diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C
index 0d70c77958..aa8b89c033 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ Usage
     @param -triSurface \n
     Use triSurface library for input/output
 
+    @param -keyed \n
+    Use keyedSurface for input/output
+
 Note
     The filename extensions are used to determine the file format type.
 
@@ -49,6 +52,7 @@ Note
 #include "timeSelector.H"
 #include "Time.H"
 #include "polyMesh.H"
+#include "keyedSurface.H"
 #include "meshedSurface.H"
 #include "triSurface.H"
 
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     argList::validOptions.insert("clean", "");
     argList::validOptions.insert("scale", "scale");
     argList::validOptions.insert("triSurface", "");
+    argList::validOptions.insert("keyed", "");
 #   include "setRootCase.H"
     const stringList& params = args.additionalArgs();
 
@@ -113,6 +118,31 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             Info<< " with scaling " << scaleFactor << endl;
             surf.scalePoints(scaleFactor);
         }
+
+        // write sorted by region
+        surf.write(exportName, true);
+    }
+    else if (args.options().found("keyed"))
+    {
+        keyedSurface surf(importName);
+
+        if (args.options().found("clean"))
+        {
+            surf.cleanup(true);
+            surf.checkOrientation(true);
+        }
+
+        Info << "writing " << exportName;
+        if (scaleFactor <= 0)
+        {
+            Info<< " without scaling" << endl;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            Info<< " with scaling " << scaleFactor << endl;
+            surf.scalePoints(scaleFactor);
+        }
+
         surf.write(exportName);
     }
     else
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/ac3d/AC3DfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/ac3d/AC3DfileFormat.C
index d92b2f91df..0aa3f7d84f 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/ac3d/AC3DfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/ac3d/AC3DfileFormat.C
@@ -232,7 +232,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::AC3DfileFormat
     label patchVertOffset = 0;
 
     DynamicList<point> pointLst;
-    DynamicList<keyedFace>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<face>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<label> regionLst;
 
     // patchId => patchName
     Map<word> regionNames;
@@ -339,7 +340,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::AC3DfileFormat
 
                     label nVert = parse<int>(args);
 
-                    List<label> verts(nVert);
+                    face verts(nVert);
                     forAll(verts, vertI)
                     {
                         is.getLine(line);
@@ -361,12 +362,14 @@ Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::AC3DfileFormat
                             fTri[1] = verts[fp1];
                             fTri[2] = verts[fp2];
 
-                            faceLst.append(keyedFace(fTri, patchI));
+                            faceLst.append(fTri);
+                            regionLst.append(patchI);
                         }
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        faceLst.append(keyedFace(face(verts), patchI));
+                        faceLst.append(verts);
+                        regionLst.append(patchI);
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -402,13 +405,13 @@ Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::AC3DfileFormat
     // transfer to normal lists
     points().transfer(pointLst);
     faces().transfer(faceLst);
+    regions().transfer(regionLst);
+
     setPatches(regionNames);
     stitchFaces(SMALL);
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 void Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::writeHeader
@@ -508,7 +511,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::write
 
         forAll(patch.localFaces(), faceI)
         {
-            const keyedFace& f = patch.localFaces()[faceI];
+            const face& f = patch.localFaces()[faceI];
 
             os  << "SURF 0x20" << nl          // polygon
                 << "mat " << patchI << nl
@@ -569,7 +572,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::AC3DfileFormat::write
 
         forAll(patch.localFaces(), faceI)
         {
-            const keyedFace& f = patch.localFaces()[faceI];
+            const face& f = patch.localFaces()[faceI];
 
             os  << "SURF 0x20" << nl          // polygon
                 << "mat " << patchI << nl
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/gts/GTSfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/gts/GTSfileFormat.C
index 1fbdf3fae4..4ddc0ee573 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/gts/GTSfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/gts/GTSfileFormat.C
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::GTSfileFormat()
@@ -111,7 +112,16 @@ Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::GTSfileFormat
             >> nElems;
     }
 
-    pointField pointLst(nPoints);
+
+    // write directly into the lists:
+    pointField& pointLst = points();
+    List<face>& faceLst = faces();
+    List<label>& regionLst = regions();
+
+    pointLst.setSize(nPoints);
+    faceLst.setSize(nElems);
+    regionLst.setSize(nElems);
+
 
     // Read points
     forAll(pointLst, pointI)
@@ -143,14 +153,11 @@ Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::GTSfileFormat
 
 
     // Read triangles. Convert references to edges into pointlabels
-    List<keyedFace> faceLst(nElems);
-
     label maxPatch = 0;
-
     forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
         label e0Label, e1Label, e2Label;
-        label region = 0;
+        label regionI = 0;
 
         line = getLineNoComment(is);
         {
@@ -165,10 +172,10 @@ Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::GTSfileFormat
                 lineStream >> num;
                 if (!lineStream.bad())
                 {
-                    region = num;
-                    if (maxPatch < region)
+                    regionI = num;
+                    if (maxPatch < regionI)
                     {
-                        maxPatch = region;
+                        maxPatch = regionI;
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -232,25 +239,21 @@ Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::GTSfileFormat
                 << exit(FatalError);
         }
 
-        keyedFace lface(face(3), region);
+        face& fTri = faceLst[faceI];
+        fTri.setSize(3);
 
-        lface[0] = e0Far;
-        lface[1] = common01;
-        lface[2] = e1Far;
+        fTri[0] = e0Far;
+        fTri[1] = common01;
+        fTri[2] = e1Far;
 
-        faceLst[faceI] = lface;
+        regionLst[faceI] = regionI;
     }
 
-    // transfer to normal lists
-    points().transfer(pointLst);
-    faces().transfer(faceLst);
     setPatches(maxPatch);
     // stitchFaces(SMALL);
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 void Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::write
@@ -260,7 +263,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::write
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst  = surf.faces();
 
     // It is too annoying to triangulate on-the-fly
     // just issue a warning and get out
@@ -353,8 +356,8 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::write
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
+    const List<face>& faceLst  = surf.faces();
     const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst = surf.patches();
-    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
 
     // It is too annoying to triangulate on-the-fly
     // just issue a warning and get out
@@ -376,7 +379,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::write
         )
             << "Surface has " << nNonTris << "/" << faceLst.size()
             << " non-triangulated faces - not writing!" << endl;
-        
+
         return;
     }
 
@@ -416,7 +419,6 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::GTSfileFormat::write
             << meshPts[es[edgei].end()] + 1 << endl;
     }
 
-
     // Write faces in terms of edges.
     const labelListList& faceEs = surf.faceEdges();
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/nas/NASfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/nas/NASfileFormat.C
index ebe30ed350..f32bcd1a90 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/nas/NASfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/nas/NASfileFormat.C
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::NASfileFormat::NASfileFormat
     DynamicList<point> pointLst;
     // Nastran index of points
     DynamicList<label> pointId;
-    DynamicList<keyedFace>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<face>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<label> regionLst;
     HashTable<label>   groupToPatch;
 
     // From face groupId to patchId
@@ -283,7 +284,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::NASfileFormat::NASfileFormat
                 patchI = iter();
             }
 
-            faceLst.append(keyedFace(fTri, patchI));
+            faceLst.append(fTri);
+            regionLst.append(patchI);
         }
         else if (cmd == "CQUAD4")
         {
@@ -324,12 +326,14 @@ Foam::fileFormats::NASfileFormat::NASfileFormat
                     fTri[1] = fQuad[fp1];
                     fTri[2] = fQuad[fp2];
 
-                    faceLst.append(keyedFace(fTri, patchI));
+                    faceLst.append(fTri);
+                    regionLst.append(patchI);
                 }
             }
             else
             {
-                faceLst.append(keyedFace(fQuad, patchI));
+                faceLst.append(fQuad);
+                regionLst.append(patchI);
             }
         }
         else if (cmd == "PSHELL")
@@ -401,6 +405,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::NASfileFormat::NASfileFormat
 
