diff --git a/src/common/rclconfig.cpp b/src/common/rclconfig.cpp
index 0da2be44..939c4274 100644
--- a/src/common/rclconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/common/rclconfig.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #ifndef lint
-static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: rclconfig.cpp,v 1.52 2007-10-04 12:21:52 dockes Exp $ (C) 2004 J.F.Dockes";
+static char rcsid[] = "@(#$Id: rclconfig.cpp,v 1.53 2007-10-09 09:43:10 dockes Exp $ (C) 2004 J.F.Dockes";
 #endif
 /*
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -103,34 +103,46 @@ RclConfig::RclConfig(const string *argcnf)
 	    return;
     }
 
-    list<string> cdirs;
-    cdirs.push_back(m_confdir);
-    cdirs.push_back(path_cat(m_datadir, "examples"));
+    m_cdirs.push_back(m_confdir);
+    m_cdirs.push_back(path_cat(m_datadir, "examples"));
     string cnferrloc = m_confdir + " or " + path_cat(m_datadir, "examples");
 
-    m_conf = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("recoll.conf", cdirs, false);
-    if (m_conf == 0 || !m_conf->ok()) {
-	m_reason = string("No/bad main configuration file in: ") + cnferrloc;
+    if (!updateMainConfig())
 	return;
-    }
 
-    mimemap = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("mimemap", cdirs, true);
+    mimemap = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("mimemap", m_cdirs, true);
     if (mimemap == 0 || !mimemap->ok()) {
 	m_reason = string("No or bad mimemap file in: ") + cnferrloc;
 	return;
     }
 
-    mimeconf = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("mimeconf", cdirs, true);
+    mimeconf = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("mimeconf", m_cdirs, true);
     if (mimeconf == 0 || !mimeconf->ok()) {
 	m_reason = string("No/bad mimeconf in: ") + cnferrloc;
 	return;
     }
-    mimeview = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("mimeview", cdirs, true);
+    mimeview = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("mimeview", m_cdirs, true);
     if (mimeconf == 0 || !mimeconf->ok()) {
 	m_reason = string("No/bad mimeview in: ") + cnferrloc;
 	return;
     }
 
+    m_ok = true;
+    setKeyDir("");
+    return;
+}
+
+bool RclConfig::updateMainConfig()
+{
+    LOGDEB(("RclConfig::updateMainConfig()\n"));
+    m_conf = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("recoll.conf", m_cdirs, true);
+    if (m_conf == 0 || !m_conf->ok()) {
+	string where;
+	stringsToString(m_cdirs, where);
+	m_reason = string("No/bad main configuration file in: ") + where;
+	m_ok = false;
+	return false;
+    }
     setKeyDir("");
     bool nocjk = false;
     if (getConfParam("nocjk", &nocjk) && nocjk == true) {
@@ -143,8 +155,17 @@ RclConfig::RclConfig(const string *argcnf)
 	    TextSplit::cjkProcessing(true);
 	}
     }
-    m_ok = true;
-    return;
+    return true;
+}
+
+ConfNull *RclConfig::cloneMainConfig()
+{
+    ConfNull *conf = new ConfStack<ConfTree>("recoll.conf", m_cdirs, false);
+    if (conf == 0 || !conf->ok()) {
+	m_reason = string("Can't read config");
+	return 0;
+    }
+    return conf;
 }
 
 bool RclConfig::getConfParam(const std::string &name, int *ivp)
diff --git a/src/common/rclconfig.h b/src/common/rclconfig.h
index 6c2770db..07d39645 100644
--- a/src/common/rclconfig.h
+++ b/src/common/rclconfig.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  */
 #ifndef _RCLCONFIG_H_INCLUDED_
 #define _RCLCONFIG_H_INCLUDED_
-/* @(#$Id: rclconfig.h,v 1.37 2007-10-01 06:19:21 dockes Exp $  (C) 2004 J.F.Dockes */
+/* @(#$Id: rclconfig.h,v 1.38 2007-10-09 09:43:10 dockes Exp $  (C) 2004 J.F.Dockes */
 
 #include <list>
 #include <string>
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ class RclConfig {
     // themselves.
     static RclConfig* getMainConfig();
 
+    // Return a writable clone of the main config. This belongs to the
+    // caller (must delete it when done)
+    ConfNull *cloneMainConfig();
+
+    /** (re)Read recoll.conf */
+    bool updateMainConfig();
+
     bool ok() {return m_ok;}
     const string &getReason() {return m_reason;}
 
@@ -56,6 +63,8 @@ class RclConfig {
     void setKeyDir(const string &dir) 
     {
 	m_keydir = dir;
+	if (m_conf == 0)
+	    return;
 	if (!m_conf->get("defaultcharset", defcharset, m_keydir))
 	    defcharset.erase();
 	string str;
@@ -63,8 +72,6 @@ class RclConfig {
 	guesscharset = stringToBool(str);
     }
     string getKeyDir() const {return m_keydir;}
-    /** Get all defined key directories in configuration */
-    list<string> getKeyDirs() {return m_conf->getSubKeys();}
 
     /** Get generic configuration parameter according to current keydir */
     bool getConfParam(const string &name, string &value) 
@@ -73,28 +80,6 @@ class RclConfig {
 	    return false;
 	return m_conf->get(name, value, m_keydir);
     }
-    /** Set generic configuration parameter according to current keydir */
-    bool setConfParam(const string &name, const string &value) 
-    {
-	if (m_conf == 0)
-	    return false;
-	return m_conf->set(name, value, m_keydir);
-    }
-    /** Remove parameter from configuration */
-    bool eraseConfParam(const string &name)
-    {
-	if (m_conf == 0)
-	    return false;
-	return m_conf->erase(name, m_keydir);
-    }	
-    /** Remove parameter from configuration */
-    bool eraseKeyDir()
-    {
-	if (m_conf == 0)
-	    return false;
-	return m_conf->eraseKey(m_keydir);
-    }	
-
     /** Variant with autoconversion to int */
     bool getConfParam(const std::string &name, int *value);
     /** Variant with autoconversion to bool */
@@ -197,9 +182,10 @@ class RclConfig {
  private:
     int m_ok;
     string m_reason;    // Explanation for bad state
-    string m_confdir; // Directory where the files are stored
-    string m_datadir; // Example: /usr/local/share/recoll
+    string m_confdir;   // User directory where the customized files are stored
+    string m_datadir;   // Example: /usr/local/share/recoll
     string m_keydir;    // Current directory used for parameter fetches.
+    list<string> m_cdirs; // directory stack for the confstacks
 
     ConfStack<ConfTree> *m_conf;   // Parsed configuration files
     ConfStack<ConfTree> *mimemap;  // The files don't change with keydir, 
@@ -215,7 +201,6 @@ class RclConfig {
 
     /** Create initial user configuration */
     bool initUserConfig();
-
     /** Copy from other */
     void initFrom(const RclConfig& r);
     /** Init pointers to 0 */