code: public static Float createFloat(final String str) {
          if (str == null) {
              return null;
          }
          return Float.valueOf(str);
      }
docs: <p>Convert a <code>String</code> to a <code>Float</code>.</p>
  
  <p>Returns <code>null</code> if the string is <code>null</code>.</p>
  
  @param str  a <code>String</code> to convert, may be null
  @return converted <code>Float</code> (or null if the input is null)
  @throws NumberFormatException if the value cannot be converted