Index: TODO
===================================================================
diff -u -rc7b94af116f0a5850e91d8422594a1fd8cee1fba -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- TODO	(.../TODO)	(revision c7b94af116f0a5850e91d8422594a1fd8cee1fba)
+++ TODO	(.../TODO)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -2431,7 +2431,7 @@
 - added "... info method exists ...."
 - updated migration guide
 
-- changed named of method handling commands in nsf:
+- changed names of method handling commands in nsf:
    ::nsf::methodproperty => ::nsf::method::property
    ::nsf::method         => ::nsf::method::create
    ::nsf::methoddelete   => ::nsf::method::delete
@@ -2451,7 +2451,12 @@
 - improved documentation
 - removed isInitString()
 
+- changed names of var handling commands in nsf:
+   ::nsf::existsvar => ::nsf::var::exists
+   ::nsf::importvar => ::nsf::var::import
+   ::nsf::setvar    => ::nsf::var::set
 
+
 TODO:
 
 - fix misleading error message:
Index: generic/gentclAPI.decls
===================================================================
diff -u -re3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- generic/gentclAPI.decls	(.../gentclAPI.decls)	(revision e3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849)
+++ generic/gentclAPI.decls	(.../gentclAPI.decls)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -40,17 +40,8 @@
 nsfCmd colon NsfColonCmd {
   {-argName "args" -type allargs}
 }
-nsfCmd existsvar NsfExistsVarCmd {
-  {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
-  {-argName "varName" -required 1}
-}
 nsfCmd finalize NsfFinalizeObjCmd {
 }
-
-nsfCmd importvar NsfImportvarCmd {
-  {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
-  {-argName "args" -type args}
-}
 nsfCmd interp NsfInterpObjCmd {
   {-argName "name" -required 1}
   {-argName "args" -type allargs}
@@ -147,18 +138,27 @@
   {-argName "relationtype" -required 1 -type "object-mixin|class-mixin|object-filter|class-filter|class|superclass|rootclass"}
   {-argName "value" -required 0 -type tclobj}
 }
+
 nsfCmd current NsfCurrentCmd {
   {-argName "currentoption" -required 0 -type "proc|method|methodpath|object|class|activelevel|args|activemixin|calledproc|calledmethod|calledclass|callingproc|callingmethod|callingclass|callinglevel|callingobject|filterreg|isnextcall|next"}
 }
 nsfCmd self NsfSelfCmd {
 }
-nsfCmd setvar NsfSetVarCmd {
+
+nsfCmd "var::exists" NsfExistsVarCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
+  {-argName "varName" -required 1}
+}
+nsfCmd "var::import" NsfImportvarCmd {
+  {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
+  {-argName "args" -type args}
+}
+nsfCmd "var::set" NsfSetVarCmd {
+  {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "varName" -required 1 -type tclobj}
   {-argName "value" -required 0 -type tclobj}
 }
 
-
 #
 # object methods
 #
Index: generic/nsf.c
===================================================================
diff -u -rc09fd1356ee0d275a8e0fa921744f052493f1a79 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- generic/nsf.c	(.../nsf.c)	(revision c09fd1356ee0d275a8e0fa921744f052493f1a79)
+++ generic/nsf.c	(.../nsf.c)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -14541,7 +14541,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd alias NsfAliasCmd {
+nsfCmd method::alias NsfAliasCmd {
   {-argName "object" -type object}
   {-argName "-per-object"}
   {-argName "methodName"}
@@ -14710,7 +14710,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd assertion NsfAssertionCmd {
+nsfCmd method::assertion NsfAssertionCmd {
   {-argName "object" -type object}
   {-argName "assertionsubcmd" -required 1 -type "check|object-invar|class-invar"}
   {-argName "arg" -required 0 -type tclobj}
@@ -15117,7 +15117,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd existsvar NsfExistsVarCmd {
+nsfCmd var::exists NsfExistsVarCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "varname" -required 1}
 }
@@ -15174,7 +15174,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd forward NsfForwardCmd {
+nsfCmd method::forward NsfForwardCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "-per-object"}
   {-argName "method" -required 1 -type tclobj}
@@ -15230,7 +15230,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd importvar NsfImportvarCmd {
+nsfCmd var::import NsfImportvarCmd {
   {-argName "object" -type object}
   {-argName "args" -type args}
 }
@@ -15369,7 +15369,7 @@
 
