From 499be5983d0c8a6c4b090b57f218be9a110bd1d5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Landon Curt Noll <github-mail@asthe.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2024 04:04:27 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] use jsp tool, workaround JSON Unicode bugs, misc fixes

If the [jsp tool](https://github.com/kjozsa/jsp) is
installed, it will be used in favor of the [JSONPath.sh
tool](https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh).

Updated `bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh`, `bin/jprint-wrapper.sh`, and
`bin/jval-wrapper.sh` to use jsp if found.  These 3 tools may be given
`-t tool` where tool is either "_jsp_" or "_JSONPath.sh_" for force the
use of the tool.  They also use `-Q` to perform a quick check tool using
trivial input.

The `bin/jval-wrapper.sh` tool had been simplified.  The `-w`,
`-i` and `-u` options are gone.  Instead it has:

```
    -b    print only values (def: print both JSON member and JSON value)
    -q    remove enclosing double quotes (def: keep any enclosing double quotes)
```

Add `make all_jfmt` to Makefile to canonically format all entry and
author handle JSON files.

A sed script `bin/unicode-fix.sed` has been added that converts
JSON string "_\u[0-9A-Fa-f]{4}_" encoding that may arise from known
JSON data.  This is done as a work-a-round for [Unicode / UTF-8
issues](https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/issues/13) with `jstrdecode(1)`.

The `bin/unicode-chk.sh` tool, if given on file arguments, scans
all `.entry.json` and `author/author_handle.json` JSON files to be
sure that, after `bin/unicode-fix.sed` processing, no JSON string
"_\u[0-9A-Fa-f]{4}_" encodings remain.

Removed all `-j jparse` args from commands.  Instead the `jparse(1)`
tool is looked for along $PATH.

Added `combine_author_handle.sh` tool to transform all of the
`author/author_handle.json` files into a temporary as a single JSON
file so that `bin/jval-wrapper.sh` tool may be used to extract all
"_sort_word_" or all "_entry_id_" values.

Changed `bin/all-jfmt.sh` VERSION from "1.0 2024-08-31"
to "1.1 2024-09-24".

Changed `bin/csv2entry.sh` VERSION from "1.2.3 2024-08-30"
to "1.3 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/cvt-submission.sh` VERSION from "1.1 2024-08-31"
to "1.2 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/entry2csv.sh` VERSION from "1.2.1 2024-08-17"
to "1.3 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/gen-authors.sh` VERSION from "1.12 2024-08-18"
to "1.13 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/gen-location.sh` VERSION from "1.6 2024-08-18"
to "1.7 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/gen-status.sh` VERSION from "1.6 2024-08-17"
to "1.7 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/gen-years.sh` VERSION from "1.4 2024-08-17"
to "1.5 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh` VERSION from "1.1 2024-08-20"
to "1.2 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/jprint-wrapper.sh` VERSION from "1.1 2024-08-20"
to "1.3 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/jval-wrapper.sh` VERSION from "1.0.4 2024-08-20"
to "1.1 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/manifest.entry.json.awk` VERSION from "1.1.2 2024-07-28"
to "1.2 2024-09-17".

Changed `bin/output-index-author.sh` VERSION from "1.8 2024-08-17"
to "1.9 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/output-year-index.sh` VERSION from "1.4.4 2024-08-05"
to "1.5 2024-09-23".

Changed `bin/subst.entry-index.sh` VERSION from "1.5 2024-08-13"
to "1.6 2024-09-23".

Added `bin/combine_author_handle.sh` VERSION "1.0 2024-09-23".

Added `bin/unicode-chk.sh` VERSION "1.0 2024-09-23".

Added `bin/unicode-fix.sed` VERSION "1.0 2024-09-23".

Perform `make www` to perform the above and test under macOS.

FYI: On our MacBook Pro, `make www` took:

```
    make www  631.79s user 264.95s system 94% cpu 15:53.71 total
```

FYI: On our MacBook Pro, `make quick_www` took:

```
    make quick_www  81.43s user 58.26s system 102% cpu 2:16.02 total
```
---
 Makefile                     |   5 +-
 bin/all-jfmt.sh              |  41 +-
 bin/combine_author_handle.sh | 447 +++++++++++++++++++++
 bin/csv2entry.sh             | 269 ++++++-------
 bin/cvt-submission.sh        | 259 +++++++-----
 bin/entry2csv.sh             | 154 ++++---
 bin/gen-authors.sh           | 752 ++++++++++-------------------------
 bin/gen-location.sh          |  39 +-
 bin/gen-status.sh            |  44 +-
 bin/gen-years.sh             |  31 +-
 bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh          | 348 ++++++++++++----
 bin/jprint-wrapper.sh        | 375 ++++++++++++++---
 bin/jval-wrapper.sh          | 538 +++++++++++++++++++++----
 bin/manifest.entry.json.awk  |  82 +++-
 bin/output-index-author.sh   |  50 ++-
 bin/output-year-index.sh     |  39 +-
 bin/subst.entry-index.sh     |  34 +-
 bin/unicode-chk.sh           | 690 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 bin/unicode-fix.sed          |  60 +++
 19 files changed, 3044 insertions(+), 1213 deletions(-)
 create mode 100755 bin/combine_author_handle.sh
 create mode 100755 bin/unicode-chk.sh
 create mode 100644 bin/unicode-fix.sed

diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aff324b77..830f79cd4 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -311,7 +311,6 @@ help:
 	@echo 'make tab_check		;: check for ASCII tabs in markdown files'
 	@echo 'make genpath		;: form top level .top and .allyear, YYYY level .year and winner .path files'
 	@echo 'make genfilelist	;: generate YYYY level .filelist'
-	@echo 'make all_jfmt		;: be sure all JSON files are canonical'
 	@echo 'make verify_entry_files	;: check to be sure all files in all entries exist'
 	@echo 'make sort_gitignore	;: sort .gitignore files according to rules in bin/sgi.sh'
 	@echo 'make gen_authors	;: generate the top level authors.html page'
@@ -354,6 +353,8 @@ help:
 	@echo 'make untar_entry_tarball;: untar all entry tarballs'
 	@echo 'make untar_year_tarball	;: untar all year level tarballs'
 	@echo
+	@echo 'make all_jfmt		;: convert all entry and author JSON files into canonical form'
+	@echo
 	@echo 'make form_entry_tarball	;: form all entry compressed tarballs'
 	@echo 'make form_year_tarball	;: form all IOCCC year level compressed tarballs'
 	@echo 'make tar		;: build all tarballs'
@@ -715,7 +716,6 @@ www:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make genpath =-=-=-=-='
 	${MAKE} genfilelist
 	${MAKE} sort_gitignore
-	${MAKE} all_jfmt
 	${MAKE} verify_entry_files
 	${MAKE} gen_authors
 	${MAKE} gen_location
@@ -769,6 +769,7 @@ tar:
 	${MAKE} clobber
 	${MAKE} genpath
 	${MAKE} genfilelist
+	${MAKE} all_jfmt
 	${MAKE} verify_entry_files
 	${MAKE} sort_gitignore
 	${MAKE} form_entry_tarball
diff --git a/bin/all-jfmt.sh b/bin/all-jfmt.sh
index fe7e112f0..cd9ea4dd4 100755
--- a/bin/all-jfmt.sh
+++ b/bin/all-jfmt.sh
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.0 2024-08-31"
+export VERSION="1.1 2024-09-24"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -112,9 +112,6 @@ export SITE_URL="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc"
 export NOOP=
 export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 export EXIT_CODE="0"
-#
-JPARSE_TOOL=$(type -P jparse)
-export JPARSE_TOOL
 
 
 # clear options we will add to tools
@@ -125,7 +122,7 @@ declare -ag TOOL_OPTION
 
 # usage
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-D docroot/] [-j jparse] [-n] [-N]
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-D docroot/] [-n] [-N]
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
 	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
@@ -136,8 +133,6 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-D docroot/] [-j jpars
 			NOTE: The '-D docroot/' is passed as leading options on tool command lines.
 			NOTE: 'docroot' must end in a slash
 
-	-j jparse	path to the jparse tool (def: $JPARSE_TOOL)
-
 	-n		go thru the actions, but do not update any files (def: do the action)
 	-N		do not process anything, just parse arguments (def: process something)
 
@@ -182,8 +177,6 @@ while getopts :hv:Vd:D:j:nN flag; do
 	TOOL_OPTION+=("-D")
 	TOOL_OPTION+=("$DOCROOT_SLASH")
 	;;
-    j) JPARSE_TOOL="$OPTARG"
-	;;
     n) NOOP="-n"
 	;;
     N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
@@ -326,22 +319,6 @@ if [[ ! -s $TOP_FILE ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# verify jparse tool
-#
-if [[ -z "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an executable jparse tool" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-if [[ ! -f "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jparse is not a file: $JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-if [[ ! -x "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jparse is not an executable file: $JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-
-
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -371,7 +348,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JFMT_WRAPPER=$JFMT_WRAPPER" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOP_FILE=$TOP_FILE" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JPARSE_TOOL=$JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -569,19 +545,6 @@ for YYYY in $(< "$TOP_FILE"); do
 	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
 	    continue
 	fi
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	fi
-	if "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$ENTRY_JSON"; then
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[5]: valid JSON: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	    fi
-	else
-	    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not valid JSON: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	    EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
-	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-	    continue
-	fi
 
 	# canonically format YYYY/dir/.entry.json unless -n
 	#
diff --git a/bin/combine_author_handle.sh b/bin/combine_author_handle.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..da9a526b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/combine_author_handle.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,447 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# combine_author_handle.sh - output all author/author_handle.JSON files as single JSON file
+#
+# We form a single JSON file out of all author/author_handle.JSON files.
+# We cannot simply cat the author/author_handle.JSON files because
+# each author/author_handle.JSON file opens and closes the JSON.
+# So this tool removes the intermediate JSON document opening "{"
+# and closing "}".
+#
+# Because jsp open remembers the last copy of a given JSON member name.
+# As such, we change the JSON member name "winning_entry_set" into
+# a unique "winning_entry_set.FILENO" where FILENO is the file number.
+# This the JSON member value will be preserved across all files.
+#
+# We also convert where FILENO is the file number and FILENAME is the filename:
+#
+#   "sort_word" : "data",
+#
+# into:
+#
+#   "sort_word.FILENO" : [
+#	{
+#	    "sort_word" : "data FILENAME"
+#	}
+#   ],
+#
+# This will allow jsp to print sort_word values.
+#
+# We also make sure that the last item from a given file ends in a comma (",)",
+# due to the bogosity of the so-called JSON spec.
+#
+# NOTE: We assume that all JSON files have been formatted with the
+# bin/jprint-wrapper.sh tool.  In particular the first line is just "{:,
+# and the last line is just "}" and each JSON element is on its own line.
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024 by Landon Curt Noll.  All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and
+# its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
+# provided that the above copyright, this permission notice and text
+# this comment, and the disclaimer below appear in all of the following:
+#
+#       supporting documentation
+#       source copies
+#       source works derived from this source
+#       binaries derived from this source or from derived source
+#
+# LANDON CURT NOLL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE,
+# INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO
+# EVENT SHALL LANDON CURT NOLL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF
+# USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR
+# OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
+# PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+#
+# chongo (Landon Curt Noll, http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html) /\oo/\
+#
+# Share and enjoy! :-)
+
+
+# firewall - run only with a bash that is version 5.1.8 or later
+#
+# The "/usr/bin/env bash" command must result in using a bash that
+# is version 5.1.8 or later.
+#
+# We could relax this version and insist on version 4.2 or later.  Versions
+# of bash between 4.2 and 5.1.7 might work.  However, to be safe, we will require
+# bash version 5.1.8 or later.
+#
+# WHY 5.1.8 and not 4.2?  This safely is done because macOS Homebrew bash we
+# often use is "version 5.2.26(1)-release" or later, and the RHEL Linux bash we
+# use often use is "version 5.1.8(1)-release" or later.  These versions are what
+# we initially tested.  We recommend you either upgrade bash or install a newer
+# version of bash and adjust your $PATH so that "/usr/bin/env bash" finds a bash
+# that is version 5.1.8 or later.
+#
+# NOTE: The macOS shipped, as of 2024 March 15, a version of bash is something like
+#	bash "version 3.2.57(1)-release".  That macOS shipped version of bash
+#	will NOT work.  For users of macOS we recommend you install Homebrew,
+#	(see https://brew.sh), and then run "brew install bash" which will
+#	typically install it into /opt/homebrew/bin/bash, and then arrange your $PATH
+#	so that "/usr/bin/env bash" finds "/opt/homebrew/bin" (or whatever the
+#	Homebrew bash is).
+#
+# NOTE: And while MacPorts might work, we noticed a number of subtle differences
+#	with some of their ported tools to suggest you might be better off
+#	with installing Homebrew (see https://brew.sh).  No disrespect is intended
+#	to the MacPorts team as they do a commendable job.  Nevertheless we ran
+#	into enough differences with MacPorts environments to suggest you
+#	might find a better experience with this tool under Homebrew instead.
+#
+if [[ -z ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} ||
+	 ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -lt 5 ||
+	 ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -eq 5 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[1]} -lt 1 ||
+	 ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -eq 5 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[1]} -eq 1 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[2]} -lt 8 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: bash version needs to be >= 5.1.8: $BASH_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Warning: bash version >= 4.2 might work but 5.1.8 was the minimum we tested" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: For macOS users: install Homebrew (see https://brew.sh), then run" \
+	 ""brew install bash" and then modify your \$PATH so that \"#!/usr/bin/env bash\"" \
+	 "finds the Homebrew installed (usually /opt/homebrew/bin/bash) version of bash" 1>&2
+    exit 4
+fi
+
+
+# setup bash file matching
+#
+# We must declare arrays with -ag or -Ag, and we need loops to "export" modified variables.
+# This requires a bash with a version 4.2 or later.  See the larger comment above about bash versions.
+#
+shopt -s nullglob	# enable expanded to nothing rather than remaining unexpanded
+shopt -u failglob	# disable error message if no matches are found
+shopt -u dotglob	# disable matching files starting with .
+shopt -u nocaseglob	# disable strict case matching
+shopt -u extglob	# enable extended globbing patterns
+shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories and subdirectories
+
+
+# set variables referenced in the usage message
+#
+export VERSION="1.0 2024-09-23"
+NAME=$(basename "$0")
+export NAME
+export V_FLAG=0
+GIT_TOOL=$(type -P git)
+export GIT_TOOL
+if [[ -z "$GIT_TOOL" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: git tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+"$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree >/dev/null 2>&1
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
+    TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+fi
+export TOPDIR
+export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
+export TAGLINE="unspecified"
+export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
+# GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
+export REPO_URL="$REPO_TOP_URL/blob/master"
+export SITE_URL="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc"
+#
+export NOOP=
+export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
+export EXIT_CODE="0"
+
+
+# usage
+#
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-D docroot/] [-n] [-N]
+
+	-h		print help message and exit
+	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
+	-V		print version string and exit
+
+	-d topdir	set topdir (def: $TOPDIR)
+	-D docroot/	set the document root path followed by slash (def: $DOCROOT_SLASH)
+			NOTE: The '-D docroot/' is passed as leading options on tool command lines.
+			NOTE: 'docroot' must end in a slash
+
+	-n		go thru the actions, but do not update any files (def: do the action)
+	-N		do not process anything, just parse arguments (def: process something)
+
+Exit codes:
+     0         all OK
+     1	       found unexpected \\uHexHexHexHex strings in JSON files
+     2         -h and help string printed or -V and version string printed
+     3         command line error
+     4         bash version is too old
+     5	       some internal tool is not found or not an executable file
+     6	       problems found with or in the topdir or topdir/YYYY directory
+     7	       problems found with or in the entry topdir/YYYY/dir directory
+     8	       file.json not a readable file
+ >= 10         internal error
+
+$NAME version: $VERSION"
+
+
+# parse command line
+#
+while getopts :hv:Vd:D:j:nN flag; do
+  case "$flag" in
+    h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+	exit 2
+	;;
+    v) V_FLAG="$OPTARG"
+	;;
+    V) echo "$VERSION"
+	exit 2
+	;;
+    d) TOPDIR="$OPTARG"
+	;;
+    D) # parse -D docroot/
+	case "$OPTARG" in
+	*/) ;;
+	*) echo "$0: ERROR: in -D docroot/, the docroot must end in /" 1>&2
+	   echo 1>&2
+	   print_usage 1>&2
+	   exit 3
+	   ;;
+	esac
+	DOCROOT_SLASH="$OPTARG"
+	;;
+    n) NOOP="-n"
+	;;
+    N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
+	;;
+    \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
+	echo 1>&2
+	print_usage 1>&2
+	exit 3
+	;;
+    :) echo "$0: ERROR: option -$OPTARG requires an argument" 1>&2
+	echo 1>&2
+	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+	exit 3
+	;;
+    *) echo "$0: ERROR: unexpected value from getopts: $flag" 1>&2
+	echo 1>&2
+	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+	exit 3
+	;;
+  esac
+done
+#
+# remove the options
+#
+shift $(( OPTIND - 1 ));
+#
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: file argument count: $#" 1>&2
+fi
+if [[ $# -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: expected 0 args, found: $#" 1>&2
+    echo 1>&2
+    echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+    exit 3
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have a topdir directory
+#
+REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_TOP_URL")
+export REPO_NAME
+if [[ -z $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find top of git repo directory" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR does not exist: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR is not a directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# cd to topdir
+#
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to non-existent path: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to a non-directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export CD_FAILED
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: cd $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+fi
+cd "$TOPDIR" || CD_FAILED="true"
+if [[ -n $CD_FAILED ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cd $TOPDIR failed" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: now in directory: $(/bin/pwd)" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have an author subdirectory
+#
+export AUTHOR_PATH="$TOPDIR/author"
+if [[ ! -d $AUTHOR_PATH ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: author is not a directory under topdir: $AUTHOR_PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export AUTHOR_DIR="author"
+
+
+# verify we have a non-empty readable .top file
+#
+export TOP_FILE=".top"
+if [[ ! -e $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top does not exist: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a regular file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not an readable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -s $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a non-empty readable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# print running info if verbose
+#
+# If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
+#
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERSION=$VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: NAME=$NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TAGLINE=$TAGLINE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: SITE_URL=$SITE_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_NAME=$REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: CD_FAILED=$CD_FAILED" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHOR_PATH=$AUTHOR_PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHOR_DIR=$AUTHOR_DIR" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# determine the number of author_handle.json files
+#
+AUTHOR_COUNT=$(find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -type f -name '*.json' -print | wc -l)
+export AUTHOR_COUNT
+if [[ -z $AUTHOR_COUNT || $AUTHOR_COUNT -le 0 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: found no author_handle.json files under: $AUTHOR_DIR" 1>&2
+    exit 10
+fi
+if [[ $AUTHOR_COUNT -le 1 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: expected more than 1 author_handle.json files under: $AUTHOR_DIR" 1>&2
+    exit 11
+fi
+
+
+# -N stops early before any processing is performed
+#
+if [[ -n $DO_NOT_PROCESS ]]; then
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: debug[3]: arguments parsed, -N given, exiting 0" 1>&2
+    fi
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+
+# create a list of all author/author_handle files
+#
+export TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST=".tmp.$NAME.AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST.$$.tmp"
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: debug[3]: list pf author_handle JSON files: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST" 1>&2
+fi
+trap 'rm -f $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
+rm -f "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST"
+if [[ -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove list pf author_handle JSON files: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST" 1>&2
+    exit 12
+fi
+find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -type f -name '*.json' -print | LC_ALL=C sort -t / -d > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST"
+if [[ ! -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create list pf author_handle JSON files: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST" 1>&2
+    exit 13
+fi
+
+
+# combine all author_handle.json files
+#
+export SED_PART1='s;^(\s*)("sort_word" : )"(.*)",$;\1"sort_word.'
+export SED_PART2='" : [\n\1    {\n\1        \2"\3 '
+export SED_PART3='"\n\1    }\n\1],;'
+export count=0
+echo "{"
+for AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON in $(< "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_LIST"); do
+
+    # count file
+    #
+    ((++count))
+
+    # case: not the last file
+    #
+    # Remove 1st and last lines, and add , (comma) to the end of the last line.
+    #
+    # We also replace "winning_entry_set" with "winning_entry_set.FILENO" where
+    # FILENO is the file number.
+    #
+    # We also convert where FILENO is the file number and FILENAME is the filename:
+    #
+    #   "sort_word" : "data",
+    #
+    # into:
+    #
+    #   "sort_word.FILENO" : [
+    #	    {
+    #	        "sort_word" : "data FILENAME"
+    #	    }
+    #   ],
+    #
+    if [[ $count -lt $AUTHOR_COUNT ]]; then
+
+	tail -n +2 "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" |
+	  head -n -1 |
+	  sed -E -e 's/"winning_entry_set"/"winning_entry_set.'"$count"'"/' \
+		 -e "$SED_PART1$count$SED_PART2$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON$SED_PART3" \
+	         -e '$s/$/,/'
+
+    # case: last file
+    #
+    else
+
+	tail -n +2 "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" |
+	  head -n -1 |
+	  sed -E -e 's/"winning_entry_set"/"winning_entry_set.'"$count"'"/' \
+		 -e "$SED_PART1$count$SED_PART2$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON$SED_PART3"
+	echo '}'
+
+    fi
+done
+
+
+# All Done!!! All Done!!! -- Jessica Noll, Age 2
+#
+if [[ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: Warning: about to exit non-zero: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to exit $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+fi
+exit "$EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/bin/csv2entry.sh b/bin/csv2entry.sh
index 279b38990..0dcf647c6 100755
--- a/bin/csv2entry.sh
+++ b/bin/csv2entry.sh
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ shopt -s lastpipe	# explicitly run the last command of the pipe line in the curr
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.2.3 2024-08-30"
+export VERSION="1.3 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -169,8 +169,6 @@ export NOOP=
 export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 export EXIT_CODE="0"
 #
-JPARSE_TOOL=$(type -P jparse)
-export JPARSE_TOOL
 export AUTHOR_WINS_CSV="author_wins.csv"
 export MANIFEST_CSV="manifest.csv"
 export YEAR_PRIZE_CSV="year_prize.csv"
@@ -289,7 +287,7 @@ function canonicalize_csv
 
