diff --git a/eo/src/utils/make_help.cpp b/eo/src/utils/make_help.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ecddbd17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eo/src/utils/make_help.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// -*- mode: c++; c-indent-level: 4; c++-member-init-indent: 8; comment-column: 35; -*-
+
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// make_help.h
+// (c) Maarten Keijzer, Marc Schoenauer and GeNeura Team, 2001
+/* 
+    This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+    modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+    License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+    version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+    Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+    License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+
+    Contact: todos@geneura.ugr.es, http://geneura.ugr.es
+             Marc.Schoenauer@polytechnique.fr
+             mkeijzer@dhi.dk
+ */
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#include <utils/eoParser.h>
+#include <fstream.h>
+
+/** Generation of the status file, and output of the help message if needed
+ *
+ * MUST be called after ALL parameters have been read in order to list them
+ *
+ * Warning: this is a plain .cpp file and shoudl NOT be included anywhere, 
+ * but compiled separately and stored in a library.
+ *
+ * It is declared in all make_xxx.h files in representation-dependent dirs
+ * but it is NOT representation-dependent itself - that's why it's in utils
+ */
+void make_help(eoParser & _parser)
+{
+    // name of the "status" file where all actual parameter values will be saved
+    string str_status = _parser.ProgramName() + ".status"; // default value
+    eoValueParam<string>& statusParam = _parser.createParam(str_status, "status","Status file",'\0', "Persistence" );
+
+    // dump status file BEFORE help, so the user gets a chance to use it:
+    // it's probably the case where she/he needs it most!!!
+    // Only help parameter will not be in status file - but who cares???
+    if (statusParam.value() != "")
+      {
+	ofstream os(statusParam.value().c_str());
+	os << _parser;		// and you can use that file as parameter file
+      }
+   // do the following AFTER ALL PARAMETERS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED
+   // i.e. in case you need parameters somewhere else, postpone these
+    if (_parser.userNeedsHelp())
+      {
+        _parser.printHelp(cout);
+	cout << "You can use an edited copy of file " << statusParam.value() 
+	     << " as parameter file" << endl;
+        exit(1);
+      }
+}