diff --git a/qse/cmd/xli/xli.c b/qse/cmd/xli/xli.c
index 40948a41..81a77bbe 100644
--- a/qse/cmd/xli/xli.c
+++ b/qse/cmd/xli/xli.c
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ static void print_usage (qse_sio_t* out, int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -J                 file   specify a json output file\n"));
 	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -u                        disallow duplicate keys\n"));
 	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -a                        allow a key alias\n"));
+	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -b                        allow true and false as boolean values\n"));
 	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -f                        keep file inclusion info\n"));
 	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -t                        keep comment text\n"));
 	qse_fprintf (out, QSE_T(" -s                        allow multi-segmented strings\n"));
@@ -199,9 +200,9 @@ static int handle_args (int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 	static qse_opt_t opt = 
 	{
 #if defined(QSE_BUILD_DEBUG)
-		QSE_T("hi:o:I:O:j:J:uaftsdnlKSvm:X:"),
+		QSE_T("hi:o:I:O:j:J:uabftsdnlKSvm:X:"),
 #else
-		QSE_T("hi:o:I:O:j:J:uaftsdnlKSvm:"),
+		QSE_T("hi:o:I:O:j:J:uabftsdnlKSvm:"),
 #endif
 		lng
 	};
@@ -273,6 +274,10 @@ static int handle_args (int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 				g_trait |= QSE_XLI_KEYALIAS;
 				break;
 
+			case QSE_T('b'):
+				g_trait |= QSE_XLI_BOOLEAN;
+				break;
+
 			case QSE_T('f'):
 				g_trait |= QSE_XLI_KEEPFILE;
 				break;
@@ -547,7 +552,15 @@ static int xli_main (int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 				}
 				else if (pair->val->type == QSE_XLI_NIL)
 				{
-					qse_printf (QSE_T("#NIL\n"));
+					qse_printf (QSE_T("nil\n"));
+				}
+				else if (pair->val->type == QSE_XLI_TRUE)
+				{
+					qse_printf (QSE_T("true\n"));
+				}
+				else if (pair->val->type == QSE_XLI_FALSE)
+				{
+					qse_printf (QSE_T("false\n"));
 				}
 				else
 				{
@@ -567,6 +580,11 @@ static int xli_main (int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 	ret = (g_io_flags & IO_FLAG_JSON_OUTPUT)? qse_xli_writejsonstd(xli, QSE_NULL, &out):
 	      (g_io_flags & IO_FLAG_INI_OUTPUT)?  qse_xli_writeinistd(xli, QSE_NULL, &out):
 	                                          qse_xli_writestd(xli, QSE_NULL, &out);
+	if (ret <= -1)
+	{
+		qse_fprintf (QSE_STDERR, QSE_T("WARNING: cannot write - %s\n"), qse_xli_geterrmsg(xli));
+	}
+
 oops:
 	if (xli) qse_xli_close (xli);
 	if (xma_mmgr.ctx) qse_xma_close (xma_mmgr.ctx);
diff --git a/qse/include/qse/xli/xli.h b/qse/include/qse/xli/xli.h
index 63071383..9f0adc06 100644
--- a/qse/include/qse/xli/xli.h
+++ b/qse/include/qse/xli/xli.h
@@ -69,9 +69,10 @@ enum qse_xli_errnum_t
 	QSE_XLI_ESCOLON,  /**< semicolon expected in place of '${0}' */
 	QSE_XLI_EEQ,      /**< = expected in place of '${0}' */
 	QSE_XLI_ELBREQ,   /**< { or = expected in place of '${0}' */
-	QSE_XLI_ERBRACE,   /**< } expected in place of '${0}' */
-	QSE_XLI_ERBRACK,   /**< ] expected in place of '${0}' */
-	QSE_XLI_EPAVAL,   /**< pair value expected in place of '${0}' */
+	QSE_XLI_ERBRACE,  /**< } expected in place of '${0}' */
+	QSE_XLI_ERBRACK,  /**< ] expected in place of '${0}' */
+	QSE_XLI_ECOMMA,   /**< , expected in place of '${0}' */
+	QSE_XLI_EVALUE,   /**< value expected in place of '${0}' */
 	QSE_XLI_ESTRNC,   /**< string not closed */
 	QSE_XLI_ETAGNC,   /**< tag not closed */
 	QSE_XLI_EINCLSTR ,/**< '@include' not followed by a string */
@@ -147,30 +148,46 @@ enum qse_xli_trait_t
 	 *  "tg" is stored into the tag field of qse_xli_str_t. */
 	QSE_XLI_STRTAG    = (1 << 10), 
 
