diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ec6dc0a..6f599c2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ add_library(${TARGET_APP} STATIC
   model/commands/removerowscommand.h model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
   model/commands/edititemcommand.h model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
   data/filehandler.h data/filehandler.cpp
+  model/metadata.h
 )
 
 include_directories(${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
diff --git a/formats/jsonparser.cpp b/formats/jsonparser.cpp
index 10ba77a..075f607 100644
--- a/formats/jsonparser.cpp
+++ b/formats/jsonparser.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <QJsonArray>
 #include <QJsonObject>
 
-#include "../model/tablemodel.h"
+#include "../model/metadata.h"
 
 QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> JsonParser::toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonData,
                                                          const QString& objectName) {
@@ -23,22 +23,37 @@ QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> JsonParser::toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonD
   return result;
 }
 
-QHash<int, QVariant> JsonParser::jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject) {
-  QHash<int, QVariant> values;
+QByteArray JsonParser::itemValuesListToJson(const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>& itemValuesList,
+                                            const QString& objectName) {
+  QJsonDocument jsonDoc;
+  QJsonObject rootObject;
+  QJsonArray itemArray;
+  for (const QHash<int, QVariant>& itemValues : itemValuesList) {
+    QJsonObject itemObject;
 
-  // TODO make this more generic (by reading from model meta data)
-  values[TableModel::NameRole] =
-      itemJsonObject[TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::NameRole)].toString();
-  values[TableModel::DescriptionRole] =
-      itemJsonObject[TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::DescriptionRole)].toString();
-  values[TableModel::InfoRole] =
-      itemJsonObject[TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::InfoRole)].toString();
-  values[TableModel::AmountRole] =
-      itemJsonObject[TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::AmountRole)].toInt();
-  values[TableModel::FactorRole] =
-      itemJsonObject[TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::FactorRole)].toDouble();
+    QListIterator<UserRoles> i(USER_FACING_ROLES);
+    while (i.hasNext()) {
+      const UserRoles role   = i.next();
+      const QString roleName = ROLE_NAMES.value(role);
+      const QVariant value   = itemValues.value(role);
+      if (STRING_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+        itemObject.insert(roleName, value.toString());
+      } else if (INT_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+        itemObject.insert(roleName, value.toInt());
+      } else if (DOUBLE_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+        itemObject.insert(roleName, value.toDouble());
+      } else {
+        qCritical() << QString("Can't find data type for role %1!!!").arg(role);
+      }
+    }
 
-  return values;
+    itemArray.append(itemObject);
+  }
+
+  rootObject.insert(objectName, itemArray);
+  jsonDoc.setObject(rootObject);
+
+  return jsonDoc.toJson(QJsonDocument::Compact);
 }
 
 JsonParser::JsonParser() {}
@@ -56,3 +71,30 @@ QJsonArray JsonParser::extractItemArray(const QByteArray& jsonData, const QStrin
 
   return itemArray;
 }
+
+QHash<int, QVariant> JsonParser::jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject) {
+  QHash<int, QVariant> values;
+
+  QListIterator<UserRoles> i(USER_FACING_ROLES);
+  while (i.hasNext()) {
+    const UserRoles role                  = i.next();
+    std::pair<int, QVariant> keyValuePair = getKeyValuePair(itemJsonObject, role);
+    values.insert(keyValuePair.first, keyValuePair.second);
+  }
+  return values;
+}
+
+pair<int, QVariant> JsonParser::getKeyValuePair(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject, const int role) {
+  QVariant result;
+  const QJsonValue jsonValue = itemJsonObject[ROLE_NAMES.value(role)];
+  if (STRING_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    result = jsonValue.toString();
+  } else if (INT_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    result = jsonValue.toInt();
+  } else if (DOUBLE_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    result = jsonValue.toDouble();
+  } else {
+    qCritical() << QString("Cant find data type of role %1!!!").arg(role);
+  }
+  return pair<int, QVariant>(role, result);
+}
diff --git a/formats/jsonparser.h b/formats/jsonparser.h
index 36f557b..702414d 100644
--- a/formats/jsonparser.h
+++ b/formats/jsonparser.h
@@ -8,16 +8,22 @@ class QString;
 class QByteArray;
 class QJsonArray;
 
