diff --git a/proto/backend.proto b/proto/backend.proto
index 32b10b405..c637d9603 100644
--- a/proto/backend.proto
+++ b/proto/backend.proto
@@ -69,11 +69,20 @@ message BackendInput {
         SetConfigJson set_config_json = 53;
         bytes set_all_config = 54;
         Empty get_all_config = 55;
-        Empty get_all_notetypes = 56;
-        bytes set_all_notetypes = 57;
+        int32 get_changed_notetypes = 56;
+        AddOrUpdateNotetypeIn add_or_update_notetype = 57;
         Empty get_all_decks = 58;
         bytes set_all_decks = 59;
         Empty all_stock_notetypes = 60;
+        int64 get_notetype_legacy = 61;
+        Empty get_notetype_names = 62;
+        Empty get_notetype_names_and_counts = 63;
+        string get_notetype_id_by_name = 64;
+        int64 remove_notetype = 65;
+        int64 new_note = 66;
+        AddNoteIn add_note = 67;
+        Note update_note = 68;
+        int64 get_note = 69;
     }
 }
 
@@ -123,10 +132,19 @@ message BackendOutput {
         Empty set_config_json = 53;
         Empty set_all_config = 54;
         bytes get_all_config = 55;
-        bytes get_all_notetypes = 56;
-        Empty set_all_notetypes = 57;
+        bytes get_changed_notetypes = 56;
+        int64 add_or_update_notetype = 57;
         bytes get_all_decks = 58;
         Empty set_all_decks = 59;
+        bytes get_notetype_legacy = 61;
+        NoteTypeNames get_notetype_names = 62;
+        NoteTypeUseCounts get_notetype_names_and_counts = 63;
+        int64 get_notetype_id_by_name = 64;
+        Empty remove_notetype = 65;
+        Note new_note = 66;
+        int64 add_note = 67;
+        Empty update_note = 68;
+        Note get_note = 69;
 
         BackendError error = 2047;
     }
@@ -147,6 +165,7 @@ message BackendError {
         Empty interrupted = 8;
         string json_error = 9;
         string proto_error = 10;
+        Empty not_found_error = 11;
     }
 }
 
@@ -569,3 +588,43 @@ enum StockNoteType {
 message AllStockNotetypesOut {
     repeated NoteType notetypes = 1;
 }
+
+message NoteTypeNames {
+    repeated NoteTypeNameID entries = 1;
+}
+
+message NoteTypeUseCounts {
+    repeated NoteTypeNameIDUseCount entries = 1;
+}
+
+message NoteTypeNameID {
+    int64 id = 1;
+    string name = 2;
+
+}
+
+message NoteTypeNameIDUseCount {
+    int64 id = 1;
+    string name = 2;
+    uint32 use_count = 3;
+}
+
+message AddOrUpdateNotetypeIn {
+    bytes json = 1;
+    bool preserve_usn_and_mtime = 2;
+}
+
+message Note {
+    int64 id = 1;
+    string guid = 2;
+    int64 ntid = 3;
+    uint32 mtime_secs = 4;
+    int32 usn = 5;
+    repeated string tags = 6;
+    repeated string fields = 7;
+}
+
+message AddNoteIn {
+    Note note = 1;
+    int64 deck_id = 2;
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
index e9fc61a9f..ccda0fd2b 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ use crate::{
     media::check::MediaChecker,
     media::sync::MediaSyncProgress,
     media::MediaManager,
-    notes::NoteID,
-    notetype::{all_stock_notetypes, NoteTypeID, NoteTypeSchema11},
+    notes::{Note, NoteID},
+    notetype::{all_stock_notetypes, NoteType, NoteTypeID, NoteTypeSchema11},
     sched::cutoff::{local_minutes_west_for_stamp, sched_timing_today},
     sched::timespan::{answer_button_time, learning_congrats, studied_today, time_span},
     search::SortMode,
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ fn anki_error_to_proto_error(err: AnkiError, i18n: &I18n) -> pb::BackendError {
         AnkiError::CollectionAlreadyOpen => V::InvalidInput(pb::Empty {}),
         AnkiError::JSONError { info } => V::JsonError(info),
         AnkiError::ProtoError { info } => V::ProtoError(info),
+        AnkiError::NotFound => V::NotFoundError(Empty {}),
     };
 
