diff --git a/src/core.cc b/src/core.cc
index c1b33382..d950f0cb 100644
--- a/src/core.cc
+++ b/src/core.cc
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 
 /* helper defines for internal use only */
 #define __OBJ_HEAD(a, n) if (!strcmp(s, #a)) { \
-	obj->type = OBJ_##a; add_update_callback(n);
+	add_update_callback(n);
 #define __OBJ_IF obj_be_ifblock_if(ifblock_opaque, obj)
 #define __OBJ_ARG(...) if (!arg) { CRIT_ERR(obj, free_at_crash, __VA_ARGS__); }
 
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 
 #ifdef X11
 	if (s[0] == '#') {
-		obj->type = OBJ_color;
 		obj->data.l = get_x11_color(s);
 		obj->callbacks.print = &new_fg;
 	} else
@@ -683,8 +682,6 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 		if (!parse_top_args(s, arg, obj)) {
 			return NULL;
 		}
-		obj->callbacks.print = &print_top;
-		obj->callbacks.free = &free_top;
 	} else
 #ifdef __linux__
 	OBJ(addr, &update_net_stats)
diff --git a/src/scroll.c b/src/scroll.c
index 3dd82867..ad8f4bdc 100644
--- a/src/scroll.c
+++ b/src/scroll.c
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ void parse_scroll_arg(struct text_object *obj, const char *arg, void *free_at_cr
 
 #ifdef X11
 	/* add a color object right after scroll to reset any color changes */
-	obj->next->type = OBJ_color;
 	obj->next->data.l = sd->resetcolor;
 	obj->next->callbacks.print = &new_fg;
 #endif /* X11 */
diff --git a/src/text_object.c b/src/text_object.c
index cf4df73d..412fff3c 100644
--- a/src/text_object.c
+++ b/src/text_object.c
@@ -196,7 +196,6 @@ int ifblock_stack_empty(void **opaque)
 
 void obj_be_plain_text(struct text_object *obj, const char *text)
 {
-	obj->type = OBJ_text;
 	obj->data.s = strdup(text);
 	obj->verbatim_output = 1;
 
