Index: src/natools-references.adb
==================================================================
--- src/natools-references.adb
+++ src/natools-references.adb
@@ -72,10 +72,30 @@
       Finalize (Ref);
       Ref.Data := new Held_Data'(Constructor.all);
       Ref.Count := new Counter'(1);
    end Replace;
 
+
+   function Create
+     (Constructor : not null access function return Data_Access)
+      return Immutable_Reference is
+   begin
+      return (Ada.Finalization.Controlled with
+         Data => Constructor.all,
+         Count => new Counter'(1));
+   end Create;
+
+
+   procedure Replace
+     (Ref : in out Immutable_Reference;
+      Constructor : not null access function return Data_Access) is
+   begin
+      Finalize (Ref);
+      Ref.Data := Constructor.all;
+      Ref.Count := new Counter'(1);
+   end Replace;
+
 
    procedure Reset (Ref : in out Immutable_Reference) is
    begin
       Finalize (Ref);
    end Reset;

Index: src/natools-references.ads
==================================================================
--- src/natools-references.ads
+++ src/natools-references.ads
@@ -36,10 +36,13 @@
    type Accessor (Data : not null access constant Held_Data) is
      limited private;
    type Mutator (Data : not null access Held_Data) is
      limited private;
 
+   type Data_Access is access Held_Data;
+   for Data_Access'Storage_Pool use Data_Pool;
+
 
    type Immutable_Reference is new Ada.Finalization.Controlled with private;
 
    function Create
      (Constructor : not null access function return Held_Data)
@@ -49,10 +52,20 @@
    procedure Replace
      (Ref : in out Immutable_Reference;
       Constructor : not null access function return Held_Data);
       --  Replace the object held in Ref with a newly created object
 
+   function Create
+     (Constructor : not null access function return Data_Access)
+      return Immutable_Reference;
+      --  Create a new held object and return a reference to it
+
+   procedure Replace
+     (Ref : in out Immutable_Reference;
+      Constructor : not null access function return Data_Access);
+      --  Replace the object held in Ref with a newly created object
+
    procedure Reset (Ref : in out Immutable_Reference);
       --  Empty Ref
 
    function Is_Empty (Ref : Immutable_Reference) return Boolean;
       --  Check whether Ref refers to an actual object
@@ -90,13 +103,10 @@
    type Counter is new Natural;
 
    type Counter_Access is access Counter;
    for Counter_Access'Storage_Pool use Counter_Pool;
 
-   type Data_Access is access Held_Data;
-   for Data_Access'Storage_Pool use Data_Pool;
-
    type Immutable_Reference is new Ada.Finalization.Controlled with record
       Count : Counter_Access := null;
       Data : Data_Access := null;
    end record;