diff --git a/hawk/lib/Hawk.cpp b/hawk/lib/Hawk.cpp
index e4c813a5..f1d53c5b 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/Hawk.cpp
+++ b/hawk/lib/Hawk.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 HAWK_BEGIN_NAMESPACE(HAWK)
 /////////////////////////////////
 
-
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Mmged
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -732,6 +731,7 @@ int Hawk::Value::setStr (const hawk_uch_t* str, bool numeric)
 int Hawk::Value::setStr (Run* r, const hawk_uch_t* str, bool numeric)
 {
 	hawk_val_t* tmp;
+
 	tmp = numeric? hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithucstr(r->rtx, str):
 	               hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithucstr(r->rtx, str);
 	if (tmp == HAWK_NULL) 
@@ -784,6 +784,7 @@ int Hawk::Value::setStr (const hawk_bch_t* str, bool numeric)
 int Hawk::Value::setStr (Run* r, const hawk_bch_t* str, bool numeric)
 {
 	hawk_val_t* tmp;
+
 	tmp = numeric? hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbcstr(r->rtx, str):
 	               hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithbcstr(r->rtx, str);
 	if (tmp == HAWK_NULL) 
@@ -1770,6 +1771,12 @@ int Hawk::call (const hawk_uch_t* name, Value* ret, const Value* args, hawk_oow_
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int Hawk::exec (Value* ret, const Value* args, hawk_oow_t nargs)
+{
+	return (this->runctx.rtx->awk->parse.pragma.startup[0] != '\0')?
+		this->call(this->runctx.rtx->awk->parse.pragma.startup, ret, args, nargs): this->loop(ret);
+}
+
 void Hawk::halt () 
 {
 	HAWK_ASSERT (awk != HAWK_NULL);
diff --git a/hawk/lib/Hawk.hpp b/hawk/lib/Hawk.hpp
index 69335038..95fc1abe 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/Hawk.hpp
+++ b/hawk/lib/Hawk.hpp
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ public:
 
 		void clear ();
 
-		operator hawk_val_t* () const { return val; }
+		operator hawk_val_t* () const { return this->val; }
 		operator hawk_int_t () const;
 		operator hawk_flt_t () const;
 		operator const hawk_ooch_t* () const;
@@ -1001,17 +1001,17 @@ public:
 
 		hawk_val_t* toVal () const
 		{
-			return operator hawk_val_t* ();
+			return this->operator hawk_val_t* ();
 		}
 
 		hawk_int_t toInt () const
 		{
-			return operator hawk_int_t ();
+			return this->operator hawk_int_t ();
 		}
 
 		hawk_flt_t toFlt () const
 		{
-			return operator hawk_flt_t ();
+			return this->operator hawk_flt_t ();
 		}
 
 		const hawk_ooch_t* toStr (hawk_oow_t* len) const
@@ -1385,6 +1385,16 @@ public:
 		hawk_oow_t         nargs  ///< number of arguments
 	);
 
+	///
+	/// The exec() function is the same as loop() if no @pragma startup
+	/// is specified. It is the same as call() if it is specifed
+	/// 
+	int exec (
+		Value*             ret,   ///< return value holder
+		const Value*       args,  ///< argument array
+		hawk_oow_t         nargs  ///< number of arguments
+	);
+
 	///
 	/// The halt() function makes request to abort execution
 	///
@@ -1462,6 +1472,17 @@ public:
 	///
 	void clearArguments ();
 
+	hawk_oow_t getArgumentCount () const
+	{	
+		return this->runarg.len;
+	}
+
+	const hawk_ooch_t* getArgument (hawk_oow_t index, hawk_oow_t* len = HAWK_NULL) const
+	{
+		if (len) *len = this->runarg.ptr[index].len;
+		return this->runarg.ptr[index].ptr;
+	}
+
 	///
 	/// The addGlobal() function registers an intrinsic global variable. 
 	/// \return integer >= 0 on success, -1 on failure.
diff --git a/hawk/lib/hawk-pio.h b/hawk/lib/hawk-pio.h
index 94e57f9c..f2183f37 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/hawk-pio.h
+++ b/hawk/lib/hawk-pio.h
@@ -293,10 +293,18 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_pio_pid_t hawk_pio_getchild (
 HAWK_EXPORT hawk_ooi_t hawk_pio_read (
 	hawk_pio_t*    pio,  /**< pio object */
 	hawk_pio_hid_t hid,  /**< handle ID */
-	void*         buf,  /**< buffer to fill */
-	hawk_oow_t    size  /**< buffer size */
+	void*          buf,  /**< buffer to fill */
+	hawk_oow_t     size  /**< buffer size */
 );
 
