diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/App/ToolPy.xml b/src/Mod/Path/App/ToolPy.xml
index 58b0b99cf4..af60f46527 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Path/App/ToolPy.xml
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/App/ToolPy.xml
@@ -88,7 +88,12 @@ HighCarbonToolSteel CastAlloy, Ceramics, Diamond, Sialon or Undefined</UserDocu>
         </Methode>
         <Methode Name="fromTemplate">
             <Documentation>
-                <UserDocu>fromTemplate(xmlString) ... fills receiver with values from the template string</UserDocu>
+                <UserDocu>fromTemplate(xmlString|dictionary) ... fills receiver with values from the template string or dictionary</UserDocu>
+            </Documentation>
+        </Methode>
+        <Methode Name="templateAttrs">
+            <Documentation>
+                <UserDocu>templateAttrs() ... returns a dictionary with all attributes</UserDocu>
             </Documentation>
         </Methode>
         <!--<ClassDeclarations>
diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.cpp b/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.cpp
index 195ebf9509..226a11a742 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.cpp
@@ -89,52 +89,10 @@ void Tool::Save (Writer &writer) const
                     << "flat=\"" <<  FlatRadius << "\" "
                     << "corner=\"" << CornerRadius << "\" "
                     << "angle=\"" << CuttingEdgeAngle << "\" "
-                    << "height=\"" << CuttingEdgeHeight << "\" ";
-                    
-    if(Type == Tool::ENDMILL)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"EndMill\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::DRILL)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"Drill\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::CENTERDRILL)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"CenterDrill\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::COUNTERSINK)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"CounterSink\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::COUNTERBORE)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"CounterBore\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::REAMER)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"Reamer\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::TAP)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"Tap\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::SLOTCUTTER)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"SlotCutter\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::BALLENDMILL)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"BallEndMill\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::CHAMFERMILL)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"ChamferMill\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::CORNERROUND)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"CornerRound\" ";
-    else if(Type == Tool::ENGRAVER)
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"Engraver\" ";
-    else
-        writer.Stream() << " type=\"Undefined\" ";
-        
-    if(Material == Tool::CARBIDE)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"Carbide\" /> ";
-    else if(Material == Tool::HIGHSPEEDSTEEL)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"HighSpeedSteel\" /> ";
-    else if(Material == Tool::HIGHCARBONTOOLSTEEL)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"HighCarbonToolSteel\" /> ";
-    else if(Material == Tool::CASTALLOY)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"CastAlloy\" /> ";
-    else if(Material == Tool::CERAMICS)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"Ceramics\" /> ";
-    else if(Material == Tool::DIAMOND)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"Diamond\" /> ";
-    else if(Material == Tool::SIALON)
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"Sialon\" /> ";
-    else
-        writer.Stream() << " mat=\"Undefined\" /> ";
-    writer.Stream()<< std::endl;
+                    << "height=\"" << CuttingEdgeHeight << "\" "
+                    << "type=\"" << TypeName(Type) << "\" "
+                    << "mat=\"" << MaterialName(Material) << "\" "
+                    << "/>" << std::endl;
 }
 
 void Tool::Restore(XMLReader &reader)
@@ -195,7 +153,60 @@ void Tool::Restore(XMLReader &reader)
         Material = Tool::MATUNDEFINED;
 }
 
+const char* Tool::TypeName(Tool::ToolType typ) {
+    switch (typ) {
+      case Tool::DRILL:
+        return "Drill";
+      case Tool::CENTERDRILL:
+        return "CenterDrill";
+      case Tool::COUNTERSINK:
+        return "CounterSink";
+      case Tool::COUNTERBORE:
+        return "CounterBore";
+      case Tool::REAMER:
+        return "Reamer";
+      case Tool::TAP:
+        return "Tap";
+      case Tool::ENDMILL:
+        return "EndMill";
+      case Tool::SLOTCUTTER:
+        return "SlotCutter";
+      case Tool::BALLENDMILL:
+        return "BallEndMill";
+      case Tool::CHAMFERMILL:
+        return "ChamferMill";
+      case Tool::CORNERROUND:
+        return "CornerRound";
+      case Tool::ENGRAVER:
+        return "Engraver";
+      case Tool::UNDEFINED:
+        return "Undefined";
+    }
+    return "Undefined";
+}
 
