def split_items(item_string):
	"""
	Splits a string of - separated items into its component parts.

	>>> split_items('true_values-0.1-0.2')
	['true_values', 0.1, 0.2]
	>>> split_items('a-b-c')
	['a', 'b', 'c']
	>>> split_items('true_value-8')
	['true_value', 8]
	>>> split_items('elbow_joint-shoulder_joint-wrist_joint')
	['elbow_joint', 'shoulder_joint', 'wrist_joint']
	>>> split_items('fred')
	['fred']
	>>> split_items('None')
	[None]
	>>> split_items('alpha-0.1_gamma-0.9')
	['alpha', '0.1_gamma', 0.9]
	"""
	parts = item_string.split('-')
	items = []
	# now clean up the types
	for v in parts:
		if v.isnumeric():
			items.append(int(v))
		elif v == 'None':
			items.append(None)
		else:
			try:
				items.append(float(v))
			except:
				items.append(v)
	return items