code: public boolean exists(String index) {
          boolean exists = false;
  
          if (indexNames.isEmpty() == false) {
              for (i = 0; i < indexNames.size(); i++) {
                  if (index.equals((String) indexNames.elementAt(i))) {
                      exists = true;
                      break;
                  }
              }
          }
  
          return exists;
      }
docs: see if the passed in index exists in the vector