+const char* Tool::MaterialName(Tool::ToolMaterial mat)
+{
+  switch (mat) {
+    case Tool::HIGHSPEEDSTEEL:
+        return "HighSpeedSteel";
+    case Tool::CARBIDE:
+        return "Carbide";
+    case Tool::HIGHCARBONTOOLSTEEL:
+        return "HighCarbonToolSteel";
+    case Tool::CASTALLOY:
+        return "CastAlloy";
+    case Tool::CERAMICS:
+        return "Ceramics";
+    case Tool::DIAMOND:
+        return "Diamond";
+    case Tool::SIALON:
+        return "Sialon";
+    case Tool::MATUNDEFINED:
+        return "Undefined";
+  }
+  return "Undefined";
+}
 
 // TOOLTABLE
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.h b/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.h
index 8a35d6a0ac..6303f6c518 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.h
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/App/Tooltable.h
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ namespace Path
         double CuttingEdgeAngle;
         double CuttingEdgeHeight;
         
+        static const char* TypeName(ToolType typ);
+        static const char* MaterialName(ToolMaterial mat);
     };
     
     /** The representation of a table of tools */
diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/App/TooltablePyImp.cpp b/src/Mod/Path/App/TooltablePyImp.cpp
index 8186da219c..3b5e5f9d1a 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Path/App/TooltablePyImp.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/App/TooltablePyImp.cpp
@@ -146,32 +146,7 @@ void ToolPy::setName(Py::String arg)
 
 Py::String ToolPy::getToolType(void) const
 {
-    if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::DRILL)
-        return Py::String("Drill");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::CENTERDRILL)
-        return Py::String("CenterDrill");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::COUNTERSINK)
-        return Py::String("CounterSink");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::COUNTERBORE)
-        return Py::String("CounterBore");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::REAMER)
-        return Py::String("Reamer");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::TAP)
-        return Py::String("Tap");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::ENDMILL)
-        return Py::String("EndMill");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::SLOTCUTTER)
-        return Py::String("SlotCutter");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::BALLENDMILL)
-        return Py::String("BallEndMill");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::CHAMFERMILL)
-        return Py::String("ChamferMill");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::CORNERROUND)
-        return Py::String("CornerRound");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Type == Tool::ENGRAVER)
-        return Py::String("Engraver");
-    else
-        return Py::String("Undefined");
+  return Py::String(Tool::TypeName(getToolPtr()->Type));
 }
 
 void ToolPy::setToolType(Py::String arg)
@@ -208,22 +183,7 @@ void ToolPy::setToolType(Py::String arg)
 
 Py::String ToolPy::getMaterial(void) const
 {
-    if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::HIGHSPEEDSTEEL)
-        return Py::String("HighSpeedSteel");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::CARBIDE)
-        return Py::String("Carbide");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::HIGHCARBONTOOLSTEEL)
-        return Py::String("HighCarbonToolSteel");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::CASTALLOY)
-        return Py::String("CastAlloy");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::CERAMICS)
-        return Py::String("Ceramics");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::DIAMOND)
-        return Py::String("Diamond");
-    else if(getToolPtr()->Material == Tool::SIALON)
-        return Py::String("Sialon");
-    else
-        return Py::String("Undefined");
+  return Py::String(Tool::MaterialName(getToolPtr()->Material));
 }
 
 void ToolPy::setMaterial(Py::String arg)
@@ -331,6 +291,7 @@ PyObject* ToolPy::copy(PyObject * args)
 PyObject* ToolPy::fromTemplate(PyObject * args)
 {
     char *pstr = 0;
+    PyObject *dict = 0;
     if (PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &pstr)) {
         // embed actual string in dummy tag so XMLReader can consume that on construction
         std::ostringstream os;
@@ -340,10 +301,42 @@ PyObject* ToolPy::fromTemplate(PyObject * args)
         getToolPtr()->Restore(reader);
         Py_Return ;
     }
-    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument must be a string");
+    
+    if (PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!", &PyDict_Type, &dict)) {
+        PyErr_Clear(); // it's not a string, need to clear that exception
+        PyObject *arg = PyTuple_New(0);
+        if (!PyInit(arg, dict)) {
+            Py_Return ;
+        }
+    }
+
+    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument must be a string or dictionary");
     return 0;
 }
 
