diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 96c48d0..f2adbaf 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ Bugs:
 - default silk width has no business being hard-coded in obj.c
 - undelete only works if not much has changed since the deletion
 - focus should return to canvas if nobody else wants it
+- when in uninstantiated mode, objects can be changed and then manipulated
+  through the unchanged instance. Tricky to fix without an alternate means to
+  access the object list. (Getting there.)
 
 Code cleanup:
 - merge edit_unique with edit_name
@@ -67,8 +70,5 @@ Future directions:
 - advanced: silk line width
 - future: when encountering an error after a change, we could try to find the
   same element in the old instance, and select it
-- idea: run the sort algorithm of dump.c to generate a list of objects per
-  frame, then show the list per frame in the GUI, e.g., as an alternative to
-  the variables. Allow selection.
 - future: consider editing non-canvas items in place
 - near future: treat part name as pattern
diff --git a/dump.c b/dump.c
index 7f817fb..3dd23a7 100644
--- a/dump.c
+++ b/dump.c
@@ -20,6 +20,186 @@
 #include "dump.h"
 
 
+/* ----- order items ------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+
+static void add_item(struct order **curr, struct vec *vec, struct obj *obj)
+{
+	(*curr)->vec = vec;
+	(*curr)->obj = obj;
+	(*curr)++;
+}
+
+
+static int n_vec_refs(const struct vec *vec)
+{
+	const struct vec *walk;
+	int n;
+
+	n = 0;
+	for (walk = vec->frame->vecs; walk; walk = walk->next)
+		if (walk->base == vec)
+			n++;
+	return n;
+}
+
+
+/*
+ * "need" operates in two modes:
+ *
+ * - if "prev" is non-NULL, we're looking for objects that need to be put after
+ *   the current vector (in "prev"). Only those objects need to be put there
+ *   that have at least one base that isn't the frame's origin or already has a
+ *   name.
+ *
+ * - if "prev" is NULL, we're at the end of the frame. We have already used all
+ *   the . references we could, so now we have to find out which objects
+ *   haven't been dumped yet. "need" still returns the ones that had a need to
+ *   be dumped. Again, that's those that have at least one possible "." base.
+ *   Since this "." base will have been used by now, the object must have been
+ *   dumped.
+ */
+
+static int need(const struct vec *base, const struct vec *prev)
+{
+	if (!base)
+		return 0;
+	if (base->name)
+		return 0;
+	if (prev)
+		return base == prev;
+	return 1;
+}
+
+
+/*
+ * If we need a vector that's defined later, we have to defer dumping the
+ * object.
+ */
+
+static int later(const struct vec *base, const struct vec *prev)
+{
+	while (prev) {
+		if (base == prev)
+			return 1;
+		prev = prev->next;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
+static int may_put_obj_now(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *prev)
+{
+	int n, l;
+
+	n = need(obj->base, prev);
+	l = later(obj->base, prev);
+
+	switch (obj->type) {
+	case ot_frame:
+		break;
+	case ot_line:
+		n |= need(obj->u.line.other, prev);
+		l |= later(obj->u.line.other, prev);
+		break;
+	case ot_rect:
+		n |= need(obj->u.rect.other, prev);
+		l |= later(obj->u.rect.other, prev);
+		break;
+	case ot_pad:
+		n |= need(obj->u.pad.other, prev);
+		l |= later(obj->u.pad.other, prev);
+		break;
+	case ot_arc:
+		n |= need(obj->u.arc.start, prev);
+		n |= need(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
+		l |= later(obj->u.arc.start, prev);
+		l |= later(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
+		break;
+	case ot_meas:
+		return 0;
+	default:
+		abort();
+	}
+
+	return n && !l;
+}
+
+
+static void put_obj(struct order **curr, struct obj *obj,
+    struct vec *prev)
+{
+	if (obj->dumped)
+		return;
+	obj->dumped = 1;
+	add_item(curr, prev, obj);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Tricky logic ahead: when dumping a vector, we search for a vectors that
+ * depends on that vector for ".". If we find one, we dump it immediately after
+ * this vector.
+ */
+
+static void recurse_vec(struct order **curr, struct vec *vec)
+{
+	struct vec *next;
+	struct obj *obj;
+
+	add_item(curr, vec, NULL);
+	for (obj = vec->frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
+		if (may_put_obj_now(obj, vec))
+			put_obj(curr, obj, vec);
+	if (n_vec_refs(vec) == 1) {
+		for (next = vec->next; next->base != vec; next = next->next);
+		recurse_vec(curr, next);
+	}
+}
+
+
+static void order_vecs(struct order **curr, struct vec *vecs)
+{
+	struct vec *vec;
+
+	for (vec = vecs; vec; vec = vec->next)
+		if (!vec->base || n_vec_refs(vec->base) != 1)
+			recurse_vec(curr, vec);
+}
+
+
+struct order *order_frame(const struct frame *frame)
+{
+	struct order *order, *curr;
+	struct vec *vec;
+	struct obj *obj;
+	int n = 0;
+
+	for (vec = frame->vecs; vec; vec = vec->next)
+		n++;
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
+		if (obj->type != ot_meas)
+			n++;
+
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
+		obj->dumped = 0;
+
+	order = alloc_size(sizeof(*order)*(n+1));
+	curr = order;
+
+	order_vecs(&curr, frame->vecs);
+
+	/* frames based on @ (anything else ?) */
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
+		if (obj->type != ot_meas)
+			put_obj(&curr, obj, NULL);
+
+	assert(curr == order+n);
+	add_item(&curr, NULL, NULL);
+
+	return order;
+}
+
+
 /* ----- variables --------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 
@@ -114,101 +294,61 @@ static char *obj_base_name(const struct vec *base, const struct vec *prev)
 }
 
