diff --git a/headers/libs/alm/Area.h b/headers/libs/alm/Area.h
index ef40616ded..6f471c6431 100644
--- a/headers/libs/alm/Area.h
+++ b/headers/libs/alm/Area.h
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ namespace LinearProgramming {
 	class Constraint;
 };
 
+namespace BPrivate {
+	class SharedSolver;
+};
+
 
 namespace BALM {
 
@@ -113,6 +117,7 @@ private:
 private:
 	friend class BALMLayout;
 	friend class RowColumnManager;
+	friend class BPrivate::SharedSolver;
 
 			BLayoutItem*		fLayoutItem;
 			int32				fID;
diff --git a/headers/libs/alm/Column.h b/headers/libs/alm/Column.h
index 50cc05b74e..c9ef423268 100644
--- a/headers/libs/alm/Column.h
+++ b/headers/libs/alm/Column.h
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ namespace LinearProgramming {
 };
 
 
+namespace BPrivate {
+	class SharedSolver;
+};
+
+
 namespace BALM {
 
 
@@ -37,6 +42,10 @@ public:
 			XTab*				Right() const;
 
 private:
+	friend class BALMLayout;
+	friend class BALM::RowColumnManager;
+	friend class BPrivate::SharedSolver;
+
 								Column(LinearProgramming::LinearSpec* ls,
 									XTab* left, XTab* right);
 
@@ -48,11 +57,6 @@ private:
 				// managed by RowColumnManager
 
 			BObjectList<Area>	fAreas;
-
-public:
-	friend class BALMLayout;
-	friend class BALM::RowColumnManager;
-	
 };
 
 }	// namespace BALM
diff --git a/headers/libs/alm/Row.h b/headers/libs/alm/Row.h
index b5af7c7cad..af49ea453d 100644
--- a/headers/libs/alm/Row.h
+++ b/headers/libs/alm/Row.h
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ namespace LinearProgramming {
 };
 
 
+namespace BPrivate {
+	class SharedSolver;
+};
+
+
 namespace BALM {
 
 
@@ -37,6 +42,10 @@ public:
 			YTab*				Bottom() const;
 
 private:
+	friend class BALMLayout;
+	friend class BALM::RowColumnManager;
+	friend class BPrivate::SharedSolver;
+
 								Row(LinearProgramming::LinearSpec* ls,
 										YTab* top, YTab* bottom);
 
@@ -48,11 +57,6 @@ private:
 				// managed by RowColumnManager
 
 			BObjectList<Area>	fAreas;
-
-public:
-	friend class BALMLayout;
-	friend class BALM::RowColumnManager;
-	
 };
 
 }	// namespace BALM
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp b/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp
index 841c1836db..c9a684078e 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const BSize kUnsetSize(B_SIZE_UNSET, B_SIZE_UNSET);
 
 namespace {
 
-const char* kFriendField = "BALMLayout:friends";
+const char* kSolverField = "BALMLayout:solver";
 const char* kBadLayoutPolicyField = "BALMLayout:policy";
 const char* kXTabsField = "BALMLayout:xtabs";
 const char* kYTabsField = "BALMLayout:ytabs";
@@ -269,6 +269,9 @@ BALMLayout::BALMLayout(BMessage* archive)
 	if (err == B_OK && archive->GetInfo(kBadLayoutPolicyField, NULL) == B_OK)
 		err = unarchiver.EnsureUnarchived(kBadLayoutPolicyField);
 
+	if (err == B_OK)
+		err = unarchiver.EnsureUnarchived(kSolverField);
+
 	unarchiver.Finish(err);
 }
 
@@ -1061,6 +1064,9 @@ BALMLayout::Archive(BMessage* into, bool deep) const
 		err = archiver.AddArchivable(kBadLayoutPolicyField, fBadLayoutPolicy);
 	}
 
+	if (err == B_OK)
+		err = archiver.AddArchivable(kSolverField, fSolver);
+
 	if (err == B_OK)
 		err = archiver.AddArchivable(kMyTabsField, fLeft);
 	if (err == B_OK)
@@ -1140,26 +1146,14 @@ BALMLayout::AllUnarchived(const BMessage* archive)
 {
 	BUnarchiver unarchiver(archive);
 
