diff --git a/client/src/actions/index.js b/client/src/actions/index.js
index 2c2b46be..992304a3 100644
--- a/client/src/actions/index.js
+++ b/client/src/actions/index.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
 return promise to fetch the OBS annotations we need to load.  Omit anything
 we don't need.
 */
-function obsAnnotationFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema, universe) {
+function obsAnnotationFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema) {
   const obsAnnotations = schema?.schema?.annotations?.obs ?? {};
   const columns = obsAnnotations.columns ?? [];
   const index = obsAnnotations.index ?? false;
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function obsAnnotationFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema, universe) {
 /*
 return promise fetching VAR annotations we need to load.  Only index is currently used.
 */
-function varAnnotationFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema, universe) {
+function varAnnotationFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema) {
   const varAnnotations = schema?.schema?.annotations?.var ?? {};
   const index = varAnnotations.index ?? false;
   const names = index ? [index] : [];
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ function varAnnotationFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema, universe) {
 /*
 return promise fetching layout we need
 */
-function layoutFetchAndLoad(dispatch, schema, universe) {
+function layoutFetchAndLoad(dispatch) {
   return Promise.all(
     ["layout/obs"]
       .map(path => {
diff --git a/client/src/components/autosave/filenameDialog.js b/client/src/components/autosave/filenameDialog.js
index e8fb5c0d..8550b9f5 100644
--- a/client/src/components/autosave/filenameDialog.js
+++ b/client/src/components/autosave/filenameDialog.js
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class FilenameDialog extends React.Component {
             color: Colors.ORANGE3
           }}
         >
-          {"Name cannot be blank"}
+          Name cannot be blank
         </span>
       );
     } else if (err === "characters") {
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class FilenameDialog extends React.Component {
             color: Colors.ORANGE3
           }}
         >
-          {"Only alphanumeric and underscore allowed"}
+          Only alphanumeric and underscore allowed
         </span>
       );
     }
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialog.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialog.js
index 202ff251..2ddfa935 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialog.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialog.js
@@ -6,11 +6,9 @@ import { Button, Tooltip, Dialog, Classes, Colors } from "@blueprintjs/core";
   colorAccessor: state.colors.colorAccessor,
   categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
   annotations: state.annotations,
-  universe: state.universe,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading
+  universe: state.universe
 }))
-class AnnoDialog extends React.Component {
+class AnnoDialog extends React.PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {};
@@ -26,7 +24,6 @@ class AnnoDialog extends React.Component {
       errorMessage,
       validationError,
       annoSelect,
-      ontologySelect,
       annoInput,
       handleCancel,
       handleSubmit,
@@ -58,7 +55,6 @@ class AnnoDialog extends React.Component {
               </p>
             </div>
             {annoSelect || null}
-            {ontologySelect || null}
           </div>
           <div className={Classes.DIALOG_FOOTER}>
             <div className={Classes.DIALOG_FOOTER_ACTIONS}>
@@ -76,7 +72,7 @@ class AnnoDialog extends React.Component {
                 </Button>
               ) : null}
               <Button
-                {...primaryButtonProps}
+                {...primaryButtonProps} // eslint-disable-line react/jsx-props-no-spreading
                 onClick={handleSubmit}
                 disabled={!text || validationError}
                 intent="primary"
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabel.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabel.js
index 16787680..f8c3350b 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabel.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabel.js
@@ -1,20 +1,17 @@
 import React from "react";
 import { connect } from "react-redux";
 import AnnoDialog from "./annoDialog";
-import AnnoInputs from "./annoInputs";
-
-import { labelErrorMessage, isLabelErroneous } from "./labelUtil";
+import LabelInput from "./labelInput";
+import { labelPrompt, isLabelErroneous } from "./labelUtil";
 
 @connect(state => ({
   colorAccessor: state.colors.colorAccessor,
   categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
   annotations: state.annotations,
   universe: state.universe,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading,
-  ontologyEnabled: state.ontology?.enabled
+  ontology: state.ontology
 }))
-class Category extends React.Component {
+class Category extends React.PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {
@@ -22,14 +19,15 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
     };
   }
 
-  disableAddNewLabelMode = () => {
+  disableAddNewLabelMode = e => {
     const { dispatch } = this.props;
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: disable add new label mode"
-    });
     this.setState({
       newLabelText: ""
     });
+    dispatch({
+      type: "annotation: disable add new label mode"
+    });
+    if (e) e.preventDefault();
   };
 
   handleAddNewLabelToCategory = e => {
@@ -46,7 +44,7 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
     e.preventDefault();
   };
 
-  addLabelAndAssignCells = () => {
+  addLabelAndAssignCells = e => {
     const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
     const { newLabelText } = this.state;
 
@@ -57,18 +55,7 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
       newLabelText,
       assignSelectedCells: true
     });
-  };
-
-  handleCreateArbitraryLabel = newLabelTextNotInOntology => {
-    const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
-
-    this.disableAddNewLabelMode();
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: add new label to category",
-      metadataField,
-      newLabelText: newLabelTextNotInOntology,
-      assignSelectedCells: false
-    });
+    e.preventDefault();
   };
 
   labelNameError = name => {
@@ -76,23 +63,18 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
     return isLabelErroneous(name, metadataField, ontology, universe.schema);
   };
 
-  labelNameErrorMessage = name => {
-    const { metadataField, ontology, universe } = this.props;
-    return labelErrorMessage(name, metadataField, ontology, universe.schema);
+  instruction = label => {
+    return labelPrompt(this.labelNameError(label), "New, unique label", ":");
   };
 
-  /* leaky to have both of these in multiple components */
-  handleChoice = e => {
-    this.setState({ newLabelText: e.target });
-  };
-
-  handleTextChange = text => {
-    this.setState({ newLabelText: text });
+  handleChangeOrSelect = label => {
+    this.setState({ newLabelText: label });
   };
 
   render() {
     const { newLabelText } = this.state;
-    const { metadataField, annotations, ontologyEnabled } = this.props;
+    const { metadataField, annotations, ontology } = this.props;
+    const ontologyEnabled = ontology?.enabled ?? false;
 
