diff --git a/src/GrampsIniKeys.py b/src/GrampsIniKeys.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b271e163a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/GrampsIniKeys.py
@@ -0,0 +1,668 @@
+#
+# Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2004  Donald N. Allingham
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+#
+
+# $ $
+
+"""
+Low-level handling of .ini keys. 
+"""
+
+import os
+import time
+import ConfigParser
+
+NL = "\n" # FIX: newlines on Mac/Windows, if different?
+
+# the following table was generated from data/gramps.schemas
+
+_ini_schema = {
+ 'behavior/autoload' : '0',
+ 'behavior/betawarn' : '0',
+ 'preferences/date-format' : '0',
+ 'preferences/dont-ask' : '0',
+ 'interface/defaultview' : '0',
+ 'interface/familyview' : '0',
+ 'interface/filter' : '0',
+ 'preferences/fprefix' : 'F%04d',
+ 'preferences/eprefix' : 'E%04d',
+ 'preferences/iprefix' : 'I%04d',
+ 'preferences/oprefix' : 'O%04d',
+ 'preferences/pprefix' : 'P%04d',
+ 'preferences/sprefix' : 'S%04d',
+ 'preferences/goutput-preference' : 'No default format',
+ 'preferences/output-preference' : 'No default format',
+ 'preferences/paper-preference' : 'Letter',
+ 'index-visible' : '0',
+ 'interface/index-visible' : '0',
+ 'paths/recent-file' : '',
+ 'paths/recent-import-dir' : '',
+ 'paths/recent-export-dir' : '',
+ 'behavior/make-reference' : '1',
+ 'behavior/media-global' : '1',
+ 'behavior/media-local' : '1',
+ 'preferences/name-format' : '0',
+ 'paths/report-directory' : './',
+ 'researcher/researcher-addr' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-city' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-country' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-email' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-name' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-phone' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-postal' : '',
+ 'researcher/researcher-state' : '',
+ 'behavior/show-calendar' : '0',
+ 'behavior/startup' : '0',
+ 'interface/size-checked' : '0',
+ 'interface/statusbar' : '1',
+ 'behavior/surname-guessing' : '0',
+ 'interface/toolbar' : '5',
+ 'interface/toolbar-on' : '1',
+ 'behavior/use-lds' : '0',
+ 'behavior/use-tips' : '0',
+ 'behavior/pop-plugin-status' : '0',
+ 'interface/view' : '1',
+ 'paths/website-directory' : './',
+}
+
+
+def make_bool(val):
+    """ Function to turn strings into booleans. """
+    # these are the possible strings that should be considered False
+    if val.lower() in ["0", "false", "none", ""]:
+        return False
+    else:
+        return True
+
+class IniKeyClient:
+    """ Class to emulate gconf's client """
+    def __init__(self, filename = None):
+        """ Constructor takes an optional filename """
+        self.data = {}
+        self.callbacks = {}
+        self.filename = filename
+        if self.filename and os.path.exists(filename):
+            self.data = self.load_ini(self.filename)
+    def notify_add(self, path, func):
+        """
+        I think that these are callbacks that get called when the keys
+        are set.
+        """
+        parts = path.split("/") # FIX: make path-sep independent
+        # /apps/gramps/section/key
+        section = parts[-2]
+        key = parts[-1]
+        if section not in self.callbacks:
+            self.callbacks[section] = {}
+        self.callbacks[section][key] = func
+    def load_ini(self, filename):
+        """ Load .ini into dict of dicts, which it returns """
+        cp = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
+        cp.read(filename)
+        data = {}
+        for sec in cp.sections():
+            name = sec.lower()
+            if not data.has_key(name):
+                data[name] = {}
+            for opt in cp.options(sec):
+                data[name][opt.lower()] = cp.get(sec, opt).strip()
+        return data
+    def save_ini(self, filename = None):
+        """
+        Saves the current section/keys to a .ini file. Optional filename
+        will override the default filename, if one.