 # usage
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-n] [-N] [-j jparse]
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-n] [-N]
 			[author_wins.csv [manifest.csv [year_prize.csv]]]
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
@@ -301,8 +299,6 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-n] [-N] [-j jparse]
 	-n		go thru the actions, but do not update any files (def: do the action)
 	-N		do not process anything, just parse arguments (def: process something)
 
-	-j jparse	path to the jparse tool (def: $JPARSE_TOOL)
-
 	author_wins.csv	where to form author_wins.csv (def: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV)
 	manifest.csv	where to form manifest.csv (def: $MANIFEST_CSV)
 	year_prize.csv	where to form year_prize.csv (def: $YEAR_PRIZE_CSV)
@@ -325,7 +321,7 @@ $NAME version: $VERSION"
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:Vd:D:nNj: flag; do
+while getopts :hv:Vd:D:nN flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -341,8 +337,6 @@ while getopts :hv:Vd:D:nNj: flag; do
 	;;
     N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
 	;;
-    j) JPARSE_TOOL="$OPTARG"
-	;;
     \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
 	echo 1>&2
 	print_usage 1>&2
@@ -490,7 +484,7 @@ export BIN_DIR="bin"
 
 # verify that the bin/jval-wrapper.sh tool is executable
 #
-JVAL_WRAPPER="$BIN_DIR/jval-wrapper.sh"
+export JVAL_WRAPPER="$BIN_DIR/jval-wrapper.sh"
 if [[ ! -e $JVAL_WRAPPER ]]; then
     echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/jval-wrapper.sh does not exist: $JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
     exit 5
@@ -505,18 +499,36 @@ if [[ ! -x $JVAL_WRAPPER ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# verify jparse tool
+# verify that the bin/jval-wrapper.sh tool is executable
 #
-if [[ -z "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an executable jparse tool" 1>&2
+export UNICODE_CHK="$BIN_DIR/unicode-chk.sh"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_CHK ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh does not exist: $UNICODE_CHK" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-if [[ ! -f "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jparse is not a file: $JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_CHK ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not a regular file: $UNICODE_CHK" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-if [[ ! -x "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jparse is not an executable file: $JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
+if [[ ! -x $UNICODE_CHK ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not an executable file: $UNICODE_CHK" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
+# verify that the bin/combine_author_handle.sh tool is executable
+#
+export COMBINE_AUTHOR="$BIN_DIR/combine_author_handle.sh"
+if [[ ! -e $COMBINE_AUTHOR ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh does not exist: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $COMBINE_AUTHOR ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not a regular file: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -x $COMBINE_AUTHOR ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not an executable file: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
 
@@ -534,7 +546,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JPARSE_TOOL=$JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHOR_WINS_CSV=$AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MANIFEST_CSV=$MANIFEST_CSV" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: YEAR_PRIZE_CSV=$YEAR_PRIZE_CSV" 1>&2
@@ -546,6 +557,8 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JVAL_WRAPPER=$JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_CHK=$UNICODE_CHK" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: COMBINE_AUTHOR=$COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOT_ENTRY_JSON_BASENAME=$DOT_ENTRY_JSON_BASENAME" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: ENTRY_JSON_FORMAT_VERSION=$ENTRY_JSON_FORMAT_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NO_COMMENT=$NO_COMMENT" 1>&2
@@ -705,26 +718,46 @@ if [[ ! -e $TMP_EXIT_CODE ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# create a temporary author_handle inventory file
+# create a temporary sorted list of author_handles from author/author_handle.json files
 #
-export TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY=".tmp.$NAME.AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY.$$.tmp"
+export TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES=".tmp.$NAME.AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES.$$.tmp"
 if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: debug[3]: temporary author_handle inventory file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
+    echo  "$0: debug[3]: temporary sorted list of author_handles: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES" 1>&2
 fi
 trap 'rm -f $TMP_AUTHOR_WINS_CSV $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV $TMP_YEAR_PRIZE_CSV $TMP_YYYY_DIR_INV $TMP_YYYY_DIR_INV \
-	    $TMP_2ND_YYYY_DIR_INV $TMP_ENTRY_JSON $TMP_EXIT_CODE $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
-rm -f "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
-if [[ -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary author_handle inventory file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
+	    $TMP_2ND_YYYY_DIR_INV $TMP_ENTRY_JSON $TMP_EXIT_CODE $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
+rm -f "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES"
+if [[ -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary sorted list of author_handles: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES" 1>&2
     exit 24
 fi
-: > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
-if [[ ! -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary author_handle inventory file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
+: > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES"
+if [[ ! -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary sorted list of author_handles: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES" 1>&2
     exit 25
 fi
 
 
+# create a temporary of author_handles from CSV file
+#
+export TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV=".tmp.$NAME.AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV.$$.tmp"
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: debug[3]: temporary sorted list of author_handles: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV" 1>&2
+fi
+trap 'rm -f $TMP_AUTHOR_WINS_CSV $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV $TMP_YEAR_PRIZE_CSV $TMP_YYYY_DIR_INV $TMP_YYYY_DIR_INV \
+	    $TMP_2ND_YYYY_DIR_INV $TMP_ENTRY_JSON $TMP_EXIT_CODE $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
+rm -f "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV"
+if [[ -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary sorted list of author_handles: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV" 1>&2
+    exit 26
+fi
+: > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV"
+if [[ ! -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary sorted list of author_handles: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV" 1>&2
+    exit 26
+fi
+
+
 # canonicalize author_wins.csv into temporary author_wins.csv file
 #
 if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
@@ -812,142 +845,70 @@ elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# scan author_wins.csv file for unknown author handles and
-#      author handles w/o author/author_handle.json file and
-#      author/author_handle.json file that do not reference the entry id
+# form sorted list of author handles from author/author_handle.json files
 #
 if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: scan for unknown author handles" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[1]: forming list of author handles from author/author_handle.json files" 1>&2
+fi
+PATTERN='$..entry_id'
+"$COMBINE_AUTHOR" | "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q - "$PATTERN" | LC_ALL=C sort -t _ -d -u > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES"
+status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: $COMBINE_AUTHOR | $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q '$PATTERN' | sort ... failed", \
+	 "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
+    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
+    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
+fi
+if [[ ! -s $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: unable to form sorted list of author handles from author/author_handle.json files" 1>&2
+    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
+    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
+    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
 fi
-export line=0
-sed -e 's/,/ /g' "$AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" | while read -r AUTHOR_HANDLE ENTRY_ID_SET; do
 
-    # skip comment lines
-    #
-    ((++line))
-    if [[ $AUTHOR_HANDLE =~ '#' ]]; then
-	continue;
-    fi
 
-    # look for unknown author handles
-    #
-    export AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON="$AUTHOR_DIR/$AUTHOR_HANDLE.json"
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_DIR/$AUTHOR_HANDLE.json ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: entry_id $ENTRY_ID refers to an unknown author_handle: $AUTHOR_HANDLE" 1>&2
-	echo "$0: Warning: no such author_handle file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	echo "$0: Warning: line: $line for: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV flagging unknown author_handle as an error: continuing" 1>&2
-	EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
-	echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-	echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-	# NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-
-    # look for lines with no entry ids
-    #
-    elif [[ -z $ENTRY_ID_SET ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV as no entry ids on the line" 1>&2
-	EXIT_CODE="8"  # exit 8
-	echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-	echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-	# NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-
-    # look for unknown entry_id's
-    #
-    else
-
-	# verify the JSON of author/author_handle.json
-	#
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[7]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	fi
-	echo "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" >> "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
-	if "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"; then
-
-	    # case: author/author_handle.json file is valid JSON
-	    #
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 9 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[9]: valid JSON for: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	    fi
-
-	    # check each entry id on the line
-	    #
-	    echo "$ENTRY_ID_SET" | sed -e 's/ /\n/g' | while read -r ENTRY_ID; do
-
-		# convert ENTRY_ID into YYYY_DIR
-		#
-		export YEAR_DIR=${ENTRY_ID%%_*}
-		export ENTRY_DIR=${ENTRY_ID#*_}
-		export YYYY_DIR="${YEAR_DIR}/${ENTRY_DIR}"
-
-		# verify that the entry exists
-		#
-		if [[ ! -d $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
-
-		    # case: entry does not exist
-		    #
-		    echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
-			 "refers to unknown entry id: $ENTRY_ID" 1>&2
-		    EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
-		    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-		    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-		    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-
-		# verify that the author/author_handle.json file refers to the entry id
-		#
-		else
-
-		    # check if the author/author_handle.json file refers to the entry id
-		    #
-		    FOUND=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" '$..entry_id')
-		    if [[ -z $FOUND ]]; then
-			echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
-			     "entry id: $ENTRY_ID not in winning_entry_set of: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-			EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
-			echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-			echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-			# NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-		    fi
-		fi
-	    done
-
-	# case: author/author_handle.json is not valid JSON
-	#
-	else
-	    echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
-		 "is not valid JSON for: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	    EXIT_CODE="1"  # exit 1
-	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-	    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-	    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-	fi
-    fi
-done
+# form sorted list of author handles from the author_wins.csv file
+#
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[1]: forming list of author handles from the author_wins.csv file" 1>&2
+fi
+sed -e '/^#/d' -e 's/^[^,]*,//' -e 's/,/\n/g' "$AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" | LC_ALL=C sort -t _ -d -u > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV"
+status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: sed -e ... | sort ... failed", \
+	 "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
+    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
+    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
+fi
+if [[ ! -s $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: unable to form sorted list of author handles from the author_wins.csv file" 1>&2
+    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
+    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
+    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
+fi
 
 
 # verify that the author directory contains only author_handle.json files referenced by author_wins.csv
 #
-if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: sort $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY -o $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
-fi
-LC_ALL=C sort "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" -o "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
-status="$?"
-if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: LC_ALL=C sort $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY -o $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY failed," \
-	 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-    exit 9
-fi
-AUTHOR_DIFF=$(find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' 2>&1 |
-	      LC_ALL=C sort |
-	      diff -u - "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY")
+AUTHOR_DIFF=$(diff "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_FILES" "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_FROM_CSV" 2>/dev/null)
 export AUTHOR_DIFF
 if [[ -n $AUTHOR_DIFF ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: author handles in author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV differs from author directory: $AUTHOR_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: Warning: author directory differences start below" 1>&2
     echo "$AUTHOR_DIFF" 1>&2
     echo "$0: Warning: author directory differences end above" 1>&2
-    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 1
+    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
     echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
     echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
     # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
+elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[1]: all author handles are accounted for" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -1478,17 +1439,15 @@ sed -e '/^#/d' -e 's/,/ /g' "$MANIFEST_CSV" |
 		printf "}\n"
 	    } >> "$TMP_ENTRY_JSON"
 
-	    # verify JSON of temporary .entry.json file
+	    # check the JSON file
 	    #
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[7]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: debug[5]: about to check: $PREV_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
 	    fi
-	    if "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$TMP_ENTRY_JSON"; then
-		if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 9 ]]; then
-		    echo "$0: debug[9]: valid JSON for $PREV_ENTRY_DIR: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-		fi
-	    else
-		echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not valid JSON for $PREV_ENTRY_DIR: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
+	    "$UNICODE_CHK" "$TMP_ENTRY_JSON"
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: JSON file failed check: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
 		exit 1
 	    fi
 
diff --git a/bin/cvt-submission.sh b/bin/cvt-submission.sh
index 23566fdd7..dad1b088d 100755
--- a/bin/cvt-submission.sh
+++ b/bin/cvt-submission.sh
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.1 2024-08-31"
+export VERSION="1.2 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -155,8 +155,6 @@ export AUTHOR_JSON_FORMAT_VERSION="1.1 2024-02-11"
 export NOOP=
 export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 #
-unset TAR_FILE_SET
-declare -ag TAR_FILE_SET
 export TARBALL_DIR="/var/tmp"
 #
 export X_3="X""X""X"
@@ -1003,29 +1001,6 @@ export TEMPLATE_README_MD_HEAD="$TEMPLATE_ENTRY_DIR/README.md.head"
 export TEMPLATE_README_MD_TAIL="$TEMPLATE_ENTRY_DIR/README.md.tail"
 
 
-# initialize the list of files that we might tar
-#
-for FILE in "$INFO_JSON" "$AUTH_JSON" "$REMARKS_MD" "$README_MD" "$INDEX_HTML" "$TAR_BZ2"; do
-    if [[ -f $FILE ]]; then
-	TAR_FILE_SET+=("$FILE")
-    fi
-done
-#
-# add each author/author_handle.json file referenced by .auth.json file that exists
-#
-export PATTERN
-PATTERN="\$authors..author_handle"
-if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $AUTH_JSON $PATTERN" 1>&2
-fi
-for AUTHOR_HANDLE in $("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -- "$AUTH_JSON" "$PATTERN"); do
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON="author/$AUTHOR_HANDLE.json"
-    if [[ -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
-	TAR_FILE_SET+=("$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON")
-    fi
-done
-
-
 # determine TARBALL filename
 #
 NOW=$(date '+%Y%m%d.%H%M%S')
@@ -1084,9 +1059,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TEMPLATE_GITIGNORE=$TEMPLATE_GITIGNORE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TEMPLATE_README_MD_HEAD=$TEMPLATE_README_MD_HEAD" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TEMPLATE_README_MD_TAIL=$TEMPLATE_README_MD_TAIL" 1>&2
-    for index in "${!TAR_FILE_SET[@]}"; do
-        echo "$0: debug[3]: TAR_FILE_SET[$index]=${TAR_FILE_SET[$index]}" 1>&2
-    done
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TARBALL_DIR=$TARBALL_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOW=$NOW" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TARBALL=$TARBALL" 1>&2
@@ -1206,6 +1178,56 @@ if [[ ! -s $AUTH_JSON ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# initialize the list of files that we might tar
+#
+unset TAR_FILE_SET
+declare -ag TAR_FILE_SET
+#
+for FILE in "$INFO_JSON" "$AUTH_JSON" "$REMARKS_MD" "$README_MD" "$INDEX_HTML" "$TAR_BZ2"; do
+    if [[ -f $FILE ]]; then
+	TAR_FILE_SET+=("$FILE")
+    fi
+done
+#
+# add each author/author_handle.json file referenced by .auth.json file that exists
+#
+unset AUTHOR_HANDLE_SET
+declare -ag AUTHOR_HANDLE_SET
+#
+export PATTERN
+PATTERN='$..author_handle'
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTH_JSON '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+fi
+export FOUND_AUTHOR_HANDLES
+FOUND_AUTHOR_HANDLES=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- "$AUTH_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTH_JSON '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	  "error code: $status" 1>&2
+    exit 10
+fi
+if [[ -z $FOUND_AUTHOR_HANDLES ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: found no author_handle's in: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
+    exit 11
+fi
+for AUTHOR_HANDLE in $FOUND_AUTHOR_HANDLES; do
+    # add referenced by .auth.json if it exists
+    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON="author/$AUTHOR_HANDLE.json"
+    if [[ -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
+	TAR_FILE_SET+=("$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON")
+    fi
+    # remember the author_handle for later even if it doesn't exist
+    AUTHOR_HANDLE_SET+=("$AUTHOR_HANDLE")
+done
+#
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    for index in "${!TAR_FILE_SET[@]}"; do
+        echo "$0: debug[3]: TAR_FILE_SET[$index]=${TAR_FILE_SET[$index]}" 1>&2
+    done
+fi
+
+
 # perform the semantic check on .info.json and .auth.json
 #
 if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
@@ -1213,7 +1235,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
     "$CHKENTRY_TOOL" -v 1 -- "$INFO_JSON" "$AUTH_JSON"
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: $CHKENTRY_TOOL -v 1 -- $INFO_JSON $AUTH_JSON failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: $CHKENTRY_TOOL -v 1 -- $INFO_JSON $AUTH_JSON failed," \
 	      "error code: $status" 1>&2
 	exit 7
     fi
@@ -1252,7 +1274,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR:" \
 		"TZ=UTC LC_ALL=C $GTAR_TOOL --sort=name" \
 		"--totals -jcvf $TARBALL ${TAR_FILE_SET[*]} failed, error: $status" 1>&2
-	    exit 10
+	    exit 12
 	fi
 
