common tree package for toolkitsv0.12.4

    This update provides *lots* of toolkit updates. This will allow
        the next step of debugging the gocui toolkit to make it work
        again. There are new common routines for handling the plugin
        channel communication

Signed-off-by: Jeff Carr <[email protected]>

46 files changed, 1186 insertions, 864 deletions

diff --git a/andlabs/action.go b/andlabs/action.go
index b1046ba..28c78d5 100644
--- a/andlabs/action.go
+++ b/andlabs/action.go
@@ -1,47 +1,99 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"strconv"
-	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
+	"errors"
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
+// this will check to make sure that the node
+// is valid for making a New TK andlabs widget
+// Basically, it makes sure there is a parent ID
+// and that there already a widget created
+func notNew(n *tree.Node) bool {
+	if n == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n = nil")
+		return true
+	}
+	if n.TK != nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n.TK = nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		return true
+	}
+	if n.Parent == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n.Parent = nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		return true
+	}
+	if n.Parent.TK == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n.Parent.TK = nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		log.Warn("ready() n.Parent.TK = nil", n.Parent.WidgetId, n.Parent.GetProgName())
+		return true
+	}
+	// this means you can add a new widgets
+	return false
+}
+
+func ready(n *tree.Node) bool {
+	if n == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n = nil")
+		return false
+	}
+	if n.TK == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n.TK = nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		return false
+	}
+	if n.Parent == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n.Parent = nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		return false
+	}
+	if n.Parent.TK == nil {
+		log.Warn("ready() n.Parent.TK = nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		log.Warn("ready() n.Parent.TK = nil", n.Parent.WidgetId, n.Parent.GetProgName())
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
 func (n *node) ready() bool {
 	if n == nil { return false }
 	if n.tk == nil { return false }
 	return true
 }
 
-func (n *node) show(b bool) {
-	if n.tk == nil {
+func show(n *tree.Node, b bool) {
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	// tk = getTK(n)
+
+	if tk == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	if n.tk.uiControl == nil {
+	if tk.uiControl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 	if (b) {
-		n.tk.uiControl.Show()
+		tk.uiControl.Show()
 	} else {
-		n.tk.uiControl.Hide()
+		tk.uiControl.Hide()
 	}
 }
 
-func (n *node) enable(b bool) {
+func enable(n *tree.Node, b bool) {
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	if n == nil {
 		panic("WHAT? enable was passed nil. How does this even happen?")
 	}
-	if n.tk == nil {
+	if tk == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	if n.tk.uiControl == nil {
+	if tk.uiControl == nil {
 		return
 	}
 	if (b) {
-		n.tk.uiControl.Enable()
+		tk.uiControl.Enable()
 	} else {
-		n.tk.uiControl.Disable()
+		tk.uiControl.Disable()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -152,73 +204,88 @@ func (n *node) Delete() {
 func rawAction(a *widget.Action) {
 	log.Log(INFO, "rawAction() START a.ActionType =", a.ActionType, "a.Value", a.Value)
 
-	if (a.ActionType == widget.InitToolkit) {
-		// TODO: make sure to only do this once
-		// go uiMain.Do(func() {
-		// 	ui.Main(demoUI)
-			// go catchActionChannel()
-		// })
-		// try doing this on toolkit load in init()
+	if (a.ActionType == widget.ToolkitInit) {
+		Init()
+		return
+	}
+	switch a.WidgetType {
+	case widget.Root:
+		me.treeRoot = me.myTree.AddNode(a)
+		log.Log(INFO, "doAction() found treeRoot")
 		return
 	}
 
-	log.Log(INFO, "rawAction() START a.WidgetId =", a.WidgetId, "a.ParentId =", a.ParentId)
+	log.Warn("andlabs rawAction() START a.WidgetId =", a.WidgetId, "a.ParentId =", a.ParentId, a.ActionType)
 	switch a.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Flag:
 		log.Log(ERROR, "rawAction() RE-IMPLEMENT LOG FLAGS")
 		return
 	}
 
-	n := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	if me.treeRoot == nil {
+		panic("me.treeRoot == nil")
+	}
+
+	n := me.treeRoot.FindWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
 
 	if (a.ActionType == widget.Add) {
-		ui.QueueMain(func() {
+		me.treeRoot.ListWidgets()
+		// ui.QueueMain(func() {
 			add(a)
-		})
+		// })
 		// TODO: remove this artificial delay
 		// sleep(.001)
 		return
 	}
 
 	if (a.ActionType == widget.Dump) {
-		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() Dump =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType, n.progname)
-		me.rootNode.listChildren(true)
+		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() Dump =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType, n.State.ProgName)
+		// me.rootNode.listChildren(true)
 		return
 	}
 
 	if (n == nil) {
-		me.rootNode.listChildren(true)
-		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
+		log.Error(errors.New("andlabs rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil"), a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
 		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil for id =", a.WidgetId)
 		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
 		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() ERROR findWidgetId found nil for id =", a.WidgetId)
+		me.treeRoot.ListWidgets()
 		return
-		panic("findWidgetId found nil for id = " + strconv.Itoa(a.WidgetId))
+		panic("findWidgetId found nil for id = " + string(a.WidgetId))
 	}
 
 	switch a.ActionType {
 	case widget.Show:
-		n.show(true)
+		show(n, true)
+		// n.show(true)
 	case widget.Hide:
-		n.show(false)
+		show(n, false)
+		//n.show(false)
 	case widget.Enable:
-		n.enable(true)
+		enable(n, true)
+		// n.enable(true)
 	case widget.Disable:
-		log.Warn("andlabs got disable for", n.WidgetId, n.progname)
-		n.enable(false)
+		log.Warn("andlabs got disable for", n.WidgetId, n.State.ProgName)
+		enable(n, false)
+		// n.enable(false)
 	case widget.Get:
-		n.setText(a)
+		// n.setText(a)
+		setText(n, a)
 	case widget.GetText:
 		switch a.WidgetType {
 		case widget.Textbox:
-			a.Value = n.value
+			a.Value = n.State.Value
 		}
 	case widget.Set:
-		n.setText(a)
+		setText(n, a)
+		// n.setText(a)
 	case widget.SetText:
-		n.setText(a)
+		setText(n, a)
+		// n.setText(a)
 	case widget.AddText:
-		n.addText(a)
+		addText(n, a)
+		// n.addText(a)
+		/*
 	case widget.Margin:
 		n.pad(true)
 	case widget.Unmargin:
@@ -231,8 +298,7 @@ func rawAction(a *widget.Action) {
 		n.Delete()
 	case widget.Move:
 		log.Log(NOW, "rawAction() attempt to move() =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-		newParent := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
-		n.move(newParent)
+		*/
 	default:
 		log.Log(ERROR, "rawAction() Unknown =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
 	}
diff --git a/andlabs/add.go b/andlabs/add.go
index ffe2cc4..a47d697 100644
--- a/andlabs/add.go
+++ b/andlabs/add.go
@@ -6,57 +6,67 @@ import (
 )
 
 func add(a *widget.Action) {
+	log.Warn("andlabs add()", a.WidgetId, a.State.ProgName)
 	if (a.WidgetType == widget.Root) {
-		me.rootNode = addNode(a)
+		if me.treeRoot == nil {
+			me.treeRoot = me.myTree.AddNode(a)
+		}
 		return
 	}
-	n := addNode(a)
+	// n := addNode(a)
+	n := me.myTree.AddNode(a)
 
-	p := n.parent
+	p := n.Parent
 	switch n.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Window:
-		newWindow(n)
+		log.Warn("SPEEDY Add window", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		newWindow(p, n)
 		return
+	case widget.Group:
+		log.Warn("SPEEDY Add Group", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		newGroup(p, n)
+		return
+	case widget.Grid:
+		newGrid(n)
+		return
+	case widget.Box:
+		newBox(n)
+		return
+	/*
 	case widget.Tab:
-		p.newTab(n)
+		newTab(n)
 		return
+	*/
 	case widget.Label:
-		p.newLabel(n)
+		newLabel(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Button:
-		p.newButton(n)
-		return
-	case widget.Grid:
-		p.newGrid(n)
+		newButton(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Checkbox:
-		p.newCheckbox(n)
+		newCheckbox(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Spinner:
-		p.newSpinner(n)
+		newSpinner(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Slider:
-		p.newSlider(n)
+		newSlider(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Dropdown:
-		p.newDropdown(n)
+		newDropdown(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Combobox:
-		p.newCombobox(n)
+		newCombobox(p, n)
 		return
 	case widget.Textbox:
-		p.newTextbox(n)
-		return
-	case widget.Group:
-		p.newGroup(n)
-		return
-	case widget.Box:
-		p.newBox(n)
+		newTextbox(p, n)
 		return
+	/*
 	case widget.Image:
-		p.newImage(n)
+		newImage(p, n)
 		return
+	*/
 	default:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "add() error TODO: ", n.WidgetType, n.progname)
+		log.Log(ERROR, "add() error TODO: ", n.WidgetType, n.State.ProgName)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/addText.go b/andlabs/addText.go
index cbc9269..d335be2 100644
--- a/andlabs/addText.go
+++ b/andlabs/addText.go
@@ -3,22 +3,40 @@ package main
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-func (n *node) addText(a *widget.Action) {
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "addText() START with a.Value =", a.Value)
-	t := n.tk
-	if (t == nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "addText error. tk == nil", n.progname, n.WidgetId)
+func compareStrings(n *tree.Node, ss []string) {
+}
+
+// func (n *node) addText(a *widget.Action) {
+func addText(n *tree.Node, a *widget.Action) {
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	log.Warn("andlabs addText() START with a.Value =", a.Value)
+	if (tk == nil) {
+		log.Log(ERROR, "addText error. tk == nil", n.State.ProgName, n.WidgetId)
 		return
 	}
-	log.Log(CHANGE, "addText() Attempt on", n.WidgetType, "with", a.Value)
+	log.Warn("andlabs addText() Attempt on", n.WidgetType, "with", a.Value)
 
 	switch n.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Dropdown:
-		n.addDropdownName(widget.GetString(a.Value))
+		for i, s := range a.State.Strings {
+			log.Warn("andlabs a.State.Strings =", i, s)
+			_, ok := n.Strings[s]
+			// If the key exists
+			if ok {
+				log.Warn("andlabs a.State.Strings is here", i, s)
+			} else {
+				log.Warn("andlabs is not here", i, s)
+				addDropdownName(n, s)
+				// TODO: make numbers
+				n.Strings[s] = 21
+			}
+		}
 	case widget.Combobox:
-		n.addComboboxName(widget.GetString(a.Value))
+		addComboboxName(n, widget.GetString(a.Value))
 	default:
 		log.Log(ERROR, "plugin Send() Don't know how to addText on", n.WidgetType, "yet", a.ActionType)
 	}
diff --git a/andlabs/box.go b/andlabs/box.go
index d06bf60..df4cfba 100644
--- a/andlabs/box.go
+++ b/andlabs/box.go
@@ -2,17 +2,19 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
 // make new Box here
-func (p *node) newBox(n *node) {
+func newBox(n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 	var box *ui.Box
 
