def lines_into_traces (lines):
	"""Convert a list of split ASCII text lines into traces (a list of lists of floats)"""
	
	traces = []
	num_of_traces = len(lines[0])			#work out how many traces from the no of columns

	## make an empty list
	for i in range(num_of_traces):
		traces.append([])

	## transpose lines into traces made from columns
	for line in lines:
		#print (line)
		for i in range (num_of_traces):
			#NEW AP
			#print (line[i])
			try:
				traces[i].append (float(line[i]))
			except:
				#element is empty or not a number, so skip
				continue
	return traces