diff --git a/dtool/src/dconfig/dconfig.h b/dtool/src/dconfig/dconfig.h
index 1c34823f11..42074b1f3d 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dconfig/dconfig.h
+++ b/dtool/src/dconfig/dconfig.h
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ ConfigTable::Symbol& Config<GetConfig>::GetAll(const ConfigString sym,
                                                 ConfigTable::Symbol& s)
 {
    Init();
-   ConfigVariableList var(sym, 0, "DConfig");
+   ConfigVariableList var(sym, "DConfig");
 
    int num_values = var.get_num_values();
    for (int i = 0; i < num_values; i++) {
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ template<class GetConfig>
 bool Config<GetConfig>::GetBool(const ConfigString sym, bool def)
 {
    Init();
-   ConfigVariableBool var(sym, def, 0, "DConfig");
+   ConfigVariableBool var(sym, def, "DConfig");
    return var.get_value();
 }
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ template<class GetConfig>
 int Config<GetConfig>::GetInt(const ConfigString sym, int def)
 {
    Init();
-   ConfigVariableInt var(sym, def, 0, "DConfig");
+   ConfigVariableInt var(sym, def, "DConfig");
    return var.get_value();
 }
 
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ template<class GetConfig>
 float Config<GetConfig>::GetFloat(const ConfigString sym, float def)
 {
    Init();
-   ConfigVariableDouble var(sym, def, 0, "DConfig");
+   ConfigVariableDouble var(sym, def, "DConfig");
    return var.get_value();
 }
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ template<class GetConfig>
 double Config<GetConfig>::GetDouble(const ConfigString sym, double def)
 {
    Init();
-   ConfigVariableDouble var(sym, def, 0, "DConfig");
+   ConfigVariableDouble var(sym, def, "DConfig");
    return var.get_value();
 }
 
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ ConfigString Config<GetConfig>::GetString(const ConfigString sym,
                                            const ConfigString def)
 {
    Init();
-   ConfigVariableString var(sym, def, 0, "DConfig");
+   ConfigVariableString var(sym, def, "DConfig");
    return var.get_value();
 }
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/dSearchPath.cxx b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/dSearchPath.cxx
index 0aec8cd60f..76e164bd6e 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/dSearchPath.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/dSearchPath.cxx
@@ -283,19 +283,28 @@ get_directory(int n) const {
 Filename DSearchPath::
 find_file(const Filename &filename) const {
   if (filename.is_local()) {
-    Directories::const_iterator di;
-    for (di = _directories.begin(); di != _directories.end(); ++di) {
-      Filename match((*di), filename);
-      if (match.exists()) {
-        if ((*di) == "." && filename.is_fully_qualified()) {
-          // A special case for the "." directory: to avoid prefixing
-          // an endless stream of ./ in front of files, if the
-          // filename already has a ./ prefixed
-          // (i.e. is_fully_qualified() is true), we don't
-          // prefix another one.
-          return filename;
-        } else {
-          return match;
+    if (_directories.empty()) {
+      // Let's say an empty search path is the same as a search path
+      // containing just ".".
+      if (filename.exists()) {
+        return filename;
+      }
+
+    } else {
+      Directories::const_iterator di;
+      for (di = _directories.begin(); di != _directories.end(); ++di) {
+        Filename match((*di), filename);
+        if (match.exists()) {
+          if ((*di) == "." && filename.is_fully_qualified()) {
+            // A special case for the "." directory: to avoid prefixing
+            // an endless stream of ./ in front of files, if the
+            // filename already has a ./ prefixed
+            // (i.e. is_fully_qualified() is true), we don't
+            // prefix another one.
+            return filename;
+          } else {
+            return match;
+          }
         }
       }
     }
@@ -322,21 +331,30 @@ find_all_files(const Filename &filename,
   int num_added = 0;
 
