diff --git a/cwCommon.h b/cwCommon.h
index ea70dd8..89ec2bc 100644
--- a/cwCommon.h
+++ b/cwCommon.h
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ namespace cw
    kDuplicateRC,            // 23 - an invalid duplicate was detected
    kAssertFailRC,           // 24 - used with cwLogFatal
    kInvalidDataTypeRC,      // 25
-   kBaseAppRC               // 26
+   kFileNotFoundRC,         // 26
+   kTestFailRC,             // 27
+   kBaseAppRC               // 28
   } cwRC_t;
 
   typedef unsigned rc_t;
diff --git a/cwCommonImpl.h b/cwCommonImpl.h
index 7818640..0dee861 100644
--- a/cwCommonImpl.h
+++ b/cwCommonImpl.h
@@ -27,6 +27,47 @@
 
 #define cwStringNullGuard(s) ((s)==nullptr ? "" : (s))
 
+  // Perform byte swapping on 16 bit values.
+#define cwSwap16(x) \
+  (((((unsigned short)(x)) & 0x00ff) << 8) | ((((unsigned short)(x)) & 0xff00) >> 8))
+
+#ifdef OS_LINUX
+#include <byteswap.h>  // gcc specific
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+  // Perform byte swapping on 32 bit values on systems were <byteswap.h> is available.
+#define cwSwap32(x) (bswap_32(x))
+
+  // Perform byte swapping on 64 bit values on systems were <byteswap.h> is  available.
+#define cwSwap64(x) (bswap_64(x))
+
+
+#endif
+
+
+#ifdef OS_OSX
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+  // Perform byte swapping on 32 bit values on systems were <byteswap.h> is not available.
+#define cwSwap32(x)                             \
+  ((((unsigned)((x) & 0x000000FF)) << 24) |   \
+    (((unsigned)((x) & 0x0000FF00)) << 8) |   \
+    (((unsigned)((x) & 0x00FF0000)) >> 8) |   \
+    (((unsigned)((x) & 0xFF000000)) >> 24))
+
+  // Perform byte swapping on 64 bit values on systems were <byteswap.h> is not available.
+#define cwSwap64(x)                                 \
+  (((((unsigned long long)(x))<<56) & 0xFF00000000000000ULL)  |   \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))<<40) & 0x00FF000000000000ULL)  |  \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))<<24) & 0x0000FF0000000000ULL)  |  \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))<< 8) & 0x000000FF00000000ULL)  |  \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))>> 8) & 0x00000000FF000000ULL)  |  \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))>>24) & 0x0000000000FF0000ULL)  |  \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))>>40) & 0x000000000000FF00ULL)  |  \
+    ((((unsigned long long)(x))>>56) & 0x00000000000000FFULL))
+
+#endif
+
 
 #define cwAllFlags(f,m)  (((f) & (m)) == (m))                    // Test if all of a group 'm' of binary flags in 'f' are set.
 #define cwIsFlag(f,m)    (((f) & (m)) ? true : false)            // Test if any one of a the bits in 'm' is also set in 'f'.
@@ -45,6 +86,9 @@
 
 #define cwCountOf(a) (sizeof(a)/sizeof(a[0]))
 
+
+
+
 // Taken from here:
 // https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.std.c/d-6Mj5Lko_s
 // and here:
@@ -91,6 +135,23 @@ namespace cw
 
   
 #define cwAssert(cond) while(1){ if(!(cond)){ cwLogFatal(kAssertFailRC,"Assert failed on condition:%s",#cond ); } break; }
+
+
+  
+  
+  template< typename T>
+    bool is_int(const T& x)
+  { return false; }
+  
+  template<> inline bool is_int<signed   char>(      const signed   char& x )      { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<unsigned char>(      const unsigned char& x )      { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<signed   short>(     const signed   short& x )     { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<unsigned short>(     const unsigned short& x )     { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<signed   long>(      const signed   long& x )      { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<unsigned long>(      const unsigned long& x )      { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<signed long long>(   const signed   long long& x ) { return true; }
+  template<> inline bool is_int<unsigned long long>( const unsigned long long& x ) { return true; }
+  
   
 
   template< typename H, typename T >
diff --git a/cwFileSys.cpp b/cwFileSys.cpp
index dffe1a1..8b8f24e 100644
--- a/cwFileSys.cpp
+++ b/cwFileSys.cpp
@@ -656,3 +656,10 @@ cw::filesys::dirEntry_t* cw::filesys::dirEntries( const char* dirStr, unsigned f
   return r.rp;
 }
 
