diff --git a/ase/awk/awk.h b/ase/awk/awk.h
index d9e4372b..1aabbaea 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk.h
+++ b/ase/awk/awk.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* 
- * $Id: awk.h,v 1.97 2006-08-16 08:55:42 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.h,v 1.98 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_AWK_H_
@@ -207,20 +207,23 @@ enum
 	XP_AWK_EGETLINE,       /* getline expected */
 
 	/* run time error */
-	XP_AWK_EDIVBYZERO,       /* divide by zero */
-	XP_AWK_EOPERAND,         /* invalid operand */
-	XP_AWK_EPOSIDX,          /* wrong position index */
-	XP_AWK_ENOSUCHFUNC,      /* no such function */
-	XP_AWK_ENOTASSIGNABLE,   /* value not assignable */
-	XP_AWK_ENOTINDEXABLE,    /* not indexable variable */
-	XP_AWK_ENOTDELETABLE,    /* not deletable variable */
-	XP_AWK_ENOTSCALARIZABLE, /* not scalarizable variable */
-	XP_AWK_EVALTYPE,         /* wrong value type */
-	XP_AWK_EPIPE,            /* pipe operation error */
-	XP_AWK_ENEXTCALL,        /* next called from BEGIN or END */
-	XP_AWK_ENEXTFILECALL,    /* nextfile called from BEGIN or END */
-	XP_AWK_EIOIMPL,          /* wrong implementation of user io handler */
-	XP_AWK_EINTERNAL,        /* internal error */
+	XP_AWK_EDIVBYZERO,        /* divide by zero */
+	XP_AWK_EOPERAND,          /* invalid operand */
+	XP_AWK_EPOSIDX,           /* wrong position index */
+	XP_AWK_ENOSUCHFUNC,       /* no such function */
+	XP_AWK_ENOTASSIGNABLE,    /* value not assignable */
+	XP_AWK_ENOTINDEXABLE,     /* not indexable variable */
+	XP_AWK_ENOTDELETABLE,     /* not deletable variable */
+	XP_AWK_ENOTREFERENCEABLE, /* not referenceable value */
+	XP_AWK_EIDXVALASSMAP,     /* indexed value cannot be assigned a map */
+	XP_AWK_EMAPTOSCALAR,      /* cannot change a map to a scalar value */
+	XP_AWK_ESCALARTOMAP,      /* cannot change a scalar value to a map */
+	XP_AWK_EVALTYPE,          /* wrong value type */
+	XP_AWK_EPIPE,             /* pipe operation error */
+	XP_AWK_ENEXTCALL,         /* next called from BEGIN or END */
+	XP_AWK_ENEXTFILECALL,     /* nextfile called from BEGIN or END */
+	XP_AWK_EIOIMPL,           /* wrong implementation of user io handler */
+	XP_AWK_EINTERNAL,         /* internal error */
 
