docs: def encoded(text, encoding=DEFAULT_ENCODING):
      """
      Encodes the inputted unicode/string variable with the given encoding type.
      
      :param      text | <variant>
                  encoding | <str>
      
      :return     <str>
      """
      # already a string item
      if type(text) == bytes_type:
          return text
  
      elif type(text) != unicode_type:
          # convert a QString value
          if type(text).__name__ == 'QString':
              if encoding == 'utf-8':
                  return unicode_type(text.toUtf8(), 'utf-8')
              elif encoding == 'latin-1':
                  return unicode_type(text.toLatin1(), 'latin-1')
              elif encoding == 'ascii':
                  return unicode_type(text.toAscii(), 'ascii')
              else:
                  return unicode_type(text, encoding)
  
          # convert a standard item
          else:
              try:
                  return bytes_type(text)
              except StandardError:
                  return '????'
  
      if encoding:
          try:
              return text.encode(encoding)
          except StandardError:
              return text.encode(encoding, errors='ignore')
  
      else:
          for enc in SUPPORTED_ENCODINGS:
              try:
                  return text.encode(enc)
              except StandardError:
                  pass
  
      return '????'