beta 2010.11.26 21:21

69 files changed, 3802 insertions, 2923 deletions

diff --git a/context/data/scite/context.properties b/context/data/scite/context.properties
index 13fa079c0..006cfe640 100644
--- a/context/data/scite/context.properties
+++ b/context/data/scite/context.properties
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ textwrapper.length=68
 
 file.patterns.tex=
 file.patterns.latex=
-file.patterns.context=*.tex;*.tui;*.tuo;*.sty;*.mkii;*.mkiv;
+file.patterns.context=*.tex;*.tui;*.tuo;*.sty;*.mkii;*.mkiv;*.mkvi;
 
 # ConTeXt : keywords (if not yet loaded already)
 
diff --git a/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua b/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua
index 7b5348424..c41de7fb8 100644
--- a/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua
+++ b/scripts/context/lua/mtxrun.lua
@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ local lpeg = require("lpeg")
 
 local type = type
 
+-- Beware, we predefine a bunch of patterns here and one reason for doing so
+-- is that we get consistent behaviour in some of the visualizers.
+
 lpeg.patterns  = lpeg.patterns or { } -- so that we can share
 local patterns = lpeg.patterns
 
@@ -193,19 +196,38 @@ local alwaysmatched    = P(true)
 patterns.anything      = anything
 patterns.endofstring   = endofstring
 patterns.beginofstring = alwaysmatched
+patterns.alwaysmatched = alwaysmatched
 
 local digit, sign      = R('09'), S('+-')
 local cr, lf, crlf     = P("\r"), P("\n"), P("\r\n")
+local newline          = crlf + cr + lf
 local utf8next         = R("\128\191")
 local escaped          = P("\\") * anything
 local squote           = P("'")
 local dquote           = P('"')
+local space            = P(" ")
+
+patterns.somecontent   = (anything - newline - space)^1
+patterns.beginline     = #(1-newline)
+
+local utfbom_32_be     = P('\000\000\254\255')
+local utfbom_32_le     = P('\255\254\000\000')
+local utfbom_16_be     = P('\255\254')
+local utfbom_16_le     = P('\254\255')
+local utfbom_8         = P('\239\187\191')
+local utfbom           = utfbom_32_be + utfbom_32_le
+                       + utfbom_16_be + utfbom_16_le
+                       + utfbom_8
+local utftype          = utfbom_32_be / "utf-32-be" + utfbom_32_le  / "utf-32-le"
+                       + utfbom_16_be / "utf-16-be" + utfbom_16_le  / "utf-16-le"
+                       + utfbom_8     / "utf-8"     + alwaysmatched / "unknown"
 
 patterns.utf8one       = R("\000\127")
 patterns.utf8two       = R("\194\223") * utf8next
 patterns.utf8three     = R("\224\239") * utf8next * utf8next
 patterns.utf8four      = R("\240\244") * utf8next * utf8next * utf8next
-patterns.utfbom        = P('\000\000\254\255') + P('\255\254\000\000') + P('\255\254') + P('\254\255') + P('\239\187\191')
+patterns.utfbom        = utfbom
+patterns.utftype       = utftype
 
 local utf8char         = patterns.utf8one + patterns.utf8two + patterns.utf8three + patterns.utf8four
 local validutf8char    = utf8char^0 * endofstring * Cc(true) + Cc(false)
@@ -231,24 +253,30 @@ patterns.hexadecimal   = P("0x") * R("09","AF","af")^1
 patterns.lowercase     = R("az")
 patterns.uppercase     = R("AZ")
 patterns.letter        = patterns.lowercase + patterns.uppercase
-patterns.space         = P(" ")
+patterns.space         = space
 patterns.tab           = P("\t")
 patterns.spaceortab    = patterns.space + patterns.tab
 patterns.eol           = S("\n\r")
 patterns.spacer        = S(" \t\f\v")  -- + string.char(0xc2, 0xa0) if we want utf (cf mail roberto)
-patterns.newline       = crlf + cr + lf
-patterns.nonspace      = 1 - patterns.space
+patterns.newline       = newline
+patterns.emptyline     = newline^1
 patterns.nonspacer     = 1 - patterns.spacer
 patterns.whitespace    = patterns.eol + patterns.spacer
 patterns.nonwhitespace = 1 - patterns.whitespace
+patterns.equal         = P("=")
 patterns.comma         = P(",")
 patterns.commaspacer   = P(",") * patterns.spacer^0
 patterns.period        = P(".")
+patterns.colon         = P(":")
+patterns.semicolon     = P(";")
+patterns.underscore    = P("_")
 patterns.escaped       = escaped
 patterns.squote        = squote
 patterns.dquote        = dquote
-patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * ((escaped + (1-dquote))^0) * (dquote/"")
-patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * ((escaped + (1-squote))^0) * (squote/"")
+patterns.nosquote      = (escaped + (1-squote))^0
+patterns.nodquote      = (escaped + (1-dquote))^0
+patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * patterns.nosquote * (squote/"")
+patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * patterns.nodquote * (dquote/"")
 patterns.unquoted      = patterns.undouble + patterns.unsingle -- more often undouble
 patterns.unspacer      = ((patterns.spacer^1)/"")^0
 
@@ -267,19 +295,6 @@ function lpeg.splitter(pattern, action)
     return (((1-P(pattern))^1)/action+1)^0
 end
 
-local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * patterns.newline -- sort of strip
-local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
-local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
-local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
-
-local capture = Ct(content^0)
-
-function string.splitlines(str)
-    return match(capture,str)
-end
-
-patterns.textline = content
-
 local splitters_s, splitters_m = { }, { }
 
 local function splitat(separator,single)
@@ -322,6 +337,30 @@ function string.split(str,separator)
     return match(c,str)
 end
 
+local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * newline -- sort of strip
+local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
+local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
+local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
+
+patterns.textline = content
+
+
+local linesplitter = Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.linesplitter = linesplitter
+
+function string.splitlines(str)
+    return match(linesplitter,str)
+end
+
+local utflinesplitter = utfbom^-1 * Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.utflinesplitter = utflinesplitter
+
+function string.utfsplitlines(str)
+    return match(utflinesplitter,str)
+end
+
 
 local cache = { }
 
@@ -3247,6 +3286,8 @@ utf = utf or unicode.utf8
 local concat, utfchar, utfgsub = table.concat, utf.char, utf.gsub
 local char, byte, find, bytepairs, utfvalues, format = string.char, string.byte, string.find, string.bytepairs, string.utfvalues, string.format
 
+local utfsplitlines = string.utfsplitlines
+
 -- 0  EF BB BF      UTF-8
 -- 1  FF FE         UTF-16-little-endian
 -- 2  FE FF         UTF-16-big-endian
@@ -3291,111 +3332,131 @@ function unicode.utftype(f)
     end
 end
 
-function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(str, endian) -- maybe a gsub is faster or an lpeg
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 -- we reuse tmp
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_be(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*left + right
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    for l,r in bytepairs(str) do
-        if r then
-            if endian then
-                n = 256*l + r
-            else
-                n = 256*r + l
-            end
-            if m > 0 then
-                n = (m-0xD800)*0x400 + (n-0xDC00) + 0x10000
-                m = 0
-                doit()
-            elseif n >= 0xD800 and n <= 0xDBFF then
-                m = n
-            else
-                doit()
+    return t
+end
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_le(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*right + left
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                end
             end
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    if t > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-    end
-    return result
+    return t
 end
 
-function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(str, endian)
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, -1, 0, 0, 0
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+local function utf32_to_utf8_be(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+                else
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*a + b)
+                    more = -1
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
+            else
+                break
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
+    end
+    return result
+end
+
+local function utf32_to_utf8_le(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
     end
-    for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
-        if a and b then
-            if m < 0 then
-                if endian then
-                    m = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*b + a
                 else
-                    m = 256*b + a
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a)
+                    more = -1
                 end
             else
-                if endian then
-                    n = m + 256*a + b
-                else
-                    n = m + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a
-                end
-                m = -1
-                doit()
+                break
             end
-        else
-            break
         end
-    end
-    if #tmp > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
     end
     return result
 end
 
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_be = utf32_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_le = utf32_to_utf8_le
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_be = utf16_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_le = utf16_to_utf8_le
+
+function unicode.utf8_to_utf8(t)
+    return type(t) == "string" and utfsplitlines(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf16_to_utf8_be(t) or utf16_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf32_to_utf8_be(t) or utf32_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
 local function little(c)
     local b = byte(c)
     if b < 0x10000 then
@@ -3436,6 +3497,10 @@ function unicode.utfcodes(str)
 end
 
 
+function unicode.filetype(data)
+    return data and lpeg.match(lpeg.patterns.utftype,data) or "unknown"
+end
+
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -3905,11 +3970,11 @@ local pattern_b = spaces * comma^0 * spaces * (key * ((spaces * equal * spaces *
 
 local hash = { }
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
@@ -9676,7 +9741,7 @@ local suffixes  = allocate()  resolvers.suffixes  = suffixes
 local dangerous = allocate()  resolvers.dangerous = dangerous
 local suffixmap = allocate()  resolvers.suffixmap = suffixmap
 
-local relations = allocate {
+local relations = allocate { -- todo: handlers also here
     core = {
         ofm = {
             names    = { "ofm", "omega font metric", "omega font metrics" },
@@ -9746,7 +9811,7 @@ local relations = allocate {
         tex = {
             names    = { "tex" },
             variable = 'TEXINPUTS',
-            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkii" },
+            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkiv", "mkii" },
         },
         icc = {
             names    = { "icc", "icc profile", "icc profiles" },
@@ -9860,29 +9925,33 @@ resolvers.relations = relations
 
 -- formats: maps a format onto a variable
 
-for category, categories in next, relations do
-    for name, relation in next, categories do
-        local rn = relation.names
-        local rv = relation.variable
-        local rs = relation.suffixes
-        if rn and rv then
-            for i=1,#rn do
-                local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
-                formats[rni] = rv
-                if rs then
-                    suffixes[rni] = rs
-                    for i=1,#rs do
-                        local rsi = rs[i]
-                        suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+function resolvers.updaterelations()
+    for category, categories in next, relations do
+        for name, relation in next, categories do
+            local rn = relation.names
+            local rv = relation.variable
+            local rs = relation.suffixes
+            if rn and rv then
+                for i=1,#rn do
+                    local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
+                    formats[rni] = rv
+                    if rs then
+                        suffixes[rni] = rs
+                        for i=1,#rs do
+                            local rsi = rs[i]
+                            suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+                        end
                     end
                 end
             end
-        end
-        if rs then
+            if rs then
+            end
         end
     end
 end
 
+resolvers.updaterelations() -- push this in the metatable -> newindex
+
 local function simplified(t,k)
     return rawget(t,lower(gsub(k," ","")))
 end
@@ -10345,7 +10414,7 @@ resolvers.locators      = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- locate databases
 resolvers.hashers       = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- load databases
 resolvers.generators    = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- generate databases
 
-function resolvers.splitmethod(filename)
+function resolvers.splitmethod(filename) -- todo: trigger by suffix
     if not filename then
         return { } -- safeguard
     elseif type(filename) == "table" then
@@ -10364,10 +10433,13 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local resolver = resolvers[what]
     if resolver[scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            report_resolvers("handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            report_resolvers("using special handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolver[scheme](filename,filetype)
     else
+        if trace_locating then
+            report_resolvers("no handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+        end
         return resolver.tex(filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     end
 end
diff --git a/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua b/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua
index 7b5348424..c41de7fb8 100644
--- a/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua
+++ b/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua
@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ local lpeg = require("lpeg")
 
 local type = type
 
+-- Beware, we predefine a bunch of patterns here and one reason for doing so
+-- is that we get consistent behaviour in some of the visualizers.
+
 lpeg.patterns  = lpeg.patterns or { } -- so that we can share
 local patterns = lpeg.patterns
 
@@ -193,19 +196,38 @@ local alwaysmatched    = P(true)
 patterns.anything      = anything
 patterns.endofstring   = endofstring
 patterns.beginofstring = alwaysmatched
+patterns.alwaysmatched = alwaysmatched
 
 local digit, sign      = R('09'), S('+-')
 local cr, lf, crlf     = P("\r"), P("\n"), P("\r\n")
+local newline          = crlf + cr + lf
 local utf8next         = R("\128\191")
 local escaped          = P("\\") * anything
 local squote           = P("'")
 local dquote           = P('"')
+local space            = P(" ")
+
+patterns.somecontent   = (anything - newline - space)^1
+patterns.beginline     = #(1-newline)
+
+local utfbom_32_be     = P('\000\000\254\255')
+local utfbom_32_le     = P('\255\254\000\000')
+local utfbom_16_be     = P('\255\254')
+local utfbom_16_le     = P('\254\255')
+local utfbom_8         = P('\239\187\191')
+local utfbom           = utfbom_32_be + utfbom_32_le
+                       + utfbom_16_be + utfbom_16_le
+                       + utfbom_8
+local utftype          = utfbom_32_be / "utf-32-be" + utfbom_32_le  / "utf-32-le"
+                       + utfbom_16_be / "utf-16-be" + utfbom_16_le  / "utf-16-le"
+                       + utfbom_8     / "utf-8"     + alwaysmatched / "unknown"
 
 patterns.utf8one       = R("\000\127")
 patterns.utf8two       = R("\194\223") * utf8next
 patterns.utf8three     = R("\224\239") * utf8next * utf8next
 patterns.utf8four      = R("\240\244") * utf8next * utf8next * utf8next
-patterns.utfbom        = P('\000\000\254\255') + P('\255\254\000\000') + P('\255\254') + P('\254\255') + P('\239\187\191')
+patterns.utfbom        = utfbom
+patterns.utftype       = utftype
 
 local utf8char         = patterns.utf8one + patterns.utf8two + patterns.utf8three + patterns.utf8four
 local validutf8char    = utf8char^0 * endofstring * Cc(true) + Cc(false)
@@ -231,24 +253,30 @@ patterns.hexadecimal   = P("0x") * R("09","AF","af")^1
 patterns.lowercase     = R("az")
 patterns.uppercase     = R("AZ")
 patterns.letter        = patterns.lowercase + patterns.uppercase
-patterns.space         = P(" ")
+patterns.space         = space
 patterns.tab           = P("\t")
 patterns.spaceortab    = patterns.space + patterns.tab
 patterns.eol           = S("\n\r")
 patterns.spacer        = S(" \t\f\v")  -- + string.char(0xc2, 0xa0) if we want utf (cf mail roberto)
-patterns.newline       = crlf + cr + lf
-patterns.nonspace      = 1 - patterns.space
+patterns.newline       = newline
+patterns.emptyline     = newline^1
 patterns.nonspacer     = 1 - patterns.spacer
 patterns.whitespace    = patterns.eol + patterns.spacer
 patterns.nonwhitespace = 1 - patterns.whitespace
+patterns.equal         = P("=")
 patterns.comma         = P(",")
 patterns.commaspacer   = P(",") * patterns.spacer^0
 patterns.period        = P(".")
+patterns.colon         = P(":")
+patterns.semicolon     = P(";")
+patterns.underscore    = P("_")
 patterns.escaped       = escaped
 patterns.squote        = squote
 patterns.dquote        = dquote
-patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * ((escaped + (1-dquote))^0) * (dquote/"")
-patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * ((escaped + (1-squote))^0) * (squote/"")
+patterns.nosquote      = (escaped + (1-squote))^0
+patterns.nodquote      = (escaped + (1-dquote))^0
+patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * patterns.nosquote * (squote/"")
+patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * patterns.nodquote * (dquote/"")
 patterns.unquoted      = patterns.undouble + patterns.unsingle -- more often undouble
 patterns.unspacer      = ((patterns.spacer^1)/"")^0
 
@@ -267,19 +295,6 @@ function lpeg.splitter(pattern, action)
     return (((1-P(pattern))^1)/action+1)^0
 end
 
-local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * patterns.newline -- sort of strip
-local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
-local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
-local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
-
-local capture = Ct(content^0)
-
-function string.splitlines(str)
-    return match(capture,str)
-end
-
-patterns.textline = content
-
 local splitters_s, splitters_m = { }, { }
 
 local function splitat(separator,single)
@@ -322,6 +337,30 @@ function string.split(str,separator)
     return match(c,str)
 end
 
+local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * newline -- sort of strip
+local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
+local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
+local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
+
+patterns.textline = content
+
+
+local linesplitter = Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.linesplitter = linesplitter
+
+function string.splitlines(str)
+    return match(linesplitter,str)
+end
+
+local utflinesplitter = utfbom^-1 * Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.utflinesplitter = utflinesplitter
+
+function string.utfsplitlines(str)
+    return match(utflinesplitter,str)
+end
+
 
 local cache = { }
 
@@ -3247,6 +3286,8 @@ utf = utf or unicode.utf8
 local concat, utfchar, utfgsub = table.concat, utf.char, utf.gsub
 local char, byte, find, bytepairs, utfvalues, format = string.char, string.byte, string.find, string.bytepairs, string.utfvalues, string.format
 
+local utfsplitlines = string.utfsplitlines
+
 -- 0  EF BB BF      UTF-8
 -- 1  FF FE         UTF-16-little-endian
 -- 2  FE FF         UTF-16-big-endian
@@ -3291,111 +3332,131 @@ function unicode.utftype(f)
     end
 end
 
-function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(str, endian) -- maybe a gsub is faster or an lpeg
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 -- we reuse tmp
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_be(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*left + right
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    for l,r in bytepairs(str) do
-        if r then
-            if endian then
-                n = 256*l + r
-            else
-                n = 256*r + l
-            end
-            if m > 0 then
-                n = (m-0xD800)*0x400 + (n-0xDC00) + 0x10000
-                m = 0
-                doit()
-            elseif n >= 0xD800 and n <= 0xDBFF then
-                m = n
-            else
-                doit()
+    return t
+end
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_le(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*right + left
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                end
             end
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    if t > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-    end
-    return result
+    return t
 end
 
-function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(str, endian)
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, -1, 0, 0, 0
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+local function utf32_to_utf8_be(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+                else
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*a + b)
+                    more = -1
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
+            else
+                break
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
+    end
+    return result
+end
+
+local function utf32_to_utf8_le(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
     end
-    for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
-        if a and b then
-            if m < 0 then
-                if endian then
-                    m = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*b + a
                 else
-                    m = 256*b + a
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a)
+                    more = -1
                 end
             else
-                if endian then
-                    n = m + 256*a + b
-                else
-                    n = m + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a
-                end
-                m = -1
-                doit()
+                break
             end
-        else
-            break
         end
-    end
-    if #tmp > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
     end
     return result
 end
 
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_be = utf32_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_le = utf32_to_utf8_le
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_be = utf16_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_le = utf16_to_utf8_le
+
+function unicode.utf8_to_utf8(t)
+    return type(t) == "string" and utfsplitlines(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf16_to_utf8_be(t) or utf16_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf32_to_utf8_be(t) or utf32_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
 local function little(c)
     local b = byte(c)
     if b < 0x10000 then
@@ -3436,6 +3497,10 @@ function unicode.utfcodes(str)
 end
 
 
+function unicode.filetype(data)
+    return data and lpeg.match(lpeg.patterns.utftype,data) or "unknown"
+end
+
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -3905,11 +3970,11 @@ local pattern_b = spaces * comma^0 * spaces * (key * ((spaces * equal * spaces *
 
 local hash = { }
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
@@ -9676,7 +9741,7 @@ local suffixes  = allocate()  resolvers.suffixes  = suffixes
 local dangerous = allocate()  resolvers.dangerous = dangerous
 local suffixmap = allocate()  resolvers.suffixmap = suffixmap
 
-local relations = allocate {
+local relations = allocate { -- todo: handlers also here
     core = {
         ofm = {
             names    = { "ofm", "omega font metric", "omega font metrics" },
@@ -9746,7 +9811,7 @@ local relations = allocate {
         tex = {
             names    = { "tex" },
             variable = 'TEXINPUTS',
-            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkii" },
+            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkiv", "mkii" },
         },
         icc = {
             names    = { "icc", "icc profile", "icc profiles" },
@@ -9860,29 +9925,33 @@ resolvers.relations = relations
 
 -- formats: maps a format onto a variable
 
-for category, categories in next, relations do
-    for name, relation in next, categories do
-        local rn = relation.names
-        local rv = relation.variable
-        local rs = relation.suffixes
-        if rn and rv then
-            for i=1,#rn do
-                local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
-                formats[rni] = rv
-                if rs then
-                    suffixes[rni] = rs
-                    for i=1,#rs do
-                        local rsi = rs[i]
-                        suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+function resolvers.updaterelations()
+    for category, categories in next, relations do
+        for name, relation in next, categories do
+            local rn = relation.names
+            local rv = relation.variable
+            local rs = relation.suffixes
+            if rn and rv then
+                for i=1,#rn do
+                    local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
+                    formats[rni] = rv
+                    if rs then
+                        suffixes[rni] = rs
+                        for i=1,#rs do
+                            local rsi = rs[i]
+                            suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+                        end
                     end
                 end
             end
-        end
-        if rs then
+            if rs then
+            end
         end
     end
 end
 
+resolvers.updaterelations() -- push this in the metatable -> newindex
+
 local function simplified(t,k)
     return rawget(t,lower(gsub(k," ","")))
 end
@@ -10345,7 +10414,7 @@ resolvers.locators      = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- locate databases
 resolvers.hashers       = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- load databases
 resolvers.generators    = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- generate databases
 
-function resolvers.splitmethod(filename)
+function resolvers.splitmethod(filename) -- todo: trigger by suffix
     if not filename then
         return { } -- safeguard
     elseif type(filename) == "table" then
@@ -10364,10 +10433,13 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local resolver = resolvers[what]
     if resolver[scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            report_resolvers("handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            report_resolvers("using special handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolver[scheme](filename,filetype)
     else
+        if trace_locating then
+            report_resolvers("no handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+        end
         return resolver.tex(filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     end
 end
diff --git a/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun b/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun
index 7b5348424..c41de7fb8 100644
--- a/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun
+++ b/scripts/context/stubs/unix/mtxrun
@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ local lpeg = require("lpeg")
 
 local type = type
 
+-- Beware, we predefine a bunch of patterns here and one reason for doing so
+-- is that we get consistent behaviour in some of the visualizers.
+
 lpeg.patterns  = lpeg.patterns or { } -- so that we can share
 local patterns = lpeg.patterns
 
@@ -193,19 +196,38 @@ local alwaysmatched    = P(true)
 patterns.anything      = anything
 patterns.endofstring   = endofstring
 patterns.beginofstring = alwaysmatched
+patterns.alwaysmatched = alwaysmatched
 
 local digit, sign      = R('09'), S('+-')
 local cr, lf, crlf     = P("\r"), P("\n"), P("\r\n")
+local newline          = crlf + cr + lf
 local utf8next         = R("\128\191")
 local escaped          = P("\\") * anything
 local squote           = P("'")
 local dquote           = P('"')
+local space            = P(" ")
+
+patterns.somecontent   = (anything - newline - space)^1
+patterns.beginline     = #(1-newline)
+
+local utfbom_32_be     = P('\000\000\254\255')
+local utfbom_32_le     = P('\255\254\000\000')
+local utfbom_16_be     = P('\255\254')
+local utfbom_16_le     = P('\254\255')
+local utfbom_8         = P('\239\187\191')
+local utfbom           = utfbom_32_be + utfbom_32_le
+                       + utfbom_16_be + utfbom_16_le
+                       + utfbom_8
+local utftype          = utfbom_32_be / "utf-32-be" + utfbom_32_le  / "utf-32-le"
+                       + utfbom_16_be / "utf-16-be" + utfbom_16_le  / "utf-16-le"
+                       + utfbom_8     / "utf-8"     + alwaysmatched / "unknown"
 
 patterns.utf8one       = R("\000\127")
 patterns.utf8two       = R("\194\223") * utf8next
 patterns.utf8three     = R("\224\239") * utf8next * utf8next
 patterns.utf8four      = R("\240\244") * utf8next * utf8next * utf8next
-patterns.utfbom        = P('\000\000\254\255') + P('\255\254\000\000') + P('\255\254') + P('\254\255') + P('\239\187\191')
+patterns.utfbom        = utfbom
+patterns.utftype       = utftype
 
 local utf8char         = patterns.utf8one + patterns.utf8two + patterns.utf8three + patterns.utf8four
 local validutf8char    = utf8char^0 * endofstring * Cc(true) + Cc(false)
@@ -231,24 +253,30 @@ patterns.hexadecimal   = P("0x") * R("09","AF","af")^1
 patterns.lowercase     = R("az")
 patterns.uppercase     = R("AZ")
 patterns.letter        = patterns.lowercase + patterns.uppercase
-patterns.space         = P(" ")
+patterns.space         = space
 patterns.tab           = P("\t")
 patterns.spaceortab    = patterns.space + patterns.tab
 patterns.eol           = S("\n\r")
 patterns.spacer        = S(" \t\f\v")  -- + string.char(0xc2, 0xa0) if we want utf (cf mail roberto)
-patterns.newline       = crlf + cr + lf
-patterns.nonspace      = 1 - patterns.space
+patterns.newline       = newline
+patterns.emptyline     = newline^1
 patterns.nonspacer     = 1 - patterns.spacer
 patterns.whitespace    = patterns.eol + patterns.spacer
 patterns.nonwhitespace = 1 - patterns.whitespace
+patterns.equal         = P("=")
 patterns.comma         = P(",")
 patterns.commaspacer   = P(",") * patterns.spacer^0
 patterns.period        = P(".")
+patterns.colon         = P(":")
+patterns.semicolon     = P(";")
+patterns.underscore    = P("_")
 patterns.escaped       = escaped
 patterns.squote        = squote
 patterns.dquote        = dquote
-patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * ((escaped + (1-dquote))^0) * (dquote/"")
-patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * ((escaped + (1-squote))^0) * (squote/"")
+patterns.nosquote      = (escaped + (1-squote))^0
+patterns.nodquote      = (escaped + (1-dquote))^0
+patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * patterns.nosquote * (squote/"")
+patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * patterns.nodquote * (dquote/"")
 patterns.unquoted      = patterns.undouble + patterns.unsingle -- more often undouble
 patterns.unspacer      = ((patterns.spacer^1)/"")^0
 
@@ -267,19 +295,6 @@ function lpeg.splitter(pattern, action)
     return (((1-P(pattern))^1)/action+1)^0
 end
 
-local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * patterns.newline -- sort of strip
-local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
-local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
-local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
-
-local capture = Ct(content^0)
-
-function string.splitlines(str)
-    return match(capture,str)
-end
-
-patterns.textline = content
-
 local splitters_s, splitters_m = { }, { }
 
 local function splitat(separator,single)
@@ -322,6 +337,30 @@ function string.split(str,separator)
     return match(c,str)
 end
 
+local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * newline -- sort of strip
+local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
+local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
+local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
+
+patterns.textline = content
+
+
+local linesplitter = Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.linesplitter = linesplitter
+
+function string.splitlines(str)
+    return match(linesplitter,str)
+end
+
+local utflinesplitter = utfbom^-1 * Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.utflinesplitter = utflinesplitter
+
+function string.utfsplitlines(str)
+    return match(utflinesplitter,str)
+end
+
 
 local cache = { }
 
@@ -3247,6 +3286,8 @@ utf = utf or unicode.utf8
 local concat, utfchar, utfgsub = table.concat, utf.char, utf.gsub
 local char, byte, find, bytepairs, utfvalues, format = string.char, string.byte, string.find, string.bytepairs, string.utfvalues, string.format
 
+local utfsplitlines = string.utfsplitlines
+
 -- 0  EF BB BF      UTF-8
 -- 1  FF FE         UTF-16-little-endian
 -- 2  FE FF         UTF-16-big-endian
@@ -3291,111 +3332,131 @@ function unicode.utftype(f)
     end
 end
 
-function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(str, endian) -- maybe a gsub is faster or an lpeg
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 -- we reuse tmp
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_be(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*left + right
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    for l,r in bytepairs(str) do
-        if r then
-            if endian then
-                n = 256*l + r
-            else
-                n = 256*r + l
-            end
-            if m > 0 then
-                n = (m-0xD800)*0x400 + (n-0xDC00) + 0x10000
-                m = 0
-                doit()
-            elseif n >= 0xD800 and n <= 0xDBFF then
-                m = n
-            else
-                doit()
+    return t
+end
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_le(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*right + left
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                end
             end
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    if t > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-    end
-    return result
+    return t
 end
 
-function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(str, endian)
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, -1, 0, 0, 0
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+local function utf32_to_utf8_be(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+                else
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*a + b)
+                    more = -1
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
+            else
+                break
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
+    end
+    return result
+end
+
+local function utf32_to_utf8_le(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
     end
-    for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
-        if a and b then
-            if m < 0 then
-                if endian then
-                    m = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*b + a
                 else
-                    m = 256*b + a
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a)
+                    more = -1
                 end
             else
-                if endian then
-                    n = m + 256*a + b
-                else
-                    n = m + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a
-                end
-                m = -1
-                doit()
+                break
             end
-        else
-            break
         end
-    end
-    if #tmp > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
     end
     return result
 end
 
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_be = utf32_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_le = utf32_to_utf8_le
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_be = utf16_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_le = utf16_to_utf8_le
+
+function unicode.utf8_to_utf8(t)
+    return type(t) == "string" and utfsplitlines(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf16_to_utf8_be(t) or utf16_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf32_to_utf8_be(t) or utf32_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
 local function little(c)
     local b = byte(c)
     if b < 0x10000 then
@@ -3436,6 +3497,10 @@ function unicode.utfcodes(str)
 end
 
 
+function unicode.filetype(data)
+    return data and lpeg.match(lpeg.patterns.utftype,data) or "unknown"
+end
+
 
 end -- of closure
 
@@ -3905,11 +3970,11 @@ local pattern_b = spaces * comma^0 * spaces * (key * ((spaces * equal * spaces *
 
 local hash = { }
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
@@ -9676,7 +9741,7 @@ local suffixes  = allocate()  resolvers.suffixes  = suffixes
 local dangerous = allocate()  resolvers.dangerous = dangerous
 local suffixmap = allocate()  resolvers.suffixmap = suffixmap
 
-local relations = allocate {
+local relations = allocate { -- todo: handlers also here
     core = {
         ofm = {
             names    = { "ofm", "omega font metric", "omega font metrics" },
@@ -9746,7 +9811,7 @@ local relations = allocate {
         tex = {
             names    = { "tex" },
             variable = 'TEXINPUTS',
-            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkii" },
+            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkiv", "mkii" },
         },
         icc = {
             names    = { "icc", "icc profile", "icc profiles" },
@@ -9860,29 +9925,33 @@ resolvers.relations = relations
 
 -- formats: maps a format onto a variable
 
-for category, categories in next, relations do
-    for name, relation in next, categories do
-        local rn = relation.names
-        local rv = relation.variable
-        local rs = relation.suffixes
-        if rn and rv then
-            for i=1,#rn do
-                local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
-                formats[rni] = rv
-                if rs then
-                    suffixes[rni] = rs
-                    for i=1,#rs do
-                        local rsi = rs[i]
-                        suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+function resolvers.updaterelations()
+    for category, categories in next, relations do
+        for name, relation in next, categories do
+            local rn = relation.names
+            local rv = relation.variable
+            local rs = relation.suffixes
+            if rn and rv then
+                for i=1,#rn do
+                    local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
+                    formats[rni] = rv
+                    if rs then
+                        suffixes[rni] = rs
+                        for i=1,#rs do
+                            local rsi = rs[i]
+                            suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+                        end
                     end
                 end
             end
-        end
-        if rs then
+            if rs then
+            end
         end
     end
 end
 
+resolvers.updaterelations() -- push this in the metatable -> newindex
+
 local function simplified(t,k)
     return rawget(t,lower(gsub(k," ","")))
 end
@@ -10345,7 +10414,7 @@ resolvers.locators      = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- locate databases
 resolvers.hashers       = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- load databases
 resolvers.generators    = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- generate databases
 
-function resolvers.splitmethod(filename)
+function resolvers.splitmethod(filename) -- todo: trigger by suffix
     if not filename then
         return { } -- safeguard
     elseif type(filename) == "table" then
@@ -10364,10 +10433,13 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local resolver = resolvers[what]
     if resolver[scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            report_resolvers("handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            report_resolvers("using special handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolver[scheme](filename,filetype)
     else
+        if trace_locating then
+            report_resolvers("no handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+        end
         return resolver.tex(filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     end
 end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/buff-ini.lua b/tex/context/base/buff-ini.lua
index 19e3a142b..593166038 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/buff-ini.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/buff-ini.lua
@@ -6,15 +6,6 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['buff-ini'] = {
     license   = "see context related readme files"
 }
 
--- todo: deal with jobname here, or actually, "" is valid as well
-
--- ctx lua reference model / hooks and such
--- to be optimized
-
--- redefine buffers.get
-
--- if needed we can make 'm local
-
 local trace_run       = false  trackers.register("buffers.run",       function(v) trace_run       = v end)
 local trace_visualize = false  trackers.register("buffers.visualize", function(v) trace_visualize = v end)
 
@@ -22,6 +13,8 @@ local report_buffers = logs.new("buffers")
 
 local utf = unicode.utf8
 
+-- todo: weed the next list
+
 local concat, texprint, texwrite = table.concat, tex.print, tex.write
 local utfbyte, utffind, utfgsub = utf.byte, utf.find, utf.gsub
 local type, next = type, next
@@ -37,22 +30,15 @@ local allocate = utilities.storage.allocate
 local tabtospace = utilities.strings.tabtospace
 
 buffers = {
-    data        = allocate(),
-    hooks       = { },
-    flags       = { },
-    commands    = { },
-    visualizers = { },
+    data  = allocate(),
+    flags = { },
 }
 
 local buffers = buffers
 local context = context
 
-local data        = buffers.data
-local flags       = buffers.flags
-local hooks       = buffers.hooks
-local visualizers = buffers.visualizers
-
-visualizers.defaultname = variables.typing
+local data  = buffers.data
+local flags = buffers.flags
 
 function buffers.raw(name)
     return data[name] or { }
@@ -109,40 +95,6 @@ function buffers.doifelsebuffer(name)
     commands.testcase(data[name] ~= nil)
 end
 
--- handy helpers
---
--- \sop[color] switch_of_pretty
--- \bop[color] begin_of_pretty
--- \eop        end_of_pretty
--- \obs        obeyedspace
--- \char <n>   special characters
-
-local sop    = context.sop
-local bop    = context.bop
-local eop    = context.eop
-local obs    = context.obs
-local par    = context.par
-local chr    = context.char
-
-local bgroup = context.bgroup
-local egroup = context.egroup
-
-flags.optimizeverbatim = true
-flags.countemptylines  = false
-
-local doverbatimnobreak   = context.doverbatimnobreak
-local doverbatimgoodbreak = context.doverbatimgoodbreak
-
-function buffers.verbatimbreak(n,m)
-    if flags.optimizeverbatim then
-        if n == 2 or n == m then
-            doverbatimnobreak()
-        elseif n > 1 then
-            doverbatimgoodbreak()
-        end
-    end
-end
-
 function buffers.strip(lines,first,last)
     local first, last = first or 1, last or #lines
     for i=first,last do
@@ -209,41 +161,83 @@ function buffers.range(lines,first,last,range) -- 1,3 1,+3 fromhere,tothere
     return first, last
 end
 
-function buffers.type(name,realign,range)
-    local lines = data[name]
-    local action = buffers.typeline
+-- this will go to buff-ver.lua
+
+-- there is some overlap in the following
+
+flags.tablength = 7
+
+local function flush(content,method,settings)
+    local tab = settings.tab
+    tab = tab and (tab == variables.yes and flags.tablength or tonumber(tab))
+    if tab then
+        content = utilities.strings.tabtospace(content,tab)
+    end
+    local visualizer = settings.visualizer
+    if visualizer and visualizer ~= "" then
+        visualizers.visualize(visualizer,method,content,settings)
+    else -- todo:
+        visualizers.visualize("",method,content,settings)
+    end
+end
+
+local function filter(lines,settings) -- todo: inline or display in settings
+    local strip = settings.strip
+    if strip then
+        lines = buffers.realign(lines,strip)
+    end
+    local line, n = 0, 0
+    local first, last, m = buffers.strip(lines)
+    if range then
+        first, last = buffers.range(lines,first,last,range)
+        first, last = buffers.strip(lines,first,last)
+    end
+    local content = concat(lines,(settings.nature == "inline" and " ") or "\n",first,last)
+    return content, m
+end
+
+function buffers.typestring(settings) -- todo: settings.nature = "inline"
+    local content = settings.data
+    if content and content ~= "" then
+        flush(content,"inline",settings)
+    end
+end
+
+function buffers.typebuffer(settings) -- todo: settings.nature = "display"
+    local name = settings.name
+    local lines = name and data[name]
     if lines then
         if type(lines) == "string" then
             lines = splitlines(lines)
             data[name] = lines
         end
-        if realign then
-            lines = buffers.realign(lines,realign)
-        end
-        local line, n = 0, 0
-        local first, last, m = buffers.strip(lines)
-        if range then
-            first, last = buffers.range(lines,first,last,range)
-            first, last = buffers.strip(lines,first,last)
+        local content, m = filter(lines,settings)
+        if content and content ~= "" then
+            flush(content,"display",settings)
         end
-        hooks.begin_of_display()
-        for i=first,last do
-            n, line = action(lines[i], n, m, line)
-        end
-        hooks.end_of_display()
     end
 end
 
-function buffers.loaddata(filename) -- this one might go away
-    -- this will be cleaned up when we have split supp-fil completely
-    -- instead of half-half
-    local ok, str, n = resolvers.loaders.tex(filename)
-    if not str then
-        ok, str, n = resolvers.loaders.tex(file.addsuffix(filename,'tex'))
+function buffers.typefile(settings) -- todo: settings.nature = "display"
+    local name = settings.name
+    local str = buffers.loaddata(name)
+    if str and str ~= "" then
+        local regime = settings.regime
+        if regime and regime ~= "" then
+            regimes.load(regime)
+            str = regimes.translate(str,regime)
+        end
+        if str and str~= "" then
+            local lines = splitlines(str)
+            local content, m = filter(lines,settings)
+            if content and content ~= "" then
+                flush(content,"display",settings)
+            end
+        end
     end
 end
 
-function buffers.loaddata(filename) -- this one might go away
+function buffers.loaddata(filename) -- this one might go away or become local
     local foundname = resolvers.findtexfile(filename) or ""
     if foundname == ""  then
         foundname = resolvers.findtexfile(file.addsuffix(filename,'tex')) or ""
@@ -255,48 +249,6 @@ function buffers.loaddata(filename) -- this one might go away
     end
 end
 
-function buffers.typefile(name,realign,range,regime) -- still somewhat messy, since name can be be suffixless
-    local str = buffers.loaddata(name)
-    if regime and regime ~= "" then
-        regimes.load(regime)
-        str = regimes.translate(str,regime)
-    end
-    if str and str~= "" then
-        local lines = splitlines(str)
-        if realign then
-            lines = buffers.realign(lines,realign)
-        end
-        local line, n, action = 0, 0, buffers.typeline
-        local first, last, m = buffers.strip(lines)
-        hooks.begin_of_display()
-        if range then
-            first, last = buffers.range(lines,first,last,range)
-            first, last = buffers.strip(lines,first,last)
-        end
-        for i=first,last do
-            n, line = action(lines[i], n, m, line)
-        end
-        hooks.end_of_display()
-    end
-end
-
-function buffers.typeline(str,n,m,line)
-    n = n + 1
-    buffers.verbatimbreak(n,m)
-    if find(str,"%S") then
-        line = line + 1
-        hooks.begin_of_line(line)
-        hooks.flush_line(hooks.line(str))
-        hooks.end_of_line()
-    else
-        if flags.countemptylines then
-            line = line + 1
-        end
-        hooks.empty_line(line)
-    end
-    return n, line
-end
-
 -- The optional prefix hack is there for the typesetbuffer feature and
 -- in mkii we needed that (this hidden feature is used in a manual).
 