+HAWK_EXPORT hawk_ooi_t hawk_pio_readbytes (
+	hawk_pio_t*    pio,  /**< pio object */
+	hawk_pio_hid_t hid,  /**< handle ID */
+	void*          buf,  /**< buffer to fill */
+	hawk_oow_t     size  /**< buffer size */
+);
+
+
 /**
  * The hawk_pio_write() function writes up \a size bytes/characters 
  * from the buffer pointed to by \a data. If #HAWK_PIO_TEXT is used 
diff --git a/hawk/lib/hawk-prv.h b/hawk/lib/hawk-prv.h
index fee25845..65e47267 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/hawk-prv.h
+++ b/hawk/lib/hawk-prv.h
@@ -392,6 +392,7 @@ struct hawk_rtx_t
 		hawk_ooecs_t line; /* entire line */
 		hawk_ooecs_t linew; /* line for manipulation, if necessary */
 		hawk_ooecs_t lineg; /* line buffer for getline */
+		hawk_becs_t linegb; /* line buffer for getline mbs */
 
 		hawk_val_t* d0; /* $0 */
 
diff --git a/hawk/lib/hawk.h b/hawk/lib/hawk.h
index c1914cfb..e1769143 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/hawk.h
+++ b/hawk/lib/hawk.h
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ enum hawk_rio_cmd_t
 	HAWK_RIO_CMD_CLOSE       = 1, /**< close a stream */
 	HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ        = 2, /**< read a stream */
 	HAWK_RIO_CMD_WRITE       = 3, /**< write to a stream */
-	/*HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ_BYTES  = 4,*/
+	HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ_BYTES  = 4,
 	HAWK_RIO_CMD_WRITE_BYTES = 5,
 	HAWK_RIO_CMD_FLUSH       = 6, /**< flush buffered data to a stream */
 	HAWK_RIO_CMD_NEXT        = 7  /**< close the current stream and 
diff --git a/hawk/lib/pio.c b/hawk/lib/pio.c
index 30f62f1c..7fa33062 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/pio.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/pio.c
@@ -1993,6 +1993,14 @@ hawk_ooi_t hawk_pio_read (hawk_pio_t* pio, hawk_pio_hid_t hid, void* buf, hawk_o
 		hawk_tio_read(pio->pin[hid].tio, buf, size);
 }
 
+hawk_ooi_t hawk_pio_readbytes (hawk_pio_t* pio, hawk_pio_hid_t hid, void* buf, hawk_oow_t size)
+{
+	return (pio->pin[hid].tio == HAWK_NULL)?
+		pio_read(pio, buf, size, pio->pin[hid].handle):
+		hawk_tio_readbchars(pio->pin[hid].tio, buf, size);
+}
+
+
 static hawk_ooi_t pio_write (hawk_pio_t* pio, const void* data, hawk_oow_t size, hawk_pio_hnd_t hnd)
 {
 #if defined(_WIN32)
@@ -2053,7 +2061,7 @@ static hawk_ooi_t pio_write (hawk_pio_t* pio, const void* data, hawk_oow_t size,
 		size = HAWK_TYPE_MAX(hawk_ooi_t) & HAWK_TYPE_MAX(size_t);
 
 rewrite:
-	n = HAWK_WRITE (hnd, data, size);
+	n = HAWK_WRITE(hnd, data, size);
 	if (n <= -1) 
 	{
 		if (errno == EINTR)
diff --git a/hawk/lib/rio.c b/hawk/lib/rio.c
index 3594f81e..08f38e9b 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/rio.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/rio.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ static HAWK_INLINE int resolve_rs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* rs, hawk_oocs_t*
 			break;
 
 		default:
-			rrs->ptr = hawk_rtx_valtooocstrdup (rtx, rs, &rrs->len);
+			rrs->ptr = hawk_rtx_valtooocstrdup(rtx, rs, &rrs->len);
 			if (rrs->ptr == HAWK_NULL) ret = -1;
 			break;
 	}
@@ -227,10 +227,7 @@ static HAWK_INLINE int match_long_rs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_ooecs_t* buf, hawk_r
 	HAWK_ASSERT (rtx->gbl.rs[0] != HAWK_NULL);
 	HAWK_ASSERT (rtx->gbl.rs[1] != HAWK_NULL);
 
