diff --git a/qt/base/preferences.py b/qt/base/preferences.py
index 1118806c..d73da401 100644
--- a/qt/base/preferences.py
+++ b/qt/base/preferences.py
@@ -6,60 +6,21 @@
 # which should be included with this package. The terms are also available at 
 # http://www.hardcoded.net/licenses/hs_license
 
-from PyQt4.QtCore import QSettings, QVariant
+from qtlib.preferences import Preferences as PreferencesBase
 
-from hsutil.misc import tryint
-
-def variant_to_py(v):
-    value = None
-    ok = False
-    t = v.type()
-    if t == QVariant.String:
-        value = unicode(v.toString())
-        ok = True # anyway
-        # might be bool or int, try them
-        if v == 'true':
-            value = True
-        elif value == 'false':
-            value = False
-        else:
-            value = tryint(value, value)
-    elif t == QVariant.Int:
-        value, ok = v.toInt()
-    elif t == QVariant.Bool:
-        value, ok = v.toBool(), True
-    elif t in (QVariant.List, QVariant.StringList):
-        value, ok = map(variant_to_py, v.toList()), True
-    if not ok:
-        raise TypeError(u"Can't convert {0} of type {1}".format(repr(v), v.type()))
-    return value    
-
-def py_to_variant(v):
-    if isinstance(v, (list, tuple)):
-        return QVariant(map(py_to_variant, v))
-    return QVariant(v)
-
-class Preferences(object):
+class Preferences(PreferencesBase):
     # (width, is_visible)
     COLUMNS_DEFAULT_ATTRS = []
     
     def __init__(self):
-        self.reset()
+        PreferencesBase.__init__(self)
         self.reset_columns()
     
     def _load_specific(self, settings, get):
         # load prefs specific to the dg edition
         pass
     
-    def load(self):
-        self.reset()
-        settings = QSettings()
-        def get(name, default):
-            if settings.contains(name):
-                return variant_to_py(settings.value(name))
-            else:
-                return default
-        
+    def _load_values(self, settings, get):
         self.filter_hardness = get('FilterHardness', self.filter_hardness)
         self.mix_file_kind = get('MixFileKind', self.mix_file_kind)
         self.use_regexp = get('UseRegexp', self.use_regexp)
@@ -97,11 +58,7 @@ class Preferences(object):
         # save prefs specific to the dg edition
         pass
     
-    def save(self):
-        settings = QSettings()
-        def set_(name, value):
-            settings.setValue(name, py_to_variant(value))
-        
+    def _save_values(self, settings, set_):
         set_('FilterHardness', self.filter_hardness)
         set_('MixFileKind', self.mix_file_kind)
         set_('UseRegexp', self.use_regexp)