diff --git a/ase/awk/Argument.java b/ase/awk/Argument.java
index 2a4ed2c1..fca9978f 100644
--- a/ase/awk/Argument.java
+++ b/ase/awk/Argument.java
@@ -1,52 +1,72 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Argument.java,v 1.6 2007/10/21 13:58:47 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: Argument.java,v 1.8 2007/11/02 10:47:51 bacon Exp $
+ *
+ * {License}
  */
 
 package ase.awk;
 
-public class Argument
+public class Argument implements Clearable
 {
 	protected long runid;
-	protected long valid;
+	//protected long valid;
+	public long valid;
 
 	/* An instance of the Argument class should not be used
 	 * outside the context where it is availble. When it is
 	 * referenced that way, the getXXX methods may cause
 	 * JVM to crash */
 
-	Argument (long runid, long valid)
+	Argument (Context ctx, long runid, long valid)
 	{
+		if (ctx != null) ctx.pushClearable (this);
 		this.runid = runid;
 		this.valid = valid;
 	}
 
+	Argument (long runid, long valid)
+	{
+		this (null, runid, valid);
+	}
+
+	public void clear ()
+	{
+		clearval (this.runid, this.valid);
+	}
+
 	public long getIntValue ()
 	{
+		if (this.valid == 0) return 0;
 		return getintval (this.runid, this.valid);
 	}
 
 	public double getRealValue ()
 	{
+		if (this.valid == 0) return 0.0;
 		return getrealval (this.runid, this.valid);
 	}
 
 	public String getStringValue () throws Exception
 	{
+		if (this.valid == 0) return "";
 		return getstrval (this.runid, this.valid);
 	}
 
 	public boolean isIndexed ()
 	{
+		if (this.valid == 0) return false;
 		return isindexed (this.runid, this.valid);
 	}
 
 	public Argument getIndexed (String idx) throws Exception
 	{
+		if (this.valid == 0) return null;
 		return getindexed (this.runid, this.valid, idx);
 	}
 
 	public Argument getIndexed (long idx) throws Exception
 	{
+		if (this.valid == 0) return null;
 		return getIndexed (Long.toString(idx));
 	}
 
@@ -55,4 +75,6 @@ public class Argument
 	protected native String getstrval (long runid, long valid) throws Exception;
 	protected native boolean isindexed (long runid, long valid);
 	protected native Argument getindexed (long runid, long valid, String idx) throws Exception;
+
+	protected native void clearval (long runid, long valid);
 }
diff --git a/ase/awk/Clearable.java b/ase/awk/Clearable.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5cfabd2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ase/awk/Clearable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+/*
+ * $Id: Clearable.java,v 1.1 2007/11/02 05:49:19 bacon Exp $
+ * 
+ * {License}
+ */
+
+package ase.awk;
+
+public interface Clearable
+{
+	public void clear ();
+}
+
diff --git a/ase/awk/Context.java b/ase/awk/Context.java
index ec6e57a4..39b1cc7b 100644
--- a/ase/awk/Context.java
+++ b/ase/awk/Context.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Context.java,v 1.9 2007/11/01 14:01:00 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: Context.java,v 1.10 2007/11/02 05:49:19 bacon Exp $
+ *
+ * {License}
  */
 
 package ase.awk;
@@ -29,31 +31,31 @@ public class Context
 	protected Awk awk;
 	protected long runid;
 	protected Object custom;
-	protected Stack returnStack;
+	protected Stack clearableStack;
 
 	Context (Awk awk)
 	{
 		this.awk = awk;
 		this.runid = 0;
 		this.custom = null;
-		this.returnStack = new Stack ();
+		this.clearableStack = new Stack ();
 	}
 
 	void clear ()
 	{
-		Return r;
-		while ((r = popReturn()) != null) r.clear ();
+		Clearable obj;
+		while ((obj = popClearable()) != null) obj.clear ();
 	}
 
-	void pushReturn (Return ret)
+	void pushClearable (Clearable obj)
 	{
-		returnStack.push (ret);
+		clearableStack.push (obj);
 	}
 
