Replace sp_style_xxx functions with SPStyle member functions.

Fix a bunch of memory leaks. One leak still remaining in Layout::appendText.

(bzr r13824)

35 files changed, 420 insertions, 603 deletions

diff --git a/src/desktop-style.cpp b/src/desktop-style.cpp
index 3eb11bea6..ee9fa39ec 100644
--- a/src/desktop-style.cpp
+++ b/src/desktop-style.cpp
@@ -428,10 +428,9 @@ sp_desktop_get_font_size_tool(SPDesktop *desktop)
 
     double ret = 12;
     if (!style_str.empty()) {
-        SPStyle *style = sp_style_new(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
-        sp_style_merge_from_style_string(style, style_str.data());
-        ret = style->font_size.computed;
-        sp_style_unref(style);
+        SPStyle style(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+        style.mergeString(style_str.data());
+        ret = style.font_size.computed;
     }
     return ret;
 }
diff --git a/src/display/drawing-item.cpp b/src/display/drawing-item.cpp
index 83d4744c9..89ca66dc4 100644
--- a/src/display/drawing-item.cpp
+++ b/src/display/drawing-item.cpp
@@ -366,10 +366,12 @@ DrawingItem::setStyle(SPStyle *style, SPStyle *context_style)
     // std::cout << "DrawingItem::setStyle: " << name() << " " << style
     //           << " " << context_style << std::endl;
 
-    if (style) sp_style_ref(style);
-    if (_style) sp_style_unref(_style);
-    _style = style;
-
+    if( style != _style ) {
+        if (style) sp_style_ref(style);
+        if (_style) sp_style_unref(_style);
+        _style = style;
+    }
+    
     if (style && style->filter.set && style->getFilter()) {
         if (!_filter) {
             int primitives = sp_filter_primitive_count(SP_FILTER(style->getFilter()));
diff --git a/src/display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp b/src/display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp
index 3033118e4..c8b569036 100644
--- a/src/display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp
+++ b/src/display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp
@@ -171,9 +171,11 @@ Geom::Rect FilterPrimitive::filter_primitive_area(FilterUnits const &units)
 
 void FilterPrimitive::setStyle(SPStyle *style)
 {
-    if (style) sp_style_ref(style);
-    if (_style) sp_style_unref(_style);
-    _style = style;
+    if( style != _style ) {
+        if (style) sp_style_ref(style);
+        if (_style) sp_style_unref(_style);
+        _style = style;
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/gradient-chemistry.cpp b/src/gradient-chemistry.cpp
index 0701a9d49..cf75f6cf0 100644
--- a/src/gradient-chemistry.cpp
+++ b/src/gradient-chemistry.cpp
@@ -868,9 +868,8 @@ void sp_item_gradient_stop_set_style(SPItem *item, GrPointType point_type, guint
                 gchar const* color_str = sp_repr_css_property( stop, "stop-color", NULL );
                 if( color_str ) {
                     SPColor color( 0 );
-                    SPStyle* style = sp_style_new(0);
                     SPIPaint paint;
-                    paint.read( color_str, *style );
+                    paint.read( color_str );
                     if( paint.isColor() ) {
                         color = paint.value.color;
                     }
diff --git a/src/libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp b/src/libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp
index fa1e8c11b..cd9179c5f 100644
--- a/src/libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp
+++ b/src/libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ PangoFontDescription *Layout::InputStreamTextSource::styleGetFontDescription() c
 
 Layout::InputStreamTextSource::~InputStreamTextSource()
 {
-    sp_style_unref(style);
+  sp_style_unref(style);
 }
 
 }//namespace Text
diff --git a/src/libnrtype/font-lister.cpp b/src/libnrtype/font-lister.cpp
index fad06cd00..a6ab3b239 100644
--- a/src/libnrtype/font-lister.cpp
+++ b/src/libnrtype/font-lister.cpp
@@ -385,27 +385,27 @@ std::pair<Glib::ustring, Glib::ustring> FontLister::selection_update()
 #endif
     // Get fontspec from a selection, preferences, or thin air.
     Glib::ustring fontspec;
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
 
     // Directly from stored font specification.
     int result =
-        sp_desktop_query_style(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONT_SPECIFICATION);
+        sp_desktop_query_style(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONT_SPECIFICATION);
 
     //std::cout << "  Attempting selected style" << std::endl;
-    if (result != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING && query->font_specification.set) {
-        fontspec = query->font_specification.value;
+    if (result != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING && query.font_specification.set) {
+        fontspec = query.font_specification.value;
         //std::cout << "   fontspec from query   :" << fontspec << ":" << std::endl;
     }
 
     // From style
     if (fontspec.empty()) {
         //std::cout << "  Attempting desktop style" << std::endl;
-        int rfamily = sp_desktop_query_style(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
-        int rstyle = sp_desktop_query_style(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
+        int rfamily = sp_desktop_query_style(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
+        int rstyle = sp_desktop_query_style(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
 
         // Must have text in selection
         if (rfamily != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING && rstyle != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING) {
-            fontspec = fontspec_from_style(query);
+            fontspec = fontspec_from_style(&query);
         }
         //std::cout << "   fontspec from style   :" << fontspec << ":" << std::endl;
     }
@@ -413,11 +413,10 @@ std::pair<Glib::ustring, Glib::ustring> FontLister::selection_update()
     // From preferences
     if (fontspec.empty()) {
         //std::cout << "  Attempting preferences" << std::endl;
-        sp_style_read_from_prefs(query, "/tools/text");
-        fontspec = fontspec_from_style(query);
+        query.readFromPrefs("/tools/text");
+        fontspec = fontspec_from_style(&query);
         //std::cout << "   fontspec from prefs   :" << fontspec << ":" << std::endl;
     }
-    sp_style_unref(query);
 
     // From thin air
     if (fontspec.empty()) {
diff --git a/src/path-chemistry.cpp b/src/path-chemistry.cpp
index 238527465..5f6e1495b 100644
--- a/src/path-chemistry.cpp
+++ b/src/path-chemistry.cpp
@@ -500,11 +500,12 @@ sp_selected_item_to_curved_repr(SPItem *item, guint32 /*text_grouping_policy*/)
         /* Rotation center */
         g_repr->setAttribute("inkscape:transform-center-x", item->getRepr()->attribute("inkscape:transform-center-x"), false);
         g_repr->setAttribute("inkscape:transform-center-y", item->getRepr()->attribute("inkscape:transform-center-y"), false);
+
         /* Whole text's style */
-        gchar *style_str = sp_style_write_difference(item->style,
-                                                     item->parent ? item->parent->style : NULL); // TODO investigate posibility
-        g_repr->setAttribute("style", style_str);
-        g_free(style_str);
+        Glib::ustring style_str =
+            item->style->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFDIFF, item->parent ? item->parent->style : NULL); // TODO investigate posibility
+        g_repr->setAttribute("style", style_str.c_str());
+
         Inkscape::Text::Layout::iterator iter = te_get_layout(item)->begin(); 
         do {
             Inkscape::Text::Layout::iterator iter_next = iter;
@@ -522,19 +523,17 @@ sp_selected_item_to_curved_repr(SPItem *item, guint32 /*text_grouping_policy*/)
             while (dynamic_cast<SPString const *>(pos_obj) && pos_obj->parent) {
                pos_obj = pos_obj->parent;   // SPStrings don't have style
             }
-            gchar *style_str = sp_style_write_difference(pos_obj->style,
-                                                         pos_obj->parent ? pos_obj->parent->style : NULL); // TODO investigate posibility
+            Glib::ustring style_str =
+                pos_obj->style->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFDIFF, pos_obj->parent ? pos_obj->parent->style : NULL); // TODO investigate posibility
 
             // get path from iter to iter_next:
             SPCurve *curve = te_get_layout(item)->convertToCurves(iter, iter_next);
             iter = iter_next; // shift to next glyph
             if (!curve) { // error converting this glyph
-                g_free (style_str);
                 continue;
             }
             if (curve->is_empty()) { // whitespace glyph?
                 curve->unref();
-                g_free (style_str);
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -545,8 +544,7 @@ sp_selected_item_to_curved_repr(SPItem *item, guint32 /*text_grouping_policy*/)
             g_free(def_str);
             curve->unref();
 
-            p_repr->setAttribute("style", style_str);
-            g_free(style_str);
+            p_repr->setAttribute("style", style_str.c_str());
 
             g_repr->appendChild(p_repr);
             Inkscape::GC::release(p_repr);
@@ -565,7 +563,7 @@ sp_selected_item_to_curved_repr(SPItem *item, guint32 /*text_grouping_policy*/)
         if (shape) {
             curve = shape->getCurve();
         }
-    } 
+    }
 
     if (!curve)
         return NULL;
@@ -581,11 +579,11 @@ sp_selected_item_to_curved_repr(SPItem *item, guint32 /*text_grouping_policy*/)
     Inkscape::XML::Node *repr = xml_doc->createElement("svg:path");
     /* Transformation */
     repr->setAttribute("transform", item->getRepr()->attribute("transform"));
+
     /* Style */
-    gchar *style_str = sp_style_write_difference(item->style,
-                                                 item->parent ? item->parent->style : NULL); // TODO investigate posibility
-    repr->setAttribute("style", style_str);
-    g_free(style_str);
+    Glib::ustring style_str =
+        item->style->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFDIFF, item->parent ? item->parent->style : NULL); // TODO investigate posibility
+    repr->setAttribute("style", style_str.c_str());
 
     /* Mask */
     gchar *mask_str = (gchar *) item->getRepr()->attribute("mask");
diff --git a/src/selection-chemistry.cpp b/src/selection-chemistry.cpp
index 98ebd1f61..c9837aabe 100644
--- a/src/selection-chemistry.cpp
+++ b/src/selection-chemistry.cpp
@@ -2110,7 +2110,7 @@ GSList *sp_get_same_stroke_style(SPItem *sel, GSList *src, SPSelectStrokeStyleTy
     SPStyle *sel_style_for_width = NULL;
     if (type == SP_STROKE_STYLE_WIDTH) {
         objects = g_slist_prepend(objects, sel);
-        sel_style_for_width = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+        sel_style_for_width = new SPStyle(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
         objects_query_strokewidth (objects, sel_style_for_width);
     }
 
@@ -2125,11 +2125,11 @@ GSList *sp_get_same_stroke_style(SPItem *sel, GSList *src, SPSelectStrokeStyleTy
                 if (sel_style->stroke_width.set && iter_style->stroke_width.set) {
                     GSList *objects = NULL;
                     objects = g_slist_prepend(objects, iter);
-                    SPStyle *iter_style_for_width = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
-                    objects_query_strokewidth (objects, iter_style_for_width);
+                    SPStyle tmp_style(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+                    objects_query_strokewidth (objects, &tmp_style);
 
                     if (sel_style_for_width) {
-                        match = (sel_style_for_width->stroke_width.computed == iter_style_for_width->stroke_width.computed);
+                        match = (sel_style_for_width->stroke_width.computed == tmp_style.stroke_width.computed);
                     }
                     g_slist_free(objects);
                 }
@@ -2161,6 +2161,7 @@ GSList *sp_get_same_stroke_style(SPItem *sel, GSList *src, SPSelectStrokeStyleTy
         }
     }
 
