diff --git a/Tools/pynche/ChipViewer.py b/Tools/pynche/ChipViewer.py
index fbf9aad..5bd0bdf 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/ChipViewer.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/ChipViewer.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     _HEIGHT = 80
 
     def __init__(self,
-                 parent = None,
+                 master = None,
                  width  = _WIDTH,
                  height = _HEIGHT,
                  text   = 'Color',
@@ -31,16 +31,16 @@
                  presscmd   = None,
                  releasecmd = None):
         # create the text label
-        self.__label = Label(parent, text=text)
+        self.__label = Label(master, text=text)
         self.__label.grid(row=0, column=0)
         # create the color chip, implemented as a frame
-        self.__chip = Frame(parent, relief=RAISED, borderwidth=2,
+        self.__chip = Frame(master, relief=RAISED, borderwidth=2,
                             width=width,
                             height=height,
                             background=initialcolor)
         self.__chip.grid(row=1, column=0)
         # create the color name, ctor argument must be a string
-        self.__name = Label(parent, text=initialcolor)
+        self.__name = Label(master, text=initialcolor)
         self.__name.grid(row=2, column=0)
         #
         # set bindings
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@
 
 
 class ChipViewer:
-    def __init__(self, switchboard, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, switchboard, master=None):
         self.__sb = switchboard
-        self.__frame = Frame(parent) #, relief=GROOVE, borderwidth=2)
-        self.__frame.grid(row=3, column=0)
+        self.__frame = Frame(master, relief=RAISED, borderwidth=1)
+        self.__frame.grid(row=3, column=0, ipadx=5)
         # create the chip that will display the currently selected color
         # exactly
         self.__sframe = Frame(self.__frame)
@@ -81,11 +81,6 @@
         self.__nearest = ChipWidget(self.__nframe, text='Nearest',
                                     presscmd = self.__buttonpress,
                                     releasecmd = self.__buttonrelease)
-        self.__div = Frame(self.__frame,
-                           width=2,
-                           borderwidth=2,
-                           relief=RAISED)
-        self.__div.grid(row=0, column=2, sticky='NS', padx=5)
 
     def update_yourself(self, red, green, blue):
         # TBD: should exactname default to X11 color name if their is an exact
@@ -110,6 +105,3 @@
         colorname = self.__nearest.get_color()
         red, green, blue = self.__sb.colordb().find_byname(colorname)
         self.__sb.update_views(red, green, blue)
-
-    def save_options(self, optiondb):
-        pass
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/DetailsViewer.py b/Tools/pynche/DetailsViewer.py
index da9bbf9..6996423 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/DetailsViewer.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/DetailsViewer.py
@@ -61,19 +61,19 @@
 
 
 class DetailsViewer:
-    def __init__(self, switchboard, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, switchboard, master=None):
         self.__sb = switchboard
         optiondb = switchboard.optiondb()
         self.__red, self.__green, self.__blue = switchboard.current_rgb()
         # GUI
-        root = self.__root = Toplevel(parent, class_='Pynche')
-        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.__withdraw)
+        root = self.__root = Toplevel(master, class_='Pynche')
+        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.withdraw)
         root.title('Pynche Details Window')
         root.iconname('Pynche Details Window')
         root.bind('<Alt-q>', self.__quit)
         root.bind('<Alt-Q>', self.__quit)
-        root.bind('<Alt-w>', self.__withdraw)
-        root.bind('<Alt-W>', self.__withdraw)
+        root.bind('<Alt-w>', self.withdraw)
+        root.bind('<Alt-W>', self.withdraw)
         # accelerators
         root.bind('<KeyPress-Left>', self.__minus1)
         root.bind('<KeyPress-Right>', self.__plus1)
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
     def __quit(self, event=None):
         self.__root.quit()
 
-    def __withdraw(self, event=None):
+    def withdraw(self, event=None):
         self.__root.withdraw()
 
     def deiconify(self, event=None):
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/ListViewer.py b/Tools/pynche/ListViewer.py
index 9ba2a53..eb43a92 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/ListViewer.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/ListViewer.py
@@ -19,20 +19,20 @@
 import ColorDB
 
 class ListViewer:
-    def __init__(self, switchboard, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, switchboard, master=None):
         self.__sb = switchboard
         optiondb = switchboard.optiondb()
         self.__lastbox = None
         self.__dontcenter = 0
         # GUI
-        root = self.__root = Toplevel(parent, class_='Pynche')
-        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.__withdraw)
+        root = self.__root = Toplevel(master, class_='Pynche')
+        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.withdraw)
         root.title('Pynche Color List')
         root.iconname('Pynche Color List')
         root.bind('<Alt-q>', self.__quit)
         root.bind('<Alt-Q>', self.__quit)
-        root.bind('<Alt-w>', self.__withdraw)
-        root.bind('<Alt-W>', self.__withdraw)
+        root.bind('<Alt-w>', self.withdraw)
+        root.bind('<Alt-W>', self.withdraw)
         #
         # create the canvas which holds everything, and its scrollbar
         #
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
     def __quit(self, event=None):
         self.__root.quit()
 
