diff --git a/headers/libs/alm/ALMLayout.h b/headers/libs/alm/ALMLayout.h
index 4aa463ecb2..a7235cfc4e 100644
--- a/headers/libs/alm/ALMLayout.h
+++ b/headers/libs/alm/ALMLayout.h
@@ -38,28 +38,11 @@ public:
 			Column*				AddColumn();
 			Column*				AddColumn(XTab* left, XTab* right);
 
-			Area*				AddArea(XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right,
-									YTab* bottom, BView* content);
-			Area*				AddArea(Row* row, Column* column,
-									BView* content);
-			Area*				AreaOf(BView* control);
-
 			XTab*				Left() const;
 			XTab*				Right() const;
 			YTab*				Top() const;
 			YTab*				Bottom() const;
 
-	virtual	BSize				BaseMinSize();
-	virtual	BSize				BaseMaxSize();
-	virtual	BSize				BasePreferredSize();
-	virtual	BAlignment			BaseAlignment();
-
-	virtual	void				InvalidateLayout(bool children = false);
-
-	virtual	bool				ItemAdded(BLayoutItem* item, int32 atIndex);
-	virtual	void				ItemRemoved(BLayoutItem* item, int32 fromIndex);
-	virtual	void				DerivedLayoutItems();
-
 			char*				PerformancePath() const;
 			void				SetPerformancePath(char* path);
 
@@ -71,7 +54,60 @@ public:
 			void				SetSpacing(float spacing);
 			float				Spacing();
 
+	virtual	BLayoutItem*		AddView(BView* child);
+	virtual	BLayoutItem*		AddView(int32 index, BView* child);
+	virtual	Area*				AddView(BView* view, XTab* left, YTab* top,
+									XTab* right, YTab* bottom);
+	virtual	Area*				AddView(BView* view, Row* row, Column* column);
+	virtual	Area*				AddViewToRight(BView* view, Area* leftArea,
+									XTab* right = NULL, YTab* top = NULL,
+									YTab* bottom = NULL);
+	virtual	Area*				AddViewToLeft(BView* view, Area* rightArea,
+									XTab* left = NULL, YTab* top = NULL,
+									YTab* bottom = NULL);
+	virtual	Area*				AddViewToTop(BView* view, Area* bottomArea,
+									YTab* top = NULL, XTab* left = NULL,
+									XTab* right = NULL);
+	virtual	Area*				AddViewToBottom(BView* view, Area* topArea,
+									YTab* bottom = NULL, XTab* left = NULL,
+									XTab* right = NULL);
+
+	virtual	bool				AddItem(BLayoutItem* item);
+	virtual	bool				AddItem(int32 index, BLayoutItem* item);
+	virtual	Area*				AddItem(BLayoutItem* item, XTab* left,
+									YTab* top, XTab* right, YTab* bottom);
+	virtual	Area*				AddItem(BLayoutItem* item, Row* row,
+									Column* column);
+	virtual	Area*				AddItemToRight(BLayoutItem* item,
+									Area* leftArea, XTab* right = NULL,
+									YTab* top = NULL, YTab* bottom = NULL);
+	virtual	Area*				AddItemToLeft(BLayoutItem* item,
+									Area* rightArea, XTab* left = NULL,
+									YTab* top = NULL, YTab* bottom = NULL);
+	virtual	Area*				AddItemToTop(BLayoutItem* item,
+									Area* bottomArea, YTab* top = NULL,
+									XTab* left = NULL, XTab* right = NULL);
+	virtual	Area*				AddItemToBottom(BLayoutItem* item,
+									Area* topArea, YTab* bottom = NULL,
+									XTab* left = NULL, XTab* right = NULL);
+
+	virtual	Area*				AreaOf(BView* control);
+
+	virtual	BSize				BaseMinSize();
+	virtual	BSize				BaseMaxSize();
+	virtual	BSize				BasePreferredSize();
+	virtual	BAlignment			BaseAlignment();
+
+	virtual	void				InvalidateLayout(bool children = false);
+
+	virtual	bool				ItemAdded(BLayoutItem* item, int32 atIndex);
+	virtual	void				ItemRemoved(BLayoutItem* item, int32 fromIndex);
+	virtual	void				DerivedLayoutItems();
+
 private:
+			/*! Add a view without initialize the Area. */
+			BLayoutItem*		_CreateLayoutItem(BView* view);
+
 			void				_SolveLayout();
 
