@staticmethod
def list_to_array(value):
    """
        Converts value into array object with empty array as default.
        Strings with comma-delimited values are split into array of strings.

        :param value: the list to convert.

        :return: array object or empty array when value is None
        """
    if value == None:
        return []
    elif type(value) in [list, tuple, set]:
        return list(value)
    elif type(value) in [str]:
        return value.split(',')
    else:
        return [value]