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+#  define PYSTRING_FROMSTRING(str)  PyUnicode_FromString(str)
+#else
+#  define PYSTRING_FROMSTRING(str)  PyString_FromString(str)
+#endif
+
+PyObject* ToolPy::templateAttrs(PyObject * args)
+{
+    if (PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "")) {
+        PyObject *dict = PyDict_New();
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "name", PYSTRING_FROMSTRING(getToolPtr()->Name.c_str()));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "tooltype",PYSTRING_FROMSTRING(Tool::TypeName(getToolPtr()->Type)));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "material", PYSTRING_FROMSTRING(Tool::MaterialName(getToolPtr()->Material)));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "diameter", PyFloat_FromDouble(getToolPtr()->Diameter));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "lengthOffset", PyFloat_FromDouble(getToolPtr()->LengthOffset));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "flatRadius",  PyFloat_FromDouble(getToolPtr()->FlatRadius));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "cornerRadius", PyFloat_FromDouble(getToolPtr()->CornerRadius));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "cuttingEdgeAngle", PyFloat_FromDouble(getToolPtr()->CuttingEdgeAngle));
+        PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "cuttingEdgeHeight", PyFloat_FromDouble(getToolPtr()->CuttingEdgeHeight));
+        return dict;
+    }
+    throw Py::Exception("This method accepts no argument");
+}
 
 // TooltablePy
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Mod/Path/CMakeLists.txt
index e02876ee15..40653a547e 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Path/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ SET(PathTests_SRCS
     PathTests/TestPathLog.py
     PathTests/TestPathPost.py
     PathTests/TestPathStock.py
+    PathTests/TestPathTool.py
     PathTests/TestPathUtil.py
 )
 
diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/PathTests/TestPathTool.py b/src/Mod/Path/PathTests/TestPathTool.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fee996b9f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/PathTests/TestPathTool.py
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# ***************************************************************************
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   Copyright (c) 2017 sliptonic <shopinthewoods@gmail.com>               *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+# *   it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)    *
+# *   as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of     *
+# *   the License, or (at your option) any later version.                   *
+# *   for detail see the LICENCE text file.                                 *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   This program 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 Library General Public License for more details.                  *
+# *                                                                         *
+# *   You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public     *
+# *   License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software   *
+# *   Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  *
+# *   USA                                                                   *
+# *                                                                         *
+# ***************************************************************************
+
+import FreeCAD
+import Path
+
+from PathTests.PathTestUtils import PathTestBase
+
+class TestPathTool(PathTestBase):
+
+    def test00(self):
+        '''Verify templateAttrs'''
+
+        name = 'tool 1'
+        mat  = 'Carbide'
+        typ  = 'EndMill'
+        dia    = 1.7
+        flat   = 7.2
+        offset = 3.2
+        corner = 4
+        height = 45.3
+        angle  = 118
+
+        tool = Path.Tool()
+        tool.Name = name
+        tool.ToolType = typ
+        tool.Material = mat
+        tool.Diameter = dia
+        tool.LengthOffset = offset
+        tool.FlatRadius = flat
+        tool.CornerRadius = corner
+        tool.CuttingEdgeAngle = angle
+        tool.CuttingEdgeHeight = height
+
+        attrs = tool.templateAttrs()
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['name'], name)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['diameter'], dia)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['material'], mat)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['tooltype'], typ)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['lengthOffset'], offset)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['flatRadius'], flat)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['cornerRadius'], corner)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['cuttingEdgeAngle'], angle)
+        self.assertEqual(attrs['cuttingEdgeHeight'], height)
+        return tool
+
+
+    def test01(self):
+        '''Verify template roundtrip'''
+
+        t0 = self.test00()
+        t1 = Path.Tool()
+        t1.fromTemplate(t0.templateAttrs())
+
+        self.assertEqual(t0.Name, t1.Name)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.ToolType, t1.ToolType)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.Material, t1.Material)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.Diameter, t1.Diameter)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.LengthOffset, t1.LengthOffset)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.FlatRadius, t1.FlatRadius)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.CornerRadius, t1.CornerRadius)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.CuttingEdgeAngle, t1.CuttingEdgeAngle)
+        self.assertEqual(t0.CuttingEdgeHeight, t1.CuttingEdgeHeight)
+
diff --git a/src/Mod/Path/TestPathApp.py b/src/Mod/Path/TestPathApp.py
index 5c61aeb1a8..b7a6b94762 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Path/TestPathApp.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Path/TestPathApp.py
@@ -33,3 +33,4 @@ from PathTests.TestPathDepthParams        import depthTestCases
 from PathTests.TestPathDressupHoldingTags import TestHoldingTags
 from PathTests.TestPathDressupDogbone import TestDressupDogbone
 from PathTests.TestPathStock import TestPathStock
+from PathTests.TestPathTool import TestPathTool