 
 /*
-nsfCmd method NsfMethodCmd {
+nsfCmd method::create NsfMethodCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "-inner-namespace"}
   {-argName "-per-object"}
@@ -15398,7 +15398,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd methodproperty NsfMethodPropertyCmd {
+nsfCmd ::method::property NsfMethodPropertyCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "-per-object"}
   {-argName "methodName" -required 1 -type tclobj}
@@ -16384,7 +16384,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd setvar NsfSetVarCmd {
+nsfCmd var::set NsfSetVarCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "varname" -required 1 -type tclobj}
   {-argName "value" -required 0 -type tclobj}
@@ -16401,7 +16401,7 @@
 }
 
 /*
-nsfCmd setter NsfSetterCmd {
+nsfCmd method::setter NsfSetterCmd {
   {-argName "object" -required 1 -type object}
   {-argName "-per-object"}
   {-argName "parameter" -type tclobj}
Index: generic/tclAPI.h
===================================================================
diff -u -re3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- generic/tclAPI.h	(.../tclAPI.h)	(revision e3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849)
+++ generic/tclAPI.h	(.../tclAPI.h)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -2209,7 +2209,7 @@
   {"command", NSF_ARG_REQUIRED, 0, ConvertToTclobj, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL},
   {"args", 0, 0, ConvertToNothing, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL}}
 },
-{"::nsf::existsvar", NsfExistsVarCmdStub, 2, {
+{"::nsf::var::exists", NsfExistsVarCmdStub, 2, {
   {"object", NSF_ARG_REQUIRED, 0, ConvertToObject, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL},
   {"varName", NSF_ARG_REQUIRED, 0, ConvertToString, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL}}
 },
@@ -2229,7 +2229,7 @@
   {"target", 0, 0, ConvertToTclobj, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL},
   {"args", 0, 0, ConvertToNothing, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL}}
 },
-{"::nsf::importvar", NsfImportvarCmdStub, 2, {
+{"::nsf::var::import", NsfImportvarCmdStub, 2, {
   {"object", NSF_ARG_REQUIRED, 0, ConvertToObject, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL},
   {"args", 0, 0, ConvertToNothing, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL}}
 },
@@ -2304,7 +2304,7 @@
 {"::nsf::self", NsfSelfCmdStub, 0, {
   {NULL, 0, 0, NULL, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL}}
 },
-{"::nsf::setvar", NsfSetVarCmdStub, 3, {
+{"::nsf::var::set", NsfSetVarCmdStub, 3, {
   {"object", NSF_ARG_REQUIRED, 0, ConvertToObject, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL},
   {"varName", NSF_ARG_REQUIRED, 0, ConvertToTclobj, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL},
   {"value", 0, 0, ConvertToTclobj, NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL,NULL}}
Index: library/lib/doc-tools.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r440400dcb01fed8b18c4a2d98e4eca5dbaf309e4 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- library/lib/doc-tools.tcl	(.../doc-tools.tcl)	(revision 440400dcb01fed8b18c4a2d98e4eca5dbaf309e4)
+++ library/lib/doc-tools.tcl	(.../doc-tools.tcl)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@
     :public method get {obj prop} {
       set def [expr {[info exists :default]?${:default}:0}]
       if {[$obj eval [list set :$prop]] == $def} {
-	return [::nsf::setvar $obj $prop [expr {!$def}]]
+	return [::nsf::var::set $obj $prop [expr {!$def}]]
