diff --git a/cwMtx.cpp b/cwMtx.cpp
index 90cb06c..30eb58e 100644
--- a/cwMtx.cpp
+++ b/cwMtx.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "cwCommonImpl.h"
 #include "cwMem.h"
 #include "cwObject.h"
+#include "cwVectOps.h"
 #include "cwMtx.h"
 
 
@@ -95,8 +96,13 @@ cw::rc_t cw::mtx::test( const object_t* cfg )
   d_t* mtx1 = nullptr;
   d_t* mtx2 = nullptr;
   d_t* mtx3 = nullptr;
+  d_t* mtx4 = nullptr;
   d_t* mtx_y0   = nullptr;
   d_t* mtx_y1   = nullptr;
+  d_t* mtx_y2   = nullptr;
+  d_t* mtx_y3   = nullptr;
+  d_t* mtx_y4   = nullptr;
+  d_t* mtx_y5   = nullptr;
   d_t  y;
   
   const object_t* m0 = cfg->find("m0");
@@ -115,6 +121,10 @@ cw::rc_t cw::mtx::test( const object_t* cfg )
   if( m3 != nullptr )
     mtx3 = allocCfg<double>(m3);
 
+  const object_t* m4 = cfg->find("m4");
+  if( m4 != nullptr )
+    mtx4 = allocCfg<double>(m4);
+  
   const object_t* y0 = cfg->find("y0");
   if( y0 != nullptr )
     mtx_y0 = allocCfg<double>(y0);
@@ -123,7 +133,7 @@ cw::rc_t cw::mtx::test( const object_t* cfg )
   if( y1 != nullptr )
     mtx_y1 = allocCfg<double>(y1);
   
-  unsigned n = offset(mtx1,1,1);
+  unsigned n = offset(*mtx1,1,1);
   printf("offset: %i\n",n);
   
   
@@ -131,6 +141,7 @@ cw::rc_t cw::mtx::test( const object_t* cfg )
   report(*mtx1,"m1");
   report(*mtx2,"m2");
   report(*mtx3,"m3");
+  report(*mtx4,"m4");
   report(*mtx_y0,"y0");
   report(*mtx_y1,"y1");
 
@@ -152,13 +163,48 @@ cw::rc_t cw::mtx::test( const object_t* cfg )
     if( !is_equal(*mtx_y1,y) )
       rc = cwLogError(kTestFailRC,"Test 1 fail.");
   }
+
+
+  
+  transpose(*mtx0);
+  report(*mtx0,"m0");
+  mtx_y2 = join(0,*mtx0,*mtx4);
+  if( mtx_y2 != nullptr )
+    report(*mtx_y2,"y2");
+
+  report(*mtx0,"m0");
+  report(*mtx4,"m4");
+  mtx_y3 = join(1,*mtx0,*mtx4);
+  if( mtx_y3 != nullptr )
+    report(*mtx_y3,"y3");
+
+
+  mtx_y4 = slice_alias(*mtx_y3,0,0,1);
+  if( mtx_y4 != nullptr )
+  {
+    report(*mtx_y4,"y4 - slice");
+
+    ele(*mtx_y4,2) = 1;
+    ele(*mtx_y4,3) = 2;
+    report(*mtx_y4,"y4 - mod");
+  
+  
+    mtx_y5 = alloc_one_hot(*mtx_y4);
+    if( mtx_y5 != nullptr )
+      report(*mtx_y5,"y5 -(one_hot(y4))");
+  }
   
   release(mtx0);
   release(mtx1);
   release(mtx2);
   release(mtx3);
+  release(mtx4);
   release(mtx_y0);
   release(mtx_y1);
+  release(mtx_y2);
+  release(mtx_y3);
+  release(mtx_y4);
+  release(mtx_y5);
   release(y);
   return rc;
 }
diff --git a/cwMtx.h b/cwMtx.h
index d44f679..54c890a 100644
--- a/cwMtx.h
+++ b/cwMtx.h
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ namespace cw
     {
      kAliasReleaseFl   = 0x01,  // do not allocate memory, use the passed data pointer, and eventually release it
      kAliasNoReleaseFl = 0x02,  // do not allocate memory, use the passed data pointer, and do not ever release it
-     kDuplDataFl       = 0x04,  //  allocate data space and copy the data in
-     kZeroFl           = 0x08,  // zero the newly allocated data 
+     kDimV_NoReleaseFl = 0x04,  // do not release the dimV array when the matrix is released.
+     kDuplDataFl       = 0x08,  //  allocate data space and copy the data in
+     kZeroFl           = 0x10,  // zero the newly allocated data 
     };
       