-	ret = hawk_rtx_matchrex(
-		rtx, rtx->gbl.rs[rtx->gbl.ignorecase], 
-		HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(buf), HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(buf),
-		&match, HAWK_NULL);
+	ret = hawk_rtx_matchrex(rtx, rtx->gbl.rs[rtx->gbl.ignorecase], HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(buf), HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(buf), &match, HAWK_NULL);
 	if (ret >= 1)
 	{
 		if (p->in.eof)
@@ -279,6 +276,68 @@ static HAWK_INLINE int match_long_rs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_ooecs_t* buf, hawk_r
 	return ret;
 }
 
+
+#if 0
+
+static HAWK_INLINE int match_long_rs_bytes (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_becs_t* buf, hawk_rio_arg_t* p)
+{
+	hawk_oocs_t match;
+	int ret;
+
+	HAWK_ASSERT (rtx->gbl.rs[0] != HAWK_NULL);
+	HAWK_ASSERT (rtx->gbl.rs[1] != HAWK_NULL);
+
+	ret = hawk_rtx_matchrex(rtx, rtx->gbl.rs[rtx->gbl.ignorecase], HAWK_BECS_OOCS(buf), HAWK_BECS_OOCS(buf), &match, HAWK_NULL);
+	if (ret >= 1)
+	{
+		if (p->in.eof)
+		{
+			/* when EOF is reached, the record buffer
+			 * is not added with a new character. It's
+			 * just called again with the same record buffer
+			 * as the previous call to this function.
+			 * A match in this case must end at the end of
+			 * the current record buffer */
+			HAWK_ASSERT (HAWK_BECS_PTR(buf) + HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) == match.ptr + match.len);
+
+			/* drop the RS part. no extra character after RS to drop
+			 * because we're at EOF and the EOF condition didn't
+			 * add a new character to the buffer before the call
+			 * to this function.
+			 */
+			HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= match.len;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			/* If the match is found before the end of the current buffer,
+			 * I see it as the longest match. A match ending at the end
+			 * of the buffer is not indeterministic as we don't have the
+			 * full input yet.
+			 */
+			const hawk_ooch_t* be = HAWK_BECS_PTR(buf) + HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf);
+			const hawk_ooch_t* me = match.ptr + match.len;
+
+			if (me < be)
+			{
+				/* the match ends before the ending boundary.
+				 * it must be the longest match. drop the RS part
+				 * and the characters after RS. */
+				HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= match.len + (be - me);
+				p->in.pos -= (be - me);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				/* the match is at the ending boundary. switch to no match */
+				ret = 0;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+#endif
+
 int hawk_rtx_readio (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int in_type, const hawk_ooch_t* name, hawk_ooecs_t* buf)
 {
 	hawk_rio_arg_t* p;
@@ -337,8 +396,8 @@ int hawk_rtx_readio (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int in_type, const hawk_ooch_t* name, hawk
 				if (hawk_rtx_geterrnum(rtx) == HAWK_ENOERR)
 				{
 					/* if the error number has not been 
-				 	 * set by the user handler, we set
-				 	 * it here to HAWK_EIOIMPL. */
+					 * set by the user handler, we set
+					 * it here to HAWK_EIOIMPL. */
 					hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_EIOIMPL);
 				}
 
@@ -353,8 +412,7 @@ int hawk_rtx_readio (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int in_type, const hawk_ooch_t* name, hawk
 
 				if (HAWK_OOECS_LEN(buf) == 0)
 				{
-					/* We can return EOF now if the record buffer
-					 * is empty */
+					/* We can return EOF now if the record buffer is empty */
 					ret = 0;
 				}
 				else if (rrs.ptr && rrs.len == 0)
@@ -598,6 +656,331 @@ int hawk_rtx_readio (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int in_type, const hawk_ooch_t* name, hawk
 	return ret;
 }
 