       }
       return [next]
     }
@@ -2667,7 +2667,7 @@
 		    if {[info commands "::nx::Class"] ne ""} {
 		      if {[::nsf::dispatch $obj ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype ::nx::Slot]} {
 			dict set bundle objtype slot
-			dict set bundle incremental [expr {[::nsf::dispatch $obj ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype ::nx::RelationSlot] || ([::nsf::dispatch $obj ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype ::nx::Attribute] && [::nsf::existsvar $obj incremental] && [::nsf::setvar $obj incremental])}]
+			dict set bundle incremental [expr {[::nsf::dispatch $obj ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype ::nx::RelationSlot] || ([::nsf::dispatch $obj ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype ::nx::Attribute] && [::nsf::var::exists $obj incremental] && [::nsf::var::set $obj incremental])}]
 		      }
 		      if {[::nsf::dispatch $obj ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype ::nx::EnsembleObject]} {
 			dict set bundle objtype ensemble
@@ -2679,7 +2679,7 @@
 	      		->source [file normalize [info script]] \
 	      		->nsexported [::nx::doc::is_exported $obj] \
 			->bundle $bundle \
-	      		{*}[expr {[::nsf::existsvar $obj __initcmd] && [::nsf::setvar $obj __initcmd] ne ""?[list ->docstring [::nsf::setvar $obj __initcmd]]:[list]}]
+	      		{*}[expr {[::nsf::var::exists $obj __initcmd] && [::nsf::var::set $obj __initcmd] ne ""?[list ->docstring [::nsf::var::set $obj __initcmd]]:[list]}]
 	      	    return $obj
 	      	  }
 		::nsf::mixin $rootmclass ${::nx::doc::rootns}::__Tracer
@@ -2715,7 +2715,7 @@
 			  set handle [::nsf::dispatch $obj \
 					  ::nsf::methods::${scope}::info::method \
 					  handle $leg]
-			  if {![::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current class] handles] || ![[::nsf::current class] eval [concat dict exists \${:handles} $handle]]} {
+			  if {![::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current class] handles] || ![[::nsf::current class] eval [concat dict exists \${:handles} $handle]]} {
 			    dict set bundle handle $handle
 			    dict set bundle handleinfo [::nx::doc::handleinfo $handle]
 			    dict set bundle type [::nsf::dispatch ${::nx::doc::rootns}::__Tracer ::nsf::methods::${scope}::info::method type $handle]
@@ -2906,7 +2906,7 @@
 		      ->cmdtype @class \
 		      ->source [file normalize [info script]] \
 		      ->nsexported [::nx::doc::is_exported $r] \
-		      {*}[expr {[::nsf::existsvar $r __initcmd] && [::nsf::setvar $obj __initcmd] ne ""?[list ->docstring [::nsf::setvar $r __initcmd]]:[list]}]
+		      {*}[expr {[::nsf::var::exists $r __initcmd] && [::nsf::var::set $obj __initcmd] ne ""?[list ->docstring [::nsf::var::set $r __initcmd]]:[list]}]
 		}
 	      }
 
Index: library/nx/nx.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r596677fb3ed1e15dc62a04789781347fb3dbc369 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- library/nx/nx.tcl	(.../nx.tcl)	(revision 596677fb3ed1e15dc62a04789781347fb3dbc369)
+++ library/nx/nx.tcl	(.../nx.tcl)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@
       #puts stderr "::nx::BootStrapAttributeSlot create $slotObj"
       ::nx::BootStrapAttributeSlot create $slotObj
       if {[info exists default]} {
-        ::nsf::setvar $slotObj default $default
+        ::nsf::var::set $slotObj default $default
         unset default
       }
       ::nsf::method::setter $class $att
@@ -723,14 +723,14 @@
 
