diff --git a/collects/framework/framework.ss b/collects/framework/framework.ss
index 7d611671..37e096d4 100644
--- a/collects/framework/framework.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/framework.ss
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@
     (filename)
     "Generates a name for an backup file from \\var{filename}.")
    (finder:dialog-parent-parameter
-    any/c
+    (parameter/c (or/c false/c (is-ac dialog%) (is-a/c frame%)))
     ()
     "This is a parameter (see "
     "\\Mzhyperref{parameters}{mz:parameters} for information about parameters)"
@@ -602,6 +602,29 @@
     ()
     "This returns the frame group.")
    
+   (group:on-close-action
+    (-> void?)
+    ()
+    "See also "
+    "@flink group:can-close-check %"
+    "."
+    ""
+    "Call this function from the"
+    "@ilink top-level-window can-close?"
+    "callback of a frame"
+    "in order for the group to properly close the application.")
+   (group:can-close-check
+    (-> boolean?)
+    ()
+    "See also "
+    "@flink group:on-close-action %"
+    "."
+    ""
+    "Call this function from the"
+    "@ilink top-level-window can-close?"
+    "callback of a frame"
+    "in order for the group to properly close the application.")
+   
    (handler:handler?
     (any/c . -> . boolean?)
     (obj)
diff --git a/collects/framework/preferences.ss b/collects/framework/preferences.ss
index 462e8229..560d3437 100644
--- a/collects/framework/preferences.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/preferences.ss
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ the state transitions / contracts are:
     "Determines if a value is an unknown preference exn.")
 
    (preferences:low-level-put-preferences
-    any/c
+    (parameter/c (-> (listof symbol?) (listof any?) any))
     ()
     "This is a parameter (see "
     "\\Mzhyperref{parameters}{mz:parameters} for information about parameters)"
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
index bd1671e3..4fa8915e 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
@@ -237,23 +237,14 @@
     (mixin (basic<%>) (register-group<%>)
       
       (define/augment (can-close?)
-        (let ([number-of-frames 
-               (length (send (group:get-the-frame-group)
-                             get-frames))])
-          (and (inner #t can-close?)
-               (or (not (preferences:get 'framework:exit-when-no-frames))
-                   (exit:exiting?)
-                   (not (= 1 number-of-frames))
-                   (exit:user-oks-exit)))))
+        (and (inner #t can-close?)
+             (group:can-close-check)))
       (define/augment (on-close)
         (send (group:get-the-frame-group)
               remove-frame
               this)
         (inner (void) on-close)
-        (when (preferences:get 'framework:exit-when-no-frames)
-          (unless (exit:exiting?)
-            (when (null? (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames))
-              (exit:exit)))))
+        (group:on-close-action))
       
       (define/override (on-activate on?)
         (super on-activate on?)
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/group.ss b/collects/framework/private/group.ss
index e746a61b..de91b64b 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/group.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/group.ss
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
           [prefix frame: framework:frame^]
           [prefix text: framework:text^]
           [prefix canvas: framework:canvas^]
-          [prefix menu: framework:menu^])
+          [prefix menu: framework:menu^]
+          [prefix exit: framework:exit^])
   (export framework:group^)
   
   (define-struct frame (frame id))
@@ -156,11 +157,7 @@
                  #f
                  (frame-frame (car candidates))))]))
       
-      (public get-mdi-parent frame-label-changed for-each-frame
-              get-active-frame set-active-frame insert-frame
-              remove-frame clear on-close-all can-close-all? locate-file get-frames
-              frame-shown/hidden)
-      (define (get-mdi-parent)
+      (define/public (get-mdi-parent)
         (when (and (eq? (system-type) 'windows)
                    (preferences:get 'framework:windows-mdi)
                    (not mdi-parent))
@@ -170,35 +167,35 @@
           (send mdi-parent show #t))
         mdi-parent)
       
-      (define (get-frames) (map frame-frame frames))
+      (define/public (get-frames) (map frame-frame frames))
       
-      (define (frame-label-changed frame)
+      (define/public (frame-label-changed frame)
         (when (memq frame (map frame-frame frames))
           (update-windows-menus)))
       
