diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/Action.C b/src/frontends/qt4/Action.C
index b0f244742a..b34d9543fb 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/Action.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/Action.C
@@ -24,13 +24,10 @@
 
 #include <boost/bind.hpp>
 
-using lyx::docstring;
-
 using std::string;
 using std::endl;
 
 namespace lyx {
-
 namespace frontend {
 
 
@@ -70,7 +67,7 @@ void Action::setAction(FuncRequest const & func)
 
 void Action::update()
 {
-	FuncStatus const status = lyx::getStatus(func_);
+	FuncStatus const status = getStatus(func_);
 
 	if (status.onoff(true)) {
 		setCheckable(true);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/Action.h b/src/frontends/qt4/Action.h
index 03a3e0da8d..f40d7a3ee7 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/Action.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/Action.h
@@ -19,10 +19,6 @@
 
 #include <QAction>
 
-//class FuncRequest;
-
-//class string;
-
 namespace lyx {
 namespace frontend {
 
@@ -33,15 +29,15 @@ class GuiView;
  *
  * Action can be used in LyX menubar and/or toolbars.
  */
-class Action: public QAction {
+class Action : public QAction {
 	Q_OBJECT
 public:
 
-	Action(GuiView & lyxView, lyx::docstring const & text,
-		FuncRequest const & func, lyx::docstring const & tooltip = lyx::docstring());
+	Action(GuiView & lyxView, docstring const & text,
+		FuncRequest const & func, docstring const & tooltip = docstring());
 
-	Action(GuiView & lyxView, std::string const & icon, lyx::docstring const & text,
-		FuncRequest const & func, lyx::docstring const & tooltip = lyx::docstring());
+	Action(GuiView & lyxView, std::string const & icon, docstring const & text,
+		FuncRequest const & func, docstring const & tooltip = docstring());
 
 	void update();
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/Alert_pimpl.C b/src/frontends/qt4/Alert_pimpl.C
index 95c6903408..0218c7c7e9 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/Alert_pimpl.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/Alert_pimpl.C
@@ -32,18 +32,16 @@
 
 using std::pair;
 using std::make_pair;
+using lyx::support::bformat;
 
 namespace lyx {
 
-using lyx::support::bformat;
-using lyx::docstring;
-
 namespace {
 
 class MessageBox: public QMessageBox
 {
 public:
-	MessageBox(QWidget * parent = 0): QMessageBox(parent)
+	MessageBox(QWidget * parent = 0) : QMessageBox(parent)
 	{
 		setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose, true);
 		setAttribute(Qt::WA_QuitOnClose, false);
@@ -139,7 +137,7 @@ askForText_pimpl(docstring const & msg, docstring const & dflt)
 	bool ok;
 	QString text = QInputDialog::getText(qApp->focusWidget(),
 		toqstr(title),
-		toqstr(lyx::char_type('&') + msg),
+		toqstr(char_type('&') + msg),
 		QLineEdit::Normal,
 		toqstr(dflt), &ok);
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.C b/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.C
index 5fdab63e59..7704b80261 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.C
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 namespace lyx {
 
-using lyx::support::libFileSearch;
+using support::libFileSearch;
 
 using std::string;
 
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ BulletsModule::BulletsModule(QWidget * , char const * , Qt::WFlags)
 {
 	setupUi(this);
 
-	for (int iter = 0; iter < 4; ++iter) {
+	for (int iter = 0; iter < 4; ++iter)
 		bullets_[iter] = ITEMIZE_DEFAULTS[iter];
-	}
+
 	current_font_ = -1;
 	current_char_ = 0;
 
@@ -50,17 +50,15 @@ BulletsModule::BulletsModule(QWidget * , char const * , Qt::WFlags)
 	setupPanel(new QListWidget(bulletpaneSW), qt_("Dings 3"), "psnfss3");
 	setupPanel(new QListWidget(bulletpaneSW), qt_("Dings 4"), "psnfss4");
 
-	connect(levelLW, SIGNAL(currentRowChanged(int)), this, SLOT(showLevel(int)));
-	connect(bulletpaneCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)), bulletpaneSW, SLOT(setCurrentIndex(int)));
+	connect(levelLW, SIGNAL(currentRowChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(showLevel(int)));
+	connect(bulletpaneCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)), bulletpaneSW,
+		SLOT(setCurrentIndex(int)));
 }
 
 
-BulletsModule::~BulletsModule()
-{
-}
-
-
-void BulletsModule::setupPanel(QListWidget * lw, QString panelname, std::string fname)
+void BulletsModule::setupPanel(QListWidget * lw, QString const & panelname,
+	std::string const & fname)
 {
 	connect(lw, SIGNAL(currentItemChanged(QListWidgetItem*, QListWidgetItem*)),
 		this, SLOT(bulletSelected(QListWidgetItem *, QListWidgetItem*)));
@@ -199,10 +197,7 @@ Bullet const & BulletsModule::getBullet(int level) const
 	return bullets_[level];
 }
 
-
 } // namespace lyx
 
 
 #include "BulletsModule_moc.cpp"
-
-
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.h b/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.h
index 55b60881b6..d7e667ec09 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/BulletsModule.h
@@ -25,11 +25,9 @@ namespace lyx {
 class BulletsModule : public QWidget, public Ui::BulletsUi {
 	Q_OBJECT
 public:
-
+	///
 	BulletsModule(QWidget * parent = 0, const char * name = 0, Qt::WFlags fl = 0);
 
-	~BulletsModule();
-
 	/// set a bullet
 	void setBullet(int level, Bullet const & bullet);
 	/// get bullet setting
@@ -45,12 +43,13 @@ protected Q_SLOTS:
 	void on_bulletsizeCO_activated(int level);
 	void on_customCB_clicked(bool);
 	void on_customLE_textEdited(const QString &);
-	void bulletSelected(QListWidgetItem *, QListWidgetItem*);
+	void bulletSelected(QListWidgetItem *, QListWidgetItem *);
 	void showLevel(int);
 
 private:
 	void selectItem(int font, int character, bool select);
-	void setupPanel(QListWidget * lw, QString panelname, std::string fname);
+	void setupPanel(QListWidget * lw, QString const & panelname,
+		std::string const & fname);
 