+	/** enable the keyword 'true' and 'false' in the xli format.
+	 *  the json format always supports these keywords regardless of this option.
+	 *  the ini format doesn't support these regardless of this option. */
+	QSE_XLI_BOOLEAN   = (1 << 11),
+
 	/** enable pair validation against pair definitions while reading */
-	QSE_XLI_VALIDATE  = (1 << 11)
+	QSE_XLI_VALIDATE  = (1 << 12)
 };
 typedef enum qse_xli_trait_t qse_xli_trait_t;
 
-typedef struct qse_xli_val_t  qse_xli_val_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_nil_t  qse_xli_nil_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_str_t  qse_xli_str_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_list_t qse_xli_list_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_val_t    qse_xli_val_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_nil_t    qse_xli_nil_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_true_t   qse_xli_true_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_false_t  qse_xli_false_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_str_t    qse_xli_str_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_list_t   qse_xli_list_t;
 
-typedef struct qse_xli_atom_t qse_xli_atom_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_pair_t qse_xli_pair_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_text_t qse_xli_text_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_file_t qse_xli_file_t;
-typedef struct qse_xli_eof_t  qse_xli_eof_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_atom_t   qse_xli_atom_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_pair_t   qse_xli_pair_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_text_t   qse_xli_text_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_file_t   qse_xli_file_t;
+typedef struct qse_xli_eof_t    qse_xli_eof_t;
 
 enum qse_xli_val_type_t
 {
 	QSE_XLI_NIL,
+	QSE_XLI_TRUE,
+	QSE_XLI_FALSE,
 	QSE_XLI_STR,
 	QSE_XLI_LIST,
 };
 typedef enum qse_xli_val_type_t qse_xli_val_type_t;
 
+enum qse_xli_str_flag_t
+{
+	QSE_XLI_STR_NSTR  = (1 << 0),
+	QSE_XLI_STR_RADIX = (1 << 1),
+	QSE_XLI_STR_FLOAT = (1 << 2)
+};
+
 enum qse_xli_atom_type_t
 {
 	QSE_XLI_PAIR,
@@ -193,6 +210,16 @@ struct qse_xli_nil_t
 	QSE_XLI_VAL_HDR;
 };
 
+struct qse_xli_true_t
+{
+	QSE_XLI_VAL_HDR;
+};
+
+struct qse_xli_false_t
+{
+	QSE_XLI_VAL_HDR;
+};
+
 struct qse_xli_list_t
 {
 	QSE_XLI_VAL_HDR;
@@ -203,6 +230,7 @@ struct qse_xli_list_t
 struct qse_xli_str_t
 {
 	QSE_XLI_VAL_HDR;
+	int                flags;
 	const qse_char_t*  tag;
 	const qse_char_t*  ptr;
 	qse_size_t         len; 
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/err.c b/qse/lib/xli/err.c
index 36e893e3..c92c466c 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/err.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/err.c
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ const qse_char_t* qse_xli_dflerrstr (const qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_errnum_t errn
 		QSE_T("left-brace or equal-sign expected in place of '${0}'"),
 		QSE_T("right-brace expected in place of '${0}'"),
 		QSE_T("right-bracket expected in place of '${0}'"),
-		QSE_T("pair value expected in place of '${0}'"),
+		QSE_T("comma expected in place of '${0}'"),
+		QSE_T("value expected in place of '${0}'"),
 		QSE_T("string not closed"),
 		QSE_T("string tag not closed"),
 		QSE_T("'@include' not followed by a string"),
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/read-json.c b/qse/lib/xli/read-json.c
index 2cfb09de..cad4d113 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/read-json.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/read-json.c
@@ -84,14 +84,17 @@ typedef struct kwent_t kwent_t;
 struct kwent_t 
 { 
 	qse_cstr_t name;
-	int type; 
+	qse_xli_tok_type_t type; 
 };
 
 /* note that the keyword must start with @. */
 static kwent_t kwtab[] = 
 {
 	/* keep it sorted by the first field for binary search */
-	{ { QSE_T("@include"),     8 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_XINCLUDE }
+	{ { QSE_T("@include"),     8 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_XINCLUDE },
+	{ { QSE_T("false"),        5 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_FALSE    },
+	{ { QSE_T("nil"),          3 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_NIL      },
+	{ { QSE_T("true"),         4 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_TRUE     }
 };
 
 static int skip_spaces (qse_xli_t* xli)
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ static int skip_comment (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_tok_t* tok)
 	return 0; 
 }
 
-static int classify_ident (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* name)
+static qse_xli_tok_type_t classify_ident (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* name)
 {
 	/* perform binary search */
 
