diff --git a/icons/cursor.png b/icons/cursor.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f1987d
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/cursor.png differ
diff --git a/icons/filesave.png b/icons/filesave.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4db07d
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/filesave.png differ
diff --git a/icons/freeze.png b/icons/freeze.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c31349
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/freeze.png differ
diff --git a/icons/home.png b/icons/home.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bed4ffd
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/home.png differ
diff --git a/icons/move.png b/icons/move.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a42024d
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/move.png differ
diff --git a/icons/select.png b/icons/select.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f2d88b
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/select.png differ
diff --git a/icons/zoom_to_rect.png b/icons/zoom_to_rect.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26ad414
Binary files /dev/null and b/icons/zoom_to_rect.png differ
diff --git a/system/plots.py b/system/plots.py
index 11e0de2..bc61973 100644
--- a/system/plots.py
+++ b/system/plots.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import networkx
 import scipy
  
 # global active mode. Used by toolbars to communicate correct mode
-active_mode = 'DEFAULT'
+active_mode = 'default'
 
 class ObjectTable:
     """A 2D table of elements."""
@@ -245,35 +245,78 @@ class MainView (gtk.Notebook):
             self.emit('view-changed', vf)
     
 
-class Plot (gtk.Frame):
+class View (gtk.Frame):
+    """The base class of everything that is shown in the center view of fluents.
+
+    Most views should rather subclass Plot, which automatically handles freezing and
+    toolbars, and sets up matplotlib Figure and Canvas objects.
+    """
+    
     def __init__(self, title):
         gtk.Frame.__init__(self)
         self.title = title
-        self.sel_obj = None
+        self.set_shadow_type(gtk.SHADOW_NONE)
+        self.set_label(title)
+
+    def get_toolbar(self):
+        return None
+
+
+class EmptyView (View):
+    """EmptyView is shown in ViewFrames that are unused."""
+    def __init__(self):
+        View.__init__(self, 'Empty view')
+        self.set_label(None)
+        label = gtk.Label('No view')
+        ebox = gtk.EventBox()
+        ebox.add(label)
+        self.add(ebox)
+        label.show()
+        ebox.show()
+        self.show()
+
+    
+class Plot (View):
+    def __init__(self, title):
+        View.__init__(self, title)
+        
         self.selection_listener = None
         self.fig = Figure()
         self.canvas = FigureCanvas(self.fig)
-        self.set_shadow_type(gtk.SHADOW_NONE)
         self._background = None
-        self._sel_sensitive = True
+        self._frozen = False
+        self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self)
         self.canvas.add_events(gtk.gdk.ENTER_NOTIFY_MASK)
+        self.current_dim = None
 
-    def set_selection_sensitive(self,event):
-        if event:
-            if event.get_active():
-                logger.log('debug','Selection freezed')
-                self._sel_sensitive = False
-            else:
-                logger.log('debug','Selections active')
-                self._sel_sensitive = True
-
+    def set_frozen(self, frozen):
+        """A frozen plot will not be updated when the current selection is changed."""
+        self._frozen = frozen
+        if not frozen:
+            self.set_current_selection(self._current_selection)
     
     def get_title(self):
         return self.title
 
-    def selection_changed(self, selection):
-        if not self._sel_sensitive or not self.get_property('visible'):
+    def get_toolbar(self):
+        return self._toolbar
+
+    def selection_changed(self, dim_name, selection):
+        """ Selection observer handle.
+        
+        A selection change in a plot is only drawn if:
+        1.) plot is sensitive to selections (not freezed)
+        2.) plot is visible (has a view)
+        3.) the selections dim_name is the plot's dimension.
+        """
+        
+        if self._frozen \
+               or not self.get_property('visible') \
+               or self.current_dim != dim_name:
             return
+        else:
+            self._current_selection = selection
+        
         self.set_current_selection(selection)
 
     def set_selection_listener(self, listener):
@@ -285,21 +328,7 @@ class Plot (gtk.Frame):
         """
         self.selection_listener = listener
 
