diff --git a/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.cpp b/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.cpp
index 15309695b..c4e910d9d 100644
--- a/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.cpp
+++ b/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ extern "C" {
 }
 
 AdvancedVideoDialog::AdvancedVideoDialog(QWidget *parent,
-                                         int encoding_codec,
+                                         AVCodecID encoding_codec,
                                          VideoCodecParams &iparams) :
   QDialog(parent),
   params_(iparams)
diff --git a/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.h b/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.h
index e393c062d..0ff8c1fae 100644
--- a/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.h
+++ b/dialogs/advancedvideodialog.h
@@ -36,11 +36,29 @@
 class AdvancedVideoDialog : public QDialog {
   Q_OBJECT
 public:
+  /**
+   * @brief AdvancedVideoDialog Constructor
+   *
+   * @param parent
+   *
+   * QWidget parent. Usually ExportDialog.
+   *
+   * @param encoding_codec
+   *
+   * The AVCodecID of the selected export codec.
+   *
+   * @param iparams
+   *
+   * A VideoCodecParams struct containing the extra codec data.
+   */
   AdvancedVideoDialog(QWidget* parent,
-                      int encoding_codec,
+                      AVCodecID encoding_codec,
                       VideoCodecParams& iparams);
 
 public slots:
+  /**
+   * @brief Overrided accept for saving the UI data into the provided VideoCodecParams struct.
+   */
   virtual void accept() override;
 private:
   /**
diff --git a/dialogs/exportdialog.cpp b/dialogs/exportdialog.cpp
index 51180a7ea..b983eca15 100644
--- a/dialogs/exportdialog.cpp
+++ b/dialogs/exportdialog.cpp
@@ -330,16 +330,16 @@ void ExportDialog::format_changed(int index) {
   audioGroupbox->setEnabled(audio_enabled);
 }
 
-void ExportDialog::render_thread_finished() {
+void ExportDialog::export_thread_finished() {
   // Determine if the export succeeded
   bool succeeded = (progressBar->value() == 100);
 
   // If it failed and we didn't cancel it, it must have errored out. Show an error message.
-  if (!succeeded && !et->WasInterrupted()) {
+  if (!succeeded && !export_thread_->WasInterrupted()) {
     QMessageBox::critical(
           this,
           tr("Export Failed"),
-          tr("Export failed - %1").arg(et->GetError()),
+          tr("Export failed - %1").arg(export_thread_->GetError()),
           QMessageBox::Ok
           );
   }
@@ -358,10 +358,10 @@ void ExportDialog::render_thread_finished() {
   update_ui(false);
 
   // Disconnect cancel button from export thread
-  disconnect(renderCancel, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), et, SLOT(Interrupt()));
+  disconnect(renderCancel, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), export_thread_, SLOT(Interrupt()));
 
   // Free the export thread
-  et->deleteLater();
+  export_thread_->deleteLater();
 
   // If the export succeeded, close the dialog
   if (succeeded) {
@@ -562,12 +562,12 @@ void ExportDialog::StartExport() {
     }
 
     // Create export thread
-    et = new ExportThread(params, vcodec_params, this);
+    export_thread_ = new ExportThread(params, vcodec_params, this);
 
     // Connect export thread signals/slots
-    connect(et, SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(render_thread_finished()));
-    connect(et, SIGNAL(ProgressChanged(int, qint64)), this, SLOT(update_progress_bar(int, qint64)));
-    connect(renderCancel, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), et, SLOT(Interrupt()));
+    connect(export_thread_, SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(export_thread_finished()));
+    connect(export_thread_, SIGNAL(ProgressChanged(int, qint64)), this, SLOT(update_progress_bar(int, qint64)));
+    connect(renderCancel, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), export_thread_, SLOT(Interrupt()));
 
     // Close all currently open clips
     close_active_clips(olive::ActiveSequence.get());
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ void ExportDialog::StartExport() {
 
     total_export_time_start = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
 
-    et->start();
+    export_thread_->start();
   }
 }
 
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ void ExportDialog::comp_type_changed(int) {
 }
 
 void ExportDialog::open_advanced_video_dialog() {
-  AdvancedVideoDialog avd(this, vcodecCombobox->currentData().toInt(), vcodec_params);
+  AdvancedVideoDialog avd(this, static_cast<AVCodecID>(vcodecCombobox->currentData().toInt()), vcodec_params);
   avd.exec();
 }
 
