diff --git a/ase/awk/awk.c b/ase/awk/awk.c
index bf0f78ef..2644aacc 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk.c
+++ b/ase/awk/awk.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* 
- * $Id: awk.c,v 1.92 2006-11-27 15:10:34 bacon Exp $ 
+ * $Id: awk.c,v 1.93 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $ 
  */
 
 #if defined(__BORLANDC__)
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ ase_awk_t* ase_awk_open (const ase_awk_syscas_t* syscas)
 int ase_awk_close (ase_awk_t* awk)
 {
 	if (ase_awk_clear (awk) == -1) return -1;
+	ase_awk_clrbfn (awk);
 
 	ASE_AWK_ASSERT (awk, awk->run.count == 0 && awk->run.ptr == ASE_NULL);
 
@@ -228,7 +229,6 @@ int ase_awk_clear (ase_awk_t* awk)
 	awk->tree.chain_tail = ASE_NULL;	
 	awk->tree.chain_size = 0;
 
-	ase_awk_clrbfn (awk);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/awk.h b/ase/awk/awk.h
index 80690ba6..9c7af57f 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk.h
+++ b/ase/awk/awk.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* 
- * $Id: awk.h,v 1.153 2006-11-27 04:33:22 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.h,v 1.154 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _ASE_AWK_AWK_H_
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ enum
 	ASE_AWK_EDIVBYZERO,        /* divide by zero */
 	ASE_AWK_EOPERAND,          /* invalid operand */
 	ASE_AWK_EPOSIDX,           /* wrong position index */
-	ASE_AWK_ENOSUCHFUNC,       /* no such function */
+	ASE_AWK_ENOSUCHFN,         /* no such function */
 	ASE_AWK_ENOTASSIGNABLE,    /* value not assignable */
 	ASE_AWK_ENOTINDEXABLE,     /* not indexable variable */
 	ASE_AWK_ENOTDELETABLE,     /* not deletable variable */
@@ -394,7 +394,8 @@ int ase_awk_run (ase_awk_t* awk,
 	const ase_char_t* main,
 	ase_awk_runios_t* runios, 
 	ase_awk_runcbs_t* runcbs, 
-	ase_awk_runarg_t* runarg);
+	ase_awk_runarg_t* runarg,
+	void* custom_data);
 
 int ase_awk_stop (ase_awk_t* awk, ase_awk_run_t* run);
 void ase_awk_stopall (ase_awk_t* awk);
@@ -411,14 +412,31 @@ int ase_awk_setfilename (
 int ase_awk_setofilename (
 	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t len);
 
+ase_awk_t* ase_awk_getrunawk (ase_awk_run_t* awk);
+void* ase_awk_getruncustomdata (ase_awk_run_t* awk);
 int ase_awk_getrunerrnum (ase_awk_run_t* run);
 void ase_awk_setrunerrnum (ase_awk_run_t* run, int errnum);
 
+/* functions to manipulate built-in functions */
+void* ase_awk_addbfn (
+	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, 
+	int when_valid, ase_size_t min_args, ase_size_t max_args, 
+	const ase_char_t* arg_spec, 
+	int (*handler)(ase_awk_run_t*,const ase_char_t*,ase_size_t));
+
+int ase_awk_delbfn (
+	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len);
+
+void ase_awk_clrbfn (ase_awk_t* awk);
+
 /* record and field functions */
 int ase_awk_clrrec (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_bool_t skip_inrec_line);
 int ase_awk_setrec (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_size_t idx, const ase_char_t* str, ase_size_t len);
 
 /* utility functions exported by awk.h */
+void* ase_awk_malloc (ase_awk_t* awk, ase_size_t size);
+void ase_awk_free (ase_awk_t* awk, void* ptr);
+
 ase_long_t ase_awk_strxtolong (
 	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* str, ase_size_t len,
 	int base, const ase_char_t** endptr);
diff --git a/ase/awk/awk_i.h b/ase/awk/awk_i.h
index f9df9c3d..7217be6f 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk_i.h
+++ b/ase/awk/awk_i.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: awk_i.h,v 1.85 2006-11-25 15:51:30 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk_i.h,v 1.86 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _ASE_AWK_AWKI_H_
@@ -295,8 +295,9 @@ struct ase_awk_run_t
 	} format;
 
 	int errnum;
-
+	void* custom_data;
 	ase_awk_t* awk;
+
 	ase_awk_run_t* prev;
 	ase_awk_run_t* next;
 };
diff --git a/ase/awk/func.c b/ase/awk/func.c
index 4af1c74a..728796a1 100644
--- a/ase/awk/func.c
+++ b/ase/awk/func.c
@@ -1,26 +1,25 @@
 /*
- * $Id: func.c,v 1.78 2006-11-27 15:10:34 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: func.c,v 1.79 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk_i.h>
 
