public short getMaximumDifference_as_short(){
        short diff = (short) 0;
        if(this.type==8 || this.type==9){
            short max = this.getMaximum_as_short();
            short min = this.getMinimum_as_short();
            diff = (short)(max - min);
        }
        else{
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Maximum difference may only be returned as the same type as the type of the internal array - you are trying to return as short or Short the difference for a " + this.typeName[this.type] +"[] array");
        }
        return diff;
    }