def _averageFromList(self, param):
        """ Averages out values passed as a comma-separated
            list, disregarding the zero-valued entries.
        """
        _result = 0.0
        _count = 0

        for _param in param.split(','):
            if _param != '' and float(_param) != 0.0:
                _result = _result + float(_param)
                _count  += 1

        if _count >= 1:
            _result = _result / _count
        return _result
Averages out values passed as a comma-separated
            list, disregarding the zero-valued entries.