-	Return popReturn ()
+	Clearable popClearable ()
 	{
-		if (returnStack.empty()) return null;
-		return (Return)returnStack.pop ();
+		if (clearableStack.empty()) return null;
+		return (Clearable)clearableStack.pop ();
 	}
 
 	public Awk getAwk ()
diff --git a/ase/awk/File.java b/ase/awk/File.java
index bbeedd96..15d03aa4 100644
--- a/ase/awk/File.java
+++ b/ase/awk/File.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 /*
- * $Id: File.java,v 1.2 2007/05/26 10:52:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: File.java,v 1.3 2007/11/02 05:49:19 bacon Exp $
+ *
+ * {License}
  */
 
 package ase.awk;
diff --git a/ase/awk/IO.java b/ase/awk/IO.java
index 131eda56..89945207 100644
--- a/ase/awk/IO.java
+++ b/ase/awk/IO.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 /*
- * $Id: IO.java,v 1.1 2007/05/26 10:52:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: IO.java,v 1.2 2007/11/02 05:49:19 bacon Exp $
+ *
+ * {License}
  */
 
 package ase.awk;
diff --git a/ase/awk/Pipe.java b/ase/awk/Pipe.java
index f4f6d445..51c12ad5 100644
--- a/ase/awk/Pipe.java
+++ b/ase/awk/Pipe.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Pipe.java,v 1.2 2007/05/26 10:52:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: Pipe.java,v 1.3 2007/11/02 05:49:19 bacon Exp $
+ *
+ * {License}
  */
 
 package ase.awk;
diff --git a/ase/awk/Return.java b/ase/awk/Return.java
index 3c25cac7..723475d1 100644
--- a/ase/awk/Return.java
+++ b/ase/awk/Return.java
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Return.java,v 1.6 2007/10/30 15:01:31 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: Return.java,v 1.8 2007/11/02 10:47:51 bacon Exp $
+ *
+ * ${License}
  */
 
 package ase.awk;
 
-public class Return
+public class Return implements Clearable
 {
 	protected long runid;
 	protected long valid;
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ public class Return
 
 	public Return (Context ctx)
 	{
-		ctx.pushReturn (this);
+		ctx.pushClearable (this);
 		this.runid = ctx.getId();
 		this.valid = 0;
 	}
@@ -29,116 +31,139 @@ public class Return
 
 	public boolean isIndexed ()
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return false;
 		return isindexed (this.runid, this.valid);
 	}
 
 	public void setIntValue (long v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setintval (this.runid, this.valid, v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIntValue (int v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setintval (this.runid, this.valid, (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIntValue (short v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setintval (this.runid, this.valid, (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIntValue (byte v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setintval (this.runid, this.valid, (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setRealValue (double v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setrealval (this.runid, this.valid, v);
 	}
 
 	public void setRealValue (float v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setrealval (this.runid, this.valid, (double)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setStringValue (String v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setstrval (this.runid, this.valid, v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (String index, long v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, index, v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (String index, int v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, index, (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (String index, short v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, index, (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (String index, byte v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, index, (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedRealValue (String index, double v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedrealval (this.runid, this.valid, index, v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedRealValue (String index, float v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedrealval (this.runid, this.valid, index, (double)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedStringValue (String index, String v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedstrval (this.runid, this.valid, index, v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (long index, long v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (long index, int v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (long index, short v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedIntValue (long index, byte v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedintval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), (long)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedRealValue (long index, double v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedrealval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedRealValue (long index, float v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedrealval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), (double)v);
 	}
 
 	public void setIndexedStringValue (long index, String v)
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		setindexedstrval (this.runid, this.valid, Long.toString(index), v);
 	}
 
 	public void clear ()
 	{
+		if (this.runid == 0) return;
 		clearval (this.runid, this.valid);
 	}
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/func.c b/ase/awk/func.c
index 5d27f4d4..a90970be 100644
--- a/ase/awk/func.c
+++ b/ase/awk/func.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: func.c,v 1.14 2007/10/31 13:56:54 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: func.c,v 1.15 2007/11/02 13:16:48 bacon Exp $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -1346,7 +1346,8 @@ static int bfn_sprintf (
 		return -1;
 	}
 	
