    def __convert_num(number):
        """
        All path items are automatically strings. If you think it's an int or float, this attempts to convert it.
        :param str number:
        :return float or str:
        """
        try:
            return float(number)
        except ValueError as e:
            logger_noaa_lpd.warn("convert_num: ValueError: {}".format(e))
            return number