diff --git a/src/engine/Query.c b/src/engine/Query.c
index 30f5aced96..5c5878d05b 100644
--- a/src/engine/Query.c
+++ b/src/engine/Query.c
@@ -194,6 +194,16 @@ xaccQuerySetMaxSplits (Query *q, int max)
 
 /* ================================================== */
 
+void  
+xaccQuerySetDateRange (Query *q, time_t early, time_t late)
+{
+   if (!q) return;
+   q->earliest.tv_sec = early;
+   q->latest.tv_sec = late;
+}
+
+/* ================================================== */
+
 #define PROLOG 					\
   char *da, *db;				\
   Transaction *ta;				\
@@ -634,7 +644,7 @@ xaccQueryGetSplits (Query *q)
 time_t
 xaccQueryGetEarliestDateFound (Query *q)
 {
-   if (!q) return NULL;
+   if (!q) return 0;
 
    return ((time_t) q->earliest_found.tv_sec);
 }
@@ -642,7 +652,7 @@ xaccQueryGetEarliestDateFound (Query *q)
 time_t
 xaccQueryGetLatestDateFound (Query *q)
 {
-   if (!q) return NULL;
+   if (!q) return ULONG_MAX;
 
    return ((time_t) q->latest_found.tv_sec);
 }
diff --git a/src/engine/Query.h b/src/engine/Query.h
index 14bb95db15..e1f0255b75 100644
--- a/src/engine/Query.h
+++ b/src/engine/Query.h
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ void xaccQueryAddAccount (Query *, Account *acc);
  */
 void  xaccQuerySetMaxSplits (Query *, int);
 
+/* The xaccQuerySetDateRange() method sets the date range
+ *    for the query.  Thje query will return only those splits
+ *    that are within this date range.
+ */
+void xaccQuerySetDateRange (Query *, time_t earliest, time_t latest);
+
 /* The xaccQuerySetSortOrder() method sets the sort order that
  *    should be used on the splits.  The three arguments should 
  *    be choosen from the enums above.  The first argument has the