 	/* regular expression error */
 	XP_AWK_EREXRPAREN,       /* a right parenthesis is expected */
diff --git a/ase/awk/err.c b/ase/awk/err.c
index 061cef3c..641cd12d 100644
--- a/ase/awk/err.c
+++ b/ase/awk/err.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: err.c,v 1.36 2006-08-16 08:55:43 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: err.c,v 1.37 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -87,7 +87,10 @@ const xp_char_t* xp_awk_geterrstr (int errnum)
 		XP_T("value not assignable"),
 		XP_T("variable not indexable"),
 		XP_T("variable not deletable"),
-		XP_T("variable not scalarizable"),
+		XP_T("value not referenceable"),
+		XP_T("indexed value cannot be assigned a map"),
+		XP_T("cannot change a map to a scalar value"),
+		XP_T("cannot change a scalar value to a map"),
 		XP_T("wrong value type"),
 		XP_T("pipe operation error"),
 		XP_T("next cannot be called from the BEGIN or END block"),
diff --git a/ase/awk/func.c b/ase/awk/func.c
index c36d4391..8aed742a 100644
--- a/ase/awk/func.c
+++ b/ase/awk/func.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: func.c,v 1.23 2006-08-19 16:34:24 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: func.c,v 1.24 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ static xp_awk_bfn_t __sys_bfn[] =
 	{ XP_T("index"),   5, 0,            2,  2,  XP_NULL, __bfn_index },
 	{ XP_T("length"),  6, 0,            1,  1,  XP_NULL, __bfn_length },
 	{ XP_T("substr"),  6, 0,            2,  3,  XP_NULL, __bfn_substr },
-	{ XP_T("split"),   5, 0,            2,  3,  XP_T("vmv"), __bfn_split },
+	{ XP_T("split"),   5, 0,            2,  3,  XP_T("vrv"), __bfn_split },
 	{ XP_T("tolower"), 7, 0,            1,  1,  XP_NULL, __bfn_tolower },
 	{ XP_T("toupper"), 7, 0,            1,  1,  XP_NULL, __bfn_toupper },
 
@@ -408,109 +408,6 @@ static int __bfn_substr (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-#if 0
-static int __bfn_split (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
-{
-	xp_size_t nargs;
-	xp_awk_val_t* a0, * a1, * a2, * r;
-	xp_char_t* str, * p, * tok;
-	xp_size_t len, left, tok_len;
-	xp_long_t num;
-	int errnum;
-	xp_char_t key[32];
-
-	nargs = xp_awk_getnargs (run);
-	xp_assert (nargs >= 2 && nargs <= 3);
-
-	a0 = xp_awk_getarg (run, 0);
-	a1 = xp_awk_getarg (run, 1);
-	a2 = (nargs >= 3)? xp_awk_getarg (run, 2): XP_NULL;
-
-	if (a0->type == XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
-	{
-		str = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)a0)->buf;
-		len = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)a0)->len;
-	}
-	else 
-	{
-		str = xp_awk_valtostr (a0, &errnum, xp_true, XP_NULL, &len);
-		if (str == XP_NULL)
-		{
-			xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
-			return -1;
-		}
-	}
-
-	xp_assert (a1->type == XP_AWK_VAL_MAP);
-
-	xp_awk_map_clear (((xp_awk_val_map_t*)a1)->map);
-
-	p = str; left = len; num = 0;
-	while (p != XP_NULL)
-	{
-		/* TODO: use FS when a2 is missing. apply a difference scheme */
-		p = xp_strxtok (p, left, XP_T(" \t"), &tok, &tok_len);
-
-		if (num == 0 && p == XP_NULL && tok_len == 0) 
-		{
-			/* no field at all*/
-			break; 
-		}	
-
-		xp_assert ((tok != XP_NULL && tok_len > 0) || tok_len == 0);
-
-		/* create the field string */
-		r = xp_awk_makestrval (tok, tok_len);
-		if (r == XP_NULL)
-		{
-			if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
-			xp_awk_seterrnum (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
-			return -1;
-		}
-
-		/* put it into the map */
-/* TODO: remove dependency on xp_sprintf */
-	#if defined(__LCC__)
-		xp_sprintf (key, xp_countof(key), XP_T("%lld"), (long long)num);
-	#elif defined(__BORLANDC__) || defined(_MSC_VER)
-		xp_sprintf (key, xp_countof(key), XP_T("%I64d"), (__int64)num);
-	#elif defined(vax) || defined(__vax) || defined(_SCO_DS)
-		xp_sprintf (key, xp_countof(key), XP_T("%ld"), (long)num);
-	#else
-		xp_sprintf (key, xp_countof(key), XP_T("%lld"), (long long)num);
-	#endif
-
-		if (xp_awk_map_putx (
-			((xp_awk_val_map_t*)a1)->map, 
-			key, xp_strlen(key), r, XP_NULL) == -1)
-		{
-			if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
-			xp_awk_seterrnum (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
-			return -1;
-		}
-
-		/* don't forget to update the reference count 
-		 * when you handle the assignment-like situation
-		 * with the internal data structures */
-		xp_awk_refupval (r);
-
-		num++;
-		len = len - (p - str);
-	}
-
-	if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
-
-	r = xp_awk_makeintval (run, num);
-	if (r == XP_NULL)
-	{
-		xp_awk_seterrnum (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	xp_awk_setretval (run, r);
-	return 0;
-}
-#endif
 static int __bfn_split (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 {
 	xp_size_t nargs;
@@ -528,6 +425,25 @@ static int __bfn_split (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 	a1 = xp_awk_getarg (run, 1);
 	a2 = (nargs >= 3)? xp_awk_getarg (run, 2): XP_NULL;
 