diff --git a/src/text_object.h b/src/text_object.h
index 73489e4c..e1ed2f38 100644
--- a/src/text_object.h
+++ b/src/text_object.h
@@ -37,444 +37,6 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-enum text_object_type {
-	OBJ_read_tcp,
-	OBJ_addr,
-#if defined(__linux__)
-	OBJ_addrs,
-#endif /* __linux__ */
-#ifndef __OpenBSD__
-	OBJ_acpiacadapter,
-	OBJ_acpifan,
-	OBJ_acpitemp,
-	OBJ_battery,
-	OBJ_battery_time,
-	OBJ_battery_percent,
-	OBJ_battery_bar,
-	OBJ_battery_short,
-#endif /* !__OpenBSD__ */
-	OBJ_buffers,
-	OBJ_cached,
-	OBJ_color,
-	OBJ_color0,
-	OBJ_color1,
-	OBJ_color2,
-	OBJ_color3,
-	OBJ_color4,
-	OBJ_color5,
-	OBJ_color6,
-	OBJ_color7,
-	OBJ_color8,
-	OBJ_color9,
-	OBJ_conky_version,
-	OBJ_conky_build_date,
-	OBJ_conky_build_arch,
-	OBJ_font,
-	OBJ_cpu,
-	OBJ_cpubar,
-	OBJ_cpugauge,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_cpugraph,
-	OBJ_loadgraph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_diskio,
-	OBJ_diskio_read,
-	OBJ_diskio_write,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_diskiograph,
-	OBJ_diskiograph_read,
-	OBJ_diskiograph_write,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_downspeed,
-	OBJ_downspeedf,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_downspeedgraph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_else,
-	OBJ_endif,
-	OBJ_eval,
-	OBJ_image,
-	OBJ_exec,
-	OBJ_execi,
-	OBJ_texeci,
-	OBJ_execbar,
-	OBJ_execibar,
-	OBJ_execgauge,
-	OBJ_execigauge,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_execgraph,
-	OBJ_execigraph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_execp,
-	OBJ_execpi,
-	OBJ_freq,
-	OBJ_freq_g,
-	OBJ_fs_bar,
-	OBJ_fs_bar_free,
-	OBJ_fs_free,
-	OBJ_fs_free_perc,
-	OBJ_fs_size,
-	OBJ_fs_type,
-	OBJ_fs_used,
-	OBJ_fs_used_perc,
-	OBJ_goto,
-	OBJ_tab,
-	OBJ_hr,
-	OBJ_offset,
-	OBJ_voffset,
-	OBJ_alignr,
-	OBJ_alignc,
-	OBJ_i2c,
-	OBJ_platform,
-	OBJ_hwmon,
-#if defined(__linux__)
-	OBJ_disk_protect,
-	OBJ_i8k_version,
-	OBJ_i8k_bios,
-	OBJ_i8k_serial,
-	OBJ_i8k_cpu_temp,
-	OBJ_i8k_left_fan_status,
-	OBJ_i8k_right_fan_status,
-	OBJ_i8k_left_fan_rpm,
-	OBJ_i8k_right_fan_rpm,
-	OBJ_i8k_ac_status,
-	OBJ_i8k_buttons_status,
-#if defined(IBM)
-	OBJ_ibm_fan,
-	OBJ_ibm_temps,
-	OBJ_ibm_volume,
-	OBJ_ibm_brightness,
-	OBJ_smapi,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_smapi_bat_bar,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_smapi_bat_perc,
-	OBJ_smapi_bat_temp,
-	OBJ_smapi_bat_power,
-	OBJ_if_smapi_bat_installed,
-#endif /* IBM */
-	/* information from sony_laptop kernel module
-	 * /sys/devices/platform/sony-laptop */
-	OBJ_sony_fanspeed,
-	OBJ_if_gw,
-	OBJ_ioscheduler,
-	OBJ_gw_iface,
-	OBJ_gw_ip,
-	OBJ_laptop_mode,
-	OBJ_pb_battery,
-	OBJ_voltage_mv,
-	OBJ_voltage_v,
-	OBJ_wireless_essid,
-	OBJ_wireless_mode,
-	OBJ_wireless_bitrate,
-	OBJ_wireless_ap,
-	OBJ_wireless_link_qual,
-	OBJ_wireless_link_qual_max,
-	OBJ_wireless_link_qual_perc,
-	OBJ_wireless_link_bar,
-#endif /* __linux__ */
-#if defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__linux__)
-	OBJ_if_up,
-#endif
-	OBJ_if_empty,
-	OBJ_if_match,
-	OBJ_if_existing,
-	OBJ_if_mounted,
-	OBJ_if_running,
-	OBJ_if_updatenr,
-	OBJ_top,
-	OBJ_top_mem,
-	OBJ_top_time,