+cw::rc_t cw::filesys::makeDir( const char* dirStr )
+{
+  if( mkdir(dirStr, S_IRWXU | S_IRWXG | S_IROTH | S_IXOTH) != 0 )
+    return cwLogSysError( kOpFailRC, errno, "The attempt to create the directory '%s' failed.",dirStr);
+
+  return kOkRC;
+}
diff --git a/cwFileSys.h b/cwFileSys.h
index 3f57792..724eeb4 100644
--- a/cwFileSys.h
+++ b/cwFileSys.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ namespace cw
     char* makeFn(  const char* dir, const char* fn, const char* ext, ... );
 
 
+    // The returned string must be released by a call to mem::release() or mem::free().
     char* expandPath( const char* dir );
 
 
@@ -74,7 +75,9 @@ namespace cw
     // number of records in the returned array.
     dirEntry_t* dirEntries( const char* dirStr, unsigned includeFlags, unsigned* dirEntryCntRef );
 
-    
+
+
+    rc_t makeDir( const char* dirStr );
   }
   
 }
diff --git a/cwLog.cpp b/cwLog.cpp
index 201ea38..29fbe76 100644
--- a/cwLog.cpp
+++ b/cwLog.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ namespace cw
 
     idLabelPair_t logLevelLabelArray[] =
     {
+     { kPrint_LogLevel, "" },
      { kDebug_LogLevel,   "debug" },
      { kInfo_LogLevel,    "info" },
      { kWarning_LogLevel, "warning" },
@@ -168,16 +169,29 @@ void cw::log::defaultFormatter( void* cbArg, logOutputCbFunc_t outFunc, void* ou
   if( level < kWarning_LogLevel )
     rcStr = "";
 
-  // levelStr, msg,sys_msg, rc, function, lineno, filename 
-  const char* fmt = "%s: %s %s %s %s\n";
+  if( level == kPrint_LogLevel )
+  {
+    const char* fmt = "%s";
+    int  n = snprintf(nullptr,0,fmt,msg);
+    cwAssert(n != -1);
+    char s[n+1];
+    int m = snprintf(s,n+1,fmt,msg);
+    cwAssert(m==n);
+    outFunc(outCbArg,level,s);     
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    // levelStr, msg,sys_msg, rc, function, lineno, filename 
+    const char* fmt = "%s: %s %s %s %s\n";
 
-  int  n = snprintf(nullptr,0,fmt,levelStr,msg,syStr,rcStr,loStr);
-  cwAssert(n != -1);
-  char s[n+1];
-  int m = snprintf(s,n+1,fmt,levelStr,msg,syStr,rcStr,loStr);
-  cwAssert(m==n);
-
-  outFunc(outCbArg,level,s);     
+    int  n = snprintf(nullptr,0,fmt,levelStr,msg,syStr,rcStr,loStr);
+    cwAssert(n != -1);
+    char s[n+1];
+    int m = snprintf(s,n+1,fmt,levelStr,msg,syStr,rcStr,loStr);
+    cwAssert(m==n);
+    outFunc(outCbArg,level,s);     
+  }
+  
 }
 
 
diff --git a/cwLog.h b/cwLog.h
index 5f55d2a..e782296 100644
--- a/cwLog.h
+++ b/cwLog.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ namespace cw
     typedef enum
     {
      kInvalid_LogLevel,
+     kPrint_LogLevel,
      kDebug_LogLevel,
      kInfo_LogLevel,
      kWarning_LogLevel,
@@ -50,6 +51,9 @@ namespace cw
 #define cwLogVDebugH(h,rc,fmt, vl) cw::log::msg( h, cw::log::kDebug_LogLevel, __FUNCTION__, __FILE__, __LINE__, 0, rc, fmt, vl )
 #define cwLogDebugH( h,rc,fmt,...) cw::log::msg( h, cw::log::kDebug_LogLevel, __FUNCTION__, __FILE__, __LINE__, 0, rc, fmt, ##__VA_ARGS__ )
 