diff --git a/dialogs/exportdialog.h b/dialogs/exportdialog.h
index b2ee2e14c..c39c8af2a 100644
--- a/dialogs/exportdialog.h
+++ b/dialogs/exportdialog.h
@@ -68,42 +68,205 @@ private slots:
    * Asks the user for the file to save to.
    */
   void StartExport();
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Slot for the export thread to update the progress bar's value
+   *
+   * @param value
+   *
+   * An value between 0 - 100. A percentage of the Sequence that has been exported so far.
+   *
+   * @param remaining_ms
+   *
+   * The estimated time in milliseconds that it will take to complete the rest of the Sequence.
+   */
   void update_progress_bar(int value, qint64 remaining_ms);
-  void render_thread_finished();
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Slot for the export thread completing (both succeeding and failing)
+   *
+   * Runs whenever the thread has finished. Determines whether the thread succeeded or not (and shows an error message
+   * if not), cleans up the ExportThread object, sets the UI state back to normal.
+   *
+   * Connect to ExportThread::finished().
+   */
+  void export_thread_finished();
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Slot for when the video codec changes
+   *
+   * Some video codecs require different settings. In the case of that, this function sorts through those.
+   *
+   * @param index
+   *
+   * Current vcodecCombobox index - its item data contains the AVCodecID.
+   */
   void vcodec_changed(int index);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Slot for when the compression type changes
+   *
+   * Different UI objects should be displayed for different compression types.
+   *
+   * @param index
+   *
+   * Unused.
+   */
   void comp_type_changed(int index);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Slot to open the Advanced Video Dialog
+   *
+   * Opens a dialog for setting more advanced video settings and passes a reference to vcodec_params to it.
+   */
   void open_advanced_video_dialog();
 
 private:
+  /**
+   * @brief Function to create UI objects.
+   */
   void setup_ui();
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Enables/disables certain UI objects based on the exporting state.
+   *
+   * Some UI controls don't need to be set while exporting. This function enables/disables them appropriately.
+   *
+   * @param r
+   *
+   * TRUE if we're exporting, FALSE if we finished.
+   */
   void prep_ui_for_render(bool r);
 
-  QVector<QString> format_strings;
-  ExportThread* et;
-
+  /**
+   * @brief Retrieves the human-readable name of an AVCodecID and adds it to a QComboBox
+   *
+   * Also sets that item's data to the AVCodecID so it can be retrieved directly from the QComboBox.
+   *
+   * @param box
+   *
+   * The QComboBox to add the item to.
+   *
+   * @param codec
+   *
+   * The codec to add to the QComboBox.
+   */
   void add_codec_to_combobox(QComboBox* box, enum AVCodecID codec);
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Internal array of human-readable names corresponding to enum ExportFormats
+   */
+  QVector<QString> format_strings;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Pointer to an ExportThread
+   *
+   * Set when exporting starts, and deleted by export_thread_finished() when the thread is complete.
+   */
+  ExportThread* export_thread_;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Struct for advanced video codec parameters.
+   *
+   * More advanced video encoding parameters to be sent to the ExportThread. These variables are not directly editable
+   * in this dialog, instead calling open_advanced_video_dialog() will open an AdvancedVideoDialog for setting these
+   * values directly. vcodec_changed() should also set these to the defaults for that codec where appropriate.
+   */
   VideoCodecParams vcodec_params;
 
+  /**
+   * @brief ComboBox for selecting the time range of the Sequence to export
+   */
   QComboBox* rangeCombobox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief SpinBox for the exported video's width
+   */
   QSpinBox* widthSpinbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief SpinBox for the exported video's bitrate
+   */
   QDoubleSpinBox* videobitrateSpinbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Label for the exported video's bitrate - changes depending on the compression type
+   */
   QLabel* videoBitrateLabel;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief SpinBox for the exported video's frame rate
+   */
   QDoubleSpinBox* framerateSpinbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief ComboBox for the exported video codec
+   */
   QComboBox* vcodecCombobox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief ComboBox for the exported audio's codec
+   */
   QComboBox* acodecCombobox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief SpinBox for the exported audio's sample rate
+   */
   QSpinBox* samplingRateSpinbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief SpinBox for the exported audio's bitrate
+   */
   QSpinBox* audiobitrateSpinbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Progress bar for visually showing the export progress
+   */
   QProgressBar* progressBar;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief ComboBox for the exported video's format
+   */
   QComboBox* formatCombobox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief SpinBox for the exported video's height
+   */
   QSpinBox* heightSpinbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Export button to trigger the start of an export
+   */
   QPushButton* export_button;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Dialog cancel button to close this dialog
+   */
   QPushButton* cancel_button;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief Cancel button to abort the export before completion
+   */
   QPushButton* renderCancel;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief GroupBox containing all video-related UI objects
+   */
   QGroupBox* videoGroupbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief GroupBox containing all audio-related UI objects
+   */
   QGroupBox* audioGroupbox;
+
+  /**
+   * @brief ComboBox for the exported video compression type
+   */
   QComboBox* compressionTypeCombobox;
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Time value set when exporting begins to determine the total duration of the export
+   */
   qint64 total_export_time_start;
 };
 