-static int __bfn_close   (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_fflush  (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_index   (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_length  (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_substr  (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_split   (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_tolower (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_toupper (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_gsub    (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_sub     (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_match   (ase_awk_run_t* run);
-static int __bfn_sprintf (ase_awk_run_t* run);
+static int __bfn_close   (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_fflush  (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_index   (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_length  (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_substr  (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_split   (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_tolower (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_toupper (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_gsub    (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_sub     (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_match   (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
+static int __bfn_sprintf (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
 
 #undef MAX
 #define MAX ASE_TYPE_MAX(ase_size_t)
 
-/* TODO: move it under the awk structure... */
 static ase_awk_bfn_t __sys_bfn[] = 
 {
 	/* io functions */
@@ -42,10 +41,11 @@ static ase_awk_bfn_t __sys_bfn[] =
 	{ {ASE_NULL,         0}, 0,  0,   0,  ASE_NULL,     ASE_NULL}
 };
 
-ase_awk_bfn_t* ase_awk_addbfn (
+void* ase_awk_addbfn (
 	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, 
 	int when_valid, ase_size_t min_args, ase_size_t max_args, 
-	const ase_char_t* arg_spec, int (*handler)(ase_awk_run_t*))
+	const ase_char_t* arg_spec, 
+	int (*handler)(ase_awk_run_t*,const ase_char_t*,ase_size_t))
 {
 	ase_awk_bfn_t* p;
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ void ase_awk_clrbfn (ase_awk_t* awk)
 }
 
 ase_awk_bfn_t* ase_awk_getbfn (
-	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len)
+	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t len)
 {
 	ase_awk_bfn_t* p;
 
@@ -142,8 +142,7 @@ ase_awk_bfn_t* ase_awk_getbfn (
 		    (awk->option & p->valid) == 0) continue;
 
 		if (ase_awk_strxncmp (
-			p->name.ptr, p->name.len, 
-			name, name_len) == 0) return p;
+			p->name.ptr, p->name.len, name, len) == 0) return p;
 	}
 
 	for (p = awk->bfn.user; p != ASE_NULL; p = p->next)
@@ -152,14 +151,14 @@ ase_awk_bfn_t* ase_awk_getbfn (
 		    (awk->option & p->valid) == 0) continue;
 
 		if (ase_awk_strxncmp (
-			p->name.ptr, p->name.len, 
-			name, name_len) == 0) return p;
+			p->name.ptr, p->name.len, name, len) == 0) return p;
 	}
 
 	return ASE_NULL;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_close (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_close (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* v, * a0;
@@ -262,7 +261,8 @@ static int __flush_extio (
 	return n;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_fflush (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_fflush (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* a0;
@@ -355,7 +355,8 @@ skip_flush:
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_index (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_index (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* a0, * a1;
@@ -417,7 +418,8 @@ static int __bfn_index (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_length (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_length (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* v;
@@ -451,7 +453,8 @@ static int __bfn_length (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_substr (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_substr (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* a0, * a1, * a2, * r;
@@ -521,7 +524,8 @@ static int __bfn_substr (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_split (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_split (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* a0, * a1, * a2, * t1, * t2, ** a1_ref;
@@ -772,7 +776,8 @@ static int __bfn_split (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_tolower (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_tolower (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_char_t* str;
@@ -811,7 +816,8 @@ static int __bfn_tolower (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_toupper (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_toupper (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_char_t* str;
@@ -1140,17 +1146,20 @@ static int __substitute (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_long_t max_count)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_gsub (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_gsub (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	return __substitute (run, 0);
 }
 
-static int __bfn_sub (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_sub (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	return __substitute (run, 1);
 }
 