-	a0 = ase_awk_makestrval_nodup (run, ptr, len);
+	/*a0 = ase_awk_makestrval_nodup (run, ptr, len);*/
+	a0 = ase_awk_makestrval (run, ptr, len);
 	if (a0 == ASE_NULL) 
 	{
 		ase_str_close (&fbu);
@@ -1356,7 +1357,8 @@ static int bfn_sprintf (
 	}
 
 	ase_str_close (&fbu);
-	ase_str_forfeit (&out);
+	/*ase_str_forfeit (&out);*/
+	ase_str_close (&out);
 	ase_awk_setretval (run, a0);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/ase/awk/jni-dmc.def b/ase/awk/jni-dmc.def
index ea74a8c9..f620b76f 100644
--- a/ase/awk/jni-dmc.def
+++ b/ase/awk/jni-dmc.def
@@ -22,11 +22,14 @@ EXPORTS
 	Java_ase_awk_Awk_strfgmtime
 	Java_ase_awk_Awk_system
 	Java_ase_awk_Context_stop
+	Java_ase_awk_Context_getglobal
+	Java_ase_awk_Context_setglobal
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getintval
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getrealval
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getstrval
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_isindexed
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getindexed
+	Java_ase_awk_Argument_clearval
 	Java_ase_awk_Return_isindexed
 	Java_ase_awk_Return_setintval
 	Java_ase_awk_Return_setrealval
diff --git a/ase/awk/jni.c b/ase/awk/jni.c
index b772ffc9..bb7e168c 100644
--- a/ase/awk/jni.c
+++ b/ase/awk/jni.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: jni.c,v 1.44 2007/11/01 14:01:00 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: jni.c,v 1.46 2007/11/02 10:47:51 bacon Exp $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ struct run_data_t
 
 	jmethodID context_clear;
 
+	jfieldID argument_valid;
 	jfieldID return_valid;
 
 	jobject context_object;
@@ -713,7 +714,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_run (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong awk
 	run_data.context_init = (*env)->GetMethodID (
 		env, run_data.context_class, "<init>", "(Lase/awk/Awk;)V");
 	run_data.argument_init = (*env)->GetMethodID (
-		env, run_data.argument_class, "<init>", "(JJ)V");
+		env, run_data.argument_class, "<init>", "(Lase/awk/Context;JJ)V");
 	run_data.return_init = (*env)->GetMethodID (
 		env, run_data.return_class, "<init>", "(JJ)V");
 
@@ -737,9 +738,12 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_run (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong awk
 
 	ASE_ASSERT (run_data.context_clear != ASE_NULL);
 
+	run_data.argument_valid = (*env)->GetFieldID (
+		env, run_data.argument_class, FIELD_VALID, "J");
 	run_data.return_valid = (*env)->GetFieldID (
 		env, run_data.return_class, FIELD_VALID, "J");
-	if (run_data.return_valid == ASE_NULL)
+	if (run_data.argument_valid == ASE_NULL ||
+	    run_data.return_valid == ASE_NULL)
 	{
 		if (is_debug(awk)) (*env)->ExceptionDescribe (env);
 		(*env)->ExceptionClear (env);
@@ -1648,8 +1652,8 @@ static int handle_bfn (
 	}
 
 	ret = (*env)->NewObject (env,
-		run_data->return_class,
-		run_data->return_init, (jlong)run, (jlong)0);
+		run_data->return_class, run_data->return_init, 
+		(jlong)run, (jlong)0);
 	if (ret == ASE_NULL)
 	{
 		(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, name);
@@ -1677,9 +1681,16 @@ static int handle_bfn (
 	{
 		v = ase_awk_getarg (run, i);
 
+		/* these arguments are not registered for clearance into 
+		 * the context. so ASE_NULL is passed as the first argument
+		 * to the constructor of the Argument class. It is because
+		 * the reference count of these arguments are still positive
+		 * while this function runs. However, if you ever use an 
+		 * argument outside the current context, it may cause 
+		 * a program failure such as program crash */
 		arg = (*env)->NewObject (env, 
 			run_data->argument_class, run_data->argument_init, 
-			(jlong)run, (jlong)v);
+			ASE_NULL, (jlong)run, (jlong)v);
 		if (arg == ASE_NULL)
 		{
 			if ((*env)->ExceptionCheck(env))
@@ -1728,8 +1739,11 @@ static int handle_bfn (
 