 	/// store results
 	boost::array<Bullet, 4> bullets_;
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.C b/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.C
index 796f63e726..5dcac2b96b 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.C
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ const QColor grey80(0xcc, 0xcc, 0xcc);
 const QColor grey90(0xe5, 0xe5, 0xe5);
 const QColor none = Qt::black;
 
-
-ColorCache::ColorCache()
-{
-}
-
 QColor const & ColorCache::get(LColor_color col) const
 {
 	lcolor_map::const_iterator cit = colormap.find(col);
@@ -58,7 +53,7 @@ void ColorCache::clear()
 }
 
 
-QColor const rgb2qcolor(lyx::RGBColor const & rgb)
+QColor const rgb2qcolor(RGBColor const & rgb)
 {
 	return QColor(rgb.r, rgb.g, rgb.b);
 }
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.h b/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.h
index 2a9b188fbb..0604061537 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/ColorCache.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ struct RGBColor;
  */
 class ColorCache {
 public:
-	ColorCache();
+	ColorCache() {}
 
 	/// get the given color
 	QColor const & get(LColor_color color) const;
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ private:
 };
 
 ///
-QColor const rgb2qcolor(lyx::RGBColor const &);
+QColor const rgb2qcolor(RGBColor const &);
 
 } // namespace lyx
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.C b/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.C
index 2dcb1bf46c..fefa83ad4c 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.C
@@ -22,36 +22,29 @@
 #include <QHBoxLayout>
 
 using lyx::support::split;
-using lyx::docstring;
-
 using std::string;
 
-
-namespace {
-
-/// return the Qt form of the label
-docstring const getLabel(docstring const & ucs4str) {
-	// FIXME UNICODE
-	string str = lyx::to_utf8(ucs4str);
-	string label;
-	string sc(split(str, label, '|'));
-	if (sc.length() < 2)
-		return lyx::from_utf8(label);
-	string::size_type pos = label.find(sc[1]);
-	if (pos == string::npos)
-		return lyx::from_utf8(label);
-	label.insert(pos, 1, '&');
-	return lyx::from_utf8(label);
-}
-
-} // namespace anon
-
-
 namespace lyx {
 
+/// return the Qt form of the label
+static docstring const getLabel(docstring const & ucs4str) {
+	// FIXME UNICODE
+	string str = to_utf8(ucs4str);
+	string label;
+	string sc(split(str, label, '|'));
+	if (sc.length() < 2)
+		return from_utf8(label);
+	string::size_type pos = label.find(sc[1]);
+	if (pos == string::npos)
+		return from_utf8(label);
+	label.insert(pos, 1, '&');
+	return from_utf8(label);
+}
+
+
 LyXFileDialog::LyXFileDialog(docstring const & t,
 			     docstring const & p,
-			     lyx::support::FileFilterList const & filters,
+			     support::FileFilterList const & filters,
 			     FileDialog::Button const & b1,
 			     FileDialog::Button const & b2)
 				 // FIXME replace that with theApp->gui()->currentView()
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.h b/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.h
index ff438dac94..e697b361f0 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/FileDialog_private.h
@@ -26,19 +26,19 @@ class LyXFileDialog : public QFileDialog
 {
 	Q_OBJECT
 public:
-	LyXFileDialog(lyx::docstring const & title,
-		      lyx::docstring const & path,
-		      lyx::support::FileFilterList const & filters,
+	LyXFileDialog(docstring const & title,
+		      docstring const & path,
+		      support::FileFilterList const & filters,
 		      FileDialog::Button const & b1,
 		      FileDialog::Button const & b2);
 public Q_SLOTS:
 	void buttonClicked();
 private:
 	QToolButton * b1_;
-	lyx::docstring b1_dir_;
+	docstring b1_dir_;
 
 	QToolButton * b2_;
-	lyx::docstring b2_dir_;
+	docstring b2_dir_;
 };
 
 } // namespace lyx
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.C b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.C
index b0f149774e..88f412771e 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.C
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ GuiApplication::GuiApplication(int & argc, char ** argv)
 	guiApp = this;
 }
 
+
 Clipboard& GuiApplication::clipboard()
 {
 	return clipboard_;
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ void GuiApplication::syncEvents()
 
 
 bool GuiApplication::getRgbColor(LColor_color col,
-	lyx::RGBColor & rgbcol)
+	RGBColor & rgbcol)
 {
 	QColor const & qcol = color_cache_.get(col);
 	if (!qcol.isValid()) {
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.h b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.h
index 6ddc40eaff..ab2f1583ef 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiApplication.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public:
 	virtual std::string const romanFontName();
 	virtual std::string const sansFontName();
 	virtual std::string const typewriterFontName();
-	virtual bool getRgbColor(LColor_color col, lyx::RGBColor & rgbcol);
+	virtual bool getRgbColor(LColor_color col, RGBColor & rgbcol);
 	virtual std::string const hexName(LColor_color col);
 	virtual void updateColor(LColor_color col);
 	virtual void registerSocketCallback(
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiClipboard.C b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiClipboard.C
index e84c0162d7..03c1c2b40f 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiClipboard.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiClipboard.C
@@ -29,12 +29,7 @@ using lyx::support::externalLineEnding;
 using std::endl;
 using std::string;
 
-
-namespace {
-
-char const * const mime_type = "application/x-lyx";
-
-}
+static char const * const mime_type = "application/x-lyx";
 
 
 namespace lyx {
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.C b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.C
index 7f71631e76..2c473882fc 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.C
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ using std::string;
 namespace lyx {
 namespace frontend {
 
-GuiFontLoader::~GuiFontLoader() {
-}
-
 namespace {
 
 struct symbol_font {
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.h b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.h
index 71d10b26d2..e9b28d5813 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiFontLoader.h
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ public:
 
 
 /// Hold info about a particular font
-class GuiFontLoader: public FontLoader 
+class GuiFontLoader : public FontLoader 
 {
 public:
 	///
 	GuiFontLoader();
 	