 			Area*				_AreaForItem(BLayoutItem* item) const;
diff --git a/headers/libs/alm/Area.h b/headers/libs/alm/Area.h
index c3317b878e..1874d5d3a3 100644
--- a/headers/libs/alm/Area.h
+++ b/headers/libs/alm/Area.h
@@ -81,9 +81,8 @@ private:
 								Area(BLayoutItem* item);
 
 			void				_Init(LinearSpec* ls, XTab* left, YTab* top,
-									XTab* right, YTab* bottom, BView* content);
-			void				_Init(LinearSpec* ls, Row* row, Column* column,
-									BView* content);
+									XTab* right, YTab* bottom);
+			void				_Init(LinearSpec* ls, Row* row, Column* column);
 
 			void				_DoLayout();
 
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp b/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp
index 190cfcce02..b26fbdb276 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/alm/ALMLayout.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #include <math.h>		// for floor
 #include <new>
 
+#include "ViewLayoutItem.h"
+
 #include "Area.h"
 #include "Column.h"
 #include "ResultType.h"
@@ -144,6 +146,20 @@ BALMLayout::AddColumn(XTab* left, XTab* right)
 }
 
 
+BLayoutItem*
+BALMLayout::AddView(BView* child)
+{
+	return AddView(-1, child);
+}
+
+
+BLayoutItem*
+BALMLayout::AddView(int32 index, BView* child)
+{
+	return BAbstractLayout::AddView(index, child);
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Adds a new area to the specification, automatically setting preferred size constraints.
  *
@@ -155,17 +171,15 @@ BALMLayout::AddColumn(XTab* left, XTab* right)
  * @return the new area
  */
 Area*
-BALMLayout::AddArea(XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right, YTab* bottom,
-	BView* content)
+BALMLayout::AddView(BView* view, XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right,
+	YTab* bottom)
 {
-	BLayoutItem* item = AddView(content);
-	Area* area = _AreaForItem(item);
-	if (!area)
+	BLayoutItem* item = _CreateLayoutItem(view);
+	Area* area = AddItem(item, left, top, right, bottom);
+	if (!area) {
+		delete item;
 		return NULL;
-
-	area->_Init(&fSolver, left, top, right, bottom, content);
-	area->SetDefaultBehavior();
-	area->SetAutoPreferredContentSize(false);
+	}
 	return area;
 }
 
@@ -179,20 +193,209 @@ BALMLayout::AddArea(XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right, YTab* bottom,
  * @return the new area
  */
 Area*
-BALMLayout::AddArea(Row* row, Column* column, BView* content)
+BALMLayout::AddView(BView* view, Row* row, Column* column)
 {
-	BLayoutItem* item = AddView(content);
+	BLayoutItem* item = _CreateLayoutItem(view);
+	Area* area = AddItem(item, row, column);
+	if (!area) {
+		delete item;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return area;
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddViewToRight(BView* view, Area* leftArea, XTab* right, YTab* top,
+	YTab* bottom)
+{
+	BLayoutItem* item = _CreateLayoutItem(view);
+	Area* area = AddItemToRight(item, leftArea, right, top, bottom);
+	if (!area) {
+		delete item;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return area;
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddViewToLeft(BView* view, Area* rightArea, XTab* left, YTab* top,
+	YTab* bottom)
+{
+	BLayoutItem* item = _CreateLayoutItem(view);
+	Area* area = AddItemToLeft(item, rightArea, left, top, bottom);
+	if (!area) {
+		delete item;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return area;
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddViewToTop(BView* view, Area* bottomArea, YTab* top, XTab* left,
+	XTab* right)
+{
+	BLayoutItem* item = _CreateLayoutItem(view);
+	Area* area = AddItemToTop(item, bottomArea, top, left, right);
+	if (!area) {
+		delete item;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return area;
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddViewToBottom(BView* view, Area* topArea, YTab* bottom,
+	XTab* left, XTab* right)
+{
+	BLayoutItem* item = _CreateLayoutItem(view);
+	Area* area = AddItemToBottom(item, topArea, bottom, left, right);
+	if (!area) {
+		delete item;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return area;
+}
+
+
+bool
+BALMLayout::AddItem(BLayoutItem* item)
+{
+	return AddItem(-1, item);
+}
+
+
+bool
+BALMLayout::AddItem(int32 index, BLayoutItem* item)
+{
+	if (!item)
+		return NULL;
+
+	// simply add the item at the upper right corner of the previous item
+	// TODO maybe find a more elegant solution
+	XTab* left = Left();
+	YTab* top = Top();
+	XTab* right = AddXTab();
+	YTab* bottom = AddYTab();
+
+	// check range
+	if (index < 0 || index > CountItems())
+		index = CountItems();
+
+	// for index = 0 we already have set the right tabs
+	if (index != 0) {
+		BLayoutItem* prevItem = ItemAt(index - 1);
+		Area* area = _AreaForItem(prevItem);
+		if (area) {
+			left = area->Right();
+			top = area->Top();
+		}
+	}
+	Area* area = AddItem(item, left, top, right, bottom);
+	return area ? true : false;
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddItem(BLayoutItem* item, XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right,
+	YTab* bottom)
+{
+	if (!BAbstractLayout::AddItem(-1, item))
+		return NULL;
 	Area* area = _AreaForItem(item);
 	if (!area)
 		return NULL;
 