 		/* refdown on ret.valid is needed here */
 		vi = (*env)->GetLongField (env, ret, run_data->return_valid);
-		if (vi != 0) ase_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-		(*env)->SetLongField (env, ret, run_data->return_valid ,(jlong)0);
+		if (vi != 0) 
+		{
+			ase_awk_refdownval (run, (ase_awk_val_t*)vi);
+			(*env)->SetLongField (env, ret, run_data->return_valid ,(jlong)0);
+		}
 
 		(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, ret);
 		(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, name);
@@ -1813,7 +1827,8 @@ static int handle_bfn (
 	(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, ret); 
 	(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, name);
 
-	(*env)->CallVoidMethod (env, run_data->context_object, run_data->context_clear);
+	(*env)->CallVoidMethod (env, 
+		run_data->context_object, run_data->context_clear);
 	if ((*env)->ExceptionCheck(env))
 	{
 		if (is_debug(awk)) (*env)->ExceptionDescribe (env);
@@ -2363,16 +2378,13 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Context_setglobal (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj,
 	/* invalidate the value field in the return object */
 	(*env)->SetLongField (env, ret, run_data->return_valid, (jlong)0);
 
-OutputDebugStringW(L"11111111111111111111\n");
 	if (ase_awk_setglobal(run,id,v) == -1)
 	{
-OutputDebugStringW(L"333333333333333333333\n");
 		if (vi != 0) ase_awk_refdownval (run, v);
 		THROW_RUN_EXCEPTION (env, run);
 		return;
 	}
 
-OutputDebugStringW(L"2222222222222222222222\n");
 	if (vi != 0) ase_awk_refdownval (run, v);
 }
 
@@ -2389,9 +2401,12 @@ JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Context_getglobal (JNIEnv* env, jobject o
 
 	g = ase_awk_getglobal(run, id);
 
+	ASE_ASSERTX ((*env)->IsSameObject(env,obj,run_data->context_object),
+		"this object(obj) should be the same object as the context object(run_data->context_object)");
+
 	arg = (*env)->NewObject (env, 
 		run_data->argument_class, run_data->argument_init, 
-		(jlong)run, (jlong)g);
+		obj, (jlong)run, (jlong)g);
 	if (arg == ASE_NULL) 
 	{
 		if (is_debug(awk)) (*env)->ExceptionDescribe (env);
@@ -2400,6 +2415,11 @@ JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Context_getglobal (JNIEnv* env, jobject o
 		return ASE_NULL;
 	}
 
+	/* the reference is incremented. this incremented reference is
+	 * decremented in Argument.clear called from Context.clear.
+	 * Note that the context object (obj) is passed to the contrustor of
+	 * the argument class in the call to NewObject above */
+	ase_awk_refupval (run, g);
 	return arg;
 }
 
@@ -2533,9 +2553,15 @@ JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_getindexed (JNIEnv* env, jobject
 
 	arg = (*env)->NewObject (env, 
 		run_data->argument_class, run_data->argument_init, 
-		(jlong)run, (jlong)pair->val);
+		run_data->context_object, (jlong)run, (jlong)pair->val);
 	if (arg == ASE_NULL) goto nomem;
 
+	/* the reference is incremented. this incremented reference is
+	 * decremented in Argument.clear called from Context.clear.
+	 * Note that the context object (run_data->context_object) is 
+	 * passed to the contrustor of the argument class in the call 
+	 * to NewObject above */
+	ase_awk_refupval (run, pair->val);
 	return arg;
 