     // transfer to normal lists
     points().transfer(pointLst);
+    regions().transfer(regionLst);
 
     pointId.shrink();
     faceLst.shrink();
@@ -418,7 +423,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::NASfileFormat::NASfileFormat
         // Relabel faces
         forAll(faceLst, i)
         {
-            keyedFace& f = faceLst[i];
+            face& f = faceLst[i];
             forAll(f, fp)
             {
                 f[fp] = nasToFoamPoint[f[fp]];
@@ -441,21 +446,10 @@ Foam::fileFormats::NASfileFormat::NASfileFormat
 
     // transfer to normal lists
     faces().transfer(faceLst);
+
     setPatches(regionNames);
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-// ************************************************************************* //
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.C
index a1265af853..e996de8922 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.C
@@ -68,6 +68,46 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+void Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::writeHead
+(
+    Ostream& os,
+    const pointField& pointLst,
+    const List<face>& faceLst,
+    const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst
+)
+{
+    os  << "# Wavefront OBJ file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl
+        << "o " << os.name().lessExt().name() << nl
+        << nl
+        << "# points : " << pointLst.size() << nl
+        << "# faces  : " << faceLst.size() << nl
+        << "# patches: " << patchLst.size() << nl;
+
+    // Print patch names as comment
+    forAll(patchLst, patchI)
+    {
+        os  << "#   " << patchI << "  " << patchLst[patchI].name()
+            << "  (nFaces: " << patchLst[patchI].size() << ")" << nl;
+    }
+
+    os  << nl
+        << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+
+    // Write vertex coords
+    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
+    {
+        os  << "v " << pointLst[ptI].x()
+            << ' '  << pointLst[ptI].y()
+            << ' '  << pointLst[ptI].z() << nl;
+    }
+
+    os  << "# </points>" << nl
+        << nl
+        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+}
+
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::OBJfileFormat()
@@ -94,7 +134,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::OBJfileFormat
     }
 
     DynamicList<point> pointLst;
-    DynamicList<keyedFace>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<face>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<label> regionLst;
     HashTable<label>   groupToPatch;
 
     // leave faces that didn't have a group in 0
@@ -156,7 +197,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::OBJfileFormat
 
             while (true)
             {
-                string::size_type startNum = line.find_first_not_of(' ', endNum);
+                string::size_type startNum =
+                    line.find_first_not_of(' ', endNum);
 
                 if (startNum == string::size_type(string::npos))
                 {
@@ -208,19 +250,14 @@ Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::OBJfileFormat
                     fTri[1] = verts[fp1];
                     fTri[2] = verts[fp2];
 
-                    faceLst.append(keyedFace(fTri, groupID));
+                    faceLst.append(fTri);
+                    regionLst.append(groupID);
                 }
             }
             else
             {
-                faceLst.append
-                (
-                    keyedFace
-                    (
-                        face( xferMoveTo<labelList>(verts) ),
-                        groupID
-                    )
-                );
+                faceLst.append(face(verts));
+                regionLst.append(groupID);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -228,12 +265,12 @@ Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::OBJfileFormat
     // transfer to normal lists
     points().transfer(pointLst);
     faces().transfer(faceLst);
+    regions().transfer(regionLst);
+
     setPatches(groupToPatch);
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 void Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::write
@@ -242,40 +279,12 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::write
     const keyedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
 
     labelList faceMap;
     List<surfacePatch> patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
 
-    os  << "# Wavefront OBJ file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl
-        << "o " << os.name().lessExt().name() << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# points : " << pointLst.size() << nl
-        << "# faces  : " << faceLst.size() << nl
-        << "# patches: " << patchLst.size() << nl;
-
-    // Print patch names as comment
-    forAll(patchLst, patchI)
-    {
-        os  << "#   " << patchI << "  " << patchLst[patchI].name()
-            << "  (nFaces: " << patchLst[patchI].size() << ")" << nl;
-    }
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
-
-    // Write vertex coords
-    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
-    {
-        os  << "v " << pointLst[ptI].x()
-            << ' '  << pointLst[ptI].y()
-            << ' '  << pointLst[ptI].z() << nl;
-    }
-
-    os  << "# </points>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst, patchLst);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -308,38 +317,10 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::write
     const meshedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
     const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
     const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
-    os  << "# Wavefront OBJ file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl
-        << "o " << os.name().lessExt().name() << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# points : " << pointLst.size() << nl
-        << "# faces  : " << faceLst.size() << nl
-        << "# patches: " << patchLst.size() << nl;
-
-    // Print patch names as comment
-    forAll(patchLst, patchI)
-    {
-        os  << "#   " << patchI << "  " << patchLst[patchI].name()
-            << "  (nFaces: " << patchLst[patchI].size() << ")" << nl;
-    }
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
-
-    // Write vertex coords
-    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
-    {
-        os  << "v " << pointLst[ptI].x()
-            << ' '  << pointLst[ptI].y()
-            << ' '  << pointLst[ptI].z() << nl;
-    }
-
-    os  << "# </points>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst, patchLst);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -363,9 +344,4 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::OBJfileFormat::write
     os  << "# </faces>" << endl;
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.H b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.H
index f4b0a1678a..8a8fad2252 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/obj/OBJfileFormat.H
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@ class OBJfileFormat
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
         void operator=(const OBJfileFormat&);
 
+        static void writeHead
+        (
+            Ostream&, 
+            const pointField&, 
+            const List<face>&,
+            const List<surfacePatch>&
+        );
+
 public:
 
     // Constructors
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.C
index 8220e3b8fd..0a71a4f224 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.C
@@ -68,6 +68,51 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+void Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::writeHead
+(
+    Ostream& os,
+    const pointField& pointLst,
+    const List<face>& faceLst,
+    const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst
+)
+{
+    // Write header
+    os  << "OFF" << endl
+        << "# Geomview OFF file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl
+        << nl
+        << "# points : " << pointLst.size() << nl
+        << "# faces  : " << faceLst.size() << nl
+        << "# patches: " << patchLst.size() << nl;
+
+    // Print patch names as comment
+    forAll(patchLst, patchI)
+    {
+        os  << "#   " << patchI << "  " << patchLst[patchI].name()
+            << "  (nFaces: " << patchLst[patchI].size() << ")" << nl;
+    }
+
+    os  << nl
+        << "# nPoints  nFaces  nEdges" << nl
+        << pointLst.size() << ' ' << faceLst.size() << ' ' << 0 << nl;
+
+    os  << nl
+        << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+
+    // Write vertex coords
+    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
+    {
+        os  << pointLst[ptI].x() << ' '
+            << pointLst[ptI].y() << ' '
+            << pointLst[ptI].z() << " #" << ptI << endl;
+    }
+
+    os  << "# </points>" << nl
+        << nl
+        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+}
+
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::OFFfileFormat()
@@ -128,7 +173,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::OFFfileFormat
 
     // Read faces - ignore optional region information
     // use a DynamicList for possible on-the-fly triangulation
-    DynamicList<keyedFace> faceLst(nElems);
+    DynamicList<face>  faceLst(nElems);
 
     forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
@@ -160,24 +205,28 @@ Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::OFFfileFormat
                     fTri[1] = f[fp1];
                     fTri[2] = f[fp2];
 
-                    faceLst.append(keyedFace(fTri, 0));
+                    faceLst.append(fTri);
                 }
             }
             else
             {
-                faceLst.append(keyedFace(f, 0));
+                faceLst.append(f);
             }
         }
     }
 
-    // no region information
+    // transfer to normal lists
     points().transfer(pointLst);
     faces().transfer(faceLst);
+
+    // no region information
+    regions().setSize(nFaces());
+    regions() = 0;
+
     setPatches(0);
 }
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 
@@ -187,45 +236,12 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::write
     const keyedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
 
     labelList faceMap;
     List<surfacePatch> patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
 
