diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/AccountsScreen.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/AccountsScreen.hs
index 3832b35c4..f122c2cc9 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/AccountsScreen.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/AccountsScreen.hs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ import Control.Arrow ((>>>))
 
 
 asDraw :: UIState -> [Widget Name]
-asDraw ui = dlogUiTrace "asDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
+asDraw ui = dbgui "asDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
   where
     ropts' = _rsReportOpts $ reportspec_ $ uoCliOpts $ aopts ui
     scrname = "account " ++ if ishistorical then "balances" else "changes"
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ asDraw ui = dlogUiTrace "asDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
 -- for toggling between end balance and balance change mode.
 asDrawHelper :: UIState -> ReportOpts -> String -> Bool -> [Widget Name]
 asDrawHelper UIState{aScreen=scr, aopts=uopts, ajournal=j, aMode=mode} ropts scrname showbalchgkey =
-  dlogUiTrace "asDrawHelper" $
+  dbgui "asDrawHelper" $
   case toAccountsLikeScreen scr of
-    Nothing          -> dlogUiTrace "asDrawHelper" $ errorWrongScreenType "draw helper"  -- PARTIAL:
+    Nothing          -> dbgui "asDrawHelper" $ errorWrongScreenType "draw helper"  -- PARTIAL:
     Just (ALS _ ass) -> case mode of
       Help -> [helpDialog, maincontent]
       _    -> [maincontent]
@@ -178,10 +178,10 @@ asDrawItem (acctwidth, balwidth) selected AccountsScreenItem{..} =
 -- | Handle events on any accounts-like screen (all accounts, balance sheet, income statement..).
 asHandle :: BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
 asHandle ev = do
-  dlogUiTraceM "asHandle"
+  dbguiEv "asHandle"
   ui0@UIState{aScreen=scr, aMode=mode} <- get'
   case toAccountsLikeScreen scr of
-    Nothing -> dlogUiTrace "asHandle" $ errorWrongScreenType "event handler"  -- PARTIAL:
+    Nothing -> dbgui "asHandle" $ errorWrongScreenType "event handler"  -- PARTIAL:
     Just als@(ALS scons ass) -> do
       -- save the currently selected account, in case we leave this screen and lose the selection
       put' ui0{aScreen=scons ass{_assSelectedAccount=asSelectedAccount ass}}
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ asHandle ev = do
 -- The provided AccountsLikeScreen should correspond to the ui state's current screen.
 asHandleNormalMode :: AccountsLikeScreen -> BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
 asHandleNormalMode (ALS scons ass) ev = do
-  dlogUiTraceM "asHandleNormalMode"
+  dbguiEv "asHandleNormalMode"
 
   ui@UIState{aopts=UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts}, ajournal=j} <- get'
   d <- liftIO getCurrentDay
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ handleHelpMode ev = do
 
 enterRegisterScreen :: Day -> AccountName -> UIState -> EventM Name UIState ()
 enterRegisterScreen d acct ui@UIState{ajournal=j, aopts=uopts} = do
-  dlogUiTraceM "enterRegisterScreen"
+  dbguiEv "enterRegisterScreen"
   let
     regscr = rsNew uopts d j acct isdepthclipped
       where
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/BalancesheetScreen.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/BalancesheetScreen.hs
index 1311d71a1..5f7fc1f53 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/BalancesheetScreen.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/BalancesheetScreen.hs
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ import Hledger.UI.AccountsScreen (asHandle, asDrawHelper)
 
 
 bsDraw :: UIState -> [Widget Name]
-bsDraw ui = dlogUiTrace "bsDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
+bsDraw ui = dbgui "bsDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
   where
     scrname = "balance sheet"
     ropts' = (_rsReportOpts $ reportspec_ $ uoCliOpts $ aopts ui){balanceaccum_=Historical}
     showbalchgkey = False
 
