diff --git a/gui_handler.py b/gui_handler.py
index 72b8a30..9ef2cb5 100644
--- a/gui_handler.py
+++ b/gui_handler.py
@@ -26,32 +26,30 @@ class Window(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
     def set_size(self, size_x, size_y):
         self.resize(size_x, size_y)
 
-    def update_menus(self, menu_dict):
-        menu = self.menuBar()
+    def update_menus(self, menu_dict, menu=None):
+        # if not a sub menu
+        if menu == None:
+            menu = self.menuBar()
+
         #Looping through entire menu_dict
-        for topmenu, submenu in menu_dict.items():
-            #making top level menu
-            menu_item = menu.addMenu(topmenu)
-
-            #adding menu items (populating menu)
-            for inner, data in submenu.items():
-                #Adding submenu and populating it
-                if type(data) == dict:
-                    sub = menu_item.addMenu(inner)
-                    for label, func in data.items():
-                        sub.addAction(label)
-
-                        if func == None:
-                            sub.triggered.connect(lambda x: None)
-                        else:
-                            sub.triggered.connect(func)
-                #Adding separators
-                elif inner == None:
-                    menu_item.addSeparator()
-                else:    
-                    item = menu_item.addAction(inner)
-                    item.triggered.connect(data)
-    
+        for entry in menu_dict:
+            # inactive or separator
+            if menu_dict[entry] == None:
+                # determine if entry is a separator or an inactive menu item
+                if type(entry) == int:
+                    menu.addSeparator()
+                else:
+                    menu_item = menu.addAction(entry)
+                    menu_item.setEnabled(False)
+            # sub menus
+            if type(menu_dict[entry]) == dict:
+                submenu = menu.addMenu(entry)
+                # recurse because sub menus may have sub menus
+                self.update_menus(menu_dict[entry], menu=submenu)
+            # ordinary menu entries
+            if callable(menu_dict[entry]):
+                menu_item = menu.addAction(entry)
+                menu_item.triggered.connect(menu_dict[entry])
 
 #TODO: This needs to run in a thread but Qt really doesn't want it to. There are two ways around this:
 #   - create the QtWidgets.QApplication inside a thread and run all QT stuff inside that thread
diff --git a/gui_helper.py b/gui_helper.py
index c961fa8..43a5885 100644
--- a/gui_helper.py
+++ b/gui_helper.py
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ def not_implemented():
 #   "":{} -> menu or submenu
 #   "":function -> menu entry
 #   "":None -> disabled menu entry
-#   None:None -> separator
+#   int:None -> separator
 #
 # Entries with ... at the end are supposed to open dialogs whereas entries without dots are supposed to take effect immediately
 menu_structure = {
     "IDE": {
         "Preferences...": not_implemented,
-        None: None,
+        0: None,
         "Quit": not_implemented
     },
     "Project": {
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ menu_structure = {
         "Close": {
             "No open projects": None
         },
-        None: None,
+        0: None,
         "Preferences...": not_implemented,
         "Search...": not_implemented,
         "Build": not_implemented
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ menu_structure = {
         "Open...": not_implemented,
         "Save": not_implemented,
         "Close": not_implemented,
-        None: None,
+        0: None,
         "Rename...": not_implemented,
         "Move...": not_implemented,
         "View in File Explorer...": not_implemented
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ menu_structure = {
         "Copy": not_implemented,
         "Paste": not_implemented,
         "Move code...": not_implemented,
-        None: None,
+        0: None,
         "Search and Replace...": not_implemented,
-        None: None,
+        1: None,
         "Format": not_implemented,
         "Indent": not_implemented,
         "Unindent": not_implemented,
@@ -63,6 +63,3 @@ menu_structure = {
         "About IDE...": not_implemented,
     }
 }
-
-#FIXME: come up with a way to uniquely declare separators so they don't become the same element of a dict
-