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-	OBJ_top_io,
-#endif
-	OBJ_tail,
-	OBJ_head,
-	OBJ_lines,
-	OBJ_words,
-	OBJ_kernel,
-	OBJ_loadavg,
-	OBJ_machine,
-	OBJ_mails,
-	OBJ_new_mails,
-	OBJ_seen_mails,
-	OBJ_unseen_mails,
-	OBJ_flagged_mails,
-	OBJ_unflagged_mails,
-	OBJ_format_time,
-	OBJ_forwarded_mails,
-	OBJ_unforwarded_mails,
-	OBJ_replied_mails,
-	OBJ_unreplied_mails,
-	OBJ_draft_mails,
-	OBJ_trashed_mails,
-	OBJ_mboxscan,
-	OBJ_mem,
-	OBJ_memeasyfree,
-	OBJ_memfree,
-	OBJ_memgauge,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_memgraph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_membar,
-	OBJ_memmax,
-	OBJ_memperc,
-	OBJ_mixer,
-	OBJ_mixerl,
-	OBJ_mixerr,
-	OBJ_mixerbar,
-	OBJ_mixerlbar,
-	OBJ_mixerrbar,
-	OBJ_if_mixer_mute,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_monitor,
-	OBJ_monitor_number,
-	OBJ_desktop,
-	OBJ_desktop_number,
-	OBJ_desktop_name,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_nameserver,
-	OBJ_nodename,
-	OBJ_nvidia,
-	OBJ_pre_exec,
-	OBJ_cmdline_to_pid,
-	OBJ_pid_chroot,
-	OBJ_pid_cmdline,
-	OBJ_pid_cwd,
-	OBJ_pid_environ,
-	OBJ_pid_environ_list,
-	OBJ_pid_exe,
-	OBJ_pid_nice,
-	OBJ_pid_openfiles,
-	OBJ_pid_parent,
-	OBJ_pid_priority,
-	OBJ_pid_state,
-	OBJ_pid_state_short,
-	OBJ_pid_stderr,
-	OBJ_pid_stdin,
-	OBJ_pid_stdout,
-	OBJ_pid_threads,
-	OBJ_pid_thread_list,
-	OBJ_pid_time_kernelmode,
-	OBJ_pid_time_usermode,
-	OBJ_pid_time,
-	OBJ_pid_uid,
-	OBJ_pid_euid,
-	OBJ_pid_suid,
-	OBJ_pid_fsuid,
-	OBJ_pid_gid,
-	OBJ_pid_egid,
-	OBJ_pid_sgid,
-	OBJ_pid_fsgid,
-	OBJ_pid_read,
-	OBJ_pid_vmpeak,
-	OBJ_pid_vmsize,
-	OBJ_pid_vmlck,
-	OBJ_pid_vmhwm,
-	OBJ_pid_vmrss,
-	OBJ_pid_vmdata,
-	OBJ_pid_vmstk,
-	OBJ_pid_vmexe,
-	OBJ_pid_vmlib,
-	OBJ_pid_vmpte,
-	OBJ_pid_write,
-	OBJ_gid_name,
-	OBJ_uid_name,
-	OBJ_processes,
-	OBJ_running_processes,
-	OBJ_shadecolor,
-	OBJ_outlinecolor,
-	OBJ_stippled_hr,
-	OBJ_swap,
-	OBJ_swapfree,
-	OBJ_swapbar,
-	OBJ_swapmax,
-	OBJ_swapperc,
-	OBJ_sysname,
-	OBJ_text,
-	OBJ_threads,
-	OBJ_running_threads,
-	OBJ_time,
-	OBJ_utime,
-	OBJ_tztime,
-	OBJ_totaldown,
-	OBJ_totalup,
-	OBJ_updates,
-	OBJ_upspeed,
-	OBJ_upspeedf,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_upspeedgraph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_uptime,
-	OBJ_uptime_short,
-	OBJ_user_names,
-	OBJ_user_terms,
-	OBJ_user_times,
-	OBJ_user_time,
-	OBJ_user_number,
-	OBJ_imap_messages,
-	OBJ_imap_unseen,
-	OBJ_pop3_unseen,
-	OBJ_pop3_used,
-#if (defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__FreeBSD_kernel__) \
-		|| defined(__OpenBSD__)) && (defined(i386) || defined(__i386__))
-	OBJ_apm_adapter,
-	OBJ_apm_battery_time,
-	OBJ_apm_battery_life,
-#endif /* __FreeBSD__ __OpenBSD__ */
-#ifdef __OpenBSD__
-	OBJ_obsd_sensors_temp,
-	OBJ_obsd_sensors_fan,
-	OBJ_obsd_sensors_volt,
-	OBJ_obsd_vendor,
-	OBJ_obsd_product,
-#endif /* __OpenBSD__ */
-#ifdef MPD
-	OBJ_mpd_title,
-	OBJ_mpd_artist,
-	OBJ_mpd_album,
-	OBJ_mpd_random,
-	OBJ_mpd_repeat,
-	OBJ_mpd_vol,
-	OBJ_mpd_bitrate,
-	OBJ_mpd_status,
-	OBJ_mpd_bar,
-	OBJ_mpd_elapsed,
-	OBJ_mpd_length,
-	OBJ_mpd_track,
-	OBJ_mpd_name,
-	OBJ_mpd_file,
-	OBJ_mpd_percent,
-	OBJ_mpd_smart,
-	OBJ_if_mpd_playing,