diff --git a/dialogs/loaddialog.cpp b/dialogs/loaddialog.cpp
index 92327eabb..d3399f4d5 100644
--- a/dialogs/loaddialog.cpp
+++ b/dialogs/loaddialog.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include "ui/sourcetable.h"
 #include "ui/mainwindow.h"
 
-LoadDialog::LoadDialog(QWidget *parent, const QString& fn, bool autorecovery, bool clear) :
+LoadDialog::LoadDialog(QWidget *parent) :
   QDialog(parent)
 {
   setWindowTitle(tr("Loading..."));
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ LoadDialog::LoadDialog(QWidget *parent, const QString& fn, bool autorecovery, bo
   layout->addWidget(bar);
 
   cancel_button = new QPushButton(tr("Cancel"), this);
-  connect(cancel_button, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SLOT(cancel()));
+  connect(cancel_button, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), this, SIGNAL(cancel()));
 
   hboxLayout = new QHBoxLayout();
   hboxLayout->addStretch();
@@ -54,27 +54,9 @@ LoadDialog::LoadDialog(QWidget *parent, const QString& fn, bool autorecovery, bo
   hboxLayout->addStretch();
 
   layout->addLayout(hboxLayout);
-
-  update();
-
-  lt = new LoadThread(fn, autorecovery, clear);
-  QObject::connect(lt, SIGNAL(success()), this, SLOT(thread_done()));
-  QObject::connect(lt, SIGNAL(error()), this, SLOT(die()));
-  QObject::connect(lt, SIGNAL(report_progress(int)), bar, SLOT(setValue(int)));
-  lt->start();
 }
 
-void LoadDialog::cancel() {
-  lt->cancel();
-  lt->wait();
-  die();
-}
-
-void LoadDialog::die() {
-  olive::Global->new_project();
-  reject();
-}
-
-void LoadDialog::thread_done() {
-  accept();
+QProgressBar *LoadDialog::progress_bar()
+{
+  return bar;
 }
diff --git a/dialogs/loaddialog.h b/dialogs/loaddialog.h
index 63586d226..f7b30798a 100644
--- a/dialogs/loaddialog.h
+++ b/dialogs/loaddialog.h
@@ -28,15 +28,37 @@
 #include "project/projectelements.h"
 #include "project/loadthread.h"
 
+/**
+ * @brief The LoadDialog class
+ *
+ * Shows a modal dialog for loading a project and creates a LoadThread to load it.
+ */
 class LoadDialog : public QDialog
 {
   Q_OBJECT
 public:
-  LoadDialog(QWidget* parent, const QString& filename, bool autorecovery, bool clear);
-private slots:
+  /**
+   * @brief LoadDialog Constructor
+   *
+   * @param parent
+   *
+   * QWidget parent. Usually MainWindow.
+   *
+   * @param filename
+   *
+   * URL of the project file to load.
+   *
+   * @param autorecovery
+   *
+   * TRUE if this is an autorecovery project
+   *
+   * @param clear
+   */
+  LoadDialog(QWidget* parent);
+
+  QProgressBar* progress_bar();
+signals:
   void cancel();
-  void die();
-  void thread_done();
 private:
   QProgressBar* bar;
   QPushButton* cancel_button;
diff --git a/global/global.cpp b/global/global.cpp
index 668586dc9..5464ac30d 100644
--- a/global/global.cpp
+++ b/global/global.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 #include "dialogs/aboutdialog.h"
 #include "dialogs/speeddialog.h"
 #include "dialogs/actionsearch.h"
+#include "dialogs/loaddialog.h"
+#include "project/loadthread.h"
 #include "timeline/sequence.h"
 #include "ui/mediaiconservice.h"
 #include "ui/mainwindow.h"
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ void OliveGlobal::check_for_autorecovery_file() {
     if (QFile::exists(autorecovery_filename)) {
       if (QMessageBox::question(nullptr, tr("Auto-recovery"), tr("Olive didn't close properly and an autorecovery file was detected. Would you like to open it?"), QMessageBox::Yes, QMessageBox::No) == QMessageBox::Yes) {
         enable_load_project_on_init = false;
-        open_project_worker(autorecovery_filename, true);
+        OpenProjectWorker(autorecovery_filename, true);
       }
     }
     autorecovery_timer.setInterval(60000);
@@ -164,6 +166,33 @@ void OliveGlobal::SetNativeStyling(QWidget *w)
 #endif
 }
 