-    // Write header
-    os  << "OFF" << endl
-        << "# Geomview OFF file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# points : " << pointLst.size() << nl
-        << "# faces  : " << faceLst.size() << nl
-        << "# patches: " << patchLst.size() << nl;
-
-    // Print patch names as comment
-    forAll(patchLst, patchI)
-    {
-        os  << "#   " << patchI << "  " << patchLst[patchI].name()
-            << "  (nFaces: " << patchLst[patchI].size() << ")" << nl;
-    }
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "# nPoints  nFaces  nEdges" << nl
-        << pointLst.size() << ' ' << faceLst.size() << ' ' << 0 << nl;
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
-
-    // Write vertex coords
-    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
-    {
-        os  << pointLst[ptI].x() << ' '
-            << pointLst[ptI].y() << ' '
-            << pointLst[ptI].z() << " #" << ptI << endl;
-    }
-
-    os  << "# </points>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst, patchLst);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -257,43 +273,10 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::write
     const meshedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
     const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
     const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
-    // Write header
-    os  << "OFF" << endl
-        << "# Geomview OFF file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# points : " << pointLst.size() << nl
-        << "# faces  : " << faceLst.size() << nl
-        << "# patches: " << patchLst.size() << nl;
-
-    // Print patch names as comment
-    forAll(patchLst, patchI)
-    {
-        os  << "#   " << patchI << "  " << patchLst[patchI].name()
-            << "  (nFaces: " << patchLst[patchI].size() << ")" << nl;
-    }
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "# nPoints  nFaces  nEdges" << nl
-        << pointLst.size() << ' ' << faceLst.size() << ' ' << 0 << nl;
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
-
-    // Write vertex coords
-    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
-    {
-        os  << pointLst[ptI].x() << ' '
-            << pointLst[ptI].y() << ' '
-            << pointLst[ptI].z() << " #" << ptI << endl;
-    }
-
-    os  << "# </points>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst, patchLst);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -318,9 +301,4 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::OFFfileFormat::write
     os  << "# </faces>" << endl;
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.H b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.H
index 22e42769fd..447f961496 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/off/OFFfileFormat.H
@@ -74,6 +74,14 @@ class OFFfileFormat
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
         void operator=(const OFFfileFormat&);
 
+        static void writeHead
+        (
+            Ostream&, 
+            const pointField&, 
+            const List<face>&,
+            const List<surfacePatch>&
+        );
+
 public:
 
     // Constructors
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.C
index decf8d3a61..b477760552 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.C
@@ -60,29 +60,14 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::SMESHfileFormat()
-:
-    keyedSurface()
-{}
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-void
-Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::write
+void Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::writeHead
 (
     Ostream& os,
-    const keyedSurface& surf
+    const pointField& pointLst,
+    const List<face>& faceLst
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst= surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
-
-    labelList faceMap;
-    List<surfacePatch> patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
-
+    // Write header
     os << "# tetgen .smesh file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl;
     os << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
     os << pointLst.size() << " 3" << nl;    // 3: dimensions
@@ -100,6 +85,41 @@ Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::write
         << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
 
     os  << faceLst.size() << " 1" << endl;   // one attribute: region number
+}
+
+
+void Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::writeTail(Ostream& os)
+{
+    os  << "# </faces>" << nl
+        << nl
+        << "# no holes or regions:" << nl
+        << '0' << nl        // holes
+        << '0' << endl;     // regions
+}
+
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::SMESHfileFormat()
+:
+    keyedSurface()
+{}
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+void
+Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::write
+(
+    Ostream& os,
+    const keyedSurface& surf
+)
+{
+    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst);
+
+    labelList faceMap;
+    List<surfacePatch> patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -117,11 +137,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::write
         }
     }
 
-    os  << "# </faces>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# no holes or regions:" << nl
-        << '0' << nl        // holes
-        << '0' << endl;     // regions
+    writeTail(os);
 }
 
 
@@ -132,27 +148,10 @@ Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::write
     const meshedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst= surf.points();
     const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
     const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
-    os << "# tetgen .smesh file written " << clock::dateTime().c_str() << nl;
-    os << "# <points count=\"" << pointLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
-    os << pointLst.size() << " 3" << nl;    // 3: dimensions
-
-    // Write vertex coords
-    forAll(pointLst, ptI)
-    {
-        os  << ptI
-            << ' ' << pointLst[ptI].x()
-            << ' ' << pointLst[ptI].y()
-            << ' ' << pointLst[ptI].z() << nl;
-    }
-    os  << "# </points>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# <faces count=\"" << faceLst.size() << "\">" << endl;
-
-    os  << faceLst.size() << " 1" << endl;   // one attribute: region number
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -170,16 +169,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::SMESHfileFormat::write
         }
     }
 
-    os  << "# </faces>" << nl
-        << nl
-        << "# no holes or regions:" << nl
-        << '0' << nl        // holes
-        << '0' << endl;     // regions
+    writeTail(os);
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.H b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.H
index 6e034e25ca..7b3902f673 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/smesh/SMESHfileFormat.H
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ class SMESHfileFormat
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
         void operator=(const SMESHfileFormat&);
 
+        static void writeHead(Ostream&, const pointField&, const List<face>&);
+        static void writeTail(Ostream&);
+
 public:
 
     // Constructors
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/starcd/STARCDfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/starcd/STARCDfileFormat.C
index 61f7502a5a..8cc7e98e17 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/starcd/STARCDfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/starcd/STARCDfileFormat.C
@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 }
 }
 
-//! @cond localScope
+//! @cond localscope
 const int starcdShellShape = 3;
 const int starcdShellType  = 4;
-//! @endcond localScope
+//! @endcond localscope
 
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::STARCDfileFormat
 
     //
     // read .vrt file
-    //
+    // ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     isPtr.reset(new IFstream(baseName + ".vrt"));
 
     if (!isPtr().good())
@@ -266,7 +266,8 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::STARCDfileFormat
     pointId.clear();
 
 
-    DynamicList<keyedFace> faceLst;
+    DynamicList<face>  faceLst;
+    DynamicList<label> regionLst;
 
     // From face cellTableId to patchId
     Map<label> cellTableToPatchId;
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::STARCDfileFormat
 
     //
     // read .cel file
-    //
+    // ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     isPtr.reset(new IFstream(baseName + ".cel"));
 
     if (!isPtr().good())
@@ -351,26 +352,17 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::STARCDfileFormat
 
                 forAll(triFaces, faceI)
                 {
-                    faceLst.append
-                    (
-                        keyedFace
-                        (
-                            triFaces[faceI],
-                            patchI
-                        )
-                    );
+                    faceLst.append(triFaces[faceI]);
+                    regionLst.append(patchI);
                 }
             }
             else
             {
                 faceLst.append
                 (
-                    keyedFace
-                    (
-                        face(SubList<label>(starLabels, nLabels)),
-                        patchI
-                    )
+                    face(SubList<label>(starLabels, nLabels))
                 );
+                regionLst.append(patchI);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -390,22 +382,20 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::STARCDfileFormat
 
     // transfer to normal lists
     faces().transfer(faceLst);
+    regions().transfer(regionLst);
 
     setPatches(regionNames);
 }
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-
 void Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::write
 (
     const fileName& fName,
     const keyedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
 
     fileName baseName = fName.lessExt();
     autoPtr<OFstream> osPtr;
@@ -436,7 +426,6 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::write
 }
 
 
-
 void Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::write
 (
     const fileName& fName,
@@ -470,9 +459,4 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STARCDfileFormat::write
     }
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormat.C
index 6a3db12c10..aeaf6b24b3 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormat.C
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-
 // check binary by getting the header and number of facets
 // this seems to work better than the old token-based method
 // - some programs (eg, pro-STAR) have 'solid' as the first word in
@@ -197,29 +196,38 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::readBINARY
 #endif
 
 
-    pointField  pointLst(3*nTris);
-    List<keyedFace> faceLst(nTris);
+    // write directly into the lists:
+    pointField& pointLst = points();
+    List<face>& faceLst = faces();
+    List<label>& regionLst = regions();
+
+    pointLst.setSize(3*nTris);
+    faceLst.setSize(nTris);
+    regionLst.setSize(nTris);
 
     label maxRegionId = 0;
 
     label pointI = 0;
     forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
+        face& fTri = faceLst[faceI];
+        fTri.setSize(3);
+
+
         // Read an STL triangle
         STLtriangle stlTri(is);
 
