diff --git a/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.cpp b/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.cpp
index 834dba28a..99d54dffa 100644
--- a/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.cpp
+++ b/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// -*- mode:c++; tab-width:2; indent-tabs-mode:nil; c-basic-offset:2 -*-
 /*
  *  LuminanceSource.cpp
  *  zxing
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
+#include <sstream>
 #include <zxing/LuminanceSource.h>
 #include <zxing/common/IllegalArgumentException.h>
 
@@ -44,4 +46,31 @@ Ref<LuminanceSource> LuminanceSource::rotateCounterClockwise() {
   throw IllegalArgumentException("This luminance source does not support rotation.");
 }
 
+LuminanceSource::operator std::string() {
+  unsigned char* row = 0;
+  std::ostringstream oss;
+  for (int y = 0; y < getHeight(); y++) {
+    row = getRow(y, row);
+    for (int x = 0; x < getWidth(); x++) {
+      int luminance = row[x] & 0xFF;
+      char c;
+      if (luminance < 0x40) {
+        c = '#';
+      } else if (luminance < 0x80) {
+        c = '+';
+      } else if (luminance < 0xC0) {
+        c = '.';
+      } else {
+        c = ' ';
+      }
+      oss << c;
+    }
+    oss << '\n';
+  }
+  delete [] row;
+  return oss.str();
+}
+
+
+
 }
diff --git a/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.h b/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.h
index 68a6e3514..7130808f5 100644
--- a/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.h
+++ b/cpp/core/src/zxing/LuminanceSource.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// -*- mode:c++; tab-width:2; indent-tabs-mode:nil; c-basic-offset:2 -*-
 #ifndef __LUMINANCESOURCE_H__
 #define __LUMINANCESOURCE_H__
 /*
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ public:
   virtual bool isRotateSupported() const;
   virtual Ref<LuminanceSource> rotateCounterClockwise();
 
+  operator std::string (); // should be const but don't want to make sure a
+                           // large breaking change right now
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.cpp b/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.cpp
index 02a2a19c3..ee3d1726d 100644
--- a/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.cpp
+++ b/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// -*- mode:c++; tab-width:2; indent-tabs-mode:nil; c-basic-offset:2 -*-
 /*
  *  BitArray.cpp
  *  zxing
@@ -70,6 +71,32 @@ void BitArray::setBulk(size_t i, unsigned int newBits) {
   bits_[i >> logBits_] = newBits;
 }
 
+void BitArray::setRange(int start, int end) {
+  if (end < start) {
+    throw new IllegalArgumentException("invalid call to BitArray::setRange");
+  }
+  if (end == start) {
+    return;
+  }
+  end--; // will be easier to treat this as the last actually set bit -- inclusive
+  int firstInt = start >> 5;
+  int lastInt = end >> 5;
+  for (int i = firstInt; i <= lastInt; i++) {
+    int firstBit = i > firstInt ? 0 : start & 0x1F;
+    int lastBit = i < lastInt ? 31 : end & 0x1F;
+    int mask;
+    if (firstBit == 0 && lastBit == 31) {
+      mask = -1;
+    } else {
+      mask = 0;
+      for (int j = firstBit; j <= lastBit; j++) {
+        mask |= 1 << j;
+      }
+    }
+    bits_[i] |= mask;
+  }
+}
+
 void BitArray::clear() {
   size_t max = bits_.size();
   for (size_t i = 0; i < max; i++) {
diff --git a/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.h b/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.h
index b0b23245f..d8a041b84 100644
--- a/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.h
+++ b/cpp/core/src/zxing/common/BitArray.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// -*- mode:c++; tab-width:2; indent-tabs-mode:nil; c-basic-offset:2 -*-
 #ifndef __BIT_ARRAY_H__
 #define __BIT_ARRAY_H__
 
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ public:
   bool get(size_t i);
   void set(size_t i);
   void setBulk(size_t i, unsigned int newBits);
+  void setRange(int start, int end);
   void clear();
   bool isRange(size_t start, size_t end, bool value);
   std::vector<unsigned int>& getBitArray();