-	area->_Init(&fSolver, row, column, content);
+	area->_Init(&fSolver, left, top, right, bottom);
 	area->SetDefaultBehavior();
 	area->SetAutoPreferredContentSize(false);
 	return area;
 }
 
 
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddItem(BLayoutItem* item, Row* row, Column* column)
+{
+	if (!BAbstractLayout::AddItem(-1, item))
+		return NULL;
+	Area* area = _AreaForItem(item);
+	if (!area)
+		return NULL;
+
+	area->_Init(&fSolver, row, column);
+	area->SetDefaultBehavior();
+	area->SetAutoPreferredContentSize(false);
+	return area;
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddItemToRight(BLayoutItem* item, Area* leftArea, XTab* right,
+	YTab* top, YTab* bottom)
+{
+	XTab* left = leftArea->Right();
+	if (!right)
+		right = AddXTab();
+	if (!top)
+		top = leftArea->Top();
+	if (!bottom)
+		bottom = leftArea->Bottom();
+
+	return AddItem(item, left, top, right, bottom);
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddItemToLeft(BLayoutItem* item, Area* rightArea, XTab* left,
+	YTab* top, YTab* bottom)
+{
+	if (!left)
+		left = AddXTab();
+	XTab* right = rightArea->Left();
+	if (!top)
+		top = rightArea->Top();
+	if (!bottom)
+		bottom = rightArea->Bottom();
+
+	return AddItem(item, left, top, right, bottom);
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddItemToTop(BLayoutItem* item, Area* bottomArea, YTab* top,
+	XTab* left, XTab* right)
+{
+	if (!left)
+		left = bottomArea->Left();
+	if (!right)
+		right = bottomArea->Right();
+	if (!top)
+		top = AddYTab();
+	YTab* bottom = bottomArea->Top();
+
+	return AddItem(item, left, top, right, bottom);
+}
+
+
+Area*
+BALMLayout::AddItemToBottom(BLayoutItem* item, Area* topArea, YTab* bottom,
+	XTab* left, XTab* right)
+{
+	if (!left)
+		left = topArea->Left();
+	if (!right)
+		right = topArea->Right();
+	YTab* top = topArea->Bottom();
+	if (!bottom)
+		bottom = AddYTab();
+
+	return AddItem(item, left, top, right, bottom);
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Finds the area that contains the given control.
  *
@@ -418,6 +621,13 @@ BALMLayout::Spacing()
 }
 
 
+BLayoutItem*
+BALMLayout::_CreateLayoutItem(BView* view)
+{
+	return new(std::nothrow) BViewLayoutItem(view);
+}
+
+
 void
 BALMLayout::_SolveLayout()
 {
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/Area.cpp b/src/libs/alm/Area.cpp
index e4abdd50c0..49b2994429 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/Area.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/alm/Area.cpp
@@ -549,8 +549,7 @@ Area::Area(BLayoutItem* item)
  * Initialize variables.
  */
 void
-Area::_Init(LinearSpec* ls, XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right, YTab* bottom,
-	BView* content)
+Area::_Init(LinearSpec* ls, XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right, YTab* bottom)
 {
 	fShrinkPenalties = BSize(2, 2);
 	fGrowPenalties = BSize(1, 1);
@@ -578,10 +577,9 @@ Area::_Init(LinearSpec* ls, XTab* left, YTab* top, XTab* right, YTab* bottom,
 
 
 void
-Area::_Init(LinearSpec* ls, Row* row, Column* column, BView* content)
+Area::_Init(LinearSpec* ls, Row* row, Column* column)
 {
-	_Init(ls, column->Left(), row->Top(), column->Right(), row->Bottom(),
-		  content);
+	_Init(ls, column->Left(), row->Top(), column->Right(), row->Bottom());
 	fRow = row;
 	fColumn = column;
 }
diff --git a/src/libs/alm/Jamfile b/src/libs/alm/Jamfile
index ce79d1caf2..de8903ba7f 100644
--- a/src/libs/alm/Jamfile
+++ b/src/libs/alm/Jamfile
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ SetSubDirSupportedPlatformsBeOSCompatible ;
 
 UseLibraryHeaders lp_solve linprog alm ;
 UsePrivateHeaders shared ;
+UsePrivateHeaders [ FDirName $(SUBDIR) $(DOTDOT) $(DOTDOT) kits interface ] ;
 
 
 SharedLibrary libalm.so : 
@@ -16,4 +17,3 @@ SharedLibrary libalm.so :
 	:
 	be liblpsolve55.so liblinprog.so $(TARGET_LIBSUPC++)
 ;
-