diff --git a/docs/update_doc.py b/docs/update_doc.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..352942230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/update_doc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env python
+#
+# update_po - a gramps tool to update translations
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2006-2006  Kees Bakker
+# Copyright (C) 2006       Brian Matherly
+# Copyright (C) 2008       Stephen George
+# Copyright (C) 2012
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# 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 General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU 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
+
+"""
+update_doc.py for Gramps API(s) documentation.
+
+Examples: 
+   python update_doc.py -t
+
+      Tests if 'sphinx' and 'python' are well configured.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import os
+import sys
+from argparse import ArgumentParser
+
+# You can set these variables from the command line.
+SPHINXBUILD   = 'sphinx-build'
+
+if sys.platform == 'win32':          
+    pythonCmd = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'bin', 'python.exe')
+    sphinxCmd = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'bin', 'sphinx-build.exe')
+elif sys.platform == 'linux2' or os.name == 'darwin':
+    pythonCmd = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'bin', 'python')
+    sphinxCmd = SPHINXBUILD
+else:
+    print ("ERROR: unknown system, don't know sphinx, ... commands")
+    sys.exit(0)
+
+def tests():
+    """
+    Testing installed programs.
+    We made tests (-t flag) by displaying versions of tools if properly
+    installed. Cannot run all commands without 'sphinx' and 'python'.
+    """
+    try:
+        print("\n=================='python'=============================\n")
+        os.system('''%(program)s -V''' % {'program': pythonCmd})
+    except:
+        print ('Please, install python')
+        
+    try:
+        print("\n=================='Shpinx-build'=============================\n")
+        os.system('''%(program)s''' % {'program': sphinxCmd})
+    except:
+        print ('Please, install sphinx')
+
+def main():
+    """
+    The utility for handling documentation stuff.
+    What is need by Gramps, nothing more.
+    """
+    
+    parser = ArgumentParser( 
+                         description='This program aims to handle manual' 
+                                      ' and translated version.', 
+                         )
+                         
+    parser.add_argument("-t", "--test",
+            action="store_true", dest="test",  default=True,
+            help="test if 'python' and 'sphinx' are properly installed")
+    
+    parser.add_argument("-b", "--build",
+            action="store_true", dest="build",  default=True,
+            help="build documentation")
+                             
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    
+    if args.test:
+        tests()
+        
+    if args.build:
+        build()
+        
+def build():
+    """
+    Build documentation.
+    """
+    
+    # testing stage
+    
+    os.system('''%(program)s -b html . _build/html''' % {'program': sphinxCmd})
+    os.system('''%(program)s -b changes . _build/changes''' % {'program': sphinxCmd})
+    os.system('''%(program)s -b linkcheck . _build/linkcheck''' % {'program': sphinxCmd})
+       
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+	main()