+    if( sel_style_for_width != NULL ) delete sel_style_for_width;
     g_slist_free(objects);
 
     return matches;
diff --git a/src/sp-clippath.cpp b/src/sp-clippath.cpp
index 8e2e7d7a6..5065f25c3 100644
--- a/src/sp-clippath.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-clippath.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void SPClipPath::set(unsigned int key, const gchar* value) {
             break;
         default:
             if (SP_ATTRIBUTE_IS_CSS(key)) {
-                sp_style_read_from_object(this->style, this);
+                this->style->readFromObject( this );
                 this->requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
             } else {
                 SPObjectGroup::set(key, value);
diff --git a/src/sp-flowtext.cpp b/src/sp-flowtext.cpp
index 8d9f87037..6d2385aff 100644
--- a/src/sp-flowtext.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-flowtext.cpp
@@ -525,10 +525,10 @@ Inkscape::XML::Node *SPFlowtext::getAsText()
             Glib::ustring::iterator span_text_start_iter;
             this->layout.getSourceOfCharacter(it, &rawptr, &span_text_start_iter);
             SPObject *source_obj = reinterpret_cast<SPObject *>(rawptr);
-            gchar *style_text = sp_style_write_difference((dynamic_cast<SPString *>(source_obj) ? source_obj->parent : source_obj)->style, this->style);
-            if (style_text && *style_text) {
-                span_tspan->setAttribute("style", style_text);
-                g_free(style_text);
+
+            Glib::ustring style_text = (dynamic_cast<SPString *>(source_obj) ? source_obj->parent : source_obj)->style->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFDIFF, this->style);
+            if (!style_text.empty()) {
+                span_tspan->setAttribute("style", style_text.c_str());
             }
 
             SPString *str = dynamic_cast<SPString *>(source_obj);
diff --git a/src/sp-hatch-path.cpp b/src/sp-hatch-path.cpp
index 8558b67f2..bc95c246e 100644
--- a/src/sp-hatch-path.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-hatch-path.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ void SPHatchPath::set(unsigned int key, const gchar* value)
 
     default:
         if (SP_ATTRIBUTE_IS_CSS(key)) {
-            sp_style_read_from_object(style, this);
+            style->readFromObject( this );
             requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
         } else {
             SPObject::set(key, value);
diff --git a/src/sp-hatch.cpp b/src/sp-hatch.cpp
index 4a8707e08..dfecb2250 100644
--- a/src/sp-hatch.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-hatch.cpp
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ void SPHatch::set(unsigned int key, const gchar* value)
 
     default:
         if (SP_ATTRIBUTE_IS_CSS(key)) {
-            sp_style_read_from_object(style, this);
+            style->readFromObject( this );
             requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
         } else {
             SPPaintServer::set(key, value);
diff --git a/src/sp-item-group.cpp b/src/sp-item-group.cpp
index 45e5747d6..acf8b2012 100644
--- a/src/sp-item-group.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-item-group.cpp
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ sp_item_group_ungroup (SPGroup *group, GSList **children, bool do_done)
             // it here _before_ the new transform is set, so as to use the pre-transform bbox
             citem->adjust_paint_recursive (Geom::identity(), Geom::identity(), false);
 
-            sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent(child->style, group->style);
+            child->style->merge( group->style );
             /*
              * fixme: We currently make no allowance for the case where child is cloned
              * and the group has any style settings.
@@ -453,9 +453,8 @@ sp_item_group_ungroup (SPGroup *group, GSList **children, bool do_done)
              * version of inkscape without using the XML editor: we usually apply group
              * style changes to children rather than to the group itself.)
              *
-             * If the group has no style settings, then
-             * sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent should be a no-op.  Otherwise (i.e. if
-             * we change the child's style to compensate for its parent going away)
+             * If the group has no style settings, then style->merge() should be a no-op. Otherwise
+             * (i.e. if we change the child's style to compensate for its parent going away)
              * then those changes will typically be reflected in any clones of child,
              * whereas we'd prefer for Ungroup not to affect the visual appearance.
              *
diff --git a/src/sp-item.cpp b/src/sp-item.cpp
index dbb0380ea..fbb76e971 100644
--- a/src/sp-item.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-item.cpp
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ void SPItem::set(unsigned int key, gchar const* value) {
             }
         default:
             if (SP_ATTRIBUTE_IS_CSS(key)) {
-                sp_style_read_from_object(object->style, object);
+                style->readFromObject( this );
                 object->requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
             } else {
                 SPObject::set(key, value);
diff --git a/src/sp-object.cpp b/src/sp-object.cpp
index 776b020d2..059fa8093 100644
--- a/src/sp-object.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-object.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ SPObject::SPObject()
     // vg, g, defs, desc, title, symbol, use, image, switch, path, rect, circle, ellipse, line, polyline,
     // polygon, text, tspan, tref, textPath, altGlyph, glyphRef, marker, linearGradient, radialGradient,
     // stop, pattern, clipPath, mask, filter, feImage, a, font, glyph, missing-glyph, foreignObject
-    this->style = sp_style_new_from_object(this);
+    this->style = new SPStyle( NULL, this ); // Is it necessary to call with "this"?
     this->context_style = NULL;
 }
 
@@ -145,6 +145,19 @@ SPObject::~SPObject() {
         sp_object_unref(this->_successor, NULL);
         this->_successor = NULL;
     }
+
+    if( style == NULL ) {
+        // style pointer could be NULL if unreffed too many times.
+        // Conjecture: style pointer is never NULL.
+        std::cerr << "SPObject::~SPObject(): style pointer is NULL" << std::endl;
+    } else if( style->refCount() > 1 ) {
+        // Several classes ref style.
+        // Conjecture: style pointer should be unreffed by other classes before reaching here.
+        std::cerr << "SPObject::~SPObject(): someone else still holding ref to style" << std::endl;
+        sp_style_unref( this->style );
+    } else {
+        delete this->style;
+    }
 }
 
 // CPPIFY: make pure virtual
@@ -796,9 +809,10 @@ void SPObject::releaseReferences() {
         g_assert(!this->id);
     }
 
-    if (this->style) {
-        this->style = sp_style_unref(this->style);
-    }
+    // style belongs to SPObject, we should not need to unref here.
+    // if (this->style) {
+    //     this->style = sp_style_unref(this->style);
+    // }
 
     this->document = NULL;
     this->repr = NULL;
@@ -915,7 +929,7 @@ void SPObject::set(unsigned int key, gchar const* value) {
             object->requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
             break;
         case SP_ATTR_STYLE:
-            sp_style_read_from_object(object->style, object);
+            object->style->readFromObject( object );
             object->requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
             break;
         default:
@@ -1007,9 +1021,8 @@ Inkscape::XML::Node* SPObject::write(Inkscape::XML::Document *doc, Inkscape::XML
             repr->setAttribute("inkscape:collect", NULL);
         }
 
-        SPStyle const *const obj_style = this->style;
-        if (obj_style) {
-            gchar *s = sp_style_write_string(obj_style, SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET);
+        if (style) {
+            Glib::ustring s = style->write(SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET);
 
             // Check for valid attributes. This may be time consuming.
             // It is useful, though, for debugging Inkscape code.
@@ -1017,17 +1030,14 @@ Inkscape::XML::Node* SPObject::write(Inkscape::XML::Document *doc, Inkscape::XML
             if( prefs->getBool("/options/svgoutput/check_on_editing") ) {
 
                 unsigned int flags = sp_attribute_clean_get_prefs();
-                Glib::ustring s_cleaned = sp_attribute_clean_style( repr, s, flags ); 
-                g_free( s );
-                s = (s_cleaned.empty() ? NULL : g_strdup (s_cleaned.c_str()));
+                Glib::ustring s_cleaned = sp_attribute_clean_style( repr, s.c_str(), flags ); 
             }
 
-            if( s == NULL || strcmp(s,"") == 0 ) {
+            if( s.empty() ) {
                 repr->setAttribute("style", NULL);
             } else {
-                repr->setAttribute("style", s);
+                repr->setAttribute("style", s.c_str());
             }
-            g_free(s);
 
         } else {
             /** \todo I'm not sure what to do in this case.  Bug #1165868
@@ -1149,7 +1159,7 @@ void SPObject::updateDisplay(SPCtx *ctx, unsigned int flags)
      */
     if ((flags & SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG) && (flags & SP_OBJECT_PARENT_MODIFIED_FLAG)) {
         if (this->style && this->parent) {
-            sp_style_merge_from_parent(this->style, this->parent->style);
+            style->cascade( this->parent->style );
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/sp-solid-color.cpp b/src/sp-solid-color.cpp
index 0d6b96b62..72569d8c0 100644
--- a/src/sp-solid-color.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-solid-color.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void SPSolidColor::build(SPDocument* doc, Inkscape::XML::Node* repr) {
 void SPSolidColor::set(unsigned int key, const gchar* value) {
 
     if (SP_ATTRIBUTE_IS_CSS(key)) {
-        sp_style_read_from_object(this->style, this);
+        style->readFromObject( this );
         this->requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG | SP_OBJECT_STYLE_MODIFIED_FLAG);
     } else {
         SPPaintServer::set(key, value);
diff --git a/src/sp-stop.cpp b/src/sp-stop.cpp
index d644a9b4b..3ee467322 100644
--- a/src/sp-stop.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-stop.cpp
@@ -210,16 +210,14 @@ SPStop* SPStop::getPrevStop() {
 
 SPColor SPStop::readStopColor(Glib::ustring const &styleStr, guint32 dfl) {
     SPColor color(dfl);
-    SPStyle* style = sp_style_new(0);
     SPIPaint paint;
-    paint.read( styleStr.c_str(), *style );
+
+    paint.read( styleStr.c_str() );
 
     if ( paint.isColor() ) {
         color = paint.value.color;
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(style);
-
     return color;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sp-style-elem.cpp b/src/sp-style-elem.cpp
index da17b08d9..668780272 100644
--- a/src/sp-style-elem.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-style-elem.cpp
@@ -319,13 +319,14 @@ void SPStyleElem::read_content() {
     //requestDisplayUpdate(SP_OBJECT_MODIFIED_FLAG);
 
     // Style references via class= do not, and actually cannot, use autoupdating URIReferences.
-    // Therefore, if an object refers to a stylesheet which has not yet loaded when the object is being loaded
-    // (e.g. if the stylesheet is below or inside the object in XML), its class= has no effect (bug 1491639).
-    // Below is a partial hack that fixes this for a single case: when the <style> is a child of the object
-    // that uses a style from it. It just forces the parent of <style> to reread its style as soon as the stylesheet
-    // is fully loaded. Naturally, this won't work if the user of the stylesheet is its grandparent or precedent.
+    // Therefore, if an object refers to a stylesheet which has not yet loaded when the object is
+    // being loaded (e.g. if the stylesheet is below or inside the object in XML), its class= has
+    // no effect (bug 1491639).  Below is a partial hack that fixes this for a single case: when
+    // the <style> is a child of the object that uses a style from it. It just forces the parent of
+    // <style> to reread its style as soon as the stylesheet is fully loaded. Naturally, this won't
+    // work if the user of the stylesheet is its grandparent or precedent.
     if ( parent ) {
-        sp_style_read_from_object(parent->style, parent);
+        parent->style->readFromObject( parent );
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sp-tref.cpp b/src/sp-tref.cpp
index 0f6eb106f..6a229e170 100644
--- a/src/sp-tref.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-tref.cpp
@@ -492,12 +492,8 @@ sp_tref_convert_to_tspan(SPObject *obj)
             //SPObject * new_string_child = document->getObjectByRepr(new_string_repr);
 
             // Merge style from the tref
-            SPStyle *new_tspan_sty = new_tspan->style;
-            SPStyle const *tref_sty = tref->style;
-            sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent(new_tspan_sty, tref_sty);
-            sp_style_merge_from_parent(new_tspan_sty, new_tspan->parent->style);
-
-
+            new_tspan->style->merge( tref->style );
+            new_tspan->style->cascade( new_tspan->parent->style );
             new_tspan->updateRepr();
 