     pb::BackendError {
@@ -304,10 +305,8 @@ impl Backend {
                 pb::Empty {}
             }),
             Value::GetAllConfig(_) => OValue::GetAllConfig(self.get_all_config()?),
-            Value::GetAllNotetypes(_) => OValue::GetAllNotetypes(self.get_all_notetypes()?),
-            Value::SetAllNotetypes(bytes) => {
-                self.set_all_notetypes(&bytes)?;
-                OValue::SetAllNotetypes(pb::Empty {})
+            Value::GetChangedNotetypes(_) => {
+                OValue::GetChangedNotetypes(self.get_changed_notetypes()?)
             }
             Value::GetAllDecks(_) => OValue::GetAllDecks(self.get_all_decks()?),
             Value::SetAllDecks(bytes) => {
@@ -320,6 +319,31 @@ impl Backend {
                     .map(Into::into)
                     .collect(),
             }),
+            Value::GetNotetypeLegacy(id) => {
+                OValue::GetNotetypeLegacy(self.get_notetype_legacy(id)?)
+            }
+            Value::GetNotetypeNames(_) => OValue::GetNotetypeNames(self.get_notetype_names()?),
+            Value::GetNotetypeNamesAndCounts(_) => {
+                OValue::GetNotetypeNamesAndCounts(self.get_notetype_use_counts()?)
+            }
+
+            Value::GetNotetypeIdByName(name) => {
+                OValue::GetNotetypeIdByName(self.get_notetype_id_by_name(name)?)
+            }
+            Value::AddOrUpdateNotetype(input) => {
+                OValue::AddOrUpdateNotetype(self.add_or_update_notetype_legacy(input)?)
+            }
+            Value::RemoveNotetype(id) => {
+                self.remove_notetype(id)?;
+                OValue::RemoveNotetype(pb::Empty {})
+            }
+            Value::NewNote(ntid) => OValue::NewNote(self.new_note(ntid)?),
+            Value::AddNote(input) => OValue::AddNote(self.add_note(input)?),
+            Value::UpdateNote(note) => {
+                self.update_note(note)?;
+                OValue::UpdateNote(pb::Empty {})
+            }
+            Value::GetNote(nid) => OValue::GetNote(self.get_note(nid)?),
         })
     }
 
@@ -856,21 +880,12 @@ impl Backend {
         })
     }
 
-    fn set_all_notetypes(&self, json: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
-        let val: HashMap<NoteTypeID, NoteTypeSchema11> = serde_json::from_slice(json)?;
-        self.with_col(|col| {
-            col.transact(None, |col| {
-                col.storage.set_schema11_notetypes(val)?;
-                col.storage.upgrade_notetypes_to_schema15()
-            })
-        })
-    }
-
-    fn get_all_notetypes(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
-        self.with_col(|col| {
-            let nts = col.storage.get_all_notetypes_as_schema11()?;
-            serde_json::to_vec(&nts).map_err(Into::into)
-        })
+    fn get_changed_notetypes(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        todo!("filter by usn");
+        // self.with_col(|col| {
+        //     let nts = col.storage.get_all_notetypes_as_schema11()?;
+        //     serde_json::to_vec(&nts).map_err(Into::into)
+        // })
     }
 
