diff --git a/database/database.cpp b/database/database.cpp
index 52d7738200..0e88bc0704 100644
--- a/database/database.cpp
+++ b/database/database.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@ Database::~Database()
 {
 }
 
+bool Database::getNull(const char* colName)
+{
+	int index;
+	if(getColNumber(colName,&index))
+	{
+		return(getNull(index));
+	}
+	return true;
+}
 
 char* Database::getStr(const char* colName,std::string& retStr)
 {
@@ -134,4 +143,14 @@ char* Database::getSingleDBValueStr(const char* sql,std::string& retStr)
 		ret=0;
 	}
 	return(ret);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+std::string Database::escape(const std::string strValue)
+{
+    std::string	strReturn;
+
+    escape(reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char*>(strValue.c_str()), strValue.size(), strReturn);
+
+    return strReturn;
+}
+// vim:ts=4
diff --git a/database/database.h b/database/database.h
index d06ac10c89..ea0dc083f6 100644
--- a/database/database.h
+++ b/database/database.h
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ public:
 	std::string& getPass(){ return(mDBPass); }
 
 	virtual void escape(const unsigned char* start,int size,std::string& retStr)=0;
-	
+	std::string escape(const std::string strValue);
+
 	// returns true if the query went ok
 	virtual bool executeSQL(const char* sql, bool fail_okay=false)=0;
 
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ public:
 	virtual bool getNextRow()=0;
 
 	// get Data from the current row
+	bool getNull(const char* colName);
 	char* getStr(const char* colName,std::string& retStr);
 	int32 getInt(const char* colName);
 	float getFloat(const char* colName);
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@ public:
 	int getBinary(const char* colName,unsigned char* buf,int maxSize);
 	uint64 getBigInt(const char* colName);
 
+	virtual bool getNull(int colIndex)=0;
 	virtual char* getStr(int colIndex,std::string& retStr)=0;
 	virtual int32 getInt(int colIndex)=0;
 	virtual float getFloat(int colIndex)=0;