diff --git a/src/mathed/formulabase.C b/src/mathed/formulabase.C
index 00df0bec99..dd2e3ddc3e 100644
--- a/src/mathed/formulabase.C
+++ b/src/mathed/formulabase.C
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ InsetFormulaBase::localDispatch(BufferView * bv, kb_action action,
 	case LFUN_PROTECTEDSPACE:
 	case LFUN_MATH_SPACE:
 		bv->lockedInsetStoreUndo(Undo::EDIT);
-		mathcursor->insert(MathAtom(new MathSpaceInset(1)));
+		mathcursor->insert(MathAtom(new MathSpaceInset(",")));
 		updateLocal(bv, true);
 		break;
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_atom.C b/src/mathed/math_atom.C
index 76fc538851..a8e2815a0f 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_atom.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_atom.C
@@ -34,20 +34,26 @@ MathAtom::MathAtom(MathInset * p)
 {}
 
 
-MathAtom::MathAtom(MathAtom const & p)
-	: nucleus_(p.nucleus_ ? p.nucleus_->clone() : 0)
+MathAtom::MathAtom(MathAtom const & at)
+	: nucleus_(at.nucleus_ ? at.nucleus_->clone() : 0)
 {}
 
 
-void MathAtom::operator=(MathAtom const & p)
+void MathAtom::operator=(MathAtom const & at)
 {
-	if (&p == this)
+	if (&at == this)
 		return;
-	MathAtom tmp(p);
+	MathAtom tmp(at);
 	std::swap(tmp.nucleus_, nucleus_);
 }
 
 
+void MathAtom::operator=(MathInset * p)
+{
+	reset(p);
+}
+
+
 MathAtom::~MathAtom()
 {
 	delete nucleus_;
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_atom.h b/src/mathed/math_atom.h
index 69d8b47c8d..04cf2a391d 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_atom.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_atom.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ public:
 	/// assignment invokes nucleus_->clone()
 	void operator=(MathAtom const &);
 	/// change inset under the hood
+	void operator=(MathInset * p);
+	/// change inset under the hood
 	void reset(MathInset * p);
 	/// access to the inset (checked with gprof)
 	MathInset * nucleus() const { return nucleus_; }
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_cursor.C b/src/mathed/math_cursor.C
index 33ce2d78b7..32d6876b65 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_cursor.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_cursor.C
@@ -1419,9 +1419,10 @@ bool MathCursor::interpret(char c)
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		// leave macro mode and try again
+		// leave macro mode and try again if necessary
 		macroModeClose();
-		interpret(c);
+		if (c != ' ')
+			interpret(c);
 		return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_deliminset.C b/src/mathed/math_deliminset.C
index 6fa100606c..5882a0cd05 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_deliminset.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_deliminset.C
@@ -14,12 +14,44 @@
 
 using std::max;
 
+namespace {
+
+string convertDelimToLatexName(string const & name)
+{
+	if (name == "(")
+		return name;
+	if (name == "[")
+		return name;
+	if (name == ".")
+		return name;
+	if (name == ")")
+		return name;
+	if (name == "]")
+		return name;
+	if (name == "/")
+		return name;
+	if (name == "|")
+		return name;
+	return "\\" + name + " ";
+}
+
+}
+
+
 
 MathDelimInset::MathDelimInset(string const & l, string const & r)
 	: MathNestInset(1), left_(l), right_(r)
 {}
 
 
+MathDelimInset::MathDelimInset
+		(string const & l, string const & r, MathArray const & ar)
+	: MathNestInset(1), left_(l), right_(r)
+{
+	cell(0) = ar;
+}
+
+
 MathInset * MathDelimInset::clone() const
 {
 	return new MathDelimInset(*this);
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_deliminset.h b/src/mathed/math_deliminset.h
index 2f8b7047cb..d2c0d4d5ea 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_deliminset.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_deliminset.h
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ public:
 	///
 	MathDelimInset(string const & left, string const & right);
 	///
+	MathDelimInset(string const & left, string const & right, MathArray const &);
+	///
 	MathInset * clone() const;
 	///
 	MathDelimInset * asDelimInset() { return this; }
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.C b/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.C
index ceb4d621fb..0238540a82 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.C
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@ MathExFuncInset::MathExFuncInset(string const & name)
 {}
 