     fn set_all_decks(&self, json: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
@@ -884,6 +899,104 @@ impl Backend {
             serde_json::to_vec(&decks).map_err(Into::into)
         })
     }
+
+    fn get_notetype_names(&self) -> Result<pb::NoteTypeNames> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let entries: Vec<_> = col
+                .storage
+                .get_all_notetype_names()?
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|(id, name)| pb::NoteTypeNameId { id: id.0, name })
+                .collect();
+            Ok(pb::NoteTypeNames { entries })
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn get_notetype_use_counts(&self) -> Result<pb::NoteTypeUseCounts> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let entries: Vec<_> = col
+                .storage
+                .get_notetype_use_counts()?
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|(id, name, use_count)| pb::NoteTypeNameIdUseCount {
+                    id: id.0,
+                    name,
+                    use_count,
+                })
+                .collect();
+            Ok(pb::NoteTypeUseCounts { entries })
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn get_notetype_legacy(&self, id: i64) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let schema11: NoteTypeSchema11 = col
+                .storage
+                .get_notetype(NoteTypeID(id))?
+                .ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)?
+                .into();
+            Ok(serde_json::to_vec(&schema11)?)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn get_notetype_id_by_name(&self, name: String) -> Result<i64> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            col.storage
+                .get_notetype_id(&name)
+                .map(|nt| nt.unwrap_or(NoteTypeID(0)).0)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn add_or_update_notetype_legacy(&self, input: pb::AddOrUpdateNotetypeIn) -> Result<i64> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let legacy: NoteTypeSchema11 = serde_json::from_slice(&input.json)?;
+            let mut nt: NoteType = legacy.into();
+            if nt.id.0 == 0 {
+                col.add_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+            } else {
+                col.update_notetype(&mut nt, input.preserve_usn_and_mtime)?;
+            }
+            Ok(nt.id.0)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn remove_notetype(&self, _id: i64) -> Result<()> {
+        println!("fixme: remove notetype");
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn new_note(&self, ntid: i64) -> Result<pb::Note> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let nt = col
+                .get_notetype(NoteTypeID(ntid))?
+                .ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)?;
+            Ok(nt.new_note().into())
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn add_note(&self, input: pb::AddNoteIn) -> Result<i64> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let mut note: Note = input.note.ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)?.into();
+            col.add_note(&mut note, DeckID(input.deck_id))
+                .map(|_| note.id.0)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn update_note(&self, pbnote: pb::Note) -> Result<()> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let mut note: Note = pbnote.into();
+            col.update_note(&mut note)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn get_note(&self, nid: i64) -> Result<pb::Note> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            col.storage
+                .get_note(NoteID(nid))?
+                .ok_or(AnkiError::NotFound)
+                .map(Into::into)
+        })
+    }
 }
 
 fn translate_arg_to_fluent_val(arg: &pb::TranslateArgValue) -> FluentValue {
diff --git a/rslib/src/err.rs b/rslib/src/err.rs
index 543bcb589..5c3f2a74f 100644
--- a/rslib/src/err.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/err.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ pub enum AnkiError {
 
     #[fail(display = "Close the existing collection first.")]
     CollectionAlreadyOpen,
+
+    #[fail(display = "A requested item was not found.")]
+    NotFound,
 }
 
 // error helpers
diff --git a/rslib/src/notes.rs b/rslib/src/notes.rs
index 2922517ac..05660dab1 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notes.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notes.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
 use crate::{
+    backend_proto as pb,
     collection::Collection,
+    decks::DeckID,
     define_newtype,
     err::{AnkiError, Result},
     notetype::{CardGenContext, NoteField, NoteType, NoteTypeID},
@@ -105,6 +107,36 @@ impl Note {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<Note> for pb::Note {
+    fn from(n: Note) -> Self {
+        pb::Note {
+            id: n.id.0,
+            guid: n.guid,
+            ntid: n.ntid.0,
+            mtime_secs: n.mtime.0 as u32,
+            usn: n.usn.0,
+            tags: n.tags,
+            fields: n.fields,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<pb::Note> for Note {
+    fn from(n: pb::Note) -> Self {
+        Note {
+            id: NoteID(n.id),
+            guid: n.guid,
+            ntid: NoteTypeID(n.ntid),
+            mtime: TimestampSecs(n.mtime_secs as i64),
+            usn: Usn(n.usn),
+            tags: n.tags,
+            fields: n.fields,
+            sort_field: None,
+            checksum: None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Text must be passed to strip_html_preserving_image_filenames() by
 /// caller prior to passing in here.
 pub(crate) fn field_checksum(text: &str) -> u32 {
@@ -130,20 +162,37 @@ fn anki_base91(mut n: u64) -> String {
 }
 
 impl Collection {
-    pub fn add_note(&mut self, note: &mut Note) -> Result<()> {
+    fn canonify_note_tags(&self, note: &mut Note, usn: Usn) -> Result<()> {
+        // fixme: avoid the excess split/join
+        note.tags = self
+            .canonify_tags(&note.tags.join(" "), usn)?
+            .0
+            .split(' ')
+            .map(Into::into)
+            .collect();
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn add_note(&mut self, note: &mut Note, did: DeckID) -> Result<()> {
         self.transact(None, |col| {
             let nt = col
                 .get_notetype(note.ntid)?
                 .ok_or_else(|| AnkiError::invalid_input("missing note type"))?;
             let ctx = CardGenContext::new(&nt, col.usn()?);
-            col.add_note_inner(&ctx, note)
+            col.add_note_inner(&ctx, note, did)
         })
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn add_note_inner(&mut self, ctx: &CardGenContext, note: &mut Note) -> Result<()> {
+    pub(crate) fn add_note_inner(
+        &mut self,
+        ctx: &CardGenContext,
+        note: &mut Note,
+        did: DeckID,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        self.canonify_note_tags(note, ctx.usn)?;
         note.prepare_for_update(&ctx.notetype, ctx.usn)?;
         self.storage.add_note(note)?;
-        self.generate_cards_for_new_note(ctx, note)
+        self.generate_cards_for_new_note(ctx, note, did)
     }
 
