diff --git a/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl b/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl
index 225292497..7c3740182 100644
--- a/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl
+++ b/src/arb/ArbTypes.jl
@@ -100,19 +100,19 @@ mutable struct RealFieldElem <: FieldElem
 
   function RealFieldElem(x::Union{Real, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, AbstractString, RealFieldElem}, p::Int)
     z = RealFieldElem()
-    _arb_set(z, x, p)
+    set!(z, x, p)
     return z
   end
 
   function RealFieldElem(x::Union{Real, ZZRingElem})
     z = RealFieldElem()
-    _arb_set(z, x)
+    set!(z, x)
     return z
   end
 
   function RealFieldElem(mid::RealFieldElem, rad::RealFieldElem)
     z = RealFieldElem()
-    ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ref{RealFieldElem}), z, mid)
+    set!(z, mid)
     ccall((:arb_add_error, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ref{RealFieldElem}), z, rad)
     return z
   end
@@ -158,19 +158,19 @@ mutable struct ArbFieldElem <: FieldElem
 
   function ArbFieldElem(x::Union{Real, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, AbstractString, ArbFieldElem}, p::Int)
     z = ArbFieldElem()
-    _arb_set(z, x, p)
+    set!(z, x, p)
     return z
   end
 
   function ArbFieldElem(x::Union{Real, ZZRingElem, ArbFieldElem})
     z = ArbFieldElem()
-    _arb_set(z, x)
+    set!(z, x)
     return z
   end
 
   function ArbFieldElem(mid::ArbFieldElem, rad::ArbFieldElem)
     z = ArbFieldElem()
-    ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ref{ArbFieldElem}), z, mid)
+    set!(z, mid)
     ccall((:arb_add_error, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ref{ArbFieldElem}), z, rad)
     return z
   end
@@ -219,19 +219,19 @@ mutable struct ComplexFieldElem <: FieldElem
 
   function ComplexFieldElem(x::Union{Number, ZZRingElem, RealFieldElem, ComplexFieldElem})
     z = ComplexFieldElem()
-    _acb_set(z, x)
+    set!(z, x)
     return z
   end
 
   function ComplexFieldElem(x::Union{Number, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, RealFieldElem, ComplexFieldElem, AbstractString}, p::Int)
     z = ComplexFieldElem()
-    _acb_set(z, x, p)
+    set!(z, x, p)
     return z
   end
 
   function ComplexFieldElem(x::T, y::T, p::Int) where {T <: Union{Real, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, AbstractString, RealFieldElem}}
     z = ComplexFieldElem()
-    _acb_set(z, x, y, p)
+    set!(z, (x, y), p)
     return z
   end
 end
@@ -370,25 +370,25 @@ mutable struct AcbFieldElem <: FieldElem
 
   function AcbFieldElem(x::Union{Number, ZZRingElem, ArbFieldElem, AcbFieldElem})
     z = AcbFieldElem()
-    _acb_set(z, x)
+    set!(z, x)
     return z
   end
 
   function AcbFieldElem(x::Union{Number, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, ArbFieldElem, AcbFieldElem, AbstractString}, p::Int)
     z = AcbFieldElem()
-    _acb_set(z, x, p)
+    set!(z, x, p)
     return z
   end
 
   #function AcbFieldElem{T <: Union{Int, UInt, Float64, ZZRingElem, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem}}(x::T, y::T)
   #  z = AcbFieldElem()
-  #  _acb_set(z, x, y)
+  #  set!(z, x, y)
   #  return z
   #end
 
