def inputs_to_set(inputSymbols):
    """Takes in the parameters passed to *args and puts them in a set and a list.
    The set will make sure there are no duplicates, and then the list will keep
    the original order of the input.

    :param inputSymbols: A list, dict, or tuple of stock tickers.
    :type inputSymbols: list or dict or tuple or str
    :returns:  A list of strings that have been capitalized and stripped of white space.

    """

    symbols_list = []
    symbols_set = set()

    def add_symbol(symbol):
        symbol = symbol.upper().strip()
        if symbol not in symbols_set:
            symbols_set.add(symbol)
            symbols_list.append(symbol)

    if type(inputSymbols) is str:
        add_symbol(inputSymbols)
    elif type(inputSymbols) is list or type(inputSymbols) is tuple or type(inputSymbols) is set:
        inputSymbols = [comp for comp in inputSymbols if type(comp) is str]
        for item in inputSymbols:
            add_symbol(item)

    return(symbols_list)