-    def get_toolbar(self):
-        return None
         
-
-class EmptyView (Plot):
-    def __init__(self):
-        Plot.__init__(self, 'Empty view')
-        label = gtk.Label('No view')
-        ebox = gtk.EventBox()
-        ebox.add(label)
-        self.add(ebox)
-        label.show()
-        ebox.show()
-        self.show()
-
 class LineViewPlot(Plot):
     """Line view of current selection, no interaction
     Only works on 2d-arrays
@@ -315,7 +344,7 @@ class LineViewPlot(Plot):
         self.dataset = dataset
         Plot.__init__(self, name)
         self.ax = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
-        self.ax.set_title(self.get_title())
+        #self.ax.set_title(self.get_title())
         self.current_dim = self.dataset.get_dim_name(major_axis)
         if len(self._data.shape)==2 and not minor_axis:
             minor_axis = major_axis-1
@@ -359,14 +388,9 @@ class LineViewPlot(Plot):
         self.canvas.show()
         
         #FIXME: Lineview plot cannot do selections -> disable in toolbar
-        self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self.canvas,self)
-        self._toolbar.chk.connect ('toggled' , self.set_selection_sensitive)
+        self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self)
         self.canvas.mpl_connect('resize_event', self.clear_background)
 
-
-    def get_toolbar(self):
-        return self._toolbar
-        
     def clear_background(self, event):
         self._background = None
         
@@ -386,27 +410,23 @@ class LineViewPlot(Plot):
             line_coll = LineCollection(segs, colors=(1,0,0,1))
             line_coll.set_clip_box(self.ax.bbox)
             self.ax.update_datalim(line_coll.get_verts(self.ax.transData))
-            self._toolbar.forward()
+
             if self.use_blit:
                 self.ax.draw_artist(line_coll)
-                #print "\nLine collection clip box:"
                 line_coll.get_clip_box().get_bounds()
-                #print "\nLine collection bbox:"
-                #print self.ax.bbox.get_bounds()
-                #print "Background bbox:"
-                #print self._bbox.get_bounds()
-                #self.canvas.blit(self._bbox)
                 self.canvas.blit()
                 
-                #self.ax.draw_artist(line_coll)
             else:
                 self.ax.add_collection(line_coll)
                 self.canvas.draw()
+
             
 class ScatterMarkerPlot(Plot):
     """The ScatterMarkerPlot is faster than regular scatterplot, but
-has no color and size options."""
-    def __init__(self, dataset_1, dataset_2, id_dim, sel_dim, id_1, id_2,s=6, name="Scatter plot"):
+       has no color and size options."""
+    
+    def __init__(self, dataset_1, dataset_2, id_dim, sel_dim,
+                 id_1, id_2, s=6, name="Scatter plot"):
         Plot.__init__(self, name)
         self.use_blit = False
         self._background = None
@@ -422,19 +442,10 @@ has no color and size options."""
         self.xaxis_data = dataset_1._array[:, x_index]
         self.yaxis_data = dataset_2._array[:, y_index]
         self.ax.plot(self.xaxis_data, self.yaxis_data, 'o', markeredgewidth=0, markersize=s)
-        self.ax.set_title(self.get_title())
+        #self.ax.set_title(self.get_title())
         self.add(self.canvas)
         self.canvas.show()
 
-        # add toolbar
-        self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self.canvas, self)
-        self._toolbar.chk.connect ('toggled', self.set_selection_sensitive)
-        self._toolbar.set_property('show-arrow', False)
-        self._toolbar.set_select_callback(self.rectangle_select_callback)
-
-    def get_toolbar(self):
-        return self._toolbar
-
     def rectangle_select_callback(self, x1, y1, x2, y2):
         ydata = self.yaxis_data
         xdata = self.xaxis_data
@@ -467,7 +478,7 @@ has no color and size options."""
 
         self._selection_line, = self.ax.plot(xdata_new, ydata_new,marker='o', markersize=self.ms, linestyle=None, markerfacecolor='r')
 
-        self._toolbar.forward() #update data lims before draw
+#        self._toolbar.forward() #update data lims before draw
         if self.use_blit:
             self.ax.draw_artist(self._selection_line)
             self.canvas.blit()
@@ -496,7 +507,7 @@ class ScatterPlot(Plot):
             self.fig.colorbar(sc,ticks=[], fraction=.05)
         self.ax.axhline(0, color='k', lw=1., zorder=1)
         self.ax.axvline(0, color='k', lw=1., zorder=1)
-        self.ax.set_title(self.get_title())
+        #self.ax.set_title(self.get_title())
         # collection
         self.coll = self.ax.collections[0]
 
