diff --git a/functions.cc b/functions.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f8d4d598b38d9ef0e54fd20b68601a56a13f43e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/functions.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#include "options.h"
+
+namespace Utilities {
+
+  void string_to_T(bool &b, const string& s) {
+    if(s == "NO ARG")
+      b = !b;
+    else
+      b = (s == "true");
+  }
+
+  void string_to_T(string& d, const string& s) {
+    d = s;
+  }
+
+  void string_to_T(int& i, const string& s) {
+    i = atoi(s.c_str());
+  }
+
+  void string_to_T(float& v, const string& s) {
+    v = atof(s.c_str());
+  }
+
+}