     template< typename T >
@@ -50,9 +51,11 @@ namespace cw
     template< typename T >
       void release( struct mtx_str<T>& m )
     {
+      if( cwIsNotFlag(m.flags,kDimV_NoReleaseFl) )
         mem::release(m.dimV);
-        if( cwIsNotFlag(m.flags,kAliasNoReleaseFl) )
-          mem::release(m.base);
+      
+      if( cwIsNotFlag(m.flags,kAliasNoReleaseFl) )
+        mem::release(m.base);
     }
     
     template< typename T >
@@ -65,6 +68,24 @@ namespace cw
       }
     }
 
+    // Release data memory when this matrix is released
+    template< typename T >
+      void set_memory_release_flag( struct mtx_str<T>& m, bool linkDimVFl=true )
+    {
+      m.flags = cwClearFlag(m.flags,kAliasNoReleaseFl);
+      if( linkDimVFl )
+        m.flags = cwClearFlag(m.flags,kDimV_NoReleaseFl);
+    }
+
+    // Do NOT release data memory when this matrix is released.
+    template< typename T >
+      void clear_memory_release_flag( struct mtx_str<T>& m, bool linkDimVFl=true )
+    {
+      m.flags = cwSetFlag(m.flags,kAliasNoReleaseFl);
+      if( linkDimVFl )
+        m.flags = cwSetFlag(m.flags,kDimV_NoReleaseFl);
+    }
+
     // 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 )
@@ -133,14 +154,39 @@ namespace cw
       
     }
 
+    template< typename T >
+      struct mtx_str<T>* alloc( const unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, T* base, unsigned flags=0 )
+    { return _init<T>( nullptr, dimN, dimV, base, flags); }
+
+    
+    template< typename T>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* _alloc_( unsigned flags, unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN)
+    {
+      return alloc<T>(dimV, dimN, nullptr, flags );
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* _alloc_( unsigned flags, unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, unsigned n, ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      unsigned _dimV[ dimN + 1 ];
+      vop::copy(_dimV,dimV,dimN);
+      _dimV[dimN] = n;
+      return _alloc_<T>(flags,_dimV, dimN+1, std::forward<ARGS>(args)...);      
+    }
+
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* alloc( unsigned flags, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return _alloc_<T>(flags,nullptr,0,args...); }
+    
+        
     // Allocate the matrix w/o zeroing the initial contents
     template< typename T >
-      struct mtx_str<T>* alloc( unsigned dimN, const unsigned* dimV )
+      struct mtx_str<T>* alloc( const unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN  )
     { return _init<T>( nullptr, dimN, dimV, nullptr, 0); }
 
     // Allocate the matrix and zero the contents
     template< typename T >
-      struct mtx_str<T>* allocZ( unsigned dimN, const unsigned* dimV )
+      struct mtx_str<T>* allocZ( const unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN )
     { return _init<T>( nullptr, dimN, dimV, nullptr, kZeroFl); }
 
     // Allocate the matrix and copy the data from base[]
@@ -161,7 +207,7 @@ namespace cw
 
     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 );
+    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
@@ -199,6 +245,7 @@ namespace cw
       return rc;
     }
 
+    // Allocate a new matrix by parsing an object_t description.
     template< typename T >
       struct mtx_str<T>* allocCfg( const struct object_str* cfg  )
     {
@@ -225,7 +272,7 @@ namespace cw
           return nullptr;
 