 bsHandle :: BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
-bsHandle = asHandle . dlogUiTrace "bsHandle"
+bsHandle = asHandle . dbgui "bsHandle"
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/ErrorScreen.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/ErrorScreen.hs
index c4b21e0c9..94f72f5b4 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/ErrorScreen.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/ErrorScreen.hs
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ uiReloadJournal copts d ui = do
   ej <-
     let copts' = enableForecastPreservingPeriod ui copts
     in runExceptT $ journalReload copts'
-  -- dlogUiTraceIO $ ("uiReloadJournal before reload: "++) $ pshow' $ map tdescription $ jtxns $ ajournal ui
+  -- dbguiIO $ ("uiReloadJournal before reload: "++) $ pshow' $ map tdescription $ jtxns $ ajournal ui
   return $ case ej of
     Right j  ->
-      -- dlogUiTrace (("uiReloadJournal after reload: "++) $ pshow' $ map tdescription $ jtxns j) $
+      -- dbgui (("uiReloadJournal after reload: "++) $ pshow' $ map tdescription $ jtxns j) $
       regenerateScreens j d ui
     Left err ->
       case ui of
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/IncomestatementScreen.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/IncomestatementScreen.hs
index 5b9b38b81..24fecf583 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/IncomestatementScreen.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/IncomestatementScreen.hs
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ import Hledger.UI.AccountsScreen (asHandle, asDrawHelper)
 
 
 isDraw :: UIState -> [Widget Name]
-isDraw ui = dlogUiTrace "isDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
+isDraw ui = dbgui "isDraw" $ asDrawHelper ui ropts' scrname showbalchgkey
   where
     scrname = "income statement"
     ropts' = (_rsReportOpts $ reportspec_ $ uoCliOpts $ aopts ui){balanceaccum_=PerPeriod}
     showbalchgkey = False
 
 isHandle :: BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
-isHandle = asHandle . dlogUiTrace "isHandle"
+isHandle = asHandle . dbgui "isHandle"
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/Main.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/Main.hs
index ae961af7e..cb6fc716a 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/Main.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/Main.hs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import Hledger.UI.Theme
 import Hledger.UI.UIOptions
 import Hledger.UI.UITypes
 import Hledger.UI.UIState (uiState, getDepth)
-import Hledger.UI.UIUtils (dlogUiTraceM, dlogUiTraceIO)
+import Hledger.UI.UIUtils (dbguiEv, dbguiIO)
 import Hledger.UI.MenuScreen
 import Hledger.UI.AccountsScreen
 import Hledger.UI.BalancesheetScreen
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ runBrickUi uopts0@UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{inputopts_=_iopts,reportspec_=r
       setMode (outputIface v) Mouse True
       return v
 
-  dlogUiTraceIO "\n\n==== hledger-ui start"
+  dbguiIO "\n\n==== hledger-ui start"
 
   if not (uoWatch uopts)
   then do
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ brickApp mtheme = App {
 
 uiHandle :: BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
 uiHandle ev = do
-  dlogUiTraceM $ "\n==== " ++ show ev
+  dbguiEv $ "\n==== " ++ show ev
   ui <- get
   case aScreen ui of
     MS _ -> msHandle ev
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/MenuScreen.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/MenuScreen.hs
index b51566994..b8dfa9cb6 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/MenuScreen.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/MenuScreen.hs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ msDraw UIState{aopts=_uopts@UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=_rspec}}
               ,ajournal=j
               ,aScreen=MS sst
               ,aMode=mode
-              } = dlogUiTrace "msDraw" $
+              } = dbgui "msDraw" $
     case mode of
       Help              -> [helpDialog, maincontent]
       _                 -> [maincontent]
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ msDraw UIState{aopts=_uopts@UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=_rspec}}
               ,("q", str "quit")
               ]
 
-msDraw _ =  dlogUiTrace "msDraw" $ errorWrongScreenType "draw function"  -- PARTIAL:
+msDraw _ =  dbgui "msDraw" $ errorWrongScreenType "draw function"  -- PARTIAL:
 
