diff --git a/ase/awk/awk.h b/ase/awk/awk.h
index eb5d6755..fea3c6f5 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk.h
+++ b/ase/awk/awk.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* 
- * $Id: awk.h,v 1.99 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.h,v 1.100 2006-08-23 15:41:45 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_AWK_H_
@@ -224,6 +224,8 @@ enum
 	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_ENOSUCHIO,         /* no such io name found */
+	XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER,        /* io handler has returned an error */
 	XP_AWK_EINTERNAL,         /* internal error */
 
 	/* regular expression error */
diff --git a/ase/awk/err.c b/ase/awk/err.c
index 641cd12d..9ad93351 100644
--- a/ase/awk/err.c
+++ b/ase/awk/err.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: err.c,v 1.37 2006-08-20 15:49:06 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: err.c,v 1.38 2006-08-23 15:41:46 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ const xp_char_t* xp_awk_geterrstr (int errnum)
 		XP_T("next cannot be called from the BEGIN or END block"),
 		XP_T("nextfile cannot be called from the BEGIN or END block"),
 		XP_T("wrong implementation of user-defined io handler"),
+		XP_T("no such io name found"),
+		XP_T("io handler has returned an error"),
 		XP_T("internal error that should never have happened"),
 
 		XP_T("a right parenthesis is expected in the regular expression"),
diff --git a/ase/awk/extio.c b/ase/awk/extio.c
index 247d064a..8fb92006 100644
--- a/ase/awk/extio.c
+++ b/ase/awk/extio.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: extio.c,v 1.28 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: extio.c,v 1.29 2006-08-23 15:41:46 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ enum
 	__MASK_WRITE = 0x0200,
 	__MASK_RDWR  = 0x0400,
 
-	__MASK_CLEAR   = 0x00FF
+	__MASK_CLEAR = 0x00FF
 };
 
 static int __in_type_map[] =
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 			xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
 				XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
 
-			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+			*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 				xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
 					XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
 
-				*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+				*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 				return -1;
 			}
 
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 			xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
 				XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
 
-			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+			*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 			/* TODO: use meaningful error code */
 			xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
 				XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
-			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+			*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 			/* TODO: use meaningful error code */
 			xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
 				XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
-			*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+			*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 			return -1;
 		}
 
@@ -399,6 +399,7 @@ int xp_awk_flushextio (
 	xp_awk_extio_t* p = run->extio.chain;
 	xp_awk_io_t handler;
 	int extio_type, extio_mode, extio_mask, n;
+	xp_bool_t ok = xp_false;
 
 	xp_assert (out_type >= 0 && out_type <= xp_countof(__out_type_map));
 	xp_assert (out_type >= 0 && out_type <= xp_countof(__out_mode_map));
@@ -421,32 +422,33 @@ int xp_awk_flushextio (
 	while (p != XP_NULL)
 	{
 		if (p->type == (extio_type | extio_mask) && 
-		    xp_strcmp (p->name, name) == 0) break;
+		    (name == XP_NULL || xp_strcmp (p->name, name) == 0)) 
+		{
+			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_EIOHANDLER;
+				return -1;
+			}
+
+			ok = xp_true;
+		}
+
 		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;
-	}
+	if (ok) return 0;
 
-	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;
+	/* there is no corresponding extio for name */
+	/* TODO: use meaningful error code. but is this needed? */
+	xp_awk_setglobal (run, 
+		XP_AWK_GLOBAL_ERRNO, xp_awk_val_one);
+	*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOSUCHIO;
+	return -1;
 }
 
 int xp_awk_nextextio_read (
@@ -491,7 +493,7 @@ int xp_awk_nextextio_read (
 	if (n == -1)
 	{
 		/* TODO: is this errnum correct? */
-		*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+		*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -535,7 +537,8 @@ int xp_awk_closeextio_read (
 				if (handler (XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE, p, XP_NULL, 0) == -1)
 				{
 					/* this is not a run-time error.*/
-					*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+					/* TODO: set ERRNO */
+					*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 					return -1;
 				}
 			}
@@ -553,7 +556,7 @@ int xp_awk_closeextio_read (
 	}
 