-	status_t err = B_OK;
-	if (fSolver == NULL) {
-		_SetSolver(new SharedSolver());
-
-		int32 friendCount = 0;
-		archive->GetInfo(kFriendField, NULL, &friendCount);
-		for (int32 i = 0; i < friendCount; i++) {
-			BALMLayout* layout;
-			err = unarchiver.FindObject(kFriendField, i,
-				BUnarchiver::B_DONT_ASSUME_OWNERSHIP, layout);
-			if (err != B_OK)
-				return err;
-
-			layout->_SetSolver(fSolver);
-		}
-	}
+	SharedSolver* solver;
+	status_t err = unarchiver.FindObject(kSolverField, solver);
 
 	if (err != B_OK)
 		return err;
 
+	_SetSolver(solver);
+
 	if (archive->GetInfo(kBadLayoutPolicyField, NULL) == B_OK) {
 		BadLayoutPolicy* policy;
 		err = unarchiver.FindObject(kBadLayoutPolicyField, policy);
@@ -1235,8 +1229,6 @@ BALMLayout::AllArchived(BMessage* archive) const
 {
 	status_t err = BAbstractLayout::AllArchived(archive);
 
-	if (err == B_OK)
-		err = fSolver->AddFriendReferences(this, archive, kFriendField);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/RowColumnManager.h b/src/libs/alm/RowColumnManager.h
index 55a844397a..39bc57dbfb 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/RowColumnManager.h
+++ b/src/libs/alm/RowColumnManager.h
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@
 #include "Tab.h"
 
 
+namespace BPrivate {
+	class SharedSolver;
+};
+
+
 namespace BALM {
 
 
@@ -41,6 +46,7 @@ public:
 			void				UpdateConstraints();
 			void				TabsChanged(Area* area);
 private:
+			friend class BPrivate::SharedSolver;
 			Row*				_FindRowFor(Area* area);
 			Column*				_FindColumnFor(Area* area);
 
@@ -52,7 +58,7 @@ private:
 			void				_UpdateConstraints(Row* row);
 			void				_UpdateConstraints(Column* column);
 
-			BObjectList<Row>		fRows;
+			BObjectList<Row>	fRows;
 			BObjectList<Column>	fColumns;
 
 			LinearSpec*			fLinearSpec;
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.cpp b/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.cpp
index df46da6ac4..57529c5165 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.cpp
@@ -6,13 +6,26 @@
 
 #include "SharedSolver.h"
 
+#include <set>
+
 #include <ALMLayout.h>
+#include <AutoDeleter.h>
 #include <ObjectList.h>
 
+#include "RowColumnManager.h"
+
 
 using LinearProgramming::LinearSpec;
 
 
+namespace {
+
+type_code kConstraintsTypeCode = 'cnst';
+const char* kConstraintsField = "SharedSolver:constraints";
+
+};
+
+
 struct SharedSolver::MinSizeValidator {
 	inline void CallSolverMethod(LinearSpec* spec, VariableList* vars)
 	{
@@ -80,6 +93,19 @@ SharedSolver::SharedSolver()
 }
 
 
+SharedSolver::SharedSolver(BMessage* archive)
+	:
+	BArchivable(archive),
+	fConstraintsValid(false),
+	fMinValid(false),
+	fMaxValid(false),
+	fPreferredValid(false),
+	fLayoutValid(false),
+	fLayoutContext(NULL)
+{
+}
+
+
 SharedSolver::~SharedSolver()
 {
 	if (fLayouts.CountItems() > 0)
@@ -178,18 +204,184 @@ SharedSolver::ValidateLayout(BLayoutContext* context)
 