@@ -287,7 +290,7 @@ static int begin_include (qse_xli_t* xli)
 	/* read in the first character in the included file. 
 	 * so the next call to get_token() sees the character read
 	 * from this file. */
-	if (qse_xli_getchar (xli) <= -1 || get_token (xli) <= -1) 
+	if (qse_xli_getchar(xli) <= -1 || get_token(xli) <= -1) 
 	{
 		end_include (xli, 1); 
 		/* i don't jump to oops since i've called 
@@ -296,7 +299,7 @@ static int begin_include (qse_xli_t* xli)
 	}
 
 	if ((xli->opt.trait & QSE_XLI_KEEPFILE) &&
-	    qse_xli_insertfile (xli, xli->parlink->list, QSE_NULL, arg->name) == QSE_NULL) 
+	    qse_xli_insertfile(xli, xli->parlink->list, QSE_NULL, arg->name) == QSE_NULL) 
 	{
 		end_include (xli, 1);
 		return -1;
@@ -316,7 +319,6 @@ static int get_token_into (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_tok_t* tok)
 {
 	qse_cint_t c;
 	int n;
-	int skip_semicolon_after_include = 0;
 
 retry:
 	do 
@@ -341,7 +343,6 @@ retry:
 		{
 			/*xli->rio.last = xli->rio.inp->last;*/
 			/* mark that i'm retrying after end of an included file */
-			skip_semicolon_after_include = 1; 
 			goto retry;
 		}
 
@@ -352,7 +353,7 @@ retry:
 	{
 		/* keyword/directive - start with @ */
 
-		int type;
+		qse_xli_tok_type_t type;
 
 		ADD_TOKEN_CHAR (xli, tok, c);
 		GET_CHAR_TO (xli, c);
@@ -373,7 +374,7 @@ retry:
 		} 
 		while (QSE_ISALPHA (c));
 
-		type = classify_ident (xli, QSE_STR_XSTR(tok->name));
+		type = classify_ident(xli, QSE_STR_XSTR(tok->name));
 		if (type == QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT)
 		{
 			/* this keyword/directive is not recognized */
@@ -382,43 +383,22 @@ retry:
 		}
 		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (xli, tok, type);
 	}
-	else if (c == QSE_T('_') || QSE_ISALPHA (c) || 
-	         (!(xli->tok_status & TOK_STATUS_ENABLE_NSTR) &&
-	          (xli->opt.trait & QSE_XLI_LEADDIGIT) && 
-	          QSE_ISDIGIT(c)))
+	else if (c == QSE_T('_') || QSE_ISALPHA (c))
 	{
-		int lead_digit = QSE_ISDIGIT(c);
-		int all_digits = 1;
+		qse_xli_tok_type_t type;
 
-		/* a normal identifier can be composed of wider varieties of 
-		 * characters than a keyword/directive */
-		while (1)
+		do
 		{
 			ADD_TOKEN_CHAR (xli, tok, c);
 			GET_CHAR_TO (xli, c);
-
-			if (c == QSE_T('_') || c == QSE_T('-') || c == QSE_T('*') ||
-			    c == QSE_T('/') || QSE_ISALPHA (c)) 
-			{
-				all_digits = 0;
-			}
-			else if (QSE_ISDIGIT(c)) 
-			{
-				/* nothing to do */
-			}
-			else break;
-		} 
-
-		if (lead_digit && all_digits)
-		{
-			/* if an identifier begins with a digit, it must contain a non-digits character */
-			qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_EIDENT, QSE_STR_XSTR(tok->name), &tok->loc);
-			return -1;
 		}
+		while (c == QSE_T('_') || QSE_ISALNUM (c));
 
-		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (xli, tok, QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT);
+		type = classify_ident(xli, QSE_STR_XSTR(tok->name));
+		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (xli, tok, type);
 	}
-	else if ((xli->tok_status & TOK_STATUS_ENABLE_NSTR) && QSE_ISDIGIT(c))
+	/* TODO: negative number, floating-point number, etc */
+	else if (QSE_ISDIGIT(c))
 	{
 		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (xli, tok, QSE_XLI_TOK_NSTR);
 		do
@@ -520,24 +500,8 @@ retry:
 			}
 			return -1;
 		}
-
-		if (skip_semicolon_after_include && tok->type == QSE_XLI_TOK_SEMICOLON)
-		{
-			/* this handles the optional semicolon after the 
-			 * included file named as in @include "file-name"; */
-			skip_semicolon_after_include = 0;
-			goto retry;
-		}
 	}
 
