diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H
index 93fc495d59..4bb9bc1849 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H
@@ -197,6 +197,25 @@ public:
             template<class T>
             T lookupOrDefault(const word&, const T&, bool recusive=false) const;
 
+            //- Find and return a T, if not found return the given default value,
+            //  and add to dictionary. If recusive search parent dictionaries
+            template<class T>
+            T lookupOrAddDefault
+            (
+                const word&,
+                const T&,
+                bool recusive=false
+            );
+
+            //- Find an entry if present, and assign to T
+            template<class T>
+            void readIfPresent
+            (
+                const word&,
+                T&,
+                bool recusive=false
+            ) const;
+
             //- Check if entry is a sub-dictionary
             bool isDict(const word&) const;
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionaryTemplates.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionaryTemplates.C
index 73b97fa664..6c1361ff07 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionaryTemplates.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionaryTemplates.C
@@ -50,6 +50,48 @@ T Foam::dictionary::lookupOrDefault
 }
 
 
+template<class T>
+T Foam::dictionary::lookupOrAddDefault
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    const T& deft,
+    bool recusive
+)
+{
+    const entry* ePtr = lookupEntryPtr(keyword, recusive);
+
+    if (ePtr == NULL)
+    {
+        entry* defPtr = new primitiveEntry(keyword, deft);
+        append(defPtr);
+        hashedEntries_.insert(defPtr->keyword(), defPtr);
+
+        return deft;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        return pTraits<T>(ePtr->stream());
+    }
+}
+
+
+template<class T>
+void Foam::dictionary::readIfPresent
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    T& deft,
+    bool recusive
+) const
+{
+    const entry* ePtr = lookupEntryPtr(keyword, recusive);
+
+    if (ePtr != NULL)
+    {
+        ePtr->stream() >> deft;
+    }
+}
+
+
 template<class T>
 void Foam::dictionary::add(const word& keyword, const T& t)
 {