@@ -397,7 +349,7 @@ function buffers.collect(names,separator) -- no print
     return concat(t,separator or "\r") -- "\n" is safer due to comments and such
 end
 
-function buffers.feedback(names,separator)
+function buffers.feedback(names,separator) -- we can use cld
     -- don't change the texprint into texsprint as it fails on mp buffers
     -- because (p<nl>enddef) becomes penddef then
     texprint(ctxcatcodes,splitlines(buffers.collect(names,separator)))
@@ -422,271 +374,6 @@ function buffers.inspect(name)
     end
 end
 
--- maybe just line(n,str) empty(n,str)
-
-visualizers.tablength = 7
-visualizers.enabletab = true -- false
-visualizers.obeyspace = true
-
-function buffers.settablength(tablength)
-    visualizers.tablength = tablength and tonumber(tablength) or 7
-end
-
-visualizers.handlers  = visualizers.handlers or { }
-
-local handlers = visualizers.handlers
-
-function buffers.newvisualizer(name)
-    name = lower(name)
-    local handler = { }
-    handlers[name] = handler
-    return handler
-end
-
-function buffers.getvisualizer(name)
-    name = lower(name)
-    return handlers[name] or buffers.loadvisualizer(name)
-end
-
-function buffers.loadvisualizer(name)
-    name = lower(name)
-    local hn = handlers[name]
-    if hn then
-        return hn
-    else
-        environment.loadluafile("pret-" .. name)
-        local hn = handlers[name]
-        if not hn then
-        --  hn = buffers.newvisualizer(name)
-            hn = handlers[visualizers.defaultname]
-            handlers[name] = hn
-            if trace_visualize then
-                report_buffers("mapping '%s' visualizer onto '%s'",name,visualizers.defaultname)
-            end
-        elseif trace_visualize then
-            report_buffers("loading '%s' visualizer",name)
-        end
-        return hn
-    end
-end
-
--- was "default", should be set at tex end (todo)
-
-local default = buffers.newvisualizer(visualizers.defaultname)
-
-default.begin_of_display = context.doverbatimbeginofdisplay
-default.end_of_display   = context.doverbatimendofdisplay
-default.begin_of_inline  = context.doverbatimbeginofinline
-default.end_of_inline    = context.doverbatimendofinline
-default.begin_of_line    = context.doverbatimbeginofline
-default.end_of_line      = context.doverbatimendofline
-default.empty_line       = context.doverbatimemptyline
-
---~ print(variables.typing) os.exit()
-
--- will become cleaner
-
-local currentvisualizer, currenthandler
-
-function buffers.setvisualizer(str)
-    currentvisualizer = lower(str)
-    currenthandler = handlers[currentvisualizer]
-    if currenthandler then
-    --  if trace_visualize then
-    --      report_buffers("enabling specific '%s' visualizer",currentvisualizer)
-    --  end
-    else
-        currentvisualizer = visualizers.defaultname
-        currenthandler = handlers.default
-    --  if trace_visualize then
-    --      report_buffers("enabling default visualizer '%s'",currentvisualizer)
-    --  end
-    end
-    if currenthandler.reset then
-        currenthandler.reset()
-    end
-end
-
-function buffers.resetvisualizer()
-    currentvisualizer = visualizers.defaultname
-    currenthandler = handlers.default
-    if currenthandler.reset then
-        currenthandler.reset()
-    end
-end
-
-buffers.setvisualizer(visualizers.defaultname)
-
-function visualizers.reset()
-end
-
-function buffers.doifelsevisualizer(str)
-    commands.testcase((str ~= "") and (handlers[lower(str)] ~= nil))
-end
-
--- calling routines, don't change
-
-function hooks.begin_of_display()
-    (currenthandler.begin_of_display or default.begin_of_display)(currentvisualizer)
-end
-
-function hooks.end_of_display()
-    (currenthandler.end_of_display or default.end_of_display)()
-end
-
-function hooks.begin_of_inline()
-    (currenthandler.begin_of_inline or default.begin_of_inline)(currentvisualizer)
-end
-
-function hooks.end_of_inline()
-    (currenthandler.end_of_inline or default.end_of_inline)()
-end
-
-function hooks.flush_line(str,nesting)
-    local fl = currenthandler.flush_line
-    if fl then
-        str = gsub(str," *[\n\r]+ *"," ") ; -- semi colon needed
-        fl(str,nesting)
-    else
-        -- gsub done later
-        default.flush_line(str,nesting)
-    end
-end
-
-function hooks.flush_inline(str,nesting)
-    hooks.begin_of_inline()
-    hooks.flush_line(str,nesting)
-    hooks.end_of_inline()
-end
-
-function hooks.begin_of_line(n)
-    (currenthandler.begin_of_line or default.begin_of_line)(n)
-end
-
-function hooks.end_of_line()
-    (currenthandler.end_of_line or default.end_of_line)()
-end
-
-function hooks.empty_line()
-    (currenthandler.empty_line or default.empty_line)()
-end
-
-function hooks.line(str)
-    if visualizers.enabletab then
-        str = tabtospace(str,visualizers.tablength)
-    else
-        str = gsub(str,"\t"," ")
-    end
-    return (currenthandler.line or default.line)(str)
-end
-
-buffers.currentcolors = { } -- todo: registercurrentcolor and preset sop then ... faster or at least precreate tables
-
-function buffers.changestate(n, state)
-    if n then
-        if state ~= n then
-            if state > 0 then
-                sop { buffers.currentcolors[n] }
-            else
-                bop { buffers.currentcolors[n] }
-            end
-            return n
-        end
-    elseif state > 0 then
-        eop()
-        return 0
-    end
-    return state
-end
-
-function default.line(str)
-    return str
-end
-
-function default.flush_line(str)
-    str = gsub(str," *[\n\r]+ *"," ")
-    if visualizers.obeyspace then
-        for c in utfcharacters(str) do
-            if c == " " then
-                obs()
-            else
-                texwrite(c)
-            end
-        end
-    else
-        texwrite(str)
-    end
-end
-
--- special one
-
-buffers.commands.nested = "\\switchslantedtype "
-
-function visualizers.flushnested(str, enable) -- todo: no utf, vrb catcodes, kind of obsolete mess
-    str = gsub(str," *[\n\r]+ *"," ")
-    local c, nested, i = "", 0, 1
-    local commands = buffers.commands -- otherwise wrong commands
-    while i < #str do -- slow
-        c = sub(str,i,i+1)
-        if c == "<<" then
-            nested = nested + 1
-            bgroup()
-            if enable then
-                context(commands.nested)
-            end
-            i = i + 2
-        elseif c == ">>" then
-            if nested > 0 then
-                nested = nested - 1
-                egroup()
-            end
-            i = i + 2
-        else
-            c = sub(str,i,i)
-            if c == " " then
-                obs()
-            elseif find(c,"%a") then
-                context(c)
-            else
-                chr(byte(c))
-            end
-            i = i + 1
-        end
-    end
-    chr(byte(sub(str,i,i)))
-    for i=1,#nested do
-        egroup()
-    end
-end
-
-function buffers.finishstate(state)
-    if state > 0 then
-        eop()
-        return 0
-    else
-        return state
-    end
-end
-
-local opennested  = rep("\\char"..byte('<').." ",2)
-local closenested = rep("\\char"..byte('>').." ",2)
-
-function buffers.replacenested(result)
-    result = gsub(result,opennested, "{")
-    result = gsub(result,closenested,"}")
-    return result
-end
-
-function buffers.flushresult(result,nested)
-    if nested then
-        context(buffers.replacenested(concat(result)))
-    else
-        context(concat(result))
-    end
-end
-
--- new
-
 function buffers.realign(name,forced_n) -- no, auto, <number>
     local n, d
     if type(name) == "string" then
@@ -725,111 +412,3 @@ function buffers.realign(name,forced_n) -- no, auto, <number>
 end
 
 -- escapes: buffers.setescapepair("tex","/BTEX","/ETEX")
-
-local function flush_escaped_line(str,pattern,flushline)
-    while true do
-        local a, b, c = match(str,pattern)
-        if a and a ~= "" then
-            flushline(a)
-        end
-        if b and b ~= "" then
-            context(b)
-        end
-        if c then
-            if c == "" then
-                break
-            else
-                str = c
-            end
-        else
-            flushline(str)
-            break
-        end
-    end
-end
-
-function buffers.setescapepair(name,pair)
-    if pair and pair ~= "" then
-        local visualizer = buffers.getvisualizer(name)
-        visualizer.normal_flush_line = visualizer.normal_flush_line or visualizer.flush_line
-        if pair == variables.no then
-            visualizer.flush_line = visualizer.normal_flush_line or visualizer.flush_line
-            if trace_visualize then
-                report_buffers("resetting escape range for visualizer '%s'",name)
-            end
-        else
-            local start, stop
-            if pair == variables.yes then
-                start, stop = "/BTEX", "/ETEX"
-            else
-                pair = string.split(pair,",")
-                start, stop = escapedpattern(pair[1] or ""), escapedpattern(pair[2] or "")
-            end
-            if start ~= "" then
-                local pattern
-                if stop == "" then
-                    pattern = "^(.-)" .. start .. "(.*)(.*)$"
-                else
-                    pattern = "^(.-)" .. start .. "(.-)" .. stop .. "(.*)$"
-                end
-                function visualizer.flush_line(str)
-                    flush_escaped_line(str,pattern,visualizer.normal_flush_line)
-                end
-                if trace_visualize then
-                    report_buffers("setting escape range for visualizer '%s' to %s -> %s",name,start,stop)
-                end
-            elseif trace_visualize then
-                report_buffers("problematic escape specification '%s' for visualizer '%s'",pair,name)
-            end
-        end
-    end
-end
-
--- THIS WILL BECOME A FRAMEWORK: the problem with pretty printing is that
--- we deal with snippets and therefore we need tolerant parsing
-
---~ local type = type
-
---~ visualizers = visualizers or { }
-
---~ local function fallback(s) return s end
-
---~ function visualizers.visualize(visualizer,kind,pattern)
---~     if type(visualizer) == "table" and type(kind) == "string" then
---~         kind = visualizer[kind] or visualizer.default or fallback
---~     else
---~         kind = fallback
---~     end
---~     return (lpeg.C(pattern))/kind
---~ end
-
---~ local flusher = texio.write
---~ local format = string.format
-
---~ local visualizer = {
---~     word    = function(s) return flusher(format("\\bold{%s}",s)) end,
---~     number  = function(s) return flusher(format("\\slanted{%s}",s)) end,
---~     default = function(s) return flusher(s) end,
---~ }
-
---~ local word   = lpeg.R("AZ","az")^1
---~ local number = lpeg.R("09")^1
---~ local any    = lpeg.P(1)
-
---~ local pattern = lpeg.P { "start",
---~     start = (
---~         visualizers.visualize(visualizer,"word",word) +
---~         visualizers.visualize(visualizer,"number",number) +
---~         visualizers.visualize(visualizer,"default",any)
---~     )^1
---~ }
-
---~ str = [[test 123 test $oeps$]]
-
---~ lpegmatch(pattern,str)
-
-buffers.obsolete = buffers.obsolete or { }
-local obsolete = buffers.obsolete
-
-buffers.finish_state = buffers.finishstate   obsolete.finish_state = buffers.finishstate
-buffers.change_state = buffers.finishstate   obsolete.change_state = buffers.finishstate
diff --git a/tex/context/base/buff-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/buff-ini.mkiv
index 19fabcff6..f195cd8cf 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/buff-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/buff-ini.mkiv
@@ -15,75 +15,32 @@
 
 \registerctxluafile{buff-ini}{1.001}
 
-% todo: move all to lua, also before and after, just context.beforebuffer()
-% todo: commalist to lua end
-% todo: jobname == "" so no need for testing
-
-% todo:
-%
-% \startluacode
-%     local locations = { }
-%     function document.set_number(name)
-%         locations[name] = {
-%             line = status.linenumber,
-%             file = status.filename
-%         }
-%     end
-%     function document.add_number(name)
-%         local b, l = buffers.raw(name), locations[name]
-%         if b and l then
-%             for i=1,#b do
-%                 b[i] = string.gsub(b[i],"# line: <number>","# line: " .. l.line + 2)
-%             end
-%         end
-%     end
-% \stopluacode
-%
-% \starttext
-%
-% \ctxlua{document.set_number("oeps")}
-% \startbuffer[oeps]
-% # line: <number>
-%
-% test
-% test
-% \stopbuffer
-% \ctxlua{document.add_number("oeps")}
-%
-% \typebuffer[oeps]
-%
-% \stoptext
-
-\ifdefined\doinitializeverbatim \else% temp hack
-    \def\doinitializeverbatim{\tttf}
-\fi
-
 \unprotect
 
-\setnewconstant\buffernestmode\plusone % 0: not nested, 1: startbuffer nested, 2: all buffers nested
+% number is messy and not needed as we store the number anyway
+% we can get rid of \c!number
 
-\newconditional\segmentatebuffermode % not implemented in mkiv (yet)
+\newcount\nofdefinedbuffers
 
-\def\currentbuffer{\jobname}
+\let\currentbuffer\empty
 
-\def\setcurrentbuffer#1%
-  {\doifelsenothing{#1}{\edef\currentbuffer{\jobname}}{\edef\currentbuffer{#1}}}
+\def\doifelsebuffer#1%
+  {\ctxlua{buffers.doifelsebuffer("#1")}}
 
 \def\resetbuffer
   {\dosingleempty\doresetbuffer}
 
 \def\doresetbuffer[#1]%
-  {\begingroup
-   \setcurrentbuffer{#1}%
-   \ctxlua{buffers.erase("\currentbuffer")}%
-   \endgroup}
+  {\ctxlua{buffers.erase("#1")}}
 
-\def\dostartbuffer
+\unexpanded\def\dostartdefinedbuffer
   {\bgroup
-   \obeylines % nodig, anders gaat 't fout als direct \starttable (bv)
+   \obeylines
    \doquadrupleempty\dodostartbuffer}
 
-\def\dodostartbuffer[#1][#2][#3][#4]% upward compatible
+\let\dostartbuffer\dostartdefinedbuffer % used in some modules
+
+\def\dodostartbuffer[#1][#2][#3][#4]% [category] [name] [start] [stop]
   {\iffourthargument
      \def\next{\dododostartbuffer{#1}{#2}{#3}{#4}}%
    \else
@@ -91,65 +48,43 @@
    \fi
    \next}
 
-\def\dododostartbuffer#1#2#3#4%
-  {%\showmessage\m!systems{15}{#2}%
-   \doifelsevalue{\??bu#1\c!paragraph}\v!yes
-     {\settrue\segmentatebuffermode} % todo in mkiv
-     {\doifnumberelse{\getvalue{\??bu#1\c!paragraph}}
-        {\settrue \segmentatebuffermode}
-        {\setfalse\segmentatebuffermode}}%
-   \doifvalue{\??bu#1\c!local}\v!yes
-     {\buffernestmode\plustwo}% permit nesting
-   \setcurrentbuffer{#2}%
-   \doifelsenothing{#4}
-     {\normalexpanded{\noexpand\setbuffercapsules{\e!start\v!buffer}{\e!stop\v!buffer}}%
-      \letvalue\bufferstop\relax}
-    %{\@EA\setbuffercapsules\@EA{\csname#3\@EA\endcsname\@EA}\@EA{\csname#4\endcsname}}% if we strip later
-     {\setbuffercapsules{#3}{#4}}%
-   \normalexpanded{\noexpand\dodowithbuffer
-      {\currentbuffer}
-      {\bufferstart}
-      {\bufferstop}
-      {\donothing}
-      {\egroup
-       \noexpand\getvalue{\bufferstop}}}}
-
-\letvalue{\e!start\v!buffer}\dostartbuffer
-
-\let\endbuffer\undefined % to please the dep parser
+\def\dododostartbuffer#1#2#3#4% \donothing needed !
+  {\normalexpanded{\dodowithbuffer{#2}{#3}{#4}{\donothing}{\egroup\noexpand\getvalue{#4}}}}
+
+\setvalue{\e!start\v!buffer}%
+  {\bgroup
+   \obeylines
+   \dosingleempty\redostartbuffer}
+
+\def\redostartbuffer[#1]%
+  {\dododostartbuffer{}{#1}{\e!start\v!buffer}{\e!stop\v!buffer}}
 
 \def\dowithbuffer#1#2#3% name, startsequence, stopsequence, before, after
-  {\setbuffercapsules{#2}{#3}%
-   \normalexpanded{\noexpand\dodowithbuffer{#1}{\bufferstart}{\bufferstop}}}
+  {\normalexpanded{\dodowithbuffer{#1}{#2}{#3}}}
 
-\long\def\dodowithbuffer#1#2#3#4#5% name, startsequence, stopsequence, before, after
+\unexpanded\long\def\dodowithbuffer#1#2#3#4#5% name, startsequence, stopsequence, before, after
   {#4%
    \bgroup
-   \setcatcodetable \vrbcatcodes
-   \catcode`\\=12
    \ctxlua{buffers.erase("#1")}%
+   \setcatcodetable \vrbcatcodes
    \long\def\nododowithbuffer
      {\egroup
       #5}%
    \long\def\dododowithbuffer##1#3% is detokenize needed? TEST
-     {\ctxlua
-        {buffers.grab("#1","#2","#3",\!!bs\detokenize{##1}\!!es)}
-        \dododowithbuffer
-        \nododowithbuffer}%
+     {\ctxlua{buffers.grab("#1","#2","#3",\!!bs\detokenize{##1}\!!es)} % space ?
+      \dododowithbuffer
+      \nododowithbuffer}%
    \dododowithbuffer}
 
-\def\setbuffercapsules#1#2% \scantextokens not needed (had a reason at some point)
-  {\edef\bufferstart{#1}\edef\bufferstart{\scantextokens\expandafter{\bufferstart}}%
-   \edef\bufferstop {#2}\edef\bufferstop {\scantextokens\expandafter{\bufferstop }}}
-
 \def\setbuffer
   {\dosingleempty\dosetbuffer}
 
+\let\endbuffer\relax
+
 \long\def\dosetbuffer[#1]#2\endbuffer % seldom used so we just pass #2
-  {\begingroup
-   \setcurrentbuffer{#1}%
-   \ctxlua{buffers.set("\currentbuffer", \!!bs\detokenize{#2}\!!es)}%
-   \endgroup}
+  {\ctxlua{buffers.set("#1", \!!bs\detokenize{#2}\!!es)}}
+
+\def\namedbufferparameter#1#2{\csname\??bu#1#2\endcsname}
 
 \unexpanded\def\setupbuffer
   {\dodoubleempty\dosetupbuffer}
@@ -161,191 +96,71 @@
      \getparameters[\??bu][#1]%
    \fi}
 
-\def\dodefinebuffer[#1][#2]%
-  {\iffirstargument % else problems
-     \doglobal\increment\nofdefinedbuffers
-     \letvalue{\??bu#1\c!number   }\nofdefinedbuffers
-     \letvalue{\??bu#1\c!paragraph}\v!no
-     \setuevalue{\e!start#1}{\noexpand\dostartbuffer[#1][def-\nofdefinedbuffers][\e!start#1][\e!stop#1]}% maybe also relax stop
-     \setuevalue{\e!get  #1}{\noexpand\dogetbuffer  [#1][def-\nofdefinedbuffers]}%
-     \setuevalue{\e!type #1}{\noexpand\dotypebuffer [#1][def-\nofdefinedbuffers]}%
-     \getparameters[\??bu#1][#2]%
-   \fi}
+\newtoks\everydefinebuffer
 
 \unexpanded\def\definebuffer
   {\dodoubleempty\dodefinebuffer}
 
-\def\thebuffernumber#1%
-  {\csname\??bu#1\c!number\endcsname}
-
-\def\thedefinedbuffer#1%
-  {def-\csname\??bu#1\c!number\endcsname}
-
-\unexpanded\def\getbuffer
-  {\dodoubleempty\dogetbuffer}
-
-\def\dogetbuffer[#1][#2]%
-  {\ifsecondargument
-     \dodogetbuffer[#1][#2]%
-   \else
-     \dodogetbuffer[][#1]%
-   \fi}
-
-\def\dogetbufferasis{\ctxlua{buffers.get("\currentbuffer")}}
-
-\def\dodogetbuffer[#1][#2]%
-  {\getvalue{\??bu#1\c!before}%
-   \dobuffer{16}{#2}\dogetbufferasis
-   \getvalue{\??bu#1\c!after}}
-
-\unexpanded\def\typebuffer
-  {\dodoubleempty\dotypebuffer}
-
-\def\doprocessbufferverbatim
-  {\doinitializeverbatim
-   \beginofverbatimlines
-   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currentbuffer
-   \ctxlua{buffers.type("\currentbuffer","\typingparameter\c!strip")}%
-   \dostoptagged
-   \endofverbatimlines}
-
-\def\doprocessbufferlinesverbatim#1#2#3%
-  {#2\doprocessbufferverbatim#3}
-
-\def\doifelsebuffer#1%
-  {\ctxlua{buffers.doifelsebuffer("#1")}}
-
-\def\dodotypebuffer#1#2#3% see dodotypefile
-  {\doifelsebuffer{#3}
-     {\dosometyping{#1}{#2}{#3}\doprocessbufferverbatim\doprocessbufferlinesverbatim}
-     {\reporttypingerror{#3}}}
-
-\def\dotypefilebuffer{\dodotypebuffer{\v!file}{}{\currentbuffer}}%
-
-\def\dotypebuffer[#1][#2]%
+\def\dodefinebuffer[#1][#2]%
   {\iffirstargument
-     \dobuffer{17}{#1}\dotypefilebuffer
+     \global\advance\nofdefinedbuffers\plusone
+     \setevalue{\??bu#1\c!number}{\number\nofdefinedbuffers}%
+     \def\currentbuffer{#1}%
+     \getparameters[\??bu#1][#2]%
+     \the\everydefinebuffer
    \else
-     \dobuffer{17}{#2}\dotypefilebuffer
+     % fatal error
    \fi}
 
-\def\dobuffer#1#2#3%
-  {\doifelsenothing{#2}
-     {\dodobuffer#3\jobname}
-     {\processcommalist[#2]{\dodobuffer#3}}}
+\def\thebuffernumber #1{\csname\??bu#1\c!number\endcsname}
+\def\thedefinedbuffer#1{def-\csname\??bu#1\c!number\endcsname}
+
+\appendtoks
+    \setuevalue{\e!start\currentbuffer}%
+      {\noexpand\dostartdefinedbuffer
+         [\currentbuffer]%
+         [def-\number\nofdefinedbuffers]%
+         [\e!start\currentbuffer]%
+         [\e!stop\currentbuffer]}%
+    \setuevalue{\e!get\currentbuffer}%
+      {\noexpand\dogetdefinedbuffer
+         [\currentbuffer]%
+         [def-\number\nofdefinedbuffers]}%
+\to \everydefinebuffer
+
+\def\doprocessbufferlist#1#2%
+  {\doifelsenothing{#1}
+     {\dododogetbuffer\empty}
+     {\processcommalist[#1]#2}}
+
+\unexpanded\def\getbuffer % no [settings yet]
+  {\dosingleempty\dogetbuffer}
 
-\def\dodobuffer#1#2% command name
-  {\pushmacro\currentbuffer
-   \edef\currentbuffer{\ifcsname\??bu#2\c!number\endcsname def-\csname\??bu#2\c!number\endcsname\else#2\fi}%
-   #1%
-   \popmacro\currentbuffer}
+\unexpanded\def\dogetbuffer[#1]% [name]
+  {\namedbufferparameter\empty\c!before
+   \doprocessbufferlist{#1}\dododogetbuffer
+   \namedbufferparameter\empty\c!after}
 
-\def\processTEXbuffer{\getbuffer} % handy
+\def\dogetdefinedbuffer[#1][#2]%
+  {\namedbufferparameter{#1}\c!before
+   \dododogetbuffer{#2}%
+   \namedbufferparameter{#1}\c!after}
 
-% extras:
+\def\dododogetbuffer#1%
+  {\ctxlua{buffers.get("#1")}}
 
 \def\inspectbuffer
   {\dosingleempty\doinspectbuffer}
 
 \def\doinspectbuffer[#1]%
-  {\setcurrentbuffer{#1}%
-   \ctxlua{buffers.inspect("\currentbuffer")}}
-
-% seldom used, only in a few projects that demanded more speed
-
-\let\usememorybuffers\relax
-\let\usefilebuffers  \relax
-
-% this features is soldom used (complex examns where we need to fetch
-% special parts of a text
-%
-% this is not yet supported in mkiv (relatively easy to do but there
-% we don't have the par tags but need to grab 'm
-
-\def\skippedbufferparagraphs{0}
-
-\let\startbufferparagraph\relax
-\let\stopbufferparagraph \par   % \relax
-
-\newcount\currentbufferparagraph
-
-\def\getbufferparagraphs
-  {\dodoubleempty\dogetbufferparagraphs}
-
-\def\dosetbufferoffset#1%
-  {\doifnumberelse{\getvalue{\??bu#1\c!paragraph}}
-     {\currentbufferparagraph-\getvalue{\??bu#1\c!paragraph}}
-     {\currentbufferparagraph \zerocount}%
-   \relax}
-
-\def\dogetbufferparagraphs[#1][#2]%
-  {\iffirstargument
-     \ifsecondargument
-       \dosetbufferoffset{#1}%
-       \doifelse{#2}\v!all
-         {\unexpanded\def\startbufferparagraph{\normalbufferparagraph{#1}}}
-         {\unexpanded\def\startbufferparagraph{\filterbufferparagraph{#1}{#2}}}%
-       \unexpanded\def\stopbufferparagraph{\dostopbufferparagraph{#1}}%
-       \def\next{\getparagraphedbuffer[#1]}%
-     \else
-       \dosetbufferoffset\empty
-       \unexpanded\def\startbufferparagraph{\filterbufferparagraph{}{#1}}%
-       \unexpanded\def\stopbufferparagraph{\dostopbufferparagraph{}}%
-       \def\next{\getparagraphedbuffer[]}%
-     \fi
-   \else
-     \dosetbufferoffset\empty
-     \unexpanded\def\startbufferparagraph{\normalbufferparagraph{}}%
-     \unexpanded\def\stopbufferparagraph{\dostopbufferparagraph{}}%
-     \def\next{\getparagraphedbuffer[]}%
-   \fi
-   \next}
-
-\def\dotypeparagraphbuffer{\ctxlua{buffers.get("\currentbuffer")}}
-
-\def\getparagraphedbuffer[#1]%
-  {\dobuffer{16}{#1}\dotypeparagraphbuffer}
+  {\ctxlua{buffers.inspect("#1")}}
 
-\def\dostopbufferparagraph#1%
-  {\getvalue{\??bu#1\c!after}\par}
+\definebuffer[\v!hiding] \setupbuffer[\v!hiding][\c!before=,\c!after=]
 
-\def\dostartbufferparagraph#1%
-  {\par\getvalue{\??bu#1\c!before}}
-
-\def\normalbufferparagraph
-  {\advance\currentbufferparagraph \plusone
-   \ifnum\currentbufferparagraph>\zerocount
-     \expandafter\dostartbufferparagraph
-   \else
-     \expandafter\gobbleoneargument
-   \fi}
-
-\def\filterbufferparagraph#1#2%
-  {\advance\currentbufferparagraph \plusone
-   \ifcase\currentbufferparagraph
-     \@EA\gobblebufferparagraph
-   \else
-     \doifinsetelse{\the\currentbufferparagraph}{#2}
-       {\@EA\dostartbufferparagraph}
-       {\@EA\fakebufferparagraph}%
-   \fi
-   {#1}}
-
-\long\def\gobblebufferparagraph#1#2\stopbufferparagraph
-  {}
-
-\def\fakebufferparagraph#1%
-  {\bgroup
-   \unexpanded\def\stopbufferparagraph{\dostopbufferparagraph{#1}\egroup\egroup}%
-   \setbox\scratchbox\vbox\bgroup\dostartbufferparagraph{#1}}
-
-% definitions
-
-\definebuffer[\v!hiding] \setupbuffer[\v!hiding][\c!local=\v!yes]
+\let\processTEXbuffer\getbuffer % handy synonym
 
 \setupbuffer
-  [\c!paragraph=\v!no,
-   \c!before=,
+  [\c!before=,
    \c!after=]
 
 % only mkiv:
@@ -375,8 +190,6 @@
   {\dosingleempty\doctxluabuffer}
 
 \def\doctxluabuffer[#1]%
-  {\doifelsenothing{#1}
-     {\ctxlua{buffers.evaluate("\jobname")}}
-     {\ctxlua{buffers.evaluate("#1")}}}
+  {\ctxlua{buffers.evaluate("#1")}}
 
