docs: def split_field(field):
      """
      RETURN field AS ARRAY OF DOT-SEPARATED FIELDS
      """
      if field == "." or field==None:
          return []
      elif is_text(field) and "." in field:
          if field.startswith(".."):
              remainder = field.lstrip(".")
              back = len(field) - len(remainder) - 1
              return [-1]*back + [k.replace("\a", ".") for k in remainder.replace("\\.", "\a").split(".")]
          else:
              return [k.replace("\a", ".") for k in field.replace("\\.", "\a").split(".")]
      else:
          return [field]