   function AcbFieldElem(x::T, y::T, p::Int) where {T <: Union{Real, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, AbstractString, ArbFieldElem}}
     z = AcbFieldElem()
-    _acb_set(z, x, y, p)
+    set!(z, (x, y), p)
     return z
   end
 end
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ mutable struct RealMatrix <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[i, j])
+        set!(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ mutable struct RealMatrix <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ mutable struct RealMatrix <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ mutable struct RealMatrix <: MatElem{RealFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[i, j])
+        set!(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ mutable struct ArbMatrix <: MatElem{ArbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _arb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
+        set!(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1027,7 +1027,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
+        set!(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1038,7 +1038,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1104,7 +1104,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1115,7 +1115,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ mutable struct ComplexMatrix <: MatElem{ComplexFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
+        set!(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j])
+        set!(el, arr[i, j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1239,7 +1239,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j])
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1250,7 +1250,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1261,7 +1261,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1272,7 +1272,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1283,7 +1283,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1294,7 +1294,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[i, j][1], arr[i,j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1316,7 +1316,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
@@ -1327,7 +1327,7 @@ mutable struct AcbMatrix <: MatElem{AcbFieldElem}
     GC.@preserve z for i = 1:r
       for j = 1:c
         el = mat_entry_ptr(z, i, j)
-        _acb_set(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
+        set!(el, arr[(i-1)*c+j][1], arr[(i-1)*c+j][2], prec)
       end
     end
     return z
diff --git a/src/arb/Complex.jl b/src/arb/Complex.jl
index 4f26a1680..db41ea5ee 100644
--- a/src/arb/Complex.jl
+++ b/src/arb/Complex.jl
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ characteristic(::ComplexField) = 0
 
 function convert(::Type{ComplexF64}, x::ComplexFieldElem)
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    re = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arb_struct}, (Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, ), x)
-    im = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arb_struct}, (Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, ), x)
+    re = _real_ptr(x)
+    im = _imag_ptr(x)
     t = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct}, (Ptr{RealFieldElem}, ), re)
     u = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct}, (Ptr{RealFieldElem}, ), im)
     # 4 == round to nearest
@@ -1616,135 +1616,127 @@ end
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-for (typeofx, passtoc) in ((ComplexFieldElem, Ref{ComplexFieldElem}), (Ptr{ComplexFieldElem}, Ptr{ComplexFieldElem}))
-  for (f,t) in (("acb_set_si", Int), ("acb_set_ui", UInt),
-                ("acb_set_d", Float64))
-    @eval begin
-      function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t))
-        ccall(($f, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), ($t)), x, y)
-      end
-
-      function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t), p::Int)
-        _acb_set(x, y)
-        ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-              (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-      end
-    end
-  end
+_real_ptr(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr) = @ccall libflint.acb_real_ptr(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem})::Ptr{RealFieldElem}
+_imag_ptr(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr) = @ccall libflint.acb_imag_ptr(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem})::Ptr{RealFieldElem}
 
+for (f,t) in (("acb_set_si", Int), ("acb_set_ui", UInt), ("acb_set_d", Float64))
   @eval begin
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set_fmpz, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}), x, y)
+    function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t)
+      @ccall libflint.$f(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::$t)::Nothing
     end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round_fmpz, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}, Int), x, y, p)
+    function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t, p::Int)
+      set!(x, y)
+      @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
     end
+  end
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::QQFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_fmpq, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{QQFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_fmpz(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::RealFieldElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set_arb, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{RealFieldElem}), x, y)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round_fmpz(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::RealFieldElem, p::Int)
-      _acb_set(x, y)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::QQFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_fmpq(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::Ref{QQFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ComplexFieldElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ComplexFieldElem}), x, y)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::RealFieldElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_arb(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ComplexFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::RealFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  set!(x, y)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::AbstractString, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::Ref{ComplexFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::AbstractString, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y, p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Int, z::Int, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_si_si, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Int, Int), x, y, z)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::RealFieldElem, z::RealFieldElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set_arb_arb, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ref{RealFieldElem}), x, y, z)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y, p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::RealFieldElem, z::RealFieldElem, p::Int)
-      _acb_set(x, y, z)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Real, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y, p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::QQFieldElem, z::QQFieldElem, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(i, z, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{Int, Int}, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_si_si(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y[1]::Int, y[2]::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::T, z::T, p::Int) where {T <: AbstractString}
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(i, z, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{Int, Int}, p::Int)
+  set!(x, y)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Real, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{RealFieldElemOrPtr, RealFieldElemOrPtr})
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_arb_arb(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, y[1]::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y[2]::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Complex, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, real(y), p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(i, imag(y), p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{RealFieldElemOrPtr, RealFieldElemOrPtr}, p::Int)
+  set!(x, y)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, x::Ref{ComplexFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-  end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{QQFieldElemOrPtr, QQFieldElemOrPtr}, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
+end
 