+#define cwLogVPrintH(h,fmt, vl) cw::log::msg( h, cw::log::kPrint_LogLevel, __FUNCTION__, __FILE__, __LINE__, 0, cw::kOkRC, fmt, vl )
+#define cwLogPrintH( h,fmt,...) cw::log::msg( h, cw::log::kPrint_LogLevel, __FUNCTION__, __FILE__, __LINE__, 0, cw::kOkRC, fmt, ##__VA_ARGS__ )
+
 #define cwLogVInfoH(h,fmt, vl) cw::log::msg( h, cw::log::kInfo_LogLevel, __FUNCTION__, __FILE__, __LINE__, 0, cw::kOkRC, fmt, vl )
 #define cwLogInfoH( h,fmt,...) cw::log::msg( h, cw::log::kInfo_LogLevel, __FUNCTION__, __FILE__, __LINE__, 0, cw::kOkRC, fmt, ##__VA_ARGS__ )
 
@@ -83,6 +87,8 @@ namespace cw
 
 #endif
 
+#define cwLogVPrint(fmt, vl)       cwLogVPrintH( cw::log::globalHandle(), (fmt), (vl) )
+#define cwLogPrint( fmt,...)       cwLogPrintH(  cw::log::globalHandle(), (fmt), ##__VA_ARGS__ )
 
 #define cwLogVInfo(fmt, vl)       cwLogVInfoH( cw::log::globalHandle(), (fmt), (vl) )
 #define cwLogInfo( fmt,...)       cwLogInfoH(  cw::log::globalHandle(), (fmt), ##__VA_ARGS__ )
diff --git a/cwMtx.h b/cwMtx.h
index 2bfb647..d44f679 100644
--- a/cwMtx.h
+++ b/cwMtx.h
@@ -1,6 +1,28 @@
 #ifndef cwMtx_h
 #define cwMtx_h
 
+/*
+Memory Layout:
+
+3x2 mtx:
+
+0 3
+1 4
+2 5
+
+3x2x2 mtx
+
+front  back
+0 3  |  6 9
+1 4  |  7 10
+2 5  |  8 11
+
+
+More about dope and weight vectors.
+https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30409991/use-a-dope-vector-to-access-arbitrary-axial-slices-of-a-multidimensional-array
+
+ */
+
 namespace cw
 {
   namespace mtx
@@ -19,22 +41,31 @@ namespace cw
       unsigned  flags = 0;
       unsigned  dimN  = 0;
       unsigned* dimV  = nullptr;
+      unsigned* mulV  = nullptr;
       T*        base  = nullptr;
       unsigned  allocEleN = 0;     // always 0 if data is aliased
-    };
+    };  
 
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      void release( struct mtx_str<T>& m )
+    {
+        mem::release(m.dimV);
+        if( cwIsNotFlag(m.flags,kAliasNoReleaseFl) )
+          mem::release(m.base);
+    }
+    
     template< typename T >
       void release( struct mtx_str<T>*& m )
     {
       if( m != nullptr )
       {
-        mem::release(m->dimV);
-        if( cwIsNotFlag(m->flags,kAliasNoReleaseFl) )
-          mem::release(m->base);
+        release(*m);
         mem::release(m);
       }
     }
 
+    // Note that dimV[] is always copied and therefore is the reponsibility of the caller to free.
     template< typename T >
       struct mtx_str<T>* _init( struct mtx_str<T>* m, unsigned dimN, const unsigned* dimV, T* base=nullptr, unsigned flags=0 )
     {
@@ -42,20 +73,24 @@ namespace cw
       if( m == nullptr )
         m = mem::allocZ<mtx_str<T>>(1);
 