 	/* this is not a run-time error */
-	*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+	*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 	return -1;
 }
 
@@ -594,7 +597,8 @@ int xp_awk_closeextio_write (
 				if (handler (XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE, p, XP_NULL, 0) == -1)
 				{
 					/* this is not a run-time error.*/
-					*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+					/* TODO: set ERRNO */
+					*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 					return -1;
 				}
 			}
@@ -612,7 +616,8 @@ int xp_awk_closeextio_write (
 	}
 
 	/* this is not a run-time error */
-	*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+	/* TODO: set ERRNO */
+	*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 	return -1;
 }
 
@@ -635,7 +640,8 @@ int xp_awk_closeextio (
 				if (handler (XP_AWK_IO_CLOSE, p, XP_NULL, 0) == -1)
 				{
 					/* this is not a run-time error.*/
-					*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+					/* TODO: set ERRNO */
+					*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 					return -1;
 				}
 			}
@@ -653,7 +659,8 @@ int xp_awk_closeextio (
 	}
 
 	/* this is not a run-time error */
-	*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOERR;
+	/* TODO: set ERRNO */
+	*errnum = XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER;
 	return -1;
 }
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/func.c b/ase/awk/func.c
index 180abda4..21235a7d 100644
--- a/ase/awk/func.c
+++ b/ase/awk/func.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: func.c,v 1.26 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: func.c,v 1.27 2006-08-23 15:41:46 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static int __bfn_close (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 	}	
 
 	n = xp_awk_closeextio (run, name, &errnum);
-	if (n == -1 && errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+	if (n == -1 && errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 	{
 		if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (name);
 		xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
@@ -237,7 +237,9 @@ static int __bfn_fflush (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 		/* flush the console output */
 		n = xp_awk_flushextio (run, 
 			XP_AWK_OUT_CONSOLE, XP_T(""), &errnum);
-		if (n == -1 && errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+		if (n == -1 && 
+		    errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER && 
+		    errnum != XP_AWK_ENOSUCHIO)
 		{
 			xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
 			return -1;
@@ -280,56 +282,78 @@ static int __bfn_fflush (xp_awk_t* awk, void* run)
 			ptr++;
 		}
 
-		if (len0 == 0)
-		{
-			/* flush all open files and pipes */
-			/* TODO: */
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			/* flush the given extio */
-			n = 0;
+		/* flush the given extio */
+		n = 1;
 
-			/* TODO: no file -> error, at least on file -> not an error */
-			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (run, 
-				XP_AWK_OUT_FILE, str0, &errnum);
+		if (((xp_awk_run_t*)run)->extio.handler[XP_AWK_EXTIO_FILE] != XP_NULL)
+		{
+			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (
+				run, XP_AWK_OUT_FILE, 
+				((len0 == 0)? XP_NULL: str0), &errnum);
 			if (n2 == -1)
 			{
-				if (errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+				if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER) n = -1;
+				else if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOSUCHIO) 
+				{
+					if (n != 0) n = -2;
+				}
+				else
 				{
 					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
+			else if (n != -1) n = 0;
 		}
 