+
+int hawk_rtx_readiobytes (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int in_type, const hawk_ooch_t* name, hawk_becs_t* buf)
+{
+#if 0
+	hawk_rio_arg_t* p;
+	hawk_rio_impl_t handler;
+	int ret;
+
+	hawk_val_t* rs;
+	hawk_oocs_t rrs;
+
+	hawk_oow_t line_len = 0;
+	hawk_bch_t c = '\0', pc;
+
+	if (find_rio_in(rtx, in_type, name, &p, &handler) <= -1) return -1;
+	if (p->in.eos) return 0; /* no more streams left */
+
+	/* ready to read a record(typically a line). clear the buffer. */
+	hawk_becs_clear (buf);
+
+	/* get the record separator */
+	rs = hawk_rtx_getgbl(rtx, HAWK_GBL_RS);
+	hawk_rtx_refupval (rtx, rs);
+
+	if (resolve_rs(rtx, rs, &rrs) <= -1)
+	{
+		hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, rs);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	ret = 1;
+
+	/* call the I/O handler */
+	while (1)
+	{
+		if (p->in.pos >= p->in.len)
+		{
+			hawk_ooi_t x;
+
+			/* no more data in the read buffer.
+			 * let the I/O handler read more */
+
+			if (p->in.eof)
+			{
+				/* it has reached EOF at the previous call. */
+				if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) == 0)
+				{
+					/* we return EOF if the record buffer is empty */
+					ret = 0;
+				}
+				break;
+			}
+
+			hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_ENOERR);
+			x = handler(rtx, HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ_BYTES, p, p->in.buf, HAWK_COUNTOF(p->in.buf));
+			if (x <= -1)
+			{
+				if (hawk_rtx_geterrnum(rtx) == HAWK_ENOERR)
+				{
+					/* if the error number has not been 
+					 * set by the user handler, we set
+					 * it here to HAWK_EIOIMPL. */
+					hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_EIOIMPL);
+				}
+
+				ret = -1;
+				break;
+			}
+
+			if (x == 0)
+			{
+				/* EOF reached */
+				p->in.eof = 1;
+
+				if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) == 0)
+				{
+					/* We can return EOF now if the record buffer is empty */
+					ret = 0;
+				}
+				else if (rrs.ptr && rrs.len == 0)
+				{
+					/* TODO: handle different line terminator */
+					/* drop the line terminator from the record
+					 * if RS is a blank line and EOF is reached. */
+					if (HAWK_BECS_LASTCHAR(buf) == HAWK_T'\n')
+					{
+						HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+						if (rtx->awk->opt.trait & HAWK_CRLF)
+						{
+							/* drop preceding CR */
+							if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) > 0 && HAWK_BECS_LASTCHAR(buf) == '\r') HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+						}
+					}
+				}
+				else if (rrs.len >= 2)
+				{
+					/* When RS is multiple characters, it should 
+					 * check for the match at the end of the 
+					 * input stream also because the previous 
+					 * match could fail as it didn't end at the
+					 * desired position to be the longest match.
+					 * At EOF, the match at the end is considered 
+					 * the longest as there are no more characters
+					 * left */
+					int n = match_long_rs_bytes(rtx, buf, p);
+					if (n != 0)
+					{
+						if (n <= -1) ret = -1;
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+
+				break;
+			}
+
+			p->in.len = x;
+			p->in.pos = 0;
+		}
+
+		if (rrs.ptr == HAWK_NULL)
+		{
+			hawk_oow_t start_pos = p->in.pos;
+			hawk_oow_t end_pos, tmp;
+
+			do
+			{
+				pc = c;
+				c = p->in.buf[p->in.pos++];
+				end_pos = p->in.pos;
+
+				/* TODO: handle different line terminator */
+				/* separate by a new line */
+				if (c == '\n') 
+				{
+					end_pos--;
+					if (pc == '\r')
+					{
+						if (end_pos > start_pos)
+						{
+							/* CR is the part of the read buffer.
+							 * decrementing the end_pos variable can
+							 * simply drop it */
+							end_pos--;
+						}
+						else
+						{
+							/* CR must have come from the previous
+							 * read. drop CR that must be found  at 
+							 * the end of the record buffer. */
+							HAWK_ASSERT (end_pos == start_pos);
+							HAWK_ASSERT (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) > 0);
+							HAWK_ASSERT (HAWK_BECS_LASTCHAR(buf) == '\r');
+							HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf)--;
+						}
+					}
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+			while (p->in.pos < p->in.len);
+
+			tmp = hawk_becs_ncat(buf, &p->in.buf[start_pos], end_pos - start_pos);
+			if (tmp == (hawk_oow_t)-1)
+			{
+				ret = -1;
+				break;
+			}
+
+			if (end_pos < p->in.len) break; /* RS found */
+		}
+		else if (rrs.len == 0)
+		{
+			int done = 0;
+
+			do
+			{
+				pc = c;
+				c = p->in.buf[p->in.pos++];
+
+				/* TODO: handle different line terminator */
+				/* separate by a blank line */
+				if (c == HAWK_T('\n'))
+				{
+					if (pc == HAWK_T('\r') && HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) > 0)
+					{
+						/* shrink the line length and the record
+						 * by dropping of CR before NL */
+						HAWK_ASSERT (line_len > 0);
+						line_len--;