     # case: form the tarball silently
@@ -1265,7 +1287,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR:" \
 		"TZ=UTC LC_ALL=C $GTAR_TOOL --sort=name" \
 		"-jcf $TARBALL ${TAR_FILE_SET[*]} failed, error: $status" 1>&2
-	    exit 11
+	    exit 13
 	fi
     fi
 elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
@@ -1284,12 +1306,12 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     rm -f "$TMP_ENTRY_JSON"
     if [[ -e $TMP_ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary .entry.json file: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	exit 12
+	exit 14
     fi
     :> "$TMP_ENTRY_JSON"
     if [[ ! -e $TMP_ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary .entry.json file: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	exit 13
+	exit 15
     fi
 elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: because of -n, temporary .entry.json file is not used: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
@@ -1307,12 +1329,12 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     rm -f "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"
     if [[ -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary author_handle file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	exit 14
+	exit 16
     fi
     :> "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"
     if [[ ! -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary author_handle file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	exit 15
+	exit 17
     fi
 elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: because of -n, temporary author_handle file is not used: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
@@ -1330,12 +1352,12 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     rm -f "$TMP_MANIFEST_CSV"
     if [[ -e $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary manifest csv file: $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV" 1>&2
-	exit 16
+	exit 18
     fi
     :> "$TMP_MANIFEST_CSV"
     if [[ ! -e $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary manifest csv file: $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV" 1>&2
-	exit 17
+	exit 19
     fi
 elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: because of -n, temporary manifest csv file is not used: $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV" 1>&2
@@ -1395,7 +1417,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     # SC2129 (style): Consider using { cmd1; cmd2; } >> file instead of individual redirects
     # https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2129
     # shellcheck disable=SC2129
-    for AUTHOR_HANDLE in $("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b -- "$AUTH_JSON" "\$authors..author_handle"); do
+    for AUTHOR_HANDLE in "${AUTHOR_HANDLE_SET[@]}"; do
 
 	# case: not the first author_handle
 	#
@@ -1414,12 +1436,22 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 
 	# parse an element value of the this particular author in the authors JSON array
 	#
+	PATTERN='$.authors['"$i"']'
 	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	    echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -u $AUTH_JSON \$.authors[$i]" 1>&2
+	    echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTH_JSON '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
 	fi
-	AUTHOR_DATA=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -u -- "$AUTH_JSON" "\$.authors[$i]" |
-		      sed -e 's/^\["//' -e 's/^\([^"]*\)"]/\1/')
 	export AUTHOR_DATA
+	AUTHOR_DATA=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- "$AUTH_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTH_JSON '$PATTERN' failed," \
+		  "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 20
+	fi
+	if [[ -z $AUTHOR_DATA ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: found nothing for author[$i] in: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
+	    exit 21
+	fi
 	export AUTHOR_PAST_WINNING_AUTHOR=
 	export AUTHOR_DEFAULT_HANDLE=
 	export AUTHOR_AUTHOR_NUMBER=
@@ -1461,20 +1493,20 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    author_handle)
 		if [[ \"$AUTHOR_HANDLE\" != "$VALUE" ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE: \"$AUTHOR_HANDLE\" != author_handle value: $VALUE" 1>&2
-		    exit 18
+		    exit 22
 		fi
 		AUTHOR_INFO[author_handle]="$VALUE"
 		;;
 	    author_number)
 		if [[ $i != "$VALUE" ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE: $AUTHOR_HANDLE i: $i != author_number: $VALUE" 1>&2
-		    exit 19
+		    exit 23
 		fi
 		AUTHOR_AUTHOR_NUMBER="$VALUE"
 		;;
 	    *)
 		echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE: $AUTHOR_HANDLE unknown name: $NAME" 1>&2
-		exit 20
+		exit 24
 		;;
 	    esac
 	done <<< "$AUTHOR_DATA"
@@ -1484,20 +1516,20 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	for NAME in name location_code email url alt_url mastodon github affiliation author_handle; do
 	    if [[ -z ${AUTHOR_INFO[${NAME}]} ]]; then
 		 echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE[$i]: $AUTHOR_HANDLE missing $NAME value from: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
-		 exit 21
+		 exit 25
 	    fi
 	done
 	if [[ -z $AUTHOR_PAST_WINNING_AUTHOR ]]; then
 	     echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE[$i]: $AUTHOR_HANDLE missing past_winning_author value from: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
-	     exit 22
+	     exit 26
 	fi
 	if [[ -z $AUTHOR_DEFAULT_HANDLE ]]; then
 	     echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE[$i]: $AUTHOR_HANDLE missing default_handle value from: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
-	     exit 23
+	     exit 27
 	fi
 	if [[ -z $AUTHOR_AUTHOR_NUMBER ]]; then
 	     echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE[$i]: $AUTHOR_HANDLE missing author_number value from: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
-	     exit 24
+	     exit 28
 	fi
 
 	# determine sort_word from the Author's last name
@@ -1506,7 +1538,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	export SORT_WORD
 	if [[ -z $SORT_WORD ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: AUTHOR_HANDLE: $AUTHOR_HANDLE unable to determine the sort_word for: ${AUTHOR_INFO[name]}" 1>&2
-	    exit 25
+	    exit 29
 	fi
 	case "$SORT_WORD" in
 	[a-z]*) ;;
@@ -1545,22 +1577,35 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    #
 	    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle JSON is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-		exit 26
+		exit 30
 	    fi
 	    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle JSON is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-		exit 27
+		exit 31
 	    fi
 	    if [[ ! -s $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle JSON is not a non-empty readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-		exit 28
+		exit 32
 	    fi
 
 	    # parse author/author_handle.json file other than the winning_entry_set
 	    #
-	    AUTHOR_DATA=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -u "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" |
-			  grep -v winning_entry_set |
-			  sed -e 's/^\["//' -e 's/^\([^"]*\)"]/\1/')
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+		echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON | sed -E -e ..." 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    export AUTHOR_DATA
+	    AUTHOR_DATA=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -q -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" |
+			  sed -E -e '/^entry_id\t/d')
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON | sed -E -e ... failed," \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+		exit 33
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_DATA ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: found entry_id's in: $AUTH_JSON" 1>&2
+		exit 34
+	    fi
 	    while read -r NAME VALUE; do
 
 		# parse name value got non
@@ -1570,21 +1615,21 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 		    if [[ $VALUE != \"$NO_COMMENT\" ]]; then
 			echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" \
 			     "invalid no_comment: $VALUE != \"$NO_COMMENT\"" 1>&2
-			exit 29
+			exit 35
 		    fi
 		    ;;
 		author_JSON_format_version)
 		    if [[ $VALUE != \"$AUTHOR_JSON_FORMAT_VERSION\" ]]; then
 			echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" \
 			     "invalid author_JSON_format_version: $VALUE != \"$AUTHOR_JSON_FORMAT_VERSION\"" 1>&2
-			exit 30
+			exit 36
 		    fi
 		    ;;
 		author_handle)
 		    if [[ $VALUE != "${AUTHOR_INFO[author_handle]}" ]]; then
 			echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" \
 			     "invalid author_handle: $VALUE != ${AUTHOR_INFO[author_handle]}" 1>&2
-			exit 31
+			exit 37
 		    fi
 		    ;;
 		full_name)
@@ -1663,17 +1708,31 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 		*)
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: author_handle file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" \
 		         "unknown $NAME : $VALUE" 1>&2
-		    exit 32
+		    exit 38
 		    ;;
 		esac
 	    done <<< "$AUTHOR_DATA"
 
 	    # collect the entry_ids from the winning_entry_set and add the new entry_id
 	    #
-	    ENTRY_IDS=$( { "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "\$..entry_id" |
-				sed -e 's/^\["//' -e 's/^\([^"]*\)"]/\1/'
+	    PATTERN='$..entry_id'
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+		echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    export ENTRY_IDS
+	    ENTRY_IDS=$( { "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN";
+			    status="$?"
+			    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+				echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON '$PATTERN' failed," \
+				      "error code: $status" 1>&2
+				exit 39
+			    fi
 			    echo "$ENTRY_ID"
 			 } | LC_ALL=C sort -d -u )
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_DATA ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: found no entry_id's in: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
+		exit 40
+	    fi
 	    while read -r ENTRY_ID_SET_VALUE; do
 		ENTRY_ID_SET+=("$ENTRY_ID_SET_VALUE")
 	    done <<< "$ENTRY_IDS"
@@ -1692,7 +1751,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: write_author_handle_file AUTHOR_INFO ENTRY_ID_SET" \
 		 "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON failed," \
 		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	    exit 33
+	    exit 41
 	fi
 
 	# output the author_handle information for .entry.json
@@ -1718,17 +1777,17 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     # leave out the trailing comma.
     #
     ((++count))
-    PATTERN="\$manifest..c_src"
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $INFO_JSON $PATTERN" 1>&2
+    PATTERN='$..c_src'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $INFO_JSON '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
     fi
     export FILE_PATH
-    FILE_PATH=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -- "$INFO_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+    FILE_PATH=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- "$INFO_JSON" "$PATTERN")
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $INFO_JSON $PATTERN failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $INFO_JSON '$PATTERN' failed," \
 		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 34
+	exit 42
     fi
     if [[ -z $FILE_PATH ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine c_src in manifest from: $INFO_JSON" 1>&2
@@ -1736,11 +1795,11 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     fi
     if [[ ! -e $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: manifest file for c_src does not exist: $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH" 1>&2
-	exit 35
+	exit 43
     fi
     if [[ ! -f $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: manifest file for c_src is not a file: $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH" 1>&2
-	exit 36
+	exit 44
     fi
     manifest_csv "$FILE_PATH" 20 true c true "entry source code" >> "$TMP_MANIFEST_CSV"
     export PROG_C="$FILE_PATH"
@@ -1748,29 +1807,29 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     # write manifest csv line for entry Makefile
     #
     ((++count))
-    PATTERN="\$manifest..Makefile"
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $INFO_JSON $PATTERN" 1>&2
+    PATTERN='$..Makefile'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $INFO_JSON '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
     fi
     export FILE_PATH
-    FILE_PATH=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -- "$INFO_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+    FILE_PATH=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- "$INFO_JSON" "$PATTERN")
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $INFO_JSON $PATTERN failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $INFO_JSON '$PATTERN' failed," \
 		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 37
+	exit 45
     fi
     if [[ -z $FILE_PATH ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine Makefile in manifest from: $INFO_JSON" 1>&2
-	exit 38
+	exit 46
     fi
     if [[ ! -e $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: manifest file for Makefile does not exist: $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH" 1>&2
-	exit 39
+	exit 47
     fi
     if [[ ! -f $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: manifest file for Makefile is not a file: $YYYY_DIR/$FILE_PATH" 1>&2
-	exit 40
+	exit 48
     fi
     manifest_csv "$FILE_PATH" 30 true makefile true "entry Makefile" >> "$TMP_MANIFEST_CSV"
 
@@ -1798,7 +1857,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: cp -f -p -v $YYYY_DIR/$PROG_C $YYYY_DIR/$ORIG_C failed," \
 			 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-		exit 41
+		exit 49
 	    fi
 	else
 	    cp -f -p "$YYYY_DIR/$PROG_C" "$YYYY_DIR/$ORIG_C"
@@ -1806,7 +1865,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: cp -f -p $YYYY_DIR/$PROG_C $YYYY_DIR/$ORIG_C failed," \
 			 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-		exit 42
+		exit 50
 	    fi
 	fi
     fi
@@ -1819,17 +1878,17 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     # collect manifest for extra_file(s)
     #
     export PATTERN
-    PATTERN="\$manifest..extra_file"
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $INFO_JSON $PATTERN" 1>&2
+    PATTERN='$..extra_file'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $INFO_JSON '$PATTERN' | ,,, sort ..." 1>&2
     fi
     export EXTRA_FILE_SET
-    EXTRA_FILE_SET=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -- "$INFO_JSON" "$PATTERN" | LC_ALL=C sort -d -u)
+    EXTRA_FILE_SET=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- "$INFO_JSON" "$PATTERN" | LC_ALL=C sort -d -u)
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -- $INFO_JSON $PATTERN failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $INFO_JSON '$PATTERN' | ... sort ... failed," \
 		 "error code: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
-	exit 43
+	exit 51
     fi
 
     # perform some validation checks on the extra_file set
@@ -1841,7 +1900,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	case "$EXTRA_FILE" in
 	prog.c|Makefile|prog.orig.c|index.html|README.md|remarks.md|\.*)
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: invalid extra_file filename: $EXTRA_FILE" 1>&2
-	    exit 44
+	    exit 52
 	    ;;
 	*) ;;
 	esac
@@ -1850,11 +1909,11 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	#
 	if [[ ! -e $YYYY_DIR/$EXTRA_FILE ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: manifest file for extra_file does not exist: $YYYY_DIR/$EXTRA_FILE" 1>&2
-	    exit 45
+	    exit 53
 	fi
 	if [[ ! -f $YYYY_DIR/$EXTRA_FILE ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: manifest file for extra_file is not a file: $YYYY_DIR/$EXTRA_FILE" 1>&2
-	    exit 46
+	    exit 54
 	fi
     done
 
@@ -2007,7 +2066,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: cp -f -p -v $TEMPLATE_GITIGNORE $DOT_GITIGNORE failed," \
 			 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-		exit 47
+		exit 55
 	    fi
 	else
 	    cp -f -p "$TEMPLATE_GITIGNORE" "$DOT_GITIGNORE"
@@ -2015,7 +2074,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: cp -f -p $TEMPLATE_GITIGNORE $DOT_GITIGNORE failed," \
 			 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-		exit 48
+		exit 56
 	    fi
 	fi
     fi
@@ -2075,7 +2134,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
         echo "$0: ERROR: LC_ALL=C sort -t, -k2n -k1,1 -k3,6 $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV -o $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV failed," \
              "error code: $status" 1>&2
-        exit 49
+        exit 57
     elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
         echo "$0: debug[3]: sorted temporary manifest csv file: $TMP_MANIFEST_CSV" 1>&2
     fi
@@ -2118,7 +2177,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $TMP_ENTRY_JSON filed," \
 	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 50
+	exit 58
     elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
 	echo "$0: debug[3]: valid JSON: $TMP_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
     fi
@@ -2150,13 +2209,13 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
         if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
             echo "$0: ERROR: mv -f -- $TMP_ENTRY_JSON $ENTRY_JSON filed," \
 	         "error code: $status" 1>&2
-            exit 51
+            exit 59
         elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
             echo "$0: debug[1]: updated .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
         fi
         if [[ ! -s $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
             echo "$0: ERROR: not a non-empty .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-            exit 52
+            exit 60
         fi
     fi
 
@@ -2191,7 +2250,7 @@ for EXTRA_FILE in $EXTRA_FILE_SET; do
 		if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: $OTHERMD2HTML_SH -v $V_FLAG -- $YYYY_DIR/$EXTRA_FILE filed," \
 			 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-		    exit 53
+		    exit 61
 		fi
 	    elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
 		echo "$0: debug[3]: -n disabled forming HTML: $YYYY_DIR/$HTML_FILE" 1>&2
@@ -2219,7 +2278,7 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
 	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: $MD2HTML_SH -v $V_FLAG -- $README_MD $INDEX_HTML filed," \
 		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	    exit 54
+	    exit 62
 	fi
     fi
 
@@ -2240,7 +2299,7 @@ status="$?"
 if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: rm -f -v -- $INFO_JSON $AUTH_JSON $REMARKS_MD filed," \
 	 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-    exit 55
+    exit 63
 fi
 
 
diff --git a/bin/entry2csv.sh b/bin/entry2csv.sh
index 4a9ee08dc..a4900151c 100755
--- a/bin/entry2csv.sh
+++ b/bin/entry2csv.sh
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ shopt -s lastpipe	# explicitly run the last command of the pipe line in the curr
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.2.1 2024-08-17"
+export VERSION="1.3 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -139,8 +139,6 @@ export NOOP=
 export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 export EXIT_CODE="0"
 #
-JPARSE_TOOL=$(type -P jparse)
-export JPARSE_TOOL
 export AUTHOR_WINS_CSV="author_wins.csv"
 export MANIFEST_CSV="manifest.csv"
 export YEAR_PRIZE_CSV="year_prize.csv"
@@ -161,6 +159,7 @@ export AUTHOR_DIR="author"
 function output_award
 {
     local ENTRY_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -184,7 +183,17 @@ function output_award
 
     # obtain the award string
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..award'
+    PATTERN='$..award'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+    fi
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+	return 5
+    fi
     return 0
 }
 
@@ -203,6 +212,7 @@ function output_award
 function output_author_handles
 {
     local ENTRY_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -226,14 +236,24 @@ function output_author_handles
 
     # extract author handles from .entry.json
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..author_handle'
+    PATTERN='$..author_handle'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+    fi
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN"
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	return 5
+    fi
     return 0
 }
 