     return (
       <>
@@ -106,27 +88,26 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
             "data-testid": `${metadataField}:submit-label`
           }}
           title="Add new label to category"
-          instruction="New, unique label name:"
+          instruction={this.instruction(newLabelText)}
           cancelTooltipContent="Close this dialog without adding a label."
           primaryButtonText="Add label"
           secondaryButtonText="Add label and assign currently selected cells"
           handleSecondaryButtonSubmit={this.addLabelAndAssignCells}
           text={newLabelText}
           validationError={this.labelNameError(newLabelText)}
-          errorMessage={this.labelNameErrorMessage(newLabelText)}
           handleSubmit={this.handleAddNewLabelToCategory}
           handleCancel={this.disableAddNewLabelMode}
           annoInput={
-            <AnnoInputs
-              useSuggest={ontologyEnabled}
-              text={newLabelText}
-              inputProps={{ "data-testid": `${metadataField}:new-label-name` }}
-              handleCreateArbitraryLabel={this.handleCreateArbitraryLabel}
-              handleItemChange={this.handleSuggestActiveItemChange}
-              handleChoice={this.handleChoice}
-              handleTextChange={this.handleTextChange}
-              isTextInvalid={this.labelNameError}
-              isTextInvalidErrorMessage={this.labelNameErrorMessage}
+            <LabelInput
+              labelSuggestions={ontologyEnabled ? ontology.terms : null}
+              onChange={this.handleChangeOrSelect}
+              onSelect={this.handleChangeOrSelect}
+              inputProps={{
+                "data-testid": `${metadataField}:new-label-name`,
+                leftIcon: "tag",
+                intent: "none",
+                autoFocus: true
+              }}
             />
           }
         />
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabelFromOntology.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabelFromOntology.js
deleted file mode 100644
index ac723ddc..00000000
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogAddLabelFromOntology.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,131 +0,0 @@
-import React from "react";
-import { connect } from "react-redux";
-import AnnoDialog from "./annoDialog";
-import OntologySelect from "./ontologySelect";
-
-import { labelErrorMessage, isLabelErroneous } from "./labelUtil";
-
-@connect(state => ({
-  colorAccessor: state.colors.colorAccessor,
-  categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
-  annotations: state.annotations,
-  universe: state.universe,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading,
-  ontologyEnabled: state.ontology?.enabled
-}))
-class Category extends React.Component {
-  constructor(props) {
-    super(props);
-    this.state = {
-      newLabelText: ""
-    };
-  }
-
-  disableAddNewLabelFromOntologyMode = () => {
-    const { dispatch } = this.props;
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: disable add new ontology label mode"
-    });
-    this.setState({
-      newLabelText: ""
-    });
-  };
-
-  handleAddNewLabelToCategory = e => {
-    const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
-    const { newLabelText } = this.state;
-
-    this.disableAddNewLabelFromOntologyMode();
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: add new label to category",
-      metadataField,
-      newLabelText,
-      assignSelectedCells: false
-    });
-    e.preventDefault();
-  };
-
-  addLabelAndAssignCells = () => {
-    const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
-    const { newLabelText } = this.state;
-
-    this.disableAddNewLabelFromOntologyMode();
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: add new label to category",
-      metadataField,
-      newLabelText,
-      assignSelectedCells: true
-    });
-  };
-
-  handleCreateArbitraryLabel = newLabelTextNotInOntology => {
-    const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
-
-    this.disableAddNewLabelFromOntologyMode();
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: add new label to category",
-      metadataField,
-      newLabelText: newLabelTextNotInOntology,
-      assignSelectedCells: false
-    });
-  };
-
-  labelNameError = name => {
-    const { metadataField, ontology, universe } = this.props;
-    return isLabelErroneous(name, metadataField, ontology, universe.schema);
-  };
-
-  labelNameErrorMessage = name => {
-    const { metadataField, ontology, universe } = this.props;
-    return labelErrorMessage(name, metadataField, ontology, universe.schema);
-  };
-
-  /* leaky to have both of these in multiple components */
-  handleChoice = e => {
-    this.setState({ newLabelText: e.target });
-  };
-
-  handleTextChange = text => {
-    this.setState({ newLabelText: text });
-  };
-
-  render() {
-    const { newLabelText } = this.state;
-    const { metadataField, annotations, ontology } = this.props;
-
-    return (
-      <>
-        <AnnoDialog
-          isActive={
-            annotations.isAddingNewLabelFromOntology &&
-            annotations.categoryAddingNewLabelFromOntology === metadataField
-          }
-          title="Add new label to category from existing ontology terms"
-          instruction="Choose an ontology term to use as a label name:"
-          cancelTooltipContent="Close this dialog without adding a label."
-          primaryButtonText="Add label"
-          secondaryButtonText="Add label and assign currently selected cells"
-          handleSecondaryButtonSubmit={this.addLabelAndAssignCells}
-          text={newLabelText}
-          validationError={this.labelNameError(newLabelText)}
-          errorMessage={this.labelNameErrorMessage(newLabelText)}
-          handleSubmit={this.handleAddNewLabelToCategory}
-          handleCancel={this.disableAddNewLabelFromOntologyMode}
-          ontologySelect={
-            <OntologySelect
-              handleChooseOntologyTermFromDropdown={term => {
-                this.handleChoice(term);
-              }}
-              categoryToDuplicate={newLabelText}
-              ontology={ontology}
-            />
-          }
-          annoInput={null}
-        />
-      </>
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-export default Category;
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogEditCategoryName.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogEditCategoryName.js
index f0f06ad8..28e80c2e 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogEditCategoryName.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/annoDialogEditCategoryName.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import React from "react";
 import _ from "lodash";
 import { connect } from "react-redux";
-import { Colors } from "@blueprintjs/core";
 import AnnoDialog from "./annoDialog";
-import AnnoInputs from "./annoInputs";
+import LabelInput from "./labelInput";
+import { labelPrompt } from "./labelUtil";
 
 import { AnnotationsHelpers } from "../../util/stateManager";
 
@@ -11,11 +11,9 @@ import { AnnotationsHelpers } from "../../util/stateManager";
   categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
   annotations: state.annotations,
   universe: state.universe,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading,
-  ontologyEnabled: state.ontology?.enabled
+  ontology: state.ontology
 }))
-class AnnoDialogEditCategoryName extends React.Component {
+class AnnoDialogEditCategoryName extends React.PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {
@@ -23,9 +21,9 @@ class AnnoDialogEditCategoryName extends React.Component {
     };
   }
 
-  handleCategoryEditTextChange = txt => {
+  handleChangeOrSelect = name => {
     this.setState({
-      newCategoryText: txt
+      newCategoryText: name
     });
   };
 
@@ -61,50 +59,19 @@ class AnnoDialogEditCategoryName extends React.Component {
     e.preventDefault();
   };
 
-  categoryNameErrorMessage = () => {
-    const err = this.editedCategoryNameError();
-    if (err === false) return null;
-
-    const errorMessageMap = {
-      /* map error code to human readable error message */
-      "empty-string": "Blank names not allowed",
-      duplicate: "Category name must be unique",
-      "trim-spaces": "Leading and trailing spaces not allowed",
-      "illegal-characters":
-        "Only alphanumeric and special characters (-_.) allowed",
-      "multi-space-run": "Multiple consecutive spaces not allowed"
-    };
-    const errorMessage = errorMessageMap[err] ?? "error";
-    return (
-      <span
-        style={{
-          display: "block",
-          fontStyle: "italic",
-          fontSize: 12,
-          marginTop: 5,
-          color: Colors.ORANGE3
-        }}
-      >
-        {errorMessage}
-      </span>
-    );
-  };
-
-  editedCategoryNameError = () => {
+  editedCategoryNameError = name => {
     const { metadataField, categoricalSelection } = this.props;
-    const { newCategoryText } = this.state;
 