-      (define (frame-shown/hidden frame)
+      (define/public (frame-shown/hidden frame)
         (when (memq frame (map frame-frame frames))
           (update-windows-menus)))
       
-      (define (for-each-frame f)
+      (define/public (for-each-frame f)
         (for-each (λ (x) (f (frame-frame x))) frames)
         (set! todo-to-new-frames
               (let ([old todo-to-new-frames])
                 (λ (frame) (old frame) (f frame)))))
       
-      (define (get-active-frame)
+      (define/public (get-active-frame)
         (cond
           [active-frame active-frame]
           [(null? frames) #f]
           [else (frame-frame (car frames))]))
       
-      (define (set-active-frame f)
+      (define/public (set-active-frame f)
         (when (and active-frame
                    (not (eq? active-frame f)))
           (set! most-recent-window-box (make-weak-box active-frame)))
         (set! active-frame f))
       
-      (define (insert-frame new-frame)
+      (define/public (insert-frame new-frame)
         (unless (memf (λ (fr) (eq? (frame-frame fr) new-frame))
                       frames)
           (set! frame-counter (add1 frame-counter))
@@ -210,7 +207,7 @@
             (update-windows-menus))
           (todo-to-new-frames new-frame)))
       
-      (define (remove-frame f)
+      (define/public (remove-frame f)
         (when (eq? f active-frame)
           (set! active-frame #f))
         (let ([new-frames
@@ -222,24 +219,24 @@
           (remove-windows-menu f)
           (update-windows-menus)))
       
-      (define (clear)
+      (define/public (clear)
         (set! frames null)
         #t)
       
-      (define (on-close-all)
+      (define/public (on-close-all)
         (for-each (λ (f)
                     (let ([frame (frame-frame f)])
                       (send frame on-close) 
                       (send frame show #f)))
                   frames))
       
-      (define (can-close-all?)
+      (define/public (can-close-all?)
         (andmap (λ (f)
                   (let ([frame (frame-frame f)])
                     (send frame can-close?)))
                 frames))
       
-      (define (locate-file name)
+      (define/public (locate-file name)
         (let* ([normalized
                 ;; allow for the possiblity of filenames that are urls
                 (with-handlers ([(λ (x) #t)
@@ -261,6 +258,19 @@
       
       (super-new)))
   
+  (define (can-close-check)
+    (let ([number-of-frames (length (send (get-the-frame-group) get-frames))])
+      (or (not (preferences:get 'framework:exit-when-no-frames))
+          (exit:exiting?)
+          (not (= 1 number-of-frames))
+          (exit:user-oks-exit))))
+
+  (define (on-close-action)
+    (when (preferences:get 'framework:exit-when-no-frames)
+      (unless (exit:exiting?)
+        (when (null? (send (get-the-frame-group) get-frames))
+          (exit:exit)))))
+  
   (define (choose-a-frame parent)
     (letrec-values ([(sorted-frames)
                      (sort
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/sig.ss b/collects/framework/private/sig.ss
index bcffaf19..f99d8726 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/sig.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/sig.ss
@@ -281,7 +281,9 @@
   (define-signature group-class^
     (%))
   (define-signature group^ extends group-class^
-    (get-the-frame-group))
+    (get-the-frame-group
+     on-close-action
+     can-close-check))
   