-  for T in (Real, ZZRingElem)
-    @eval begin
-      function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($T), z::($T), p::Int)
-        r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-        _arb_set(r, y, p)
-        i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{RealFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-        _arb_set(i, z, p)
-      end
-    end
-  end
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{T, T}, p::Int) where {T <: AbstractString}
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Complex, p::Int)
+  set!(x, (real(y), imag(y)), p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{Real, Real}, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::ComplexFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{ZZRingElemOrPtr, ZZRingElemOrPtr}, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
 end
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl b/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
index 2fe4be9a3..45522f963 100644
--- a/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, RealFieldElem, BigFloat, Co
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
         z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-        _acb_set(z, y, precision(Balls))
+        set!(z, y, precision(Balls))
       end
     end
   end
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, RealFieldElem, BigFloat, Ab
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
         z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-        _acb_set(z, y[1], y[2], precision(Balls))
+        set!(z, y[1], y[2], precision(Balls))
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/src/arb/Real.jl b/src/arb/Real.jl
index 6f1012a2a..d1fe2fc99 100644
--- a/src/arb/Real.jl
+++ b/src/arb/Real.jl
@@ -1957,89 +1957,74 @@ end
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-for (typeofx, passtoc) in ((RealFieldElem, Ref{RealFieldElem}), (Ptr{RealFieldElem}, Ptr{RealFieldElem}))
-  for (f,t) in (("arb_set_si", Int), ("arb_set_ui", UInt),
-                ("arb_set_d", Float64))
-    @eval begin
-      function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t))
-        ccall(($f, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), ($t)), x, y)
-      end
-
-      function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t), p::Int)
-        _arb_set(x, y)
-        ccall((:arb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-              (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
+for (f,t) in (("arb_set_si", Int), ("arb_set_ui", UInt), ("arb_set_d", Float64))
   @eval begin
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem)
-      ccall((:arb_set_fmpz, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}), x, y)
+    function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t)
+      @ccall libflint.$f(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y::$t)::Nothing
     end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:arb_set_round_fmpz, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}, Int), x, y, p)
+    function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t, p::Int)
+      set!(x, y)
+      @ccall libflint.arb_set_round(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
     end
+  end
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::QQFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:arb_set_fmpq, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{QQFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_fmpz(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::RealFieldElem)
-      ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{RealFieldElem}), x, y)
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_round_fmpz(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::RealFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:arb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{RealFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::QQFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_fmpq(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y::Ref{QQFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::AbstractString, p::Int)
-      s = string(y)
-      err = ccall((:arb_set_str, libflint), Int32,
-                  (($passtoc), Ptr{UInt8}, Int), x, s, p)
-      err == 0 || error("Invalid real string: $(repr(s))")
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::RealFieldElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat)
-      m = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct},
-                (($passtoc), ), x)
-      r = ccall((:arb_rad_ptr, libflint), Ptr{mag_struct},
-                (($passtoc), ), x)
-      ccall((:arf_set_mpfr, libflint), Nothing,
-            (Ptr{arf_struct}, Ref{BigFloat}), m, y)
-      ccall((:mag_zero, libflint), Nothing, (Ptr{mag_struct}, ), r)
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::RealFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_round(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, y::Ref{RealFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat, p::Int)
-      m = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      r = ccall((:arb_rad_ptr, libflint), Ptr{mag_struct}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      ccall((:arf_set_mpfr, libflint), Nothing,
-            (Ptr{arf_struct}, Ref{BigFloat}), m, y)
-      ccall((:mag_zero, libflint), Nothing, (Ptr{mag_struct}, ), r)
-      ccall((:arb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::AbstractString, p::Int)
+  s = string(y)
+  err = @ccall libflint.arb_set_str(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, s::Ptr{UInt8}, p::Int)::Int32
+  err == 0 || error("Invalid real string: $(repr(s))")
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Integer)
-      _arb_set(x, ZZRingElem(y))
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat)
+  m = @ccall libflint.arb_mid_ptr(x::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Ptr{arf_struct}
+  r = @ccall libflint.arb_rad_ptr(x::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Ptr{mag_struct}
+  @ccall libflint.arf_set_mpfr(m::Ptr{arf_struct}, y::Ref{BigFloat})::Nothing
+  @ccall libflint.mag_zero(r::Ptr{mag_struct})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Integer, p::Int)
-      _arb_set(x, ZZRingElem(y), p)
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat, p::Int)
+  m = @ccall libflint.arb_mid_ptr(x::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Ptr{arf_struct}
+  r = @ccall libflint.arb_rad_ptr(x::Ref{RealFieldElem})::Ptr{mag_struct}
+  @ccall libflint.arf_set_mpfr(m::Ptr{arf_struct}, y::Ref{BigFloat})::Nothing
+  @ccall libflint.mag_zero(r::Ptr{mag_struct})::Nothing
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_round(x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, x::Ref{RealFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Real)
-      _arb_set(x, BigFloat(y))
-    end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::Integer)
+  set!(x, flintify(y))
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Real, p::Int)
-      _arb_set(x, BigFloat(y), p)
-    end
-  end
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::Integer, p::Int)
+  set!(x, flintify(y), p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::Real)
+  set!(x, BigFloat(y))
+end
+
+function set!(x::RealFieldElemOrPtr, y::Real, p::Int)
+  set!(x, BigFloat(y), p)
 end
 
