Question/Advice: Using edit_template_start hook correctly

Greetings,

I have updated one of my extensions jQuery Quick Save with an Auto-Save feature. To do that I had to tap into the edit_template_start hook so I could add some javascript and ID’s to some elements. I’m not exactly sure if I’ve done this properly or efficiently enough, the using of the edit_template_start hook that is. I had to copy the whole “update_template” function in the cp.templates.php file as well as another function it was trying to reference. Is there an easier way to tap into that hook without having to copy those functions?

I would appreciate any help!