 
+MathExFuncInset::MathExFuncInset(string const & name, MathArray const & ar)
+	: MathNestInset(1), name_(name)
+{
+	cell(0) = ar;
+}
+
+
 MathInset * MathExFuncInset::clone() const
 {
 	return new MathExFuncInset(*this);
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.h b/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.h
index 08d4a94620..afc15927c9 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_exfuncinset.h
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ public:
 	///
 	explicit MathExFuncInset(string const & name);
 	///
+	MathExFuncInset(string const & name, MathArray const & ar);
+	///
 	MathInset * clone() const;
 	///
 	void metrics(MathMetricsInfo & st) const;
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_extern.C b/src/mathed/math_extern.C
index be0a463790..f595b1b168 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_extern.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_extern.C
@@ -331,18 +331,32 @@ void extractExps(MathArray & ar)
 		if (!sup || sup->hasDown())
 			continue;
 
-		// create a proper exp-inset as replacement
-		MathExFuncInset * func = new MathExFuncInset("exp");
-		func->cell(0) = sup->cell(1);
-
-		// clean up
-		(*it).reset(func);
+		// create a proper exp-inset as replacement 
+		*it = new MathExFuncInset("exp", sup->cell(1));
 		ar.erase(it + 1);
 	}
 	//lyxerr << "\nExps to: " << ar << "\n";
 }
 
 
+//
+// extract det(...)  from |matrix|
+//
+void extractDets(MathArray & ar)
+{
+	//lyxerr << "\ndet from: " << ar << "\n";
+	for (MathArray::iterator it = ar.begin(); it != ar.end(); ++it) {
+		MathDelimInset * del = (*it)->asDelimInset();
+		if (!del)
+			continue;
+		if (!del->isAbs())
+			continue;
+		*it = new MathExFuncInset("det", del->cell(0));
+	}
+	//lyxerr << "\ndet to: " << ar << "\n";
+}
+
+
 //
 // search numbers
 //
@@ -404,9 +418,7 @@ bool testCloseParan(MathInset * p)
 
 MathInset * replaceDelims(const MathArray & ar)
 {
-	MathDelimInset * del = new MathDelimInset("(", ")");
-	del->cell(0) = ar;
-	return del;
+	return new MathDelimInset("(", ")", ar);
 }
 
 
@@ -761,6 +773,7 @@ void extractStructure(MathArray & ar)
 	extractMatrices(ar);
 	extractDelims(ar);
 	extractFunctions(ar);
+	extractDets(ar);
 	extractIntegrals(ar);
 	extractSums(ar);
 	extractDiff(ar);
@@ -911,6 +924,7 @@ namespace {
 		ms << ar;
 		string expr = os.str().c_str();
 		lyxerr << "ar: '" << ar << "'\n";
+		lyxerr << "ms: '" << os.str() << "'\n";
 
