diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/day.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/day.rs
index 4e92180..15eb9ce 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/day.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/day.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Fit
 // use chrono::NaiveDate;
 // use ft_core::TraxRecord;
 use crate::{
-    components::{steps_editor, weight_editor, ActionGroup, Steps, WeightLabel},
+    components::{steps_editor, weight_field, ActionGroup, Steps, WeightLabel},
     view_models::DayDetailViewModel,
 };
 use glib::Object;
@@ -283,10 +283,11 @@ impl DayEdit {
             .orientation(gtk::Orientation::Horizontal)
             .build();
         top_row.append(
-            &weight_editor(view_model.weight(), {
+            &weight_field(view_model.weight(), {
                 let view_model = view_model.clone();
-                move |w| {
-                    view_model.set_weight(w);
+                move |w| match w {
+                    Some(w) => view_model.set_weight(w),
+                    None => eprintln!("have not implemented record delete"),
                 }
             })
             .widget(),
@@ -295,7 +296,10 @@ impl DayEdit {
         top_row.append(
             &steps_editor(view_model.steps(), {
                 let view_model = view_model.clone();
-                move |s| view_model.set_steps(s)
+                move |s| match s {
+                    Some(s) => view_model.set_steps(s),
+                    None => eprintln!("have not implemented record delete"),
+                }
             })
             .widget(),
         );
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/mod.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/mod.rs
index 8b2fff5..b6c0fe3 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/mod.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/mod.rs
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ mod steps;
 pub use steps::{steps_editor, Steps};
 
 mod text_entry;
-pub use text_entry::TextEntry;
+pub use text_entry::{weight_field, TextEntry};
 
 mod time_distance;
 pub use time_distance::TimeDistanceView;
 
 mod weight;
-pub use weight::{weight_editor, WeightLabel};
+pub use weight::WeightLabel;
 
 use glib::Object;
 use gtk::{prelude::*, subclass::prelude::*};
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/steps.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/steps.rs
index 3860ca9..391b43a 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/steps.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/steps.rs
@@ -44,18 +44,13 @@ impl Steps {
 
 pub fn steps_editor<OnUpdate>(value: Option<u32>, on_update: OnUpdate) -> TextEntry<u32>
 where
-    OnUpdate: Fn(u32) + 'static,
+    OnUpdate: Fn(Option<u32>) + 'static,
 {
     TextEntry::new(
         "0",
         value,
         |v| format!("{}", v),
-        move |v| match v.parse::<u32>() {
-            Ok(val) => {
-                on_update(val);
-                Ok(val)
-            }
-            Err(_) => Err(ParseError),
-        },
+        move |v| v.parse::<u32>().map_err(|_| ParseError),
+        on_update,
     )
 }
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/text_entry.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/text_entry.rs
index 53702cb..ff8c206 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/text_entry.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/text_entry.rs
@@ -14,20 +14,22 @@ General Public License for more details.
 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with FitnessTrax. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */
 
-use crate::types::ParseError;
+use crate::types::{
+    DistanceFormatter, DurationFormatter, FormatOption, ParseError, TimeFormatter, WeightFormatter,
+};
 use gtk::prelude::*;
 use std::{cell::RefCell, rc::Rc};
 
-type Renderer<T> = dyn Fn(&T) -> String;
 type Parser<T> = dyn Fn(&str) -> Result<T, ParseError>;
+type OnUpdate<T> = dyn Fn(Option<T>);
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct TextEntry<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug> {
     value: Rc<RefCell<Option<T>>>,
+
     widget: gtk::Entry,
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    renderer: Rc<Renderer<T>>,
     parser: Rc<Parser<T>>,
+    on_update: Rc<OnUpdate<T>>,
 }
 
 impl<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug> std::fmt::Debug for TextEntry<T> {
@@ -42,10 +44,17 @@ impl<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug> std::fmt::Debug for TextEntry<T> {
 