 
-static int n_vec_refs(const struct vec *vec)
+char *print_obj(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *prev)
 {
-	const struct vec *walk;
-	int n;
-
-	n = 0;
-	for (walk = vec->frame->vecs; walk; walk = walk->next)
-		if (walk->base == vec)
-			n++;
-	return n;
-}
-
-
-/*
- * "need" operates in two modes:
- *
- * - if "prev" is non-NULL, we're looking for objects that need to be put after
- *   the current vector (in "prev"). Only those objects need to be put there
- *   that have at least one base that isn't the frame's origin or already has a
- *   name.
- *
- * - if "prev" is NULL, we're at the end of the frame. We have already used all
- *   the . references we could, so now we have to find out which objects
- *   haven't been dumped yet. "need" still returns the ones that had a need to
- *   be dumped. Again, that's those that have at least one possible "." base.
- *   Since this "." base will have been used by now, the object must have been
- *   dumped.
- */
-
-static int need(const struct vec *base, const struct vec *prev)
-{
-	if (!base)
-		return 0;
-	if (base->name)
-		return 0;
-	if (prev)
-		return base == prev;
-	return 1;
-}
-
-
-/*
- * If we need a vector that's defined later, we have to defer dumping the
- * object.
- */
-
-static int later(const struct vec *base, const struct vec *prev)
-{
-	while (prev) {
-		if (base == prev)
-			return 1;
-		prev = prev->next;
-	}
-	return 0;
-}
-
-
-static int may_dump_obj_now(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *prev)
-{
-	int n, l;
-
-	n = need(obj->base, prev);
-	l = later(obj->base, prev);
+	char *base, *s, *s1, *s2, *s3;
 
