diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour.bindings b/gtk2_ardour/ardour.bindings
index 86f50e139f..bf5df40e9e 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour.bindings
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour.bindings
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/EditSelectRegionOptions" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/crop" "c")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/redirectmenu/newsend" "")
+; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/ToggleGeneric MIDISurfaceSubMenu" "")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/MeterFalloff" "")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/RegionList/rlRemove" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Transport/GotoStart" "Home")
@@ -276,6 +277,7 @@
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/Subframes80" "")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/options/FileHeaderFormatCAF" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Common/ToggleLocations" "<Alt>l")
+; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/ToggleGeneric MIDISurface" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/editor-delete" "Delete")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/JACK/JACKLatency256" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/select-all-between-cursors" "u")
@@ -298,6 +300,7 @@
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Snap/snap-to-region-sync" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/edit-cursor-to-previous-region-sync" "apostrophe")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/redirectmenu/clear" "")
+; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/ToggleGeneric MIDISurfaceFeedback" "")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/PullupPlus4Minus1" "")
 ; (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/JACK/JACKLatency512" "")
 (gtk_accel_path "<Actions>/Editor/edit-cursor-to-next-region-end" "<Control>bracketright")
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/diskstream.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/diskstream.h
index 3f30cd9f0e..c56c411a82 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/diskstream.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/diskstream.h
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ class IO;
 	virtual float playback_buffer_load() const = 0;
 	virtual float capture_buffer_load() const = 0;
 
-	void set_flag (Flag f)   { _flags |= f; }
-	void unset_flag (Flag f) { _flags &= ~f; }
+	void set_flag (Flag f)   { _flags = Flag (_flags | f); }
+	void unset_flag (Flag f) { _flags = Flag (_flags & ~f); }
 
 	AlignStyle alignment_style() const { return _alignment_style; }
 	void       set_align_style (AlignStyle);
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class IO;
 	sigc::connection plmod_connection;
 	sigc::connection plgone_connection;
 	
-	unsigned char _flags;
+	Flag _flags;
 };
 
 }; /* namespace ARDOUR */
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/location.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/location.h
index 94f70bb4e8..b0a7d11ef2 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/location.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/location.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class Location : public PBD::StatefulDestructible
 	Location () {
 		_start = 0;
 		_end = 0;
-		_flags = 0;	
+		_flags = Flags (0);
 	}
 
 	Location (const Location& other);
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class Location : public PBD::StatefulDestructible
 	string        _name;
 	nframes_t     _start;
 	nframes_t     _end;
-	uint32_t _flags;
+	Flags         _flags;
 
 	void set_mark (bool yn);
 	bool set_flag_internal (bool yn, Flags flag);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/redirect.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/redirect.h
index 847b9b8c13..83b389d72a 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/redirect.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/redirect.h
@@ -111,8 +111,6 @@ class Redirect : public IO
 	virtual void transport_stopped (nframes_t frame) {};
 	
   protected:
-	void set_placement (const string&, void *src);
-
 	/* children may use this stuff as they see fit */
 
 	map<uint32_t,AutomationList*> parameter_automation;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/route.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/route.h
index 12ef57858b..2067c31b9c 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/route.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/route.h
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class Route : public IO
 	void curve_reallocate ();
 
   protected:
-	unsigned char _flags;
+	Flag _flags;
 
 	/* tight cache-line access here is more important than sheer speed of
 	   access.
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/route_group.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/route_group.h
index e9fad1aa2b..d87d3fa3a4 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/route_group.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/route_group.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class RouteGroup : public Stateful, public sigc::trackable {
     Session& _session;
     list<Route *> routes;
     string _name;
-    uint32_t _flags;
+    Flag _flags;
 
     void remove_when_going_away (Route*);
 };
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
index 0167036667..2babfd6bd7 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ void elapsed_time_to_str (char *buf, uint32_t seconds);
 Glib::ustring legalize_for_path (Glib::ustring str);
 std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream& o, const ARDOUR::BBT_Time& bbt);
 XMLNode* find_named_node (const XMLNode& node, std::string name);
-std::string placement_as_string (ARDOUR::Placement);
 
 static inline float f_max(float x, float a) {
 	x -= a;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audio_diskstream.cc b/libs/ardour/audio_diskstream.cc
index 4ff810df1d..66b34956fe 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audio_diskstream.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audio_diskstream.cc
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include <glibmm/thread.h>
 #include <pbd/xml++.h>
 #include <pbd/memento_command.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <ardour/ardour.h>
 #include <ardour/audioengine.h>
@@ -1760,8 +1761,7 @@ AudioDiskstream::get_state ()
 	char buf[64] = "";
 	LocaleGuard lg (X_("POSIX"));
 
