diff --git a/src/www/js/grammar_manager.js b/src/www/js/grammar_manager.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a2bf3b830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/www/js/grammar_manager.js
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+/* --- Grammar Manager object ----------------------------------------------- */
+/*
+This object stores the state for:
+- grammar
+- startcat
+- languages
+
+Hooks which actions can be hooked to:
+- onload
+- change_grammar
+- change_startcat
+- change_languages
+
+*/
+function GrammarManager(server,opts) {
+    var t = this;
+    /* --- Configuration ---------------------------------------------------- */
+
+    // default values
+    this.options = {
+        initial: {}
+    };
+    this.hooks = {
+        onload: [
+            function(gm){ debug("default action: onload"); }
+        ],
+        change_grammar: [
+            function(grammar){ debug("default action: change grammar"); }
+        ],
+        change_startcat: [
+            function(startcat){ debug("default action: change startcat"); }
+        ],
+        change_languages: [
+            function(languages){ debug("default action: change languages"); }
+        ]
+    }
+
+    // Apply supplied options
+//    if(opts) for(var o in opts) this.options[o]=opts[o];
+
+    /* --- Client state initialisation -------------------------------------- */
+    this.server = server;
+    this.grammar = null; // current grammar
+    // this.grammars=[];
+    // this.grammar_dirs=[];
+    this.startcat = null; // current startcat
+    this.languages = []; // current languages (empty means all langs)
+
+    /* --- Main program, this gets things going ----------------------------- */
+    this.init=function(){
+        this.server.get_grammarlists(bind(this.onload,this));
+    }
+    this.init();
+}
+
+// 
+//GrammarManager.prototype.update_grammar_list=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
+GrammarManager.prototype.onload=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
+    var t=this;
+    t.grammars=[];
+    t.grammar_dirs=[];
+    t.grammar_dirs.push(dir);
+    t.grammars=t.grammars.concat(grammar_names.map(function(g){return dir+g}));
+    var grammar0=t.options.initial.grammar || t.grammars[0];
+    t.change_grammar(grammar0);
+
+    // Execute hooked actions
+    t.run_actions("onload",dir,grammar_names,dir_count);
+}
+
+/* --- Registering / unregistering actions to hooks ------------------------- */
+
+GrammarManager.prototype.register_action=function(hook,action) {
+    this.hooks[hook].push(action);
+}
+
+GrammarManager.prototype.unregister_action=function(hook,action) {
+    // TODO!
+}
+
+// Execute actions for a given hook
+// TODO: any number of arguments
+GrammarManager.prototype.run_actions=function(hook,arg1,arg2,arg3) {
+    var acts = this.hooks[hook];
+    for (f in acts) {
+        acts[f](arg1,arg2,arg3);
+    }
+}
+
+/* --- Grammar -------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+// API
+GrammarManager.prototype.change_grammar=function(grammar_url) {
+    var t=this;
+    t.server.switch_to_other_grammar(grammar_url, function() {
+	t.server.grammar_info(function(grammar){
+            // Set internal state
+            t.grammar = grammar;
+
+            // Call internal functions
+            t.update_startcat(grammar);
+            t.update_language_list(grammar);
+
+            // Execute hooked actions
+            t.run_actions("change_grammar",grammar);
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+/* --- Start category ------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+// Internal
+// Sets default startcat for grammar
+GrammarManager.prototype.update_startcat=function(grammar) {
+    var t=this;
+    var cats=grammar.categories;
+    var startcat0 = t.options.initial.startcat;
+    if (elem(startcat0, cats))
+        t.startcat = startcat0;
+    else
+        t.startcat = grammar.startcat;
+}
+
+// API
+GrammarManager.prototype.change_startcat=function(startcat) {
+    var t = this;
+
+    // Set internal state
+    t.startcat = startcat;
+
+    // Call internal functions
+    // ...
+    
+    // Execute hooked actions
+    t.run_actions("change_startcat",startcat);
+}
+
+/* --- Languages ------------------------------------------------------------ */
+
+// Internal
+// Sets default languages for grammar
+GrammarManager.prototype.update_language_list=function(grammar) {
+    var t = this;
+    function langpart(conc,abs) { // langpart("FoodsEng","Foods") == "Eng"
+        return hasPrefix(conc,abs) ? conc.substr(abs.length) : conc;
+    }
+    // Replace the options in the menu with the languages in the grammar
+    var langs=grammar.languages;
+    for(var i=0; i<langs.length; i++) {
+	var ln=langs[i].name;
+	if(!hasPrefix(ln,"Disamb")) {
+	    var lp=langpart(ln,grammar.name);
+            if (elem(lp, t.options.initial.languages)) {
+                t.languages.push(ln); // or lp?
+            }
+	}
+    }
+}
+
+// API
+GrammarManager.prototype.change_languages=function(languages) {
+    var t = this;
+
+    // Set internal state
+    t.languages = languages;
+
+    // Call internal functions
+    // ...
+
+    // Execute hooked actions
+    t.run_actions("change_languages",languages);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md b/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md
index 04ae031b6..62c7e32cd 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/README.md
@@ -31,20 +31,15 @@ An improved version of the [old syntax editor][1].
 