 	/// Destructor
-	virtual ~GuiFontLoader();
+	virtual ~GuiFontLoader() {}
 
 	virtual void update();
 	virtual bool available(LyXFont const & f);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.C b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.C
index 2b7b941a89..16506d4718 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.C
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ docstring const GuiSelection::get() const
 
 void GuiSelection::put(docstring const & str)
 {
-	LYXERR(Debug::ACTION) << "GuiSelection::put: " << lyx::to_utf8(str) << endl;
+	LYXERR(Debug::ACTION) << "GuiSelection::put: " << to_utf8(str) << endl;
 
 	qApp->clipboard()->setText(toqstr(externalLineEnding(str)),
 	                           QClipboard::Selection);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.h b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.h
index 8ffed6d326..d1fa749a8d 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiSelection.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace frontend {
 /**
  * The Qt4 version of the Selection.
  */
-class GuiSelection: public Selection
+class GuiSelection : public Selection
 {
 public:
 	virtual ~GuiSelection() {}
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.h b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.h
index 7e87cc1d89..dd1c2ca76d 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiView.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public:
 	/// add toolbar, if newline==true, add a toolbar break before the toolbar
 	Toolbars::ToolbarPtr makeToolbar(ToolbarInfo const & tbinfo, bool newline);
 	virtual void updateStatusBar();
-	virtual void message(lyx::docstring const & str);
+	virtual void message(docstring const & str);
 	virtual void clearMessage();
 	virtual bool hasFocus() const;
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ private:
 	 * @param t main window title
 	 * @param it iconified (short) title
 	 */
-	virtual void setWindowTitle(lyx::docstring const & t, lyx::docstring const & it);
+	virtual void setWindowTitle(docstring const & t, docstring const & it);
 
 	/// in order to catch Tab key press.
 	bool event(QEvent * e);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiWorkArea.C b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiWorkArea.C
index 9db4e44aaa..a06303ab73 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/GuiWorkArea.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/GuiWorkArea.C
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ void GuiWorkArea::inputMethodEvent(QInputMethodEvent * e)
 		rLength = 0;
 	}
 
-	int const right_margin = lyx::rightMargin();
+	int const right_margin = rightMargin();
 	Painter::preedit_style ps;
 	// Most often there would be only one line:
 	preedit_lines_ = 1;
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/InsertTableWidget.C b/src/frontends/qt4/InsertTableWidget.C
index ac34dac72e..0868c6353a 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/InsertTableWidget.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/InsertTableWidget.C
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ void InsertTableWidget::drawGrid(int const rows, int const cols, Qt::GlobalColor
 
 void InsertTableWidget::updateParent()
 {
-	bool status = lyx::getStatus(FuncRequest(LFUN_TABULAR_INSERT)).enabled();
+	bool status = getStatus(FuncRequest(LFUN_TABULAR_INSERT)).enabled();
 	parentWidget()->setEnabled(status);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QBibtex.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QBibtex.C
index 81fd9ab98c..61b428d592 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QBibtex.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QBibtex.C
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ void QBibtex::apply()
 		controller().params()["options"] = "bibtotoc," + bibstyle;
 	} else if (bibtotoc) {
 		// bibtotoc and no style
-		controller().params()["options"] = lyx::from_ascii("bibtotoc");
+		controller().params()["options"] = from_ascii("bibtotoc");
 	} else {
 		// only style. An empty one is valid, because some
 		// documentclasses have an own \bibliographystyle{}
@@ -385,13 +385,13 @@ void QBibtex::apply()
 
 	switch (btp) {
 	case 0:
-		controller().params()["btprint"] = lyx::from_ascii("btPrintCited");
+		controller().params()["btprint"] = from_ascii("btPrintCited");
 		break;
 	case 1:
-		controller().params()["btprint"] = lyx::from_ascii("btPrintNotCited");
+		controller().params()["btprint"] = from_ascii("btPrintNotCited");
 		break;
 	case 2:
-		controller().params()["btprint"] = lyx::from_ascii("btPrintAll");
+		controller().params()["btprint"] = from_ascii("btPrintAll");
 		break;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QBox.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QBox.C
index b4916170ad..675554c637 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QBox.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QBox.C
@@ -60,13 +60,13 @@ QBoxDialog::QBoxDialog(QBox * form)
 
 	connect(widthED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString &)),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
-	connect(widthUnitsLC, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)),
+	connect(widthUnitsLC, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	connect(valignCO, SIGNAL(highlighted(const QString &)),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	connect(heightED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString &)),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
-	connect(heightUnitsLC, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT) ),
+	connect(heightUnitsLC, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT) ),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	connect(restorePB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(restoreClicked()));
 	connect(typeCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QCitation.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QCitation.C
index 512d00b296..9200704115 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QCitation.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QCitation.C
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/**
+/*
  * \file QCitation.C
  * This file is part of LyX, the document processor.
  * Licence details can be found in the file COPYING.
@@ -27,13 +27,11 @@ using std::vector;
 using std::string;
 
 
-namespace {
-
 template<typename String> static QStringList to_qstring_list(vector<String> const & v)
 {
 	QStringList qlist;
 
-	for (size_t i=0; i != v.size(); ++i) {
+	for (size_t i = 0; i != v.size(); ++i) {
 		if (v[i].empty())
 			continue;
 		qlist.append(lyx::toqstr(v[i]));
@@ -42,7 +40,7 @@ template<typename String> static QStringList to_qstring_list(vector<String> cons
 }
 
 
-vector<string> const to_string_vector(QStringList const & qlist)
+static vector<string> const to_string_vector(QStringList const & qlist)
 {
 	vector<string> v;
 	for (int i = 0; i != qlist.size(); ++i) {
@@ -53,8 +51,6 @@ vector<string> const to_string_vector(QStringList const & qlist)
 	return v;
 }
 
-}
-
 
 namespace lyx {
 namespace frontend {
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QDialogView.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QDialogView.C
index 7e7a86191e..28fbd6a2ef 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QDialogView.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QDialogView.C
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 #include "controllers/ButtonController.h"
 
-using lyx::docstring;
 
 namespace lyx {
 namespace frontend {
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QDocument.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QDocument.C
index 1693adbf7b..39a1702665 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QDocument.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QDocument.C
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ QDocumentDialog::QDocumentDialog(QDocument * form)
 			latexModule->classCO->addItem(toqstr(cit->description()));
 		} else {
 			docstring item =
-				bformat(_("Unavailable: %1$s"), lyx::from_utf8(cit->description()));
+				bformat(_("Unavailable: %1$s"), from_utf8(cit->description()));
 			latexModule->classCO->addItem(toqstr(item));
 		}
 	}
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ void QDocumentDialog::classChanged()
 	ControlDocument & cntrl = form_->controller();
 	BufferParams & params = cntrl.params();
 