 		for (int i = 0; i < 100; ++i) { // at most 100 attempts
 			// try to fix missing '*' the hard way by using mint
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_factory.C b/src/mathed/math_factory.C
index bf37981bf7..7b6f49e5e7 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_factory.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_factory.C
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ MathAtom createMathInset(string const & s)
 			return MathAtom(new MathUndersetInset);
 		if (inset == "decoration")
 			return MathAtom(new MathDecorationInset(l->name));
-		//if (inset == "space")
-		//	return MathAtom(new MathSpaceInset(l->id));
+		if (inset == "space")
+			return MathAtom(new MathSpaceInset(l->name));
 		if (inset == "dots")
 			return MathAtom(new MathDotsInset(l->name));
 		if (inset == "box")
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_funcinset.C b/src/mathed/math_funcinset.C
deleted file mode 100644
index e687e48720..0000000000
--- a/src/mathed/math_funcinset.C
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-#include <config.h>
-
-#ifdef __GNUG__
-#pragma implementation
-#endif
-
-#include "math_funcinset.h"
-#include "frontends/font_metrics.h"
-#include "frontends/Painter.h"
-#include "math_support.h"
-#include "math_mathmlstream.h"
-#include "math_streamstr.h"
-
-
-extern LyXFont WhichFont(short type, int size);
-
-
-MathFuncInset::MathFuncInset(string const & nm)
-	: name_(nm)
-{}
-
-
-MathInset * MathFuncInset::clone() const
-{
-	return new MathFuncInset(*this);
-}
-
-
-string const & MathFuncInset::name() const
-{
-	return name_;
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::setName(string const & n)
-{
-	name_ = n;
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::metrics(MathMetricsInfo & mi) const
-{
-	mathed_string_dim(mi.font_, name_, ascent_, descent_, width_);
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::draw(Painter & pain, int x, int y) const
-{
-	drawStr(pain, mi.font_, x, y, name_);
-}
-
-
-bool MathFuncInset::match(MathInset * p) const
-{
-	MathFuncInset const * q = p->asFuncInset();
-	return q && name_ == q->name_;
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::maplize(MapleStream & os) const
-{
-	os << ' ' << name_;
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::mathmlize(MathMLStream & os) const
-{
-	os << MTag("mi") << name_ << ETag("mi");
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::octavize(OctaveStream & os) const
-{
-	os << ' ' << name_;
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::normalize(NormalStream & os) const
-{
-	os << "[func " << name_ << ']';
-}
-
-
-void MathFuncInset::write(WriteStream & os) const
-{
-	os << "\\" << name_ << ' ';
-}
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_funcinset.h b/src/mathed/math_funcinset.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 8256479c8f..0000000000
--- a/src/mathed/math_funcinset.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-// -*- C++ -*-
-#ifndef MATH_FUNCINSET_H
-#define MATH_FUNCINSET_H
-
-#include "math_diminset.h"
-
-#ifdef __GNUG__
-#pragma interface
-#endif
-
-/**
- Functions or LaTeX names for objects that I don't know how to draw.
- */
-class MathFuncInset : public MathDimInset {
-public:
-	///
-	explicit MathFuncInset(string const & nm);
-	///
-	MathInset * clone() const;
-	///
-	void metrics(MathMetricsInfo & st) const;
-	///
-	void draw(Painter &, int x, int y) const;
-	///
-	string const & name() const;
-	/// identifies FuncInsets
-	MathFuncInset * asFuncInset() { return this; }
-	///
-	void setName(string const &);
-	///
-	bool match(MathInset * p) const;
-
-	///
-	void normalize(NormalStream &) const;
-	///
-	void maplize(MapleStream &) const;
-	///
-	void mathmlize(MathMLStream &) const;
-	///
-	void octavize(OctaveStream &) const;
-	///
-	void write(WriteStream &) const;
-private:
-	///
-	string name_;
-	///
-	mutable LyXFont font_;
-};
-#endif
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_parser.C b/src/mathed/math_parser.C
index e9bb698caa..5cbab860cb 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_parser.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_parser.C
@@ -881,8 +881,7 @@ void Parser::parse_into1(MathGridInset & grid, unsigned flags,
 			MathArray ar;
 			parse_into(ar, FLAG_RIGHT, mathmode);
 			string r = getToken().asString();
-			cell->push_back(MathAtom(new MathDelimInset(l, r)));
-			cell->back()->cell(0) = ar;
+			cell->push_back(MathAtom(new MathDelimInset(l, r, ar)));
 		}
 
 		else if (t.cs() == "right") {
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.C b/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.C
index c41de6bf80..9bd15cbd13 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.C
@@ -9,17 +9,29 @@
 #include "math_mathmlstream.h"
 
 
+
 char const * latex_mathspace[] = {
-	"!", ",", ":", ";", "quad", "qquad", "lyxnegspace"
+	"!", ",", ";", ":", "quad", "qquad", "lyxnegspace", "lyxposspace"
 };
 
 
 
+
 MathSpaceInset::MathSpaceInset(int sp)
 	: space_(sp)
 {}
 
 
+MathSpaceInset::MathSpaceInset(string const & name)
+	: space_(1)
+{
+	for (int i = 0; i < 8; ++i) 
+		if (latex_mathspace[i] == name) 
+			space_ = i;
+}
+
+
+
 MathInset * MathSpaceInset::clone() const
 {
 	return new MathSpaceInset(*this);
@@ -36,6 +48,7 @@ void MathSpaceInset::metrics(MathMetricsInfo &) const
 		case 4: width_ = 20; break;
 		case 5: width_ = 40; break;
 		case 6: width_ = -2; break;
+		case 7: width_ =  2; break;
 		default: width_ = 6; break;
 	}
 	ascent_  = 4;
@@ -48,7 +61,7 @@ void MathSpaceInset::draw(MathPainterInfo & pain, int x, int y) const
 
 // Sadly, HP-UX CC can't handle that kind of initialization.
 // XPoint p[4] = {{++x, y-3}, {x, y}, {x+width-2, y}, {x+width-2, y-3}};
-	if (space_ == 6)
+	if (space_ > 6)
 		return;
 
 	int xp[4];
@@ -89,6 +102,6 @@ void MathSpaceInset::normalize(NormalStream & os) const
 
