diff --git a/hawk/lib/hawk.h b/hawk/lib/hawk.h
index 18d9cce1..b4f16c9b 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/hawk.h
+++ b/hawk/lib/hawk.h
@@ -2688,6 +2688,20 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithbchars2 (
 
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
+HAWK_EXPORT hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithuchars (
+	hawk_rtx_t*       rtx,
+	const hawk_uch_t* ptr,
+	hawk_oow_t        len
+);
+
+HAWK_EXPORT hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithbchars (
+	hawk_rtx_t*       rtx,
+	const hawk_bch_t* ptr,
+	hawk_oow_t        len
+);
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
 HAWK_EXPORT hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithuchars (
 	hawk_rtx_t*       rtx,
 	const hawk_uch_t* ptr,
@@ -2738,6 +2752,9 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbcs (
 #	define hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoocs hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithucs
 #	define hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoochars2 hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithuchars2
 
+#	define hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithoochars hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithuchars
+
+#	define hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoochars hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithuchars
 #	define hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoocstr hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithucstr
 #	define hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoocs hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithucs
 #else
@@ -2746,6 +2763,9 @@ HAWK_EXPORT hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbcs (
 #	define hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoocs hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithbcs
 #	define hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoochars2 hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithbchars2
 
+#	define hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithoochars hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithbchars
+
+#	define hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoochars hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbchars
 #	define hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoocstr hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbcstr
 #	define hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoocs hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbcs
 #endif
@@ -2762,17 +2782,17 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars (
 	hawk_oow_t         len
 );
 
-hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbcs (
-	hawk_rtx_t*       rtx,
-	const hawk_bcs_t* bcs
-);
-
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithuchars (
 	hawk_rtx_t*        rtx,
 	const hawk_uch_t*  ptr,
 	hawk_oow_t         len
 );
 
+hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbcs (
+	hawk_rtx_t*       rtx,
+	const hawk_bcs_t* bcs
+);
+
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithucs (
 	hawk_rtx_t*       rtx,
 	const hawk_ucs_t* ucs
diff --git a/hawk/lib/rec.c b/hawk/lib/rec.c
index 7efd764e..0d588692 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/rec.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/rec.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ int hawk_rtx_setrec (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_oow_t idx, const hawk_oocs_t* str)
 		}
 
 		v = hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithoocs(rtx, str);
-		if (v == HAWK_NULL)
+		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!v))
 		{
 			hawk_rtx_clrrec (rtx, 0);
 			return -1;
@@ -77,10 +77,10 @@ int hawk_rtx_setrec (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_oow_t idx, const hawk_oocs_t* str)
 			hawk_rtx_clrrec (rtx, 0);
 			return -1;
 		}
-	
+
 		/* recompose $0 */
-		v = hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoocs (rtx, HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(&rtx->inrec.line));
-		if (v == HAWK_NULL)
+		v = hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoocs(rtx, HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(&rtx->inrec.line));
+		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!v))
 		{
 			hawk_rtx_clrrec (rtx, 0);
 			return -1;
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int split_record (hawk_rtx_t* rtx)
 	HAWK_ASSERT (rtx->inrec.nflds == 0);
 
 	/* get FS */
-	fs = hawk_rtx_getgbl (rtx, HAWK_GBL_FS);
+	fs = hawk_rtx_getgbl(rtx, HAWK_GBL_FS);
 	fsvtype = HAWK_RTX_GETVALTYPE (rtx, fs);
 	if (fsvtype == HAWK_VAL_NIL)
 	{
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ static int split_record (hawk_rtx_t* rtx)
 	else 
 	{
 		fs_ptr = hawk_rtx_valtooocstrdup(rtx, fs, &fs_len);
-		if (fs_ptr == HAWK_NULL) return -1;
+		if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!fs_ptr)) return -1;
 		fs_free = fs_ptr;
 	}
 
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static int split_record (hawk_rtx_t* rtx)
 	len = HAWK_OOECS_LEN(&rtx->inrec.line);
 #endif
 
-	while (p != HAWK_NULL)
+	while (p)
 	{
 		switch (how)
 		{
diff --git a/hawk/lib/run.c b/hawk/lib/run.c
index b566ba60..69d41224 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/run.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/run.c
@@ -4461,7 +4461,7 @@ static HAWK_INLINE int __cmp_flt_str (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* left, hawk_va
 	int n;
 
 	/* SCO CC doesn't seem to handle right->nstr > 0 properly */
-	if (hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_NCMPONSTR || right->nstr /*> 0*/)
+	if ((hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_NCMPONSTR) || right->nstr /*> 0*/)
 	{
 		const hawk_ooch_t* end;
 		hawk_flt_t rr;
@@ -4489,7 +4489,7 @@ static HAWK_INLINE int __cmp_flt_mbs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, hawk_val_t* left, hawk_va
 	hawk_oow_t len0;
 	int n;
 