-	if (skip_semicolon_after_include)
-	{
-		/* semiclon has not been skipped yet */
-		qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_ESCOLON, QSE_STR_XSTR(tok->name), &tok->loc);
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-printf ("TOKEN: %ls\n",QSE_STR_PTR(tok->name));
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -587,9 +551,19 @@ static qse_xli_val_t* __read_value (qse_xli_t* xli)
 
 			if (begin_include(xli) <= -1) return QSE_NULL;
 		}
-		else if (/*MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT) || */MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_DQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_SQSTR))
+		else if (/*MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT) || */MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_DQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_SQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_NSTR))
 		{
-			return (qse_xli_val_t*)qse_xli_makestrval(xli, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), QSE_NULL);
+			qse_xli_str_t* sv;
+
+			sv = qse_xli_makestrval(xli, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), QSE_NULL);
+			if (!sv) return QSE_NULL;
+
+			if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_NSTR))
+			{
+				sv->flags |= QSE_XLI_STR_NSTR;
+			}
+
+			return (qse_xli_val_t*)sv;
 		}
 		else if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_LBRACE))
 		{
@@ -610,17 +584,29 @@ static qse_xli_val_t* __read_value (qse_xli_t* xli)
 		{
 			qse_xli_list_t* lv;
 
-			lv = qse_xli_makelistval (xli);
+			lv = qse_xli_makelistval(xli);
 			if (!lv) return QSE_NULL;
 
 			if (get_token(xli) <= -1 || read_array(xli, lv) <= -1)
-			if (!lv) 
 			{
 				qse_xli_freeval (xli, (qse_xli_val_t*)lv);
+				return QSE_NULL;
 			}
 
 			return (qse_xli_val_t*)lv;
 		}
+		else if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_NIL))
+		{
+			return (qse_xli_val_t*)&xli->root->xnil;
+		}
+		else if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_TRUE))
+		{
+			return (qse_xli_val_t*)&xli->root->xtrue;
+		}
+		else if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_FALSE))
+		{
+			return (qse_xli_val_t*)&xli->root->xfalse;
+		}
 		else if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_TEXT))
 		{
 			if (get_token(xli) <= -1) return QSE_NULL;
@@ -631,10 +617,10 @@ static qse_xli_val_t* __read_value (qse_xli_t* xli)
 		}
 	}
 
+	qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_EVALUE, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), &xli->tok.loc);
 	return QSE_NULL;
 }
 
-
 struct rpair_t
 {
 	qse_char_t* key;
@@ -697,17 +683,17 @@ static int __read_array (qse_xli_t* xli)
 
 		if (get_token(xli) <= -1) return -1;
 
-		if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_COMMA)) 
+		if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_RBRACK)) break;
+		if (!MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_COMMA)) 
 		{
-			if (get_token(xli) <= -1) return -1;
-			continue;
+			qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_ECOMMA, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), &xli->tok.loc);
+			return -1;
 		}
 
-		if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_RBRACK)) break;
+		if (get_token(xli) <= -1) return -1;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
-
 }
 
 static int read_array (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* lv)
@@ -754,7 +740,7 @@ static int __read_list (qse_xli_t* xli)
 			rpair_t rpair;
 			if (read_pair(xli, &rpair) <= -1) return -1;
 
-			if (!qse_xli_insertpair (xli, xli->parlink->list, QSE_NULL, rpair.key, QSE_NULL, QSE_NULL, rpair.val)) 
+			if (!qse_xli_insertpair(xli, xli->parlink->list, QSE_NULL, rpair.key, QSE_NULL, QSE_NULL, rpair.val)) 
 			{
 				QSE_MMGR_FREE (xli->mmgr, rpair.key);
 				qse_xli_freeval (xli, rpair.val);
@@ -859,7 +845,16 @@ int qse_xli_readjson (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_io_impl_t io)
 
 	if (!MATCH (xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_EOF))
 	{
-		qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_ESYNTAX, QSE_NULL, &xli->tok.loc);
+		
+		if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_LBRACE) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_LBRACK) || 
+		    MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_DQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_SQSTR))
+		{
+			qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_ECOMMA, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), &xli->tok.loc);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_ESYNTAX, QSE_NULL, &xli->tok.loc);
+		}
 		goto oops;
 	}
 
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/read.c b/qse/lib/xli/read.c
index 42c612db..83e446d9 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/read.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/read.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ typedef struct kwent_t kwent_t;
 struct kwent_t 
 { 
 	qse_cstr_t name;
-	int type; 
+	qse_xli_tok_type_t type; 
 };
 
 /* note that the keyword must start with @. */
@@ -114,6 +114,13 @@ static kwent_t kwtab[] =
 	{ { QSE_T("@include"),     8 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_XINCLUDE }
 };
 
