diff --git a/ase/awk/awk.h b/ase/awk/awk.h
index 1aabbaea..eb5d6755 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk.h
+++ b/ase/awk/awk.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* 
- * $Id: awk.h,v 1.98 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.h,v 1.99 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_AWK_H_
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ enum
 	XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE  = 1,
 	XP_AWK_IO_READ   = 2,
 	XP_AWK_IO_WRITE  = 3,
-	XP_AWK_IO_NEXT   = 4  
+	XP_AWK_IO_FLUSH  = 4,
+	XP_AWK_IO_NEXT   = 5  
 };
 
 enum
diff --git a/ase/awk/extio.c b/ase/awk/extio.c
index 73e0c40c..247d064a 100644
--- a/ase/awk/extio.c
+++ b/ase/awk/extio.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: extio.c,v 1.27 2006-08-10 16:02:15 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: extio.c,v 1.28 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -242,7 +242,6 @@ static int __writeextio (
 {
 	xp_awk_extio_t* p = run->extio.chain;
 	xp_awk_io_t handler;
-	xp_str_t buf;
 	xp_char_t* str;
 	xp_size_t len;
 	int extio_type, extio_mode, extio_mask, n;
@@ -264,23 +263,20 @@ static int __writeextio (
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
+	if (v->type == XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
+	{
+		str = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)v)->buf;
+		len = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)v)->len;
+	}
+	else
 	{
-		/* TODO: optimize the buffer management. 
-		 *       each xp_awk_run_t may have a buffer for this.  */
-		if (xp_str_open (&buf, 256) == XP_NULL)
-		{
-			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
-			return -1;
-		}
-
 		/* convert the value to string representation first */
-		if (xp_awk_valtostr (
-			v, errnum, xp_true, &buf, XP_NULL) == XP_NULL)
-		{
-			xp_str_close (&buf);
-			return -1;
-		}
+
+		/* TOOD: consider using a shared buffer when calling
+		 *       xp_awk_valtostr. maybe run->shared_buf.extio */
+		str = xp_awk_valtostr (
+			v, errnum, xp_true, NULL, &len);
+		if (str == XP_NULL) return -1;
 	}
 
 	/* look for the corresponding extio for name */
@@ -307,7 +303,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 		p = (xp_awk_extio_t*) xp_malloc (xp_sizeof(xp_awk_extio_t));
 		if (p == XP_NULL)
 		{
-			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_str_close (&buf);
+			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
 			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
 			return -1;
 		}
@@ -316,7 +312,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 		if (p->name == XP_NULL)
 		{
 			xp_free (p);
-			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_str_close (&buf);
+			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
 			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
 			return -1;
 		}
@@ -331,7 +327,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 		{
 			xp_free (p->name);
 			xp_free (p);
-			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_str_close (&buf);
+			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
 				
 			/* TODO: use meaningful error code */
 			xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
@@ -354,24 +350,13 @@ static int __writeextio (
 /* TODO: if write handler returns less than the request, loop */
 /* TODO: */
 /* TODO: */
-	if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
-	{
-		str = XP_STR_BUF(&buf);
-		len = XP_STR_LEN(&buf);
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		str = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)v)->buf;
-		len = ((xp_awk_val_str_t*)v)->len;
-	}
-
 	if (len > 0)
 	{
 		n = handler (XP_AWK_IO_WRITE, p, str, len);
 
 		if (n == -1) 
 		{
-			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_str_close (&buf);
+			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
 
