diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
index 4b758174b..0de983df0 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
@@ -32,216 +32,27 @@ module Hledger.Read (
        tests_Hledger_Read,
 )
 where
-import qualified Control.Exception as C
 import Control.Monad.Except
 import Data.List
 import Data.Maybe
-import System.Directory (doesFileExist, getHomeDirectory)
-import System.Environment (getEnv)
-import System.Exit (exitFailure)
-import System.FilePath ((</>))
-import System.IO (IOMode(..), openFile, stdin, stderr, hSetNewlineMode, universalNewlineMode)
 import Test.HUnit
-import Text.Printf
 
-import Hledger.Data.Dates (getCurrentDay)
 import Hledger.Data.Types
 import Hledger.Data.Journal (nullctx)
+import Hledger.Read.Util
 import Hledger.Read.JournalReader as JournalReader
 import Hledger.Read.TimedotReader as TimedotReader
 import Hledger.Read.TimelogReader as TimelogReader
 import Hledger.Read.CsvReader as CsvReader
 import Hledger.Utils
 import Prelude hiding (getContents, writeFile)
-import Hledger.Utils.UTF8IOCompat (hGetContents, writeFile)
 
 
-journalEnvVar           = "LEDGER_FILE"
-journalEnvVar2          = "LEDGER"
-journalDefaultFilename  = ".hledger.journal"
-
--- The available data file readers, each one handling a particular data
--- format. The first is also used as the default for unknown formats.
-readers :: [Reader]
-readers = [
-  JournalReader.reader
- ,TimelogReader.reader
- ,TimedotReader.reader
- ,CsvReader.reader
- ]
-
--- | All the data formats we can read.
--- formats = map rFormat readers
-
--- | Get the default journal file path specified by the environment.
--- Like ledger, we look first for the LEDGER_FILE environment
--- variable, and if that does not exist, for the legacy LEDGER
--- environment variable. If neither is set, or the value is blank,
--- return the hard-coded default, which is @.hledger.journal@ in the
--- users's home directory (or in the current directory, if we cannot
--- determine a home directory).
-defaultJournalPath :: IO String
-defaultJournalPath = do
-  s <- envJournalPath
-  if null s then defaultJournalPath else return s
-    where
-      envJournalPath =
-        getEnv journalEnvVar
-         `C.catch` (\(_::C.IOException) -> getEnv journalEnvVar2
-                                            `C.catch` (\(_::C.IOException) -> return ""))
-      defaultJournalPath = do
-                  home <- getHomeDirectory `C.catch` (\(_::C.IOException) -> return "")
-                  return $ home </> journalDefaultFilename
-
--- | Read the default journal file specified by the environment, or raise an error.
-defaultJournal :: IO Journal
-defaultJournal = defaultJournalPath >>= readJournalFile Nothing Nothing True >>= either error' return
-
--- | Read a journal from the given string, trying all known formats, or simply throw an error.
-readJournal' :: String -> IO Journal
-readJournal' s = readJournal Nothing Nothing True Nothing s >>= either error' return
-
-tests_readJournal' = [
-  "readJournal' parses sample journal" ~: do
-     _ <- samplejournal
-     assertBool "" True
- ]
-
-
-
--- | Read a journal from this string, trying whatever readers seem appropriate:
---
--- - if a format is specified, try that reader only
---
--- - or if one or more readers recognises the file path and data, try those
---
--- - otherwise, try them all.
---
--- A CSV conversion rules file may also be specified for use by the CSV reader.
--- Also there is a flag specifying whether to check or ignore balance assertions in the journal.
-readJournal :: Maybe StorageFormat -> Maybe FilePath -> Bool -> Maybe FilePath -> String -> IO (Either String Journal)
-readJournal format rulesfile assrt path s =
-  tryReaders $ readersFor (format, path, s)
-  where
-    -- try each reader in turn, returning the error of the first if all fail
-    tryReaders :: [Reader] -> IO (Either String Journal)
-    tryReaders = firstSuccessOrBestError []
-      where
-        firstSuccessOrBestError :: [String] -> [Reader] -> IO (Either String Journal)
-        firstSuccessOrBestError [] []        = return $ Left "no readers found"
-        firstSuccessOrBestError errs (r:rs) = do
-          dbg1IO "trying reader" (rFormat r)
-          result <- (runExceptT . (rParser r) rulesfile assrt path') s
-          dbg1IO "reader result" $ either id show result
-          case result of Right j -> return $ Right j                       -- success!
-                         Left e  -> firstSuccessOrBestError (errs++[e]) rs -- keep trying
-        firstSuccessOrBestError (e:_) []    = return $ Left e              -- none left, return first error
-        path' = fromMaybe "(string)" path
-
--- | Which readers are worth trying for this (possibly unspecified) format, filepath, and data ?
-readersFor :: (Maybe StorageFormat, Maybe FilePath, String) -> [Reader]
-readersFor (format,path,s) =
-    dbg1 ("possible readers for "++show (format,path,elideRight 30 s)) $
-    case format of
-     Just f  -> case readerForStorageFormat f of Just r  -> [r]
-                                                 Nothing -> []
-     Nothing -> case path of Nothing  -> readers
-                             Just p   -> case readersForPathAndData (p,s) of [] -> readers
-                                                                             rs -> rs
-
--- | Find the (first) reader which can handle the given format, if any.