             // Hold onto our SPObject and repr for now.
diff --git a/src/sp-use.cpp b/src/sp-use.cpp
index ba3f4a9d7..9b38a91c5 100644
--- a/src/sp-use.cpp
+++ b/src/sp-use.cpp
@@ -664,11 +664,8 @@ SPItem *SPUse::unlink() {
     SPObject *unlinked = document->getObjectByRepr(copy);
 
     // Merge style from the use.
-    SPStyle *unli_sty = unlinked->style;
-    SPStyle const *use_sty = this->style;
-    sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent(unli_sty, use_sty);
-    sp_style_merge_from_parent(unli_sty, unlinked->parent->style);
-
+    unlinked->style->merge( this->style );
+    unlinked->style->cascade( unlinked->parent->style );
     unlinked->updateRepr();
 
     // Hold onto our SPObject and repr for now.
diff --git a/src/style-test.h b/src/style-test.h
index e14ed4db7..cd6769b24 100644
--- a/src/style-test.h
+++ b/src/style-test.h
@@ -214,32 +214,25 @@ public:
 
         for ( gint i = 0; cases[i].src; i++ ) {
             // std::cout << "Test one: " << i << std::endl;
-            SPStyle *style = sp_style_new(_doc);
-            TS_ASSERT(style);
-            if ( style ) {
-                sp_style_merge_from_style_string( style, cases[i].src );
-
-                if ( cases[i].uri ) {
-                    TSM_ASSERT( cases[i].src, style->fill.value.href );
-                    if ( style->fill.value.href ) {
-                        TS_ASSERT_EQUALS( style->fill.value.href->getURI()->toString(), std::string(cases[i].uri) );
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    TS_ASSERT( !style->fill.value.href || !style->fill.value.href->getObject() );
+            SPStyle style(_doc);
+            style.mergeString( cases[i].src );
+            if ( cases[i].uri ) {
+                TSM_ASSERT( cases[i].src, style.fill.value.href );
+                if ( style.fill.value.href ) {
+                    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS( style.fill.value.href->getURI()->toString(), std::string(cases[i].uri) );
                 }
+            } else {
+                TS_ASSERT( !style.fill.value.href || !style.fill.value.href->getObject() );
+            }
 
-                gchar *str0_set = sp_style_write_string( style, SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET );
-                //printf("<<%s>>\n", str0_set);
-                if ( cases[i].dst ) {
-                    // std::cout << "  " << std::string(str0_set) << " " << std::string(cases[i].dst) << std::endl;
-                    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS( std::string(str0_set), std::string(cases[i].dst) );
-                } else {
-                    // std::cout << "  " << std::string(str0_set) << " " << std::string(cases[i].src) << std::endl;
-                    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS( std::string(str0_set), std::string(cases[i].src) );
-                }
+            std::string str0_set = style.write(SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET );
 
-                g_free(str0_set);
-                sp_style_unref(style);
+            if ( cases[i].dst ) {
+                // std::cout << "  " << str0_set << " " << std::string(cases[i].dst) << std::endl;
+                TS_ASSERT_EQUALS( str0_set, std::string(cases[i].dst) );
+            } else {
+                // std::cout << "  " << str0_set << " " << std::string(cases[i].src) << std::endl;
+                TS_ASSERT_EQUALS( str0_set, std::string(cases[i].src) );
             }
         }
     }
@@ -366,26 +359,22 @@ public:
         };
         for ( gint i = 0; cases[i].src; i++ ) {
             // std::cout << "Test two: " << i << std::endl;
-            SPStyle *style_src = sp_style_new(_doc);
-            TS_ASSERT(style_src);
-            SPStyle *style_dst = sp_style_new(_doc);
-            TS_ASSERT(style_dst);
-
-            if ( style_src && style_dst ) {
-                sp_style_merge_from_style_string( style_src, cases[i].src );
-                sp_style_merge_from_style_string( style_dst, cases[i].dst );
-                // std::cout << "Test:" << std::endl;
-                // std::cout << "  C: |" << cases[i].src << "|   |" << cases[i].dst << "|" << std::endl;
-                // std::cout << "  S: |" << style_src->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET, NULL ) << "|   |"
-                //           << style_dst->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET, NULL ) << "|" <<std::endl;
-                TS_ASSERT( (*style_src == *style_dst) == cases[i].match );
-                sp_style_unref(style_src);
-                sp_style_unref(style_dst);
-                // std::cout << "End Test\n" << std::endl;
-            }
+            SPStyle style_src(_doc);
+            SPStyle style_dst(_doc);
+
+            style_src.mergeString( cases[i].src );
+            style_dst.mergeString( cases[i].dst );
+            
+            // std::cout << "Test:" << std::endl;
+            // std::cout << "  C: |" << cases[i].src << "|   |" << cases[i].dst << "|" << std::endl;
+            // std::cout << "  S: |" << style_src.write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET, NULL ) << "|   |"
+            //           << style_dst.write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET, NULL ) << "|" <<std::endl;
+            TS_ASSERT( (style_src == style_dst) == cases[i].match );
+            // std::cout << "End Test\n" << std::endl;
         }
     }
 
+
     // Test of cascade
     void testThree()
     {
@@ -477,37 +466,29 @@ public:
         };
         for ( gint i = 0; cases[i].parent; i++ ) {
             // std::cout << "Test three: " << i << std::endl;
-            SPStyle *style_parent = sp_style_new(_doc);
-            TS_ASSERT(style_parent);
-            SPStyle *style_child = sp_style_new(_doc);
-            TS_ASSERT(style_child);
-            SPStyle *style_result = sp_style_new(_doc);
-            TS_ASSERT(style_result);
-
-            if ( style_parent && style_child && style_result ) {
-                sp_style_merge_from_style_string( style_parent, cases[i].parent );
-                sp_style_merge_from_style_string( style_child,  cases[i].child  );
-                sp_style_merge_from_style_string( style_result, cases[i].result );
-                // std::cout << "Test:" << std::endl;
-                // std::cout << " Input: ";
-                // std::cout << "  Parent: " << cases[i].parent
-                //           << "  Child: "  << cases[i].child
-                //           << "  Result: " << cases[i].result << std::endl;
-                // std::cout << " Write: ";
-                // std::cout << "  Parent: " << style_parent->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET ) 
-                //           << "  Child: "  << style_child->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET ) 
-                //           << "  Result: " << style_result->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET ) << std::endl;
-
-                //sp_style_merge_from_parent( style_child, style_parent );
-                style_child->cascade( style_parent );
-
-                TS_ASSERT(*style_child == *style_result );
-
-                sp_style_unref(style_child);
-                sp_style_unref(style_parent);
-                sp_style_unref(style_result);
-                // std::cout << "End Test: *************\n" << std::endl;
-            }
+            SPStyle style_parent(_doc);
+            SPStyle style_child( _doc);
+            SPStyle style_result(_doc);
+
+            style_parent.mergeString( cases[i].parent );
+            style_child.mergeString(  cases[i].child );
+            style_result.mergeString( cases[i].result );
+
+            // std::cout << "Test:" << std::endl;
+            // std::cout << " Input: ";
+            // std::cout << "  Parent: " << cases[i].parent
+            //           << "  Child: "  << cases[i].child
+            //           << "  Result: " << cases[i].result << std::endl;
+            // std::cout << " Write: ";
+            // std::cout << "  Parent: " << style_parent.write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET ) 
+            //           << "  Child: "  << style_child.write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET ) 
+            //           << "  Result: " << style_result.write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET ) << std::endl;
+
+            style_child.cascade( &style_parent );
+
+            TS_ASSERT(style_child == style_result );
+
+            // std::cout << "End Test: *************\n" << std::endl;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/style.cpp b/src/style.cpp
index a7e50b17a..0772a4bce 100644
--- a/src/style.cpp
+++ b/src/style.cpp
@@ -458,7 +458,14 @@ SPStyle::~SPStyle() {
 
     _properties.clear();
 
-    // std::cout << "SPStyle::~SPstyle(): Exit\n" << std::endl;
+    // Conjecture: all this SPStyle ref counting is not needed. SPObject creates an instance of
+    // SPStyle when it is constructed and deletes it when it is destructed. The refcount is
+    // incremented and decremented only in the files: display/drawing-item.cpp,
+    // display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp, and libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp.
+    if( _refcount > 1 ) {
+        std::cerr << "SPStyle::~SPStyle: ref count greater than 1! " << _refcount << std::endl;
+    }
+    // std::cout << "SPStyle::~SPStyle(): Exit\n" << std::endl;
 }
 
 // Used in SPStyle::clear()
@@ -476,7 +483,7 @@ SPStyle::clear() {
     //     (this->*(i->second)).clear();
     // }
 
-    // Release connection to object, created in sp_style_new_from_object()
+    // Release connection to object, created in constructor.
     release_connection.disconnect();
 
     // href->detach() called in fill->clear()...
@@ -576,7 +583,13 @@ SPStyle::read( SPObject *object, Inkscape::XML::Node *repr ) {
     }
 }
 
-// Matches void sp_style_read_from_object(SPStyle *style, SPObject *object);
+/**
+ * Read style properties from object's repr.
+ *
+ * 1. Reset existing object style
+ * 2. Load current effective object style
+ * 3. Load i attributes from immediate parent (which has to be up-to-date)
+ */
 void
 SPStyle::readFromObject( SPObject *object ) {
 
@@ -591,6 +604,34 @@ SPStyle::readFromObject( SPObject *object ) {
     read( object, repr );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Read style properties from preferences.
+ * @param path Preferences directory from which the style should be read
+ */
+void
+SPStyle::readFromPrefs(Glib::ustring const &path) {
+
+    g_return_if_fail(!path.empty());
+
+    Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
+
+    // not optimal: we reconstruct the node based on the prefs, then pass it to
+    // sp_style_read for actual processing.
+    Inkscape::XML::SimpleDocument *tempdoc = new Inkscape::XML::SimpleDocument;
+    Inkscape::XML::Node *tempnode = tempdoc->createElement("prefs");
+
+    std::vector<Inkscape::Preferences::Entry> attrs = prefs->getAllEntries(path);
+    for (std::vector<Inkscape::Preferences::Entry>::iterator i = attrs.begin(); i != attrs.end(); ++i) {
+        tempnode->setAttribute(i->getEntryName().data(), i->getString().data());
+    }
+
+    read( NULL, tempnode );
+
+    Inkscape::GC::release(tempnode);
+    Inkscape::GC::release(tempdoc);
+    delete tempdoc;
+}
+
 // Matches sp_style_merge_property(SPStyle *style, gint id, gchar const *val)
 void
 SPStyle::readIfUnset( gint id, gchar const *val ) {
@@ -868,6 +909,19 @@ SPStyle::readIfUnset( gint id, gchar const *val ) {
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Outputs the style to a CSS string.
+ *
+ * Use with SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS for copying an object's complete cascaded style to
+ * style_clipboard.
+ *
+ * Use with SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFDIFF and a pointer to the parent class when you need a CSS string for
+ * an object in the document tree.
+ *
+ * \pre flags in {IFSET, ALWAYS, IFDIFF}.
+ * \pre base.
+ * \post ret != NULL.
+ */
 Glib::ustring
 SPStyle::write( guint const flags, SPStyle const *const base ) const {
 
@@ -897,9 +951,20 @@ SPStyle::write( guint const flags, SPStyle const *const base ) const {
 }
 