 ################################################################################
diff --git a/src/arb/RealMat.jl b/src/arb/RealMat.jl
index 5796bdd5f..08f7edc1f 100644
--- a/src/arb/RealMat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/RealMat.jl
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ dense_matrix_type(::Type{RealFieldElem}) = RealMatrix
 function getindex!(z::ArbFieldElem, x::RealMatrix, r::Int, c::Int)
   GC.@preserve x begin
     v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-    ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ptr{RealFieldElem}), z, v)
+    set!(z, v)
   end
   return z
 end
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ end
   z = base_ring(x)()
   GC.@preserve x begin
     v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-    ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{RealFieldElem}, Ptr{RealFieldElem}), z, v)
+    set!(z, v)
   end
   return z
 end
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ for T in [Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, RealFieldElem,
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
         z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-        _arb_set(z, y, precision(Balls))
+        set!(z, y, precision(Balls))
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/src/arb/acb.jl b/src/arb/acb.jl
index a0e33edec..7c63851a9 100644
--- a/src/arb/acb.jl
+++ b/src/arb/acb.jl
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ characteristic(::AcbField) = 0
 
 function convert(::Type{ComplexF64}, x::AcbFieldElem)
   GC.@preserve x begin
-    re = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arb_struct}, (Ref{AcbFieldElem}, ), x)
-    im = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arb_struct}, (Ref{AcbFieldElem}, ), x)
+    re = _real_ptr(x)
+    im = _imag_ptr(x)
     t = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct}, (Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, ), re)
     u = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct}, (Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, ), im)
     # 4 == round to nearest
@@ -1611,135 +1611,127 @@ end
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-for (typeofx, passtoc) in ((AcbFieldElem, Ref{AcbFieldElem}), (Ptr{AcbFieldElem}, Ptr{AcbFieldElem}))
-  for (f,t) in (("acb_set_si", Int), ("acb_set_ui", UInt),
-                ("acb_set_d", Float64))
-    @eval begin
-      function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t))
-        ccall(($f, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), ($t)), x, y)
-      end
-
-      function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t), p::Int)
-        _acb_set(x, y)
-        ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-              (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-      end
-    end
-  end
+_real_ptr(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr) = @ccall libflint.acb_real_ptr(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem})::Ptr{ArbFieldElem}
+_imag_ptr(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr) = @ccall libflint.acb_imag_ptr(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem})::Ptr{ArbFieldElem}
 