+static kwent_t boolkwtab[] = 
+{
+	/* keep it sorted by the first field for binary search */
+	{ { QSE_T("false"),     5 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_FALSE },
+	{ { QSE_T("true"),      4 }, QSE_XLI_TOK_TRUE }
+};
+
 int qse_xli_getchar (qse_xli_t* xli)
 {
 	qse_ssize_t n;
@@ -254,14 +261,21 @@ static int skip_comment (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_tok_t* tok)
 	return 0; 
 }
 
-static int classify_ident (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* name)
+static qse_xli_tok_type_t classify_ident (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* name)
 {
 	/* perform binary search */
 
 	/* declaring left, right, mid to be the int type is ok
 	 * because we know kwtab is small enough. */
-	int left = 0, right = QSE_COUNTOF(kwtab) - 1, mid;
+	int left, right, mid;
+	int bool_checked = 0;
+	kwent_t* kwtabp;
 
+	left = 0;
+	right = QSE_COUNTOF(kwtab) - 1;
+	kwtabp = kwtab;
+
+retry:
 	while (left <= right)
 	{
 		int n;
@@ -269,7 +283,7 @@ static int classify_ident (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* name)
 
 		/*mid = (left + right) / 2;*/
 		mid = left + (right - left) / 2;
-		kwp = &kwtab[mid];
+		kwp = &kwtabp[mid];
 
 		n = qse_strxncmp (kwp->name.ptr, kwp->name.len, name->ptr, name->len);
 		if (n > 0) 
@@ -284,6 +298,15 @@ static int classify_ident (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* name)
 		else return kwp->type;
 	}
 
+	if (!bool_checked && (xli->opt.trait & QSE_XLI_BOOLEAN))
+	{
+		bool_checked = 1;
+		kwtabp = boolkwtab;
+		left = 0;
+		right = QSE_COUNTOF(boolkwtab) - 1;
+		goto retry;
+	}
+
 	return QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT;
 }
 
@@ -513,6 +536,7 @@ retry:
 	{
 		int lead_digit = QSE_ISDIGIT(c);
 		int all_digits = 1;
+		qse_xli_tok_type_t type;
 
 		/* a normal identifier can be composed of wider varieties of 
 		 * characters than a keyword/directive */
@@ -541,7 +565,8 @@ retry:
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (xli, tok, QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT);
+		type = classify_ident (xli, QSE_STR_XSTR(tok->name));
+		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (xli, tok, type);
 	}
 	else if ((xli->tok_status & TOK_STATUS_ENABLE_NSTR) && QSE_ISDIGIT(c))
 	{
@@ -854,7 +879,26 @@ static int read_pair (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_char_t* keytag, const qse_xli_sc
 			if (get_token (xli) <= -1) goto oops;
 		}
 
-		if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_SQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_DQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_NSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT))
+		if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_TRUE) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_FALSE))
+		{
+			qse_xli_val_t* v;
+
+			v = MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_TRUE)? (qse_xli_val_t*)&xli->root->xtrue:
+			                                  (qse_xli_val_t*)&xli->root->xfalse;
+			pair = qse_xli_insertpair(xli, parlist, QSE_NULL, key.ptr, name, keytag, v);
+			if (pair == QSE_NULL) goto oops;
+
+			if (get_token (xli) <= -1) goto oops; /* skip the value */
+
+			if (!MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_SEMICOLON))
+			{
+				qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_ESCOLON, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), &xli->tok.loc);
+				goto oops;
+			}
+
+			if (get_token (xli) <= -1) goto oops; /* skip the value */
+		}
+		else if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_SQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_DQSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_NSTR) || MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_IDENT))
 		{
 			qse_xli_str_t* curstrseg;
 			qse_size_t segcount = 0;
@@ -867,9 +911,14 @@ static int read_pair (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_char_t* keytag, const qse_xli_sc
 			}
 
 			/* add a new pair with the initial string segment */
-			pair = qse_xli_insertpairwithstr (xli, parlist, QSE_NULL, key.ptr, name, keytag, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), strtag);
+			pair = qse_xli_insertpairwithstr(xli, parlist, QSE_NULL, key.ptr, name, keytag, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), strtag);
 			if (pair == QSE_NULL) goto oops;
 
+			if (MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_NSTR))
+			{
+				((qse_xli_str_t*)pair->val)->flags |= QSE_XLI_STR_NSTR;
+			}
+
 			segcount++;
 			curstrseg = (qse_xli_str_t*)pair->val;
 
@@ -931,17 +980,14 @@ static int read_pair (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_char_t* keytag, const qse_xli_sc
 