+	base = obj_base_name(obj->base, prev);
 	switch (obj->type) {
 	case ot_frame:
+		s = stralloc_printf("frame %s %s",
+		    obj->u.frame.ref->name, base);
 		break;
 	case ot_line:
-		n |= need(obj->u.line.other, prev);
-		l |= later(obj->u.line.other, prev);
+		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.line.other, prev);
+		s2 = unparse(obj->u.line.width);
+		s = stralloc_printf("line %s %s %s", base, s1, s2);
+		free(s1);
+		free(s2);
 		break;
 	case ot_rect:
-		n |= need(obj->u.rect.other, prev);
-		l |= later(obj->u.rect.other, prev);
+		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.rect.other, prev);
+		s2 = unparse(obj->u.rect.width);
+		s = stralloc_printf("rect %s %s %s", base, s1, s2);
+		free(s1);
+		free(s2);
 		break;
 	case ot_pad:
-		n |= need(obj->u.pad.other, prev);
-		l |= later(obj->u.pad.other, prev);
+		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.pad.other, prev);
+		s = stralloc_printf("pad \"%s\" %s %s",
+		    obj->u.pad.name, base, s1);
+		free(s1);
 		break;
 	case ot_arc:
-		n |= need(obj->u.arc.start, prev);
-		n |= need(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
-		l |= later(obj->u.arc.start, prev);
-		l |= later(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
+		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.arc.start, prev);
+		s3 = unparse(obj->u.arc.width);
+		if (obj->u.arc.start == obj->u.arc.end) {
+			s = stralloc_printf("circ %s %s %s", base, s1, s3);
+		} else {
+			s2 = obj_base_name(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
+			s = stralloc_printf("arc %s %s %s %s",
+			    base, s1, s2, s3);
+			free(s2);
+		}
+		free(s1);
+		free(s3);
 		break;
-	case ot_meas:
-		return 0;
 	default:
 		abort();
 	}
-
-	return n && !l;
+	free(base);
+	return s;
 }
 
 
+/* ----- print measurement ------------------------------------------------- */
+
+
 static const char *meas_type_name[mt_n] = {
 	"meas", "measx", "measy",
 	"meas", "measx", "measy",
@@ -216,132 +356,79 @@ static const char *meas_type_name[mt_n] = {
 
 
 
-static void print_meas_base(FILE *file, struct vec *base)
+static char *print_meas_base(struct vec *base)
 {
-	if (base->frame != root_frame)
-		fprintf(file, "%s.", base->frame->name);
-	fprintf(file, "%s", base->name);
+	if (base->frame == root_frame)
+		return stralloc_printf("%s", base->name);
+	else
+		return stralloc_printf("%s.%s", base->frame->name, base->name);
 }
 
 
-static void dump_obj(FILE *file, struct obj *obj, const char *indent,
-    const struct vec *prev)
+char *print_meas(const struct obj *obj)
 {
-	char *base, *s1, *s2, *s3;
+	char *s, *t;
+	char *s1, *s2, *s3;
 
-	if (obj->dumped)
-		return;
-	obj->dumped = 1;
-	base = obj_base_name(obj->base, prev);
-	switch (obj->type) {
-	case ot_frame:
-		fprintf(file, "%sframe %s %s\n",
-		    indent, obj->u.frame.ref->name, base);
-		break;
-	case ot_line:
-		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.line.other, prev);
-		s2 = unparse(obj->u.line.width);
-		fprintf(file, "%sline %s %s %s\n", indent, base, s1, s2);
-		free(s1);
-		free(s2);
-		break;
-	case ot_rect:
-		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.rect.other, prev);
-		s2 = unparse(obj->u.rect.width);
-		fprintf(file, "%srect %s %s %s\n", indent, base, s1, s2);
-		free(s1);
-		free(s2);
-		break;
-	case ot_pad:
-		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.pad.other, prev);
-		fprintf(file, "%spad \"%s\" %s %s\n", indent,
-		    obj->u.pad.name, base, s1);
-		free(s1);
-		break;
-	case ot_arc:
-		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.arc.start, prev);
-		s3 = unparse(obj->u.arc.width);
-		if (obj->u.arc.start == obj->u.arc.end) {
-			fprintf(file, "%scirc %s %s %s\n",
-			    indent, base, s1, s3);
-		} else {
-			s2 = obj_base_name(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
-			fprintf(file, "%sarc %s %s %s %s\n", indent,
-			    base, s1, s2, s3);
-			free(s2);
-		}
-		free(s1);
-		free(s3);
-		break;
-	case ot_meas:
-		fprintf(file, "%s%s ", indent,
-		    meas_type_name[obj->u.meas.type]);
-		if (obj->u.meas.label)
-			fprintf(file, "\"%s\" ", obj->u.meas.label);
-		print_meas_base(file, obj->base);
-		fprintf(file, " %s ",
+	assert(obj->type == ot_meas);
+
+	s = stralloc_printf("%s ", meas_type_name[obj->u.meas.type]);
+	if (obj->u.meas.label) {
+		t = stralloc_printf("%s\"%s\" ", s, obj->u.meas.label);
+		free(s);
+		s = t;
+	}
+	s1 = print_meas_base(obj->base);
+	s2 = stralloc_printf(" %s ",
 		    obj->u.meas.type < 3 ? obj->u.meas.inverted ? "<-" : "->" :
 		    obj->u.meas.inverted ? "<<" : ">>");
-		print_meas_base(file, obj->u.meas.high);
-		if (!obj->u.meas.offset)
-			fprintf(file, "\n");
-		else {
-			s1 = unparse(obj->u.meas.offset);
-			fprintf(file, " %s\n", s1);
-			free(s1);
-		}
-		break;
-	default:
-		abort();
-	}
-	free(base);
+	s3 = print_meas_base(obj->u.meas.high);
+	t = stralloc_printf("%s%s%s%s", s, s1, s2, s3);
+	free(s);
+	free(s1);
+	free(s2);
+	free(s3);
+	s = t;
+
+	if (!obj->u.meas.offset)
+		return s;
+
+	s1 = unparse(obj->u.meas.offset);
+	t = stralloc_printf("%s %s", s, s1);
+	free(s);
+	free(s1);
+	return t;
 }
 