 // Corresponds to sp_style_merge_from_parent()
+/**
+ * Sets computed values in \a style, which may involve inheriting from (or in some other way
+ * calculating from) corresponding computed values of \a parent.
+ *
+ * References: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/propidx.html shows what properties inherit by default.
+ * http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/styling.html#Inheritance gives general rules as to what it means to
+ * inherit a value.  http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-CSS2/cascade.html#computed-value is more precise
+ * about what the computed value is (not obvious for lengths).
+ *
+ * \pre \a parent's computed values are already up-to-date.
+ */
 void
 SPStyle::cascade( SPStyle const *const parent ) {
-    // std::cout << "SPStyle::cascade" << std::endl;
+    // std::cout << "SPStyle::cascade: " << (object->getId()?object->getId():"null") << std::endl;
     for(std::vector<SPIBase*>::size_type i = 0; i != _properties.size(); ++i) {
         _properties[i]->cascade( parent->_properties[i] );
     }
@@ -909,6 +974,23 @@ SPStyle::cascade( SPStyle const *const parent ) {
 }
 
 // Corresponds to sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent()
+/**
+ * Combine \a style and \a parent style specifications into a single style specification that
+ * preserves (as much as possible) the effect of the existing \a style being a child of \a parent.
+ *
+ * Called when the parent repr is to be removed (e.g. the parent is a \<use\> element that is being
+ * unlinked), in which case we copy/adapt property values that are explicitly set in \a parent,
+ * trying to retain the same visual appearance once the parent is removed.  Interesting cases are
+ * when there is unusual interaction with the parent's value (opacity, display) or when the value
+ * can be specified as relative to the parent computed value (font-size, font-weight etc.).
+ *
+ * Doesn't update computed values of \a style.  For correctness, you should subsequently call
+ * sp_style_merge_from_parent against the new parent (presumably \a parent's parent) even if \a
+ * style was previously up-to-date wrt \a parent.
+ *
+ * \pre \a parent's computed values are already up-to-date.
+ *   (\a style's computed values needn't be up-to-date.)
+ */
 void
 SPStyle::merge( SPStyle const *const parent ) {
     // std::cout << "SPStyle::merge" << std::endl;
@@ -920,6 +1002,14 @@ SPStyle::merge( SPStyle const *const parent ) {
     // }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Parses a style="..." string and merges it with an existing SPStyle.
+ */
+void
+SPStyle::mergeString( gchar const *const p ) {
+    _mergeString( p );
+}
+
 // Mostly for unit testing
 bool
 SPStyle::operator==(const SPStyle& rhs) {
@@ -1142,35 +1232,6 @@ sp_style_stroke_paint_server_ref_changed(SPObject *old_ref, SPObject *ref, SPSty
     sp_style_paint_server_ref_modified(ref, 0, style);
 }
 
-// Called in: desktop-style.cpp, gradient-chemistry.cpp, sp-object.cpp, sp-stop.cpp, style.cpp
-// text-editing.cpp, libnrtype/font-lister.cpp, widgets/dash-selector.cpp, widgets/fill-style.cpp,
-// widgets/stroke-style.cpp, widgets/text-toolbar.cpp, ui/dialog/glyphs.cpp, ui/dialog/swatches.cpp,
-// ui/dialog/swatches.cpp, ui/dialog/text-edit.cpp. ui/tools/freehand-base.cpp,
-// ui/widget/object-composite-settings.cpp, ui/widget/selected-style.cpp, ui/widget/style-swatch.cpp
-/**
- * Returns a new SPStyle object with default settings.
- */
-SPStyle *
-sp_style_new(SPDocument *document)
-{
-    SPStyle *const style = new SPStyle( document );
-    return style;
-}
-
-// Called in: sp-object.cpp
-/**
- * Creates a new SPStyle object, and attaches it to the specified SPObject.
- */
-SPStyle *
-sp_style_new_from_object(SPObject *object)
-{
-    g_return_val_if_fail(object != NULL, NULL);
-    g_return_val_if_fail(SP_IS_OBJECT(object), NULL);
-
-    SPStyle *const style = new SPStyle( NULL, object );
-    return style;
-}
-
 // Called in display/drawing-item.cpp, display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp, libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp
 /**
  * Increase refcount of style.
@@ -1180,13 +1241,12 @@ sp_style_ref(SPStyle *style)
 {
     g_return_val_if_fail(style != NULL, NULL);
 
-    style->ref(); // Increase ref count
+    style->style_ref(); // Increase ref count
 
     return style;
 }
 
-// Called in style.cpp, desktop-style.cpp, sp-object.cpp, sp-stop.cpp, text-editing.cpp
-// display/drawing-group.cpp, ...
+// Called in display/drawing-item.cpp, display/nr-filter-primitive.cpp, libnrtype/Layout-TNG-Input.cpp
 /**
  * Decrease refcount of style with possible destruction.
  */
@@ -1194,71 +1254,13 @@ SPStyle *
 sp_style_unref(SPStyle *style)
 {
     g_return_val_if_fail(style != NULL, NULL);
-    if (style->unref() < 1) {
+    if (style->style_unref() < 1) {
         delete style;
         return NULL;
     }
     return style;
 }
 
-
-
-// Called in: sp-clippath.cpp, sp-item.cpp (suspicious), sp-object.cpp, sp-style-elem.cpp
-/**
- * Read style properties from object's repr.
- *
- * 1. Reset existing object style
- * 2. Load current effective object style
- * 3. Load i attributes from immediate parent (which has to be up-to-date)
- */
-void
-sp_style_read_from_object(SPStyle *style, SPObject *object)
-{
-    // std::cout << "sp_style_read_from_object: " << (object->getId()?object->getId():"null") << std::endl;
-    g_return_if_fail(style != NULL);
-    g_return_if_fail(object != NULL);
-    g_return_if_fail(SP_IS_OBJECT(object));
-
-    Inkscape::XML::Node *repr = object->getRepr();
-    g_return_if_fail(repr != NULL);
-
-    style->read( object, repr );
-}
-
-// Called in: libnrtype/font-lister.cpp, widgets/dash-selector.cpp, widgets/text-toolbar.cpp,
-// ui/dialog/text-edit.cpp
-// Why is this called when draging a gradient handle?
-/**
- * Read style properties from preferences.
- * @param style The style to write to
- * @param path Preferences directory from which the style should be read
- */
-void
-sp_style_read_from_prefs(SPStyle *style, Glib::ustring const &path)
-{
-    g_return_if_fail(style != NULL);
-    g_return_if_fail(path != "");
-
-    Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
-
-    // not optimal: we reconstruct the node based on the prefs, then pass it to
-    // sp_style_read for actual processing.
-    Inkscape::XML::SimpleDocument *tempdoc = new Inkscape::XML::SimpleDocument;
-    Inkscape::XML::Node *tempnode = tempdoc->createElement("prefs");
-
-    std::vector<Inkscape::Preferences::Entry> attrs = prefs->getAllEntries(path);
-    for (std::vector<Inkscape::Preferences::Entry>::iterator i = attrs.begin(); i != attrs.end(); ++i) {
-        tempnode->setAttribute(i->getEntryName().data(), i->getString().data());
-    }
-
-    style->read( NULL, tempnode );
-
-    Inkscape::GC::release(tempnode);
-    Inkscape::GC::release(tempdoc);
-    delete tempdoc;
-}
-
-
 static CRSelEng *
 sp_repr_sel_eng()
 {
@@ -1282,81 +1284,9 @@ sp_repr_sel_eng()
     return ret;
 }
 
-
-// Called in text-editting.cpp, ui/tools/frehand-base.cpp, ui/widget/style-swatch.cpp
-/**
- * Parses a style="..." string and merges it with an existing SPStyle.
- */
-void
-sp_style_merge_from_style_string(SPStyle *const style, gchar const *const p)
-{
-    // std::cout << "sp_style_merge_from_style_string: " << (p?p:"null") <<std::endl;
-    /*
-     * Reference: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/styling.html#StyleAttribute:
-     * ``When CSS styling is used, CSS inline style is specified by including
-     * semicolon-separated property declarations of the form "name : value"
-     * within the style attribute''.
-     *
-     * That's fairly ambiguous.  Is a `value' allowed to contain semicolons?
-     * Why does it say "including", what else is allowed in the style
-     * attribute value?
-     */
-    style->_mergeString( p );
-}
-
 /** Indexed by SP_CSS_FONT_SIZE_blah.   These seem a bit small */
 static float const font_size_table[] = {6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0, 18.0, 24.0};
 
-// Called in sp-object.cpp, sp-tref.cpp, sp-use.cpp
-/**
- * Sets computed values in \a style, which may involve inheriting from (or in some other way
- * calculating from) corresponding computed values of \a parent.
- *
- * References: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/propidx.html shows what properties inherit by default.
- * http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/styling.html#Inheritance gives general rules as to what it means to
- * inherit a value.  http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-CSS2/cascade.html#computed-value is more precise
- * about what the computed value is (not obvious for lengths).
- *
- * \pre \a parent's computed values are already up-to-date.
- */
-void
-sp_style_merge_from_parent(SPStyle *const style, SPStyle const *const parent)
-{
-    // std::cout << "sp_style_merge_from_parent" << std::endl;
-    g_return_if_fail(style != NULL);
-
-    if (!parent)
-        return;
-
-    style->cascade( parent );
-    return;
-}
-
-// Called in: sp-use.cpp, sp-tref.cpp, sp-item.cpp
-/**
- * Combine \a style and \a parent style specifications into a single style specification that
- * preserves (as much as possible) the effect of the existing \a style being a child of \a parent.
- *
- * Called when the parent repr is to be removed (e.g. the parent is a \<use\> element that is being
- * unlinked), in which case we copy/adapt property values that are explicitly set in \a parent,
- * trying to retain the same visual appearance once the parent is removed.  Interesting cases are
- * when there is unusual interaction with the parent's value (opacity, display) or when the value
- * can be specified as relative to the parent computed value (font-size, font-weight etc.).
- *
- * Doesn't update computed values of \a style.  For correctness, you should subsequently call
- * sp_style_merge_from_parent against the new parent (presumably \a parent's parent) even if \a
- * style was previously up-to-date wrt \a parent.
- *
- * \pre \a parent's computed values are already up-to-date.
- *   (\a style's computed values needn't be up-to-date.)
- */
-void
-sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent(SPStyle *const style, SPStyle const *const parent)
-{
-    // std::cout << "sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent" << std::endl;
-    style->merge( parent );
-}
-
 // The following functions should be incorporated into SPIPaint. FIXME
 // Called in: style.cpp, style-internal.cpp
 void
@@ -1473,50 +1403,6 @@ sp_style_css_size_units_to_px(double size, int unit)
     return size * (size / sp_style_css_size_px_to_units(size, unit));;
 }
 
-// Called in style.cpp, text-editing.cpp
-/**
- * Dumps the style to a CSS string, with either SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET or
- * SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS flags. Used with Always for copying an object's
- * complete cascaded style to style_clipboard. When you need a CSS string
- * for an object in the document tree, you normally call
- * sp_style_write_difference instead to take into account the object's parent.
- *
- * \pre style != NULL.
- * \pre flags in {IFSET, ALWAYS}.
- * \post ret != NULL.
- */
-gchar *
-sp_style_write_string(SPStyle const *const style, guint const flags)
-{
-    /** \todo
-     * Merge with write_difference, much duplicate code!
-     */
-    g_return_val_if_fail(style != NULL, NULL);
-    g_return_val_if_fail(((flags == SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET) ||
-                          (flags == SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS)  ),
-                         NULL);
-
-    return g_strdup( style->write( flags ).c_str() );
-}
-
-
-// Called in style.cpp, path-chemistry, NOT in text-editting.cpp (because of bug)
-/**
- * Dumps style to CSS string, see sp_style_write_string()
- *
- * \pre from != NULL.
- * \pre to != NULL.
- * \post ret != NULL.
- */
-gchar *
-sp_style_write_difference(SPStyle const *const from, SPStyle const *const to)
-{
-    g_return_val_if_fail(from != NULL, NULL);
-    g_return_val_if_fail(to != NULL, NULL);
-
-    return g_strdup( from->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFDIFF, to ).c_str() );
-}
-
 
 // FIXME: Everything below this line belongs in a different file - css-chemistry?
 
