diff --git a/quad/measure-typed.rkt b/quad/measure-typed.rkt
index d520e7f5..0a619bbf 100644
--- a/quad/measure-typed.rkt
+++ b/quad/measure-typed.rkt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 (require/typed racket/serialize [serialize (Any . -> . Any)]
                [deserialize (Any . -> . (HashTable Any Any))])
 (require math/flonum racket/list (only-in sugar/list values->list) racket/file)
-;(provide measure-text measure-ascent round-float update-text-cache-file load-text-cache-file)
+(provide measure-text measure-ascent round-float update-text-cache-file load-text-cache-file)
 
 (define precision 4.0)
 (define base (flexpt 10.0 precision))
diff --git a/quad/quads-typed.rkt b/quad/quads-typed.rkt
index 525f17ea..b6d3675c 100644
--- a/quad/quads-typed.rkt
+++ b/quad/quads-typed.rkt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #lang typed/racket/base
-(require (for-syntax typed/racket/base racket/syntax))
+(require (for-syntax typed/racket/base racket/syntax racket/string))
 (require/typed racket/list [flatten (All (A) ((Listof A) -> (Listof A)))]
                [empty? (All (A) ((Listof A) -> Boolean))])
 (require/typed sugar/list [trimf (All (A) ((Listof A) (A . -> . Boolean) -> (Listof A)))]
@@ -9,20 +9,42 @@
 
 ;; struct implementation
 
+(: hashable-list? (Any . -> . Boolean))
+(define (hashable-list? x) (and (list? x) (even? (length x))))
+
+(define-type QuadName Symbol)
+(define-predicate QuadName? QuadName)
+
 (define-type QuadAttrKey Symbol)
+(define-predicate QuadAttrKey? QuadAttrKey)
 (define-type QuadAttrValue Any)
+(define-predicate QuadAttrValue? QuadAttrValue)
 (define-type QuadAttrs (HashTable QuadAttrKey QuadAttrValue))
+
+(: quad-attrs? (Any . -> . Boolean))
+(define (quad-attrs? x)
+  (and (hash? x) (andmap QuadAttrKey? (hash-keys x))))
+
 (define-type QuadList (Listof (U Quad String)))
-(struct Quad ([attrs : QuadAttrs] [list : QuadList]) #:transparent
-  #:property prop:sequence (λ(q) (Quad-list q)))
 
-(define Quad-attr-ref
+(struct quad ([name : QuadName] [attrs : QuadAttrs] [list : QuadList]) #:transparent
+  #:property prop:sequence (λ(q) (quad-list q)))
+
+(define-type Quad quad)
+(define-predicate Quad? Quad)
+
+(define quad-attr-ref
   (case-lambda
     [([q : Quad] [key : QuadAttrKey]) 
-     (hash-ref (Quad-attrs q) key)]
+     (hash-ref (quad-attrs q) key)]
     [([q : Quad] [key : QuadAttrKey] [default : QuadAttrValue]) 
-     (hash-ref (Quad-attrs q) key (λ() default))]))
+     (hash-ref (quad-attrs q) key (λ() default))]))
 
+(define-syntax (quad-attr-ref/parameter stx)
+  (syntax-case stx ()
+    [(_ q key)
+     (with-syntax ([world:key-default (format-id stx "~a-default" (string-trim (symbol->string (syntax->datum #'key)) "-key"))])
+       #'(quad-attr-ref q key (world:key-default)))]))
 
 (define cannot-be-common-attrs '(width x y page))
 (define attr-missing (gensym))
@@ -34,12 +56,12 @@
 (define (gather-common-attrs qs)
   (: check-cap (QuadAttrPair . -> . Boolean))
   (define (check-cap cap)
-    (equal? (Quad-attr-ref (car qs) (car cap) attr-missing) (cdr cap)))
+    (equal? (quad-attr-ref (car qs) (car cap) attr-missing) (cdr cap)))
   (let loop 
     ([qs qs]
-     [common-attr-pairs : (Listof QuadAttrPair) (if (Quad-attrs (car qs))
+     [common-attr-pairs : (Listof QuadAttrPair) (if (quad-attrs (car qs))
                                                     
-                                                    (for/list ([kv-pair (in-hash-pairs (Quad-attrs (car qs)))] 
+                                                    (for/list ([kv-pair (in-hash-pairs (quad-attrs (car qs)))] 
                                                                #:unless (member (car kv-pair) cannot-be-common-attrs))  
                                                       kv-pair)
                                                     null)])
@@ -49,6 +71,7 @@
       [else (loop (cdr qs) (filter check-cap common-attr-pairs))])))
 