-      // if the pre-allocd mtx obj has more dim's then the new one 
+      // if the pre-allocd mtx obj has more dim's than the new one 
       if( m->dimN >= dimN )
         m->dimN = dimN; 
       else // else expand dimV[]
       {
-        m->dimV = mem::resize<unsigned>(m->dimV,dimN);
+        m->dimV = mem::resize<unsigned>(m->dimV,dimN*2);
+        m->mulV = m->dimV + dimN;
         m->dimN = dimN;
       }
 
       // update dimV[] with the new extents and calc. the new ele count
       unsigned eleN = 0;
+      unsigned mul  = 1;
       for(unsigned i=0; i<dimN; ++i)
       {
         m->dimV[i] = dimV[i];
+        m->mulV[i] = mul;
+        mul *= dimV[i];
         eleN = (i==0 ? 1 : eleN) * dimV[i];
       }
 
@@ -123,7 +158,87 @@ namespace cw
       struct mtx_str<T>* allocAliasNoRelease( unsigned dimN, const unsigned* dimV, const T* base )
     { return _init<T>( nullptr, dimN, dimV, const_cast<T*>(base), kAliasNoReleaseFl); }
 
+
+    unsigned _offsetDimV( const unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, unsigned* idxV );
+    unsigned _offsetMulV( const unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, unsigned* idxV );
+    unsigned     _mtx_object_get_degree(  const struct object_str* cfg );
+    rc_t     _mtx_object_get_shape(   const struct object_str* cfg, unsigned i,  unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, unsigned& eleN );
+
+    // 'i' is the index into 'idxV[]' of the matrix dimension which 'cfg' refers to
+    template< typename T>
+      rc_t _get_mtx_eles_from_cfg( const struct object_str* cfg, struct mtx_str<T>* m, unsigned i, unsigned* idxV )
+    {
+      rc_t rc = kOkRC;
+
+      // if cfg is not a list then this must be a value
+      if( !cfg->is_list() )
+      {
+        // get the value
+        T v;
+        if(cfg->value(v) != kOkRC )
+          return cwLogError(kSyntaxErrorRC,"Unable to obtain matrix value in dimension index: %i\n",i);
+
+        // and store it in the current idxV[] location
+        m->base[ _offsetMulV(m->mulV,m->dimN,idxV) ] = v;
+        
+        return kOkRC;
+      }
+
+      // otherwise this is a list - and the list must contain lists or values
+      for(unsigned j=0; j<cfg->child_count(); ++j)
+      {
+        // update idxV[] which the dimension of the ith child elment
+        idxV[i] = j;
+
+        // recurse!
+        if((rc = _get_mtx_eles_from_cfg(cfg->child_ele(j) ,m, i+1, idxV)) != kOkRC )
+          break;
+      }
+
+
+      return rc;
+    }
+
+    template< typename T >
+      struct mtx_str<T>* allocCfg( const struct object_str* cfg  )
+    {
+      unsigned           dimN = 0;
+
+      // get the degree of the matrix
+      dimN = _mtx_object_get_degree(cfg);
+
+      // if 'cfg' does not refer to a matrix
+      if( dimN == 0 )
+      {
+        cwLogError(kSyntaxErrorRC,"The matrix object does not have a list-list syntax.");
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        // allocate the shape vector
+        unsigned dimV[dimN];
+        unsigned idxV[dimN];
+        unsigned eleN = 0;
+        struct mtx_str<T>* m = nullptr;
+
+        // get the shape of the matrix
+        if( _mtx_object_get_shape(cfg,0,dimV,dimN,eleN) != kOkRC )
+          return nullptr;
+
+        // allocate the matrix
+        if((m = alloc<T>(dimN,dimV)) == nullptr )
+          cwLogError(kObjAllocFailRC,"A matrix allocation failed.");        
+        else
+          // 
+          if(_get_mtx_eles_from_cfg<T>(cfg,m,0,idxV) == kOkRC )
+            return m;
+        
+      }
+      
+      return nullptr;
+
+    }
     
+
     template< typename T >
       struct mtx_str<T>* alloc( unsigned dimN, const unsigned* dimV, T* base=nullptr, unsigned flags=0 )
     { return _init<T>( nullptr, dimN, dimV, base, flags); }
@@ -139,6 +254,63 @@ namespace cw
       struct mtx_str<T>* resize( struct mtx_str<T>* y, const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
     { return resize(y,x->dimV,x->dimN); }
 