+using namespace std;
+
 class JsonParser {
  public:
   static QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> toItemValuesList(const QByteArray& jsonData,
                                                       const QString& objectName = "");
+  static QByteArray itemValuesListToJson(const QList<QHash<int, QVariant>>& itemValuesList,
+                                         const QString& objectName = "");
 
  private:
   explicit JsonParser();
 
   static QJsonArray extractItemArray(const QByteArray& jsonData, const QString& objectName);
   static QHash<int, QVariant> jsonObjectToItemValues(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject);
+
+  static pair<int, QVariant> getKeyValuePair(const QJsonObject& itemJsonObject, const int role);
 };
 
 #endif  // JSONPARSER_H
diff --git a/genericcore.cpp b/genericcore.cpp
index 3893b9c..86459f5 100644
--- a/genericcore.cpp
+++ b/genericcore.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "CoreConfig.h"
 #include "constants.h"
 #include "data/filehandler.h"
+#include "model/metadata.h"
 #include "model/tablemodel.h"
 
 #include <QtGui/QUndoStack>
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ void GenericCore::saveItems() {
   qDebug() << "saving items...";
 
   const QJsonDocument doc   = m_mainModel->getAllItemsAsJsonDoc();
-  const bool successfulSave = FileHandler::saveToFile(doc, "items.json");
+  const bool successfulSave = FileHandler::saveToFile(doc, ITEM_FILE_NAME);
   if (successfulSave) {
     //    QStringList completedTaskStrings = m_model->completedTasks();
     //    appendCompletedTasksToFile(completedTaskStrings, "completed.txt");
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ void GenericCore::setupModels() {
  */
 void GenericCore::initModelData() {
   qInfo() << "Trying to read model data from file...";
-  const QByteArray jsonDoc = FileHandler::loadJSONDataFromFile("items.json");
+  const QByteArray jsonDoc = FileHandler::loadJSONDataFromFile(ITEM_FILE_NAME);
   // qDebug() << "jsonDoc:" << jsonDoc;
   // TODO decide on lack of file(s) (config, data) if example items should be generated
   //      (see welcome wizard)
diff --git a/model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp b/model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
index 4c57bc1..449272b 100644
--- a/model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
+++ b/model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <QDebug>
 
+#include "../metadata.h"
 #include "../tablemodel.h"
 
 EditItemCommand::EditItemCommand(TableModel* model,
@@ -19,24 +20,19 @@ EditItemCommand::EditItemCommand(TableModel* model,
     const int role       = changedValues.firstKey();
     const QVariant value = changedValues.first();
     QString roleName     = model->roleNames().value(role);
-    switch (role) {
-      case TableModel::NameRole:
-      case TableModel::DescriptionRole:
-      case TableModel::InfoRole:
-      case TableModel::AmountRole:
-      case TableModel::FactorRole:
-        commandText = QString("Setting '%1' of item '%2' to '%3'")
-                          .arg(roleName)
-                          .arg(index.data(TableModel::NameRole).toString())
-                          .arg(value.toString());
-        break;
-      default:
-        commandText = QString("Edit item '%1'").arg(index.data(TableModel::NameRole).toString());
-        break;
+
+    if (USER_FACING_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+      commandText = QString("Setting '%1' of item '%2' to '%3'")
+                        .arg(roleName)
+                        .arg(index.data(DEFAULT_ROLE).toString())
+                        .arg(value.toString());
+    } else {
+      qWarning() << "Role didn't match! Using a generic command text...";
+      commandText = QString("Edit item '%1'").arg(index.data(DEFAULT_ROLE).toString());
     }
   } else {
     qDebug() << "More than one value to change. Using a generic command text...";
-    commandText = QString("Edit item '%1'").arg(index.data(TableModel::NameRole).toString());
+    commandText = QString("Edit item '%1'").arg(index.data(DEFAULT_ROLE).toString());
   }
   setText(commandText);
 
diff --git a/model/commands/edititemcommand.h b/model/commands/edititemcommand.h
index a8a2c23..f0ea909 100644
--- a/model/commands/edititemcommand.h
+++ b/model/commands/edititemcommand.h
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ class TableModel;
 
 class EditItemCommand : public QUndoCommand {
  public:
+  // TODO don't use simple pointer to model
+  /// Using simple pointer to model because there was a crash when closing the application with an
+  /// unclean undo stack
   EditItemCommand(TableModel* model,
                   const QModelIndex& index,
                   QMap<int, QVariant>& changedValues,
diff --git a/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp b/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
index 306c9aa..487a916 100644
--- a/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
+++ b/model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
@@ -20,13 +20,7 @@ RemoveRowsCommand::RemoveRowsCommand(TableModel* model,
     const int rowPosition = startRow + row;
     QModelIndex index     = m_tableModel->index(rowPosition, 0);
 