         // Set the rawPoints to the vertices of the STL triangle
         // and set the point labels of the face
-        face f(3);
 
         pointLst[pointI] = stlTri.a();
-        f[0] = pointI++;
+        fTri[0] = pointI++;
 
         pointLst[pointI] = stlTri.b();
-        f[1] = pointI++;
+        fTri[1] = pointI++;
 
         pointLst[pointI] = stlTri.c();
-        f[2] = pointI++;
+        fTri[2] = pointI++;
 
         if (maxRegionId < stlTri.region())
         {
@@ -227,7 +235,7 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::readBINARY
         }
 
         // interprete colour as a region
-        faceLst[faceI] = keyedFace(f, stlTri.region());
+        regionLst[faceI] = stlTri.region();
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_STLBINARY
         if
@@ -257,8 +265,6 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::readBINARY
     Info<< "endsolid region" << prevRegion << nl;
 #endif
 
-    points().transfer(pointLst);
-    faces().transfer(faceLst);
     setPatches(maxRegionId);
     stitchFaces(SMALL);
 
@@ -340,7 +346,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::writeASCII
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst  = surf.faces();
     const vectorField& normLst = surf.faceNormals();
 
     labelList faceMap;
@@ -406,7 +412,8 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::writeBINARY
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>&  faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<label>& regionLst = surf.regions();
     const vectorField& normLst = surf.faceNormals();
 
     // Write the STL header
@@ -428,6 +435,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::writeBINARY
 
     os.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(&nTris), sizeof(unsigned int));
 
+    // always write unsorted
     forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
         writeShell
@@ -436,7 +444,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::writeBINARY
             pointLst,
             faceLst[faceI],
             normLst[faceI],
-            faceLst[faceI].key()
+            regionLst[faceI]
         );
     }
 }
@@ -449,9 +457,9 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::writeBINARY
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
-    const surfacePatchList& patchLst = surf.patches();
+    const List<face>& faceLst  = surf.faces();
     const vectorField& normLst = surf.faceNormals();
+    const surfacePatchList& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
     // Write the STL header
     string header("STL binary file", headerSize);
@@ -517,8 +525,6 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::STLfileFormat
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 
@@ -583,8 +589,4 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::write
     }
 }
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormatASCII.L b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormatASCII.L
index 57801dee8d..b339364dd5 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormatASCII.L
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/stl/STLfileFormatASCII.L
@@ -390,30 +390,25 @@ Foam::fileFormats::STLfileFormat::readASCII
     STLASCIILexer lexer(&ifs.stdStream(), fileSize/400);
     while (lexer.lex() != 0) {}
 
-    DynamicList<point>& pointLst = lexer.points();
-    DynamicList<label>& facetsLst = lexer.facets();
+    // transfer to normal lists
+    points().transfer(lexer.points());
+    regions().transfer(lexer.facets());
 
-    // transfer to normal list
-    points().transfer(pointLst);
+    // make our triangles directly
+    List<face>& faceLst = faces();
+    faceLst.setSize(regions().size());
 
-    // make our triangles
-    facetsLst.shrink();
-    List<keyedFace> faceLst(facetsLst.size());
-
-    face fTri(3);
     label ptI = 0;
-    forAll(facetsLst, faceI)
+    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
+        face& fTri = faceLst[faceI];
+        fTri.setSize(3);
+
         fTri[0] = ptI++;
         fTri[1] = ptI++;
         fTri[2] = ptI++;
-
-        faceLst[faceI] = keyedFace(fTri, facetsLst[faceI]);
     }
-    facetsLst.clearStorage();
 
-    // transfer to normal list
-    faces().transfer(faceLst);
     setPatches(lexer.groupToPatch());
     stitchFaces(SMALL);
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/tri/TRIfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/tri/TRIfileFormat.C
index 39d74fa06f..6d6a9d2788 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/tri/TRIfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/tri/TRIfileFormat.C
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ Foam::fileFormats::TRIfileFormat::TRIfileFormat
 
     // uses similar structure as STL, just some points
     DynamicList<point> pointLst;
-    DynamicList<label> facetsLst;
+    DynamicList<label> regionLst;
     HashTable<label>   groupToPatch;
 
     // leave faces that didn't have a group in 0
@@ -193,46 +193,43 @@ Foam::fileFormats::TRIfileFormat::TRIfileFormat
         else
         {
             // special treatment if any initial faces were not in a group
-            if (maxGroupID == -1 && facetsLst.size())
+            if (maxGroupID == -1 && regionLst.size())
             {
                 groupToPatch.insert("patch0", 0);
-                nUngrouped = facetsLst.size();
+                nUngrouped = regionLst.size();
                 maxGroupID = 0;
             }
             groupID = ++maxGroupID;
             groupToPatch.insert(groupName, groupID);
         }
 
-        facetsLst.append(groupID);
+        regionLst.append(groupID);
     }
 
     // transfer to normal list
     points().transfer(pointLst);
+    regions().transfer(regionLst);
 
-    // make our triangles
-    facetsLst.shrink();
-    List<keyedFace> faceLst(facetsLst.size());
+    // make our triangles directly
+    List<face>& faceLst = faces();
+    faceLst.setSize(regions().size());
 
-    face fTri(3);
     label ptI = 0;
-    forAll(facetsLst, faceI)
+    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
+        face& fTri = faceLst[faceI];
+        fTri.setSize(3);
+
         fTri[0] = ptI++;
         fTri[1] = ptI++;
         fTri[2] = ptI++;
-
-        faceLst[faceI] = keyedFace(fTri, facetsLst[faceI]);
     }
-    facetsLst.clearStorage();
 
-    faces().transfer(faceLst);
     setPatches(groupToPatch);
     stitchFaces(SMALL);
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 void Foam::fileFormats::TRIfileFormat::write
@@ -242,7 +239,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::TRIfileFormat::write
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst  = surf.faces();
 
     labelList faceMap;
     List<surfacePatch> patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
@@ -266,7 +263,7 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::TRIfileFormat::write
 )
 {
     const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst  = surf.faces();
     const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
@@ -280,8 +277,4 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::TRIfileFormat::write
     }
 }
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.C
index 8c11d056b8..6ff42c3762 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.C
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ addNamedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 void Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::writeHead
 (
     Ostream& os,
-    const pointField& pointLst
+    const pointField& pointLst,
+    const List<face>& faceLst
 )
 {
     // Write header
@@ -82,6 +83,16 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::writeHead
             << pointLst[ptI].y() << ' '
             << pointLst[ptI].z() << nl;
     }
+
+    label nNodes = 0;
+    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
+    {
+        nNodes += faceLst[faceI].size();
+    }
+
+    os  << nl
+        << "POLYGONS " << faceLst.size() << ' '
+        << faceLst.size() + nNodes << nl;
 }
 
 
@@ -134,8 +145,6 @@ Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::VTKfileFormat()
 {}
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Selectors * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 void Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::write
@@ -144,24 +153,13 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::write
     const keyedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+    const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
+
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst);
 
     labelList faceMap;
     List<surfacePatch> patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
 
-    writeHead(os, pointLst);
-
-    label nNodes = 0;
-    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
-    {
-        nNodes += faceLst[faceI].size();
-    }
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "POLYGONS " << faceLst.size() << ' '
-        << faceLst.size() + nNodes << nl;
-
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
     {
@@ -189,21 +187,10 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::write
     const meshedSurface& surf
 )
 {
-    const pointField& pointLst = surf.points();
     const List<face>& faceLst = surf.faces();
     const List<surfacePatch>& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
-    writeHead(os, pointLst);
-
-    label nNodes = 0;
-    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
-    {
-        nNodes += faceLst[faceI].size();
-    }
-
-    os  << nl
-        << "POLYGONS " << faceLst.size() << ' '
-        << faceLst.size() + nNodes << nl;
+    writeHead(os, surf.points(), faceLst);
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
@@ -225,9 +212,4 @@ void Foam::fileFormats::VTKfileFormat::write
     writeTail(os, patchLst);
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Friend Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.H b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.H
index b1b241336b..c6691b7ec5 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/fileFormats/vtk/VTKfileFormat.H
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class VTKfileFormat
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
         void operator=(const VTKfileFormat&);
 