 nomem:
@@ -2549,6 +2575,19 @@ nomem:
 	return ASE_NULL;
 }
 
+JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_clearval (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid)
+{
+	ase_awk_run_t* run = (ase_awk_run_t*)runid;
+	ase_awk_val_t* val = (ase_awk_val_t*)valid;
+	run_data_t* run_data;
+
+	run_data = (run_data_t*)ase_awk_getruncustomdata (run);
+
+	if (val != ASE_NULL) ase_awk_refdownval (run, val);
+	(*env)->SetLongField (env, obj, run_data->argument_valid, (jlong)0);
+}
+
+
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Return_isindexed (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid)
 {
 	ase_awk_run_t* run = (ase_awk_run_t*)runid;
diff --git a/ase/awk/jni.def b/ase/awk/jni.def
index 474a2aab..6db25f6c 100644
--- a/ase/awk/jni.def
+++ b/ase/awk/jni.def
@@ -21,11 +21,14 @@ EXPORTS
 	Java_ase_awk_Awk_strfgmtime
 	Java_ase_awk_Awk_system
 	Java_ase_awk_Context_stop
+	Java_ase_awk_Context_getglobal
+	Java_ase_awk_Context_setglobal
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getintval
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getrealval
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getstrval
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_isindexed
 	Java_ase_awk_Argument_getindexed
+	Java_ase_awk_Argument_clearval
 	Java_ase_awk_Return_isindexed
 	Java_ase_awk_Return_setintval
 	Java_ase_awk_Return_setrealval
diff --git a/ase/awk/jni.h b/ase/awk/jni.h
index 8c8a5e1f..0031f947 100644
--- a/ase/awk/jni.h
+++ b/ase/awk/jni.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: jni.h,v 1.15 2007/10/24 14:17:32 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: jni.h,v 1.16 2007/11/02 05:49:19 bacon Exp $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -60,12 +60,15 @@ JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_system (
 	JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jstring cmd);
 
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Context_stop (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid);
+JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Context_getglobal (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jint id);
+JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Context_setglobal (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jint id, jobject ret);
 
 JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_getintval (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid);
 JNIEXPORT jdouble JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_getrealval (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid);
 JNIEXPORT jstring JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_getstrval (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid);
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_isindexed (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid);
 JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_getindexed (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid, jstring index);
+JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Argument_clearval (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid);
 
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Return_isindexed (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid);
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Return_setintval (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj, jlong runid, jlong valid, jlong newval);
diff --git a/ase/awk/msw-bcc.mak b/ase/awk/msw-bcc.mak
index 7daab1c6..b4ee01f8 100644
--- a/ase/awk/msw-bcc.mak
+++ b/ase/awk/msw-bcc.mak
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ OBJ_FILES_JAR = \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Awk.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\StdAwk.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Context.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Clearable.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Argument.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Return.class 
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Extio.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\IO.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Console.class \
@@ -147,6 +150,15 @@ $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\StdAwk.class: StdAwk.java
 $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Context.class: Context.java
 	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Context.java
 
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Clearable.class: Clearable.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Clearable.java
+
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Argument.class: Argument.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Argument.java
+
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Return.class: Return.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Return.java
+
 $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Extio.class: Extio.java
 	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Extio.java
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/msw-cl.mak b/ase/awk/msw-cl.mak
index 1d4eb6d7..253225d2 100644
--- a/ase/awk/msw-cl.mak
+++ b/ase/awk/msw-cl.mak
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ OBJ_FILES_JAR = \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Awk.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\StdAwk.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Context.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Clearable.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Argument.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Return.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Extio.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\IO.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Console.class \
@@ -156,6 +159,15 @@ $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\StdAwk.class: StdAwk.java
 $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Context.class: Context.java
 	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Context.java
 
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Clearable.class: Clearable.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Clearable.java
+
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Argument.class: Argument.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Argument.java
+
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Return.class: Return.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Return.java
+
 $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Extio.class: Extio.java
 	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Extio.java
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/msw-dmc.mak b/ase/awk/msw-dmc.mak
index 57161711..d6ed8c29 100644
--- a/ase/awk/msw-dmc.mak
+++ b/ase/awk/msw-dmc.mak
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ OBJ_FILES_JAR = \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Awk.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\StdAwk.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Context.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Clearable.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Argument.class \
+	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Return.class 
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Extio.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\IO.class \
 	$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Console.class \
@@ -117,6 +120,15 @@ $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\StdAwk.class: StdAwk.java
 $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Context.class: Context.java
 	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Context.java
 