 			/* TODO: use meaningful error code */
 			xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
@@ -382,12 +367,12 @@ static int __writeextio (
 
 		if (n == 0)
 		{
-			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_str_close (&buf);
+			if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
 			return 0;
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_str_close (&buf);
+	if (v->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str);
 
 	if (nl)
 	{
@@ -408,6 +393,62 @@ static int __writeextio (
 	return 1;
 }
 
+int xp_awk_flushextio (
+	xp_awk_run_t* run, int out_type, const xp_char_t* name, int* errnum)
+{
+	xp_awk_extio_t* p = run->extio.chain;
+	xp_awk_io_t handler;
+	int extio_type, extio_mode, extio_mask, n;
+
+	xp_assert (out_type >= 0 && out_type <= xp_countof(__out_type_map));
+	xp_assert (out_type >= 0 && out_type <= xp_countof(__out_mode_map));
+	xp_assert (out_type >= 0 && out_type <= xp_countof(__out_mask_map));
+
+	/* translate the out_type into the relevant extio type and mode */
+	extio_type = __out_type_map[out_type];
+	extio_mode = __out_mode_map[out_type];
+	extio_mask = __out_mask_map[out_type];
+
+	handler = run->extio.handler[extio_type];
+	if (handler == XP_NULL)
+	{
+		/* no io handler provided */
+		*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOIMPL; /* TODO: change the error code */
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* look for the corresponding extio for name */
+	while (p != XP_NULL)
+	{
+		if (p->type == (extio_type | extio_mask) && 
+		    xp_strcmp (p->name, name) == 0) break;
+		p = p->next;
+	}
+
+	/* there is not corresponding extio for name */
+	if (p == XP_NULL)
+	{
+		/* TODO: use meaningful error code. but is this needed? */
+		xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
+			XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
+		*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	n = handler (XP_AWK_IO_FLUSH, p, XP_NULL, 0);
+
+	if (n == -1) 
+	{
+		/* TODO: use meaningful error code */
+		xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
+			XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
+		*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int xp_awk_nextextio_read (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, int in_type, const xp_char_t* name, int* errnum)
 {
diff --git a/ase/awk/extio.h b/ase/awk/extio.h
index 04b4a645..eaad0d5e 100644
--- a/ase/awk/extio.h
+++ b/ase/awk/extio.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: extio.h,v 1.9 2006-08-03 09:53:43 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: extio.h,v 1.10 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_EXTIO_H_
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ int xp_awk_writeextio_nl (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, int out_type, 
 	const xp_char_t* name, xp_awk_val_t* v, int* errnum);
 
+int xp_awk_flushextio (
+	xp_awk_run_t* run, int out_type, const xp_char_t* name, int* errnum);
+
 int xp_awk_nextextio_read (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, int in_type, const xp_char_t* name, int* errnum);
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/func.c b/ase/awk/func.c
index 8c4d5d4e..180abda4 100644
--- a/ase/awk/func.c
+++ b/ase/awk/func.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: func.c,v 1.25 2006-08-21 14:49:08 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: func.c,v 1.26 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static int __bfn_fflush (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 	xp_awk_val_t* a0;
 	xp_char_t* str0;
 	xp_size_t len0;
-	int errnum, n;
+	int errnum, n, n2;
        
 	nargs = xp_awk_getnargs (run);
 	xp_assert (nargs >= 0 && nargs <= 1);
@@ -235,10 +235,18 @@ static int __bfn_fflush (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 	if (nargs == 0)
 	{
 		/* flush the console output */
-		n = 0;
+		n = xp_awk_flushextio (run, 
+			XP_AWK_OUT_CONSOLE, XP_T(""), &errnum);
+		if (n == -1 && errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+		{
+			xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
+			return -1;
+		}
 	}
 	else
 	{
+		xp_char_t* ptr, * end;
+
 		a0 = xp_awk_getarg (run, 0);
 		if (a0->type == XP_AWK_VAL_STR)
 		{
@@ -254,22 +262,78 @@ static int __bfn_fflush (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 				xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
 				return -1;
 			}
+
+		}
+
+		/* the target name contains a null character.
+		 * make fflush return -1 and set ERRNO accordingly */
+		ptr = str0; end = str0 + len0;
+		while (ptr < end)
+		{
+			if (*ptr == XP_T('\0')) 
+			{
+				if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str0);
+				n = -1;
+				goto skip_flush;
+			}
+
+			ptr++;
 		}
 