 -- msDrawItem :: (Int,Int) -> Bool -> MenuScreenItem -> Widget Name
 -- msDrawItem (_acctwidth, _balwidth) _selected MenuScreenItem{..} =
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ msDrawItem _selected MenuScreenItem{..} =
 msHandle :: BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
 msHandle ev = do
   ui0 <- get'
-  dlogUiTraceM "msHandle"
+  dbguiEv "msHandle"
   case ui0 of
     ui@UIState{
        aopts=UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts}
@@ -249,11 +249,11 @@ msHandle ev = do
             MouseUp{}   -> return ()
             AppEvent _  -> return ()
 
-    _ -> dlogUiTraceM "msHandle" >> errorWrongScreenType "event handler"
+    _ -> dbguiEv "msHandle" >> errorWrongScreenType "event handler"
 
 msEnterScreen :: Day -> ScreenName -> UIState -> EventM Name UIState ()
 msEnterScreen d scrname ui@UIState{ajournal=j, aopts=uopts} = do
-  dlogUiTraceM "msEnterScreen"
+  dbguiEv "msEnterScreen"
   let
     scr = case scrname of
       Accounts        -> asNew uopts d j Nothing
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/RegisterScreen.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/RegisterScreen.hs
index 900a62583..6ab837a9a 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/RegisterScreen.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/RegisterScreen.hs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ rsDraw :: UIState -> [Widget Name]
 rsDraw UIState{aopts=_uopts@UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec}}
               ,aScreen=RS RSS{..}
               ,aMode=mode
-              } = dlogUiTrace "rsDraw 1" $
+              } = dbgui "rsDraw 1" $
   case mode of
     Help       -> [helpDialog, maincontent]
     _          -> [maincontent]
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ rsDraw UIState{aopts=_uopts@UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec}}
 --               ,("q", "quit")
               ]
 
-rsDraw _ = dlogUiTrace "rsDraw 2" $ errorWrongScreenType "draw function"  -- PARTIAL:
+rsDraw _ = dbgui "rsDraw 2" $ errorWrongScreenType "draw function"  -- PARTIAL:
 
 rsDrawItem :: (Int,Int,Int,Int,Int) -> Bool -> RegisterScreenItem -> Widget Name
 rsDrawItem (datewidth,descwidth,acctswidth,changewidth,balwidth) selected RegisterScreenItem{..} =
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ rsDrawItem (datewidth,descwidth,acctswidth,changewidth,balwidth) selected Regist
 rsHandle :: BrickEvent Name AppEvent -> EventM Name UIState ()
 rsHandle ev = do
   ui0 <- get'
-  dlogUiTraceM "rsHandle 1"
+  dbguiEv "rsHandle 1"
   case ui0 of
     ui@UIState{
       aScreen=RS sst@RSS{..}
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ rsHandle ev = do
             MouseUp{}         -> return ()
             AppEvent _        -> return ()
 
-    _ -> dlogUiTrace "rsHandle 2" $ errorWrongScreenType "event handler"
+    _ -> dbgui "rsHandle 2" $ errorWrongScreenType "event handler"
 
 isBlankElement mel = ((rsItemDate . snd) <$> mel) == Just ""
 
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ rsCenterSelection ui = return ui
 
 rsEnterTransactionScreen :: AccountName -> [NumberedTransaction] -> NumberedTransaction -> UIState -> EventM Name UIState ()
 rsEnterTransactionScreen acct nts nt ui = do
-  dlogUiTraceM "rsEnterTransactionScreen"
+  dbguiEv "rsEnterTransactionScreen"
   put' $
     pushScreen (tsNew acct nts nt)
     ui
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIScreens.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIScreens.hs
index fc694b980..0b0ed6f93 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIScreens.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIScreens.hs
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ screenUpdate opts d j = \case
 -- Screen-specific arguments: the error message to show.
 esNew :: String -> Screen
 esNew msg =
-  dlogUiTrace "esNew" $
+  dbgui "esNew" $
   ES ESS {
     _essError = msg
     ,_essUnused = ()
@@ -71,13 +71,13 @@ esNew msg =
 -- | Update an error screen. Currently a no-op since error screen
 -- depends only on its screen-specific state.
 esUpdate :: ErrorScreenState -> ErrorScreenState
-esUpdate = dlogUiTrace "esUpdate`"
+esUpdate = dbgui "esUpdate`"
 
