code: def to_number(s):
      
      ret = s
      # try converting to float
      try:
          ret = float(s)
      except ValueError:
          ret = ret.strip('\'').strip()
  
      # try converting to uid
      try:
          ret = int(s)
      except ValueError:
          pass
  
      # try converting to boolean
      if ret == 'True':
          ret = True
      elif ret == 'False':
          ret = False
      elif ret == 'None':
          ret = None
      return ret
docs: Convert a string to a number.
      If not successful, return the string without blanks