* throwing an exception, if passed a {@code toKey} greater than an earlier {@code toKey}.
   */
  @Override
  public ImmutableSortedMap<K, V> subMap(K fromKey, K toKey) {
    return subMap(fromKey, true, toKey, false);
  }

  /**
   * This method returns a {@code ImmutableSortedMap}, consisting of the entries whose keys ranges

 *
 * <p>This class does <i>not</i> forward the {@code hashCode} and {@code equals} methods through to
 * the backing object, but relies on {@code Object}'s implementation. This is necessary to preserve
 * the symmetry of {@code equals}. Custom definitions of equality are usually based on an interface,
 * such as {@code Set} or {@code List}, so that the implementation of {@code equals} can cast the

   *       C}, {@code C} is skipped for equality test.
   *   <li>Equality test is not performed on method return values unless the method is a visible
   *       static factory method whose return type is {@code C} or {@code C}'s subtype.
   * </ul>
   *
   * <p>In all cases, if {@code C} needs custom logic for testing {@code equals()}, you can add an

   * in the returned list and vice versa.
   *
   * <p>Since functions are not reversible, the transform is one-way and new items cannot be stored
   * in the returned list. The {@code add}, {@code addAll} and {@code set} methods are unsupported
   * in the returned list.
   *
   * <p>The function is applied lazily, invoked when needed. This is necessary for the returned list

 *
 * <p>Except for logically "abstract" types like {@code ImmutableCollection} itself, each {@code
 * Immutable} type provides the static operations you need to obtain instances of that type. These
 * usually include:
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>Static methods named {@code of}, accepting an explicit list of elements or entries.
 *   <li>Static methods named {@code copyOf} (or {@code copyOfSorted}), accepting an existing

   * map does not support {@code setValue()} on its entries, {@code put}, or {@code putAll}.
   *
   * <p>When passed a key that is present in the map, {@code asMap().get(Object)} has the same
   * behavior as {@link #get}, returning a live collection. When passed a key that is not present,
   * however, {@code asMap().get(Object)} returns {@code null} instead of an empty collection.
   *

    }
  }

  /**
   * Sets {@code table[index]} to {@code entry}, where {@code table} is actually a {@code byte[]},
   * {@code short[]}, or {@code int[]}. The value of {@code entry} should fit in the size of the
   * assigned array element, when seen as an unsigned value. So if {@code table} is a {@code byte[]}
   * then we should have {@code 0 ≤ entry ≤ 255}, and if {@code table} is a {@code short[]} then we

 *
 * <p>The size of the data structure used by {@link ArrayBasedUnicodeEscaper} is proportional to the
 * highest valued code point that requires escaping. For example a replacement map containing the
 * single character '{@code \}{@code u1000}' will require approximately 16K of memory. If you need
 * to create multiple escaper instances that have the same character replacement mapping consider

    /**
     * Builds the effective settings of the specified settings files.
     *
     * @param request The settings building request that holds the parameters, must not be {@code null}.
     * @return The result of the settings building, never {@code null}.
     * @throws SettingsBuildingException If the effective settings could not be built.
     */

    return max;
  }

  /**
   * Returns the value nearest to {@code value} which is within the closed range {@code [min..max]}.
   *
   * <p>If {@code value} is within the range {@code [min..max]}, {@code value} is returned
   * unchanged. If {@code value} is less than {@code min}, {@code min} is returned, and if {@code
   * value} is greater than {@code max}, {@code max} is returned.
   *