Resolve #2021 "04 16 branched from master ini file device"

Completed ini example. Don't merge before !23 (merged). Small unrelated change slipped in to this branch, will need to fix that first.

devices/clients/ini_client.py

@@ -122,12 +122,10 @@ class ini_client(CommClient):
             print("pre conversion: ", value, type(value))   # pre conversion
             value = array(value, dtype)
 
-            # convert values from buildin type to numpy type
-            value = dtype(value)
             print("post conversion: ", value, type(value))  # pre conversion
             if dim_y > 1:
                 # if data is an image, slice it according to the y dimensions
-                value = numpy.array(numpy.split(numpy.array(value), indices_or_sections=dim_y))
+                value = numpy.array(numpy.split(value, indices_or_sections=dim_y))
 
             return value
 
@@ -182,10 +180,16 @@ def array(string, dtype):
                 array.append(False)
             else:
                 raise ValueError("String to bool failed. String is not True/False, but is: '{}'".format(i))
+
+        array = dtype(array)
+
     elif dtype is numpy.str_:
         for i in string.split(","):
-            value = i
+            value = numpy.str_(i)
             array.append(value)
+
+        array = numpy.array(array)
+
     else:
         # regular case, go through the separator
         for i in string.split(","):
@@ -193,6 +197,9 @@ def array(string, dtype):
             value = dtype(i)
             array.append(value)
 
+        # convert values from buildin type to numpy type
+        array = dtype(array)
+
     return array
 
 def write_config(filename):