+
+						/* we don't drop CR from the record buffer 
+						 * if we're in CRLF mode. POINT-X */	
+						if (!(rtx->awk->opt.trait & HAWK_CRLF))
+							HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+					}
+
+					if (line_len == 0)
+					{
+						/* we got a blank line */
+
+						if (rtx->awk->opt.trait & HAWK_CRLF)
+						{
+							if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) > 0 && HAWK_BECS_LASTCHAR(buf) == HAWK_T('\r'))
+							{
+								/* drop CR not dropped in POINT-X above */
+								HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+							}
+
+							if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) <= 0)
+							{
+								/* if the record is empty when a blank
+								 * line is encountered, the line
+								 * terminator should not be added to
+								 * the record */
+								continue;
+							}
+
+							/* drop NL */
+							HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+
+							/* drop preceding CR */
+							if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) > 0 && HAWK_BECS_LASTCHAR(buf) == HAWK_T('\r')) HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+						}
+						else
+						{
+							if (HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) <= 0)
+							{
+								/* if the record is empty when a blank
+								 * line is encountered, the line
+								 * terminator should not be added to
+								 * the record */
+								continue;
+							}
+
+							/* drop NL of the previous line */
+							HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf) -= 1; /* simply drop NL */
+						}
+
+						done = 1;
+						break;
+					}
+
+					line_len = 0;
+				}
+				else line_len++;
+
+				if (hawk_becs_ccat(buf, c) == (hawk_oow_t)-1)
+				{
+
+					ret = -1;
+					done = 1;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+			while (p->in.pos < p->in.len);
+
+			if (done) break;
+		}
+		else if (rrs.len == 1)
+		{
+			hawk_oow_t start_pos = p->in.pos;
+			hawk_oow_t end_pos, tmp;
+
+			do
+			{
+				c = p->in.buf[p->in.pos++];
+				end_pos = p->in.pos;
+				if (c == rrs.ptr[0])
+				{
+					end_pos--;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+			while (p->in.pos < p->in.len);
+
+			tmp = hawk_becs_ncat(buf, &p->in.buf[start_pos], end_pos - start_pos);
+			if (tmp == (hawk_oow_t)-1)
+			{
+				ret = -1;
+				break;
+			}
+
+			if (end_pos < p->in.len) break; /* RS found */
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			hawk_oow_t tmp;
+			int n;
+
+			/* if RS is composed of multiple characters,
+			 * I perform the matching after having added the
+			 * current character 'c' to the record buffer 'buf'
+			 * to find the longest match. If a match found ends
+			 * one character before this character just added
+			 * to the buffer, it is the longest match.
+			 */
+
+			tmp = hawk_becs_ncat(buf, &p->in.buf[p->in.pos], p->in.len - p->in.pos);
+			if (tmp == (hawk_oow_t)-1)
+			{
+				ret = -1;
+				break;
+			}
+
+			p->in.pos = p->in.len;
+
+			n = match_long_rs(rtx, buf, p);
+			if (n != 0)
+			{
+				if (n <= -1) ret = -1;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (rrs.ptr && HAWK_RTX_GETVALTYPE (rtx, rs) != HAWK_VAL_STR) hawk_rtx_freemem (rtx, rrs.ptr);
+	hawk_rtx_refdownval (rtx, rs);
+
+	return ret;
+#else
+	hawk_rtx_seterrnum (rtx, HAWK_NULL, HAWK_ENOIMPL);
+	return -1;
+#endif
+}
+
+
 int hawk_rtx_writeioval (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int out_type, const hawk_ooch_t* name, hawk_val_t* v)
 {
 	hawk_val_type_t vtype;
diff --git a/hawk/lib/run.c b/hawk/lib/run.c
index 0d8ef89f..89b59e4d 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/run.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/run.c
@@ -916,31 +916,32 @@ static int init_rtx (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_t* awk, hawk_rio_cbs_t* rio)
 	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->inrec.line, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), DEF_BUF_CAPA) <= -1) goto oops_1;
 	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->inrec.linew, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), DEF_BUF_CAPA) <= -1) goto oops_2;
 	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->inrec.lineg, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), DEF_BUF_CAPA) <= -1) goto oops_3;
-	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->format.out, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_4;
-	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->format.fmt, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_5;
+	if (hawk_becs_init(&rtx->inrec.linegb, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), DEF_BUF_CAPA) <= -1) goto oops_4;
+	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->format.out, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_5;
+	if (hawk_ooecs_init(&rtx->format.fmt, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_6;
 