     /* check for syntax errors in category name */
-    const error = AnnotationsHelpers.annotationNameIsErroneous(newCategoryText);
+    const error = AnnotationsHelpers.annotationNameIsErroneous(name);
     if (error) {
       return error;
     }
 
     /* check for duplicative categories */
     const allCategoryNames = _.keys(categoricalSelection);
-    const categoryNameAlreadyExists =
-      allCategoryNames.indexOf(newCategoryText) > -1;
-    const sameName = newCategoryText === metadataField;
+    const categoryNameAlreadyExists = allCategoryNames.indexOf(name) > -1;
+    const sameName = name === metadataField;
     if (categoryNameAlreadyExists && !sameName) {
       return "duplicate";
     }
@@ -113,9 +80,18 @@ class AnnoDialogEditCategoryName extends React.Component {
     return false;
   };
 
+  instruction = name => {
+    return labelPrompt(
+      this.editedCategoryNameError(name),
+      "New, unique category name",
+      ":"
+    );
+  };
+
   render() {
     const { newCategoryText } = this.state;
-    const { metadataField, annotations } = this.props;
+    const { metadataField, annotations, ontology } = this.props;
+    const ontologyEnabled = ontology?.enabled ?? false;
 
     return (
       <>
@@ -131,22 +107,26 @@ class AnnoDialogEditCategoryName extends React.Component {
             "data-testid": `${metadataField}:submit-category-edit`
           }}
           title="Edit category name"
-          instruction="New, unique category name:"
+          instruction={this.instruction(newCategoryText)}
           cancelTooltipContent="Close this dialog without editing this category."
           primaryButtonText="Edit category name"
           text={newCategoryText}
           validationError={this.editedCategoryNameError(newCategoryText)}
-          errorMessage={this.categoryNameErrorMessage(newCategoryText)}
           handleSubmit={this.handleEditCategory}
           handleCancel={this.disableEditCategoryMode}
           annoInput={
-            <AnnoInputs
+            <LabelInput
+              label={newCategoryText}
+              labelSuggestions={ontologyEnabled ? ontology.terms : null}
+              onChange={this.handleChangeOrSelect}
+              onSelect={this.handleChangeOrSelect}
               inputProps={{
-                "data-testid": `${metadataField}:edit-category-name-text`
+                "data-testid": `${metadataField}:edit-category-name-text`,
+                leftIcon: "tag",
+                intent: "none",
+                autoFocus: true
               }}
-              useSuggest={false}
-              text={newCategoryText}
-              handleTextChange={this.handleCategoryEditTextChange}
+              newLabelMessage="New category"
             />
           }
         />
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoInputs.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoInputs.js
deleted file mode 100644
index f43aa516..00000000
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoInputs.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-import React from "react";
-import { connect } from "react-redux";
-import { InputGroup } from "@blueprintjs/core";
-
-const VanillaInput = props => {
-  const { text, handleTextChange, inputProps } = props;
-  return (
-    <InputGroup
-      {...inputProps}
-      autoFocus
-      value={text}
-      intent="none"
-      onChange={e => handleTextChange?.(e.target.value)}
-      leftIcon="tag"
-    />
-  );
-};
-
-@connect(state => ({
-  colorAccessor: state.colors.colorAccessor,
-  categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
-  annotations: state.annotations,
-  universe: state.universe,
-  world: state.world,
-  ontology: state.ontology?.terms,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading
-}))
-class AnnoInputs extends React.Component {
-  constructor(props) {
-    super(props);
-    this.state = {};
-  }
-
-  render() {
-    const { handleTextChange, text, ...restProps } = this.props;
-    return (
-      <div>
-        <VanillaInput
-          {...restProps}
-          text={text}
-          handleTextChange={handleTextChange}
-        />
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-export default AnnoInputs;
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoMenuCategory.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoMenuCategory.js
index 2d0075dc..b3771fc9 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoMenuCategory.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/annoMenuCategory.js
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@ import {
 } from "@blueprintjs/core";
 
 @connect(state => ({
-  annotations: state.annotations,
-  ontologyEnabled: state.ontology?.enabled
+  annotations: state.annotations
 }))
-class AnnoMenuCategory extends React.Component {
+class AnnoMenuCategory extends React.PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {};
@@ -27,14 +26,6 @@ class AnnoMenuCategory extends React.Component {
     });
   };
 
-  activateAddNewOntologyLabelMode = () => {
-    const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
-    dispatch({
-      type: "annotation: activate add new ontology label mode",
-      data: metadataField
-    });
-  };
-
   activateEditCategoryMode = () => {
     const { dispatch, metadataField } = this.props;
 
@@ -57,9 +48,7 @@ class AnnoMenuCategory extends React.Component {
       metadataField,
       annotations,
       isUserAnno,
-      ontologyEnabled,
       createText,
-      createFromOntologyText,
       editText,
       deleteText
     } = this.props;
@@ -80,15 +69,6 @@ class AnnoMenuCategory extends React.Component {
                   onClick={this.activateAddNewLabelMode}
                   text={createText}
                 />
-                {ontologyEnabled ? (
-                  <MenuItem
-                    icon="book"
-                    data-testclass="activateAddNewOntologyLabelMode"
-                    data-testid={`${metadataField}:add-new-ontology-label-mode`}
-                    onClick={this.activateAddNewOntologyLabelMode}
-                    text={createFromOntologyText}
-                  />
-                ) : null}
                 <MenuItem
                   icon="edit"
                   disabled={annotations.isEditingCategoryName}
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/annoSelect.js b/client/src/components/categorical/annoSelect.js
index fe121c36..5979747a 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/annoSelect.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/annoSelect.js
@@ -7,11 +7,9 @@ import { Select } from "@blueprintjs/select";
   colorAccessor: state.colors.colorAccessor,
   categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
   annotations: state.annotations,
-  universe: state.universe,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading
+  universe: state.universe
 }))
-class DuplicateCategorySelect extends React.Component {
+class DuplicateCategorySelect extends React.PureComponent {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {};
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/categorical.js b/client/src/components/categorical/categorical.js
index b2e261a9..da17ef8b 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/categorical.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/categorical.js
@@ -6,13 +6,15 @@ import * as globals from "../../globals";
 import Category from "./category";
 import { AnnotationsHelpers, ControlsHelpers } from "../../util/stateManager";
 import AnnoDialog from "./annoDialog";
-import AnnoInputs from "./annoInputs";
 import AnnoSelect from "./annoSelect";
+import LabelInput from "./labelInput";
+import { labelPrompt } from "./labelUtil";
 
 @connect(state => ({
   writableCategoriesEnabled: state.config?.parameters?.["annotations"] ?? false,
   schema: state.world?.schema,
-  config: state.config
+  config: state.config,
+  ontology: state.ontology
 }))
 class Categories extends React.Component {
   constructor(props) {
@@ -87,46 +89,30 @@ class Categories extends React.Component {
     return false;
   };
 