+        """
+        if not filename:
+            filename = self.filename
+        if filename:
+            fp = open(filename, "w")
+            fp.write(";; Gramps key file" + NL)
+            fp.write((";; Automatically created at %s" % time.strftime("%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S")) + NL + NL)
+            sections = self.data.keys()
+            sections.sort()
+            for section in sections:
+                fp.write(("[%s]" + NL) % section)
+                keys = self.data[section].keys()
+                keys.sort()
+                for key in keys:
+                    fp.write(("%s=%s" + NL)% (key, self.data[section][key]))
+                fp.write(NL)
+            fp.close()
+        # else, no filename given
+    def get_bool(self, section, key):
+        """ Emulates gconf's client method """
+        return make_bool(self.data[section][key])
+    def get_string(self, section, key):
+        """ Emulates gconf's client method """
+        return self.data[section][key]
+    def get_int(self, section, key):
+        """ Emulates gconf's client method """
+        if self.data[section][key].isdigit():
+            return int(self.data[section][key])
+        elif self.data[section][key].lower() in ["true"]:
+            return 1
+        else:
+            return 0
+    def set_bool(self, section, key, val):
+        """ Emulates gconf's client method """
+        if section not in self.data:
+            self.data[section] = {}
+        self.data[section][key] = str(val)
+        if section in self.callbacks and key in self.callbacks[section]:
+            self.callbacks[section][key](self,0,self.data[section][key],None) 
+    def set_string(self, section, key, val):
+        """ Emulates gconf's client method """
+        if section not in self.data:
+            self.data[section] = {}
+        self.data[section][key] = val
+        if section in self.callbacks and key in self.callbacks[section]:
+            self.callbacks[section][key](self,0,self.data[section][key],None) 
+    def set_int(self, section, key, val):
+        """ Emulates gconf's client method """
+        if section not in self.data:
+            self.data[section] = {}
+        self.data[section][key] = str(val)
+        if section in self.callbacks and key in self.callbacks[section]:
+            self.callbacks[section][key](self,0,self.data[section][key],None) 
+    def get_default_from_schema(self, section, key):
+        try:
+            return _ini_schema["%s/%s" % (section,key)]
+        except:
+            print "get_default_from_schema:", section, key
+            return "0" # FIX: where does this get its defaults?
+    def suggest_sync(self):
+        self.save_ini() # save back to default file, if named
+
+# FIX: not OS-path independent:
+client = IniKeyClient(os.path.expanduser("~/.gramps/keys.ini"))
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Functions to obtain values from .ini keys
+#           and store values into .ini keys
+#
+# All gramps keys should be accessed through these functions!
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# interface keys
+def get_default_view():
+    return get_int("interface", "defaultview",(0,1))
+
+def save_default_view(val):
+    set_int("interface", "defaultview",val,(0,1))
+
+def get_family_view():
+    return get_int("interface", "familyview", (0,1))
+
+def save_family_view(val):
+    set_int("interface", "familyview",val, (0,1))
+
+def get_filter():
+    return get_bool("interface", "filter")
+
+def save_filter(val):
+    set_bool("interface", "filter",val)
+
+def get_dont_ask():
+    return get_bool("interface", "dont-ask")
+
+def save_dont_ask(val):
+    set_bool("interface", "dont-ask",val)
+
+def get_index_visible():
+    return get_bool("interface", "index-visible")
+
+def save_index_visible(val):
+    set_bool("interface", "index-visible",val)
+
+def get_statusbar():
+    return get_int("interface", "statusbar",(0,1,2))
+
+def save_statusbar(val):
+    set_int("interface", "statusbar",val,(0,1,2))
+
+def get_toolbar():
+    return get_int("interface", "toolbar",(0,1,2,3,5))
+
+def save_toolbar(val):
+    set_int("interface", "toolbar",val,(0,1,2,3,5))
+
+def get_toolbar_on():
+    return get_bool("interface", "toolbar-on")
+
+def save_toolbar_on(val):
+    set_bool("interface", "toolbar-on",val)
+
+def get_view():
+    return get_bool("interface", "view")