-	if n.direction == widget.Horizontal {
+	if n.State.Direction == widget.Horizontal {
 		box = ui.NewHorizontalBox()
 	} else {
 		box = ui.NewVerticalBox()
@@ -22,8 +24,8 @@ func (p *node) newBox(n *node) {
 	newt.uiBox = box
 	newt.uiControl = box
 	newt.boxC = 0
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(n.Parent, n)
 }
 
 /*
@@ -46,10 +48,11 @@ func (p *node) newBox(n *node) {
 
 	TODO: handle user killing/closing a window using the OS
 */
-func (n *node) rawBox() *ui.Box {
+// func (n *node) rawBox() *ui.Box {
+func rawBox(n *tree.Node) *ui.Box {
 	var box *ui.Box
 
-	if n.direction == widget.Horizontal {
+	if n.State.Direction == widget.Horizontal {
 		box = ui.NewHorizontalBox()
 	} else {
 		box = ui.NewVerticalBox()
diff --git a/andlabs/button.go b/andlabs/button.go
index 0cc4f52..4bbc8f2 100644
--- a/andlabs/button.go
+++ b/andlabs/button.go
@@ -1,25 +1,28 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newButton(n *node) {
-	t := p.tk
+// func (p *node) newButton(n *node) {
+func newButton(p *tree.Node, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
+	var ptk *guiWidget
+	ptk = p.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
-	b := ui.NewButton(widget.GetString(n.value))
+	b := ui.NewButton(n.GetLabel())
 	newt.uiButton = b
 	newt.uiControl = b
-	newt.parent = t
+	newt.parent = ptk
 
 	b.OnClicked(func(*ui.Button) {
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 	})
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/checkbox.go b/andlabs/checkbox.go
index d44e458..d447baf 100644
--- a/andlabs/checkbox.go
+++ b/andlabs/checkbox.go
@@ -1,23 +1,26 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newCheckbox(n *node) {
+func newCheckbox(p *tree.Node, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
-	newt.uiCheckbox = ui.NewCheckbox(n.label)
+	newt.uiCheckbox = ui.NewCheckbox(n.GetLabel())
 	newt.uiControl = newt.uiCheckbox
 
 	newt.uiCheckbox.OnToggled(func(spin *ui.Checkbox) {
-		n.value = newt.checked()
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		n.SetValue(newt.checked())
+		me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 	})
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
 
 func (t *guiWidget) checked() bool {
diff --git a/andlabs/combobox.go b/andlabs/combobox.go
index 0dd16c6..adfea36 100644
--- a/andlabs/combobox.go
+++ b/andlabs/combobox.go
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@ import (
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newCombobox(n *node) {
+func newCombobox(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
 	cb := ui.NewEditableCombobox()
@@ -20,46 +21,53 @@ func (p *node) newCombobox(n *node) {
 	newt.val = make(map[int]string)
 
 	cb.OnChanged(func(spin *ui.EditableCombobox) {
-		n.value = spin.Text()
+		n.SetValue(spin.Text())
 		log.Warn("combobox changed =" + spin.Text() + ".")
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 	})
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 
+	log.Warn("add combobox entries on create:", n.State.Strings)
+	log.Warn("add combobox entries on create:", n.State.Strings)
+	log.Warn("add combobox entries on create:", n.State.Strings)
 	// add the initial combobox entries
-	for i, s := range n.strings {
-		log.Warn("add combobox entries on create", n.progname, i, s)
-		n.addComboboxName(s)
+	for i, s := range n.State.Strings {
+		log.Warn("add combobox entries on create", n.GetProgName(), i, s)
+		addComboboxName(n, s)
 	}
-	cur := widget.GetString(n.value)
-	log.Warn("add combobox: TODO: set default value on create", n.progname, cur)
-	n.setComboboxName(cur)
+	cur := n.String()
+	log.Warn("add combobox: TODO: set default value on create", n.GetProgName(), cur)
+	setComboboxName(n, cur)
 }
 
-func (n *node) addComboboxName(s string) {
-	if ! n.ready() { return }
+func addComboboxName(n *tree.Node, s string) {
+	if ! ready(n) { return }
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	log.Log(INFO, "addComboboxName()", n.WidgetId, "add:", s)
 
-	n.tk.uiEditableCombobox.Append(s)
-	if (n.tk.val == nil) {
+	tk.uiEditableCombobox.Append(s)
+	if (tk.val == nil) {
 		log.Log(INFO, "make map didn't work")
 		return
 	}
-	n.tk.val[n.tk.c] = s
+	tk.val[tk.c] = s
 
 	// If this is the first menu added, set the dropdown to it
-	if (n.tk.c == 0) {
+	if (tk.c == 0) {
 		log.Log(INFO, "THIS IS THE FIRST combobox", s)
-		n.tk.uiEditableCombobox.SetText(s)
+		tk.uiEditableCombobox.SetText(s)
 	}
-	n.tk.c = n.tk.c + 1
+	tk.c = tk.c + 1
 }
 
-func (n *node) setComboboxName(s string) bool {
-	if ! n.ready() { return false}
+func setComboboxName(n *tree.Node, s string) bool {
+	if ! ready(n) { return false}
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	log.Log(INFO, "SetComboboxName()", n.WidgetId, ",", s)
-	n.tk.uiEditableCombobox.SetText(s)
+	tk.uiEditableCombobox.SetText(s)
 	return false
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/common.go b/andlabs/common.go
index 35417a1..1cfac84 120000..100644
--- a/andlabs/common.go
+++ b/andlabs/common.go
@@ -1 +1,61 @@
-../nocui/common.go
\ No newline at end of file
+package main
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+type node struct {
+	parent	*node
+	children []*node
+
+	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
+	WidgetType	widget.WidgetType
+	ParentId	int	// parent ID
+
+	state	widget.State
+
+	// a reference name for programming and debuggign. Must be unique
+	progname   string
+
+	// the text used for button labesl, window titles, checkbox names, etc
+	label   string
+
+	// horizontal  means layout widgets like books on a bookshelf
+	// vertical    means layout widgets like books in a stack
+	// direction widget.Orientation
+	direction widget.Orientation
+
+	// This is how the values are passed back and forth
+	// values from things like checkboxes & dropdown's
+	value any
+
+	strings []string
+
+	// This is used for things like a slider(0,100)
+	X      int
+	Y      int
+
+	// This is for the grid size & widget position
+	W      int
+	H      int
+	AtW    int
+	AtH    int
+
+	vals []string // dropdown menu items
+
+	// horizontal bool `default:false`
+
+	hasTabs bool // does the window have tabs?
+	currentTab bool // the visible tab
+
+	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
+	// in the gtk plugin, it has gtk things like margin & border settings
+	// in the text console one, it has text console things like colors for menus & buttons
+	tk *guiWidget
+}
+
+/*
+func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
+	log.Log(ERROR, "doUserEvent() ERROR")
+}
+*/
diff --git a/andlabs/debug.go b/andlabs/debug.go
index 7e6bb24..51048d5 100644
--- a/andlabs/debug.go
+++ b/andlabs/debug.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"strconv"
-
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	// "go.wit.com/gui/widget"
 )
@@ -94,7 +92,7 @@ func (n *node) dumpWidget(b bool) {
 	}
 	info = n.WidgetType.String()
 
-	d = strconv.Itoa(n.WidgetId) + " " + info + " " + n.progname
+	d = string(n.WidgetId) + " " + info + " " + n.progname
 
 	var tabs string
 	for i := 0; i < listChildrenDepth; i++ {
diff --git a/andlabs/dropdown.go b/andlabs/dropdown.go
index 0795264..6a1bd64 100644
--- a/andlabs/dropdown.go
+++ b/andlabs/dropdown.go
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@ import (
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newDropdown(n *node) {
+func newDropdown(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
-	log.Log(INFO, "gui.Toolbox.newDropdown() START", n.progname)
+	log.Log(INFO, "gui.Toolbox.newDropdown() START", n.GetProgName())
 
 	cb := ui.NewCombobox()
 	newt.uiCombobox = cb
@@ -24,60 +25,69 @@ func (p *node) newDropdown(n *node) {
 		i := spin.Selected()
 		if (newt.val == nil) {
 			log.Log(ERROR, "make map didn't work")
-			n.value = "map did not work. ui.Combobox error"
+			n.SetValue("map did not work. ui.Combobox error")
 		} else {
-			n.value = newt.val[i]
+			n.SetValue(newt.val[i])
 		}
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 	})
 
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 
-	if n.strings == nil {return}
+	log.Warn("add dropdown entries on create:", n.State.Strings)
+	log.Warn("add dropdown entries on create:", n.State.Strings)
+	log.Warn("add dropdown entries on create:", n.State.Strings)
+	if n.State.Strings == nil {return}
 	// add the initial dropdown entries
-	for i, s := range n.strings {
-		log.Warn("add dropdown: add entries on create", n.progname, i, s)
-		n.addDropdownName(s)
+	for i, s := range n.State.Strings {
+		log.Warn("add dropdown: add entries on create", n.GetProgName(), i, s)
+		addDropdownName(n, s)
 	}
-	cur := widget.GetString(n.value)
-	log.Warn("add dropdown: set default value on create", n.progname, cur)
-	n.setDropdownName(cur)
+	cur := n.String()
+	log.Warn("add dropdown: set default value on create", n.GetProgName(), cur)
+	setDropdownName(n, cur)
 }
 
-func (n *node) SetDropdownInt(i int) {
-	if ! n.ready() { return }
-	n.tk.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
+func setDropdownInt(n *tree.Node, i int) {
+	if ! ready(n) { return }
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
 }
 
-func (n *node) addDropdownName(s string) {
-	if ! n.ready() { return }
+func addDropdownName(n *tree.Node, s string) {
+	if ! ready(n) { return }
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	log.Log(INFO, "addDropdownName()", n.WidgetId, "add:", s)
 