-  categoryNameErrorMessage = name => {
-    const err = this.categoryNameError(name);
-    if (err === false) return null;
-
-    const errorMessageMap = {
-      /* map error code to human readable error message */
-      "empty-string": "Blank names not allowed",
-      duplicate: "Name must be unique",
-      "trim-spaces": "Leading and trailing spaces not allowed",
-      "illegal-characters":
-        "Only alphanumeric and special characters (-_.) allowed",
-      "multi-space-run": "Multiple consecutive spaces not allowed"
-    };
-    const errorMessage = errorMessageMap[err] ?? "error";
-    return <span>{errorMessage}</span>;
+  handleChange = name => {
+    this.setState({ newCategoryText: name });
   };
 
-  handleNewCategoryText = txt => {
-    this.setState({ newCategoryText: txt });
+  handleSelect = name => {
+    this.setState({ newCategoryText: name });
   };
 
-  handleChoice = e => {
-    /* Blueprint Suggest format */
-    this.setState({ newCategoryText: e.target });
+  instruction = name => {
+    return labelPrompt(
+      this.categoryNameError(name),
+      "New, unique category name",
+      ":"
+    );
   };
 
-  handleSuggestActiveItemChange = () => {};
-
   render() {
     const {
       createAnnoModeActive,
       categoryToDuplicate,
       newCategoryText
     } = this.state;
-    const {
-      categoricalSelection,
-      writableCategoriesEnabled,
-      schema,
-      config
-    } = this.props;
+    const { writableCategoriesEnabled, schema, config, ontology } = this.props;
+    const ontologyEnabled = ontology?.enabled ?? false;
 
     /* all names, sorted in display order.  Will be rendered in this order */
     const allCategoryNames = ControlsHelpers.selectableCategoryNames(
@@ -143,22 +129,26 @@ class Categories extends React.Component {
         <AnnoDialog
           isActive={createAnnoModeActive}
           title="Create new category"
-          instruction="New, unique category name:"
+          instruction={this.instruction(newCategoryText)}
           cancelTooltipContent="Close this dialog without creating a category."
           primaryButtonText="Create new category"
           primaryButtonProps={{ "data-testid": "submit-category" }}
           text={newCategoryText}
           validationError={this.categoryNameError(newCategoryText)}
-          errorMessage={this.categoryNameErrorMessage(newCategoryText)}
           handleSubmit={this.handleCreateUserAnno}
           handleCancel={this.handleDisableAnnoMode}
           annoInput={
-            <AnnoInputs
-              text={newCategoryText}
-              inputProps={{ "data-testid": "new-category-name" }}
-              handleItemChange={this.handleSuggestActiveItemChange}
-              handleChoice={this.handleChoice}
-              handleTextChange={this.handleNewCategoryText}
+            <LabelInput
+              labelSuggestions={ontologyEnabled ? ontology.terms : null}
+              onChange={this.handleChange}
+              onSelect={this.handleSelect}
+              inputProps={{
+                "data-testid": "new-category-name",
+                leftIcon: "tag",
+                intent: "none",
+                autoFocus: true
+              }}
+              newLabelMessage="New category"
             />
           }
           annoSelect={
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/category.js b/client/src/components/categorical/category.js
index ea029987..db812007 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/category.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/category.js
@@ -2,12 +2,11 @@ import React from "react";
 import _ from "lodash";
 import { connect } from "react-redux";
 import { FaChevronRight, FaChevronDown } from "react-icons/fa";
-import { Button, Tooltip, Icon, Spinner } from "@blueprintjs/core";
+import { Button, Tooltip, Icon } from "@blueprintjs/core";
 import CategoryFlipperLayout from "./categoryFlipperLayout";
 import AnnoMenu from "./annoMenuCategory";
 import AnnoDialogEditCategoryName from "./annoDialogEditCategoryName";
 import AnnoDialogAddLabel from "./annoDialogAddLabel";
-import AnnoDialogAddLabelFromOntology from "./annoDialogAddLabelFromOntology";
 
 import * as globals from "../../globals";
 
@@ -15,10 +14,7 @@ import * as globals from "../../globals";
   colorAccessor: state.colors.colorAccessor,
   categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
   annotations: state.annotations,
-  universe: state.universe,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading,
-  ontologyEnabled: state.ontology?.enabled
+  universe: state.universe
 }))
 class Category extends React.Component {
   constructor(props) {
@@ -99,10 +95,11 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
     }
   }
 
-  renderIsStillLoading(metadataField) {
+  renderIsStillLoading() {
     /*
     We are still loading this category, so render a "busy" signal.
     */
+    const { metadataField } = this.props;
     return (
       <div
         style={{
@@ -156,7 +153,7 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
 
     const isStillLoading = !(categoricalSelection?.[metadataField] ?? false);
     if (isStillLoading) {
-      return this.renderIsStillLoading(metadataField);
+      return this.renderIsStillLoading();
     }
 