 
+
 (: quadattrs ((Listof Any) . -> . QuadAttrs))
 (define (quadattrs xs)
   (let-values ([(ks vs even?) (for/fold 
@@ -65,32 +88,32 @@
 
 (define-syntax (define-quad-type stx)
   (syntax-case stx ()
-    [(_ Id) 
-     (with-syntax (
-                   [id (format-id #'Id "~a" (string-downcase (symbol->string (syntax->datum #'Id))))]
-                   [Ids? (format-id #'Id "~as?" #'Id)]
-                   [Quads->Id (format-id #'Id "Quads->~a" #'Id)])
+    [(_ id) 
+     (with-syntax ([id? (format-id #'id "~a?" #'id)]
+                   [Quads->id (format-id #'id "Quads->~a" #'id)])
        #'(begin
-           (struct Id Quad ())
-           (define-predicate Ids? (Listof Id))
            ;; quad converter
-           (: Quads->Id ((Listof Quad) . -> . Id))
-           (define (Quads->Id qs)
-             (Id #hash() '()))
+           (: Quads->id ((Listof Quad) . -> . Quad))
+           (define (Quads->id qs)
+              (apply id (gather-common-attrs qs) qs))
            
-           (provide id)
            (: id (case-> 
-                  (-> Id)
-                  ((Option (Listof Any)) (U String Quad) * . -> . Id)))
+                  (-> Quad)
+                  ((Option (Listof Any)) (U String Quad) * . -> . Quad)))
            (define (id [attrs #f] . xs)
-             (Id (quadattrs (if (list? attrs) attrs '())) (cast xs QuadList)))
+             (quad 'id (quadattrs (if (list? attrs) attrs '())) (cast xs QuadList)))
+           
+           (: id? (Any . -> . Boolean))
+           (define (id? x)
+             (and (quad? x) (equal? (quad-name x) 'id)))
+           
            ))]))
 
 (: whitespace? ((Any) (Boolean) . ->* . Boolean))
 (define (whitespace? x [nbsp? #f])
   ;((any/c)(boolean?) . ->* . coerce/boolean?)
   (cond
-    [(Quad? x) (whitespace? (Quad-list x) nbsp?)]
+    [(quad? x) (whitespace? (quad-list x) nbsp?)]
     [(string? x) (or (and (regexp-match #px"\\p{Zs}" x) ; Zs = unicode whitespace category
                           (or nbsp? (not (regexp-match #px"\u00a0" x)))))] ; 00a0: nbsp
     [(list? x) (and (not (empty? x)) (andmap (λ(x) (whitespace? x nbsp?)) x))] ; andmap returns #t for empty lists
@@ -101,15 +124,15 @@
 
 (define-syntax (define-break-type stx)
   (syntax-case stx ()
-    [(_ Id) 
-     (with-syntax ([split-on-id-breaks (format-id #'Id "split-on-~a-breaks" (string-downcase (symbol->string (syntax->datum #'Id))))]
-                   [id-break (format-id #'Id "~a-break" #'Id)]
-                   [id-break? (format-id #'Id "~a-break?" #'Id)]
-                   [multi-id (format-id #'Id "multi~a" #'Id)]
-                   [multi-id? (format-id #'Id "multi~a?" #'Id)]
-                   [quads->multi-id (format-id #'Id "quads->multi~a" #'Id)])
+    [(_ id) 
+     (with-syntax ([split-on-id-breaks (format-id #'id "split-on-~a-breaks" #'id)]
+                   [id-break (format-id #'id "~a-break" #'id)]
+                   [id-break? (format-id #'id "~a-break?" #'id)]
+                   [multi-id (format-id #'id "multi~a" #'id)]
+                   [multi-id? (format-id #'id "multi~a?" #'id)]
+                   [quads->multi-id (format-id #'id "quads->multi~a" #'id)])
        #'(begin
-           (define-quad-type Id)
+           (define-quad-type id)
            (define-quad-type id-break)
            (define-quad-type multi-id)
            ;; breaker
@@ -122,20 +145,21 @@
 
