def listify(initial):
        """
        Takes a string separated by commas, and breaks each component
        separated by commas into its own element in a list. Then, it 
        returns the list as float elements. Also gets rid of alternating zero pattern.

        Return: listified version of initial

        Precondition: initial is a string with commas and numbers between commas

        Parameters:
                initial : str : this is what is listified
        """
        assert type(initial) == str
        assert ',' in initial

        listified = []

        while ',' in initial:
                pos = initial.find(',')
                listified.append(initial[0:pos])
                initial = initial[pos+1:]
                if ',' in initial:
                        pos = initial.find(',')
                        initial = initial= initial[pos+1:]
        final = []
        for item in listified:  
                final.append(float(item))
        return final