code: private Value[] compactValues( Value[] inputValues ) {
          if (inputValues == null) {
              return null;
          }
          List<Value> compactedList = new ArrayList<Value>();
          for (Value inputValue : inputValues) {
              if (inputValue != null) {
                  compactedList.add(inputValue);
              }
          }
          return compactedList.toArray(new Value[0]);
      }
docs: Compacts the given array of input values, by removing all those which are <code>null</code>
  
  @param inputValues the input values
  @return an array without null elements.