 -- | Construct a menu screen.
 -- Screen-specific arguments: none.
 msNew :: Screen
 msNew =
-  dlogUiTrace "msNew" $
+  dbgui "msNew" $
   MS MSS {
      _mssList            = list MenuList (V.fromList [
        MenuScreenItem "All accounts" Accounts
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ msNew =
 -- | Update a menu screen. Currently a no-op since menu screen
 -- has unchanging content.
 msUpdate :: MenuScreenState -> MenuScreenState
-msUpdate = dlogUiTrace "msUpdate"
+msUpdate = dbgui "msUpdate"
 
 nullass macct = ASS {
    _assSelectedAccount = fromMaybe "" macct
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ nullass macct = ASS {
 -- with the appropriate one selected.
 -- Screen-specific arguments: the account to select if any.
 asNew :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> Maybe AccountName -> Screen
-asNew uopts d j macct = dlogUiTrace "asNew" $ AS $ asUpdate uopts d j $ nullass macct
+asNew uopts d j macct = dbgui "asNew" $ AS $ asUpdate uopts d j $ nullass macct
 
 -- | Update an accounts screen's state from these options, reporting date, and journal.
 asUpdate :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> AccountsScreenState -> AccountsScreenState
-asUpdate uopts d = dlogUiTrace "asUpdate" .
+asUpdate uopts d = dbgui "asUpdate" .
   asUpdateHelper rspec d copts roptsmod extraquery
   where
     UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec}} = uopts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ asUpdate uopts d = dlogUiTrace "asUpdate" .
 -- | Update an accounts-like screen's state from this report spec, reporting date,
 -- cli options, report options modifier, extra query, and journal.
 asUpdateHelper :: ReportSpec -> Day -> CliOpts -> (ReportOpts -> ReportOpts) -> Query -> Journal -> AccountsScreenState -> AccountsScreenState
-asUpdateHelper rspec0 d copts roptsModify extraquery j ass = dlogUiTrace "asUpdateHelper"
+asUpdateHelper rspec0 d copts roptsModify extraquery j ass = dbgui "asUpdateHelper"
   ass{_assList=l}
   where
     ropts = roptsModify $ _rsReportOpts rspec0
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ asUpdateHelper rspec0 d copts roptsModify extraquery j ass = dlogUiTrace "asUpda
 -- with the appropriate one selected.
 -- Screen-specific arguments: the account to select if any.
 bsNew :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> Maybe AccountName -> Screen
-bsNew uopts d j macct = dlogUiTrace "bsNew" $ BS $ bsUpdate uopts d j $ nullass macct
+bsNew uopts d j macct = dbgui "bsNew" $ BS $ bsUpdate uopts d j $ nullass macct
 
 -- | Update a balance sheet screen's state from these options, reporting date, and journal.
 bsUpdate :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> AccountsScreenState -> AccountsScreenState
-bsUpdate uopts d = dlogUiTrace "bsUpdate" .
+bsUpdate uopts d = dbgui "bsUpdate" .
   asUpdateHelper rspec d copts roptsmod extraquery
   where
     UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec}} = uopts
@@ -186,11 +186,11 @@ bsUpdate uopts d = dlogUiTrace "bsUpdate" .
 -- with the appropriate one selected.
 -- Screen-specific arguments: the account to select if any.
 isNew :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> Maybe AccountName -> Screen
-isNew uopts d j macct = dlogUiTrace "isNew" $ IS $ isUpdate uopts d j $ nullass macct
+isNew uopts d j macct = dbgui "isNew" $ IS $ isUpdate uopts d j $ nullass macct
 