 
-/*
- * Tricky logic ahead: when dumping a vector, we search for a vectors that
- * depends on that vector for ".". If we find one, we dump it immediately after
- * this vector.
- */
+/* ----- print vector ------------------------------------------------------ */
 
-static void recurse_vec(FILE *file, const struct vec *vec, const char *indent)
+
+char *print_label(const struct vec *vec)
+{
+	if (vec->name)
+		return stralloc(vec->name);
+	else
+		return generate_name(vec);
+}
+
+
+char *print_vec(const struct vec *vec)
 {
-	const struct vec *next;
-	struct obj *obj;
 	char *base, *x, *y, *s;
 
 	base = base_name(vec->base, vec);
 	x = unparse(vec->x);
 	y = unparse(vec->y);
 	if (vec->name)
-		fprintf(file, "%s%s: vec %s(%s, %s)\n",
-		    indent, vec->name, base, x, y);
+		s = stralloc_printf("vec %s(%s, %s)", base, x, y);
 	else {
-		s = generate_name(vec);
-		fprintf(file, "%s%s: vec %s(%s, %s)\n", indent, s, base, x, y);
-		free(s);
+		s = stralloc_printf("vec %s(%s, %s)", base, x, y);
 	}
 	free(base);
 	free(x);
 	free(y);
-
-	for (obj = vec->frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
-		if (may_dump_obj_now(obj, vec))
-			dump_obj(file, obj, indent, vec);
-	if (n_vec_refs(vec) == 1) {
-		for (next = vec->next; next->base != vec; next = next->next);
-		recurse_vec(file, next, indent);
-	}
-}
-
-
-static void dump_vecs(FILE *file, const struct vec *vecs, const char *indent)
-{
-	const struct vec *vec;
-
-	for (vec = vecs; vec; vec = vec->next)
-		if (!vec->base || n_vec_refs(vec->base) != 1)
-			recurse_vec(file, vec, indent);
+	return s;
 }
 
 
@@ -354,21 +441,36 @@ static void dump_frame(FILE *file, const struct frame *frame,
 	const struct table *table;
 	const struct loop *loop;
 	struct obj *obj;
+	struct order *order;
+	const struct order *item;
+	char *s, *s1;
 
 	for (table = frame->tables; table; table = table->next)
 		dump_table(file, table, indent);
 	for (loop = frame->loops; loop; loop = loop->next)
 		dump_loop(file, loop, indent);
-	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
-		obj->dumped = 0;
-	dump_vecs(file, frame->vecs, indent);
 