 
 # usage
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-n] [-N] [-j jparse]
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-n] [-N]
 			[author_wins.csv [manifest.csv [year_prize.csv]]]
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
@@ -245,8 +265,6 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-n] [-N] [-j jparse]
 	-n		go thru the actions, but do not update any files (def: do the action)
 	-N		do not process anything, just parse arguments (def: process something)
 
-	-j jparse	path to the jparse tool (def: $JPARSE_TOOL)
-
 	author_wins.csv	where to form author_wins.csv (def: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV)
 	manifest.csv	where to form manifest.csv (def: $MANIFEST_CSV)
 	year_prize.csv	where to form year_prize.csv (def: $YEAR_PRIZE_CSV)
@@ -269,7 +287,7 @@ $NAME version: $VERSION"
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:Vd:D:nNj: flag; do
+while getopts :hv:Vd:D:nN flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -285,8 +303,6 @@ while getopts :hv:Vd:D:nNj: flag; do
 	;;
     N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
 	;;
-    j) JPARSE_TOOL="$OPTARG"
-	;;
     \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
 	echo 1>&2
 	print_usage 1>&2
@@ -471,30 +487,31 @@ fi
 export MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK="$BIN_DIR/manifest.csv.entry.awk"
 if [[ ! -e $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: bin/manifest.csv.entry.awk does not exist: $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK" 1>&2
-    exit 6
+    exit 5
 fi
 if [[ ! -f $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: bin/manifest.csv.entry.awk is not a regular file: $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK" 1>&2
-    exit 6
+    exit 5
 fi
 if [[ ! -r $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: bin/manifest.csv.entry.awk is not a readable file: $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK" 1>&2
-    exit 6
+    exit 5
 fi
 
 
-# verify jparse tool
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
 #
-if [[ -z "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an executable jparse tool" 1>&2
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-if [[ ! -f "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jparse is not a file: $JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-if [[ ! -x "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jparse is not an executable file: $JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
 
@@ -512,7 +529,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JPARSE_TOOL=$JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHOR_WINS_CSV=$AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MANIFEST_CSV=$MANIFEST_CSV" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: YEAR_PRIZE_CSV=$YEAR_PRIZE_CSV" 1>&2
@@ -524,6 +540,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOP_FILE=$TOP_FILE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JVAL_WRAPPER=$JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK=$MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK" 1>&2
 fi
@@ -859,21 +876,6 @@ for YYYY in $(< "$TOP_FILE"); do
 	    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
 	    continue
 	fi
-	#
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[7]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	fi
-	if "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$ENTRY_JSON"; then
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 9 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[9]: valid JSON: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	    fi
-	else
-	    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not valid JSON: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	    EXIT_CODE="1"  # exit 1
-	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-	    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-	    continue
-	fi
 
 	# process the year_prize.csv update
 	#
@@ -1136,71 +1138,49 @@ sed -e 's/,/ /g' "$AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" | while read -r AUTHOR_HANDLE ENTRY_ID_SET;
     #
     else
 
-	# verify the JSON of author/author_handle.json
+	# check each entry id on the line
 	#
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[7]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	fi
 	echo "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" >> "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
-	if "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"; then
+	echo "$ENTRY_ID_SET" | sed -e 's/ /\n/g' | while read -r ENTRY_ID; do
 
-	    # case: author/author_handle.json file is valid JSON
+	    # convert ENTRY_ID into YYYY_DIR
 	    #
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 9 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[9]: valid JSON for: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	    fi
+	    export YEAR_DIR=${ENTRY_ID%%_*}
+	    export ENTRY_DIR=${ENTRY_ID#*_}
+	    export YYYY_DIR="${YEAR_DIR}/${ENTRY_DIR}"
 
-	    # check each entry id on the line
+	    # verify that the entry exists
 	    #
-	    echo "$ENTRY_ID_SET" | sed -e 's/ /\n/g' | while read -r ENTRY_ID; do
+	    if [[ ! -d $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
 
-		# convert ENTRY_ID into YYYY_DIR
+		# case: entry does not exist
 		#
-		export YEAR_DIR=${ENTRY_ID%%_*}
-		export ENTRY_DIR=${ENTRY_ID#*_}
-		export YYYY_DIR="${YEAR_DIR}/${ENTRY_DIR}"
+		echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
+		     "refers to unknown entry id: $ENTRY_ID" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
+		# NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
 
-		# verify that the entry exists
+	    # verify that the author/author_handle.json file refers to the entry id
+	    #
+	    else
+
+		# check if the author/author_handle.json file refers to the entry id
 		#
-		if [[ ! -d $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
-
-		    # case: entry does not exist
-		    #
+		PATTERN='$..entry_id'
+		FOUND=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+		status="$?"
+		if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $FOUND ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
-			 "refers to unknown entry id: $ENTRY_ID" 1>&2
-		    EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+			 "entry id: $ENTRY_ID not in winning_entry_set of: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
+		    EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
 		    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
 		    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
 		    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-
-		# verify that the author/author_handle.json file refers to the entry id
-		#
-		else
-
-		    # check if the author/author_handle.json file refers to the entry id
-		    #
-		    FOUND=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" '$..entry_id')
-		    if [[ -z $FOUND ]]; then
-			echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
-			     "entry id: $ENTRY_ID not in winning_entry_set of: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-			EXIT_CODE="9"  # exit 9
-			echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-			echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-			# NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-		    fi
 		fi
-	    done
-
-	# case: author/author_handle.json is not valid JSON
-	#
-	else
-	    echo "$0: ERROR: line: $line of author_wins.csv: $AUTHOR_WINS_CSV" \
-		 "is not valid JSON for: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	    EXIT_CODE="1"  # exit 1
-	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-	    echo "$EXIT_CODE" > "$TMP_EXIT_CODE"
-	    # NOTE: We do NOT want to stop processing via continue - proceeding instead
-	fi
+	    fi
+	done
     fi
 done
 
diff --git a/bin/gen-authors.sh b/bin/gen-authors.sh
index c7da3df3f..3a94fb237 100755
--- a/bin/gen-authors.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-authors.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.12 2024-08-18"
+export VERSION="1.13 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -200,175 +200,6 @@ Exit codes:
 $NAME version: $VERSION"
 
 
-# output_entry_ids
-#
-# Write the entry ids from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_entry_ids author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_entry_ids
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-    local entry_id;			# a found entry id
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_entry_ids: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_entry_ids: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_entry_ids: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_entry_ids: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract entry ids from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..entry_id'
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_author_handle
-#
-# Write the author handles from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_author_handle author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_author_handle
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_author_handle: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_author_handle: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_author_handle: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_author_handle: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract entry ids from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..author_handle'
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_full_name
-#
-# Write the Full Name from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_full_name author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_full_name
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract Full Name from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..full_name'
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_location_code
-#
-# Write the Location Code from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_location_code author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_location_code
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_location_code: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_location_code: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_location_code: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_location_code: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract Location Code from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..location_code'
-    return 0
-}
-
-
 # output_award
 #
 # Write the award name to standard output (stdout)
@@ -383,6 +214,7 @@ function output_location_code
 function output_award
 {
     local ENTRY_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -406,283 +238,17 @@ function output_award
 
     # obtain the award string
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..award'
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_url
-#
-# Write the url from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# NOTE: If the url for the author is null, nothing is written to standard output.
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_url author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_url
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_url: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
+    PATTERN='$..award'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
     fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_url: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN"
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	return 5
     fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_url: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_url: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract url from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    # NOTE: We output nothing if the JSON member value is null.
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..url' | grep -F -v null
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_alt_url
-#
-# Write the alternate url from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# NOTE: If the alternate url for the author is null, nothing is written to standard output.
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_alt_url author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_alt_url
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_alt_url: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_alt_url: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_alt_url: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_alt_url: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract alternate url from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    # NOTE: We output nothing if the JSON member value is null.
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..alt_url' | grep -F -v null
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_mastodon
-#
-# Write the mastodon handle from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# NOTE: If the mastodon handle for the author is null, nothing is written to standard output.
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_mastodon author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_mastodon
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract mastodon handle from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    # NOTE: We output nothing if the JSON member value is null.
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..mastodon' | grep -F -v null
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_mastodon_url
-#
-# Write the mastodon handle from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# NOTE: If the mastodon URL for the author is null, nothing is written to standard output.
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_mastodon_url author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_mastodon_url
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon_url: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon_url: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon_url: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_mastodon_url: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract mastodon URL from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    # NOTE: We output nothing if the JSON member value is null.
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..mastodon_url' | grep -F -v null
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_github
-#
-# Write the GitHub handle from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# NOTE: If the GitHub handle for the author is null, nothing is written to standard output.
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_github author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_github
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_github: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_github: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_github: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_github: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract GitHub handle from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    # NOTE: We output nothing if the JSON member value is null.
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..github' | grep -F -v null
-    return 0
-}
-
-
-# output_affiliation
-#
-# Write the affiliation from an author/author_handle.json file to standard output (stdout)
-#
-# NOTE: If the affiliation for the author is null, nothing is written to standard output.
-#
-# usage:
-#	output_affiliation author/author_handle.json
-#
-# returns:
-#	0 ==> no errors detected, but output may be empty
-#     > 0 ==> function error number
-#
-function output_affiliation
-{
-    local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
-
-    # parse args
-    #
-    if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_affiliation: expected 1 arg, found $#" 1>&2
-	return 1
-    fi
-    AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH="$1"
-    if [[ ! -e $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_affiliation: author_handle.json does not exist: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 2
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -f $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_affiliation: author_handle.json is not a file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 3
-    fi
-    if [[ ! -r $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_affiliation: author_handle.json is not a readable file: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
-	return 4
-    fi
-
-    # extract affiliation from the author/author_handle.json file
-    #
-    # NOTE: We output nothing if the JSON member value is null.
-    #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..affiliation' | grep -F -v null
     return 0
 }
 
@@ -919,6 +485,40 @@ fi
 export AUTHORS_HTML="authors.html"
 
 
+# verify that the bin/combine_author_handle.sh tool is executable
+#
+export COMBINE_AUTHOR="$BIN_DIR/combine_author_handle.sh"
+if [[ ! -e $COMBINE_AUTHOR ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh does not exist: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $COMBINE_AUTHOR ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not a regular file: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -x $COMBINE_AUTHOR ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not an executable file: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -938,8 +538,8 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: SITE_URL=$SITE_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: QUICK_MODE=$QUICK_MODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
     for index in "${!IS_FOR[@]}"; do
 	echo "$0: debug[3]: IS_FOR[$index]=${IS_FOR[$index]}" 1>&2
     done
@@ -955,6 +555,8 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JVAL_WRAPPER=$JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: LOCATION_TOOL=$LOCATION_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHORS_HTML=$AUTHORS_HTML" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: COMBINE_AUTHOR=$COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -1026,31 +628,32 @@ elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# load initial letter . lines into the temporary sort word list file
-#
-for letter in "${!IS_FOR[@]}"; do
-    echo "$letter ."
-done > "$TMP_SORT_WORD"
 
 
 # add author sort_word filename to the temporary sort word list file
 #
-if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: debug[1]: Forming temporary sort word list file: $TMP_SORT_WORD"
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: Forming temporary sort word list file: $TMP_SORT_WORD"
 fi
-find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' 2>/dev/null | while read -r json_file; do
-    echo "$(bin/jval-wrapper.sh -w -b "$json_file" '$..sort_word') $json_file"
-done >> "$TMP_SORT_WORD"
+export PATTERN='$..sort_word'
+{
+    # load initial letter . lines
+    #
+    for letter in "${!IS_FOR[@]}"; do
+	echo "$letter ."
+    done
 
-
-# sort the temporary sort word list file
-#
-LC_ALL=C sort -f -d "$TMP_SORT_WORD" -o "$TMP_SORT_WORD"
-status="$?"
-if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: LC_ALL=C sort -f -d $TMP_SORT_WORD -o $TMP_SORT_WORD failed, error: $status" 1>&2
-    exit 14
-fi
+    # add sort_word filenames lines
+    #
+    "$COMBINE_AUTHOR" | "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -- - "$PATTERN"
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: $COMBINE_AUTHOR | $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- - '$PATTERN' |" \
+	     "LC_ALL=C sort -f -d > $TMP_SORT_WORD failed," \
+	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+	exit 14
+    fi
+} | LC_ALL=C sort -f -d > "$TMP_SORT_WORD"
 
 
 # generate the temporary entry markdown file
@@ -1114,9 +717,7 @@ EOF
 	    echo '<hr style="width:10%;text-align:left;margin-left:0">'
 	    echo
 	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-		echo 1>&2
 		echo "$0: debug[1]: Processing author_handles that begin with $l for: $AUTHORS_HTML" 1>&2
-		echo 1>&2
 	    fi
 
 	# case: we have a "sort_word file" line
@@ -1130,91 +731,145 @@ EOF
 		exit 15
 	    fi
 
-	    FULL_NAME=$(output_full_name "$filename")
-	    export FULL_NAME
-	    if [[ -z $FULL_NAME ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: full name is empty in: $filename" 1>&2
+	    # parse an element value of the this particular author in the authors JSON array
+	    #
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+		echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -q -- - | sed ... | LC_ALL=C sort -d)" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    export AUTHOR_DATA
+	    AUTHOR_DATA=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -q -- "$filename" |
+			  sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" |
+			  LC_ALL=C sort -d)
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -q -- $filename | sed ... | LC_ALL=C sort -d failed," \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 		exit 16
 	    fi
-
-	    LOCATION_CODE=$(output_location_code "$filename")
-	    export LOCATION_CODE
-	    if [[ -z $LOCATION_CODE ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: location code is empty in: $filename" 1>&2
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_DATA ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: found nothing for author in: $filename" 1>&2
 		exit 17
 	    fi
+	    export FULL_NAME=
+	    export LOCATION_CODE=
+	    export AUTHOR_URL=
+	    export AUTHOR_ALT_URL=
+	    export AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE=
+	    export AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL=
+	    export AUTHOR_GITHUB=
+	    export AUTHOR_AFFILIATION=
+	    export AUTHOR_HANDLE=
+	    unset ENTRY_ID_SET
+	    declare -ag ENTRY_ID_SET
+	    while read -r NAME VALUE; do
 
+		# parse name value
+		#
+		case "$NAME" in
+		full_name)
+		    FULL_NAME="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		location_code)
+		    LOCATION_CODE="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		url)
+		    AUTHOR_URL="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		alt_url)
+		    AUTHOR_ALT_URL="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		mastodon)
+		    AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		mastodon_url)
+		    AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		github)
+		    AUTHOR_GITHUB="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		affiliation)
+		    AUTHOR_AFFILIATION="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		author_handle)
+		    AUTHOR_HANDLE="$VALUE"
+		    ;;
+		entry_id)
+		    ENTRY_ID_SET+=("$VALUE")
+		    ;;
+		*)  # ignore all other fields
+		    ;;
+		esac
+	    done <<< "$AUTHOR_DATA"
+
+	    # validate fields values
+	    #
+	    if [[ -z $FULL_NAME ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find name in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 18
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $LOCATION_CODE ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find location_code in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 19
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_URL ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find url in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 20
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_ALT_URL ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find alt_url in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 21
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find mastodon in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 22
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find mastodon_url in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 23
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_GITHUB ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find github in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 24
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_AFFILIATION ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find affiliation in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 25
+	    fi
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_HANDLE ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find author_handle in: $filename" 1>&2
+		exit 26
+	    fi
+
+	    # use the location tool to obtain the location_name
+	    #
 	    LOCATION_NAME=$("$LOCATION_TOOL" "$LOCATION_CODE" 2>/dev/null)
 	    status="$?"
 	    export LOCATION_NAME
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine location name" \
-		     "for location ISO 3166 code: $LOCATION_CODE" 1>&2
-		exit 18
-	    fi
-	    if [[ -z $LOCATION_NAME ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: location name" \
-		     "for location ISO 3166 code: $LOCATION_CODE is empty: $LOCATION_NAME" 1>&2
-		exit 19
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine location name for" \
+		     "location ISO 3166 code: $LOCATION_CODE" 1>&2
+		exit 1
 	    fi
 
+	    # use the location tool to obtain the location common name
+	    #
 	    LOCATION_COMMON_NAME=$("$LOCATION_TOOL" -c "$LOCATION_CODE" 2>/dev/null)
 	    status="$?"
 	    export LOCATION_COMMON_NAME
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine location common name" \
 		     "for location ISO 3166 code: $LOCATION_CODE" 1>&2
-		exit 20
-	    fi
-	    if [[ -z $LOCATION_COMMON_NAME ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: location common name" \
-		     "for location ISO 3166 code: $LOCATION_CODE is empty: $LOCATION_COMMON_NAME" 1>&2
-		exit 21
+		exit 1
 	    fi
 
-	    AUTHOR_HANDLE=$(output_author_handle "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_HANDLE
-	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_HANDLE ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: author handle is empty in: $filename" 1>&2
-		exit 22
-	    fi
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[1]: Processing author_handle $AUTHOR_HANDLE for: $AUTHORS_HTML" 1>&2
-	    fi
-
-	    # NOTE: AUTHOR_AFFILIATION will be empty if there is no affiliation
-	    AUTHOR_AFFILIATION=$(output_affiliation "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_AFFILIATION
-
-	    # NOTE: AUTHOR_URL will be empty if there is no url
-	    AUTHOR_URL=$(output_url "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_URL
-
-	    # NOTE: AUTHOR_ALT_URL will be empty if there is no alternate url
-	    AUTHOR_ALT_URL=$(output_alt_url "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_ALT_URL
-
-	    # NOTE: AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE will be empty if there is no mastodon handle
-	    AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE=$(output_mastodon "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE
-
-	    # NOTE: AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL will be empty if there is no mastodon URL
-	    AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL=$(output_mastodon_url "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL
-	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE && -z $AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: mastodon url is null but mastodon handle is not null in: $filename" 1>&2
-		exit 23
-	    fi
-	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE && -n $AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: mastodon handle is null but mastodon url is not null in: $filename" 1>&2
-		exit 24
-	    fi
-
-	    # NOTE: AUTHOR_GITHUB will be empty if there is no GitHub handle
-	    AUTHOR_GITHUB=$(output_github "$filename")
-	    export AUTHOR_GITHUB
+	    # form github username
+	    #
 	    AUTHOR_GITHUB_USERNAME=${AUTHOR_GITHUB#@}
-	    export AUTHOR_GITHUB_USERNAME
+            export AUTHOR_GITHUB_USERNAME
+	    if [[ -z $AUTHOR_GITHUB_USERNAME ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine github username from: $AUTHOR_GITHUB" 1>&2
+		exit 27
+	    fi
 