   if (filename.is_local()) {
-    Directories::const_iterator di;
-    for (di = _directories.begin(); di != _directories.end(); ++di) {
-      Filename match((*di), filename);
-      if (match.exists()) {
-        if ((*di) == "." && filename.is_fully_qualified()) {
-          // A special case for the "." directory: to avoid prefixing
-          // an endless stream of ./ in front of files, if the
-          // filename already has a ./ prefixed
-          // (i.e. is_fully_qualified() is true), we don't
-          // prefix another one.
-          results.add_file(filename);
-        } else {
-          results.add_file(match);
+    if (_directories.empty()) {
+      // Let's say an empty search path is the same as a search path
+      // containing just ".".
+      if (filename.exists()) {
+        results.add_file(filename);
+      }
+
+    } else {
+      Directories::const_iterator di;
+      for (di = _directories.begin(); di != _directories.end(); ++di) {
+        Filename match((*di), filename);
+        if (match.exists()) {
+          if ((*di) == "." && filename.is_fully_qualified()) {
+            // A special case for the "." directory: to avoid prefixing
+            // an endless stream of ./ in front of files, if the
+            // filename already has a ./ prefixed
+            // (i.e. is_fully_qualified() is true), we don't
+            // prefix another one.
+            results.add_file(filename);
+          } else {
+            results.add_file(match);
+          }
+          num_added++;
         }
-        num_added++;
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/dtool/src/interrogate/interrogate_module.cxx b/dtool/src/interrogate/interrogate_module.cxx
index 12e5280d1f..ddc77b1bca 100644
--- a/dtool/src/interrogate/interrogate_module.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/interrogate/interrogate_module.cxx
@@ -265,5 +265,11 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     }
   }
 
+  if (interrogate_error_flag()) {
+    nout << "Error reading interrogate data.\n";
+    output_code_filename.unlink();
+    exit(1);
+  }
+
   return (0);
 }
diff --git a/dtool/src/interrogatedb/config_interrogatedb.cxx b/dtool/src/interrogatedb/config_interrogatedb.cxx
index 87024f50b2..4f7f986f1e 100644
--- a/dtool/src/interrogatedb/config_interrogatedb.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/interrogatedb/config_interrogatedb.cxx
@@ -70,6 +70,5 @@ ConfigureFn(config_interrogatedb) {
 }
 
 ConfigVariableSearchPath interrogatedb_path
-("interrogatedb-path", 0,
- "The search path for interrogate's *.in files.");
+("interrogatedb-path", "The search path for interrogate's *.in files.");
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.I
index f6ee7b6489..ff7abe8ac9 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.I
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ ConfigVariable(const string &name, ConfigVariable::ValueType value_type) :
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE ConfigVariable::
 ConfigVariable(const string &name, ConfigVariable::ValueType value_type,
-               int flags, const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariableBase(name, value_type, flags, description)
+               const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, value_type, description, flags)
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.h
index 29b8769daa..ab366a9fe7 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariable.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariable : public ConfigVariableBase {
 protected:
   INLINE ConfigVariable(const string &name, ValueType type);
   INLINE ConfigVariable(const string &name, ValueType type,
-                        int flags, const string &description);
+                        const string &description, int flags);
 
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariable(const string &name);
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.I
index 83c95481d6..aea916b51d 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.I
@@ -62,6 +62,17 @@ get_value_type() const {
   return _core->get_value_type();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ConfigVariableBase::get_description
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the brief description of this variable, if
+//               it has been defined.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE const string &ConfigVariableBase::
+get_description() const {
+  return _core->get_description();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableBase::get_flags
 //       Access: Public
@@ -129,18 +140,6 @@ is_dynamic() const {
   return _core->is_dynamic();
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: ConfigVariableBase::get_description
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: Returns the one-line description of this variable.
-//               If the variable has not yet been defined, this will
-//               be empty.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE const string &ConfigVariableBase::
-get_description() const {
-  return _core->get_description();
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableBase::clear_local_value
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx
index f11ce6b2c6..3acc1d0f76 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 ConfigVariableBase::
 ConfigVariableBase(const string &name, 
                    ConfigVariableBase::ValueType value_type,
-                   int flags, const string &description) :
+                   const string &description, int flags) :
   _core(ConfigVariableManager::get_global_ptr()->make_variable(name))
 {
   _core->set_value_type(value_type);
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h
index 7a3c174a2f..b64b72e76f 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h
@@ -42,18 +42,18 @@ class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableBase : public ConfigFlags {
 protected:
   INLINE ConfigVariableBase(const string &name, ValueType type);
   ConfigVariableBase(const string &name, ValueType type,
-                     int flags, const string &description);
+                     const string &description, int flags);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableBase();
 