-	n.tk.uiCombobox.Append(s)
-	if (n.tk.val == nil) {
+	tk.uiCombobox.Append(s)
+	if (tk.val == nil) {
 		log.Log(INFO, "make map didn't work")
 		return
 	}
-	n.tk.val[n.tk.c] = s
+	tk.val[tk.c] = s
 
 	// If this is the first menu added, set the dropdown to it
-	if (n.tk.c == 0) {
+	if (tk.c == 0) {
 		log.Log(INFO, "THIS IS THE FIRST Dropdown", s)
-		n.tk.uiCombobox.SetSelected(0)
+		tk.uiCombobox.SetSelected(0)
 	}
-	n.tk.c = n.tk.c + 1
+	tk.c = tk.c + 1
 }
 
-func (n *node) setDropdownName(s string) bool {
-	if ! n.ready() { return false}
+func setDropdownName(n *tree.Node, s string) bool {
+	if ! ready(n) { return false}
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	log.Log(INFO, "SetDropdownName()", n.WidgetId, ",", s)
 
-	for i, tmp := range n.tk.val {
+	for i, tmp := range tk.val {
 		if s == tmp {
-			n.value = s
-			n.SetDropdownInt(i)
+			n.SetValue(s)
+			setDropdownInt(n, i)
 			log.Warn("SetDropdownInt() worked", tmp, i)
 			return true
 		}
diff --git a/andlabs/grid.go b/andlabs/grid.go
index 2561648..bbb2c8b 100644
--- a/andlabs/grid.go
+++ b/andlabs/grid.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
@@ -10,9 +12,9 @@ import (
 // -- (1,1) -- (2,1) -- (3,1) --
 // -- (1,2) -- (2,1) -- (3,1) --
 // -----------------------------
-func (p *node) newGrid(n *node) {
+func newGrid(n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	var newt *guiWidget
-
 	newt = new(guiWidget)
 
 	c := ui.NewGrid()
@@ -20,6 +22,6 @@ func (p *node) newGrid(n *node) {
 	newt.uiControl = c
 	c.SetPadded(true)
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(n.Parent, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/group.go b/andlabs/group.go
index 8faa6a4..efbabd9 100644
--- a/andlabs/group.go
+++ b/andlabs/group.go
@@ -1,20 +1,22 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	// "go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newGroup(n *node) {
+func newGroup(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
-	g := ui.NewGroup(widget.GetString(n.value))
+	g := ui.NewGroup(n.GetLabel())
 	g.SetMargined(true)
 	newt.uiGroup = g
 	newt.uiControl = g
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/image.go b/andlabs/image.go
index f5cf941..badd8b4 100644
--- a/andlabs/image.go
+++ b/andlabs/image.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func (p *node) newImage(n *node) {
 	// newt.uiControl = img
 
 	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	// p.place(n)
 }
 /*
 	if (a.Name == "image") {
diff --git a/andlabs/label.go b/andlabs/label.go
index bcdaf7a..12bc9c1 100644
--- a/andlabs/label.go
+++ b/andlabs/label.go
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newLabel(n *node) {
+func newLabel(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
-	c := ui.NewLabel(widget.GetString(n.value))
+	c := ui.NewLabel(n.GetLabel())
 	newt.uiLabel = c
 	newt.uiControl = c
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/main.go b/andlabs/main.go
index 5a6d383..b1e0e47 100644
--- a/andlabs/main.go
+++ b/andlabs/main.go
@@ -2,8 +2,11 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"sync"
+	"runtime/debug"
+
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	// the _ means we only need this for the init()
@@ -17,7 +20,11 @@ var muAction sync.Mutex
 func queueMain(currentA widget.Action) {
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in main application:", r)
+			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in queueMain() application:", r)
+			log.Println("Recovered from panic:", r)
+			log.Println("Stack trace:")
+			debug.PrintStack()
+			me.myTree.DoToolkitPanic()
 		}
 	}()
 	ui.QueueMain( func() {
@@ -25,29 +32,14 @@ func queueMain(currentA widget.Action) {
 	})
 }
 
-func catchActionChannel() {
-	log.Log(INFO, "catchActionChannel() START")
-	for {
-		log.Log(INFO, "catchActionChannel() for loop")
-	    	select {
-		case a := <-pluginChan:
-			log.Log(INFO, "catchActionChannel() SELECT widget id =", a.WidgetId, a.ProgName)
-			log.Log(INFO, "catchActionChannel() STUFF", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-			muAction.Lock()
-			// TODO ui.QueueMain(f)
-			// TODO ui.QueueMain( func() {rawAction(a)} )
-			// rawAction(a)
-			queueMain(a)
-			muAction.Unlock()
-			log.Log(INFO, "catchActionChannel() STUFF END", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func guiMain() {
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
-			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in main application:", r)
+			log.Warn("YAHOOOO Recovered in guiMain application:", r)
+			log.Println("Recovered from panic:", r)
+			log.Println("Stack trace:")
+			debug.PrintStack()
+			me.myTree.DoToolkitPanic()
 		}
 	}()
 	ui.Main(func() {
@@ -55,6 +47,10 @@ func guiMain() {
 	})
 }
 
+func Init() {
+	log.Warn("Init() TODO: move init() to here")
+}
+
 // This is important. This sets the defaults for the gui. Without this, there isn't correct padding, etc
 func init() {
 	log.Log(INFO, "Init() START")
@@ -63,15 +59,12 @@ func init() {
 	// log.Log(INFO, "init() Setting defaultBehavior = true")
 	setDefaultBehavior(true)
 
+	me.myTree = tree.New()
+	me.myTree.PluginName = "andlabs"
+	me.myTree.ActionFromChannel = queueMain
+
 	// TODO: this is messed up. run ui.Main() from the first add? Initialize it with an empty thing first?
 	// fake out the OS toolkit by making a fake window. This is probably needed for macos & windows
 	// actually, this probably breaks the macos build
 	go guiMain()
-
-	// andlabs = make(map[int]*andlabsT)
-	pluginChan = make(chan widget.Action, 1)
-
-	log.Log(INFO, "Init() start channel reciever")
-	go catchActionChannel()
-	log.Log(INFO, "Init() END")
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/place.go b/andlabs/place.go
index 94a16b2..25672e7 100644
--- a/andlabs/place.go
+++ b/andlabs/place.go
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	// "os"
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
 // This routine is very specific to this toolkit
@@ -33,62 +36,78 @@ import (
 // -- (0,0) -- (1,0) -- (1,0) --
 // -- (0,1) -- (1,1) -- (1,1) --
 // -----------------------------
-func (p *node) place(n *node) bool {
-	log.Log(INFO, "place() START", n.WidgetType, n.progname)
 
-	if (p.tk == nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "p.tk == nil", p.progname, p.ParentId, p.WidgetType, p.tk)
-		log.Log(ERROR, "n = ", n.progname, n.ParentId, n.WidgetType, n.tk)
-		panic("p.tk == nil")
+func place(p *tree.Node, n *tree.Node) bool {
+	log.Warn("SPEEDY newplace() 1 START", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName(), n.GetLabel(), n.String())
+	log.Warn("SPEEDY newplace() n.State.Strings =", n.State.Strings)
+	log.Log(INFO, "place() 1 START", n.WidgetType, n.GetProgName(), n.GetLabel())
+	if ! ready(n) {
+		log.Warn("place() 1 START not ready()")
+		return false
+	}
+	log.Log(INFO, "place() 1 START ready()")
+	var tk, ptk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	ptk = p.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	log.Warn("SPEEDY newplace() 2 START", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName(), n.GetLabel())
+
+	if (ptk == nil) {
+		log.Log(ERROR, "ptk == nil", p.GetProgName(), p.ParentId, p.WidgetType, ptk)
+		log.Log(ERROR, "n = ", n.GetProgName(), n.ParentId, n.WidgetType, tk)
+		log.Warn("SPEEDY ptk == nil", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		log.Sleep(1)
+		panic("ptk == nil")
 	}
 