         # checking subclasses is not required during bootstrap
         foreach i [::nsf::dispatch $class ::nsf::methods::class::info::instances] {
-          if {![::nsf::existsvar $i $att]} {
+          if {![::nsf::var::exists $i $att]} {
             if {[string match {*\[*\]*} $default]} {
               set value [::nsf::dispatch $i -frame object ::eval subst $default]
             } else {
 	      set value $default
 	    }
-            ::nsf::setvar $i $att $value
-            #puts stderr "::nsf::setvar $i $att $value (second round)"
+            ::nsf::var::set $i $att $value
+            #puts stderr "::nsf::var::set $i $att $value (second round)"
           }
         }
         unset default
@@ -1118,8 +1118,8 @@
 
   ::nx::Attribute protected method checkInstVar {} {
     if {${:per-object} && [info exists :default] } {
-      if {![::nsf::existsvar ${:domain} ${:name}]} {
-	::nsf::setvar ${:domain} ${:name} ${:default}
+      if {![::nsf::var::exists ${:domain} ${:name}]} {
+	::nsf::var::set ${:domain} ${:name} ${:default}
       }
     }
   }
@@ -1215,7 +1215,7 @@
     }
     set options [:getParameterOptions -withMultiplicity true]
     lappend options slot=[::nsf::self]
-    set body {::nsf::setvar $obj $var $value}
+    set body {::nsf::var::set $obj $var $value}
     
     if {[:info lookup method assign] eq "::nsf::classes::nx::Attribute::assign"} {
       puts stderr ":public method assign [list obj var [:namedParameterSpec -prefix {} value $options]] $body"
@@ -1262,25 +1262,25 @@
   #
   # implementation of forwarder operations: assign get add delete
   #
-  ::nsf::method::alias Attribute get ::nsf::setvar
-  ::nsf::method::alias Attribute assign ::nsf::setvar
+  ::nsf::method::alias Attribute get ::nsf::var::set
+  ::nsf::method::alias Attribute assign ::nsf::var::set
 
   Attribute public method add {obj prop value {pos 0}} {
     if {![:isMultivalued]} {
       puts stderr "... vars [[self] info vars] // [[self] eval {set :multiplicity}]"
       error "Property $prop of [set :domain] ist not multivalued"
     }
-    if {[::nsf::existsvar $obj $prop]} {
-      ::nsf::setvar $obj $prop [linsert [::nsf::setvar $obj $prop] $pos $value]
+    if {[::nsf::var::exists $obj $prop]} {
+      ::nsf::var::set $obj $prop [linsert [::nsf::var::set $obj $prop] $pos $value]
     } else {
-      ::nsf::setvar $obj $prop [list $value]
+      ::nsf::var::set $obj $prop [list $value]
     }
   }
 
   Attribute public method delete {-nocomplain:switch obj prop value} {
-    set old [::nsf::setvar $obj $prop]
+    set old [::nsf::var::set $obj $prop]
     set p [lsearch -glob $old $value]
-    if {$p>-1} {::nsf::setvar $obj $prop [lreplace $old $p $p]} else {
+    if {$p>-1} {::nsf::var::set $obj $prop [lreplace $old $p $p]} else {
       error "$value is not a $prop of $obj (valid are: $old)"
     }
   }
@@ -1292,15 +1292,15 @@
     #puts "GETVAR [::nsf::current method] obj=$obj cmd=$cmd, var=$var, op=$op"
     ::nsf::dispatch $obj -frame object \
 	::trace remove variable $var $op [list [::nsf::self] [::nsf::current method] $obj $cmd]
-    ::nsf::setvar $obj $var [$obj eval $cmd]
+    ::nsf::var::set $obj $var [$obj eval $cmd]
   }
   Attribute method __value_from_cmd {obj cmd var sub op} {
     #puts "GETVAR [::nsf::current method] obj=$obj cmd=$cmd, var=$var, op=$op"
-    ::nsf::setvar $obj $var [$obj eval $cmd]
+    ::nsf::var::set $obj $var [$obj eval $cmd]
   }
   Attribute method __value_changed_cmd {obj cmd var sub op} {
     # puts stderr "**************************"
-    # puts "valuechanged obj=$obj cmd=$cmd, var=$var, op=$op, ...\n$obj exists $var -> [::nsf::setvar $obj $var]"
+    # puts "valuechanged obj=$obj cmd=$cmd, var=$var, op=$op, ...\n$obj exists $var -> [::nsf::var::set $obj $var]"
     eval $cmd
   }
 