-    // TODO use a (static) function "getRoleValueHash" or something
-    QHash<int, QVariant> values;
-    values[TableModel::NameRole]        = m_tableModel->data(index, TableModel::NameRole);
-    values[TableModel::DescriptionRole] = m_tableModel->data(index, TableModel::DescriptionRole);
-    values[TableModel::InfoRole]        = m_tableModel->data(index, TableModel::InfoRole);
-    values[TableModel::AmountRole]      = m_tableModel->data(index, TableModel::AmountRole);
-    values[TableModel::FactorRole]      = m_tableModel->data(index, TableModel::FactorRole);
+    QHash<int, QVariant> values = m_tableModel->getItemValues(index);
 
     m_valueList.append(values);
   }
diff --git a/model/metadata.h b/model/metadata.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..580d931
--- /dev/null
+++ b/model/metadata.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#ifndef METADATA_H
+#define METADATA_H
+
+#include <QDebug>
+#include <QHash>
+#include <QList>
+#include <QString>
+
+/// model data
+enum UserRoles { NameRole = Qt::UserRole + 1, DescriptionRole, InfoRole, AmountRole, FactorRole };
+static UserRoles DEFAULT_ROLE             = NameRole;
+static QList<UserRoles> USER_FACING_ROLES = {NameRole, DescriptionRole, InfoRole, AmountRole,
+                                             FactorRole};
+static QHash<int, QByteArray> ROLE_NAMES  = {{NameRole, "Name"},
+                                             {DescriptionRole, "Description"},
+                                             {InfoRole, "Info"},
+                                             {AmountRole, "Amount"},
+                                             {FactorRole, "Factor"}};
+static QList<UserRoles> STRING_ROLES      = {NameRole, DescriptionRole, InfoRole};
+static QList<UserRoles> INT_ROLES         = {AmountRole};
+static QList<UserRoles> DOUBLE_ROLES      = {FactorRole};
+
+/// JSON keys
+static const QString ITEM_KEY_STRING = "items";
+
+/// file naming
+static const QString ITEM_FILE_NAME = ITEM_KEY_STRING + ".json";
+
+/// functions
+static int GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(const int column) {
+  switch (column) {
+    case 0:
+      return NameRole;
+      break;
+    case 1:
+      return DescriptionRole;
+      break;
+    case 2:
+      return InfoRole;
+      break;
+    case 3:
+      return AmountRole;
+      break;
+    case 4:
+      return FactorRole;
+      break;
+    default:
+      qWarning() << QString("No role found for column %1! Returning 'NameRole'...").arg(column);
+      return NameRole;
+      break;
+  }
+}
+
+#endif  // METADATA_H
diff --git a/model/modelitem.cpp b/model/modelitem.cpp
index 5df55b6..7abf6bf 100644
--- a/model/modelitem.cpp
+++ b/model/modelitem.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "modelitem.h"
 
-#include "tablemodel.h"
+#include "metadata.h"
 
 #include <QJsonObject>
 #include <QJsonValue>
@@ -46,24 +46,22 @@ bool ModelItem::setItemData(const QMap<int, QVariant>& changedValues) {
 
 QJsonObject ModelItem::toJsonObject() const {
   QJsonObject itemObject;
-  //  itemObject.insert("uuid", m_uuid.toString());
-  //  itemObject.insert("entryDateUTC", m_entryDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
-  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::NameRole),
-                    data(TableModel::NameRole).toString());
-  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::DescriptionRole),
-                    data(TableModel::DescriptionRole).toString());
-  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::InfoRole),
-                    data(TableModel::InfoRole).toString());
-  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::AmountRole),
-                    data(TableModel::AmountRole).toInt());
-  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::FactorRole),
-                    data(TableModel::FactorRole).toReal());
+  // TODO add UUID and dates (entry, modification, end)
 