 	log.Log(INFO, "place() switch", p.WidgetType)
+	log.Warn("SPEEDY newplace() before switch", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
 	switch p.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Grid:
-		log.Log(INFO, "place() Grid try at Parent X,Y =", n.X, n.Y)
-		n.tk.gridX = n.AtW - 1
-		n.tk.gridY = n.AtH - 1
-		log.Log(INFO, "place() Grid try at gridX,gridY", n.tk.gridX, n.tk.gridY)
-		// at the very end, subtract 1 from X & Y since andlabs/ui starts counting at zero
-		p.tk.uiGrid.Append(n.tk.uiControl,
-			n.tk.gridX, n.tk.gridY, 1, 1,
+		tk.gridX = n.State.GridOffset.X - 1
+		tk.gridY = n.State.GridOffset.Y - 1
+		log.Warn("place() on Grid at gridX,gridY", tk.gridX, tk.gridY)
+		ptk.uiGrid.Append(tk.uiControl,
+			tk.gridX, tk.gridY, 1, 1,
 			false, ui.AlignFill, false, ui.AlignFill)
 		return true
 	case widget.Group:
-		if (p.tk.uiBox == nil) {
-			log.Log(WARN, "place() andlabs hack group to use add a box", n.progname, n.WidgetType)
-			p.tk.uiBox  = n.rawBox()
-			p.tk.uiGroup.SetChild(p.tk.uiBox)
+		if (ptk.uiBox == nil) {
+			log.Log(WARN, "place() andlabs hack group to use add a box", n.GetProgName(), n.WidgetType)
+			ptk.uiBox  = rawBox(n)
+			ptk.uiGroup.SetChild(ptk.uiBox)
 		}
-		p.tk.uiBox.Append(n.tk.uiControl, stretchy)
+		ptk.uiBox.Append(tk.uiControl, stretchy)
 		return true
 	case widget.Tab:
-		if (p.tk.uiTab == nil) {
-			log.Log(ERROR, "p.tk.uiTab == nil for n.WidgetId =", n.WidgetId, "p.tk =", p.tk)
-			panic("p.tk.uiTab == nil")
+		if (ptk.uiTab == nil) {
+			log.Log(ERROR, "ptk.uiTab == nil for n.WidgetId =", n.WidgetId, "ptk =", ptk)
+			panic("ptk.uiTab == nil")
 		}
-		if (n.tk.uiControl == nil) {
-			log.Log(ERROR, "n.tk.uiControl == nil for n.WidgetId =", n.WidgetId, "n.tk =", n.tk)
-			panic("n.tk.uiControl == nil")
+		if (tk.uiControl == nil) {
+			log.Log(ERROR, "tk.uiControl == nil for n.WidgetId =", n.WidgetId, "tk =", tk)
+			panic("tk.uiControl == nil")
 		}
 		log.Log(ERROR, "CHECK LOGIC ON THIS. APPENDING directly into a window without a tab")
-		// log.Log(ERROR, "THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ??????? trying to place() node=", n.WidgetId, n.progname, n.Text, n.WidgetType)
-		// log.Log(ERROR, "THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ??????? trying to place() on parent=", p.WidgetId, p.progname, p.Text, p.WidgetType)
-		// panic("n.tk.uiControl == nil")
-		p.tk.uiTab.Append(widget.GetString(n.value), n.tk.uiControl)
-		p.tk.boxC += 1
+		// log.Log(ERROR, "THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ??????? trying to place() node=", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName(), n.Text, n.WidgetType)
+		// log.Log(ERROR, "THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ??????? trying to place() on parent=", p.WidgetId, p.GetProgName(), p.Text, p.WidgetType)
+		// panic("tk.uiControl == nil")
+		ptk.uiTab.Append(widget.GetString(n.State.Value), tk.uiControl)
+		ptk.boxC += 1
 		return true
 	case widget.Box:
-		log.Log(INFO, "place() uiBox =", p.tk.uiBox)
-		log.Log(INFO, "place() uiControl =", n.tk.uiControl)
-		p.tk.uiBox.Append(n.tk.uiControl, stretchy)
-		p.tk.boxC += 1
+		log.Warn("SPEEDY Add Something to Box", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		log.Log(INFO, "place() uiBox =", ptk.uiBox)
+		log.Log(INFO, "place() uiControl =", tk.uiControl)
+		ptk.uiBox.Append(tk.uiControl, stretchy)
+		ptk.boxC += 1
 		return true
 	case widget.Window:
-		p.tk.uiWindow.SetChild(n.tk.uiControl)
+		log.Warn("SPEEDY Add Something to Window", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
+		ptk.uiWindow.SetChild(tk.uiControl)
 		return true
 	default:
 		log.Log(ERROR, "place() how? Parent =", p.WidgetId, p.WidgetType)
 	}
+	log.Warn("SPEEDY newplace() return", n.WidgetId, n.GetProgName())
 	return false
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/setText.go b/andlabs/setText.go
index 77beb5c..c5453db 100644
--- a/andlabs/setText.go
+++ b/andlabs/setText.go
@@ -3,15 +3,18 @@ package main
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-func (n *node) setText(a *widget.Action) {
+// func (n *node) setText(a *widget.Action) {
+func setText(n *tree.Node, a *widget.Action) {
 	name := widget.GetString(a.Value)
+	var tk *guiWidget
+	tk = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 
 	log.Log(CHANGE, "setText() START with text =", name)
-	t := n.tk
-	if (t == nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "setText error. tk == nil", n.progname, n.WidgetId)
+	if (tk == nil) {
+		log.Log(ERROR, "setText error. tk == nil", n.GetProgName(), n.WidgetId)
 		return
 	}
 	log.Log(CHANGE, "setText() Attempt on", n.WidgetType, "with", name)
@@ -19,38 +22,38 @@ func (n *node) setText(a *widget.Action) {
 	switch n.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Window:
 		log.Warn("setText() Attempt to set the title to", name)
-		t.uiWindow.SetTitle(name)
+		tk.uiWindow.SetTitle(name)
 	case widget.Tab:
 	case widget.Group:
-		t.uiGroup.SetTitle(name)
+		tk.uiGroup.SetTitle(name)
 	case widget.Checkbox:
-		t.uiCheckbox.SetText(name)
+		tk.uiCheckbox.SetText(name)
 	case widget.Textbox:
-		if (t.uiEntry != nil) {
-			t.uiEntry.SetText(name)
+		if (tk.uiEntry != nil) {
+			tk.uiEntry.SetText(name)
 		}
-		if (t.uiMultilineEntry != nil) {
-			t.uiMultilineEntry.SetText(name)
+		if (tk.uiMultilineEntry != nil) {
+			tk.uiMultilineEntry.SetText(name)
 		}
 	case widget.Label:
-		t.uiLabel.SetText(name)
+		tk.uiLabel.SetText(name)
 	case widget.Button:
-		t.uiButton.SetText(name)
+		tk.uiButton.SetText(name)
 	case widget.Slider:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "setText() on slider unknown", a.ActionType, "on checkbox", n.progname)
+		log.Log(ERROR, "setText() on slider unknown", a.ActionType, "on checkbox", n.GetProgName())
 	case widget.Spinner:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "setText() on spinner unknown", a.ActionType, "on checkbox", n.progname)
+		log.Log(ERROR, "setText() on spinner unknown", a.ActionType, "on checkbox", n.GetProgName())
 	case widget.Dropdown:
 		var orig int
 		var i int = -1
 		var s string
-		orig = t.uiCombobox.Selected()
+		orig = tk.uiCombobox.Selected()
 		log.Log(CHANGE, "try to set the Dropdown to", name, "from", orig)
 		// try to find the string
-		for i, s = range t.val {
+		for i, s = range tk.val {
 			log.Log(CHANGE, "i, s", i, s)
 			if (name == s) {
-				t.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
+				tk.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
 				log.Log(CHANGE, "setText() Dropdown worked.", name)
 				return
 			}
@@ -62,10 +65,10 @@ func (n *node) setText(a *widget.Action) {
 		}
 		// if the string was never set, then set the dropdown to the last thing added to the menu
 		if (orig == -1) {
-			t.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
+			tk.uiCombobox.SetSelected(i)
 		}
 	case widget.Combobox:
-		t.uiEditableCombobox.SetText(name)
+		tk.uiEditableCombobox.SetText(name)
 	default:
 		log.Log(ERROR, "plugin Send() Don't know how to setText on", n.WidgetType, "yet", a.ActionType)
 	}
diff --git a/andlabs/slider.go b/andlabs/slider.go
index 0da06f3..5ce393a 100644
--- a/andlabs/slider.go
+++ b/andlabs/slider.go
@@ -1,22 +1,29 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newSlider(n *node) {
+func newSlider(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
-	s := ui.NewSlider(n.X, n.Y)
+	var x, y int
+	x = n.State.Range.Low
+	y = n.State.Range.High
+
+	s := ui.NewSlider(x, y)
 	newt.uiSlider = s
 	newt.uiControl = s
 
 	s.OnChanged(func(spin *ui.Slider) {
-		n.value = newt.uiSlider.Value()
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		n.SetValue(newt.uiSlider.Value())
+		me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 	})
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/spinner.go b/andlabs/spinner.go
index 01d3b26..65bd7db 100644
--- a/andlabs/spinner.go
+++ b/andlabs/spinner.go
@@ -1,22 +1,25 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newSpinner(n *node) {
+func newSpinner(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
-	s := ui.NewSpinbox(n.X, n.Y)
+	s := ui.NewSpinbox(n.State.Range.Low,n.State.Range.High)
 	newt.uiSpinbox = s
 	newt.uiControl = s
 
 	s.OnChanged(func(s *ui.Spinbox) {
-		n.value = newt.uiSpinbox.Value()
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		n.SetValue(newt.uiSpinbox.Value())
+		me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 	})
 
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/structs.go b/andlabs/structs.go
index 87e88e1..e39cbe7 100644
--- a/andlabs/structs.go
+++ b/andlabs/structs.go
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 package main
 
-import "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
-import _ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+
+	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
+	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
+)
 
 // var andlabs map[int]*andlabsT
 // var callback func(int) bool
@@ -11,7 +15,9 @@ import _ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 var me config
 
 type config struct {
-	rootNode *node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+	rootNode *tree.Node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+	treeRoot *tree.Node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+	myTree *tree.TreeInfo
 }
 
 // stores the raw toolkit internals
diff --git a/andlabs/textbox.go b/andlabs/textbox.go
index 30671cd..3748a14 100644
--- a/andlabs/textbox.go
+++ b/andlabs/textbox.go
@@ -1,21 +1,24 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 )
 
-func (p *node) newTextbox(n *node) {
+func newTextbox(p, n *tree.Node) {
+	if notNew(n) { return }
 	newt := new(guiWidget)
 
-	if (n.X == 1) {
+	if (n.State.Range.Low == 1) {
 		e := ui.NewEntry()
 		newt.uiEntry = e
 		newt.uiControl = e
 
 		e.OnChanged(func(spin *ui.Entry) {
-			n.value = spin.Text()
-			n.doUserEvent()
+			n.SetValue(spin.Text())
+			me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 		})
 	} else {
 		e := ui.NewNonWrappingMultilineEntry()
@@ -23,10 +26,10 @@ func (p *node) newTextbox(n *node) {
 		newt.uiControl = e
 
 		e.OnChanged(func(spin *ui.MultilineEntry) {
-			n.value = spin.Text()
-			n.doUserEvent()
+			n.SetValue(spin.Text())
+			me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
 		})
 	}
-	n.tk = newt
-	p.place(n)
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 }
diff --git a/andlabs/tree.go b/andlabs/tree.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..400bee4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/andlabs/tree.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package main
+
+/*
+	This code should be common to all gui plugins
+
+	There are some helper functions that are probably going to be
+	the same everywhere. Mostly due to handling the binary tree structure
+	and the channel communication
+
+	For now, it's just a symlink to the 'master' version in
+	./toolkit/nocui/common.go
+*/
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
+//
+// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
+// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
+// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
+//
+// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
+func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
+	me.myTree.Callback(guiCallback)
+}
+
+func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
+	return me.myTree.PluginChannel()
+}
diff --git a/andlabs/widget.go b/andlabs/widget.go
index 414ca3d..d6d89ba 100644
--- a/andlabs/widget.go
+++ b/andlabs/widget.go
@@ -2,16 +2,16 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-// this is specific to the nocui toolkit
-func initWidget(n *node) *guiWidget {
+func initWidget(n *tree.Node) *guiWidget {
 	var w *guiWidget
 	w = new(guiWidget)
 
 	if n.WidgetType == widget.Root {
 		n.WidgetId = 0
-		me.rootNode = n
+		me.treeRoot = n
 		return w
 	}
 	return w
diff --git a/andlabs/window.go b/andlabs/window.go
index d52648e..d517f86 100644
--- a/andlabs/window.go
+++ b/andlabs/window.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
 func (t *guiWidget) MessageWindow(msg1 string, msg2 string) {
@@ -16,23 +17,24 @@ func (t *guiWidget) ErrorWindow(msg1 string, msg2 string) {
 	ui.MsgBoxError(t.uiWindow, msg1, msg2)
 }
 