 ## TODO
 
-- Link to jump into minibar
+- Wrap a subtree
 - Compatibility with grammars with dependent category types
 - Clicking on tokens to select tree node
+- try to retain subtree when replacing node
 - Use local caching
+- Clipboard of trees
+- Usage of printnames
 - Enter string/float/int literals
-- UI issue with DisambPhrasebookEng
 - more prominence to Disamb-linearizations
 - ambiguity: (optionally) parse all the resulting linearizations/variants and point out those which are ambiguous
-- try to retain subtree when replacing node
 - add undo/redo (or back/forward) navigation
 - structure fridge magnets some more (eg newline before the magnet whose first letter is different)
-- The formal-looking funs and cats are not linked/aligned to the linearizations.
-Maybe a possible UI could be where the user is
-clicking on the linearization (in a chosen language) and the tree is
-drawn under it (from top to bottom, not from left to right as
-currently). So that the alignment of words to functions is always
-explicit. But maybe this is not doable.
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.css b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.css
index 2b5d5a6d1..2257db6e8 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.css
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.css
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-body.syntax_editor {
+body.syntax-editor {
     background: #ccc url("../minibar/brushed-metal.png");
 }
 
@@ -74,3 +74,13 @@ body.syntax_editor {
   background: white;
   }
 
+#debug
+{
+  font: 10px monospace;
+  white-space: pre;
+  color: #333;
+  margin: 1em 0;
+  border: 1px dashed #999;
+  padding: 1em;
+  }
+
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.html b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.html
index b9cfa0ec2..403b4bbeb 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.html
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.html
@@ -7,18 +7,20 @@
   <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../minibar/minibar.css" />
   <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="editor.css" />
 </head>
-<body class=syntax_editor>
+<body class="syntax-editor">
   <h2>Syntax Editor</h2>
-  <div id=minibar></div>
-  <div id=editor></div>
+  <div id="minibar"></div>
+  <div id="editor"></div>
   <noscript>This page doesn't works unless JavaScript is enabled.</noscript>
 
   <hr />
   <small class="modtime">
   John J. Camilleri, November 2012
   </small>
+  <div id="debug" class="hidden"></div>
 
   <!-- Common -->
+  <script type="text/javascript" src="../js/grammar_manager.js"></script>
   <script type="text/javascript" src="../js/support.js"></script>
   <script type="text/javascript" src="../js/pgf_online.js"></script>
 
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js
index ca4e8628f..031a461a2 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ new EditorMenu
             Editor.redraw_tree();
             Editor.get_refinements();
 */
-function Editor(server,opts) {
+function Editor(gm,opts) {
     var t = this;
     /* --- Configuration ---------------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -57,16 +57,34 @@ function Editor(server,opts) {
     ]);
 
     /* --- Client state initialisation -------------------------------------- */
-    this.server = server;
+    this.gm = gm;
+    this.server = gm.server;
     this.ast = null;
-    this.grammar = null;
-    this.startcat = null;
-    this.languages = [];
+
+    /* --- Register Grammar Manager hooks ----------------------------------- */
+    this.gm.register_action("change_grammar",function(grammar){
+        debug("Editor: change grammar");
+        var startcat0 = t.options.initial.startcat;
+        if (elem(startcat0, grammar.categories))
+            t.startcat = startcat0;
+        else
+            t.startcat = null;
+        t.get_grammar_constructors(bind(t.start_fresh,t));
+    });
+    this.gm.register_action("change_startcat",function(startcat){
+        debug("Editor: change startcat");
+        t.startcat = startcat;
+        t.start_fresh();
+    });
+    this.gm.register_action("change_languages",function(languages){
+        debug("Editor: change languages");
+        t.update_linearisation();
+    });
 
     /* --- Main program, this gets things going ----------------------------- */
     this.menu = new EditorMenu(this, this.options);
 
-    /* --- Shutdown the editor nicely --------------------------------------- */
+    /* --- Other basic stuff ------------------------------------------------ */
     this.shutdown = function() {
         clear(this.container);
         this.container.classList.remove("editor");
@@ -102,26 +120,17 @@ Editor.prototype.get_ast=function() {
 }
 
 Editor.prototype.get_startcat=function() {
-    return this.startcat || this.grammar.startcat;
+    return this.gm.startcat;
 }
 