         // allocate the matrix
-        if((m = alloc<T>(dimN,dimV)) == nullptr )
+        if((m = alloc<T>(dimV,dimN)) == nullptr )
           cwLogError(kObjAllocFailRC,"A matrix allocation failed.");        
         else
           // 
@@ -233,15 +280,151 @@ namespace cw
             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); }
+      void _slice_setup( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, const unsigned* sIdxV, const unsigned* sCntV, unsigned* siV, unsigned *snV )
+    {
+      // if sIdx is not given then assume it is the origin
+      if( sIdxV != nullptr )
+        vop::copy(siV,sIdxV,m.dimN);
+      else
+        vop::zero(siV,m.dimN);
+
+      // calculate the length in each dimension
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<m.dimN; ++i)
+        snV[i] = (sCntV==nullptr || sCntV[i] == kInvalidCnt) ? m.dimV[i]-siV[i] : sCntV[i];
+      
+    }
+    
+    
+    // Allocate a new matrix by slicing an existing matrix and duplicating the contents into a new matrix
+    // Set the elements of sCntV to kInvalidCnt to indicate that the entire dimension following the offset index should be copied.
+    // Set sIdxV to nullptr to begin at 0,0,...
+    // Set sCntV to nullptr to take all elements after sIdxV.
+    template< typename T0, typename T1 >
+      struct mtx_str<T0>* alloc( const struct mtx_str<T1>& src, const unsigned* sIdxV, const unsigned* sCntV )
+    {
+      struct mtx_str<T0>* m;
+      unsigned siV[ src.dimN ];
+      unsigned snV[ src.dimN ];
+      unsigned dIdxV[ src.dimN ];
+      vop::zero(dIdxV,src.dimN);
+      
+      _slice_setup<T1>(src,sIdxV,sCntV,siV,snV);
+      
+      if((m = alloc<T0>(snV,src.dimN) ) == nullptr )
+        return nullptr;
+
+      copy(*m,dIdxV,src,siV,snV);
+      return m;
+    }
+
+
+    // Allocate a new matrix by slicing an existing matrix and aliasing the contents into a new matrix.
+    // Set the elements of sCntV to kInvalidCnt to indicate that the entire dimension following the offset index should be copied.
+    // Set sIdxV to nullptr to begin at 0,0,...
+    // Set sCntV to nullptr to take all elements after sIdxV.
+    template< typename T >
+      struct mtx_str<T>* sliceAlias( const struct mtx_str<T>& src, const unsigned* sIdxV, const unsigned* sCntV )
+    {
+      struct mtx_str<T>* m;
+      unsigned siV[ src.dimN ];
+      unsigned snV[ src.dimN ];
+
+      _slice_setup(src,sIdxV,sCntV,siV,snV);
+      
+      m = allocAliasNoRelease( src.dimN, snV, addr(src,siV) );
+
+      // the memory layout in the slice mtx is the same as the matrix
+      // that it aliases and therefore the 'mulV' vector is the same
+      // in both matrices.
+      vop::copy(m->mulV,src.mulV,src.dimN);
+
+      return m;
+    }
+    
+    
+    template<typename T0, typename T1>
+      struct mtx_str<T0>* _slice( const struct mtx_str<T1>& m, unsigned* iV, unsigned iN, unsigned index )
+    {
+      // the offset index vector must be fully specified
+      if( index < m.dimN )
+      {
+        cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"An invalid number index + count values was given to slice(). %i < %i.",index,m.dimN);
+        return nullptr;
+      }
+
+      // fill in the end of iV[] with kInvalidCnt to indicate that all values after the offset should be copied
+      for(; index<iN; ++index)
+        iV[index] = kInvalidCnt;
+
+      // allocate a matrix to hold the slice
+      return alloc<T0,T1>(m,iV,iV+m.dimN);
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T0, typename T1, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T0>* _slice( const struct mtx_str<T1>& m, unsigned* iV, unsigned iN, unsigned index, unsigned n,  ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      if( index >= iN )
+      {
+        cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"Too many index/count arguments were passed to mtx::slice().");
+        return nullptr;
+      }
+      
+      iV[index] = n;
+      return _slice<T0,T1>(m,iV,iN,index+1,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...);
+    }
+
+    // This function is a wrapper around alloc(const struct mtx_str<T>& src, const unsigned* sIdxV, const unsigned* sCntV ).
+    // The argument list should specify the values for sIdxV[0:dimN] and sCntV[0:dimN].
+    // The count of arguments should therefore not exceed src.dimN*2.
+    // The sCntV[] argument list may be truncated, or set to kInvalidCnt, if all values after the offset for a given dimension are to be copied.
+    template< typename T0, typename T1, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T0>* slice( const struct mtx_str<T1>& m, ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      unsigned iV[ m.dimN*2 ];
+      return _slice<T0,T1>(m, iV, m.dimN*2, 0, std::forward<ARGS>(args)...);
+    }
+
+    template<typename T>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* _sliceAlias( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, unsigned* iV, unsigned iN, unsigned index )
+    {
+      // the offset index vector must be fully specified
+      if( index < m.dimN )
+      {
+        cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"An invalid number index + count values was given to sliceAlias(). %i < %i.",index,m.dimN);
+        return nullptr;
+      }
+
+      // fill in the end of iV[] with kInvalidCnt to indicate that all values after the offset should be copied
+      for(; index<iN; ++index)
+        iV[index] = kInvalidCnt;
+
+      // allocate a matrix to hold the slice
+      return sliceAlias<T>(m,iV,iV+m.dimN);
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* _sliceAlias( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, unsigned* iV, unsigned iN, unsigned index, unsigned n,  ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      if( index >= iN )
+      {
+        cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"Too many index/count arguments were passed to mtx::sliceAlias().");
+        return nullptr;
+      }
+      
+      iV[index] = n;
+      return _sliceAlias<T>(m,iV,iN,index+1,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...);
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* slice_alias( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      unsigned iV[ m.dimN*2 ];
+      return _sliceAlias<T>(m,iV, m.dimN*2, 0, args...);
+    }
 