-#endif /* MPD */
-#ifdef MOC
-	OBJ_moc_state,
-	OBJ_moc_file,
-	OBJ_moc_title,
-	OBJ_moc_artist,
-	OBJ_moc_song,
-	OBJ_moc_album,
-	OBJ_moc_totaltime,
-	OBJ_moc_timeleft,
-	OBJ_moc_curtime,
-	OBJ_moc_bitrate,
-	OBJ_moc_rate,
-#endif /* MOC */
-#ifdef XMMS2
-	OBJ_xmms2_artist,
-	OBJ_xmms2_album,
-	OBJ_xmms2_title,
-	OBJ_xmms2_genre,
-	OBJ_xmms2_comment,
-	OBJ_xmms2_url,
-	OBJ_xmms2_date,
-	OBJ_xmms2_tracknr,
-	OBJ_xmms2_bitrate,
-	OBJ_xmms2_id,
-	OBJ_xmms2_duration,
-	OBJ_xmms2_elapsed,
-	OBJ_xmms2_size,
-	OBJ_xmms2_percent,
-	OBJ_xmms2_status,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_xmms2_bar,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_xmms2_smart,
-	OBJ_xmms2_playlist,
-	OBJ_xmms2_timesplayed,
-	OBJ_if_xmms2_connected,
-#endif /* XMMS2 */
-#ifdef AUDACIOUS
-	OBJ_audacious_status,
-	OBJ_audacious_title,
-	OBJ_audacious_length,
-	OBJ_audacious_length_seconds,
-	OBJ_audacious_position,
-	OBJ_audacious_position_seconds,
-	OBJ_audacious_bitrate,
-	OBJ_audacious_frequency,
-	OBJ_audacious_channels,
-	OBJ_audacious_filename,
-	OBJ_audacious_playlist_length,
-	OBJ_audacious_playlist_position,
-	OBJ_audacious_main_volume,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_audacious_bar,
-#endif /* X11 */
-#endif /* AUDACIOUS */
-#ifdef BMPX
-	OBJ_bmpx_title,
-	OBJ_bmpx_artist,
-	OBJ_bmpx_album,
-	OBJ_bmpx_track,
-	OBJ_bmpx_uri,
-	OBJ_bmpx_bitrate,
-#endif /* BMPX */
-#ifdef EVE
-	OBJ_eve,
-#endif /* EVE */
-#ifdef HAVE_CURL
-	OBJ_curl,
-#endif /* HAVE_CURL */
-#ifdef RSS
-	OBJ_rss,
-#endif /* RSS */
-#ifdef WEATHER
-	OBJ_weather,
-#endif /* WEATHER */
-#ifdef XOAP
-	OBJ_weather_forecast,
-#endif /* XOAP */
-#ifdef HAVE_LUA
-	OBJ_lua,
-	OBJ_lua_parse,
-	OBJ_lua_bar,
-	OBJ_lua_gauge,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_lua_graph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-#endif /* HAVE_LUA */
-#ifdef TCP_PORT_MONITOR
-	OBJ_tcp_portmon,
-#endif /* TCP_PORT_MONITOR */
-#ifdef HAVE_ICONV
-	OBJ_iconv_start,
-	OBJ_iconv_stop,
-#endif /* HAVE_ICONV */
-#ifdef HDDTEMP
-	OBJ_hddtemp,
-#endif /* HDDTEMP */
-	OBJ_include,
-	OBJ_blink,
-	OBJ_to_bytes,
-	OBJ_scroll,
-	OBJ_combine,
-	OBJ_entropy_avail,
-	OBJ_entropy_perc,
-	OBJ_entropy_poolsize,
-	OBJ_entropy_bar,
-#ifdef APCUPSD
-	OBJ_apcupsd,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_name,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_model,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_upsmode,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_cable,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_status,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_linev,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_load,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_loadbar,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_loadgauge,
-#ifdef X11
-	OBJ_apcupsd_loadgraph,
-#endif /* X11 */
-	OBJ_apcupsd_charge,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_timeleft,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_temp,
-	OBJ_apcupsd_lastxfer,
-#endif /* APCUPSD */
-};
-
 /* text object callbacks */
 struct obj_cb {
 	/* text object: print obj's output to p */
@@ -531,7 +93,6 @@ struct text_object {
 	char verbatim_output;
 
