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.

.

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