-readerForStorageFormat :: StorageFormat -> Maybe Reader
-readerForStorageFormat s | null rs = Nothing
-                  | otherwise = Just $ head rs
-    where
-      rs = filter ((s==).rFormat) readers :: [Reader]
-
--- | Find the readers which think they can handle the given file path and data, if any.
-readersForPathAndData :: (FilePath,String) -> [Reader]
-readersForPathAndData (f,s) = filter (\r -> (rDetector r) f s) readers
-
--- | Read a Journal from this file (or stdin if the filename is -) or give
--- an error message, using the specified data format or trying all known
--- formats. A CSV conversion rules file may be specified for better
--- conversion of that format. Also there is a flag specifying whether
--- to check or ignore balance assertions in the journal.
-readJournalFile :: Maybe StorageFormat -> Maybe FilePath -> Bool -> FilePath -> IO (Either String Journal)
-readJournalFile format rulesfile assrt f = readJournalFiles format rulesfile assrt [f]
-
-readJournalFiles :: Maybe StorageFormat -> Maybe FilePath -> Bool -> [FilePath] -> IO (Either String Journal)
-readJournalFiles format rulesfile assrt f = do
-  contents <- fmap concat $ mapM readFileAnyNewline f
-  readJournal format rulesfile assrt (listToMaybe f) contents
- where
-  readFileAnyNewline f = do
-    requireJournalFileExists f
-    h <- fileHandle f
-    hSetNewlineMode h universalNewlineMode
-    hGetContents h
-  fileHandle "-" = return stdin
-  fileHandle f = openFile f ReadMode
-
--- | If the specified journal file does not exist, give a helpful error and quit.
-requireJournalFileExists :: FilePath -> IO ()
-requireJournalFileExists "-" = return ()
-requireJournalFileExists f = do
-  exists <- doesFileExist f
-  when (not exists) $ do
-    hPrintf stderr "The hledger journal file \"%s\" was not found.\n" f
-    hPrintf stderr "Please create it first, eg with \"hledger add\" or a text editor.\n"
-    hPrintf stderr "Or, specify an existing journal file with -f or LEDGER_FILE.\n"
-    exitFailure
-
--- | Ensure there is a journal file at the given path, creating an empty one if needed.
-ensureJournalFileExists :: FilePath -> IO ()
-ensureJournalFileExists f = do
-  exists <- doesFileExist f
-  when (not exists) $ do
-    hPrintf stderr "Creating hledger journal file %s.\n" f
-    -- note Hledger.Utils.UTF8.* do no line ending conversion on windows,
-    -- we currently require unix line endings on all platforms.
-    newJournalContent >>= writeFile f
-
--- | Give the content for a new auto-created journal file.
-newJournalContent :: IO String
-newJournalContent = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  return $ printf "; journal created %s by hledger\n" (show d)
-
--- tests
-
-samplejournal = readJournal' $ unlines
- ["2008/01/01 income"
- ,"    assets:bank:checking  $1"
- ,"    income:salary"
- ,""
- ,"comment"
- ,"multi line comment here"
- ,"for testing purposes"
- ,"end comment"
- ,""
- ,"2008/06/01 gift"
- ,"    assets:bank:checking  $1"
- ,"    income:gifts"
- ,""
- ,"2008/06/02 save"
- ,"    assets:bank:saving  $1"
- ,"    assets:bank:checking"
- ,""
- ,"2008/06/03 * eat & shop"
- ,"    expenses:food      $1"
- ,"    expenses:supplies  $1"
- ,"    assets:cash"
- ,""
- ,"2008/12/31 * pay off"
- ,"    liabilities:debts  $1"
- ,"    assets:bank:checking"
- ]
-
 tests_Hledger_Read = TestList $
   tests_readJournal'
   ++ [
    tests_Hledger_Read_JournalReader,
+   tests_Hledger_Read_TimedotReader,
    tests_Hledger_Read_TimelogReader,
    tests_Hledger_Read_CsvReader,
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal b/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal
index a316c6bd8..57c59c5b5 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal
+++ b/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ library
       Hledger.Read.JournalReader
       Hledger.Read.TimedotReader
       Hledger.Read.TimelogReader
+      Hledger.Read.Util
       Hledger.Reports
       Hledger.Reports.ReportOptions
       Hledger.Reports.BalanceHistoryReport
diff --git a/hledger-lib/package.yaml b/hledger-lib/package.yaml
index 44ef83e63..80aa5c27c 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/package.yaml
+++ b/hledger-lib/package.yaml
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ library:
     - Hledger.Read.JournalReader
     - Hledger.Read.TimedotReader
     - Hledger.Read.TimelogReader
+    - Hledger.Read.Util
     - Hledger.Reports
     - Hledger.Reports.ReportOptions
     - Hledger.Reports.BalanceHistoryReport