-	lyx::textclass_type const tc = latexModule->classCO->currentIndex();
+	textclass_type const tc = latexModule->classCO->currentIndex();
 
 	if (form_->controller().loadTextclass(tc)) {
 		params.textclass = tc;
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QErrorList.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QErrorList.C
index 5bcbed209a..f5fe58d7d1 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QErrorList.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QErrorList.C
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ typedef QController<ControlErrorList, QView<QErrorListDialog> >
 	ErrorListBase;
 
 QErrorList::QErrorList(Dialog & parent)
-	: ErrorListBase(parent, lyx::docstring())
+	: ErrorListBase(parent, docstring())
 {}
 
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ void QErrorList::select(QListWidgetItem * wi)
 
 void QErrorList::update_contents()
 {
-	setTitle(lyx::from_utf8(controller().name()));
+	setTitle(from_utf8(controller().name()));
 	dialog_->errorsLW->clear();
 	dialog_->descriptionTB->setPlainText(QString());
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QExternal.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QExternal.C
index 6ff368b3e9..460d8802e3 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QExternal.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QExternal.C
@@ -69,38 +69,54 @@ QExternalDialog::QExternalDialog(QExternal * form)
 	: form_(form)
 {
 	setupUi(this);
-	connect(okPB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
-		form, SLOT(slotOK()));
-	connect(applyPB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
-		form, SLOT(slotApply()));
-	connect(closePB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
-		form, SLOT(slotClose()));
+	connect(okPB, SIGNAL(clicked()), form, SLOT(slotOK()));
+	connect(applyPB, SIGNAL(clicked()), form, SLOT(slotApply()));
+	connect(closePB, SIGNAL(clicked()), form, SLOT(slotClose()));
 
-	connect( displayCB, SIGNAL( toggled(bool) ), showCO, SLOT( setEnabled(bool) ) );
-	connect( displayCB, SIGNAL( toggled(bool) ), displayscaleED, SLOT( setEnabled(bool) ) );
-	connect( showCO, SIGNAL( activated(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( originCO, SIGNAL( activated(int) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( aspectratioCB, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( browsePB, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( browseClicked() ) );
-	connect( editPB, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( editClicked() ) );
-	connect( externalCO, SIGNAL( activated(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( templateChanged() ) );
-	connect( extraED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( extraChanged(const QString&) ) );
-	connect( extraFormatCO, SIGNAL( activated(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( formatChanged(const QString&) ) );
-	connect( widthUnitCO, SIGNAL( activated(int) ), this, SLOT( widthUnitChanged() ) );
-	connect( heightUnitCO, SIGNAL( selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( displayCB, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( displayscaleED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( angleED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( widthED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( sizeChanged() ) );
-	connect( heightED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( sizeChanged() ) );
-	connect( fileED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( clipCB, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect( getbbPB, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( getbbClicked() ) );
-	connect( xrED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( bbChanged() ) );
-	connect( ytED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( bbChanged() ) );
-	connect( xlED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( bbChanged() ) );
-	connect( ybED, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ), this, SLOT( bbChanged() ) );
-	connect( draftCB, SIGNAL( clicked() ), this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
+	connect(displayCB, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)),
+		showCO, SLOT(setEnabled(bool)));
+	connect(displayCB, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)),
+		displayscaleED, SLOT(setEnabled(bool)));
+	connect(showCO, SIGNAL(activated(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(originCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(aspectratioCB, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(browsePB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		this, SLOT(browseClicked()));
+	connect(editPB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		this, SLOT(editClicked()));
+	connect(externalCO, SIGNAL(activated(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(templateChanged()));
+	connect(extraED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(extraChanged(const QString&)));
+	connect(extraFormatCO, SIGNAL(activated(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(formatChanged(const QString&)));
+	connect(widthUnitCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(widthUnitChanged()));
+	connect(heightUnitCO, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(displayCB, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(displayscaleED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(angleED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(widthED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(sizeChanged()));
+	connect(heightED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(sizeChanged()));
+	connect(fileED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(clipCB, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(getbbPB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(getbbClicked()));
+	connect(xrED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)), this, SLOT(bbChanged()));
+	connect(ytED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)), this, SLOT(bbChanged()));
+	connect(xlED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)), this, SLOT(bbChanged()));
+	connect(ybED, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)), this, SLOT(bbChanged()));
+	connect(draftCB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 
 	QIntValidator * validator = new QIntValidator(displayscaleED);
 	validator->setBottom(1);
@@ -167,7 +183,7 @@ void QExternalDialog::browseClicked()
 {
 	int const choice =  externalCO->currentIndex();
 	docstring const template_name = 
-		lyx::from_utf8(form_->controller().getTemplate(choice).lyxName);
+		from_utf8(form_->controller().getTemplate(choice).lyxName);
 	docstring const str =
 		form_->controller().browse(qstring_to_ucs4(fileED->text()),
 					   template_name);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QGraphicsDialog.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QGraphicsDialog.C
index b0939ec093..ba98ed817c 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QGraphicsDialog.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QGraphicsDialog.C
@@ -43,40 +43,40 @@ QGraphicsDialog::QGraphicsDialog(QGraphics * form)
 {
 	setupUi(this);
 	//main buttons
-	connect(okPB, SIGNAL( clicked() ),
-		form, SLOT( slotOK() ) );
-	connect(applyPB, SIGNAL( clicked() ),
-		form, SLOT( slotApply() ) );
-	connect(closePB, SIGNAL( clicked() ),
-		form, SLOT( slotClose() ) );
-	connect(restorePB, SIGNAL( clicked() ),
-		form, SLOT( slotRestore() ) );
+	connect(okPB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		form, SLOT(slotOK()));
+	connect(applyPB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		form, SLOT(slotApply()));
+	connect(closePB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		form, SLOT(slotClose()));
+	connect(restorePB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		form, SLOT(slotRestore()));
 	