+		if (((xp_awk_run_t*)run)->extio.handler[XP_AWK_EXTIO_PIPE] != XP_NULL)
+		{
+			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (
+				run, XP_AWK_OUT_PIPE, 
+				((len0 == 0)? XP_NULL: str0), &errnum);
+			if (n2 == -1)
+			{
+				if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER) n = -1;
+				else if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOSUCHIO) 
+				{
+					if (n != 0) n = -2;
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
+					return -1;
+				}
+			}
+			else if (n != -1) n = 0;
+		}
+
+		if (((xp_awk_run_t*)run)->extio.handler[XP_AWK_EXTIO_COPROC] != XP_NULL)
+		{
+			n2 = xp_awk_flushextio (
+				run, XP_AWK_OUT_COPROC, 
+				((len0 == 0)? XP_NULL: str0), &errnum);
+			if (n2 == -1)
+			{
+				if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER) n = -1;
+				else if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOSUCHIO) 
+				{
+					if (n != 0) n = -2;
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					xp_awk_seterrnum (run, errnum);
+					return -1;
+				}
+			}
+			else if (n != -1) n = 0;
+		}
+
+		/* if n remains 1, no ip handlers have been defined for
+		 * file, pipe, and coproc. so make fflush return -1. 
+		 * if n is -2, no such named io has been found at all 
+		 * if n is -1, the io handler has returned an error */
+		if (n != 0) n = -1;
+
 		if (a0->type != XP_AWK_VAL_STR) xp_free (str0);
 	}
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/parse.c b/ase/awk/parse.c
index 6c98da56..a4dd60c0 100644
--- a/ase/awk/parse.c
+++ b/ase/awk/parse.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: parse.c,v 1.165 2006-08-13 16:04:32 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: parse.c,v 1.166 2006-08-23 15:41:46 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -3105,6 +3105,19 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_print (xp_awk_t* awk)
 				out = ep->right;
 				out_type = XP_AWK_OUT_FILE_APPEND;
 
+				xp_free (tmp);
+			}
+			else if (ep->opcode == XP_AWK_BINOP_BOR)
+			{
+				xp_awk_nde_t* tmp = args_tail;
+
+				if (tail_prev != XP_NULL) 
+					tail_prev->next = ep->left;
+				else args = ep->left;
+
+				out = ep->right;
+				out_type = XP_AWK_OUT_PIPE;
+
 				xp_free (tmp);
 			}
 		}
@@ -3135,7 +3148,7 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_print (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		}
 	}
 
-	nde = (xp_awk_nde_print_t*)xp_malloc(xp_sizeof(xp_awk_nde_print_t));
+	nde = (xp_awk_nde_print_t*) xp_malloc (xp_sizeof(xp_awk_nde_print_t));
 	if (nde == XP_NULL) 
 	{
 		if (args != XP_NULL) xp_awk_clrpt (args);
diff --git a/ase/awk/run.c b/ase/awk/run.c
index a31b810c..a1fb8be9 100644
--- a/ase/awk/run.c
+++ b/ase/awk/run.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: run.c,v 1.174 2006-08-22 15:10:48 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: run.c,v 1.175 2006-08-23 15:41:46 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ static int __run_pattern_blocks (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 	/* In case of getline, the code would make getline return -1, 
 	 * set ERRNO, make this function return 0 after having checked 
 	 * if closextio has returned -1 and errnum has been set to 
-	 * XP_AWK_ENOERR. But this part of the code ends the input for 
+	 * XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER. But this part of the code ends the input for 
 	 * the implicit pattern-block loop, which is totally different 
 	 * from getline. so it returns -1 as long as closeextio returns 
 	 * -1 regardless of the value of errnum.  */
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ static int __run_pattern_blocks (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 			run, XP_AWK_IN_CONSOLE, XP_T(""), &errnum);
 		if (n == -1) 
 		{
-			if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+			if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 				PANIC_I (run, XP_AWK_ECONINCLOSE);
 			else
 				PANIC_I (run, errnum);
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ static int __run_block (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_blk_t* nde)
 		{
 			xp_awk_refdownval (run, run->inrec.d0);
 
