+/// Given an fl_input, return its contents.
+string const getStringFromInput(FL_OBJECT * ob);
+
+/** Given an fl_browser, return the contents of the currently
+ highlighted line.
+*/
+/** Given an fl_browser, return the contents of line
+ (xforms numbering convention; starts at 1).
+*/
+string const getStringFromBrowser(FL_OBJECT * ob, int line);
+/** Given an fl_browser, return the contents of the currently
+ highlighted line.
+*/
+string const getSelectedStringFromBrowser(FL_OBJECT * ob);
+
+/// Given input and choice widgets, create a string such as "1cm"
+string getLengthFromWidgets(FL_OBJECT * input, FL_OBJECT * choice);
+
+/** Given a string such as "1cm", set the input and choice widgets.
+ If the string is empty, the choice will be set to default_unit.
+ */
+void updateWidgetsFromLengthString(FL_OBJECT * input, FL_OBJECT * choice,
+ string const & str,
+ string const & default_unit);
+
+/** Given a LyXLength, set the input and choice widgets.
+ If the length is null, the choice will be set to default_unit.
+ */
+void updateWidgetsFromLength(FL_OBJECT * input, FL_OBJECT * choice,
+ LyXLength const & len,
+ string const & default_unit);
+