-  //  if (m_modifiedDateUTC.isValid()) {
-  //    itemObject.insert("modifiedDateUTC", m_modifiedDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
-  //  }
-  //  if (m_endDateUTC.isValid()) {
-  //    itemObject.insert("endDateUTC", m_endDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
-  //  }
+  QListIterator<UserRoles> i(USER_FACING_ROLES);
+  while (i.hasNext()) {
+    const UserRoles role   = i.next();
+    const QString roleName = ROLE_NAMES.value(role);
+    const QVariant value   = data(role);
+    if (STRING_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+      itemObject.insert(roleName, value.toString());
+    } else if (INT_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+      itemObject.insert(roleName, value.toInt());
+    } else if (DOUBLE_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+      itemObject.insert(roleName, value.toDouble());
+    } else {
+      qCritical() << QString("Cant find data type of role %1!!!").arg(role);
+    }
+  }
   return itemObject;
 }
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.cpp b/model/tablemodel.cpp
index ce706fa..2ae6cdf 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.cpp
+++ b/model/tablemodel.cpp
@@ -4,19 +4,13 @@
 #include "commands/edititemcommand.h"
 #include "commands/insertrowscommand.h"
 #include "commands/removerowscommand.h"
+#include "metadata.h"
 #include "modelitem.h"
 
 #include <QJsonArray>
 #include <QJsonDocument>
 #include <QJsonObject>
 
-QHash<int, QByteArray> TableModel::ROLE_NAMES = {{NameRole, "Name"},
-                                                 {DescriptionRole, "Description"},
-                                                 {InfoRole, "Info"},
-                                                 {AmountRole, "Amount"},
-                                                 {FactorRole, "Factor"}};
-QList<QString> TableModel::intColumns         = {"Amount", "Factor"};
-
 QByteArray TableModel::generateExampleItems() {
   QJsonDocument doc = QJsonDocument();
   QJsonObject rootObject;
@@ -26,18 +20,15 @@ QByteArray TableModel::generateExampleItems() {
     QJsonObject itemObject;
     //  itemObject.insert("uuid", m_uuid.toString());
     //  itemObject.insert("entryDateUTC", m_entryDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
-    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::NameRole),
-                      QString("Item %1").arg(row));
-    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::DescriptionRole),
-                      QString("This is item %1").arg(row));
-    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::InfoRole),
-                      QString("Info of item %1").arg(row));
-    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::AmountRole), row);
-    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::FactorRole), row * 1.1);
+    itemObject.insert(ROLE_NAMES.value(NameRole), QString("Item %1").arg(row));
+    itemObject.insert(ROLE_NAMES.value(DescriptionRole), QString("This is item %1").arg(row));
+    itemObject.insert(ROLE_NAMES.value(InfoRole), QString("Info of item %1").arg(row));
+    itemObject.insert(ROLE_NAMES.value(AmountRole), row);
+    itemObject.insert(ROLE_NAMES.value(FactorRole), row * 1.1);
 
     array.append(itemObject);
   }
-  rootObject.insert("items", array);
+  rootObject.insert(ITEM_KEY_STRING, array);
 
   doc.setObject(rootObject);
   return doc.toJson();
@@ -74,7 +65,7 @@ QVariant TableModel::data(const QModelIndex& index, int role) const {
     return QVariant();
   }
 
-  int roleForColumn = getRoleForColumn(column);
+  int roleForColumn = GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(column);
   switch (role) {
     case Qt::DisplayRole:
     case Qt::EditRole:
@@ -93,7 +84,7 @@ QVariant TableModel::data(const QModelIndex& index, int role) const {
 QVariant TableModel::headerData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation, int role) const {
   if (role == Qt::DisplayRole) {
     if (orientation == Qt::Horizontal) {
-      const int columnRole     = getRoleForColumn(section);
+      const int columnRole     = GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(section);
       const QString headerName = ROLE_NAMES.value(columnRole);
       return QString("%1").arg(headerName);
     } else {
@@ -106,7 +97,7 @@ QVariant TableModel::headerData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation, int ro
 bool TableModel::setData(const QModelIndex& index, const QVariant& value, int role) {
   if (role == Qt::EditRole && checkIndex(index)) {
     const int column        = index.column();
-    const int roleForColumn = getRoleForColumn(column);
+    const int roleForColumn = GET_ROLE_FOR_COLUMN(column);
     return setItemData(index, {{roleForColumn, value}});
   }
   return false;
@@ -129,6 +120,17 @@ bool TableModel::setItemData(const QModelIndex& index, const QMap<int, QVariant>
   return false;
 }
 
