def load(self):

		"""
		this is a glorified switch/case
		"""
		if self.format == FMT_INI:
			if self.filepaths:
				return self.load_using_ini_format_explicitly()
			return self.load_using_ini_format_implicitly()

		elif self.format == FMT_DELIMITED:
			if self.filepaths:
				return self.load_using_delimited_format_explicitly()
			raise ValueError('Implicit mode is not supported with FMT_DELIMITED')

		elif self.format == FMT_XML:
			if self.filepaths:
				return self.load_using_xml_format_explicitly()
			return self.load_using_xml_format_implicitly()

		elif self.format == FMT_JSON:
			if self.filepaths:
				return self.load_using_json_format_explicitly()
			return self.load_using_json_format_implicitly()

		elif self.format == FMT_YAML:
			if self.filepaths:
				return self.load_using_yaml_format_explicitly()
			return self.load_using_yaml_format_implicitly()

		else:
			raise ValueError('invalid config format: {}'.format(self.format))

		return None