/** Returns the internal representation of this column. */
  public Object getInternal() {
    int max_index = -1;
    Object[] internal = null;
    int[] keys = elements.keys();

    for (int i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
      if (keys[i] > max_index) {
        max_index = keys[i];
      }
    }

    internal = new Object[max_index + 1];
    for (int i = 0; i < max_index + 1; i++) {
      internal[i] = SparseDefaultValues.getDefaultObject();
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
      internal[keys[i]] = elements.get(keys[i]);
    }

    return internal;
  }