diff --git a/states.py b/states.py
index 96f6dc0..0cc40e5 100644
--- a/states.py
+++ b/states.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class PA_UserState(db.Model):
     root = db.Column(db.String, unique=False, nullable=False )
     cwd = db.Column(db.String, unique=False, nullable=False )
     search_term = db.Column(db.String, unique=False, nullable=False )
-    
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return f"<pa_user_dn: {self.pa_user_dn}, path_type: {self.path_type}, noo: {self.noo}, grouping: {self.grouping}, how_many: {self.how_many}, size: {self.size}, folders: {self.folders}, root: {self.root}, cwd: {self.cwd}, search_term: {self.orig_search_term}>"
 
@@ -85,9 +85,13 @@ class States(PA):
         self.default_folder_noo=u.default_storage_noo
         self.default_search_noo=u.default_search_noo
         self.cwd=self.root
-
         return
 
+    def to_dict(self):
+        # Automatically include all instance attributes
+        return {key: value for key, value in vars(self).items()}
+    
+
 ################################################################################
 # /states -> GET only -> prints out list of all prefs (simple for now)
 ################################################################################