     pub fn update_note(&mut self, note: &mut Note) -> Result<()> {
@@ -161,6 +210,7 @@ impl Collection {
         ctx: &CardGenContext,
         note: &mut Note,
     ) -> Result<()> {
+        self.canonify_note_tags(note, ctx.usn)?;
         note.prepare_for_update(ctx.notetype, ctx.usn)?;
         self.generate_cards_for_existing_note(ctx, note)?;
         self.storage.update_note(note)?;
@@ -198,7 +248,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let mut note = nt.new_note();
         // if no cards are generated, 1 card is added
-        col.add_note(&mut note).unwrap();
+        col.add_note(&mut note, DeckID(1)).unwrap();
         let existing = col.storage.existing_cards_for_note(note.id)?;
         assert_eq!(existing.len(), 1);
         assert_eq!(existing[0].ord, 0);
@@ -220,7 +270,7 @@ mod test {
         // cloze cards also generate card 0 if no clozes are found
         let nt = col.get_notetype_by_name("cloze")?.unwrap();
         let mut note = nt.new_note();
-        col.add_note(&mut note).unwrap();
+        col.add_note(&mut note, DeckID(1)).unwrap();
         let existing = col.storage.existing_cards_for_note(note.id)?;
         assert_eq!(existing.len(), 1);
         assert_eq!(existing[0].ord, 0);
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/cardgen.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/cardgen.rs
index dc51cf0dc..59e14cda2 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/cardgen.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/cardgen.rs
@@ -204,8 +204,9 @@ impl Collection {
         &mut self,
         ctx: &CardGenContext,
         note: &Note,
+        target_deck_id: DeckID,
     ) -> Result<()> {
-        self.generate_cards_for_note(ctx, note, false)
+        self.generate_cards_for_note(ctx, note, &[], Some(target_deck_id))
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn generate_cards_for_existing_note(
@@ -213,25 +214,22 @@ impl Collection {
         ctx: &CardGenContext,
         note: &Note,
     ) -> Result<()> {
-        self.generate_cards_for_note(ctx, note, true)
+        let existing = self.storage.existing_cards_for_note(note.id)?;
+        self.generate_cards_for_note(ctx, note, &existing, None)
     }
 
     fn generate_cards_for_note(
         &mut self,
         ctx: &CardGenContext,
         note: &Note,
-        check_existing: bool,
+        existing: &[AlreadyGeneratedCardInfo],
+        target_deck_id: Option<DeckID>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
-        let existing = if check_existing {
-            self.storage.existing_cards_for_note(note.id)?
-        } else {
-            vec![]
-        };
         let cards = ctx.new_cards_required(note, &existing);
         if cards.is_empty() {
             return Ok(());
         }
-        self.add_generated_cards(ctx, note.id, &cards)
+        self.add_generated_cards(ctx, note.id, &cards, target_deck_id)
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn generate_cards_for_notetype(&mut self, ctx: &CardGenContext) -> Result<()> {
@@ -246,7 +244,7 @@ impl Collection {
                 continue;
             }
             let note = self.storage.get_note(nid)?.unwrap();
-            self.generate_cards_for_note(ctx, &note, true)?;
+            self.generate_cards_for_note(ctx, &note, &existing_cards, None)?;
         }
 