+
+    template< typename T >
+      unsigned offset( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    {
+      unsigned offset = 0;      
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<m->dimN; ++i)
+        offset += idxV[i] * m->mulV[i];
+      
+      return offset;
+    }
+    
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      unsigned _offset( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, int i, unsigned offs )
+    { return offs; }
+
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      unsigned _offset( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, int i, unsigned offs, unsigned idx, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return _offset(m,i+1, offs + idx*m->mulV[i], std::forward<ARGS>(args)...);   }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      unsigned offset( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, unsigned idx, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return _offset(m,0,0,idx,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...); }
+
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      unsigned offset( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, unsigned idx, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return _offset(&m,0,0,idx,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...); }
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      T* addr( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    { return m->base + offset(m,idxV); }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      T* addr( struct mtx_str<T>* m, unsigned i, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return m->base + offset(m,i,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...); }
+
+    template< typename T >
+      T& ele( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    { return *addr(m,idxV); }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      T& ele( struct mtx_str<T>* m, unsigned i, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return *addr(m,i,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...); }
+    
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      bool is_col_vector( const struct mtx_str<T>& m )
+    { return m->dimN==1 || (m->dimN==2 && m->dimV[1]==1); };
+
+    template< typename T >
+      bool is_row_vector( const struct mtx_str<T>& m )
+    { return m->dimN==2 && m->dimV[0]==1; }
+
+    template< typename T >
+      bool is_vector( const struct mtx_str<T>& m )
+    { return is_col_vector(m) || is_row_vector(m); }
+      
     // Return 'true' if the matrices have the same size.
     template< typename T >
       bool is_size_equal( const struct mtx_str<T>& x0, const struct mtx_str<T>& x1 )
@@ -146,22 +318,112 @@ namespace cw
       if( x0.dimN != x1.dimN )
         return false;
       
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<x0->dimN; ++i)
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<x0.dimN; ++i)
         if( x0.dimV[i] != x1.dimV[i] )
           return false;
 
       return true;
     }
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      bool is_equal( const struct mtx_str<T>& x0, const struct mtx_str<T>& x1 )
+    {
+      if( !is_size_equal(x0,x1) )
+        return false;
 
+      unsigned N = ele_count(x0);
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<N; ++i)
+        if( x0.base[i] != x1.base[i] )
+          return false;
+
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    
     // Return the count of elements in the matrix
     template< typename T >
-      bool ele_count( const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
+      unsigned ele_count( const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
     {
       unsigned eleN = 1;
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<eleN; ++i)
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<x.dimN; ++i)
         eleN *= x.dimV[i];
       return eleN;
     }
+
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      void transpose( struct mtx_str<T>& m )
+    {
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<m.dimN/2; ++i)
+      {
+        unsigned x             = m.mulV[i];
+        m.mulV[i]              = m.mulV[ m.dimN-(i+1) ];
+        m.mulV[ m.dimN-(i+1) ] = x;
+
+        x = m.dimV[i];
+        m.dimV[i] = m.dimV[ m.dimN-(i+1) ];
+        m.dimV[m.dimN-(i+1)] = x;
+      }
+    }
+
+
+    template< typename T >
+      void _print( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, unsigned* idxV, unsigned i, unsigned decPl, unsigned colWidth )
+    {
+      if( i == m.dimN )
+      {
+        double v = ele( &m, idxV );
+
+        // print the value
+        printf("%*.*f ",colWidth,decPl,v);
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        for(unsigned j=0; j<m.dimV[i]; ++j)
+        {
+          if( m.dimN>=2 && i == m.dimN-2 )
+          {
+            // print the dimension index for matrices with 3+ dim's
+            if( i > 0 && j == 0 )
+              printf("%i\n",idxV[i-1]);
+
+            // print the row index for matrices with 2+ dim's
+            if( m.dimN>1 )
+              printf("%i | ",j);
+          }
+          
+          idxV[i] = j;
+          _print(m, idxV, i+1, decPl, colWidth );
+        }
+        
+        // prevent multiple newlines on last printed line
+        if( m.dimN==1 || (m.dimN>=2 && i > m.dimN-2) )
+          printf("\n");
+      }
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      void print( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, unsigned decPl=3, unsigned colWidth=10 )
+    {
+      unsigned idxV[ m.dimN ];
+      memset(idxV,0,sizeof(idxV));
+
+      if( is_int<T>(*m.base) )
+        decPl = 0;
+        
+      _print( m, idxV, 0, decPl, colWidth );
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      void report( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, const char* label, unsigned decPl=3, unsigned colWidth=10 )
+    {
+      printf("%s :",label);
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<m.dimN; ++i)
+        printf("%i ", m.dimV[i] );
+      printf("\n");
+      
+      print(m,decPl,colWidth);
+    }
     