-	/* frames based on @ (anything else ?) */
-	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
-		if (obj->type != ot_meas)
-			dump_obj(file, obj, indent, NULL);
-	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
-		dump_obj(file, obj, indent, NULL);
+	order = order_frame(frame);
+	for (item = order; item->vec || item->obj; item++) {
+		if (item->obj) {
+			s = print_obj(item->obj, item->vec);
+			fprintf(file, "%s%s\n", indent, s);
+		} else {
+			s1 = print_label(item->vec);
+			s = print_vec(item->vec);
+			fprintf(file, "%s%s: %s\n", indent, s1, s);
+		}
+		free(s);
+	}
+	free(order);
+
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next) {
+		if (obj->dumped)
+			continue;
+		s = print_meas(obj);
+		fprintf(file, "%s%s\n", indent, s);
+		free(s);
+	}
 }
 
 
diff --git a/dump.h b/dump.h
index 2ff46f3..bb1d582 100644
--- a/dump.h
+++ b/dump.h
@@ -16,6 +16,30 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
+#include "obj.h"
+
+
+/*
+ * vec       obj
+ * --------------------------------------------------------------
+ * NULL	     NULL	end of list
+ * non-NULL  NULL	vector
+ * NULL      non-NULL	object, no previous vector
+ * non-NULL  non-NULL	object, with previous vector
+ */
+
+struct order {
+	struct vec *vec;
+	struct obj *obj;
+};
+
+
+char *print_label(const struct vec *vec);
+char *print_vec(const struct vec *vec);
+char *print_obj(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *prev);
+char *print_meas(const struct obj *obj);
+
+struct order *order_frame(const struct frame *frame);
 
 int dump(FILE *file);
 
diff --git a/gui_frame.c b/gui_frame.c
index d228bce..2cbc4da 100644
--- a/gui_frame.c
+++ b/gui_frame.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "util.h"
 #include "error.h"
+#include "dump.h"
 #include "inst.h"
 #include "obj.h"
 #include "delete.h"
@@ -906,7 +907,7 @@ static GtkWidget *build_vars(struct frame *frame)
 	struct table *table;
 	struct loop *loop;
 
-	vbox= gtk_vbox_new(FALSE, 0);
+	vbox = gtk_vbox_new(FALSE, 0);
 	for (table = frame->tables; table; table = table->next) {
 		add_sep(vbox, 3);
 		build_assignment(vbox, frame, table);
@@ -920,6 +921,122 @@ static GtkWidget *build_vars(struct frame *frame)
 }
 
 
+/* ----- items ------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+
+static void set_item_color(struct inst *inst, const char *color)
+{
+	GtkWidget *label;
+
+	if (inst->vec)
+		label = inst->vec->list_widget;
+	else
+		label = inst->obj->list_widget;
+	label_in_box_bg(box_of_label(label), color);
+}
+
+
+void gui_frame_select_inst(struct inst *inst)
+{
+	set_item_color(inst, COLOR_ITEM_SELECTED);
+}
+
+
+void gui_frame_deselect_inst(struct inst *inst)
+{
+	set_item_color(inst, COLOR_ITEM_NORMAL);
+}
+
+
+static GtkWidget *item_label(GtkWidget *tab, char *s, int col, int row)
+{
+	GtkWidget *label;
+
+	label = label_in_box_new(s);
+	gtk_misc_set_alignment(GTK_MISC(label), 0, 0);
+	gtk_widget_modify_font(label, item_list_font);
+	gtk_table_attach_defaults(GTK_TABLE(tab), box_of_label(label),
+	    col, col+1, row, row+1);
+	label_in_box_bg(box_of_label(label), COLOR_ITEM_NORMAL);
+	free(s);
+	return label;
+}
+
+
+static GtkWidget *build_items(struct frame *frame)
+{
+	GtkWidget *hbox, *tab;
+	struct order *order, *item;
+	struct vec *vec;
+	struct obj *obj;
+	int n;
+	char *s, *t;
+
+	n = 0;
+	for (vec = frame->vecs; vec; vec = vec->next)
+		n++;
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
+		if (obj->type != ot_meas)
+			n++;
+
+	hbox = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 0);
+
+	tab = gtk_table_new(n, 2, FALSE);
+	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(hbox), tab, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+
+	order = order_frame(frame);
+	n = 0;
+	for (item = order; item->vec || item->obj; item++) {
+		if (item->obj) {
+			s = print_obj(item->obj, item->vec);
+			item->obj->list_widget = item_label(tab, s, 1, n);
+		} else {
+			s = print_label(item->vec);
+			t = stralloc_printf("%s: ", s);
+			free(s);
+			item_label(tab, t, 0, n);
+
+			s = print_vec(item->vec);
+			item->vec->list_widget = item_label(tab, s, 1, n);
+		}
+		n++;
+        }
+        free(order);
+
+	return hbox;
+}
+
+
+static GtkWidget *build_meas(struct frame *frame)
+{
+	GtkWidget *hbox, *tab;
+	struct obj *obj;
+	int n;
+	char *s;
+
+	n = 0;
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
+		if (obj->type == ot_meas)
+			n++;
+
+	hbox = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 0);
+
+	tab = gtk_table_new(n, 2, FALSE);
+	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(hbox), tab, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+
+	n = 0;
+	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next) {
+		if (obj->type != ot_meas)
+			continue;
+		s = print_meas(obj);
+		obj->list_widget = item_label(tab, s, 0, n);
+		n++;
+        }
+
+	return hbox;
+}
+
+
 /* ----- part name --------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 
@@ -1110,17 +1227,21 @@ static GtkWidget *build_frame_refs(const struct frame *frame)
 void build_frames(GtkWidget *vbox)
 {
 	struct frame *frame;
-	GtkWidget *tab, *label, *refs, *vars;
+	GtkWidget *hbox, *tab, *label, *refs, *vars, *items, *meas;
 	int n = 0;
 