-/* --- These get called from EditorMenu, or some custom code                  */
-
-Editor.prototype.change_grammar=function(grammar_info) {
-    var t = this;
-    t.grammar = grammar_info;
-    var startcat0 = t.options.initial.startcat
-    if (elem(startcat0, grammar_info.categories))
-        t.startcat = startcat0;
-    else
-        t.startcat = null;
-    t.get_grammar_constructors(bind(t.start_fresh,t));
-}
-
-Editor.prototype.change_startcat=function(startcat) {
-    var t = this;
-    t.startcat = startcat;
-    t.start_fresh();
+// TODO
+Editor.prototype.initialize_from=function(opts) {
+    var t=this;
+    if (opts.startcat)
+        t.options.initial_startcat=opts.startcat;
+    t.change_grammar();
+    if (opts.abstr)
+        t.import_ast(opts.abstr);
 }
 
 // Called after changing grammar or startcat
@@ -247,7 +256,7 @@ Editor.prototype.update_linearisation=function(){
         return hasPrefix(conc,abs) ? conc.substr(abs.length) : conc;
     }
     function row(lang, lin) {
-        var langname = langpart(lang, t.grammar.name);
+        var langname = langpart(lang, t.gm.grammar.name);
         var btn = button(langname, function(){
             bind(t.options.lin_action,t)(lin,lang);
         });
@@ -264,7 +273,7 @@ Editor.prototype.update_linearisation=function(){
 	var tbody=empty("tbody");
         for (i in data) {
             var lang = data[i].to;
-            if (t.languages.length < 1 || elem(lang, t.languages)) {
+            if (t.gm.languages.length < 1 || elem(lang, t.gm.languages)) {
                 tbody.appendChild(row(lang, data[i].text))
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js
index 2caa5a658..e207133e7 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_menu.js
@@ -34,39 +34,64 @@ function EditorMenu(editor,opts) {
         random_button: button("Random", function(){
             t.editor.generate_random();
         }),
+        debug_toggle: button("⚙", function(){
+            var sel = element("debug");
+            if (sel.classList.contains("hidden"))
+                sel.classList.remove("hidden")
+            else
+                sel.classList.add("hidden")
+        }),
     };
-    with(this.ui) {
-        if (this.options.show.grammar_menu) {
-	    appendChildren(this.container, [text(" Grammar: "), grammar_menu]);
-    	    grammar_menu.onchange = bind(this.change_grammar,this);
-        }
-        if (this.options.show.startcat_menu) {
-	    appendChildren(this.container, [text(" Startcat: "), startcat_menu]);
-            startcat_menu.onchange = bind(this.change_startcat,this);
-        }
-        if (this.options.show.to_menu) {
-            appendChildren(this.container, [text(" To: "), to_toggle, to_menu]);
-            to_menu.onchange = bind(this.change_language,this);
-        }
-        appendChildren(this.container, [clear_button]);
-        if (this.options.show.random_button) {
-            appendChildren(this.container, [random_button]);
+    if (t.options.show.grammar_menu) {
+	appendChildren(t.container, [text(" Grammar: "), t.ui.grammar_menu]);
+    	t.ui.grammar_menu.onchange = function(){
+            var grammar_url = t.ui.grammar_menu.value;
+            t.gm.change_grammar(grammar_url);
         }
     }
+    if (t.options.show.startcat_menu) {
+	appendChildren(t.container, [text(" Startcat: "), t.ui.startcat_menu]);
+        t.ui.startcat_menu.onchange = function(){
+            var startcat = t.ui.startcat_menu.value;
+            t.gm.change_startcat(startcat);
+        }
+    }
+    if (t.options.show.to_menu) {
+        appendChildren(t.container, [text(" To: "), t.ui.to_toggle, t.ui.to_menu]);
+        t.ui.to_menu.onchange = function(){
+            var languages = new Array();
+            for (i in t.ui.to_menu.options) {
+                var opt = t.ui.to_menu.options[i];
+                if (opt.selected)
+                    languages.push(opt.value);
+            }
+            t.gm.change_languages(languages);
+        }
+    }
+    appendChildren(t.container, [t.ui.clear_button]);
+    if (t.options.show.random_button) {
+        appendChildren(t.container, [t.ui.random_button]);
+    }
+    appendChildren(t.container, [t.ui.debug_toggle]);
 
     /* --- Client state initialisation -------------------------------------- */
     this.editor = editor;
+    this.gm = editor.gm;
     this.server = editor.server;
 
-    /* --- Main program, this gets things going ----------------------------- */
-    this.server.get_grammarlists(bind(this.show_grammarlist,this));
+    /* --- Register Grammar Manager hooks ----------------------------------- */
+    this.gm.register_action("onload", bind(this.hook_onload, this));
+    this.gm.register_action("change_grammar", bind(this.hook_change_grammar, this));
+    // this.gm.register_action("change_startcat", bind(this.hook_change_startcat, this));
+    // this.gm.register_action("change_languages", bind(this.hook_change_languages, this));
+
 }
 