   (define-signature handler-class^
     ())
diff --git a/collects/macro-debugger/view/util.ss b/collects/macro-debugger/view/util.ss
deleted file mode 100644
index d6b9f8ec..00000000
--- a/collects/macro-debugger/view/util.ss
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,148 +0,0 @@
-
-(module util mzscheme
-  (require (lib "class.ss")
-           (lib "mred.ss" "mred"))
-  (provide define/listen
-           field/notify
-           override/return-false
-           notify-box%
-           notify-box/pref
-           menu-option/notify-box
-           menu-group/notify-box
-           check-box/notify-box
-           choice/notify-box)
-
-  (define notification-lock (make-parameter #f))
-
-  (define-for-syntax (join . args)
-    (define (->string x)
-      (cond [(string? x) x]
-            [(symbol? x) (symbol->string)]
-            [(identifier? x) (symbol->string (syntax-e x))]
-            [else (error '->string)]))
-    (string->symbol (apply string-append (map ->string args))))
-
-  (define-syntax override/return-false
-    (syntax-rules ()
-      [(override/return-false m ...)
-       (begin (define/override (m) #f) ...)]))
-
-  (define-syntax (field/notify stx)
-    (syntax-case stx ()
-      [(field/notify name value)
-       (with-syntax ([get-name
-                      (datum->syntax-object #'name (join "get-" #'name))]
-                     [set-name
-                      (datum->syntax-object #'name (join "set-" #'name))]
-                     [listen-name
-                      (datum->syntax-object #'name (join "listen-" #'name))])
-         #'(begin (field [name value])
-                  (define/public (get-name)
-                    (send name get))
-                  (define/public (set-name new-value)
-                    (send name set new-value))
-                  (define/public (listen-name listener)
-                    (send name listen listener))))]))
-
-  (define-syntax (define/listen stx)
-    (syntax-case stx ()
-      [(define/listen name value)
-       (unless (identifier? #'name)
-         (raise-syntax-error 'define/listen "expected identifier" #'name))
-       (with-syntax ([get-name
-                      (datum->syntax-object #'name (join "get-" #'name))]
-                     [set-name
-                      (datum->syntax-object #'name (join "set-" #'name))]
-                     [listen-name
-                      (datum->syntax-object #'name (join "listen-" #'name))])
-         #'(begin
-             (define name value)
-             (define listeners null)
-             (define/public (get-name) name)
-             (define/public (set-name new-value)
-               (set! name new-value)
-               (for-each (lambda (listener) (listener new-value)) listeners))
-             (define/public (listen-name listener)
-               (set! listeners (cons listener listeners)))))]))
-
-  (define notify-box%
-    (class object%
-      (init value)
-      (define v value)
-      (define listeners null)
-
-      ;; get : -> value
-      ;; Fetch current value
-      (define/public (get)
-        v)
-
-      ;; set : value -> void
-      ;; Update value and notify listeners
-      (define/public (set nv)
-        (when (notification-lock)
-          (error 'notify-box%::set "nested mutation"))
-        (set! v nv)
-        (parameterize ((notification-lock #t))
-          (for-each (lambda (p) (p nv)) listeners)))
-
-      ;; listen : (value -> void) -> void
-      ;; Add a listener
-      (define/public (listen p)
-        (set! listeners (cons p listeners)))
-
-      (super-new)))
-
-  (define (notify-box/pref pref)
-    (define nb (new notify-box% (value (pref))))
-    (send nb listen pref)
-    nb)
-
-  (define (menu-option/notify-box parent label nb)
-    (define menu-item
-      (new checkable-menu-item%
-           (label label)
-           (parent parent)
-           (checked (send nb get))
-           (callback
-            (lambda _ (send nb set (send menu-item is-checked?))))))
-    (send nb listen (lambda (value) (send menu-item check value)))
-    menu-item)
-
-  (define (check-box/notify-box parent label nb)
-    (define checkbox
-      (new check-box%
-           (label label)
-           (parent parent)
-           (value (send nb get))
-           (callback
-            (lambda (c e) (send nb set (send c get-value))))))
-    (send nb listen (lambda (value) (send checkbox set-value value)))
-    checkbox)
-
-  (define (choice/notify-box parent label choices nb)
-    (define choice
-      (new choice%
-           (label label)
-           (parent parent)
-           (style '(horizontal-label))
-           (choices choices)
-           (callback (lambda (c e) (send nb set (send c get-string-selection))))))
-    (send choice set-string-selection (send nb get))
-    (send nb listen (lambda (value) (send choice set-string-selection value)))
-    choice)
-
-  (define (menu-group/notify-box parent labels nb)
-    (map (lambda (option)
-           (define label (if (pair? option) (car option) option))
-           (define menu-item
-             (new checkable-menu-item%
-                  (label label)
-                  (parent parent)
-                  (checked (eq? (send nb get) option))
-                  (callback
-                   (lambda _ (send nb set option)))))
-           (send nb listen
-                 (lambda (value) (send menu-item check (eq? value option))))
-           menu-item)
-         labels))
-  )