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/buff-ver.lua b/tex/context/base/buff-ver.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9574768b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/buff-ver.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,377 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['buff-ver'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to buff-ver.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+-- The default visualizers have reserved names starting with v-*. Users are
+-- supposed to use different names for their own variants.
+
+local type, rawset, rawget, setmetatable, getmetatable = type, rawset, rawget, setmetatable, getmetatable
+local format, lower, match = string.format, string.lower, string.match
+local C, P, V, Carg = lpeg.C, lpeg.P, lpeg.V, lpeg.Carg
+local patterns, lpegmatch, lpegtype = lpeg.patterns, lpeg.match, lpeg.type
+
+local function is_lpeg(p)
+    return p and lpegtype(p) == "pattern"
+end
+
+visualizers = visualizers or { }
+
+local specifications = { }  visualizers.specifications = specifications
+
+local verbatim = context.verbatim
+local variables = interfaces.variables
+local findfile = resolvers.findfile
+local addsuffix = file.addsuffix
+
+local v_yes = variables.yes
+
+-- beware, these all get an argument (like newline)
+
+local doinlineverbatimnewline    = context.doinlineverbatimnewline
+local doinlineverbatimbeginline  = context.doinlineverbatimbeginline
+local doinlineverbatimemptyline  = context.doinlineverbatimemptyline
+local doinlineverbatimstart      = context.doinlineverbatimstart
+local doinlineverbatimstop       = context.doinlineverbatimstop
+
+local dodisplayverbatimnewline   = context.dodisplayverbatimnewline
+local dodisplayverbatimbeginline = context.dodisplayverbatimbeginline
+local dodisplayverbatimemptyline = context.dodisplayverbatimemptyline
+local dodisplayverbatimstart     = context.dodisplayverbatimstart
+local dodisplayverbatimstop      = context.dodisplayverbatimstop
+
+local doverbatimspace            = context.doverbatimspace
+
+local CargOne = Carg(1)
+
+local function f_emptyline(s,settings)
+    if settings and settings.currentnature == "inline" then
+        doinlineverbatimemptyline()
+    else
+        dodisplayverbatimemptyline()
+    end
+end
+
+local function f_beginline(s,settings)
+    if settings and settings.currentnature == "inline" then
+        doinlineverbatimbeginline()
+    else
+        dodisplayverbatimbeginline()
+    end
+end
+
+local function f_newline(s,settings)
+    if settings and settings.currentnature == "inline" then
+        doinlineverbatimnewline()
+    else
+        dodisplayverbatimnewline()
+    end
+end
+
+local function f_start(s,settings)
+    if settings and settings.currentnature == "inline" then
+        doinlineverbatimstart()
+    else
+        dodisplayverbatimstart()
+    end
+end
+
+local function f_stop(s,settings)
+    if settings and settings.currentnature == "inline" then
+        doinlineverbatimstop()
+    else
+        dodisplayverbatimstop()
+    end
+end
+
+local function f_default(s) -- (s,settings)
+    verbatim(s)
+end
+
+local function f_space() -- (s,settings)
+    doverbatimspace()
+end
+
+local functions = { __index = {
+        emptyline = f_emptyline,
+        newline   = f_newline,
+        default   = f_default,
+        beginline = f_beginline,
+        space     = f_space,
+        start     = f_start,
+        stop      = f_stop,
+    }
+}
+
+local handlers = { }
+
+function visualizers.newhandler(name,data)
+    local tname, tdata = type(name), type(data)
+    if tname == "table" then -- (data)
+        setmetatable(name,getmetatable(name) or functions)
+        return name
+    elseif tname == "string" then
+        if tdata == "string" then -- ("name","parent")
+            local result = { }
+            setmetatable(result,getmetatable(handlers[data]) or functions)
+            handlers[name] = result
+            return result
+        elseif tdata == "table" then -- ("name",data)
+            setmetatable(data,getmetatable(data) or functions)
+            handlers[name] = data
+            return data
+        else -- ("name")
+            local result = { }
+            setmetatable(result,functions)
+            handlers[name] = result
+            return result
+        end
+    else -- ()
+        local result = { }
+        setmetatable(result,functions)
+        return result
+    end
+end
+
+function visualizers.newgrammar(name,t)
+    t = t or { }
+    local g = visualizers.specifications[name]
+    g = g and g.grammar
+    if g then
+        for k,v in next, g do
+            if not t[k] then
+                t[k] = v
+            end
+            if is_lpeg(v) then
+                t[name..":"..k] = v
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    return t
+end
+
+local fallback = context.verbatim
+
+local function makepattern(visualizer,kind,pattern)
+    if not pattern then
+        logs.simple("error in visualizer: %s",kind)
+        return patterns.alwaystrue
+    else
+        if type(visualizer) == "table" and type(kind) == "string" then
+            kind = visualizer[kind] or fallback
+        else
+            kind = fallback
+        end
+        return (C(pattern) * CargOne) / kind
+    end
+end
+
+visualizers.pattern = makepattern
+visualizers.makepattern = makepattern
+
+function visualizers.load(name)
+    if rawget(specifications,name) == nil then
+        name = lower(name)
+        local texname = findfile(format("v-%s.mkiv",name))
+        local luaname = findfile(format("v-%s.lua" ,name))
+        if texname == "" or luaname == "" then
+            -- assume a user specific file
+            luaname = findfile(addsuffix(name,"mkiv"))
+            texname = findfile(addsuffix(name,"lua" ))
+        end
+        if texname == "" or luaname == "" then
+            -- error message
+        else
+            lua.registercode(luaname)
+            context.input(texname)
+        end
+        if rawget(specifications,name) == nil then
+            rawset(specifications,name,false)
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+function commands.doifelsevisualizer(name)
+    commands.testcase(specifications[lower(name)])
+end
+
+function visualizers.register(name,specification)
+    specifications[name] = specification
+    local parser, handler = specification.parser, specification.handler
+    local displayparser = specification.display or parser
+    local inlineparser = specification.inline or parser
+    local isparser = is_lpeg(parser)
+    local start, stop
+    if isparser then
+        start = makepattern(handler,"start",patterns.alwaysmatched)
+        stop = makepattern(handler,"stop",patterns.alwaysmatched)
+    end
+    if handler then
+        if isparser then
+            specification.display = function(content,settings)
+                if handler.startdisplay then handler.startdisplay(settings) end
+                lpegmatch(start * displayparser * stop,content,1,settings)
+                if handler.stopdisplay then handler.stopdisplay(settings) end
+            end
+            specification.inline = function(content,settings)
+                if handler.startinline then handler.startinline(settings) end
+                lpegmatch(start * inlineparser * stop,content,1,settings)
+                if handler.stopinline then handler.stopinline(settings) end
+            end
+            specification.direct = function(content,settings)
+                lpegmatch(parser,content,1,settings)
+            end
+        elseif parser then
+            specification.display = function(content,settings)
+                if handler.startdisplay then handler.startdisplay(settings) end
+                parser(content,settings)
+                if handler.stopdisplay then handler.stopdisplay(settings) end
+            end
+            specification.inline  = function(content,settings)
+                if handler.startinline then handler.startinline(settings) end
+                parser(content,settings)
+                if handler.stopinline then handler.stopinline(settings) end
+            end
+            specification.direct = parser
+        end
+    elseif isparser then
+        specification.display = function(content,settings)
+            lpegmatch(start * displayparser * stop,content,1,settings)
+        end
+        specification.inline  = function(content,settings)
+            lpegmatch(start * inlineparser * stop,content,1,settings)
+        end
+        specification.direct = function(content,settings)
+            lpegmatch(parser,content,1,settings)
+        end
+    elseif parser then
+        specification.display = parser
+        specification.inline  = parser
+        specification.direct  = parser
+    end
+    return specification
+end
+
+local function getvisualizer(method,nature)
+    local m = specifications[method] or specifications.default
+    if nature then
+        return m and (m[nature] or m.parser) or nil
+    else
+        return m and m.parser or nil
+    end
+end
+
+local escapepatterns = { } visualizers.escapepatterns = escapepatterns
+
+local function texmethod(s)
+    context.bgroup()
+    context(s)
+    context.egroup()
+end
+
+local function defaultmethod(s,settings)
+    lpegmatch(getvisualizer("default"),s,1,settings)
+end
+
+function visualizers.registerescapepattern(name,before,after,normalmethod,escapemethod)
+    local escapepattern = escapepatterns[name]
+    if not escapepattern then
+        before, after = P(before) * patterns.space^0, patterns.space^0 * P(after)
+        escapepattern = (
+            (before / "")
+          * ((1 - after)^0 / (escapemethod or texmethod))
+          * (after / "")
+          + ((1 - before)^1) / (normalmethod or defaultmethod)
+        )^0
+        escapepatterns[name] = escapepattern
+    end
+    return escapepattern
+end
+
+local escapedvisualizers = { }
+
+local function visualize(method,nature,content,settings) -- maybe also method and nature in settings
+    if content and content ~= "" then
+        local m
+        local e = settings.escape
+        if e and e ~= "" then
+            local newname = format("%s-%s",e,method)
+            local newspec = specifications[newname]
+            if newspec then
+                m = newspec
+            else
+                local start, stop
+                if e == v_yes then
+                    start, stop = "/BTEX", "/ETEX"
+                else
+                    start,stop = match(e,"^(.-),(.-)$") -- todo: lpeg
+                end
+                if start and stop then
+                    local oldvisualizer = specifications[method] or specifications.default
+                    local oldparser = oldvisualizer.direct
+                    local newparser = visualizers.registerescapepattern(newname,start,stop,oldparser)
+                    m = visualizers.register(newname, {
+                        parser  = newparser,
+                        handler = oldvisualizer.handler,
+                    })
+                else
+                 -- visualizers.register(newname,n)
+                    specifications[newname] = m -- old spec so that we have one lookup only
+                end
+            end
+        else
+            m = specifications[method] or specifications.default
+        end
+        local n = m and m[nature]
+        settings.currentnature = nature or "display" -- tricky ... why sometimes no nature
+        if n then
+            n(content,settings)
+        else
+            fallback(content,1,settings)
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+visualizers.visualize     = visualize
+visualizers.getvisualizer = getvisualizer
+
+function visualizers.visualizestring(method,content,settings)
+    visualize(method,"inline",content)
+end
+
+function visualizers.visualizefile(method,name,settings)
+    visualize(method,"display",resolvers.loadtexfile(name),settings)
+end
+
+function visualizers.visualizebuffer(method,name,settings)
+    visualize(method,"display",buffers.content(name),settings)
+end
+
+-- --
+
+local space     = C(patterns.space)         * CargOne / f_space
+local newline   = C(patterns.newline)       * CargOne / f_newline
+local emptyline = C(patterns.emptyline)     * CargOne / f_emptyline
+local beginline = C(patterns.beginline)     * CargOne / f_beginline
+local anything  = C(patterns.somecontent^1) * CargOne / f_default
+
+local verbosed  = (space + newline * (emptyline^0) * beginline + anything)^0
+
+local function write(s,settings) -- bad name
+    lpegmatch(verbosed,s,1,settings or false)
+end
+
+visualizers.write          = write
+visualizers.writenewline   = f_newline
+visualizers.writeemptyline = f_emptyline
+visualizers.writespace     = f_space
+visualizers.writedefault   = f_default
+
+function visualizers.writeargument(...)
+    context("{")  -- If we didn't have tracing then we could
+    write(...)    -- use a faster print to tex variant for the
+    context("}")  -- { } tokens as they always have ctxcatcodes.
+end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/buff-ver.mkiv b/tex/context/base/buff-ver.mkiv
index 3be410300..2c478d46d 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/buff-ver.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/buff-ver.mkiv
@@ -13,166 +13,147 @@
 
 \writestatus{loading}{ConTeXt Buffer Macros / Verbatim}
 
-%D We can optimize esp the initializations a bit.
+\registerctxluafile{buff-ver}{1.001}
 
 \unprotect
 
-\ifdefined\startlinenumbering\else \let\startlinenumbering    \relax \fi
-\ifdefined\stoplinenumbering \else \let\stoplinenumbering     \relax \fi
-\ifdefined\setuplinenumbering\else \unexpanded\def\setuplinenumbering[#1]{}     \fi
-
 \definesystemattribute[verbatimline][public]
 
 \appendtoksonce \attribute\verbatimlineattribute \attributeunsetvalue \to \everyforgetall
 
-% D \macros
-% D   {iflinepar}
-% D
-% D A careful reader will see that \type{\linepar} is reset.
-% D This boolean can be used to determine if the current line is
-% D the first line in a pseudo paragraph and this boolean is set
-% D after each empty line. The \type{\relax} can be used to
-% D determine the end of the line when one implements a scanner
-% D routine.
-%
-% will become obsolete
+%D Initializations.
 
-\newif\iflinepar
+\newtoks\everyinitializeverbatim
 
-% \type{ <crlf> char} geeft bagger
+\appendtoks
+    \the\everyresettypesetting
+    \resetfontfeature
+    \resetcharacterspacing
+\to \everyinitializeverbatim
 
-%D We are going to embed the general verbatim support macros in
-%D a proper environment. First we show the common setup
-%D macro, so we know what features are supported. The options
-%D are hooked into the support macros via the \type{\obey}
-%D macros.
+\def\setverbatimspaceskip % to be checked: must happen after font switch
+  {\spaceskip\fontcharwd\font`x\relax
+   \xspaceskip\spaceskip}
 
-\newif\ifslantedtypeactivated
-\newif\ifslantedtypepermitted
+\unexpanded\def\specialcontrolspace{\hskip\zeropoint\fastcontrolspace\hskip\zeropoint}
 
-\def\switchslantedtype
-  {\ifslantedtypepermitted
-     \ifslantedtypeactivated
-       \slantedtypeactivatedfalse\tttf
-     \else
-       \slantedtypeactivatedtrue\ttsl
-     \fi
-   \fi}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!lines:\v!yes       }{\obeybreakpoints}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!lines:\v!hyphenated}{\obeyhyphens}
 
-\def\prettyidentifier {TEX}
-\def\prettypalet      {}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!space:\v!on        }{\let\obeyedspace\specialcontrolspace}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!space:\v!stretch   }{\let\obeyedspace\specialstretchedspace}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!space:\v!normal    }{}
+
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!standard  }{\ctxparskip}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!small     }{\smallskipamount}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!medium    }{\medskipamount}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!big       }{\bigskipamount}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!halfline  }{.5\baselineskip}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!line      }{\baselineskip}
+\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!none      }{\zeropoint}
+
+\def\secondstageinitializetype
+  {\let\obeyedspace\specialobeyedspace
+   \csname\??tp:\c!space:\typeparameter\c!space\endcsname
+   \relax\the\everyinitializeverbatim\relax}
 
-\def\installprettytype
-  {\dodoubleargument\doinstallprettytype}
+\def\secondstageinitializetyping
+  {\let\obeyedspace\specialobeyedspace
+   \csname\??tp:\c!space:\typingparameter\c!space\endcsname
+   \csname\??tp:\c!lines:\typingparameter\c!lines\endcsname
+   \relax\the\everyinitializeverbatim\relax}
 
-\def\doinstallprettytype[#1][#2]% map #1 onto #2
-  {\uppercasestring#1\to\asciia
-   \uppercasestring#2\to\asciib
-   \setevalue{\??ty\??ty\asciia}{\asciib}}
+\def\firststageinitializetype
+  {\let\obeylines\ignorelines
+   \ignorehyphens % default
+   \dosettypeattributes\c!style\c!color
+   \setcatcodetable\vrbcatcodes}
 
-\unexpanded\def\setupprettiesintype#1%
-  {\uppercasestring#1\to\ascii
-   \edef\prettyidentifier{\executeifdefined{\??ty\??ty\ascii}{TEX}}%
-   \begingroup
-   \ctxlua{buffers.loadvisualizer("\ascii")}%
-   \endgroup}
+\let\doverbatimsetlinemargin\relax
 
-\unexpanded\def\setupprettytype
-  {\processingverbatimtrue % will move
-   \ctxlua{buffers.visualizers.reset()}}
+\def\dodoverbatimsetlinemargin
+  {\getpagestatus
+   \ifrightpage
+     \hskip\typingparameter\c!oddmargin\relax
+   \else
+     \hskip\typingparameter\c!evenmargin\relax
+   \fi}
 
-\def\setverbatimspaceskip
-  {\setbox\scratchbox\hbox{x}%
-   \spaceskip\wd\scratchbox
-   \xspaceskip\spaceskip}
+\def\docheckverbatimmargins
+  {\scratchskip\typingparameter\c!oddmargin\relax
+   \ifzeropt\scratchskip
+   \else
+     \let\doverbatimsetlinemargin\dodoverbatimsetlinemargin
+   \fi
+   \scratchskip\typingparameter\c!evenmargin\relax
+   \ifzeropt\scratchskip
+   \else
+     \let\doverbatimsetlinemargin\dodoverbatimsetlinemargin
+   \fi
+   \ifx\doverbatimsetlinemargin\relax
+     \doadaptleftskip{\typingparameter\c!margin}%
+   \fi}
 
-\let\obeycharacters\relax % tab mess can go
+\def\firststageinitializetyping
+  {\switchtobodyfont[\typingparameter\c!bodyfont]%
+   \docheckverbatimmargins
+   \dosettypingattributes\c!style\c!color
+   \doifsomething{\typingparameter\c!align}{\setupalign[\typingparameter\c!align]}%
+   \ignorehyphens} % default
 
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!lines:\v!yes       }{\obeybreakpoints}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!lines:\v!hyphenated}{\obeyhyphens}
+%D \macros
+%D   {definetype,setuptype}
+%D
+%D Specific inline verbatim commands can be defined with the
+%D following command.
 
-%setvalue{\??tp:\c!empty:\v!yes       }{\obeyemptylines}
-%setvalue{\??tp:\c!empty:\v!all       }{\obeyallemptylines}
-
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\v!none     }{\let\obeycharacters\relax}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\empty      }{\let\obeycharacters\relax}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\v!color    }{\setupprettiesintype{\typingparameter\c!option}%
-                                        \let\obeycharacters\setupprettytype}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\v!normal   }{\let\obeycharacters\setupgroupedtype}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\v!slanted  }{\let\obeycharacters\setupslantedtype}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\s!unknown  }{\setupprettiesintype{\typingparameter\c!option}%
-                                        \let\obeycharacters\setupprettytype}
-%setvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\v!commands }{\def\obeycharacters{\setupcommandsintype}}
-
-\def\dosetverbatimfont
-  {\redoconvertfont\dosetfontattribute{\currenttypingclass\currenttyping}\c!style
-   \normalnoligatures\font}
-
-\unexpanded\def\setupcommonverbatim
-  {\let\prettyidentifier\s!default
-   %
-   \def\prettyidentifierfont{\typingparameter\c!icommand}%
-   \def\prettyvariablefont  {\typingparameter\c!vcommand}%
-   \def\prettynaturalfont   {\typingparameter\c!ccommand}%
-   %
-   \ignorehyphens % default
-   \getvalue{\??tp:\c!lines:\typingparameter\c!lines}%
-   \getvalue{\??tp:\c!empty:\typingparameter\c!empty}%
-   \getvalue{\??tp:\c!option:\ifcsname\??tp:\c!option:\typingparameter\c!option\endcsname\typingparameter\c!option\else\s!unknown\fi}%
-   \setupverbatimcolor}
+\installcommandhandler{\??ty}{type}{\??ty}
 
-\newtoks \everyinitializeverbatim
+\appendtoks
+    \normalexpanded{\dodefinetype{\currenttype}}%
+\to \everydefinetype
+
+\unexpanded\def\dodefinetype#1%
+  {\setuvalue{#1}{\dotype{#1}}}
 
 \appendtoks
-    \the\everyresettypesetting
-\to \everyinitializeverbatim
+   \doinitializevisualizer{\typeparameter\c!option}%
+\to \everysetuptype
 
-\def\ignorebeginofpretty [#1]{}
-\def\ignoreendofpretty       {}
-
-\def\doverbatimbop{\bgroup\beginofpretty}
-\def\doverbatimeop{\endofpretty\egroup}
-\def\doverbatimsop{\endofpretty\egroup\bgroup\beginofpretty}
-
-\let\noverbatimbop\ignorebeginofpretty
-\let\noverbatimeop\ignoreendofpretty
-\let\noverbatimsop\ignorebeginofpretty
-
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!space:\v!on     }{\let\obs\fastcontrolspace}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!space:\v!stretch}{\let\obs\specialstretchedspace
-                                     \let\specialobeyedspace\specialstretchedspace % I need to clean
-                                     \let\obeyedspace\specialstretchedspace}       % up this mess.
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!space:\v!normal }{\let\obs\specialobeyedspace}
-
-\def\doinitializeverbatim % todo: combine all in one call is faster
-  {\ctxlua{buffers.visualizers.reset()}%
-   \executeifdefined{\??tp:\c!space:\typingparameter\c!space}{\let\obs\specialobeyedspace}%
-   \edef\askedverbatimtab{\typingparameter\c!tab}%
-   \doifelse\askedverbatimtab\v!no
-     {\ctxlua{buffers.settablength(1)}}
-     {\doifnumberelse{\askedverbatimtab}
-        {\ctxlua{buffers.settablength(\askedverbatimtab)}}
-        {\ctxlua{buffers.settablength()}}}%
-   \ctxlua{buffers.doifelsevisualizer("\prettyidentifier")}
-     {\ctxlua{buffers.setvisualizer("\prettyidentifier")}%
-      \let\bop\doverbatimbop
-      \let\eop\doverbatimeop
-      \let\sop\doverbatimsop}%
-     {\ctxlua{buffers.setvisualizer("\v!typing")}% or resetdefaultvisualizer
-      \let\bop\noverbatimbop
-      \let\eop\noverbatimeop
-      \let\sop\noverbatimsop}%
-   \relax\the\everyinitializeverbatim\relax}
+%D \macros
+%D   {definetyping,setuptyping}
+%D
+%D For most users the standard \type{\start}||\type{\stop}||pair
+%D will suffice, but for documentation purposes the next
+%D definition command can be of use:
+%D
+%D \starttyping
+%D \definetyping[extratyping][margin=3em]
+%D
+%D \startextratyping
+%D these extra ones are indented by 1 em
+%D \stopextratyping
+%D \stoptyping
+%D
+%D The definitions default to the standard typing values.
+
+\installcommandhandler{\??tp}{typing}{\??tp}
 
 \appendtoks
-   \resetfontfeature
-   \resetcharacterspacing
-\to \everyinitializeverbatim
+    \normalexpanded{\dodefinetyping{\currenttyping}}%
+\to \everydefinetyping
+
+\unexpanded\def\dodefinetyping#1%
+  {\setvalue{\e!start#1}{\dostarttyping{#1}}%
+   \setvalue{\e!stop #1}{\dostoptyping {#1}}}
+
+\appendtoks
+   \doinitializevisualizer{\typingparameter\c!option}% we can check at the tex end
+\to \everysetuptyping
 
-% BEWARE: the noligatures will globally change the verbatim font's behaviour
+\def\doinitializevisualizer#1%
+  {\ifproductionrun\ctxlua{visualizers.load("#1")}\fi}
 
-% test case:
-%
 % \definetype[typeTEX][option=tex]
 %
 % \typeTEX|\example---oeps|. this---ligates---again.
@@ -219,33 +200,9 @@
 %D
 %D \typebuffer \start \getbuffer \stop
 
-\unexpanded\def\setupcommandsintype
-  {\ctxlua{buffers.setescapepair("\currenttyping",\!!bs\typingparameter\c!escape\!!es)}}
-
-\appendtoks
-    \setupcommandsintype
-\to \everyinitializeverbatim
-
-\unexpanded\def\setupslantedtype
-  {\slantedtypepermittedtrue}
-
-\ifx\setupprettytype  \undefined \let\setupprettytype  \relax             \fi
-\ifx\setupslantedtype \undefined \let\setupslantedtype \relax             \fi
-\ifx\setupgroupedtype \undefined \let\setupgroupedtype \relax             \fi
-\ifx\normalnoligatures\undefined \let\normalnoligatures\gobbleoneargument \fi
-
-%D The verbatim commands have a rather long and turbulent
-%D history. Most users of \CONTEXT\ probably will never use
-%D some of the features, but I've kept in mind that when one is
-%D writing a users manual, about everything can and undoubtly
-%D will be subject to a verbatim treatment.
-%D
 %D Verbatim command are very sensitive to argument processing,
 %D which is a direct result of the \CATCODES\ being fixed at
-%D reading time. With our growing understanding of \TEX,
-%D especially of the mechanism that can be used for looking
-%D ahead and manipulating \CATCODES, the verbatim support
-%D became more and more advanced and natural.
+%D reading time.
 %D
 %D Typesetting inline verbatim can be accomplished by
 %D \type{\type}, which in this sentence was typeset by saying
@@ -262,14 +219,11 @@
 %D \type{<<} and \type{>>} as delimiters. This alternative can
 %D be used in situations where slanted typeseting is needed.
 
-% todo: we can use \letter... here:
-
 \def\lesscharacter {<}
 \def\morecharacter {>}
-
-\chardef\texescape     = `\\
-\chardef\leftargument  = `\{
-\chardef\rightargument = `\}
+\let\texescape     \textbackslash
+\let\leftargument  \textbraceleft
+\let\rightargument \textbraceright
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {type}
@@ -277,17 +231,17 @@
 %D We define \type{\type} as a protected command. This command
 %D has several invocations: grouped, wirt boundary characters,
 %D and with font switches.
-
-% \starttyping
-% normal: \par \type{xx<<..xx..<<xx <<xx>> >>..>>xx} \par \type<<....>> \par \type<<..<<xx>>..>> \par
-% normal: \par \type{xx<..xx..<xx <slanted> >..>xx} \par \type{<....>} \par \type{<..<xx>..>}
-% \setuptype[option=slanted]
-% slanted: \par \type{xx<<..sl..<<xx <<sl>> xx>>..sl..>>xx} \par \type<<..xx..>> \par \type<<..<<sl>>..>> \par
-% slanted: \par \type{xx<<..sl..<xx <sl> xx>..sl..>>xx} \par \type<<..xx..>> \par \type<<..<sl>..>> \par
-% \setuptype[option=none]
-% none: \par \type{xx<<..xx..<<xx <<xx>> >>..>>xx} \par \type<<....>> \par \type<<..<<xx>>..>> \par
-% \stoptyping
-
+%D
+%D \starttyping
+%D normal: \par \type{xx<<..xx..<<xx <<xx>> >>..>>xx} \par \type<<....>> \par \type<<..<<xx>>..>> \par
+%D normal: \par \type{xx<..xx..<xx <slanted> >..>xx} \par \type{<....>} \par \type{<..<xx>..>}
+%D \setuptype[option=slanted]
+%D slanted: \par \type{xx<<..sl..<<xx <<sl>> xx>>..sl..>>xx} \par \type<<..xx..>> \par \type<<..<<sl>>..>> \par
+%D slanted: \par \type{xx<<..sl..<xx <sl> xx>..sl..>>xx} \par \type<<..xx..>> \par \type<<..<sl>..>> \par
+%D \setuptype[option=none]
+%D none: \par \type{xx<<..xx..<<xx <<xx>> >>..>>xx} \par \type<<....>> \par \type<<..<<xx>>..>> \par
+%D \stoptyping
+%D
 %D When writing the manual to \CONTEXT\ and documenting this
 %D source we needed to typeset \type{<<} and \type{>>}. Because
 %D we wanted to do this in the natural way, we've adapted the
@@ -296,7 +250,7 @@
 %D further and treats the lone \type{<<} and \type{>>} a bit
 %D different. The \type {\null} prevents ligatures, which
 %D unfortunately turn up in Lucida fonts.
-
+%D
 %D The following lines show what happens when we set
 %D \type {option=commands}.
 %D
@@ -316,127 +270,90 @@
 %D \typebuffer
 
 \unexpanded\def\type{\dotype\empty}
+\unexpanded\def\typ {\dotyp \empty}
 
-\def\dotype#1% was \dotype
-  {\dontleavehmode \bgroup
-   % new, \strut enables leading space in \type { abc } at par start / begstrut
-   % else no hyphenation (replaced by \dontleavehmode which saves unboxing)
-   % \begstrut
-   \let\currenttypingclass\??ty
-   \edef\currenttyping{#1}%
-   \catcode`\<=\othercatcode
-   \catcode`\>=\othercatcode
-   \futurelet\next\dodotype}
+\def\dotype#1%
+  {\dontleavehmode
+   \bgroup
+   \edef\currenttype{#1}%
+   \doifnextoptionalelse\redotype\dodotype}
+
+\def\redotype[#1]%
+  {\getparameters[\??ty\currenttype][#1]%
+   \dodotype}
 
 \def\dodotype
+  {\futurelet\next\dodotypeone}
+
+\def\dotyp#1%
+  {\dontleavehmode
+   \bgroup
+   \edef\currenttype{#1}%
+   \dolettypeparameter\v!lines\v!hyphenated
+   \let\specialobeyedspace\specialstretchedspace
+   \doifnextoptionalelse\redotype\dodotype}
+
+\def\dodotypeone
   {\ifx\next\bgroup
      \@EA\dodotypeA
    \else
-     \@EA\dodotypeAD
+     \@EA\dodotypetwo
    \fi}
 
-\def\dodotypeAD
+\def\dodotypetwo
+  {\catcode`<=\othercatcode % old precaution
+   \catcode`>=\othercatcode % old precaution
+   \futurelet\next\dodotypethree}
+
+\def\dodotypethree
   {\if\next<%
-     \doifelse{\typingparameter\c!option}\v!none{\@EA\dodotypeB}{\@EA\dodotypeC}%
+     \@EA\dodotypeB
    \else
-     \@EA\dodotypeD
+     \@EA\dodotypeC
    \fi}
 
 \def\dodotypeA
-  {\initializetype % probably too much
-   \verbatimcolor
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-   \setcatcodetable \typcatcodesa
-   \dodotypeAA}
-
-\def\dodotypeAA#1%
-  {\doinitializeverbatim
-   \def\obs{\obeyedspace}%
-   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currenttyping
-   \ctxlua{buffers.hooks.flush_inline(\!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es)}%
-   \dostoptagged
-   \egroup}
+  {\firststageinitializetype
+   \setcatcodetable\typcatcodesa
+   \dodotypenormal}
 
 \def\dodotypeB#1%
-  {\initializetype
-   \verbatimcolor
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-   \setcatcodetable \typcatcodesb
-   \dodotypeBB}
-
-\def\dodotypeBB#1%
-  {\doinitializeverbatim
-   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currenttyping
-   \ctxlua{buffers.visualizers.flushnested(\!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es,false)}%
-   \dostoptagged
-   \egroup
-   \gobbleoneargument} % grab last >
+  {\firststageinitializetype
+   \setcatcodetable\typcatcodesb
+   \dodotypenested}
 
 \def\dodotypeC#1%
-  {\initializetype
-   \verbatimcolor
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-   \setcatcodetable \typcatcodesb
-   \dodotypeCC}
-
-\def\dodotypeCC#1%
-  {\doinitializeverbatim
-   \ifx\obeycharacters\setupprettytype % temp hack, we need a proper signal
-     \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currenttyping
-     \ctxlua{buffers.hooks.flush_inline([\!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es,true)}%
-     \dostoptagged
-   \else
-     \def\obs{\obeyedspace}%
-     \ctxlua{buffers.visualizers.flushnested(\!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es,true)}%
-   \fi
-   \egroup
-   \gobbleoneargument} % grab last >
+  {\firststageinitializetype
+   \setcatcodetable\typcatcodesc
+   \def\next##1#1{\dodotypenormal{##1}}%
+   \next}
+
+\def\dodotypenormal#1%
+  {\secondstageinitializetype
+   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currenttype
+   \ctxlua{buffers.typestring {
+     data       = \!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es,
+     tab        = "\typeparameter\c!tab",
+     visualizer = "\typeparameter\c!option",
+    }}%
+   \dostoptagged
+   \egroup}
 
-\def\dodotypeD#1%
-  {\initializetype
-   \verbatimcolor
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-   \setcatcodetable \typcatcodesc % was a
-   \def\dodotypeDD##1#1{\dodotypeAA{##1}}%
-   \dodotypeDD}
-
-\def\dodotypeDD#1%
-  {\doinitializeverbatim
-   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currenttyping
-   \ctxlua{buffers.hooks.flush_inline(\!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es,true)}%
+\def\dodotypenested#1%
+  {\secondstageinitializetype
+   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim\currenttype
+   \ctxlua{buffers.typestring {
+     data       = \!!bs\detokenize{#1}\!!es,
+     tab        = "\typeparameter\c!tab",
+     visualizer = "nested", % we force a special visualizer
+     option     = "\typeparameter\c!option", % extra visualizer (maybe: nested,\typeparameter\c!option)
+   }}%
    \dostoptagged
    \egroup
    \gobbleoneargument} % grab last >
 
-%D The neccessary initializations are done by calling
-%D \type{\initializetype} which in return calls for the support
-%D macro \type{\setupinlineverbatim}.
-
-\def\initializetype
-  {\let\obeylines\ignorelines
-   \setupcommonverbatim
-  %\dosetverbatimfont
-  %\setverbatimspaceskip
-  %\setupcopyverbatim         % not needed
-  \setcatcodetable\vrbcatcodes}
-
 %D \macros
-%D   {setuptype}
-%D
-%D Some characteristics of \type{\type} can be set up by:
-
-\unexpanded\def\setuptype
-  {\dodoubleempty\dosetuptype}
-
-\def\dosetuptype[#1][#2]%
-  {\ifsecondargument
-     \getparameters[\??ty#1][#2]%
-   \else
-     \getparameters[\??ty][#1]%
-   \fi}
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {typ,obeyhyphens,obeybreakpoints}
+%D   {obeyhyphens,obeybreakpoints}
 %D
 %D Although it's not clear from the macros, one character
 %D trait of this macros, which are build on top of the support
@@ -464,12 +381,6 @@
    \let\controlspace\specialcontrolspace
    \spaceskip.5em\relax}
 
-\unexpanded\def\typ
-  {\bgroup
-   \let\@@tylines\v!hyphenated
-   \let\specialobeyedspace\specialstretchedspace
-   \futurelet\next\dodotype}
-
 %D \macros
 %D   {tex,arg,mat,dis}
 %D
@@ -480,36 +391,9 @@
 %D but we've decided not to use that slow and sometimes
 %D troublesome solution. Instead we stick to some 'old'
 %D \CONTEXT\ macros for typesetting typical \TEX\ characters.
-%D
-%D The next implementation is more clear but less versatile,
-%D so we treated it for a beter one.
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D \def\dospecialtype#1#2%
-%D   {\bgroup
-%D    \initializetype
-%D    \catcode`\{=\begingroupcatcode
-%D    \catcode`\}=\endgroupcatcode
-%D    \def\dospecialtype%
-%D      {\def\dospecialtype{#2\egroup}%
-%D       \bgroup
-%D       \aftergroup\dospecialtype
-%D       #1}%
-%D    \afterassignment\dospecialtype
-%D    \let\next=}
-%D
-%D \unexpanded\def\tex{\dospecialtype\texescape\relax}
-%D \unexpanded\def\arg{\dospecialtype\leftargument\rightargument}
-%D \unexpanded\def\mat{\dospecialtype\$\$}
-%D \unexpanded\def\dis{\dospecialtype{\$\$}{\$\$}}
-%D \stoptyping
 
 \def\setgroupedtype
-  {\let\currenttypingclass\??ty
-   \initializetype
-   \verbatimcolor
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-  %\setcatcodetable \typcatcodesa
+  {\firststageinitializetype
    \catcode`\{=\begingroupcatcode
    \catcode`\}=\endgroupcatcode}
 
@@ -523,105 +407,17 @@
 \let\normaltextmat\mat
 \let\normaltextdis\dis
 
-\def\astype
-  {\groupedcommand\dorawtype\relax}
-
-\def\dorawtype
-  {\let\currenttypingclass\??ty
-   \normalverbatimcolor % \verbatimcolor
-   \dosetverbatimfont}
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {starttyping}
-%D
-%D Display verbatim is realized far more easy, which is mostly
-%D due to the fact that we use \type{\stop...} as delimiter.
-%D The implementation inherits  some features, for instance the
-%D support of linenumbering, which can best be studied in the
-%D documented support module.
-
-\let\currenttyping     \empty
-\let\currenttypingclass\??ty  % saveguard
-
-\def\typingparameter#1%
-  {\ifcsname\currenttypingclass\currenttyping#1\endcsname
-     \csname\currenttypingclass\currenttyping#1\endcsname
-   \else\ifcsname\currenttypingclass#1\endcsname
-     \csname\currenttypingclass#1\endcsname
-   \fi\fi}
-
-\def\settypingparameter#1#2%
-  {\setvalue{\currenttypingclass\currenttyping#1}{#2}}
-
-\def\setxtypingparameter#1#2%
-  {\setxvalue{\currenttypingclass\currenttyping#1}{#2}}
-
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!standard}{\ctxparskip}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!small   }{\smallskipamount}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!medium  }{\medskipamount}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!big     }{\bigskipamount}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!halfline}{.5\baselineskip}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!line    }{\baselineskip}
-\setvalue{\??tp:\c!blank:\v!none    }{\zeropoint}
-
-\def\doopenupverbatimlineindeed
-  {\getpagestatus
-   \ifrightpage
-     \hskip\typingparameter\c!oddmargin\relax
-   \else
-     \hskip\typingparameter\c!evenmargin\relax
-   \fi}
-
-\def\initializetyping
-  {%\donefalse
-   \switchtobodyfont[\typingparameter\c!bodyfont]%
-   \donefalse
-   \scratchskip\typingparameter\c!oddmargin\relax
-   \ifzeropt\scratchskip\else\donetrue\fi
-   \scratchskip\typingparameter\c!evenmargin\relax
-   \ifzeropt\scratchskip\else\donetrue\fi
-   \ifdone
-     \let\doopenupverbatimline\doopenupverbatimlineindeed
-   \else
-     \doadaptleftskip{\typingparameter\c!margin}%
-   \fi
-   % no symbolic blanks !
-   \edef\!!stringa{\executeifdefined{\??bo\typingparameter\c!blank}{\typingparameter\c!blank}}%
-   \scratchskip\executeifdefined{\??tp:\c!blank:\!!stringa}\!!stringa\relax
-   \ifgridsnapping
-     % this will be adapted
-     \ifdim\scratchskip=.5\baselineskip\relax
-       \edef\verbatimbaselineskip{\the\scratchskip}% new
-     \else
-       \edef\verbatimbaselineskip{\the\baselineskip}%
-     \fi
-   \else
-     \edef\verbatimbaselineskip{\the\scratchskip}%
-   \fi
-\doifsomething{\typingparameter\c!align}{\setupalign[\typingparameter\c!align]}%
-   \setupcommonverbatim}
+\def\astype{\groupedcommand{\dosettypeattributes\c!style\c!color}{}}
 
 %D The basic display verbatim commands are defined in an
 %D indirect way. As we will see, they are a specific case of a
 %D more general mechanism.
 