+void OliveGlobal::LoadProject(const QString &fn, bool autorecovery, bool clear)
+{
+  // Normally, the user will be closing the previous project to load a new one, but just in case the user
+  // is importing a new project
+
+  if (clear) {
+    new_project();
+  }
+
+  LoadDialog ld(olive::MainWindow);
+
+  LoadThread* lt = new LoadThread(fn, autorecovery, clear);
+  connect(&ld, SIGNAL(cancel()), lt, SLOT(cancel()));
+  connect(lt, SIGNAL(success()), &ld, SLOT(accept()));
+  connect(lt, SIGNAL(error()), &ld, SLOT(reject()));
+  connect(lt, SIGNAL(error()), this, SLOT(new_project()));
+  connect(lt, SIGNAL(report_progress(int)), ld.progress_bar(), SLOT(setValue(int)));
+  lt->start();
+
+  ld.exec();
+}
+
+void OliveGlobal::ImportProject(const QString &fn)
+{
+  LoadProject(fn, false, false);
+}
+
 void OliveGlobal::new_project() {
   if (can_close_project()) {
     // clear graph editor
@@ -172,8 +201,12 @@ void OliveGlobal::new_project() {
     // clear effects panel
     panel_effect_controls->Clear(true);
 
+    // clear existing project
+    olive::Global->set_sequence(nullptr);
+    panel_footage_viewer->set_media(nullptr);
+
     // clear project contents (footage, sequences, etc.)
-    panel_project->new_project();
+    panel_project->clear();
 
     // clear undo stack
     olive::UndoStack.clear();
@@ -183,13 +216,16 @@ void OliveGlobal::new_project() {
 
     // full update of all panels
     update_ui(false);
+
+    // set to unmodified
+    olive::Global->set_modified(false);
   }
 }
 
-void OliveGlobal::open_project() {
+void OliveGlobal::OpenProject() {
   QString fn = QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(olive::MainWindow, tr("Open Project..."), "", project_file_filter);
   if (!fn.isEmpty() && can_close_project()) {
-    open_project_worker(fn, false);
+    OpenProjectWorker(fn, false);
   }
 }
 
@@ -205,7 +241,7 @@ void OliveGlobal::open_recent(int index) {
       panel_project->save_recent_projects();
     }
   } else if (can_close_project()) {
-    open_project_worker(recent_url, false);
+    OpenProjectWorker(recent_url, false);
   }
 }
 
@@ -269,7 +305,7 @@ void OliveGlobal::finished_initialize() {
 
     // if a project was set as a command line argument, we load it here
     if (QFileInfo::exists(olive::ActiveProjectFilename)) {
-      open_project_worker(olive::ActiveProjectFilename, false);
+      OpenProjectWorker(olive::ActiveProjectFilename, false);
     } else {
       QMessageBox::critical(olive::MainWindow,
                             tr("Missing Project File"),
@@ -323,9 +359,9 @@ void OliveGlobal::set_sequence(SequencePtr s)
   panel_timeline->setFocus();
 }
 
-void OliveGlobal::open_project_worker(const QString& fn, bool autorecovery) {
+void OliveGlobal::OpenProjectWorker(const QString& fn, bool autorecovery) {
   update_project_filename(fn);
-  panel_project->load_project(fn, autorecovery, true);
+  LoadProject(fn, autorecovery, true);
   olive::UndoStack.clear();
 }
 
diff --git a/global/global.h b/global/global.h
index 4c4cc0872..560295f7c 100644
--- a/global/global.h
+++ b/global/global.h
@@ -193,7 +193,18 @@ public slots:
      * Confirms whether the current project can be closed, and if so, shows an open file dialog to allow the user to
      * select a project file and then triggers a project load with it.
      */
-    void open_project();
+    void OpenProject();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Import project from file
+     *
+     * Imports an Olive project into the current project, effectively merging them.
+     *
+     * @param fn
+     *
+     * The filename of the project to import.
+     */
+    void ImportProject(const QString& fn);
 
