Index: trunk/src/find_drc.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/find_drc.c	(revision 21228)
+++ trunk/src/find_drc.c	(revision 21229)
@@ -41,22 +41,13 @@
 static void GotoError(void);
 static pcb_bool DRCFind(pcb_view_list_t *lst, int What, void *ptr1, void *ptr2, void *ptr3);
 
-static unsigned long int pcb_drc_next_uid = 0;
-
 static pcb_view_t *pcb_drc_violation_new(
 	const char *type, const char *title, const char *explanation,
 	pcb_bool have_measured, pcb_coord_t measured_value,
 	pcb_coord_t required_value, pcb_idpath_list_t objs[2])
 {
-	pcb_view_t *violation = calloc(sizeof(pcb_view_t), 1);
+	pcb_view_t *violation = pcb_view_new(type, title, explanation);
 
-	pcb_drc_next_uid++;
-	violation->uid = pcb_drc_next_uid;
-
-	violation->type = pcb_strdup(type);
-	violation->title = pcb_strdup(title);
-	violation->explanation = pcb_strdup(explanation);
-
 	violation->data_type = PCB_VIEW_DRC;
 	violation->data.drc.have_measured = have_measured;
 	violation->data.drc.measured_value = measured_value;
Index: trunk/src/view.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/view.c	(revision 21228)
+++ trunk/src/view.c	(revision 21229)
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@
 #undef TDL_DONT_UNDEF
 #include <genlist/gentdlist_undef.h>
 
-
 #include "actions.h"
+#include "compat_misc.h"
 
+static unsigned long int pcb_view_next_uid = 0;
 
 void pcb_view_free(pcb_view_t *item)
 {
@@ -90,3 +91,21 @@
 	}
 }
 
+pcb_view_t *pcb_view_new(const char *type, const char *title, const char *explanation)
+{
+	pcb_view_t *v = calloc(sizeof(pcb_view_t), 1);
+
+	pcb_view_next_uid++;
+	v->uid = pcb_view_next_uid;
+
+	if (type == NULL) type = "";
+	if (title == NULL) title = "";
+	if (explanation == NULL) explanation = "";
+
+	v->type = pcb_strdup(type);
+	v->title = pcb_strdup(title);
+	v->explanation = pcb_strdup(explanation);
+
+	return v;
+}
+
Index: trunk/src/view.h
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/view.h	(revision 21228)
+++ trunk/src/view.h	(revision 21229)
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@
 /* Zoom the drawing area to the drc error */
 void pcb_view_goto(pcb_view_t *item);
 
+/* Allocate a new, floating (unlinked) view with no data or bbox */
+pcb_view_t *pcb_view_new(const char *type, const char *title, const char *explanation);
 
 /*** temporary, until moved out to a plugin ***/
 int pcb_drc_all(pcb_view_list_t *lst);