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE const string &get_name() const;
 
   INLINE ValueType get_value_type() const;
+  INLINE const string &get_description() const;
   INLINE int get_flags() const;
   INLINE bool is_closed() const;
   INLINE int get_trust_level() const;
   INLINE bool is_dynamic() const;
-  INLINE const string &get_description() const;
 
   INLINE bool clear_local_value();
   INLINE bool has_local_value() const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.I
index 4500b177c4..5c59ab5d2e 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.I
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ ConfigVariableBool(const string &name) :
 //  Description: 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE ConfigVariableBool::
-ConfigVariableBool(const string &name, bool default_value, int flags,
-                   const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, VT_bool, flags, description)
+ConfigVariableBool(const string &name, bool default_value, 
+                   const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariable(name, VT_bool, description, flags)
 {
   _core->set_default_value(default_value ? "1" : "0");
   _core->set_used();
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.h
index 2dee06feca..ab23750738 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBool.h
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableBool : public ConfigVariable {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariableBool(const string &name);
   INLINE ConfigVariableBool(const string &name, bool default_value,
-                            int flags = 0,
-                            const string &description = string());
+                            const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
 
   INLINE void operator = (bool value);
   INLINE operator bool () const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.I
index bef89686fe..d6a27f42a6 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.I
@@ -50,6 +50,17 @@ get_value_type() const {
   return _value_type;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ConfigVariableCore::get_description
+//       Access: Public
+//  Description: Returns the brief description of this variable, if
+//               it has been defined.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE const string &ConfigVariableCore::
+get_description() const {
+  return _description;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableCore::get_flags
 //       Access: Public
@@ -117,18 +128,6 @@ is_dynamic() const {
   return (_flags & F_dynamic) != 0;
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: ConfigVariableCore::get_description
-//       Access: Public
-//  Description: Returns the one-line description of this variable.
-//               If the variable has not yet been defined, this will
-//               be empty.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-INLINE const string &ConfigVariableCore::
-get_description() const {
-  return _description;
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableCore::get_default_value
 //       Access: Public
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.h
index 5c8643f6e1..3bcc982f5f 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableCore.h
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ public:
   INLINE bool is_used() const;
 
   INLINE ValueType get_value_type() const;
+  INLINE const string &get_description() const;
   INLINE int get_flags() const;
   INLINE bool is_closed() const;
   INLINE int get_trust_level() const;
   INLINE bool is_dynamic() const;
-  INLINE const string &get_description() const;
   INLINE const ConfigDeclaration *get_default_value() const;
 
   void set_value_type(ValueType value_type);
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ private:
   string _name;
   bool _is_used;
   ValueType _value_type;
-  int _flags;
   string _description;
+  int _flags;
   ConfigDeclaration *_default_value;
   ConfigDeclaration *_local_value;
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx
index 8cbf63d1fb..3eb260f5fd 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@
 //  Description: 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ConfigVariableDouble::
-ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value, int flags,
-                     const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_double, flags, description)
+ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value, 
+                     const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_double, description, flags)
 {
   ostringstream strm;
   strm << default_value;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h
index 7c6795118e..74f55ec39f 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableDouble : public ConfigVariable {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name);
   ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value,
-                       int flags = 0,
-                       const string &description = string());
+                       const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
 
