*
     * @param buf the NDR buffer
     * @return the decoded string (or null if NULL pointer)
     * @throws NdrException if decoding fails
     */
    private String decodeWideStringPointer(NdrBuffer buf) throws NdrException {
        int pointer = buf.dec_ndr_long();
        if (pointer == 0) {
            return null; // NULL pointer
        }

        int maxCount = buf.dec_ndr_long();