Method start

src/main/java/gate/Utils.java:277–279

Get the start offset of an annotation.

(SimpleAnnotation a)

   * Get the start offset of an annotation.
   */
  public static Long start(SimpleAnnotation a) {
    return (a.getStartNode() == null) ? null : a.getStartNode().getOffset();
  }

  /**
   * Get the start offset of an annotation set.