     
     // resize m[] 
@@ -255,57 +438,242 @@ namespace cw
     { return resize(y,x->dimV,x->dimN); }
 
 
-    template< typename T >
-      unsigned offset( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    // Copy a slice of src[] into dst[] at a particular location.
+    // dst[] is assumed to be allocated with sufficient size to receive src[].
+    // Set dIdxV to nullptr to copy to the 0,0, ... of the dst matrix
+    // Set sIdxV to nullptr to copy from the 0,0, ... of the src matrix.
+    // Set sCntV to nullptr to cop all of the src matrix.
+    template< typename T0, typename T1 >
+      rc_t copy( struct mtx_str<T0>& dst, const unsigned* dIdxV, const struct mtx_str<T1>& src, const unsigned* sIdxV, const unsigned* sCntV )
     {
-      unsigned offset = 0;      
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<m->dimN; ++i)
-        offset += idxV[i] * m->mulV[i];
+      rc_t rc = kOkRC;
+      unsigned nV[ src.dimN ];
+      unsigned siV[ src.dimN ];
+      unsigned diV[ dst.dimN ];
+      vop::zero(nV,src.dimN);
+
+      if( sCntV == nullptr )
+        sCntV = src.dimV;
+
+      if( sIdxV == nullptr )
+        vop::zero(siV,src.dimN);
+      else
+        vop::copy(siV,sIdxV,src.dimN);
       
-      return offset;
+      if( dIdxV == nullptr )
+        vop::zero(diV,dst.dimN);
+      else
+        vop::copy(diV,dIdxV,dst.dimN);
+      
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+
+      // verify the starting address
+      assert( is_legal_address(dst, diV) );
+      assert( is_legal_address(src, siV) );
+
+      vop::add(siV,sCntV,src.dimN);
+      vop::add(diV,sCntV,dst.dimN);
+
+      vop::sub(siV,1,src.dimN);
+      vop::sub(diV,1,dst.dimN);
+
+      //verify the ending address
+      assert( is_legal_address(dst, diV) );
+      assert( is_legal_address(src, siV) );
+      
+      vop::copy(siV,sIdxV,src.dimN);
+      vop::copy(diV,dIdxV,dst.dimN);
+      
+#endif
+      
+      // copy one element
+      ele(dst, diV ) = ele(src, siV );
+
+      
+      for(int j=0; j >= 0; )
+      {
+        // increment the src and dst addr
+
+        // from highest to lowest degree
+        for(j=src.dimN-1; j>=0; --j)
+        {
+          // if incrementing the jth dim does not overflow ...
+          if( ++nV[j] < sCntV[j] )
+          {
+            siV[j] += 1;
+            diV[j] += 1;
+
+            // copy one element
+            ele(dst, diV ) = ele(src, siV );
+            
+            break;   // .. then incr siV[] and diV[] with the next src/dst address
+          }
+
+          // otherwise reset the counter and address for this dim and backup by one dim.
+          nV[j] = 0;
+          diV[j] = dIdxV[j];
+          siV[j] = sIdxV[j];
+        }
+        
+      }
+      
+      return rc;
+    }
+
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      rc_t _join_update_dims( unsigned index, unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, const struct mtx_str<T>& m  )
+    {
+      rc_t rc = kOkRC;
+      // verify that the degree of all matrices are the same
+      if( m.dimN != dimN )
+        return cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"Join matrix size mismatch. dimN:%i != %i", m.dimN, dimN);
+
+      // only the dimension specified by 'index' may be different
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<dimN; ++i)
+      {
+        if( i == index )
+          dimV[i] += m.dimV[i]; 
+        else
+        {
+          if( dimV[i] != m.dimV[i] )
+            return cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"Join matrix dimV[%i] mismatch: (%i != %i). ",i,dimV[i],m.dimV[i]);
+        }
+      }
+      
+      return rc;
+    }
+
+    template< typename T >
+      void _join_copy( struct mtx_str<T>& dst, const struct mtx_str<T>& src, unsigned index, unsigned ii )
+    {
+      unsigned dIdxV[ dst.dimN ];
+      unsigned sIdxV[ src.dimN ];
+      vop::zero(dIdxV,dst.dimN);
+      vop::zero(sIdxV,src.dimN);
+      dIdxV[ index ] = ii;
+      copy(dst,dIdxV,src,sIdxV,src.dimV);
     }
     
