function Get($key) {
        // check the file description
        if (!$this->fd) {
            trigger_error("XDB:Get(), null db handler.", E_USER_WARNING);
            return false;
        }

        $klen = strlen($key);
        if ($klen == 0 || $klen > XDB_MAXKLEN)
            return false;

        // get the data?
        $rec = $this->_get_record($key);

        if (!isset($rec['vlen']) || $rec['vlen'] == 0)
            return false;

        return $rec['value'];
    }