 	//graphics pane
-	connect(filename, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(WidthCB, SIGNAL(  clicked() ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(HeightCB, SIGNAL(  clicked() ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(Width, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(Height, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(heightUnit, SIGNAL( selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(widthUnit, SIGNAL( selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(aspectratio, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(angle, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(origin, SIGNAL( activated(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(scaleCB, SIGNAL( clicked() ),
-		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()) );
-	connect(Scale, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
+	connect(filename, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(WidthCB, SIGNAL( clicked()),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(HeightCB, SIGNAL( clicked()),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(Width, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(Height, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(heightUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(widthUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(aspectratio, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(angle, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(origin, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(scaleCB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(Scale, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	
 	filename->setValidator(new PathValidator(true, filename));
 	setFocusProxy(filename);
@@ -90,26 +90,26 @@ QGraphicsDialog::QGraphicsDialog(QGraphics * form)
 	angle->setValidator(new QDoubleValidator(-360, 360, 2, angle));
 
 	//clipping pane
-	connect(clip, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(lbY, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(lbYunit, SIGNAL( activated(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(rtY, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(rtYunit, SIGNAL( activated(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(lbX, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(lbXunit, SIGNAL( activated(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(rtX, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(rtXunit, SIGNAL( activated(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_bb() ) );
-	connect(getPB, SIGNAL( clicked() ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
+	connect(clip, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(lbY, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(lbYunit, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(rtY, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(rtYunit, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(lbX, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(lbXunit, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(rtX, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(rtXunit, SIGNAL(activated(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_bb()));
+	connect(getPB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	
 	lbX->setValidator(new QDoubleValidator(lbX));
 	lbY->setValidator(new QDoubleValidator(lbY));
@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ QGraphicsDialog::QGraphicsDialog(QGraphics * form)
 	rtY->setValidator(new QDoubleValidator(rtY));
 
 	//extra options pane
-	connect(latexoptions, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(draftCB, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(unzipCB, SIGNAL( stateChanged(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
+	connect(latexoptions, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(draftCB, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(unzipCB, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	// FIXME: we should connect to clicked() when we move to Qt 4.2	because
 	// the toggled(bool) signal is also trigged when we update the widgets
 	// (rgh-4/07) this isn't as much or a problem as it was, because we're now
@@ -130,16 +130,16 @@ QGraphicsDialog::QGraphicsDialog(QGraphics * form)
 	// setChecked(). Note, too, that clicked() would get called whenever it
 	// is clicked, even right clicked (I think), not just whenever it is
 	// toggled.
-	connect(subfigure, SIGNAL( toggled(bool) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(subcaption, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(displayGB, SIGNAL( toggled(bool) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(showCB, SIGNAL( currentIndexChanged(int) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
-	connect(displayscale, SIGNAL( textChanged(const QString&) ),
-		this, SLOT( change_adaptor() ) );
+	connect(subfigure, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(subcaption, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(displayGB, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(showCB, SIGNAL(currentIndexChanged(int)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
+	connect(displayscale, SIGNAL(textChanged(const QString&)),
+		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 	displayscale->setValidator(new QIntValidator(displayscale));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QIndex.h b/src/frontends/qt4/QIndex.h
index a49bdc5a3f..ea5e64f10e 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QIndex.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QIndex.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ private:
 	QIndex * form_;
 };
 
+
 class ControlCommand;
 
 class QIndex :
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ class QIndex :
 public:
 	friend class QIndexDialog;
 
-	QIndex(Dialog &, lyx::docstring const & title, QString const & label);
+	QIndex(Dialog &, docstring const & title, QString const & label);
 protected:
 	virtual bool isValid();
 private:
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.C
index 6cbaf522fc..95789bfd9b 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.C
@@ -32,13 +32,7 @@ using std::pair;
 using std::string;
 using std::endl;
 
-namespace {
-
-} // namespace anon
-
 namespace lyx {
-
-
 namespace frontend {
 
 // MacOSX specific stuff is at the end.
@@ -48,17 +42,18 @@ QLMenubar::QLMenubar(LyXView * view, MenuBackend & mbe)
 {
 	macxMenuBarInit();
 
-	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "populating menu bar" << lyx::to_utf8(menubackend_.getMenubar().name()) << endl;
+	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "populating menu bar" << to_utf8(menubackend_.getMenubar().name()) << endl;
 
 	if (menubackend_.getMenubar().size() == 0) {
-		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: empty menu bar" << lyx::to_utf8(menubackend_.getMenubar().name()) << endl;
+		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: empty menu bar"
+			<< to_utf8(menubackend_.getMenubar().name()) << endl;
 		return;
 		//			continue;
 	}
 	else {
-		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "menu bar entries " << menubackend_.getMenubar().size();
+		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "menu bar entries "
+			<< menubackend_.getMenubar().size();
 	}
-	//	for (; m != end; ++m) {
 
 	Menu menu;
 	menubackend_.expand(menubackend_.getMenubar(), menu, owner_->buffer());
@@ -69,15 +64,18 @@ QLMenubar::QLMenubar(LyXView * view, MenuBackend & mbe)
 	for (; m != end; ++m) {
 
 		if (m->kind() != MenuItem::Submenu) {
-			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: not a submenu " << lyx::to_utf8(m->label()) << endl;
+			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: not a submenu "
+				<< to_utf8(m->label()) << endl;
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "menu bar item " << lyx::to_utf8(m->label()) << " is a submenu named " << lyx::to_utf8(m->submenuname()) << endl;
+		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "menu bar item " << to_utf8(m->label())
+			<< " is a submenu named " << to_utf8(m->submenuname()) << endl;
 
 		docstring name = m->submenuname();
 		if (!menubackend_.hasMenu(name)) {
-			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: " << lyx::to_utf8(name) << " submenu has no menu!" << endl;
+			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: " << to_utf8(name)
+				<< " submenu has no menu!" << endl;
 			continue;
 		}
 
@@ -89,7 +87,8 @@ QLMenubar::QLMenubar(LyXView * view, MenuBackend & mbe)
 
 		pair<NameMap::iterator, bool> I = name_map_.insert(make_pair(name, qMenu));
 		if (!I.second) {
-			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: " << lyx::to_utf8(name) << " submenu is already there!" << endl;
+			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: " << to_utf8(name)
+				<< " submenu is already there!" << endl;
 		}
 /*
 		QObject::connect(qMenu, SIGNAL(aboutToShow()), this, SLOT(update()));
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.h b/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.h
index 28382c780a..cbcdab6b54 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLMenubar.h
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ class Menu;
 class MenuItem;
 
 namespace lyx {
-
-
 namespace frontend {
 
 class GuiView;
@@ -41,7 +39,7 @@ public:
 	QLMenubar(LyXView *, MenuBackend &);
 
