diff --git a/apktool-lib/src/main/java/brut/androlib/res/AndrolibResources.java b/apktool-lib/src/main/java/brut/androlib/res/AndrolibResources.java
index 526f98fd..d49ebf8f 100644
--- a/apktool-lib/src/main/java/brut/androlib/res/AndrolibResources.java
+++ b/apktool-lib/src/main/java/brut/androlib/res/AndrolibResources.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import brut.androlib.res.util.*;
 import brut.common.BrutException;
 import brut.directory.*;
 import brut.util.*;
+import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
 import java.io.*;
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
@@ -563,6 +564,14 @@ final public class AndrolibResources {
         return out.toString();
     }
 
+    public static boolean isPrintableChar(char c) {
+        Character.UnicodeBlock block = Character.UnicodeBlock.of(c);
+        return ! Character.isISOControl(c)
+                && c != KeyEvent.CHAR_UNDEFINED
+                && block != null
+                && block != Character.UnicodeBlock.SPECIALS;
+    }
+
 
     // TODO: dirty static hack. I have to refactor decoding mechanisms.
     public static boolean sKeepBroken = false;