-    def __withdraw(self, event=None):
+    def withdraw(self, event=None):
         self.__root.withdraw()
 
     def deiconify(self, event=None):
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/Main.py b/Tools/pynche/Main.py
index bb5329e..f266a8d 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/Main.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/Main.py
@@ -104,6 +104,56 @@
 
 
 
+def build(master=None, initialcolor=None, initfile=None, ignore=None):
+    # create the windows and go
+    for f in RGB_TXT:
+	try:
+	    colordb = ColorDB.get_colordb(f)
+            if colordb:
+                break
+	except IOError:
+	    pass
+    else:
+        usage(1, 'No color database file found, see the -d option.')
+
+    # create all output widgets
+    s = Switchboard(colordb, not ignore and initfile)
+
+    # create the application window decorations
+    app = PyncheWidget(__version__, s, master=master)
+    w = app.window()
+
+    s.add_view(StripViewer(s, w))
+    s.add_view(ChipViewer(s, w))
+    s.add_view(TypeinViewer(s, w))
+
+    # get the initial color as components and set the color on all views.  if
+    # there was no initial color given on the command line, use the one that's 
+    # stored in the option database
+    if initialcolor is None:
+        optiondb = s.optiondb()
+        red = optiondb.get('RED')
+        green = optiondb.get('GREEN')
+        blue = optiondb.get('BLUE')
+        # but if there wasn't any stored in the database, use grey50
+        if red is None or blue is None or green is None:
+            red, green, blue = initial_color('grey50', colordb)
+    else:
+        red, green, blue = initial_color(initialcolor, colordb)
+    s.update_views(red, green, blue)
+    return app, s
+
+
+def run(app, s):
+    try:
+	app.start()
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+	pass
+    # save the option database
+    s.save_views()
+
+
+
 def main():
     try:
 	opts, args = getopt.getopt(
@@ -132,51 +182,7 @@
         elif opt in ('-i', '--initfile'):
             initfile = arg
 
-    # create the windows and go
-    for f in RGB_TXT:
-	try:
-	    colordb = ColorDB.get_colordb(f)
-            if colordb:
-                break
-	except IOError:
-	    pass
-    else:
-        usage(1, 'No color database file found, see the -d option.')
-
-    # create all output widgets
-    s = Switchboard(colordb, not ignore and initfile)
-
-    # create the application window decorations
-    app = PyncheWidget(__version__, s)
-    parent = app.parent()
-
-    s.add_view(StripViewer(s, parent))
-    s.add_view(ChipViewer(s, parent))
-    s.add_view(TypeinViewer(s, parent))
-
-    # get the initial color as components and set the color on all views.  if
-    # there was no initial color given on the command line, use the one that's 
-    # stored in the option database
-    if initialcolor is None:
-        optiondb = s.optiondb()
-        red = optiondb.get('RED')
-        green = optiondb.get('GREEN')
-        blue = optiondb.get('BLUE')
-        # but if there wasn't any stored in the database, use grey50
-        if red is None or blue is None or green is None:
-            red, green, blue = initial_color('grey50', colordb)
-    else:
-        red, green, blue = initial_color(initialcolor, colordb)
-    s.update_views(red, green, blue)
-
-    try:
-	app.start()
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-	pass
-
-    # save the option database
-    s.save_views(initfile)
-
+    run()
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/PyncheWidget.py b/Tools/pynche/PyncheWidget.py
index 4052357..fcabd24 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/PyncheWidget.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/PyncheWidget.py
@@ -13,36 +13,46 @@
 
