Convert input parameter to a Configuration.

        :param conf: configuration to convert to a Configuration object.
        :type conf: Configuration, Category or Parameter.

        :rtype: Configuration

def _toconf(self, conf):
        """Convert input parameter to a Configuration.

        :param conf: configuration to convert to a Configuration object.
        :type conf: Configuration, Category or Parameter.

        :rtype: Configuration"""

        result = conf

        if result is None:
            result = Configuration()

        elif isinstance(result, Category):
            result = configuration(result)

        elif isinstance(result, Parameter):
            result = configuration(category('', result))

        elif isinstance(result, list):
            result = configuration(category('', *result))

        return result