-	snprintf (buf, sizeof(buf), "0x%x", _flags);
-	node->add_property ("flags", buf);
+	node->add_property ("flags", enum_2_string (_flags));
 
 	snprintf (buf, sizeof(buf), "%zd", channels.size());
 	node->add_property ("channels", buf);
@@ -1848,7 +1848,7 @@ AudioDiskstream::set_state (const XMLNode& node)
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property ("flags")) != 0) {
-		_flags = strtol (prop->value().c_str(), 0, 0);
+		_flags = Flag (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _flags));
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property ("channels")) != 0) {
@@ -2258,10 +2258,10 @@ AudioDiskstream::set_destructive (bool yn)
 			if (!can_become_destructive (bounce_ignored)) {
 				return -1;
 			}
-			_flags |= Destructive;
+			_flags = Flag (_flags | Destructive);
 			use_destructive_playlist ();
 		} else {
-			_flags &= ~Destructive;
+			_flags = Flag (_flags & ~Destructive);
 			reset_write_sources (true, true);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audio_track.cc b/libs/ardour/audio_track.cc
index 33bb478a1c..e7b1368fa4 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audio_track.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audio_track.cc
@@ -17,11 +17,14 @@
 
     $Id$
 */
-#include <pbd/error.h>
+
 #include <sigc++/retype.h>
 #include <sigc++/retype_return.h>
 #include <sigc++/bind.h>
 
+#include <pbd/error.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
+
 #include <ardour/audio_track.h>
 #include <ardour/audio_diskstream.h>
 #include <ardour/session.h>
@@ -236,14 +239,7 @@ AudioTrack::_set_state (const XMLNode& node, bool call_base)
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property (X_("mode"))) != 0) {
-		if (prop->value() == X_("normal")) {
-			_mode = Normal;
-		} else if (prop->value() == X_("destructive")) {
-			_mode = Destructive;
-		} else {
-			warning << string_compose ("unknown audio track mode \"%1\" seen and ignored", prop->value()) << endmsg;
-			_mode = Normal;
-		}
+		_mode = TrackMode (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _mode));
 	} else {
 		_mode = Normal;
 	}
@@ -312,8 +308,7 @@ AudioTrack::state(bool full_state)
 
 		freeze_node = new XMLNode (X_("freeze-info"));
 		freeze_node->add_property ("playlist", _freeze_record.playlist->name());
-		snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%d", (int) _freeze_record.state);
-		freeze_node->add_property ("state", buf);
+		freeze_node->add_property ("state", enum_2_string (_freeze_record.state));
 
 		for (vector<FreezeRecordInsertInfo*>::iterator i = _freeze_record.insert_info.begin(); i != _freeze_record.insert_info.end(); ++i) {
 			inode = new XMLNode (X_("insert"));
@@ -330,15 +325,8 @@ AudioTrack::state(bool full_state)
 	/* Alignment: act as a proxy for the diskstream */
 	
 	XMLNode* align_node = new XMLNode (X_("alignment"));
-	switch (_diskstream->alignment_style()) {
-	case ExistingMaterial:
-		snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), X_("existing"));
-		break;
-	case CaptureTime:
-		snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), X_("capture"));
-		break;
-	}
-	align_node->add_property (X_("style"), buf);
+	AlignStyle as = _diskstream->alignment_style ();
+	align_node->add_property (X_("style"), enum_2_string (as));
 	root.add_child_nocopy (*align_node);
 
 	XMLNode* remote_control_node = new XMLNode (X_("remote_control"));
@@ -346,14 +334,7 @@ AudioTrack::state(bool full_state)
 	remote_control_node->add_property (X_("id"), buf);
 	root.add_child_nocopy (*remote_control_node);
 
-	switch (_mode) {
-	case Normal:
-		root.add_property (X_("mode"), X_("normal"));
-		break;
-	case Destructive:
-		root.add_property (X_("mode"), X_("destructive"));
-		break;
-	}
+	root.add_property (X_("mode"), enum_2_string (_mode));
 
