def parse_europ_num(string)
  str = string.dup
  raise "NaN" unless str =~ /^[\d\,\.]*$/
  while str =~ %r{\d\.\d+{3}}; str.sub!(%r{\.}, ''); end
  if str =~ /\./
          raise Exception.new "Improperly formatted string"
  end
  if str =~ /^\d+\,\d+$/
          str.sub!(/\,/, '.')
  end
  if str =~ /\,/
          raise Exception.new "Improperly formatted string"
  end
  return str.to_f
end