@@ -504,15 +515,6 @@ class ScatterPlot(Plot):
         self.add(self.canvas)
         self.canvas.show()
 
-        # create toolbar
-        self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self.canvas, self)
-        self._toolbar.chk.connect ('toggled' , self.set_selection_sensitive)
-        self._toolbar.set_property('show-arrow', False)
-        self._toolbar.set_select_callback(self.rectangle_select_callback)
-
-    def get_toolbar(self):
-        return self._toolbar
-
     def rectangle_select_callback(self, x1, y1, x2, y2):
         ydata = self.yaxis_data
         xdata = self.xaxis_data
@@ -532,7 +534,9 @@ class ScatterPlot(Plot):
     def set_current_selection(self, selection):
         ids = selection[self.current_dim] # current identifiers
         if len(ids)==0:
+            print "nothing selected"
             return
+        #self._toolbar.forward() #update data lims before draw
         index = self.dataset_1.get_indices(self.current_dim, ids)
         if self.use_blit:
             if self._background is None:
@@ -542,8 +546,7 @@ class ScatterPlot(Plot):
         if len(index)>0:
             lw.put(2.,index)
         self.coll.set_linewidth(lw)
-        self._toolbar.forward() #update data lims before draw
-
+        
         if self.use_blit:
             self.canvas.blit()
             self.ax.draw_artist(self.coll)
@@ -558,6 +561,7 @@ class NetworkPlot(Plot):
         self.dataset = dataset 
         self.keywords = kw
         self.dim_name = self.dataset.get_dim_name(0)
+        self.current_dim = self.dim_name
         if not kw.has_key('name'):
             kw['name'] = self.dataset.get_name()
         if not kw.has_key('prog'):
@@ -604,17 +608,10 @@ class NetworkPlot(Plot):
         # Initial draw
         networkx.draw_networkx(self.graph, ax=self.ax, **kw)
 
-        # Setup toolbar
-        self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self.canvas, self)
-        self._toolbar.chk.connect ('toggled' , self.set_selection_sensitive)
-        self._toolbar.set_property('show-arrow', False)
-        self._toolbar.set_select_callback(self.rectangle_select_callback)
-
     def get_toolbar(self):
         return self._toolbar
 
     def rectangle_select_callback(self, x1, y1, x2, y2):
-        'event1 and event2 are the press and release events'
         pos = self.keywords['pos']
         ydata = scipy.zeros((len(pos),), 'l')
         xdata = scipy.zeros((len(pos),), 'l')
@@ -635,10 +632,10 @@ class NetworkPlot(Plot):
         
 
         ids = [node_ids[i] for i in index]
-        self.selection_listener(self.dataset.get_dim_name(0), ids)
+        self.selection_listener(self.current_dim, ids)
 
     def set_current_selection(self, selection):
-        ids = selection[self.dataset.get_dim_name(0)] # current identifiers
+        ids = selection[self.current_dim] # current identifiers
         node_set = set(self.graph.nodes())
 
         selected_nodes = list(ids.intersection(node_set))
@@ -668,293 +665,383 @@ class NetworkPlot(Plot):
         self.canvas.draw()
 
 
-class PlotToolbar(NavigationToolbar2,gtk.Toolbar):
-    # list of toolitems to add to the toolbar, format is:
-    # text, tooltip_text, image_file, callback(str)
-    toolitems = (
-        ('Home', 'Reset original view', 'home.png', 'home'),
-        #('Back', 'Back to  previous view','back.png', 'back'),
-        #('Forward', 'Forward to next view','forward.png', 'forward'),
-        #('Subplots', 'Configure subplots','subplots.png', 'configure_subplots'),
-        ('Save', 'Save the figure','filesave.png', 'save_figure'),
-        )
+class PlotMode:
+    """A PlotMode object corresponds to a mouse mode in a plot.
 