         Ok(())
@@ -257,11 +255,16 @@ impl Collection {
         ctx: &CardGenContext,
         nid: NoteID,
         cards: &[CardToGenerate],
+        target_deck_id: Option<DeckID>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let mut next_pos = None;
         for c in cards {
             // fixme: deal with case where invalid deck pointed to
-            let did = c.did.unwrap_or_else(|| ctx.notetype.target_deck_id());
+            // fixme: deprecated note type deck id
+            let did = c
+                .did
+                .or(target_deck_id)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ctx.notetype.target_deck_id());
             let due = c.due.unwrap_or_else(|| {
                 if next_pos.is_none() {
                     next_pos = Some(self.get_and_update_next_card_position().unwrap_or(0));
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
index 4bc3d6e56..b25b7df16 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/mod.rs
@@ -168,16 +168,23 @@ impl NoteType {
 
     pub(crate) fn prepare_for_adding(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         // defaults to 0
-        self.config.target_deck_id = 1;
+        if self.config.target_deck_id == 0 {
+            self.config.target_deck_id = 1;
+        }
         if self.fields.is_empty() {
             return Err(AnkiError::invalid_input("1 field required"));
         }
         if self.templates.is_empty() {
             return Err(AnkiError::invalid_input("1 template required"));
         }
+        self.prepare_for_update()
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn prepare_for_update(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         self.normalize_names();
         self.ensure_names_unique();
         self.update_requirements();
+        // fixme: deal with duplicate note type names on update
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -205,15 +212,34 @@ impl From<NoteType> for NoteTypeProto {
 }
 
 impl Collection {
+    /// Add a new notetype, and allocate it an ID.
+    pub fn add_notetype(&mut self, nt: &mut NoteType) -> Result<()> {
+        nt.prepare_for_adding()?;
+        self.transact(None, |col| col.storage.add_new_notetype(nt))
+    }
+
     /// Saves changes to a note type. This will force a full sync if templates
     /// or fields have been added/removed/reordered.
-    pub fn update_notetype(&mut self, nt: &mut NoteType) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn update_notetype(&mut self, nt: &mut NoteType, preserve_usn: bool) -> Result<()> {
+        nt.prepare_for_update()?;
+        if !preserve_usn {
+            nt.mtime_secs = TimestampSecs::now();
+            nt.usn = self.usn()?;
+        }
         self.transact(None, |col| {
-            let existing_notetype = col
-                .get_notetype(nt.id)?
-                .ok_or_else(|| AnkiError::invalid_input("no such notetype"))?;
-            col.update_notes_for_changed_fields(nt, existing_notetype.fields.len())?;
-            col.update_cards_for_changed_templates(nt, existing_notetype.templates.len())?;
+            if !preserve_usn {
+                let existing_notetype = col
+                    .get_notetype(nt.id)?
+                    .ok_or_else(|| AnkiError::invalid_input("no such notetype"))?;
+                col.update_notes_for_changed_fields(nt, existing_notetype.fields.len())?;
+                col.update_cards_for_changed_templates(nt, existing_notetype.templates.len())?;
+            }
+
+            col.storage.update_notetype_config(&nt)?;
+            col.storage.update_notetype_fields(nt.id, &nt.fields)?;
+            col.storage
+                .update_notetype_templates(nt.id, &nt.templates)?;
+
             // fixme: update cache instead of clearing
             col.state.notetype_cache.remove(&nt.id);
 
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/schema11.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/schema11.rs
index 41a686ce6..5a4238eb5 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/schema11.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/schema11.rs
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ impl From<CardRequirement> for CardRequirementSchema11 {
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct NoteFieldSchema11 {
     pub(crate) name: String,
-    pub(crate) ord: u16,
+    pub(crate) ord: Option<u16>,
     #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_bool_from_anything")]
     pub(crate) sticky: bool,
     #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_bool_from_anything")]
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ impl Default for NoteFieldSchema11 {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             name: String::new(),
-            ord: 0,
+            ord: None,
             sticky: false,
             rtl: false,
             font: "Arial".to_string(),
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ impl Default for NoteFieldSchema11 {
 impl From<NoteFieldSchema11> for NoteField {
     fn from(f: NoteFieldSchema11) -> Self {
         NoteField {
-            ord: Some(f.ord as u32),
+            ord: f.ord.map(|o| o as u32),
             name: f.name,
             config: NoteFieldConfig {
                 sticky: f.sticky,
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ impl From<NoteField> for NoteFieldSchema11 {
         let conf = p.config;
         NoteFieldSchema11 {
             name: p.name,
-            ord: p.ord.unwrap() as u16,
+            ord: p.ord.map(|o| o as u16),
             sticky: conf.sticky,
             rtl: conf.rtl,
             font: conf.font_name,
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ impl From<NoteField> for NoteFieldSchema11 {
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default, Clone)]
 pub struct CardTemplateSchema11 {
     pub(crate) name: String,
-    pub(crate) ord: u16,
+    pub(crate) ord: Option<u16>,
     pub(crate) qfmt: String,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub(crate) afmt: String,
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ pub struct CardTemplateSchema11 {
 impl From<CardTemplateSchema11> for CardTemplate {
     fn from(t: CardTemplateSchema11) -> Self {
         CardTemplate {
-            ord: Some(t.ord as u32),
+            ord: t.ord.map(|t| t as u32),
             name: t.name,
             mtime_secs: TimestampSecs(0),
             usn: Usn(0),
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ impl From<CardTemplate> for CardTemplateSchema11 {
         let conf = p.config;
         CardTemplateSchema11 {
             name: p.name,
-            ord: p.ord.unwrap() as u16,
+            ord: p.ord.map(|o| o as u16),
             qfmt: conf.q_format,
             afmt: conf.a_format,
             bqfmt: conf.q_format_browser,
diff --git a/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs b/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs
index e731e733c..0f0105873 100644
--- a/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/notetype/schemachange.rs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ impl Collection {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::{ords_changed, TemplateOrdChanges};
-    use crate::{collection::open_test_collection, err::Result, search::SortMode};
+    use crate::{collection::open_test_collection, decks::DeckID, err::Result, search::SortMode};
 
