Converting a string to the most probable type

[Luis M. González]

On 6 mar, 11:27, Pierre Quentel <quentel.pie... at wanadoo.fr> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I would like to know if there is a module that converts a string to a
> value of the "most probable type" ; for instance :
> - if the string is "abcd" the value is the same string "abcd"
> - string "123" : value = the integer 123
> - string "-1.23" (or "-1,23" if the locale for decimals is ,) : value
> = the float -1.23
> - string "2008/03/06" (the format is also locale-dependant) : value =
> datetime.date(2008,03,06)
>
> Like in spreadsheets, special prefixes could be used to force the
> type : for instance '123 would be converted to the *string* "123"
> instead of the *integer* 123
>
> I could code it myself, but this wheel is probably already invented
>
> Regards,
> Pierre

>>> def convert(x):
	if '.' in x:
		try: return float(x)
		except ValueError: return x
	else:
		try: return int(x)
		except: return x


>>> convert('123')
123
>>> convert('123.99')
123.98999999999999
>>> convert('hello')
'hello'