 	/// opens a top-level submenu given its name
-	void openByName(lyx::docstring const &);
+	void openByName(docstring const &);
 
 	/// return the owning view
 	GuiView * view();
@@ -69,7 +67,7 @@ private:
 	/// menu controller
 	MenuBackend & menubackend_;
 
-	typedef std::map<lyx::docstring, QLPopupMenu *> NameMap;
+	typedef std::map<docstring, QLPopupMenu *> NameMap;
 
 	/// name to menu for openByName
 	NameMap name_map_;
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLPainter.h b/src/frontends/qt4/QLPainter.h
index 3050ea4946..5a5c72d814 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLPainter.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLPainter.h
@@ -90,11 +90,10 @@ public:
 
 	/// draw a string at position x, y (y is the baseline)
 	virtual int text(int x, int y,
-		lyx::docstring const & str, LyXFont const & f);
+		docstring const & str, LyXFont const & f);
 
 	/// draw a char at position x, y (y is the baseline)
-	virtual int text(int x, int y,
-                lyx::char_type c, LyXFont const & f);
+	virtual int text(int x, int y, char_type c, LyXFont const & f);
 
 private:
 	/// draw small caps text
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.C
index c1b0782e48..f3b6d1f007 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.C
@@ -32,15 +32,10 @@ using std::string;
 using std::pair;
 using std::endl;
 
-namespace {
-
-} // namespace anon
 
 namespace lyx {
-
 namespace frontend {
 
-
 QLPopupMenu::QLPopupMenu(QLMenubar * owner,
 						 MenuItem const & mi, bool topLevelMenu)
 	: owner_(owner)
@@ -54,11 +49,10 @@ QLPopupMenu::QLPopupMenu(QLMenubar * owner,
 }
 
 
-
 void QLPopupMenu::update()
 {
 	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << BOOST_CURRENT_FUNCTION << endl;
-	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tTriggered menu: " << lyx::to_utf8(name_) << endl;
+	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tTriggered menu: " << to_utf8(name_) << endl;
 
 	clear();
 
@@ -72,16 +66,18 @@ void QLPopupMenu::update()
 	owner_->backend().expand(fromLyxMenu, topLevelMenu_, owner_->view()->buffer());
 
 	if (!owner_->backend().hasMenu(topLevelMenu_.name())) {
-		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tWARNING: menu seems empty" << lyx::to_utf8(topLevelMenu_.name()) << endl;
+		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tWARNING: menu seems empty"	
+			<< to_utf8(topLevelMenu_.name()) << endl;
 	}
 	populate(this, &topLevelMenu_);
 }
 
 void QLPopupMenu::populate(QMenu* qMenu, Menu * menu)
 {
-	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "populating menu " << lyx::to_utf8(menu->name()) ;
+	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "populating menu " << to_utf8(menu->name()) ;
 	if (menu->size() == 0) {
-		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: empty menu " << lyx::to_utf8(menu->name()) << endl;
+		LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "\tERROR: empty menu "
+			<< to_utf8(menu->name()) << endl;
 		return;
 	}
 	else {
@@ -100,13 +96,15 @@ void QLPopupMenu::populate(QMenu* qMenu, Menu * menu)
 
 		} else if (m->kind() == MenuItem::Submenu) {
 
-			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "** creating New Sub-Menu " << lyx::to_utf8(getLabel(*m)) << endl;
+			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "** creating New Sub-Menu "
+				<< to_utf8(getLabel(*m)) << endl;
 			QMenu * subMenu = qMenu->addMenu(toqstr(getLabel(*m)));
 			populate(subMenu, m->submenu());
 
 		} else { // we have a MenuItem::Command
 
-			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "creating Menu Item " << lyx::to_utf8(m->label()) << endl;
+			LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "creating Menu Item "
+				<< to_utf8(m->label()) << endl;
 
 			docstring label = getLabel(*m);
 			addBinding(label, *m);
@@ -118,12 +116,12 @@ void QLPopupMenu::populate(QMenu* qMenu, Menu * menu)
 	}
 }
 
+
 docstring const QLPopupMenu::getLabel(MenuItem const & mi)
 {
 	docstring const shortcut = mi.shortcut();
 	docstring label = support::subst(mi.label(),
-				      lyx::from_ascii("&"),
-				      lyx::from_ascii("&&"));
+	from_ascii("&"), from_ascii("&&"));
 
 	if (!shortcut.empty()) {
 		docstring::size_type pos = label.find(shortcut);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.h b/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.h
index c565990e16..f397e4cd11 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLPopupMenu.h
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@ private:
 	QLMenubar * owner_;
 
 	/// the name of this menu
-	lyx::docstring name_;
+	docstring name_;
 
 private:
 	/// Get a Menu item label from the menu backend
-	lyx::docstring const getLabel(MenuItem const & mi);
+	docstring const getLabel(MenuItem const & mi);
 
 	/// add binding keys a the menu item label.
-	void addBinding(lyx::docstring & label, MenuItem const & mi);
+	void addBinding(docstring & label, MenuItem const & mi);
 
 	/// Top Level Menu
 	Menu topLevelMenu_;
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLToolbar.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QLToolbar.C
index dc539912f5..756d6d0560 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLToolbar.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLToolbar.C
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ void QLToolbar::add(ToolbarItem const & item)
 		ToolbarInfo::item_iterator it = tbinfo.items.begin();
 		ToolbarInfo::item_iterator const end = tbinfo.items.end();
 		for (; it != end; ++it) 
-			if (!lyx::getStatus(it->func_).unknown()) {
+			if (!getStatus(it->func_).unknown()) {
 				Action * action = new Action(owner_,
 					getIcon(it->func_),
 					it->label_,
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ void QLToolbar::add(ToolbarItem const & item)
 		ToolbarInfo::item_iterator it = tbinfo.items.begin();
 		ToolbarInfo::item_iterator const end = tbinfo.items.end();
 		for (; it != end; ++it)
-			if (!lyx::getStatus(it->func_).unknown()) {
+			if (!getStatus(it->func_).unknown()) {
 				Action * action = new Action(owner_,
 					getIcon(it->func_, false),
 					it->label_,
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ void QLToolbar::add(ToolbarItem const & item)
 		break;
 		}
 	case ToolbarItem::COMMAND: {
-		if (lyx::getStatus(item.func_).unknown())
+		if (getStatus(item.func_).unknown())
 			break;
 