 
 status_t
-SharedSolver::AddFriendReferences(const BALMLayout* layout, BMessage* archive,
-	const char* field)
+SharedSolver::Archive(BMessage* archive, bool deep) const
 {
-	status_t err = B_OK;
+	return BArchivable::Archive(archive, deep);
+}
+
+
+status_t
+SharedSolver::AllArchived(BMessage* archive) const
+{
+	/*
+	for each archived layout:
+		add it to our archive
+		add constraints created by areas and column manager to a set
+	for each constraint in the linear spec:
+		if it is not in the set above:
+			archive it
+	*/
 	BArchiver archiver(archive);
-	for (int32 i = fLayouts.CountItems() - 1; i >= 0 && err == B_OK; i--) {
-		BALMLayout* current = fLayouts.ItemAt(i);
-		if (current == layout)
+	std::set<Constraint*> autoConstraints;
+	for (int32 i = fLayouts.CountItems() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+		BALMLayout* layout = fLayouts.ItemAt(i);
+		if (!archiver.IsArchived(layout))
 			continue;
-		if (archiver.IsArchived(current))
-			err = archiver.AddArchivable(field, current);
+
+		for (int32 j = layout->CountItems() - 1; j >= 0; j--)
+			_AddConstraintsToSet(layout->AreaAt(j), autoConstraints);
+
+		for (int32 j = layout->fRowColumnManager->fRows.CountItems() - 1;
+				j >= 0; j--) {
+			Row* row = layout->fRowColumnManager->fRows.ItemAt(i);
+			autoConstraints.insert(row->fPrefSizeConstraint);
+		}
+
+		for (int32 j = layout->fRowColumnManager->fColumns.CountItems() - 1;
+				j >= 0; j--) {
+			Column* column = layout->fRowColumnManager->fColumns.ItemAt(i);
+			autoConstraints.insert(column->fPrefSizeConstraint);
+		}
 	}
+
+	status_t err = B_OK;
+	const ConstraintList& constraints = fLinearSpec.Constraints();
+	for (int32 i = constraints.CountItems() - 1; i >= 0 && err == B_OK; i--) {
+		Constraint* constraint = constraints.ItemAt(i);
+		if (autoConstraints.find(constraint) != autoConstraints.end())
+			err = _AddConstraintToArchive(constraint, archive);
+	}
+	return err;
+}
+
+
+status_t
+SharedSolver::AllUnarchived(const BMessage* archive)
+{
+	int32 count = 0;
+	archive->GetInfo(kConstraintsField, NULL, &count);
+
+	status_t err = B_OK;
+	BUnarchiver unarchiver(archive);
+	for (int32 i = 0; i < count && err == B_OK; i++) {
+		const void* constraintData;
+		ssize_t numBytes;
+		err = archive->FindData(kConstraintsField, kConstraintsTypeCode,
+			i, &constraintData, &numBytes);
+		if (err != B_OK)
+			return err;
+
+		err = _InstantiateConstraint(constraintData, numBytes, unarchiver);
+	}
+	return err;
+}
+
+
+void
+SharedSolver::_AddConstraintsToSet(Area* area,
+	std::set<Constraint*>& constraints)
+{
+	if (area->fMinContentWidth)
+		constraints.insert(area->fMinContentWidth);
+	if (area->fMaxContentWidth)
+		constraints.insert(area->fMaxContentWidth);
+	if (area->fMinContentHeight)
+		constraints.insert(area->fMinContentHeight);
+	if (area->fMaxContentHeight)
+		constraints.insert(area->fMaxContentHeight);
+	if (area->fContentAspectRatioC)
+		constraints.insert(area->fContentAspectRatioC);
+}
+
+
+status_t
+SharedSolver::_AddConstraintToArchive(Constraint* constraint, BMessage* archive)
+{
+	// TODO: check Read/Write calls
+	BArchiver archiver(archive);
+	BMallocIO buffer;
+	SummandList* leftSide = constraint->LeftSide();
+	int32 summandCount = leftSide->CountItems();
+	buffer.Write(&summandCount, sizeof(summandCount));
+
+	for (int32 i = 0; i < summandCount; i++) {
+		Summand* summand = leftSide->ItemAt(i);
+		Variable* var = summand->Var();
+		BArchivable* varArchivable = dynamic_cast<BArchivable*>(var);
+		if (!varArchivable || !archiver.IsArchived(varArchivable))
+			return B_NAME_NOT_FOUND;
+
+		int32 token;
+		archiver.GetTokenForArchivable(varArchivable, token);
+		buffer.Write(&token, sizeof(token));
+
+		double coefficient = summand->Coeff();
+		buffer.Write(&coefficient, sizeof(coefficient));
+	}
+
+	int32 op = constraint->Op();
+	buffer.Write(&op, sizeof(op));
+
+	double rightSide = constraint->RightSide();
+	buffer.Write(&rightSide, sizeof(rightSide));
+	double penaltyNeg = constraint->PenaltyNeg();
+	buffer.Write(&penaltyNeg, sizeof(penaltyNeg));
+	double penaltyPos = constraint->PenaltyPos();
+	buffer.Write(&penaltyPos, sizeof(penaltyPos));
+
+	return archive->AddData(kConstraintsField, kConstraintsTypeCode,
+		buffer.Buffer(), buffer.BufferLength(), false);
+}
+
+
+status_t
+SharedSolver::_InstantiateConstraint(const void* rawData, ssize_t numBytes,
+	BUnarchiver& unarchiver)
+{
+	// TODO: check Read/Write calls
+	BMemoryIO buffer(rawData, numBytes);
+	int32 summandCount;
+	buffer.Read((void*)&summandCount, sizeof(summandCount));
+
+	SummandList* summandList = new SummandList(20, true);
+	ObjectDeleter<SummandList> deleter(summandList);
+	status_t err = B_OK;
+	for (int32 i = 0; i < summandCount; i++) {
+		int32 token;
+		buffer.Read((void*)&token, sizeof(token));
+
+		BArchivable* varArchivable;
+		err = unarchiver.GetObject(token, varArchivable);
+		if (err != B_OK)
+			break;
+		Variable* var = dynamic_cast<Variable*>(varArchivable);
+		if (!var)
+			return B_BAD_TYPE;
+
+		fLinearSpec.AddVariable(var);
+
+		double coefficient;
+		buffer.Read(&coefficient, sizeof(coefficient));
+
+		summandList->AddItem(new Summand(coefficient, var));
+	}
+
+	int32 op;
+	buffer.Read(&op, sizeof(op));
+
+	double rightSide;
+	buffer.Read(&rightSide, sizeof(rightSide));
+	double penaltyNeg;
+	buffer.Read(&penaltyNeg, sizeof(penaltyNeg));
+	double penaltyPos;
+	buffer.Read(&penaltyPos, sizeof(penaltyPos));
+
+	if (err == B_OK) {
+		fLinearSpec.AddConstraint(summandList, (OperatorType)op, rightSide,
+			penaltyNeg, penaltyPos);
+		deleter.Detach();
+	}
+
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -275,3 +467,12 @@ SharedSolver::_Validate(bool& isValid, ResultType& result)
 	isValid = true;
 	fLayoutValid = false;
 }
+
+
+BArchivable*
+SharedSolver::Instantiate(BMessage* archive)
+{
+	if (validate_instantiation(archive, "BPrivate::SharedSolver"))
+		return new SharedSolver(archive);
+	return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.h b/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.h
index ce9319b6d9..0e9c84d649 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.h
+++ b/src/libs/alm/SharedSolver.h
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 #define _SHARED_SOLVER_H
 