+for (f,t) in (("acb_set_si", Int), ("acb_set_ui", UInt), ("acb_set_d", Float64))
   @eval begin
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set_fmpz, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}), x, y)
+    function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t)
+      @ccall libflint.$f(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::$t)::Nothing
     end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round_fmpz, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}, Int), x, y, p)
+    function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t, p::Int)
+      set!(x, y)
+      @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
     end
+  end
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::QQFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_fmpq, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{QQFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_fmpz(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ArbFieldElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set_arb, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ArbFieldElem}), x, y)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round_fmpz(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ArbFieldElem, p::Int)
-      _acb_set(x, y)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::QQFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_fmpq(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::Ref{QQFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::AcbFieldElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{AcbFieldElem}), x, y)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ArbFieldElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_arb(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::AcbFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{AcbFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  set!(x, y)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::AbstractString, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::AcbFieldElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::Ref{AcbFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::AbstractString, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y, p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Int, z::Int, p::Int)
-      ccall((:acb_set_si_si, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Int, Int), x, y, z)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ArbFieldElem, z::ArbFieldElem)
-      ccall((:acb_set_arb_arb, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ref{ArbFieldElem}), x, y, z)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y, p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ArbFieldElem, z::ArbFieldElem, p::Int)
-      _acb_set(x, y, z)
-      ccall((:acb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Real, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y, p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  zero!(i)
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::QQFieldElem, z::QQFieldElem, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(i, z, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{Int, Int})
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_si_si(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y[1]::Int, y[2]::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::T, z::T, p::Int) where {T <: AbstractString}
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(i, z, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{Int, Int}, p::Int)
+  set!(x, y)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Real, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, y, p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      zero!(i)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{ArbFieldElemOrPtr, ArbFieldElemOrPtr})
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_arb_arb(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, y[1]::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y[2]::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Complex, p::Int)
-      r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(r, real(y), p)
-      i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      _arb_set(i, imag(y), p)
-    end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{ArbFieldElemOrPtr, ArbFieldElemOrPtr}, p::Int)
+  set!(x, y)
+  @ccall libflint.acb_set_round(x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, x::Ref{AcbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-  end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{QQFieldElemOrPtr, QQFieldElemOrPtr}, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
+end
 
-  for T in (Real, ZZRingElem)
-    @eval begin
-      function _acb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($T), z::($T), p::Int)
-        r = ccall((:acb_real_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-        _arb_set(r, y, p)
-        i = ccall((:acb_imag_ptr, libflint), Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-        _arb_set(i, z, p)
-      end
-    end
-  end
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{T, T}, p::Int) where {T <: AbstractString}
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Complex, p::Int)
+  set!(x, (real(y), imag(y)), p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{Real, Real}, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::AcbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Tuple{ZZRingElemOrPtr, ZZRingElemOrPtr}, p::Int)
+  r = _real_ptr(x)
+  set!(r, y[1], p)
+  i = _imag_ptr(x)
+  set!(i, y[2], p)
 end
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/src/arb/acb_mat.jl b/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
index 925442d07..488e72ed7 100644
--- a/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, ArbFieldElem, BigFloat, Acb
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
         z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-        _acb_set(z, y, precision(base_ring(x)))
+        set!(z, y, precision(base_ring(x)))
       end
     end
   end
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ for T in [Integer, Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, ArbFieldElem, BigFloat, Abs
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
         z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-        _acb_set(z, y[1], y[2], precision(base_ring(x)))
+        set!(z, y[1], y[2], precision(base_ring(x)))
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/src/arb/arb.jl b/src/arb/arb.jl
index 5f64190db..ce6b865ba 100644
--- a/src/arb/arb.jl
+++ b/src/arb/arb.jl
@@ -1965,89 +1965,74 @@ end
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-for (typeofx, passtoc) in ((ArbFieldElem, Ref{ArbFieldElem}), (Ptr{ArbFieldElem}, Ptr{ArbFieldElem}))
-  for (f,t) in (("arb_set_si", Int), ("arb_set_ui", UInt),
-                ("arb_set_d", Float64))
-    @eval begin
-      function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t))
-        ccall(($f, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), ($t)), x, y)
-      end
-
-      function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::($t), p::Int)
-        _arb_set(x, y)
-        ccall((:arb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-              (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
+for (f,t) in (("arb_set_si", Int), ("arb_set_ui", UInt), ("arb_set_d", Float64))
   @eval begin
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem)
-      ccall((:arb_set_fmpz, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}), x, y)
+    function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t)
+      @ccall libflint.$f(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y::$t)::Nothing
     end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ZZRingElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:arb_set_round_fmpz, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ZZRingElem}, Int), x, y, p)
+    function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::$t, p::Int)
+      set!(x, y)
+      @ccall libflint.arb_set_round(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
     end
+  end
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::QQFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:arb_set_fmpq, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{QQFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_fmpz(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ArbFieldElem)
-      ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (($passtoc), Ref{ArbFieldElem}), x, y)
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ZZRingElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_round_fmpz(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ZZRingElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::ArbFieldElem, p::Int)
-      ccall((:arb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Int), x, y, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::QQFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_fmpq(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y::Ref{QQFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::AbstractString, p::Int)
-      s = string(y)
-      err = ccall((:arb_set_str, libflint), Int32,
-                  (($passtoc), Ptr{UInt8}, Int), x, s, p)
-      err == 0 || error("Invalid real string: $(repr(s))")
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ArbFieldElemOrPtr)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat)
-      m = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct},
-                (($passtoc), ), x)
-      r = ccall((:arb_rad_ptr, libflint), Ptr{mag_struct},
-                (($passtoc), ), x)
-      ccall((:arf_set_mpfr, libflint), Nothing,
-            (Ptr{arf_struct}, Ref{BigFloat}), m, y)
-      ccall((:mag_zero, libflint), Nothing, (Ptr{mag_struct}, ), r)
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, p::Int)
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_round(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, y::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::BigFloat, p::Int)
-      m = ccall((:arb_mid_ptr, libflint), Ptr{arf_struct}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      r = ccall((:arb_rad_ptr, libflint), Ptr{mag_struct}, (($passtoc), ), x)
-      ccall((:arf_set_mpfr, libflint), Nothing,
-            (Ptr{arf_struct}, Ref{BigFloat}), m, y)
-      ccall((:mag_zero, libflint), Nothing, (Ptr{mag_struct}, ), r)
-      ccall((:arb_set_round, libflint), Nothing,
-            (($passtoc), ($passtoc), Int), x, x, p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::AbstractString, p::Int)
+  s = string(y)
+  err = @ccall libflint.arb_set_str(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, s::Ptr{UInt8}, p::Int)::Int32
+  err == 0 || error("Invalid real string: $(repr(s))")
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Integer)
-      _arb_set(x, ZZRingElem(y))
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat)
+  m = @ccall libflint.arb_mid_ptr(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Ptr{arf_struct}
+  r = @ccall libflint.arb_rad_ptr(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Ptr{mag_struct}
+  @ccall libflint.arf_set_mpfr(m::Ptr{arf_struct}, y::Ref{BigFloat})::Nothing
+  @ccall libflint.mag_zero(r::Ptr{mag_struct})::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Integer, p::Int)
-      _arb_set(x, ZZRingElem(y), p)
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::BigFloat, p::Int)
+  m = @ccall libflint.arb_mid_ptr(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Ptr{arf_struct}
+  r = @ccall libflint.arb_rad_ptr(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem})::Ptr{mag_struct}
+  @ccall libflint.arf_set_mpfr(m::Ptr{arf_struct}, y::Ref{BigFloat})::Nothing
+  @ccall libflint.mag_zero(r::Ptr{mag_struct})::Nothing
+  @ccall libflint.arb_set_round(x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, x::Ref{ArbFieldElem}, p::Int)::Nothing
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Real)
-      _arb_set(x, BigFloat(y))
-    end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Integer)
+  set!(x, flintify(y))
+end
 