-    radiobuttons = (
-        ('DEFAULT', 'Default mode', 'cursor.png', 'default'),
-        ('PAN', 'Pan axes with left mouse, zoom with right', 'move.png', 'pan'),
-        ('ZOOM', 'Zoom to rectangle','zoom_to_rect.png', 'zoom'),
-        ('SELECT', 'Select within rectangle', 'select.png', 'select'),
-        )
+    When a mode is selected in the toolbar, the PlotMode corresponding
+    to the toolbar button is activated by calling setup(ax) for the axis
+    system ax.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, plot, name, tooltip, image_file):
+        self.name = name
+        self.tooltip = tooltip
+        self.image_file = image_file
+        self.plot = plot
+        self.canvas = plot.canvas
 
-    def __init__(self, canvas, plot):
-        self.win = None
+    def get_icon(self):
+        """Returns the icon for the PlotMode"""
+        fname = os.path.join(fluents.ICONDIR, self.image_file)
+        image = gtk.Image()
+        image.set_from_file(fname)
+        return image
+        
+    def activate(self):
+        """Subclasses of PlotMode should do their initialization here.
+
+        The activate method is called when a mode is activated, and is
+        used primarily to set up callback functions on events in the
+        canvas.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    def deactivate(self):
+        """Subclasses of PlotMode should do their cleanup here.
+
+        The deactivate method is primarily by subclasses of PlotMode to
+        remove any callbacks they might have on the matplotlib canvas.
+        """
+        pass
+
+    def _mpl_disconnect_all(self):
+        """Disconnects all matplotlib callbacks defined on the canvas.
+
+        This is a hack because the RectangleSelector in matplotlib does
+        not store its callbacks, so we need a workaround to remove them.
+        """
+        callbacks = self.plot.canvas.callbacks
+        
+        for callbackd in callbacks.values():
+            for c in callbackd.keys():
+                del callbackd[c]
+
+
+class DefaultPlotMode (PlotMode):
+    def __init__(self, plot):
+        PlotMode.__init__(self, plot, 'default', 'Default mode', 'cursor.png')
+
+    def activate(self):
+        for k, v in self.canvas.callbacks.items():
+            print k, v
+
+
+class PanPlotMode (PlotMode):
+    def __init__(self, plot):
+        PlotMode.__init__(self, plot, 'pan',
+                          'Pan axes with left mouse, zoom with right',
+                          'move.png')
+
+        # Holds handler IDs for callbacks.
+        self._button_press = None
+        self._button_release = None
+        self._motion_notify = None
+
+        self._button_pressed = None
+
+    def activate(self):
+        self._button_press = self.canvas.mpl_connect(
+            'button_press_event', self._on_button_press)
+        self._button_relese = self.canvas.mpl_connect(
+            'button_release_event', self._on_button_release)
+        #self._drag = self.canvas.mpl_connect(
+        #   'mouse_drag_event', self._on_drag)
+
+    def deactivate(self):
+        if self._button_press:
+            self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._button_press)
+
+        if self._button_release:
+            self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._button_release)
+
+    def _on_button_press(self, event):
+
+        if event.button == 1:
+            self._button_pressed = 1
+        elif  event.button == 3:
+            self._button_pressed = 3
+        else:
+            self._button_pressed=None
+            return
+
+        x, y = event.x, event.y
+
+        # push the current view to define home if stack is empty
+        # if self._views.empty(): self.push_current()
+
+        self._xypress=[]
+        for i, a in enumerate(self.canvas.figure.get_axes()):
+            if x is not None and y is not None and a.in_axes(x, y) \
+                   and a.get_navigate():
+                xmin, xmax = a.get_xlim()
+                ymin, ymax = a.get_ylim()
+                lim = xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax
+                self._xypress.append((x, y, a, i, lim,a.transData.deepcopy()))
+                self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._motion_notify)
+                
+                cid = self.canvas.mpl_connect('motion_notify_event',
+                                              self._on_motion_notify)
+                self._motion_notify = cid
+
+    def _on_motion_notify(self, event):
+        """The drag callback in pan/zoom mode"""
+
+        def format_deltas(event, dx, dy):
+            """Returns the correct dx and dy based on the modifier keys"""
+            if event.key=='control':
+                if(abs(dx)>abs(dy)):
+                    dy = dx
+                else:
+                    dx = dy
+            elif event.key=='x':
+                dy = 0
+            elif event.key=='y':
+                dx = 0
+            elif event.key=='shift':
+                if 2*abs(dx) < abs(dy):
+                    dx=0
+                elif 2*abs(dy) < abs(dx):
+                    dy=0
+                elif(abs(dx)>abs(dy)):
+                    dy=dy/abs(dy)*abs(dx)
+                else:
+                    dx=dx/abs(dx)*abs(dy)
+            return (dx,dy)
+
+        for cur_xypress in self._xypress:
+            lastx, lasty, a, ind, lim, trans = cur_xypress
+            xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = lim
+
+            #safer to use the recorded button at the press than current button:
+            #multiple button can get pressed during motion...
+            if self._button_pressed==1:
+                lastx, lasty = trans.inverse_xy_tup( (lastx, lasty) )
+                x, y = trans.inverse_xy_tup( (event.x, event.y) )
+                if a.get_xscale()=='log':
+                    dx=1-lastx/x
+                else:
+                    dx=x-lastx