@@ -1677,10 +1563,9 @@ sp_css_attr_from_style(SPStyle const *const style, guint const flags)
     g_return_val_if_fail(((flags == SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET) ||
                           (flags == SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS)  ),
                          NULL);
-    gchar *style_str = sp_style_write_string(style, flags);
+    Glib::ustring style_str = style->write(flags);
     SPCSSAttr *css = sp_repr_css_attr_new();
-    sp_repr_css_attr_add_from_string(css, style_str);
-    g_free(style_str);
+    sp_repr_css_attr_add_from_string(css, style_str.c_str());
     return css;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/style.h b/src/style.h
index 1b1596458..3f21f37db 100644
--- a/src/style.h
+++ b/src/style.h
@@ -51,18 +51,19 @@ public:
     void readFromObject(SPObject *object);
     void readFromPrefs(Glib::ustring const &path);
     void readIfUnset( int id, char const *val );
-    Glib::ustring write( unsigned int const flags, SPStyle const *const base = NULL ) const;
+    Glib::ustring write( unsigned int const flags = SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET,
+                         SPStyle const *const base = NULL ) const;
     void cascade( SPStyle const *const parent );
     void merge(   SPStyle const *const parent );
+    void mergeString( char const *const p );
     bool operator==(const SPStyle& rhs);
 
-    int ref()   { ++_refcount; return _refcount; }
-    int unref() { --_refcount; return _refcount; }
+    int style_ref()   { ++_refcount; return _refcount; }
+    int style_unref() { --_refcount; return _refcount; }
+    int refCount() { return _refcount; }
 
-//FIXME: Make private
-public:
-    void _mergeString( char const *const p );  // Rename to readFromString?
 private:
+    void _mergeString( char const *const p );
     void _mergeDeclList( CRDeclaration const *const decl_list );
     void _mergeDecl(      CRDeclaration const *const decl );
     void _mergeProps( CRPropList *const props );
@@ -282,28 +283,10 @@ public:
     char        const  *getStrokeURI()         const { return (stroke.value.href) ? stroke.value.href->getURI()->toString() : NULL; }
 };
 
-SPStyle *sp_style_new(SPDocument *document); // SPStyle::SPStyle( SPDocument *document = NULL );
-
-SPStyle *sp_style_new_from_object(SPObject *object); // SPStyle::SPStyle( SPObject *object );
-
 SPStyle *sp_style_ref(SPStyle *style); // SPStyle::ref();
 
 SPStyle *sp_style_unref(SPStyle *style); // SPStyle::unref();
 
-void sp_style_read_from_object(SPStyle *style, SPObject *object); //SPStyle::read( SPObject * object);
-
-void sp_style_read_from_prefs(SPStyle *style, Glib::ustring const &path); // SPStyle::read( ... );
-
-void sp_style_merge_from_style_string(SPStyle *style, char const *p); // SPStyle::merge( ... );?
-
-void sp_style_merge_from_parent(SPStyle *style, SPStyle const *parent); // SPStyle::cascade( ... );
-
-void sp_style_merge_from_dying_parent(SPStyle *style, SPStyle const *parent); // SPStyle::merge( ... )
-
-char *sp_style_write_string(SPStyle const *style, unsigned int flags = SP_STYLE_FLAG_IFSET);//SPStyle::write
-
-char *sp_style_write_difference(SPStyle const *from, SPStyle const *to); // SPStyle::write
-
 void sp_style_set_to_uri_string (SPStyle *style, bool isfill, const char *uri); // ?
 
 char const *sp_style_get_css_unit_string(int unit);  // No change?
diff --git a/src/text-editing.cpp b/src/text-editing.cpp
index 47964880c..4a962ab4c 100644
--- a/src/text-editing.cpp
+++ b/src/text-editing.cpp
@@ -1321,23 +1321,23 @@ static unsigned char_index_of_iterator(Glib::ustring const &string, Glib::ustrin
     return n;
 }
 
+// Move to style.h?
 /** applies the given style string on top of the existing styles for \a item,
 as opposed to sp_style_merge_from_style_string which merges its parameter
 underneath the existing styles (ie ignoring already set properties). */
 static void overwrite_style_with_string(SPObject *item, gchar const *style_string)
 {
-    SPStyle *new_style = sp_style_new(item->document);
-    sp_style_merge_from_style_string(new_style, style_string);
+    SPStyle style(item->document);
+    style.mergeString(style_string);
     gchar const *item_style_string = item->getRepr()->attribute("style");
     if (item_style_string && *item_style_string) {
-        sp_style_merge_from_style_string(new_style, item_style_string);
+        style.mergeString(item_style_string);
     }
-    gchar *new_style_string = sp_style_write_string(new_style);
-    sp_style_unref(new_style);
-    item->getRepr()->setAttribute("style", new_style_string && *new_style_string ? new_style_string : NULL);
-    g_free(new_style_string);
+    Glib::ustring new_style_string = style.write();
+    item->getRepr()->setAttribute("style", new_style_string.empty() ? NULL : new_style_string.c_str());
 }
 
+// Move to style.h?
 /** Returns true if the style of \a parent and the style of \a child are
 equivalent (and hence the children of both will appear the same). It is a
 limitation of the current implementation that \a parent must be a (not
@@ -1349,14 +1349,14 @@ static bool objects_have_equal_style(SPObject const *parent, SPObject const *chi
     // implications too large for me to feel safe fixing, but mainly because the css spec
     // requires that the computed value is inherited, not the specified value.
     g_assert(parent->isAncestorOf(child));
-    gchar *parent_style = sp_style_write_string(parent->style, SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS);
+
+    Glib::ustring parent_style = parent->style->write( SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS );
+
     // we have to write parent_style then read it again, because some properties format their values
     // differently depending on whether they're set or not (*cough*dash-offset*cough*)
-    SPStyle *parent_spstyle = sp_style_new(parent->document);
-    sp_style_merge_from_style_string(parent_spstyle, parent_style);
-    g_free(parent_style);
-    parent_style = sp_style_write_string(parent_spstyle, SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS);
-    sp_style_unref(parent_spstyle);
+    SPStyle parent_spstyle(parent->document);
+    parent_spstyle.mergeString(parent_style.c_str());
+    parent_style = parent_spstyle.write(SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS);
 
     Glib::ustring child_style_construction;
     while (child != parent) {
@@ -1369,13 +1369,12 @@ static bool objects_have_equal_style(SPObject const *parent, SPObject const *chi
         child = child->parent;
     }
     child_style_construction.insert(0, parent_style);
-    SPStyle *child_spstyle = sp_style_new(parent->document);
-    sp_style_merge_from_style_string(child_spstyle, child_style_construction.c_str());
-    gchar *child_style = sp_style_write_string(child_spstyle, SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS);
-    sp_style_unref(child_spstyle);
-    bool equal = !strcmp(child_style, parent_style);
-    g_free(child_style);
-    g_free(parent_style);
+
+    SPStyle child_spstyle(parent->document);
+    child_spstyle.mergeString(child_style_construction.c_str());
+    Glib::ustring child_style = child_spstyle.write(SP_STYLE_FLAG_ALWAYS);
+
+    bool equal = (child_style == parent_style);  // Glib::ustring overloads == operator
     return equal;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/dialog/glyphs.cpp b/src/ui/dialog/glyphs.cpp
index 9bad90e7c..2b9053da9 100644
--- a/src/ui/dialog/glyphs.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/dialog/glyphs.cpp
@@ -709,13 +709,12 @@ void GlyphsPanel::readSelection( bool updateStyle, bool /*updateContent*/ )
     calcCanInsert();
 
     if (targetDesktop && updateStyle) {
-        //SPStyle *query = sp_style_new(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+        //SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
 
-        //int result_family = sp_desktop_query_style(targetDesktop, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
-        //int result_style = sp_desktop_query_style(targetDesktop, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
-        //int result_numbers = sp_desktop_query_style(targetDesktop, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        //int result_family = sp_desktop_query_style(targetDesktop, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
+        //int result_style = sp_desktop_query_style(targetDesktop, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
+        //int result_numbers = sp_desktop_query_style(targetDesktop, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
 
-        //sp_style_unref(query);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/dialog/swatches.cpp b/src/ui/dialog/swatches.cpp
index 772217fcd..8759039c3 100644
--- a/src/ui/dialog/swatches.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/dialog/swatches.cpp
@@ -125,12 +125,12 @@ static void editGradientImpl( SPDesktop* desktop, SPGradient* gr )
             Inkscape::Selection *selection = desktop->getSelection();
             GSList const *items = selection->itemList();
             if (items) {
-                SPStyle *query = sp_style_new( desktop->doc() );
-                int result = objects_query_fillstroke(const_cast<GSList *>(items), query, true);
+                SPStyle query( desktop->doc() );
+                int result = objects_query_fillstroke(const_cast<GSList *>(items), &query, true);
                 if ( (result == QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME) || (result == QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE) ) {
                     // could be pertinent
-                    if (query->fill.isPaintserver()) {
-                        SPPaintServer* server = query->getFillPaintServer();
+                    if (query.fill.isPaintserver()) {
+                        SPPaintServer* server = query.getFillPaintServer();
                         if ( SP_IS_GRADIENT(server) ) {
                             SPGradient* grad = SP_GRADIENT(server);
                             if ( grad->isSwatch() && grad->getId() == gr->getId()) {
@@ -140,7 +140,6 @@ static void editGradientImpl( SPDesktop* desktop, SPGradient* gr )
                         }
                     }
                 }
-                sp_style_unref(query);
             }
         }
 
@@ -1061,15 +1060,15 @@ void SwatchesPanel::_updateFromSelection()
         Glib::ustring fillId;
         Glib::ustring strokeId;
 
-        SPStyle *tmpStyle = sp_style_new(_currentDesktop->getDocument());
-        int result = sp_desktop_query_style( _currentDesktop, tmpStyle, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FILL );
+        SPStyle tmpStyle(_currentDesktop->getDocument());
+        int result = sp_desktop_query_style( _currentDesktop, &tmpStyle, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FILL );
         switch (result) {
             case QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE:
             case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_AVERAGED:
             case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME:
             {
-                if (tmpStyle->fill.set && tmpStyle->fill.isPaintserver()) {
-                    SPPaintServer* server = tmpStyle->getFillPaintServer();
+                if (tmpStyle.fill.set && tmpStyle.fill.isPaintserver()) {
+                    SPPaintServer* server = tmpStyle.getFillPaintServer();
                     if ( SP_IS_GRADIENT(server) ) {
                         SPGradient* target = 0;
                         SPGradient* grad = SP_GRADIENT(server);
@@ -1095,14 +1094,14 @@ void SwatchesPanel::_updateFromSelection()
             }
         }
 
