def str2num (str, retType = ""):
  decimal = 0
  x = 0
  
  while x < len(str):
    if (not(str[x].isdigit() or str[x] == ".") or ((str[x] == ".") and decimal)):
      str = str[:x] + str[x+1:]
    elif str[x] == "." and not(decimal):
      decimal = 1
      x = x + 1
    else:
      x = x + 1
  
  if len(str) > 0:
    if str[0] == ".":
      str = "0" + str[:]
    if str[-1] == ".":
      str = str[:-1]
      decimal = 0
  
  if len(str) == 0:
    str = "0"
    
  if (retType == "string") or (retType == "str"):
    return str
  else:
    if retType == "float":
      return float(str)
    elif (retType == "int") or (retType == "integer"):
      return long(str)
    else:
      if decimal:
        return float(str)
      else:
        return long(str)