+                if a.get_yscale()=='log':
+                    dy=1-lasty/y
+                else:
+                    dy=y-lasty
+
+                dx,dy=format_deltas(event,dx,dy)
+
+                if a.get_xscale()=='log':
+                    xmin *= 1-dx
+                    xmax *= 1-dx
+                else:
+                    xmin -= dx
+                    xmax -= dx
+                if a.get_yscale()=='log':
+                    ymin *= 1-dy
+                    ymax *= 1-dy
+                else:
+                    ymin -= dy
+                    ymax -= dy
+                    
+            elif self._button_pressed==3:
+                try:
+                    dx=(lastx-event.x)/float(a.bbox.width())
+                    dy=(lasty-event.y)/float(a.bbox.height())
+                    dx,dy=format_deltas(event,dx,dy)
+                    if a.get_aspect() != 'auto':
+                        dx = 0.5*(dx + dy)
+                        dy = dx
+                    alphax = pow(10.0,dx)
+                    alphay = pow(10.0,dy)
+                    lastx, lasty = trans.inverse_xy_tup( (lastx, lasty) )
+                    if a.get_xscale()=='log':
+                        xmin = lastx*(xmin/lastx)**alphax
+                        xmax = lastx*(xmax/lastx)**alphax
+                    else:
+                        xmin = lastx+alphax*(xmin-lastx)
+                        xmax = lastx+alphax*(xmax-lastx)
+                    if a.get_yscale()=='log':
+                        ymin = lasty*(ymin/lasty)**alphay
+                        ymax = lasty*(ymax/lasty)**alphay
+                    else:
+                        ymin = lasty+alphay*(ymin-lasty)
+                        ymax = lasty+alphay*(ymax-lasty)
+                        
+                except OverflowError:
+                    warnings.warn('Overflow while panning')
+                    return
+
+            a.set_xlim(xmin, xmax)
+            a.set_ylim(ymin, ymax)
+            
+        self.canvas.draw()
+
+    def _on_button_release(self, event):
+        'the release mouse button callback in pan/zoom mode'
+        self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._motion_notify)
+        if not self._xypress: return
+        self._xypress = None
+        self._button_pressed=None
+        self.canvas.draw()
+
+
+class ZoomPlotMode (PlotMode):
+    def __init__(self, plot):
+        PlotMode.__init__(self, plot, 'zoom',
+                          'Zoom to rectangle','zoom_to_rect.png')        
+        self._selectors = {}
+
+    def activate(self):
+        for ax in self.canvas.figure.get_axes():
+            props = dict(facecolor = 'blue',
+                         edgecolor = 'black',
+                         alpha = 0.3,
+                         fill = True)
+
+            rs = RectangleSelector(ax, self._on_select, drawtype='box',
+                                   useblit=True, rectprops = props)
+            self.canvas.draw()
+            self._selectors[rs] = ax
+
+    def deactivate(self):
+        self._mpl_disconnect_all()
+        self._selectors = {}
+
+    def _on_select(self, start, end):
+        ax = start.inaxes
+
+        ax.set_xlim((min(start.xdata, end.xdata), max(start.xdata, end.xdata)))
+        ax.set_ylim((min(start.ydata, end.ydata), max(start.ydata, end.ydata)))
+        self.canvas.draw()
+
+
+class SelectPlotMode (PlotMode):
+    def __init__(self, plot):
+        PlotMode.__init__(self, plot, 'select',
+                          'Select within rectangle', 'select.png')
+        self._selectors = {}
+
+    def activate(self):
+        for ax in self.canvas.figure.get_axes():
+            props = dict(facecolor = 'blue',
+                         edgecolor = 'black',
+                         alpha = 0.3,
+                         fill = True)
+
+            rs = RectangleSelector(ax, self._on_select, drawtype='box',
+                                   useblit=True, rectprops = props)
+            self.canvas.draw()
+            self._selectors[rs] = ax
+
+    def deactivate(self):
+        self._mpl_disconnect_all()
+        self._selectors = {}
+
+    def _on_select(self, start, end):
+        self.plot.rectangle_select_callback(start.xdata, start.ydata,
+                                            end.xdata, end.ydata)
+
+
+class PlotToolbar(gtk.Toolbar):
+    
+    def __init__(self, plot):
         gtk.Toolbar.__init__(self)
-        NavigationToolbar2.__init__(self, canvas)
-        self._idleId = 0
-        self._select_callback = None
-        canvas.connect('enter-notify-event', self.on_enter_notify)
-        
-    def _init_toolbar(self):
-        self.set_style(gtk.TOOLBAR_ICONS)
+        self.plot = plot
+        self.canvas = plot.canvas
+        self._current_mode = None
         self.tooltips = gtk.Tooltips()
-        self._states = {}
-        self._selector = None
+
+        ## Maps toolbar buttons to PlotMode objects.
+        self._mode_buttons = {}
+
         self.set_property('show-arrow', False)
-        basedir = fluents.ICONDIR
-
-        # setup base buttons
-        for text, tooltip_text, image_file, callback in self.toolitems:
-            if text is None:
-                self.insert(gtk.SeparatorToolItem(), -1 )
-                continue
-            fname = os.path.join(basedir, image_file)
-            image = gtk.Image()
-            image.set_from_file(fname)
-            tbutton = gtk.ToolButton(image, text)
-            self.insert(tbutton, -1)
-            tbutton.connect('clicked', getattr(self, callback))
-            tbutton.set_tooltip(self.tooltips, tooltip_text, 'Private')
+        
+        #canvas.connect('enter-notify-event', self.on_enter_notify)
+        self.show()
+        self.add_mode(DefaultPlotMode(self.plot))
+        self.add_mode(PanPlotMode(self.plot))
+        self.add_mode(ZoomPlotMode(self.plot))
+        self.add_mode(SelectPlotMode(self.plot))
 
