code: @Override
  	public void configure(Configuration parameters) {
  		// pass parameters to FileInputFormat
  		super.configure(parameters);
  
  		// read own parameters
  		this.recordLength = parameters.getInteger(RECORDLENGTH_PARAMETER_KEY, 0);
  		if (recordLength < 1) {
  			throw new IllegalArgumentException("The record length parameter must be set and larger than 0.");
  		}
  	}
docs: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------