-static int __bfn_match (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_match (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* a0, * a1;
@@ -1268,7 +1277,8 @@ static int __bfn_match (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int __bfn_sprintf (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __bfn_sprintf (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {	
 	ase_size_t nargs;
 	ase_awk_val_t* a0;
diff --git a/ase/awk/func.h b/ase/awk/func.h
index 6e5fbeb7..7c140228 100644
--- a/ase/awk/func.h
+++ b/ase/awk/func.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: func.h,v 1.16 2006-11-27 15:10:34 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: func.h,v 1.17 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _ASE_AWK_FUNC_H_
@@ -27,13 +27,8 @@ struct ase_awk_bfn_t
 		ase_size_t max;
 		ase_char_t* spec;
 	} arg;
-	/*
-	ase_size_t min_args;
-	ase_size_t max_args;
-	ase_char_t* arg_spec;
-	*/
 
-	int (*handler) (ase_awk_run_t* run);
+	int (*handler) (ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
 
 	ase_awk_bfn_t* next;
 };
@@ -42,17 +37,8 @@ struct ase_awk_bfn_t
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-ase_awk_bfn_t* ase_awk_addbfn (
-	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, 
-	int when_valid, ase_size_t min_args, ase_size_t max_args, 
-	const ase_char_t* arg_spec, int (*handler)(ase_awk_run_t*));
-
-int ase_awk_delbfn (ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len);
-
-void ase_awk_clrbfn (ase_awk_t* awk);
-
 ase_awk_bfn_t* ase_awk_getbfn (
-	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len);
+	ase_awk_t* awk, const ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t len);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/ase/awk/jni.c b/ase/awk/jni.c
index 0d7bdcfc..3c12aa59 100644
--- a/ase/awk/jni.c
+++ b/ase/awk/jni.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: jni.c,v 1.28 2006-11-27 15:10:34 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: jni.c,v 1.29 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/jni.h>
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ static ase_ssize_t __process_extio (
 
 typedef struct srcio_data_t srcio_data_t;
 typedef struct runio_data_t runio_data_t;
+typedef struct run_data_t   run_data_t;
 
 struct srcio_data_t
 {
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ struct runio_data_t
 	jobject obj;
 };
 
+struct run_data_t
+{
+	JNIEnv* env;
+	jobject obj;
+};
+
 static void* __awk_malloc (ase_size_t n, void* custom_data)
 {
 	return malloc (n);
@@ -320,6 +327,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_run (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj)
 	ase_awk_t* awk;
 	ase_awk_runios_t runios;
 	runio_data_t runio_data;
+	run_data_t run_data;
 
 	class = (*env)->GetObjectClass (env, obj);
 
@@ -332,6 +340,9 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_run (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj)
 
 	awk = (ase_awk_t*) (*env)->GetLongField (env, obj, fid_handle);
 
+	run_data.env = env;
+	run_data.obj = obj;
+
 	runio_data.env = env;
 	runio_data.obj = obj;
 
@@ -343,7 +354,8 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_run (JNIEnv* env, jobject obj)
 
 	//depth = __java_get_max_depth (env, obj, "getMaxRunDepth");
 
-	if (ase_awk_run (awk, ASE_NULL, &runios, ASE_NULL, ASE_NULL) == -1)
+	if (ase_awk_run (awk, 
+		ASE_NULL, &runios, ASE_NULL, ASE_NULL, &run_data) == -1)
 	{
 		char msg[256];
 		int n;
@@ -910,22 +922,59 @@ JNIEXPORT jint JNICALL Java_ase_awk_Awk_setofilename (
 	return n;
 }
 
-static int __handle_bfn (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+static int __handle_bfn (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, const ase_char_t* fnm, ase_size_t fnl)
 {
 	jclass class; 
 	jmethodID mid;
+	jstring name;
+	jthrowable thrown;
+	char* buf;
+	ase_awk_t* awk;
+	run_data_t* run_data;
+	JNIEnv* env; 
+	jobject obj;
+
+	awk = ase_awk_getrunawk (run);
+	run_data = ase_awk_getruncustomdata (run);
+
+	env = run_data->env;
+	obj = run_data->obj;
+
+	buf = ase_awk_malloc (awk, fnl * 5);
+	if (buf == NULL)
+	{
+		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	name = (*env)->NewString (env, fnm, fnl);
+	if (name == NULL)
+	{
+		ase_awk_free (awk, buf);
+		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	(*env)->GetStringUTFRegion (env, name, 0, fnl, buf);
+	thrown = (*env)->ExceptionOccurred (env);
+	if (thrown)
+	{
+		(*env)->ExceptionClear (env);
+		ase_awk_free (awk, buf);
+		ase_awk_setrunerrnum (run, ASE_AWK_EINTERNAL);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, name);
 