         self.insert(gtk.SeparatorToolItem(), -1)
 
-        # mode/state buttons 
-        rbutton = None
-        for text,tooltip_text,image_file,callback in self.radiobuttons:
-            if text is None:
-                self.insert(gtk.SeparatorToolItem(), -1 )
-                continue
-            fname = os.path.join(basedir, image_file)
-            image = gtk.Image()
-            image.set_from_file(fname)
-            rbutton = gtk.RadioToolButton(rbutton)
-            rbutton.set_icon_widget(image)
-            rbutton.connect('toggled', getattr(self, callback))
-            rbutton.set_tooltip(self.tooltips, tooltip_text, 'Private')
-            self._states[text] = rbutton
-            self.insert(rbutton, -1)
+        # Set up freeze button
+        btn = gtk.ToggleToolButton()
 
-        self.insert(gtk.SeparatorToolItem(), -1)
-        
-        toolitem = gtk.ToolItem()
-        self.insert(toolitem, -1)
-        self.message = gtk.Label()
-        toolitem.add(self.message)
+        fname = os.path.join(fluents.ICONDIR, "freeze.png")
+        image = gtk.Image()
+        image.set_from_file(fname)
 
-        self.tb_freeze = gtk.ToolItem()
-        self.chk = gtk.CheckButton ()
-        self.chk.set_label ('Freeze')
-        self.tb_freeze.add (self.chk)
-        self.tb_freeze.set_tooltip(self.tooltips, 'Freeze current selection')
-        self.insert(self.tb_freeze,-1)        
-        
-        toolitem = gtk.SeparatorToolItem()
-        self.insert(toolitem, -1)
+        btn.set_icon_widget(image)
+        btn.connect('toggled', self._on_freeze_toggle)
+        self.insert(btn, -1)
 
         self.show_all()
 
-        self.fileselect = FileChooserDialog(title='Save the figure', parent=self.win,)
-    
+    def add_mode(self, mode):
+        """Adds a new mode to the toolbar."""
 
