Index: trunk/src/thermal.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/thermal.c	(revision 31813)
+++ trunk/src/thermal.c	(revision 31814)
@@ -109,7 +109,29 @@
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+void pcb_thermal_bits2chars(char dst[3], pcb_thermal_t bits)
+{
+	char *end = dst;
 
+	if (!(bits & PCB_THERMAL_ON)) {
+		*end = '\0';
+		return;
+	}
+
+	switch(bits & 3) {
+		case PCB_THERMAL_NOSHAPE: *end++ = 'n'; break;
+		case PCB_THERMAL_ROUND: *end++ = 'o'; break;
+		case PCB_THERMAL_SHARP: *end++ = 'x'; break;
+		case PCB_THERMAL_SOLID: *end++ = '@'; break;
+	}
+
+	if (bits & PCB_THERMAL_DIAGONAL)
+		*end++ = 'd';
+
+	*end++ = '\0';
+}
+
+
 /* generate a round-cap line polygon */
 static rnd_polyarea_t *pa_line_at(double x1, double y1, double x2, double y2, rnd_coord_t clr, rnd_bool square)
 {
Index: trunk/src/thermal.h
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/thermal.h	(revision 31813)
+++ trunk/src/thermal.h	(revision 31814)
@@ -54,7 +54,14 @@
    all words. */
 const char *pcb_thermal_bits2str(pcb_thermal_t *bits);
 
+/* Converts all bits of a thermal bitmask to a string that is:
+   - empty if there is no thermal
+   - starts with n, o, x or @ for no-shape, round, sharp or solid
+   - ends in d if diagonal
+*/
+void pcb_thermal_bits2chars(char dst[3], pcb_thermal_t bits);
 
+
 rnd_polyarea_t *pcb_thermal_area(pcb_board_t *p, pcb_any_obj_t *obj, rnd_layer_id_t lid, pcb_poly_t *in_poly);
 rnd_polyarea_t *pcb_thermal_area_line(pcb_board_t *pcb, pcb_line_t *line, rnd_layer_id_t lid, pcb_poly_t *in_poly);
 rnd_polyarea_t *pcb_thermal_area_poly(pcb_board_t *pcb, pcb_poly_t *poly, rnd_layer_id_t lid, pcb_poly_t *in_poly);