 	/* we don't return diskstream state because we don't
 	   own the diskstream exclusively. control of the diskstream
@@ -407,7 +388,7 @@ AudioTrack::set_state_part_two ()
 		}
 		
 		if ((prop = fnode->property (X_("state"))) != 0) {
-			_freeze_record.state = (FreezeState) atoi (prop->value().c_str());
+			_freeze_record.state = FreezeState (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _freeze_record.state));
 		}
 		
 		XMLNodeConstIterator citer;
@@ -434,11 +415,21 @@ AudioTrack::set_state_part_two ()
 	if ((fnode = find_named_node (*pending_state, X_("alignment"))) != 0) {
 
 		if ((prop = fnode->property (X_("style"))) != 0) {
-			if (prop->value() == "existing") {
-				_diskstream->set_persistent_align_style (ExistingMaterial);
-			} else if (prop->value() == "capture") {
-				_diskstream->set_persistent_align_style (CaptureTime);
+
+			/* fix for older sessions from before EnumWriter */
+
+			string pstr;
+
+			if (prop->value() == "capture") {
+				pstr = "CaptureTime";
+			} else if (prop->value() == "existing") {
+				pstr = "ExistingMaterial";
+			} else {
+				pstr = prop->value();
 			}
+
+			AlignStyle as = AlignStyle (string_2_enum (pstr, as));
+			_diskstream->set_persistent_align_style (as);
 		}
 	}
 	return;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audiofilesource.cc b/libs/ardour/audiofilesource.cc
index 92db950cc0..53809c3c2f 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audiofilesource.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audiofilesource.cc
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <pbd/pathscanner.h>
 #include <pbd/stl_delete.h>
 #include <pbd/strsplit.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <sndfile.h>
 
@@ -194,9 +195,7 @@ XMLNode&
 AudioFileSource::get_state ()
 {
 	XMLNode& root (AudioSource::get_state());
-	char buf[16];
-	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "0x%x", (int)_flags);
-	root.add_property ("flags", buf);
+	root.add_property ("flags", enum_2_string (_flags));
 	return root;
 }
 
@@ -211,9 +210,7 @@ AudioFileSource::set_state (const XMLNode& node)
 
 	if ((prop = node.property (X_("flags"))) != 0) {
 
-		int ival;
-		sscanf (prop->value().c_str(), "0x%x", &ival);
-		_flags = Flag (ival);
+		_flags = Flag (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _flags));
 
 	} else {
 
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audioregion.cc b/libs/ardour/audioregion.cc
index 7d3c1fc549..1fc7703cfa 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audioregion.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audioregion.cc
@@ -602,8 +602,6 @@ AudioRegion::state (bool full)
 	char buf2[64];
 	LocaleGuard lg (X_("POSIX"));
 	
-	// snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "0x%x", (int) _flags);
-	// node.add_property ("flags", buf);
 	node.add_property ("flags", enum_2_string (_flags));
 
 	snprintf (buf, sizeof(buf), "%.12g", _scale_amplitude);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/enums.cc b/libs/ardour/enums.cc
index 32f195e2ac..0460df43d8 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/enums.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/enums.cc
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <ardour/audioregion.h>
 #include <ardour/route_group.h>
 #include <ardour/panner.h>
+#include <ardour/track.h>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace PBD;
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@ setup_enum_writer ()
 	vector<int> i;
 	vector<string> s;
 
-
 	OverlapType _OverlapType;
 	AlignStyle _AlignStyle;
 	MeterPoint _MeterPoint;
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ setup_enum_writer ()
 	Location::Flags _Location_Flags;
 	RouteGroup::Flag _RouteGroup_Flag;
 	Region::Flag _Region_Flag;
+	Track::FreezeState _Track_FreezeState;
 
 #define REGISTER(e) enum_writer->register_distinct (typeid(e).name(), i, s); i.clear(); s.clear()
 #define REGISTER_BITS(e) enum_writer->register_bits (typeid(e).name(), i, s); i.clear(); s.clear()
@@ -317,5 +318,10 @@ setup_enum_writer ()
 	REGISTER_CLASS_ENUM (Region, Hidden);
 	REGISTER_CLASS_ENUM (Region, DoNotSaveState);
 	REGISTER_BITS (_Region_Flag);
+
+	REGISTER_CLASS_ENUM (Track, NoFreeze);
+	REGISTER_CLASS_ENUM (Track, Frozen);
+	REGISTER_CLASS_ENUM (Track, UnFrozen);
+	REGISTER (_Track_FreezeState);
 	