-	if (hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_NCMPONSTR || right->nstr /*> 0*/)
+	if ((hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_NCMPONSTR) || right->nstr /*> 0*/)
 	{
 		const hawk_bch_t* end;
 		hawk_flt_t rr;
@@ -6796,8 +6796,10 @@ read_console_again:
 		{
 			hawk_val_t* v;
 
+			/* treat external input numerically if it can compose a number. */
 			v = hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithoocs(rtx, HAWK_OOECS_OOCS(buf));
-			if (v == HAWK_NULL)
+			/*v = hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithoochars(rtx, HAWK_OOECS_PTR(buf), HAWK_OOECS_LEN(buf));*/
+			if (HAWK_UNLIKELY(!v))
 			{
 				ADJERR_LOC (rtx, &nde->loc);
 				return HAWK_NULL;
@@ -6904,7 +6906,9 @@ read_console_again:
 		{
 			hawk_val_t* v;
 
+			/* treat external input numerically if it can compose a number. */
 			v = hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbcs(rtx, HAWK_BECS_BCS(buf));
+			/*v = hawk_rtx_makenumormbsvalwithbchars(rtx, HAWK_BECS_PTR(buf), HAWK_BECS_LEN(buf));*/
 			if (v == HAWK_NULL)
 			{
 				ADJERR_LOC (rtx, &nde->loc);
diff --git a/hawk/lib/val.c b/hawk/lib/val.c
index 37b9c518..ed5b444c 100644
--- a/hawk/lib/val.c
+++ b/hawk/lib/val.c
@@ -298,6 +298,39 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithbchars2 (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bch_t* b
 #endif
 }
 
+/* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithuchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
+{
+	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
+	int x;
+	hawk_int_t l;
+	hawk_flt_t r;
+
+	x = hawk_uchars_to_num(HAWK_OOCHARS_TO_NUM_MAKE_OPTION(1, (hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_STRIPSTRSPC), 0), ptr, len, &l, &r);
+	if (x == 0) return hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, l);
+	else if (x >= 1) return hawk_rtx_makefltval(rtx, r);
+
+	return hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithuchars(rtx, ptr, len);
+}
+
+hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenumorstrvalwithbchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
+{
+	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
+	int x;
+	hawk_int_t l;
+	hawk_flt_t r;
+
+	x = hawk_bchars_to_num(HAWK_OOCHARS_TO_NUM_MAKE_OPTION(1, (hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_STRIPSTRSPC), 0), ptr, len, &l, &r);
+	if (x == 0) return hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, l);
+	else if (x >= 1) return hawk_rtx_makefltval(rtx, r);
+
+	return hawk_rtx_makestrvalwithbchars(rtx, ptr, len);
+}
+
+
+/* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithuchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
 {
 	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
@@ -322,7 +355,6 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithuchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* p
 	return v;
 }
 
-
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
 {
 	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
@@ -368,6 +400,8 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenstrvalwithbcs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bcs_t* str)
 }
 
 
+/* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
 {
 	hawk_val_mbs_t* val = HAWK_NULL;
@@ -393,10 +427,6 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bch_t* pt
 	return (hawk_val_t*)val;
 }
 
-hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbcs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bcs_t* bcs)
-{
-	return hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars(rtx, bcs->ptr, bcs->len);
-}
 
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithuchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* ucs, hawk_oow_t len)
 {
@@ -416,11 +446,48 @@ hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithuchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* uc
 
 }
 
+hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbcs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bcs_t* bcs)
+{
+	return hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars(rtx, bcs->ptr, bcs->len);
+}
+
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithucs (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_ucs_t* ucs)
 {
 	return hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithuchars(rtx, ucs->ptr, ucs->len);
 }
 
+/* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenumormbsvalwithuchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_uch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
+{
+	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
+	int x;
+	hawk_int_t l;
+	hawk_flt_t r;
+
+	x = hawk_uchars_to_num(HAWK_OOCHARS_TO_NUM_MAKE_OPTION(1, (hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_STRIPSTRSPC), 0), ptr, len, &l, &r);
+	if (x == 0) return hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, l);
+	else if (x >= 1) return hawk_rtx_makefltval(rtx, r);
+
+	return hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithuchars(rtx, ptr, len);
+}
+
+hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makenumormbsvalwithbchars (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_bch_t* ptr, hawk_oow_t len)
+{
+	hawk_t* hawk = hawk_rtx_gethawk(rtx);
+	int x;
+	hawk_int_t l;
+	hawk_flt_t r;
+
+	x = hawk_bchars_to_num(HAWK_OOCHARS_TO_NUM_MAKE_OPTION(1, (hawk->opt.trait & HAWK_STRIPSTRSPC), 0), ptr, len, &l, &r);
+	if (x == 0) return hawk_rtx_makeintval(rtx, l);
+	else if (x >= 1) return hawk_rtx_makefltval(rtx, r);
+
+	return hawk_rtx_makembsvalwithbchars(rtx, ptr, len);
+}
+
+/* --------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
 hawk_val_t* hawk_rtx_makerexval (hawk_rtx_t* rtx, const hawk_oocs_t* str, hawk_tre_t* code[2])
 {
 	hawk_val_rex_t* val;