-func newWindow(n *node) {
+func newWindow(p, n *tree.Node) {
 	var newt *guiWidget
 	newt = new(guiWidget)
 
 	// menubar bool is if the OS defined border on the window should be used
-	win := ui.NewWindow(n.progname, n.X, n.Y, menubar)
+	win := ui.NewWindow(n.GetProgName(), 640, 480,  menubar)
 	win.SetBorderless(canvas)
 	win.SetMargined(margin)
 	win.OnClosing(func(*ui.Window) bool {
-		n.show(false)
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		// show(n, false)
+		me.myTree.DoWindowCloseEvent(n)
 		return false
 	})
 	newt.uiWindow = win
 	newt.uiControl = win
 
-	n.tk = newt
+	n.TK = newt
+	place(p, n)
 	win.Show()
 	return
 }
diff --git a/common/addNode.go b/common/addNode.go
deleted file mode 100644
index be769fc..0000000
--- a/common/addNode.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-/*
-	These code should be common to all gui plugins
-
-	There are some helper functions that are probably going to be
-	the same everywhere. Mostly due to handling the binary tree structure
-	and the channel communication
-
-	For now, it's just a symlink to the 'master' version in
-	./toolkit/nocui/common.go
-*/
-
-import (
-	"reflect"
-	"strconv"
-
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
-)
-
-// this is in common.go, do not move it
-func addNode(a *widget.Action) *node {
-	n := new(node)
-	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
-	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
-	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
-
-	n.state = a.State
-
-	// copy the data from the action message
-	n.progname = a.ProgName
-	n.value = a.Value
-	n.direction = a.Direction
-	n.strings = a.Strings
-
-	// TODO: these need to be rethought
-	n.X = a.X
-	n.Y = a.Y
-	n.W = a.W
-	n.H = a.H
-	n.AtW = a.AtW
-	n.AtH = a.AtH
-
-	// store the internal toolkit information
-	n.tk = initWidget(n)
-	// n.tk = new(guiWidget)
-
-	if (a.WidgetType == widget.Root) {
-		log.Log(INFO, "addNode() Root")
-		return n
-	}
-
-	if (me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "addNode() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
-		return me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
-	}
-
-	// add this new widget on the binary tree
-	n.parent = me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
-	if n.parent != nil {
-		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
-		//w := n.tk
-		//w.parent = n.parent.tk
-		//w.parent.children = append(w.parent.children, w)
-	}
-	return n
-}
diff --git a/gocui/common.go b/gocui/common.go
index 35417a1..3c67133 120000..100644
--- a/gocui/common.go
+++ b/gocui/common.go
@@ -1 +1,218 @@
-../nocui/common.go
\ No newline at end of file
+package main
+
+/*
+	These code should be common to all gui plugins
+
+	There are some helper functions that are probably going to be
+	the same everywhere. Mostly due to handling the binary tree structure
+	and the channel communication
+
+	For now, it's just a symlink to the 'master' version in
+	./toolkit/nocui/common.go
+*/
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+// this is the channel we send user events like
+// mouse clicks or keyboard events back to the program
+var callback chan widget.Action
+
+// this is the channel we get requests to make widgets
+var pluginChan chan widget.Action
+
+type node struct {
+	parent	*node
+	children []*node
+
+	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
+	WidgetType	widget.WidgetType
+	ParentId	int	// parent ID
+
+	state	widget.State
+
+	// a reference name for programming and debuggign. Must be unique
+	progname   string
+
+	// the text used for button labesl, window titles, checkbox names, etc
+	label   string
+
+	// horizontal  means layout widgets like books on a bookshelf
+	// vertical    means layout widgets like books in a stack
+	// direction widget.Orientation
+	direction widget.Orientation
+
+	// This is how the values are passed back and forth
+	// values from things like checkboxes & dropdown's
+	value any
+
+	strings []string
+
+	// This is used for things like a slider(0,100)
+	X      int
+	Y      int
+
+	// This is for the grid size & widget position
+	W      int
+	H      int
+	AtW    int
+	AtH    int
+
+	vals []string // dropdown menu items
+
+	// horizontal bool `default:false`
+
+	hasTabs bool // does the window have tabs?
+	currentTab bool // the visible tab
+
+	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
+	// in the gtk plugin, it has gtk things like margin & border settings
+	// in the text console one, it has text console things like colors for menus & buttons
+	tk *guiWidget
+}
+
+// searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
+func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
+	if (n == nil) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if n.WidgetId == id {
+		return n
+	}
+
+	for _, child := range n.children {
+		newN := child.findWidgetId(id)
+		if (newN != nil) {
+			return newN
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
+	if (callback == nil) {
+		log.Log(ERROR, "doUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
+		return
+	}
+	var a widget.Action
+	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
+	a.Value = n.value
+	a.ActionType = widget.User
+	log.Log(INFO, "doUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
+	callback <- a
+	log.Log(INFO, "doUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
+	return
+}
+
+// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
+//
+// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
+// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
+// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
+//
+// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
+func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
+	callback = guiCallback
+}
+
+func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
+	return pluginChan
+}
+
+/*
+func convertString(val any) string {
+	switch v := val.(type) {
+	case bool:
+		n.B = val.(bool)
+	case string:
+		n.label = val.(string)
+		n.S = val.(string)
+	case int:
+		n.I = val.(int)
+	default:
+		log.Error(errors.New("Set() unknown type"), "v =", v)
+	}
+}
+*/
+
+/*
+// this is in common.go, do not move it
+func getString(A any) string {
+	if A == nil {
+		log.Warn("getString() got nil")
+		return ""
+	}
+	var k reflect.Kind
+	k = reflect.TypeOf(A).Kind()
+
+	switch k {
+	case reflect.Int:
+		var i int
+		i = A.(int)
+		return string(i)
+	case reflect.String:
+		return A.(string)
+	case reflect.Bool:
+		if A.(bool) == true {
+			return "true"
+		} else {
+			return "false"
+		}
+	default:
+		log.Warn("getString uknown kind", k, "value =", A)
+		return ""
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+*/
+
+// this is in common.go, do not move it
+func addNode(a *widget.Action) *node {
+	n := new(node)
+	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
+	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
+	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
+
+	n.state = a.State
+
+	// copy the data from the action message
+	n.progname = a.ProgName
+	n.value = a.Value
+	n.direction = a.Direction
+	n.strings = a.Strings
+
+	// TODO: these need to be rethought
+	n.X = a.X
+	n.Y = a.Y
+	n.W = a.W
+	n.H = a.H
+	n.AtW = a.AtW
+	n.AtH = a.AtH
+
+	// store the internal toolkit information
+	n.tk = initWidget(n)
+	// n.tk = new(guiWidget)
+
+	if (a.WidgetType == widget.Root) {
+		log.Log(INFO, "addNode() Root")
+		return n
+	}
+
+	if (me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
+		log.Log(ERROR, "addNode() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
+		return me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	}
+
+	// add this new widget on the binary tree
+	n.parent = me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
+	if n.parent != nil {
+		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
+		//w := n.tk
+		//w.parent = n.parent.tk
+		//w.parent.children = append(w.parent.children, w)
+	}
+	return n
+}
diff --git a/gocui/plugin.go b/gocui/plugin.go
index f1834a1..3a122e3 100644
--- a/gocui/plugin.go
+++ b/gocui/plugin.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func action(a *widget.Action) {
 		n.AddText(widget.GetString(a.Value))
 	case widget.Move:
 		log.Log(NOW, "attempt to move() =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType, a.ProgName)
-	case widget.CloseToolkit:
+	case widget.ToolkitClose:
 		log.Log(NOW, "attempting to close the plugin and release stdout and stderr")
 		standardExit()
 	case widget.Enable:
diff --git a/gocui/view.go b/gocui/view.go
index b88763c..912cf21 100644
--- a/gocui/view.go
+++ b/gocui/view.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"errors"
-	"strconv"
 	"bufio"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ func (n *node) showView() {
 
 	if (w.cuiName == "") {
 		log.Log(ERROR, "showView() w.cuiName was not set for widget", w)
-		w.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(n.WidgetId)
+		w.cuiName = string(n.WidgetId)
 	}
 
 	// if the gocui element doesn't exist, create it
diff --git a/gocui/widget.go b/gocui/widget.go
index fba66dd..e739993 100644
--- a/gocui/widget.go
+++ b/gocui/widget.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"strconv"
-
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
 )
@@ -15,7 +13,7 @@ func initWidget(n *node) *guiWidget {
 	w.frame = true
 
 	// set the name used by gocui to the id
-	w.cuiName = strconv.Itoa(n.WidgetId)
+	w.cuiName = string(n.WidgetId)
 
 	if n.WidgetType == widget.Root {
 		log.Log(INFO, "setupWidget() FOUND ROOT w.id =", n.WidgetId)
diff --git a/nocui/action.go b/nocui/action.go
index 892bd54..cf258c1 100644
--- a/nocui/action.go
+++ b/nocui/action.go
@@ -1,152 +1,87 @@
 package main
 
+/*
+	a simple function to handle widget actions
+
+	You can tie this into your toolkit here.
+*/
+
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	// "go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-func (n *node) show(b bool) {
-}
-
-func (n *node) enable(b bool) {
-}
-
-func (n *node) pad(at widget.ActionType) {
-	switch n.WidgetType {
-	case widget.Group:
-		switch at {
-		case widget.Margin:
-			// SetMargined(true)
-		case widget.Unmargin:
-			// SetMargined(false)
-		case widget.Pad:
-			// SetMargined(true)
-		case widget.Unpad:
-			// SetMargined(false)
-		}
-	case widget.Tab:
-	case widget.Window:
-	case widget.Grid:
-	case widget.Box:
-	case widget.Textbox:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: implement ActionType =", at)
-	default:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: implement pad() for", at)
-	}
-}
-
-func (n *node) move(newParent *node) {
-	p := n.parent
-
-	switch p.WidgetType {
-	case widget.Group:
-	case widget.Tab:
-		// tabSetMargined(tParent.uiTab, true)
-	case widget.Window:
-		// t.uiWindow.SetBorderless(false)
-	case widget.Grid:
-		// t.uiGrid.SetPadded(true)
-	case widget.Box:
-		log.Log(INFO, "TODO: move() where =", p.ParentId)
-		log.Log(INFO, "TODO: move() for widget =", n.WidgetId)
-	default:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: need to implement move() for type =", n.WidgetType)
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: need to implement move() for where =", p.ParentId)
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: need to implement move() for widget =", n.WidgetId)
-	}
-}
-
-func (n *node) Delete() {
-	p := n.parent
-	log.Log(NOW, "uiDelete()", n.WidgetId, "to", p.WidgetId)
-
-	switch p.WidgetType {
-	case widget.Group:
-		// tParent.uiGroup.SetMargined(true)
-	case widget.Tab:
-		// tabSetMargined(tParent.uiTab, true)
-	case widget.Window:
-		// t.uiWindow.SetBorderless(false)
-	case widget.Grid:
-		// t.uiGrid.SetPadded(true)
-	case widget.Box:
-		log.Log(NOW, "tWidget.boxC =", p.progname)
-		log.Log(NOW, "is there a tParent parent? =", p.parent)
-		// this didn't work:
-		// tWidget.uiControl.Disable()
-		// sleep(.8)
-		// tParent.uiBox.Append(tWidget.uiControl, stretchy)
-	default:
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: need to implement uiDelete() for widget =", n.WidgetId, n.WidgetType)
-		log.Log(ERROR, "TODO: need to implement uiDelete() for parent =", p.WidgetId, p.WidgetType)
-	}
-}
-
-func doAction(a *widget.Action) {
+func doAction(a widget.Action) {
 	log.Log(INFO, "doAction() START a.ActionType =", a.ActionType)
 	log.Log(INFO, "doAction() START a.ProgName =", a.ProgName)
 