 	void *special_data;
-	int type;
 	long line;
 	struct obj_cb callbacks;
 };
diff --git a/src/top.c b/src/top.c
index 507e194c..c9149b5c 100644
--- a/src/top.c
+++ b/src/top.c
@@ -801,101 +801,6 @@ void process_find_top(struct process **cpu, struct process **mem,
 #endif /* IOSTATS */
 }
 
-struct top_data {
-	int num;
-	int type;
-	int was_parsed;
-	char *s;
-};
-
-int parse_top_args(const char *s, const char *arg, struct text_object *obj)
-{
-	struct top_data *td;
-	char buf[64];
-	int n;
-
-	if (!arg) {
-		NORM_ERR("top needs arguments");
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	if (obj->data.opaque) {
-		return 1;
-	}
-
-	if (s[3] == 0) {
-		obj->type = OBJ_top;
-		top_cpu = 1;
-	} else if (strcmp(&s[3], "_mem") == EQUAL) {
-		obj->type = OBJ_top_mem;
-		top_mem = 1;
-	} else if (strcmp(&s[3], "_time") == EQUAL) {
-		obj->type = OBJ_top_time;
-		top_time = 1;
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-	} else if (strcmp(&s[3], "_io") == EQUAL) {
-		obj->type = OBJ_top_io;
-		top_io = 1;
-#endif /* IOSTATS */
-	} else {
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-		NORM_ERR("Must be top, top_mem, top_time or top_io");
-#else /* IOSTATS */
-		NORM_ERR("Must be top, top_mem or top_time");
-#endif /* IOSTATS */
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	obj->data.opaque = td = malloc(sizeof(struct top_data));
-	memset(td, 0, sizeof(struct top_data));
-	td->s = strndup(arg, text_buffer_size);
-
-	if (sscanf(arg, "%63s %i", buf, &n) == 2) {
-		if (strcmp(buf, "name") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_NAME;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "cpu") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_CPU;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "pid") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_PID;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "mem") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_MEM;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "time") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_TIME;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "mem_res") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_MEM_RES;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "mem_vsize") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_MEM_VSIZE;
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "io_read") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_READ_BYTES;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "io_write") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_WRITE_BYTES;
-		} else if (strcmp(buf, "io_perc") == EQUAL) {
-			td->type = TOP_IO_PERC;
-#endif /* IOSTATS */
-		} else {
-			NORM_ERR("invalid type arg for top");
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-			NORM_ERR("must be one of: name, cpu, pid, mem, time, mem_res, mem_vsize, "
-					"io_read, io_write, io_perc");
-#else /* IOSTATS */
-			NORM_ERR("must be one of: name, cpu, pid, mem, time, mem_res, mem_vsize");
-#endif /* IOSTATS */
-			return 0;
-		}
-		if (n < 1 || n > 10) {
-			NORM_ERR("invalid num arg for top. Must be between 1 and 10.");
-			return 0;
-		} else {
-			td->num = n - 1;
-		}
-	} else {
-		NORM_ERR("invalid argument count for top");
-		return 0;
-	}
-	return 1;
-}
-
 static char *format_time(unsigned long timeval, const int width)
 {
 	char buf[10];
@@ -936,6 +841,13 @@ static char *format_time(unsigned long timeval, const int width)
 	return strndup("<inf>", text_buffer_size);
 }
 
