def deformat(value):
    """
    REMOVE NON-ALPHANUMERIC CHARACTERS

    FOR SOME REASON translate CAN NOT BE CALLED:
        ERROR: translate() takes exactly one argument (2 given)
        File "C:\Python27\lib\string.py", line 493, in translate
    """
    output = []
    for c in value:
        if c in delchars:
            continue
        output.append(c)
    return "".join(output)