 
+#include <set>
+
+#include <Archivable.h>
 #include <LayoutContext.h>
 #include <ObjectList.h>
 #include <Referenceable.h>
@@ -17,18 +20,20 @@ class BMessage;
 
 namespace BALM {
 	class BALMLayout;
+	class Area;
 };
 
-
 using BALM::BALMLayout;
-
+using BALM::Area;
 
 
 namespace BPrivate {
 
 
-class SharedSolver : BLayoutContextListener, public BReferenceable {
+class SharedSolver : BLayoutContextListener, public BReferenceable,
+	   public BArchivable {
 public:
+								SharedSolver(BMessage* archive);
 								SharedSolver();
 								~SharedSolver();
 
@@ -47,6 +52,13 @@ public:
 
 			status_t			AddFriendReferences(const BALMLayout* layout,
 									BMessage* archive, const char* field);
+
+			status_t			Archive(BMessage* archive, bool deep) const;
+			status_t			AllArchived(BMessage* archive) const;
+			status_t			AllUnarchived(const BMessage* archive);
+
+	static	BArchivable*		Instantiate(BMessage* archive);
+
 private:
 			struct MinSizeValidator;
 			struct MaxSizeValidator;
@@ -56,6 +68,14 @@ private:
 			friend struct MaxSizeValidator;
 			friend struct PreferredSizeValidator;
 
+
+	static	void				_AddConstraintsToSet(Area* area,
+									std::set<Constraint*>& constraints);
+	static	status_t			_AddConstraintToArchive(Constraint* constraint,
+									BMessage* archive);
+			status_t			_InstantiateConstraint(const void* rawData,
+									ssize_t numBytes, BUnarchiver& unarchiver);
+
 			void				SetMaxSize(BALM::BALMLayout* layout,
 									const BSize& max);
 			void				SetMinSize(BALM::BALMLayout* layout,