Issue 4796: Add from_float methods to the decimal module.
diff --git a/Lib/decimal.py b/Lib/decimal.py
index 1f6218c..197269c 100644
--- a/Lib/decimal.py
+++ b/Lib/decimal.py
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@
 
 import numbers as _numbers
 import copy as _copy
+import math as _math
 
 try:
     from collections import namedtuple as _namedtuple
@@ -654,6 +655,38 @@
 
         raise TypeError("Cannot convert %r to Decimal" % value)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_float(cls, f):
+        """Converts a float to a decimal number, exactly.
+
+        Note that Decimal.from_float(0.1) is not the same as Decimal('0.1').
+        Since 0.1 is not exactly representable in binary floating point, the
+        value is stored as the nearest representable value which is
+        0x1.999999999999ap-4.  The exact equivalent of the value in decimal
+        is 0.1000000000000000055511151231257827021181583404541015625.
+
+        >>> Decimal.from_float(0.1)
+        Decimal('0.1000000000000000055511151231257827021181583404541015625')
+        >>> Decimal.from_float(float('nan'))
+        Decimal('NaN')
+        >>> Decimal.from_float(float('inf'))
+        Decimal('Infinity')
+        >>> Decimal.from_float(-float('inf'))
+        Decimal('-Infinity')
+        >>> Decimal.from_float(-0.0)
+        Decimal('-0')
+
+        """
+        if isinstance(f, int):                # handle integer inputs
+            return cls(f)
+        if _math.isinf(f) or _math.isnan(f):  # raises TypeError if not a float
+            return cls(repr(f))
+        sign = 0 if _math.copysign(1.0, f) == 1.0 else 1
+        n, d = abs(f).as_integer_ratio()
+        k = d.bit_length() - 1
+        result = _dec_from_triple(sign, str(n*5**k), -k)
+        return result if cls is Decimal else cls(result)
+
     def _isnan(self):
         """Returns whether the number is not actually one.
 
@@ -3830,6 +3863,23 @@
                                      "diagnostic info too long in NaN")
         return d._fix(self)
 
+    def create_decimal_from_float(self, f):
+        """Creates a new Decimal instance from a float but rounding using self
+        as the context.
+
+        >>> context = Context(prec=5, rounding=ROUND_DOWN)
+        >>> context.create_decimal_from_float(3.1415926535897932)
+        Decimal('3.1415')
+        >>> context = Context(prec=5, traps=[Inexact])
+        >>> context.create_decimal_from_float(3.1415926535897932)
+        Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+        decimal.Inexact: None
+
+        """
+        d = Decimal.from_float(f)       # An exact conversion
+        return d._fix(self)             # Apply the context rounding
+
     # Methods
     def abs(self, a):
         """Returns the absolute value of the operand.
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_decimal.py b/Lib/test/test_decimal.py
index d0de64d..ade356c 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_decimal.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_decimal.py
@@ -1421,6 +1421,55 @@
             r = d.to_integral(ROUND_DOWN)
             self.assertEqual(Decimal(math.trunc(d)), r)
 
+    def test_from_float(self):
+
+        class  MyDecimal(Decimal):
+            pass
+
+        r = MyDecimal.from_float(0.1)
+        self.assertEqual(type(r), MyDecimal)
+        self.assertEqual(str(r),
+                '0.1000000000000000055511151231257827021181583404541015625')
+        bigint = 12345678901234567890123456789
+        self.assertEqual(MyDecimal.from_float(bigint), MyDecimal(bigint))
+        self.assert_(MyDecimal.from_float(float('nan')).is_qnan())
+        self.assert_(MyDecimal.from_float(float('inf')).is_infinite())
+        self.assert_(MyDecimal.from_float(float('-inf')).is_infinite())
+        self.assertEqual(str(MyDecimal.from_float(float('nan'))),
+                         str(Decimal('NaN')))
+        self.assertEqual(str(MyDecimal.from_float(float('inf'))),
+                         str(Decimal('Infinity')))
+        self.assertEqual(str(MyDecimal.from_float(float('-inf'))),
+                         str(Decimal('-Infinity')))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, MyDecimal.from_float, 'abc')
+        for i in range(200):
+            x = random.expovariate(0.01) * (random.random() * 2.0 - 1.0)
+            self.assertEqual(x, float(MyDecimal.from_float(x))) # roundtrip
+
+    def test_create_decimal_from_float(self):
+        context = Context(prec=5, rounding=ROUND_DOWN)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            context.create_decimal_from_float(math.pi),
+            Decimal('3.1415')
+        )
+        context = Context(prec=5, rounding=ROUND_UP)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            context.create_decimal_from_float(math.pi),
+            Decimal('3.1416')
+        )
+        context = Context(prec=5, traps=[Inexact])
+        self.assertRaises(
+            Inexact,
+            context.create_decimal_from_float,
+            math.pi
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(repr(context.create_decimal_from_float(-0.0)),
+                         "Decimal('-0')")
+        self.assertEqual(repr(context.create_decimal_from_float(1.0)),
+                         "Decimal('1')")
+        self.assertEqual(repr(context.create_decimal_from_float(10)),
+                         "Decimal('10')")
+
 class ContextAPItests(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_pickle(self):