-\newif\ifoptimizeverbatim \optimizeverbatimtrue
-
-\let \beginofverbatimlines \relax
-\let \endofverbatimlines   \relax
-
-\def\doverbatimnobreak
-  {\ifoptimizeverbatim\penalty500 \fi}
-
-\def\doverbatimgoodbreak
-  {\ifoptimizeverbatim\penalty\linepenalty\fi}
-
-% we need this hack because otherwise verbatim skips
-% the first line (everything after the initial command)
+\let\beginofverbatimlines\relax
+\let\endofverbatimlines  \relax
 
 \def\dostarttyping#1% tricky non standard lookahead
   {\bgroup
-   \let\currenttypingclass\??tp
    \edef\currenttyping{#1}%
    \obeylines
    \futurelet\nexttoken\dodostarttyping}
@@ -636,40 +432,37 @@
 \def\nododostarttyping
   {\dododostarttyping[]}
 
-\def\dotypefileverbatim
-  {\doinitializeverbatim
-   \beginofverbatimlines
-   \dostarttagged\t!verbatimblock\currenttyping
-   \ctxlua{buffers.typefile("\readfilename","\typingparameter\c!strip","\typingparameter\c!range","\currentregime")}%
-   \dostoptagged
-   \endofverbatimlines}
-
-\def\dotypefilelinesverbatim#1#2%
-  {#1\dotypefileverbatim#2}
+\def\dododostarttyping[#1]%
+  {\typingparameter\c!before
+   \startpacked[\v!blank]
+   \doifassignmentelse{#1}
+     {\setuptyping[\currenttyping][#1]}
+     {\doifinset\v!continue{#1}{\setuptyping[\currenttyping][\c!continue=\v!yes]}}%
+   \dosetuptypelinenumbering
+   \firststageinitializetyping
+   \normalexpanded{\dotypeblockverbatim{\e!start\currenttyping}{\e!stop\currenttyping}}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\dotypeblockverbatim#1#2%
-  {\dowithbuffer{_typing_}{#1}{#2}
-     {}
-     {\doinitializeverbatim
-      \beginofverbatimlines
-      \dostarttagged\t!verbatimblock\currenttyping
-      \ctxlua{buffers.type("_typing_","\typingparameter\c!strip","\typingparameter\c!range")}%
-      \dostoptagged
-      \endofverbatimlines
-      \csname#2\endcsname}}
+  {\dowithbuffer{_typing_}{#1}{#2}{}{\dodotypeblockverbatim{#1}{#2}}}
 
-\def\dododostarttyping[#1]%
-  {\typingparameter\c!before
-   \startpacked % includes \bgroup
-   \dosetuptypelinenumbering{#1}%
-   \initializetyping
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-   \startverbatimcolor
-   \normalexpanded{\dotypeblockverbatim{\e!start\currenttyping}{\e!stop\currenttyping}}} % was s!start
+\def\dodotypeblockverbatim#1#2%
+  {\secondstageinitializetyping
+   \beginofverbatimlines
+   \dostarttagged\t!verbatimblock\currenttyping
+   \ctxlua{buffers.typebuffer {
+     name       = "_typing_",
+     strip      = "\typingparameter\c!strip",
+     range      = "\typingparameter\c!range",
+     tab        = "\typingparameter\c!tab",
+     visualizer = "\typingparameter\c!option",
+     escape     = \!!bs\typingparameter\c!escape\!!es,
+   }}%
+   \dostoptagged
+   \endofverbatimlines
+   \csname#2\endcsname}
 
 \def\dostoptyping#1% hm, currenttyping
-  {\stopverbatimcolor
-   \stoppacked  % includes \egroup
+  {\stoppacked
    \typingparameter\c!after
    \normalexpanded{\egroup\checknextindentation[\typingparameter\c!indentnext]}%
    \dorechecknextindentation}
@@ -710,8 +503,7 @@
 %D
 %D \starttext
 %D
-%D % \typefile[file][range={3,6}]{whatever.tex}
-%D
+%D % \typefile[file][range={3,6}] {whatever.tex}
 %D % \typefile[file][range={3,+2}]{whatever.tex}
 %D
 %D \typefile[file][range={label:start:one,label:stop:one}]{whatever.tex}
@@ -720,128 +512,6 @@
 %D \stoptyping
 
 %D \macros
-%D   {setuptyping}
-%D
-%D The setup of typing accepts two arguments. The optional
-%D first one identifies the user defined ones. If only one
-%D argument is given, the values apply to both the standard
-%D command \type{\starttyping} and \type{\typefile}.
-
-\def\dosetuptyping[#1][#2]%
-  {\ifsecondargument
-     \getparameters[\??tp#1][#2]%
-   \else
-     \getparameters[\??tp][#1]%
-   \fi}
-
-\unexpanded\def\setuptyping
-  {\dodoubleempty\dosetuptyping}
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {definetype}
-%D
-%D Specific inline verbatim commands can be defined with the
-%D following command.
-
-\unexpanded\def\definetype
-  {\dodoubleempty\dodefinetype}
-
-\def\dodefinetype[#1][#2]%
-  {\setuvalue{#1}{\dotype{#1}}%
-   \getparameters[\??ty#1][#2]}
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {definetyping}
-%D
-%D For most users the standard \type{\start}||\type{\stop}||pair
-%D will suffice, but for documentation purposes the next
-%D definition command can be of use:
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D \definetyping[extratyping][margin=3em]
-%D
-%D \startextratyping
-%D these extra ones are indented by 1 em
-%D \stopextratyping
-%D \stoptyping
-%D
-%D The definitions default to the standard typing values.
-
-% TODO: parent etc !
-
-\def\presettyping[#1][#2]% brrr also use parent here
-  {\copyparameters[\??tp#1][\??tp][\c!color,\c!style]%
-   \getparameters [\??tp#1][#2]}
-
-\def\dodefinetyping[#1][#2]%
-  {\setvalue{\e!start#1}{\dostarttyping{#1}}%
-   \setvalue{\e!stop #1}{\dostoptyping {#1}}%
-   \presettyping[#1][#2]}
-
-\unexpanded\def\definetyping
-  {\dodoubleempty\dodefinetyping}
-
-%D We can use some core color commands. These are faster than
-%D the standard color switching ones and work ok on a line by
-%D line basis.
-%D
-%D \starttyping
-%D \unexpanded\def\setupverbatimcolor%
-%D   {\edef\prettypalet{\prettyidentifier\typingparameter\c!palet}%
-%D    \def\beginofpretty[##1]{\startcolormode{\prettypalet:##1}}%
-%D    \def\endofpretty       {\stopcolormode}}
-%D \stoptyping
-%D
-%D Since we support a global color too, the folowing
-%D definition is better:
-
-\def\normalbeginofpretty [#1]{\startcolor[\prettypalet:#1]}%
-\def\normalendofpretty       {\stopcolor}
-\def\normalstartverbatimcolor{\startcolor[\typingparameter\c!color]}%
-\def\normalstopverbatimcolor {\stopcolor}
-\def\normalverbatimcolor     {\getvalue{\typingparameter\c!color}}% command !
-
-\unexpanded\def\setupnormalprettyverbatim
-  {\edef\prettypalet{\prettyidentifier\prettypalet}%
-   \let\beginofpretty     \normalbeginofpretty
-   \let\endofpretty       \normalendofpretty
-   \let\startverbatimcolor\normalstartverbatimcolor
-   \let\stopverbatimcolor \normalstopverbatimcolor
-   \let\verbatimcolor     \normalverbatimcolor}
-
-\unexpanded\def\setupignoreprettyverbatim
-  {\let\prettypalet       \empty
-   \let\beginofpretty     \ignorebeginofpretty
-   \let\endofpretty       \ignoreendofpretty
-   \let\startverbatimcolor\normalstartverbatimcolor
-   \let\stopverbatimcolor \normalstopverbatimcolor
-   \let\verbatimcolor     \normalverbatimcolor}
-
-\unexpanded\def\setupverbatimcolor
-  {\edef\prettypalet{\typingparameter\c!palet}%
-   \ifx\prettypalet\empty
-     \setupignoreprettyverbatim
-   \else
-     \setupnormalprettyverbatim
-   \fi}
-
-\let\beginofpretty     \ignorebeginofpretty
-\let\endofpretty       \ignoreendofpretty
-\let\prettypalet       \empty
-\let\startverbatimcolor\relax
-\let\stopverbatimcolor \relax
-\let\verbatimcolor     \relax
-
-%D \macros
-%D   {EveryPar, EveryLine, iflinepar}
-%D
-%D One of the features of these commands is the support of
-%D \type{\EveryPar}, \type{\EveryLine} and \type{\iflinepar}.
-%D In the documentation of the verbatim support module we give
-%D some examples of line- and paragraph numbering using these
-%D macros.
-
-%D \macros
 %D   {typefile}
 %D
 %D Typesetting files verbatim (for the moment) only supports
@@ -849,118 +519,92 @@
 %D setup values are inherited from display verbatim.
 %D The implementation of \type{\typefile} is straightforward:
 
-% new feature (not yet 100\% ok)
-%
-% \setuptyping[file][numbering=file]
-%
-% \typefile[start=2,nlines=3]{zapf}
-% \typefile[start=continue,nlines=13]{zapf}
-% \typefile{zapf}
-%
-% \setuptyping[file][numbering=line]
-%
-% \typefile[start=4,step=3]{zapf}
-% \typefile{zapf}
+% [category] [settings] {name} % for historic reasons, all filenames are {}
 
 \def\typefile
   {\dodoubleempty\dotypefile}
 
 \def\dotypefile[#1][#2]#3%
-  {\ifsecondargument
-     \dodotypefile[#1][#2]{#3}%
+  {\bgroup
+   \ifsecondargument
+     \setuptyping[#1][#2]%
+     \dododotypefile{#1}{#3}%
    \else\iffirstargument
      \doifassignmentelse{#1}
-       {\dodotypefile[\v!file][#1]{#3}}
-       {\dodotypefile[#1][]{#3}}%
+       {\setuptyping[\v!file][#1]
+        \dododotypefile\v!file{#3}}
+       {\dododotypefile{#1}{#3}}%
    \else
-     \dodotypefile[\v!file][]{#3}%
-   \fi\fi}
-
-\def\dosetuptypelinenumbering#1% fuzzy
-  {%\ifcsname\currenttypingclass\currenttyping\c!start\endcsname \else
-   %  \setuptyping[\currenttyping][\c!start=1,\c!stop=,\c!step=1,\c!continue=\v!no,\c!nlines=]%
-   %\fi
-   \doifassignmentelse{#1}{\setuptyping[\currenttyping][#1]}\donothing
-   \doifelse{\typingparameter\c!numbering}\v!file
-     {% kind of special: filters lines !
-      \setuplinenumbering[\currenttyping][\c!method=\v!file]%
-      \donetrue}
-     {\doifelse{\typingparameter\c!numbering}\v!line
-        {\doifinset\v!continue{#1}{\setuptyping[\currenttyping][\c!continue=\v!yes]}% fails: \settypingparameter\c!continue{\v!yes}
-         \donetrue}
-        {\donefalse}}%
-   \ifdone
-     \edef\beginofverbatimlines{\noexpand\startlinenumbering
-       [\currenttyping]%
-       [\c!continue=\typingparameter\c!continue,
-          \c!method=\v!type,
-           \c!start=\typingparameter\c!start,
-            \c!stop=\typingparameter\c!stop, % ?
-            \c!step=\typingparameter\c!step]%
-     }%
-     \def\endofverbatimlines{\stoplinenumbering}%
-   \fi}
-
-\def\reporttypingerror#1% temp hack
-  {\blank
-   \dontleavehmode\hbox\bgroup
-     \expanded{\defconvertedargument\noexpand\ascii{#1}}%
-     \tttf[\makemessage\m!verbatims1\ascii]%
-     \showmessage\m!verbatims1\ascii
-   \egroup
-   \blank}
-
-\def\dosometyping#1#2#3#4#5%
-  {\bgroup
-   \let\currenttypingclass\??tp
-   \edef\currenttyping{#1}%
-   \typingparameter\c!before
-   \startpacked % includes \bgroup
-   \dosetuptypelinenumbering{#2}%
-   \doifinset{\typingparameter\c!option}{\v!commands,\v!slanted,\v!normal}
-     {\setuptyping[#1][\c!option=\v!none]}%
-   \doif{\typingparameter\c!option}\v!color
-     {\expandafter\aftersplitstring#3\at.\to\prettyidentifier
-      \settypingparameter\c!option{\prettyidentifier}}%
-   \initializetyping
-   \dosetverbatimfont
-   \startverbatimcolor
-   \scratchcounter
-     \ifcsname\currenttypingclass#3\v!global\c!start\endcsname
-       \numexpr\csname\currenttypingclass#3\v!global\c!start\endcsname+\plusone\relax
-     \else
-       \plusone
-     \fi
-   \setxvalue{\currenttypingclass#3\v!global\c!start}{\the\scratchcounter}% no direct setxvalue as it defines beforehand
-   \doifelsenothing{\typingparameter\c!start}
-     {#4}
-     {\doif{\typingparameter\c!start}\v!continue
-        {\setevalue{\currenttypingclass#1\c!start}%
-           {\getvalue{\currenttypingclass#3\v!global\c!start}}}%
-      \doifelsenothing{\typingparameter\c!stop}
-        {\doifelsenothing{\typingparameter\c!nlines}
-           {#4}
-           {\setxvalue{\currenttypingclass#3\v!global\c!start}%
-              {\the\numexpr\typingparameter\c!start+\typingparameter\c!nlines+\minusone\relax}%
-            #5{\typingparameter\c!start}{\getvalue{\currenttypingclass#3\v!global\c!start}}}}%
-        {#5{\typingparameter\c!start}{\typingparameter\c!stop}}}%
-   \stopverbatimcolor
-   \stoppacked
-   \typingparameter\c!after
+     \dododotypefile\v!file{#3}%
+   \fi\fi
    \egroup}
 
+\def\dododotypefile#1#2%
+  {\doifelsetypingfile{#2}
+     {\dodododotypefile{#1}\readfilename}
+     {\reporttypingerror{#2}}}
+
 \def\doifelsetypingfile#1% sets \readfilename (we will make this proper mkiv i.e. less messy)
   {\doiflocfileelse{#1}
      {\firstoftwoarguments}
      {\doifinputfileelse{#1}
-%         {\def\readfilename{\pathplusfile\filepath{#1}}\firstoftwoarguments} % messy, looks wrong too
         {\def\readfilename{#1}\firstoftwoarguments} % messy, looks wrong too
         {\secondoftwoarguments}}}
 
-\def\dodotypefile[#1][#2]#3%
-  {\doifelsetypingfile{#3}
-     {\dosometyping{#1}{#2}{#3}\dotypefileverbatim\dotypefilelinesverbatim}
-     {\reporttypingerror{#3}}}
+\def\dodododotypefile#1#2% category name
+  {\edef\currenttyping{#1}%
+   \typingparameter\c!before
+   \startpacked[\v!blank]
+   \dosetuptypelinenumbering
+   \firststageinitializetyping
+   \secondstageinitializetyping
+   \beginofverbatimlines
+   \dostarttagged\t!verbatimblock\currenttyping
+   \ctxlua{buffers.typefile {
+      name       = "#2",
+      strip      = "\typingparameter\c!strip",
+      range      = "\typingparameter\c!range",
+      regime     = "\currentregime",
+      tab        = "\typingparameter\c!tab",
+      visualizer = "\typingparameter\c!option",
+    }}%
+   \dostoptagged
+   \endofverbatimlines
+   \stoppacked
+   \typingparameter\c!after}
+
+%D Line numbering:
+
+\newconditional\verbatimnumberinglines
+
+\def\beginofverbatimlinenumbering
+  {\startlinenumbering
+     [\currenttyping]%
+     [\c!continue=\typingparameter\c!continue,
+        \c!method=\v!type,
+         \c!start=\typingparameter\c!start,
+          \c!stop=\typingparameter\c!stop, % ?
+          \c!step=\typingparameter\c!step]}
+
+\def\endofverbatimlinenumbering
+  {\stoplinenumbering}
+
+\def\dosetuptypelinenumbering
+  {\ifdefined\startlinenumbering
+     \edef\currenttypingnumbering{\typingparameter\c!numbering}%
+     \ifx\currenttypingnumbering\v!file
+       \setuplinenumbering[\currenttyping][\c!method=\v!file]%
+       \settrue\verbatimnumberinglines
+     \else\ifx\currenttypingnumbering\v!line
+       \settrue\verbatimnumberinglines
+     \else
+       \setfalse\verbatimnumberinglines
+     \fi\fi
+     \ifconditional\verbatimnumberinglines
+       \let\beginofverbatimlines\beginofverbatimlinenumbering
+       \let\endofverbatimlines  \endofverbatimlinenumbering
+     \fi
+   \fi}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {filename}
@@ -975,9 +619,12 @@
 
 \unexpanded\def\filename#1{{\tttf\hyphenatedfilename{#1}}}
 
-%D And a bonus macro:
+%D \macros
+%D   {verbatim}
+%d
+%D And a bonus macro, an unexpanded detokenize:
 
-\def\verbatim#1{\defconvertedargument\ascii{#1}\ascii}
+\unexpanded\def\verbatim#1{\detokenize{#1}}
 
 %D The setups for display verbatim and file verbatim are
 %D shared. One can adapt the extra defined typing environments,
@@ -987,224 +634,182 @@
 \setuptyping
   [       \c!before=\blank,
            \c!after=\blank,
-        \c!bodyfont=,
-           \c!color=,
+       %\c!bodyfont=,
+         %\c!color=,
            \c!space=\v!off,
             \c!page=\v!no,
              \c!tab=\s!ascii,
           \c!option=\v!none,
-           \c!palet=colorpretty,
             \c!text=\v!no,
            \c!style=\tttf,
-        \c!icommand=\ttsl,
-        \c!vcommand=,
-        \c!ccommand=\tttf,
       \c!indentnext=\v!yes,
           \c!margin=\!!zeropoint,
       \c!evenmargin=\!!zeropoint,
        \c!oddmargin=\!!zeropoint,
            \c!blank=\v!line,
-          \c!escape=, % yes | no | START,STOP BTEX,ETEX
+         %\c!escape=, % yes | no | {START,STOP} | default when yes: {BTEX,ETEX}
        \c!numbering=\v!no,
-           \c!lines=,
-           \c!range=,
-           \c!empty=,
+          %\c!lines=,
+          %\c!range=,
            \c!start=1,
-            \c!stop=,
+           %\c!stop=,
             \c!step=1,
-        \c!continue=,
-           \c!strip=\v!no, % auto or number
-          \c!nlines=]
+       %\c!continue=,
+           \c!strip=\v!no] %auto or number
 
 \definetyping[\v!typing]
 
-\presettyping[\v!file][]
-
-% \setuptyping % not needed
-%   [\v!file]
-%   [\c!start=1,
-%    \c!stop=,
-%    \c!step=1,
-%    \c!continue=,
-%    \c!nlines=]
+\setuptyping[\v!file]  [\s!parent=\??tp\v!typing] % we don't want \start..\stop overload
+\setuptyping[\v!buffer][\s!parent=\??tp\v!file]   % we don't want \start..\stop overload
 
 %D The setups for inline verbatim default to:
 
 \setuptype
   [ \c!space=\v!off,
-    \c!color=,
+   %\c!color=,
     \c!style=\tt\tf, % \tttf gives problems with {\tx \type...}
+  %\c!option=\v!normal,
      \c!page=\v!no,
-      \c!tab=\v!yes,
-    \c!palet=colorpretty,
-   \c!option=\v!normal]
-
-%D Beware: only a few are currently (re)implemented in \MKIV.
-
-\definetyping[RAW]   [\c!option=RAW]
-\definetyping[MP]    [\c!option=MP]  % done
-\definetyping[PL]    [\c!option=PL]
-\definetyping[PM]    [\c!option=PL]
-\definetyping[JS]    [\c!option=JS]
-\definetyping[JV]    [\c!option=JV]
-\definetyping[SQL]   [\c!option=SQL]
-\definetyping[TEX]   [\c!option=TEX]  % done
-\definetyping[PAS]   [\c!option=PAS]
-\definetyping[PASCAL][\c!option=PAS]
-\definetyping[MOD]   [\c!option=PAS]
-\definetyping[MODULA][\c!option=PAS]
-\definetyping[DELPHI][\c!option=PAS]
-\definetyping[EIFFEL][\c!option=EIF]
-\definetyping[XML]   [\c!option=XML]
-\definetyping[LUA]   [\c!option=LUA]  % done
-
-\installprettytype [RAW]        [RAW]
-
-\installprettytype [TEX]        [TEX]
-
-\installprettytype [PERL]       [PL]
-\installprettytype [PL]         [PL]
-\installprettytype [PM]         [PL]
-
-\installprettytype [METAPOST]   [MP]
-\installprettytype [METAFONT]   [MP]
-\installprettytype [MP]         [MP]
-\installprettytype [MF]         [MP]
-
-\installprettytype [JAVASCRIPT] [JS]
-\installprettytype [JAVA]       [JV]
-\installprettytype [JS]         [JS]
-\installprettytype [JV]         [JV]
-
-\installprettytype [SQL]        [SQL]
-
-\installprettytype [PASCAL]     [PAS]
-\installprettytype [PAS]        [PAS]
-\installprettytype [MODULA]     [PAS]
-\installprettytype [MOD]        [PAS]
-
-\installprettytype [EIFFEL]     [EIF]
-\installprettytype [EIF]        [EIF]
-\installprettytype [E]          [EIF]
-
-\installprettytype [XML]        [XML]
-
-\installprettytype [LUA]        [LUA]
-
-%D We use the \CONTEXT\ color system for switching to and from
-%D color mode. We can always redefine these colors afterwards.
-
-\definecolor [colorprettyone]   [r=.9, g=.0, b=.0] % red
-\definecolor [colorprettytwo]   [r=.0, g=.8, b=.0] % green
-\definecolor [colorprettythree] [r=.0, g=.0, b=.9] % blue
-\definecolor [colorprettyfour]  [r=.8, g=.8, b=.6] % yellow
-
-\definecolor [grayprettyone]    [s=.30]
-\definecolor [grayprettytwo]    [s=.45]
-\definecolor [grayprettythree]  [s=.60]
-\definecolor [grayprettyfour]   [s=.75]
-
-\definepalet
-  [colorpretty]
-  [  prettyone=colorprettyone,
-     prettytwo=colorprettytwo,
-   prettythree=colorprettythree,
-    prettyfour=colorprettyfour]
-
-\definepalet
-  [graypretty]
-  [  prettyone=grayprettyone,
-     prettytwo=grayprettytwo,
-   prettythree=grayprettythree,
-    prettyfour=grayprettyfour]
-
-\definepalet [TEXcolorpretty] [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [TEXgraypretty]  [graypretty]
-\definepalet [PLcolorpretty]  [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [PLgraypretty]   [graypretty]
-\definepalet [PMcolorpretty]  [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [PMgraypretty]   [graypretty]
-\definepalet [MPcolorpretty]  [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [MPgraypretty]   [graypretty]
-\definepalet [JVcolorpretty]  [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [JVgraypretty]   [graypretty]
-\definepalet [JScolorpretty]  [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [JSgraypretty]   [graypretty]
-\definepalet [SQLcolorpretty] [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [SQLgraypretty]  [graypretty]
-\definepalet [PAScolorpretty] [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [PASgraypretty]  [graypretty]
-\definepalet [EIFcolorpretty] [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [EIFgraypretty]  [graypretty]
-\definepalet [XMLcolorpretty] [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [XMLgraypretty]  [graypretty]
-\definepalet [LUAcolorpretty] [colorpretty]
-\definepalet [LUAgraypretty]  [graypretty]
-
-% patched from verb-ini (todo)
-
-% \let\beginverbatimline\relax
-% \let\endverbatimline  \relax
-
-% \appendtoks whatever\par\to\everyverbatimbeginofdisplay
-% \appendtoks whatever\to\everyverbatimendofdisplay
-% \appendtoks [\to\everyverbatimbeginofinline
-% \appendtoks ]\to\everyverbatimendofinline
-
-\let\doopenupverbatimline\empty
-
-\newtoks\everyverbatimbeginofdisplay
-\newtoks\everyverbatimendofdisplay
-\newtoks\everyverbatimbeginofinline
-\newtoks\everyverbatimendofinline
-
-\let\currentverbatimpretty\empty
-
-\def\doverbatimbeginofdisplay#1%
-  {\edef\currentverbatimpretty{#1}%
-   \the\everyverbatimbeginofdisplay}
-
-\def\doverbatimendofdisplay
-  {\the\everyverbatimendofdisplay}
-
-\def\doverbatimbeginofinline#1%
-  {\edef\currentverbatimpretty{#1}%
-   \the\everyverbatimbeginofinline}
-
-\def\doverbatimendofinline
-  {\the\everyverbatimendofinline}
+      \c!tab=\v!yes]
+
+%D Buffers
+
+% [name] [settings] | [name] | [settings]
+
+\unexpanded\def\typebuffer
+  {\dodoubleempty\dotypebuffer}
+
+\unexpanded\def\dotypedefinedbuffer
+  {\dotripleempty\dodotypedefinedbuffer}
+
+\appendtoks
+    \setuevalue{\e!type\currentbuffer}%
+      {\noexpand\dotypedefinedbuffer
+         [\v!buffer]%
+         [def-\number\nofdefinedbuffers]}%
+\to \everydefinebuffer
+
+\def\dotypebuffer[#1][#2]%
+  {\bgroup
+   \ifsecondargument
+     \setuptyping[\v!buffer][#2]%
+     \processcommalist[#1]{\dododotypebuffer\v!buffer}% [name] [settings]
+   \else\iffirstargument
+     \doifassignmentelse{#1}
+       {\setuptyping[\v!buffer][#1]%
+        \dododotypebuffer\v!buffer\empty}% [settings]
+       {\processcommalist[#1]{\dododotypebuffer\v!buffer}}% [name]
+   \else
+     \dododotypebuffer\v!buffer\empty% []
+   \fi\fi
+   \egroup}
+
+\def\dodotypedefinedbuffer[#1][#2][#3]% category name settings
+  {\bgroup
+   \ifthirdargument
+     \setuptyping[#1][#3]%
+   \fi
+   \dododotypebuffer{#1}{#2}%
+   \egroup}
+
+\def\dododotypebuffer#1#2% category name
+  {\edef\currenttyping{#1}%
+   \typingparameter\c!before
+   \startpacked[\v!blank]
+   \dosetuptypelinenumbering
+   \firststageinitializetyping
+   \secondstageinitializetyping
+   \beginofverbatimlines
+   \dostarttagged\t!verbatim{#1}%
+   \ctxlua{buffers.typebuffer {
+     name       = "#2",
+     strip      = "\typingparameter\c!strip",
+     range      = "\typingparameter\c!range",
+     regime     = "\currentregime",
+     tab        = "\typingparameter\c!tab",
+     visualizer = "\typingparameter\c!option",
+   }}%
+   \dostoptagged
+   \endofverbatimlines
+   \stoppacked
+   \typingparameter\c!after}
+
+% process buffers .. settings
+
+\unexpanded\def\processbuffer
+  {\dodoubleempty\doprocessbuffer}
+
+\def\doprocessbuffer[#1][#2]%
+  {\bgroup
+   \ifsecondargument
+     \setuptyping[\v!buffer][#2]%
+     \processcommalist[#1]{\dodoprocessbuffer\v!buffer}% [name] [settings]
+   \else\iffirstargument
+     \doifassignmentelse{#1}
+       {\setuptyping[\v!buffer][#1]%
+        \dodoprocessbuffer\v!buffer\empty}% [settings]
+       {\processcommalist[#1]{\dodoprocessbuffer\v!buffer}}% [name]
+   \else
+     \dodoprocessbuffer\v!buffer\empty% []
+   \fi\fi
+   \egroup}
+
+% get     : before/after of buffer
+% typing  : before/after of typing
+% process : no before/after (special case anyway)
+
+\def\dodoprocessbuffer#1#2%
+  {\edef\currenttyping{#1}%
+   \ctxlua{buffers.typebuffer {
+     name       = "#2",
+     strip      = "\typingparameter\c!strip",
+     tab        = "\typingparameter\c!tab",
+     visualizer = "\typingparameter\c!option",
+   }}}
+
+% line numbering, keep broken lines together
 
 \newcount\nofverbatimlines
 
-\def\doverbatimbeginofline#1% linenumber
-  {\global\advance\nofverbatimlines\plusone
-   \attribute\verbatimlineattribute\nofverbatimlines
-   \bgroup                  % due to pretty status
-   \iflinepar\else\EveryPar{}\fi
-   \noindent % was wrong: \dontleavehmode
-   \xdef\dokeepverbatimlinedata % hm, still needed?
-     {\parindent \the\parindent
-      \hangindent\the\hangindent
-      \hangafter \the\hangafter
-      \leftskip  \the\leftskip
-      \rightskip \the\rightskip}%
-   \egroup
-   \dokeepverbatimlinedata
-   \doopenupverbatimline
+\def\doverbatimbeginofline
+  {\ifconditional\verbatimnumberinglines
+     \global\advance\nofverbatimlines\plusone
+     \attribute\verbatimlineattribute\nofverbatimlines
+   \fi
+   \noindent
+   \doverbatimsetlinemargin
    \the\everyline\strut
-   \dostarttagged\t!verbatimline\empty
-   }%\beginverbatimline}
+   \dostarttagged\t!verbatimline\empty}
 
 \def\doverbatimendofline
-  {%\endverbatimline
-   \dostoptagged
-   \global\lineparfalse
-   \obeyedline\par
-   \attribute\verbatimlineattribute\attributeunsetvalue}
+  {\dostoptagged
+   \obeyedline % still needed?
+   \par
+   \ifconditional\verbatimnumberinglines
+     \attribute\verbatimlineattribute\attributeunsetvalue
+   \fi}
 
 \def\doverbatimemptyline
-  {\strut
-   \par
-   \global\linepartrue}
+  {\ifconditional\verbatimnumberinglines
+     \par\strut\par % this will be an option where we use a signal instead of a strut
+   \else
+     \blank[\typingparameter\c!blank]%
+   \fi}
+
+% hooks:
+
+\def\doinlineverbatimstart      {}
+\def\doinlineverbatimstop       {}
+\def\doinlineverbatimbeginline  {}
+\def\doinlineverbatimnewline    {\obeyedspace}
+\def\doinlineverbatimemptyline  {\obeyedspace}
+
+\def\dodisplayverbatimstart     {\doverbatimbeginofline}
+\def\dodisplayverbatimstop      {\doverbatimendofline}
+\def\dodisplayverbatimbeginline {\doverbatimbeginofline}
+\def\dodisplayverbatimnewline   {\doverbatimendofline\par}
+\def\dodisplayverbatimemptyline {\doverbatimemptyline}
+
+\def\doverbatimspace            {\obeyedspace}
 
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/buff-vis.lua b/tex/context/base/buff-vis.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a97f2591..000000000
--- a/tex/context/base/buff-vis.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['buff-vis'] = {
-    version   = 1.001,
-    comment   = "companion to buff-vis.mkiv",
-    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
-    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
-    license   = "see context related readme files"
-}
-
-local type = type
-local format = string.format
-local C, P, V, patterns, lpegmatch = lpeg.C, lpeg.P, lpeg.V, lpeg.patterns, lpeg.match
-
-visualizers = visualizers or { }
-
-local patterns = { }  visualizers.patterns = patterns
-
-local fallback = context.verbatim
-
-function visualizers.pattern(visualizer,kind,pattern)
-    if type(visualizer) == "table" and type(kind) == "string" then
-        kind = visualizer[kind] or visualizer.default or fallback
-    else
-        kind = fallback
-    end
-    return C(pattern)/kind
-end
-
-setmetatable(patterns, {
-    __index = function(t,k)
-        local v = require(format("v-%s.lua",k)) or false
-        context.input(format("v-%s.mkiv",k))
-        t[k] = v
-        return v
-    end
-} )
-
-local function visualizestring(method,content)
-    if content and content ~= "" then
-        lpegmatch(patterns[method],content)
-    end
-end
-
-visualizers.visualizestring = visualizestring
-
-function visualizers.visualizefile(method,name)
-    visualizestring(method,resolvers.loadtexfile(name))
-end
-
-function visualizers.visualizebuffer(method,name)
-    lpegmatch(method,buffers.content(name))
-end
-
-local visualizer = {
-    start   = function() context.startSnippet() end,
-    stop    = function() context.stopSnippet() end ,
-    default = context.verbatim,
-}
-
-local patterns = lpeg.patterns
-local pattern = visualizers.pattern
-
-local texvisualizer = P { "process",
-    process =
-        V("start") * V("content") * V("stop"),
-    start =
-        pattern(visualizer,"start",patterns.beginofstring),
-    stop =
-        pattern(visualizer,"stop",patterns.endofstring),
-    content = (
-        pattern(visualizer,"default",patterns.anything)
-    )^1
-}
-
-return texvisualizer
diff --git a/tex/context/base/buff-vis.mkiv b/tex/context/base/buff-vis.mkiv
deleted file mode 100644
index 7739dc21f..000000000
--- a/tex/context/base/buff-vis.mkiv
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-%D \module
-%D   [       file=buff-vis,
-%D        version=2010.10.19, % replaces old visualizers as we now have lpeg
-%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Buffer Macros,
-%D       subtitle=Visualizers,
-%D         author=Hans Hagen,
-%D           date=\currentdate,
-%D      copyright=PRAGMA ADE]
-%C
-%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
-%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
-%C details.
-
-\writestatus{loading}{ConTeXt Buffer Macros / Visualizers}
-
-\registerctxluafile{buff-vis}{1.001}
-
-\unprotect
-
-\definestartstop
-    [Snippet]
-    [\c!style=\tt]
-
-\protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/char-utf.lua b/tex/context/base/char-utf.lua
index 87ed861ed..27e87d29c 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/char-utf.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/char-utf.lua
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ local filters         = characters.filters
 filters.utf           = filters.utf  or { }
 local utffilters      = characters.filters.utf
 
-utffilters.collapsing = true
-utffilters.expanding  = true
-
 --[[ldx--
 <p>It only makes sense to collapse at runtime, since we don't expect
 source code to depend on collapsing.</p>
@@ -169,7 +166,7 @@ not collecting tokens is not only faster but also saves garbage collecting.
 -- lpeg variant is not faster
 
 function utffilters.collapse(str) -- not really tested (we could preallocate a table)
-    if utffilters.collapsing and str then
+    if str and str ~= "" then
         local nstr = #str
         if nstr > 1 then
             if initialize then -- saves a call
@@ -248,6 +245,9 @@ function utffilters.collapse(str) -- not really tested (we could preallocate a t
     return str
 end
 
+utilities.sequencers.appendaction (resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"system","characters.filters.utf.collapse")
+utilities.sequencers.disableaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"characters.filters.utf.collapse")
+
 --[[ldx--
 <p>Next we implement some commands that are used in the user interface.</p>
 --ldx]]--
diff --git a/tex/context/base/char-utf.mkiv b/tex/context/base/char-utf.mkiv
index 8992b098e..b59d2f569 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/char-utf.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/char-utf.mkiv
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@
 %D since the source files are rather simple, we postpone the
 %D initialization till runtime.
 
+% resolvers.filters.install('utf',characters.filters.utf.collapse)
+
 \appendtoks
-    \ctxlua {
-        characters.filters.utf.collapsing = true
-        resolvers.filters.install('utf',characters.filters.utf.collapse)
-    }%
+    \ctxlua{utilities.sequencers.enableaction
+        (resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"characters.filters.utf.collapse")}%
 \to \everyjob
 
 %D The next one influences input parsing.
diff --git a/tex/context/base/cldf-com.lua b/tex/context/base/cldf-com.lua
index 5ab1d8c8d..9d03a450a 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/cldf-com.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/cldf-com.lua
@@ -48,3 +48,33 @@ function context.concat(t,separator)
         end
     end
 end
+
+function context.char(k) -- todo: if catcode == letter or other then just the utf
+    if type(k) == "table" then
+        for i=1,#k do
+            context(format([[\char%s\relax]],k[i]))
+        end
+    elseif k then
+        context(format([[\char%s\relax]],k))
+    end
+end
+
+function context.utfchar(k)
+    context(utfchar(k))
+end
+
+function context.chardef(cs,u)
+    context(format([[\chardef\%s=%s\relax]],k))
+end
+
+function context.par()
+    context([[\par]]) -- no need to add {} there
+end
+
+function context.bgroup()
+    context("{")
+end
+
+function context.egroup()
+    context("}")
+end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/cldf-ver.lua b/tex/context/base/cldf-ver.lua
index 8607cb578..120bc468a 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/cldf-ver.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/cldf-ver.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['cldf-ver'] = {
 -- tex.print == newline
 
 local concat, tohandle = table.concat, table.tohandle
-local splitlines = string.splitlines
+local find, splitlines = string.find, string.splitlines
 local tostring, type = tostring, type
 
 local context = context
diff --git a/tex/context/base/colo-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/colo-ini.mkiv
index 406cc619d..af3c1ebf4 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/colo-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/colo-ini.mkiv
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
 %D \showsetup{color}
 %D \showsetup{graycolor}
 
-           \def\switchtocolor      [#1]{\getvalue{#1}}
+           \def\switchtocolor      [#1]{\csname#1\endcsname}
 \unexpanded\def\color              [#1]{\groupedcommand{\doactivatecolor{#1}}{}}
 \unexpanded\def\startcolor         [#1]{\begingroup\doactivatecolor{#1}}
 \unexpanded\def\stopcolor              {\endgroup}
@@ -149,10 +149,13 @@
 \unexpanded\def\fastcolored      [#1]#2{\begingroup\dodefinefastcolor[@colored@][#1]\doactivatecolor{@colored@}#2\endgroup}
            \def\predefinecolor     [#1]{\flushatshipout{\hbox{\color[#1]{}}}}
            \def\predefineindexcolor[#1]{\flushatshipout{\hbox{\color[#1]{}}}}
-           \unexpanded\def\startcolorpage         {\startcolor[\ifx\maintextcolor\empty\defaulttextcolor\else\maintextcolor\fi]}
-           \unexpanded\def\stopcolorpage          {\stopcolor}
-           \unexpanded\def\startraster        [#1]{\dosetrastercolor{#1}}
-           \unexpanded\def\stopraster             {}
+
+% some of this will go away
+
+\unexpanded\def\startcolorpage         {\startcolor[\ifx\maintextcolor\empty\defaulttextcolor\else\maintextcolor\fi]}
+\unexpanded\def\stopcolorpage          {\stopcolor}
+\unexpanded\def\startraster        [#1]{\dosetrastercolor{#1}}
+\unexpanded\def\stopraster             {}
            \def\raster             [#1]{\groupedcommand{\dosetrastercolor{#1}}{}}
            \def\faststartcolor     [#1]{\doactivatecolor{#1}}
            \def\faststopcolor          {}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv b/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv
index e400dfaa0..9e97001b7 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/cont-new.mkiv
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@
 
 %  for a while as these can be used in user modules
 
-\startluacode
-    jobregisters         = logs.obsolete("jobregisters",        "structures.registers")
-    buffers.finish_state = logs.obsolete("buffers.finish_state","buffers.finishstate")
-    buffers.change_state = logs.obsolete("buffers.change_state","buffers.finishstate")
-\stopluacode
+% \startluacode
+%     jobregisters         = logs.obsolete("jobregisters",        "structures.registers")
+%     buffers.finish_state = logs.obsolete("buffers.finish_state","buffers.finishstate")
+%     buffers.change_state = logs.obsolete("buffers.change_state","buffers.finishstate")
+% \stopluacode
 
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/cont-new.tex b/tex/context/base/cont-new.tex
index f024ae024..42d506e11 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/cont-new.tex
+++ b/tex/context/base/cont-new.tex
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 %C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
 %C details.
 
-\newcontextversion{2010.11.20 12:51}
+\newcontextversion{2010.11.26 21:21}
 
 %D This file is loaded at runtime, thereby providing an
 %D excellent place for hacks, patches, extensions and new
diff --git a/tex/context/base/context.mkiv b/tex/context/base/context.mkiv
index c888140b0..4e790adad 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/context.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/context.mkiv
@@ -232,7 +232,17 @@
 
 \loadmarkfile{buff-ini}
 \loadmarkfile{buff-ver}
-\loadmarkfile{buff-vis}
+
+\loadmarkfile{v-default}    % preloaded as otherwise spurious spaces inline due to loading
+\loadmarkfile{v-nested}     % preloaded as otherwise spurious spaces inline due to loading
+\loadmarkfile{v-escaped}    % for completeness
+\loadmarkfile{v-tex}        % optional as also runtime if not loaded
+\loadmarkfile{v-mp}         % optional as also runtime if not loaded
+\loadmarkfile{v-lua}        % optional as also runtime if not loaded
+\loadmarkfile{v-xml}        % optional as also runtime if not loaded
+
+\loadmarkfile{v-parsed-xml} % optional
+\loadmarkfile{v-parsed-lua} % optional
 
 \loadmarkfile{strc-blk}
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/context.tex b/tex/context/base/context.tex
index e88fbee62..11e0e02e1 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/context.tex
+++ b/tex/context/base/context.tex
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 %D your styles an modules.
 
