diff --git a/tools/lib/data.py b/tools/lib/data.py
index cebabfcc..02089afd 100644
--- a/tools/lib/data.py
+++ b/tools/lib/data.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from TexSoup import TexSoup
 from .LaTeX import newCommand
-from .utils import getValFromCell,toFloat
+from .utils import getValFromCell,checkFloat
 from TexSoup import TexNode
 from enum import IntEnum,auto,unique,IntFlag
 from .Format import Format
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ class dataFileBase(object):
         mymethod=(method("TBE(FC)"),method("TBE"))
         finsts=dataFileBase.convertState(table[first:last+1,1],default=default,firstState=firstState,commands=commands)
         for index,row in enumerate(table[first:last+1,]):
-          oscilatorForces=toFloat(str(row[2]))
-          T1 = toFloat(str(row[3]))
+          oscilatorForces=checkFloat(str(row[2]))
+          T1 = checkFloat(str(row[3]))
           val,unsafe = getValFromCell(row[4])
           corr,unsafecorr = getValFromCell(row[7])
           finst=finsts[index]
diff --git a/tools/lib/utils.py b/tools/lib/utils.py
index c32aba50..724a738a 100644
--- a/tools/lib/utils.py
+++ b/tools/lib/utils.py
@@ -27,11 +27,12 @@ def getValFromCell(cell):
     if type(val) is TexNode and val.name=='emph':
       unsafe=True
       val=val.string
-      val=toFloat(str(val))
+      val=checkFloat(str(val))
     return (val,unsafe)
 
-def toFloat(x):
+def checkFloat(x):
   try:
-    return float(x)
+    float(x)
+    return x
   except ValueError:
     return None
\ No newline at end of file