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Clearable.class: Clearable.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Clearable.java
+
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Argument.class: Argument.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Argument.java
+
+$(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Return.class: Return.java
+	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Return.java
+
 $(TMP_DIR)\ase\awk\Extio.class: Extio.java
 	$(JAVAC) $(JAVACFLAGS) -d $(TMP_DIR) Extio.java
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/val.c b/ase/awk/val.c
index c4517958..1f0c4c3f 100644
--- a/ase/awk/val.c
+++ b/ase/awk/val.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: val.c,v 1.10 2007/10/21 13:58:47 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: val.c,v 1.11 2007/11/02 13:08:58 bacon Exp $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ ase_awk_val_t* ase_awk_makestrval (
 {
 	ase_awk_val_str_t* val;
 
+	/*
 	val = (ase_awk_val_str_t*) ASE_AWK_MALLOC (
 		run->awk, ASE_SIZEOF(ase_awk_val_str_t));
 	if (val == ASE_NULL) 
@@ -153,6 +154,24 @@ ase_awk_val_t* ase_awk_makestrval (
 		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
 		return ASE_NULL;
 	}
+	*/
+
+	val = (ase_awk_val_str_t*) ASE_AWK_MALLOC (
+		run->awk, 
+		ASE_SIZEOF(ase_awk_val_str_t) + 
+		(len+1)*ASE_SIZEOF(ase_char_t));
+	if (val == ASE_NULL) 
+	{
+		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		return ASE_NULL;
+	}
+
+	val->type = ASE_AWK_VAL_STR;
+	val->ref = 0;
+	val->len = len;
+	val->buf = (ase_char_t*)(val + 1);
+	/*ase_strxncpy (val->buf, len+1, str, len);*/
+	ase_strncpy (val->buf, str, len);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_VAL
 	ase_dprintf (ASE_T("makestrval => %p\n"), val);
@@ -187,6 +206,7 @@ ase_awk_val_t* ase_awk_makestrval2 (
 {
 	ase_awk_val_str_t* val;
 
+	/*
 	val = (ase_awk_val_str_t*) ASE_AWK_MALLOC (
 		run->awk, ASE_SIZEOF(ase_awk_val_str_t));
 	if (val == ASE_NULL) 
@@ -205,6 +225,26 @@ ase_awk_val_t* ase_awk_makestrval2 (
 		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
 		return ASE_NULL;
 	}
+	*/
+
+	val = (ase_awk_val_str_t*) ASE_AWK_MALLOC (
+		run->awk, 
+		ASE_SIZEOF(ase_awk_val_str_t) +
+		(len1+len2+1)*ASE_SIZEOF(ase_char_t));
+	if (val == ASE_NULL) 
+	{
+		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		return ASE_NULL;
+	}
+
+	val->type = ASE_AWK_VAL_STR;
+	val->ref = 0;
+	val->len = len1 + len2;
+	val->buf = (ase_char_t*)(val + 1);
+	/*ase_strxncpy (val->buf, len1+1, str1, len1);
+	ase_strxncpy (val->buf[len1], len2+1, str2, len2);*/
+	ase_strncpy (val->buf, str1, len1);
+	ase_strncpy (&val->buf[len1], str2, len2);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_VAL
 	ase_dprintf (ASE_T("makestrval2 => %p\n"), val);
@@ -355,7 +395,7 @@ void ase_awk_freeval (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_val_t* val, ase_bool_t cache)
 	}
 	else if (val->type == ASE_AWK_VAL_STR)
 	{
-		ASE_AWK_FREE (run->awk, ((ase_awk_val_str_t*)val)->buf);
+		/*ASE_AWK_FREE (run->awk, ((ase_awk_val_str_t*)val)->buf);*/
 		ASE_AWK_FREE (run->awk, val);
 	}
 	else if (val->type == ASE_AWK_VAL_REX)
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/AseAwkPanel.java b/ase/test/awk/AseAwkPanel.java
index 8b714f5a..eaa1371e 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/AseAwkPanel.java
+++ b/ase/test/awk/AseAwkPanel.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: AseAwkPanel.java,v 1.17 2007/11/01 14:01:00 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: AseAwkPanel.java,v 1.20 2007/11/02 13:08:58 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 import java.awt.*;
@@ -9,12 +9,15 @@ import java.net.URL;
 import java.net.URLConnection;
 import java.io.File;
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
 import java.io.StringReader;
 import java.io.StringWriter;
 import java.io.Reader;
 import java.io.Writer;
 import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.FileInputStream;
 import java.io.FileOutputStream;
+import java.security.MessageDigest;
 