 void MathSpaceInset::write(WriteStream & os) const
 {
-	if (space_ >= 0 && space_ < 7)
+	if (space_ >= 0 && space_ < 8)
 		os << '\\' << latex_mathspace[space_] << ' ';
 }
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.h b/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.h
index 84ba58fb8d..f25d049a04 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_spaceinset.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ public:
 	///
 	explicit MathSpaceInset(int sp);
 	///
+	explicit MathSpaceInset(string const & name);
+	///
 	MathInset * clone() const;
 	///
 	MathSpaceInset const * asSpaceInset() const { return this; }
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_specialcharinset.C b/src/mathed/math_specialcharinset.C
deleted file mode 100644
index 562fe89d3c..0000000000
--- a/src/mathed/math_specialcharinset.C
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-#ifdef __GNUG__
-#pragma implementation
-#endif
-
-#include "math_specialcharinset.h"
-#include "math_mathmlstream.h"
-#include "math_support.h"
-
-
-MathSpecialCharInset::MathSpecialCharInset(char c)
-	: char_(c)
-{}
-
-
-MathInset * MathSpecialCharInset::clone() const
-{
-	return new MathSpecialCharInset(*this);
-}
-
-
-void MathSpecialCharInset::metrics(MathMetricsInfo & mi) const
-{
-	MathShapeChanger dummy(mi.base.font, LyXFont::ITALIC_SHAPE);
-	mathed_char_dim(mi.base.font, char_, ascent_, descent_, width_);
-}
-
-
-void MathSpecialCharInset::draw(MathPainterInfo & pi, int x, int y) const
-{
-	MathShapeChanger dummy(pi.base.font, LyXFont::ITALIC_SHAPE);
-	pi.draw(x, y, char_);
-}
-
-
-void MathSpecialCharInset::write(WriteStream & os) const
-{
-	os << "\\" << char_;
-}
-
-
-void MathSpecialCharInset::normalize(NormalStream & os) const
-{
-	os << "\\" << char_;
-}
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_specialcharinset.h b/src/mathed/math_specialcharinset.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 7d17eab8b7..0000000000
--- a/src/mathed/math_specialcharinset.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-// -*- C++ -*-
-#ifndef MATH_SPECIALCHARINSET_H
-#define MATH_SPECIALCHARINSET_H
-
-#include "math_diminset.h"
-
-#ifdef __GNUG__
-#pragma interface
-#endif
-
-/** An inset for characters like {, #, and $ that need to be escaped
-    when written out, but can be inserted by a single keystroke
-    \author André Pönitz
- */
-
-class MathSpecialCharInset : public MathDimInset {
-public:
-	///
-	explicit MathSpecialCharInset(char c);
-	///
-	MathInset * clone() const;
-	///
-	void metrics(MathMetricsInfo & st) const;
-	///
-	void draw(MathPainterInfo &, int x, int y) const;
-	///
-	void write(WriteStream & os) const;
-	///
-	void normalize(NormalStream &) const;
-
-private:
-	/// the character
-	char char_;
-};
-#endif
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_stringinset.C b/src/mathed/math_stringinset.C
index 220ee4013a..2708266302 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_stringinset.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_stringinset.C
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ void MathStringInset::maplize(MapleStream & os) const
 	// insert '*' between adjacent chars if type is LM_TC_VAR
 	os << str_[0];
 	for (string::size_type i = 1; i < str_.size(); ++i)
-		os << '*' << str_[i];
+		os << str_[i];
 }
 
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ void MathStringInset::octavize(OctaveStream & os) const
 	// insert '*' between adjacent chars if type is LM_TC_VAR
 	os << str_[0];
 	for (string::size_type i = 1; i < str_.size(); ++i)
-		os << '*' << str_[i];
+		os << str_[i];
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_support.C b/src/mathed/math_support.C
index 3cc23305b8..cec237a5de 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_support.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_support.C
@@ -525,28 +525,6 @@ void math_font_max_dim(LyXFont const & font, int & asc, int & des)
 }
 
 
-string convertDelimToLatexName(string const & name)
-{
-	if (name == "(")
-		return name;
-	if (name == "[")
-		return name;
-	if (name == ".")
-		return name;
-	if (name == ")")
-		return name;
-	if (name == "]")
-		return name;
-	if (name == "/")
-		return name;
-	if (name == "|")
-		return name;
-	return "\\" + name + " ";
-}
-
-
-
-
 struct fontinfo {
 	string cmd_;
 	LyXFont::FONT_FAMILY family_;
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_support.h b/src/mathed/math_support.h
index 0ea86a78db..2cd35476cf 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_support.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_support.h
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@ void drawChar(MathPainterInfo & pain,
 
 void math_font_max_dim(LyXFont const &, int & asc, int & desc);
 
-string convertDelimToLatexName(string const & name);
-
 void augmentFont(LyXFont & f, string const & cmd);
 
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_symbolinset.C b/src/mathed/math_symbolinset.C
index 57d8d7b2bc..bdcfdb8a1d 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_symbolinset.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_symbolinset.C
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ void MathSymbolInset::maplize(MapleStream & os) const
 {
 	if (name() == "cdot")
 		os << '*';
+	else if (name() == "infty")
+		os << "infinity";
 	else
 		os << name();
 }