 	    # output author information
 	    #
@@ -1228,23 +883,24 @@ EOF
 		echo "Location: <a class=\"normal\" href=\"location.html#$LOCATION_CODE\">$LOCATION_CODE</a> -" \
 		     "_${LOCATION_COMMON_NAME}_"
 	    fi
-	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_AFFILIATION ]]; then
+	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_AFFILIATION && $AUTHOR_AFFILIATION != null ]]; then
 		echo "<br>"
 	        echo "Affiliation: $AUTHOR_AFFILIATION"
 	    fi
-	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_URL ]]; then
+	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_URL && $AUTHOR_URL != null ]]; then
 		echo "<br>"
 	        echo "URL: <a class=\"normal\" href=\"$AUTHOR_URL\">$AUTHOR_URL</a>"
 	    fi
-	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_ALT_URL ]]; then
+	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_ALT_URL && $AUTHOR_ALT_URL != null ]]; then
 		echo "<br>"
 	        echo "Alternate URL: <a class=\"normal\" href=\"$AUTHOR_ALT_URL\">$AUTHOR_ALT_URL</a>"
 	    fi
-	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE && -n $AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL ]]; then
+	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE && $AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE != null &&
+		  -n $AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL && $AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL != null ]]; then
 		echo "<br>"
 		echo "Mastodon: <a class=\"normal\" href=\"$AUTHOR_MASTODON_URL\">$AUTHOR_MASTODON_HANDLE</a>"
 	    fi
-	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_GITHUB ]]; then
+	    if [[ -n $AUTHOR_GITHUB && $AUTHOR_GITHUB != null ]]; then
 		echo "<br>"
 	        echo "GitHub: <a class=\"normal\" href=\"https://github.com/$AUTHOR_GITHUB_USERNAME\">$AUTHOR_GITHUB</a>"
 	    fi
@@ -1254,23 +910,23 @@ EOF
 
 	    # output YYYY/dir set made by this author
 	    #
-	    output_entry_ids "$filename" | while read -r ENTRY_ID; do
+	    for ENTRY_ID in "${ENTRY_ID_SET[@]}"; do
 
 		# verify the entry id
 		#
 		if [[ $ENTRY_ID =~ ^[^_][^_]*_[^_][^_]*$ ]]; then
 		    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
-			echo "$0: debug[7]: entry_id: $entry_id" 1>&2
+			echo "$0: debug[7]: entry_id: $ENTRY_ID" 1>&2
 		    fi
 		else
-		    echo "$0: ERROR: entry_id is not in YYYY_dir formmat: $entry_id" 1>&2
-		    exit 25
+		    echo "$0: ERROR: entry_id is not in YYYY_dir formmat: $ENTRY_ID" 1>&2
+		    exit 28
 		fi
 		YYYY_DIR=$(echo "$ENTRY_ID" | tr _ /)
 		export YYYY_DIR
 		if [[ ! -d $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: YYYY/dir is not a directory" 1>&2
-		    exit 26
+		    exit 29
 		fi
 
 		# verify that the .entry.json file is a non-empty readable file
@@ -1279,19 +935,19 @@ EOF
 		export ENTRY_JSON
 		if [[ ! -e $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json does not exist: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-		    exit 27
+		    exit 30
 		fi
 		if [[ ! -f $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-		    exit 28
+		    exit 31
 		fi
 		if [[ ! -r $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a readable file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-		    exit 29
+		    exit 32
 		fi
 		if [[ ! -s $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a non-empty readable file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-		    exit 30
+		    exit 33
 		fi
 		if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: debug[7]: .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
@@ -1299,11 +955,11 @@ EOF
 
 		# collect the award for this entry id
 		#
-		AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON")
+		AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
 		export AWARD
 		if [[ -z $AWARD ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: award not found in .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-		    exit 31
+		    exit 34
 		fi
 
 		# output the YYYY/dir entry for this author
diff --git a/bin/gen-location.sh b/bin/gen-location.sh
index 25a727262..e945bad7a 100755
--- a/bin/gen-location.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-location.sh
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.6 2024-08-18"
+export VERSION="1.7 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -397,6 +397,23 @@ fi
 export LOCATION_HTML="location.html"
 
 
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -430,6 +447,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JVAL_WRAPPER=$JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: LOCATION_TOOL=$LOCATION_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: LOCATION_HTML=$LOCATION_HTML" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 # -N stops early before any processing is performed
@@ -529,14 +547,18 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
     echo  "$0: debug[1]: about to obtain location codes from author_handle JSON files" 1>&2
 fi
 export AUTHOR_COUNT=0
-export AUTHOR_COUNT_CYCLE=20
+export AUTHOR_COUNT_CYCLE=10
+export AUTHOR_COUNT_COUNT
+AUTHOR_COUNT_COUNT=$(find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' -print | wc -l)
 find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' -print |
     while read -r AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON; do
 
 	# collect location_code
 	#
-	LOCATION_CODE=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -w "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" '$..location_code')
-	if [[ -z $LOCATION_CODE ]]; then
+	PATTERN='$..location_code'
+	LOCATION_CODE=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $LOCATION_CODE ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot obtain location_code from: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
 	    exit 1
 	fi
@@ -551,8 +573,10 @@ find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' -print |
 
 	# obtain the author full name
 	#
-	FULL_NAME=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -w "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" '$..full_name')
-	if [[ -z $FULL_NAME ]]; then
+	PATTERN='$..full_name'
+	FULL_NAME=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
+	status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $FULL_NAME ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot full name from: $AUTHOR_HANDLE" 1>&2
 	    exit 1
 	fi
@@ -573,7 +597,8 @@ find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' -print |
 	#
 	((++AUTHOR_COUNT))
 	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 && $((AUTHOR_COUNT % AUTHOR_COUNT_CYCLE)) -eq 0 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[1]: cycle $AUTHOR_COUNT finished processing: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: debug[1]: cycle $AUTHOR_COUNT out of $AUTHOR_COUNT_COUNT" \
+		 "finished processing: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
 	fi
 
 done | LC_ALL=C sort -d -u > "$TMP_LOC_WORD_HANDLE_NAME_SET"
diff --git a/bin/gen-status.sh b/bin/gen-status.sh
index b76a7166a..8c7ae32e9 100755
--- a/bin/gen-status.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-status.sh
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.6 2024-08-17"
+export VERSION="1.7 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -108,12 +108,6 @@ export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
 # GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
 export REPO_URL="$REPO_TOP_URL/blob/master"
 export SITE_URL="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc"
-JPARSE_TOOL=$(type -P jparse)
-export JPARSE_TOOL
-if [[ -z "$JPARSE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: jparse tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
 #
 STAT_TOOL=$(type -P stat)
 if [[ -z "$STAT_TOOL" ]]; then
@@ -294,11 +288,23 @@ function output_status_json
 
     # determine the "contest_status" that was in status.json
     #
-    OLD_CONTEST_STATUS=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$STATUS_PATH" '$..contest_status')
+    PATTERN='$..contest_status'
+    OLD_CONTEST_STATUS=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$STATUS_PATH" "$PATTERN")
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $OLD_CONTEST_STATUS ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine old contest_status from status.json: $STATUS_JSON" 1>&2
+	return 11
+    fi
 
     # determine the "status_update" that was in status.json
     #
-    OLD_STATUS_UPDATE=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$STATUS_PATH" '$..status_update')
+    PATTERN='$..status_update'
+    OLD_STATUS_UPDATE=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$STATUS_PATH" "$PATTERN")
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $OLD_STATUS_UPDATE ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine old status_update from status.json: $STATUS_JSON" 1>&2
+	return 12
+    fi
 
     # update the status.json file modification date if the "contest_status" changed
     #
@@ -306,11 +312,11 @@ function output_status_json
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_status_json: modification date of $STATUS_PATH failed, error: $status" 1>&2
-	return 11
+	return 13
     fi
     if [[ -z $NEW_STATUS_UPDATE ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_status_json: modification date of $STATUS_PATH is empty" 1>&2
-	return 12
+	return 14
     fi
 
     # only update the "status_update" If the "contest_status" changed
@@ -788,7 +794,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: SITE_URL=$SITE_URL" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JPARSE_TOOL=$JPARSE_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: IOCCC_STATUS_VERSION=$IOCCC_STATUS_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
@@ -819,23 +824,16 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# validate JSON in status.json
-#
-"$JPARSE_TOOL" -q "$STATUS_JSON"
-status="$?"
-if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: ERROR: status.json is not valid JSON, jparse error code: $status" 1>&2
-    exit 1
-fi
-
 # obtain contest_status if CONTEST_STATUS was not set in the arg
 #
 if [[ -z $CONTEST_STATUS ]]; then
 
     # obtain the contest_status from status.json
     #
-    CONTEST_STATUS=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$STATUS_JSON" '$..contest_status')
-    if [[ -z $CONTEST_STATUS ]]; then
+    PATTERN='$..contest_status'
+    CONTEST_STATUS=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$STATUS_JSON" "$PATTERN")
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $CONTEST_STATUS ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot determine contest_status from status.json: $STATUS_JSON" 1>&2
 	exit 1
     fi
diff --git a/bin/gen-years.sh b/bin/gen-years.sh
index 6a15a5ab1..906307f6e 100755
--- a/bin/gen-years.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-years.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.4 2024-08-17"
+export VERSION="1.5 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -213,8 +213,10 @@ function output_award
 
     # obtain the award string
     #
-    AWARD_STRING=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..award')
-    if [[ -z $AWARD_STRING ]]; then
+    PATTERN='$..award'
+    AWARD_STRING=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN")
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $AWARD_STRING ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: no award found in .entry.json file: $ENTRY_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -550,6 +552,23 @@ fi
 export YEARS_HTML="years.html"
 
 
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -582,6 +601,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JVAL_WRAPPER=$JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOP_FILE=$TOP_FILE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: YEARS_HTML=$YEARS_HTML" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -848,8 +868,9 @@ for YYYY in $("$TAC_TOOL" "$TOP_FILE"); do
 
 	# determine the award for this entry
 	#
-	AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON")
-	if [[ -z $AWARD ]]; then
+	AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
+	status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $AWARD ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find award in .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
 	    EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
 	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh b/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh
index 4b9af4b0f..9dd44a71b 100755
--- a/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh
+++ b/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh
@@ -2,15 +2,30 @@
 #
 # jfmt-wrapper.sh - canonically format a JSON file
 #
-# We form a wrapper for the jfmt(1), a tool that will format a JSON
-# file into a canonical style.  NOTE: As of 2024 July 28 the jfmt(1)
-# tool has not been written, so jfmt-wrapper.sh uses the JSONPath.sh(1)
-# tool from the recently forked and modified JSONPath.sh tool:
+# If the JSON file is already on canonical form, the file is not modified.
+#
+# We form a wrapper for the jprint(1), a tool that will format a JSON
+# file into a canonical style.
+#
+# NOTE: As of 2024 Sep 09 the jprint(1) tool has not been written,
+#       so jfmt-wrapper.sh uses with the jsp tool from:
+#
+#   https://github.com/kjozsa/jsp
+#
+#   FYI: For macOS, use homebrew to install pipx:
+#
+#		brew install pipx
+#
+#	 Next, use pipx to install jsp:
+#
+#		pipx --global install jsp
+#
+#	 and then be sure that ~/.local/bin is in your $PATH.
+#
+# or the JSONPath.sh(1) tool from:
 #
 #   https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh
 #
-# If the JSON file is already on canonical form, the file is not modified.
-#
 # Copyright (c) 2024 by Landon Curt Noll.  All Rights Reserved.
 #
 # Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and
@@ -95,43 +110,50 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.1 2024-08-20"
+export VERSION="1.2 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
-#
-JPARSE_TOOL=$(type -P jparse)
-export JPARSE_TOOL
-
-
-# Until we have a true jfmt tool, we will use the modified JSONPath.sh
-#
-# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
-# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
-# XXX - until we have the jfmt command, we must FAKE PARSE IOCCC JSON files       - XXX
-# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
-# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
-#
-export JSONPATH_REPO="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh"
-JSONPATH_SH=$(type -P JSONPath.sh)
-export JSONPATH_SH
-if [[ -z $JSONPATH_SH ]]; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: JSONPath.sh tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+GIT_TOOL=$(type -P git)
+export GIT_TOOL
+if [[ -z "$GIT_TOOL" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: git tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-# verify JSONPath.sh supports -S -A
+"$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree >/dev/null 2>&1
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
+    TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+fi
+export TOPDIR
+export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
+# GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
+export REPO_URL="$REPO_TOP_URL/blob/master"
+
+
+# Until we have a true jfmt tool, we will use wither jsp or the modified JSONPath.sh
+#
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - until we have the jprint command, we must use external tools to parse JSON  - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+#
+export JSP_REPO="https://github.com/kjozsa/jsp"
+export JSONPATH_REPO="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh"
 export FIZZBIN_JSON='"fizzbin"'
-if ! "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -p >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: JSONPath.sh tool does not support -S -A: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+export JSP_TOOL=""
+JSP_TOOL=$(type -P jsp)
+export JSONPATH_SH=""
+JSONPATH_SH=$(type -P JSONPath.sh)
+# set the defaiult XPath for JSON
+export XPATHJSON_USE="jsp"
+export QUICK_CHECK=""
 
 
 # set usage message
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-j JSONPath.sh] file.json
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-t tool] [-Q] file.json
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
 	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
@@ -140,7 +162,8 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-j JSONPath.sh] file.jso
 	-n		do not modify file.json (def: modify file.json is not canonical)
 	-N		do not process file, just parse arguments and ignore the file (def: process the file)
 
-	-j JSONPath.sh	path to the JSONPath.sh tool (not the wrapper) (def: $JSONPATH_SH)
+	-t tool		tool to use: jsp or JSONPath.sh (def: try jsp, otherwise try JSONPath.sh)
+	-Q		quick check tool using trivial input (def: do not)
 
 	file.json	update file.json in canonical form
 
@@ -148,11 +171,11 @@ NOTE: file.json is not touched if it is already in canonical form
 
 Exit codes:
      0         all OK
-     1	       JSONPath.sh exited non-zero
+     1	       some internal tool exited non-zero
      2         -h and help string printed or -V and version string printed
      3         command line error
      4         bash version is too old
-     5	       internal tool not found
+     5	       some internal tool not found
      6	       file.json does not exist or is not readable
      7	       file.json is not valid JSON
  >= 10         internal error
@@ -168,7 +191,7 @@ export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:VnNj: flag; do
+while getopts :hv:VnNt:Q flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -182,8 +205,19 @@ while getopts :hv:VnNj: flag; do
 	;;
     N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
 	;;
-    j) JSONPATH_SH="$OPTARG"
-	;;
+    t) # validate -t tool
+       case "$OPTARG" in
+       jsp) XPATHJSON_USE="jsp" ;;
+       JSONPath.sh) XPATHJSON_USE="JSONPath.sh" ;;
+       *) echo "$0: ERROR: unknown -t option: $OPTARG" 1>&2
+	  echo 1>&2
+          echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+          exit 3
+	  ;;
+       esac
+       ;;
+    Q) QUICK_CHECK="true"
+       ;;
     \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
 	echo 1>&2
 	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
@@ -237,6 +271,155 @@ if [[ ! -r $JSON_FILE ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# verify that we have a topdir directory
+#
+REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_TOP_URL")
+export REPO_NAME
+if [[ -z $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find top of git repo directory" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR does not exist: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR is not a directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# cd to topdir
+#
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to non-existent path: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to a non-directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export CD_FAILED
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: cd $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+fi
+cd "$TOPDIR" || CD_FAILED="true"
+if [[ -n $CD_FAILED ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cd $TOPDIR failed" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: now in directory: $(/bin/pwd)" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have a bin subdirectory
+#
+export BIN_PATH="$TOPDIR/bin"
+if [[ ! -d $BIN_PATH ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: bin is not a directory under topdir: $BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export BIN_DIR="bin"
+
+
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
+# validate the XPath for JSON tool
+#
+case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
+
+    # case: we will use JSONPath.sh
+    #
+    JSONPath.sh)
+
+	# try JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSONPATH_SH || ! -x $JSONPATH_SH ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: JSONPath.sh tool is not installed, is not executable, or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	    exit 5
+	fi
+
+	# case: -Q - perform quick check
+	#
+	if [[ -n $QUICK_CHECK ]]; then
+	    # verify JSONPath.sh supports -S -A -p
+	    if ! "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -p >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: JSONPath.sh tool does not support -S -A: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: otherwise install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+		exit 5
+	    fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we will use jsp
+    #
+    jsp)
+
+	# try jsp
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSP_TOOL || ! -x $JSP_TOOL ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: jsp.sh tool is not installed, is not executable, or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	    exit 5
+	fi
+
+	# case: -Q - perform quick check
+	#
+	if [[ -n $QUICK_CHECK ]]; then
+	    # verify jsp
+	    if ! "$JSP_TOOL" --indent 4 --format --no-color >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: jsp tool does not support --indent 4 --format --no-color: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: you might need to update and reinstall jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or you might try to obtain and install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+		exit 5
+	    fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we do not have an XPath for JSON tool
+    #
+    *)
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an XPath JSON tool to use" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: otherwise install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	exit 5
+	;;
+esac
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -245,27 +428,25 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: VERSION=$VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NAME=$NAME" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSP_REPO=$JSP_REPO" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_REPO=$JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_SH=$JSONPATH_SH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: FIZZBIN_JSON=$FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSP_TOOL=$JSP_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_SH=$JSONPATH_SH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: XPATHJSON_USE=$XPATHJSON_USE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: QUICK_CHECK=$QUICK_CHECK" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSON_FILE=$JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-fi
-
-
-# verify the JSON of JSON_FILE
-#
-if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 7 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: debug[7]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-fi
-if "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$JSON_FILE"; then
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[5]: valid JSON for: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-    fi
-else
-    echo "$0: ERROR: not valid JSON: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-    exit 7
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_NAME=$REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: CD_FAILED=$CD_FAILED" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -304,16 +485,49 @@ fi
 