 
 class PyncheWidget:
-    def __init__(self, version, switchboard):
+    def __init__(self, version, switchboard, master=None):
         self.__sb = switchboard
         self.__version = version
         self.__textwin = None
         self.__listwin = None
         self.__detailswin = None
-        #
-        # Is there already a default root for Tk, say because we're running
-        # under Guido's IDE? :-) Two conditions say no, either the import
-        # fails or _default_root is None.
-        tkroot = None
-        try:
-            from Tkinter import _default_root
-            tkroot = self.__tkroot = _default_root
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        if not tkroot:
-            tkroot = self.__tkroot = Tk(className='Pynche')
-        # but this isn't our top level widget, so make it invisible
-        tkroot.withdraw()
+        modal = self.__modal = not not master
+        # If a master was given, we are running as a modal dialog servant to
+        # some other application.  We rearrange our UI in this case (there's
+        # no File menu and we get `Okay' and `Cancel' buttons), and we do a
+        # grab_set() to make ourselves modal
+        if modal:
+            self.__tkroot = tkroot = Toplevel(master, class_='Pynche')
+            tkroot.grab_set()
+            tkroot.withdraw()
+        else:
+            # Is there already a default root for Tk, say because we're
+            # running under Guido's IDE? :-) Two conditions say no, either the
+            # import fails or _default_root is None.
+            tkroot = None
+            try:
+                from Tkinter import _default_root
+                tkroot = self.__tkroot = _default_root
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
+            if not tkroot:
+                tkroot = self.__tkroot = Tk(className='Pynche')
+            # but this isn't our top level widget, so make it invisible
+            tkroot.withdraw()
         # create the menubar
         menubar = self.__menubar = Menu(tkroot)
         #
         # File menu
         #
-        filemenu = self.__filemenu = Menu(menubar, tearoff=0)
-        filemenu.add_command(label='Quit',
-                             command=self.__quit,
-                             accelerator='Alt-Q',
-                             underline=0)
+        if not modal:
+            filemenu = self.__filemenu = Menu(menubar, tearoff=0)
+            filemenu.add_command(label='Quit',
+                                 command=self.__quit,
+                                 accelerator='Alt-Q',
+                                 underline=0)
         #
         # View menu
         #
@@ -66,9 +76,10 @@
         #
         # Tie them all together
         #
-        menubar.add_cascade(label='File',
-                            menu=filemenu,
-                            underline=0)
+        if not modal:
+            menubar.add_cascade(label='File',
+                                menu=filemenu,
+                                underline=0)
         menubar.add_cascade(label='View',
                             menu=viewmenu,
                             underline=0)
@@ -78,15 +89,44 @@
 
         # now create the top level window
         root = self.__root = Toplevel(tkroot, class_='Pynche', menu=menubar)
-        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.__quit)
+        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW',
+                      modal and self.__beep or self.__quit)
         root.title('Pynche %s' % version)
         root.iconname('Pynche')
-        root.tk.createtimerhandler(KEEPALIVE_TIMER, self.__keepalive)
-        root.bind('<Alt-q>', self.__quit)
-        root.bind('<Alt-Q>', self.__quit)
+        # Only bind accelerators for the File->Quit menu item if running as a
+        # standalone app
+        if not modal:
+            root.bind('<Alt-q>', self.__quit)
+            root.bind('<Alt-Q>', self.__quit)
+        else:
+            # We're a modal dialog so we have a new row of buttons
+            bframe = Frame(root, borderwidth=1, relief=RAISED)
+            bframe.grid(row=4, column=0, columnspan=2,
+                        sticky='EW',
+                        ipady=5)
+            okay = Button(bframe,
+                          text='Okay',
+                          command=self.__okay)
+            okay.pack(side=LEFT, expand=1)
+            cancel = Button(bframe,
+                            text='Cancel',
+                            command=self.__cancel)
+            cancel.pack(side=LEFT, expand=1)
 
     def __quit(self, event=None):
-        self.__root.quit()
+        self.__tkroot.quit()
+
+    def __beep(self, event=None):
+        self.__tkroot.beep()
+
+    def __okay(self, event=None):
+        self.__sb.withdraw_views()
+        self.__tkroot.grab_release()
+        self.__quit()
+
+    def __cancel(self, event=None):
+        self.__sb.canceled()
+        self.__okay()
 
     def __keepalive(self):
         # Exercise the Python interpreter regularly so keyboard interrupts get
@@ -94,10 +134,11 @@
         self.__tkroot.tk.createtimerhandler(KEEPALIVE_TIMER, self.__keepalive)
 
     def start(self):
-        self.__keepalive()
+        if not self.__modal:
+            self.__keepalive()
         self.__tkroot.mainloop()
 
