From: Daniel Firu <dannyfiru@...>
Date: 2009-01-17T08:04:09+09:00
Subject: Convert String to Float if and only if the content of the string are 	digits

Hi All,

Long time reader -- first time poster.  Basically, I have a bunch of
data that is sucked in from a file.  From reading the pick axe book,
it is my understanding that this data by default will be a string even
if the contents of that string are a bunch of digits.  Well, in the
case that a string is solely composed of digits, I want to convert
them to a float for the purpose of using the <=> operator.  I'll just
go ahead and throw in my method and let you guys tear it a part.  The
goal of the function is to soft my array of arrays based on a
particular element defined by a 'key'.  Maybe there is an easier way
to do this all together.

  def sort(*keys) options = {}
    regex = "^(\d)*$"
    newData = Array.new
    keys.reverse!
    keys.each do |key|
      newData = @data
      keyIndex = @header.index(key)
      newData.sort! do |entry1, entry2|
        if (!(entry1[keyIndex].match(regex).nil? && entry2
[keyIndex].match(regex).nil?))
          print "I found only digits\n"
          entry1[keyIndex].to_f <=> entry2[keyIndex].to_f
        else
          #print "I found something other than digits\n"
          entry1[keyIndex] <=> entry2[keyIndex]
        end
      end
    end
    newTable = Table.new({
                           :header => @header,
                           :data => newData
                         })
    newTable
  end

Thanks in advance for you feedback.  Feel free to be brutal -- I have
thick skin and am still learning.