+
+def save_view(val):
+    set_bool("interface", "view",val)
+
+# paths keys
+def get_lastfile():
+    return get_string("paths", "recent-file")
+
+def save_last_file(val):
+    set_string("paths", "recent-file",val)
+
+def get_last_import_dir():
+    return get_string("paths", "recent-import-dir")
+
+def save_last_import_dir(val):
+    set_string_as_path("paths", "recent-import-dir",val)
+
+def get_last_export_dir():
+    return get_string("paths", "recent-export-dir")
+
+def save_last_export_dir(val):
+    set_string_as_path("paths", "recent-export-dir",val)
+
+def get_report_dir():
+    return get_string("paths", "report-directory")
+
+def save_report_dir(val):
+    set_string_as_path("paths", "report-directory",val)
+
+def get_web_dir():
+    return get_string("paths", "website-directory")
+
+def save_web_dir(val):
+    set_string_as_path("paths", "website-directory",val)
+
+# behavior keys
+def get_startup():
+    return get_int("behavior", "startup",(0,1))
+
+def save_startup(val):
+    set_int("behavior", "startup",val,(0,1))
+
+def get_screen_size_checked():
+    return get_bool("interface", "size-checked")
+
+def save_screen_size_checked(val):
+    set_bool("interface", "size-checked",val)
+
+def get_autoload():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "autoload")
+
+def save_autoload(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "autoload",val)
+
+def get_betawarn():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "betawarn")
+
+def save_betawarn(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "betawarn",val)
+
+def get_media_reference():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "make-reference")
+
+def save_media_reference(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "make-reference",val)
+
+def get_media_global():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "media-global")
+
+def save_media_global(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "media-global",val)
+
+def get_media_local():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "media-local")
+
+def save_media_local(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "media-local",val)
+
+def get_lastnamegen(_surname_styles=[]):
+    return get_int("behavior", "surname-guessing",
+                        range(len(_surname_styles)))
+
+def save_lastnamegen(val,_surname_styles=[]):
+    set_int("behavior", "surname-guessing",val,
+                        range(len(_surname_styles)))
+
+def get_uselds():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "use-lds")
+
+def save_uselds(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "use-lds",val)
+
+def get_usetips():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "use-tips")
+
+def save_usetips(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "use-tips",val)
+
+def get_pop_plugin_status():
+    return get_bool("behavior", "pop-plugin-status")
+
+def save_pop_plugin_status(val):
+    set_bool("behavior", "pop-plugin-status",val)
+
+# preferences keys
+def get_person_id_prefix():
+    return get_string("preferences", "iprefix")
+
+def get_event_id_prefix():
+    return get_string("preferences", "iprefix")
+
+def save_iprefix(val):
+    set_string_as_id_prefix("preferences", "iprefix",val)
+
+def get_object_id_prefix():
+    return get_string("preferences", "oprefix")
+
+def save_oprefix(val):
+    set_string_as_id_prefix("preferences", "oprefix",val)
+
+def get_source_id_prefix():
+    return get_string("preferences", "sprefix")
+
+def save_sprefix(val):
+    set_string_as_id_prefix("preferences", "sprefix",val)
+
+def save_eprefix(val):
+    set_string_as_id_prefix("preferences", "eprefix",val)
+
+def get_place_id_prefix():
+    return get_string("preferences", "pprefix")
+
+def save_pprefix(val):
+    set_string_as_id_prefix("preferences", "pprefix",val)
+
+def get_family_id_prefix():
+    return get_string("preferences", "fprefix")
+
+def save_fprefix(val):
+    set_string_as_id_prefix("preferences", "fprefix",val)
+
+def get_paper_preference():
+    return get_string("preferences", "paper-preference")
+
+def save_paper_preference(val):
+    set_string("preferences", "paper-preference",val)
+
+def get_output_preference():
+    return get_string("preferences", "output-preference")
+
+def save_output_preference(val):
+    set_string("preferences", "output-preference",val)
+
+def get_goutput_preference():