-			if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+			if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 				PANIC_I (run, XP_AWK_ECONOUTDATA);
 			else
 				PANIC_I (run, errnum);
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@ static int __run_nextfile (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_nextfile_t* nde)
 		run, XP_AWK_IN_CONSOLE, XP_T(""), &errnum);
 	if (n == -1)
 	{
-		if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+		if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 			PANIC_I (run, XP_AWK_ECONINNEXT);
 		else
 			PANIC_I (run, errnum);
@@ -1670,14 +1670,15 @@ static int __run_print (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_print_t* nde)
 
 		xp_awk_refupval (v);
 		n = xp_awk_writeextio (run, p->out_type, dst, v, &errnum);
-		if (n < 0 && errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR) 
+		if (n < 0 && errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER) 
 		{
 			if (out != XP_NULL) xp_free (out);
 			xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
 			PANIC_I (run, errnum);
 		}
 		xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
-		/* TODO: how to handle n == -1 && errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR. that is the user handler returned an error... */
+		/* TODO: how to handle n == -1 && errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER. 
+		 * that is the user handler returned an error... */
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -1693,7 +1694,7 @@ static int __run_print (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_print_t* nde)
 
 			n = xp_awk_writeextio (
 				run, p->out_type, dst, v, &errnum);
-			if (n < 0 && errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR) 
+			if (n < 0 && errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER) 
 			{
 				if (out != XP_NULL) xp_free (out);
 				xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
@@ -1701,7 +1702,8 @@ static int __run_print (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_print_t* nde)
 			}
 			xp_awk_refdownval (run, v);
 
-			/* TODO: how to handle n == -1 && errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR. that is the user handler returned an error... */
+			/* TODO: how to handle n == -1 && errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER. 
+			 * that is the user handler returned an error... */
 
 			/* TODO: print proper field separator */
 		}
@@ -1711,13 +1713,14 @@ static int __run_print (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_print_t* nde)
 	 *       xp_awk_val_empty_string or something */
 	n = xp_awk_writeextio_nl (
 		run, p->out_type, dst, xp_awk_val_nil, &errnum);
-	if (n < 0 && errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+	if (n < 0 && errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 	{
 		if (out != XP_NULL) xp_free (out);
 		PANIC_I (run, errnum);
 	}
 
-	/* TODO: how to handle n == -1 && errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR. that is the user handler returned an error... */
+	/* TODO: how to handle n == -1 && errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER.
+	 * that is the user handler returned an error... */
 
 	if (out != XP_NULL) xp_free (out);
 
@@ -4372,13 +4375,13 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 
 	if (n < 0) 
 	{
-		if (errnum != XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+		if (errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 		{
 			xp_str_close (&buf);
 			PANIC (run, errnum);
 		}
 
-		/* if errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR, make getline return -1 */
+		/* if errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER, make getline return -1 */
 		n = -1;
 	}
 
@@ -4483,7 +4486,7 @@ static int __read_record (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 		XP_T(""), &run->inrec.line, &errnum);
 	if (n < 0) 
 	{
-		if (errnum == XP_AWK_ENOERR)
+		if (errnum == XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 			PANIC_I (run, XP_AWK_ECONINDATA);
 		else
 			PANIC_I (run, errnum);
diff --git a/ase/test/awk/awk.c b/ase/test/awk/awk.c
index ffb7c6a0..a8fa722c 100644
--- a/ase/test/awk/awk.c
+++ b/ase/test/awk/awk.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: awk.c,v 1.73 2006-08-22 15:11:13 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk.c,v 1.74 2006-08-23 15:42:16 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk.h>
@@ -229,17 +229,15 @@ xp_printf (XP_TEXT("closing %s of type (pipe) %d\n"),  epa->name, epa->type);
 
 		case XP_AWK_IO_WRITE:
 		{
-			/*
-			if (fputs_t (data, size, (FILE*)epa->handle) == XP_NULL) 
-				return 0;
+			/* TODO: size... */
+			fputs_t (data, (FILE*)epa->handle);
 			return size;
-			*/
-			return -1;
 		}
 
 		case XP_AWK_IO_FLUSH:
 		{
-			return -1;
+			if (epa->mode == XP_AWK_IO_PIPE_READ) return -1;
+			else return 0;
 		}
 
 		case XP_AWK_IO_NEXT: