+
+/**
+ * modest_conf_key_valid:
+ * @str: some key
+ *
+ * check whether @str is a valid key in the config system
+ * This is a *class* function, and therefore does not require a ModestConf
+ * instance
+ *
+ * Returns: TRUE if it is valid, FALSE otherwise
+ */
+gboolean modest_conf_key_is_valid (const gchar* str);
+
+
+/**
+ * modest_conf_key_escape:
+ * @str: a non-empty string to escape
+ *
+ * returns an escaped version of @str, ie. something suitable as a key
+ * This is a *class* function, and therefore does not require a ModestConf
+ * instance. Note: this for is invidual elements in a key
+ *
+ * Returns: a newly allocated string with the escaped version
+ */
+gchar* modest_conf_key_escape (const gchar* str);
+
+
+/**
+ * modest_conf_key_escape:
+ * @str: a string to escape
+ *
+ * returns an unescaped version of @str. This is a *class* function, and
+ * therefore does not require a ModestConf instance
+ * Note: this for is invidual elements in a key
+ *
+ * Returns: a newly allocated string with the unescaped version
+ */
+gchar* modest_conf_key_unescape (const gchar* str);
+
+
+void modest_conf_listen_to_namespace (ModestConf *self,
+ const gchar *namespace);
+
+void modest_conf_forget_namespace (ModestConf *self,
+ const gchar *namespace);