-	if (a.ActionType == widget.InitToolkit) {
-		// TODO: make sure to only do this once
-		// go uiMain.Do(func() {
-		// 	ui.Main(demoUI)
-			// go catchActionChannel()
-		// })
-		// try doing this on toolkit load in init()
+	if (a.ActionType == widget.ToolkitInit) {
 		return
 	}
 
 	log.Log(INFO, "doAction() START a.WidgetId =", a.WidgetId, "a.ParentId =", a.ParentId)
 	switch a.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Root:
-		me.rootNode = addNode(a)
-		log.Log(INFO, "doAction() found rootNode")
+		me.treeRoot = me.myTree.AddNode(&a)
+		log.Log(INFO, "doAction() found treeRoot")
 		return
-	case widget.Flag:
-		// flag(&a)
+	}
+
+	switch a.ActionType {
+	case widget.Add:
+		me.myTree.AddNode(&a)
 		return
 	}
 
-	n := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	n := me.treeRoot.FindWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	if n == nil {
+		log.Warn("FindId() n == nil", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType)
+		log.Warn("FindId() n == nil", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType)
+		log.Warn("FindId() n == nil", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType)
+		log.Warn("Aaaaa!, return")
+		return
+	}
 
 	switch a.ActionType {
-	case widget.Add:
-		addNode(a)
 	case widget.Show:
-		n.show(true)
+		n.State.Visable = true
 	case widget.Hide:
-		n.show(false)
+		n.State.Visable = false
 	case widget.Enable:
-		n.enable(true)
+		n.State.Visable = true
 	case widget.Disable:
-		n.enable(false)
+		n.State.Visable = false
 	case widget.Get:
-		// n.setText(a.S)
+		log.Warn("value =", n.State.Value)
 	case widget.GetText:
-		switch a.WidgetType {
-		case widget.Textbox:
-			a.Value = n.value
-		}
+		log.Warn("value =", n.String())
 	case widget.Set:
-		// n.setText(a.S)
+		n.State.Value = a.State.Value
 	case widget.SetText:
-		// n.setText(a.S)
+		log.Warn("GOT TO SetText()", a.WidgetId)
+		log.Warn("GOT TO SetText()", a.WidgetId)
+		log.Warn("GOT TO SetText()", a.WidgetId)
+		log.Warn("GOT TO SetText()", a.WidgetId)
+		if n == nil {
+			log.Warn("HOT DIGGITY. n == nil")
+		}
+		n.State.Value = a.State.Value
 	case widget.AddText:
-		// n.setText(a.S)
+		n.State.Strings = append(a.State.Strings, widget.GetString(a.State.Value))
 	case widget.Margin:
-		n.pad(widget.Unmargin)
+		n.State.Pad = true
 	case widget.Unmargin:
-		n.pad(widget.Margin)
+		n.State.Pad = false
 	case widget.Pad:
-		n.pad(widget.Pad)
+		n.State.Pad = true
 	case widget.Unpad:
-		n.pad(widget.Unpad)
+		n.State.Pad = false
 	case widget.Delete:
-		n.Delete()
+		log.Warn("doAction() TODO: Delete()")
+		// n.Delete()
 	case widget.Move:
-		log.Log(INFO, "doAction() attempt to move() =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-		newParent := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
-		n.move(newParent)
+		log.Warn("doAction() TODO: Move()")
 	default:
 		log.Log(ERROR, "doAction() Unknown =", a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
 	}
diff --git a/nocui/common.go b/nocui/common.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b79ca0..0000000
--- a/nocui/common.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,218 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-/*
-	These code should be common to all gui plugins
-
-	There are some helper functions that are probably going to be
-	the same everywhere. Mostly due to handling the binary tree structure
-	and the channel communication
-
-	For now, it's just a symlink to the 'master' version in
-	./toolkit/nocui/common.go
-*/
-
-import (
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
-)
-
-// this is the channel we send user events like
-// mouse clicks or keyboard events back to the program
-var callback chan widget.Action
-
-// this is the channel we get requests to make widgets
-var pluginChan chan widget.Action
-
-type node struct {
-	parent	*node
-	children []*node
-
-	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
-	WidgetType	widget.WidgetType
-	ParentId	int	// parent ID
-
-	state	widget.State
-
-	// a reference name for programming and debuggign. Must be unique
-	progname   string
-
-	// the text used for button labesl, window titles, checkbox names, etc
-	label   string
-
-	// horizontal  means layout widgets like books on a bookshelf
-	// vertical    means layout widgets like books in a stack
-	// direction widget.Orientation
-	direction widget.Orientation
-
-	// This is how the values are passed back and forth
-	// values from things like checkboxes & dropdown's
-	value any
-
-	strings []string
-
-	// This is used for things like a slider(0,100)
-	X      int
-	Y      int
-
-	// This is for the grid size & widget position
-	W      int
-	H      int
-	AtW    int
-	AtH    int
-
-	vals []string // dropdown menu items
-
-	// horizontal bool `default:false`
-
-	hasTabs bool // does the window have tabs?
-	currentTab bool // the visible tab
-
-	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
-	// in the gtk plugin, it has gtk things like margin & border settings
-	// in the text console one, it has text console things like colors for menus & buttons
-	tk *guiWidget
-}
-
-// searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
-func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if n.WidgetId == id {
-		return n
-	}
-
-	for _, child := range n.children {
-		newN := child.findWidgetId(id)
-		if (newN != nil) {
-			return newN
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
-	if (callback == nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "doUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
-		return
-	}
-	var a widget.Action
-	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
-	a.Value = n.value
-	a.ActionType = widget.User
-	log.Log(INFO, "doUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
-	callback <- a
-	log.Log(INFO, "doUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
-	return
-}
-
-// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
-//
-// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
-// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
-// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
-//
-// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
-func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
-	callback = guiCallback
-}
-
-func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
-	return pluginChan
-}
-
-/*
-func convertString(val any) string {
-	switch v := val.(type) {
-	case bool:
-		n.B = val.(bool)
-	case string:
-		n.label = val.(string)
-		n.S = val.(string)
-	case int:
-		n.I = val.(int)
-	default:
-		log.Error(errors.New("Set() unknown type"), "v =", v)
-	}
-}
-*/
-
-/*
-// this is in common.go, do not move it
-func getString(A any) string {
-	if A == nil {
-		log.Warn("getString() got nil")
-		return ""
-	}
-	var k reflect.Kind
-	k = reflect.TypeOf(A).Kind()
-
-	switch k {
-	case reflect.Int:
-		var i int
-		i = A.(int)
-		return strconv.Itoa(i)
-	case reflect.String:
-		return A.(string)
-	case reflect.Bool:
-		if A.(bool) == true {
-			return "true"
-		} else {
-			return "false"
-		}
-	default:
-		log.Warn("getString uknown kind", k, "value =", A)
-		return ""
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-*/
-
-// this is in common.go, do not move it
-func addNode(a *widget.Action) *node {
-	n := new(node)
-	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
-	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
-	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
-
-	n.state = a.State
-
-	// copy the data from the action message
-	n.progname = a.ProgName
-	n.value = a.Value
-	n.direction = a.Direction
-	n.strings = a.Strings
-
-	// TODO: these need to be rethought
-	n.X = a.X
-	n.Y = a.Y
-	n.W = a.W
-	n.H = a.H
-	n.AtW = a.AtW
-	n.AtH = a.AtH
-
-	// store the internal toolkit information
-	n.tk = initWidget(n)
-	// n.tk = new(guiWidget)
-
-	if (a.WidgetType == widget.Root) {
-		log.Log(INFO, "addNode() Root")
-		return n
-	}
-
-	if (me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "addNode() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
-		return me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
-	}
-
-	// add this new widget on the binary tree
-	n.parent = me.rootNode.findWidgetId(a.ParentId)
-	if n.parent != nil {
-		n.parent.children = append(n.parent.children, n)
-		//w := n.tk
-		//w.parent = n.parent.tk
-		//w.parent.children = append(w.parent.children, w)
-	}
-	return n
-}
diff --git a/nocui/event.go b/nocui/event.go
index 97f2aed..9bbafdb 100644
--- a/nocui/event.go
+++ b/nocui/event.go
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 package main
 