-        static void writeHead(Ostream&, const pointField&);
+        static void writeHead(Ostream&, const pointField&, const List<face>&);
         static void writeTail(Ostream&, const List<surfacePatch>&);
 
 public:
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.C
index 99565c70b5..ec56558bcf 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.C
@@ -199,12 +199,11 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::setPatches(const label maxPatch)
 void Foam::keyedSurface::setPatches()
 {
     label maxPatch = 0;
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst = faces();
 
     // find the max region that occurs
-    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
+    forAll(regions_, faceI)
     {
-        const label regId = faceLst[faceI].key();
+        const label regId = regions_[faceI];
 
         if (maxPatch < regId)
         {
@@ -222,7 +221,7 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::setPatches
     const Map<word>& regionNames,
     const label maxPatchHint
 )
-{    
+{
     label maxPatch = maxPatchHint;
 
     // determine max patch ID if required
@@ -288,13 +287,16 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::setPatches
     setPatches(regionNames, maxPatch);
 }
 
-
 // Read triangles, points from Istream
+//
+//  FIXME: needs to handle labelledTri etc.
 bool Foam::keyedSurface::read(Istream& is)
 {
-    is  >> geoPatches_ >> points() >> faces();
+    notImplemented("Foam::keyedSurface::read(Istream&)");
+    return false;
 
-    return true;
+    //// is  >> geoPatches_ >> points() >> faces();
+    //// return true;
 }
 
 #if 0
@@ -311,91 +313,6 @@ bool Foam::keyedSurface::read(const fileName& name, const word& ext)
 #endif
 
 
-// Returns patch info.
-// Sets faceMap to the indexing according to patch numbers.
-// Patch numbers start at 0.
-Foam::surfacePatchList
-Foam::keyedSurface::sortedRegions
-(
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst,
-    const Map<word>& patchNames,
-    labelList& faceMap
-)
-{
-    // determine sort order according to region numbers
-
-    // std::sort() really seems to mix up the order.
-    // Assuming that we have relatively fewer regions compared to the
-    // number of items, just do it ourselves
-
-    // step 1: get region sizes and store (regionId => patchI)
-    Map<label> regionLookup;
-    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
-    {
-        const label regId = faceLst[faceI].key();
-
-        Map<label>::iterator iter = regionLookup.find(regId);
-        if (iter == regionLookup.end())
-        {
-            regionLookup.insert(regId, 1);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            iter()++;
-        }
-    }
-
-    // step 2: assign start/size (and name) to the newPatches
-    // re-use the lookup to map (regionId => patchI)
-    surfacePatchList surfPatches(regionLookup.size());
-    label patchStart = 0;
-    label patchI = 0;
-    forAllIter(Map<label>, regionLookup, iter)
-    {
-        label regId = iter.key();
-
-        word patchName;
-        Map<word>::const_iterator iter2 = patchNames.find(regId);
-        if (iter2 == patchNames.end())
-        {
-            patchName = word("patch") + ::Foam::name(patchI);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            patchName = iter2();
-        }
-
-        surfPatches[patchI] = surfacePatch
-        (
-            defaultGeometricType,
-            patchName,
-            0,           // initialize with zero size
-            patchStart,
-            patchI
-        );
-
-        // increment the start for the next patch
-        // and save the (regionId => patchI) mapping
-        patchStart += iter();
-        iter() = patchI++;
-    }
-
-    // step 3: build the re-ordering
-    faceMap.setSize(faceLst.size());
-
-    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
-    {
-        label patchI = regionLookup[faceLst[faceI].key()];
-
-        faceMap[faceI] =
-            surfPatches[patchI].start() + surfPatches[patchI].size()++;
-    }
-
-    // with reordered faces
-    return surfPatches;
-}
-
-
 // Returns patch info.
 // Sets faceMap to the indexing according to patch numbers.
 // Patch numbers start at 0.
@@ -493,7 +410,7 @@ Foam::surfacePatchList Foam::keyedSurface::sortedRegions
         patchNames.insert(patchI, geoPatches_[patchI].name());
     }
 
-    return sortedRegions(faces(), patchNames, faceMap);
+    return sortedRegions(regions_, patchNames, faceMap);
 }
 
 
@@ -501,48 +418,37 @@ Foam::surfacePatchList Foam::keyedSurface::sortedRegions
 
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface()
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
-{}
-
-
-Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
-(
-    const pointField& pointLst,
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst,
-    const geometricSurfacePatchList& patchLst
-)
-:
-    MeshStorage(faceLst, pointLst),
-    geoPatches_(patchLst)
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {}
 
 
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 (
     const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const xfer<List<keyedFace> >& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<face> >& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<label> >& regionIds,
     const xfer<geometricSurfacePatchList>& patchLst
 )
 :
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    regions_(regionIds),
+    geoPatches_(patchLst)
 {
     points().transfer(pointLst());
     faces().transfer(faceLst());
-    geoPatches_.transfer(patchLst());
 }
 
 
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 (
     const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const xfer<List<keyedFace> >& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<face> >& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<label> >& regionIds,
     const Map<word>& regionNames
 )
 :
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    regions_(regionIds)
 {
     faces().transfer(faceLst());
     points().transfer(pointLst());
@@ -552,23 +458,24 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
         // set patch names from (id => name) mapping
         setPatches(regionNames);
     }
-    else 
+    else
     {
         // find highest region ID and set patch names automatically
         setPatches();
-    }    
+    }
 }
 
 
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 (
     const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const xfer<List<keyedFace> >& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<face> >& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<label> >& regionIds,
     const HashTable<label>& labelToRegion
 )
 :
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    regions_(regionIds)
 {
     points().transfer(pointLst());
     faces().transfer(faceLst());
@@ -581,15 +488,16 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 (
     const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const List<face>& faceLst
+    const xfer<List<face> >& faceLst
 )
 :
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
+    regions_(faceLst().size(), 0),     // single default patch
     geoPatches_()
 {
     points().transfer(pointLst());
-    faces() = keyedFace::createList(faceLst, 0);
-    // single default patch
+    faces().transfer(faceLst());
+
     setPatches(0);
 }
 
@@ -601,8 +509,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
     const bool useGlobalPoints
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     const polyMesh& mesh = bMesh.mesh();
     const polyPatchList& bPatches = bMesh;
@@ -622,7 +529,8 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
         mesh.points()
     );
 
-    List<keyedFace> newFaces(allBoundary.size());
+    List<FaceType> newFaces(allBoundary.size());
+    List<label>    newRegions(allBoundary.size());
 
     if (useGlobalPoints)
     {
@@ -657,16 +565,14 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 
         forAll(p, patchFaceI)
         {
-            newFaces[faceIndex] = keyedFace
-            (
-                bfaces[faceIndex],
-                patchI
-            );
+            newFaces[faceIndex] = bfaces[faceIndex];
+            newRegions[faceIndex] = patchI;
             faceIndex++;
         }
     }
 
     faces().transfer(newFaces);
+    regions_.transfer(newRegions);
     geoPatches_.transfer(newPatches);
 }
 
