string to list when the contents is a list

[nn]

Wes James wrote:
> I have been trying to create a list form a string.  The string will be
> a list (this is the contents will look like a list).  i.e. "[]" or
> "['a','b']"
>
> The "[]" is simple since I can just check if value == "[]" then return []
>
> But with "['a','b']" I have tried and get:
>
> a="['a','b']"
>
> b=a[1:-1].split(',')
>
> returns
>
> [ " 'a' "," 'b' " ]
>
> when I want it to return ['a','b'].
>
> How can I do this?
>
> thx,
>
> -wes


I am surprised nobody gave you the simple answer yet that may even
work for your situation:

b=a[2:-2].split("','")