-        result = sp_desktop_query_style( _currentDesktop, tmpStyle, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKE );
+        result = sp_desktop_query_style( _currentDesktop, &tmpStyle, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKE );
         switch (result) {
             case QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE:
             case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_AVERAGED:
             case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME:
             {
-                if (tmpStyle->stroke.set && tmpStyle->stroke.isPaintserver()) {
-                    SPPaintServer* server = tmpStyle->getStrokePaintServer();
+                if (tmpStyle.stroke.set && tmpStyle.stroke.isPaintserver()) {
+                    SPPaintServer* server = tmpStyle.getStrokePaintServer();
                     if ( SP_IS_GRADIENT(server) ) {
                         SPGradient* target = 0;
                         SPGradient* grad = SP_GRADIENT(server);
@@ -1126,7 +1125,6 @@ void SwatchesPanel::_updateFromSelection()
                 break;
             }
         }
-        sp_style_unref(tmpStyle);
 
         for ( boost::ptr_vector<ColorItem>::iterator it = docPalette->_colors.begin(); it != docPalette->_colors.end(); ++it ) {
             ColorItem* item = &*it;
diff --git a/src/ui/dialog/text-edit.cpp b/src/ui/dialog/text-edit.cpp
index 229e82af4..a8be8b543 100644
--- a/src/ui/dialog/text-edit.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/dialog/text-edit.cpp
@@ -325,18 +325,18 @@ void TextEdit::onReadSelection ( gboolean dostyle, gboolean /*docontent*/ )
 
     if (dostyle) {
         // create temporary style
-        SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+        SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
         // query style from desktop into it. This returns a result flag and fills query with the style of subselection, if any, or selection
-        //int result_fontspec = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONT_SPECIFICATION);
-        int result_family = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
-        int result_style = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
-        int result_numbers = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        //int result_fontspec = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONT_SPECIFICATION);
+        int result_family = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
+        int result_style = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
+        int result_numbers = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
 
         // If querying returned nothing, read the style from the text tool prefs (default style for new texts)
         // (Ok to not get a font specification - must just rely on the family and style in that case)
         if (result_family == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING || result_style == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING
                 || result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING) {
-            sp_style_read_from_prefs(query, "/tools/text");
+            query.readFromPrefs("/tools/text");
         }
 
         // FIXME: process result_family/style == QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_DIFFERENT by showing "Many" in the lists
@@ -351,40 +351,39 @@ void TextEdit::onReadSelection ( gboolean dostyle, gboolean /*docontent*/ )
 
         Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
         int unit = prefs->getInt("/options/font/unitType", SP_CSS_UNIT_PT);
-        double size = sp_style_css_size_px_to_units(query->font_size.computed, unit); 
+        double size = sp_style_css_size_px_to_units(query.font_size.computed, unit); 
         sp_font_selector_set_fontspec(fsel, fontspec, size );
 
         setPreviewText (fontspec, phrase);
 
-        if (query->text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_START) {
-            if (query->text_align.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ALIGN_JUSTIFY) {
+        if (query.text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_START) {
+            if (query.text_align.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ALIGN_JUSTIFY) {
                 align_justify.set_active();
             } else {
                 align_left.set_active();
             }
-        } else if (query->text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_MIDDLE) {
+        } else if (query.text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_MIDDLE) {
             align_center.set_active();
         } else {
             align_right.set_active();
         }
 
-        if (query->writing_mode.computed == SP_CSS_WRITING_MODE_LR_TB) {
+        if (query.writing_mode.computed == SP_CSS_WRITING_MODE_LR_TB) {
             text_horizontal.set_active();
         } else {
             text_vertical.set_active();
         }
 
         double height;
-        if (query->line_height.normal) height = Inkscape::Text::Layout::LINE_HEIGHT_NORMAL;
-        else if (query->line_height.unit == SP_CSS_UNIT_PERCENT)
-            height = query->line_height.value;
-        else height = query->line_height.computed;
+        if (query.line_height.normal) height = Inkscape::Text::Layout::LINE_HEIGHT_NORMAL;
+        else if (query.line_height.unit == SP_CSS_UNIT_PERCENT)
+            height = query.line_height.value;
+        else height = query.line_height.computed;
         gchar *sstr = g_strdup_printf ("%d%%", (int) floor(height * 100 + 0.5));
 
         gtk_entry_set_text ((GtkEntry *) gtk_bin_get_child ((GtkBin *) spacing_combo), sstr);
         g_free(sstr);
 
-        sp_style_unref(query);
     }
     blocked = false;
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/tools/freehand-base.cpp b/src/ui/tools/freehand-base.cpp
index c9fe37135..0f14d7534 100644
--- a/src/ui/tools/freehand-base.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/tools/freehand-base.cpp
@@ -247,11 +247,9 @@ static void spdc_apply_powerstroke_shape(const std::vector<Geom::Point> & points
     char const *style_str = NULL;
     style_str = repr->attribute("style");
     if (style_str) {
-        SPStyle *style = sp_style_new(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
-        sp_style_merge_from_style_string(style, style_str);
-        stroke_width = style->stroke_width.computed;
-        style->stroke_width.computed = 0;
-        sp_style_unref(style);
+        SPStyle style(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+        style.mergeString(style_str);
+        stroke_width = style.stroke_width.computed;
     }
 
     std::ostringstream s;
@@ -821,14 +819,11 @@ void spdc_create_single_dot(ToolBase *ec, Geom::Point const &pt, char const *too
 
     // find out stroke width (TODO: is there an easier way??)
     double stroke_width = 3.0;
-    gchar const *style_str = NULL;
-    style_str = repr->attribute("style");
+    gchar const *style_str = repr->attribute("style");
     if (style_str) {
-        SPStyle *style = sp_style_new(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
-        sp_style_merge_from_style_string(style, style_str);
-        stroke_width = style->stroke_width.computed;
-        style->stroke_width.computed = 0;
-        sp_style_unref(style);
+        SPStyle style(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+        style.mergeString(style_str);
+        stroke_width = style.stroke_width.computed;
     }
 
     // unset stroke and set fill color to former stroke color
diff --git a/src/ui/widget/object-composite-settings.cpp b/src/ui/widget/object-composite-settings.cpp
index 7439a402c..00a74c4fe 100644
--- a/src/ui/widget/object-composite-settings.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/widget/object-composite-settings.cpp
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ ObjectCompositeSettings::_subjectChanged() {
         return;
     _blocked = true;
 
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (desktop->getDocument());
-    int result = _subject->queryStyle(query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_MASTEROPACITY);
+    SPStyle query(desktop->getDocument());
+    int result = _subject->queryStyle(&query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_MASTEROPACITY);
 
     switch (result) {
         case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING:
@@ -231,19 +231,19 @@ ObjectCompositeSettings::_subjectChanged() {
         case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_AVERAGED: // TODO: treat this slightly differently
         case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME:
             _opacity_vbox.set_sensitive(true);
-            _opacity_scale.get_adjustment()->set_value(100 * SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(query->opacity.value));
+            _opacity_scale.get_adjustment()->set_value(100 * SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(query.opacity.value));
             break;
     }
 
     //query now for current filter mode and average blurring of selection
-    const int blend_result = _subject->queryStyle(query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BLEND);
+    const int blend_result = _subject->queryStyle(&query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BLEND);
     switch(blend_result) {
         case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING:
             _fe_cb.set_sensitive(false);
             break;
         case QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE:
         case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME:
-            _fe_cb.set_blend_mode(query->filter_blend_mode.value);
+            _fe_cb.set_blend_mode(query.filter_blend_mode.value);
             _fe_cb.set_sensitive(true);
             break;
         case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_DIFFERENT:
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ ObjectCompositeSettings::_subjectChanged() {
     }
 
     if(blend_result == QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE || blend_result == QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME) {
-        int blur_result = _subject->queryStyle(query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BLUR);
+        int blur_result = _subject->queryStyle(&query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BLUR);
         switch (blur_result) {
             case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING: //no blurring
                 _fe_cb.set_blur_sensitive(false);
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ ObjectCompositeSettings::_subjectChanged() {
                     double perimeter = bbox->dimensions()[Geom::X] + bbox->dimensions()[Geom::Y];   // fixme: this is only half the perimeter, is that correct?
                     _fe_cb.set_blur_sensitive(true);
                     //update blur widget value
-                    float radius = query->filter_gaussianBlur_deviation.value;
+                    float radius = query.filter_gaussianBlur_deviation.value;
                     float percent = radius * 400 / perimeter; // so that for a square, 100% == half side
                     _fe_cb.set_blur_value(percent);
                 }
@@ -274,8 +274,6 @@ ObjectCompositeSettings::_subjectChanged() {
         }
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     _blocked = false;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/widget/selected-style.cpp b/src/ui/widget/selected-style.cpp
index 93b4893f2..1fc67dcef 100644
--- a/src/ui/widget/selected-style.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/widget/selected-style.cpp
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
         return;
 
     // create temporary style
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (_desktop->getDocument());
+    SPStyle query(_desktop->getDocument());
 
     for (int i = SS_FILL; i <= SS_STROKE; i++) {
         Gtk::EventBox *place = (i == SS_FILL)? &_fill_place : &_stroke_place;
@@ -995,7 +995,7 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
         _popup_copy[i].set_sensitive(false);
 
         // query style from desktop. This returns a result flag and fills query with the style of subselection, if any, or selection
-        int result = sp_desktop_query_style (_desktop, query,
+        int result = sp_desktop_query_style (_desktop, &query,
                                              (i == SS_FILL)? QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FILL : QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKE);
         switch (result) {
         case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING:
@@ -1020,12 +1020,12 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
             }
             SPIPaint *paint;
             if (i == SS_FILL) {
-                paint = &(query->fill);
+                paint = &(query.fill);
             } else {
-                paint = &(query->stroke);
+                paint = &(query.stroke);
             }
             if (paint->set && paint->isPaintserver()) {
-                SPPaintServer *server = (i == SS_FILL)? SP_STYLE_FILL_SERVER (query) : SP_STYLE_STROKE_SERVER (query);
+                SPPaintServer *server = (i == SS_FILL)? SP_STYLE_FILL_SERVER (&query) : SP_STYLE_STROKE_SERVER (&query);
                 if ( server ) {
                     Inkscape::XML::Node *srepr = server->getRepr();
                     _paintserver_id[i] += "url(#";
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
                 }
             } else if (paint->set && paint->isColor()) {
                 guint32 color = paint->value.color.toRGBA32(
-                                     SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT ((i == SS_FILL)? query->fill_opacity.value : query->stroke_opacity.value));
+                                     SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT ((i == SS_FILL)? query.fill_opacity.value : query.stroke_opacity.value));
                 _lastselected[i] = _thisselected[i];
                 _thisselected[i] = color; // include opacity
                 ((Inkscape::UI::Widget::ColorPreview*)_color_preview[i])->setRgba32 (color);
@@ -1105,7 +1105,7 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
     clearTooltip(_opacity_place);
     clearTooltip(_opacity_sb);
 
-    int result = sp_desktop_query_style (_desktop, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_MASTEROPACITY);
+    int result = sp_desktop_query_style (_desktop, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_MASTEROPACITY);
 
     switch (result) {
     case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING:
@@ -1122,16 +1122,16 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
         _opacity_blocked = true;
         _opacity_sb.set_sensitive(true);
 #if WITH_GTKMM_3_0
-        _opacity_adjustment->set_value(SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(query->opacity.value) * 100);
+        _opacity_adjustment->set_value(SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(query.opacity.value) * 100);
 #else
-        _opacity_adjustment.set_value(SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(query->opacity.value) * 100);
+        _opacity_adjustment.set_value(SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(query.opacity.value) * 100);
 #endif
         _opacity_blocked = false;
         break;
     }
 