+
+    template< typename T >
+      struct mtx_str<T>* _join( unsigned index, unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, unsigned ii )
+    {
+      // Allocate an empty matrix to copy the joined matrices into.
+      return alloc<T>(dimV,dimN);
+    }
+
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* _join( unsigned index, unsigned* dimV, unsigned dimN, unsigned ii, const struct mtx_str<T>& m,  ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      struct mtx_str<T>* y = nullptr;
+
+      if( _join_update_dims<T>(index,dimV,dimN,m) != kOkRC )
+        return nullptr;
+      
+      if((y =  _join<T>( index, dimV, dimN, ii + m.dimV[index], std::forward<ARGS>(args)...)) != nullptr )
+      {
+        _join_copy(*y,m,index,ii);
+      }
+
+      return y;
+    }
+    
+    template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
+      struct mtx_str<T>* join( unsigned index, const struct mtx_str<T>& m, ARGS&&... args)
+    {
+      
+      struct mtx_str<T>* y = nullptr;
+      unsigned dimV[ m.dimN ];
+
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<m.dimN; ++i)        
+        dimV[i] = m.dimV[i];
+
+      if((y = _join( index, dimV, m.dimN, m.dimV[index], std::forward<ARGS>(args)...)) != nullptr )
+      {
+        _join_copy(*y,m,index,0);
+      }
+
+      return y;
+    }
+
     
     template< typename T >
-      unsigned _offset( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, int i, unsigned offs )
+      bool is_legal_address( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    {
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<m.dimN; ++i)
+        if( idxV[i] >= m.dimV[i] )
+          return false;
+      
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    template< typename T >
+      unsigned offset( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    { return  vop::mac(idxV,m.mulV,m.dimN); }
+    
+    
+    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)...);   }
+      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)...); }
+    { 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)...); }
+      T* addr( struct mtx_str<T>& m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    { return m.base + offset(m,idxV); }
 
     template< typename T >
-      T& ele( const struct mtx_str<T>* m, const unsigned* idxV )
-    { return *addr(m,idxV); }
+      const T* addr( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    { return m.base + offset(m,idxV); }
+    
     
     template< typename T, typename... ARGS>
-      T& ele( struct mtx_str<T>* m, unsigned i, ARGS&&... 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, typename... ARGS>
+      const T* addr( const struct mtx_str<T>& m, unsigned i, ARGS&&... args)
+    { return m.base + offset(m,i,std::forward<ARGS>(args)...); }
+    
+
+
+
+    
+    template< typename T >
+      T& ele( struct mtx_str<T>& m, const unsigned* idxV )
+    { return *addr(m,idxV); }
+
+    template< typename T >
+      const 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, typename... ARGS>
+      const T& ele( const 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); };
+    { 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; }
+    { return m.dimN==2 && m.dimV[0]==1; }
 
     template< typename T >
       bool is_vector( const struct mtx_str<T>& m )
@@ -317,12 +685,8 @@ namespace cw
     {
       if( x0.dimN != x1.dimN )
         return false;
-      
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<x0.dimN; ++i)
-        if( x0.dimV[i] != x1.dimV[i] )
-          return false;
 
-      return true;
+      return vop::is_equal(x0.dimV,x1.dimV,x0.dimN);
     }
     
     template< typename T >
@@ -331,24 +695,14 @@ namespace cw
       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 vop::is_equal(x0.base,x1.base,ele_count(x0));
     }
 