 }
diff --git a/libs/ardour/location.cc b/libs/ardour/location.cc
index e09a59d42f..5a75c2bc16 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/location.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/location.cc
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 #include <pbd/stl_delete.h>
 #include <pbd/xml++.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <ardour/location.h>
 #include <ardour/session.h>
@@ -217,12 +218,12 @@ Location::set_flag_internal (bool yn, Flags flag)
 {
 	if (yn) {
 		if (!(_flags & flag)) {
-			_flags |= flag;
+			_flags = Flags (_flags | flag);
 			return true;
 		}
 	} else {
 		if (_flags & flag) {
-			_flags &= ~flag;
+			_flags = Flags (_flags & ~flag);
 			return true;
 		}
 	}
@@ -273,8 +274,7 @@ Location::get_state (void)
 	node->add_property ("start", buf);
 	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%u", end());
 	node->add_property ("end", buf);
-	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%" PRIu32, (uint32_t) _flags);
-	node->add_property ("flags", buf);
+	node->add_property ("flags", enum_2_string (_flags));
 
 	return *node;
 }
@@ -327,14 +327,12 @@ Location::set_state (const XMLNode& node)
 		
 	_end = atoi (prop->value().c_str());
 		
-	_flags = 0;
-		
 	if ((prop = node.property ("flags")) == 0) {
 		  error << _("XML node for Location has no flags information") << endmsg; 
 		  return -1;
 	}
 		
-	_flags = Flags (atoi (prop->value().c_str()));
+	_flags = Flags (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _flags));
 
 	for (cd_iter = cd_list.begin(); cd_iter != cd_list.end(); ++cd_iter) {
 		  
diff --git a/libs/ardour/panner.cc b/libs/ardour/panner.cc
index faf2f14fb3..97646d99cd 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/panner.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/panner.cc
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <pbd/error.h>
 #include <pbd/failed_constructor.h>
 #include <pbd/xml++.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <ardour/session.h>
 #include <ardour/panner.h>
@@ -1055,8 +1056,7 @@ Panner::state (bool full)
 	char buf[32];
 
 	root->add_property (X_("linked"), (_linked ? "yes" : "no"));
-	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%d", _link_direction);
-	root->add_property (X_("link_direction"), buf);
+	root->add_property (X_("link_direction"), enum_2_string (_link_direction));
 	root->add_property (X_("bypassed"), (bypassed() ? "yes" : "no"));
 
 	/* add each output */
@@ -1100,8 +1100,8 @@ Panner::set_state (const XMLNode& node)
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property (X_("link_direction"))) != 0) {
-		sscanf (prop->value().c_str(), "%d", &i);
-		set_link_direction ((LinkDirection) (i));
+		LinkDirection ld; /* here to provide type information */
+		set_link_direction (LinkDirection (string_2_enum (prop->value(), ld)));
 	}
 
 	nlist = node.children();
diff --git a/libs/ardour/redirect.cc b/libs/ardour/redirect.cc
index ba81252511..a5f6031f30 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/redirect.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/redirect.cc
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <sigc++/bind.h>
 
 #include <pbd/xml++.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <ardour/redirect.h>
 #include <ardour/session.h>
@@ -97,18 +98,6 @@ Redirect::set_placement (Placement p, void *src)
 	}
 }
 
-void
-Redirect::set_placement (const string& str, void *src)
-{
-	if (str == _("pre")) {
-		set_placement (PreFader, this);
-	} else if (str == _("post")) {
-		set_placement (PostFader, this);
-	} else {
-		error << string_compose(_("Redirect: unknown placement string \"%1\" (ignored)"), str) << endmsg;
-	}
-}
-
 /* NODE STRUCTURE 
    
     <Automation [optionally with visible="...." ]>
@@ -195,7 +184,7 @@ Redirect::state (bool full_state)
 	stringstream sstr;
 
 	node->add_property("active", active() ? "yes" : "no");	
-	node->add_property("placement", placement_as_string (placement()));
+	node->add_property("placement", enum_2_string (_placement));
 	node->add_child_nocopy (IO::state (full_state));
 
 	if (_extra_xml){
@@ -295,7 +284,20 @@ Redirect::set_state (const XMLNode& node)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	set_placement (prop->value(), this);
+	/* hack to handle older sessions before we only used EnumWriter */
+
+	string pstr;
+
+	if (prop->value() == "pre") {
+		pstr = "PreFader";
+	} else if (prop->value() == "post") {
+		pstr = "PostFader";
+	} else {
+		pstr = prop->value();
+	}
+
+	Placement p = Placement (string_2_enum (pstr, p));
+	set_placement (p, this);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/libs/ardour/region.cc b/libs/ardour/region.cc
index 9d81cc5907..3e10df9dba 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/region.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/region.cc
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ Region::state (bool full_state)
 
