diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 95f6ba29..fa7876f5 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -1,2 +1,18 @@
 module ApplicationHelper  
+  def get_metacodeset
+    @m = user.settings.metacodes
+    set = @m[0].include?("metacodeset") ? MetacodeSet.find(@m[0].sub("metacodeset-","").to_i) : false
+    return set
+  end
+
+  def user_metacodes
+    @m = user.settings.metacodes
+    set = get_metacodeset
+    if set
+      @metacodes = set.metacodes
+    else
+      @metacodes = Metacode.where(id: @m).to_a
+    end
+    @metacodes.sort! {|m1,m2| m2.name.downcase <=> m1.name.downcase }.rotate!(-1)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/metacode.rb b/app/models/metacode.rb
index 315f7800..03b0f0c0 100644
--- a/app/models/metacode.rb
+++ b/app/models/metacode.rb
@@ -13,5 +13,4 @@ class Metacode < ActiveRecord::Base
     return true if self.metacode_sets.include? metacode_set
     return false
   end
-
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb b/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb
index f22920bb..16b5fecb 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb
@@ -1,17 +1,8 @@
 <%= form_for Topic.new, url: topics_url, remote: true do |form| %>
   <div class="openMetacodeSwitcher openLightbox" data-open="switchMetacodes"></div>
   <div id="metacodeImg">
-    <% @m = user.settings.metacodes %>
-    <% set = @m[0].include?("metacodeset") ? MetacodeSet.find(@m[0].sub("metacodeset-","").to_i) : false %>
-    <% if set %>
-      <% @metacodes = set.metacodes %>
-    <% else %>
-      <% @metacodes = [] %>
-      <% @m.each do |m| %>
-        <% @metacodes.push(Metacode.find(m.to_i)) %>
-      <% end %>
-    <% end %>
-    <% @metacodes.sort! {|m1,m2| m2.name.downcase <=> m1.name.downcase }.rotate!(-1) %>
+    <% @metacodes = user_metacodes() %>
+    <% set = get_metacodeset() %>
     <% @metacodes.each do |metacode| %>
       <img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="<%= metacode.icon %>" alt="<%= metacode.name %>" title="<%= metacode.name %>" data-id="<%= metacode.id %>" />
     <% end %>