diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md b/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md
index 5da1f507f..04ae031b6 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ An improved version of the [old syntax editor][1].
                 grammar: "http://localhost:41296/grammars/Foods.pgf",
                 startcat: "Kind",
                 languages: ["Eng","Swe","Mlt"],
-                ast: null,
-                node_id: null
+                abstr: "Pred (That Fish) Expensive"
             },
             show: {
                 grammar_menu: true,
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ An improved version of the [old syntax editor][1].
 ## TODO
 
 - Link to jump into minibar
-- Start with initial grammar, startcat, ast
 - Compatibility with grammars with dependent category types
 - Clicking on tokens to select tree node
 - Use local caching
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js
index 9fa7ad737..df2a49da8 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js
@@ -7,6 +7,22 @@
 // }
 
 /* --- Main Editor object --------------------------------------------------- */
+/* When creating the object, stuff gets called in this order:
+new EditorMenu
+  server.get_grammarlists
+  EditorMenu.show_grammarlist
+    EditorMenu.change_grammar
+      server.switch_to_other_grammar
+      server.get_grammar_info
+      EditorMenu.update_startcat_menu
+      EditorMenu.update_language_menu
+      Editor.change_grammar
+        Editor.get_grammar_constructors
+        Editor.start_fresh
+          Editor.update_current_node();
+            Editor.redraw_tree();
+            Editor.get_refinements();
+*/
 function Editor(server,opts) {
     var t = this;
     /* --- Configuration ---------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -18,7 +34,7 @@ function Editor(server,opts) {
             grammar: null,
             startcat: null,
             languages: null,
-            ast: null,
+            abstr: null,
             node_id: null
         },
         show: {
@@ -98,19 +114,20 @@ Editor.prototype.change_grammar=function(grammar_info) {
 }
 
 Editor.prototype.change_startcat=function(startcat) {
-    this.startcat = startcat;
-    this.start_fresh();
+    var t = this;
+    t.startcat = startcat;
+    t.start_fresh();
 }
 
 // Called after changing grammar or startcat
 Editor.prototype.start_fresh=function () {
-    with(this) {
-        ast = new AST(null, get_startcat());
-        redraw_tree();
-        update_current_node();
-        get_refinements();
-        clear(ui.lin);
+    var t = this;
+        t.ast = new AST(null, t.get_startcat());
+    if (t.options.initial.abstr) {
+        t.import_ast(t.options.initial.abstr);
     }
+    t.update_current_node();
+    clear(t.ui.lin);
 }
 
 /* --- Functions for handling tree manipulation ----------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js
index 3d813a79b..2caa5a658 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js
@@ -59,9 +59,7 @@ function EditorMenu(editor,opts) {
     this.server = editor.server;
 
     /* --- Main program, this gets things going ----------------------------- */
-    with(this) {
-	server.get_grammarlists(bind(show_grammarlist,this));
-    }
+    this.server.get_grammarlists(bind(this.show_grammarlist,this));
 }
 
 /* --- Grammar menu --------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -75,25 +73,23 @@ EditorMenu.prototype.show_grammarlist=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
 	t.grammars=[];
 	t.grammar_dirs=[];
     }
-    with(t) {
-	grammar_dirs.push(dir);
-	grammars=grammars.concat(grammar_names.map(function(g){return dir+g}))
-	function glabel(g) {
-	    return hasPrefix(dir,"/tmp/gfse.") ? "gfse: "+g : g
-	}
-	function opt(g) { return option(glabel(g),dir+g); }
-	appendChildren(t.ui.grammar_menu,map(opt,grammar_names));
-	function pick_first_grammar() {
-	    if(t.timeout) clearTimeout(t.timeout),t.timeout=null;
-	    var grammar0=t.options.initial.grammar;
-	    if(!grammar0) grammar0=t.grammars[0];
-	    t.ui.grammar_menu.value=grammar0;
-	    t.change_grammar();
-	}
-	// Wait at most 1.5s before showing the grammar menu.
-	if(first_time) t.timeout=setTimeout(pick_first_grammar,1500);
-	if(t.grammar_dirs.length>=dir_count) pick_first_grammar();
+    t.grammar_dirs.push(dir);
+    t.grammars=t.grammars.concat(grammar_names.map(function(g){return dir+g}))
+    function glabel(g) {
+	return hasPrefix(dir,"/tmp/gfse.") ? "gfse: "+g : g
     }
+    function opt(g) { return option(glabel(g),dir+g); }
+    appendChildren(t.ui.grammar_menu, map(opt, grammar_names));
+    function pick_first_grammar() {
+	if(t.timeout) clearTimeout(t.timeout),t.timeout=null;
+	var grammar0=t.options.initial.grammar;
+	if(!grammar0) grammar0=t.grammars[0];
+	t.ui.grammar_menu.value=grammar0;
+	t.change_grammar();
+    }
+    // Wait at most 1.5s before showing the grammar menu.
+    if(first_time) t.timeout=setTimeout(pick_first_grammar,1500);
+    if(t.grammar_dirs.length>=dir_count) pick_first_grammar();
 }
 
 // Copied from minibar.js
@@ -102,8 +98,8 @@ EditorMenu.prototype.change_grammar=function() {
     var grammar_url = t.ui.grammar_menu.value;
     t.server.switch_to_other_grammar(grammar_url, function() {
 	t.server.grammar_info(function(grammar){
-            t.update_language_menu(t.ui.to_menu, grammar);
             t.update_startcat_menu(grammar);
+            t.update_language_menu(t.ui.to_menu, grammar);
 
             // Call in main Editor object
             t.editor.change_grammar(grammar);