 	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%d", (int) _layer);
 	node->add_property ("layer", buf);
-	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%u", _sync_position);
+	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%" PRIu32, _sync_position);
 	node->add_property ("sync-position", buf);
 
 	return *node;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/route.cc b/libs/ardour/route.cc
index 38cd7ad37d..f32757c169 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/route.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/route.cc
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 #include <sigc++/bind.h>
 #include <pbd/xml++.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <ardour/timestamps.h>
 #include <ardour/buffer.h>
@@ -1372,8 +1373,7 @@ Route::state(bool full_state)
 	char buf[32];
 
 	if (_flags) {
-		snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "0x%x", _flags);
-		node->add_property("flags", buf);
+		node->add_property("flags", enum_2_string (_flags));
 	}
 	
 	node->add_property("default-type", _default_type.to_string());
@@ -1533,9 +1533,7 @@ Route::_set_state (const XMLNode& node, bool call_base)
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property (X_("flags"))) != 0) {
-		int x;
-		sscanf (prop->value().c_str(), "0x%x", &x);
-		_flags = Flag (x);
+		_flags = Flag (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _flags));
 	} else {
 		_flags = Flag (0);
 	}
diff --git a/libs/ardour/route_group.cc b/libs/ardour/route_group.cc
index 5730623742..c2aa59ed8b 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/route_group.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/route_group.cc
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <sigc++/bind.h>
 
 #include <pbd/error.h>
+#include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
 
 #include <ardour/route_group.h>
 #include <ardour/audio_track.h>
@@ -125,11 +126,9 @@ RouteGroup::get_max_factor(gain_t factor)
 XMLNode&
 RouteGroup::get_state (void)
 {
-	char buf[32];
 	XMLNode *node = new XMLNode ("RouteGroup");
 	node->add_property ("name", _name);
-	snprintf (buf, sizeof (buf), "%" PRIu32, (uint32_t) _flags);
-	node->add_property ("flags", buf);
+	node->add_property ("flags", enum_2_string (_flags));
 	return *node;
 }
 
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ RouteGroup::set_state (const XMLNode& node)
 	}
 
 	if ((prop = node.property ("flags")) != 0) {
-		_flags = atoi (prop->value().c_str());
+		_flags = Flag (string_2_enum (prop->value(), _flags));
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -157,9 +156,9 @@ RouteGroup::set_active (bool yn, void *src)
 		return;
 	}
 	if (yn) {
-		_flags |= Active;
+		_flags = Flag (_flags | Active);
 	} else {
-		_flags &= ~Active;
+		_flags = Flag (_flags & ~Active);
 	}
 	_session.set_dirty ();
 	FlagsChanged (src); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
@@ -173,9 +172,9 @@ RouteGroup::set_relative (bool yn, void *src)
 		return;
 	}
 	if (yn) {
-		_flags |= Relative;
+		_flags = Flag (_flags | Relative);
 	} else {
-		_flags &= ~Relative;
+		_flags = Flag (_flags & ~Relative);
 	}
 	_session.set_dirty ();
 	FlagsChanged (src); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
@@ -189,14 +188,14 @@ RouteGroup::set_hidden (bool yn, void *src)
 		return;
 	}
 	if (yn) {
-		_flags |= Hidden;
+		_flags = Flag (_flags | Hidden);
 		if (Config->get_hiding_groups_deactivates_groups()) {
-			_flags &= ~Active;
+			_flags = Flag (_flags & ~Active);
 		}
 	} else {
-         	_flags &= ~Hidden;
+         	_flags = Flag (_flags & ~Hidden);
 		if (Config->get_hiding_groups_deactivates_groups()) {
-			_flags |= Active;
+			_flags = Flag (_flags | Active);
 		}
 	}
 	_session.set_dirty ();
diff --git a/libs/ardour/utils.cc b/libs/ardour/utils.cc
index fbea468682..ec5cb4e757 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/utils.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/utils.cc
@@ -208,18 +208,6 @@ touch_file (ustring path)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-string
-placement_as_string (Placement p)
-{
-	switch (p) {
-	case PreFader:
-		return _("pre");
-	default: /* to get g++ to realize we have all the cases covered */
-	case PostFader:
-		return _("post");
-	}
-}
-
 ustring
 region_name_from_path (ustring path, bool strip_channels)
 {
diff --git a/libs/pbd/enumwriter.cc b/libs/pbd/enumwriter.cc
index d6c882e00a..7674410ec9 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/enumwriter.cc
+++ b/libs/pbd/enumwriter.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
     $Id$
 */
 