 import ase.awk.StdAwk;
 import ase.awk.Console;
@@ -25,6 +28,7 @@ import ase.awk.Return;
 public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 {
 	/* MsgBox taken from http://www.rgagnon.com/javadetails/java-0242.html */
+
 	class MsgBox extends Dialog implements ActionListener 
 	{
 		boolean id = false;
@@ -95,17 +99,23 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 			this.awkPanel = awkPanel;
 
 			addFunction ("sleep", 1, 1);
+			/*
 			setWord ("sin", "cain");
 			setWord ("length", "len");
 			setWord ("OFMT", "ofmt");
+			*/
 		}
 	
 		public void sleep (Context ctx, String name, Return ret, Argument[] args) throws ase.awk.Exception
 		{
-			try { Thread.sleep (args[0].getIntValue() * 1000); }
+			Argument t = args[0];
+			//if (args[0].isIndexed()) t = args[0].getIndexed(0);
+			
+			try { Thread.sleep (t.getIntValue() * 1000); }
 			catch (InterruptedException e) {}
-			//ret.setIntValue (0);
-			//
+
+			ret.setIntValue (0);
+		/*
 			ret.setIndexedRealValue (1, 111.23);
 			ret.setIndexedStringValue (2, "1111111");
 			ret.setIndexedStringValue (3, "22222222");
@@ -115,14 +125,15 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 			Return r = new Return (ctx);
 			r.setStringValue ("[[%.6f]]");
 			Return r2 = new Return (ctx);
-			r.setStringValue ("[[%.6f]]");
+			r2.setStringValue ("[[%.6f]]");
 
 			//ctx.setGlobal (Context.GLOBAL_CONVFMT, ret);
 			Argument g = ctx.getGlobal (Context.GLOBAL_CONVFMT);
 			ctx.setGlobal (Context.GLOBAL_CONVFMT, r2);
-			System.out.println (g.getStringValue());
+	System.out.println (g.getStringValue());
 			g = ctx.getGlobal (Context.GLOBAL_CONVFMT);
-			System.out.println (g.getStringValue());
+		System.out.println (g.getStringValue());
+		*/
 		}
 
 		protected int openSource (int mode)
@@ -289,6 +300,7 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 	private TextArea conOut;
 	private TextField entryPoint;
 	private TextField jniLib;
+	private Label statusLabel;
 
 	private boolean jniLibLoaded = false;
 
@@ -348,12 +360,17 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 	};
 
 	public AseAwkPanel () 
+	{
+		prepareUserInterface ();
+		prepareNativeInterface ();
+	}
+
+	private void prepareUserInterface ()
 	{
 		jniLib = new TextField ();
 
 		Font font = new Font ("Monospaced", Font.PLAIN, 14);
 
-
 		srcIn = new TextArea ();
 		srcOut = new TextArea ();
 		conIn = new TextArea ();
@@ -459,13 +476,17 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 		mainLayout.setVgap (2);
 
 		setLayout (mainLayout);
-		
+		statusLabel = new Label ("Ready");
+		statusLabel.setBackground (Color.GREEN);
+
 		add (topPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
 		add (centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
 		add (leftPanel, BorderLayout.WEST);
+		add (statusLabel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
+	}
 
-		////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
+	public void prepareNativeInterface ()
+	{
 		String osname = System.getProperty ("os.name").toLowerCase();
 
 		URL url = this.getClass().getResource (
@@ -486,15 +507,16 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 			{
 				base = "http://" + base.substring(6).replace('\\', '/');
 				String jniUrl = base + "/lib/aseawk_jni.dll";
+				String md5Url = jniUrl + ".md5";
 