-printf ("BFN CALLED.....\n");
-	/*
 	class = (*env)->GetObjectClass(env, obj);
-
-	mid = (*env)->GetMethodID (env, class, funtion_name...., "(I)I");
+	mid = (*env)->GetMethodID (env, class, buf, "()I");
 	if (mid == NULL) 
 	{
 		(*env)->DeleteLocalRef (env, class);
 		return -1;
 	}
-	*/
 
 /*
 CreateObjectArray...
diff --git a/ase/awk/misc.c b/ase/awk/misc.c
index fc76eadb..135a62ec 100644
--- a/ase/awk/misc.c
+++ b/ase/awk/misc.c
@@ -1,9 +1,19 @@
 /*
- * $Id: misc.c,v 1.40 2006-11-27 04:33:22 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: misc.c,v 1.41 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk_i.h>
 
+void* ase_awk_malloc (ase_awk_t* awk, ase_size_t size)
+{
+	return ASE_AWK_MALLOC (awk, size);
+}
+
+void ase_awk_free (ase_awk_t* awk, void* ptr)
+{
+	return ASE_AWK_FREE (awk, ptr);
+}
+
 void* ase_awk_memcpy (void* dst, const void* src, ase_size_t n)
 {
 	void* p = dst;
diff --git a/ase/awk/parse.c b/ase/awk/parse.c
index 0cb8a7c2..c928e84e 100644
--- a/ase/awk/parse.c
+++ b/ase/awk/parse.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: parse.c,v 1.212 2006-11-27 15:10:34 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: parse.c,v 1.213 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary_ident (ase_awk_t* awk);
 static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_hashidx (
 	ase_awk_t* awk, ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len);
 static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_fncall (
-	ase_awk_t* awk, ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, ase_awk_bfn_t* bfn);
+	ase_awk_t* awk, ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, 
+	ase_awk_bfn_t* bfn);
 static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_if (ase_awk_t* awk);
 static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_while (ase_awk_t* awk);
 static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_for (ase_awk_t* awk);
@@ -2727,7 +2728,8 @@ static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_hashidx (
 }
 
 static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_fncall (
-	ase_awk_t* awk, ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, ase_awk_bfn_t* bfn)
+	ase_awk_t* awk, ase_char_t* name, ase_size_t name_len, 
+	ase_awk_bfn_t* bfn)
 {
 	ase_awk_nde_t* head, * curr, * nde;
 	ase_awk_nde_call_t* call;
@@ -2788,7 +2790,8 @@ static ase_awk_nde_t* __parse_fncall (
 
 	}
 
-	call = (ase_awk_nde_call_t*) ASE_AWK_MALLOC (awk, ase_sizeof(ase_awk_nde_call_t));
+	call = (ase_awk_nde_call_t*) 
+		ASE_AWK_MALLOC (awk, ase_sizeof(ase_awk_nde_call_t));
 	if (call == ASE_NULL) 
 	{
 		if (head != ASE_NULL) ase_awk_clrpt (awk, head);
diff --git a/ase/awk/run.c b/ase/awk/run.c
index 3d7518ce..067d135c 100644
--- a/ase/awk/run.c
+++ b/ase/awk/run.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: run.c,v 1.285 2006-11-27 15:10:35 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: run.c,v 1.286 2006-11-28 04:30:21 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ static void __add_run (ase_awk_t* awk, ase_awk_run_t* run);
 static void __del_run (ase_awk_t* awk, ase_awk_run_t* run);
 
 static int __init_run (
-	ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_runios_t* runios, int* errnum);
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_runios_t* runios, 
+	void* custom_data, int* errnum);
 static void __deinit_run (ase_awk_run_t* run);
 
 static int __build_runarg (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_runarg_t* runarg);
@@ -526,6 +527,16 @@ int ase_awk_setofilename (
 	return n;
 }
 
+ase_awk_t* ase_awk_getrunawk (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+{
+	return run->awk;
+}
+
+void* ase_awk_getruncustomdata (ase_awk_run_t* run)
+{
+	return run->custom_data;
+}
+
 int ase_awk_getrunerrnum (ase_awk_run_t* run)
 {
 	return run->errnum;
@@ -540,7 +551,8 @@ int ase_awk_run (ase_awk_t* awk,
 	const ase_char_t* main,
 	ase_awk_runios_t* runios, 
 	ase_awk_runcbs_t* runcbs, 
-	ase_awk_runarg_t* runarg)
+	ase_awk_runarg_t* runarg,
+	void* custom_data)
 {
 	ase_awk_run_t* run;
 	int n, errnum;
@@ -558,7 +570,7 @@ int ase_awk_run (ase_awk_t* awk,
 