 /* --- Grammar menu --------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-// Basically called once, when initializing
-// Copied from minibar.js
-EditorMenu.prototype.show_grammarlist=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
+// show the grammar list
+EditorMenu.prototype.hook_onload=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
+    debug("EditorMenu: onload");
     var t=this;
     var first_time=t.ui.grammar_menu.options.length == 0;
     if(first_time) {
@@ -85,7 +110,7 @@ EditorMenu.prototype.show_grammarlist=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
 	var grammar0=t.options.initial.grammar;
 	if(!grammar0) grammar0=t.grammars[0];
 	t.ui.grammar_menu.value=grammar0;
-	t.change_grammar();
+//	t.change_grammar();
     }
     // Wait at most 1.5s before showing the grammar menu.
     if(first_time) t.timeout=setTimeout(pick_first_grammar,1500);
@@ -93,24 +118,21 @@ EditorMenu.prototype.show_grammarlist=function(dir,grammar_names,dir_count) {
 }
 
 // Copied from minibar.js
-EditorMenu.prototype.change_grammar=function() {
+EditorMenu.prototype.hook_change_grammar=function() {
+    debug("EditorMenu: change grammar");
     var t=this;
     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_startcat_menu(grammar);
             t.update_language_menu(t.ui.to_menu, grammar);
-
-            // Call in main Editor object
-            t.editor.change_grammar(grammar);
         });
     });
 }
 
 /* --- Start category menu -------------------------------------------------- */
 
-// Called each time the current grammar is changed!
-// Copied from minibar_input.js
+// Called from hook_change_grammar
 EditorMenu.prototype.update_startcat_menu=function(grammar) {
     var t=this;
     var menu=this.ui.startcat_menu;
@@ -129,16 +151,9 @@ EditorMenu.prototype.update_startcat_menu=function(grammar) {
     // }
 }
 
-// 
-EditorMenu.prototype.change_startcat=function() {
-    var new_startcat = this.ui.startcat_menu.value;
-    this.editor.change_startcat(new_startcat);
-}
-
 /* --- Langugage (to) menu -------------------------------------------------- */
 
-// Called each time the current grammar is changed!
-// Copied from minibar_support.js
+// Called from hook_change_grammar
 EditorMenu.prototype.update_language_menu=function(menu,grammar) {
     var t = this;
     function langpart(conc,abs) { // langpart("FoodsEng","Foods") == "Eng"
@@ -162,14 +177,3 @@ EditorMenu.prototype.update_language_menu=function(menu,grammar) {
     }
 }
 
-// 
-EditorMenu.prototype.change_language=function() {
-    this.editor.languages = new Array();
-    for (i in this.ui.to_menu.options) {
-        var opt = this.ui.to_menu.options[i];
-        if (opt.selected)
-            this.editor.languages.push(opt.value);
-    }
-    this.editor.update_linearisation();
-}
-
diff --git a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_online.js b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_online.js
index a519d28ce..5ca81c9fa 100644
--- a/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_online.js
+++ b/src/www/syntax-editor/editor_online.js
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ var editor_options = {
     //     grammar: "http://localhost:41296/grammars/Phrasebook.pgf",
     //     startcat: "Proposition",
     //     languages: ["Eng","Swe","Ita"],
-    //     abstr: "PropOpenDate (SuperlPlace TheMostExpensive School) Tomorrow",
-    //     node_id: null
+    //     abstr: "PropOpenDate (SuperlPlace TheMostExpensive School) Tomorrow"
     // },
     show: {
         grammar_menu: true,
@@ -35,8 +34,6 @@ if(window.Minibar) // Minibar loaded?
             },
             // get us back to the editor!
             abstract_action: function(tree) {
-                //var minibar=this;
-                // how to get hold of new minibar?
                 var editor_options = {
                     target: "editor",
                     initial: {
@@ -52,13 +49,14 @@ if(window.Minibar) // Minibar loaded?
         editor.hide();
         editor.minibar=new Minibar(server,minibar_options);
         //editor.minibar.editor = editor; // :S
-	editor.minibar.show()
+	editor.minibar.show();
     }
 if(/^\?\/tmp\//.test(location.search)) {
     var args=decodeURIComponent(location.search.substr(1)).split(" ")
     if(args[0]) server_options.grammars_url=args[0];
 }
 var server = pgf_online(server_options);
-var editor = new Editor(server, editor_options);
-
+// var editor = new Editor(server, editor_options);
+var gm = new GrammarManager(server);
+var editor = new Editor(gm, editor_options);