 (: quad-has-attr? (Quad QuadAttrKey . -> . Boolean))
 (define (quad-has-attr? q key)
-  (hash-has-key? (Quad-attrs q) key))
-
-(define-quad-type Spacer)
-(define-quad-type Kern)
-(define-quad-type Optical-Kern)
-(define-quad-type Flag)
-(define-quad-type Doc)
-(define-quad-type Input)
-(define-quad-type Piece)
-(define-quad-type Run)
-(define-quad-type Box)
-
-(define-break-type Word)
-(define-break-type Page)
-(define-break-type Column)
-(define-break-type Block)
-(define-break-type Line)
+  (hash-has-key? (quad-attrs q) key))
+
+(define-quad-type spacer)
+(define-quad-type kern)
+(define-quad-type optical-kern)
+(define-quad-type flag)
+(define-quad-type doc)
+(define-quad-type input)
+(define-quad-type piece)
+(define-quad-type run)
+(define-quad-type box)
+
+
+(define-break-type word)
+(define-break-type page)
+(define-break-type column)
+(define-break-type block)
+(define-break-type line)
diff --git a/quad/utils-typed.rkt b/quad/utils-typed.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..94212d53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quad/utils-typed.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+#lang typed/racket/base
+(require sugar/list sugar/define)
+(require (for-syntax racket/syntax racket/base) racket/string racket/contract racket/list sugar/debug racket/bool hyphenate racket/function math/flonum)
+(require "quads-typed.rkt" "world-typed.rkt" "measure-typed.rkt")
+
+
+;; predicate for use below
+(define (list-of-mergeable-attrs? xs)
+  (and (list? xs) (andmap (λ(x) (or (quad? x) (quad-attrs? x) (hashable-list? x))) xs)))
+
+;; faster than (listof pair?)
+(define (pairs? x) (and (list? x) (andmap pair? x)))
+
+;; push together multiple attr sources into one list of pairs.
+;; mostly a helper function for the two attr functions below.
+(define+provide/contract (join-attrs quads-or-attrs-or-lists)
+  (list-of-mergeable-attrs? . -> . pairs?)
+  (append-map hash->list (filter-not false? (map (λ(x)
+                                                   (cond
+                                                     [(quad? x) (quad-attrs x)]
+                                                     [(quad-attrs? x) x]
+                                                     [(hashable-list? x) (apply hash x)]
+                                                     [else #f])) quads-or-attrs-or-lists))))
+
+
+;; merge concatenates attributes, with later ones overriding earlier.
+;; most of the work is done by join-attrs.
+(define+provide/contract (merge-attrs . quads-or-attrs-or-lists)
+  (() #:rest list-of-mergeable-attrs? . ->* . quad-attrs?)
+  (define all-attrs (join-attrs quads-or-attrs-or-lists))
+  (apply hash (flatten all-attrs)))
+
+;; functionally update a quad attr. Similar to hash-set
+(define+provide/contract (quad-attr-set q k v)
+  (quad? symbol? any/c . -> . quad?)
+  (quad (quad-name q) (merge-attrs (quad-attrs q) (list k v)) (quad-list q)))
+
+
+;; functionally update multiple quad attrs. Similar to hash-set*
+(define+provide/contract (quad-attr-set* q . kvs)
+  ((quad?) #:rest hashable-list? . ->* . quad?)
+  (for/fold ([current-q q])([kv-list (in-list (slice-at kvs 2))])
+    (apply quad-attr-set current-q kv-list)))
+
+;; functionally remove a quad attr. Similar to hash-remove
+(define+provide/contract (quad-attr-remove q k)
+  (quad? symbol? . -> . quad?)
+  (if (quad-attrs q)
+      (quad (quad-name q) (hash-remove (quad-attrs q) k) (quad-list q))
+      q))
+
+;; functionally remove multiple quad attrs. Similar to hash-remove
+(define+provide/contract (quad-attr-remove* q . ks)
+  ((quad?) #:rest (λ(ks) (and (list? ks) (andmap symbol? ks))) . ->* . quad?)
+  (for/fold ([current-q q])([k (in-list ks)])
+    (quad-attr-remove current-q k)))
+
+(define+provide/contract (quad-map proc q)
+  (procedure? quad? . -> . quad?)
+  (quad (quad-name q) (quad-attrs q) (map proc (quad-list q))))
+
+;; flatten merges attributes, but applies special logic suitable to flattening
+;; for instance, resolving x and y coordinates.
+(define+provide/contract (flatten-attrs . quads-or-attrs-or-falses)
+  (() #:rest (listof (or/c quad? quad-attrs?)) . ->* . quad-attrs?)
+  (define all-attrs (join-attrs quads-or-attrs-or-falses))
+  (define-values (x-attrs y-attrs other-attrs-reversed)
+    (for/fold ([xas null][yas null][oas null])([attr (in-list all-attrs)])
+      (cond
+        [(equal? (car attr) world:x-position-key) (values (cons attr xas) yas oas)]