     return (
@@ -220,13 +217,11 @@ class Category extends React.Component {
         </div>
         {<AnnoDialogEditCategoryName metadataField={metadataField} />}
         {<AnnoDialogAddLabel metadataField={metadataField} />}
-        {<AnnoDialogAddLabelFromOntology metadataField={metadataField} />}
         <div>
           <AnnoMenu
             metadataField={metadataField}
             isUserAnno={isUserAnno}
             createText="Add a new label to this category"
-            createFromOntologyText="Add a new label to this category using existing ontology terms"
             editText="Edit this category's name"
             deleteText="Delete this category, all associated labels, and remove all cell assignments"
           />
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/labelInput.js b/client/src/components/categorical/labelInput.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a183cf7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/labelInput.js
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+import React from "react";
+import { InputGroup, MenuItem, Keys } from "@blueprintjs/core";
+import { Suggest } from "@blueprintjs/select";
+import fuzzysort from "fuzzysort";
+
+export default class LabelInput extends React.PureComponent {
+  /*
+  Input widget for text labels, which acts like an InputGroup, but will also 
+  accept a suggestion list (of labels), with sublime-like suggest search.
+
+  Properties:
+
+  * labelSuggestions -- array of suggested lables. May be array of string or
+    other objects. If array of objects, specify `labelKey`. If null, suggestion
+    mode is disabled.
+  * onSelect -- optional, callback upon selection of item from labelSuggestions.
+    (label) => void
+  * onChange -- optional, callback upon change in text input.  (label) => void
+  * label -- component value, for controlled use
+  * newLabelMessage -- text to display when user enters a label not in labelSuggestions
+    (not used if suggestion mode disabled)
+  * inputProps -- will be passed to InputGroup
+  * popoverProps -- will be passed to <Suggest>
+  */
+
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    const { label } = props;
+    const query = label || "";
+    const queryResults = this.filterLabels(query);
+    this.state = {
+      query,
+      queryResults
+    };
+  }
+
+  handleQueryChange = (query, event) => {
+    // https://github.com/palantir/blueprint/issues/2983
+    if (!event) return;
+
+    const queryResults = this.filterLabels(query);
+    this.setState({
+      query,
+      queryResults
+    });
+
+    const { onChange } = this.props;
+    if (onChange) onChange(query, event);
+  };
+
+  handleItemSelect = (item, event) => {
+    /* only report the select if not already reported via onChange() */
+    const { target } = item;
+    const { query } = this.state;
+    const { onSelect } = this.props;
+    if (target !== query && onSelect) onSelect(target, event);
+  };
+
+  handleKeyDown = e => {
+    /* 
+    prevent these events from propagating to containing form/dialog
+    and causing further side effects (eg, closing dialog, submitting
+    form, etc).
+    */
+    const { keyCode } = e;
+    if (keyCode === Keys.ENTER || keyCode === Keys.ESCAPE) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+    }
+    if (keyCode === Keys.ESCAPE) {
+      e.stopPropagation();
+    }
+  };
+
+  handleChange = e => {
+    const { onChange } = this.props;
+    if (onChange) onChange(e.target.value);
+  };
+
+  renderLabelSuggestion = (queryResult, { handleClick, modifiers }) => {
+    if (queryResult.newLabel) {
+      const { newLabelMessage } = this.props;
+      return (
+        <MenuItem
+          icon="flag"
+          active={modifiers.active}
+          disabled={modifiers.disabled}
+          key={queryResult.target}
+          onClick={handleClick}
+          text={<em>{queryResult.target}</em>}
+          label={newLabelMessage || "New label"}
+        />
+      );
+    }
+    return (
+      <MenuItem
+        active={modifiers.active}
+        disabled={modifiers.disabled}
+        key={queryResult.target}
+        onClick={handleClick}
+        text={queryResult.target}
+      />
+    );
+  };
+
+  /* maxinum number of suggestions */
+  static QueryResultLimit = 100;
+
+  filterLabels(query) {
+    const { labelSuggestions } = this.props;
+    if (!labelSuggestions) return [];
+
+    /* empty query is wildcard */
+    if (query === "") {
+      return labelSuggestions.slice(0, LabelInput.QueryResultLimit).map(l => ({
+        target: l,
+        score: -10000
+      }));
+    }
+
+    /* else, do a fuzzy query */
+    const options = {
+      limit: LabelInput.QueryResultLimit,
+      threshold: -10000 // don't return bad results
+    };
+    let queryResults = fuzzysort.go(query, labelSuggestions, options);
+    /* exact match will always be first in list */
+    if (query !== "" && queryResults[0]?.target !== query)
+      queryResults = [{ target: query, newLabel: true }, ...queryResults];
+
+    return queryResults;
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { props } = this;
+    const { labelSuggestions, label, autoFocus = true } = props;
+    const suggestEnabled = !!labelSuggestions && labelSuggestions.length > 0;
+
+    if (!suggestEnabled) {
+      return (
+        <InputGroup
+          autoFocus={autoFocus}
+          {...props.inputProps} // eslint-disable-line react/jsx-props-no-spreading
+          value={label}
+          onChange={this.handleChange}
+        />
+      );
+    }
+
+    const popoverProps = {
+      minimal: true,
+      ...props.popoverProps
+    };
+    const inputProps = {
+      ...props.inputProps,
+      autoFocus: false
+    };
+    const { queryResults } = this.state;
+    return (
+      <>
+        <Suggest
+          fill
+          inputValueRenderer={i => i.target}
+          items={queryResults}
+          itemRenderer={this.renderLabelSuggestion}
+          onItemSelect={this.handleItemSelect}
+          query={label}
+          onQueryChange={this.handleQueryChange}
+          popoverProps={popoverProps}
+          inputProps={inputProps}
+          onKeyDown={this.handleKeyDown}
+        />
+      </>
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/labelUtil.js b/client/src/components/categorical/labelUtil.js
index ddb80def..c944b130 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/labelUtil.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/labelUtil.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import React from "react";
+import { Colors } from "@blueprintjs/core";
+
 import { AnnotationsHelpers } from "../../util/stateManager";
 
 export function isLabelErroneous(label, metadataField, ontology, schema) {
@@ -24,34 +26,38 @@ export function isLabelErroneous(label, metadataField, ontology, schema) {
 	return false;
 }
 
-export function labelErrorMessage(label, metadataField, ontology, schema) {
-	const err = isLabelErroneous(label, metadataField, ontology, schema);
+/* all other errors - map code to human error message */
+const errorMessageMap = {
+	"empty-string": "Blank names not allowed",
+	duplicate: "Name must be unique",
+	"trim-spaces": "Leading and trailing spaces not allowed",
+	"illegal-characters":
+		"Only alphanumeric and special characters (-_.) allowed",
+	"multi-space-run": "Multiple consecutive spaces not allowed"
+};
 
-	if (err === "duplicate") {
-		/* duplicate error is special cased because it has special formatting */
-		return (
-			<span>
-				<span style={{ fontStyle: "italic" }}>{label}</span> already
-				exists already exists within{" "}
-				<span style={{ fontStyle: "italic" }}>{metadataField}</span>{" "}
+export function labelPrompt(err, prolog, epilog) {
+	let errPrompt = null;
+	if (err) {
+		let errMsg = errorMessageMap[err] ?? "error";
+		errMsg = errMsg[0].toLowerCase() + errMsg.slice(1);
+		errPrompt = (
+			<span
+				style={{
+					marginTop: 7,
+					color: Colors.ORANGE3
+				}}
+			>
+				{errMsg}
 			</span>
 		);
 	}
-
-	if (err) {
-		/* all other errors - map code to human error message */
-		const errorMessageMap = {
-			"empty-string": "Blank names not allowed",
-			duplicate: "Name must be unique",
-			"trim-spaces": "Leading and trailing spaces not allowed",
-			"illegal-characters":
-				"Only alphanumeric and special characters (-_.) allowed",
-			"multi-space-run": "Multiple consecutive spaces not allowed"
-		};
-		const errorMessage = errorMessageMap[err] ?? "error";
-		return <span>{errorMessage}</span>;
-	}
-
-	/* no error, no message generated */
-	return null;
+	return (
+		<span>
+			{prolog}
+			{err ? " - " : null}
+			{errPrompt}
+			{epilog}
+		</span>
+	);
 }
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/ontologySelect.js b/client/src/components/categorical/ontologySelect.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 7e82615a..00000000
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/ontologySelect.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,57 +0,0 @@
-import React from "react";
-import { connect } from "react-redux";
-import { Button, MenuItem } from "@blueprintjs/core";
-import { Select } from "@blueprintjs/select";
-import fuzzysort from "fuzzysort";
-
-const filterOntology = (query, ontology) =>
-  /* fires on load, once, and then for each character typed into the input */
-  fuzzysort.go(query, ontology, {
-    limit: 100,
-    threshold: -10000 // don't return bad results
-  });
-
-@connect()
-class ChooseOntologySelect extends React.Component {
-  constructor(props) {
-    super(props);
-    this.state = {};
-  }
-
-  render() {
-    const {
-      ontology,
-      categoryToDuplicate,
-      handleChooseOntologyTermFromDropdown
-    } = this.props;
-    return (
-      <div>
-        <Select
-          items={
-            ontology?.terms ||
-            [] /* this is a placeholder, could be  a subcomponent to avoid this */
-          }
-          filterable
-          itemListPredicate={filterOntology}
-          itemRenderer={(d, { handleClick }) => {
-            return (
-              <MenuItem onClick={handleClick} key={d.target} text={d.target} />
-            );
-          }}
-          noResults={<MenuItem disabled text="No results." />}
-          onItemSelect={d => {
-            handleChooseOntologyTermFromDropdown(d);
-          }}
-        >
-          {/* children become the popover target; render value here */}
-          <Button
-            text={categoryToDuplicate || "Choose an Ontology Term"}
-            rightIcon="double-caret-vertical"
-          />
-        </Select>
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-export default ChooseOntologySelect;
diff --git a/client/src/components/categorical/value.js b/client/src/components/categorical/value.js
index 538bd9c4..9c999c25 100644
--- a/client/src/components/categorical/value.js
+++ b/client/src/components/categorical/value.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-// jshint esversion: 6
 import { connect } from "react-redux";
 import React from "react";
 
@@ -9,17 +8,16 @@ import {
   Popover,
   Position,
   PopoverInteractionKind,
-  Tooltip,
-  Colors
+  Tooltip
 } from "@blueprintjs/core";
 import Occupancy from "./occupancy";
 import * as globals from "../../globals";
 import styles from "./categorical.css";
 import AnnoDialog from "./annoDialog";
-import AnnoInputs from "./annoInputs";
+import LabelInput from "./labelInput";
 
 import { AnnotationsHelpers } from "../../util/stateManager";
-import { labelErrorMessage, isLabelErroneous } from "./labelUtil";
+import { labelPrompt, isLabelErroneous } from "./labelUtil";
 
 @connect(state => ({
   categoricalSelection: state.categoricalSelection,
@@ -30,19 +28,13 @@ import { labelErrorMessage, isLabelErroneous } from "./labelUtil";
   schema: state.world?.schema,
   world: state.world,
   crossfilter: state.crossfilter,
-  ontology: state.ontology,
-  ontologyLoading: state.ontology?.loading,
-  ontologyEnabled: state.ontology?.enabled
+  ontology: state.ontology
 }))
 class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
     this.state = {
-      editedLabelText: String(
-        props.categoricalSelection[props.metadataField].categoryValues[
-          props.categoryIndex
-        ]
-      ).valueOf()
+      editedLabelText: this.currentLabel()
     };
   }
 
@@ -54,9 +46,7 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
       prevProps.categoryIndex !== categoryIndex
     ) {
       this.setState({
-        editedLabelText: String(
-          categoricalSelection[metadataField].categoryValues[categoryIndex]
-        ).valueOf()
+        editedLabelText: this.currentLabel()
       });
     }
   }
@@ -98,49 +88,27 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
     e.preventDefault();
   };
 
-  handleCreateArbitraryLabel = editedLabelTextNotInOntology => {
+  handleCreateArbitraryLabel = txt => {
     const { dispatch, metadataField, categoryIndex } = this.props;
     const label = this.getLabel();
     this.cancelEditMode();
     dispatch({
       type: "annotation: label edited",
       metadataField,
-      editedLabel: editedLabelTextNotInOntology,
+      editedLabel: txt,
       categoryIndex,
       label
     });
   };
 
   labelNameError = name => {
-    const {
-      metadataField,
-      ontology,
-      schema,
-      categoricalSelection,
-      categoryIndex
-    } = this.props;
-    const category = categoricalSelection[metadataField];
-    const displayString = String(
-      category.categoryValues[categoryIndex]
-    ).valueOf();
-    if (name === displayString) return false;
+    const { metadataField, ontology, schema } = this.props;
+    if (name === this.currentLabel()) return false;
     return isLabelErroneous(name, metadataField, ontology, schema);
   };
 
-  labelNameErrorMessage = name => {
-    const {
-      metadataField,
-      ontology,
-      schema,
-      categoricalSelection,
-      categoryIndex
-    } = this.props;
-    const category = categoricalSelection[metadataField];
-    const displayString = String(
-      category.categoryValues[categoryIndex]
-    ).valueOf();
-    if (name === displayString) return null;
-    return labelErrorMessage(name, metadataField, ontology, schema);
+  instruction = label => {
+    return labelPrompt(this.labelNameError(label), "New, unique label", ":");
   };
 
   activateEditLabelMode = () => {
@@ -154,6 +122,9 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
 
   cancelEditMode = () => {
     const { dispatch, metadataField, categoryIndex } = this.props;
+    this.setState({
+      editedLabelText: this.currentLabel()
+    });
     dispatch({
       type: "annotation: cancel edit label mode",
       metadataField,
@@ -255,6 +226,13 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
     return label;
   };
 
+  currentLabel() {
+    const { categoricalSelection, metadataField, categoryIndex } = this.props;
+    return String(
+      categoricalSelection[metadataField].categoryValues[categoryIndex]
+    ).valueOf();
+  }
+
   isAddCurrentSelectionDisabled(category, value) {
     /*
     disable "add current selection to label", if one of the following is true:
@@ -294,12 +272,13 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
       schema,
       isUserAnno,
       annotations,
-      ontologyEnabled,
+      ontology,
       // flippedProps is potentially brittle, their docs want {...flippedProps} on our div,
       // our lint doesn't like jsx spread, we are version pinned to prevent api change on their part
       flippedProps,
       pointDilation
     } = this.props;
+    const ontologyEnabled = ontology?.enabled ?? false;
 
     const { editedLabelText } = this.state;
 
@@ -309,9 +288,7 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
     const selected = category.categoryValueSelected[categoryIndex];
     const count = category.categoryValueCounts[categoryIndex];
     const value = category.categoryValues[categoryIndex];
-    const displayString = String(
-      category.categoryValues[categoryIndex]
-    ).valueOf();
+    const displayString = this.currentLabel();
 
     /* this is the color scale, so add swatches below */
     const isColorBy = metadataField === colorAccessor;
@@ -442,30 +419,26 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
                     "data-testid": `${metadataField}:${displayString}:submit-label-edit`
                   }}
                   title="Edit label"
-                  instruction={`New label text must be unique within category ${metadataField}:`}
+                  instruction={this.instruction(editedLabelText)}
                   cancelTooltipContent="Close this dialog without editing label text."
                   primaryButtonText="Change label text"
                   text={editedLabelText}
                   categoryToDuplicate={null}
                   validationError={this.labelNameError(editedLabelText)}
-                  errorMessage={this.labelNameErrorMessage(editedLabelText)}
                   handleSubmit={this.handleEditValue}
                   handleCancel={this.cancelEditMode}
                   annoInput={
-                    <AnnoInputs
-                      useSuggest={ontologyEnabled}
-                      text={editedLabelText}
+                    <LabelInput
+                      label={editedLabelText}
+                      labelSuggestions={ontologyEnabled ? ontology.terms : null}
+                      onChange={this.handleTextChange}
+                      onSelect={this.handleTextChange}
                       inputProps={{
-                        "data-testid": `${metadataField}:${displayString}:edit-label-name`
+                        "data-testid": `${metadataField}:${displayString}:edit-label-name`,
+                        leftIcon: "tag",
+                        intent: "none",
+                        autoFocus: true
                       }}
-                      handleCreateArbitraryLabel={
-                        this.handleCreateArbitraryLabel
-                      }
-                      handleItemChange={this.handleSuggestActiveItemChange}
-                      handleChoice={this.handleChoice}
-                      handleTextChange={this.handleTextChange}
-                      isTextInvalid={this.labelNameError}
-                      isTextInvalidErrorMessage={this.labelNameErrorMessage}
                     />
                   }
                   annoSelect={null}
@@ -475,7 +448,10 @@ class CategoryValue extends React.Component {
           </div>
           <span style={{ flexShrink: 0 }}>
             {colorAccessor && !isColorBy && !annotations.isEditingLabelName ? (
-              <Occupancy category={category} {...this.props} />
+              <Occupancy
+                category={category}
+                {...this.props} // eslint-disable-line react/jsx-props-no-spreading
+              />
             ) : null}
           </span>
         </div>
diff --git a/client/src/components/continuous/continuous.js b/client/src/components/continuous/continuous.js
index 09666cb6..b81a8caa 100644
--- a/client/src/components/continuous/continuous.js
+++ b/client/src/components/continuous/continuous.js
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 /* rc slider https://www.npmjs.com/package/rc-slider */
 
 import React from "react";
-import _ from "lodash";
 import { connect } from "react-redux";
-import * as globals from "../../globals";
 import { Button } from "@blueprintjs/core";
 
+import * as globals from "../../globals";
 import HistogramBrush from "../brushableHistogram";
 
 @connect(state => ({
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ class Continuous extends React.PureComponent {
     };
   };
 
-  renderIsStillLoading(zebra, key) {
+  static renderIsStillLoading(zebra, key) {
     return (
       <div
         key={key}
@@ -45,7 +44,7 @@ class Continuous extends React.PureComponent {
             alignItems: "center"
           }}
         >
-          <div style={{ minWidth: 30 }}></div>
+          <div style={{ minWidth: 30 }} />
           <div style={{ display: "flex", alignSelf: "center" }}>
             <span style={{ fontStyle: "italic" }}>{key}</span>
           </div>
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ class Continuous extends React.PureComponent {
     const obsIndex = schema.annotations.obs.index;
     const allContinuousNames = schema.annotations.obs.columns
       .filter(col => col.type === "int32" || col.type === "float32")
-      .filter(col => col.name != obsIndex)
+      .filter(col => col.name !== obsIndex)
       .map(col => col.name);
 
     /* initial value for iterator to simulate index, ranges is an object */
@@ -80,29 +79,31 @@ class Continuous extends React.PureComponent {
           if (!obsAnnotations.hasCol(key)) {
             // still loading!
             zebra += 1;
-            return this.renderIsStillLoading(zebra, key);
-          } else {
-            // data loaded and available
-            const summary = obsAnnotations.col(key).summarize();
-            const nonFiniteExtent =
-              summary.min === undefined ||
-              summary.max === undefined ||
-              Number.isNaN(summary.min) ||
-              Number.isNaN(summary.max);
-            if (!summary.categorical && !nonFiniteExtent) {
-              zebra += 1;
-              return (
-                <HistogramBrush
-                  key={key}
-                  field={key}
-                  isObs
-                  zebra={zebra % 2 === 0}
-                  ranges={summary}
-                  handleColorAction={this.handleColorAction(key)}
-                />
-              );
-            }
+            return Continuous.renderIsStillLoading(zebra, key);
           }
+
+          // data loaded and available
+          const summary = obsAnnotations.col(key).summarize();
+          const nonFiniteExtent =
+            summary.min === undefined ||
+            summary.max === undefined ||
+            Number.isNaN(summary.min) ||
+            Number.isNaN(summary.max);
+          if (!summary.categorical && !nonFiniteExtent) {
+            zebra += 1;
+            return (
+              <HistogramBrush
+                key={key}
+                field={key}
+                isObs
+                zebra={zebra % 2 === 0}
+                ranges={summary}
+                handleColorAction={this.handleColorAction(key)}
+              />
+            );
+          }
+
+          return null;
         })}
       </div>
     );
diff --git a/client/src/components/graph/graph.js b/client/src/components/graph/graph.js
index 7d3d7410..381794f0 100644
--- a/client/src/components/graph/graph.js
+++ b/client/src/components/graph/graph.js
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ class Graph extends React.Component {
       // don't return "change" of state unless we are really changing it!
       const { toolSVG } = this.state;
       if (toolSVG === undefined) return {};
-      else return { toolSVG: undefined };
+      return { toolSVG: undefined };
     }
 
     let handleStart;
diff --git a/client/src/components/menubar/index.js b/client/src/components/menubar/index.js
index 2e193304..bc461cb1 100644
--- a/client/src/components/menubar/index.js
+++ b/client/src/components/menubar/index.js
@@ -283,8 +283,14 @@ class MenuBar extends React.Component {
 
     return (
       <ButtonGroup style={{ marginRight: 10 }}>
-        <CellSetButton {...this.props} eitherCellSetOneOrTwo={1} />
-        <CellSetButton {...this.props} eitherCellSetOneOrTwo={2} />
+        <CellSetButton
+          {...this.props} // eslint-disable-line react/jsx-props-no-spreading
+          eitherCellSetOneOrTwo={1}
+        />
+        <CellSetButton
+          {...this.props} // eslint-disable-line react/jsx-props-no-spreading
+          eitherCellSetOneOrTwo={2}
+        />
         {!differential.diffExp ? (
           <Tooltip
             content={tipMessage}
diff --git a/client/src/reducers/annotations.js b/client/src/reducers/annotations.js
index 638b532c..a3976a2e 100644
--- a/client/src/reducers/annotations.js
+++ b/client/src/reducers/annotations.js
@@ -55,46 +55,40 @@ const Annotations = (
     }
 
     /* CATEGORY */
-    case "annotation: activate add new label mode":
+    case "annotation: activate add new label mode": {
       return {
         ...state,
         isAddingNewLabel: true,
         categoryAddingNewLabel: action.data
       };
-    case "annotation: activate add new ontology label mode":
-      return {
-        ...state,
-        isAddingNewLabelFromOntology: true,
-        categoryAddingNewLabelFromOntology: action.data
-      };
-    case "annotation: disable add new ontology label mode":
-      return {
-        ...state,
-        isAddingNewLabelFromOntology: false,
-        categoryAddingNewLabelFromOntology: null
-      };
+    }
 
-    case "annotation: disable add new label mode":
+    case "annotation: disable add new label mode": {
       return {
         ...state,
         isAddingNewLabel: false,
         categoryAddingNewLabel: null
       };
-    case "annotation: activate category edit mode":
+    }
+
+    case "annotation: activate category edit mode": {
       return {
         ...state,
         isEditingCategoryName: true,
         categoryBeingEdited: action.data
       };
-    case "annotation: disable category edit mode":
+    }
+
+    case "annotation: disable category edit mode": {
       return {
         ...state,
         isEditingCategoryName: false,
         categoryBeingEdited: null
       };
+    }
 
