similar to dict.get functionality but None value will return then
        if_none value

    args:
        item: dictionary to search
        key: the dictionary key
        if_none: the value to return if None is passed in
        strict: if False an empty string is treated as None

def get2(item, key, if_none=None, strict=True):
    ''' similar to dict.get functionality but None value will return then
        if_none value

    args:
        item: dictionary to search
        key: the dictionary key
        if_none: the value to return if None is passed in
        strict: if False an empty string is treated as None'''

    if not strict and item.get(key) == "":
        return if_none
    elif item.get(key) is None:
        return if_none
    else:
        return item.get(key)