-	if (hawk_becs_init(&rtx->formatmbs.out, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_6;
-	if (hawk_becs_init(&rtx->formatmbs.fmt, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_7;
+	if (hawk_becs_init(&rtx->formatmbs.out, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_7;
+	if (hawk_becs_init(&rtx->formatmbs.fmt, hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), 256) <= -1) goto oops_8;
 
 	rtx->named = hawk_htb_open(hawk_rtx_getgem(rtx), HAWK_SIZEOF(rtx), 1024, 70, HAWK_SIZEOF(hawk_ooch_t), 1);
-	if (!rtx->named) goto oops_8;
+	if (!rtx->named) goto oops_9;
 	*(hawk_rtx_t**)hawk_htb_getxtn(rtx->named) = rtx;
 	hawk_htb_setstyle (rtx->named, &style_for_named);
 
 	rtx->format.tmp.ptr = (hawk_ooch_t*)hawk_rtx_allocmem(rtx, 4096 * HAWK_SIZEOF(hawk_ooch_t)); 
-	if (!rtx->format.tmp.ptr) goto oops_9; /* the error is set on the awk object after this jump is made */
+	if (!rtx->format.tmp.ptr) goto oops_10; /* the error is set on the awk object after this jump is made */
 	rtx->format.tmp.len = 4096;
 	rtx->format.tmp.inc = 4096 * 2;
 
 	rtx->formatmbs.tmp.ptr = (hawk_bch_t*)hawk_rtx_allocmem(rtx, 4096 * HAWK_SIZEOF(hawk_bch_t));
-	if (!rtx->formatmbs.tmp.ptr) goto oops_10;
+	if (!rtx->formatmbs.tmp.ptr) goto oops_11;
 	rtx->formatmbs.tmp.len = 4096;
 	rtx->formatmbs.tmp.inc = 4096 * 2;
 
 	if (rtx->awk->tree.chain_size > 0)
 	{
 		rtx->pattern_range_state = (hawk_oob_t*)hawk_rtx_allocmem(rtx, rtx->awk->tree.chain_size * HAWK_SIZEOF(hawk_oob_t));
-		if (!rtx->pattern_range_state) goto oops_11;
+		if (!rtx->pattern_range_state) goto oops_12;
 		HAWK_MEMSET (rtx->pattern_range_state, 0, rtx->awk->tree.chain_size * HAWK_SIZEOF(hawk_oob_t));
 	}
 	else rtx->pattern_range_state = HAWK_NULL;
@@ -962,20 +963,22 @@ static int init_rtx (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_t* awk, hawk_rio_cbs_t* rio)
 
 	return 0;
 
-oops_11:
+oops_12:
 	hawk_rtx_freemem (rtx, rtx->formatmbs.tmp.ptr);
-oops_10:
+oops_11:
 	hawk_rtx_freemem (rtx, rtx->format.tmp.ptr);
-oops_9:
+oops_10:
 	hawk_htb_close (rtx->named);
-oops_8:
+oops_9:
 	hawk_becs_fini (&rtx->formatmbs.fmt);
-oops_7:
+oops_8:
 	hawk_becs_fini (&rtx->formatmbs.out);
-oops_6:
+oops_7:
 	hawk_ooecs_fini (&rtx->format.fmt);
-oops_5:
+oops_6:
 	hawk_ooecs_fini (&rtx->format.out);
+oops_5:
+	hawk_becs_fini (&rtx->inrec.linegb);
 oops_4:
 	hawk_ooecs_fini (&rtx->inrec.lineg);
 oops_3:
@@ -1074,6 +1077,7 @@ static void fini_rtx (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, int fini_globals)
 		rtx->inrec.flds = HAWK_NULL;
 		rtx->inrec.maxflds = 0;
 	}
+	hawk_becs_fini (&rtx->inrec.linegb);
 	hawk_ooecs_fini (&rtx->inrec.lineg);
 	hawk_ooecs_fini (&rtx->inrec.linew);
 	hawk_ooecs_fini (&rtx->inrec.line);
@@ -1460,28 +1464,19 @@ static hawk_val_t* run_bpae_loop (hawk_rtx_t* rtx)
 /* start the BEGIN-pattern block-END loop */
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_loop (hawk_rtx_t* rtx)
 {
-	if (rtx->awk->parse.pragma.startup[0] != '\0')
+	hawk_val_t* retv = HAWK_NULL;
+
+	rtx->exit_level = EXIT_NONE;
+
+	if (enter_stack_frame(rtx) == 0)
 	{
-		/* @pragma startup xxxx specified. 
-		 * divert hawk_rtx_loop() to call the specified function */
-		return hawk_rtx_callwithoocstrarr(rtx, rtx->awk->parse.pragma.startup, HAWK_NULL, 0); /* TODO: pass argument */
+		retv = run_bpae_loop(rtx);
+		exit_stack_frame (rtx);
 	}
-	else
-	{
-		hawk_val_t* retv = HAWK_NULL;
 
