diff --git a/env/api.lua b/env/api.lua
index 7d4e4a6b..5498a7a5 100644
--- a/env/api.lua
+++ b/env/api.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,19 @@ function pfUI.api.strsplit(delimiter, subject)
   end
 end
 
+-- [ strvertical ]
+-- Creates vertical text using linebreaks. Multibyte char friendly.
+-- 'str'        [string]        String to columnize.
+-- return:      [string]        the string tranformed to a column.
+function pfUI.api.strvertical(str)
+    local _, len = string.gsub(str,"[^\128-\193]", "")
+    if (len == string.len(str)) then
+      return string.gsub(str, "(.)", "%1\n")
+    else
+      return string.gsub(str,"([%z\1-\127\194-\244][\128-\191]*)", "%1\n")
+    end
+end
+
 -- [ round ]
 -- Rounds a float number into specified places after comma.
 -- 'input'      [float]         the number that should be rounded.
@@ -320,3 +333,69 @@ function pfUI.api:CreateQuestionDialog(text, yes, no, editbox)
   local buttonspace = question.no:GetHeight() + padding
   question:SetHeight(textspace + inputspace + buttonspace + border)
 end
+
+-- [ Bar Layout Options ] --
+-- 'barsize'  size of bar in number of buttons
+-- returns:   array of options as strings for pfUI.gui.bar
+function pfUI.api:BarLayoutOptions(barsize)
+  assert(barsize > 0 and barsize <= NUM_ACTIONBAR_BUTTONS,"BarLayoutOptions: barsize "..tostring(barsize).." is invalid")
+  local options = {}
+  for i,layout in ipairs(pfGridmath[barsize]) do
+    options[i] = string.format("%d x %d",layout[1],layout[2])
+  end
+  return options
+end
+
+-- [ Bar Layout Formfactor ] --
+-- 'option'  string option as used in pfUI_config.bars[bar].option
+-- returns:  integer formfactor
+local formfactors = {} -- we'll use memoization so we only compute once, then lookup.
+setmetatable(formfactors, {__mode = "v"}) -- weak table so values not referenced are collected on next gc
+function pfUI.api:BarLayoutFormfactor(option)
+  if formfactors[option] then
+    return formfactors[option]
+  else
+    for barsize,_ in ipairs(pfGridmath) do
+      local options = pfUI.api:BarLayoutOptions(barsize)
+      for i,opt in ipairs(options) do
+        if opt == option then
+          formfactors[option] = i
+          return formfactors[option]
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+-- [ Bar Layout Size ] --
+-- 'bar'  frame reference,
+-- 'barsize'  integer number of buttons,
+-- 'formfactor'  string formfactor in cols x rows
+function pfUI.api:BarLayoutSize(bar,barsize,formfactor,iconsize,bordersize)
+  assert(barsize > 0 and barsize <= NUM_ACTIONBAR_BUTTONS,"BarLayoutSize: barsize "..tostring(barsize).." is invalid")
+  local formfactor = pfUI.api:BarLayoutFormfactor(formfactor)
+  local cols, rows = unpack(pfGridmath[barsize][formfactor])
+  local width = (iconsize + bordersize*3) * cols - bordersize
+  local height = (iconsize + bordersize*3) * rows - bordersize
+  bar._size = {width,height}
+  return bar._size
+end
+
+-- [ Bar Button Anchor ] --
+-- 'button'  frame reference
+-- 'basename'  name of button frame without index
+-- 'buttonindex'  index number of button on bar
+-- 'formfactor'  string formfactor in cols x rows
+function pfUI.api:BarButtonAnchor(button,basename,buttonindex,barsize,formfactor,iconsize,bordersize)
+  assert(barsize > 0 and barsize <= NUM_ACTIONBAR_BUTTONS,"BarButtonAnchor: barsize "..tostring(barsize).." is invalid")
+  local formfactor = pfUI.api:BarLayoutFormfactor(formfactor)
+  local parent = button:GetParent()
+  local cols, rows = unpack(pfGridmath[barsize][formfactor])
+  if buttonindex == 1 then
+    button._anchor = {"TOPLEFT", parent, "TOPLEFT", bordersize, -bordersize}
+  else
+    local col = buttonindex-((math.ceil(buttonindex/cols)-1)*cols)
+    button._anchor = col==1 and {"TOP",getglobal(basename..(buttonindex-cols)),"BOTTOM",0,-(bordersize*3)} or {"LEFT",getglobal(basename..(buttonindex-1)),"RIGHT",(bordersize*3),0}
+  end
+  return button._anchor
+end
\ No newline at end of file