-    def on_enter_notify(self, widget, event):
-        if self._active != active_mode:
-            self.set_mode(active_mode)
-        
-    def set_mode(self, active):
-        # if state is unkown or not set, set to default
-        if active == None or active not in self._states.keys():
-            active = 'DEFAULT'
-
-        # remove current Selector:
-        if self._selector:
-            print "Removing selector"
-            self._selector = None
-        # remove current button bindings
-        if self._idPress != None:
-            self._idPress = self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._idPress)
-            self.mode = ''
-
-        if self._idRelease != None:
-            self._idRelease = self.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self._idRelease)
-            self.mode = ''
-        
-        for state, button in self._states.items():
-            if state != active:
-                continue
-            
-            if state == 'SELECT':
-                ax, = self.canvas.figure.get_axes()
-                props = dict(facecolor='blue', edgecolor = 'black',
-                             alpha=0.3, fill=True)
-                self._selector = RectangleSelector(ax, self.onselect,
-                                                   drawtype='box', useblit=True,
-                                                   rectprops=props)
-                self.mode = 'Select rectangle mode'
-                print self.mode
-                
-            elif state == 'PAN':
-                self._idPress = self.canvas.mpl_connect(
-                    'button_press_event', self.press_pan)
-                self._idRelease = self.canvas.mpl_connect(
-                    'button_release_event', self.release_pan)
-                self.mode = 'pan/zoom mode'
-
-            elif state == 'ZOOM':
-                self._idPress = self.canvas.mpl_connect('button_press_event', self.press_zoom)
-                self._idRelease = self.canvas.mpl_connect('button_release_event', self.release_zoom)
-                self.mode = 'Zoom to rect mode'
-
-            elif state == 'DEFAULT':
-                pass
-            else:
-                pass
-            
-            if not button.get_active():
-                button.set_active(True)
-                
-        for a in self.canvas.figure.get_axes():
-            a.set_navigate_mode(self._active)     
-
-        self.set_message(self.mode)
-
-        self._active = active
-        # update global active_mode (for all toolbar)
-        globals()['active_mode'] = active
-        
-    def get_mode(self):
-        if self._active == None:
-            return 'DEFAULT'
-        return self._active
-
-    def default(self, button):
-        """Activates default mode"""
-        if not button.get_active():
-            return
-        self.set_mode('DEFAULT')
-        
-    def select(self, button):
-        """Activate select mode"""
-        if not button.get_active():
-            return
-        self.set_mode('SELECT')
-
-    def onselect(self,eclick, erelease):
-          'eclick and erelease are matplotlib events at press and release'
-          if self._select_callback:
-                self._select_callback(eclick.xdata, eclick.ydata, erelease.xdata, erelease.ydata)
-        
-    def pan(self, button):
-        """Activate the pan/zoom tool. pan with left button, zoom with right"""
-        if not button.get_active():
-            return
-        self.set_mode('PAN')
-        
-    def zoom(self, button):
-        """Activate zoom to rect mode"""
-        if not button.get_active():
-            return
-        self.set_mode('ZOOM')
-        
-    def mouse_move(self, event):
-        """Extend NavigationToolbar2.mouse_move to provide selection support."""
-        # Only update the rubberband for selection mode when mouse is
-        # within the plotting area.
-        
-        #if event.inaxes and self._active=='SELECT':
-        #    if self._lastCursor != cursors.SELECT_REGION:
-        #        self.set_cursor(cursors.SELECT_REGION)
-        #        self._lastCursor = cursors.SELECT_REGION
-        #    if self._xypress is not None:
-        #        x, y = event.x, event.y
-        #        lastx, lasty, a, ind, lim, trans= self._xypress
-        #        self.draw_rubberband(event, x, y, lastx, lasty)
-
-        NavigationToolbar2.mouse_move(self, event)
-        
-    def set_select_callback(self, listener):
-        """Allow plots to register a callback for selection events.
-
-        The callback will be called as listener(x1, y1, x2, y2).  All
-        coordinates are in the plot coordinate system, not pixels or
-        widget coordinates.
-        """
-        self._select_callback = listener
-
-    def set_cursor(self, cursor):
-        self.canvas.window.set_cursor(cursord[cursor])
-
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        # legacy method; new method is canvas.draw_idle
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
-
-    def mpl_draw_rubberband(self,event):
-        """Use RectangleSelector for rubberband drawing"""
-        
-    def draw_rubberband(self, event, x0, y0, x1, y1):
-        'adapted from http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/189744'
-        drawable = self.canvas.window
-        if drawable is None:
-            return
-
-        gc = drawable.new_gc()
-
-        height = self.canvas.figure.bbox.height()
-        y1 = height - y1
-        y0 = height - y0
-
-        w = abs(x1 - x0)
-        h = abs(y1 - y0)
-        rect = [int(val)for val in min(x0,x1), min(y0, y1), w, h]
-        try: lastrect, imageBack = self._imageBack
-        except AttributeError:
-            #snap image back
-            if event.inaxes is None:
-                return
-
-            ax = event.inaxes
-            l,b,w,h = [int(val) for val in ax.bbox.get_bounds()]
-            b = int(height)-(b+h)
-            axrect = l,b,w,h
-            self._imageBack = axrect, drawable.get_image(*axrect)
-            drawable.draw_rectangle(gc, False, *rect)
-            self._idleId = 0
+        if len(self._mode_buttons) > 0:
+            other = self._mode_buttons.keys()[0]
         else:
-            def idle_draw(*args):
-                drawable.draw_image(gc, imageBack, 0, 0, *lastrect)
-                drawable.draw_rectangle(gc, False, *rect)
-                self._idleId = 0
-                return False
-            if self._idleId == 0:
-                self._idleId = gobject.idle_add(idle_draw)
+            other = None
 