 # canonically format the JSON file
 #
-if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE > $TMP_JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-fi
-"$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -j -f "$JSON_FILE" > "$TMP_JSON_FILE"
-status="$?"
-if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE > $TMP_JSON_FILE failed," \
-	 "error code: $status" 1>&2
-    exit 1
-fi
+case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
+
+    # case: use jsp
+    #
+    jsp)
+
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color < $JSON_FILE | sed ..." 1>&2
+	fi
+	"$JSP_TOOL" --indent 4 --format --no-color < "$JSON_FILE" |
+	    sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -e 's/\(\S\): /\1 : /' > "$TMP_JSON_FILE"
+	status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color < $JSON_FILE | sed ...  failed", \
+		 "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+	    exit 1
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: use JSONPath.sh
+    #
+    JSONPath.sh)
+
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE > $TMP_JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+	fi
+	"$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -j -f "$JSON_FILE" > "$TMP_JSON_FILE"
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE > $TMP_JSON_FILE failed," \
+		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 1
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we do not know which XPath JSON tool to use
+    #
+    *)
+
+	echo "$0: ERROR: XPATHJSON_USE is neither jsp nor JSONPath.sh: $XPATHJSON_USE" 1>&2
+	exit 12
+	;;
+esac
 
 
 # replace JSON_FILE file with canonically formatted TMP_JSON_FILE if different
@@ -344,13 +558,13 @@ if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
         if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
             echo "$0: ERROR: mv -f -- $TMP_JSON_FILE $JSON_FILE filed," \
 	         "error code: $status" 1>&2
-            exit 12
+            exit 13
         elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
             echo "$0: debug[1]: replaced JSON_FILE file: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
         fi
         if [[ ! -s $JSON_FILE ]]; then
             echo "$0: ERROR: not a non-empty canonical JSON_FILE file: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-            exit 13
+            exit 14
         fi
     fi
 
diff --git a/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh b/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh
index b67d7bd0b..c3d2514de 100755
--- a/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh
+++ b/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh
@@ -2,9 +2,27 @@
 #
 # jprint-wrapper.sh - canonically format JSON to stdout
 #
-# We form a wrapper for the jprint(1), a tool that will format JSON in a canonical style to stdout.
-# NOTE: jprint(1) is a planned tool based on jfmt(1). As of 2024 July 28 the jfmt(1) tool has not been written,
-# so jprint-wrapper.sh uses the JSONPath.sh(1) tool from the recently forked and modified JSONPath.sh tool:
+# Print JSON in canonical format to standard output.
+#
+# We form a wrapper for the jprint(1), a tool that will format a JSON
+# file into a canonical style.
+#
+# NOTE: As of 2024 Sep 09 the jprint(1) tool has not been written,
+#       so jprint-wrapper.sh uses with the jsp tool from:
+#
+#   https://github.com/kjozsa/jsp
+#
+#   FYI: For macOS, use homebrew to install pipx:
+#
+#		brew install pipx
+#
+#	 Next, use pipx to install jsp:
+#
+#		pipx --global install jsp
+#
+#	 and then be sure that ~/.local/bin is in your $PATH.
+#
+# or the JSONPath.sh(1) tool from:
 #
 #   https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh
 #
@@ -92,43 +110,50 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.1 2024-08-20"
+export VERSION="1.3 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
-
-
-# Until we have a true jprint tool, we will use the modified JSONPath.sh
-#
-# BTW: A jprint tool might be a special case of a jfmt tool, with a command line
-#      optimized for just displaying JSON in a nicely formatted canonical way.
-#
-# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
-# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
-# XXX - until we have the jprint command, we must FAKE PARSE IOCCC JSON files       - XXX
-# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
-# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
-#
-export JSONPATH_REPO="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh"
-JSONPATH_SH=$(type -P JSONPath.sh)
-export JSONPATH_SH
-if [[ -z $JSONPATH_SH ]]; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: JSONPath.sh tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+GIT_TOOL=$(type -P git)
+export GIT_TOOL
+if [[ -z "$GIT_TOOL" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: git tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-# verify JSONPath.sh supports -S -A
+"$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree >/dev/null 2>&1
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
+    TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+fi
+export TOPDIR
+export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
+# GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
+export REPO_URL="$REPO_TOP_URL/blob/master"
+
+
+# Until we have a true jfmt tool, we will use wither jsp or the modified JSONPath.sh
+#
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - until we have the jprint command, we must use external tools to parse JSON  - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+#
+export JSP_REPO="https://github.com/kjozsa/jsp"
+export JSONPATH_REPO="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh"
 export FIZZBIN_JSON='"fizzbin"'
-if ! "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -p >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: JSONPath.sh tool does not support -S -A -T: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+export JSP_TOOL=""
+JSP_TOOL=$(type -P jsp)
+export JSONPATH_SH=""
+JSONPATH_SH=$(type -P JSONPath.sh)
+# set the defaiult XPath for JSON
+export XPATHJSON_USE="jsp"
+export QUICK_CHECK=""
 
 
 # set usage message
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-j JSONPath.sh] [file.json]
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-t tool] [-Q] [file.json]
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
 	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
@@ -137,17 +162,18 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-j JSONPath.sh] [file.js
 	-n		do nothing (same as -N) (def: do the action)
 	-N		do not process file, just parse arguments and ignore the file (def: process the file)
 
-	-j JSONPath.sh	path to the JSONPath.sh tool (not the wrapper) (def: $JSONPATH_SH)
+	-t tool		tool to use: jsp or JSONPath.sh (def: try jsp, otherwise try JSONPath.sh)
+	-Q		quick check tool using trivial input (def: do not)
 
 	file.json	The JSON file to write, in canonical form, to stdout (def: read stdin)
 
 Exit codes:
      0         all OK
-     1	       JSONPath.sh exited non-zero
+     1	       some internal tool exited non-zero
      2         -h and help string printed or -V and version string printed
      3         command line error
      4         bash version is too old
-     5	       internal tool not found
+     5	       some internal tool not found
      6	       file.json does not exist or is not readable
  >= 10         internal error
 
@@ -162,7 +188,7 @@ export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:VnNj: flag; do
+while getopts :hv:VnNt:Q flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -176,8 +202,19 @@ while getopts :hv:VnNj: flag; do
 	;;
     N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
 	;;
-    j) JSONPATH_SH="$OPTARG"
-	;;
+    t) # validate -t tool
+       case "$OPTARG" in
+       jsp) XPATHJSON_USE="jsp" ;;
+       JSONPath.sh) XPATHJSON_USE="JSONPath.sh" ;;
+       *) echo "$0: ERROR: unknown -t option: $OPTARG" 1>&2
+	  echo 1>&2
+          echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+          exit 3
+	  ;;
+       esac
+       ;;
+    Q) QUICK_CHECK="true"
+       ;;
     \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
 	echo 1>&2
 	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
@@ -234,6 +271,155 @@ if [[ -n $JSON_FILE ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# verify that we have a topdir directory
+#
+REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_TOP_URL")
+export REPO_NAME
+if [[ -z $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find top of git repo directory" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR does not exist: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR is not a directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# cd to topdir
+#
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to non-existent path: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to a non-directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export CD_FAILED
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: cd $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+fi
+cd "$TOPDIR" || CD_FAILED="true"
+if [[ -n $CD_FAILED ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cd $TOPDIR failed" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: now in directory: $(/bin/pwd)" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have a bin subdirectory
+#
+export BIN_PATH="$TOPDIR/bin"
+if [[ ! -d $BIN_PATH ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: bin is not a directory under topdir: $BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export BIN_DIR="bin"
+
+
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
+# validate the XPath for JSON tool
+#
+case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
+
+    # case: we will use JSONPath.sh
+    #
+    JSONPath.sh)
+
+	# try JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSONPATH_SH || ! -x $JSONPATH_SH ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: JSONPath.sh tool is not installed, is not executable, or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	    exit 5
+	fi
+
+	# case: -Q - perform quick check
+	#
+	if [[ -n $QUICK_CHECK ]]; then
+	    # verify JSONPath.sh supports -S -A -p
+	    if ! "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -p >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: JSONPath.sh tool does not support -S -A: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: otherwise install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+		exit 5
+	    fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we will use jsp
+    #
+    jsp)
+
+	# try jsp
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSP_TOOL || ! -x $JSP_TOOL ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: jsp.sh tool is not installed, is not executable, or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	    exit 5
+	fi
+
+	# case: -Q - perform quick check
+	#
+	if [[ -n $QUICK_CHECK ]]; then
+	    # verify jsp
+	    if ! "$JSP_TOOL" --indent 4 --format --no-color >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: jsp tool does not support --indent 4 --format --no-color: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: you might need to update and reinstall jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or you might try to obtain and install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+		exit 5
+	    fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we do not have an XPath for JSON tool
+    #
+    *)
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an XPath JSON tool to use" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: otherwise install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	exit 5
+	;;
+esac
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -242,12 +428,25 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: VERSION=$VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NAME=$NAME" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSP_REPO=$JSP_REPO" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_REPO=$JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_SH=$JSONPATH_SH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: FIZZBIN_JSON=$FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSP_TOOL=$JSP_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_SH=$JSONPATH_SH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: XPATHJSON_USE=$XPATHJSON_USE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: QUICK_CHECK=$QUICK_CHECK" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSON_FILE=$JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_NAME=$REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: CD_FAILED=$CD_FAILED" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -271,38 +470,88 @@ if [[ -n $NOOP ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# case: processing JSON from standard input
+# print the JSON file in canonical format
 #
-if [[ -z $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
 
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j" 1>&2
-    fi
-    "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -j
-    status="$?"
+    # case: use jsp
+    #
+    jsp)
 
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 1
-    fi
+	# case: processing JSON from stdin via jsp
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color | sed ..." 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSP_TOOL" --indent 4 --format --no-color |
+		sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -e 's/\(\S\): /\1 : /'
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color | sed ...  failed", \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
 
-# case: processing JSON from a file
-#
-else
+	# processing JSON from a file via jsp
+	#
+	else
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color < $JSON_FILE | sed ..." 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSP_TOOL" --indent 4 --format --no-color < "$JSON_FILE" |
+		sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -e 's/\(\S\): /\1 : /'
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color < $JSON_FILE | sed ...  failed", \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+	fi
+	;;
 
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-    fi
-    "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -j -f "$JSON_FILE"
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 1
-    fi
+    # case: use JSONPath.sh
+    #
+    JSONPath.sh)
 
-fi
+	# case: processing JSON from stdin via JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -j
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j failed," \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+
+	# processing JSON from a file via JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	else
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -j -f "$JSON_FILE"
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -S -A -j -f $JSON_FILE failed," \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we do not know which XPath JSON tool to use
+    #
+    *)
+
+	echo "$0: ERROR: XPATHJSON_USE is neither jsp nor JSONPath.sh: $XPATHJSON_USE" 1>&2
+	exit 12
+	;;
+esac
 
 
 # All Done!!! All Done!!! -- Jessica Noll, Age 2
diff --git a/bin/jval-wrapper.sh b/bin/jval-wrapper.sh
index 05a4e14d5..d3e8c367a 100755
--- a/bin/jval-wrapper.sh
+++ b/bin/jval-wrapper.sh
@@ -106,47 +106,55 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.0.4 2024-08-20"
+export VERSION="1.1 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
-
-
-# Until we have a true jval tool, we will use the modified JSONPath.sh
-#
-# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
-# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
-# XXX - until we have the jval command, we must FAKE PARSE IOCCC JSON files       - XXX
-# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
-# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
-#
-export JSONPATH_REPO="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh"
-JSONPATH_SH=$(type -P JSONPath.sh)
-export JSONPATH_SH
-if [[ -z $JSONPATH_SH ]]; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: JSONPath.sh tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+GIT_TOOL=$(type -P git)
+export GIT_TOOL
+if [[ -z "$GIT_TOOL" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: git tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-# verify JSONPath.sh supports -S -A
-export FIZZBIN_JSON='"fizzbin"'
-if ! "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -p >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: JSONPath.sh tool does not support -S -A: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
-export JSONPATH_ARG
-export PATTERN='$*'
+"$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree >/dev/null 2>&1
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
+    TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+fi
+export TOPDIR
+export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
+# GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
+export REPO_URL="$REPO_TOP_URL/blob/master"
+
+
+# Until we have a true jval tool, we will use wither jsp or the modified JSONPath.sh
 #
-unset OPTION
-declare -ag OPTION
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - until we have the jval command, we use external tools to get data from JSON - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+#
+export JSP_REPO="https://github.com/kjozsa/jsp"
+export JSONPATH_REPO="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh"
+export FIZZBIN_JSON='"fizzbin"'
+export JSP_TOOL=""
+JSP_TOOL=$(type -P jsp)
+export JSONPATH_SH=""
+JSONPATH_SH=$(type -P JSONPath.sh)
+# set the defaiult XPath for JSON
+export XPATHJSON_USE="jsp"
+export JSONPATH_ARG
+export PATTERN=""
+#
+export PRINT_ONLY_VALUES=""
+export REMOVE_QUOTES=""
+export QUICK_CHECK=""
 
 
 # set usage message
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N]
-	[-w] [-b] [-i] [-u]
-	[-j JSONPath.sh] file.json [pattern]
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-b] [-q] [-t tool] [-Q] file.json [pattern]
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
 	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
@@ -155,12 +163,11 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N]
 	-n		do nothing (same as -N) (def: do the action)
 	-N		do not process file, just parse arguments and ignore the file (def: process the file)
 
-	-w		match whole words only for filter script expression (def: match substrings)
-	-b		only print values (def: print both JSON member and JSON value)
-	-i		match insensitive (def: match case)
-	-u		strip unnecessary leading path element (def: print the entire element path)
+	-b		print only values (def: print both JSON member and JSON value)
+	-q		remove enclosing double quotes (def: keep any enclosing double quotes)
 
-	-j JSONPath.sh	path to the JSONPath.sh tool (not the wrapper) (def: $JSONPATH_SH)
+	-t tool		tool to use: jsp or JSONPath.sh (def: try jsp, otherwise try JSONPath.sh)
+	-Q		quick check tool using trivial input (def: do not)
 
 	file.json	JSON file to read, - ==> read stdin
 	pattern		JSONPath query (def: $PATTERN}
@@ -186,7 +193,7 @@ export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:VnNwbiuj: flag; do
+while getopts :hv:VnNbqt:Q flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -200,16 +207,23 @@ while getopts :hv:VnNwbiuj: flag; do
 	;;
     N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
 	;;
-    j) JSONPATH_SH="$OPTARG"
-	;;
-    w) OPTION+=("-w")
-	;;
-    b) OPTION+=("-b")
-	;;
-    i) OPTION+=("-i")
-	;;
-    u) OPTION+=("-u")
+    b) PRINT_ONLY_VALUES="-b"
 	;;
+    q) REMOVE_QUOTES="true"
+       ;;
+    t) # validate -t tool
+       case "$OPTARG" in
+       jsp) XPATHJSON_USE="jsp" ;;
+       JSONPath.sh) XPATHJSON_USE="JSONPath.sh" ;;
+       *) echo "$0: ERROR: unknown -t option: $OPTARG" 1>&2
+	  echo 1>&2
+          echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+          exit 3
+	  ;;
+       esac
+       ;;
+    Q) QUICK_CHECK="true"
+       ;;
     \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
 	echo 1>&2
 	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
@@ -251,6 +265,9 @@ case "$#" in
     ;;
 esac
 #
+if [[ $JSON_FILE == "-" ]]; then
+    JSON_FILE=""
+fi
 if [[ -n $JSON_FILE ]]; then
     if [[ ! -e $JSON_FILE ]]; then
 	echo  "$0: ERROR: JSON_FILE does not exist: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
@@ -267,6 +284,155 @@ if [[ -n $JSON_FILE ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# verify that we have a topdir directory
+#
+REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_TOP_URL")
+export REPO_NAME
+if [[ -z $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find top of git repo directory" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR does not exist: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR is not a directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# cd to topdir
+#
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to non-existent path: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to a non-directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export CD_FAILED
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: cd $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+fi
+cd "$TOPDIR" || CD_FAILED="true"
+if [[ -n $CD_FAILED ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cd $TOPDIR failed" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: now in directory: $(/bin/pwd)" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have a bin subdirectory
+#
+export BIN_PATH="$TOPDIR/bin"
+if [[ ! -d $BIN_PATH ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: bin is not a directory under topdir: $BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export BIN_DIR="bin"
+
+
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
+# validate the XPath for JSON tool
+#
+case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
+
+    # case: we will use JSONPath.sh
+    #
+    JSONPath.sh)
+
+	# try JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSONPATH_SH || ! -x $JSONPATH_SH ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: JSONPath.sh tool is not installed, is not executable, or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	    exit 5
+	fi
+
+	# case: -Q - perform quick check
+	#
+	if [[ -n $QUICK_CHECK ]]; then
+	    # verify JSONPath.sh supports -S -A -p
+	    if ! "$JSONPATH_SH" -S -A -p >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: JSONPath.sh tool does not support -S -A: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: otherwise install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+		exit 5
+	    fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we will use jsp
+    #
+    jsp)
+
+	# try jsp
+	#
+	if [[ -z $JSP_TOOL || ! -x $JSP_TOOL ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: jsp.sh tool is not installed, is not executable, or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: obtain JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	    echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	    exit 5
+	fi
+
+	# case: -Q - perform quick check
+	#
+	if [[ -n $QUICK_CHECK ]]; then
+	    # verify jsp
+	    if ! "$JSP_TOOL" --indent 4 --format --no-color >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: jsp tool does not support --indent 4 --format --no-color: $FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: you might need to update and reinstall jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: or you might try to obtain and install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+		echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+		exit 5
+	    fi <<< "$FIZZBIN_JSON"
+	fi
+	;;
+
+    # case: we do not have an XPath for JSON tool
+    #
+    *)
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an XPath JSON tool to use" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: we recommend you obtain and install jsp from: $JSP_REPO" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: or obtain jsp via \"pipx install jsp\" and placing ~/.local/bin in \$PATH" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: otherwise install JSONPath.sh from: $JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: notice: if possible install jsp instead of JSONPath.sh as jsp is faster" 1>&2
+	exit 5
+	;;
+esac
+
+
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -275,17 +441,28 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: VERSION=$VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NAME=$NAME" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSP_REPO=$JSP_REPO" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_REPO=$JSONPATH_REPO" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_SH=$JSONPATH_SH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: FIZZBIN_JSON=$FIZZBIN_JSON" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_ARG=$JSONPATH_ARG" 1>&2
-    for index in "${!OPTION[@]}"; do
-        echo "$0: debug[$V_FLAG]: $V_FLAG: OPTION[$index]=${OPTION[$index]}" 1>&2
-    done
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSP_TOOL=$JSP_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSONPATH_SH=$JSONPATH_SH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: XPATHJSON_USE=$XPATHJSON_USE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: PATTERN=$PATTERN" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: PRINT_ONLY_VALUES=$PRINT_ONLY_VALUES" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REMOVE_QUOTES=$REMOVE_QUOTES" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: QUICK_CHECK=$QUICK_CHECK" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JSON_FILE=$JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: PATTERN=$PATTERN" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_NAME=$REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: CD_FAILED=$CD_FAILED" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -309,36 +486,245 @@ if [[ -n $NOOP ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# case: processing JSON from standard input
+# canonically process JSON from standard input via jsp
 #
-if [[ -z $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
 