 		Action * action = new Action(owner_,
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QLog.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QLog.C
index 11b51ba7eb..dcd519a53c 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QLog.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QLog.C
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void LogHighlighter::highlightBlock(QString const & text)
 typedef QController<ControlLog, QView<QLogDialog> > LogBase;
 
 QLog::QLog(Dialog & parent)
-	: LogBase(parent, lyx::docstring())
+	: LogBase(parent, docstring())
 {}
 
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefs.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefs.C
index 23ff4e837c..a822f75ce4 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefs.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefs.C
@@ -1181,7 +1181,7 @@ class SamePrettyName {
 public:
 	SamePrettyName(string const & n) : pretty_name_(n) {}
 
-	bool operator()(lyx::Format const & fmt) const {
+	bool operator()(Format const & fmt) const {
 		return fmt.prettyname() == pretty_name_;
 	}
 
@@ -1192,8 +1192,8 @@ private:
 
 Format const * getFormat(std::string const & prettyname)
 {
-	Formats::const_iterator it = lyx::formats.begin();
-	Formats::const_iterator const end = lyx::formats.end();
+	Formats::const_iterator it = formats.begin();
+	Formats::const_iterator const end = formats.end();
 	it = std::find_if(it, end, SamePrettyName(prettyname));
 	return it == end ? 0 : &*it;
 }
@@ -1595,8 +1595,7 @@ PrefLanguage::PrefLanguage(QWidget * parent)
 	defaultLanguageCO->clear();
 
 	// store the lang identifiers for later
-	std::vector<LanguagePair> const langs =
-		lyx::frontend::getLanguageData(false);
+	std::vector<LanguagePair> const langs = frontend::getLanguageData(false);
 	lang_ = getSecond(langs);
 
 	std::vector<LanguagePair>::const_iterator lit  = langs.begin();
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QRef.h b/src/frontends/qt4/QRef.h
index 19c006db07..c175655afd 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QRef.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QRef.h
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ private:
 	int restored_buffer_;
 
 	/// the references
-	std::vector<lyx::docstring> refs_;
+	std::vector<docstring> refs_;
 };
 
 } // namespace frontend
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QTabular.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QTabular.C
index 21aa2c4e3d..8969ed98c3 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QTabular.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QTabular.C
@@ -56,17 +56,17 @@ QTabularDialog::QTabularDialog(QTabular * form)
 
 	connect(topspaceED, SIGNAL(returnPressed()),
 	        this, SLOT(topspace_changed()));
-	connect(topspaceUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)),
+	connect(topspaceUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
 	        this, SLOT(topspace_changed()));
 	connect(topspaceCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(topspace_changed()));
 	connect(bottomspaceED, SIGNAL(returnPressed()),
 	        this, SLOT(bottomspace_changed()));
-	connect(bottomspaceUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)),
+	connect(bottomspaceUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
 	        this, SLOT(bottomspace_changed()));
 	connect(bottomspaceCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(bottomspace_changed()));
 	connect(interlinespaceED, SIGNAL(returnPressed()),
 	        this, SLOT(interlinespace_changed()));
-	connect(interlinespaceUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)),
+	connect(interlinespaceUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
 	        this, SLOT(interlinespace_changed()));
 	connect(interlinespaceCO, SIGNAL(activated(int)), this, SLOT(interlinespace_changed()));
 	connect(booktabsRB, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(booktabsChanged(bool)));
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ QTabularDialog::QTabularDialog(QTabular * form)
 	connect(lastfooterNoContentsCB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(ltLastFooterEmpty_clicked()));
 	connect(specialAlignmentED, SIGNAL(returnPressed()), this, SLOT(specialAlignment_changed()));
 	connect(widthED, SIGNAL(returnPressed()), this, SLOT(width_changed()));
-	connect(widthUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)), this, SLOT(width_changed()));
+	connect(widthUnit, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)), this, SLOT(width_changed()));
 	connect(closePB, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(close_clicked()));
 	connect(borders, SIGNAL(topSet(bool)), this, SLOT(topBorder_changed()));
 	connect(borders, SIGNAL(bottomSet(bool)), this, SLOT(bottomBorder_changed()));
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QToc.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QToc.C
index 7fa122c839..ea308c0fb0 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QToc.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QToc.C
@@ -99,9 +99,7 @@ void QToc::goTo(int type, QModelIndex const & index)
 
 	TocIterator const it = toc_models_[type]->tocIterator(index);
 	
-	LYXERR(Debug::GUI)
-		<< "QToc::goTo " << lyx::to_utf8(it->str())
-		<< endl;
+	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "QToc::goTo " << to_utf8(it->str()) << endl;
 
 	ControlToc::goTo(*it);
 }
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QVSpace.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QVSpace.C
index e991aefe58..4d9ca14d14 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QVSpace.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QVSpace.C
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ QVSpaceDialog::QVSpaceDialog(QVSpace * form)
 		this, SLOT(enableCustom(int)));
 	connect(keepCB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
-	connect(unitCO, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(lyx::LyXLength::UNIT)),
+	connect(unitCO, SIGNAL(selectionChanged(LyXLength::UNIT)),
 		this, SLOT(change_adaptor()));
 
 	valueLE->setValidator(unsignedLengthValidator(valueLE));
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.C b/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.C
index be3c9b722e..811ceecdb7 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.C
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 #include <QPushButton>
 #include <QLineEdit>
 
-using lyx::docstring;
-
 namespace lyx {
 namespace frontend {
 
@@ -37,16 +35,12 @@ void Qt2BC::setButtonEnabled(QPushButton * obj, bool enabled) const
 void Qt2BC::setWidgetEnabled(QWidget * obj, bool enabled) const
 {
 	// yuck, rtti, but the user comes first
-	if (obj->inherits("QLineEdit")) {
-		QLineEdit * le(static_cast<QLineEdit*>(obj));
+	if (QLineEdit * le = qobject_cast<QLineEdit*>(obj))
 		le->setReadOnly(!enabled);
-	} else {
+	else
 		obj->setEnabled(enabled);
-	}
 