+/*
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
-func (n *node) doWidgetClick() {
+func doWidgetClick(n *tree.Node) {
 	switch n.WidgetType {
 	case widget.Root:
 		// THIS IS THE BEGINING OF THE LAYOUT
@@ -17,32 +19,33 @@ func (n *node) doWidgetClick() {
 		// rootNode.dumpTree(true)
 	case widget.Window:
 		// setCurrentWindow(w)
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		// n.doUserEvent()
 	case widget.Tab:
 		// setCurrentTab(w)
 	case widget.Group:
 		// n.placeWidgets()
 		// n.toggleTree()
 	case widget.Checkbox:
-		if widget.GetBool(n.value) {
+		if n.Bool() {
 			// n.setCheckbox(false)
 		} else {
 			// n.setCheckbox(true)
 		}
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		// n.doUserEvent()
 	case widget.Grid:
 		// rootNode.hideWidgets()
 		// n.placeGrid()
 		// n.showWidgets()
 	case widget.Box:
 		// n.showWidgetPlacement(logNow, "drawTree()")
-		if widget.GetBool(n.value) {
-			log.Log(NOW, "BOX IS HORIZONTAL", n.progname)
+		if n.Bool() {
+			log.Log(NOW, "BOX IS HORIZONTAL", n.GetProgName())
 		} else {
-			log.Log(NOW, "BOX IS VERTICAL", n.progname)
+			log.Log(NOW, "BOX IS VERTICAL", n.GetProgName())
 		}
 	case widget.Button:
-		n.doUserEvent()
+		// n.doUserEvent()
 	default:
 	}
 }
+*/
diff --git a/nocui/go.mod b/nocui/go.mod
index ec42260..e802e10 100644
--- a/nocui/go.mod
+++ b/nocui/go.mod
@@ -1,10 +1,3 @@
 module go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/nocui
 
 go 1.21.4
-
-require (
-	go.wit.com/gui/widget v1.1.3
-	go.wit.com/log v0.5.4
-)
-
-require go.wit.com/dev/davecgh/spew v1.1.4 // indirect
diff --git a/nocui/go.sum b/nocui/go.sum
deleted file mode 100644
index 3af9a6c..0000000
--- a/nocui/go.sum
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-go.wit.com/dev/davecgh/spew v1.1.3 h1:hqnB5qsPgC2cLZaJXqQJspQ5n/Ugry9kyL3tLk0hVzQ=
-go.wit.com/dev/davecgh/spew v1.1.3/go.mod h1:sihvWmnQ/09FWplnEmozt90CCVqBtGuPXM811tgfhFA=
-go.wit.com/dev/davecgh/spew v1.1.4 h1:C9hj/rjlUpdK+E6aroyLjCbS5MFcyNUOuP1ICLWdNek=
-go.wit.com/dev/davecgh/spew v1.1.4/go.mod h1:sihvWmnQ/09FWplnEmozt90CCVqBtGuPXM811tgfhFA=
-go.wit.com/gui/widget v1.1.3 h1:GvLzGSOF9tfmoh6HNbFdN+NSlBo2qeS/Ba2TnQQ1A1U=
-go.wit.com/gui/widget v1.1.3/go.mod h1:A6/FaiFQtAHTjgo7c4FrokXe6bXX1Cowo35b2Lgi31E=
-go.wit.com/log v0.5.3 h1:/zHkniOPusPEuX1R401rMny9uwSO/nSU/QOMx6qoEnE=
-go.wit.com/log v0.5.3/go.mod h1:LzIzVxc2xJQxWQBtV9VbV605P4TOxmYDCl+BZF38yGE=
-go.wit.com/log v0.5.4 h1:vijLRPTUgChb8J5tx/7Uma/lGTUxeSXosFbheAmL914=
-go.wit.com/log v0.5.4/go.mod h1:BaJBfHFqcJSJLXGQ9RHi3XVhPgsStxSMZRlaRxW4kAo=
diff --git a/nocui/main.go b/nocui/main.go
index f6cfb3b..ebf3fae 100644
--- a/nocui/main.go
+++ b/nocui/main.go
@@ -1,55 +1,24 @@
 package main
 
-import (
-	"sync"
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
-)
-
-var muAction sync.Mutex
-
-func catchActionChannel() {
-	log.Log(NOW, "catchActionChannel() START")
-	for {
-		log.Log(NOW, "catchActionChannel() for loop")
-	    	select {
-		case a := <-pluginChan:
-			log.Log(NOW, "catchActionChannel() SELECT widget id =", a.WidgetId, a.ProgName)
-			log.Log(NOW, "catchActionChannel() STUFF", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-			muAction.Lock()
-			doAction(&a)
-			muAction.Unlock()
-			log.Log(NOW, "catchActionChannel() STUFF END", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 /*
-// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
-//
-// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
-// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
-// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
-//
-// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
-func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
-	callback = guiCallback
-}
+	This is reference code for toolkit developers
 
-func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
-	return pluginChan
-}
+	The 'nocui' is a bare minimum toolkit. It's all you need
+	to interact with the GUI
 */
 
-// This is important. This sets the defaults for the gui. Without this, there isn't correct padding, etc
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+)
+
 func init() {
 	log.Log(INFO, "Init()")
 
-	// andlabs = make(map[int]*andlabsT)
-	pluginChan = make(chan widget.Action, 1)
+	me.myTree = tree.New()
+	me.myTree.PluginName = "nocui"
+	me.myTree.ActionFromChannel = doAction
 
-	log.Log(NOW, "Init() start channel reciever")
-	go catchActionChannel()
 	go simpleStdin()
-	log.Log(NOW, "Init() END")
+	log.Log(INFO, "Init() END")
 }
diff --git a/nocui/stdin.go b/nocui/stdin.go
index f7469c6..f003ee4 100644
--- a/nocui/stdin.go
+++ b/nocui/stdin.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"fmt"
 	"bufio"
+	"runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 	"strconv"
 
@@ -12,6 +13,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 func simpleStdin() {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			log.Warn("nocui YAHOOOO Recovered in simpleStdin()", r)
+			log.Println("Recovered from panic:", r)
+			log.Println("Stack trace:")
+			debug.PrintStack()
+			me.myTree.DoToolkitPanic()
+		}
+	}()
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
 	for scanner.Scan() {
 		s := scanner.Text()
@@ -19,63 +29,46 @@ func simpleStdin() {
 		switch s {
 		case "l":
 			log.Log(NOW, "list widgets")
-			me.rootNode.listWidgets()
+			me.treeRoot.ListWidgets()
 		case "b":
 			log.Log(NOW, "show buttons")
-			me.rootNode.showButtons()
+			me.treeRoot.ShowButtons()
+		case "g":
+			me.myTree.DoToolkitLoad("gocui")
+		case "a":
+			me.myTree.DoToolkitLoad("andlabs")
 		case "d":
-			var a widget.Action
-			a.ActionType = widget.EnableDebug
-			callback <- a
+			me.myTree.DoEnableDebugger()
 		case "":
 			fmt.Println("")
 			fmt.Println("Enter:")
 			fmt.Println("'l': list all widgets")
 			fmt.Println("'b': for buttons")
+			fmt.Println("'g': load gocui plugin")
+			fmt.Println("'a': load andlabs plugin")
 			fmt.Println("'d': enable debugging")
 		default:
 			i, _ := strconv.Atoi(s)
 			log.Log(NOW, "got input:", i)
-			n := me.rootNode.findWidgetId(i)
+			n := me.treeRoot.FindWidgetId(i)
 			if (n != nil) {
-				n.dumpWidget("found node")
-				n.doUserEvent()
+				n.DumpWidget("found node")
+				for i, s := range n.State.Strings {
+					log.Warn("n.State.Strings =", i, s)
+				}
+				switch n.WidgetType {
+				case widget.Root:
+					log.Warn("this is the root widget")
+				case widget.Dropdown:
+					log.Warn("print out dropdown values here")
+				case widget.Button:
+					me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
+				case widget.Checkbox:
+					me.myTree.DoUserEvent(n)
+				default:
+					log.Warn("you haven't defined an event for", n.WidgetType)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-func (n *node) showButtons() {
-	if n.WidgetType == widget.Button {
-		n.dumpWidget("Button:")
-	}
-
-	for _, child := range n.children {
-		child.showButtons()
-	}
-}
-
-func (n *node) dumpWidget(pad string) {
-	log.Log(NOW, "node:", pad, n.WidgetId, ",", n.WidgetType, ",", n.progname)
-}
-
-var depth int = 0
-
-func (n *node) listWidgets() {
-	if (n == nil) {
-		return
-	}
-
-	var pad string
-	for i := 0; i < depth; i++ {
-		pad = pad + "    "
-	}
-	n.dumpWidget(pad)
-
-	for _, child := range n.children {
-		depth += 1
-		child.listWidgets()
-		depth -= 1
-	}
-	return
-}
diff --git a/nocui/structs.go b/nocui/structs.go
index 888bcb5..c8a7cb4 100644
--- a/nocui/structs.go
+++ b/nocui/structs.go
@@ -1,17 +1,22 @@
 package main
 
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/toolkits/tree"
+)
+
 // stores the raw toolkit internals
 type guiWidget struct {
 	Width  int
 	Height int
 