+	xp_assert (a1->type == XP_AWK_VAL_REF);
+
+	if (((xp_awk_val_ref_t*)a1)->id >= XP_AWK_VAL_REF_NAMEDIDX &&
+	    ((xp_awk_val_ref_t*)a1)->id <= XP_AWK_VAL_REF_ARGIDX)
+	{
+		/* an indexed value should not be assigned another map */
+		xp_awk_seterrnum (run, XP_AWK_EIDXVALASSMAP);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	a1r = (xp_awk_val_t**)((xp_awk_val_ref_t*)a1)->adr;
+	if ((*a1r)->type != XP_AWK_VAL_NIL &&
+	    (*a1r)->type != XP_AWK_VAL_MAP)
+	{
+		/* cannot change a scalar value to a map */
+		xp_awk_seterrnum (run, XP_AWK_ESCALARTOMAP);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	if (a0->type == XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
 	{
 		str = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)a0)->buf;
@@ -543,10 +459,6 @@ static int __bfn_split (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 		}
 	}
 
-	xp_assert (a1->type == XP_AWK_VAL_INT);
-	a1r = (xp_awk_val_t**)((xp_awk_val_int_t*)a1)->val;
-
-/* TODO: check memory leaks and other errors */
 	t1 = xp_awk_makemapval (run);
 	if (t1 == XP_NULL)
 	{
@@ -562,7 +474,7 @@ static int __bfn_split (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 	p = str; left = len; num = 0;
 	while (p != XP_NULL)
 	{
-		/* TODO: use FS when a2 is missing. apply a difference scheme */
+/* TODO: use FS when a2 is missing. apply a difference scheme */
 		p = xp_strxtok (p, left, XP_T(" \t"), &tok, &tok_len);
 
 		if (num == 0 && p == XP_NULL && tok_len == 0) 
diff --git a/ase/awk/run.c b/ase/awk/run.c
index 9e8ef547..05c36271 100644
--- a/ase/awk/run.c
+++ b/ase/awk/run.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: run.c,v 1.171 2006-08-19 16:34:24 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: run.c,v 1.172 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -147,7 +147,10 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_afn (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde);
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde, 
 	const xp_char_t* bfn_arg_spec, xp_awk_afn_t* afn);
-static void* __get_reference (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde);
+
+static xp_awk_val_t** __get_reference (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde);
+static xp_awk_val_t** __get_reference_indexed (
+	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_var_t* nde, xp_awk_val_t** val);
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_int (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde);
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_real (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde);
@@ -1930,7 +1933,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_scalar (
 		{
 			/* once a variable becomes an array,
 			 * it cannot be changed to a scalar variable */
-			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTSCALARIZABLE);
+			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_EMAPTOSCALAR);
 		}
 
 		n = xp_awk_map_putx (&run->named, 
@@ -1946,7 +1949,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_scalar (
 		{	
 			/* once a variable becomes an array,
 			 * it cannot be changed to a scalar variable */
-			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTSCALARIZABLE);
+			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_EMAPTOSCALAR);
 		}
 