     
     // Return the count of elements in the matrix
     template< typename T >
       unsigned ele_count( const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
-    {
-      unsigned eleN = 1;
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<x.dimN; ++i)
-        eleN *= x.dimV[i];
-      return eleN;
-    }
+    { return vop::cumprod(x.dimV,x.dimN); }
 
     
     template< typename T >
@@ -372,7 +726,7 @@ namespace cw
     {
       if( i == m.dimN )
       {
-        double v = ele( &m, idxV );
+        double v = ele( m, idxV );
 
         // print the value
         printf("%*.*f ",colWidth,decPl,v);
@@ -408,7 +762,7 @@ namespace cw
       unsigned idxV[ m.dimN ];
       memset(idxV,0,sizeof(idxV));
 
-      if( is_int<T>(*m.base) )
+      if( std::numeric_limits<T>::is_integer )
         decPl = 0;
         
       _print( m, idxV, 0, decPl, colWidth );
@@ -441,9 +795,7 @@ namespace cw
       void mult( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
     {
       assert( is_size_equal(y,x) );
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(x);
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] *= x.base[i];
+      vop::mul(y.base,x.base,ele_count<T>(x));
     }
 
     // y = x * scalar (elementwise)
@@ -451,19 +803,13 @@ namespace cw
       void mult( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const struct mtx_str<T>& x, const T& scalar )
     {
       resize<T>(&y,x); // resize y to the same dim's as m
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(x);      
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] = x.base[i] * scalar;
+      vop::mul(y.base,x.base,ele_count<T>(x),scalar);
     }
 
     // y *= scalar (elementwise)
     template< typename T >
     void mult( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const T& scalar )
-    {
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(y);      
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] *= scalar;
-    }
+    { vop::mul(y.base,scalar,ele_count<T>(y)); }
 
     // y = m + x (elementwise)
     template< typename T >
@@ -471,9 +817,7 @@ namespace cw
     {
       assert( is_size_equal(x0,x1) );
       resize<T>(&y,x0); // resize y to the same dim's as m
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(x0);
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] = x0.base[i] + x1.base[i];
+      vop::add(y.base,x0.base,x1.base,ele_count(x0));
     }
 
     // y += x (elementwise)
@@ -481,9 +825,7 @@ namespace cw
       void add( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
     {
       assert( is_size_equal(y,x) );
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(x);
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] += x.base[i];
+      vop::add(y.base,x.base,ele_count(x));      
     }
 
     // y = x + scalar (elementwise)
@@ -491,20 +833,52 @@ namespace cw
       void add( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const struct mtx_str<T>& x, const T& scalar )
     {
       resize(&y,x);
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(y);      
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] = x.base[i] + scalar;
+      vop::add(y.base,x.base,scalar,ele_count<T>(y));
     }
 
     // y += scalar (elementwise)
     template< typename T >
     void add( struct mtx_str<T>& y, const T& scalar )
     {
-      unsigned n = ele_count<T>(y);      
-      for(unsigned i=0; i<n; ++i)
-        y.base[i] += scalar;
+      vop::add(y.base,scalar,ele_count<T>(y));
+    }
+
+
+    template<typename T >
+      const T max( const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
+    {
+      return vop::max(x.base,ele_count<T>(x));
+    }
+
+    template<typename T >
+      const T min( const struct mtx_str<T>& x )
+    {
+      return vop::min(x.base,ele_count<T>(x));
+    }
+
+    template< typename T>
+      struct mtx_str<T>*  alloc_one_hot( const struct mtx_str<T>& mV )
+    {
+      if( !is_vector(mV) )
+      {
+        cwLogError(kInvalidArgRC,"Only vectors can be converted to one-hot matrices.");
+        return nullptr;
+      }
+      
+      int min_val = (int)mtx::min<T>(mV);
+      int max_val = (int)mtx::max<T>(mV);
+      unsigned rN = (max_val - min_val) + 1;
+      unsigned cN = ele_count<T>(mV);
+      struct mtx::mtx_str<T>* zM = mtx::alloc<T>(kZeroFl,rN,cN);
+
+      for(unsigned i=0; i<cN; ++i)
+      {
+        unsigned j = (unsigned)ele<T>(mV,i) - min_val;
+        ele(*zM, j, i) = 1;
+      }
+
+      return zM;      
     }
-    
     
     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 )