docs: def value_output(value, quote_method='all', none_handle='strict'):
      '''
      Format types:
      'all'.
         (default) everything is embraced with quotes
      'needed'.
         Quote only if needed. Values are on placed in quotes if:
         a. the value contains a quote
         b. there is whitespace at the beginning or end of string
      'none'.
         Quote nothing.
      '''
      p = str(value)
      if value is None:
          if none_handle=='strict':
              return ""
          elif none_handle=='empty':
              return ' ""'
          elif none_handle=='None':
              p = "None"
          else:
              raise "none handler "+str(none_handle)+" not recognized"
      if quote_method=='all':
          return ' "'+p+'"'
      elif quote_method=='by_need':
          if len(p)!=len(p.strip()):
              return ' "'+p+'"'
          if '"' in p:
              return ' "'+p+'"'
          return " "+p
      elif quote_method=='none':
          return " "+p
      else:
          raise "quote method "+str(quote_method)+" not recognized"
      return