 	__add_run (awk, run);
 
-	if (__init_run (run, runios, &errnum) == -1) 
+	if (__init_run (run, runios, custom_data, &errnum) == -1) 
 	{
 		awk->errnum = errnum;
 		__del_run (awk, run);
@@ -684,8 +696,12 @@ static void __del_run (ase_awk_t* awk, ase_awk_run_t* run)
 	ASE_AWK_UNLOCK (awk);
 }
 
-static int __init_run (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_runios_t* runios, int* errnum)
+static int __init_run (
+	ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_runios_t* runios, 
+	void* custom_data, int* errnum)
 {
+	run->custom_data = custom_data;
+
 	run->stack = ASE_NULL;
 	run->stack_top = 0;
 	run->stack_base = 0;
@@ -4575,12 +4591,14 @@ static ase_awk_val_t* __eval_bfn (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_nde_t* nde)
 	/* built-in function */
 	if (call->nargs < call->what.bfn.arg.min)
 	{
-		PANIC (run, ASE_AWK_ETOOFEWARGS);
+		run->errnum = ASE_AWK_ETOOFEWARGS;
+		return ASE_NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (call->nargs > call->what.bfn.arg.max)
 	{
-		PANIC (run, ASE_AWK_ETOOMANYARGS);
+		run->errnum = ASE_AWK_ETOOMANYARGS;
+		return ASE_NULL;
 	}
 
 	return __eval_call (run, nde, call->what.bfn.arg.spec, ASE_NULL);
@@ -4594,15 +4612,21 @@ static ase_awk_val_t* __eval_afn (ase_awk_run_t* run, ase_awk_nde_t* nde)
 
 	pair = ase_awk_map_get (&run->awk->tree.afns, 
 		call->what.afn.name.ptr, call->what.afn.name.len);
-	if (pair == ASE_NULL) PANIC (run, ASE_AWK_ENOSUCHFUNC);
+	if (pair == ASE_NULL) 
+	{
+		run->errnum = ASE_AWK_ENOSUCHFN;
+		return ASE_NULL;
+	}
 
 	afn = (ase_awk_afn_t*)pair->val;
 	ASE_AWK_ASSERT (run->awk, afn != ASE_NULL);
 
 	if (call->nargs > afn->nargs)
 	{
-		/* TODO: is this correct? what if i want to allow arbitarary numbers of arguments? */
-		PANIC (run, ASE_AWK_ETOOMANYARGS);
+		/* TODO: is this correct? what if i want to 
+		 *       allow arbitarary numbers of arguments? */
+		run->errnum = ASE_AWK_ETOOMANYARGS;
+		return ASE_NULL;
 	}
 
 	return __eval_call (run, nde, ASE_NULL, afn);
@@ -4712,13 +4736,16 @@ static ase_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 		PANIC (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
 	}
 
-	nargs = 0;
-	p = call->args;
+	/*
+	nargs = 0; p = call->args;
 	while (p != ASE_NULL)
+	*/
+	for (p = call->args, nargs = 0; p != ASE_NULL; p = p->next, nargs++)
 	{
-		ASE_AWK_ASSERT (run->awk, bfn_arg_spec == ASE_NULL ||
-		           (bfn_arg_spec != ASE_NULL && 
-		            ase_awk_strlen(bfn_arg_spec) > nargs));
+		ASE_AWK_ASSERT (run->awk, 
+			bfn_arg_spec == ASE_NULL ||
+			(bfn_arg_spec != ASE_NULL && 
+			 ase_awk_strlen(bfn_arg_spec) > nargs));
 
 		if (bfn_arg_spec != ASE_NULL && 
 		    bfn_arg_spec[nargs] == ASE_T('r'))
@@ -4753,43 +4780,6 @@ static ase_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 			return ASE_NULL;
 		}
 
