gistfile1.txt

def clean_values(elem)
  if elem.empty?
    elem = nil
  elsif elem.starts_with?("\"") or elem.starts_with?("'")
    elem = elem.gsub(/[\'|\"]/, "")
  elsif elem.starts_with?("{")
    new_val = {}
    elem.gsub(/[\{|\}]/,"").split(/\=\>(.*)\,/).collect{|x| x.split("=>")}.collect{|x| new_val[x[0].gsub(/[\'|\"|:]/,"").strip.to_sym] = x[1]}
    elem = new_val
  elsif elem.starts_with?("[")
    elem = elem.gsub(/[\[|\]]/,"").split(",").collect{|x| clean_values(x)} 
  else 
    if !elem.scan(/(\d+\.\d+)/).empty?
      if elem.scan(/(0+\.0+)/).empty?
        elem = elem.to_f==0.0 ? nil : elem.to_f
      else
        elem = 0.0
      end
    else
      if elem.scan(/(0+)/).empty?
        elem = elem.to_i==0 ? nil : elem.to_i
      else
        elem = 0
      end
    end
  end
  return elem
end

value = "";clean_values(value)
value = "1";clean_values(value)
value = "0";clean_values(value)
value = "1.00";clean_values(value)
value = "0.00";clean_values(value)
value = "'0.00'";clean_values(value)
value = "[1,'2',\"3\",4,7.22,00.00,0.0000]";clean_values(value)
value = "{:one => \"17\", :two => 0.000}";clean_values(value)
value = "{:one => \"17\", :two => 0.000, :three => 1.23, :four => 0, 'five' => [1,'2',\"3\",4,7.22,00.00,0.0000]}";clean_values(value)

{:one => "one", :two => 2}.to_s