 \edef\contextformat {\jobname}
-\edef\contextversion{2010.11.20 12:51}
+\edef\contextversion{2010.11.26 21:21}
 
 %D For those who want to use this:
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/core-sys.mkiv b/tex/context/base/core-sys.mkiv
index f5bb45e35..cdca352bd 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/core-sys.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/core-sys.mkiv
@@ -194,48 +194,79 @@
 \definecomplexorsimple\start
 \definecomplexorsimple\stop
 
-\def\dododefinestartstop[#1][#2]% todo: use indirect commands
-  {\getparameters
-     [\??be#1]
-     [\c!before=,
-      \c!after=,
-      \c!inbetween=,
-      \c!commands=,
-      \c!style=,
-      #2]%
-   \setuvalue{#1}%
-     {\groupedcommand
-        {\getvalue{\??be#1\c!commands}%
-         \dostarttagged\t!construct{#1}%
-         \dostartattributes{\??be#1}\c!style\c!color}
-        {\dostopattributes
-         \dostoptagged
-         \getvalue{\??be#1\c!inbetween}}}%
-   \setvalue{\e!start#1}%
-     {\getvalue{\??be#1\c!before}%
-      \bgroup
-      \getvalue{\??be#1\c!commands}%
-      \dostarttagged\t!construct{#1}%
-      \dostartattributes{\??be#1}\c!style\c!color\empty}%
-   \setvalue{\e!stop#1}%
-     {\dostopattributes
-      \dostoptagged
-      \egroup
-      \getvalue{\??be#1\c!after}}}
+% \def\dododefinestartstop[#1][#2]% todo: use indirect commands
+%   {\getparameters
+%      [\??be#1]
+%      [\c!before=,
+%       \c!after=,
+%       \c!inbetween=,
+%       \c!commands=,
+%       \c!style=,
+%       #2]%
+%    \setuvalue{#1}%
+%      {\groupedcommand
+%         {\getvalue{\??be#1\c!commands}%
+%          \dostarttagged\t!construct{#1}%
+%          \dostartattributes{\??be#1}\c!style\c!color}
+%         {\dostopattributes
+%          \dostoptagged
+%          \getvalue{\??be#1\c!inbetween}}}%
+%    \setuvalue{\e!start#1}%
+%      {\getvalue{\??be#1\c!before}%
+%       \bgroup
+%       \getvalue{\??be#1\c!commands}%
+%       \dostarttagged\t!construct{#1}%
+%       \dostartattributes{\??be#1}\c!style\c!color\empty}%
+%    \setuvalue{\e!stop#1}%
+%      {\dostopattributes
+%       \dostoptagged
+%       \egroup
+%       \getvalue{\??be#1\c!after}}}
+%
+% \def\dodefinestartstop[#1][#2]%
+%   {\def\docommand##1{\dododefinestartstop[##1][#2]}%
+%    \processcommalist[#1]\docommand}
+%
+% \unexpanded\def\definestartstop
+%   {\dodoubleargument\dodefinestartstop}
+%
+% \def\dosetupstartstop[#1][#2]%
+%   {\def\docommand##1{\getparameters[\??be##1][#2]}%
+%    \processcommalist[#1]\docommand}
+%
+% \unexpanded\def\setupstartstop
+%   {\dodoubleargument\dosetupstartstop}
+
 
-\def\dodefinestartstop[#1][#2]%
-  {\def\docommand##1{\dododefinestartstop[##1][#2]}%
-   \processcommalist[#1]\docommand}
+% \c!before \c!after \c!inbetween \c!commands \c!style \c!color
 
-\unexpanded\def\definestartstop
-  {\dodoubleargument\dodefinestartstop}
+\installcommandhandler{\??be}{startstop}{\??be}
 
-\def\dosetupstartstop[#1][#2]%
-  {\def\docommand##1{\getparameters[\??be##1][#2]}%
-   \processcommalist[#1]\docommand}
+\appendtoks
+    \normalexpanded{\dodefinestartstop{\currentstartstop}}%
+\to \everydefinestartstop
 
-\unexpanded\def\setupstartstop
-  {\dodoubleargument\dosetupstartstop}
+\unexpanded\def\dodefinestartstop#1%
+  {\setuvalue{#1}%
+     {\groupedcommand
+        {\def\currentstartstop{#1}%
+         \startstopparameter\c!commands
+         \dostarttagged\t!construct\currentstartstop
+         \dosetstartstopattributes\c!style\c!color}
+        {\def\currentstartstop{#1}%
+         \dostoptagged
+         \startstopparameter\c!inbetween}}%
+   \setuvalue{\e!start#1}%
+     {\namedstartstopparameter{#1}\c!before
+      \bgroup
+      \def\currentstartstop{#1}%
+      \startstopparameter\c!commands
+      \dostarttagged\t!construct\currentstartstop
+      \dosetstartstopattributes\c!style\c!color}%
+   \setuvalue{\e!stop#1}%
+     {\dostoptagged
+      \egroup
+      \namedstartstopparameter{#1}\c!after}}
 
 % \docommand kan niet worden gebruikt omdat deze macro
 %  soms lokaal wordt gebruikt
diff --git a/tex/context/base/data-env.lua b/tex/context/base/data-env.lua
index c6035d799..d2c38262d 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/data-env.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/data-env.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ local suffixes  = allocate()  resolvers.suffixes  = suffixes
 local dangerous = allocate()  resolvers.dangerous = dangerous
 local suffixmap = allocate()  resolvers.suffixmap = suffixmap
 
-local relations = allocate {
+local relations = allocate { -- todo: handlers also here
     core = {
         ofm = {
             names    = { "ofm", "omega font metric", "omega font metrics" },
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ local relations = allocate {
         tex = {
             names    = { "tex" },
             variable = 'TEXINPUTS',
-            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkii" },
+            suffixes = { 'tex', "mkiv", "mkiv", "mkii" },
         },
         icc = {
             names    = { "icc", "icc profile", "icc profiles" },
@@ -202,29 +202,33 @@ resolvers.relations = relations
 
 -- formats: maps a format onto a variable
 
-for category, categories in next, relations do
-    for name, relation in next, categories do
-        local rn = relation.names
-        local rv = relation.variable
-        local rs = relation.suffixes
-        if rn and rv then
-            for i=1,#rn do
-                local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
-                formats[rni] = rv
-                if rs then
-                    suffixes[rni] = rs
-                    for i=1,#rs do
-                        local rsi = rs[i]
-                        suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+function resolvers.updaterelations()
+    for category, categories in next, relations do
+        for name, relation in next, categories do
+            local rn = relation.names
+            local rv = relation.variable
+            local rs = relation.suffixes
+            if rn and rv then
+                for i=1,#rn do
+                    local rni = lower(gsub(rn[i]," ",""))
+                    formats[rni] = rv
+                    if rs then
+                        suffixes[rni] = rs
+                        for i=1,#rs do
+                            local rsi = rs[i]
+                            suffixmap[rsi] = rni
+                        end
                     end
                 end
             end
-        end
-        if rs then
+            if rs then
+            end
         end
     end
 end
 
+resolvers.updaterelations() -- push this in the metatable -> newindex
+
 local function simplified(t,k)
     return rawget(t,lower(gsub(k," ","")))
 end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/data-met.lua b/tex/context/base/data-met.lua
index b51c8b57b..c9c3cde5e 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/data-met.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/data-met.lua
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ resolvers.locators      = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- locate databases
 resolvers.hashers       = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- load databases
 resolvers.generators    = allocate { notfound = { nil } }  -- generate databases
 
-function resolvers.splitmethod(filename)
+function resolvers.splitmethod(filename) -- todo: trigger by suffix
     if not filename then
         return { } -- safeguard
     elseif type(filename) == "table" then
@@ -40,10 +40,13 @@ function resolvers.methodhandler(what, filename, filetype) -- ...
     local resolver = resolvers[what]
     if resolver[scheme] then
         if trace_locating then
-            report_resolvers("handler '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+            report_resolvers("using special handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
         end
         return resolver[scheme](filename,filetype)
     else
+        if trace_locating then
+            report_resolvers("no handler for '%s' -> '%s' -> '%s'",specification.original,what,table.sequenced(specification))
+        end
         return resolver.tex(filename,filetype) -- todo: specification
     end
 end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/data-sch.lua b/tex/context/base/data-sch.lua
index c8d209798..655cd8209 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/data-sch.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/data-sch.lua
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ schemes.threshold = 24 * 60 * 60
 
 directives.register("schemes.threshold", function(v) schemes.threshold = tonumber(v) or schemes.threshold end)
 
-local cached, loaded, reused = { }, { }, { }
+local cached, loaded, reused, thresholds = { }, { }, { }, { }
 
 function schemes.curl(name,cachename) -- will use sockets instead or the curl library
     local command = "curl --silent --create-dirs --output " .. cachename .. " " .. name -- no protocol .. "://"
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ function schemes.fetch(protocol,name,handler)
     local cachename = caches.setfirstwritablefile(cleanname,"schemes")
     if not cached[name] then
         statistics.starttiming(schemes)
-        if not io.exists(cachename) or (os.difftime(os.time(),lfs.attributes(cachename).modification) > schemes.threshold) then
+        if not io.exists(cachename) or (os.difftime(os.time(),lfs.attributes(cachename).modification) >
+                                                            (thresholds[protocol] or schemes.threshold)) then
             cached[name] = cachename
             if handler then
                 if trace_schemes then
@@ -86,14 +87,15 @@ function loaders.schemes(protocol,filename)
     return loaders.generic(protocol,filename)
 end
 
--- could be metatable
+-- could be metatable and proper subtables
 
-function schemes.install(protocol,handler)
-    loaded [protocol] = 0
-    reused [protocol] = 0
-    finders[protocol] = function (filename,filetype) return finders.schemes(protocol,filename,handler) end
-    openers[protocol] = function (filename)          return openers.schemes(protocol,filename)         end
-    loaders[protocol] = function (filename)          return loaders.schemes(protocol,filename)         end
+function schemes.install(protocol,handler,threshold)
+    loaded    [protocol] = 0
+    reused    [protocol] = 0
+    finders   [protocol] = function (filename,filetype) return finders.schemes(protocol,filename,handler) end
+    openers   [protocol] = function (filename)          return openers.schemes(protocol,filename)         end
+    loaders   [protocol] = function (filename)          return loaders.schemes(protocol,filename)         end
+    thresholds[protocol] = threshold or schemes.threshold
 end
 
 local function http_handler(protocol,name,cachename)
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ local function http_handler(protocol,name,cachename)
         os.remove(cachename)
         os.rename(tempname,cachename)
     end
+    return cachename
 end
 
 schemes.install('http',http_handler)
diff --git a/tex/context/base/data-tex.lua b/tex/context/base/data-tex.lua
index bd6eb0599..3c42882fd 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/data-tex.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/data-tex.lua
@@ -36,125 +36,216 @@ function finders.generic(tag,filename,filetype)
     end
 end
 
---~ local lpegmatch = lpeg.match
---~ local getlines = lpeg.Ct(lpeg.patterns.textline)
+-- -- keep this one as reference as it's the first version
+--
+-- resolvers.filters = resolvers.filters or { }
+--
+-- local input_translator, utf_translator, user_translator = nil, nil, nil
+--
+-- function resolvers.filters.install(name,func)
+--         if name == "input" then input_translator = func
+--     elseif name == "utf"   then utf_translator   = func
+--     elseif name == "user"  then user_translator  = func end
+-- end
+--
+-- function openers.textopener(filename,file_handle,tag)
+--     local u = unicode.utftype(file_handle)
+--     local t = { }
+--     if u > 0  then
+--         if trace_locating then
+--             report_resolvers("%s opener, file '%s' opened using method '%s'",tag,filename,unicode.utfname[u])
+--         end
+--         local l
+--         local data = file_handle:read("*a")
+--         if u > 2 then
+--             l = unicode.utf32_to_utf8(data,u==4)
+--         elseif u > 1 then
+--             l = unicode.utf16_to_utf8(data,u==2)
+--         else
+--             l = string.splitlines(data)
+--         end
+--         file_handle:close()
+--         t = {
+--             utftype = u, -- may go away
+--             lines = l,
+--             current = 0, -- line number, not really needed
+--             handle = nil,
+--             noflines = #l,
+--             close = function()
+--                 if trace_locating then
+--                     report_resolvers("%s closer, file '%s' closed",tag,filename)
+--                 end
+--                 logs.show_close(filename)
+--                 t = nil
+--             end,
+--             reader = function(self)
+--                 self = self or t
+--                 local current, lines = self.current, self.lines
+--                 if current >= #lines then
+--                     return nil
+--                 else
+--                     current = current + 1
+--                     self.current = current
+--                     local line = lines[current]
+--                     if not line then
+--                         return nil
+--                     elseif line == "" then
+--                         return ""
+--                     else
+--                         if input_translator then
+--                             line = input_translator(line)
+--                         end
+--                         if utf_translator then
+--                             line = utf_translator(line)
+--                         end
+--                         if user_translator then
+--                             line = user_translator(line)
+--                         end
+--                         return line
+--                     end
+--                 end
+--             end
+--         }
+--     else
+--         if trace_locating then
+--             report_resolvers("%s opener, file '%s' opened",tag,filename)
+--         end
+--         -- todo: file;name -> freeze / eerste regel scannen -> freeze
+--         --~ local data = lpegmatch(getlines,file_handle:read("*a"))
+--         --~ local n = 0
+--         t = {
+--             reader = function() -- self
+--                 local line = file_handle:read()
+--                 --~ n = n + 1
+--                 --~ local line = data[n]
+--                 --~ print(line)
+--                 if not line then
+--                     return nil
+--                 elseif line == "" then
+--                     return ""
+--                 else
+--                     if input_translator then
+--                         line = input_translator(line)
+--                     end
+--                     if utf_translator then
+--                         line = utf_translator(line)
+--                     end
+--                     if user_translator then
+--                         line = user_translator(line)
+--                     end
+--                     return line
+--                 end
+--             end,
+--             close = function()
+--                 if trace_locating then
+--                     report_resolvers("%s closer, file '%s' closed",tag,filename)
+--                 end
+--                 logs.show_close(filename)
+--                 file_handle:close()
+--                 t = nil
+--                 collectgarbage("step") -- saves some memory, maybe checkgarbage but no #
+--             end,
+--             handle = function()
+--                 return file_handle
+--             end,
+--             noflines = function()
+--                 t.noflines = io.noflines(file_handle)
+--                 return t.noflines
+--             end
+--         }
+--     end
+--     return t
+-- end
 
-resolvers.filters = resolvers.filters or { }
 
-local input_translator, utf_translator, user_translator = nil, nil, nil
+-- the main text reader --
 
-function resolvers.filters.install(name,func)
-        if name == "input" then input_translator = func
-    elseif name == "utf"   then utf_translator   = func
-    elseif name == "user"  then user_translator  = func end
-end
+local sequencers = utilities.sequencers
+
+local fileprocessor = nil
+local lineprocessor = nil
+
+local textfileactions = sequencers.reset {
+    arguments    = "str,filename",
+    returnvalues = "str",
+    results      = "str",
+}
+
+local textlineactions = sequencers.reset {
+    arguments    = "str,filename,linenumber",
+    returnvalues = "str",
+    results      = "str",
+}
+
+openers.textfileactions = textfileactions
+openers.textlineactions = textlineactions
+
+sequencers.appendgroup(textfileactions,"system")
+sequencers.appendgroup(textfileactions,"user")
+
+sequencers.appendgroup(textlineactions,"system")
+sequencers.appendgroup(textlineactions,"user")
 
 function openers.textopener(filename,file_handle,tag)
-    local u = unicode.utftype(file_handle)
-    local t = { }
-    if u > 0  then
-        if trace_locating then
-            report_resolvers("%s opener, file '%s' opened using method '%s'",tag,filename,unicode.utfname[u])
-        end
-        local l
-        if u > 2 then
-            l = unicode.utf32_to_utf8(file_handle:read("*a"),u==4)
-        else
-            l = unicode.utf16_to_utf8(file_handle:read("*a"),u==2)
-        end
-        file_handle:close()
-        t = {
-            utftype = u, -- may go away
-            lines = l,
-            current = 0, -- line number, not really needed
-            handle = nil,
-            noflines = #l,
-            close = function()
-                if trace_locating then
-                    report_resolvers("%s closer, file '%s' closed",tag,filename)
-                end
-                logs.show_close(filename)
-                t = nil
-            end,
-            reader = function(self)
-                self = self or t
-                local current, lines = self.current, self.lines
-                if current >= #lines then
-                    return nil
-                else
-                    current = current + 1
-                    self.current = current
-                    local line = lines[current]
-                    if not line then
-                        return nil
-                    elseif line == "" then
-                        return ""
-                    else
-                        if input_translator then
-                            line = input_translator(line)
-                        end
-                        if utf_translator then
-                            line = utf_translator(line)
-                        end
-                        if user_translator then
-                            line = user_translator(line)
-                        end
-                        return line
-                    end
-                end
+    if trace_locating then
+        report_resolvers("%s opener, file '%s' opened using method '%s'",tag,filename,unicode.utfname[u])
+    end
+    if textfileactions.dirty then
+        fileprocessor = sequencers.compile(textfileactions)
+    end
+    local lines = io.loaddata(filename)
+    local kind = unicode.filetype(lines)
+    if kind == "utf-16-be" then
+        lines = unicode.utf16_to_utf8_be(lines)
+    elseif kind == "utf-16-le" then
+        lines = unicode.utf16_to_utf8_le(lines)
+    elseif kind == "utf-32-be" then
+        lines = unicode.utf32_to_utf8_be(lines)
+    elseif kind == "utf-32-le" then
+        lines = unicode.utf32_to_utf8_le(lines)
+    else -- utf8 or unknown
+        lines = fileprocessor(lines,filename) or lines
+        lines = string.splitlines(lines)
+    end
+    local t = {
+        lines = lines,
+        current = 0,
+        handle = nil,
+        noflines = #lines,
+        close = function()
+            if trace_locating then
+                report_resolvers("%s closer, file '%s' closed",tag,filename)
             end
-        }
-    else
-        if trace_locating then
-            report_resolvers("%s opener, file '%s' opened",tag,filename)
-        end
-        -- todo: file;name -> freeze / eerste regel scannen -> freeze
-        --~ local data = lpegmatch(getlines,file_handle:read("*a"))
-        --~ local n = 0
-        t = {
-            reader = function() -- self
-                local line = file_handle:read()
-                --~ n = n + 1
-                --~ local line = data[n]
-                --~ print(line)
+            logs.show_close(filename)
+            t = nil
+        end,
+        reader = function(self)
+            self = self or t
+            local current, noflines = self.current, self.noflines
+            if current >= noflines then
+                return nil
+            else
+                current = current + 1
+                self.current = current
+                local line = lines[current]
                 if not line then
                     return nil
                 elseif line == "" then
                     return ""
                 else
-                    if input_translator then
-                        line = input_translator(line)
-                    end
-                    if utf_translator then
-                        line = utf_translator(line)
+                    if textlineactions.dirty then
+                        lineprocessor = sequencers.compile(textlineactions)
                     end
-                    if user_translator then
-                        line = user_translator(line)
-                    end
-                    return line
-                end
-            end,
-            close = function()
-                if trace_locating then
-                    report_resolvers("%s closer, file '%s' closed",tag,filename)
+                    return lineprocessor(line,filename,current) or line
                 end
-                logs.show_close(filename)
-                file_handle:close()
-                t = nil
-                collectgarbage("step") -- saves some memory, maybe checkgarbage but no #
-            end,
-            handle = function()
-                return file_handle
-            end,
-            noflines = function()
-                t.noflines = io.noflines(file_handle)
-                return t.noflines
             end
-        }
-    end
+        end
+    }
     return t
 end
 
+-- -- --
+
 function openers.generic(tag,filename)
     if filename and filename ~= "" then
         local f = io.open(filename,"r")
@@ -226,6 +317,7 @@ function resolvers.openfile(filename)
 end
 
 function resolvers.loadtexfile(filename, filetype)
+    -- todo: apply filters
     local ok, data, size = resolvers.loadbinfile(filename, filetype)
     return data or ""
 end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/font-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/font-ini.mkiv
index b362b35a0..3a479497b 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/font-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/font-ini.mkiv
@@ -3206,12 +3206,37 @@
      \getvalue\emphasizedtypeface
    \fi\fi\fi}
 
-\def\emphasistypeface{\doemphasistypeface\sl\it}
-\def\emphasisboldface{\doemphasistypeface\bs\bi}
+\unexpanded\def\emphasistypeface{\doemphasistypeface\sl\it}
+\unexpanded\def\emphasisboldface{\doemphasistypeface\bs\bi}
+
+\unexpanded\def\normalboldface
+  {\relax\ifx\fontalternative\c!it \bi
+   \else \ifx\fontalternative\c!sl \bs
+   \else                           \bf \fi\fi}
+
+\unexpanded\def\normaltypeface
+  {\relax
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!bi \it \else
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!bs \sl \else
+                             \tf \fi\fi}
+
+\let\typeface\normaltypeface
+\let\boldface\normalboldface
+
+\unexpanded\def\swaptypeface
+  {\relax
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!it \tf               \else
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!sl \tf               \else
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!bf \emphasisboldface \else
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!bs \bf               \else
+   \ifx\fontalternative\c!bi \bf               \else
+                             \emphasistypeface \fi\fi\fi\fi\fi}
 
 %D To be set with the default body font environment: \type
 %D {em} being \type {slanted} or \type {italic}.
 
+% maybe a \csname...\fontalternative\endcsname
+
 \newconditional\emneeded
 
 \newtoks\everyemphasized
@@ -3238,8 +3263,7 @@
      \emphasistypeface
    \fi\fi\fi\fi\fi
    \the\everyemphasized
-   \ifconditional\emneeded\relax
-   \else
+   \ifconditional\emneeded\else
      \expandafter\aftergroup
    \fi
    \emphasiscorrection}
@@ -3250,7 +3274,7 @@
 % \setupbodyfontenvironment [default] [em={\italic\color[red]}]
 
 %D The next feature was not present in previous versions. It
-%D takes care of \type {\em \bf ...} sitiations.
+%D takes care of \type {\em \bf ...} situations.
 
 \def\setemphasisboldface
   {\let\savedemphasisboldface\bf
@@ -3274,10 +3298,10 @@
 
 \let\italiccorrection=\/ % tex primitive
 
-\def\emphasiscorrection
-  {\ifhmode
-     \expandafter\emphasislook
-   \fi}
+\def\emphasiscorrection % not in raw alignment groups, else omit problem
+  {\ifhmode\ifnum\currentgrouptype=\@@aligngroup\else
+     \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\emphasislook
+   \fi\fi}
 
 \def\emphasislook
   {\begingroup
diff --git a/tex/context/base/font-otn.lua b/tex/context/base/font-otn.lua
index 41169618f..29fed2944 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/font-otn.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/font-otn.lua
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ local contextsetups  = specifiers.contextsetups
 local contextnumbers = specifiers.contextnumbers
 local contextmerged  = specifiers.contextmerged
 
--- we cannot optimize with "start = first_character(head)" because then we don't
+-- we cannot optimize with "start = first_glyph(head)" because then we don't
 -- know which rlmode we're in which messes up cursive handling later on
 --
 -- head is always a whatsit so we can safely assume that head is not changed
diff --git a/tex/context/base/font-syn.lua b/tex/context/base/font-syn.lua
index a0dbd4f7e..c6f7b0393 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/font-syn.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/font-syn.lua
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ names.cache      = containers.define("fonts","data",names.version,true)
 <p>A few helpers.</p>
 --ldx]]--
 
-local P, C, Cc, Cs, Carg = lpeg.P, lpeg.C, lpeg.Cc, lpeg.Cs, lpeg.Carg
+local P, C, Cc, Cs = lpeg.P, lpeg.C, lpeg.Cc, lpeg.Cs
 
 -- what to do with 'thin'
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/l-lpeg.lua b/tex/context/base/l-lpeg.lua
index ff49101eb..940652ee3 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/l-lpeg.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/l-lpeg.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ local lpeg = require("lpeg")
 
 local type = type
 
+-- Beware, we predefine a bunch of patterns here and one reason for doing so
+-- is that we get consistent behaviour in some of the visualizers.
+
 lpeg.patterns  = lpeg.patterns or { } -- so that we can share
 local patterns = lpeg.patterns
 
@@ -26,19 +29,38 @@ local alwaysmatched    = P(true)
 patterns.anything      = anything
 patterns.endofstring   = endofstring
 patterns.beginofstring = alwaysmatched
+patterns.alwaysmatched = alwaysmatched
 
 local digit, sign      = R('09'), S('+-')
 local cr, lf, crlf     = P("\r"), P("\n"), P("\r\n")
+local newline          = crlf + cr + lf
 local utf8next         = R("\128\191")
 local escaped          = P("\\") * anything
 local squote           = P("'")
 local dquote           = P('"')
+local space            = P(" ")
+
+patterns.somecontent   = (anything - newline - space)^1
+patterns.beginline     = #(1-newline)
+
+local utfbom_32_be     = P('\000\000\254\255')
+local utfbom_32_le     = P('\255\254\000\000')
+local utfbom_16_be     = P('\255\254')
+local utfbom_16_le     = P('\254\255')
+local utfbom_8         = P('\239\187\191')
+local utfbom           = utfbom_32_be + utfbom_32_le
+                       + utfbom_16_be + utfbom_16_le
+                       + utfbom_8
+local utftype          = utfbom_32_be / "utf-32-be" + utfbom_32_le  / "utf-32-le"
+                       + utfbom_16_be / "utf-16-be" + utfbom_16_le  / "utf-16-le"
+                       + utfbom_8     / "utf-8"     + alwaysmatched / "unknown"
 
 patterns.utf8one       = R("\000\127")
 patterns.utf8two       = R("\194\223") * utf8next
 patterns.utf8three     = R("\224\239") * utf8next * utf8next
 patterns.utf8four      = R("\240\244") * utf8next * utf8next * utf8next
-patterns.utfbom        = P('\000\000\254\255') + P('\255\254\000\000') + P('\255\254') + P('\254\255') + P('\239\187\191')
+patterns.utfbom        = utfbom
+patterns.utftype       = utftype
 
 local utf8char         = patterns.utf8one + patterns.utf8two + patterns.utf8three + patterns.utf8four
 local validutf8char    = utf8char^0 * endofstring * Cc(true) + Cc(false)
@@ -64,24 +86,30 @@ patterns.hexadecimal   = P("0x") * R("09","AF","af")^1
 patterns.lowercase     = R("az")
 patterns.uppercase     = R("AZ")
 patterns.letter        = patterns.lowercase + patterns.uppercase
-patterns.space         = P(" ")
+patterns.space         = space
 patterns.tab           = P("\t")
 patterns.spaceortab    = patterns.space + patterns.tab
 patterns.eol           = S("\n\r")
 patterns.spacer        = S(" \t\f\v")  -- + string.char(0xc2, 0xa0) if we want utf (cf mail roberto)
-patterns.newline       = crlf + cr + lf
-patterns.nonspace      = 1 - patterns.space
+patterns.newline       = newline
+patterns.emptyline     = newline^1
 patterns.nonspacer     = 1 - patterns.spacer
 patterns.whitespace    = patterns.eol + patterns.spacer
 patterns.nonwhitespace = 1 - patterns.whitespace
+patterns.equal         = P("=")
 patterns.comma         = P(",")
 patterns.commaspacer   = P(",") * patterns.spacer^0
 patterns.period        = P(".")
+patterns.colon         = P(":")
+patterns.semicolon     = P(";")
+patterns.underscore    = P("_")
 patterns.escaped       = escaped
 patterns.squote        = squote
 patterns.dquote        = dquote
-patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * ((escaped + (1-dquote))^0) * (dquote/"")
-patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * ((escaped + (1-squote))^0) * (squote/"")
+patterns.nosquote      = (escaped + (1-squote))^0
+patterns.nodquote      = (escaped + (1-dquote))^0
+patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * patterns.nosquote * (squote/"")
+patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * patterns.nodquote * (dquote/"")
 patterns.unquoted      = patterns.undouble + patterns.unsingle -- more often undouble
 patterns.unspacer      = ((patterns.spacer^1)/"")^0
 
@@ -104,19 +132,6 @@ function lpeg.splitter(pattern, action)
     return (((1-P(pattern))^1)/action+1)^0
 end
 
-local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * patterns.newline -- sort of strip
-local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
-local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
-local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
-
-local capture = Ct(content^0)
-
-function string.splitlines(str)
-    return match(capture,str)
-end
-
-patterns.textline = content
-
 local splitters_s, splitters_m = { }, { }
 
 local function splitat(separator,single)
@@ -163,6 +178,35 @@ function string.split(str,separator)
     return match(c,str)
 end
 
+local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * newline -- sort of strip
+local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
+local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
+local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
+
+patterns.textline = content
+
+--~ local linesplitter = Ct(content^0)
+--~
+--~ function string.splitlines(str)
+--~     return match(linesplitter,str)
+--~ end
+
+local linesplitter = Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.linesplitter = linesplitter
+
+function string.splitlines(str)
+    return match(linesplitter,str)
+end
+
+local utflinesplitter = utfbom^-1 * Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.utflinesplitter = utflinesplitter
+
+function string.utfsplitlines(str)
+    return match(utflinesplitter,str)
+end
+
 --~ lpeg.splitters = cache -- no longer public
 
 local cache = { }
diff --git a/tex/context/base/l-pdfview.lua b/tex/context/base/l-pdfview.lua
index c16df036c..85545cd10 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/l-pdfview.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/l-pdfview.lua
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ local allcalls = {
 }
 
 if os.type == "windows" then
-     opencalls['okular'] = 'start "test" "c:/program files/kde/bin/okular.exe" --unique' -- todo: get focus
+--~      opencalls['okular'] = 'start "test" "c:/program files/kde/bin/okular.exe" --unique' -- todo: get focus
+     opencalls['okular'] = 'start "test" "c:/data/system/kde/bin/okular.exe" --unique' -- todo: get focus
 else
      opencalls['okular'] = 'okular --unique'
 end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/l-unicode.lua b/tex/context/base/l-unicode.lua
index a97f01d1e..445909d88 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/l-unicode.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/l-unicode.lua
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ utf = utf or unicode.utf8
 local concat, utfchar, utfgsub = table.concat, utf.char, utf.gsub
 local char, byte, find, bytepairs, utfvalues, format = string.char, string.byte, string.find, string.bytepairs, string.utfvalues, string.format
 
+local utfsplitlines = string.utfsplitlines
+
 -- 0  EF BB BF      UTF-8
 -- 1  FF FE         UTF-16-little-endian
 -- 2  FE FF         UTF-16-big-endian
@@ -80,111 +82,234 @@ function unicode.utftype(f)
     end
 end
 
-function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(str, endian) -- maybe a gsub is faster or an lpeg
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 -- we reuse tmp
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+--~ function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(str, endian) -- maybe a gsub is faster or an lpeg
+--~     local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 -- we reuse tmp
+--~     -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
+--~     local function doit() -- inline this
+--~         if n == 10 then
+--~             if p ~= 13 then
+--~                 if t > 0 then
+--~                     r = r + 1
+--~                     result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+--~                     t = 0
+--~                 end
+--~                 p = 0
+--~             end
+--~         elseif n == 13 then
+--~             if t > 0 then
+--~                 r = r + 1
+--~                 result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+--~                 t = 0
+--~             end
+--~             p = n
+--~         else
+--~             t = t + 1
+--~             tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
+--~             p = 0
+--~         end
+--~     end
+--~     for l,r in bytepairs(str) do
+--~         if r then
+--~             if endian then -- maybe make two loops
+--~                 n = 256*l + r
+--~             else
+--~                 n = 256*r + l
+--~             end
+--~             if m > 0 then
+--~                 n = (m-0xD800)*0x400 + (n-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+--~                 m = 0
+--~                 doit()
+--~             elseif n >= 0xD800 and n <= 0xDBFF then
+--~                 m = n
+--~             else
+--~                 doit()
+--~             end
+--~         end
+--~     end
+--~     if t > 0 then
+--~         r = r + 1
+--~         result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t) -- we reused tmp, hence t
+--~     end
+--~     return result
+--~ end
+
+--~ function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(str, endian)
+--~     local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, -1, 0, 0, 0
+--~     -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
+--~     local function doit() -- inline this
+--~         if n == 10 then
+--~             if p ~= 13 then
+--~                 if t > 0 then
+--~                     r = r + 1
+--~                     result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+--~                     t = 0
+--~                 end
+--~                 p = 0
+--~             end
+--~         elseif n == 13 then
+--~             if t > 0 then
+--~                 r = r + 1
+--~                 result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+--~                 t = 0
+--~             end
+--~             p = n
+--~         else
+--~             t = t + 1
+--~             tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
+--~             p = 0
+--~         end
+--~     end
+--~     for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+--~         if a and b then
+--~             if m < 0 then
+--~                 if endian then -- maybe make two loops
+--~                     m = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+--~                 else
+--~                     m = 256*b + a
+--~                 end
+--~             else
+--~                 if endian then -- maybe make two loops
+--~                     n = m + 256*a + b
+--~                 else
+--~                     n = m + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a
+--~                 end
+--~                 m = -1
+--~                 doit()
+--~             end
+--~         else
+--~             break
+--~         end
+--~     end
+--~     if #tmp > 0 then
+--~         r = r + 1
+--~         result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t) -- we reused tmp, hence t
+--~     end
+--~     return result
+--~ end
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_be(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*left + right
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    for l,r in bytepairs(str) do
-        if r then
-            if endian then
-                n = 256*l + r
-            else
-                n = 256*r + l
-            end
-            if m > 0 then
-                n = (m-0xD800)*0x400 + (n-0xDC00) + 0x10000
-                m = 0
-                doit()
-            elseif n >= 0xD800 and n <= 0xDBFF then
-                m = n
-            else
-                doit()
+    return t
+end
+
+local function utf16_to_utf8_le(t)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, 0
+        for left, right in bytepairs(t[i]) do
+            if right then
+                local now = 256*right + left
+                if more > 0 then
+                    now = (more-0xD800)*0x400 + (now-0xDC00) + 0x10000
+                    more = 0
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                elseif now >= 0xD800 and now <= 0xDBFF then
+                    more = now
+                else
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[r] = utfchar(now)
+                end
             end
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r) -- we reused tmp, hence t
     end
-    if t > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-    end
-    return result
+    return t
 end
 
-function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(str, endian)
-    local result, tmp, n, m, p, r, t = { }, { }, 0, -1, 0, 0, 0
-    -- lf | cr | crlf / (cr:13, lf:10)
-    local function doit()
-        if n == 10 then
-            if p ~= 13 then
-                if t > 0 then
+local function utf32_to_utf8_be(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
+    end
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+                else
                     r = r + 1
-                    result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                    t = 0
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*a + b)
+                    more = -1
                 end
-                p = 0
-            end
-        elseif n == 13 then
-            if t > 0 then
-                r = r + 1
-                result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
-                t = 0
+            else
+                break
             end
-            p = n
-        else
-            t = t + 1
-            tmp[t] = utfchar(n)
-            p = 0
         end
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
+    end
+    return result
+end
+
+local function utf32_to_utf8_le(str)
+    if type(t) == "string" then
+        t = utfsplitlines(str)
     end
-    for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
-        if a and b then
-            if m < 0 then
-                if endian then
-                    m = 256*256*256*a + 256*256*b
+    local result = { } -- we reuse result
+    for i=1,#t do
+        local r, more = 0, -1
+        for a,b in bytepairs(str) do
+            if a and b then
+                if more < 0 then
+                    more = 256*b + a
                 else
-                    m = 256*b + a
+                    r = r + 1
+                    result[t] = utfchar(more + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a)
+                    more = -1
                 end
             else
-                if endian then
-                    n = m + 256*a + b
-                else
-                    n = m + 256*256*256*b + 256*256*a
-                end
-                m = -1
-                doit()
+                break
             end
-        else
-            break
         end
-    end
-    if #tmp > 0 then
-        r = r + 1
-        result[r] = concat(tmp,"",1,t)
+        t[i] = concat(result,"",1,r)
     end
     return result
 end
 
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_be = utf32_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf32_to_utf8_le = utf32_to_utf8_le
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_be = utf16_to_utf8_be
+unicode.utf16_to_utf8_le = utf16_to_utf8_le
+
+function unicode.utf8_to_utf8(t)
+    return type(t) == "string" and utfsplitlines(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf16_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf16_to_utf8_be(t) or utf16_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
+function unicode.utf32_to_utf8(t,endian)
+    return endian and utf32_to_utf8_be(t) or utf32_to_utf8_le(t) or t
+end
+
 local function little(c)
     local b = byte(c)
     if b < 0x10000 then
@@ -225,3 +350,7 @@ function unicode.utfcodes(str)
 end
 
 --~ print(unicode.utfcodes(str))
+
+function unicode.filetype(data)
+    return data and lpeg.match(lpeg.patterns.utftype,data) or "unknown"
+end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/lang-ini.lua b/tex/context/base/lang-ini.lua
index 507d59a9a..8744bff95 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/lang-ini.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/lang-ini.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['lang-ini'] = {
 
 --~ lang:hyphenation(string) string = lang:hyphenation() lang:clear_hyphenation()
 
+local type, tonumber = type, tonumber
 local utf = unicode.utf8
 local utfbyte = utf.byte
 local format, gsub = string.format, string.gsub
@@ -160,6 +161,10 @@ function languages.installed(separator)
     context(concat(table.sortedkeys(registered),separator or ","))
 end
 
+function languages.current(n)
+    return numbers[n and tonumber(n) or tex.language]
+end
+
 function languages.associate(tag,script,language) -- not yet used
     associated[tag] = { script, language }
 end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/lang-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/lang-ini.mkiv
index 0a0cbf016..a7371e298 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/lang-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/lang-ini.mkiv
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 %D This module needs a further cleanup (real split between ii/iv).
 
