def _get_recarray_field(array, key):
 field = np.recarray.field(array, key)
 if ((field.dtype.char in ('S', 'U')) and (not isinstance(field, chararray.chararray))):
  field = field.view(chararray.chararray)
 return field

def _get_recarray_field ( array , key ) : field = np . recarray . field ( array , key ) if ( ( field . dtype . char in ( 'S' , 'U' ) ) and ( not isinstance ( field , chararray . chararray ) ) ) : field = field . view ( chararray . chararray ) return field
compatibility function for using the recarray base classs field method .