 // I do not understand why the data should be 'static.
 impl<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug + 'static> TextEntry<T> {
-    pub fn new<R, V>(placeholder: &str, value: Option<T>, renderer: R, parser: V) -> Self
+    pub fn new<R, V, U>(
+        placeholder: &str,
+        value: Option<T>,
+        renderer: R,
+        parser: V,
+        on_update: U,
+    ) -> Self
     where
         R: Fn(&T) -> String + 'static,
         V: Fn(&str) -> Result<T, ParseError> + 'static,
+        U: Fn(Option<T>) + 'static,
     {
         let widget = gtk::Entry::builder().placeholder_text(placeholder).build();
         if let Some(ref v) = value {
@@ -55,8 +64,8 @@ impl<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug + 'static> TextEntry<T> {
         let s = Self {
             value: Rc::new(RefCell::new(value)),
             widget,
-            renderer: Rc::new(renderer),
             parser: Rc::new(parser),
+            on_update: Rc::new(on_update),
         };
 
         s.widget.buffer().connect_text_notify({
@@ -71,12 +80,14 @@ impl<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug + 'static> TextEntry<T> {
         if buffer.text().is_empty() {
             *self.value.borrow_mut() = None;
             self.widget.remove_css_class("error");
+            (self.on_update)(None);
             return;
         }
         match (self.parser)(buffer.text().as_str()) {
             Ok(v) => {
-                *self.value.borrow_mut() = Some(v);
+                *self.value.borrow_mut() = Some(v.clone());
                 self.widget.remove_css_class("error");
+                (self.on_update)(Some(v));
             }
             // need to change the border to provide a visual indicator of an error
             Err(_) => {
@@ -85,25 +96,147 @@ impl<T: Clone + std::fmt::Debug + 'static> TextEntry<T> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn value(&self) -> Option<T> {
-        let v = self.value.borrow().clone();
-        self.value.borrow().clone()
-    }
-
-    pub fn set_value(&self, value: Option<T>) {
-        if let Some(ref v) = value {
-            self.widget.set_text(&(self.renderer)(v))
-        }
-        *self.value.borrow_mut() = value;
-    }
-
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    pub fn grab_focus(&self) {
-        self.widget.grab_focus();
-    }
-
     pub fn widget(&self) -> gtk::Widget {
         self.widget.clone().upcast::<gtk::Widget>()
     }
+
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    fn has_parse_error(&self) -> bool {
+        self.widget.has_css_class("error")
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn time_field<OnUpdate>(
+    value: Option<TimeFormatter>,
+    on_update: OnUpdate,
+) -> TextEntry<TimeFormatter>
+where
+    OnUpdate: Fn(Option<TimeFormatter>) + 'static,
+{
+    TextEntry::new(
+        "HH:MM",
+        value,
+        |val| val.format(FormatOption::Abbreviated),
+        TimeFormatter::parse,
+        on_update,
+    )
+}
+
+pub fn distance_field<OnUpdate>(
+    value: Option<DistanceFormatter>,
+    on_update: OnUpdate,
+) -> TextEntry<DistanceFormatter>
+where
+    OnUpdate: Fn(Option<DistanceFormatter>) + 'static,
+{
+    TextEntry::new(
+        "0 km",
+        value,
+        |val| val.format(FormatOption::Abbreviated),
+        DistanceFormatter::parse,
+        on_update,
+    )
+}
+
+pub fn duration_field<OnUpdate>(
+    value: Option<DurationFormatter>,
+    on_update: OnUpdate,
+) -> TextEntry<DurationFormatter>
+where
+    OnUpdate: Fn(Option<DurationFormatter>) + 'static,
+{
+    TextEntry::new(
+        "0 m",
+        value,
+        |val| val.format(FormatOption::Abbreviated),
+        DurationFormatter::parse,
+        on_update,
+    )
+}
+pub fn weight_field<OnUpdate>(
+    weight: Option<WeightFormatter>,
+    on_update: OnUpdate,
+) -> TextEntry<WeightFormatter>
+where
+    OnUpdate: Fn(Option<WeightFormatter>) + 'static,
+{
+    TextEntry::new(
+        "0 kg",
+        weight,
+        |val| val.format(FormatOption::Abbreviated),
+        WeightFormatter::parse,
+        on_update,
+    )
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::gtk_init::gtk_init;
+
+    fn setup_u32_entry() -> (Rc<RefCell<Option<u32>>>, TextEntry<u32>) {
+        let current_value = Rc::new(RefCell::new(None));
+
+        let entry = TextEntry::new(
+            "step count",
+            None,
+            |steps| format!("{}", steps),
+            |v| v.parse::<u32>().map_err(|_| ParseError),
+            {
+                let current_value = current_value.clone();