@@ -1339,13 +1339,13 @@
       ::nx::MetaSlot createFromParameterSpec [::nsf::self] {*}$arg
     }
     set slot [::nx::slotObj [::nsf::self]]
-    ::nsf::setvar $slot __parameter $arglist
+    ::nsf::var::set $slot __parameter $arglist
   }
 
   Class method "info attributes" {} {
     set slot [::nx::slotObj [::nsf::self]]
-    if {[::nsf::existsvar $slot __parameter]} {
-      return [::nsf::setvar $slot __parameter]
+    if {[::nsf::var::exists $slot __parameter]} {
+      return [::nsf::var::set $slot __parameter]
     }
     return ""
   }
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@
 
     :protected method init {} {
        :public method new {-childof args} {
-	 ::nsf::importvar [::nsf::current class] {container object} withclass
+	 ::nsf::var::import [::nsf::current class] {container object} withclass
 	 if {![::nsf::isobject $object]} {
 	   $withclass create $object
 	 }
@@ -1644,9 +1644,9 @@
   # framework is faster than namespace-ensembles.
   #
   Object create ::nx::var {
-    :public alias exists ::nsf::existsvar 
-    :public alias import ::nsf::importvar
-    :public alias set ::nsf::setvar
+    :public alias exists ::nsf::var::exists 
+    :public alias import ::nsf::var::import
+    :public alias set ::nsf::var::set
   }
 
   #interp alias {} ::nx::self {} ::nsf::self
Index: library/serialize/serializer.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -re3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- library/serialize/serializer.tcl	(.../serializer.tcl)	(revision e3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849)
+++ library/serialize/serializer.tcl	(.../serializer.tcl)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
       # we export the object tree.
       set oo $o
       while {1} {
-        if {[::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current class] exportObjects($o)]} {
+        if {[::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current class] exportObjects($o)]} {
           return 1
         }
         # we do this for object trees without object-less namespaces
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@
           if {[$o eval [list ::array exists :$v]]} {
             lappend setcmd [list array set :$v [$o eval [list array get :$v]]]
           } else {
-            lappend setcmd [list set :$v [::nsf::setvar $o $v]]
+            lappend setcmd [list set :$v [::nsf::var::set $o $v]]
           }
         }
       }
Index: library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl
===================================================================
diff -u -re3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl	(.../slottest.xotcl)	(revision e3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849)
+++ library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl	(.../slottest.xotcl)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
 o1 set z 100
 #o1 forward z o1 [list %argclindex [list set set]] %proc
 #o1 proc get name {my set $name}
-o1 forward get -earlybinding ::nsf::setvar %self %1
+o1 forward get -earlybinding ::nsf::var::set %self %1
 ? {o1 info forward} get
 ? {o1 get z 101} 101
 ? {o1 get z} "101"
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
 ? {o1 get z 124} 124 "set value via new parametercmd get"
 
 
-o1 forward zz -earlybinding ::nsf::setvar %self %proc
+o1 forward zz -earlybinding ::nsf::var::set %self %proc
 ? {o1 zz 123} 123
 ? {o1 zz} 123
 
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@
 ? {o1 myf 100} 200
 
 o1 set x 42
-o1 forward x -earlybinding ::nsf::setvar %self %proc
+o1 forward x -earlybinding ::nsf::var::set %self %proc
 ? [list o1 x] 42
 ? [list o1 x 41] 41
 ? {o1 x} "get parametercmd via forward (earlybinding)"
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@
 P create p2 -age 345 -s 567
 
 ? {p2 age} "parametercmd read"
-? {::nsf::setvar p2 age} "via setinstvar"
+? {::nsf::var::set p2 age} "via setinstvar"
 ? {p2 s} "parameter read with setter"
 