+    return get_string("preferences", "goutput-preference")
+
+def save_goutput_preference(val):
+    set_string("preferences", "goutput-preference",val)
+
+def get_use_tips():
+    return get_bool("preferences", "use-tips")
+
+def save_use_tips(val):
+    set_bool("preferences", "use-tips",val)
+
+def get_date_format(_date_format_list=[]):
+    return get_int("preferences", "date-format",
+                        range(len(_date_format_list)))
+
+def save_date_format(val,_date_format_list=[]):
+    set_int("preferences", "date-format",val,
+                        range(len(_date_format_list)))
+
+def get_name_format(_name_format_list):
+    return get_int("preferences", "name-format",
+                        range(len(_name_format_list)))
+
+def save_name_format(val,_name_format_list):
+    set_int("preferences", "name-format",val,
+                        range(len(_name_format_list)))
+
+# researcher keys
+def get_researcher_name():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-name")
+
+def save_researcher_name(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-name",val)
+
+def get_researcher_addr():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-addr")
+
+def save_researcher_addr(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-addr",val)
+
+def get_researcher_city():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-city")
+
+def save_researcher_city(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-city",val)
+
+def get_researcher_state():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-state")
+
+def save_researcher_state(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-state",val)
+
+def get_researcher_country():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-country")
+
+def save_researcher_country(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-country",val)
+
+def get_researcher_postal():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-postal")
+
+def save_researcher_postal(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-postal",val)
+
+def get_researcher_phone():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-phone")
+
+def save_researcher_phone(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-phone",val)
+
+def get_researcher_email():
+    return get_string("researcher", "researcher-email")
+
+def save_researcher_email(val):
+    set_string("researcher", "researcher-email",val)
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Low-level grabbing and saving keys with error checking.
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+def get_bool(section, key):
+    try:
+        val = client.get_bool(section, key)
+    except KeyError:
+        val = None
+    if val in (True,False):
+        return val
+    else:
+        return make_bool(client.get_default_from_schema(section, key))
+
+def set_bool(section, key,val):
+    if val in (True,False):
+        client.set_bool(section, key,val)
+
+def get_int(section, key,correct_tuple=None):
+    try:
+        val = client.get_int(section, key)
+    except KeyError:
+        val = None
+    if not correct_tuple or val in correct_tuple:
+        return val
+    else:
+        return int(client.get_default_from_schema(section, key))
+
+def set_int(section, key,val,correct_tuple=None):
+    if not correct_tuple or val in correct_tuple:
+        client.set_int(section, key,val)
+
+def get_string(section, key,test_func=None):
+    try:
+        val = client.get_string(section, key)
+    except KeyError:
+        val = ""
+    if not test_func or test_func(val):
+        return val
+    else:
+        return client.get_default_from_schema(section, key)
+
+def set_string(section, key,val,test_func=None):
+    if not test_func or test_func(val):
+        client.set_string(section, key,val)
+
+def set_string_as_path(section, key,val):
+    if not val:
+        val = client.get_default_from_schema(section, key)
+    else:
+        val = os.path.normpath(val) + os.sep
+    client.set_string(section, key,val)
+
+def set_string_as_id_prefix(section, key,val):
+    if not val:
+        val = client.get_default_from_schema(section, key)
+    else:
+        try:
+            junk = val % 1
+        except:
+            val = client.get_default_from_schema(section, key)
+    client.set_string(section, key,val)
+
+def sync():
+    client.suggest_sync()
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    print "Testing..."