+%     \ctxlua{tex.sprint(languages.numbers[tex.count.mainlanguagenumber])}
+
 %D This module implements the (for the moment still simple)
 %D multi||language support of \CONTEXT, which should not be
 %D confused with the multi||lingual interface. This support
diff --git a/tex/context/base/luat-lib.mkiv b/tex/context/base/luat-lib.mkiv
index 2f73fae3d..b02a88b51 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/luat-lib.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/luat-lib.mkiv
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 \registerctxluafile{luat-exe}{1.001}
 \registerctxluafile{luat-iop}{1.001}
 \registerctxluafile{luat-bwc}{1.001}
+\registerctxluafile{luat-mac}{1.001}
 
 \registerctxluafile{lxml-tab}{1.001}
 \registerctxluafile{lxml-lpt}{1.001}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/luat-mac.lua b/tex/context/base/luat-mac.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f4f7779da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/luat-mac.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['luat-mac'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to luat-lib.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+local P, V, S, R, C, Cs = lpeg.P, lpeg.V, lpeg.S, lpeg.R, lpeg.C, lpeg.Cs
+local lpegmatch, patterns = lpeg.match, lpeg.patterns
+
+local insert, remove = table.insert, table.remove
+local rep = string.rep
+local setmetatable = setmetatable
+
+local report_macros = logs.new("macros")
+
+local stack, top, n, hashes = { }, nil, 0, { }
+
+local function set(s)
+    if top then
+        n = n + 1
+        if n > 9 then
+            report_macros("number of arguments > 9, ignoring %s",s)
+        else
+            local ns = #stack
+            local h = hashes[ns]
+            if not h then
+                h = rep("#",ns)
+                hashes[ns] = h
+            end
+            m = h .. n
+            top[s] = m
+            return m
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+local function get(s)
+    local m = top and top[s] or s
+    return m
+end
+
+local function push()
+    top = { }
+    n = 0
+    local s = stack[#stack]
+    if s then
+        setmetatable(top,{ __index = s })
+    end
+    insert(stack,top)
+end
+
+local function pop()
+    top = remove(stack)
+end
+
+local leftbrace   = P("{")
+local rightbrace  = P("}")
+local escape      = P("\\")
+
+local space       = patterns.space
+local spaces      = space^1
+local newline     = patterns.newline
+local nobrace     = 1 - leftbrace - rightbrace
+
+local name        = R("AZ","az")^1
+local variable    = P("#")  * name
+local escapedname = escape * name
+local definer     = escape * (P("def") + P("egdx") * P("def"))
+local startcode   = P("\\starttexdefinition")
+local stopcode    = P("\\stoptexdefinition")
+local anything    = patterns.anything
+local always      = patterns.alwaysmatched
+
+local pushlocal   = always   / push
+local poplocal    = always   / pop
+local declaration = variable / set
+local identifier  = variable / get
+
+local grammar = { "converter",
+    texcode     = pushlocal
+                * startcode
+                * spaces
+                * name
+                * spaces
+                * (declaration + (1 - newline - space))^0
+                * V("texbody")
+                * stopcode
+                * poplocal,
+    texbody     = (   V("definition")
+                    + V("braced")
+                    + identifier
+                    + (1 - stopcode)
+                  )^0,
+    definition  = pushlocal
+                * definer
+                * escapedname
+                * (declaration + (1-leftbrace))^0
+                * V("braced")
+                * poplocal,
+    braced      = leftbrace
+                * (   V("definition")
+                    + V("texcode")
+                    + V("braced")
+                    + identifier
+                    + nobrace
+                  )^0
+                * rightbrace,
+
+    pattern     = V("definition") + V("texcode") + anything,
+
+    converter   = V("pattern")^1,
+}
+
+local parser = Cs(grammar)
+
+local checker = P("%") * (1 - newline - P("macros"))^0
+              * P("macros") * space^0 * P("=") * space^0 * C(patterns.letter^1)
+
+-- maybe namespace
+
+local macros = { } resolvers.macros = macros
+
+function macros.preprocessed(data)
+    return lpegmatch(parser,data)
+end
+
+function macros.convertfile(oldname,newname)
+    local data = resolvers.loadtexfile(oldname)
+    data = interfaces.preprocessed(data) or ""
+    io.savedata(newname,data)
+end
+
+function macros.version(data)
+    return lpegmatch(checker,data)
+end
+
+local function handler(protocol,name,cachename)
+    local hashed = url.hashed(name)
+    local path = hashed.path
+    if path and path ~= "" then
+        local data = resolvers.loadtexfile(path)
+        data = lpegmatch(parser,data) or ""
+        io.savedata(cachename,data)
+    end
+    return cachename
+end
+
+resolvers.schemes.install('mkvi',handler,1) -- this will cache !
+
+function macros.processmkvi(str,filename)
+    if file.suffix(filename) == "mkvi" or lpegmatch(checker,str) == "mkvi" then
+        return lpegmatch(parser,str) or str
+    else
+        return str
+    end
+end
+
+utilities.sequencers.appendaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"system","resolvers.macros.processmkvi")
+-- utilities.sequencers.disableaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"resolvers.macros.processmkvi")
+
diff --git a/tex/context/base/lxml-dir.lua b/tex/context/base/lxml-dir.lua
index bcb846bba..ecf7e3eb7 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/lxml-dir.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/lxml-dir.lua
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ local function load_setup(filename)
     if fullname ~= "" then
         filename = fullname
     end
-    local collection = xmlparseapply({ getid(xml.load(filename)) },"directive")
+    local collection = xml.applylpath({ getid(xml.load(filename)) },"directive") -- is { } needed ?
     if collection then
         local valid = 0
         for i=1,#collection do
diff --git a/tex/context/base/math-ini.lua b/tex/context/base/math-ini.lua
index b4716d06a..d84e30189 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/math-ini.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/math-ini.lua
@@ -100,8 +100,14 @@ end
 local function mathtopaccent(class,family,slot)
     return format('\\Umathaccent "%X "%X "%X ',0,family,slot) -- no class
 end
-local function mathbotaccent(class,family,slot)
-    return format('\\Umathbotaccent "%X "%X "%X ',0,family,slot) -- no class
+if tex.luatexversion < 65 then -- this will disappear at 0.70
+    local function mathbotaccent(class,family,slot)
+        return format('\\Umathbotaccent "%X "%X "%X ',0,family,slot) -- no class
+    end
+else
+    local function mathbotaccent(class,family,slot)
+        return format('\\Umathaccent bottom "%X "%X "%X ',0,family,slot) -- no class
+    end
 end
 local function mathtopdelimiter(class,family,slot)
     return format('\\Udelimiterover "%X "%X ',family,slot) -- no class
diff --git a/tex/context/base/math-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/math-ini.mkiv
index e057e1cc6..bab8792f7 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/math-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/math-ini.mkiv
@@ -681,4 +681,8 @@
 
 \def\mathoptext#1{\mathop{\text{#1}}}
 
+% for a while:
+
+\def\Umathbotaccent{\Umathaccent bottom }
+
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mlib-pdf.lua b/tex/context/base/mlib-pdf.lua
index 5ca554292..80ab9b1d0 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mlib-pdf.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/mlib-pdf.lua
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ function metapost.flush(result,flusher,askedfig) -- pdf flusher, table en dan co
                                         postscript = object.postscript,
                                     }
                                     --
-                                    local before, inbetween, after = nil, nil, nil
+                                    local before, inbetween, after, grouped = nil, nil, nil, false
                                     --
                                     local cs, cr = currentobject.color, nil
                                     -- todo document why ...
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ function metapost.flush(result,flusher,askedfig) -- pdf flusher, table en dan co
                                         -- move test to function
                                         local special = metapost.specials[prescript]
                                         if special then
-                                            currentobject, before, inbetween, after = special(currentobject.postscript,currentobject,t,flusher)
+                                            currentobject, before, inbetween, after, grouped = special(currentobject.postscript,currentobject,t,flusher)
                                             objecttype = currentobject.type
                                         end
                                     end
@@ -339,7 +339,9 @@ function metapost.flush(result,flusher,askedfig) -- pdf flusher, table en dan co
                                         t[#t+1], cr = colorconverter(cs)
                                     end
                                     --
-                                    if before then currentobject, t = before() end
+                                    if before then
+                                        currentobject, t = before()
+                                    end
                                     local ml = currentobject.miterlimit
                                     if ml and ml ~= miterlimit then
                                         miterlimit = ml
@@ -426,7 +428,13 @@ function metapost.flush(result,flusher,askedfig) -- pdf flusher, table en dan co
                                     if cr then
                                         t[#t+1] = cr
                                     end
-                                    if after then currentobject, t = after() end
+                                    if after then
+                                        currentobject, t = after()
+                                    end
+                                    if grouped then
+                                        -- can be qQ'd so changes can end up in groups
+                                        miterlimit, linecap, linejoin, dashed = -1, -1, -1, false
+                                    end
                                 end
                            end
                         end
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mlib-pps.lua b/tex/context/base/mlib-pps.lua
index 6fae400fc..396853d3e 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mlib-pps.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/mlib-pps.lua
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ function specials.fg(specification,object,result,flusher) -- graphics
         object.path = nil
         return object, { }
     end
-    return { } , before, nil, nil -- replace { } by object for tracing
+    return { } , before, nil, nil, true -- replace { } by object for tracing
 end
 
 function specials.ps(specification,object,result) -- positions
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ function specials.ps(specification,object,result) -- positions
     x = x - metapost.llx
     y = metapost.ury - y
     context.MPLIBpositionwhd(label,x,y,w,h)
-    return { }, nil, nil, nil
+    return { }, nil, nil, nil, true
 end
 
 local nofshades = 0 -- todo: hash resources, start at 1000 in order not to clash with older
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ local function resources(object,name,flusher,result)
         return object, result
     end
     object.color, object.type = nil, nil
-    return object, before, nil, after
+    return object, before, nil, after, true
 end
 
 -- todo: we need a way to move/scale
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ function specials.cs(specification,object,result,flusher) -- spot colors?
     local coordinates = { tonumber(t[5]), tonumber(t[6]), tonumber(t[7]), tonumber(t[9]), tonumber(t[10]), tonumber(t[11]) }
     local ca, cb, colorspace, name = checkandconvert(ca,cb)
     lpdf.circularshade(name,domain,ca,cb,1,colorspace,coordinates) -- backend specific (will be renamed)
-    return resources(object,name,flusher,result) -- object, before, nil, after
+    return resources(object,name,flusher,result) -- object, before, nil, after, grouped
 end
 
 function specials.ls(specification,object,result,flusher)
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ function specials.ls(specification,object,result,flusher)
     local coordinates = { tonumber(t[5]), tonumber(t[6]), tonumber(t[8]), tonumber(t[9]) }
     local ca, cb, colorspace, name = checkandconvert(ca,cb)
     lpdf.linearshade(name,domain,ca,cb,1,colorspace,coordinates) -- backend specific (will be renamed)
-    return resources(object,name,flusher,result) -- object, before, nil, after
+    return resources(object,name,flusher,result) -- object, before, nil, after, grouped
 end
 
 -- no need for a before here
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ function specials.tf(specification,object)
         context.MPLIBsettext(n,str)
         metapost.multipass = true
     end
-    return { }, nil, nil, nil
+    return { }, nil, nil, nil, true
 end
 
 local factor = 65536*(7227/7200)
@@ -473,9 +473,9 @@ function specials.ts(specification,object,result,flusher)
             result = { "Q" }
             return object, result
         end
-        return { }, before, nil, nil -- replace { } by object for tracing
+        return { }, before, nil, nil, true -- replace { } by object for tracing
     else
-        return { }, nil, nil, nil -- replace { } by object for tracing
+        return { }, nil, nil, nil, true -- replace { } by object for tracing
     end
 end
 
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ function specials.gt(specification,object) -- number, so that we can reorder
     graphics[#graphics+1] = format("\\MPLIBgraphictext{%s}",specification)
     metapost.intermediate.needed = true
     metapost.multipass = true
-    return { }, nil, nil, nil
+    return { }, nil, nil, nil, true
 end
 
 function metapost.intermediate.actions.makempy()
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv b/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv
index 628914b6d..c86c522cb 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-aux.mkiv
@@ -57,12 +57,14 @@
 
 % todo: \def\detokenized...parameter#1{\detokenize\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\csname#1#2\endcsname}} % always root
 
-\unexpanded\def\doinstallparameterhandler#1#2#3#4#5#6#7%
+\unexpanded\def\doinstallparameterhandler#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9%
   {\def#3##1{\csname#4{#1#2}{##1}\endcsname}%
    \def#4##1##2{\ifcsname##1##2\endcsname##1##2\else\expandafter#5\csname##1\s!parent\endcsname{##2}\fi}%
    \def#5##1##2{\ifx##1\relax\s!empty\else#4{##1}{##2}\fi}%
    \def#6##1##2{\csname#4{#1##1}{##2}\endcsname}%
-   \def#7##1{\detokenize\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\csname#1##1\endcsname}}} % always root
+   \def#7##1{\detokenize\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter{\csname#1##1\endcsname}}% always root
+   \def#8{\dosetvalue{#1}}% ##1 {##2} (braces are mandate)
+   \def#9{\doletvalue{#1}}}% ##1 ##2
 
 \unexpanded\def\installparameterhandler#1#2%
   {%\message{\detokenize{#1}/\detokenize{#2}}%
@@ -74,7 +76,9 @@
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname do#2parameter\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname do#2parentparameter\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname named#2parameter\endcsname
-        \expandafter\noexpand\csname detokenized#2parameter\endcsname}}
+        \expandafter\noexpand\csname detokenized#2parameter\endcsname
+        \expandafter\noexpand\csname doset#2parameter\endcsname
+        \expandafter\noexpand\csname dolet#2parameter\endcsname}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\doinstallparameterhashhandler#1#2#3#4#5%
   {\def#3##1{#4{#1#2}{##1}}%
@@ -104,18 +108,38 @@
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname doset#2attributes\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname #2parameterhash\endcsname}}
 
+% \unexpanded\def\doinstalldefinehandler#1#2#3#4#5#6#7%
+%   {\unexpanded\def#2{\dotripleempty#5}%
+%    \newtoks#6%
+%    \newtoks#7%
+%    \def#5[##1][##2][##3]% [child][parent][settings]
+%      {\edef#4{##1}%       [child][settings]
+%       \the#6% predefine   [child]
+%       \ifsecondargument
+%         \doifassignmentelse{##2}
+%           {\getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#3,##2]}
+%           {\getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#1##2,##3]}%
+%       \else
+%         \getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#3]%
+%       \fi
+%       \the#7}}
+
 \unexpanded\def\doinstalldefinehandler#1#2#3#4#5#6#7%
   {\unexpanded\def#2{\dotripleempty#5}%
    \newtoks#6%
    \newtoks#7%
-   \def#5[##1][##2][##3]%
-     {\edef#4{##1}%
-      \the#6% predefine
-      \ifsecondargument
+   \def#5[##1][##2][##3]% [child][parent][settings]
+     {\edef#4{##1}%     % [child]        [settings]
+      \the#6% predefine % [child][parent]
+      \ifthirdargument  % [child]
+        \getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#1##2,##3]%
+      \else\ifsecondargument
         \doifassignmentelse{##2}
           {\getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#3,##2]}
-          {\getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#1##2,##3]}%
-      \fi
+          {\getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#1##2]}%
+      \else
+        \getparameters[#1#4][\s!parent=#3]%
+      \fi\fi
       \the#7}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\installdefinehandler#1#2#3%
@@ -125,14 +149,14 @@
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname define#2\endcsname
         {\noexpand#3}% root
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname current#2\endcsname
-        \expandafter\noexpand\csname dodefine#2\endcsname
+        \expandafter\noexpand\csname d@define#2\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname everypreset#2\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname everydefine#2\endcsname}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\doinstallsetuphandler#1#2#3#4#5%
   {\unexpanded\def#2{\dodoubleempty#4}%
    \newtoks#5%
-   \def#4[##1][##2]%
+   \def#4[##1][##2]% maybe helper
      {\ifsecondargument
         \def\docommand####1% we will have a simple one as well
           {\edef#3{####1}%
@@ -151,7 +175,7 @@
         {\noexpand#1}% \??aa
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname setup#2\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname current#2\endcsname
-        \expandafter\noexpand\csname dosetup#2\endcsname
+        \expandafter\noexpand\csname d@setup#2\endcsname
         \expandafter\noexpand\csname everysetup#2\endcsname}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\installcommandhandler#1#2#3% \??self name \??parent (can be \??self)
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-cld.lua b/tex/context/base/mult-cld.lua
index 0542c5fcf..1154eefe3 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-cld.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-cld.lua
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['mult-cld'] = {
 
 -- tflush needs checking ... sort of weird that it's not a table
 
+-- __flushlines is an experiment and rather ugly so it will go away
+
 context       = context or { }
 local context = context
 
@@ -130,40 +132,41 @@ local emptyline  = space^0 * newline^2
 local endofline  = space^0 * newline * space^0
 local simpleline = endofline * lpeg.P(-1)
 
-function lpeg.texlinesplitter(f_content,f_endofline,f_emptyline,f_simpleline)
-    local splitlines =
-        simpleline / (f_simpleline or f_endofline)
-      + (
-            emptyline / f_emptyline
-          + endofline / f_endofline
-          + content   / f_content
-        )^0
-    return function(str) return lpegmatch(splitlines,str) end
-end
-
-local function f_content(s)
+local function n_content(s)
     flush(contentcatcodes,s)
 end
 
-local function f_endofline()
+local function n_endofline()
     texsprint(" ")
 end
 
-local function f_emptyline()
+local function n_emptyline()
     texprint("")
 end
 
-local function f_simpleline()
+local function n_simpleline()
     texprint("")
 end
 
-local flushlines = lpeg.texlinesplitter(f_content,f_endofline,f_emptyline,f_simpleline)
+function lpeg.texlinesplitter(f_content,f_endofline,f_emptyline,f_simpleline)
+    local splitlines =
+        simpleline / (f_simpleline or n_simpleline)
+      + (
+            emptyline / (f_emptyline or n_emptyline)
+          + endofline / (f_endofline or n_emptyline)
+          + content   / (f_content or n_content)
+        )^0
+    return function(str) return lpegmatch(splitlines,str) end
+end
 
-context.flushlines = flushlines -- maybe context.helpers.flushtexlines
+local flushlines = lpeg.texlinesplitter(n_content,n_endofline,n_emptyline,n_simpleline)
+
+context.__flushlines = flushlines -- maybe context.helpers.flushtexlines
+context.__flush      = flush
 
 -- -- --
 
-local function writer(command,first,...)
+local function writer(parent,command,first,...)
     local t = { first, ... }
     flush(currentcatcodes,command) -- todo: ctx|prt|texcatcodes
     local direct = false
@@ -184,6 +187,7 @@ local function writer(command,first,...)
         elseif typ == "string" then
             if processlines and find(ti,"\n") then -- we can check for ti == "\n"
                 flush(currentcatcodes,"{")
+                local flushlines = parent.__flushlines or flushlines
                 flushlines(ti)
                 flush(currentcatcodes,"}")
             elseif currentcatcodes == contentcatcodes then
@@ -250,28 +254,25 @@ local function writer(command,first,...)
             trace_context("error: '%s' gets a weird argument '%s'",command,tostring(ti))
         end
     end
-    if direct then
-        trace_context("error: direct flushing used in '%s' without following argument",command)
-    end
 end
 
 local generics = { }  context.generics = generics
 
-local function indexer(t,k)
+local function indexer(parent,k)
     local c = "\\" .. (generics[k] or k)
     local f = function(first,...)
         if first == nil then
             flush(currentcatcodes,c)
         else
-            return writer(c,first,...)
+            return writer(parent,c,first,...)
         end
     end
-    t[k] = f
+    parent[k] = f
     return f
 end
 
-local function caller(t,f,a,...)
-    if not t then
+local function caller(parent,f,a,...)
+    if not parent then
         -- so we don't need to test in the calling (slower but often no issue) (will go)
     elseif f ~= nil then
         local typ = type(f)
@@ -279,6 +280,7 @@ local function caller(t,f,a,...)
             if a then
                 flush(contentcatcodes,format(f,a,...)) -- was currentcatcodes
             elseif processlines and find(f,"\n") then
+                local flushlines = parent.__flushlines or flushlines
                 flushlines(f)
             else
                 flush(contentcatcodes,f)
@@ -295,6 +297,7 @@ local function caller(t,f,a,...)
         elseif typ == "boolean" then
             if f then
                 if a ~= nil then
+                    local flushlines = parent.__flushlines or flushlines
                     flushlines(f)
                     -- ignore ... maybe some day
                 else
@@ -304,7 +307,7 @@ local function caller(t,f,a,...)
             else
                 if a ~= nil then
                     -- no command, same as context(a,...)
-                    writer("",a,...)
+                    writer(parent,"",a,...)
                 else
                     -- ignored
                 end
@@ -339,7 +342,7 @@ statistics.register("traced context", function()
     end
 end)
 
-local tracedwriter = function(...)
+local tracedwriter = function(parent,...)
     nofwriters = nofwriters + 1
     local t, f, n = { "w : " }, flush, 0
     flush = function(...)
@@ -347,7 +350,7 @@ local tracedwriter = function(...)
         t[n] = concat({...},"",2)
         normalflush(...)
     end
-    normalwriter(...)
+    normalwriter(parent,...)
     flush = f
     currenttrace(concat(t))
 end
@@ -376,12 +379,14 @@ local function pushlogger(trace)
     insert(trace_stack,currenttrace)
     currenttrace = trace
     flush, writer = tracedflush, tracedwriter
+    context.__flush = flush
 end
 
 local function poplogger()
     currenttrace = remove(trace_stack)
     if not currenttrace then
         flush, writer = normalflush, normalwriter
+        context.__flush = flush
     end
 end
 
@@ -393,6 +398,8 @@ local function settracing(v)
     end
 end
 
+-- todo: share flushers so that we can define in other files
+
 trackers.register("context.trace",settracing)
 
 context.pushlogger = pushlogger
@@ -427,58 +434,26 @@ end
 
 function context.direct(first,...)
     if first ~= nil then
-        return writer("",first,...)
-    end
-end
-
--- todo: use flush directly
-
-function context.char(k) -- todo: if catcode == letter or other then just the utf
-    if type(k) == "table" then
-        for i=1,#k do
-            context(format([[\char%s\relax]],k[i]))
-        end
-    elseif k then
-        context(format([[\char%s\relax]],k))
+        return writer(context,"",first,...)
     end
 end
 
-function context.utfchar(k)
-    context(utfchar(k))
-end
-
-function context.chardef(cs,u)
-    context(format([[\chardef\%s=%s\relax]],k))
-end
-
-function context.par()
-    context([[\par]]) -- no need to add {} there
-end
-
-function context.bgroup()
-    context("{")
-end
-
-function context.egroup()
-    context("}")
-end
-
 -- context.delayed (todo: lines)
 
 local delayed = { } context.delayed = delayed -- maybe also store them
 
-local function indexer(t,k)
+local function indexer(parent,k)
     local f = function(...)
         local a = { ... }
         return function()
             return context[k](unpack(a))
         end
     end
-    t[k] = f
+    parent[k] = f
     return f
 end
 
-local function caller(t,...)
+local function caller(parent,...)
     local a = { ... }
     return function()
         return context(unpack(a))
@@ -491,7 +466,7 @@ setmetatable(delayed, { __index = indexer, __call = caller } )
 
 local nested = { } context.nested = nested
 
-local function indexer(t,k)
+local function indexer(parent,k)
     local f = function(...)
         local t, savedflush, n = { }, flush, 0
         flush = function(c,f,s,...) -- catcodes are ignored
@@ -502,11 +477,11 @@ local function indexer(t,k)
         flush = savedflush
         return concat(t)
     end
-    t[k] = f
+    parent[k] = f
     return f
 end
 
-local function caller(t,...)
+local function caller(parent,...)
     local t, savedflush, n = { }, flush, 0
     flush = function(c,f,s,...) -- catcodes are ignored
         n = n + 1
@@ -523,7 +498,7 @@ setmetatable(nested, { __index = indexer, __call = caller } )
 
 local verbatim = { } context.verbatim = verbatim
 
-local function indexer(t,k)
+local function indexer(parent,k)
     local command = context[k]
     local f = function(...)
         local savedcatcodes = contentcatcodes
@@ -531,14 +506,14 @@ local function indexer(t,k)
         command(...)
         contentcatcodes = savedcatcodes
     end
-    t[k] = f
+    parent[k] = f
     return f
 end
 
-local function caller(t,...)
+local function caller(parent,...)
     local savedcatcodes = contentcatcodes
     contentcatcodes = vrbcatcodes
-    defaultcaller(t,...)
+    defaultcaller(parent,...)
     contentcatcodes = savedcatcodes
 end
 
@@ -550,8 +525,8 @@ local metafun = { } context.metafun = metafun
 
 local mpdrawing = "\\MPdrawing"
 
-local function caller(t,f,a,...)
-    if not t then
+local function caller(parent,f,a,...)
+    if not parent then
         -- skip
     elseif f then
         local typ = type(f)
@@ -602,19 +577,19 @@ end
 
 local delayed = { } metafun.delayed = delayed
 
-local function indexer(t,k)
+local function indexer(parent,k)
     local f = function(...)
         local a = { ... }
         return function()
             return metafun[k](unpack(a))
         end
     end
-    t[k] = f
+    parent[k] = f
     return f
 end
 
 
-local function caller(t,...)
+local function caller(parent,...)
     local a = { ... }
     return function()
         return metafun(unpack(a))
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mult-ini.mkiv b/tex/context/base/mult-ini.mkiv
index b8b1c5387..eddee98a4 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mult-ini.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/mult-ini.mkiv
@@ -433,11 +433,8 @@
 %D interface. (We no longer need the link back to the main
 %D internal interface.)
 
-\def\doresetvalue#1#2%
-  {\dosetvalue{#1}{#2}{}}
-
-\def\doignorevalue#1#2#3%
-  {\dosetvalue{#1}{#2}{}}
+\def\doresetvalue   #1#2{\dosetvalue{#1}{#2}{}}
+\def\doignorevalue#1#2#3{\dosetvalue{#1}{#2}{}}
 
 % \def\dosetvalue#1#2%
 %   {\let\c!internal!\c!internal!n
@@ -502,6 +499,7 @@
 %      \@EA\def\csname#1#3\@EA\endcsname\@EA{\csname#2#3\endcsname}%
 %    \fi}
 
+\def\doletvalue   #1#2{\@EA \let\csname#1#2\endcsname}
 \def\dosetvalue   #1#2{\@EA \def\csname#1#2\endcsname}
 \def\dosetevalue  #1#2{\@EA\edef\csname#1#2\endcsname}
 \def\dosetgvalue  #1#2{\@EA\gdef\csname#1#2\endcsname}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/node-aux.lua b/tex/context/base/node-aux.lua
index 1eb42d95e..2fd6fc005 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/node-aux.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/node-aux.lua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ local has_attribute   = node.has_attribute
 local set_attribute   = node.set_attribute
 local get_attribute   = node.get_attribute
 local unset_attribute = node.unset_attribute
-local first_character = node.first_character
+local first_glyph     = node.first_glyph or node.first_character
 
 local texbox          = tex.box
 
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ end
 nodes.set_attribute        = set_attribute
 nodes.unset_attribute      = unset_attribute
 nodes.has_attribute        = has_attribute
+nodes.first_glyph          = first_glyph
 
 nodes.set_attributes       = set_attributes
 nodes.set_unset_attributes = set_unset_attributes
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ nodes.unsetattributes      = unset_attributes
 
 function nodes.firstcharacter(n,untagged) -- tagged == subtype > 255
     if untagged then
-        return first_character(n)
+        return first_glyph(n)
     else
         for g in traverse_id(glyph_code,n) do
             return g
diff --git a/tex/context/base/node-pro.lua b/tex/context/base/node-pro.lua
index 9eb431d6b..0ed510cd2 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/node-pro.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/node-pro.lua
@@ -16,15 +16,15 @@ local report_nodes = logs.new("nodes")
 
 local nodes, node = nodes, node
 
-local nodecodes  = nodes.nodecodes
-local glyph_code = nodecodes.glyph
-local tasks      = nodes.tasks
+local nodecodes   = nodes.nodecodes
+local glyph_code  = nodecodes.glyph
+local tasks       = nodes.tasks
 
-local free_node       = node.free
-local first_character = node.first_character
+local free_node   = node.free
+local first_glyph = node.first_glyph or node.first_character
 
-nodes.processors = nodes.processors or { }
-local processors = nodes.processors
+nodes.processors  = nodes.processors or { }
+local processors  = nodes.processors
 
 -- vbox: grouptype: vbox vtop output split_off split_keep  | box_type: exactly|aditional
 -- hbox: grouptype: hbox adjusted_hbox(=hbox_in_vmode)     | box_type: exactly|aditional
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ processors.tracer = tracer
 processors.enabled = true -- this will become a proper state (like trackers)
 
 function processors.pre_linebreak_filter(head,groupcode,size,packtype,direction)
-    local first, found = first_character(head)
+    local first, found = first_glyph(head)
     if found then
         if trace_callbacks then
             local before = nodes.count(head,true)
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ function processors.pre_linebreak_filter(head,groupcode,size,packtype,direction)
 end
 
 function processors.hpack_filter(head,groupcode,size,packtype,direction)
-    local first, found = first_character(head)
+    local first, found = first_glyph(head)
     if found then
         if trace_callbacks then
             local before = nodes.count(head,true)
@@ -119,13 +119,13 @@ callbacks.register('hpack_filter'        , processors.hpack_filter,"all kind of
 
 local actions = tasks.actions("finalizers",1) -- head, where
 
--- beware, these are packaged boxes so no first_character test
+-- beware, these are packaged boxes so no first_glyph test
 -- maybe some day a hash with valid groupcodes
 --
 -- beware, much can pass twice, for instance vadjust passes two times
 
 function processors.post_linebreak_filter(head,groupcode)
---~     local first, found = first_character(head)
+--~     local first, found = first_glyph(head)
 --~     if found then
         if trace_callbacks then
             local before = nodes.count(head,true)
diff --git a/tex/context/base/node-tra.lua b/tex/context/base/node-tra.lua
index ff038a816..27665d60b 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/node-tra.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/node-tra.lua
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ function step_tracers.glyphs(n,i)
 end
 
 function step_tracers.features()
-    -- we cannot use first_character here as it only finds characters with subtype < 256
+    -- we cannot use first_glyph here as it only finds characters with subtype < 256
     local f = collection[1]
     while f do
         if f.id == glyph_code then
diff --git a/tex/context/base/node-tsk.lua b/tex/context/base/node-tsk.lua
index a6890c2d5..d19d1c6ae 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/node-tsk.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/node-tsk.lua
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['node-tsk'] = {
     license   = "see context related readme files"
 }
 
--- this might move to task-*
+-- this might move to task-* .. we already have dirty flags there
 
 local trace_tasks = false  trackers.register("tasks.creation", function(v) trace_tasks = v end)
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/regi-ini.lua b/tex/context/base/regi-ini.lua
index 561b8d8f4..eb9a58593 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/regi-ini.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/regi-ini.lua
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ regimes.utf      = regimes.utf or { }
 regimes.synonyms = regimes.synonyms or { }
 local synonyms   = regimes.synonyms
 
-storage.register("regimes/synonyms", synonyms, "regimes.synonyms")
+if storage then
+    storage.register("regimes/synonyms", synonyms, "regimes.synonyms")
+else
+    regimes.synonyms = { }
+end
 
 -- setmetatable(regimes.data,_empty_table_)
 
@@ -72,20 +76,44 @@ function regimes.translate(line,regime)
     return line
 end
 
+-- function regimes.enable(regime)
+--     regime = synonyms[regime] or regime
+--     if data[regime] then
+--         regimes.currentregime = regime
+--         local translate = regimes.translate
+--         resolvers.filters.install('input',function(s)
+--             return translate(s,regime)
+--         end)
+--     else
+--         regimes.disable()
+--     end
+-- end
+--
+-- function regimes.disable()
+--     regimes.currentregime = "utf"
+--     resolvers.filters.install('input',nil)
+-- end
+
+local sequencers = utilities.sequencers
+
+function regimes.process(s)
+    return translate(s,regimes.currentregime)
+end
+
 function regimes.enable(regime)
     regime = synonyms[regime] or regime
     if data[regime] then
         regimes.currentregime = regime
-        local translate = regimes.translate
-        resolvers.filters.install('input',function(s)
-            return translate(s,regime)
-        end)
+        sequencers.enableaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"regimes.process")
     else
-        regimes.disable()
+        sequencers.disableaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"regimes.process")
     end
 end
 
 function regimes.disable()
     regimes.currentregime = "utf"
-    resolvers.filters.install('input',nil)
+    sequencers.disableaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"regimes.process")
 end
+
+utilities.sequencers.prependaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"system","regimes.process")
+utilities.sequencers.disableaction(resolvers.openers.textfileactions,"regimes.process")
diff --git a/tex/context/base/s-abr-01.tex b/tex/context/base/s-abr-01.tex
index b233eeee2..85b263468 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/s-abr-01.tex
+++ b/tex/context/base/s-abr-01.tex
@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@
 
 \protect
 
-\logo [MKI]        {MkI}
+\logo [MKI]        {MkI}   % joke
 \logo [MKII]       {MkII}
-\logo [MKIII]      {MkIII}
+\logo [MKIII]      {MkIII} % joke
 \logo [MKIV]       {MkIV}
+\logo [MKVI]       {MkVI}
 
 %logo [FGA]        {fga}
 %logo [FGBBS]      {fgbbs}
diff --git a/tex/context/base/scrn-int.mkiv b/tex/context/base/scrn-int.mkiv
index dc919a8aa..7f143f7b4 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/scrn-int.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/scrn-int.mkiv
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@
 \def\dostartcomment[#1][#2][#3]%
   {\bgroup
    \doifassignmentelse{#1}{\getparameters[\??cc][#1]}{\getparameters[\??cc][\c!title=#1,#2]}%
-   \setcurrentbuffer{\v!comment\v!buffer}%
    \dostartbuffer[\v!comment\v!buffer][\v!comment\v!buffer][\e!start\v!comment][\e!stop\v!comment]}
 
 \unexpanded\def\stopcomment
diff --git a/tex/context/base/scrp-ini.lua b/tex/context/base/scrp-ini.lua
index 11ffd02f8..5b012890d 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/scrp-ini.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/scrp-ini.lua
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ local allocate = utilities.storage.allocate
 
 local set_attribute   = node.set_attribute
 local has_attribute   = node.has_attribute
-local first_character = node.first_character
+local first_glyph     = node.first_glyph or node.first_character
 local traverse_id     = node.traverse_id
 
 local nodecodes       = nodes.nodecodes
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ end
 -- one of the time consuming functiions:
 
 function scripts.preprocess(head)
-    local start = first_character(head)
+    local start = first_glyph(head)
     if not start then
         return head, false
     else
diff --git a/tex/context/base/strc-sec.mkiv b/tex/context/base/strc-sec.mkiv
index 0d1cd17a6..6fa9348b2 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/strc-sec.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/strc-sec.mkiv
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@
 
 \setvalue{\??nh:\??mk:n:\v!page }{}
 \setvalue{\??nh:\??mk:n:\v!reset}{\resetcurrentstructuremarks}
-\setvalue{\??nh:\??mk:y:\v!page }{\resetcurrentstructuremarks}
+\setvalue{\??nh:\??mk:y:\v!page }{} % to be checked: {\resetcurrentstructuremarks}
 \setvalue{\??nh:\??mk:y:\v!reset}{\resetcurrentstructuremarks}
 
