code: public static float[] getDash( String dashStr ) {
          if (dashStr == null) {
              return null;
          }
          String[] dashSplit = dashStr.split(","); //$NON-NLS-1$
          int size = dashSplit.length;
          float[] dash = new float[size];
          try {
              for( int i = 0; i < dash.length; i++ ) {
                  dash[i] = Float.parseFloat(dashSplit[i].trim());
              }
              return dash;
          } catch (NumberFormatException e) {
              return null;
          }
      }
docs: Returns a dash array from a dash string.
  
  @param dashStr the dash string definition.
  @return the dash array or null if the definition can't be parsed.