 /* TODO: if var->id.idxa == XP_AWK_GLOBAL_NF recompute $0, etc */
@@ -1961,7 +1964,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_scalar (
 		{	
 			/* once the variable becomes an array,
 			 * it cannot be changed to a scalar variable */
-			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTSCALARIZABLE);
+			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_EMAPTOSCALAR);
 		}
 
 		xp_awk_refdownval (run, old);
@@ -1975,7 +1978,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_scalar (
 		{	
 			/* once the variable becomes an array,
 			 * it cannot be changed to a scalar variable */
-			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTSCALARIZABLE);
+			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_EMAPTOSCALAR);
 		}
 
 		xp_awk_refdownval (run, old);
@@ -3865,24 +3868,25 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 
 		/* TODO: spec length check */
 			spec = bfn_arg_spec[nargs];
-			if (spec == XP_T('m'))
+			if (spec == XP_T('r'))
 			{
-				void* ref;
+				xp_awk_val_t** ref;
 				xp_awk_val_t* tmp;
 			       
 				ref = __get_reference (run, p);
-
 				if (ref == XP_NULL)
 				{
 					xp_awk_refupval (v);
 					xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
 
 					UNWIND_RUN_STACK (run, nargs);
-				/* TODO: change error code */
-					PANIC (run, XP_AWK_EVALTYPE);
+					return XP_NULL;
 				}
 
-				tmp = xp_awk_makeintval (run, (xp_long_t)ref);
+				/* p->type-XP_AWK_NDE_NAMED assumes that the
+				 * derived value matches XP_AWK_VAL_REF_XXX */
+				tmp = xp_awk_makerefval (
+					run, p->type-XP_AWK_NDE_NAMED, ref);
 				if (tmp == XP_NULL)
 				{
 					xp_awk_refupval (v);
@@ -3897,45 +3901,6 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 
 				v = tmp;
 			}
-
-#if 0
-			if (spec == XP_T('m'))
-			{
-				if (v->type == XP_AWK_VAL_NIL)
-				{
-					xp_awk_val_t* tmp;
-
-					tmp = xp_awk_makemapval (run);
-					if (tmp == XP_NULL)
-					{
-						xp_awk_refupval (v);
-						xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-
-						UNWIND_RUN_STACK (run, nargs);
-						PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
-					}
-
-					xp_awk_refupval (v);
-					xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-
-					v = tmp;
-				}
-				else if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_MAP)
-				{
-					xp_awk_refupval (v);
-					xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-
-					UNWIND_RUN_STACK (run, nargs);
-				/* TODO: change the error code */
-					PANIC (run, XP_AWK_EVALTYPE);
-				}
-			}
-			/*
-			else if (spec = XP_T('s'))
-			{
-			}
-			*/
-#endif
 		}
 
 		if (__raw_push(run,v) == -1) 
@@ -4027,24 +3992,136 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_call (
 	return (n == -1)? XP_NULL: v;
 }
 
-static void* __get_reference (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
+static xp_awk_val_t** __get_reference (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
 	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
 
+	/* refer to __eval_indexed for application of similar concept */
+
+	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_NAMED)
+	{
+		xp_awk_pair_t* pair;
+
+		pair = xp_awk_map_get (
+			&run->named, tgt->id.name, tgt->id.name_len);
+		if (pair == XP_NULL)
+		{
+			/* it is bad that the named variable has to be
+			 * created in the function named "__get_refernce".
+			 * would there be any better ways to avoid this? */
+			pair = xp_awk_map_put (
+				&run->named, tgt->id.name,
+				tgt->id.name_len, xp_awk_val_nil);
+			if (pair == XP_NULL) PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		}
+
+		return (xp_awk_val_t**)&pair->val;
+	}
+
 	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_GLOBAL)
-		return &STACK_GLOBAL(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	{
+		return (xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_GLOBAL(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	}
 