@@ -676,13 +582,13 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
     const meshedSurface& surf
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<keyedFace>(), surf.points()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), surf.points())
 {
     const List<face>& origFaces = surf.faces();
     const surfacePatchList& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
-    List<keyedFace> newFaces(origFaces.size());
+    List<FaceType> newFaces(origFaces.size());
+    List<label>    newRegions(origFaces.size());
     geometricSurfacePatchList newPatches(patchLst.size());
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
@@ -691,12 +597,14 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
         newPatches[patchI] = patchLst[patchI];
         forAll(patchLst[patchI], patchFaceI)
         {
-            newFaces[faceIndex] = keyedFace(origFaces[faceIndex], patchI);
+            newFaces[faceIndex] = origFaces[faceIndex];
+            newRegions[faceIndex] = patchI;
             faceIndex++;
         }
     }
 
     faces().transfer(newFaces);
+    regions_.transfer(newRegions);
     geoPatches_.transfer(newPatches);
 }
 
@@ -708,8 +616,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
     const bool triangulate
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     // use selector mechanism
     autoPtr<keyedSurface> surfPtr = New(fName, ext, triangulate);
@@ -723,8 +630,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
     const bool triangulate
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     // use selector mechanism
     autoPtr<keyedSurface> surfPtr = New(fName, triangulate);
@@ -734,8 +640,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface
 
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(Istream& is)
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     read(is);
     setPatches();
@@ -744,8 +649,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(Istream& is)
 
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const Time& d)
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    geoPatches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     read(IFstream(triSurfName(d))());
     setPatches();
@@ -755,6 +659,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const Time& d)
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const keyedSurface& surf)
 :
     MeshStorage(surf.faces(), surf.points()),
+    regions_(surf.regions_),
     geoPatches_(surf.geoPatches_)
 {}
 
@@ -762,6 +667,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const keyedSurface& surf)
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const xfer<keyedSurface>& surf)
 :
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
+    regions_(),
     geoPatches_()
 {
     transfer(surf());
@@ -771,6 +677,7 @@ Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const xfer<keyedSurface>& surf)
 Foam::keyedSurface::keyedSurface(const xfer<meshedSurface>& surf)
 :
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
+    regions_(),
     geoPatches_()
 {
     transfer(surf());
@@ -878,6 +785,7 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::transfer(keyedSurface& surf)
     clearOut();
     faces().transfer(surf.faces());
     points().transfer(surf.points());
+    regions_.transfer(surf.regions_);
     geoPatches_.transfer(surf.geoPatches_);
     surf.clearOut();
 }
@@ -887,28 +795,24 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::transfer(meshedSurface& surf)
 {
     clearOut();
     points().transfer(surf.points());
+    faces().transfer(surf.faces());
+    regions_.setSize(nFaces());
 
-    const List<face>& origFaces = surf.faces();
-    List<keyedFace> newFaces(origFaces.size());
-
-    const surfacePatchList& patchLst = surf.patches();
-    geometricSurfacePatchList newPatches(patchLst.size());
+    surfacePatchList& patchLst = surf.patches();
 
     label faceIndex = 0;
     forAll(patchLst, patchI)
     {
-        newPatches[patchI] = patchLst[patchI];
+        // copy info
+        geoPatches_[patchI] = patchLst[patchI];
 
         forAll(patchLst[patchI], patchFaceI)
         {
-            newFaces[faceIndex] = keyedFace(origFaces[faceIndex], patchI);
-            faceIndex++;
+            regions_[faceIndex++] = patchI;
         }
     }
 
-    faces().transfer(newFaces);
-    geoPatches_.transfer(newPatches);
-    surf.faces().clear();
+    patchLst.clear();
     surf.clearOut();
 }
 
@@ -1060,10 +964,16 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::write
 
 void Foam::keyedSurface::write(Ostream& os) const
 {
-    os << geoPatches_ << endl;
+    os  << "\n// geometric regions:\n"
+        << geoPatches_ << endl;
 
     // Note: Write with global point numbering
-    os << points() << nl << faces() << endl;
+    os  << "\n// points:"
+        << points() << nl
+        << "\n// faces:"
+        << faces() << nl
+        << "\n// regions:"
+        << regions() << endl;
 
     // Check state of Ostream
     os.check("keyedSurface::write(Ostream&)");
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.H b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.H
index 6cbf08458a..c392128bdc 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurface.H
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Class
 
 Description
     A surface geometry mesh, in which the patch information is conveyed by
-    the 'key' attached to each face.
+    the 'region' associated with each face.
 
     This form of surface description is particularly useful for reading in
     surface meshes from third-party formats (eg, obj, stl, gts, etc.). It
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class polyBoundaryMesh;
 
 class keyedSurface
 :
-    public PrimitivePatchExtra<Keyed<face>, ::Foam::List, pointField, point>
+    public PrimitivePatchExtra<face, ::Foam::List, pointField, point>
 {
     friend class meshedSurface;
 
@@ -86,12 +86,10 @@ protected:
         typedef Keyed<face> keyedFace;
 
         //- Typedef for similar code in keyedSurface and meshedSurface
-        typedef keyedFace FaceType;
+        typedef face FaceType;
 
 private:
 
-    // Private Member Data
-
     // Private typedefs
 
         typedef PrimitivePatchExtra
@@ -103,7 +101,10 @@ private:
         >
         MeshStorage;
 
-    // Private data
+    // Private Member Data
+
+        //- The regions associated with the faces
+        labelList regions_;
 
         //- Patch information (face ordering nFaces/startFace only used
         //  during reading and writing)
@@ -159,6 +160,12 @@ protected:
             return static_cast<List<FaceType> &>(*this);
         }
 
+        //- Return non-const access to the region Ids
+        List<label>& regions()
+        {
+            return regions_;
+        }
+
 public:
 
         //- Runtime type information
@@ -181,47 +188,42 @@ public:
         //- Construct null
         keyedSurface();
 
-        //- Construct from components (points, labelled faces, patches).
-        keyedSurface
-        (
-            const pointField&,
-            const List<keyedFace>&,
-            const geometricSurfacePatchList&
-        );
-
         //- Construct by transferring components
-        //  (points, labelled faces, patches.
+        //  (points, faces, region ids, patches).
         keyedSurface
         (
             const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const xfer<List<keyedFace> >&,
+            const xfer<List<face> >&,
+            const xfer<List<label> >& regionIds,
             const xfer<geometricSurfacePatchList>&
         );
 
-        //- Construct by transferring points and labelled faces
-        //  With region names per map or set to default.
+        //- Construct by transferring points, faces and regionIds
+        //  with region names per map or set to default.
         keyedSurface
         (
             const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const xfer<List<keyedFace> >&,
+            const xfer<List<face> >&,
+            const xfer<List<label> >& regionIds,
             const Map<word>& regionNames = Map<word>::null()
         );
 
-        //- Construct by transferring points and labelled faces
+        //- Construct by transferring points, faces and regionIds
         //  with patch-names from hash
         keyedSurface
         (
             const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const xfer<List<keyedFace> >&,
+            const xfer<List<face> >&,
+            const xfer<List<label> >& regionIds,
             const HashTable<label>& labelToRegion
         );
 
-        //- Construct by transferring points, copying unlabelled faces.
+        //- Construct by transferring points, faces.
         //  Set single default patch.
         keyedSurface
         (
             const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const List<face>&
+            const xfer<List<face> >&
         );
 
         //- Construct from a boundary mesh with local points/faces
@@ -360,6 +362,12 @@ public:
                 return static_cast<const List<FaceType> &>(*this);
             }
 
+            //- Return const access to the regions
+            const List<label>& regions() const
+            {
+                return regions_;
+            }
+
             const geometricSurfacePatchList& geoPatches() const
             {
                 return geoPatches_;
@@ -370,15 +378,6 @@ public:
                 return geoPatches_;
             }
 