 \def\docheckstructureheadlayout
diff --git a/tex/context/base/tabl-ntb.mkiv b/tex/context/base/tabl-ntb.mkiv
index e2420850d..d5eee61a0 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/tabl-ntb.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/tabl-ntb.mkiv
@@ -1574,49 +1574,6 @@
      \fi
   \fi}
 
-%D Spacing:
-%
-% \starttabulate
-% \NC text \NC text \NC \NR
-% \TB[small]
-% \NC text \NC text \NC \NR
-% \TB[4*big]
-% \NC text \NC text \NC \NR
-% \stoptabulate
-%
-% \starttable[|||]
-% \VL text \VL text \VL \AR
-% \TB[small]
-% \VL text \VL text \VL \AR
-% \TB[4*big]
-% \VL text \VL text \VL \AR
-% \stoptable
-
-\def\complexTableTB[#1]{\TABLEnoalign{\blank[#1]}}
-\def\simpleTableTB     {\TABLEnoalign{\blank}}
-
-\def\TabulateTB
-  {\complexorsimpleTable{TB}}
-
-\def\doTableinterline% #1
-  {\ifnum\currentTABLEcolumn>\maxTABLEcolumn
-     \chuckTABLEautorow
-   \else\ifnum\currentTABLEcolumn=\zerocount
-     \TABLEnoalign
-       {\globalletempty\checkTABLEautorow
-        \globalletempty\chuckTABLEautorow}%
-   \else
-     \setTABLEerror\TABLEmissingcolumn
-     \handleTABLEerror
-   \fi\fi
-   \complexorsimpleTable} % {#1}
-
-\def\TableHL{\doTableinterline{HL}}
-\def\TableTB{\doTableinterline{TB}}
-
-\appendtoks\let\TB\TableTB   \to\everytable
-\appendtoks\let\TB\TabulateTB\to\everytabulate % strange place
-
 % new (for Olivier Turlier)
 %
 % \defineTABLEsetup [xx] [foregroundcolor=red]
diff --git a/tex/context/base/tabl-tab.mkiv b/tex/context/base/tabl-tab.mkiv
index d6007372d..3c9515e60 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/tabl-tab.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/tabl-tab.mkiv
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 \writestatus{loading}{ConTeXt Table Macros / TaBlE Embedding}
 
+% Todo: consistent namespace and get rid of not used code
+
 % In \MKIV\ the old table macros are sort of obsolete. The
 % color extensions have been removed and some code is stripped.
 % For practical reasons the \TABLE\ macros that are used are
@@ -36,7 +38,6 @@
 \newdimen\tablecolumnwidthunit
 \newdimen\tablekernunit
 
-\def\tablelinethicknessfactor    {2}
 \def\tablestrutheightfactor      {8}
 \def\tablestrutdepthfactor       {3}
 \def\tableintercolumnspacefactor {3}
@@ -44,27 +45,6 @@
 \def\tablevspacefactor           {2}
 \def\tablekernfactor             {1}
 
-\newtoks\NormalTLTU
-\newtoks\NormalTSU
-\newtoks\NormalTICSU
-\newtoks\NormalTCWU
-\newtoks\NormalTKU
-
-\NormalTLTU ={1in \divide \tablelinethicknessunit by 300 }
-\NormalTSU  ={\normalbaselineskip \divide \tablestrutunit by 11 }
-\NormalTICSU={.5em plus 1fil minus .25em}
-\NormalTCWU ={.5em}
-\NormalTKU  ={.5em}
-
-\def\NormalTableUnits
-  {\tablelinethicknessunit   \the\NormalTLTU
-   \tablestrutunit           \the\NormalTSU
-   \tableintercolumnspaceunit\the\NormalTICSU
-   \tablecolumnwidthunit     \the\NormalTCWU
-   \tablekernunit            \the\NormalTKU}
-
-\NormalTableUnits
-
 \newtoks\everytable
 \newtoks\everytableparbox
 
@@ -219,7 +199,7 @@
       \noexpand\!!width
       \ifnum\!tgCode=\plusone
         \ifx\!tgValue\empty
-          \tablelinethicknessfactor
+        \tablevrulethicknessfactor
         \else
           \!tgValue
         \fi
@@ -770,7 +750,7 @@
 \def\tableStandardTableStrut
   {\tableMakeStrut
      {\tablestrutheightfactor\tablestrutunit}
-     {\tablestrutdepthfactor\tablestrutunit }}
+     {\tablestrutdepthfactor \tablestrutunit }}
 
 \def\tableAugmentedTableStrut#1#2%
   {\tableMakeStrut
@@ -996,11 +976,13 @@
 \def\@VLn{1}
 \def\@VLd{.125em}
 
+\let\tablecurrentvrulecolor\empty
+
 \def\do!ttInsertVrule % will be merged in 2005
   {\vrule\!!width
      \ifnum\!tgCode=\plusone
        \ifx\!tgValue\empty
-         \tablelinethicknessfactor
+        \tablevrulethicknessfactor
        \else
        \!tgValue
        \fi
@@ -1012,6 +994,9 @@
 
 \def\!ttInsertVrule
   {\hfil
+   \ifx\tablecurrentvrulecolor\empty\else
+     \switchtocolor[\tablecurrentvrulecolor]%
+   \fi
    \ifcase\@VLn\or
      \do!ttInsertVrule
      \unskip
@@ -1020,6 +1005,7 @@
      \gdef\@VLn{1}%
      \unskip
    \fi
+   \global\let\tablecurrentvrulecolor\empty
    \hfil
    &}
 
@@ -1043,26 +1029,23 @@
   {\ifnum#1>\plusone
      \omit
      \global\TABLEdivisionfalse
-     \scratchcounter\numexpr\currentTABLEcolumn+#1-\plusone\relax % added
-     \ifnum\scratchcounter>\maxTABLEcolumn                        % added
-       \def\next                                                  % added
-         {\setTABLEerror\TABLEspanoverflow                        % added
-          \handleTABLEerror}%                                     % added
-     \else                                                        % added
-       \def\next                                                  % added
-         {\global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn#1-\plusone\relax     % added
-          \scratchcounter2\numexpr#1-\plusone\relax               % changed
-          \!thLoop
-            \ifnum\scratchcounter>\plusone
-              \span
-              \omit
-              \advance\scratchcounter\minusone
-          \repeat
-          \span}%
-     \fi                                                 % added
+     \scratchcounter\currentTABLEcolumn              % added
+     \advance\scratchcounter #1%                     % added
+     \advance\scratchcounter \minusone               % added
+     \def\next                                       % added
+       {\global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn #1%       % added
+        \global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn \minusone % added
+        \scratchcounter#1%   \mscount is in Plain
+        \advance\scratchcounter \minusone
+        \advance\scratchcounter \scratchcounter
+        \!thLoop
+          \ifnum\scratchcounter>\plusone
+            \spanomit \advance\scratchcounter\minusone
+        \repeat
+        \span}%
    \else                                                 % added
      \def\next % conflicts with possible next \omit      % added
-       {\global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn\plusone}%    % added
+       {\global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn \plusone}%    % added
    \fi
    \next}                                                % added
 
@@ -1084,7 +1067,11 @@
 
 \def\!ttFullHruleA
   {\!ttGetHalfRuleThickness
+   \ifx\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty\else
+     \switchtocolor[\tablecurrenthrulecolor]%
+   \fi
    \hrule\!!height\dimen0\!!depth\dimen0
+   \global\let\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty
    %\penalty0 % removed
    \egroup}
 
@@ -1094,18 +1081,22 @@
 
 \def\!ttShortHruleA
   {\!ttGetHalfRuleThickness
+   \ifx\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty\else
+     \switchtocolor[\tablecurrenthrulecolor]%
+   \fi
    \leaders\hrule\!!height\dimen0\!!depth\dimen0\hfill
    \null
+   \global\let\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty
    \ignorespaces}
 
 \def\!ttLongHrule
   {\omit\span\omit\span\!ttShortHrule}
 
 \def\!ttGetHalfRuleThickness
-  {\dimen0=
+  {\dimen0=\dimexpr
      \ifnum\!tgCode=\plusone
        \ifx\!tgValue\empty
-         \tablelinethicknessfactor
+         \tablehrulethicknessfactor
        \else
          \!tgValue    % user-specified integer
        \fi
@@ -1122,10 +1113,8 @@
 \def\tableRight #1{\hfill#1}
 
 \def\tableOpenUp#1#2%
-  {\scratchdimen\tablestrutheightfactor \points \advance\scratchdimen #1\points
-   \edef\tablestrutheightfactor{\withoutpt\the\scratchdimen}%
-   \scratchdimen\tablestrutdepthfactor  \points \advance\scratchdimen #2\points
-   \edef\tablestrutdepthfactor{\withoutpt\the\scratchdimen}}
+  {\edef\tablestrutheightfactor{\withoutpt\the\dimexpr\tablestrutheightfactor\points+#1\points}%
+   \edef\tablestrutdepthfactor {\withoutpt\the\dimexpr\tablestrutdepthfactor \points+#2\points}}
 
 \def\tableSetTableToWidth#1%
   {\doifelsenothing{#1}{\!taTableSpread\emptytoks}{\!taTableSpread{to #1}}}
@@ -1595,8 +1584,21 @@
 %D such hacks become a second nature. However, redefining \type
 %D {\omit} and \type{\span} is not that easy.}
 
+\def\doTABLEnoalign
+  {\let\next=}
+
 \def\TABLEnoalign
-  {\noalign\bgroup\let\noalign\relax\let\next=}
+  {\noalign
+   \bgroup
+   \let\noalign\relax
+   \let\TABLEnoalign\doTABLEnoalign
+   \doTABLEnoalign}
+
+\def\startTABLEnoalign
+  {\TABLEnoalign\bgroup}
+
+\def\stopTABLEnoalign
+  {\iffalse{\else}\fi}
 
 %D \macros
 %D   {starttable}
@@ -1780,19 +1782,16 @@
 
 %D Now we can start the table.
 
+\newtoks \localtabledefinitions
+
 \def\thirdstagestartTABLE#1%
   {\global\setTABLEactiontrue
    \setTABLEaction\TABLEunknown
    \setTABLEforce\TABLEunknown
-   \resetVLvalues
+   \tableresetVLvalues
    \appendtoks\localTABLEsetup\to\everytable
    \tablestandardbegin[\ifsplittables u\else b\fi]%
-   \defineTABLEunits
-   \defineTABLEsteps
-   \defineTABLErules
-   \defineTABLEdivisions
-   \defineTABLEshorthands
-   \defineTABLEendings
+   \the\localtabledefinitions
    \forgetall % added
    \doifsomething{#1}
      {\def\TABLEformat{#1}%
@@ -1907,10 +1906,10 @@
 \let\@@TABLEhead\empty  \def\TABLEhead{\@@TABLEhead}
 \let\@@TABLEtail\empty  \def\TABLEtail{\@@TABLEtail}
 
-\letvalue{\e!start\v!tablehead}=\undefined
-\letvalue{\e!stop \v!tablehead}=\undefined
-\letvalue{\e!start\v!tabletail}=\undefined
-\letvalue{\e!stop \v!tabletail}=\undefined
+\letbeundefined{\e!start\v!tablehead}
+\letbeundefined{\e!stop \v!tablehead}
+\letbeundefined{\e!start\v!tabletail}
+\letbeundefined{\e!stop \v!tabletail}
 
 \expanded
   {\long\def\csname\e!start\v!tablehead\endcsname##1\csname\e!stop\v!tablehead\endcsname%
@@ -1935,23 +1934,6 @@
 %D Redudant \type{\HL}'s are removed automatically, so
 %D mid||lines can be used without problems.
 
-%D We need an alternative for the normal complex or simple
-%D commands, because assignments in these system commands
-%D conflict with \type{\noalign}. This alternative is about
-%D as efficient as possible.
-
-\def\complexorsimpleTable#1#2%
-  {\csname\if[\noexpand#2\s!complex\else\s!simple\fi\c!Table#1\endcsname#2}
-
-%D The next one is used in \type{\VL} cum suis and honours
-%D the next grouping.
-
-\def\docomplexorsimpleTable#1#2%
-  {\ifx\next\bgroup\@EA#2\else\@EA\dodocomplexorsimpleTable\@EA#1\@EA#2\fi}
-
-\def\dodocomplexorsimpleTable#1#2#3%
-  {\if[\noexpand#3\@EA#1\else\@EA#2\fi#3}
-
 %D The order of the next macros is more or less random. First
 %D we implement error recovery. Errors are reported to the
 %D screen and log file as well as visualized in the table in
@@ -2011,12 +1993,13 @@
 
 \setnewconstant\TABLErowzero\zerocount
 
-\unexpanded\def\defineTABLEendings
-  {\let\SR\TableSR
-   \let\FR\TableFR
-   \let\MR\TableMR
-   \let\LR\TableLR
-   \let\AR\TableAR}
+\appendtoks
+  \let\SR\TableSR
+  \let\FR\TableFR
+  \let\MR\TableMR
+  \let\LR\TableLR
+  \let\AR\TableAR
+\to \localtabledefinitions
 
 \unexpanded\def\TableSR
   {\ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLEfirstrow
@@ -2144,7 +2127,6 @@
 %D one more than the number of columns.
 
 \newcount\currentTABLEcolumn
-\newcount\maxTABLEcolumn % needed for reset vl properties
 
 %D While defining this macro we change the \CATCODE\ of
 %D \type{|}. When counting the bars, we use a non active
@@ -2161,7 +2143,7 @@
 
 \bgroup \catcode`\|=\othercatcode
 
-\gdef\getTABLEnofcolumns#1%
+\gdef\getTABLEnofcolumns#1% todo: also divert this to lua as with tabulate
   {\bgroup
    \cleanupfeatures % needed !
    \@@useotherbar
@@ -2177,34 +2159,46 @@
 %D \sym{\type{\HC}} a horizontal colored line
 %D \stopitemize
 
-\unexpanded\def\defineTABLErules
-  {\let\VL\TableVL
-   \let\VC\TableVC
-   \let\HL\TableHL
-   \let\HC\TableHC
-   \let\VS\TableVS
-   \let\VD\TableVD
-   \let\VT\TableVT
-   \let\VN\TableVN}
+\newcount\tablevrulethicknessfactor
+\newcount\tablehrulethicknessfactor
+\newcount\tabledrulespan
+\let     \tablecurrentvrulecolor    \empty
+\let     \tablecurrenthrulecolor    \empty
 
-\unexpanded\def\TableVL
-  {\checkTABLEautorow
-   \global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn \plusone
-   \doTableVL}
-
-\def\doTableVL
-  {\futurelet\next\dodoTableVL}
+\appendtoks
+  \let\VL\TableVL
+  \let\VC\TableVC
+  \let\HL\TableHL
+  \let\HC\TableHC
+  \let\VS\TableVS
+  \let\VD\TableVD
+  \let\VT\TableVT
+  \let\VN\TableVN
+\to \localtabledefinitions
+
+\def\tableresetVLvalues
+  {\global\currentTABLEcolumn\zerocount}
 
-\def\dodoTableVL
-  {\docomplexorsimpleTable\complexTableVL\simpleTableVL}
+\def\dotablevrulecommand#1% global assignments
+  {\doifnumberelse{#1}
+     {\global\tablevrulethicknessfactor#1\relax
+      \global\multiply\tablevrulethicknessfactor\@@tiVLwidth\relax}
+     {\xdef\tablecurrentvrulecolor{#1}}}
 
-\def\complexTableVL[#1]%
-  {\scratchcounter=0#1%
-   \multiply\scratchcounter \@@tiVLwidth
-   \simpleTableVL}
+\unexpanded\def\TableVL
+  {\checkTABLEautorow
+   \global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn\plusone
+   \dosingleempty\doTableVL}
+
+\def\doTableVL[#1]%
+  {\global\tablecurrentvrulecolor\empty
+   \global\tablevrulethicknessfactor\@@tiVLwidth\relax
+   \iffirstargument
+     \rawprocesscommalist[#1]\dotablevrulecommand
+   \fi
+   \normalexpanded{\noexpand\normalTABLEcomplexbar\the\tablevrulethicknessfactor} }% \relax breaks \use
 
-\def\simpleTableVL
-  {\expanded{\normalTABLEcomplexbar\@@tiVLwidth\space}}% \relax breaks \use
+\let\TableVC\TableVL % for mojca
 
 % \starttable[|||]
 % \HL
@@ -2218,79 +2212,46 @@
 \unexpanded\def\TableVD  {\VN2}
 \unexpanded\def\TableVT  {\VN3}
 \unexpanded\def\TableVN#1{\gdef\@VLn{#1}\VL}
-
-\def\resetVLvalues
-  {\global\currentTABLEcolumn\zerocount}
-
-\unexpanded\def\TableVC
-  {\checkTABLEautorow
-   \doTableVC}
-
-\def\doTableVC
-  {\futurelet\next\dodoTableVC}
-
-\def\dodoTableVC
-  {\docomplexorsimpleTable\complexTableVC\simpleTableVC}
 
-\def\complexTableVC[#1]%
-  {\setgvalue{bVC\the\currentTABLEcolumn}{\startcolor[#1]}%
-   \setgvalue{eVC\the\currentTABLEcolumn}{\stopcolor}%
-   \simpleTableVC}
-
-\def\simpleTableVC
-  {\setgvalue{bVL\the\currentTABLEcolumn}{\getvalue{bVC\the\currentTABLEcolumn}}%
-   \setgvalue{eVL\the\currentTABLEcolumn}{\getvalue{eVC\the\currentTABLEcolumn}}%
-   \doTableVL}
+\def\dotablehrulecommand#1% global assignments
+  {\doifnumberelse{#1}
+     {\global\tablehrulethicknessfactor#1\relax
+      \global\multiply\tablehrulethicknessfactor\@@tiHLheight\relax}
+     {\xdef\tablecurrenthrulecolor{#1}}}
 
 \unexpanded\def\TableHL
   {\finishTABLErow
-   \complexorsimpleTable{HL}}
-
-\def\complexTableHL[#1]%
-  {\TABLEnoalign
-     {\scratchcounter0#1%
-      \multiply\scratchcounter \@@tiHLheight
-      \edef\@@tiHLheight{\the\scratchcounter}}%
-  \simpleTableHL}
-
-\def\simpleTableHL
-  {\TABLEnoalign
-     {\nobreak
-      \ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLErule
-        \writestatus\m!TABLE{skipping \string\HL}% \statusmessage
-      \else
-        \ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLEmidrow
-          \writestatus\m!TABLE{change \string\MR\space into \string\LR/\string\SR}%
-        \else\ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLEfirstrow
-          \writestatus\m!TABLE{change \string\MR\space into \string\SR}%
-        \fi\fi
-        \startHLcommand
-        \expandafter\normalTABLEfullrule\@@tiHLheight
-        \stopHLcommand
-        \globalletempty\startHLcommand
-        \globalletempty\stopHLcommand
-        \accountTABLElinewidth
-      \fi
-      \setTABLEaction\TABLErule
-      \nobreak}}
-
-\let\startHLcommand\empty
-\let\stopHLcommand \empty
-
-\unexpanded\def\TableHC
-  {\complexorsimpleTable{HC}}
+   \startTABLEnoalign
+   \dosingleempty\doTableHL}
 
-\def\complexTableHC[#1]%
-  {\TABLEnoalign
-     {\gdef\startHCcommand{\startcolor[#1]}%
-      \gdef\stopHCcommand {\stopcolor}}%
-   \simpleTableHC}
+\def\doTableHL[#1]%
+  {\nobreak
+   \ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLErule
+     \writestatus\m!TABLE{skipping \string\HL}% \statusmessage
+   \else
+     \ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLEmidrow
+       \writestatus\m!TABLE{change \string\MR\space into \string\LR/\string\SR}%
+     \else\ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLEfirstrow
+       \writestatus\m!TABLE{change \string\MR\space into \string\SR}%
+     \fi\fi
+     \bgroup
+       \global\tablehrulethicknessfactor\@@tiHLheight\relax
+       \iffirstargument
+         \global\let\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty
+         \rawprocesscommalist[#1]\dotablehrulecommand
+         \ifx\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty\else
+           \switchtocolor[\tablecurrenthrulecolor]%
+         \fi
+       \fi
+       \normalexpanded{\noexpand\normalTABLEfullrule\the\tablehrulethicknessfactor} %
+     \egroup
+     \accountTABLElinewidth
+   \fi
+   \setTABLEaction\TABLErule
+   \nobreak
+   \stopTABLEnoalign}
 
-\def\simpleTableHC
-  {\TABLEnoalign
-     {\globallet\startHLcommand\startHCcommand
-      \globallet\stopHLcommand \stopHCcommand}%
-   \HL}
+\let\TableHC\TableHL % for mojca
 
 %D \startitemize[3*ruim]
 %D \sym{\type{\NL}} a vertical skip
@@ -2301,30 +2262,37 @@
 %D \sym{\type{\LC}} a last column
 %D \stopitemize
 
-% n+1 uitleggen
+% \starttable[|||]
+% \VL text \VL text \VL \AR
+% \TB[small]
+% \VL text \VL text \VL \AR
+% \TB[4*big]
+% \VL text \VL text \VL \AR
+% \stoptable
 
-\unexpanded\def\defineTABLEsteps
-  {\let\NL\TableNL
-   \let\NR\TableNR
-   \let\NC\TableNC
-   \let\FC\TableNC
-   \let\MC\TableNC
-   \let\LC\TableNC}
+% n+1 uitleggen
 
-\unexpanded\def\TableNL
-  {\complexorsimpleTable{NL}}
+\appendtoks
+  \let\TB\TableTB
+  \let\NL\TableNL % old
+  \let\NR\TableNR
+  \let\NC\TableNC
+  \let\FC\TableNC
+  \let\MC\TableNC
+  \let\LC\TableNC
+\to \localtabledefinitions
+
+\unexpanded\def\TableTB
+  {\finishTABLErow
+   \startTABLEnoalign
+   \dosingleempty\doTableTB}
 
-\def\complexTableNL[#1]%
-  {\TABLEnoalign
-     {\edef\@@tiNL{#1}%
-      \simpleTableNL}}%
+\def\doTableTB[#1]%
+  {\blank[\iffirstargument#1\else\@@tiNL\fi]%
+   \nobreak
+   \stopTABLEnoalign}
 
-\def\simpleTableNL
-  {\TABLEnoalign
-     {\nobreak
-      \setbox0\vbox{\blank[\@@tiNL]}%
-      \vskip\ht0
-      \nobreak}}
+\let\TableNL\TableTB
 
 \unexpanded\def\TableNR
   {\global\currentTABLEcolumn\zerocount
@@ -2347,12 +2315,13 @@
 
 \newif\ifTABLEdivision
 
-\unexpanded\def\defineTABLEdivisions
-  {\global\TABLEdivisionfalse % in start
-   \let\DL\TableDL
-   \let\DC\TableDC
-   \let\DV\TableDV
-   \let\DR\TableDR}
+\appendtoks
+  \global\TABLEdivisionfalse % in start
+  \let\DL\TableDL
+  \let\DC\TableDC
+  \let\DV\TableDV
+  \let\DR\TableDR
+\to \localtabledefinitions
 
 \def\checkTABLEdivision
   {\ifTABLEdivision \else
@@ -2361,14 +2330,21 @@
      \global\TABLEdivisiontrue
    \fi}
 
+\def\dotabledrulecommand#1% global assignments
+  {\doifnumberelse{#1}
+     {\ifcase\tabledrulespan
+        \global\tabledrulespan#1\relax
+      \else
+        \global\tablehrulethicknessfactor#1\relax
+        \global\multiply\tablehrulethicknessfactor\@@tiVLwidth\relax
+      \fi}
+     {\xdef\tablecurrenthrulecolor{#1}}}
+
 \unexpanded\def\TableDL
   {\checkTABLEdivision
-   \complexorsimpleTable{DL}}
+   \dosingleempty\doTableDL}
 
-\def\simpleTableDL
-  {\complexTableDL[1]}
-
-\def\complexTableDL[#1]%
+\def\doTableDL[#1]%
   {\ifnum\TABLEaction=\TABLErule
      \writestatus\m!TABLE{skipping \string\DL}%
    \else
@@ -2378,12 +2354,24 @@
        \writestatus\m!TABLE{change \string\MR\space into \string\SR}%
      \fi\fi
      \setTABLEaction\TABLEunknown
-     \ifnum#1=\plusone
+     \global\tablehrulethicknessfactor\@@tiHLheight\relax
+     \global\tabledrulespan\zerocount
+     \iffirstargument
+       \global\let\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty
+       \rawprocesscommalist[#1]\dotabledrulecommand
+       \ifx\tablecurrenthrulecolor\empty\else
+         \switchtocolor[\tablecurrenthrulecolor]%
+       \fi
+     \fi
+     \ifcase\tabledrulespan
+       \global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn \plusone
+       \let\next\normalTABLEsinglerule
+     \or
        \global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn \plustwo
        \let\next\normalTABLEsinglerule
      \else
        \global\advance\currentTABLEcolumn \plusone
-       \def\next{\normalTABLEmultirule{#1}}%
+       \edef\next{\noexpand\normalTABLEmultirule{\tabledrulespan} }%
      \fi
      \next
    \fi}
@@ -2412,25 +2400,39 @@
 \def\accountTABLElinewidth
   {\scratchdimen\tablelinethicknessunit}
 
-\unexpanded\def\defineTABLEshorthands
-  {\def\SPAN##1{\use{##1}}%
-   \def\TWO    {\use2}%
-   \def\THREE  {\use3}%
-   \def\FOUR   {\use4}%
-   \def\FIVE   {\use5}%
-   \def\SIX    {\use6}%
-   \def\REF    {\ReFormat}}
-
-\unexpanded\def\defineTABLEunits
-  {\processaction
-     [\@@tidistance]
-     [  \v!none=>\OpenUp00\def\LOW{\Lower6 },
-       \v!small=>\OpenUp00\def\LOW{\Lower6 }, % == baseline
-      \v!medium=>\OpenUp11\def\LOW{\Lower7 },
-         \v!big=>\OpenUp22\def\LOW{\Lower8 }]%
-   \doifelse\@@tidistance\v!none
-     {\TABLErowfactor\zerocount}
-     {\TABLErowfactor\plustwo  }}
+\def\doTableSPAN#1{\use{#1}}
+\def\doTableTWO   {\use2}
+\def\doTableTHREE {\use3}
+\def\doTableFOUR  {\use4}
+\def\doTableFIVE  {\use5}
+\def\doTableSIX   {\use6}
+\def\doTableREF   {\ReFormat}
+
+\appendtoks
+  \let\SPAN \doTableSPAN
+  \let\TWO  \doTableTWO
+  \let\THREE\doTableTHREE
+  \let\FOUR \doTableFOUR
+  \let\FIVE \doTableFIVE
+  \let\SIX  \doTableSIX
+  \let\REF  \doTableREF
+\to \localtabledefinitions
+
+\setvalue{\??ti:\c!distance:\v!none  }{\OpenUp00\def\LOW{\Lower6 }}
+\setvalue{\??ti:\c!distance:\v!small }{\OpenUp00\def\LOW{\Lower6 }} % == baseline
+\setvalue{\??ti:\c!distance:\v!medium}{\OpenUp11\def\LOW{\Lower7 }}
+\setvalue{\??ti:\c!distance:\v!big   }{\OpenUp22\def\LOW{\Lower8 }}
+
+\appendtoks
+  \getvalue{\??ti:\c!distance:\@@tidistance}%
+\to \localtabledefinitions
+
+\appendtoks
+  \doifelse\@@tidistance\v!none
+    {\TABLErowfactor\zerocount}
+    {\TABLErowfactor\plustwo  }%
+\to \localtabledefinitions
+
 
 \def\dohandlebar % here ?
   {\ifmmode
@@ -2446,7 +2448,7 @@
 
 \def\dosetuptables[#1]%
   {\getparameters[\??ti][#1]%
-   \processaction
+   \processaction % we have a command for this
      [\@@tialign]
      [  \v!right=>\def\TABLEparalignment{\raggedright},
          \v!left=>\def\TABLEparalignment{\raggedleft},
@@ -2456,43 +2458,24 @@
    \assignalfadimension\@@tiVL\@@tiVLwidth 246%
    \assignalfadimension\@@tiHL\@@tiHLheight246}
 
-\def\localTABLEsetup
-  {\@@ticommands\relax
-   \expanded{\switchtobodyfont[\@@tibodyfont]}%
-   \def\tablestrutheightfactor  {8}%
-   \def\tablestrutdepthfactor   {4}%
-   \def\tablelinethicknessfactor{4}%
-   \NormalTLTU         {.1pt}%
-   \NormalTSU          {\normalbaselineskip\divide\tablestrutunit 12 }%
-   \NormalTableUnits}
-
-%D And then I wrote the tabulate environment. That
-%D alternative supports setting the rule thickness and color,
-%D so here is the table alternative.
-
-% \let\startglobalTABLEcolor\empty
-% \let\stopglobalTABLEcolor \empty
+\let\tablelinethicknessfactor\plusfour
 
 \def\localTABLEsetup
   {\@@ticommands\relax
-   \expanded{\switchtobodyfont[\@@tibodyfont]}%
-   \def\tablelinethicknessfactor{4}%
-   \scratchdimen\@@tirulethickness
-   \divide\scratchdimen \tablelinethicknessfactor
-   \expanded{\NormalTLTU{\the\scratchdimen}}%
+   \expanded{\switchtobodyfont[\@@tibodyfont]}% expanded ?
+   \tablelinethicknessunit\dimexpr\@@tirulethickness/\tablelinethicknessfactor\relax
    \doifelse\@@tiheight\v!strut
-     {\edef\tablestrutheightfactor{\tablestrutheightfactor}}
-     {\edef\tablestrutheightfactor{\@@tiheight}}%
+     {\let\tablestrutheightfactor\tablestrutheightfactor}
+     {\let\tablestrutheightfactor\@@tiheight}%
    \doifelse\@@tidepth\v!strut
-     {\edef\tablestrutdepthfactor{\tablestrutdepthfactor}}
-     {\edef\tablestrutdepthfactor{\@@tidepth}}%
-   \scratchdimen\tablestrutheightfactor\points \multiply\scratchdimen 10%
-   \edef\tablestrutheightfactor{\withoutpt\the\scratchdimen}%
-   \scratchdimen\tablestrutdepthfactor \points \multiply\scratchdimen 10%
-   \edef\tablestrutdepthfactor{\withoutpt\the\scratchdimen}%
-   % units
-   \NormalTSU{\normalbaselineskip\divide\tablestrutunit 12 }%
-   \NormalTableUnits}
+     {\let\tablestrutdepthfactor\tablestrutdepthfactor}
+     {\let\tablestrutdepthfactor\@@tidepth}%
+   \edef\tablestrutheightfactor{\withoutpt\the\dimexpr10\dimexpr\tablestrutheightfactor\points}%
+   \edef\tablestrutdepthfactor {\withoutpt\the\dimexpr10\dimexpr\tablestrutdepthfactor \points}%
+   \tablestrutunit\dimexpr\normalbaselineskip/12\relax % 12 is default bodyfont
+   \tableintercolumnspaceunit.5em plus 1fil minus .25em\relax
+   \tablecolumnwidthunit     .5em\relax
+   \tablekernunit            .5em\relax}
 
 %D As one can see, we didn't only add color, but also more
 %D control over spacing.
diff --git a/tex/context/base/tabl-tbl.mkiv b/tex/context/base/tabl-tbl.mkiv
index 3cfda9ad7..9428ea3dc 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/tabl-tbl.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/tabl-tbl.mkiv
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@
 
 % The much needed hook:
 
-\appendtoks \optimizeverbatimfalse \to \everytabulate
+% \appendtoks \optimizeverbatimfalse \to \everytabulate
 
 % Todo: proper inheritance
 
@@ -1661,6 +1661,30 @@
 %D \stoptabulate
 %D \stoptyping
 
+%D Spacing:
+%
+% \starttabulate
+% \NC text \NC text \NC \NR
+% \TB[small]
+% \NC text \NC text \NC \NR
+% \TB[4*big]
+% \NC text \NC text \NC \NR
+% \stoptabulate
+
+\def\TabulateTB
+  {\startTABLEnoalign
+   \dosingleempty\doTabulateTB}
+
+\def\doTabulateTB[#1]%
+  {\iffirstargument
+     \blank[#1]
+   \else
+     \blank
+   \fi
+   \stopTABLEnoalign}
+
+\appendtoks\let\TB\TabulateTB\to\everytabulate
+
 % \starttabulatie[|mc|]
 % \NC \digits{100.000,00} \NC\NR
 % \NC \digits{@10.000,00} \NC\NR
diff --git a/tex/context/base/util-prs.lua b/tex/context/base/util-prs.lua
index 6ca7c3396..a369552dc 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/util-prs.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/util-prs.lua
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ local pattern_b = spaces * comma^0 * spaces * (key * ((spaces * equal * spaces *
 
 local hash = { }
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
-local function set(key,value) -- using Carg is slower here
+local function set(key,value)
     hash[key] = value
 end
 
diff --git a/tex/context/base/util-seq.lua b/tex/context/base/util-seq.lua
index 028d0cf8d..7ce2cd345 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/util-seq.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/util-seq.lua
@@ -37,88 +37,95 @@ local function validaction(action)
     return true
 end
 
-function sequencers.reset()
-    return {
+function sequencers.reset(t)
+    local s = {
         list  = { },
         order = { },
         kind  = { },
         askip = { },
         gskip = { },
     }
+    if t then
+        s.arguments    = t.arguments
+        s.returnvalues = t.returnvalues
+        s.results      = t.results
+    end
+    s.dirty = true
+    return s
 end
 
 function sequencers.prependgroup(t,group,where)
-    local list, order = t.list, t.order
-    removevalue(order,group)
-    insertbeforevalue(order,where,group)
-    list[group] = { }
+    if t then
+        local list, order = t.list, t.order
+        removevalue(order,group)
+        insertbeforevalue(order,where,group)
+        list[group] = { }
+        t.dirty = true
+    end
 end
 
 function sequencers.appendgroup(t,group,where)
-    local list, order = t.list, t.order
-    removevalue(order,group)
-    insertaftervalue(order,where,group)
-    list[group] = { }
+    if t then
+        local list, order = t.list, t.order
+        removevalue(order,group)
+        insertaftervalue(order,where,group)
+        list[group] = { }
+        t.dirty = true
+    end
 end
 
 function sequencers.prependaction(t,group,action,where,kind,force)
-    local g = t.list[group]
-    if g and (force or validaction(action)) then
-        removevalue(g,action)
-        insertbeforevalue(g,where,action)
-        t.kind[action] = kind
+    if t then
+        local g = t.list[group]
+        if g and (force or validaction(action)) then
+            removevalue(g,action)
+            insertbeforevalue(g,where,action)
+            t.kind[action] = kind
+            t.dirty = true
+        end
     end
 end
 
 function sequencers.appendaction(t,group,action,where,kind,force)
-    local g = t.list[group]
-    if g and (force or validaction(action)) then
-        removevalue(g,action)
-        insertaftervalue(g,where,action)
-        t.kind[action] = kind
+    if t then
+        local g = t.list[group]
+        if g and (force or validaction(action)) then
+            removevalue(g,action)
+            insertaftervalue(g,where,action)
+            t.kind[action] = kind
+            t.dirty = true
+        end
     end
 end
 
-function sequencers.enableaction (t,action) t.askip[action] = false end
-function sequencers.disableaction(t,action) t.askip[action] = true  end
-function sequencers.enablegroup  (t,group)  t.gskip[group]  = false end
-function sequencers.disablegroup (t,group)  t.gskip[group]  = true  end
+function sequencers.enableaction (t,action) if t then t.dirty = true t.askip[action] = false end end
+function sequencers.disableaction(t,action) if t then t.dirty = true t.askip[action] = true  end end
+function sequencers.enablegroup  (t,group)  if t then t.dirty = true t.gskip[group]  = false end end
+function sequencers.disablegroup (t,group)  if t then t.dirty = true t.gskip[group]  = true  end end
 
 function sequencers.setkind(t,action,kind)
-    t.kind[action] = kind
+    if t then
+        t.kind[action] = kind
+        t.dirty = true
+    end
 end
 
 function sequencers.removeaction(t,group,action,force)
-    local g = t.list[group]
+    local g = t and t.list[group]
     if g and (force or validaction(action)) then
         removevalue(g,action)
+        t.dirty = true
     end
 end
 
-function sequencers.compile(t,compiler,n)
-    if type(t) == "string" then
-        -- already compiled
-    elseif compiler then
-        t = compiler(t,n)
-    else
-        t = sequencers.tostring(t)
-    end
-    return loadstring(t)()
-end
-
 local function localize(str)
     return (gsub(str,"%.","_"))
 end
 