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH ${OPTION[*]} -- $PATTERN" 1>&2
-    fi
-    "$JSONPATH_SH" "${OPTION[@]}" -- "$PATTERN"
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH ${OPTION[*]} -- $PATTERN failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 1
-    fi
-
-# case: processing JSON from a file
+# case: use jsp
 #
-else
+jsp)
 
-    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH ${OPTION[*]} -f $JSON_FILE -- $PATTERN" 1>&2
+    # if not set, set the default jsp pattern
+    #
+    PATTERN="${PATTERN:=$}"
+
+    # case: jsp processing from standard input
+    #
+    if [[ -z $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	fi
+	"$JSP_TOOL" --no-color --format --indent 0 -- "$PATTERN"
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' failed", \
+		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 1
+	fi
+
+    # case: jsp processing from a file
+    #
+    else
+
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' < $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+	fi
+	"$JSP_TOOL" --no-color --format --indent 0 -- "$PATTERN" < "$JSON_FILE"
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' < $JSON_FILE failed", \
+		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 1
+	fi
+
+    # case: print only values from jsp output
+    #
+    fi | if [[ -n $PRINT_ONLY_VALUES ]]; then
+
+	# case: -q -b (print only values and remove double quotes) via jsp
+	#
+	if [[ -n $REMOVE_QUOTES ]]; then
+
+	    sed -E -e '/^\s*[]{}[],?\s*$/d' \
+		   -e 's/^\s*("[^"]*[^\\]*"):\s+/\1\t/' \
+		   -e 's/^"[^\t]*"\t//' \
+		   -e 's/,?$//' \
+		   -e 's/^"//' \
+		   -e 's/",?$//' \
+		   -e '/^\[$/d'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t jsp options: -q -b: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+
+	# case: -b (print only values) via jsp
+	#
+	else
+
+	    sed -E -e '/^\s*[]{}[],?\s*$/d' \
+		   -e 's/^\s*("[^"]*[^\\]*"):\s+/\1\t/' \
+		   -e 's/^"[^\t]*"\t//' \
+		   -e 's/,?$//' \
+		   -e '/^\[$/d'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t jsp options: -b: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+	fi
+
+    # case: print both JSON member and JSON value from jsp output
+    #
+    else
+
+	# case: -q without -b (print both JSON member and JSON value and remove double quotes) via jsp
+	#
+	if [[ -n $REMOVE_QUOTES ]]; then
+
+	    sed -E -e '/^\s*[]{}[],?\s*$/d' \
+		   -e 's/^\s*("[^"]*[^\\]*"):\s+/\1\t/' \
+		   -e 's/,?$//' \
+		   -e 's/^"//' \
+		   -e 's/"\t"?/\t/' \
+		   -e 's/"$//' \
+		   -e '/\t\[$/d'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t jsp options: -q: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+
+	# case: without -b (print only values) via jsp
+	#
+	else
+
+	    sed -E -e '/^\s*[]{}[],?\s*$/d' \
+		   -e 's/^\s*("[^"]*[^\\]*"):\s+/\1\t/' \
+		   -e 's/,?$//' \
+		   -e '/\t\[$/d'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t jsp: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+
+	fi
     fi
-    "$JSONPATH_SH" "${OPTION[@]}" -f "$JSON_FILE" -- "$PATTERN"
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH ${OPTION[*]} -f $JSON_FILE -- $PATTERN failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	exit 1
+    ;;
+
+
+# case: use JSONPath.sh
+#
+JSONPath.sh)
+
+    # if not set, set the default JSONPath.sh pattern
+    #
+    PATTERN="${PATTERN:=$.*}"
+
+    # case: JSONPath.sh processing from standard input
+    #
+    if [[ -z $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -- '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	fi
+	"$JSONPATH_SH" -w -u -- "$PATTERN"
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -- '$PATTERN' failed", \
+		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 1
+	fi
+
+    # case: JSONPath.sh processing from a file
+    #
+    else
+
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -f $JSON_FILE -- '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	fi
+	"$JSONPATH_SH" -w -u -f "$JSON_FILE" -- "$PATTERN"
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -f $JSON_FILE -- '$PATTERN' failed", \
+		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	    exit 1
+	fi
+
+    # case: print only values from JSONPath.sh output
+    #
+    fi | if [[ -n $PRINT_ONLY_VALUES ]]; then
+
+	# case: -q -b (print only values and remove double quotes and []'s) via JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	if [[ -n $REMOVE_QUOTES ]]; then
+
+	     sed -E -e 's/^\S*\s*//' \
+		    -e 's/^"//' \
+		    -e 's/"$//'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t jJSONPath.sh options: -q -b: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+
+	# case: -b (print only values) via JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	else
+
+	    sed -E -e 's/^\S*\s*//'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t jJSONPath.sh options: -b: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+	fi
+
+    # case: print both JSON member and JSON value from JSONPath.sh output
+    #
+    else
+
+	# case: -q without -b (print both JSON member and JSON value and remove double quotes and []'s) via JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	if [[ -n $REMOVE_QUOTES ]]; then
+
+	    sed -E -e 's/^\s+//' \
+		   -e 's/\s+$//' \
+		   -e 's/^\["?//' \
+		   -e 's/^(\S*),"/\1,/' \
+		   -e 's/\]\t/\t/' \
+		   -e 's/"\t"?/\t/' \
+		   -e 's/"$//'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t JSONPath.sh options: -q: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+
+	# case: without -b (print only values) via JSONPath.sh
+	#
+	else
+
+	    sed -E -e 's/^\s+//' \
+		   -e 's/\s+$//'
+	    status="$?"
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: pipe from -t JSONPath.sh: sed -E -e ... failed", \
+		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
+	fi
     fi
-fi
+    ;;
+
+
+# case: we do not know which XPath JSON tool to use
+#
+*)
+
+    echo "$0: ERROR: XPATHJSON_USE is neither jsp nor JSONPath.sh: $XPATHJSON_USE" 1>&2
+    exit 10
+    ;;
+esac
 
 
 # All Done!!! All Done!!! -- Jessica Noll, Age 2
diff --git a/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk b/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk
index e055a08cd..49c39e912 100755
--- a/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk
+++ b/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ BEGIN {
 
     # setup
     #
-    VERSION="1.1.2 2024-07-28"
+    VERSION="1.2 2024-09-17"
     found_manifest_array = 0;	# 1 ==> we found the manifest ARRAY
     within_manifest_array = 0;	# 1 ==> found start of "manifest" : [ JSON array
     begin_manifest_element = 0;	# 1 ==> we have found the start of the manifest array element
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     #
     $1 = ""; # remove 1st field
     $2 = ""; # remove 2nd field
-    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # any leading whitespace
+    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # remove any leading whitespace
     file_path = $0;
 
     # Remove any trailing ,
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     #
     $1 = ""; # remove 1st field
     $2 = ""; # remove 2nd field
-    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # any leading whitespace
+    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # remove any leading whitespace
     inventory_order = $0;
 
     # Remove any trailing ,
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     #
     $1 = ""; # remove 1st field
     $2 = ""; # remove 2nd field
-    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # any leading whitespace
+    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # remove any leading whitespace
     OK_to_edit = $0;
 
     # Remove any trailing ,
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     #
     $1 = ""; # remove 1st field
     $2 = ""; # remove 2nd field
-    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # any leading whitespace
+    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # remove any leading whitespace
     display_as = $0;
 
     # Remove any trailing ,
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     #
     $1 = ""; # remove 1st field
     $2 = ""; # remove 2nd field
-    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # any leading whitespace
+    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # remove any leading whitespace
     display_via_github = $0;
 
     # Remove any trailing ,
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     #
     $1 = ""; # remove 1st field
     $2 = ""; # remove 2nd field
-    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # any leading whitespace
+    gsub(/^[[:space:]]+/, "", $0); # remove any leading whitespace
     entry_text = $0;
 
     # Remove any trailing ,
@@ -300,12 +300,50 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
 	entry_text = substr(entry_text, 1, length(entry_text)-1);
     }
 
+    # so we can single quote the entry_text as a single string, we protect any single quotes within it
+    #
+    jstrdecode_arg = entry_text;
+    gsub(/'/, "'\"'\"'", jstrdecode_arg);
+
+    # form the jstrdecode command
+    #
+    if (jstrdecode_arg ~ /^".*"$/) {
+	jstrdecode_cmd = "jstrdecode -Q -- " "'" substr(jstrdecode_arg, 2, length(jstrdecode_arg)-2)  "'";
+    } else {
+	jstrdecode_cmd = "jstrdecode -Q -- " "'" jstrdecode_arg "'";
+    }
+    jstrdecode_cmd = jstrdecode_cmd " 2>/dev/null; echo $?";
+
+    # JSON decode entry_text
+    #
+    numLines = 0;
+    result = "";
+    exit_code = 0;
+    # process each pipe line
+    while ((jstrdecode_cmd | getline pipe_output) > 0) {
+	if (numLines++ == 0) {
+	    # case: 1st line is from jstrdecode
+	    result = pipe_output;
+	} else {
+	    # case: 2nd/line line is the jstrdecode exit code
+	    exit_code = pipe_output;
+	}
+    }
+    close(jstrdecode_cmd);
+
+    # validate exit code from jstrdecode
+    #
+    if (length(exit_code) == 0 || exit_code != 0) {
+	print "ERROR: unable to jstrdecode entry_text:", entry_text > "/dev/stderr";
+	exit 213;	# END section will output ERROR message about cannot JSON decode entry_text
+    }
+
     # remove any enclosing double quotes
     #
-    if (entry_text ~ /^".*"$/) {
-	unquote_entry_text = substr(entry_text, 2, length(entry_text)-2);
+    if (result ~ /^".*"$/) {
+	unquote_entry_text = substr(result, 2, length(result)-2);
     } else {
-	unquote_entry_text = entry_text;
+	unquote_entry_text = result;
     }
 }
 
@@ -317,42 +355,42 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF == 1 && $1 ~ /^}
     #
     if (length(file_path) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest array JSON member did not have a file_path JSON member in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 213;
+	exit 214;
     }
 
     # verify we have seen a inventory_order JSON member
     #
     if (length(inventory_order) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest array JSON member did not have a inventory_order JSON member in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 214;
+	exit 215;
     }
 
     # verify we have seen a OK_to_edit JSON member
     #
     if (length(OK_to_edit) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest array JSON member did not have a OK_to_edit JSON member in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 215;
+	exit 216;
     }
 
     # verify we have seen a display_as JSON member
     #
     if (length(display_as) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest array JSON member did not have a display_as JSON member in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 216;
+	exit 217;
     }
 
     # verify we have seen a display_via_github JSON member
     #
     if (length(display_via_github) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest array JSON member did not have a display_via_github JSON member in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 217;
+	exit 218;
     }
 
     # verify we have seen a entry_text JSON member
     #
     if (length(entry_text) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest array JSON member did not have a entry_text JSON member in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 218;
+	exit 219;
     }
 
     # print manifest information
@@ -395,39 +433,39 @@ END {
     #
     if (length(github) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: github variable not set, call with -v github=REPO_URL" > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 219;	# use 200 to match exit code from BEGIN
+	exit 220;	# use 200 to match exit code from BEGIN
     }
 
     # case: we quit because we could not determine dir from ARGV[1]
     #
     if (length(dir) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: cannot determine dir from:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 220;	# END section will output ERROR message about cannot find dir
+	exit 221;	# END section will output ERROR message about cannot find dir
     }
 
     if (length(YYYY) == 0) {
 	print "ERROR: cannot determine YYYY from:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 221;	# END section will output ERROR message about cannot find YYYY
+	exit 222;	# END section will output ERROR message about cannot find YYYY
     }
 
     # case: no manifest array was found
     #
     if (!found_manifest_array) {
 	print "ERROR: we did not find a manifest JSON array in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 222;
+	exit 223;
     }
 
     # case: manifest array was found, but manifest array element did not finish
     #
     if (begin_manifest_element) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest JSON array element did not end in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 223;
+	exit 224;
     }
 
     # case: manifest array did not end
     #
     if (within_manifest_array) {
 	print "ERROR: manifest JSON array did not end in:", ARGV[1] > "/dev/stderr";
-	exit 224;
+	exit 225;
     }
 }
diff --git a/bin/output-index-author.sh b/bin/output-index-author.sh
index 34bb1d106..27f8d9def 100755
--- a/bin/output-index-author.sh
+++ b/bin/output-index-author.sh
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.8 2024-08-17"
+export VERSION="1.9 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 function output_author_handles
 {
     local ENTRY_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -211,10 +212,11 @@ function output_author_handles
 
     # extract author handles from .entry.json
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..author_handle'
+    PATTERN='$..author_handle'
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN"
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -w -b $ENTRY_JSON_PATH \$..author_handle failed," \
+	echo  "$0: ERROR: in output_author_handles: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
 	      "error: $status" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -236,6 +238,7 @@ function output_author_handles
 function output_entry_ids
 {
     local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -259,10 +262,11 @@ function output_entry_ids
 
     # extract entry ids from the author/author_handle.json file
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..entry_id'
+    PATTERN='$..entry_id'
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN"
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -w -b $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH \$..entry_id failed," \
+	echo  "$0: ERROR: in output_entry_ids: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
 	      "error: $status" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -283,6 +287,7 @@ function output_entry_ids
 function output_full_name
 {
     local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -306,11 +311,12 @@ function output_full_name
 
     # extract Full Name from the author/author_handle.json file
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..full_name'
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -w -b $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH \$..full_name failed," \
-	      "error: $status" 1>&2
+    PATTERN='$..full_name'
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	      "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
     return 0
@@ -331,6 +337,7 @@ function output_full_name
 function output_location_code
 {
     local AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -354,10 +361,11 @@ function output_location_code
 
     # extract Location Code from the author/author_handle.json file
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" '$..location_code'
+    PATTERN='$..location_code'
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN"
     status="$?"
     if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: ERROR: $JVAL_WRAPPER -w -b $ENTRY_JSON_PATH \$..location_code failed," \
+	echo  "$0: ERROR: in output_location_code: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
 	      "error: $status" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -638,6 +646,23 @@ if [[ ! -x $LOCATION_TOOL ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
 # parameter debugging
 #
 if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
@@ -673,6 +698,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOT_PATH_CONTENT=$DOT_PATH_CONTENT" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: ENTRY_JSON=$ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: LOCATION_TOOL=$LOCATION_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
diff --git a/bin/output-year-index.sh b/bin/output-year-index.sh
index 95fffc779..dd76b73fa 100755
--- a/bin/output-year-index.sh
+++ b/bin/output-year-index.sh
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.4.4 2024-08-05"
+export VERSION="1.5 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ $NAME version: $VERSION"
 function output_award
 {
     local ENTRY_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -213,7 +214,17 @@ function output_award
 
     # obtain the award string
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..award'
+    PATTERN='$..award'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+    fi
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN"
+    status="$?"
+    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+	return 5
+    fi
     return 0
 }
 
@@ -523,6 +534,23 @@ if [[ -z $ORDINAL ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
 # parameter debugging
 #
 if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
@@ -544,6 +572,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: YEAR_FILE=$YEAR_FILE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: LINE_NUM=$LINE_NUM" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: ORDINAL=$ORDINAL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
 fi
 
 
@@ -668,9 +697,9 @@ for YYYY_DIR in $(< "$YEAR_FILE"); do
 
     # determine the award for this entry
     #
-    AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON")
-    export AWARD
-    if [[ -z $AWARD ]]; then
+    AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $AWARD ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find award in .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
 	exit 7
     fi
diff --git a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
index 9bea1c16f..0db1efe30 100755
--- a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
+++ b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.5 2024-08-13"
+export VERSION="1.6 2024-09-23"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ $NAME version: $VERSION"
 function output_award
 {
     local ENTRY_JSON_PATH;	# the .entry.json path
+    local PATTERN;		# XPath for JSON pattern
 
     # parse args
     #
@@ -203,7 +204,18 @@ function output_award
 
     # obtain the award string
     #
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -w -b "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" '$..award'
+    PATTERN='$..award'
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | sed ..." 1>&2
+    fi
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
+    status="$?"
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN | sed ... failed," \
+	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+	return 5
+    fi
     return 0
 }
 