 	c int
-	val map[int]string
+	val map[string]int
 }
 
 // It's probably a terrible idea to call this 'me'
 var me config
 
 type config struct {
-	rootNode *node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+	treeRoot *tree.Node // the base of the binary tree. it should have id == 0
+	myTree *tree.TreeInfo
 }
diff --git a/nocui/tree.go b/nocui/tree.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..784e923
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nocui/tree.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package main
+
+/*
+	This is reference code for toolkit developers
+*/
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
+//
+// You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
+// other goroutines. This is due to the nature of how
+// Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
+//
+// this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
+func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
+	me.myTree.Callback(guiCallback)
+}
+
+func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
+	return me.myTree.PluginChannel()
+}
diff --git a/nocui/widget.go b/nocui/widget.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 6e50705..0000000
--- a/nocui/widget.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"go.wit.com/log"
-	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
-)
-
-// this is specific to the nocui toolkit
-func initWidget(n *node) *guiWidget {
-	var w *guiWidget
-	w = new(guiWidget)
-	// Set(w, "default")
-
-	if n.WidgetType == widget.Root {
-		log.Log(INFO, "setupWidget() FOUND ROOT w.id =", n.WidgetId)
-		n.WidgetId = 0
-		me.rootNode = n
-		return w
-	}
-
-	if (n.WidgetType == widget.Box) {
-		if (n.direction == widget.Horizontal) {
-			// n.horizontal = true
-		} else {
-			// n.horizontal = false
-		}
-	}
-
-	return w
-}
diff --git a/tree/addNode.go b/tree/addNode.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c0a789
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tree/addNode.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package tree
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+// this is in common.go, do not move it
+func (me *TreeInfo) AddNode(a *widget.Action) *Node {
+	n := new(Node)
+	n.WidgetType = a.WidgetType
+	n.WidgetId = a.WidgetId
+	n.ParentId = a.ParentId
+
+	n.State = a.State
+	n.Strings = make(map[string]int)
+
+	if (a.WidgetType == widget.Root) {
+		log.Info("AddNode() Root")
+		n.Parent = n
+		me.treeRoot = n
+		return n
+	}
+
+	if (me.treeRoot.FindWidgetId(a.WidgetId) != nil) {
+		log.Warn("AddNode() WidgetId already exists", a.WidgetId)
+		log.Warn("probably this is a Show() / Hide() issue")
+		log.Warn("TODO: figure out what to do here")
+		return me.treeRoot.FindWidgetId(a.WidgetId)
+	}
+
+	// add this new widget on the binary tree
+	p := me.treeRoot.FindWidgetId(a.ParentId)
+	n.Parent = p
+	if n.Parent == nil {
+		log.Error(errors.New("tree.AddNode() ERROR n.Parent == nil"), a.WidgetId, a.ParentId, a.ActionType)
+		log.Warn("AddNode() ERROR n.Parent == nil", a.WidgetId, a.ParentId, a.ActionType)
+		log.Warn("AddNode() ERROR n.Parent == nil", a.WidgetId, a.ParentId, a.WidgetType)
+		return n
+	}
+	log.Warn("AddNode() Adding to parent =", p.ParentId, p.WidgetType, p.GetProgName())
+	log.Warn("AddNode() Adding     child =", n.ParentId, n.WidgetType, n.GetProgName())
+	p.children = append(p.children, n)
+	return n
+}
diff --git a/tree/common.go b/tree/common.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24992de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tree/common.go
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package tree
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+func (n *Node) GetProgName() string {
+	return n.State.ProgName
+}
+
+func (n *Node) GetValue() any {
+	return n.State.Value
+}
+
+func (n *Node) Bool() bool {
+	return widget.GetBool(n.State.Value)
+}
+
+func (n *Node) String() string {
+	return widget.GetString(n.State.Value)
+}
+
+/* avoid this function name as confusing
+func (n *Node) GetText() string {
+	return widget.GetString(n.State.Value)
+}
+*/
+
+func (n *Node) SetValue(a any) {
+	n.State.Value = a
+}
+
+func (n *Node) GetLabel() string {
+	return n.State.Label
+}
diff --git a/tree/debug.go b/tree/debug.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c79f35b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tree/debug.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package tree
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+func (n *Node) ShowButtons() {
+	if n.WidgetType == widget.Button {
+		n.DumpWidget("Button:")
+	}
+
+	for _, child := range n.children {
+		child.ShowButtons()
+	}
+}
+
+func (n *Node) DumpWidget(pad string) {
+	log.Warn("node:", pad, n.WidgetId, ",", n.WidgetType, ",", n.GetProgName())
+}
+
+var depth int = 0
+
+func (n *Node) ListWidgets() {
+	if (n == nil) {
+		log.Warn("ERRRORRRR: n == nil in ListWidgets()")
+		log.Warn("ERRRORRRR: n == nil in ListWidgets()")
+		log.Warn("ERRRORRRR: n == nil in ListWidgets()")
+		return
+	}
+
+	var pad string
+	for i := 0; i < depth; i++ {
+		pad = pad + "    "
+	}
+	n.DumpWidget(pad)
+
+	for _, child := range n.children {
+		depth += 1
+		child.ListWidgets()
+		depth -= 1
+	}
+	return
+}
diff --git a/tree/event.go b/tree/event.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee74138
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tree/event.go
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package tree
+
+/*
+	These code should be common to all gui plugins
+
+	There are some helper functions that are probably going to be
+	the same everywhere. Mostly due to handling the binary tree structure
+	and the channel communication
+
+	For now, it's just a symlink to the 'master' version in
+	./toolkit/nocui/common.go
+*/
+
+import (
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+func (me *TreeInfo) DoEnableDebugger() {
+	if (me.callback == nil) {
+		log.Warn("DoUserEvent() toolkit panic() callback == nil")
+		return
+	}
+	var a widget.Action
+	a.ActionType = widget.EnableDebug
+	a.ProgName = me.PluginName
+	me.callback <- a
+	return
+}
+
+func (me *TreeInfo) DoToolkitLoad(s string) {
+	if (me.callback == nil) {
+		log.Warn("DoUserEvent() toolkit load callback == nil")
+		return
+	}
+	var a widget.Action
+	a.ActionType = widget.ToolkitLoad
+	a.ProgName = me.PluginName
+	a.Value = s
+	log.Warn("DoUserEvent() START: toolkit load", s)
+	me.callback <- a
+	log.Warn("DoUserEvent() END:   toolkit load", s)
+	return
+}
+
+func (me *TreeInfo) DoToolkitPanic() {
+	if (me.callback == nil) {
+		log.Warn("DoUserEvent() toolkit panic() callback == nil")
+		return
+	}
+	var a widget.Action
+	a.ActionType = widget.ToolkitPanic
+	a.ProgName = me.PluginName
+	log.Info("DoUserEvent() START: toolkit panic()")
+	me.callback <- a
+	log.Info("DoUserEvent() END:   toolkit panic()")
+	return
+}
+
+func (me *TreeInfo) DoWindowCloseEvent(n *Node) {
+	if (me.callback == nil) {
+		log.Warn("DoUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
+		return
+	}
+	var a widget.Action
+	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
+	a.ActionType = widget.CloseWindow
+	log.Info("DoUserEvent() START: user closed the window", n.GetProgName())
+	me.callback <- a
+	log.Info("DoUserEvent() END:   user closed the window", n.GetProgName())
+	return
+}
+
+// Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
+func (me *TreeInfo) DoUserEvent(n *Node) {
+	if (me.callback == nil) {
+		log.Warn("DoUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
+		return
+	}
+	var a widget.Action
+	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
+	a.Value = n.State.Value
+	a.ActionType = widget.User
+	log.Info("DoUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
+	me.callback <- a
+	log.Info("DoUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
+	return
+}
diff --git a/tree/init.go b/tree/init.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdbd62a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tree/init.go
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package tree
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+	"errors"
+
+	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
+)
+
+var muAction sync.Mutex
+
+func (me *TreeInfo) toolkit(a widget.Action) {
+	if me.ActionFromChannel == nil {
+		log.Error(errors.New("toolkit ActionFromChannel == nil"), a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
+		return
+	}
+	me.ActionFromChannel(a)
+}
+
+func (me *TreeInfo) catchActionChannel() {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			log.Warn("nocui YAHOOOO Recovered in simpleStdin()", r)
+			me.DoToolkitPanic()
+			panic(-1)
+		}
+	}()
+	log.Info("catchActionChannel() START")
+	for {
+		log.Info("catchActionChannel() for loop")
+	    	select {
+		case a := <-me.pluginChan:
+			log.Info("catchActionChannel() SELECT widget id =", a.WidgetId, a.ProgName)
+			log.Warn("catchActionChannel() STUFF", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
+			if a.WidgetType == widget.Dropdown {
+				log.Warn("Found dropdown", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
+				for i, s := range a.State.Strings {
+					log.Warn("a.State.Strings =", i, s)
+				}
+			}
+			muAction.Lock()
+			me.toolkit(a)
+			muAction.Unlock()
+			log.Info("catchActionChannel() STUFF END", a.WidgetId, a.ActionType, a.WidgetType)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func New() *TreeInfo {
+	me := new(TreeInfo)
+	me.pluginChan = make(chan widget.Action, 1)
+
+	log.Info("Init() start channel reciever")
+	go me.catchActionChannel()
+	log.Info("Init() END")
+	return me
+}
diff --git a/common/plugin.go b/tree/plugin.go
index bfc9a68..d7468e4 100644
--- a/common/plugin.go
+++ b/tree/plugin.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package main
+package tree
 
 /*
 	These code should be common to all gui plugins
@@ -12,15 +12,11 @@ package main
 */
 
 import (
-	"reflect"
-	"strconv"
-
-	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
 )
 
 // searches the binary tree for a WidgetId
-func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
+func (n *Node) FindWidgetId(id int) *Node {
 	if (n == nil) {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -30,7 +26,7 @@ func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
 	}
 
 	for _, child := range n.children {
-		newN := child.findWidgetId(id)
+		newN := child.FindWidgetId(id)
 		if (newN != nil) {
 			return newN
 		}
@@ -38,21 +34,6 @@ func (n *node) findWidgetId(id int) *node {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
-	if (callback == nil) {
-		log.Log(ERROR, "doUserEvent() callback == nil", n.WidgetId)
-		return
-	}
-	var a widget.Action
-	a.WidgetId = n.WidgetId
-	a.Value = n.value
-	a.ActionType = widget.User
-	log.Log(INFO, "doUserEvent() START: send a user event to the callback channel")
-	callback <- a
-	log.Log(INFO, "doUserEvent() END:   sent a user event to the callback channel")
-	return
-}
-
 // Other goroutines must use this to access the GUI
 //
 // You can not acess / process the GUI thread directly from
@@ -60,10 +41,10 @@ func (n *node) doUserEvent() {
 // Linux, MacOS and Windows work (they all work differently. suprise. surprise.)
 //
 // this sets the channel to send user events back from the plugin
-func Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
-	callback = guiCallback
+func (me *TreeInfo) Callback(guiCallback chan widget.Action) {
+	me.callback = guiCallback
 }
 
-func PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
-	return pluginChan
+func (me *TreeInfo) PluginChannel() chan widget.Action {
+	return me.pluginChan
 }
diff --git a/common/structs.go b/tree/structs.go
index 32eed8a..e998b6f 100644
--- a/common/structs.go
+++ b/tree/structs.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package main
+package tree
 
 /*
 	These code should be common to all gui plugins
@@ -12,23 +12,29 @@ package main
 */
 
 import (
-	"reflect"
-	"strconv"
-
-	"go.wit.com/log"
+	// "go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/gui/widget"
 )
 
-// this is the channel we send user events like
-// mouse clicks or keyboard events back to the program
-var callback chan widget.Action
+// var me *TreeInfo
+
+type TreeInfo struct { 
+	// this is the channel we send user events like
+	// mouse clicks or keyboard events back to the program
+	callback chan widget.Action
 
-// this is the channel we get requests to make widgets
-var pluginChan chan widget.Action
+	// this is the channel we get requests to make widgets
+	pluginChan chan widget.Action
+
+	treeRoot *Node
+	NodeI interface {}
+	ActionFromChannel func (widget.Action) ()
+	PluginName string
+}
 
 type Node struct {
-	parent	*node
-	children []*node
+	Parent	*Node
+	children []*Node
 
 	WidgetId	int	// widget ID
 	WidgetType	widget.WidgetType
@@ -36,6 +42,8 @@ type Node struct {
 
 	State	widget.State
 
+	Strings map[string]int
+
 	// the internal plugin toolkit structure
 	// in the gtk plugin, it has gtk things like margin & border settings
 	// in the text console one, it has text console things like colors for menus & buttons