public static void createColumn(CyTable table, String columnName, Class type, Class elementType) {
		CyColumn column = table.getColumn(columnName);
		if (column != null) {
			if (!column.getType().equals(type))
				throw new RuntimeException("Column "+columnName+" already exists, but has a different type");
			if (column.getType().equals(List.class) && !column.getListElementType().equals(elementType))
				throw new RuntimeException("List column "+columnName+" already exists, but has a different element type");
			return;
		}
		if (type.equals(List.class))
			table.createListColumn(columnName, elementType, false);
		else
			table.createColumn(columnName, type, false);
		return;
	}