code: def ensure_mapping_format(variables):
      
      if isinstance(variables, list):
          variables_dict = {}
          for map_dict in variables:
              variables_dict.update(map_dict)
  
          return variables_dict
  
      elif isinstance(variables, dict):
          return variables
  
      else:
          raise exceptions.ParamsError("variables format error!")
docs: ensure variables are in mapping format.
  
      Args:
          variables (list/dict): original variables
  
      Returns:
          dict: ensured variables in dict format
  
      Examples:
          >>> variables = [
                  {"a": 1},
                  {"b": 2}
              ]
          >>> print(ensure_mapping_format(variables))
              {
                  "a": 1,
                  "b": 2
              }