-    def parent(self):
+    def window(self):
         return self.__root
 
     def __popup_about(self, event=None):
@@ -135,3 +176,6 @@
             self.__detailswin = DetailsViewer(self.__sb, self.__root)
             self.__sb.add_view(self.__detailswin)
         self.__detailswin.deiconify()
+
+    def withdraw(self):
+        self.__root.withdraw()
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/StripViewer.py b/Tools/pynche/StripViewer.py
index 7bbfcca..f085fec 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/StripViewer.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/StripViewer.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
     _NUMCHIPS = 40
 
     def __init__(self, switchboard,
-                 parent     = None,
+                 master     = None,
                  chipwidth  = _CHIPWIDTH,
                  chipheight = _CHIPHEIGHT,
                  numchips   = _NUMCHIPS,
@@ -171,13 +171,12 @@
 	canvasheight = chipheight + 43		  # TBD: Kludge
 
 	# create the canvas and pack it
-	canvas = self.__canvas = Canvas(
-	    parent,
-	    width=canvaswidth,
-	    height=canvasheight,
-## 	    borderwidth=2,
-## 	    relief=GROOVE
-	    )
+	canvas = self.__canvas = Canvas(master,
+                                        width=canvaswidth,
+                                        height=canvasheight,
+##                                        borderwidth=2,
+##                                        relief=GROOVE
+                                        )
 
 	canvas.pack()
 	canvas.bind('<ButtonPress-1>', self.__select_chip)
@@ -296,11 +295,11 @@
 
 
 class StripViewer:
-    def __init__(self, switchboard, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, switchboard, master=None):
         self.__sb = switchboard
         optiondb = switchboard.optiondb()
-        # create a frame inside the parent
-        self.__frame = Frame(parent) #, relief=GROOVE, borderwidth=2)
+        # create a frame inside the master
+        self.__frame = Frame(master, relief=RAISED, borderwidth=1)
         self.__frame.grid(row=1, column=0, columnspan=2, sticky='EW')
         uwd = self.__uwdvar = BooleanVar()
         uwd.set(optiondb.get('UPWHILEDRAG', 0))
@@ -338,12 +337,6 @@
                                  command=self.__togglehex)
         self.__hex.grid(row=1, column=0, sticky=W)
 
-        self.__div = Frame(self.__frame,
-                           height=2,
-                           borderwidth=2,
-                           relief=RAISED)
-        self.__div.pack(expand=1, fill=X)
-
     def update_yourself(self, red, green, blue):
         self.__reds.update_yourself(red, green, blue)
         self.__greens.update_yourself(red, green, blue)
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/Switchboard.py b/Tools/pynche/Switchboard.py
index 7ac3df1..d8fd14c 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/Switchboard.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/Switchboard.py
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@
 
 class Switchboard:
     def __init__(self, colordb, initfile):
+        self.__initfile = initfile
         self.__colordb = colordb
         self.__optiondb = {}
         self.__views = []
         self.__red = 0
         self.__green = 0
         self.__blue = 0
+        self.__canceled = 0
         # read the initialization file
         fp = None
         if initfile:
@@ -61,17 +63,18 @@
     def optiondb(self):
         return self.__optiondb
 
-    def save_views(self, file):
+    def save_views(self):
         # save the current color
         self.__optiondb['RED'] = self.__red
         self.__optiondb['GREEN'] = self.__green
         self.__optiondb['BLUE'] = self.__blue
         for v in self.__views:
-            v.save_options(self.__optiondb)
+            if hasattr(v, 'save_options'):
+                v.save_options(self.__optiondb)
         fp = None
         try:
             try:
-                fp = open(file, 'w')
+                fp = open(self.__initfile, 'w')
             except IOError:
                 print 'Cannot write options to file:', file
             else:
@@ -79,3 +82,14 @@
         finally:
             if fp:
                 fp.close()
+
+    def withdraw_views(self):
+        for v in self.__views:
+            if hasattr(v, 'withdraw'):
+                v.withdraw()
+
+    def canceled(self):
+        self.__canceled = 1
+
+    def canceled_p(self):
+        return self.__canceled
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/TextViewer.py b/Tools/pynche/TextViewer.py
index 7e8cec5..a3e9ac5 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/TextViewer.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/TextViewer.py
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@
 import ColorDB
 
 class TextViewer:
-    def __init__(self, switchboard, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, switchboard, master=None):
         self.__sb = switchboard
         optiondb = switchboard.optiondb()
-        root = self.__root = Toplevel(parent, class_='Pynche')
-        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.__withdraw)
+        root = self.__root = Toplevel(master, class_='Pynche')
+        root.protocol('WM_DELETE_WINDOW', self.withdraw)
         root.title('Pynche Text Window')
         root.iconname('Pynche Text Window')
         root.bind('<Alt-q>', self.__quit)
         root.bind('<Alt-Q>', self.__quit)
-        root.bind('<Alt-w>', self.__withdraw)
-        root.bind('<Alt-W>', self.__withdraw)
+        root.bind('<Alt-w>', self.withdraw)
+        root.bind('<Alt-W>', self.withdraw)
         #
         # create the text widget
         #
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
     def __quit(self, event=None):
         self.__root.quit()
 