 			/* semicolon read. turn off NSTR */
 			xli->tok_status &= ~TOK_STATUS_ENABLE_NSTR;
-			if (get_token (xli) <= -1) goto oops;
+			if (get_token(xli) <= -1) goto oops;
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_EPAVAL, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), &xli->tok.loc);
+			qse_xli_seterror (xli, QSE_XLI_EVALUE, QSE_STR_XSTR(xli->tok.name), &xli->tok.loc);
 			goto oops;
 		}
-
-
 		/* TODO: check against schema */
-
 	}
 	else if (!(xli->opt.trait & QSE_XLI_NOLIST) && MATCH(xli, QSE_XLI_TOK_LBRACE))
 	{
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/std.c b/qse/lib/xli/std.c
index a9d08641..81f0d5d7 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/std.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/std.c
@@ -468,8 +468,10 @@ static qse_ssize_t sf_out_open (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_io_arg_t* arg, xtn_t* xt
 		if (arg->handle == QSE_NULL)
 		{
 			qse_cstr_t ea;
-			ea.ptr = (qse_char_t*)arg->name;
-			ea.len = qse_strlen(ea.ptr);
+			/*ea.ptr = (qse_char_t*)arg->name;
+			ea.len = qse_strlen(ea.ptr);*/
+			ea.ptr = (qse_char_t*)path;
+			ea.len = qse_strlen(path);
 			qse_xli_seterrnum (xli, QSE_XLI_EIOFIL, &ea);
 			return -1;
 		}
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/write-ini.c b/qse/lib/xli/write-ini.c
index e8121b82..f1be598f 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/write-ini.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/write-ini.c
@@ -83,6 +83,14 @@ static int write_list (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* list, int depth)
 						if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("\n"), 1) <= -1) return -1;
 						break;
 
+					case QSE_XLI_TRUE:
+						if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("true\n"), 5) <= -1) return -1;
+						break;
+
+					case QSE_XLI_FALSE:
+						if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("false\n"), 6) <= -1) return -1;
+						break;
+
 					case QSE_XLI_STR:
 					{
 						qse_xli_str_t* str = (qse_xli_str_t*)pair->val;
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/write-json.c b/qse/lib/xli/write-json.c
index 44fb86cb..df524234 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/write-json.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/write-json.c
@@ -232,7 +232,15 @@ static int write_list (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* list, int depth)
 				switch (pair->val->type)
 				{
 					case QSE_XLI_NIL:
-						if (write_to_current_stream(xli, QSE_T(";\n"), 2, 0) <= -1) return -1;
+						if (write_to_current_stream(xli, QSE_T("nil;\n"), 5, 0) <= -1) return -1;
+						break;
+
+					case QSE_XLI_TRUE:
+						if (write_to_current_stream(xli, QSE_T("true;\n"), 6, 0) <= -1) return -1;
+						break;
+
+					case QSE_XLI_FALSE:
+						if (write_to_current_stream(xli, QSE_T("false;\n"), 7, 0) <= -1) return -1;
 						break;
 
 					case QSE_XLI_STR:
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/write.c b/qse/lib/xli/write.c
index 1a612d1f..51b1bb3f 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/write.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/write.c
@@ -296,6 +296,14 @@ static int write_list (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* list, int depth)
 						if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T(";\n"), 2, 0) <= -1) return -1;
 						break;
 
+					case QSE_XLI_TRUE:
+						if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T(" = true;\n"), 9, 0) <= -1) return -1;
+						break;
+
+					case QSE_XLI_FALSE:
+						if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T(" = false;\n"), 10, 0) <= -1) return -1;
+						break;
+
 					case QSE_XLI_STR:
 					{
 						qse_xli_str_t* str = (qse_xli_str_t*)pair->val;
@@ -309,10 +317,12 @@ static int write_list (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* list, int depth)
 								    write_to_current_stream (xli, str->tag, qse_strlen(str->tag), 0) <= -1 || 
 								    write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("]"), 1, 0) <= -1) return -1;
 							}
-						
-							if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("\""), 1, 0) <= -1 ||
+
+							if ((!(str->flags & QSE_XLI_STR_NSTR) && 
+							     write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("\""), 1, 0) <= -1) ||
 							    write_to_current_stream (xli, str->ptr, str->len, 1) <= -1 ||
-							    write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("\""), 1, 0) <= -1) return -1;
+							    (!(str->flags & QSE_XLI_STR_NSTR) && 
+							     write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("\""), 1, 0) <= -1)) return -1;
 							if (!str->next) break;
 
 							if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T(", "), 2, 0) <= -1) return -1;
@@ -363,8 +373,8 @@ static int write_list (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* list, int depth)
 				if (write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("@include \""), 10, 0) <= -1 ||
 				    write_to_current_stream (xli, path, qse_strlen(path), 1) <= -1 ||
 				    write_to_current_stream (xli, QSE_T("\";\n"), 3, 0) <= -1) return -1;
-				
-				if (qse_xli_openwstream (xli, ((qse_xli_file_t*)curatom)->path, depth) <= -1) return -1;
+
+				if (qse_xli_openwstream(xli, ((qse_xli_file_t*)curatom)->path, depth) <= -1) return -1;
 				depth = 0;
 				break;
 			}
@@ -411,7 +421,7 @@ int qse_xli_write (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_t* root_list, qse_xli_io_impl_t
 