-    def save_figure(self, button):
-        fname = self.fileselect.get_filename_from_user()
-        if fname:
-            self.canvas.print_figure(fname)
+        btn = gtk.RadioToolButton(other)
+        btn.set_icon_widget(mode.get_icon())
+        btn.set_tooltip(self.tooltips, mode.tooltip, 'Private')
+        btn.connect('toggled', self._on_mode_toggle)
 
-    def configure_subplots(self, button):
-        toolfig = Figure(figsize=(6,3))
-        canvas = self._get_canvas(toolfig)
-        toolfig.subplots_adjust(top=0.9)
-        tool =  SubplotTool(self.canvas.figure, toolfig)
+        self._mode_buttons[btn] = mode
+        self.insert(btn, -1)
 
-        w = int (toolfig.bbox.width())
-        h = int (toolfig.bbox.height())
+        if self._current_mode == None:
+            self._current_mode = mode
 
-
-        window = gtk.Window()
-        window.set_title("Subplot Configuration Tool")
-        window.set_default_size(w, h)
-        vbox = gtk.VBox()
-        window.add(vbox)
-        vbox.show()
-
-        canvas.show()
-        vbox.pack_start(canvas, True, True)
-        window.show()
-
-    def _get_canvas(self, fig):
-        return FigureCanvas(fig)
+    def get_mode(self):
+        """Returns the active mode name."""
+        if self._current_mode:
+            return self._current_mode.name
+        return None
     
+    def get_mode_by_name(self, mode_name):
+        """Returns the mode with the given name or None."""
+        for m in self._mode_buttons.values():
+            if m.name == mode_name:
+                return m
+        return None
+
+    def get_button(self, mode_name):
+        """Returns the button that corresponds to a mode name."""
+        for b, m in self._mode_buttons.items():
+            if m.name == mode_name:
+                return b
+        return None
+    
+    def set_mode(self, mode_name):
+        """Sets a mode by name. Returns the mode or None"""
+        if mode_name == self._current_mode.name:
+            return None
+
+        if self._current_mode:
+            self._current_mode.deactivate()
+
+        new_mode = self.get_mode_by_name(mode_name)
+        if new_mode:
+            new_mode.activate()
+            self._current_mode = self.get_mode_by_name(mode_name)
+        else:
+            logger.log('warning', 'No such mode: %s' % mode_name)
+
+        if self.get_button(mode_name) and \
+               not self.get_button(mode_name).get_active():
+            self.get_button(mode_name).set_active(True)
+        return self._current_mode
+
+
+    def _on_mode_toggle(self, button):
+        if button.get_active():
+            self.set_mode(self._mode_buttons[button].name)
+
+    def _on_freeze_toggle(self, button):
+        self.plot.set_frozen(button.get_active())
+
 
 # Create a view-changed signal that should be emitted every time
 # the active view changes.