code: def _to_unicode(instr):
      '''
      Converts from current users character encoding to unicode.
      When instr has a value of None, the return value of the function
      will also be None.
      '''
      if instr is None or isinstance(instr, six.text_type):
          return instr
      else:
          return six.text_type(instr, 'utf8'f _to_unicode(instr):
      '''
      Converts from current users character encoding to unicode.
      When instr has a value of None, the return value of the function
      will also be None.
      '''
      if instr is None or isinstance(instr, six.text_type):
          return instr
      else:
          return six.text_type(instr, 'utf8')
docs: Converts from current users character encoding to unicode.
      When instr has a value of None, the return value of the function
      will also be None.