 				String userHome = System.getProperty("user.home");
 				path = userHome + "\\aseawk_jni.dll";
 
 				try
 				{
-					copyNative (jniUrl, path);
+					downloadNative (md5Url, jniUrl, path);
 				}
-				catch (IOException e)
+				catch (Exception e)
 				{
 					showMessage ("Cannot download native library - " + e.getMessage());
 					path = "ERROR - Not Available";
@@ -592,22 +614,30 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 				}
 			}
 
+			statusLabel.setText ("Parsing...");
 			awk.parse ();
 
 			String main = entryPoint.getText().trim();
+
+			statusLabel.setText ("Running...");
 			if (main.length() > 0) awk.run (main);
 			else awk.run ();
 
+			statusLabel.setText ("Done...");
 		}
 		catch (ase.awk.Exception e)
 		{
+			String msg;
 			int line = e.getLine();
 			int code = e.getCode();
-			if (line <= 0)
-				showMessage ("An exception occurred - [" + code + "] " + e.getMessage());
-			else
-				showMessage ("An exception occurred - [" + code + "] " + e.getMessage() + " at line " + line);
 
+			if (line <= 0)
+				msg = "An exception occurred - [" + code + "] " + e.getMessage();
+			else
+				msg = "An exception occurred - [" + code + "] " + e.getMessage() + " at line " + line;
+
+			statusLabel.setText (msg);
+			showMessage (msg);
 			return;
 		}
 		finally
@@ -626,11 +656,91 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 	}
 
 
-	private void copyNative (String sourceURL, String destFile) throws IOException
+	private String getFileMD5 (String file) throws Exception
+	{
+		MessageDigest md = MessageDigest.getInstance("MD5");
+		FileInputStream fis = null;
+		
+		try
+		{
+			fis = new FileInputStream (file);
+
+			int n;
+			byte[] b = new byte[1024];
+			while ((n = fis.read(b)) != -1)
+			{
+				md.update (b, 0, n);
+			}
+		}
+		catch (FileNotFoundException e) { return ""; }
+		catch (IOException e) { throw e; }
+		finally
+		{
+			if (fis != null) 
+			{
+				try { fis.close (); }
+				catch (IOException e) {}
+				fis = null;
+			}
+		}
+
+		StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer ();
+		byte[] d = md.digest ();
+		for (int i = 0; i < d.length; i++)
+		{
+			String x = Integer.toHexString((d[i] & 0x00FF));
+			if (x.length() == 1) buf.append ('0');
+			buf.append (x);
+		}
+		return buf.toString();
+	}
+
+	private void downloadNative (String md5URL, String sourceURL, String destFile) throws Exception
 	{
 		InputStream is = null;
 		FileOutputStream fos = null;
+		String sumRemote = null;
 
+		/* download the checksum file */
+		try
+		{
+			URL url = new URL (md5URL);
+			URLConnection conn = url.openConnection ();
+
+			is = url.openStream ();
+
+			int n, total = 0;
+			byte[] b = new byte[32];
+			while ((n = is.read(b, total, 32-total)) != -1)
+			{
+				total += n;
+				if (total >= 32) 
+				{
+					sumRemote = new String (b);
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		catch (IOException e) { throw e; }
+		finally 
+		{
+			if (is != null) 
+			{
+				try { is.close (); }
+				catch (IOException e) {}
+				is = null;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (sumRemote != null)
+		{
+			/* if the checksum matches the checksum of the local file,
+			 * the native library file doesn't have to be downloaded */
+			String sumLocal = getFileMD5 (destFile);
+			if (sumRemote.equalsIgnoreCase(sumLocal)) return;
+		}
+
+		/* download the actual file */
 		try
 		{
 			URL url = new URL(sourceURL);
@@ -653,13 +763,15 @@ public class AseAwkPanel extends Panel
 			{
 				try { is.close (); }
 				catch (IOException e) {}
+				is = null;
 			}
 			if (fos != null) 
 			{
 				try { fos.close (); }
 				catch (IOException e) {}
+				fos = null;
 			}
 		}
-  }
+	}
 	
 }