 	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_LOCAL)
-		return &STACK_LOCAL(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	{
+		return (xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_LOCAL(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	}
 
 	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_ARG)
-		return &STACK_ARG(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	{
+		return (xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_ARG(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	}
 
-	/* TODO: NAMED ... */
+	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_NAMEDIDX)
+	{
+		xp_awk_pair_t* pair;
 
-	return XP_NULL;
+		pair = xp_awk_map_get (
+			&run->named, tgt->id.name, tgt->id.name_len);
+		if (pair == XP_NULL)
+		{
+			pair = xp_awk_map_put (
+				&run->named, tgt->id.name,
+				tgt->id.name_len, xp_awk_val_nil);
+			if (pair == XP_NULL) PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		}
+
+		return __get_reference_indexed (
+			run, tgt, (xp_awk_val_t**)&pair->val);
+	}
+
+
+	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_GLOBALIDX)
+	{
+		return __get_reference_indexed (run, tgt, 
+			(xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_GLOBAL(run,tgt->id.idxa));
+	}
+
+	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_LOCALIDX)
+	{
+		return __get_reference_indexed (run, tgt, 
+			(xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_LOCAL(run,tgt->id.idxa));
+	}
+
+	if (nde->type == XP_AWK_NDE_ARGIDX)
+	{
+		return __get_reference_indexed (run, tgt, 
+			(xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_ARG(run,tgt->id.idxa));
+	}
+
+	PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTREFERENCEABLE);
 }
-			
+
+static xp_awk_val_t** __get_reference_indexed (
+	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_var_t* nde, xp_awk_val_t** val)
+{
+	xp_awk_pair_t* pair;
+	xp_char_t* str;
+	xp_size_t len;
+
+	xp_assert (val != XP_NULL);
+
+	if ((*val)->type == XP_AWK_VAL_NIL)
+	{
+		xp_awk_val_t* tmp;
+
+		tmp = xp_awk_makemapval (run);
+		if (tmp == XP_NULL) PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
+
+		xp_awk_refdownval (run, *val);
+		*val = tmp;
+		xp_awk_refupval ((xp_awk_val_t*)*val);
+	}
+	else if ((*val)->type != XP_AWK_VAL_MAP) 
+	{
+		PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTINDEXABLE);
+	}
+
+	xp_assert (nde->idx != XP_NULL);
+
+	str = __idxnde_to_str (run, nde->idx, &len);
+	if (str == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
+
+	pair = xp_awk_map_get ((*(xp_awk_val_map_t**)val)->map, str, len);
+	if (pair == XP_NULL)
+	{
+		pair = xp_awk_map_put (
+			(*(xp_awk_val_map_t**)val)->map, 
+			str, len, xp_awk_val_nil);
+		if (pair == XP_NULL)
+		{
+			xp_free (str);
+			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
+		}
+
+		xp_awk_refupval (pair->val);
+	}
+
+	xp_free (str);
+	return (xp_awk_val_t**)&pair->val;
+}
+
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_int (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
 	xp_awk_val_t* val;
@@ -4091,40 +4168,50 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_rex (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_named (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
 	xp_awk_pair_t* pair;
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
 		       
-	pair = xp_awk_map_get (&run->named, tgt->id.name, tgt->id.name_len);
+	pair = xp_awk_map_get (&run->named, 
+		((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.name, 
+		((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.name_len);
+
 	return (pair == XP_NULL)? xp_awk_val_nil: pair->val;
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_global (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
-	return STACK_GLOBAL(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	return STACK_GLOBAL(run,((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.idxa);
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_local (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
-	return STACK_LOCAL(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	return STACK_LOCAL(run,((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.idxa);
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_arg (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
-	return STACK_ARG(run,tgt->id.idxa);
+	return STACK_ARG(run,((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.idxa);
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_indexed (
-	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_var_t* nde, xp_awk_val_map_t* map)
+	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_var_t* nde, xp_awk_val_t** val)
 {
-	xp_awk_val_t* res;
 	xp_awk_pair_t* pair;
 	xp_char_t* str;
 	xp_size_t len;
 