+QHash<int, QVariant> TableModel::getItemValues(const QModelIndex& index) const {
+  QHash<int, QVariant> values;
+
+  QListIterator<UserRoles> i(USER_FACING_ROLES);
+  while (i.hasNext()) {
+    const UserRoles role = i.next();
+    values.insert(role, data(index, role));
+  }
+  return values;
+}
+
 QJsonDocument TableModel::getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const {
   QJsonDocument doc = QJsonDocument();
   QJsonObject rootObject;
@@ -138,7 +140,7 @@ QJsonDocument TableModel::getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const {
     QJsonObject itemObject = item->toJsonObject();
     array.append(itemObject);
   }
-  rootObject.insert("items", array);
+  rootObject.insert(ITEM_KEY_STRING, array);
 
   doc.setObject(rootObject);
   return doc;
@@ -176,7 +178,7 @@ void TableModel::insertItems(int startPosition,
     startPosition = m_items.size();
   }
 
-  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, "items");
+  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, ITEM_KEY_STRING);
 
   InsertRowsCommand* insertCommand = new InsertRowsCommand(this, startPosition, valueList);
   m_undoStack->push(insertCommand);
@@ -219,29 +221,6 @@ void TableModel::execEditItemData(const int row, const QMap<int, QVariant>& chan
   }
 }
 
-int TableModel::getRoleForColumn(const int column) const {
-  switch (column) {
-    case 0:
-      return NameRole;
-      break;
-    case 1:
-      return DescriptionRole;
-      break;
-    case 2:
-      return InfoRole;
-      break;
-    case 3:
-      return AmountRole;
-      break;
-    case 4:
-      return FactorRole;
-      break;
-    default:
-      return NameRole;
-      break;
-  }
-}
-
 QMap<int, QVariant> TableModel::onlyChangedValues(const QModelIndex& index,
                                                   const QMap<int, QVariant>& roleValueMap) const {
   QMap<int, QVariant> result;
@@ -268,9 +247,11 @@ QMap<int, QVariant> TableModel::onlyChangedValues(const QModelIndex& index,
 }
 
 bool TableModel::isEmptyValueEqualToZero(const int role) const {
-  const QString roleName = ROLE_NAMES.value(role);
-  if (intColumns.contains(roleName)) {
+  if (INT_ROLES.contains(role)) {
     return true;
+  } else if (DOUBLE_ROLES.contains(role)) {
+    return true;
+  } else {
+    return false;
   }
-  return false;
 }
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.h b/model/tablemodel.h
index 2bb758a..c7650f2 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.h
+++ b/model/tablemodel.h
@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   friend class EditItemCommand;
 
  public:
-  enum UserRoles { NameRole = Qt::UserRole + 1, DescriptionRole, InfoRole, AmountRole, FactorRole };
-  static QHash<int, QByteArray> ROLE_NAMES;
-  static QList<QString> intColumns;
   static QByteArray generateExampleItems();
 
   explicit TableModel(QUndoStack* undoStack, QObject* parent = nullptr);
@@ -35,6 +32,7 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   bool setData(const QModelIndex& index, const QVariant& value, int role) override;
   bool setItemData(const QModelIndex& index, const QMap<int, QVariant>& roles) override;
 
+  QHash<int, QVariant> getItemValues(const QModelIndex& index) const;
   QJsonDocument getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const;
 
  public slots:
@@ -59,7 +57,6 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   void execEditItemData(const int row, const QMap<int, QVariant>& changedValues);
 
   /// misc functions
-  int getRoleForColumn(const int column) const;
   QMap<int, QVariant> onlyChangedValues(const QModelIndex& index,
                                         const QMap<int, QVariant>& roleValueMap) const;
   bool isEmptyValueEqualToZero(const int role) const;