-    def __withdraw(self, event=None):
+    def withdraw(self, event=None):
         self.__root.withdraw()
 
     def deiconify(self, event=None):
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/TypeinViewer.py b/Tools/pynche/TypeinViewer.py
index 13cb9c7..d10d2a9 100644
--- a/Tools/pynche/TypeinViewer.py
+++ b/Tools/pynche/TypeinViewer.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import re
 
 class TypeinViewer:
-    def __init__(self, switchboard, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, switchboard, master=None):
         # non-gui ivars
         self.__sb = switchboard
         optiondb = switchboard.optiondb()
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
         self.__uwtyping = BooleanVar()
         self.__uwtyping.set(optiondb.get('UPWHILETYPE', 0))
         # create the gui
-        self.__frame = Frame(parent) #, relief=GROOVE, borderwidth=2)
+        self.__frame = Frame(master, relief=RAISED, borderwidth=1)
         self.__frame.grid(row=3, column=1, sticky='NS')
         # Red
         self.__xl = Label(self.__frame, text='Red:')
diff --git a/Tools/pynche/pyColorChooser.py b/Tools/pynche/pyColorChooser.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2dc6ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tools/pynche/pyColorChooser.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"""Color chooser implementing (almost) the tkColorColor interface
+"""
+
+import os
+from PyncheWidget import PyncheWidget
+import Main
+import ColorDB
+
+class Chooser:
+    """Ask for a color"""
+    def __init__(self,
+                 master = None,
+                 initialcolor = None,
+                 databasefile = None,
+                 initfile = None,
+                 ignore = None):
+        self.__master = master
+        self.__initialcolor = initialcolor
+        self.__databasefile = databasefile
+        self.__initfile = initfile or os.path.expanduser('~/.pynche')
+        self.__ignore = ignore
+        self.__pw = None
+
+    def show(self):
+        if not self.__pw:
+            self.__pw, self.__sb = \
+                       Main.build(master = self.__master,
+                                  initialcolor = self.__initialcolor,
+                                  initfile = self.__initfile,
+                                  ignore = self.__ignore)
+        Main.run(self.__pw, self.__sb)
+        rgbtuple = self.__sb.current_rgb()
+        self.__pw.withdraw()
+        # check to see if the cancel button was pushed
+        if self.__sb.canceled_p():
+            return None, None
+        colordb = self.__sb.colordb()
+        # try to return the color name from the database if there is an exact
+        # match, otherwise use the "#rrggbb" spec.  TBD: Forget about color
+        # aliases for now, maybe later we should return these too.
+        try:
+            name = colordb.find_byrgb(rgbtuple)[0]
+        except ColorDB.BadColor:
+            name = ColorDB.triplet_to_rrggbb(rgbtuple)
+        return rgbtuple, name
+
+
+
+# convenience stuff
+def askcolor(color = None, **options):
+    """Ask for a color"""
+    return apply(Chooser, (), options).show()
+
+
+
+# test stuff
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    class Tester:
+        def __init__(self):
+            from Tkinter import *
+            self.__root = tk = Tk()
+            b = Button(tk, text='Choose Color...', command=self.__choose)
+            b.pack()
+            self.__l = Label(tk)
+            self.__l.pack()
+            q = Button(tk, text='Quit', command=self.__quit)
+            q.pack()
+
+        def __choose(self, event=None):
+            rgb, name = askcolor(master=self.__root)
+            if rgb is None:
+                text = 'You hit CANCEL!'
+            else:
+                r, g, b = rgb
+                text = 'You picked %s (%3d/%3d/%3d)' % (name, r, g, b)
+            self.__l.configure(text=text)
+
+        def __quit(self, event=None):
+            self.__root.quit()
+
+        def run(self):
+            self.__root.mainloop()
+    t = Tester()
+    t.run()
+    # simpler
+##    print 'color:', askcolor()
+##    print 'color:', askcolor()