Index: python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
===================================================================
--- python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip	(revision 13348)
+++ python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip	(working copy)
@@ -39,8 +39,16 @@
     //! Move a layer to a group
     virtual void moveLayer( QgsMapLayer * layer, int groupIndex ) =0;
 
+    //! Collapse or expand a group
+    //! @note added in 1.5
+    virtual void setGroupExpanded( int groupIndex, bool expand ) =0;
+
+    //! Set visibility of a layer or group
+    //! @note added in 1.5
+    virtual void setItemVisible( int index, bool visible ) =0;
+
     //! refresh layer symbology
-    //! \note added in 1.5
+    //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual void refreshLayerSymbology( QgsMapLayer *layer ) =0;
 };
 
Index: src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
===================================================================
--- src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h	(revision 13348)
+++ src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h	(working copy)
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@
     //! Update an index
     void updateIndex( QModelIndex oldIndex, QModelIndex newIndex );
 
+    //! Collapse or expand a group
+    void setGroupExpanded( int groupIndex, bool expand );
+
+    //! Set the visibility of a layer or group
+    void setItemVisible( int index, bool visible );
+
     //! refresh layer symbology
     void refreshLayerSymbology( QgsMapLayer *ml );
 
Index: src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp	(revision 13348)
+++ src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -54,6 +54,22 @@
   }
 }
 
+void QgsAppLegendInterface::setGroupExpanded( int groupIndex, bool expand )
+{
+  mLegend->setExpanded( mLegend->model()->index( groupIndex, 0 ), expand );
+}
+
+void QgsAppLegendInterface::setItemVisible( int index, bool visible )
+{
+  if ( mLegend->topLevelItemCount() <= index || 0 > index )
+  {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  Qt::CheckState state = visible ? Qt::Checked : Qt::Unchecked;
+  mLegend->topLevelItem( index )->setCheckState( 0, state );
+}
+
 QStringList QgsAppLegendInterface::groups()
 {
   return mLegend->groups();
Index: src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
===================================================================
--- src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h	(revision 13348)
+++ src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h	(working copy)
@@ -64,8 +64,16 @@
     //! Move a layer to a group
     virtual void moveLayer( QgsMapLayer * ml, int groupIndex ) = 0;
 
+    //! Collapse or expand a group
+    //! @note added in 1.5
+    virtual void setGroupExpanded( int groupIndex, bool expand ) = 0;
+
+    //! Set the visibility of a layer or group
+    //! @note added in 1.5
+    virtual void setItemVisible( int index, bool visible ) = 0;
+
     //! Refresh layer symbology
-    // @noted added in 1.5
+    //! @note added in 1.5
     virtual void refreshLayerSymbology( QgsMapLayer *ml ) = 0;
 };