 // Now query stroke_width
-    int result_sw = sp_desktop_query_style (_desktop, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEWIDTH);
+    int result_sw = sp_desktop_query_style (_desktop, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEWIDTH);
     switch (result_sw) {
     case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING:
         _stroke_width.set_markup("");
@@ -1143,9 +1143,9 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
     {
         double w;
         if (_sw_unit) {
-            w = Inkscape::Util::Quantity::convert(query->stroke_width.computed, "px", _sw_unit);
+            w = Inkscape::Util::Quantity::convert(query.stroke_width.computed, "px", _sw_unit);
         } else {
-            w = query->stroke_width.computed;
+            w = query.stroke_width.computed;
         }
         current_stroke_width = w;
 
@@ -1168,8 +1168,6 @@ SelectedStyle::update()
     default:
         break;
     }
-
-    sp_style_unref(query);
 }
 
 void SelectedStyle::opacity_0(void) {_opacity_sb.set_value(0);}
diff --git a/src/ui/widget/style-swatch.cpp b/src/ui/widget/style-swatch.cpp
index 157fd2ad9..fa8543c46 100644
--- a/src/ui/widget/style-swatch.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/widget/style-swatch.cpp
@@ -260,13 +260,12 @@ void StyleSwatch::setStyle(SPCSSAttr *css)
 
     Glib::ustring css_string;
     sp_repr_css_write_string (_css, css_string);
-    SPStyle *temp_spstyle = sp_style_new(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+
+    SPStyle style(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     if (!css_string.empty()) {
-        sp_style_merge_from_style_string (temp_spstyle, css_string.c_str());
+        style.mergeString(css_string.c_str());
     }
-    
-    setStyle (temp_spstyle);
-    sp_style_unref (temp_spstyle);
+    setStyle (&style);
 }
 
 void StyleSwatch::setStyle(SPStyle *query)
diff --git a/src/widgets/dash-selector.cpp b/src/widgets/dash-selector.cpp
index 479895022..9d591d33d 100644
--- a/src/widgets/dash-selector.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/dash-selector.cpp
@@ -118,18 +118,18 @@ void SPDashSelector::init_dashes() {
         
         int pos = 0;
         if (!dash_prefs.empty()) {
-            SPStyle *style = sp_style_new (NULL);
+            SPStyle style;
             dashes = g_new (double *, dash_prefs.size() + 2); // +1 for custom slot, +1 for terminator slot
             
             for (std::vector<Glib::ustring>::iterator i = dash_prefs.begin(); i != dash_prefs.end(); ++i) {
-                sp_style_read_from_prefs(style, *i);
+                style.readFromPrefs( *i );
                 
-                if (!style->stroke_dasharray.values.empty()) {
-                    dashes[pos] = g_new (double, style->stroke_dasharray.values.size() + 1);
+                if (!style.stroke_dasharray.values.empty()) {
+                    dashes[pos] = g_new (double, style.stroke_dasharray.values.size() + 1);
                     double *d = dashes[pos];
                     unsigned i = 0;
-                    for (; i < style->stroke_dasharray.values.size(); i++) {
-                        d[i] = style->stroke_dasharray.values[i];
+                    for (; i < style.stroke_dasharray.values.size(); i++) {
+                        d[i] = style.stroke_dasharray.values[i];
                     }
                     d[i] = -1;
                 } else {
diff --git a/src/widgets/fill-style.cpp b/src/widgets/fill-style.cpp
index fcdc9a36b..d60a92b8b 100644
--- a/src/widgets/fill-style.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/fill-style.cpp
@@ -252,13 +252,13 @@ void FillNStroke::performUpdate()
     update = true;
 
     // create temporary style
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new(desktop->doc());
+    SPStyle query(desktop->doc());
 
     // query style from desktop into it. This returns a result flag and fills query with the style of subselection, if any, or selection
-    int result = sp_desktop_query_style(desktop, query, (kind == FILL) ? QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FILL : QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKE);
+    int result = sp_desktop_query_style(desktop, &query, (kind == FILL) ? QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FILL : QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKE);
 
-    SPIPaint &targPaint = (kind == FILL) ? query->fill : query->stroke;
-    SPIScale24 &targOpacity = (kind == FILL) ? query->fill_opacity : query->stroke_opacity;
+    SPIPaint &targPaint = (kind == FILL) ? query.fill : query.stroke;
+    SPIScale24 &targOpacity = (kind == FILL) ? query.fill_opacity : query.stroke_opacity;
 
     switch (result) {
         case QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING:
@@ -272,11 +272,11 @@ void FillNStroke::performUpdate()
         case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_AVERAGED: // TODO: treat this slightly differently, e.g. display "averaged" somewhere in paint selector
         case QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME:
         {
-            SPPaintSelector::Mode pselmode = SPPaintSelector::getModeForStyle(*query, kind);
+            SPPaintSelector::Mode pselmode = SPPaintSelector::getModeForStyle(query, kind);
             psel->setMode(pselmode);
 
             if (kind == FILL) {
-                psel->setFillrule(query->fill_rule.computed == ART_WIND_RULE_NONZERO?
+                psel->setFillrule(query.fill_rule.computed == ART_WIND_RULE_NONZERO?
                                   SPPaintSelector::FILLRULE_NONZERO : SPPaintSelector::FILLRULE_EVENODD);
             }
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ void FillNStroke::performUpdate()
                 psel->setColorAlpha(targPaint.value.color, SP_SCALE24_TO_FLOAT(targOpacity.value));
             } else if (targPaint.set && targPaint.isPaintserver()) {
 
-                SPPaintServer *server = (kind == FILL) ? query->getFillPaintServer() : query->getStrokePaintServer();
+                SPPaintServer *server = (kind == FILL) ? query.getFillPaintServer() : query.getStrokePaintServer();
 
                 if (server && SP_IS_GRADIENT(server) && SP_GRADIENT(server)->getVector()->isSwatch()) {
                     SPGradient *vector = SP_GRADIENT(server)->getVector();
@@ -318,8 +318,6 @@ void FillNStroke::performUpdate()
         }
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     update = false;
 }
 
@@ -562,10 +560,10 @@ void FillNStroke::updateFromPaint()
                 if (!vector) {
                     /* No vector in paint selector should mean that we just changed mode */
 
-                    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new(desktop->doc());
-                    int result = objects_query_fillstroke(const_cast<GSList *>(items), query, kind == FILL);
+                    SPStyle query(desktop->doc());
+                    int result = objects_query_fillstroke(const_cast<GSList *>(items), &query, kind == FILL);
                     if (result == QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME) {
-                        SPIPaint &targPaint = (kind == FILL) ? query->fill : query->stroke;
+                        SPIPaint &targPaint = (kind == FILL) ? query.fill : query.stroke;
                         SPColor common;
                         if (!targPaint.isColor()) {
                             common = sp_desktop_get_color(desktop, kind == FILL);
@@ -577,7 +575,6 @@ void FillNStroke::updateFromPaint()
                             vector->setSwatch();
                         }
                     }
-                    sp_style_unref(query);
 
                     for (GSList const *i = items; i != NULL; i = i->next) {
                         //FIXME: see above
diff --git a/src/widgets/stroke-style.cpp b/src/widgets/stroke-style.cpp
index 755489e12..5ca06a795 100644
--- a/src/widgets/stroke-style.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/stroke-style.cpp
@@ -815,13 +815,13 @@ StrokeStyle::updateLine()
     FillOrStroke kind = GPOINTER_TO_INT(get_data("kind")) ? FILL : STROKE;
 
     // create temporary style
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     // query into it
-    int result_sw = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEWIDTH);
-    int result_ml = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEMITERLIMIT);
-    int result_cap = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKECAP);
-    int result_join = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEJOIN);
-    SPIPaint &targPaint = (kind == FILL) ? query->fill : query->stroke;
+    int result_sw = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEWIDTH);
+    int result_ml = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEMITERLIMIT);
+    int result_cap = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKECAP);
+    int result_join = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_STROKEJOIN);
+    SPIPaint &targPaint = (kind == FILL) ? query.fill : query.stroke;
 
     if (!sel || sel->isEmpty()) {
         // Nothing selected, grey-out all controls in the stroke-style dialog
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ StrokeStyle::updateLine()
         Inkscape::Util::Unit const *unit = unitSelector->getUnit();
 
         if (unit->type == Inkscape::Util::UNIT_TYPE_LINEAR) {
-            double avgwidth = Inkscape::Util::Quantity::convert(query->stroke_width.computed, "px", unit);
+            double avgwidth = Inkscape::Util::Quantity::convert(query.stroke_width.computed, "px", unit);
 #if WITH_GTKMM_3_0
             (*widthAdj)->set_value(avgwidth);
 #else
@@ -879,27 +879,25 @@ StrokeStyle::updateLine()
 
     if (result_ml != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
 #if WITH_GTKMM_3_0
-        (*miterLimitAdj)->set_value(query->stroke_miterlimit.value); // TODO: reflect averagedness?
+        (*miterLimitAdj)->set_value(query.stroke_miterlimit.value); // TODO: reflect averagedness?
 #else
-        miterLimitAdj->set_value(query->stroke_miterlimit.value); // TODO: reflect averagedness?
+        miterLimitAdj->set_value(query.stroke_miterlimit.value); // TODO: reflect averagedness?
 #endif
 
     if (result_join != QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_DIFFERENT &&
         result_join != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING ) {
-        setJoinType(query->stroke_linejoin.value);
+        setJoinType(query.stroke_linejoin.value);
     } else {
         setJoinButtons(NULL);
     }
 
     if (result_cap != QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_DIFFERENT &&
         result_cap != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING ) {
-        setCapType (query->stroke_linecap.value);
+        setCapType (query.stroke_linecap.value);
     } else {
         setCapButtons(NULL);
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     if (!sel || sel->isEmpty())
         return;
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/text-toolbar.cpp b/src/widgets/text-toolbar.cpp
index d113d5c28..3d2e6eef8 100644
--- a/src/widgets/text-toolbar.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/text-toolbar.cpp
@@ -220,9 +220,9 @@ static void sp_text_fontsize_value_changed( Ink_ComboBoxEntry_Action *act, GObje
     sp_desktop_set_style (desktop, css, true, true);
 
     // If no selected objects, set default.
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     int result_numbers =
-        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
     if (result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
     {
         Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
@@ -233,8 +233,6 @@ static void sp_text_fontsize_value_changed( Ink_ComboBoxEntry_Action *act, GObje
                              _("Text: Change font size"));
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     sp_repr_css_attr_unref (css);
 
     g_object_set_data( tbl, "freeze", GINT_TO_POINTER(FALSE) );
@@ -292,8 +290,8 @@ static void sp_text_script_changed( InkToggleAction* act, GObject *tbl )
 #endif
 
     // Query baseline
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
-    int result_baseline = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BASELINES);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    int result_baseline = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BASELINES);
 
     bool setSuper = false;
     bool setSub   = false;
@@ -307,14 +305,14 @@ static void sp_text_script_changed( InkToggleAction* act, GObject *tbl )
         }
     } else {
         // Superscript
-        gboolean superscriptSet = (query->baseline_shift.set &&
-                                   query->baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
-                                   query->baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUPER );
+        gboolean superscriptSet = (query.baseline_shift.set &&
+                                   query.baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
+                                   query.baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUPER );
 
         // Subscript
-        gboolean subscriptSet = (query->baseline_shift.set &&
-                                 query->baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
-                                 query->baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUB );
+        gboolean subscriptSet = (query.baseline_shift.set &&
+                                 query.baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
+                                 query.baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUB );
 
         setSuper = !superscriptSet && prop == 0;
         setSub   = !subscriptSet   && prop == 1;
@@ -473,10 +471,9 @@ static void sp_text_align_mode_changed( EgeSelectOneAction *act, GObject *tbl )
         }
     }
 
-    SPStyle *query =
-        sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     int result_numbers =
-        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
 