     // y = m * x (elementwise)
     template< typename T >
@@ -244,15 +506,60 @@ namespace cw
     }
     
     
-    template< typename T >
-      void mtx_mul( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const struct mtx_str<T>& m, const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
+    template< typename T0, typename T1 >
+      rc_t mtx_mul( struct mtx_str<T0>& y, const struct mtx_str<T0>& m, const struct mtx_str<T1>& x )
     {
+      assert( x.dimN >= 1 && m.dimN >= 1 );
+      
+      unsigned xrn = x.dimN==1 ? ele_count<T1>(x) : x.dimV[0];
+      unsigned xcn = x.dimN==1 ? 1                : x.dimV[1];
+      unsigned mrn = m.dimN==1 ? 1                : m.dimV[0];
+      unsigned mcn = m.dimN==1 ? ele_count<T0>(m) : m.dimV[1];
+      unsigned yDimV[] = { mrn, xcn };
+      if( mcn != xrn )
+        return cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC, "Mtx mult. failed. Size mismatch: m[%i,%i] x[%i,%i].",mrn,mcn,xrn,xcn);
+
+      //printf("%i %i : %i %i\n",mrn,mcn,xrn,xcn);
+      
+      resize(&y,yDimV, 2 );
+
+      // go across the columns of x
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<xcn; ++i)
+      {
+        // go down the rows of m[]
+        for(unsigned j=0; j<mrn; ++j)
+        {
+          // calc the first memory offset for each mtx
+          unsigned yi = offset(y,j,i);  
+          unsigned mi = offset(m,j,0);
+          unsigned xi = offset(x,0,i);
+
+          // calc increment for each offset by calc'ing
+          // the second offset and subtracting the first
+          unsigned dxi = offset(x,1,i) - xi;
+          unsigned dmi = offset(m,j,1) - mi;
+
+          // calc stopping point
+          unsigned mN = mi + (mcn*dmi);
+
+          y.base[ yi ] = 0;
+
+          // go down the rows of x[] and across the columns of m[]
+          for(; mi<mN; mi+=dmi,xi+=dxi)
+            y.base[ yi ] += m.base[ mi ] * x.base[ xi ];
+          
+        }
+      }
+      
+      return kOkRC;
     }
 
 
     
-    typedef struct mtx_str<float> fmtx_t;
+    typedef struct mtx_str<float>  f_t;
+    typedef struct mtx_str<double> d_t;
 
+    rc_t test( const struct object_str* cfg );
     
     
   }
diff --git a/cwObject.h b/cwObject.h
index 5a6f5f8..66765e5 100644
--- a/cwObject.h
+++ b/cwObject.h
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ namespace cw
     rc_t value( bool& v ) const;
     rc_t value( char*& v ) const;
     rc_t value( const char*& v ) const;
-
+    rc_t value( const struct object_str*& v) const {v=this; return kOkRC; }
+      
     const char* pair_label() const;
     
     const struct object_str* pair_value() const;
@@ -143,6 +144,10 @@ namespace cw
     const struct object_str* find( const char* label, unsigned flags=0 ) const;
     struct       object_str* find( const char* label, unsigned flags=0 );
     
+    const struct object_str* find_child( const char* label ) const { return find(label,kNoRecurseFl); }
+    struct       object_str* find_child( const char* label )       { return find(label,kNoRecurseFl); }
+
+    
     const struct object_str* child_ele( unsigned idx ) const;
     struct       object_str* child_ele( unsigned idx );
 
