def extract_format(format, extra_types):
    '''Pull apart the format [[fill]align][0][width][.precision][type]
    '''
    fill = align = None
    if format[0] in '<>=^':
        align = format[0]
        format = format[1:]
    elif len(format) > 1 and format[1] in '<>=^':
        fill = format[0]
        align = format[1]
        format = format[2:]

    zero = False
    if format and format[0] == '0':
        zero = True
        format = format[1:]

    width = ''
    while format:
        if not format[0].isdigit():
            break
        width += format[0]
        format = format[1:]

    if format.startswith('.'):
        # Precision isn't needed but we need to capture it so that
        # the ValueError isn't raised.
        format = format[1:]  # drop the '.'
        precision = ''
        while format:
            if not format[0].isdigit():
                break
            precision += format[0]
            format = format[1:]

    # the rest is the type, if present
    type = format
    if type and type not in ALLOWED_TYPES and type not in extra_types:
        raise ValueError('format spec %r not recognised' % type)

    return locals()
Pull apart the format [[fill]align][0][width][.precision][type]