def _textToTable(self, text, separator='\t'):
        """
        format csv, [[...]], ((..)) strings to a 2d table
        """
        table = None
        if text.startswith('[[') or text.startswith('(('):
            try:
                # maybe it's already formated as a list e.g. "[['1','2'],[...]]"
                # check it:
                t = eval(text)
            # has to be a 2d-list:
                if isinstance(t, list) and isinstance(t[0], list):
                    table = t
            except SyntaxError:
                # not a valid list
                pass
        if not table:
            # create the list from the clipboard-text
            # therefore the text has to be formated like this:
                # "1\t2\3\n4\t5\6\n"
            table = text.split('\n')
            n = 0
            while n < len(table):
                sline = table[n].split(separator)
                if sline != ['']:
                    table[n] = sline
                else:
                    table.pop(n)
                    n -= 1
                n += 1
        return table