diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 8474c6c..66c6805 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ dofile(modpath .. "fs_save_or_discard_or_back.lua")
 --       of course you can change them only if you have access to
 --       the server's file system or can execute lua code.
 dofile(modpath .. "custrom_functions_you_can_override.lua")
+-- some helper functions for formatting text for a formspec talbe
+dofile(modpath .. "print_as_table.lua")
 -- handle alternate text for dialogs
 dofile(modpath .. "fs_alternate_text.lua")
 -- common functions for editing preconditions and effects
diff --git a/print_as_table.lua b/print_as_table.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19d71e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/print_as_table.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+-- 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 = (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 minetest.formspec_escape(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
+
+
+-- helper functions for yl_speak_up.get_list_of_usage_of_variable
+-- and yl_speak_up.show_what_points_to_this_dialog
+yl_speak_up.print_as_table_precon = function(p, pname)
+	return ",#FFFF00,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(p.p_id))..
+		",#FFFF00,pre(C)ondition,#FFFF00,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(p.p_type)..",#FFFF00,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(yl_speak_up.show_precondition(p, pname))
+end
+
+
+yl_speak_up.print_as_table_effect = function(r, pname)
+	return ",#55FF55,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(r.r_id))..
+		",#55FF55,(Ef)fect,#55FF55,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(r.r_type)..",#55FF55,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(yl_speak_up.show_effect(r, pname))
+end
+
+
+yl_speak_up.print_as_table_action = function(a, pname)
+	return ",#FF9900,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(a.a_id))..
+		",#FF9900,(A)ction,#FF9900,"..
+		minetest.formspec_escape(a.a_type)..",#FF9900,"..
+		-- these lines can get pretty long when a description for a quest item is set
+		yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table(
+			yl_speak_up.show_action(a, pname),
+			",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FF9900,",
+			80, 4)
+end
+
+
+yl_speak_up.print_as_table_dialog = function(p_text, r_text, dialog, n_id, d_id, o_id, res, o, sort_value,
+		alternate_dialog, alternate_text)
+	if(p_text == "" and r_text == "" ) then
+		return
+	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)
+	if(not(alternate_dialog) or not(alternate_text)) then
+		alternate_text = ""
+	else
+		alternate_text = ",#BBBBFF,"..minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(alternate_dialog))..
+				-- show alternate text in a diffrent color
+				",#BBBBFF,Dialog,#BBBBFF,says next:,#FFBBBB,"..
+				 yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table(
+					alternate_text,
+					",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFBBBB,",
+					80, 3)
+	end
+	res[ tostring(n_id).." "..tostring(d_id).." "..tostring(o_id) ] = {
+		text =  "#6666FF,"..
+			tostring(n_id)..",#6666FF,NPC,#6666FF,named:,#6666FF,"..
+			minetest.formspec_escape(dialog.n_npc or "?")..","..
+			"#BBBBFF,"..
+			tostring(d_id)..",#BBBBFF,Dialog,#BBBBFF,says:,#BBBBFF,"..
+			d_text..","..
+			"#FFFFFF,"..
+			tostring(o_id)..",#FFFFFF,Option,#FFFFFF,A:,#FFFFFF,"..
+			minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(o.o_text_when_prerequisites_met or "?"))..
+			p_text..r_text..
+			alternate_text,
+		sort_value = sort_value}
+end
+
+
+yl_speak_up.print_as_table_prepare_formspec = function(res, table_name, back_button_name, back_button_text)
+	local sorted_list = yl_speak_up.get_sorted_options(res, "sort_value")
+	local sorted_res = {}
+	for i, k in pairs(sorted_list) do
+		table.insert(sorted_res, res[ k ].text)
+	end
+	local formspec = {
+		"formspec_version[3]",
+		"size[57,33]",
+		-- back to the list with that one precondition or effect
+		"button[0.2,0.2;56.6,1.2;"..back_button_name..";"..
+			minetest.formspec_escape(back_button_text).."]",
+		"button[0.2,31.6;56.6,1.2;"..back_button_name..";"..
+			minetest.formspec_escape(back_button_text).."]",
+		"tablecolumns[color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text]",
+		"table[1.2,2.4;55.0,28.0;"..tostring(table_name)..";"
+	}
+	-- insert blank lines between lines belonging together
+	table.insert(formspec, table.concat(sorted_res, ",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,").."]")