-local template = [[
-%s
-return function(...)
-%s
-end]]
-
-function sequencers.tostring(t)
+local function construct(t,nodummy)
     local list, order, kind, gskip, askip = t.list, t.order, t.kind, t.gskip, t.askip
-    local vars, calls, args, n = { }, { }, nil, 0
+    local arguments, returnvalues, results = t.arguments or "...", t.returnvalues, t.results
+    local variables, calls, n = { }, { }, 0
     for i=1,#order do
         local group = order[i]
         if not gskip[group] then
@@ -128,13 +135,44 @@ function sequencers.tostring(t)
                 if not askip[action] then
                     local localized = localize(action)
                     n = n + 1
-                    vars [n] = format("local %s = %s", localized, action)
-                    calls[n] = format("  %s(...) -- %s %i", localized, group, i)
+                    variables[n] = format("local %s = %s",localized,action)
+                    if not returnvalues then
+                        calls[n] = format("%s(%s)",localized,arguments)
+                    elseif n == 1 then
+                        calls[n] = format("local %s = %s(%s)",returnvalues,localized,arguments)
+                    else
+                        calls[n] = format("%s = %s(%s)",returnvalues,localized,arguments)
+                    end
                 end
             end
         end
     end
-    return format(template,concat(vars,"\n"),concat(calls,"\n"))
+    t.dirty = false
+    if nodummy and #calls == 0 then
+        return nil
+    else
+        variables = concat(variables,"\n")
+        calls = concat(calls,"\n")
+        if results then
+            return format("%s\nreturn function(%s)\n%s\nreturn %s\nend",variables,arguments,calls,results)
+        else
+            return format("%s\nreturn function(%s)\n%s\nend",variables,arguments,calls)
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+sequencers.tostring = construct
+sequencers.localize = localize
+
+function sequencers.compile(t,compiler,n)
+    if not t or type(t) == "string" then
+        -- already compiled
+    elseif compiler then
+        t = compiler(t,n)
+    else
+        t = construct(t)
+    end
+    return loadstring(t)()
 end
 
 -- we used to deal with tail as well but now that the lists are always
@@ -151,7 +189,7 @@ return function(head%s)
   return head, done
 end]]
 
-function sequencers.nodeprocessor(t,nofarguments)
+function sequencers.nodeprocessor(t,nofarguments) -- todo: handle 'kind' in plug into tostring
     local list, order, kind, gskip, askip = t.list, t.order, t.kind, t.gskip, t.askip
     local vars, calls, args, n = { }, { }, nil, 0
     if nofarguments == 0 then
@@ -179,6 +217,7 @@ function sequencers.nodeprocessor(t,nofarguments)
                     local localized = localize(action)
                     n = n + 1
                     vars[n] = format("local %s = %s",localized,action)
+                    -- only difference with tostring is kind and rets (why no return)
                     if kind[action] == "nohead" then
                         calls[n] = format("        ok = %s(head%s) done = done or ok -- %s %i",localized,args,group,i)
                     else
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-default.lua b/tex/context/base/v-default.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..107c4c4ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-default.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['v-default'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to v-default.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+local patterns, P, V = lpeg.patterns, lpeg.P, lpeg.V
+local makepattern = visualizers.makepattern
+
+local handler = visualizers.newhandler()
+
+local grammar = { "visualizer",
+
+    -- basic
+
+    emptyline  = makepattern(handler,"emptyline",patterns.emptyline),
+    beginline  = makepattern(handler,"beginline",patterns.beginline),
+    newline    = makepattern(handler,"newline",  patterns.newline),
+    space      = makepattern(handler,"space",    patterns.space),
+    default    = makepattern(handler,"default",  patterns.anything),
+    content    = makepattern(handler,"default",  patterns.somecontent),
+
+    -- handy
+
+    line               = V("newline") * V("emptyline")^0 * V("beginline"),
+    whitespace         = (V("space") + V("line"))^1,
+    optionalwhitespace = (V("space") + V("line"))^0,
+
+    -- used
+
+    pattern            = V("line") + V("space") + V("content"),
+    visualizer         = V("pattern")^1
+
+}
+
+local parser = P(grammar)
+
+visualizers.register("default", { parser = parser, handler = handler, grammar = grammar })
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-default.mkiv b/tex/context/base/v-default.mkiv
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f9a821f0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-default.mkiv
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+%D \module
+%D   [       file=v-default,
+%D        version=2010.10.19,
+%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Visualizer Macros,
+%D       subtitle=Default,
+%D         author=Hans Hagen,
+%D           date=\currentdate,
+%D      copyright=PRAGMA-ADE]
+%C
+%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
+%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
+%C details.
+
+\registerctxluafile{v-default.lua}{1.001}
+
+\unprotect
+
+\definestartstop
+    [DefaultSnippet]
+    [\c!before=\blank,
+     \c!after=\blank,
+     \c!style=\tt]
+
+% Name
+%     NamePrimitive
+%     NamePlain
+%     NameMetafun
+% Group
+% Boundary
+% Special
+% Comment
+% Constructor
+% Key
+% Entity
+% String
+% Equal
+% Cdata
+% Instruction
+
+% Value
+% Quote
+
+\protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-escaped.lua b/tex/context/base/v-escaped.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..060f48ea3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-escaped.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['v-escaped'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to v-escaped.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+visualizers.registerescapepattern("/BTEX/ETEX","/BTEX","/ETEX")
+
+visualizers.register("escaped", {
+    parser  = visualizers.escapepatterns["/BTEX/ETEX"],
+    handler = visualizers.newhandler(),
+})
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-escaped.mkiv b/tex/context/base/v-escaped.mkiv
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..780d0b518
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-escaped.mkiv
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+%D \module
+%D   [       file=v-escaped,
+%D        version=2010.10.19,
+%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Visualizer Macros,
+%D       subtitle=Escaped,
+%D         author=Hans Hagen,
+%D           date=\currentdate,
+%D      copyright=PRAGMA-ADE]
+%C
+%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
+%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
+%C details.
+
+\registerctxluafile{v-escaped.lua}{1.001}
+
+\unprotect
+
+\protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-lua.lua b/tex/context/base/v-lua.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..af1db27a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-lua.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['v-lua'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to v-lua.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+-- borrowed from scite
+--
+-- depricated:
+--
+-- gcinfo unpack getfenv setfenv loadlib
+-- table.maxn table.getn table.setn
+-- math.log10 math.mod math.modf math.fmod
+
+local format, tohash = string.format, table.tohash
+local P, S, V, patterns = lpeg.P, lpeg.S, lpeg.V, lpeg.patterns
+local C, Cs, Cg, Cb, Cmt, Carg = lpeg.C, lpeg.Cs, lpeg.Cg, lpeg.Cb, lpeg.Cmt, lpeg.Carg
+
+local core = tohash {
+    "and", "break", "do", "else", "elseif", "end", "false", "for", "function",
+    "if", "in", "local", "nil", "not", "or", "repeat", "return", "then",
+    "true", "until", "while"
+}
+
+local base = tohash {
+    "assert", "collectgarbage", "dofile", "error", "loadfile",
+    "loadstring", "print", "rawget", "rawset", "require", "tonumber",
+    "tostring", "type", "_G", "getmetatable", "ipairs", "next", "pairs",
+    "pcall", "rawequal", "setmetatable", "xpcall", "module", "select",
+}
+
+local libraries = {
+    coroutine = tohash {
+        "create", "resume", "status", "wrap", "yield", "running",
+    },
+    package = tohash{
+        "cpath", "loaded", "loadlib", "path", "config", "preload", "seeall",
+    },
+    io = tohash{
+        "close", "flush", "input", "lines", "open", "output", "read", "tmpfile",
+        "type", "write", "stdin", "stdout", "stderr", "popen",
+    },
+    math = tohash{
+        "abs", "acos", "asin", "atan", "atan2", "ceil", "cos", "deg", "exp",
+        "floor ", "ldexp", "log", "max", "min", "pi", "pow", "rad", "random",
+        "randomseed", "sin", "sqrt", "tan", "cosh", "sinh", "tanh", "huge",
+    },
+    string = tohash{
+        "byte", "char", "dump", "find", "len", "lower", "rep", "sub", "upper",
+        "format", "gfind", "gsub", "gmatch", "match", "reverse",
+    },
+    table = tohash{
+        "concat", "foreach", "foreachi", "sort", "insert", "remove", "pack",
+        "unpack",
+    },
+    os = tohash{
+        "clock", "date", "difftime", "execute", "exit", "getenv", "remove",
+        "rename", "setlocale", "time", "tmpname",
+    },
+    lpeg = tohash{
+        "print", "match", "locale", "type", "version", "setmaxstack",
+        "P", "R", "S", "C", "V", "Cs", "Ct", "Cs", "Cp", "Carg",
+        "Cg", "Cb", "Cmt", "Cf", "B",
+    },
+    -- bit
+    -- debug
+}
+
+local context                 = context
+local verbatim                = context.verbatim
+local makepattern             = visualizers.makepattern
+
+local LuaSnippet              = context.LuaSnippet
+local startLuaSnippet         = context.startLuaSnippet
+local stopLuaSnippet          = context.stopLuaSnippet
+
+local LuaSnippetBoundary      = verbatim.LuaSnippetBoundary
+local LuaSnippetSpecial       = verbatim.LuaSnippetSpecial
+local LuaSnippetComment       = verbatim.LuaSnippetComment
+local LuaSnippetNameCore      = verbatim.LuaSnippetNameCore
+local LuaSnippetNameBase      = verbatim.LuaSnippetNameBase
+local LuaSnippetNameLibraries = verbatim.LuaSnippetNameLibraries
+local LuaSnippetName          = verbatim.LuaSnippetName
+
+local namespace
+
+local function visualizename_a(s)
+    if core[s] then
+        namespace = nil
+        LuaSnippetNameCore(s)
+    elseif base[s] then
+        namespace = nil
+        LuaSnippetNameBase(s)
+    else
+        namespace = libraries[s]
+        if namespace then
+            LuaSnippetNameLibraries(s)
+        else
+            LuaSnippetName(s)
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+local function visualizename_b(s)
+    if namespace and namespace[s] then
+        namespace = nil
+        LuaSnippetNameLibraries(s)
+    else
+        LuaSnippetName(s)
+    end
+end
+
+local function visualizename_c(s)
+    LuaSnippetName(s)
+end
+
+local handler = visualizers.newhandler {
+    startinline  = function() LuaSnippet(false,"{") end,
+    stopinline   = function() context("}") end,
+    startdisplay = function() startLuaSnippet() end,
+    stopdisplay  = function() stopLuaSnippet() end ,
+    boundary     = function(s) LuaSnippetBoundary(s) end,
+    special      = function(s) LuaSnippetSpecial (s) end,
+    comment      = function(s) LuaSnippetComment (s) end,
+    period       = function(s) verbatim(s) end,
+    name_a       = visualizename_a,
+    name_b       = visualizename_b,
+    name_c       = visualizename_c,
+}
+
+local space       = patterns.space
+local anything    = patterns.anything
+local newline     = patterns.newline
+local emptyline   = patterns.emptyline
+local beginline   = patterns.beginline
+local somecontent = patterns.somecontent
+
+local comment     = P("--")
+local name        = (patterns.letter + patterns.underscore)
+                  * (patterns.letter + patterns.underscore + patterns.digit)^0
+local boundary    = S('()[]{}')
+local special     = S("-+/*^%=#") + P("..")
+
+-- The following longstring parser is taken from Roberto's documentation
+-- that can be found at http://www.inf.puc-rio.br/~roberto/lpeg/lpeg.html.
+
+local equals      = P("=")^0
+local open        = P("[") * Cg(equals, "init") * P("[") * P("\n")^-1
+local close       = P("]") * C(equals) * P("]")
+local closeeq     = Cmt(close * Cb("init"), function(s,i,a,b) return a == b end)
+local longstring  = open * Cs((P(1) - closeeq)^0) * close * Carg(1)
+
+--~ local simple = P ( -- here we hook into the handler but it is default so we could use that
+--~     makepattern(handler,"space",space)
+--~   + makepattern(handler,"newline",newline)
+--~   * makepattern(handler,"emptyline",emptyline)
+--~   * makepattern(handler,"beginline",beginline)
+--~   + makepattern(handler,"default",anything)
+--~ )^0
+
+local function long(content,equals,settings)
+    handler.boundary(format("[%s[",equals or ""))
+    visualizers.write(content,settings) -- unhandled
+    handler.boundary(format("]%s]",equals or ""))
+end
+
+local grammar = visualizers.newgrammar("default", { "visualizer",
+--~     emptyline =
+--~         makepattern(handler,"emptyline",emptyline),
+--~     beginline =
+--~         makepattern(handler,"beginline",beginline),
+--~     newline =
+--~         makepattern(handler,"newline",newline),
+--~     space =
+--~         makepattern(handler,"space",space),
+--~     default =
+--~         makepattern(handler,"default",anything),
+--~     line =
+--~         V("newline") * V("emptyline")^0 * V("beginline"),
+--~     whitespace =
+--~         (V("space") + V("line"))^1,
+--~     optionalwhitespace =
+--~         (V("space") + V("line"))^0,
+--~     content =
+--~         makepattern(handler,"default",somecontent),
+
+    sstring =
+        makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.dquote)
+      * (V("whitespace") + makepattern(handler,"default",1-patterns.dquote))^0
+      * makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.dquote),
+    dstring =
+        makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.squote)
+      * (V("whitespace") + makepattern(handler,"default",1-patterns.squote))^0
+      * makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.squote),
+    longstring =
+        longstring / long,
+    comment =
+        makepattern(handler,"comment",comment)
+      * (V("space") + V("content"))^0,
+    longcomment =
+        makepattern(handler,"comment",comment)
+      * longstring / long,
+    name =
+        makepattern(handler,"name_a",name)
+      * (   V("optionalwhitespace")
+          * makepattern(handler,"default",patterns.period)
+          * V("optionalwhitespace")
+          * makepattern(handler,"name_b",name)
+        )^-1
+      * (   V("optionalwhitespace")
+          * makepattern(handler,"default",patterns.period)
+          * V("optionalwhitespace")
+          * makepattern(handler,"name_c",name)
+        )^0,
+
+    pattern =
+        V("longcomment")
+      + V("comment")
+      + V("longstring")
+      + V("dstring")
+      + V("sstring")
+      + V("name")
+      + makepattern(handler,"boundary",boundary)
+      + makepattern(handler,"special",special)
+
+      + V("space")
+      + V("line")
+      + V("default"),
+
+    visualizer =
+        V("pattern")^1
+} )
+
+local parser = P(grammar)
+
+visualizers.register("lua", { parser = parser, handler = handler, grammar = grammar } )
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-lua.mkiv b/tex/context/base/v-lua.mkiv
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6bfe4a963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-lua.mkiv
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+%D \module
+%D   [       file=v-lua,
+%D        version=2010.10.19,
+%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Visualizer Macros,
+%D       subtitle=\LUA,
+%D         author=Hans Hagen,
+%D           date=\currentdate,
+%D      copyright=PRAGMA-ADE]
+%C
+%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
+%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
+%C details.
+
+\registerctxluafile{v-lua.lua}{1.001}
+
+\unprotect
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippet]
+    [DefaultSnippet]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetName]
+    [\c!color=,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetNameCore]
+    [\c!color=darkgreen,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetNameBase]
+    [\c!color=darkgreen,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetNameLibraries]
+    [\c!color=darkgreen,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetBoundary]
+    [\c!color=darkblue,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetSpecial]
+    [\c!color=darkred,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [LuaSnippetComment]
+    [\c!color=darkyellow,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definetyping
+    [LUA]
+    [\c!option=lua]
+
+\protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-nested.lua b/tex/context/base/v-nested.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e37e1bb58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-nested.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['v-nested'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to v-nested.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+local lpegmatch, patterns = lpeg.match, lpeg.patterns
+local P, V, Carg = lpeg.P, lpeg.V, lpeg.Carg
+
+local context       = context
+local verbatim      = context.verbatim
+local variables     = interfaces.variables
+
+local makepattern   = visualizers.makepattern
+local getvisualizer = visualizers.getvisualizer
+
+local nested = nil
+
+local donestedtypingstart = context.donestedtypingstart
+local donestedtypingstop  = context.donestedtypingstop
+
+local v_none    = variables.none
+local v_slanted = variables.slanted
+
+local handler = visualizers.newhandler {
+    initialize = function(settings)
+        local option = settings and settings.option
+        if not option or option == "" then
+            nested = nil
+        elseif option == v_slanted then
+            nested = nil
+        elseif option == v_none then
+            nested = nil
+        else
+            nested = getvisualizer(option,"direct")
+        end
+    end,
+    open = function()
+        donestedtypingstart()
+    end,
+    close = function()
+        donestedtypingstop()
+    end,
+    content = function(s)
+        if nested then
+            nested(s)
+        else
+            verbatim(s)
+        end
+    end,
+}
+
+local open  = P("<<")
+local close = P(">>")
+local rest  = (1 - open - close - patterns.space - patterns.newline)^1
+
+local grammar = visualizers.newgrammar("default", {
+
+    initialize = patterns.beginofstring * Carg(1) / handler.initialize,
+
+    open       = makepattern(handler,"open",open),
+    close      = makepattern(handler,"close",close),
+    rest       = makepattern(handler,"content",rest),
+
+    nested     = V("open") * (V("pattern")^0) * V("close"),
+    pattern    = V("line") + V("space") + V("nested") + V("rest"),
+
+    visualizer = V("initialize") * (V("pattern")^1)
+
+} )
+
+local parser = P(grammar)
+
+visualizers.register("nested", { parser = parser, handler = handler, grammar = grammar } )
+
+-- lpeg.match(parser,[[<<tf<<sl>>tf<<sl>>tf>>]]) context.par()
+-- lpeg.match(parser,[[<<tf<<sl<<tf>>sl>>tf>>]]) context.par()
+-- lpeg.match(parser,[[sl<<tf<<sl>>tf>>sl]])     context.par()
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-nested.mkiv b/tex/context/base/v-nested.mkiv
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa68483a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-nested.mkiv
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+%D \module
+%D   [       file=v-nested,
+%D        version=2010.10.19,
+%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Visualizer Macros,
+%D       subtitle=Nested,
+%D         author=Hans Hagen,
+%D           date=\currentdate,
+%D      copyright=PRAGMA-ADE]
+%C
+%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
+%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
+%C details.
+
+\registerctxluafile{v-nested.lua}{1.001}
+
+\unprotect
+
+\unexpanded\def\donestedtypingstart{\bgroup\swaptypeface{}}
+\unexpanded\def\donestedtypingstop {\egroup{}}
+
+\unprotect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-tex.lua b/tex/context/base/v-tex.lua
index 0a97d28d6..0977ca571 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/v-tex.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-tex.lua
@@ -1,55 +1,71 @@
 if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['v-tex'] = {
     version   = 1.001,
-    comment   = "companion to buff-vis.mkiv",
+    comment   = "companion to v-tex.mkiv",
     author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
     copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
     license   = "see context related readme files"
 }
 
-local verbatim = context.verbatim
 local P, S, V, patterns = lpeg.P, lpeg.S, lpeg.V, lpeg.patterns
 
-local visualizer = {
-    start    = function() context.startTexSnippet() end,
-    stop     = function() context.stopTexSnippet() end ,
-    name     = function(s) verbatim.TexSnippetName(s) end,
-    group    = function(s) verbatim.TexSnippetGroup(s) end,
-    boundary = function(s) verbatim.TexSnippetBoundary(s) end,
-    special  = function(s) verbatim.TexSnippetSpecial(s) end,
-    comment  = function(s) verbatim.TexSnippetComment(s) end,
-    default  = function(s) verbatim(s) end,
+local context            = context
+local verbatim           = context.verbatim
+local makepattern        = visualizers.makepattern
+
+local TexSnippet         = context.TexSnippet
+local startTexSnippet    = context.startTexSnippet
+local stopTexSnippet     = context.stopTexSnippet
+
+local TexSnippetName     = verbatim.TexSnippetName
+local TexSnippetGroup    = verbatim.TexSnippetGroup
+local TexSnippetBoundary = verbatim.TexSnippetBoundary
+local TexSnippetSpecial  = verbatim.TexSnippetSpecial
+local TexSnippetComment  = verbatim.TexSnippetComment
+
+local handler = visualizers.newhandler {
+    startinline  = function() TexSnippet(false,"{") end,
+    stopinline   = function() context("}") end,
+    startdisplay = function() startTexSnippet() end,
+    stopdisplay  = function() stopTexSnippet() end ,
+    name         = function(s) TexSnippetName(s) end,
+    group        = function(s) TexSnippetGroup(s) end,
+    boundary     = function(s) TexSnippetBoundary(s) end,
+    special      = function(s) TexSnippetSpecial(s) end,
+    comment      = function(s) TexSnippetComment(s) end,
 }
 
--- todo: unicode letters
+-- todo: unicode letters in control sequences (slow as we need to test the nature)
 
-local comment    = S("%")
-local restofline = (1-patterns.newline)^0
-local anything   = patterns.anything
-local name       = P("\\") * (patterns.letter + S("@!?"))^1
-local escape     = P("\\") * (anything - patterns.newline)^-1 -- else we get \n
-local group      = S("${}")
-local boundary   = S('[]()<>#="')
-local special    = S("/^_-&+'`|")
+local comment     = S("%")
+local name        = P("\\") * (patterns.letter + S("@!?"))^1
+local escape      = P("\\") * (patterns.anything - patterns.newline)^-1 -- else we get \n
+local group       = S("${}")
+local boundary    = S('[]()<>#="')
+local special     = S("/^_-&+'`|")
 
 local pattern = visualizers.pattern
 
-local texvisualizer = P { "process",
-    process =
-        V("start") * V("content") * V("stop"),
-    start =
-        pattern(visualizer,"start",patterns.beginofstring),
-    stop =
-        pattern(visualizer,"stop",patterns.endofstring),
-    content = (
-        pattern(visualizer,"comment",comment)
-      * pattern(visualizer,"default",restofline)
-      + pattern(visualizer,"name",name)
-      + pattern(visualizer,"name",escape)
-      + pattern(visualizer,"group",group)
-      + pattern(visualizer,"boundary",boundary)
-      + pattern(visualizer,"special",special)
-      + pattern(visualizer,"default",anything)
-    )^1
-}
+local grammar = visualizers.newgrammar("default", { "visualizer",
+
+    comment     = makepattern(handler,"comment",comment)
+                * (V("space") + V("content"))^0,
+    name        = makepattern(handler,"name",name),
+    escape      = makepattern(handler,"name",escape),
+    group       = makepattern(handler,"group",group),
+    boundary    = makepattern(handler,"boundary",boundary),
+    special     = makepattern(handler,"special",special),
+
+    pattern     =
+        V("comment") + V("name") + V("escape") + V("group") + V("boundary") + V("special")
+      + V("newline") * V("emptyline")^0 * V("beginline")
+      + V("space")
+      + V("default"),
+
+    visualizer  =
+        V("pattern")^1
+
+} )
+
+local parser = P(grammar)
 
-return texvisualizer
+visualizers.register("tex", { parser = parser, handler = handler, grammar = grammar } )
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-tex.mkiv b/tex/context/base/v-tex.mkiv
index 57aab2272..5cd5753bb 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/v-tex.mkiv
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-tex.mkiv
@@ -1,34 +1,51 @@
-% todo: global
+%D \module
+%D   [       file=v-tex,
+%D        version=2010.10.19,
+%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Visualizer Macros,
+%D       subtitle=\TEX,
+%D         author=Hans Hagen,
+%D           date=\currentdate,
+%D      copyright=PRAGMA-ADE]
+%C
+%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
+%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
+%C details.
+
+\registerctxluafile{v-tex.lua}{1.001}
 
 \unprotect
 
 \definestartstop
     [TexSnippet]
-    [\c!style=\tt]
+    [DefaultSnippet]
 
 \definestartstop
     [TexSnippetName]
     [\c!color=darkgreen,
-     \c!style=bold]
+     \c!style=boldface]
 
 \definestartstop
     [TexSnippetGroup]
     [\c!color=darkred,
-     \c!style=bold]
+     \c!style=boldface]
 
 \definestartstop
     [TexSnippetBoundary]
     [\c!color=darkblue,
-     \c!style=bold]
+     \c!style=boldface]
 
 \definestartstop
     [TexSnippetSpecial]
     [\c!color=darkyellow,
-     \c!style=bold]
+     \c!style=boldface]
 
 \definestartstop
     [TexSnippetComment]
     [\c!color=darkyellow,
-     \c!style=bold]
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definetyping
+    [TEX]
+    [\c!option=tex]
 
 \protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-xml.lua b/tex/context/base/v-xml.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf6945e26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-xml.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+if not modules then modules = { } end modules ['v-xml'] = {
+    version   = 1.001,
+    comment   = "companion to v-xml.mkiv",
+    author    = "Hans Hagen, PRAGMA-ADE, Hasselt NL",
+    copyright = "PRAGMA ADE / ConTeXt Development Team",
+    license   = "see context related readme files"
+}
+
+local P, S, V, patterns = lpeg.P, lpeg.S, lpeg.V, lpeg.patterns
+
+local context            = context
+local verbatim           = context.verbatim
+local makepattern        = visualizers.makepattern
+
+local XmlSnippet         = context.XmlSnippet
+local startXmlSnippet    = context.startXmlSnippet
+local stopXmlSnippet     = context.stopXmlSnippet
+
+local XmlSnippetName     = verbatim.XmlSnippetName
+local XmlSnippetKey      = verbatim.XmlSnippetKey
+local XmlSnippetBoundary = verbatim.XmlSnippetBoundary
+local XmlSnippetString   = verbatim.XmlSnippetString
+local XmlSnippetEqual    = verbatim.XmlSnippetEqual
+local XmlSnippetEntity   = verbatim.XmlSnippetEntity
+local XmlSnippetComment  = verbatim.XmlSnippetComment
+local XmlSnippetCdata    = verbatim.XmlSnippetCdata
+
+local handler = visualizers.newhandler {
+    startinline  = function() XmlSnippet(false,"{") end,
+    stopinline   = function() context("}") end,
+    startdisplay = function() startXmlSnippet() end,
+    stopdisplay  = function() stopXmlSnippet () end,
+    name         = function(s) XmlSnippetName(s) end,
+    key          = function(s) XmlSnippetKey(s) end,
+    boundary     = function(s) XmlSnippetBoundary(s) end,
+    string       = function(s) XmlSnippetString(s) end,
+    equal        = function(s) XmlSnippetEqual(s) end,
+    entity       = function(s) XmlSnippetEntity(s) end,
+    comment      = function(s) XmlSnippetComment(s) end,
+    cdata        = function(s) XmlSnippetCdata(s) end,
+}
+
+local comment          = P("--")
+local name             = (patterns.letter + patterns.digit + S('_-.'))^1
+local entity           = P("&") * (1-P(";"))^1 * P(";")
+local openbegin        = P("<")
+local openend          = P("</")
+local closebegin       = P("/>") + P(">")
+local closeend         = P(">")
+local opencomment      = P("<!--")
+local closecomment     = P("-->")
+local openinstruction  = P("<?")
+local closeinstruction = P("?>")
+local opencdata        = P("<![CDATA[")
+local closecdata       = P("]]>")
+
+local grammar = visualizers.newgrammar("default", { "visualizer",
+    sstring =
+        makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.dquote)
+      * (V("whitespace") + makepattern(handler,"default",1-patterns.dquote))^0
+      * makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.dquote),
+    dstring =
+        makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.squote)
+      * (V("whitespace") + makepattern(handler,"default",1-patterns.squote))^0
+      * makepattern(handler,"string",patterns.squote),
+    entity =
+        makepattern(handler,"entity",entity),
+    name =
+        makepattern(handler,"name",name)
+      * (
+            makepattern(handler,"default",patterns.colon)
+          * makepattern(handler,"name",name)
+        )^0,
+    key =
+        makepattern(handler,"key",name)
+      * (
+            makepattern(handler,"default",patterns.colon)
+          * makepattern(handler,"key",name)
+        )^0,
+    attributes = (
+        V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * V("key")
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * makepattern(handler,"equal",patterns.equal)
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * (V("dstring") + V("sstring"))
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+    )^0,
+    open =
+        makepattern(handler,"boundary",openbegin)
+      * V("name")
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * V("attributes")
+      * makepattern(handler,"boundary",closebegin),
+    close =
+        makepattern(handler,"boundary",openend)
+      * V("name")
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * makepattern(handler,"boundary",closeend),
+    comment =
+        makepattern(handler,"boundary",opencomment)
+      * (V("whitespace") + makepattern(handler,"comment",(1-closecomment)))^0 -- slow
+      * makepattern(handler,"boundary",closecomment),
+    cdata =
+        makepattern(handler,"boundary",opencdata)
+      * (V("whitespace") + makepattern(handler,"comment",(1-closecdata)))^0 -- slow
+      * makepattern(handler,"boundary",closecdata),
+    instruction =
+        makepattern(handler,"boundary",openinstruction)
+      * V("name")
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * V("attributes")
+      * V("optionalwhitespace")
+      * makepattern(handler,"boundary",closeinstruction),
+
+    pattern =
+        V("comment")
+      + V("instruction")
+      + V("cdata")
+      + V("close")
+      + V("open")
+      + V("entity")
+      + V("space")
+      + V("line")
+      + V("default"),
+
+    visualizer =
+        V("pattern")^1
+} )
+
+local parser = P(grammar)
+
+visualizers.register("xml", { parser = parser, handler = handler, grammar = grammar } )
diff --git a/tex/context/base/v-xml.mkiv b/tex/context/base/v-xml.mkiv
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3cc9244f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tex/context/base/v-xml.mkiv
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+%D \module
+%D   [       file=v-xml,
+%D        version=2010.10.19,
+%D          title=\CONTEXT\ Visualizer Macros,
+%D       subtitle=\XML,
+%D         author=Hans Hagen,
+%D           date=\currentdate,
+%D      copyright=PRAGMA-ADE]
+%C
+%C This module is part of the \CONTEXT\ macro||package and is
+%C therefore copyrighted by \PRAGMA. See mreadme.pdf for
+%C details.
+
+\registerctxluafile{v-xml.lua}{1.001}
+
+\unprotect
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippet]
+    [DefaultSnippet]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetName]
+    [\c!color=darkblue,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetKey]
+    [\c!color=darkgreen,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetBoundary]
+    [\c!color=darkblue,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetEntity]
+    [\c!color=darkred,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetString]
+    [\c!color=darkblue,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetEqual]
+    [\c!color=darkblue,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetComment]
+    [\c!color=darkyellow,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetCdata]
+    [\c!color=darkyellow,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definestartstop
+    [XmlSnippetInstruction]
+    [\c!color=darkyellow,
+     \c!style=boldface]
+
+\definetyping
+    [XML]
+    [\c!option=xml]
+
+\protect \endinput
diff --git a/tex/generic/context/luatex-fonts-merged.lua b/tex/generic/context/luatex-fonts-merged.lua
index 0209d16bf..b50799488 100644
--- a/tex/generic/context/luatex-fonts-merged.lua
+++ b/tex/generic/context/luatex-fonts-merged.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 -- merged file : luatex-fonts-merged.lua
 -- parent file : luatex-fonts.lua
--- merge date  : 11/20/10 12:51:46
+-- merge date  : 11/26/10 21:21:25
 
 do -- begin closure to overcome local limits and interference
 
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ local lpeg = require("lpeg")
 
 local type = type
 
+-- Beware, we predefine a bunch of patterns here and one reason for doing so
+-- is that we get consistent behaviour in some of the visualizers.
+
 lpeg.patterns  = lpeg.patterns or { } -- so that we can share
 local patterns = lpeg.patterns
 
@@ -159,19 +162,38 @@ local alwaysmatched    = P(true)
 patterns.anything      = anything
 patterns.endofstring   = endofstring
 patterns.beginofstring = alwaysmatched
+patterns.alwaysmatched = alwaysmatched
 
 local digit, sign      = R('09'), S('+-')
 local cr, lf, crlf     = P("\r"), P("\n"), P("\r\n")
+local newline          = crlf + cr + lf
 local utf8next         = R("\128\191")
 local escaped          = P("\\") * anything
 local squote           = P("'")
 local dquote           = P('"')
+local space            = P(" ")
+
+patterns.somecontent   = (anything - newline - space)^1
+patterns.beginline     = #(1-newline)
+
+local utfbom_32_be     = P('\000\000\254\255')
+local utfbom_32_le     = P('\255\254\000\000')
+local utfbom_16_be     = P('\255\254')
+local utfbom_16_le     = P('\254\255')
+local utfbom_8         = P('\239\187\191')
+local utfbom           = utfbom_32_be + utfbom_32_le
+                       + utfbom_16_be + utfbom_16_le
+                       + utfbom_8
+local utftype          = utfbom_32_be / "utf-32-be" + utfbom_32_le  / "utf-32-le"
+                       + utfbom_16_be / "utf-16-be" + utfbom_16_le  / "utf-16-le"
+                       + utfbom_8     / "utf-8"     + alwaysmatched / "unknown"
 
 patterns.utf8one       = R("\000\127")
 patterns.utf8two       = R("\194\223") * utf8next
 patterns.utf8three     = R("\224\239") * utf8next * utf8next
 patterns.utf8four      = R("\240\244") * utf8next * utf8next * utf8next
-patterns.utfbom        = P('\000\000\254\255') + P('\255\254\000\000') + P('\255\254') + P('\254\255') + P('\239\187\191')
+patterns.utfbom        = utfbom
+patterns.utftype       = utftype
 
 local utf8char         = patterns.utf8one + patterns.utf8two + patterns.utf8three + patterns.utf8four
 local validutf8char    = utf8char^0 * endofstring * Cc(true) + Cc(false)
@@ -197,24 +219,30 @@ patterns.hexadecimal   = P("0x") * R("09","AF","af")^1
 patterns.lowercase     = R("az")
 patterns.uppercase     = R("AZ")
 patterns.letter        = patterns.lowercase + patterns.uppercase
-patterns.space         = P(" ")
+patterns.space         = space
 patterns.tab           = P("\t")
 patterns.spaceortab    = patterns.space + patterns.tab
 patterns.eol           = S("\n\r")
 patterns.spacer        = S(" \t\f\v")  -- + string.char(0xc2, 0xa0) if we want utf (cf mail roberto)
-patterns.newline       = crlf + cr + lf
-patterns.nonspace      = 1 - patterns.space
+patterns.newline       = newline
+patterns.emptyline     = newline^1
 patterns.nonspacer     = 1 - patterns.spacer
 patterns.whitespace    = patterns.eol + patterns.spacer
 patterns.nonwhitespace = 1 - patterns.whitespace
+patterns.equal         = P("=")
 patterns.comma         = P(",")
 patterns.commaspacer   = P(",") * patterns.spacer^0
 patterns.period        = P(".")
+patterns.colon         = P(":")
+patterns.semicolon     = P(";")
+patterns.underscore    = P("_")
 patterns.escaped       = escaped
 patterns.squote        = squote
 patterns.dquote        = dquote
-patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * ((escaped + (1-dquote))^0) * (dquote/"")
-patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * ((escaped + (1-squote))^0) * (squote/"")
+patterns.nosquote      = (escaped + (1-squote))^0
+patterns.nodquote      = (escaped + (1-dquote))^0
+patterns.unsingle      = (squote/"") * patterns.nosquote * (squote/"")
+patterns.undouble      = (dquote/"") * patterns.nodquote * (dquote/"")
 patterns.unquoted      = patterns.undouble + patterns.unsingle -- more often undouble
 patterns.unspacer      = ((patterns.spacer^1)/"")^0
 
@@ -237,19 +265,6 @@ function lpeg.splitter(pattern, action)
     return (((1-P(pattern))^1)/action+1)^0
 end
 
-local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * patterns.newline -- sort of strip
-local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
-local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
-local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
-
-local capture = Ct(content^0)
-
-function string.splitlines(str)
-    return match(capture,str)
-end
-
-patterns.textline = content
-
 local splitters_s, splitters_m = { }, { }
 
 local function splitat(separator,single)
@@ -296,6 +311,35 @@ function string.split(str,separator)
     return match(c,str)
 end
 
+local spacing  = patterns.spacer^0 * newline -- sort of strip
+local empty    = spacing * Cc("")
+local nonempty = Cs((1-spacing)^1) * spacing^-1
+local content  = (empty + nonempty)^1
+
+patterns.textline = content
+
+--~ local linesplitter = Ct(content^0)
+--~
+--~ function string.splitlines(str)
+--~     return match(linesplitter,str)
+--~ end
+
+local linesplitter = Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.linesplitter = linesplitter
+
+function string.splitlines(str)
+    return match(linesplitter,str)
+end
+
+local utflinesplitter = utfbom^-1 * Ct(splitat(newline))
+
+patterns.utflinesplitter = utflinesplitter
+
+function string.utfsplitlines(str)
+    return match(utflinesplitter,str)
+end
+
 --~ lpeg.splitters = cache -- no longer public
 
 local cache = { }
@@ -8235,7 +8279,7 @@ local contextsetups  = specifiers.contextsetups
 local contextnumbers = specifiers.contextnumbers
 local contextmerged  = specifiers.contextmerged
 
--- we cannot optimize with "start = first_character(head)" because then we don't
+-- we cannot optimize with "start = first_glyph(head)" because then we don't
 -- know which rlmode we're in which messes up cursive handling later on
 --
 -- head is always a whatsit so we can safely assume that head is not changed