+    client.filename = "test1.ini"
+    val = "test"
+    print "get_default_view()", get_default_view()
+    save_default_view(val)
+    print "get_family_view()", get_family_view()
+    save_family_view(val)
+    print "get_filter()", get_filter()
+    save_filter(val)
+    print "get_dont_ask()", get_dont_ask()
+    save_dont_ask(val)
+    print "get_index_visible()", get_index_visible()
+    save_index_visible(val)
+    print "get_statusbar()", get_statusbar()
+    save_statusbar(val)
+    print "get_toolbar()", get_toolbar()
+    save_toolbar(val)
+    print "get_toolbar_on()", get_toolbar_on()
+    save_toolbar_on(val)
+    print "get_view()", get_view()
+    save_view(val)
+    print "get_lastfile()", get_lastfile()
+    save_last_file(val)
+    print "get_last_import_dir()", get_last_import_dir()
+    save_last_import_dir(val)
+    print "get_last_export_dir()", get_last_export_dir()
+    save_last_export_dir(val)
+    print "get_report_dir()", get_report_dir()
+    save_report_dir(val)
+    print "get_web_dir()", get_web_dir()
+    save_web_dir(val)
+    print "get_startup()", get_startup()
+    save_startup(val)
+    print "get_screen_size_checked()", get_screen_size_checked()
+    save_screen_size_checked(val)
+    print "get_autoload()", get_autoload()
+    save_autoload(val)
+    print "get_betawarn()", get_betawarn()
+    save_betawarn(val)
+    print "get_media_reference()", get_media_reference()
+    save_media_reference(val)
+    print "get_media_global()", get_media_global()
+    save_media_global(val)
+    print "get_media_local()", get_media_local()
+    save_media_local(val)
+    print "get_lastnamegen(val)", get_lastnamegen(val)
+    save_lastnamegen(val, val)
+    print "get_uselds()", get_uselds()
+    save_uselds(val)
+    print "get_usetips()", get_usetips()
+    save_usetips(val)
+    print "get_pop_plugin_status()", get_pop_plugin_status()
+    save_pop_plugin_status(val)
+    print "get_person_id_prefix()", get_person_id_prefix()
+    print "get_event_id_prefix()", get_event_id_prefix()
+    save_iprefix(val)
+    print "get_object_id_prefix()", get_object_id_prefix()
+    save_oprefix(val)
+    print "get_source_id_prefix()", get_source_id_prefix()
+    save_sprefix(val)
+    save_eprefix(val)
+    print "get_place_id_prefix()", get_place_id_prefix()
+    save_pprefix(val)
+    print "get_family_id_prefix()", get_family_id_prefix()
+    save_fprefix(val)
+    print "get_paper_preference()", get_paper_preference()
+    save_paper_preference(val)
+    print "get_output_preference()", get_output_preference()
+    save_output_preference(val)
+    print "get_goutput_preference()", get_goutput_preference()
+    save_goutput_preference(val)
+    print "get_use_tips()", get_use_tips()
+    save_use_tips(val)
+    print "get_date_format(val)", get_date_format(val)
+    save_date_format(val, val)
+    print "get_name_format(val)", get_name_format(val)
+    save_name_format(val, val)
+    print "get_researcher_name()", get_researcher_name()
+    save_researcher_name(val)
+    print "get_researcher_addr()", get_researcher_addr()
+    save_researcher_addr(val)
+    print "get_researcher_city()", get_researcher_city()
+    save_researcher_city(val)
+    print "get_researcher_state()", get_researcher_state()
+    save_researcher_state(val)
+    print "get_researcher_country()", get_researcher_country()
+    save_researcher_country(val)
+    print "get_researcher_postal()", get_researcher_postal()
+    save_researcher_postal(val)
+    print "get_researcher_phone()", get_researcher_phone()
+    save_researcher_phone(val)
+    print "get_researcher_email()", get_researcher_email()
+    save_researcher_email(val)
+    print "Syncing..."
+    sync()
+    client = IniKeyClient("test1.ini")
+    client.filename = "test2.ini"
+    print "Syncing..."
+    sync()
+    client = IniKeyClient()
+    def callback(client, id, data, args):
+        print "it called back! new value is %s" % data
+    print "Testing callbacks..."
+    client.notify_add("/apps/gramps/section/key", callback)
+    client.set_int("section", "key", 23)
+    assert client.get_int("section", "key") == 23
+    print "client.notify_add(): passed"
+    client.filename = "test3.ini"
+    print "Syncing..."
+    sync()
+    client = IniKeyClient("test3.ini")
+    assert client.get_int("section", "key") == 23
+    print "client.load_ini(): passed"
+    print "-" * 50
+    print "test1.ini and test2.ini should be identical, except for"
+    print "maybe the time. test3.ini should have [section] key=23"
diff --git a/src/GrampsKeys.py b/src/GrampsKeys.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..449c81483
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/GrampsKeys.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#
+# Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2000-2004  Donald N. Allingham
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+#
+
+import const
+
+if const.no_gconf:
+   from GrampsIniKeys import *
+else:
+   from GrampsGconfKeys import *