-	Qt::FocusPolicy const p =
-		(enabled) ? Qt::StrongFocus : Qt::NoFocus;
-	obj->setFocusPolicy(p);
+	obj->setFocusPolicy(enabled ? Qt::StrongFocus : Qt::NoFocus);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.h b/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.h
index e71a16a1cf..9ba55e2685 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/Qt2BC.h
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ class Qt2BC : public GuiBC<QPushButton, QWidget> {
 public:
 	///
 	Qt2BC(ButtonController const &,
-	      lyx::docstring const & = _("Cancel"),
-	      lyx::docstring const & = _("Close"));
+	      docstring const & = _("Cancel"),
+	      docstring const & = _("Close"));
 private:
 	/// Updates the button sensitivity (enabled/disabled)
 	void setButtonEnabled(QPushButton *, bool enabled) const;
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ private:
 	void setWidgetEnabled(QWidget *, bool enabled) const;
 
 	/// Set the label on the button
-	void setButtonLabel(QPushButton *, lyx::docstring const & label) const;
+	void setButtonLabel(QPushButton *, docstring const & label) const;
 };
 
 } // namespace frontend
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/TocModel.C b/src/frontends/qt4/TocModel.C
index 7dc4e56e53..8f923d89f4 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/TocModel.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/TocModel.C
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void TocModel::populate(Toc const & toc)
 
 			LYXERR(Debug::GUI)
 				<< "Toc: at depth " << iter->depth()
-				<< ", added item " << lyx::to_utf8(iter->str())
+				<< ", added item " << to_utf8(iter->str())
 				<< endl;
 
 			populate(iter, end, top_level_item);
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.C b/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.C
index 9e0c77fe69..b0e5f46b18 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.C
@@ -58,11 +58,10 @@ PanelStack::PanelStack(QWidget * parent)
 
 void PanelStack::addCategory(docstring const & n, docstring const & parent)
 {
-	QTreeWidgetItem * item;
+	QTreeWidgetItem * item = 0;
+	QString const name = toqstr(n);
 
-	QString const name(toqstr(n));
-
-	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "addCategory n= " << lyx::to_utf8(n) << "   parent= " << endl;
+	LYXERR(Debug::GUI) << "addCategory n= " << to_utf8(n) << "   parent= " << endl;
 
 	int depth = 1;
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.h b/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.h
index 8ea60c4b4e..ff8948683e 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.h
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/panelstack.h
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 #include <QWidget>
 
 #include <map>
-#include <string>
-
 
 class QTreeWidget;
 class QTreeWidgetItem;
@@ -35,23 +33,24 @@ public:
 	PanelStack(QWidget * parent = 0);
 
 	/// add a category with no associated panel
-	void addCategory(lyx::docstring const & name,
-		lyx::docstring const & parent = lyx::docstring());
+	void addCategory(docstring const & name,
+		docstring const & parent = docstring());
 
 	/// add a widget panel with a given name, under the given parent
-	void addPanel(QWidget * panel, lyx::docstring const & name,
-		lyx::docstring const & parent = lyx::docstring());
+	void addPanel(QWidget * panel, docstring const & name,
+		docstring const & parent = docstring());
 
 	/// set current panel by logical name
-	void setCurrentPanel(lyx::docstring const &);
+	void setCurrentPanel(docstring const &);
 
 	virtual QSize sizeHint() const;
+
 public Q_SLOTS:
 	/// set current panel from an item
-	void switchPanel(QTreeWidgetItem * i, QTreeWidgetItem* previous=0);
+	void switchPanel(QTreeWidgetItem * it, QTreeWidgetItem * previous = 0);
 
 private:
-	typedef std::map<lyx::docstring, QTreeWidgetItem *> PanelMap;
+	typedef std::map<docstring, QTreeWidgetItem *> PanelMap;
 
 	PanelMap panel_map_;
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/qt_helpers.C b/src/frontends/qt4/qt_helpers.C
index e1709a2c92..c1fd07035a 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/qt_helpers.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/qt_helpers.C
@@ -134,9 +134,11 @@ void setAutoTextCB(QCheckBox * checkBox, QLineEdit * lineEdit,
 	LengthCombo * lengthCombo) 
 {
 	if (!checkBox->isChecked()) 
-		lengthToWidgets(lineEdit, lengthCombo, "auto", lengthCombo->currentLengthItem());
+		lengthToWidgets(lineEdit, lengthCombo,
+		                "auto", lengthCombo->currentLengthItem());
 	else if (lineEdit->text() == "auto")
-		lengthToWidgets(lineEdit, lengthCombo, string(""), lengthCombo->currentLengthItem());
+		lengthToWidgets(lineEdit, lengthCombo, string(),
+		                lengthCombo->currentLengthItem());
 }
 
 
@@ -176,25 +178,25 @@ docstring const formatted(docstring const & text, int w)
 				      nxtpos2 < nxtpos1);
 
 		docstring const line_plus_word =
-			line.empty() ? word : line + lyx::char_type(' ') + word;
+			line.empty() ? word : line + char_type(' ') + word;
 
 		// FIXME: make w be size_t
 		if (int(line_plus_word.length()) >= w) {
-			sout += line + lyx::char_type('\n');
+			sout += line + char_type('\n');
 			if (newline) {
-				sout += word + lyx::char_type('\n');
+				sout += word + char_type('\n');
 				line.erase();
 			} else {
 				line = word;
 			}
 
 		} else if (newline) {
-			sout += line_plus_word + lyx::char_type('\n');
+			sout += line_plus_word + char_type('\n');
 			line.erase();
 
 		} else {
 			if (!line.empty())
-				line += lyx::char_type(' ');
+				line += char_type(' ');
 			line += word;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/validators.C b/src/frontends/qt4/validators.C
index 3020d2420c..e4cf2fe68e 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/validators.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/validators.C
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@
 #include <sstream>
 
 using lyx::support::isStrDbl;
-using lyx::docstring;
-
 using std::string;
 
 
@@ -141,9 +139,7 @@ PathValidator::PathValidator(bool acceptable_if_empty,
 {}
 
 
-namespace {
-
-docstring const printable_list(docstring const & invalid_chars)
+static docstring const printable_list(docstring const & invalid_chars)
 {
 	docstring s;
 	docstring::const_iterator const begin = invalid_chars.begin();
@@ -162,8 +158,6 @@ docstring const printable_list(docstring const & invalid_chars)
 	return s;
 }
 
-} // namespace anon
-
 
 QValidator::State PathValidator::validate(QString & qtext, int &) const
 {