+#include <ctype.h>
+
+#include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include <pbd/enumwriter.h>
@@ -30,6 +33,35 @@ using namespace PBD;
 #include "i18n.h"
 
 EnumWriter* EnumWriter::_instance = 0;
+map<string,string> EnumWriter::hack_table;
+
+static int 
+nocase_cmp(const string & s1, const string& s2) 
+{
+	string::const_iterator it1 = s1.begin();
+	string::const_iterator it2 = s2.begin();
+	
+	while ((it1 != s1.end()) && (it2 != s2.end())) { 
+		if(::toupper(*it1) != ::toupper(*it2))  {//letters differ?
+			// return -1 to indicate 'smaller than', 1 otherwise
+			return (::toupper(*it1) < ::toupper(*it2)) ? -1 : 1; 
+		}
+
+		++it1;
+		++it2;
+	}
+
+	string::size_type size1 = s1.size();
+	string::size_type size2 = s2.size();
+
+	//return -1,0 or 1 according to strings' lengths
+
+	if (size1 == size2) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	return (size1 < size2) ? -1 : 1;
+}
 
 EnumWriter::EnumWriter ()
 {
@@ -157,13 +189,19 @@ EnumWriter::read_bits (EnumRegistration& er, string str)
 		return strtol (str.c_str(), (char **) 0, 16);
 	}
 
+	/* catch old style dec numerics */
+
+	if (strspn (str.c_str(), "0123456789") == str.length()) {
+		return strtol (str.c_str(), (char **) 0, 10);
+	}
+
 	do {
 		
 		comma = str.find_first_of (',');
 		string segment = str.substr (0, comma);
 
 		for (i = er.values.begin(), s = er.names.begin(); i != er.values.end(); ++i, ++s) {
-			if (segment == (*s)) {
+			if (segment == *s || nocase_cmp (segment, *s) == 0) {
 				result |= (*i);
 				found = true;
 			}
@@ -196,13 +234,40 @@ EnumWriter::read_distinct (EnumRegistration& er, string str)
 		return strtol (str.c_str(), (char **) 0, 16);
 	}
 
+	/* catch old style dec numerics */
+
+	if (strspn (str.c_str(), "0123456789") == str.length()) {
+		return strtol (str.c_str(), (char **) 0, 10);
+	}
+
 	for (i = er.values.begin(), s = er.names.begin(); i != er.values.end(); ++i, ++s) {
-		if (str == (*s)) {
+		if (str == (*s) || nocase_cmp (str, *s) == 0) {
 			return (*i);
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* failed to find it as-is. check to see if there a hack for the name we're looking up */
+
+	map<string,string>::iterator x;
+
+	if ((x  = hack_table.find (str)) != hack_table.end()) {
+
+		cerr << "found hack for " << str << " = " << x->second << endl;
+
+		str = x->second;
+
+		for (i = er.values.begin(), s = er.names.begin(); i != er.values.end(); ++i, ++s) {
+			if (str == (*s) || nocase_cmp (str, *s) == 0) {
+				return (*i);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	throw unknown_enumeration();
 }
 
-
+void
+EnumWriter::add_to_hack_table (string str, string hacked)
+{
+	hack_table[str] = hacked;
+}
diff --git a/libs/pbd/pbd/enumwriter.h b/libs/pbd/pbd/enumwriter.h
index 356a0a1acc..f53388f3cc 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/pbd/enumwriter.h
+++ b/libs/pbd/pbd/enumwriter.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ class EnumWriter {
 	std::string write (std::string type, int value);
 	int         read  (std::string type, std::string value);
 
+	void add_to_hack_table (std::string str, std::string hacked_str);
+
   private:
 	struct EnumRegistration {
 	    std::vector<int> values;
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ class EnumWriter {
 	int read_distinct (EnumRegistration&, std::string value);
 
 	static EnumWriter* _instance;
+	static std::map<std::string,std::string> hack_table;
 };
 
 }