-            //- Determine the sort order from the face regions.
-            //  Returns patch list and sets faceMap to index within faceLst
-            static surfacePatchList sortedRegions
-            (
-                const List<keyedFace>& faceLst,
-                const Map<word>& patchNames,
-                labelList& faceMap
-            );
-
             //- Determine the sort order from the region list.
             //  Returns patch list and sets faceMap to indices within faceLst
             static surfacePatchList sortedRegions
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurfaceCleanup.C b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurfaceCleanup.C
index b44e3aaa5d..176e0b7fba 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurfaceCleanup.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/keyedSurface/keyedSurfaceCleanup.C
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ License
 #include "keyedSurface.H"
 #include "mergePoints.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 // Remove badly degenerate faces, double faces.
@@ -83,6 +81,7 @@ bool Foam::keyedSurface::stitchFaces(const scalar tol, const bool verbose)
             if (newFaceI != faceI)
             {
                 faceLst[newFaceI] = f;
+                regions_[newFaceI] = regions_[faceI];
             }
             newFaceI++;
         }
@@ -103,6 +102,7 @@ bool Foam::keyedSurface::stitchFaces(const scalar tol, const bool verbose)
                 << " faces" << endl;
         }
         faceLst.setSize(newFaceI);
+        regions_.setSize(newFaceI);
     }
 
     // Merging points might have changed geometric factors
@@ -138,9 +138,8 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::checkFaces(const bool verbose)
         }
     }
 
-    // Two phase process
-    //   1. mark invalid faces
-    //   2. pack
+    // Phase 1: mark invalid faces
+    // Phase 1: pack
     // Done to keep numbering constant in phase 1
     const labelListList& fFaces = faceFaces();
     label newFaceI = 0;
@@ -197,6 +196,7 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::checkFaces(const bool verbose)
                 if (newFaceI != faceI)
                 {
                     faceLst[newFaceI] = f;
+                    regions_[newFaceI] = regions_[faceI];
                 }
                 newFaceI++;
             }
@@ -223,13 +223,11 @@ void Foam::keyedSurface::checkFaces(const bool verbose)
                 << " illegal faces." << endl;
         }
         faceLst.setSize(newFaceI);
+        regions_.setSize(newFaceI);
 
         // Topology can change because of renumbering
         clearOut();
     }
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.C b/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.C
index 047b866180..a08abb68f4 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.C
@@ -240,12 +240,50 @@ void Foam::meshedSurface::checkPatches()
 }
 
 
-// Read triangles, points from Istream
+void Foam::meshedSurface::sortFacesByRegion
+(
+    const List<label>& regionIds,
+    const Map<word>& regionNames
+)
+{
+    const List<FaceType>& unsortedFaces = faces();
+
+    if (!&regionNames || !&regionIds || regionIds.size() == 0)
+    {
+        onePatch();
+    }
+    else if (regionIds.size() == unsortedFaces.size())
+    {
+        labelList faceMap;
+        surfacePatchList newPatches = keyedSurface::sortedRegions
+        (
+            regionIds,
+            regionNames,
+            faceMap
+        );
+        patches_.transfer(newPatches);
+
+        // this is somewhat like ListOps reorder and/or IndirectList
+        List<FaceType> newFaces(unsortedFaces.size());
+        forAll(newFaces, faceI)
+        {
+            newFaces[faceI] = unsortedFaces[faceMap[faceI]];
+        }
+        faceMap.clear();
+
+        faces().transfer(newFaces);
+    }
+}
+
+
+// Read points, faces, from Istream
 bool Foam::meshedSurface::read(Istream& is)
 {
-    is  >> patches_ >> points() >> faces();
+    notImplemented("Foam::meshedSurface::read(Istream&)");
+    return false;
 
-    return true;
+    //// is  >> patches_ >> points() >> faces();
+    //// return true;
 }
 
 #if 0
@@ -266,20 +304,7 @@ bool Foam::meshedSurface::read(const fileName& name, const word& ext)
 
 Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface()
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
-{}
-
-
-Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
-(
-    const pointField& pointLst,
-    const List<FaceType>& faceLst,
-    const surfacePatchList& patchLst
-)
-:
-    MeshStorage(faceLst, pointLst),
-    patches_(patchLst)
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {}
 
 
@@ -293,8 +318,8 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
     patches_(patchLst)
 {
-    faces().transfer(faceLst());
     points().transfer(pointLst());
+    faces().transfer(faceLst());
 }
 
 
@@ -307,8 +332,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     const List<word>& patchTypes
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     points().transfer(pointLst());
     faces().transfer(faceLst());
@@ -338,57 +362,38 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
 (
     const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
     const xfer<List<FaceType> >& faceLst,
-    const List<label>& regionLst,
+    const List<label>& regionIds,
     const Map<word>& regionNames
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     points().transfer(pointLst());
     faces().transfer(faceLst());
 
-    const List<FaceType>& unsortedFaces = faces();
-
-    if (regionLst.size() == 0)
-    {
-        onePatch();
-    }
-    else if (regionLst.size() != unsortedFaces.size())
+    if
+    (
+        &regionIds
+     && regionIds.size() != 0
+     && regionIds.size() != nFaces()
+    )
     {
         FatalErrorIn
         (
             "meshedSurface::meshedSurface(\n"
             "(\n"
-            "    const pointField&,\n"
-            "    const List<FaceType>&,\n"
-            "    const List<label>& regionLst,\n"
+            "    const xfer<pointField>&,\n"
+            "    const xfer<List<FaceType> >&,\n"
+            "    const List<label>& regionIds,\n"
             "    const Map<word>& regionNames\n"
             " )\n"
         )
-            << "size mismatch : regionLst.size() != faceLst.size()"
+            << "size mismatch : regionIds.size() != nFaces()"
             << exit(FatalError);
     }
     else
     {
-        labelList faceMap;
-        surfacePatchList newPatches = keyedSurface::sortedRegions
-        (
-            regionLst,
-            regionNames,
-            faceMap
-        );
-        patches_.transfer(newPatches);
-
-        // this is somewhat like ListOps reorder and/or IndirectList
-        List<FaceType> newFaces(unsortedFaces.size());
-        forAll(newFaces, faceI)
-        {
-            newFaces[faceI] = unsortedFaces[faceMap[faceI]];
-        }
-        faceMap.clear();
-
-        faces().transfer(newFaces);
+        sortFacesByRegion(regionIds, regionNames);
     }
 }
 
@@ -396,88 +401,41 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
 Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
 (
     const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const xfer<List<FaceType> >& faceLst
-)
-:
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
-{
-    faces().transfer(faceLst());
-    points().transfer(pointLst());
-
-    onePatch();
-}
-
-
-Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
-(
-    const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst,
-    const Map<word>& regionNames
-)
-:
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
-{
-    points().transfer(pointLst());
-
-    labelList faceMap;
-    surfacePatchList newPatches = keyedSurface::sortedRegions
-    (
-        faceLst,
-        regionNames,
-        faceMap
-    );
-    patches_.transfer(newPatches);
-
-    // this is somewhat like ListOps reorder and/or IndirectList
-    List<FaceType> newFaces(faceLst.size());
-    forAll(newFaces, faceI)
-    {
-        newFaces[faceI] = faceLst[faceMap[faceI]];
-    }
-
-    faces().transfer(newFaces);
-}
-
-
-Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
-(
-    const xfer<pointField>& pointLst,
-    const List<keyedFace>& faceLst,
+    const xfer<List<FaceType> >& faceLst,
+    const List<label>& regionIds,
     const HashTable<label>& nameToRegionMapping
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     points().transfer(pointLst());
+    faces().transfer(faceLst());
 
-    Map<word> regionNames;
-    forAllConstIter(HashTable<label>, nameToRegionMapping, iter)
+    if (regionIds.size() != nFaces())
     {
-        regionNames.insert(iter(), iter.key());
+        FatalErrorIn
+        (
+            "meshedSurface::meshedSurface(\n"
+            "(\n"
+            "    const xfer<pointField>&,\n"
+            "    const xfer<List<FaceType> >&,\n"
+            "    const List<label>& regionIds,\n"
+            "    const HashTable<label>& nameToRegionMapping\n"
+            " )\n"
+        )
+            << "size mismatch : regionIds.size() != nFaces()"
+            << exit(FatalError);
     }
-
-
-    labelList faceMap;
-    surfacePatchList newPatches = keyedSurface::sortedRegions
-    (
-        faceLst,
-        regionNames,
-        faceMap
-    );
-    patches_.transfer(newPatches);
-
-    List<FaceType> newFaces(faceLst.size());
-
-    // this is somewhat like ListOps reorder and/or IndirectList
-    forAll(newFaces, faceI)
+    else
     {
-        newFaces[faceI] = faceLst[faceMap[faceI]];
-    }
+        Map<word> regionNames;
+        forAllConstIter(HashTable<label>, nameToRegionMapping, iter)
+        {
+            regionNames.insert(iter(), iter.key());
+        }
 
