--- a/licenser/licenses.py	Mon May 10 11:24:02 2010 -0700
+++ b/licenser/licenses.py	Mon May 10 11:46:49 2010 -0700
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os
-
 from datetime import datetime
 
 class License(object):
@@ -15,12 +14,16 @@
     assert os.path.exists(self.template)
 
   def __call__(self, directory, **kw):
+    variables = self.obtain_variables(**kw)
+    self.interpolate(directory, variables)
+
+  def obtain_variables(self, **kw):
     for var in self.variables:
       if var not in kw:
         print 'Enter %s: ' % var,
         kw[var] = raw_input()
     self.pre(kw)
-    self.interpolate(directory, kw)
+    return kw
 
   def pre(self, variables):
     """do anything that needs to be done before interpolation"""