-		rtx->exit_level = EXIT_NONE;
-
-		if (enter_stack_frame(rtx) == 0)
-		{
-			retv = run_bpae_loop(rtx);
-			exit_stack_frame (rtx);
-		}
-
-		/* reset the exit level */
-		rtx->exit_level = EXIT_NONE;
-		return retv;
-	}
+	/* reset the exit level */
+	rtx->exit_level = EXIT_NONE;
+	return retv;
 }
 
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_execwithucstrarr (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* args[], hawk_oow_t nargs)
@@ -6678,7 +6673,7 @@ static hawk_val_t* eval_pos (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
 	return v;
 }
 
-static hawk_val_t* eval_getline (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
+static hawk_val_t* __eval_getline (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde, int mbs)
 {
 	hawk_nde_getline_t* p;
 	hawk_val_t* v, * tmp;
@@ -6805,11 +6800,16 @@ read_console_again:
 	}
 	
 skip_read:
-	tmp = hawk_rtx_makeintval (rtx, n);
+	tmp = hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, n);
 	if (!tmp) ADJERR_LOC (rtx, &nde->loc);
 	return tmp;
 }
 
+static hawk_val_t* eval_getline (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_nde_t* nde)
+{
+	return __eval_getline(rtx, nde, 0);
+}
+
 static hawk_val_t* eval_print (hawk_rtx_t* run, hawk_nde_t* nde)
 {
 	int n = run_print(run, (hawk_nde_print_t*)nde);
diff --git a/hawk/lib/std.c b/hawk/lib/std.c
index d4e476fc..39bd3f5a 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/std.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/std.c
@@ -1716,6 +1716,9 @@ static hawk_ooi_t nwio_handler_rest (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_rio_cmd_t cmd, hawk_r
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ:
 			return hawk_nwio_read((hawk_nwio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
 
+		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READBYTES:
+			return hawk_nwio_readbytes(((hawk_nwio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
+
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_WRITE:
 			return hawk_nwio_write((hawk_nwio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
 
@@ -1848,7 +1851,10 @@ static hawk_ooi_t pio_handler_rest (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_rio_cmd_t cmd, hawk_ri
 		}
 
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ:
-			return hawk_pio_read ((hawk_pio_t*)riod->handle, HAWK_PIO_OUT, data, size);
+			return hawk_pio_read((hawk_pio_t*)riod->handle, HAWK_PIO_OUT, data, size);
+
+		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ_BYTES:
+			return hawk_pio_readbytes((hawk_pio_t*)riod->handle, HAWK_PIO_IN, data, size);
 
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_WRITE:
 			return hawk_pio_write((hawk_pio_t*)riod->handle, HAWK_PIO_IN, data, size);
@@ -1967,6 +1973,9 @@ static hawk_ooi_t awk_rio_file (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_rio_cmd_t cmd, hawk_rio_ar
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ:
 			return hawk_sio_getoochars((hawk_sio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
 
+		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ_BYTES:
+			return hawk_sio_getbchars((hawk_sio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
+
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_WRITE:
 			return hawk_sio_putoochars((hawk_sio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
 
@@ -2225,6 +2234,30 @@ static hawk_ooi_t awk_rio_console (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_rio_cmd_t cmd, hawk_rio
 			return nn;
 		}
 
