diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JORARepository.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JORARepository.java
index d9bf6c10..04a60f5f 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JORARepository.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JORARepository.java
@@ -104,6 +104,23 @@ public abstract class JORARepository extends SimpleRepository
         });
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Loads a single object from the specified table that matches the
+     * supplied example. <em>Note:</em> the query should match one or zero
+     * records, not more.
+     */
+    protected Object loadByExample (final Table table, final Object example)
+        throws PersistenceException
+    {
+        return execute(new Operation() {
+            public Object invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
+                throws SQLException, PersistenceException
+            {
+                return table.queryByExample(example).next();
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     /**
      * First attempts to update the supplied object and if that modifies
      * zero rows, inserts the object into the specified table. The table
diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
index 40f46511..2bda4760 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
@@ -197,6 +197,53 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
 	}
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, ignoring the
+     * return value.
+     */
+    protected void update (final String query)
+        throws PersistenceException
+    {
+        execute(new Operation() {
+            public Object invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
+                throws SQLException, PersistenceException
+            {
+                Statement stmt = null;
+                try {
+                    stmt = conn.createStatement();
+                    stmt.executeUpdate(query);
+                } finally {
+                    JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+                }
+                return null;
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Executes the supplied update query in this repository, throwing an
+     * exception if the modification count is not equal to the specified
+     * count.
+     */
+    protected void checkedUpdate (final String query, final int count)
+        throws PersistenceException
+    {
+        execute(new Operation() {
+            public Object invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
+                throws SQLException, PersistenceException
+            {
+                Statement stmt = null;
+                try {
+                    stmt = conn.createStatement();
+                    JDBCUtil.checkedUpdate(stmt, query, 1);
+                } finally {
+                    JDBCUtil.close(stmt);
+                }
+                return null;
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     /**
      * Called when we fetch a connection from the provider. This gives
      * derived classes an opportunity to configure whatever internals they