   INLINE void operator = (double value);
   INLINE operator double () const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I
index 30c3f6354f..fff0830c3c 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I
@@ -24,11 +24,9 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 template<class EnumType>
 INLINE ConfigVariableEnum<EnumType>::
-ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, ParseFunc *func,
-                   EnumType default_value, int flags,
-                   const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_enum, flags, description),
-  _func(func),
+ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, EnumType default_value, 
+                   const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_enum, description, flags),
   _value_seq(-1),
   _value(default_value),
   _got_default_value(true),
@@ -163,12 +161,16 @@ set_word(int n, EnumType value) {
 //     Function: ConfigVariableEnum::parse_string
 //       Access: Public, Virtual
 //  Description: Turns the string value into a value of the enumerated
-//               type by calling the parse function.
+//               type by invoking its predefined operator >> (istream)
+//               operator.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 template<class EnumType>
 INLINE EnumType ConfigVariableEnum<EnumType>::
 parse_string(const string &value) const {
-  return (*_func)(value);
+  istringstream strm(value);
+  EnumType result;
+  strm >> result;
+  return result;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -176,8 +178,7 @@ parse_string(const string &value) const {
 //       Access: Public, Virtual
 //  Description: The format_enum() method assumes the enumerated type
 //               has a valid operator << (ostream) defined, which
-//               balances against the parse function passed to the
-//               constructor.
+//               balances against the operator >> (istream) operator.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 template<class EnumType>
 INLINE string ConfigVariableEnum<EnumType>::
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h
index e3f110b9f2..e8ca6ec305 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h
@@ -30,21 +30,16 @@
 //               outside of C++ anyway.
 //
 //               This variable assumes that the enumerated type in
-//               question has an output operator defined that does the
-//               right thing (outputting a sensible string for the
-//               type).  It also requires a function that converts
-//               from the strings written by the output operator back
-//               to the type; this function pointer should be passed
-//               to the constructor.
+//               question has input and output stream operators
+//               defined that do the right thing (outputting a
+//               sensible string for the type, and converting a string
+//               to the correct value).
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 template<class EnumType>
 class ConfigVariableEnum : public ConfigVariable {
 public:
-  typedef EnumType ParseFunc(const string &value);
-
-  ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, ParseFunc *func,
-                     EnumType default_value, int flags = 0,
-                     const string &description = string());
+  ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, EnumType default_value, 
+                     const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableEnum();
 
   INLINE void operator = (EnumType value);
@@ -64,8 +59,6 @@ private:
   INLINE EnumType parse_string(const string &value) const;
   INLINE string format_enum(EnumType value) const;
 
-  ParseFunc *_func;
-
   int _value_seq;
   EnumType _value;
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx
index f770a59f17..8ca9d78177 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@
 //  Description: 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ConfigVariableInt::
-ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value, int flags,
-                  const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_int, flags, description)
+ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value, 
+                  const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_int, description, flags)
 {
   ostringstream strm;
   strm << default_value;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h
index ea26036631..3e756fed97 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableInt : public ConfigVariable {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariableInt(const string &name);
   ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value,
-                    int flags = 0,
-                    const string &description = string());
+                    const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
 
   INLINE void operator = (int value);
   INLINE operator int () const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx
index 6940179088..627d452285 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ConfigVariableList::
 ConfigVariableList(const string &name, 
-                   int flags, const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_list, flags, description)
+                   const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_list, description, flags)
 {
   // A list variable implicitly defines a default value of the empty
   // string.  This is just to prevent the core variable from
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h
index 8f46f22b25..99a4857618 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableList : public ConfigVariableBase {
 PUBLISHED:
-  ConfigVariableList(const string &name, int flags = 0,
-                     const string &description = string());
+  ConfigVariableList(const string &name, 
+                     const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableList();
 
   INLINE int get_num_values() const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx
index 5c63ce1ed4..a12a24e3ed 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ConfigVariableSearchPath::
 ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, 
-                   int flags, const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_search_path, flags, description),
+                   const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_search_path, description, flags),
   _value_seq(-1),
   _value_stale(true)
 {
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ reload_search_path() {
   _value.clear();
 
   _value.append_path(_prefix);
-  int num_declarations = _core->get_num_declarations();
-  for (int i = 0; i < num_declarations; i++) {
-    _value.append_directory(_core->get_declaration(i)->get_string_value());
+  int num_unique_references = _core->get_num_unique_references();
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_unique_references; i++) {
+    _value.append_directory(_core->get_unique_reference(i)->get_string_value());
   }
   _value.append_path(_postfix);
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h
index f0c1cdb8bb..0a659ac548 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableSearchPath : public ConfigVariableBase {
 PUBLISHED:
-  ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, int flags = 0,
-                           const string &description = string());
+  ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, 
+                           const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableSearchPath();
 