 -- | Update an income statement screen's state from these options, reporting date, and journal.
 isUpdate :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> AccountsScreenState -> AccountsScreenState
-isUpdate uopts d = dlogUiTrace "isUpdate" .
+isUpdate uopts d = dbgui "isUpdate" .
   asUpdateHelper rspec d copts roptsmod extraquery
   where
     UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec}} = uopts
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ isUpdate uopts d = dlogUiTrace "isUpdate" .
 -- whether to force inclusive balances.
 rsNew :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> AccountName -> Bool -> Screen
 rsNew uopts d j acct forceinclusive =  -- XXX forcedefaultselection - whether to force selecting the last transaction.
-  dlogUiTrace "rsNew" $
+  dbgui "rsNew" $
   RS $
   rsUpdate uopts d j $
   RSS {
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ rsNew uopts d j acct forceinclusive =  -- XXX forcedefaultselection - whether to
 -- | Update a register screen from these options, reporting date, and journal.
 rsUpdate :: UIOpts -> Day -> Journal -> RegisterScreenState -> RegisterScreenState
 rsUpdate uopts d j rss@RSS{_rssAccount, _rssForceInclusive, _rssList=oldlist} =
-  dlogUiTrace "rsUpdate"
+  dbgui "rsUpdate"
   rss{_rssList=l'}
   where
     UIOpts{uoCliOpts=copts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec@ReportSpec{_rsReportOpts=ropts}}} = uopts
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ rsUpdate uopts d j rss@RSS{_rssAccount, _rssForceInclusive, _rssList=oldlist} =
 -- the list of showable transactions, the currently shown transaction.
 tsNew :: AccountName -> [NumberedTransaction] -> NumberedTransaction -> Screen
 tsNew acct nts nt =
-  dlogUiTrace "tsNew" $
+  dbgui "tsNew" $
   TS TSS{
      _tssAccount      = acct
     ,_tssTransactions = nts
@@ -330,5 +330,5 @@ tsNew acct nts nt =
 -- | Update a transaction screen. Currently a no-op since transaction screen
 -- depends only on its screen-specific state.
 tsUpdate :: TransactionScreenState -> TransactionScreenState
-tsUpdate = dlogUiTrace "tsUpdate"
+tsUpdate = dbgui "tsUpdate"
 
diff --git a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIUtils.hs b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIUtils.hs
index acf663fe7..6701687b8 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIUtils.hs
+++ b/hledger-ui/Hledger/UI/UIUtils.hs
@@ -32,14 +32,13 @@ module Hledger.UI.UIUtils (
   ,reportSpecAddQuery
   ,reportSpecSetFutureAndForecast
   ,listScrollPushingSelection
-  ,dlogUiTrace
-  ,dlogUiTraceIO
-  ,dlogUiTraceM
-  ,dlogUiScreenStack
+  ,dbgui
+  ,dbguiIO
+  ,dbguiEv
+  ,dbguiScreensEv
   ,screenRegisterDescriptions
   ,screenId
   ,mapScreens
-  ,uiDebugLevel
   ,uiNumBlankItems
   )
 where
@@ -87,32 +86,32 @@ suspendSignal = raiseSignal sigSTOP
 
 get' = do
   x <- get
-  dlogUiTraceM $ "getting state: " ++ (head $ lines $ pshow $ aScreen x)
+  dbguiEv $ "getting state: " ++ (head $ lines $ pshow $ aScreen x)
     -- ++ " " ++ (show $ map tdescription $ jtxns $ ajournal x)
-  -- dlogUiTraceM $ ("query: "++) $ pshow' $ x  & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "getting" screenId x
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "getting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x
+  -- dbguiEv $ ("query: "++) $ pshow' $ x  & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "getting" screenId x
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "getting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x
   return x
 
 put' x = do
-  dlogUiTraceM $ "putting state: " ++ (head $ lines $ pshow $ aScreen x)
+  dbguiEv $ "putting state: " ++ (head $ lines $ pshow $ aScreen x)
     -- ++ " " ++ (show $ map tdescription $ jtxns $ ajournal x)
-  -- dlogUiTraceM $ ("query: "++) $ pshow' $ x  & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "putting" screenId x
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "putting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x
+  -- dbguiEv $ ("query: "++) $ pshow' $ x  & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "putting" screenId x
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "putting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x
   put x
 
