def _records(records_obj):

        if not records_obj:
            return []

        if not isinstance(records_obj, list):
            records_obj = [records_obj]

        ret = []
        try:
            for rec in records_obj:
                ret.append(rec.to_dict(exclude=["reaction_dataset_id"]))
        except Exception as err:
            # raises exception of first access!!
            pass
        return ret