     // If querying returned nothing, update default style.
     if (result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
@@ -485,8 +482,6 @@ static void sp_text_align_mode_changed( EgeSelectOneAction *act, GObject *tbl )
         prefs->mergeStyle("/tools/text/style", css);
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     sp_desktop_set_style (desktop, css, true, true);
     if (result_numbers != QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
     {
@@ -538,15 +533,14 @@ static void sp_text_lineheight_value_changed( GtkAdjustment *adj, GObject *tbl )
     }
 
     // If no selected objects, set default.
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     int result_numbers =
-        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
     if (result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
     {
         Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
         prefs->mergeStyle("/tools/text/style", css);
     }
-    sp_style_unref(query);
 
     sp_repr_css_attr_unref (css);
 
@@ -573,9 +567,9 @@ static void sp_text_wordspacing_value_changed( GtkAdjustment *adj, GObject *tbl
     sp_desktop_set_style (desktop, css, true, false);
 
     // If no selected objects, set default.
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     int result_numbers =
-        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
     if (result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
     {
         Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
@@ -585,7 +579,6 @@ static void sp_text_wordspacing_value_changed( GtkAdjustment *adj, GObject *tbl
         DocumentUndo::maybeDone(SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP->getDocument(), "ttb:word-spacing", SP_VERB_NONE,
                              _("Text: Change word-spacing"));
     }
-    sp_style_unref(query);
 
     sp_repr_css_attr_unref (css);
 
@@ -612,9 +605,9 @@ static void sp_text_letterspacing_value_changed( GtkAdjustment *adj, GObject *tb
     sp_desktop_set_style (desktop, css, true, false);
 
     // If no selected objects, set default.
-    SPStyle *query = sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     int result_numbers =
-        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
     if (result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
     {
         Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
@@ -627,8 +620,6 @@ static void sp_text_letterspacing_value_changed( GtkAdjustment *adj, GObject *tb
                              _("Text: Change letter-spacing"));
     }
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     sp_repr_css_attr_unref (css);
 
     g_object_set_data( tbl, "freeze", GINT_TO_POINTER(FALSE) );
@@ -765,10 +756,9 @@ static void sp_text_orientation_mode_changed( EgeSelectOneAction *act, GObject *
         }
     }
 
-    SPStyle *query =
-        sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
     int result_numbers =
-        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+        sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
 
     // If querying returned nothing, update default style.
     if (result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING)
@@ -892,11 +882,11 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
      *   Numbers (font-size, letter-spacing, word-spacing, line-height, text-anchor, writing-mode)
      *   Font specification (Inkscape private attribute)
      */
-    SPStyle *query =  sp_style_new (SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
-    int result_family   = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
-    int result_style    = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
-    int result_numbers  = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
-    int result_baseline = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BASELINES);
+    SPStyle query(SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT);
+    int result_family   = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTFAMILY);
+    int result_style    = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTSTYLE);
+    int result_numbers  = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_FONTNUMBERS);
+    int result_baseline = sp_desktop_query_style (SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP, &query, QUERY_STYLE_PROPERTY_BASELINES);
 
     /*
      * If no text in selection (querying returned nothing), read the style from
@@ -905,14 +895,13 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
      */
     if (result_family == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING || result_style == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING || result_numbers == QUERY_STYLE_NOTHING) {
         // There are no texts in selection, read from preferences.
-        sp_style_read_from_prefs(query, "/tools/text");
+        query.readFromPrefs("/tools/text");
 #ifdef DEBUG_TEXT
         std::cout << "    read style from prefs:" << std::endl;
-        sp_print_font( query );
+        sp_print_font( &query );
 #endif
         if (g_object_get_data(tbl, "text_style_from_prefs")) {
             // Do not reset the toolbar style from prefs if we already did it last time
-            sp_style_unref(query);
             g_object_set_data( tbl, "freeze", GINT_TO_POINTER(FALSE) );
 #ifdef DEBUG_TEXT
             std::cout << "    text_style_from_prefs: toolbar already set" << std:: endl;
@@ -937,7 +926,7 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
         // Size (average of text selected)
         Inkscape::Preferences *prefs = Inkscape::Preferences::get();
         int unit = prefs->getInt("/options/font/unitType", SP_CSS_UNIT_PT);
-        double size = sp_style_css_size_px_to_units(query->font_size.computed, unit);
+        double size = sp_style_css_size_px_to_units(query.font_size.computed, unit);
 
         //gchar size_text[G_ASCII_DTOSTR_BUF_SIZE];
         //g_ascii_dtostr (size_text, sizeof (size_text), size);
@@ -961,9 +950,9 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
         // Superscript
         gboolean superscriptSet =
             ((result_baseline == QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE || result_baseline == QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME ) &&
-             query->baseline_shift.set &&
-             query->baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
-             query->baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUPER );
+             query.baseline_shift.set &&
+             query.baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
+             query.baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUPER );
 
         InkToggleAction* textSuperscriptAction = INK_TOGGLE_ACTION( g_object_get_data( tbl, "TextSuperscriptAction" ) );
         gtk_toggle_action_set_active( GTK_TOGGLE_ACTION(textSuperscriptAction), superscriptSet );
@@ -972,9 +961,9 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
         // Subscript
         gboolean subscriptSet =
             ((result_baseline == QUERY_STYLE_SINGLE || result_baseline == QUERY_STYLE_MULTIPLE_SAME ) &&
-             query->baseline_shift.set &&
-             query->baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
-             query->baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUB );
+             query.baseline_shift.set &&
+             query.baseline_shift.type == SP_BASELINE_SHIFT_LITERAL &&
+             query.baseline_shift.literal == SP_CSS_BASELINE_SHIFT_SUB );
 
         InkToggleAction* textSubscriptAction = INK_TOGGLE_ACTION( g_object_get_data( tbl, "TextSubscriptAction" ) );
         gtk_toggle_action_set_active( GTK_TOGGLE_ACTION(textSubscriptAction), subscriptSet );
@@ -1001,26 +990,26 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
         // ege_select_one_action_set_sensitive( textAlignAction, 3, isFlow );
 
         int activeButton = 0;
-        if (query->text_align.computed  == SP_CSS_TEXT_ALIGN_JUSTIFY)
+        if (query.text_align.computed  == SP_CSS_TEXT_ALIGN_JUSTIFY)
         {
             activeButton = 3;
         } else {
-            if (query->text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_START)  activeButton = 0;
-            if (query->text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_MIDDLE) activeButton = 1;
-            if (query->text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_END)    activeButton = 2;
+            if (query.text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_START)  activeButton = 0;
+            if (query.text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_MIDDLE) activeButton = 1;
+            if (query.text_anchor.computed == SP_CSS_TEXT_ANCHOR_END)    activeButton = 2;
         }
         ege_select_one_action_set_active( textAlignAction, activeButton );
 
 
         // Line height (spacing)
         double height;
-        if (query->line_height.normal) {
+        if (query.line_height.normal) {
             height = Inkscape::Text::Layout::LINE_HEIGHT_NORMAL;
         } else {
-            if (query->line_height.unit == SP_CSS_UNIT_PERCENT) {
-                height = query->line_height.value;
+            if (query.line_height.unit == SP_CSS_UNIT_PERCENT) {
+                height = query.line_height.value;
             } else {
-                height = query->line_height.computed;
+                height = query.line_height.computed;
             }
         }
 
@@ -1032,8 +1021,8 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
 
         // Word spacing
         double wordSpacing;
-        if (query->word_spacing.normal) wordSpacing = 0.0;
-        else wordSpacing = query->word_spacing.computed; // Assume no units (change in desktop-style.cpp)
+        if (query.word_spacing.normal) wordSpacing = 0.0;
+        else wordSpacing = query.word_spacing.computed; // Assume no units (change in desktop-style.cpp)
 
         GtkAction* wordSpacingAction = GTK_ACTION( g_object_get_data( tbl, "TextWordSpacingAction" ) );
         GtkAdjustment *wordSpacingAdjustment =
@@ -1043,8 +1032,8 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
 
         // Letter spacing
         double letterSpacing;
-        if (query->letter_spacing.normal) letterSpacing = 0.0;
-        else letterSpacing = query->letter_spacing.computed; // Assume no units (change in desktop-style.cpp)
+        if (query.letter_spacing.normal) letterSpacing = 0.0;
+        else letterSpacing = query.letter_spacing.computed; // Assume no units (change in desktop-style.cpp)
 
         GtkAction* letterSpacingAction = GTK_ACTION( g_object_get_data( tbl, "TextLetterSpacingAction" ) );
         GtkAdjustment *letterSpacingAdjustment =
@@ -1053,7 +1042,7 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
 
 
         // Orientation
-        int activeButton2 = (query->writing_mode.computed == SP_CSS_WRITING_MODE_LR_TB ? 0 : 1);
+        int activeButton2 = (query.writing_mode.computed == SP_CSS_WRITING_MODE_LR_TB ? 0 : 1);
 
         EgeSelectOneAction* textOrientationAction =
             EGE_SELECT_ONE_ACTION( g_object_get_data( tbl, "TextOrientationAction" ) );
@@ -1064,27 +1053,25 @@ static void sp_text_toolbox_selection_changed(Inkscape::Selection */*selection*/
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_TEXT
     std::cout << "    GUI: fontfamily.value: "
-              << (query->font_family.value ? query->font_family.value : "No value")
+              << (query.font_family.value ? query.font_family.value : "No value")
               << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: font_size.computed: "   << query->font_size.computed   << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: font_weight.computed: " << query->font_weight.computed << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: font_style.computed: "  << query->font_style.computed  << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: text_anchor.computed: " << query->text_anchor.computed << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: text_align.computed:  " << query->text_align.computed  << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: line_height.computed: " << query->line_height.computed
-              << "  line_height.value: "    << query->line_height.value
-              << "  line_height.unit: "     << query->line_height.unit  << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: word_spacing.computed: " << query->word_spacing.computed
-              << "  word_spacing.value: "    << query->word_spacing.value
-              << "  word_spacing.unit: "     << query->word_spacing.unit  << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: letter_spacing.computed: " << query->letter_spacing.computed
-              << "  letter_spacing.value: "    << query->letter_spacing.value
-              << "  letter_spacing.unit: "     << query->letter_spacing.unit  << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "    GUI: writing_mode.computed: " << query->writing_mode.computed << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: font_size.computed: "   << query.font_size.computed   << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: font_weight.computed: " << query.font_weight.computed << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: font_style.computed: "  << query.font_style.computed  << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: text_anchor.computed: " << query.text_anchor.computed << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: text_align.computed:  " << query.text_align.computed  << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: line_height.computed: " << query.line_height.computed
+              << "  line_height.value: "    << query.line_height.value
+              << "  line_height.unit: "     << query.line_height.unit  << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: word_spacing.computed: " << query.word_spacing.computed
+              << "  word_spacing.value: "    << query.word_spacing.value
+              << "  word_spacing.unit: "     << query.word_spacing.unit  << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: letter_spacing.computed: " << query.letter_spacing.computed
+              << "  letter_spacing.value: "    << query.letter_spacing.value
+              << "  letter_spacing.unit: "     << query.letter_spacing.unit  << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "    GUI: writing_mode.computed: " << query.writing_mode.computed << std::endl;
 #endif
 
-    sp_style_unref(query);
-
     // Kerning (xshift), yshift, rotation.  NB: These are not CSS attributes.
     if( SP_IS_TEXT_CONTEXT((SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP)->event_context) ) {
         Inkscape::UI::Tools::TextTool *const tc = SP_TEXT_CONTEXT((SP_ACTIVE_DESKTOP)->event_context);