public int getTotalBits() {
    //this total calculates and removes the bits reserved for "offset"
    //   between the different children.
    int total = 0;
    EncodedElement iter = this;
    while(iter != null) {
      total += iter.usableBits - iter.offset;
      iter = iter.next;
    }
    return total;
  }
public int getTotalBits ( ) { int total = 0 ; EncodedElement iter = this ; while ( iter != null ) { total += iter . usableBits - iter . offset ; iter = iter . next ; } return total ; }
Total number of usable bits stored by this entire list. This sums the
difference of each list element's "usableBits" and "offset".
@return Total valid bits in this list.