@@ -185,7 +190,7 @@ namespace cw
     unsigned to_string( char* buf, unsigned bufByteN ) const;
     void print(const print_ctx_t* c=NULL) const;
     struct object_str* duplicate() const;
-    
+
   } object_t;
 
   object_t* newObject( std::uint8_t  v, object_t* parent=nullptr);
@@ -221,6 +226,7 @@ namespace cw
   rc_t objectFromFile( const char* fn, object_t*& objRef );
   void objectPrintTypes( object_t* o );
 
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/cwUtility.cpp b/cwUtility.cpp
index d7f3449..8c54282 100644
--- a/cwUtility.cpp
+++ b/cwUtility.cpp
@@ -35,3 +35,89 @@ void cw::printHex( const void* buf, unsigned bufByteN, bool asciiFl )
     }
   }  
 }
+
+
+// TODO: rewrite to avoid copying
+// this code comes via csound source ...
+double 		cw::x80ToDouble( unsigned char rate[10] )
+{
+  	char sign;
+    short exp = 0;
+    unsigned long mant1 = 0;
+    unsigned long mant0 = 0;
+    double val;
+    unsigned char* p = (unsigned char*)rate;
+
+    exp = *p++;
+    exp <<= 8;
+    exp |= *p++;
+    sign = (exp & 0x8000) ? 1 : 0;
+    exp &= 0x7FFF;
+    
+    mant1 = *p++;
+    mant1 <<= 8;
+    mant1 |= *p++;
+    mant1 <<= 8;
+    mant1 |= *p++;
+    mant1 <<= 8;
+    mant1 |= *p++;
+
+    mant0 = *p++;
+    mant0 <<= 8;
+    mant0 |= *p++;
+    mant0 <<= 8;
+    mant0 |= *p++;
+    mant0 <<= 8;
+    mant0 |= *p++;
+
+    /* special test for all bits zero meaning zero 
+       - else pow(2,-16383) bombs */
+    if (mant1 == 0 && mant0 == 0 && exp == 0 && sign == 0)
+      return 0.0;
+    else {
+      val  = ((double)mant0) * pow(2.0,-63.0);
+      val += ((double)mant1) * pow(2.0,-31.0);
+      val *= pow(2.0,((double) exp) - 16383.0);
+      return sign ? -val : val;
+    }
+}
+
+// TODO: rewrite to avoid copying
+/*
+ * Convert double to IEEE 80 bit floating point
+ * Should be portable to all C compilers.
+ * 19aug91 aldel/dpwe  covered for MSB bug in Ultrix 'cc'
+ */
+
+void cw::doubleToX80(double val, unsigned char rate[10])
+{
+    char sign = 0;
+    short exp = 0;
+    unsigned long mant1 = 0;
+    unsigned long mant0 = 0;
+    unsigned char* p = (unsigned char*)rate;
+
+    if (val < 0.0)	{  sign = 1;  val = -val; }
+	
+    if (val != 0.0)	/* val identically zero -> all elements zero */
+      {
+        exp = (short)(std::log(val)/std::log(2.0) + 16383.0);
+        val *= pow(2.0, 31.0+16383.0-(double)exp);
+        mant1 =((unsigned)val);
+        val -= ((double)mant1);
+        val *= pow(2.0, 32.0);
+        mant0 =((double)val);
+      }
+    
+    *p++ = ((sign<<7)|(exp>>8));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & exp);
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant1>>24));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant1>>16));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant1>> 8));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant1));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant0>>24));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant0>>16));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant0>> 8));
+    *p++ = (u_char)(0xFF & (mant0));
+
+}
diff --git a/cwUtility.h b/cwUtility.h
index 5285717..88d5d00 100644
--- a/cwUtility.h
+++ b/cwUtility.h
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 namespace cw
 {
   void printHex( const void* buf, unsigned bufByteN, bool asciiFl=true );
+  
+  double   x80ToDouble( unsigned char s[10] );
+  void     doubleToX80( double v, unsigned char s[10] );
     
 }