-#if 0
-		if (bfn_arg_spec != ASE_NULL && 
-		    bfn_arg_spec[nargs] == ASE_T('r'))
-		{
-			ase_awk_val_t** ref;
-			ase_awk_val_t* tmp;
-			      
-			ref = __get_reference (run, p);
-			if (ref == ASE_NULL)
-			{
-				ase_awk_refupval (run, v);
-				ase_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-
-				UNWIND_RUN_STACK (run, nargs);
-				return ASE_NULL;
-			}
-
-			/* p->type-ASE_AWK_NDE_NAMED assumes that the
-			 * derived value matches ASE_AWK_VAL_REF_XXX */
-			tmp = ase_awk_makerefval (
-				run, p->type-ASE_AWK_NDE_NAMED, ref);
-			if (tmp == ASE_NULL)
-			{
-				ase_awk_refupval (run, v);
-				ase_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-
-				UNWIND_RUN_STACK (run, nargs);
-				PANIC (run, ASE_AWK_ENOMEM);
-			}
-
-			ase_awk_refupval (run, v);
-			ase_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-
-			v = tmp;
-		}
-#endif
-
 		if (__raw_push(run,v) == -1) 
 		{
 			/* ugly - v needs to be freed if it doesn't have
@@ -4805,8 +4795,7 @@ static ase_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 		}
 
 		ase_awk_refupval (run, v);
-		nargs++;
-		p = p->next;
+		/*nargs++; p = p->next;*/
 	}
 
 	ASE_AWK_ASSERT (run->awk, nargs == call->nargs);
@@ -4844,11 +4833,17 @@ static ase_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 		n = 0;
 
 		/* built-in function */
-		ASE_AWK_ASSERT (run->awk, call->nargs >= call->what.bfn.arg.min &&
-		           call->nargs <= call->what.bfn.arg.max);
+		ASE_AWK_ASSERT (run->awk, 
+			call->nargs >= call->what.bfn.arg.min &&
+			call->nargs <= call->what.bfn.arg.max);
 
 		if (call->what.bfn.handler != ASE_NULL)
-			n = call->what.bfn.handler (run);
+		{
+			n = call->what.bfn.handler (
+				run,
+				call->what.bfn.name.ptr, 
+				call->what.bfn.name.len);
+		}
 	}
 
 /*run->awk->syscas.dprintf (ASE_T("block run complete\n")); */
diff --git a/ase/awk/tree.h b/ase/awk/tree.h
index bf301ee3..e2768d45 100644
--- a/ase/awk/tree.h
+++ b/ase/awk/tree.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: tree.h,v 1.82 2006-11-27 15:10:35 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: tree.h,v 1.83 2006-11-28 04:30:22 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _ASE_AWK_TREE_H_
@@ -270,9 +270,9 @@ struct ase_awk_nde_call_t
 				const ase_char_t* spec;
 			} arg;
 
-			int (*handler) (ase_awk_run_t* awk);
+			int (*handler) (
+				ase_awk_run_t*, const ase_char_t*, ase_size_t);
 		} bfn;
-		/* ase_awk_bfn_t* bfn; */
 	} what;
 	ase_awk_nde_t* args;
 	ase_size_t nargs;
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/Awk.java b/ase/test/awk/Awk.java
index 37902372..07526204 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/Awk.java
+++ b/ase/test/awk/Awk.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Awk.java,v 1.13 2006-11-27 15:11:14 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: Awk.java,v 1.14 2006-11-28 04:30:57 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 package ase.test.awk;
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ public class Awk extends ase.awk.StdAwk
 		addBuiltinFunction ("sin", 1, 1);
 	}
 
-	public void bfn_sin ()
+	public int sin ()
 	{
+		System.out.println ("BFN_SIN....");
+		return 0;
 	}
 
 	protected String[] getInputConsoleNames ()
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/awk.c b/ase/test/awk/awk.c
index 8021b5ce..0b88154a 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/awk.c
+++ b/ase/test/awk/awk.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: awk.c,v 1.128 2006-11-27 15:11:14 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.c,v 1.129 2006-11-28 04:30:57 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk.h>
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ ase_awk_addbfn (awk, ASE_T("bufa"), 4, 0,
 	runarg[3].ptr = ASE_NULL;
 	runarg[3].len = 0;
 
-	if (ase_awk_run (awk, mfn, &runios, &runcbs, runarg) == -1)
+	if (ase_awk_run (awk, mfn, &runios, &runcbs, runarg, ASE_NULL) == -1)
 	{
 		int errnum = ase_awk_geterrnum(awk);
 		xp_printf (
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/t28.awk b/ase/test/awk/t28.awk
index 42872dc6..73599250 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/t28.awk
+++ b/ase/test/awk/t28.awk
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ END {
 	arr[0] = "xxx";
 	#print split ("abc def abc", arr);
 	print split ("abc def kkk", j);
-	print split ("abc def kkk", $0);
+	print split ("abc def kkk", $0); # error
 
 	#xyz = 20;
 	#print xyz;