 modify' f = do
   x <- get
   let x' = f x
-  dlogUiTraceM $ "modifying state: " ++ (head $ lines $ pshow $ aScreen x')
+  dbguiEv $ "modifying state: " ++ (head $ lines $ pshow $ aScreen x')
     -- ++ " " ++ (show $ map tdescription $ jtxns $ ajournal x')
-  -- dlogUiTraceM $ ("from: "++) $ pshow' $ x  & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
-  -- dlogUiTraceM $ ("to:   "++) $ pshow' $ x' & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "getting" screenId x
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "putting" screenId x'
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "getting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x
-  -- dlogUiScreenStack "putting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x'
+  -- dbguiEv $ ("from: "++) $ pshow' $ x  & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
+  -- dbguiEv $ ("to:   "++) $ pshow' $ x' & aopts & uoCliOpts & reportspec_ & _rsQuery
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "getting" screenId x
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "putting" screenId x'
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "getting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x
+  -- dbguiScreensEv "putting, with register descriptions" screenRegisterDescriptions x'
   modify f
 
 -- | On posix platforms, suspend the program using the STOP signal,
@@ -439,29 +438,33 @@ listScrollPushingSelection name listheight scrollamt = do
         _ -> return list
     _ -> return list
 
--- | Log a string to ./debug.log before returning the second argument,
--- if the global debug level is at or above a standard hledger-ui debug level.
--- Uses unsafePerformIO.
-dlogUiTrace :: String -> a -> a
-dlogUiTrace = traceLogAt uiDebugLevel
+-- Log hledger-ui events at this debug level and above.
+uiDebugLevel :: Int
+uiDebugLevel = 1
 
--- | Like dlogUiTrace, but convenient in IO.
-dlogUiTraceIO :: String -> IO ()
-dlogUiTraceIO s = dlogUiTrace s $ return ()
+-- | A debug logging helper to use in hledger-ui code:
+-- at any debug level >= 1, logs the string to ./debug.log before returning the second argument.
+-- Like traceLogAt 1. Uses unsafePerformIO.
+dbgui :: String -> a -> a
+dbgui = traceLogAt uiDebugLevel
 
--- | Like dlogUiTrace, but convenient in event handlers.
-dlogUiTraceM :: String -> EventM Name UIState ()
-dlogUiTraceM s = dlogUiTrace s $ return ()
+-- | Like dbgui, but convenient in IO.
+dbguiIO :: String -> IO ()
+dbguiIO s = dbgui s $ return ()
 
--- | Like dlogUiTraceM, but log a compact view of the current screen stack,
+-- | Like dbgui, but convenient in hledger EventM handlers.
+dbguiEv :: String -> EventM Name s ()
+dbguiEv s = dbgui s $ return ()
+
+-- | Like dbguiEv, but log a compact view of the current screen stack,
 -- from topmost screen to currently-viewed screen,
 -- with each screen rendered by the given rendering function
 -- (and with the given extra label if any).
 -- Useful for inspecting states across the whole screen stack.
--- To just show the stack: @dlogUiScreenStack "" screenId ui@
-dlogUiScreenStack :: String -> (Screen -> String) -> UIState -> EventM Name UIState ()
-dlogUiScreenStack postfix showscr ui =
-  dlogUiTraceM $ concat [
+-- To just show the stack: @dbguiScreensEv "" screenId ui@
+dbguiScreensEv :: String -> (Screen -> String) -> UIState -> EventM Name UIState ()
+dbguiScreensEv postfix showscr ui =
+  dbguiEv $ concat [
      "screen stack"
     ,if null postfix then "" else " (" ++ postfix ++ ")"
     ,": "
@@ -492,10 +495,6 @@ screenId = \case
   TS _ -> "T"  -- transaction
   ES _ -> "E"  -- error
 
--- | Log hledger-ui events at this debug level.
-uiDebugLevel :: Int
-uiDebugLevel = 2
-
 -- | How many blank items to add to lists to fill the full window height.
 uiNumBlankItems :: Int
 uiNumBlankItems