+        [(equal? (car attr) world:y-position-key) (values xas (cons attr yas) oas)]
+        [else (values xas yas (cons attr oas))])))
+  (define (make-cartesian-attr key attrs) (if (empty? attrs) empty (cons key (apply + (map cdr attrs)))))
+  (define-values (x-attr y-attr) (apply values (map make-cartesian-attr (list world:x-position-key world:y-position-key) (list x-attrs y-attrs))))
+  (apply hash (flatten (list* x-attr y-attr (reverse other-attrs-reversed)))))
+
+
+;; pushes attributes down from parent quads to children, 
+;; resulting in a flat list of quads.
+;; input is often large, so macro allows us to avoid allocation
+(provide flatten-quad)
+(define-syntax-rule (flatten-quad q)
+  ;  (quad? . -> . quads?)
+  (flatten
+   (let loop ([x q][parent #f])
+     (cond       
+       [(quad? x)
+        (let ([x-with-parent-attrs (quad (quad-name x) 
+                                         (flatten-attrs parent x) ; child positioned last so it overrides parent attributes 
+                                         (quad-list x))])
+          (if (empty? (quad-list x))
+              x-with-parent-attrs ; no subelements, so stop here
+              (map (λ(xi) (loop xi x-with-parent-attrs)) (quad-list x))))] ; replace quad with its elements
+       [(string? x) (quad (quad-name parent) (quad-attrs parent) (list x))]))))
+
+;; flatten quad as above, 
+;; then dissolve it into individual character quads while copying attributes
+;; input is often large, so macro allows us to avoid allocation
+(define+provide (split-quad q)
+  ;(quad? . -> . quads?)
+  (letrec ([do-explode (λ(x [parent #f])
+                         (cond
+                           [(quad? x)
+                            (if (empty? (quad-list x))
+                                x ; no subelements, so stop here
+                                (map (λ(xi) (do-explode xi x)) (quad-list x)))] ; replace quad with its elements, exploded
+                           [else (map (λ(xc) (quad 'word (quad-attrs parent) (list xc))) (regexp-match* #px"." x))]))])
+    (flatten (map do-explode (flatten-quad q)))))
+
+
+
+;; merge chars into words (and boxes), leave the rest
+;; if two quads are mergeable types, and have the same attributes,
+;; they get merged.
+;; input is often large, so macro allows us to avoid allocation
+(provide join-quads)
+(define-syntax-rule (join-quads qs-in)
+  ;((quads?)(quads?) . ->* . quads?)
+  
+  (let ([make-matcher (λ (base-q)
+                        (λ(q)
+                          (and (member (quad-name q) world:mergeable-quad-types) 
+                               (not (whitespace/nbsp? q))
+                               ;; if key doesn't exist, it is compared against the default value.
+                               ;; this way, a nonexistent value will test true against a default value.
+                               (andmap (λ(key default) (equal? (quad-attr-ref base-q key default) (quad-attr-ref q key default)))
+                                       (list world:font-name-key 
+                                             world:font-size-key 
+                                             world:font-weight-key 
+                                             world:font-style-key)
+                                       (list (world:font-name-default) 
+                                             (world:font-size-default) 
+                                             (world:font-weight-default) 
+                                             (world:font-style-default))))))])
+    (let loop ([qs qs-in][acc null])
+      (if (null? qs)
+          (reverse acc)
+          (let* ([base-q (first qs)]
+                 [mergeable-and-matches-base? (make-matcher base-q)]) ; make a new predicate function for this quad
+            (cond
+              [(mergeable-and-matches-base? base-q)
+               ;; take as many quads that match, using the predicate function
+               (define-values (matching-qs other-qs) (splitf-at (cdr qs) mergeable-and-matches-base?))
+               (define new-word (word (quad-attrs base-q) (string-append* (append-map quad-list (cons base-q matching-qs)))))
+               (loop other-qs (cons new-word acc))]
+              ;; otherwise move on to the next in line
+              [else (loop (cdr qs) (cons base-q acc))]))))))
+
+
+
+;; the last char of a quad
+(define+provide/contract (quad-last-char q)
+  (quad? . -> . (or/c #f string?))
+  (define split-qs (split-quad q)) ; split makes it simple, but is it too expensive?
