              }
          }
          return retVal;
      }
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