-    faces().transfer(newFaces);
+        sortFacesByRegion(regionIds, regionNames);
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -487,8 +445,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     const bool useGlobalPoints
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     const polyMesh& mesh = bMesh.mesh();
     const polyPatchList& bPatches = bMesh;
@@ -550,8 +507,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     const surfMesh& sMesh
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(sMesh.faces()), sMesh.points()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(sMesh.faces()), sMesh.points())
 {
     const surfPatchList& sPatches = sMesh.boundaryMesh();
 
@@ -585,14 +541,13 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     const keyedSurface& surf
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), surf.points()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), surf.points())
 {
     labelList faceMap;
-    surfacePatchList newPatches = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
-    patches_.transfer(newPatches);
+    surfacePatchList patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
+    patches_.transfer(patchLst);
 
-    const List<keyedFace>& origFaces = surf.faces();
+    const List<FaceType>& origFaces = surf.faces();
     List<FaceType> newFaces(origFaces.size());
 
     // this is somewhat like ListOps reorder and/or IndirectList
@@ -612,8 +567,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     const bool triangulate
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     // use selector mechanism
     autoPtr<meshedSurface> surfPtr = New(fName, ext, triangulate);
@@ -626,8 +580,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
     const bool triangulate
 )
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     // use selector mechanism
     autoPtr<meshedSurface> surfPtr = New(fName, triangulate);
@@ -637,8 +590,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface
 
 Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(Istream& is)
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     read(is);
     // setDefaultPatches();
@@ -647,8 +599,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(Istream& is)
 
 Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(const Time& d)
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     read(IFstream(triSurfName(d))());
     // setDefaultPatches();
@@ -664,8 +615,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(const meshedSurface& surf)
 
 Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(const xfer<keyedSurface>& surf)
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     transfer(surf());
 }
@@ -673,8 +623,7 @@ Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(const xfer<keyedSurface>& surf)
 
 Foam::meshedSurface::meshedSurface(const xfer<meshedSurface>& surf)
 :
-    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField()),
-    patches_()
+    MeshStorage(List<FaceType>(), pointField())
 {
     transfer(surf());
 }
@@ -703,6 +652,7 @@ void Foam::meshedSurface::movePoints(const pointField& newPoints)
     points() = newPoints;
 }
 
+
 //- scale points
 void Foam::meshedSurface::scalePoints(const scalar& scaleFactor)
 {
@@ -720,7 +670,6 @@ void Foam::meshedSurface::scalePoints(const scalar& scaleFactor)
 }
 
 
-
 Foam::meshedSurface Foam::meshedSurface::subsetMesh
 (
     const boolList& include,
@@ -806,8 +755,8 @@ Foam::meshedSurface Foam::meshedSurface::subsetMesh
 void Foam::meshedSurface::transfer(meshedSurface& surf)
 {
     clearOut();
-    faces().transfer(surf.faces());
     points().transfer(surf.points());
+    faces().transfer(surf.faces());
     patches_.transfer(surf.patches_);
     surf.clearOut();
 }
@@ -817,18 +766,21 @@ void Foam::meshedSurface::transfer(keyedSurface& surf)
 {
     clearOut();
     points().transfer(surf.points());
+    faces().clear();
 
     labelList faceMap;
-    surfacePatchList newPatches = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
-    patches_.transfer(newPatches);
+    surfacePatchList patchLst = surf.sortedRegions(faceMap);
+    patches_.transfer(patchLst);
+    surf.regions().clear();
+    surf.geoPatches_.clear();
 
-    const List<keyedFace>& origFaces = surf.faces();
-    List<FaceType> newFaces(origFaces.size());
+    List<FaceType>& oldFaces = surf.faces();
+    List<FaceType> newFaces(oldFaces.size());
 
     // this is somewhat like ListOps reorder and/or IndirectList
     forAll(newFaces, faceI)
     {
-        newFaces[faceI] = origFaces[faceMap[faceI]];
+        newFaces[faceI] = oldFaces[faceMap[faceI]];
     }
 
     faces().transfer(newFaces);
@@ -932,15 +884,19 @@ void Foam::meshedSurface::write
 void Foam::meshedSurface::write(Ostream& os) const
 {
     // quick-hack
-    os << patches_.size() << nl << token::BEGIN_LIST;
+    os  << "\n// regions:\n"
+        << patches_.size() << nl << token::BEGIN_LIST;
     forAll(patches_, patchI)
     {
         patches_[patchI].writeDict(os);
     }
-    os << token::END_LIST;
+    os << token::END_LIST << endl;
 
     // Note: Write with global point numbering
-    os << points() << nl << faces() << endl;
+    os  << "\n// points:"
+        << points() << nl
+        << "\n// faces:"
+        << faces() << endl;
 
     // Check state of Ostream
     os.check("meshedSurface::write(Ostream&)");
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.H b/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.H
index c9efb9d167..bfbd7685c4 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurface.H
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ private:
 
     // Private member functions
 
+        //- Sort faces by regionIds and set patches
+        void sortFacesByRegion(const List<label>&, const Map<word>&);
+
         //- set a single patch
         void onePatch();
 
@@ -162,16 +165,8 @@ public:
         //- Construct null
         meshedSurface();
 
-        //- Construct from components (points, faces and patches).
-        meshedSurface
-        (
-            const pointField&,
-            const List<face>&,
-            const surfacePatchList&
-        );
-
         //- Construct by transferring components
-        //- (points, faces and patches).
+        //  (points, faces and patches).
         meshedSurface
         (
             const xfer<pointField>&,
@@ -188,40 +183,25 @@ public:
             const List<word>& patchNames,
             const List<word>& patchTypes
         );
-   
-        //- Construct from points, faces, a list of (unsorted) region Ids
-        //  and with the names of the regions.
+
+        //- Construct by transferring points, faces.
+        //  Sort faces according to regionIds with the names of the regions,
+        //  or jsut set a single default patch.
+        meshedSurface
+        (
+            const xfer<pointField>&,
+            const xfer<List<face> >&,
+            const List<label>& regionIds = List<label>::null(),
+            const Map<word>& regionNames = Map<word>::null()
+        );
+
+        //- Construct by transferring points, faces.
+        //  Sort faces according to regionIds with patch-names from hash
         meshedSurface
         (
             const xfer<pointField>&,
             const xfer<List<face> >&,
             const List<label>& regionIds,
-            const Map<word>& regionNames
-        );
-
-        //- Construct by transferring points, faces
-        //  with a single default patch
-        meshedSurface
-        (
-            const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const xfer<List<face> >&
-        );
-
-        //- Construct by transferring points and copying labelled faces
-        //  With region names per map or set to default.
-        meshedSurface
-        (
-            const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const List<keyedFace>&,
-            const Map<word>& regionNames
-        );
-
-        //- Construct by transferring points and labelled faces
-        //- with patch-names from hash
-        meshedSurface
-        (
-            const xfer<pointField>&,
-            const List<keyedFace>&,
             const HashTable<label>& nameToRegionMapping
         );
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurfaceCleanup.C b/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurfaceCleanup.C
index 4419576403..6c6567f880 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurfaceCleanup.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/meshedSurface/meshedSurfaceCleanup.C
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ License
 #include "meshedSurface.H"
 #include "mergePoints.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 // Remove badly degenerate faces, double faces.
@@ -324,7 +322,4 @@ Foam::label Foam::meshedSurface::triangulate()
     return nTri;
 }
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //