diff --git a/hexrd/config/utils.py b/hexrd/config/utils.py
index c53a8e081..e31322f1b 100644
--- a/hexrd/config/utils.py
+++ b/hexrd/config/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,19 @@
+from collections import namedtuple
 import copy
+import warnings
+
+
+ExclusionParameters = namedtuple(
+    'ExclusionParameters', ["dmin", "dmax", "tthmin", "tthmax",
+                            "sfacmin", "sfacmax", "pintmin", "pintmax"]
+)
+
+
+class Null():
+    pass
+
+
+null = Null()
 
 
 def merge_dicts(a, b):
@@ -23,8 +38,36 @@ def _merge_dicts(a, b):
     return a
 
 
-class Null():
-    pass
-
+def get_exclusion_parameters(cfg, prefix):
+    """Return flag use saved parameters and exclusion parameters"""
+    #
+    yaml_key = lambda s: ":".join((prefix, s))
+    #
+    # Check for value from old spec for "sfacmin"; use that if it is given,
+    # but if the new spec is also there, it will override. Likewise for
+    # "tth_max", as used in fit_grains.
+    # -- Should add a deprecated warning if min_sfac_ratio is used
+    #
+    sfmin_dflt = cfg.get(yaml_key("min_sfac_ratio"), None)
+    if sfmin_dflt is not None:
+        warnings.warn(
+            '"min_sfac_ratio" is deprecated, use "sfacmin" instead',
+            DeprecationWarning
+        )
+    # Default for reset_exclusions is True so that old config files will
+    # produce the same behavior.
+    reset_exclusions= cfg.get(yaml_key("reset_exclusions"), True)
 
-null = Null()
+    return(
+        reset_exclusions,
+        ExclusionParameters(
+            dmin = cfg.get(yaml_key("dmin"), None),
+            dmax = cfg.get(yaml_key("dmax"), None),
+            tthmin = cfg.get(yaml_key("tthmin"), None),
+            tthmax = cfg.get(yaml_key("tthmax"), None),
+            sfacmin = cfg.get(yaml_key("sfacmin"), sfmin_dflt),
+            sfacmax = cfg.get(yaml_key("sfacmax"), None),
+            pintmin = cfg.get(yaml_key("pintmin"), None),
+            pintmax = cfg.get(yaml_key("pintmax"), None),
+        )
+    )