 	destroy_all_children(GTK_CONTAINER(vbox));
 	for (frame = frames; frame; frame = frame->next)
 		n++;
 
-	tab = gtk_table_new(n*2+1, 2, FALSE);
+	hbox = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 0);
+
+	tab = gtk_table_new(n*2+3, 3, FALSE);
 	gtk_table_set_row_spacings(GTK_TABLE(tab), 1);
 	gtk_table_set_col_spacings(GTK_TABLE(tab), 1);
-	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox), tab, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+
+	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(hbox), tab, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
 
 	label = build_part_name();
 	gtk_table_attach_defaults(GTK_TABLE(tab), label, 0, 1, 0, 1);
@@ -1138,7 +1259,21 @@ void build_frames(GtkWidget *vbox)
 		vars = build_vars(frame);
 		gtk_table_attach_defaults(GTK_TABLE(tab), vars,
 		    1, 2, n*2+2, n*2+3);
+
+		items = build_items(frame);
+		gtk_table_attach_defaults(GTK_TABLE(tab), items,
+		    2, 3, n*2+2, n*2+3);
+
 		n++;
 	}
-	gtk_widget_show_all(tab);
+
+	label = label_in_box_new(" ");
+	gtk_table_attach_defaults(GTK_TABLE(tab), box_of_label(label),
+	    2, 3, n*2+1, n*2+2);
+	
+	meas = build_meas(root_frame);
+	gtk_table_attach_defaults(GTK_TABLE(tab), meas,
+	    2, 3, n*2+2, n*2+3);
+
+	gtk_widget_show_all(hbox);
 }
diff --git a/gui_frame.h b/gui_frame.h
index ae00bb7..239d5e8 100644
--- a/gui_frame.h
+++ b/gui_frame.h
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ void make_popups(void);
 
 void select_frame(struct frame *frame);
 
+void gui_frame_select_inst(struct inst *inst);
+void gui_frame_deselect_inst(struct inst *inst);
+
 void build_frames(GtkWidget *vbox);
 
 #endif /* !GUI_FRAME_H */
diff --git a/gui_style.c b/gui_style.c
index c8db816..1c63844 100644
--- a/gui_style.c
+++ b/gui_style.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ GdkGC *gc_ptext[mode_n];
 GdkGC *gc_meas[mode_n];
 GdkGC *gc_frame[mode_n];
 
