+def _to_float(num, max_value):
+ """ Convert the number in string into a float. The number is expected
+ to be in the range of [-max_value, max_value]. Otherwise rises a
+ ValueError.
+ """
+ num = float(num)
+ if not isfinite(num) or num <= -max_value or num >= max_value:
+ raise ValueError()
+
+ return num
+