+	return formspec
+end
diff --git a/quest_api.lua b/quest_api.lua
index e9d7d04..5e29f0a 100644
--- a/quest_api.lua
+++ b/quest_api.lua
@@ -400,121 +400,6 @@ 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 = (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 minetest.formspec_escape(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
-
-
--- helper functions for yl_speak_up.get_list_of_usage_of_variable
--- and yl_speak_up.show_what_points_to_this_dialog
-yl_speak_up.print_as_table_precon = function(p, pname)
-	return ",#FFFF00,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(p.p_id))..
-		",#FFFF00,pre(C)ondition,#FFFF00,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(p.p_type)..",#FFFF00,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(yl_speak_up.show_precondition(p, pname))
-end
-
-
-yl_speak_up.print_as_table_effect = function(r, pname)
-	return ",#55FF55,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(r.r_id))..
-		",#55FF55,(Ef)fect,#55FF55,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(r.r_type)..",#55FF55,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(yl_speak_up.show_effect(r, pname))
-end
-
-
-yl_speak_up.print_as_table_action = function(a, pname)
-	return ",#FF9900,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(a.a_id))..
-		",#FF9900,(A)ction,#FF9900,"..
-		minetest.formspec_escape(a.a_type)..",#FF9900,"..
-		-- these lines can get pretty long when a description for a quest item is set
-		yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table(
-			yl_speak_up.show_action(a, pname),
-			",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FF9900,",
-			80, 4)
-end
-
-
-yl_speak_up.print_as_table_dialog = function(p_text, r_text, dialog, n_id, d_id, o_id, res, o, sort_value,
-		alternate_dialog, alternate_text)
-	if(p_text == "" and r_text == "" ) then
-		return
-	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)
-	if(not(alternate_dialog) or not(alternate_text)) then
-		alternate_text = ""
-	else
-		alternate_text = ",#BBBBFF,"..minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(alternate_dialog))..
-				-- show alternate text in a diffrent color
-				",#BBBBFF,Dialog,#BBBBFF,says next:,#FFBBBB,"..
-				 yl_speak_up.wrap_long_lines_for_table(
-					alternate_text,
-					",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFBBBB,",
-					80, 3)
-	end
-	res[ tostring(n_id).." "..tostring(d_id).." "..tostring(o_id) ] = {
-		text =  "#6666FF,"..
-			tostring(n_id)..",#6666FF,NPC,#6666FF,named:,#6666FF,"..
-			minetest.formspec_escape(dialog.n_npc or "?")..","..
-			"#BBBBFF,"..
-			tostring(d_id)..",#BBBBFF,Dialog,#BBBBFF,says:,#BBBBFF,"..
-			d_text..","..
-			"#FFFFFF,"..
-			tostring(o_id)..",#FFFFFF,Option,#FFFFFF,A:,#FFFFFF,"..
-			minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(o.o_text_when_prerequisites_met or "?"))..
-			p_text..r_text..
-			alternate_text,
-		sort_value = sort_value}
-end
-
-
-yl_speak_up.print_as_table_prepare_formspec = function(res, table_name, back_button_name, back_button_text)
-	local sorted_list = yl_speak_up.get_sorted_options(res, "sort_value")
-	local sorted_res = {}
-	for i, k in pairs(sorted_list) do
-		table.insert(sorted_res, res[ k ].text)
-	end
-	local formspec = {
-		"formspec_version[3]",
-		"size[57,33]",
-		-- back to the list with that one precondition or effect
-		"button[0.2,0.2;56.6,1.2;"..back_button_name..";"..
-			minetest.formspec_escape(back_button_text).."]",
-		"button[0.2,31.6;56.6,1.2;"..back_button_name..";"..
-			minetest.formspec_escape(back_button_text).."]",
-		"tablecolumns[color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text;color,span=1;text]",
-		"table[1.2,2.4;55.0,28.0;"..tostring(table_name)..";"
-	}
-	-- insert blank lines between lines belonging together
-	table.insert(formspec, table.concat(sorted_res, ",#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,#FFFFFF,,").."]")
-	return formspec
-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, is_internal_var)