A little Python function to deal with values of other types contained in strings, for example, for sorting purposes

get_string_type_and_value.py

import dateutil.parser

def get_string_type_and_value(string):
    """ Return the type and value of the string parameter's content """
    # int?
    try:
        value = int(string)
        return "int", value
    except ValueError:
        pass

    # float? (with point decimal separator)
    try:
        value = float(string)
        return "float", value
    except ValueError:
        pass

    # float? (with comma decimal separator)
    try:
        value = float(string.replace(".", ","))
        return "float", value
    except ValueError:
        pass

    # complex? (Python's format, for example "1+2j")
    try:
        value = complex(string)
        return "complex", value
    except ValueError:
        pass

    # datetime?
    try:
        value = dateutil.parser.parse(string)
        return "datetime", value
    except dateutil.parser._parser.ParserError:
        pass

    # str!
    return "str", string