+  (if (or (empty? split-qs) (empty? (quad-list (last split-qs))))
+      #f
+      (car (quad-list (last split-qs)))))
+
+;; the first char of a quad
+(define+provide/contract (quad-first-char q)
+  (quad? . -> . (or/c #f string?))
+  (define split-qs (split-quad q)) ; explosion makes it simple, but is it too expensive?
+  (if (or (empty? split-qs) (empty? (quad-list (first split-qs))))
+      #f
+      (car (quad-list (first split-qs)))))
+
+
+;; propagate x and y adjustments throughout the tree,
+;; using parent x and y to adjust children, and so on.
+(define+provide/contract (compute-absolute-positions i [parent-x 0][parent-y 0])
+  ((quad?) (integer? integer?) . ->* . quad?)
+  (cond
+    [(quad? i) 
+     (define adjusted-x (round-float (+ (quad-attr-ref i world:x-position-key 0) parent-x)))
+     (define adjusted-y (round-float (+ (quad-attr-ref i world:y-position-key 0) parent-y)))
+     (quad (quad-name i) (merge-attrs i (list world:x-position-key adjusted-x world:y-position-key adjusted-y)) (map (λ(ii) (compute-absolute-positions ii adjusted-x adjusted-y)) (quad-list i)))]
+    [else i]))
+
+;; simple assert. should get moved to sugar/debug
+(provide assert)
+(define-syntax-rule (assert pred expr)
+  (let ([result expr])
+    (if (pred result)
+        result
+        (error 'assert-failure (format "\n~a\nevaluates to:\n~a\nwhich is not:\n~a" 'expr result 'pred)))))
+
+;; peeks at arguments and times execution
+(provide snoop)
+(define-syntax (snoop stx)
+  (syntax-case stx ()
+    [(_ proc arg ... . rest) 
+     (with-syntax ()
+       #'(begin
+           (displayln (format "Evaluating ~s" '(proc arg ... . rest)))
+           (let ([start (current-milliseconds)]
+                 [result (proc arg ... . rest)]
+                 [end (current-milliseconds)])
+             (displayln (format "Evaluation of ~s took ~a ms\nResult ~a" '(proc arg ... . rest) (- end start) result))
+             result)))]))
+
+;; find total pages in doc by searching on page count key.
+(define+provide/contract (pages-in-doc doc)
+  (doc? . -> . integer?)
+  (add1 (apply max (map (curryr quad-attr-ref world:page-key 0) (quad-list doc)))))
+
+
+;; todo: how to guarantee line has leading key?
+(define+provide/contract (compute-line-height line)
+  (line? . -> . line?)
+  (quad-attr-set line world:height-key (quad-attr-ref/parameter line world:leading-key)))
+
+(define (fixed-height? q) (quad-has-attr? q world:height-key))
+(define+provide/contract (quad-height q)
+  (quad? . -> . number?)
+  (quad-attr-ref q world:height-key 0))
+
+;; use heights to compute vertical positions
+(define+provide/contract (add-vert-positions starting-quad)
+  (quad? . -> . quad?)
+  (define-values (new-quads final-height)
+    (for/fold ([new-quads empty][height-so-far 0])([q (in-list (quad-list starting-quad))])
+      (values (cons (quad-attr-set q world:y-position-key height-so-far) new-quads) 
+              (round-float (+ height-so-far (quad-height q))))))
+  (quad (quad-name starting-quad) (quad-attrs starting-quad) (reverse new-quads)))
+
+;; recursively hyphenate strings in a quad
+(define+provide/contract (hyphenate-quad x)
+  (quad? . -> . quad?)
+  (cond
+    [(quad? x) (quad-map hyphenate-quad x)]
+    [(string? x) (hyphenate x
+                            #:min-length 6	 	 	 	 
+                            #:min-left-length 3	 	 	 	 
+                            #:min-right-length 3)]
+    [else x]))
+
+;; just because it comes up a lot
+(provide split-last)
+(define-syntax-rule (split-last xs)
+  (let-values ([(first-list last-list) (split-at-right xs 1)])
+    (values first-list (car last-list))))
+
+;; like cons, but joins a list to an atom
+(provide snoc)
+(define-syntax-rule (snoc xs x)
+  (append xs (list x)))
+
+
+;; folded flonum operators 
+;; (for use with multiple args, standard flonum ops have arity = 2)
+
+(define-syntax (define-folded-op stx)
+  (syntax-case stx ()
+    [(_ op starting-val)
+     (with-syntax ([fold-op (format-id stx "fold-~a" #'op)]
+                   [ops (format-id stx "~as" #'op)])
+       #'(begin
+           (provide fold-op ops)
+           (define-syntax-rule (ops x (... ...))
+             (fold-op (list x (... ...))))
+           (define-syntax-rule (fold-op xs)
+             (foldl op starting-val xs))))]))
+
+(define-folded-op fl+ 0.0)
+(define-folded-op fl- 0.0)
+(define-folded-op fl* 1.0)
+(define-folded-op fl/ 1.0)
\ No newline at end of file