-	/* TODO: should it be an error? should it return nil? */
-	if (map->type != XP_AWK_VAL_MAP) 
+	xp_assert (val != XP_NULL);
+
+	if ((*val)->type == XP_AWK_VAL_NIL)
+	{
+		xp_awk_val_t* tmp;
+
+		tmp = xp_awk_makemapval (run);
+		if (tmp == XP_NULL) PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
+
+		xp_awk_refdownval (run, *val);
+		*val = tmp;
+		xp_awk_refupval ((xp_awk_val_t*)*val);
+	}
+	else if ((*val)->type != XP_AWK_VAL_MAP) 
 	{
 	        PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOTINDEXABLE);
 	}
@@ -4134,12 +4221,10 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_indexed (
 	str = __idxnde_to_str (run, nde->idx, &len);
 	if (str == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
 
-/* TODO: check this out........ */
-	pair = xp_awk_map_get (((xp_awk_val_map_t*)map)->map, str, len);
-	res = (pair == XP_NULL)? xp_awk_val_nil: (xp_awk_val_t*)pair->val;
-
+	pair = xp_awk_map_get ((*(xp_awk_val_map_t**)val)->map, str, len);
 	xp_free (str);
-	return res;
+
+	return (pair == XP_NULL)? xp_awk_val_nil: (xp_awk_val_t*)pair->val;
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_namedidx (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
@@ -4148,26 +4233,34 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_namedidx (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 	xp_awk_pair_t* pair;
 
 	pair = xp_awk_map_get (&run->named, tgt->id.name, tgt->id.name_len);
-	return __eval_indexed (run, tgt, 
-		(pair == XP_NULL)? xp_awk_val_nil: pair->val);
+	if (pair == XP_NULL)
+	{
+		pair = xp_awk_map_put (&run->named, 
+			tgt->id.name, tgt->id.name_len, xp_awk_val_nil);
+		if (pair == XP_NULL) PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
+
+		xp_awk_refupval (pair->val); 
+	}
+
+	return __eval_indexed (run, tgt, (xp_awk_val_t**)&pair->val);
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_globalidx (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
-	return __eval_indexed (run, tgt, STACK_GLOBAL(run,tgt->id.idxa));
+	return __eval_indexed (run, (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde, 
+		(xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_GLOBAL(run,((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.idxa));
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_localidx (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
-	return __eval_indexed (run, tgt, STACK_LOCAL(run,tgt->id.idxa));
+	return __eval_indexed (run, (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde, 
+		(xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_LOCAL(run,((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.idxa));
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_argidx (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 {
-	xp_awk_nde_var_t* tgt = (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde;
-	return __eval_indexed (run, tgt, STACK_ARG(run,tgt->id.idxa));
+	return __eval_indexed (run, (xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde,
+		(xp_awk_val_t**)&STACK_ARG(run,((xp_awk_nde_var_t*)nde)->id.idxa));
 }
 
 static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_pos (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
diff --git a/ase/awk/tree.h b/ase/awk/tree.h
index e45c8bf9..7f7064a6 100644
--- a/ase/awk/tree.h
+++ b/ase/awk/tree.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: tree.h,v 1.69 2006-08-18 17:46:07 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: tree.h,v 1.70 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_TREE_H_
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ enum
 	XP_AWK_NDE_REX,
 