+PangoFontDescription *item_list_font;
+
 
 static GdkGC *gc(const char *spec, int width)
 {
@@ -75,4 +77,6 @@ void gui_setup_style(GdkDrawable *drawable)
 //	gc_highlight = gc("#ff8020", 2);
 	gc_highlight = gc("#ff90d0", 2);
 	gc_frame[mode_hover] = gc_vec[mode_hover] = gc("#c00000", 2);
+
+	item_list_font = pango_font_description_from_string(ITEM_LIST_FONT);
 }
diff --git a/gui_style.h b/gui_style.h
index 840e3d1..7150132 100644
--- a/gui_style.h
+++ b/gui_style.h
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@
 #define	FRAME_EYE_R1		3
 #define	FRAME_EYE_R2		5
 
+#define	ITEM_LIST_FONT		"Sans 8"
+
 #define	SELECT_R		6	/* pixels within which we select */
 
 #define	DRAG_MIN_R		5
@@ -84,6 +86,9 @@
 #define	TOOL_UNSELECTED		"#dcdad5"
 #define	TOOL_SELECTED		"red"
 
+#define	COLOR_ITEM_NORMAL	"#dcdad5"
+#define	COLOR_ITEM_SELECTED	COLOR_FRAME_SELECTED
+
 
 /* ----- canvas drawing styles --------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -99,6 +104,7 @@ extern GdkGC *gc_ptext[mode_n];
 extern GdkGC *gc_meas[mode_n];
 extern GdkGC *gc_frame[mode_n];
 
+extern PangoFontDescription *item_list_font;
 
 void gui_setup_style(GdkDrawable *drawable);
 
diff --git a/inst.c b/inst.c
index ebee0b9..01355c9 100644
--- a/inst.c
+++ b/inst.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "gui_tool.h"
 #include "gui_meas.h"
 #include "gui_inst.h"
+#include "gui_frame.h"
 #include "gui.h"
 #include "inst.h"
 
@@ -117,9 +118,11 @@ int inst_select(struct coord pos)
 
 	deselect_outside();
 	edit_nothing();
-	selected_inst = NULL;
-	if (selected_inst)
+	if (selected_inst) {
+		gui_frame_deselect_inst(selected_inst);
 		tool_selected_inst(NULL);
+	}
+	selected_inst = NULL;
 	FOR_INST_PRIOS_DOWN(prio) {
 		if (!show(prio))
 			continue;
@@ -157,6 +160,7 @@ int inst_select(struct coord pos)
 selected:
 	set_path(1);
 	tool_selected_inst(selected_inst);
+	gui_frame_select_inst(selected_inst);
 	if (selected_inst->ops->select)
 		selected_inst->ops->select(selected_inst);
 	return 1;
@@ -269,6 +273,7 @@ void inst_deselect(void)
 	if (selected_inst) {
 		set_path(0);
 		tool_selected_inst(NULL);
+		gui_frame_deselect_inst(selected_inst);
 	}
 	deselect_outside();
 	status_set_type_x("");
@@ -345,6 +350,8 @@ static struct inst *add_inst(const struct inst_ops *ops, enum inst_prio prio,
 
 	inst = alloc_type(struct inst);
 	inst->ops = ops;
+	inst->vec = NULL;
+	inst->obj = NULL;
 	inst->base = inst->bbox.min = inst->bbox.max = base;
 	inst->outer = curr_frame;
 	inst->active = IS_ACTIVE;
diff --git a/inst.h b/inst.h
index b0540cf..dc3d63f 100644
--- a/inst.h
+++ b/inst.h
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ struct inst {
 	struct coord base;
 //	struct inst *base_inst; /* frame or vector leading to this item */
 	struct bbox bbox;
-	struct vec *vec; /* undefined if not vector */
-	struct obj *obj; /* undefined if not object */
+	struct vec *vec; /* NULL if not vector */
+	struct obj *obj; /* NULL if not object */
 	struct inst *outer; /* frame containing this item */
 	int active;
 	int in_path;
diff --git a/obj.h b/obj.h
index 23fea67..2e5b476 100644
--- a/obj.h
+++ b/obj.h
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ struct vec {
 
 	/* samples for measurements */
 	struct sample *samples;
+
+	/* for the GUI */
+	GtkWidget *list_widget;
 };
 
 struct frame {
@@ -170,6 +173,9 @@ struct obj {
 
 	/* for dumping */
 	int dumped;
+
+	/* for the GUI */
+	GtkWidget *list_widget;
 };