 
Index: tests/alias.test
===================================================================
diff -u -re3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- tests/alias.test	(.../alias.test)	(revision e3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849)
+++ tests/alias.test	(.../alias.test)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   # The system methods of nx::Attribute are either alias or forwarders
   ? {lsort [::nx::Attribute info methods -methodtype alias]} {assign get}
   ? {::nx::Attribute info method definition get} \
-      "::nx::Attribute public alias get ::nsf::setvar"
+      "::nx::Attribute public alias get ::nsf::var::set"
 
   # define an alias and retrieve its definition
   set cmd "::nx::Object public alias set ::set"
Index: tests/doc.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r596677fb3ed1e15dc62a04789781347fb3dbc369 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- tests/doc.test	(.../doc.test)	(revision 596677fb3ed1e15dc62a04789781347fb3dbc369)
+++ tests/doc.test	(.../doc.test)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -1091,18 +1091,18 @@
   ::nsf::assertion
   ::nsf::createobjectsystem
   ::nsf::dispatch
-  ::nsf::existsvar
+  ::nsf::var::exists
   ::nsf::exithandler
   ::nsf::forward
-  ::nsf::importvar
+  ::nsf::var::import
   ::nsf::isobject
   ::nsf::method
   ::nsf::method::property
   ::nsf::method::provide
   ::nsf::qualify
   ::nsf::method::require
   ::nsf::setter
-  ::nsf::setvar
+  ::nsf::var::set
 }
 
 set project [processor process \
Index: tests/parameters.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r5039877970c5ab19bc80586e0d49bfd715873e98 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- tests/parameters.test	(.../parameters.test)	(revision 5039877970c5ab19bc80586e0d49bfd715873e98)
+++ tests/parameters.test	(.../parameters.test)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@
   ::nx::Object create o {
     :attribute a {set :defaultcmd { set _ 4 } }
     :attribute b {set :valuecmd { set _ 44 } }
-    :attribute c {set :valuechangedcmd { ::nsf::setvar $obj $var 999 }}
+    :attribute c {set :valuechangedcmd { ::nsf::var::set $obj $var 999 }}
   }
 
   ? {o a} 4
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@
   ::nx::Class create C {
     :attribute a {set :defaultcmd { set _ 4 } }
     :attribute b {set :valuecmd { set _ 44 } }
-    :attribute c {set :valuechangedcmd { ::nsf::setvar $obj $var 999 }}
+    :attribute c {set :valuechangedcmd { ::nsf::var::set $obj $var 999 }}
     :create c1
   }
   ? {c1 a} 4
Index: tests/var-access.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r84c5ee62a46e8fab7b9cc481c87290d387baced9 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- tests/var-access.test	(.../var-access.test)	(revision 84c5ee62a46e8fab7b9cc481c87290d387baced9)
+++ tests/var-access.test	(.../var-access.test)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -5,16 +5,16 @@
 
 namespace eval ::nx::var1 {
   namespace ensemble create -map {
-    exists ::nsf::existsvar 
-    import ::nsf::importvar 
-    set ::nsf::setvar
+    exists ::nsf::var::exists 
+    import ::nsf::var::import 
+    set ::nsf::var::set
   }
 }
 
 ::nx::Object create ::nx::var2 {
-  :alias exists ::nsf::existsvar 
-  :alias import ::nsf::importvar
-  :alias set ::nsf::setvar
+  :alias exists ::nsf::var::exists 
+  :alias import ::nsf::var::import
+  :alias set ::nsf::var::set
 }
 
 Test parameter count 10000
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
       o eval {incr :x}
     }
     :method foo2 {} {
-      ::nsf::importvar o x
+      ::nsf::var::import o x
       incr x
     }
     :method foo3 {} {
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@
     }
   }
   
-  ? {::nsf::setvar o x} 1
-  ? {::nsf::existsvar o x} 1
-  ? {::nsf::existsvar o y} 0
+  ? {::nsf::var::set o x} 1
+  ? {::nsf::var::exists o x} 1
+  ? {::nsf::var::exists o y} 0
 
