diff --git a/Doc/tools/refcounts.py b/Doc/tools/refcounts.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6056328e845
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/tools/refcounts.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+"""Support functions for loading the reference count data file."""
+__version__ = '$Revision$'
+
+import os
+import string
+import sys
+
+
+# Determine the expected location of the reference count file:
+try:
+    p = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+except NameError:
+    p = sys.path[0]
+p = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), p, os.pardir,
+                                  "api", "refcounts.dat"))
+DEFAULT_PATH = p
+del p
+
+
+def load(path=DEFAULT_PATH):
+    return loadfile(open(path))
+
+
+def loadfile(fp):
+    d = {}
+    while 1:
+        line = fp.readline()
+        if not line:
+            break
+        line = string.strip(line)
+        if line[:1] in ("", "#"):
+            # blank lines and comments
+            continue
+        parts = string.split(line, ":", 4)
+        function, type, arg, refcount, comment = parts
+        if refcount:
+            refcount = int(refcount)
+        else:
+            refcount = None
+        #
+        # Get the entry, creating it if needed:
+        #
+        try:
+            entry = d[function]
+        except KeyError:
+            entry = d[function] = Entry(function)
+        #
+        # Update the entry with the new parameter or the result information.
+        #
+        if arg:
+            entry.args.append((arg, type, refcount))
+        else:
+            entry.result_type = type
+            entry.result_refs = refcount
+    return d
+
+
+class Entry:
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        self.name = name
+        self.args = []
+        self.result_type = ''
+        self.result_refs = None
+
+
+def dump(d):
+    """Dump the data in the 'canonical' format, with functions in
+    sorted order."""
+    items = d.items()
+    items.sort()
+    first = 1
+    for k, entry in items:
+        if first:
+            first = 0
+        else:
+            print
+        s = entry.name + ":%s:%s:%s:"
+        if entry.result_refs is None:
+            r = ""
+        else:
+            r = entry.result_refs
+        print s % (entry.result_type, "", r)
+        for t, n, r in entry.args:
+            if r is None:
+                r = ""
+            print s % (t, n, r)
+
+
+def main():
+    d = load()
+    dump(d)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()