diff --git a/functions.inc.php b/functions.inc.php
index 102bc43b..fee1511a 100644
--- a/functions.inc.php
+++ b/functions.inc.php
@@ -1562,6 +1562,33 @@ function db_get_boolean($bool) {
             return 1;  
         } 
         return 0;
+    } else {
+        die('Unknown value in $CONF[database_type]');
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Converts a boolean value from the database internal format to integer (0 or 1)
+ * Currently only PostgreSQL and MySQL are supported.
+ * @param string $bool (REQUIRED)
+ * @return int
+ */
+function db_boolean_to_int($bool) {
+    global $CONF;
+
+    if($CONF['database_type']=='pgsql') {
+        // return either true or false (unquoted strings)
+        if($bool == 't') {
+            return 1;
+        }  
+        return 0;
+    } elseif($CONF['database_type'] == 'mysql' || $CONF['database_type'] == 'mysqli') {
+        if($bool) {
+            return 1;  
+        } 
+        return 0;
+    } else {
+        die('Unknown value in $CONF[database_type]');
     }
 }