 	/* keep this order for the following items otherwise, you may have 
-	 * to change __eval_incpre and __eval_incpst in run.c*/
+	 * to change __eval_incpre and __eval_incpst in run.c as well as
+	 * XP_AWK_VAL_REF_XXX in val.h */
 	XP_AWK_NDE_NAMED,
 	XP_AWK_NDE_GLOBAL,
 	XP_AWK_NDE_LOCAL,
diff --git a/ase/awk/val.c b/ase/awk/val.c
index b3056a5e..5e8fbc84 100644
--- a/ase/awk/val.c
+++ b/ase/awk/val.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: val.c,v 1.50 2006-08-16 11:35:54 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: val.c,v 1.51 2006-08-20 15:49:07 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -194,6 +194,20 @@ xp_awk_val_t* xp_awk_makemapval (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 	return (xp_awk_val_t*)val;
 }
 
+xp_awk_val_t* xp_awk_makerefval (xp_awk_run_t* run, int id, xp_awk_val_t** adr)
+{
+	xp_awk_val_ref_t* val;
+
+	val = (xp_awk_val_ref_t*) xp_malloc (xp_sizeof(xp_awk_val_ref_t));
+	if (val == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
+
+	val->type = XP_AWK_VAL_REF;
+	val->ref = 0;
+	val->id = id;
+	val->adr = adr;
+
+	return (xp_awk_val_t*)val;
+}
 
 xp_bool_t xp_awk_isbuiltinval (xp_awk_val_t* val)
 {
@@ -211,13 +225,12 @@ void xp_awk_freeval (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_val_t* val, xp_bool_t cache)
 /*xp_printf (XP_T("freeing [cache=%d] ... "), cache);
 xp_awk_printval (val);
 xp_printf (XP_T("\n"));*/
-	switch (val->type)
+	if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_NIL)
 	{
-	case XP_AWK_VAL_NIL:
 		xp_free (val);
-		return;
-
-	case XP_AWK_VAL_INT:
+	}
+	else if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_INT)
+	{
 		if (cache == xp_true &&
 		    run->icache_count < xp_countof(run->icache))
 		{
@@ -225,9 +238,9 @@ xp_printf (XP_T("\n"));*/
 				(xp_awk_val_int_t*)val;	
 		}
 		else xp_free (val);
-		return;
-
-	case XP_AWK_VAL_REAL:
+	}
+	else if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_REAL)
+	{
 		if (cache == xp_true &&
 		    run->rcache_count < xp_countof(run->rcache))
 		{
@@ -235,26 +248,31 @@ xp_printf (XP_T("\n"));*/
 				(xp_awk_val_real_t*)val;	
 		}
 		else xp_free (val);
-		return;
-
-	case XP_AWK_VAL_STR:
+	}
+	else if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
+	{
 		xp_free (((xp_awk_val_str_t*)val)->buf);
 		xp_free (val);
-		return;
-
-	case XP_AWK_VAL_REX:
+	}
+	else if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_REX)
+	{
 		xp_free (((xp_awk_val_rex_t*)val)->buf);
 		xp_awk_freerex (((xp_awk_val_rex_t*)val)->code);
 		xp_free (val);
-		return;
-
-	case XP_AWK_VAL_MAP:
+	}
+	else if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_MAP)
+	{
 		xp_awk_map_close (((xp_awk_val_map_t*)val)->map);
 		xp_free (val);
-		return;
 	}
-
-	xp_assert (!"should never happen - invalid value type");
+	else if (val->type == XP_AWK_VAL_REF)
+	{
+		xp_free (val);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		xp_assert (!"should never happen - invalid value type");
+	}
 }
 
 void xp_awk_refupval (xp_awk_val_t* val)
@@ -318,6 +336,8 @@ xp_bool_t xp_awk_valtobool (xp_awk_val_t* val)
 		return ((xp_awk_val_rex_t*)val)->len > 0;
 	case XP_AWK_VAL_MAP:
 		return xp_false; /* TODO: is this correct? */
+	case XP_AWK_VAL_REF:
+		return xp_false; /* TODO: is this correct? */
 	}
 
