@classmethod
def get_dict_value_as_float(cls, dict_IN, name_IN, default_IN=float(-1)):
    """
        Accepts dictionary, name, and optional default value (if no default
           provided, default is -1).  If dictionary or name missing, returns
           default.  If name not present in dictionary, returns default.  If name
           in dictionary, returns whatever is mapped to name, converted to a
           float through call to float().
           
        Parameters:
        - dict_IN - dictionary we are looking in.
        - name_IN - name we are looking for in dictionary.
        - default_IN (defaults to None) - default value to return if problem or not found in dict.
        
        Returns:
        - value_OUT - value mapped to name_IN in dict_IN, converted to int(), else the default value if problems or if not found in dict.
        """
    value_OUT = None
    value_OUT = cls.get_dict_value(dict_IN, name_IN, default_IN)
    if value_OUT != None:
        value_OUT = float(value_OUT)
    return value_OUT
