1 files changed, 10 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index 7c6a1563..4612a322 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -106,10 +106,12 @@ function defaults(args, defs, croak) {
 };
 
 function merge(obj, ext) {
+    var count = 0;
     for (var i in ext) if (ext.hasOwnProperty(i)) {
         obj[i] = ext[i];
+        count++;
     }
-    return obj;
+    return count;
 };
 
 function noop() {};
@@ -298,5 +300,11 @@ Dictionary.prototype = {
         for (var i in this._values)
             ret.push(f(this._values[i], i.substr(1)));
         return ret;
-    }
+    },
+    toObject: function() { return this._values }
+};
+Dictionary.fromObject = function(obj) {
+    var dict = new Dictionary();
+    dict._size = merge(dict._values, obj);
+    return dict;
 };