def asdim(dimension):
    """Convert the input to a Dimension.

    Args:
        dimension: tuple, dict or string type to convert to Dimension

    Returns:
        A Dimension object constructed from the dimension spec. No
        copy is performed if the input is already a Dimension.
    """
    if isinstance(dimension, Dimension):
        return dimension
    elif isinstance(dimension, (tuple, dict, basestring)):
        return Dimension(dimension)
    else:
        raise ValueError('%s type could not be interpreted as Dimension. '
                         'Dimensions must be declared as a string, tuple, '
                         'dictionary or Dimension type.')
Convert the input to a Dimension.

    Args:
        dimension: tuple, dict or string type to convert to Dimension

    Returns:
        A Dimension object constructed from the dimension spec. No
        copy is performed if the input is already a Dimension.