diff --git a/init.go b/init.go
index 5237713..f1cc9fa 100644
--- a/init.go
+++ b/init.go
@@ -35,3 +35,29 @@ func Init(f *forgepb.Forge, g *gui.Node) *RepoList {
 	me.Enable()
 	return me
 }
+
+func InitBox(f *forgepb.Forge, newbox *gui.Node) *RepoList {
+	me = new(RepoList)
+
+	// make a window with a table of all the repos
+	me.AutotypistView(newbox)
+
+	me.Enable()
+	me.forge = f
+
+	me.viewName = "autotypist"
+
+	repos := me.forge.Repos.SortByPath()
+	for repos.Scan() {
+		repo := repos.Next()
+		if me.forge.IsReadOnly(repo.GoPath) {
+			log.Info("repo scan readonly directory:", repo.FullPath)
+		} else {
+			log.Info("repo scan writable directory:", repo.FullPath)
+			me.AddRepo(repo)
+		}
+	}
+
+	me.Enable()
+	return me
+}