 		if (len0 == 0)
 		{
 			/* flush all open files and pipes */
+			/* TODO: */
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			/* flush the given extio */
+			n = 0;
+
+			/* TODO: no file -> error, at least on file -> not an error */
+			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (run, 
+				XP_AWK_OUT_FILE, str0, &errnum);
+			if (n2 == -1)
+			{
+				if (errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+				{
+					xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
+					return -1;
+				}
+				n = -1;
+			}
+
+			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (run,
+				XP_AWK_OUT_PIPE, str0, &errnum);
+			if (n2 == -1)
+			{
+				if (errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+				{
+					xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
+					return -1;
+				}
+				n = -1;
+			}
+/* TODO: include this */
+#if 0
+			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (run,
+				XP_AWK_OUT_COPROC, str0, &errnum);
+			if (n2 == -1)
+			{
+				if (errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+				{
+					xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
+					return -1;
+				}
+				n = -1;
+			}
+#endif
 		}
 
 		if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str0);
-
-		n = 0;
 	}
 
+skip_flush:
 	a0 = xp_awk_makeintval (run, (xp_long_t)n);
 	if (a0 == XP_NULL)
 	{
diff --git a/ase/awk/run.c b/ase/awk/run.c
index 3dbb7c3b..a31b810c 100644
--- a/ase/awk/run.c
+++ b/ase/awk/run.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: run.c,v 1.173 2006-08-21 02:53:42 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: run.c,v 1.174 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -1649,6 +1649,7 @@ static int __run_print (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_print_t* nde)
 				/* the output destination name contains a null 
 				 * character. */
 				xp_free (out);
+				n = -1;
 				goto skip_write;
 				/* TODO: how to handle error???
 				 *       make print return -1??? not possible.
@@ -4349,6 +4350,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 			{
 				/* the input source name contains a null 
 				 * character. make getline return -1 */
+				/* TODO: set ERRNO */
 				xp_free (in);
 				n = -1;
 				goto skip_read;
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/awk.c b/ase/test/awk/awk.c
index edd41464..ffb7c6a0 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/awk.c
+++ b/ase/test/awk/awk.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: awk.c,v 1.72 2006-08-13 16:05:04 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.c,v 1.73 2006-08-22 15:11:13 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk.h>
@@ -136,35 +136,30 @@ static xp_ssize_t process_source (
 	struct src_io* src_io = (struct src_io*)arg;
 	xp_char_t c;
 
-	switch (cmd) 
+	if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_OPEN)
 	{
-		case XP_AWK_IO_OPEN:
-		{
-			if (src_io->input_file == XP_NULL) return 0;
-			src_io->input_handle = fopen_t (src_io->input_file, XP_T("r"));
-			if (src_io->input_handle == NULL) return -1;
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		case XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE:
-		{
-			if (src_io->input_file == XP_NULL) return 0;
-			fclose ((FILE*)src_io->input_handle);
-			return 0;
-		}
-
-		case XP_AWK_IO_READ:
-		{
-			if (size <= 0) return -1;
-		#ifdef XP_CHAR_IS_MCHAR
-			c = fgetc ((FILE*)src_io->input_handle);
-		#else
-			c = fgetwc ((FILE*)src_io->input_handle);
-		#endif
-			if (c == XP_CHAR_EOF) return 0;
-			*data = c;
-			return 1;
-		}
+		if (src_io->input_file == XP_NULL) return 0;
+		src_io->input_handle = fopen_t (src_io->input_file, XP_T("r"));
+		if (src_io->input_handle == NULL) return -1;
+		return 1;
+	}
+	else if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE)
+	{
+		if (src_io->input_file == XP_NULL) return 0;
+		fclose ((FILE*)src_io->input_handle);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	else if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_READ)
+	{
+		if (size <= 0) return -1;
+	#ifdef XP_CHAR_IS_MCHAR
+		c = fgetc ((FILE*)src_io->input_handle);
+	#else
+		c = fgetwc ((FILE*)src_io->input_handle);
+	#endif
+		if (c == XP_CHAR_EOF) return 0;
+		*data = c;
+		return 1;
 	}
 
 	return -1;
@@ -175,37 +170,24 @@ static xp_ssize_t dump_source (
 {
 	struct src_io* src_io = (struct src_io*)arg;
 