@@ -381,6 +393,23 @@ if [[ ! -x $JVAL_WRAPPER ]]; then
 fi
 
 
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
 # verify we have our awk script
 #
 export ENTRY_NAVBAR_AWK="$BIN_DIR/subst.entry-navbar.awk"
@@ -506,6 +535,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_PATH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: JVAL_WRAPPER=$JVAL_WRAPPER" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: ENTRY_JSON=$ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: YEAR_DIR=$YEAR_DIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: ENTRY_DIR=$ENTRY_DIR" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/unicode-chk.sh b/bin/unicode-chk.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..b531ffdf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/unicode-chk.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,690 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# unicode-chk.sh - verify all \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} in entry and author JSON files
+#
+# Pass entry and author JSON files thru the following sed script and
+# flag any \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} that we might find as problems.
+#
+#   bin/unicode-fix.sed
+#
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - until we have fixed jstrdecode, we must sed out \u[0-0A-fa-f]{4} from JSON  - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+#
+# Until this bug is the jparse repo is fixed, we need to avoid
+# using \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} within JSON encoded strings.
+#
+#   https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/issues/13
+#
+# The above mentioned bug results in certain tools that are based on the
+# jparse repo:
+#
+#   https://github.com/xexyl/jparse
+#
+# including code from the mkiocccentry repo's jparse sub-directory:
+#
+#   https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/tree/master/jparse
+#
+# We need to avoid using \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} within JSON encoded strings.
+# Sorry (tm Canada :-)).
+#
+# The following sed script converts known problematic \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4}
+# combinations into their RAW character form:
+#
+#   bin/unicode-fix.sed
+#
+# Use of that sed script serves as a work-a-round to avoid to avoid any
+# problematic \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} combinations in JSON encoded strings.
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024 by Landon Curt Noll.  All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and
+# its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
+# provided that the above copyright, this permission notice and text
+# this comment, and the disclaimer below appear in all of the following:
+#
+#       supporting documentation
+#       source copies
+#       source works derived from this source
+#       binaries derived from this source or from derived source
+#
+# LANDON CURT NOLL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE,
+# INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO
+# EVENT SHALL LANDON CURT NOLL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF
+# USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR
+# OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
+# PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+#
+# chongo (Landon Curt Noll, http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html) /\oo/\
+#
+# Share and enjoy! :-)
+
+
+# firewall - run only with a bash that is version 5.1.8 or later
+#
+# The "/usr/bin/env bash" command must result in using a bash that
+# is version 5.1.8 or later.
+#
+# We could relax this version and insist on version 4.2 or later.  Versions
+# of bash between 4.2 and 5.1.7 might work.  However, to be safe, we will require
+# bash version 5.1.8 or later.
+#
+# WHY 5.1.8 and not 4.2?  This safely is done because macOS Homebrew bash we
+# often use is "version 5.2.26(1)-release" or later, and the RHEL Linux bash we
+# use often use is "version 5.1.8(1)-release" or later.  These versions are what
+# we initially tested.  We recommend you either upgrade bash or install a newer
+# version of bash and adjust your $PATH so that "/usr/bin/env bash" finds a bash
+# that is version 5.1.8 or later.
+#
+# NOTE: The macOS shipped, as of 2024 March 15, a version of bash is something like
+#	bash "version 3.2.57(1)-release".  That macOS shipped version of bash
+#	will NOT work.  For users of macOS we recommend you install Homebrew,
+#	(see https://brew.sh), and then run "brew install bash" which will
+#	typically install it into /opt/homebrew/bin/bash, and then arrange your $PATH
+#	so that "/usr/bin/env bash" finds "/opt/homebrew/bin" (or whatever the
+#	Homebrew bash is).
+#
+# NOTE: And while MacPorts might work, we noticed a number of subtle differences
+#	with some of their ported tools to suggest you might be better off
+#	with installing Homebrew (see https://brew.sh).  No disrespect is intended
+#	to the MacPorts team as they do a commendable job.  Nevertheless we ran
+#	into enough differences with MacPorts environments to suggest you
+#	might find a better experience with this tool under Homebrew instead.
+#
+if [[ -z ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} ||
+	 ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -lt 5 ||
+	 ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -eq 5 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[1]} -lt 1 ||
+	 ${BASH_VERSINFO[0]} -eq 5 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[1]} -eq 1 && ${BASH_VERSINFO[2]} -lt 8 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: bash version needs to be >= 5.1.8: $BASH_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Warning: bash version >= 4.2 might work but 5.1.8 was the minimum we tested" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: For macOS users: install Homebrew (see https://brew.sh), then run" \
+	 ""brew install bash" and then modify your \$PATH so that \"#!/usr/bin/env bash\"" \
+	 "finds the Homebrew installed (usually /opt/homebrew/bin/bash) version of bash" 1>&2
+    exit 4
+fi
+
+
+# setup bash file matching
+#
+# We must declare arrays with -ag or -Ag, and we need loops to "export" modified variables.
+# This requires a bash with a version 4.2 or later.  See the larger comment above about bash versions.
+#
+shopt -s nullglob	# enable expanded to nothing rather than remaining unexpanded
+shopt -u failglob	# disable error message if no matches are found
+shopt -u dotglob	# disable matching files starting with .
+shopt -u nocaseglob	# disable strict case matching
+shopt -u extglob	# enable extended globbing patterns
+shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories and subdirectories
+
+
+# set variables referenced in the usage message
+#
+export VERSION="1.0 2024-09-23"
+NAME=$(basename "$0")
+export NAME
+export V_FLAG=0
+GIT_TOOL=$(type -P git)
+export GIT_TOOL
+if [[ -z "$GIT_TOOL" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: git tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+"$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree >/dev/null 2>&1
+status="$?"
+if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
+    TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+fi
+export TOPDIR
+export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
+export TAGLINE="unspecified"
+export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
+# GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
+export REPO_URL="$REPO_TOP_URL/blob/master"
+export SITE_URL="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc"
+#
+export NOOP=
+export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
+export EXIT_CODE="0"
+
+
+# usage
+#
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir] [-D docroot/] [-n] [-N] [file.json ..]
+
+	-h		print help message and exit
+	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
+	-V		print version string and exit
+
+	-d topdir	set topdir (def: $TOPDIR)
+	-D docroot/	set the document root path followed by slash (def: $DOCROOT_SLASH)
+			NOTE: The '-D docroot/' is passed as leading options on tool command lines.
+			NOTE: 'docroot' must end in a slash
+
+	-n		go thru the actions, but do not update any files (def: do the action)
+	-N		do not process anything, just parse arguments (def: process something)
+
+	[file.json ...]	check file.json files (def: check all entry and author JSON files)
+
+Exit codes:
+     0         all OK
+     1	       found unexpected \\uHexHexHexHex strings in JSON files
+     2         -h and help string printed or -V and version string printed
+     3         command line error
+     4         bash version is too old
+     5	       some internal tool is not found or not an executable file
+     6	       problems found with or in the topdir or topdir/YYYY directory
+     7	       problems found with or in the entry topdir/YYYY/dir directory
+     8	       file.json not a readable file
+ >= 10         internal error
+
+$NAME version: $VERSION"
+
+
+# parse command line
+#
+while getopts :hv:Vd:D:j:nN flag; do
+  case "$flag" in
+    h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+	exit 2
+	;;
+    v) V_FLAG="$OPTARG"
+	;;
+    V) echo "$VERSION"
+	exit 2
+	;;
+    d) TOPDIR="$OPTARG"
+	;;
+    D) # parse -D docroot/
+	case "$OPTARG" in
+	*/) ;;
+	*) echo "$0: ERROR: in -D docroot/, the docroot must end in /" 1>&2
+	   echo 1>&2
+	   print_usage 1>&2
+	   exit 3
+	   ;;
+	esac
+	DOCROOT_SLASH="$OPTARG"
+	;;
+    n) NOOP="-n"
+	;;
+    N) DO_NOT_PROCESS="-N"
+	;;
+    \?) echo "$0: ERROR: invalid option: -$OPTARG" 1>&2
+	echo 1>&2
+	print_usage 1>&2
+	exit 3
+	;;
+    :) echo "$0: ERROR: option -$OPTARG requires an argument" 1>&2
+	echo 1>&2
+	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+	exit 3
+	;;
+    *) echo "$0: ERROR: unexpected value from getopts: $flag" 1>&2
+	echo 1>&2
+	echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
+	exit 3
+	;;
+  esac
+done
+#
+# remove the options
+#
+shift $(( OPTIND - 1 ));
+#
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: file argument count: $#" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have a topdir directory
+#
+REPO_NAME=$(basename "$REPO_TOP_URL")
+export REPO_NAME
+if [[ -z $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find top of git repo directory" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR does not exist: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: TOPDIR is not a directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $REPO_TOP_URL; cd $REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# cd to topdir
+#
+if [[ ! -e $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to non-existent path: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -d $TOPDIR ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot cd to a non-directory: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export CD_FAILED
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to: cd $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+fi
+cd "$TOPDIR" || CD_FAILED="true"
+if [[ -n $CD_FAILED ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cd $TOPDIR failed" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: now in directory: $(/bin/pwd)" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# verify that we have an author subdirectory
+#
+export AUTHOR_PATH="$TOPDIR/author"
+if [[ ! -d $AUTHOR_PATH ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: author is not a directory under topdir: $AUTHOR_PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export AUTHOR_DIR="author"
+
+
+# verify that we have a bin subdirectory
+#
+export BIN_PATH="$TOPDIR/bin"
+if [[ ! -d $BIN_PATH ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: bin is not a directory under topdir: $BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+export BIN_DIR="bin"
+
+
+# verify that the bin/unicode-fix.sed tool is executable
+#
+export UNICODE_FIX_SED="$BIN_DIR/unicode-fix.sed"
+if [[ ! -e $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed does not exist: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not a regular file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $UNICODE_FIX_SED ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-fix.sed is not an readable file: $UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+
+
+# verify we have a non-empty readable .top file
+#
+export TOP_FILE=".top"
+if [[ ! -e $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top does not exist: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -f $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a regular file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -r $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not an readable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+if [[ ! -s $TOP_FILE ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: .top is not a non-empty readable file: $TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+
+# print running info if verbose
+#
+# If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
+#
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERSION=$VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: NAME=$NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: V_FLAG=$V_FLAG" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TAGLINE=$TAGLINE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: SITE_URL=$SITE_URL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: NOOP=$NOOP" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: DO_NOT_PROCESS=$DO_NOT_PROCESS" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: EXIT_CODE=$EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_NAME=$REPO_NAME" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: CD_FAILED=$CD_FAILED" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHOR_PATH=$AUTHOR_PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: AUTHOR_DIR=$AUTHOR_DIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_PATH=$BIN_PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: BIN_DIR=$BIN_DIR" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: UNICODE_FIX_SED=$UNICODE_FIX_SED" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: TOP_FILE=$TOP_FILE" 1>&2
+fi
+
+
+# -N stops early before any processing is performed
+#
+if [[ -n $DO_NOT_PROCESS ]]; then
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: debug[3]: arguments parsed, -N given, exiting 0" 1>&2
+    fi
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+
+# create a JSON problem file
+#
+export TMP_JSON_PROBLEM=".tmp.$NAME.JSON_PROBLEM.$$.tmp"
+if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+    echo  "$0: debug[3]: JSON problem inventory file: $TMP_JSON_PROBLEM" 1>&2
+fi
+trap 'rm -f $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
+rm -f "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM"
+if [[ -e $TMP_JSON_PROBLEM ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove JSON problem inventory file: $TMP_JSON_PROBLEM" 1>&2
+    exit 10
+fi
+: > "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM"
+if [[ ! -e $TMP_JSON_PROBLEM ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create JSON problem inventory file: $TMP_JSON_PROBLEM" 1>&2
+    exit 11
+fi
+
+
+# case: check only file given as args
+#
+if [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; then
+
+    # check specific JSON files
+    #
+    for JSON_FILE in "$@"; do
+
+	# just be a readable file
+	#
+	if [[ ! -e $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: does not exist: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+	    exit 8
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -f $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: is not a regular file: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+	    exit 8
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -r $JSON_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: is not an readable file: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
+	    exit 8
+	fi
+
+	# scan the author/author_handle.json file for unexpected \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} strings
+	#
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to run: sed -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED -- $JSON_FILE 2>&1 | grep -E ..." 1>&2
+	fi
+	FOUND_UHEX=$(sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -- "$JSON_FILE" 2>&1 | grep -E '\\u[[:xdigit:]]{4}')
+	if [[ -n $FOUND_UHEX ]]; then
+	    echo "$JSON_FILE"
+	fi
+
+    done >> "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM"
+
+
+# case: check all .entry.json files and author JSON files
+#
+else
+
+    # check all .entry.json files
+    #
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: debug[1]: starting to check .entry.json files under: $TOPDIR" 1>&2
+    fi
+    export YYYY
+    for YYYY in $(< "$TOP_FILE"); do
+
+	# debug YYYY
+	#
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[3]: starting to check year: $YYYY" 1>&2
+	fi
+
+	# verify that YYYY is a readable directory
+	#
+	if [[ ! -e $YYYY ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY does not exist: $YYYY" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -d $YYYY ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY is not a directory: $YYYY" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -r $YYYY ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY is not an readable directory: $YYYY" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+
+	# verify that YYYY has a non-empty readable .year file
+	#
+	export YEAR_FILE="$YYYY/.year"
+	if [[ ! -e $YEAR_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY/.year does not exist: $YEAR_FILE" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -f $YEAR_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY/.year is not a regular file: $YEAR_FILE" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -r $YEAR_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY/.year is not an readable file: $YEAR_FILE" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+	if [[ ! -s $YEAR_FILE ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY/.year is not a non-empty readable file: $YEAR_FILE" 1>&2
+	    EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+	    echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	    continue
+	fi
+
+	# process each entry directory under YYYY
+	#
+	export YYYY_DIR
+	for YYYY_DIR in $(< "$YEAR_FILE"); do
+
+	    # debug YYYY
+	    #
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: debug[5]: starting to check year/dir: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+	    fi
+
+	    # parse YYYY_DIR
+	    #
+	    if [[ ! -d $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR is not a directory: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    if [[ ! -w $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR is not a writable directory: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    export YEAR_DIR=${YYYY_DIR%%/*}
+	    if [[ -z $YEAR_DIR ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR not in YYYY/dir form: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    export ENTRY_DIR=${YYYY_DIR#*/}
+	    if [[ -z $ENTRY_DIR ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR not in $YEAR_DIR/dir form: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    if [[ $ENTRY_DIR = */* ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR: $YYYY_DIR dir contains a /: $ENTRY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="6"  # exit 6
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+
+	    # verify that YYYY_DIR is a writable directory
+	    #
+	    if [[ ! -e $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
+		echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR does not exist: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    if [[ ! -d $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
+		echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR is not a directory: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    if [[ ! -w $YYYY_DIR ]]; then
+		echo  "$0: ERROR: YYYY_DIR is not an writable directory: $YYYY_DIR" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+
+	    # verify YYYY/dir/.path
+	    #
+	    export DOT_PATH="$YYYY_DIR/.path"
+	    if [[ ! -s $DOT_PATH ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: not a non-empty file: $DOT_PATH" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    DOT_PATH_CONTENT=$(< "$DOT_PATH")
+	    if [[ $YYYY_DIR != "$DOT_PATH_CONTENT" ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: arg: $YYYY_DIR does not match $DOT_PATH contents: $DOT_PATH_CONTENT" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+
+	    # verify the YYYY/dir/.entry.json
+	    #
+	    export ENTRY_JSON="$YYYY_DIR/.entry.json"
+	    if [[ ! -e $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json does not exist: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    if [[ ! -f $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+	    if [[ ! -r $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a readable file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
+		EXIT_CODE="7"  # exit 7
+		echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+		continue
+	    fi
+
+	    # scan the .entry.json file for unexpected \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} strings
+	    #
+	    if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
+		if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+		    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to run: sed -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED -- $YYYY_DIR/.entry.json 2>&1 | grep -E ..." 1>&2
+		fi
+		FOUND_UHEX=$(sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -- "$YYYY_DIR/.entry.json" 2>&1 | grep -E '\\u[[:xdigit:]]{4}' 2>&1)
+		export FOUND_UHEX
+		if [[ -n $FOUND_UHEX ]]; then
+		    echo "$YYYY_DIR/.entry.json"
+		fi
+	    fi
+	done
+    done >> "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM"
+
+
+    # create a temporary author_handle inventory file
+    #
+    export TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY=".tmp.$NAME.AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY.$$.tmp"
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[3]: temporary author_handle inventory file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
+    fi
+    trap 'rm -f $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY; exit' 0 1 2 3 15
+    rm -f "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
+    if [[ -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot remove temporary author_handle inventory file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
+	exit 12
+    fi
+    : > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
+    if [[ ! -e $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot create temporary author_handle inventory file: $TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" 1>&2
+	exit 13
+    fi
+
+    # check author/author_handle.json files
+    #
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: debug[1]: starting to check author_handle.json files under: $AUTHOR_DIR" 1>&2
+    fi
+    find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' 2>/dev/null |
+      LC_ALL=C sort -d -u > "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY"
+    while read -r AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON; do
+
+	# scan the author/author_handle.json file for unexpected \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} strings
+	#
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	    echo "$0: debug[5]: about to run: sed -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON 2>&1 | grep -E ..." 1>&2
+	fi
+	FOUND_UHEX=$(sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 2>&1 | grep -E '\\u[[:xdigit:]]{4}')
+	if [[ -n $FOUND_UHEX ]]; then
+	    echo "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"
+	fi
+
+    done < "$TMP_AUTHOR_HANDLE_INVENTORY" >> "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM"
+fi
+
+
+# report any problems
+#
+if [[ -s $TMP_JSON_PROBLEM ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: found unexpected \\uHexHexHexHex strings in JSON files" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: list of JSON files with unexpected \\uHexHexHexHex strings, starts below" 1>&2
+    cat "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[5]: list of JSON files with unexpected \\uHexHexHexHex strings, ends above" 1>&2
+    if [[ $EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ]]; then
+	EXIT_CODE="1"  # exit 1
+	echo "$0: Warning: EXIT_CODE set to: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+    fi
+fi
+
+
+# All Done!!! All Done!!! -- Jessica Noll, Age 2
+#
+if [[ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: Warning: about to exit non-zero: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+elif [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to exit $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+fi
+exit "$EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/bin/unicode-fix.sed b/bin/unicode-fix.sed
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a04576555
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/unicode-fix.sed
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env sed
+#
+# bin/unicode-fix.sed - work-a-round to pre-translate certain JSON /u codes
+#
+# Until the jsrdecode(1) is fixed so that it properly converts 1 or 2 consecutive
+# JSON string \uHexHexHexHex values into the proper binary symbol, we pre-translate
+# JSON string \uHexHexHexHex values used in this web site as a work-a-round to
+# avoid the jsrdecode(1) bug.
+#
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - until we have fixed jstrdecode, we must FAKE PARSE IOCCC JSON files       - XXX
+# XXX - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - GROSS HACK - XXX
+# XXX - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - XXX
+#
+# Until this bug is the jparse repo is fixed, we need to avoid
+# using \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} within JSON encoded strings.
+#
+#   https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/issues/13
+#
+# The above mentioned bug results in certain tools that are based on the
+# jparse repo:
+#
+#   https://github.com/xexyl/jparse
+#
+# including code from the mkiocccentry repo's jparse sub-directory:
+#
+#   https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/tree/master/jparse
+#
+# We need to avoid using \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} within JSON encoded strings.
+# Sorry (tm Canada :-)).
+#
+# The following sed script converts known problematic \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4}
+# combinations into their RAW character form:
+#
+#   bin/unicode-fix.sed
+#
+# Use of that sed script serves as a work-a-round to avoid to avoid any
+# problematic \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} combinations in JSON encoded strings.
+#
+# For information on the jsrdecode(1) bug, see:
+#
+#	https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/issues/13
+#
+# usage:
+#
+#	cmd | sed -f bin/unicode-fix.sed
+#
+#	sed -f bin/unicode-fix.sed file > output
+#
+#	sed -i -f bin/unicode-fix.sed file
+#
+# VERSION="1.0 2024-09-23"
+#
+s/\\u00c4/Ä/g
+s/\\u00e1/á/g
+s/\\u00eb/ë/g
+s/\\u00fd/ý/g
+s/\\u0159/ř/g
+s/\\u2019/’/g