+struct top_data {
+	struct process **list;
+	int num;
+	int was_parsed;
+	char *s;
+};
+
 static unsigned int top_name_width = 15;
 
 /* return zero on success, non-zero otherwise */
@@ -946,97 +858,74 @@ int set_top_name_width(const char *s)
 	return !(sscanf(s, "%u", &top_name_width) == 1);
 }
 
-void print_top(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size)
+static void print_top_name(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size)
 {
-	struct information *cur = &info;
 	struct top_data *td = obj->data.opaque;
-	struct process **needed = 0;
 	int width;
 
-	if (!td)
+	if (!td || !td->list || !td->list[td->num])
 		return;
 
-	switch (obj->type) {
-		case OBJ_top:
-			needed = cur->cpu;
-			break;
-		case OBJ_top_mem:
-			needed = cur->memu;
-			break;
-		case OBJ_top_time:
-			needed = cur->time;
-			break;
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-		case OBJ_top_io:
-			needed = cur->io;
-			break;
-#endif /* IOSTATS */
-		default:
-			return;
-	}
-
-
-	if (needed[td->num]) {
-		char *timeval;
-
-		switch (td->type) {
-			case TOP_NAME:
-				width = MIN(p_max_size, (int)top_name_width + 1);
-				snprintf(p, width + 1, "%-*s", width,
-						needed[td->num]->name);
-				break;
-			case TOP_CPU:
-				width = MIN(p_max_size, 7);
-				snprintf(p, width, "%6.2f",
-						needed[td->num]->amount);
-				break;
-			case TOP_PID:
-				width = MIN(p_max_size, 6);
-				snprintf(p, width, "%5i",
-						needed[td->num]->pid);
-				break;
-			case TOP_MEM:
-				/* Calculate a percentage of residential mem from total mem available.
-				 * Since rss is bytes and memmax kilobytes, dividing by 10 suffices here. */
-				width = MIN(p_max_size, 7);
-				snprintf(p, width, "%6.2f",
-						(float) ((float)needed[td->num]->rss / cur->memmax) / 10);
-				break;
-			case TOP_TIME:
-				width = MIN(p_max_size, 10);
-				timeval = format_time(
-						needed[td->num]->total_cpu_time, 9);
-				snprintf(p, width, "%9s", timeval);
-				free(timeval);
-				break;
-			case TOP_MEM_RES:
-				human_readable(needed[td->num]->rss,
-						p, p_max_size);
-				break;
-			case TOP_MEM_VSIZE:
-				human_readable(needed[td->num]->vsize,
-						p, p_max_size);
-				break;
-#ifdef IOSTATS
-			case TOP_READ_BYTES:
-				human_readable(needed[td->num]->read_bytes / update_interval,
-						p, p_max_size);
-				break;
-			case TOP_WRITE_BYTES:
-				human_readable(needed[td->num]->write_bytes / update_interval,
-						p, p_max_size);
-				break;
-			case TOP_IO_PERC:
-				width = MIN(p_max_size, 7);
-				snprintf(p, width, "%6.2f",
-						needed[td->num]->io_perc);
-				break;
-#endif
-		}
-	}
+	width = MIN(p_max_size, (int)top_name_width + 1);
+	snprintf(p, width + 1, "%-*s", width, td->list[td->num]->name);
 }
 
-void free_top(struct text_object *obj)
+static void print_top_mem(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size)
+{
+	struct top_data *td = obj->data.opaque;
+	int width;
+
+	if (!td || !td->list || !td->list[td->num])
+		return;
+
+	width = MIN(p_max_size, 7);
+	snprintf(p, width, "%6.2f", (float) ((float)td->list[td->num]->rss / info.memmax) / 10);
+}
+
+static void print_top_time(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size)
+{
+	struct top_data *td = obj->data.opaque;
+	int width;
+	char *timeval;
+
+	if (!td || !td->list || !td->list[td->num])
+		return;
+
+	width = MIN(p_max_size, 10);
+	timeval = format_time(td->list[td->num]->total_cpu_time, 9);
+	snprintf(p, width, "%9s", timeval);
+	free(timeval);
+}
+
+#define PRINT_TOP_GENERATOR(name, width, fmt, field) \
+static void print_top_##name(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size) \
+{ \
+	struct top_data *td = obj->data.opaque; \
+	if (!td || !td->list || !td->list[td->num]) \
+		return; \
+	snprintf(p, MIN(p_max_size, width), fmt, td->list[td->num]->field); \
+}
+
+#define PRINT_TOP_HR_GENERATOR(name, field, denom) \
+static void print_top_##name(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size) \
+{ \
+	struct top_data *td = obj->data.opaque; \
+	if (!td || !td->list || !td->list[td->num]) \
+		return; \
+	human_readable(td->list[td->num]->field / denom, p, p_max_size); \
+}
+
+PRINT_TOP_GENERATOR(cpu, 7, "%6.2f", amount)
+PRINT_TOP_GENERATOR(pid, 6, "%5i", pid)
+PRINT_TOP_HR_GENERATOR(mem_res, rss, 1)
+PRINT_TOP_HR_GENERATOR(mem_vsize, vsize, 1)
+#ifdef IOSTATS
+PRINT_TOP_HR_GENERATOR(read_bytes, read_bytes, update_interval)
+PRINT_TOP_HR_GENERATOR(write_bytes, write_bytes, update_interval)
+PRINT_TOP_GENERATOR(io_perc, 7, "%6.2f", io_perc)
+#endif /* IOSTATS */
+
+static void free_top(struct text_object *obj)
 {
 	struct top_data *td = obj->data.opaque;
 