-	switch (cmd) 
+	if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_OPEN || cmd == XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE) return 0;
+	else if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_WRITE)
 	{
-		case XP_AWK_IO_OPEN:
+		xp_size_t i;
+		for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
 		{
-			return 0;
-		}
-
-		case XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE:
-		{
-			return 0;
-		}
-
-		case XP_AWK_IO_WRITE:
-		{
-			xp_size_t i;
-			for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
-			{
-		#ifdef XP_CHAR_IS_MCHAR
-				fputc (data[i], stdout);
-		#else
-				fputwc (data[i], stdout);
-		#endif
-			}
-			return size;
+	#ifdef XP_CHAR_IS_MCHAR
+			fputc (data[i], stdout);
+	#else
+			fputwc (data[i], stdout);
+	#endif
 		}
+		return size;
 	}
 
 	return -1;
 }
 
-
 static xp_ssize_t process_extio_pipe (
 	int cmd, void* arg, xp_char_t* data, xp_size_t size)
 {
@@ -255,6 +237,11 @@ xp_printf (XP_TEXT("closing %s of type (pipe) %d\n"),  epa->name, epa->type);
 			return -1;
 		}
 
+		case XP_AWK_IO_FLUSH:
+		{
+			return -1;
+		}
+
 		case XP_AWK_IO_NEXT:
 		{
 			return -1;
@@ -310,7 +297,13 @@ xp_printf (XP_TEXT("closing %s of type %d (file)\n"),  epa->name, epa->type);
 		{
 			/* TODO: how to return error or 0 */
 			fputs_t (data, /*size,*/ (FILE*)epa->handle);
-			return -1;
+			return size;
+		}
+
+		case XP_AWK_IO_FLUSH:
+		{
+			if (fflush ((FILE*)epa->handle) == EOF) return -1;
+			return 0;
 		}
 
 		case XP_AWK_IO_NEXT:
@@ -409,6 +402,11 @@ xp_printf (XP_TEXT("open the next console [%s]\n"), infiles[infile_no]);
 		/*MessageBox (NULL, data, data, MB_OK);*/
 		return size;
 	}
+	else if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_FLUSH)
+	{
+		if (fflush ((FILE*)epa->handle) == EOF) return -1;
+		return 0;
+	}
 	else if (cmd == XP_AWK_IO_NEXT)
 	{
 		return next_extio_console (epa);
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/t12.awk b/ase/test/awk/t12.awk
index 7af3b8fd..6e97bbbe 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/t12.awk
+++ b/ase/test/awk/t12.awk
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-BEGIN 
-{
+BEGIN {
 	/*
 	print "line 1" >> "1";
 	print "line 2" > "1";
@@ -31,6 +30,7 @@ BEGIN
 	}
 
 	print x > "def";
+	print "fflush() = ", fflush ("def");
 
 //	print (1 (2 getline j) j);
 //	print "abc" 1 + 2 3 + 49 2 / 3;
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/t9.awk b/ase/test/awk/t9.awk
index 9f5d9f9a..bf5b5414 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/t9.awk
+++ b/ase/test/awk/t9.awk
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-BEGIN 
-{
+BEGIN {
 	while (("xxx /p" | getline var) > 0) ;
 	while (("dir /w" | getline var) > 0) ;
 	while ((getline var < "t9.awk") > 0) ;