 	/* begin writing the root list */
 	n = write_list (xli, (root_list? root_list: &xli->root->list), 0);
-	
+
 	/* close all open streams. there should be only the
 	 * top-level stream here if there occurred no errors */
 	while (xli->wio.inp) qse_xli_closeactivewstream (xli, QSE_NULL);
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/xli.c b/qse/lib/xli/xli.c
index f4bc0e0f..dc29093c 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/xli.c
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/xli.c
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ void qse_xli_deletepair (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_pair_t* pair)
 	}
 	else 
 	{
-		QSE_ASSERT (list->head == pair);
+		QSE_ASSERT (list->head == (qse_xli_atom_t*)pair);
 		list->head = pair->next;
 	}
 
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ void qse_xli_deletepair (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_pair_t* pair)
 	}
 	else 
 	{
-		QSE_ASSERT (list->tail == pair);
+		QSE_ASSERT (list->tail == (qse_xli_atom_t*)pair);
 		list->tail = pair->prev;
 	}
 
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ qse_xli_str_t* qse_xli_makestrval (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* value, cons
 	if (!val) return QSE_NULL;
 
 	val->type = QSE_XLI_STR;
+	val->flags = 0;
 
 	qse_strncpy ((qse_char_t*)(val + 1), value->ptr, value->len);
 	val->ptr = (const qse_char_t*)(val + 1);
@@ -380,6 +381,81 @@ qse_xli_list_t* qse_xli_makelistval (qse_xli_t* xli)
 	return val;
 }
 
+static void free_val (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_val_t* val)
+{
+	switch (val->type)
+	{
+		case QSE_XLI_NIL:
+			QSE_ASSERT (val == (qse_xli_val_t*)&root->xnil);
+			return;
+		case QSE_XLI_TRUE:
+			QSE_ASSERT (val == (qse_xli_val_t*)&root->xtrue);
+			return;
+		case QSE_XLI_FALSE:
+			QSE_ASSERT (val == (qse_xli_val_t*)&root->xfalse);
+			return;
+
+		case QSE_XLI_LIST:
+			free_list (root, (qse_xli_list_t*)val);
+			break;
+
+		case QSE_XLI_STR:
+		{
+			qse_xli_str_t* cur, * next; 
+
+			cur = ((qse_xli_str_t*)val)->next;
+			while (cur)
+			{
+				next = cur->next;
+				QSE_MMGR_FREE (root->mmgr, cur);
+				cur = next;
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	QSE_MMGR_FREE (root->mmgr, val);
+}
+
+
+static void free_atom (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_atom_t* atom)
+{
+	/* Among all atom type, QSE_XLI_PAIR has a value to dispose of specially.
+	 * A tag and an alise are inlined to the atom itself. see insert_atom() 
+	 * above for details.
+	 *
+	 * for QSE_XLI_TEXT, QSE_XLI_FILE, QSE_XLI_EOF, data are inlined to 
+	 * the atom itself as well.
+	 */
+
+	if (atom->type == QSE_XLI_PAIR) free_val (root, ((qse_xli_pair_t*)atom)->val);
+	QSE_MMGR_FREE (root->mmgr, atom);
+}
+
+static void free_list (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_list_t* list)
+{
+	qse_xli_atom_t* p, * n;
+
+	p = list->head;
+	while (p)
+	{
+		n = p->next;
+		free_atom (root, p);
+		p = n;
+	}
+
+	list->head = QSE_NULL;
+	list->tail = QSE_NULL;
+
+	/* this doesn't destroy the list itself. 
+	 * the caller must destory the list if necessary. */
+}
+
+void qse_xli_freeval (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_val_t* val)
+{
+	free_val (xli->root, val);
+}
+
 /* ------------------------------------------------------ */
 
 qse_xli_pair_t* qse_xli_insertpairwithemptylist (
@@ -517,80 +593,13 @@ static qse_xli_root_list_t* make_root (qse_xli_t* xli)
 	QSE_MEMSET (tmp, 0, QSE_SIZEOF(*tmp) + xli->opt.root_xtnsize);
 	tmp->list.type = QSE_XLI_LIST;
 	tmp->xnil.type = QSE_XLI_NIL;
+	tmp->xtrue.type = QSE_XLI_TRUE;
+	tmp->xfalse.type = QSE_XLI_FALSE;
 	tmp->mmgr = xli->mmgr;
 