+		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_READ_BYTES:
+		{
+			hawk_ooi_t nn;
+
+			while ((nn = hawk_sio_getbchars((hawk_sio_t*)riod->handle, data, size)) == 0)
+			{
+				int n;
+				hawk_sio_t* sio = (hawk_sio_t*)riod->handle;
+
+				n = open_rio_console(rtx, riod);
+				if (n <= -1) return -1;
+
+				if (n == 0) 
+				{
+					/* no more input console */
+					return 0;
+				}
+
+				if (sio) hawk_sio_close (sio);
+			}
+		
+			return nn;
+		}
+
 		case HAWK_RIO_CMD_WRITE:
 			return hawk_sio_putoochars((hawk_sio_t*)riod->handle, data, size);
 
diff --git a/hawk/samples/hawk51.cpp b/hawk/samples/hawk51.cpp
index 99a4d203..071d0e33 100644
--- a/hawk/samples/hawk51.cpp
+++ b/hawk/samples/hawk51.cpp
@@ -279,6 +279,9 @@ struct cmdline_t
 	hawk_bch_t* outf;
 	hawk_bch_t* outc;
 	hawk_bch_t* fs;
+
+	HAWK::Hawk::Value* argv;
+	int argc;
 };
 
 static int handle_cmdline (MyHawk& awk, int argc, hawk_bch_t* argv[], cmdline_t* cmdline)
@@ -331,6 +334,7 @@ static int handle_cmdline (MyHawk& awk, int argc, hawk_bch_t* argv[], cmdline_t*
 
 	if (opt.ind < argc && !cmdline->inf) cmdline->ins = argv[opt.ind++];
 
+	cmdline->argc = 0;
 	while (opt.ind < argc)
 	{
 		if (awk.addArgument(argv[opt.ind++]) <= -1) 
@@ -349,6 +353,45 @@ static int handle_cmdline (MyHawk& awk, int argc, hawk_bch_t* argv[], cmdline_t*
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static void free_args_for_exec (cmdline_t* cmdline)
+{
+	if (cmdline->argv)
+	{
+		delete[] cmdline->argv;
+		cmdline->argv = HAWK_NULL;
+	}
+	cmdline->argc = 0;
+}
+
+static int make_args_for_exec (cmdline_t* cmdline, MyHawk& hawk, MyHawk::Run* run)
+{
+	try
+	{
+		cmdline->argc = 0;
+		cmdline->argv = HAWK_NULL;
+		hawk_oow_t count = hawk.getArgumentCount();
+
+		cmdline->argv = new HAWK::Hawk::Value[count - 1];
+		for (hawk_oow_t i = 1; i < count; i++)
+		{
+			if (cmdline->argv[i - 1].setStr(run, hawk.getArgument(i)) <= -1) 
+			{
+				free_args_for_exec (cmdline);
+				return -1;
+			}
+			cmdline->argc++;
+		}
+	}
+	catch (...)
+	{
+		free_args_for_exec (cmdline);
+		hawk.setError (HAWK_ENOMEM);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 
 static int hawk_main (MyHawk& hawk, int argc, hawk_bch_t* argv[])
 {
@@ -374,7 +417,7 @@ static int hawk_main (MyHawk& hawk, int argc, hawk_bch_t* argv[])
 
 	in = (cmdline.ins)? (MyHawk::Source*)&in_str: (MyHawk::Source*)&in_file;
 	out = (cmdline.outf)? (MyHawk::Source*)&out_file: &MyHawk::Source::NONE;
-	run = hawk.parse (*in, *out);
+	run = hawk.parse(*in, *out);
 	if (run == HAWK_NULL) 
 	{
 		print_error (hawk); 
@@ -406,12 +449,22 @@ static int hawk_main (MyHawk& hawk, int argc, hawk_bch_t* argv[])
 	}
 
 	MyHawk::Value ret;
-	if (hawk.loop(&ret) <= -1) 
+
+	if (make_args_for_exec(&cmdline, hawk, run) <= -1) // data made here is not uself if hawk.loop() invoked in hawk.exec().
+	{
+		print_error (hawk);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	//if (hawk.loop(&ret) <= -1) 
+	if (hawk.exec(&ret, cmdline.argv, cmdline.argc) <= -1) 
 	{ 
 		print_error (hawk); 
 		return -1; 
 	}
 
+	free_args_for_exec (&cmdline);
+
 	return 0;
 }