-    function _arb_set(x::($typeofx), y::Real, p::Int)
-      _arb_set(x, BigFloat(y), p)
-    end
-  end
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Integer, p::Int)
+  set!(x, flintify(y), p)
+end
+
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Real)
+  set!(x, BigFloat(y))
+end
+
+function set!(x::ArbFieldElemOrPtr, y::Real, p::Int)
+  set!(x, BigFloat(y), p)
 end
 
 ################################################################################
diff --git a/src/arb/arb_mat.jl b/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
index bc934c458..ea48754fa 100644
--- a/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ precision(x::ArbMatrixSpace) = precision(x.base_ring)
 function getindex!(z::ArbFieldElem, x::ArbMatrix, r::Int, c::Int)
   GC.@preserve x begin
     v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-    ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ptr{ArbFieldElem}), z, v)
+    set!(z, v)
   end
   return z
 end
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ end
   z = base_ring(x)()
   GC.@preserve x begin
     v = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-    ccall((:arb_set, libflint), Nothing, (Ref{ArbFieldElem}, Ptr{ArbFieldElem}), z, v)
+    set!(z, v)
   end
   return z
 end
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ for T in [Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, A
 
       GC.@preserve x begin
         z = mat_entry_ptr(x, r, c)
-        _arb_set(z, y, precision(base_ring(x)))
+        set!(z, y, precision(base_ring(x)))
       end
     end
   end