 	return tmp;
 }
 
-
-static void unsafe_free_val (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_val_t* val)
-{
-	if (val->type == QSE_XLI_LIST)
-	{
-		free_list (root, (qse_xli_list_t*)val);
-	}
-	else if (val->type == QSE_XLI_STR)
-	{
-		qse_xli_str_t* cur, * next; 
-
-		cur = ((qse_xli_str_t*)val)->next;
-		while (cur)
-		{
-			next = cur->next;
-			QSE_MMGR_FREE (root->mmgr, cur);
-			cur = next;
-		}
-	}
-
-	QSE_MMGR_FREE (root->mmgr, val);
-}
-
-void qse_xli_freeval (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_val_t* val)
-{
-	unsafe_free_val (xli->root, val);
-}
-
-static void free_val (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_val_t* val)
-{
-	if ((qse_xli_nil_t*)val != &root->xnil)
-	{
-		unsafe_free_val (root, val);
-	}
-}
-
-static void free_atom (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_atom_t* atom)
-{
-	/* Among all atom type, QSE_XLI_PAIR has a value to dispose of specially.
-	 * A tag and an alise are inlined to the atom itself. see insert_atom() 
-	 * above for details.
-	 *
-	 * for QSE_XLI_TEXT, QSE_XLI_FILE, QSE_XLI_EOF, data are inlined to 
-	 * the atom itself as well.
-	 */
-
-	if (atom->type == QSE_XLI_PAIR) free_val (root, ((qse_xli_pair_t*)atom)->val);
-	QSE_MMGR_FREE (root->mmgr, atom);
-}
-
-static void free_list (qse_xli_root_list_t* root, qse_xli_list_t* list)
-{
-	qse_xli_atom_t* p, * n;
-
-	p = list->head;
-	while (p)
-	{
-		n = p->next;
-		free_atom (root, p);
-		p = n;
-	}
-
-	list->head = QSE_NULL;
-	list->tail = QSE_NULL;
-
-	/* this doesn't destroy the list itself. 
-	 * the caller must destory the list if necessary. */
-}
-
 void qse_xli_clear (qse_xli_t* xli)
 {
 	free_list (xli->root, &xli->root->list);
@@ -726,7 +735,8 @@ const qse_char_t* get_next_fqpn_segment (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_char_t* fqpn,
 {
 	const qse_char_t* ptr;
 
-	seg->key.ptr = ptr = fqpn;
+	ptr = fqpn;
+	seg->key.ptr = (qse_char_t*)ptr;
 	while (*ptr != QSE_T('\0') && *ptr != xli->opt.key_splitter && *ptr != QSE_T('[') && *ptr != QSE_T('{')) ptr++;
 	if (ptr == seg->key.ptr) goto inval; /* no key part */
 	seg->key.len = ptr - seg->key.ptr;
diff --git a/qse/lib/xli/xli.h b/qse/lib/xli/xli.h
index f3f1b2f4..5f7767ef 100644
--- a/qse/lib/xli/xli.h
+++ b/qse/lib/xli/xli.h
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ enum qse_xli_tok_type_t
 {
 	QSE_XLI_TOK_EOF,
 	QSE_XLI_TOK_XINCLUDE,
+	QSE_XLI_TOK_TRUE,
+	QSE_XLI_TOK_FALSE,
+	QSE_XLI_TOK_NIL,
 	QSE_XLI_TOK_COLON,
 	QSE_XLI_TOK_SEMICOLON,
 	QSE_XLI_TOK_LBRACE,
@@ -80,6 +83,8 @@ struct qse_xli_root_list_t
 {
 	qse_xli_list_t list;
 	qse_xli_nil_t xnil;
+	qse_xli_true_t xtrue;
+	qse_xli_false_t xfalse;
 	qse_mmgr_t* mmgr;
 };
 
@@ -157,7 +162,6 @@ void qse_xli_freelistlink (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_list_link_t* link);
 
 qse_xli_str_t* qse_xli_makestrval (qse_xli_t* xli, const qse_cstr_t* value, const qse_char_t* strtag);
 qse_xli_list_t* qse_xli_makelistval (qse_xli_t* xli);
-qse_xli_pair_t* qse_xli_makepairval (qse_xli_t* xli);
 void qse_xli_freeval (qse_xli_t* xli, qse_xli_val_t* val);
 
 #if defined(__cplusplus)