def pv_fullname(name):
    """ make sure an Epics PV name ends with .VAL or .SOMETHING!
    
    Parameters
    ----------
       pvname:   name of PV

    Returns
    -------
       string with full PV name

    """
    name = str(name)
    if '.' not in name:
        name = "%s.VAL" % name
    return name