   ? {::nx::var1 set o x} 1
   ? {::nx::var1 exists o x} 1
@@ -59,16 +59,16 @@
   ? {p foo0} 2
 
   ? {p foo1} 2
-  ? {::nsf::setvar o x} 10002
+  ? {::nsf::var::set o x} 10002
 
   ? {p foo2} 10003
-  ? {::nsf::setvar o x} 20003
+  ? {::nsf::var::set o x} 20003
 
   ? {p foo3} 20004
-  ? {::nsf::setvar o x} 30004
+  ? {::nsf::var::set o x} 30004
 
   ? {p foo4} 30005
-  ? {::nsf::setvar o x} 40005
+  ? {::nsf::var::set o x} 40005
 }
 
 puts stderr =====END
Index: tests/varresolution.test
===================================================================
diff -u -re3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849 -r65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc
--- tests/varresolution.test	(.../varresolution.test)	(revision e3a84e351aaf79c02a63cc0741dde7b9bd550849)
+++ tests/varresolution.test	(.../varresolution.test)	(revision 65f8883a4596ea98365b7de1652700e3ac7394cc)
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
   # vartables on the stack
   :require namespace
   global g
-  ::nsf::importvar o2 i
+  ::nsf::var::import o2 i
   set x 1
   set :y 2
   set ::z 3
@@ -59,28 +59,28 @@
   set :a(:b) 1
   set :a(::c) 1
 }
-? {::nsf::importvar o2 j} \
+? {::nsf::var::import o2 j} \
     "importvar cannot import variable 'j' into method scope; not called from a method frame"
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::importvar [current] :a}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::import [current] :a}
 ? {o foo} "variable name \":a\" must not contain namespace separator or colon prefix"
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::importvar [current] ::a}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::import [current] ::a}
 ? {o foo} "variable name \"::a\" must not contain namespace separator or colon prefix"
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::importvar [current] a(:b)}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::import [current] a(:b)}
 ? {o foo} "can't make instance variable a(:b) on ::o: Variable cannot be an element in an array; use e.g. an alias."
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::importvar [current] {a(:b) ab}}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::import [current] {a(:b) ab}}
 ? {o foo} ""
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::existsvar [current] ::a}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::exists [current] ::a}
 ? {o foo} "variable name \"::a\" must not contain namespace separator or colon prefix"
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::existsvar [current] a(:b)}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::exists [current] a(:b)}
 ? {o foo} 1
 
-o method foo {} {::nsf::existsvar [current] a(::c)}
+o method foo {} {::nsf::var::exists [current] a(::c)}
 ? {o foo} 1
 
 set ::o::Y 5
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
 Object create o {
   :require namespace
   global g
-  ::nsf::importvar o2 i
+  ::nsf::var::import o2 i
   set x 1
   set :y 2
   set ::z 3
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
 ? {::o set x} 3
 ? {namespace eval ::o {info exists x}} 1
 ? {::o unset x} ""
-? {::nsf::existsvar o x} 0
+? {::nsf::var::exists o x} 0
 ? {o eval {info exists :x}} 0
 ? {info vars ::x} ""
 ? {namespace eval ::o {info exists x}} 0
@@ -867,17 +867,17 @@
   set script {
     # early probing: reflects the compiled-only, unexecuted state
     set _ [join [list {*}[lsort [info vars :*]] [info locals :*] \
-		     [info exists :u] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] u] \
-		     [info exists :v] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] v] \
-		     [info exists :x] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
+		     [info exists :u] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] u] \
+		     [info exists :v] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] v] \
+		     [info exists :x] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
     catch {set :u}
     set :v 1
     unset :x
     # late probing: reflects the (ideally) compiled, *executed* state
     append _ | [join [list {*}[lsort [info vars :*]] [info locals :*] \
-			[info exists :u] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] u] \
-			[info exists :v] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] v] \
-			[info exists :x] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
+			[info exists :u] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] u] \
+			[info exists :v] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] v] \
+			[info exists :x] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
     return $_
   }
 