     /**
      * @brief Open recent project from list
@@ -327,7 +338,35 @@ private:
      * beside the original project file so that it does not overwrite the original and so that the user is not working
      * on the autorecovery project in Olive's application data directory.
      */
-    void open_project_worker(const QString& fn, bool autorecovery);
+    void OpenProjectWorker(const QString& fn, bool autorecovery);
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Create a LoadDialog and start a LoadThread to load data from a project
+     *
+     * Loads data from an Olive project file creating a LoadDialog to show visual information and a LoadThread to load
+     * outside of the main/GUI thread.
+     *
+     * All project loading functions eventually lead to this one and there's no reason to use it directly. Instead use
+     * one of the following functions:
+     *
+     * * OpenProject() - to check if the current project can be closed and prompt the user for the new project file
+     * * OpenProjectWorker() - if you already have the filename and wish to close the current project and open it
+     * * ImportProject() - to import a project file into this one, effectively merging them both
+     *
+     * @param fn
+     *
+     * The URL of the project file to open
+     *
+     * @param autorecovery
+     *
+     * TRUE if this file is an autorecovery file, in which case it's loaded slightly differently
+     *
+     * @param clear
+     *
+     * TRUE if the current project should be closed before opening, FALSE if the project should be imported into the
+     * currently open one.
+     */
+    void LoadProject(const QString& fn, bool autorecovery, bool clear);
 
     /**
      * @brief File filter used for any file dialogs relating to Olive project files.
diff --git a/panels/project.cpp b/panels/project.cpp
index 2ef1ec72e..74e051941 100644
--- a/panels/project.cpp
+++ b/panels/project.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Project::Project(QWidget *parent) :
   QPushButton* toolbar_open = new QPushButton();
   toolbar_open->setIcon(olive::icon::CreateIconFromSVG(QStringLiteral(":/icons/open.svg")));
   toolbar_open->setToolTip("Open Project");
-  connect(toolbar_open, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), olive::Global.get(), SLOT(open_project()));
+  connect(toolbar_open, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), olive::Global.get(), SLOT(OpenProject()));
   toolbar->addWidget(toolbar_open);
 
   QPushButton* toolbar_save = new QPushButton();
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ void Project::process_file_list(QStringList& files, bool recursive, MediaPtr rep
                                   QMessageBox::Yes | QMessageBox::No) == QMessageBox::Yes) {
 
           // load the project without clearing the current one
-          load_project(file, false, false);
+          olive::Global->ImportProject(file);
 
         }
 
@@ -1041,27 +1041,6 @@ void Project::clear() {
   tree_view->update();
 }
 
-void Project::new_project() {
-  // clear existing project
-  olive::Global->set_sequence(nullptr);
-  panel_footage_viewer->set_media(nullptr);
-  clear();
-  olive::Global->set_modified(false);
-}
-
-void Project::load_project(const QString& filename, bool autorecovery, bool clear) {
-
-  // Normally, the user will be closing the previous project to load a new one, but just in case the user
-  // is importing a new project
-
-  if (clear) {
-    new_project();
-  }
-
-  LoadDialog ld(this, filename, autorecovery, clear);
-  ld.exec();
-}
-
 void save_marker(QXmlStreamWriter& stream, const Marker& m) {
   stream.writeStartElement("marker");
   stream.writeAttribute("frame", QString::number(m.frame));
diff --git a/panels/project.h b/panels/project.h
index 4ee1d779f..ace9e4404 100644
--- a/panels/project.h
+++ b/panels/project.h
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ public:
   bool reveal_media(Media *media, QModelIndex parent = QModelIndex());
   void add_recent_project(QString url);
 
-  void new_project();
-  void load_project(const QString &filename, bool autorecovery, bool clear);
   void save_project(bool autorecovery);
 
   MediaPtr create_folder_internal(QString name);
diff --git a/project/loadthread.h b/project/loadthread.h
index 84badc682..be69b9e97 100644
--- a/project/loadthread.h
+++ b/project/loadthread.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class LoadThread : public QThread
 public:
   LoadThread(const QString& filename, bool autorecovery, bool clear);
   void run();
+public slots:
   void cancel();
 signals:
   void start_question(const QString &title, const QString &text, int buttons);
diff --git a/ui/mainwindow.cpp b/ui/mainwindow.cpp
index 32bbc81df..6a53d5ad0 100644
--- a/ui/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/ui/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ void MainWindow::setup_menus() {
   new_menu = MenuHelper::create_submenu(file_menu);
   olive::MenuHelper.make_new_menu(new_menu);
 
-  open_project = MenuHelper::create_menu_action(file_menu, "openproj", olive::Global.get(), SLOT(open_project()), QKeySequence("Ctrl+O"));
+  open_project = MenuHelper::create_menu_action(file_menu, "openproj", olive::Global.get(), SLOT(OpenProject()), QKeySequence("Ctrl+O"));
 
   open_recent = MenuHelper::create_submenu(file_menu);