+/**
+ * \brief Find the index for a given value
+ *
+ * \param pv is the vector concerned
+ * \param is the value to find
+ *
+ * This function scans the vector for the first, if any, occurrence of
+ * the value, or returns pv->size if not found.
+ *
+ * \related vector
+ */
+extern vector_index vector_find(vector *pv,void *value);
+
+/**
+ * \brief Find the next used slot at or after the given index.
+ *
+ * \param pv the vector concerned.
+ * \param index pointer to the index to advance.
+ * \return the new index, or the vector size if no unused slot is
+ * found.
+ *
+ * Scans forward in the vector for the first unused (null) vector slot
+ * at or after the given index. Returns pv->size if full.
+ *
+ * \related vector
+ */
+extern vector_index vector_next_unused(vector *pv,vector_index index);
+
+/**
+ * \brief Convenience callback function for vector shrinking to free
+ * any existing slot assignment.
+ *
+ * \related vector
+ */
+extern int vector_free_any(vector *pv,vector_index ix,void *item,void *data);
+
+/**
+ * \brief Convenience callback function for vector shrinking to ignore
+ * any existing slot assignment (without free-ing them).
+ *
+ * \related vector
+ */
+extern int vector_clear_any(vector *pv,vector_index ix,void *item,void *data);
+