     /* LABEL */
-    case "annotation: activate edit label mode":
+    case "annotation: activate edit label mode": {
       return {
         ...state,
         isEditingLabelName: true,
@@ -103,12 +97,16 @@ const Annotations = (
           label: action.categoryIndex
         }
       };
-    case "annotation: cancel edit label mode":
+    }
+
+    case "annotation: cancel edit label mode": {
       return {
         ...state,
         isEditingLabelName: false,
         labelEditable: { category: null, label: null }
       };
+    }
+
     default:
       return state;
   }
diff --git a/client/src/reducers/categoricalSelection.js b/client/src/reducers/categoricalSelection.js
index 149911d8..31f90740 100644
--- a/client/src/reducers/categoricalSelection.js
+++ b/client/src/reducers/categoricalSelection.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { ControlsHelpers as CH } from "../util/stateManager";
-import * as globals from "../globals";
 
 const CategoricalSelection = (
   state,
diff --git a/client/src/reducers/crossfilter.js b/client/src/reducers/crossfilter.js
index a2f1830b..173e691e 100644
--- a/client/src/reducers/crossfilter.js
+++ b/client/src/reducers/crossfilter.js
@@ -24,9 +24,8 @@ const CrossfilterReducerBase = (
 ) => {
   switch (action.type) {
     case "universe: column load success": {
-      const { schema, world, layoutChoice } = nextSharedState;
+      const { world, layoutChoice } = nextSharedState;
       const { obsAnnotations, obsLayout } = world;
-      const { dim, dataframe } = action;
 
       // ignore var dimension loads as these are not currently selectable
       if (action.dim === "varAnnotations") return state;
diff --git a/client/src/reducers/ontology.js b/client/src/reducers/ontology.js
index cd6418ff..e7ebfc1c 100644
--- a/client/src/reducers/ontology.js
+++ b/client/src/reducers/ontology.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-// jshint esversion: 6
 const Ontology = (
   state = {
     enabled: false, // are ontology terms enabled?
@@ -9,10 +8,12 @@ const Ontology = (
   action
 ) => {
   switch (action.type) {
-    case "configuration load complete":
+    case "configuration load complete": {
+      /* eslint-disable camelcase */
       const enabled =
         action.config?.parameters?.annotations_cell_ontology_enabled ?? false;
       const terms = action.config?.parameters?.annotations_cell_ontology_terms;
+      /* eslint-enable camelcase */
       const termSet = new Set(terms);
       return {
         ...state,
@@ -21,8 +22,10 @@ const Ontology = (
         terms,
         termSet
       };
-    default:
+    }
+    default: {
       return state;
+    }
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/client/src/reducers/undoableConfig.js b/client/src/reducers/undoableConfig.js
index 9e9b7c88..b514a0da 100644
--- a/client/src/reducers/undoableConfig.js
+++ b/client/src/reducers/undoableConfig.js
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ const skipOnActions = new Set([
 
   /* annotation component action */
   "annotation: activate add new label mode",
-  "annotation: activate add new ontology label mode",
-  "annotation: disable add new ontology label mode",
   "annotation: disable add new label mode",
   "annotation: activate category edit mode",
   "annotation: disable category edit mode",
diff --git a/client/src/util/catLabelSort.js b/client/src/util/catLabelSort.js
index 985f105f..34f4df3c 100644
--- a/client/src/util/catLabelSort.js
+++ b/client/src/util/catLabelSort.js
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ TL;DR: sort order is:
 
 import isNumber from "is-number";
 import * as globals from "../globals";
-import { memoize } from "./dataframe/util";
 
 function caseInsensitiveCompare(a, b) {
   const textA = String(a).toUpperCase();
diff --git a/client/src/util/stateManager/controlsHelpers.js b/client/src/util/stateManager/controlsHelpers.js
index 5fe81a1f..397730e3 100644
--- a/client/src/util/stateManager/controlsHelpers.js
+++ b/client/src/util/stateManager/controlsHelpers.js
@@ -58,18 +58,18 @@ function topNCategories(colSchema, summary, N) {
   );
   const topNindices = new Set(sortIndex.slice(0, N));
 
-  const topNCategories = [];
+  const _topNCategories = [];
   const topNCounts = [];
   for (let i = 0; i < categories.length; i += 1) {
     if (topNindices.has(i)) {
-      topNCategories.push(categories[i]);
+      _topNCategories.push(categories[i]);
       topNCounts.push(counts[i]);
     }
   }
-  return [topNCategories, topNCounts];
+  return [_topNCategories, topNCounts];
 }
 
-export function selectableCategoryNames(schema, maxCategoryItems, names) {
+export function selectableCategoryNames(schema, maxCatItems, names) {
   /*
   return all obs annotation names that are categorical AND have a
   "reasonably" small number of categories AND are not the index column.
diff --git a/client/src/util/stateManager/universe.js b/client/src/util/stateManager/universe.js
index 3957b408..876a726e 100644
--- a/client/src/util/stateManager/universe.js
+++ b/client/src/util/stateManager/universe.js
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
-import _ from "lodash";
-
 import { unassignedCategoryLabel } from "../../globals";
 import { decodeMatrixFBS } from "./matrix";
 import * as Dataframe from "../dataframe";
 import { isFpTypedArray } from "../typeHelpers";
 import { indexEntireSchema } from "./schemaHelpers";
-import { isCategoricalAnnotation } from "./annotationsHelpers";
 import catLabelSort from "../catLabelSort";
 
 /*
@@ -96,7 +93,7 @@ export function matrixFBSToDataframe(arrayBuffers) {
 
   const fbs = arrayBuffers.map(ab => decodeMatrixFBS(ab, true)); // leave in place
   /* check that all FBS have same row dimensionality */
-  const nRows = fbs[0].nRows;
+  const { nRows } = fbs[0];
   fbs.forEach(b => {
     if (b.nRows !== nRows)
       throw new Error("FBS with inconsistent dimensionality");
@@ -181,7 +178,7 @@ export function addObsAnnotations(universe, df) {
 
   // for all of the new data, reconcile with schema and sort categories.
   const dfs = Array.isArray(df) ? df : [df];
-  const keys = dfs.map(df => df.colIndex.keys()).flat();
+  const keys = dfs.map(d => d.colIndex.keys()).flat();
   const { schema } = universe;
   keys.forEach(k => {
     const colSchema = schema.annotations.obsByName[k];
diff --git a/client/src/util/stateManager/world.js b/client/src/util/stateManager/world.js
index ed31da26..0419814f 100644
--- a/client/src/util/stateManager/world.js
+++ b/client/src/util/stateManager/world.js
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ export function createObsDimensions(crossfilter, world, XYdimNames) {
   for which we have a supported type, *except* for the index column, indicated
   by schema.annotations.obs.index.
   */
-  const { schema, obsLayout, obsAnnotations } = world;
+  const { schema, obsLayout } = world;
   const indexName = schema.annotations.obs.index;
   const annoList = schema.annotations.obs.columns.filter(
     anno => anno.name !== indexName