     #[test]
     fn ord_changes() {
@@ -190,10 +190,10 @@ mod test {
         let mut note = nt.new_note();
         assert_eq!(note.fields.len(), 2);
         note.fields = vec!["one".into(), "two".into()];
-        col.add_note(&mut note)?;
+        col.add_note(&mut note, DeckID(1))?;
 
         nt.add_field("three");
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         let note = col.storage.get_note(note.id)?.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ mod test {
         );
 
         nt.fields.remove(1);
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         let note = col.storage.get_note(note.id)?.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(note.fields, vec!["one".to_string(), "".into()]);
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ mod test {
         let mut note = nt.new_note();
         assert_eq!(note.fields.len(), 2);
         note.fields = vec!["one".into(), "two".into()];
-        col.add_note(&mut note)?;
+        col.add_note(&mut note, DeckID(1))?;
 
         assert_eq!(
             col.search_cards(&format!("nid:{}", note.id), SortMode::NoOrder)
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ mod test {
 
         // add an extra card template
         nt.add_template("card 2", "{{Front}}", "");
-        col.update_notetype(&mut nt)?;
+        col.update_notetype(&mut nt, false)?;
 
         assert_eq!(
             col.search_cards(&format!("nid:{}", note.id), SortMode::NoOrder)
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/notetype/get_use_counts.sql b/rslib/src/storage/notetype/get_use_counts.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc667ce4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/notetype/get_use_counts.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+select
+  mid,
+  (
+    select
+      name
+    from notetypes nt
+    where
+      nt.id = mid
+  ) as name,
+  count(id)
+from notes
+group by
+  mid
+order by
+  name
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/notetype/mod.rs b/rslib/src/storage/notetype/mod.rs
index 13e412aa5..6cf875727 100644
--- a/rslib/src/storage/notetype/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/notetype/mod.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,19 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
             .collect()
     }
 
-    fn update_notetype_fields(&self, ntid: NoteTypeID, fields: &[NoteField]) -> Result<()> {
+    /// Returns list of (id, name, use_count)
+    pub fn get_notetype_use_counts(&self) -> Result<Vec<(NoteTypeID, String, u32)>> {
+        self.db
+            .prepare_cached(include_str!("get_use_counts.sql"))?
+            .query_and_then(NO_PARAMS, |row| Ok((row.get(0)?, row.get(1)?, row.get(2)?)))?
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn update_notetype_fields(
+        &self,
+        ntid: NoteTypeID,
+        fields: &[NoteField],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         self.db
             .prepare_cached("delete from fields where ntid=?")?
             .execute(&[ntid])?;
@@ -119,7 +131,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn update_notetype_templates(
+    pub(crate) fn update_notetype_templates(
         &self,
         ntid: NoteTypeID,
         templates: &[CardTemplate],
@@ -146,7 +158,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn update_notetype_config(&self, nt: &NoteType) -> Result<()> {
+    pub(crate) fn update_notetype_config(&self, nt: &NoteType) -> Result<()> {
         assert!(nt.id.0 != 0);
         let mut stmt = self
             .db