diff --git a/gui/mainFrame.py b/gui/mainFrame.py
index cd48e4256..568082a6b 100644
--- a/gui/mainFrame.py
+++ b/gui/mainFrame.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import gui.fittingView as fv
 from wx._core import PyDeadObjectError
 import os.path
 import gui.chromeTabs
+from util import toClipboard, fromClipboard
 
 #dummy panel no paint no erasebk
 class PFPanel(wx.Panel):
@@ -290,20 +291,20 @@ class MainFrame(wx.Frame):
 
     def clipboardEft(self):
         sFit = service.Fit.getInstance()
-        self.toClipboard(sFit.exportFit(self.getActiveFit()))
+        toClipboard(sFit.exportFit(self.getActiveFit()))
 
     def clipboardDna(self):
         sFit = service.Fit.getInstance()
-        self.toClipboard(sFit.exportDna(self.getActiveFit()))
+        toClipboard(sFit.exportDna(self.getActiveFit()))
 
     def clipboardXml(self):
         sFit = service.Fit.getInstance()
-        self.toClipboard(sFit.exportXml(self.getActiveFit()))
+        toClipboard(sFit.exportXml(self.getActiveFit()))
 
     def importFromClipboard(self, event):
         sFit = service.Fit.getInstance()
         try:
-            fits = sFit.importFitFromBuffer(self.fromClipboard())
+            fits = sFit.importFitFromBuffer(fromClipboard())
             IDs = sFit.saveImportedFits(fits)
             self._openAfterImport(len(fits), IDs)
         except:
@@ -322,24 +323,6 @@ class MainFrame(wx.Frame):
             pass
         dlg.Destroy()
 
-    def toClipboard(self, text):
-        clip = wx.TheClipboard
-        clip.Open()
-        data = wx.TextDataObject(text)
-        clip.SetData(data)
-        clip.Close()
-
-    def fromClipboard(self):
-        clip = wx.TheClipboard
-        clip.Open()
-        data = wx.TextDataObject("")
-        if clip.GetData(data):
-            clip.Close()
-            return data.GetText()
-        else:
-            clip.Close()
-            return None
-
     def backupToXml(self, event):
         sFit = service.Fit.getInstance()
         saveDialog = wx.FileDialog(
diff --git a/gui/patternEditor.py b/gui/patternEditor.py
index 4d1dac459..bdd79e16a 100644
--- a/gui/patternEditor.py
+++ b/gui/patternEditor.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import wx
 import bitmapLoader
 from wx.lib.intctrl import IntCtrl
 import service
+from util import toClipboard, fromClipboard
 ###########################################################################
 ## Class DmgPatternEditorDlg
 ###########################################################################
@@ -344,24 +345,15 @@ class DmgPatternEditorDlg (wx.Dialog):
         pass
 
     def importPatterns(self, event):
-        clip = wx.TheClipboard
-        clip.Open()
-        data = wx.TextDataObject("")
-        if clip.GetData(data):
+        text = fromClipboard()
+        if text:
             sDP = service.DamagePattern.getInstance()
-            sDP.importPatterns( data.GetText() )
+            sDP.importPatterns(text)
             self.stPercentages.SetLabel("Patterns imported from clipboard")
         else:
             self.stPercentages.SetLabel("Could not import from clipboard")
-        clip.Close()
 
     def exportPatterns(self, event):
         sDP = service.DamagePattern.getInstance()
-        text = sDP.exportPatterns()
-
-        clip = wx.TheClipboard
-        clip.Open()
-        data = wx.TextDataObject(text)
-        clip.SetData(data)
+        toClipboard( sDP.exportPatterns() )
         self.stPercentages.SetLabel("Patterns exported to clipboard")
-        clip.Close()
diff --git a/util.py b/util.py
index f8f55fe7b..f5a359979 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/util.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import math
+import wx
 
 def formatAmount(val, prec=3, lowest=0, highest=0):
     """
@@ -72,3 +73,21 @@ def processAmount(val, prec=3):
     # Strip trailing zero for integers and convert to string
     result = str(val)[-2:] == '.0' and str(val)[:-2] or str(val)
     return result
+
+def toClipboard(text):
+    clip = wx.TheClipboard
+    clip.Open()
+    data = wx.TextDataObject(text)
+    clip.SetData(data)
+    clip.Close()
+
+def fromClipboard():
+    clip = wx.TheClipboard
+    clip.Open()
+    data = wx.TextDataObject("")
+    if clip.GetData(data):
+        clip.Close()
+        return data.GetText()
+    else:
+        clip.Close()
+        return None