diff --git a/quest_api.lua b/quest_api.lua
index a41d0b7..4f49293 100644
--- a/quest_api.lua
+++ b/quest_api.lua
@@ -386,6 +386,30 @@ yl_speak_up.get_npc_users_of_variable = function(var_name)
 end
 
 
+-- helper function
+yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table = function(text, prefix, line_length, max_lines)
+	-- show newlines as <\n> in order to save space
+	local text = minetest.formspec_escape(text or "?")
+	text = string.gsub(text, "\n", minetest.formspec_escape("<br>"))
+	-- break the text up into lines of length x
+	local parts = minetest.wrap_text(text, line_length, true)
+	if(not(parts) or #parts < 2) then
+		return text
+	end
+	local show_parts = {}
+	-- only show the first two lines (we don't have infinite room)
+	for i, p in ipairs(parts) do
+		if(i <= max_lines) then
+			table.insert(show_parts, minetest.formspec_escape(p))
+		end
+	end
+	if(#parts > max_lines) then
+		return table.concat(show_parts, prefix)..minetest.formspec_escape(" [...]")
+	end
+	return table.concat(show_parts, prefix)
+end
+
+
 -- find out where this variable is used in NPCs
 yl_speak_up.get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_preconditions,
 						back_button_name, back_button_text)
@@ -440,41 +464,26 @@ yl_speak_up.get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_prec
 				-- if preconditions or effects apply: show the action as well
 				if(o and o.actions and (p_text ~= "" or r_text ~= "")) then
 				for a_id, a in pairs(o.actions) do
+					-- these lines can get pretty long when a description for a quest
+					-- item is set
+					local a_text = yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table(
+						yl_speak_up.show_action(a, pname),
+						",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FF9900,",
+						80, 4)
 					-- no need to introduce an a_text; this will follow
 					-- directly after p_text, and p_text is finished
 					p_text = p_text..",FF9900,"..
 							minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(a_id))..
 							",#FF9900,(A)ction,#FF9900,"..
 							minetest.formspec_escape(a.a_type)..",#FF9900,"..
-							minetest.formspec_escape(
-								yl_speak_up.show_action(a, pname))
+							a_text
 				end
 				end
 				if(p_text ~= "" or r_text ~= "") then
-					-- show newlines as <\n> in order to save space
-					local d_text = string.gsub(
-							dialog.n_dialogs[ d_id ].d_text or "?",
-							"\n", minetest.formspec_escape("<br>"))
-					-- break the text up into lines of length x
-					local parts = minetest.wrap_text(d_text, 80, true)
-					-- only show the first two lines (we don't have infinite room)
-					local prefix = ",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#BBBBFF,"
-					if(#parts < 2) then
-						d_text =         minetest.formspec_escape(parts[1])
-					elseif(#parts == 2) then
-						d_text =         minetest.formspec_escape(parts[1])..
-						         prefix..minetest.formspec_escape(parts[2])
-					elseif(#parts == 3) then
-						d_text =         minetest.formspec_escape(parts[1])..
-						         prefix..minetest.formspec_escape(parts[2])..
-						         prefix..minetest.formspec_escape(parts[3])
-					else
-						-- indicate that there is more
-						d_text =         minetest.formspec_escape(parts[1])..
-						         prefix..minetest.formspec_escape(parts[2])..
-						         prefix..minetest.formspec_escape(parts[3])..
-							 minetest.formspec_escape(" [...]")
-					end
+					local d_text = yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table(
+						dialog.n_dialogs[ d_id ].d_text or "?",
+						",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#BBBBFF,",
+						80, 3)
 					res[ tostring(n_id).." "..tostring(d_id).." "..tostring(o_id) ] = {
 						text =
 						"#6666FF,"..
@@ -510,7 +519,8 @@ yl_speak_up.get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_prec
 		"button[0.2,31.6;56.6,1.2;"..back_button_name..";"..
 			minetest.formspec_escape(back_button_text).."]",
 		"label[20.0,1.8;"..
-			minetest.formspec_escape("Variable \""..tostring(var_name or "- ? -")..
+			minetest.formspec_escape("Variable \""..
+				minetest.colorize("#FFFF00", tostring(var_name or "- ? -"))..
 				"\" is used here:").."]"..
 --		              type x_id  color       type text
 		"tablecolumns[color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text]",
@@ -521,9 +531,11 @@ yl_speak_up.get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_prec
 
 	if(#sorted_res > 0 and (count_read > 0 or count_changed > 0)) then
 		table.insert(formspec,
-			"label[16.0,31.0;The variable is accessed in "..tostring(count_read)..
-				" pre(C)onditions and changed in "..tostring(count_changed)..
-				" (Ef)ffects.]")
+			"label[16.0,31.0;The variable is accessed in "..
+				minetest.colorize("#FFFF00", tostring(count_read).." pre(C)onditions")..
+				" and changed in "..
+				minetest.colorize("#55FF55", tostring(count_changed).." (Ef)fects")..
+				".]")
 	else
 		-- TODO: make delete_unused_variable work
 		table.insert(formspec,