 	xp_assert (!"should never happen - invalid value type");
@@ -623,6 +643,12 @@ void xp_awk_printval (xp_awk_val_t* val)
 		xp_awk_map_walk (((xp_awk_val_map_t*)val)->map, __print_pair, XP_NULL);
 		xp_printf (XP_T("]"));
 		break;
+	
+	case XP_AWK_VAL_REF:
+		xp_printf (XP_T("REF[id=%d,val="), ((xp_awk_val_ref_t*)val)->id);
+		xp_awk_printval (*((xp_awk_val_ref_t*)val)->adr);
+		xp_printf (XP_T("]"));
+		break;
 
 	default:
 		xp_assert (!"should never happen - invalid value type");
diff --git a/ase/awk/val.h b/ase/awk/val.h
index 19bf65f9..d6394e52 100644
--- a/ase/awk/val.h
+++ b/ase/awk/val.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: val.h,v 1.35 2006-08-03 05:05:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: val.h,v 1.36 2006-08-20 15:49:07 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_VAL_H_
@@ -16,7 +16,22 @@ enum
 	XP_AWK_VAL_REAL = 2,
 	XP_AWK_VAL_STR  = 3,
 	XP_AWK_VAL_REX  = 4,
-	XP_AWK_VAL_MAP  = 5
+	XP_AWK_VAL_MAP  = 5,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF  = 6
+};
+
+enum
+{
+	/* keep these items in the same order as corresponding items
+	 * in tree.h */
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_NAMED,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_GLOBAL,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_LOCAL,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_ARG,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_NAMEDIDX,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_GLOBALIDX,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_LOCALIDX,
+	XP_AWK_VAL_REF_ARGIDX
 };
 
 typedef struct xp_awk_val_nil_t  xp_awk_val_nil_t;
@@ -25,6 +40,7 @@ typedef struct xp_awk_val_real_t xp_awk_val_real_t;
 typedef struct xp_awk_val_str_t  xp_awk_val_str_t;
 typedef struct xp_awk_val_rex_t  xp_awk_val_rex_t;
 typedef struct xp_awk_val_map_t  xp_awk_val_map_t;
+typedef struct xp_awk_val_ref_t  xp_awk_val_ref_t;
 
 #if XP_SIZEOF_INT == 2
 #define XP_AWK_VAL_HDR \
@@ -89,6 +105,15 @@ struct xp_awk_val_map_t
 	xp_awk_map_t* map; 
 };
 
+/* XP_AWK_VAL_REF */
+struct xp_awk_val_ref_t
+{
+	XP_AWK_VAL_HDR;
+
+	int id;
+	xp_awk_val_t** adr;
+};
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -108,6 +133,8 @@ xp_awk_val_t* xp_awk_makestrval2 (
 xp_awk_val_t* xp_awk_makerexval (
 	const xp_char_t* buf, xp_size_t len, void* code);
 xp_awk_val_t* xp_awk_makemapval (xp_awk_run_t* run);
+xp_awk_val_t* xp_awk_makerefval (
+	xp_awk_run_t* run, int id, xp_awk_val_t** adr);
 
 xp_bool_t xp_awk_isbuiltinval (xp_awk_val_t* val);
 
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/t28.awk b/ase/test/awk/t28.awk
index 17dc38c3..bae8b70c 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/t28.awk
+++ b/ase/test/awk/t28.awk
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
+//global xyz;
+
 END {
+	//local xyz;
+
 	print index ("abc", "abc");
 	print index ("abc", "b");
 	print index ("abc", "kabc");
@@ -22,9 +26,15 @@ END {
 
 	arr[0] = "xxx";
 	//print split ("abc def abc", arr);
-	print split ("abc def abc", 10);
-	for (i in arr)
+	print split ("abc def abc", j);
+
+	//xyz = 20;
+	//print xyz;
+	print split ("abc def abc", ((xyz)));
+	//for (i in arr)
+
+	for (i in xyz)
 	{
-		print i, " ", arr[i];
+		print i, " ", xyz[i];
 	}
 }