diff --git a/include/nsc.h b/include/nsc.h
index 405cf46d..70c69f6e 100644
--- a/include/nsc.h
+++ b/include/nsc.h
@@ -152,31 +152,28 @@ struct nstr_sect {
     coord x, y;			/* current x-y */
     coord dx, dy;		/* accumlated x,y travel */
     int id;			/* return value of sctoff */
-    enum ns_seltype type;		/* type of query */
-    int curdist;		/* dist query: current range */
+    enum ns_seltype type;	/* selection type: NS_AREA or NS_DIST */
+    int curdist;		/* NS_DIST: current range */
     struct range range;		/* area of coverage */
-    int dist;			/* dist query: range */
-    coord cx, cy;		/* dist query: center x-y */
-    int (*read)(int type, int id, void *ptr);	/* read function */
+    int dist;			/* NS_DIST: range */
+    coord cx, cy;		/* NS_DIST: center x-y */
     int ncond;			/* # of selection conditions */
-    struct nscstr cond[NS_NCOND];	/* selection conditions */
+    struct nscstr cond[NS_NCOND]; /* selection conditions */
 };
 
 /* Item iterator */
 struct nstr_item {
     int cur;			/* current item */
-    enum ns_seltype sel;	/* selection type */
+    enum ns_seltype sel;	/* selection type, any but NS_UNDEF */
     int type;			/* item type being selected */
     int curdist;		/* if NS_DIST, current item's dist */
     struct range range;		/* NS_AREA/NS_DIST: range selector */
     int dist;			/* NS_DIST: distance selector */
     coord cx, cy;		/* NS_DIST: center x-y, NS_XY: xy */
-    int group;			/* NS_GROUP: fleet/wing match */
+    char group;			/* NS_GROUP: fleet/wing match */
     int size;			/* NS_LIST: size of list */
     int index;			/* NS_LIST: index */
     int list[NS_LSIZE];		/* NS_LIST: item list */
-    int (*read)(int type, int id, void *ptr);	/* read function */
-    int flags;			/* ef_flags(TYPE) */
     int ncond;			/* # of selection conditions */
     struct nscstr cond[NS_NCOND]; /* selection conditions */
 };
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/nxtitem.c b/src/lib/subs/nxtitem.c
index 9a11882f..494f78cf 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/nxtitem.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/nxtitem.c
@@ -61,10 +61,8 @@ nxtitem(struct nstr_item *np, void *ptr)
 	} else {
 	    np->cur++;
 	}
-	if (!np->read(np->type, np->cur, ptr)) {
-	    /* if read fails, fatal */
+	if (!ef_read(np->type, np->cur, ptr))
 	    return 0;
-	}
 	selected = 1;
 	switch (np->sel) {
 	case NS_LIST:
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/nxtsct.c b/src/lib/subs/nxtsct.c
index 6ad13e6c..9a97d7eb 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/nxtsct.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/nxtsct.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ nxtsct(struct nstr_sect *np, struct sctstr *sp)
 		continue;
 	}
 	np->id = sctoff(np->x, np->y);
-	if (!np->read(EF_SECTOR, np->id, sp))
+	if (!ef_read(EF_SECTOR, np->id, sp))
 	    continue;
 	if (np->ncond == 0)
 	    return 1;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/snxtitem.c b/src/lib/subs/snxtitem.c
index 28aa2abf..1e799fa3 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/snxtitem.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/snxtitem.c
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ snxtitem(struct nstr_item *np, int type, char *str, char *prompt)
     default:
 	return 0;
     }
-    np->flags = flags;
     if (player->condarg == 0)
 	return 1;
     n = nstr_comp(np->cond, sizeof(np->cond) / sizeof(*np->cond), type,
@@ -143,8 +142,6 @@ snxtitem_area(struct nstr_item *np, int type, struct range *range)
     np->sel = NS_AREA;
     np->index = -1;
     np->range = *range;
-    np->read = ef_read;
-    np->flags = ef_flags(type);
     xysize_range(&np->range);
 }
 
@@ -161,8 +158,6 @@ snxtitem_dist(struct nstr_item *np, int type, int cx, int cy,
     np->cy = cy;
     np->index = -1;
     np->dist = dist;
-    np->read = ef_read;
-    np->flags = ef_flags(type);
 }
 
 void
@@ -176,8 +171,6 @@ snxtitem_xy(struct nstr_item *np, int type, coord x, coord y)
     np->cy = ynorm(y);
     np->index = -1;
     np->dist = 0;
-    np->read = ef_read;
-    np->flags = ef_flags(type);
 }
 
 void
@@ -188,8 +181,6 @@ snxtitem_all(struct nstr_item *np, int type)
     np->sel = NS_ALL;
     np->type = type;
     np->index = -1;
-    np->read = ef_read;
-    np->flags = ef_flags(type);
     xysize_range(&np->range);
 }
 
@@ -204,8 +195,6 @@ snxtitem_group(struct nstr_item *np, int type, char group)
     np->group = group;
     np->type = type;
     np->index = -1;
-    np->read = ef_read;
-    np->flags = ef_flags(type);
     xysize_range(&np->range);
 }
 
@@ -226,8 +215,6 @@ snxtitem_list(struct nstr_item *np, int type, int *list, int len)
     np->type = type;
     np->sel = NS_LIST;
     np->index = -1;
-    np->read = ef_read;
-    np->flags = ef_flags(type);
     if (len <= 0 || len > NS_LSIZE)
 	return 0;
     for (i = 0; i < len; i++)
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/snxtsct.c b/src/lib/subs/snxtsct.c
index c53fe0da..39e6f87e 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/snxtsct.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/snxtsct.c
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ snxtsct_area(struct nstr_sect *np, struct range *range)
     np->range = *range;
     np->ncond = 0;
     np->type = NS_AREA;
-    np->read = ef_read;
     np->x = np->range.lx - 1;
     np->y = np->range.ly;
     np->dx = -1;
@@ -146,7 +145,6 @@ snxtsct_dist(struct nstr_sect *np, coord cx, coord cy, int dist)
     np->ncond = 0;
     np->dist = dist;
     np->type = NS_DIST;
-    np->read = ef_read;
     np->x = np->range.lx - 1;
     np->y = np->range.ly;
     np->dx = -1;