diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -376,6 +376,12 @@ class histeditaction(object):
         maxlen = max(maxlen, 22) # avoid truncating hash
         return util.ellipsis(line, maxlen)
 
+    def tostate(self):
+        """Print an action in format used by histedit state files
+           (the first line is a verb, the remainder is the second)
+        """
+        return "%s\n%s" % (self.verb, node.hex(self.node))
+
     def constraints(self):
         """Return a set of constrains that this action should be verified for
         """