+                move |v| *current_value.borrow_mut() = v
+            },
+        );
+
+        (current_value, entry)
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn it_responds_to_field_changes() {
+        gtk_init();
+        let (current_value, entry) = setup_u32_entry();
+        let buffer = entry.widget.buffer();
+
+        buffer.set_text("1");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(1));
+
+        buffer.set_text("15");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(15));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn it_preserves_last_value_in_parse_error() {
+        crate::gtk_init::gtk_init();
+        let (current_value, entry) = setup_u32_entry();
+        let buffer = entry.widget.buffer();
+
+        buffer.set_text("1");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(1));
+
+        buffer.set_text("a5");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(1));
+        assert!(entry.has_parse_error());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn it_update_on_empty_strings() {
+        gtk_init();
+        let (current_value, entry) = setup_u32_entry();
+        let buffer = entry.widget.buffer();
+
+        buffer.set_text("1");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(1));
+        buffer.set_text("");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), None);
+
+        buffer.set_text("1");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(1));
+        buffer.set_text("1a");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), Some(1));
+        assert!(entry.has_parse_error());
+
+        buffer.set_text("");
+        assert_eq!(*current_value.borrow(), None);
+        assert!(!entry.has_parse_error());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/weight.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/weight.rs
index 2afc259..23ab48f 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/weight.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/components/weight.rs
@@ -43,27 +43,3 @@ impl WeightLabel {
         self.label.clone().upcast()
     }
 }
-
-pub fn weight_editor<OnUpdate>(
-    weight: Option<WeightFormatter>,
-    on_update: OnUpdate,
-) -> TextEntry<WeightFormatter>
-where
-    OnUpdate: Fn(WeightFormatter) + 'static,
-{
-    TextEntry::new(
-        "0 kg",
-        weight,
-        |val: &WeightFormatter| val.format(FormatOption::Abbreviated),
-        move |v: &str| {
-            let new_weight = WeightFormatter::parse(v);
-            match new_weight {
-                Ok(w) => {
-                    on_update(w);
-                    Ok(w)
-                }
-                Err(err) => Err(err),
-            }
-        },
-    )
-}
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/gtk_init.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/gtk_init.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ac6662
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/gtk_init.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+use std::sync::Once;
+
+static INITIALIZED: Once = Once::new();
+
+pub fn gtk_init() {
+    INITIALIZED.call_once(|| {
+        eprintln!("initializing GTK");
+        let _ = gtk::init();
+    });
+}
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/main.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/main.rs
index 1e86d60..316bfa6 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/main.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/main.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Fit
 mod app;
 mod app_window;
 mod components;
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod gtk_init;
 mod types;
 mod view_models;
 mod views;
diff --git a/fitnesstrax/app/src/types.rs b/fitnesstrax/app/src/types.rs
index 0411596..5172add 100644
--- a/fitnesstrax/app/src/types.rs
+++ b/fitnesstrax/app/src/types.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pub enum FormatOption {
 pub struct TimeFormatter(chrono::NaiveTime);
 
 impl TimeFormatter {
-    fn format(&self, option: FormatOption) -> String {
+    pub fn format(&self, option: FormatOption) -> String {
         match option {
             FormatOption::Abbreviated => self.0.format("%H:%M"),
             FormatOption::Full => self.0.format("%H:%M:%S"),
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ impl TimeFormatter {
         .to_string()
     }
 
-    fn parse(s: &str) -> Result<TimeFormatter, ParseError> {
+    pub fn parse(s: &str) -> Result<TimeFormatter, ParseError> {
         let parts = s
             .split(':')
             .map(|part| part.parse::<u32>().map_err(|_| ParseError))