Index: src/natools-smaz-tools.adb
==================================================================
--- src/natools-smaz-tools.adb
+++ src/natools-smaz-tools.adb
@@ -16,10 +16,26 @@
 
 package body Natools.Smaz.Tools is
 
    package Sx renames Natools.S_Expressions;
 
+   function Dummy_Hash (Value : String) return Natural;
+      --  Placeholder for Hash member, always raises Program_Error
+
+
+   ------------------------------
+   -- Local Helper Subprograms --
+   ------------------------------
+
+   function Dummy_Hash (Value : String) return Natural is
+      pragma Unreferenced (Value);
+   begin
+      raise Program_Error with "Dummy_Hash called";
+      return 0;
+   end Dummy_Hash;
+
+
 
    ----------------------
    -- Public Interface --
    ----------------------
 
@@ -51,6 +67,54 @@
 
          Descriptor.Next (Event);
       end loop Read_Loop;
    end Read_List;
 
+
+   function To_Dictionary
+     (List : in String_Lists.List;
+      Variable_Length_Verbatim : in Boolean)
+     return Dictionary
+   is
+      Dict_Last : constant Ada.Streams.Stream_Element
+        := Ada.Streams.Stream_Element (String_Lists.Length (List)) - 1;
+      String_Size : Natural := 0;
+      Max_Word_Length : Positive := 1;
+   begin
+      for S of List loop
+         String_Size := String_Size + S'Length;
+
+         if S'Length > Max_Word_Length then
+            Max_Word_Length := S'Length;
+         end if;
+      end loop;
+
+      declare
+         Offsets : Offset_Array (0 .. Dict_Last);
+         Values : String (1 .. String_Size);
+         Current_Offset : Positive := 1;
+         Current_Index : Ada.Streams.Stream_Element := 0;
+         Next_Offset : Positive;
+      begin
+         for S of List loop
+            Offsets (Current_Index) := Current_Offset;
+            Next_Offset := Current_Offset + S'Length;
+            Values (Current_Offset .. Next_Offset - 1) := S;
+            Current_Offset := Next_Offset;
+            Current_Index := Current_Index + 1;
+         end loop;
+
+         pragma Assert (Current_Index = Dict_Last + 1);
+         pragma Assert (Current_Offset = String_Size + 1);
+
+         return
+           (Dict_Last => Dict_Last,
+            String_Size => String_Size,
+            Variable_Length_Verbatim => Variable_Length_Verbatim,
+            Max_Word_Length => Max_Word_Length,
+            Offsets => Offsets,
+            Values => Values,
+            Hash => Dummy_Hash'Access);
+      end;
+   end To_Dictionary;
+
 end Natools.Smaz.Tools;

Index: src/natools-smaz-tools.ads
==================================================================
--- src/natools-smaz-tools.ads
+++ src/natools-smaz-tools.ads
@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@
    procedure Read_List
      (List : out String_Lists.List;
       Descriptor : in out S_Expressions.Descriptor'Class);
       --  Read atoms from Descriptor to fill List
 
+   function To_Dictionary
+     (List : in String_Lists.List;
+      Variable_Length_Verbatim : in Boolean)
+     return Dictionary
+     with Pre => String_Lists.Length (List) in 1 ..
+                 Ada.Containers.Count_Type (Ada.Streams.Stream_Element'Last);
+      --  Build a Dictionary object from a string list
+      --  Note that Hash is set to a placeholder which uncinditionnally
+      --  raises Program_Error when called.
+
 end Natools.Smaz.Tools;