   INLINE operator const DSearchPath & () const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I
index 47b49550bc..070e290d86 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ ConfigVariableString(const string &name) :
 //  Description: 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE ConfigVariableString::
-ConfigVariableString(const string &name, string default_value, int flags,
-                     const string &description) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, VT_string, flags, description)
+ConfigVariableString(const string &name, string default_value, 
+                     const string &description, int flags) :
+  ConfigVariable(name, VT_string, description, flags)
 {
   _core->set_default_value(default_value);
   _core->set_used();
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.h
index 7fd7da8b07..e848ac9230 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.h
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableString : public ConfigVariable {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariableString(const string &name);
   INLINE ConfigVariableString(const string &name, string default_value,
-                              int flags = 0,
-                              const string &description = string());
+                              const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
 
   INLINE void operator = (const string &value);
   INLINE operator string () const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notify.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/notify.cxx
index 04c595029e..42a385290b 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notify.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notify.cxx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 Notify *Notify::_global_ptr = (Notify *)NULL;
 
 static ConfigVariableBool assert_abort
-("assert-abort", false, 0,
+("assert-abort", false,
  "Set this true to trigger a core dump and/or stack trace when the first assertion fails");
 
 
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ config_initialized() {
 
   if (_ostream_ptr == &cerr) {
     ConfigVariableString notify_output
-      ("notify-output", "", 0,
+      ("notify-output", "",
        "The filename to which to write all the output of notify");
 
     if (!notify_output.empty()) {
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I
index b17da76be3..880e30fca8 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I
@@ -207,3 +207,8 @@ INLINE ostream &NotifyCategory::
 fatal(bool prefix) const {
   return out(NS_fatal, prefix);
 }
+
+INLINE ostream &
+operator << (ostream &out, const NotifyCategory &cat) {
+  return out << cat.get_fullname();
+}
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.cxx
index 74c4897464..a7d9aa5228 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.cxx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 time_t NotifyCategory::_server_delta = 0;
 
 static ConfigVariableBool notify_timestamp
-("notify-timestamp", false, 0,
+("notify-timestamp", false,
  "Set true to output the date & time with each notify message.");
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ NotifyCategory(const string &fullname, const string &basename,
   _fullname(fullname),
   _basename(basename),
   _parent(parent),
-  _severity(get_config_name(), Notify::string_severity, NS_unspecified,
+  _severity(get_config_name(), NS_unspecified, 
+            "Default severity of this notify category", 
             ConfigVariable::F_dynamic)
 {
   if (_parent != (NotifyCategory *)NULL) {
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h
index 57c666eedc..38995a9665 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h
@@ -93,9 +93,7 @@ private:
   friend class Notify;
 };
 
-INLINE ostream &operator << (ostream &out, const NotifyCategory &cat) {
-  return out << cat.get_fullname();
-}
+INLINE ostream &operator << (ostream &out, const NotifyCategory &cat);
 
 #include "notifyCategory.I"
 
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.cxx
index 1de7ab9c26..97646e5d80 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.cxx
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 #include "notifySeverity.h"
+#include "notify.h"
 
-ostream &operator << (ostream &out, NotifySeverity severity) {
+ostream &
+operator << (ostream &out, NotifySeverity severity) {
   switch (severity) {
   case NS_spam:
     return out << "spam";
@@ -44,3 +46,11 @@ ostream &operator << (ostream &out, NotifySeverity severity) {
 
   return out << "**invalid severity**";
 }
+
+istream &
+operator >> (istream &in, NotifySeverity &severity) {
+  string word;
+  in >> word;
+  severity = Notify::string_severity(word);
+  return in;
+}
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.h b/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.h
index 3602ecbd7b..a5ff242478 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifySeverity.h
@@ -34,5 +34,7 @@ enum NotifySeverity {
 END_PUBLISH
 
 EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ostream &operator << (ostream &out, NotifySeverity severity);
+EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG istream &operator >> (istream &in, NotifySeverity &severity);
+
 
 #endif