Index: trunk/src/thermal.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/thermal.c	(revision 35675)
+++ trunk/src/thermal.c	(revision 35676)
@@ -132,7 +132,33 @@
 	*end++ = '\0';
 }
 
+int pcb_thermal_chars2bits(pcb_thermal_t *dst, const char *src)
+{
+	pcb_thermal_t res = 0;
 
+	if (src[0] == '\0') {
+		*dst = 0;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	switch(src[0]) {
+		case 'n': res |= PCB_THERMAL_NOSHAPE; goto skip_diag;
+		case 'o': res |= PCB_THERMAL_ROUND; break;
+		case 'x': res |= PCB_THERMAL_SHARP; break;
+		case '@': res |= PCB_THERMAL_SOLID; goto skip_diag;
+		default: return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (src[1] == 'd')
+		res |= PCB_THERMAL_DIAGONAL;
+	else if (src[1] != '\0')
+		return -1;
+
+	skip_diag:;
+	*dst = res | PCB_THERMAL_ON;
+	return 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 35675)
+++ trunk/src/thermal.h	(revision 35676)
@@ -58,10 +58,13 @@
    - empty if there is no thermal
    - starts with n, o, x or @ for no-shape, round, sharp or solid
    - ends in d if diagonal
+   chars2bits() is the inverse transformation; returns 0 on success
 */
 void pcb_thermal_bits2chars(char dst[3], pcb_thermal_t bits);
+int pcb_thermal_chars2bits(pcb_thermal_t *dst, const char *src);
 
 
+
 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);