@@ -1047,3 +936,95 @@ void free_top(struct text_object *obj)
 	free(obj->data.opaque);
 	obj->data.opaque = NULL;
 }
+
+int parse_top_args(const char *s, const char *arg, struct text_object *obj)
+{
+	struct top_data *td;
+	char buf[64];
+	int n;
+
+	if (!arg) {
+		NORM_ERR("top needs arguments");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if (obj->data.opaque) {
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	obj->data.opaque = td = malloc(sizeof(struct top_data));
+	memset(td, 0, sizeof(struct top_data));
+
+	if (s[3] == 0) {
+		td->list = info.cpu;
+		top_cpu = 1;
+	} else if (strcmp(&s[3], "_mem") == EQUAL) {
+		td->list = info.memu;
+		top_mem = 1;
+	} else if (strcmp(&s[3], "_time") == EQUAL) {
+		td->list = info.time;
+		top_time = 1;
+#ifdef IOSTATS
+	} else if (strcmp(&s[3], "_io") == EQUAL) {
+		td->list = info.io;
+		top_io = 1;
+#endif /* IOSTATS */
+	} else {
+#ifdef IOSTATS
+		NORM_ERR("Must be top, top_mem, top_time or top_io");
+#else /* IOSTATS */
+		NORM_ERR("Must be top, top_mem or top_time");
+#endif /* IOSTATS */
+		free(obj->data.opaque);
+		obj->data.opaque = 0;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	td->s = strndup(arg, text_buffer_size);
+
+	if (sscanf(arg, "%63s %i", buf, &n) == 2) {
+		if (strcmp(buf, "name") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_name;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "cpu") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_cpu;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "pid") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_pid;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "mem") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_mem;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "time") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_time;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "mem_res") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_mem_res;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "mem_vsize") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_mem_vsize;
+#ifdef IOSTATS
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "io_read") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_read_bytes;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "io_write") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_write_bytes;
+		} else if (strcmp(buf, "io_perc") == EQUAL) {
+			obj->callbacks.print = &print_top_io_perc;
+#endif /* IOSTATS */
+		} else {
+			NORM_ERR("invalid type arg for top");
+#ifdef IOSTATS
+			NORM_ERR("must be one of: name, cpu, pid, mem, time, mem_res, mem_vsize, "
+					"io_read, io_write, io_perc");
+#else /* IOSTATS */
+			NORM_ERR("must be one of: name, cpu, pid, mem, time, mem_res, mem_vsize");
+#endif /* IOSTATS */
+			return 0;
+		}
+		if (n < 1 || n > 10) {
+			NORM_ERR("invalid num arg for top. Must be between 1 and 10.");
+			return 0;
+		} else {
+			td->num = n - 1;
+		}
+	} else {
+		NORM_ERR("invalid argument count for top");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	obj->callbacks.free = &free_top;
+	return 1;
+}
diff --git a/src/top.h b/src/top.h
index deddf1de..82ec05a5 100644
--- a/src/top.h
+++ b/src/top.h
@@ -146,8 +146,6 @@ void process_find_top(struct process **, struct process **, struct process **
 struct process *get_process_by_name(const char *);
 
 int parse_top_args(const char *s, const char *arg, struct text_object *obj);
-void print_top(struct text_object *, char *, int);
-void free_top(struct text_object *);
 
 /* return zero on success, non-zero otherwise */
 int set_top_name_width(const char *);