@@ -916,13 +916,13 @@
     Object create o {
       :public method foo {} {
 	set _ [join [list {*}[lsort [info vars :*]] [info locals :*] \
-			 [info exists w] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] w] \
-			 [info exists :x] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
+			 [info exists w] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] w] \
+			 [info exists :x] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
 	variable w; # -> intention: a variable "w" in the effective namespace (e.g., "::ns1::w")
 	variable :x; # -> intention: a variable ":x" in the effective namespace (e.g., "::ns1:::x"!).
 	append _ | [join [list {*}[lsort [info vars :*]] [info locals :*] \
-			      [info exists w] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] w] \
-			      [info exists :x] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
+			      [info exists w] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] w] \
+			      [info exists :x] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
 	return $_
       }    
     }
@@ -934,20 +934,20 @@
 	set _ [join [list {*}[lsort [info vars :*]] [info locals :*] \
 			 [namespace which -variable [namespace current]::w] \
 			 [info exists [namespace current]::w] \
-			 [info exists w] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] w] \
+			 [info exists w] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] w] \
 			 [namespace which -variable [namespace current]:::x] \
 			 [info exists [namespace current]:::x] \
-			 [info exists :x] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
+			 [info exists :x] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
 	variable w 1; # -> intention: a variable "w" in the effective namespace (e.g., "::ns1::w")
 	variable :x 2; # -> intention: a variable ":x" in the effective namespace (e.g., "::ns1:::x"!).
 	append _ | [join [list {*}[lsort [info vars :*]] [info locals :*] \
 			 [namespace which -variable [namespace current]::w] \
 			 [info exists [namespace current]::w] \
-			 [info exists w] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] w] \
+			 [info exists w] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] w] \
 			 [namespace which -variable [namespace current]:::x] \
 			      [info exists [namespace current]:::x] [namespace eval  [namespace current] {info exists :x}] \
 			      [namespace eval  [namespace current] {variable :x; info exists :x}] \
-			      [info exists :x] [::nsf::existsvar [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
+			      [info exists :x] [::nsf::var::exists [::nsf::current] x]] "-"]
 
 	append _ | [join [list [expr {$w eq [namespace eval [namespace current] {variable w; set w}]}] \
 			      [expr {${:x} eq [namespace eval [namespace current] {variable w; set :x}]}]] -]
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@
 	set :aaa 2
 	append _ "-${:aaa}-[set :aaa]-[namespace eval [namespace current] {variable :aaa; set :aaa}]"
 	unset :aaa
-	append _ "-[info exists :aaa]-[namespace which -variable [namespace current]:::aaa]-[::nsf::existsvar [current] aaa]-[[current] eval {set :aaa}]"
+	append _ "-[info exists :aaa]-[namespace which -variable [namespace current]:::aaa]-[::nsf::var::exists [current] aaa]-[[current] eval {set :aaa}]"
 	return $_
       }
     }
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@
       append _ "-${:aaa}-[set :aaa]-[[current] eval {set :aaa}]-[namespace eval [namespace current] {variable :aaa; info exists :aaa}]"
       variable :aaa 5
       unset :aaa
-      append _ "-[info exists :aaa]-[namespace which -variable [namespace current]:::aaa]-[::nsf::existsvar [current] aaa]-[namespace eval [namespace current] {variable :aaa; info exists :aaa}]-[namespace eval [namespace current] {variable :aaa; set :aaa}]"
+      append _ "-[info exists :aaa]-[namespace which -variable [namespace current]:::aaa]-[::nsf::var::exists [current] aaa]-[namespace eval [namespace current] {variable :aaa; info exists :aaa}]-[namespace eval [namespace current] {variable :aaa; set :aaa}]"
       return $_
     }} "1-1-1-1-2-2-2-0-0--0-1-5"