diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0a146d407..5ee177e80 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ SORT_GITIGNORE= bin/sort.gitignore.sh
 FIND_MISSING_LINKS= bin/find-missing-links.sh
 CSV2ENTRY= bin/csv2entry.sh
 ENTRY2CSV= bin/entry2csv.sh
-UNICODE_CHK= bin/unicode-chk.sh
 
 
 #############
@@ -277,7 +276,7 @@ clobber:
 # Finally: The rules in this section are NOT needed if you
 #	   simple want to examine, run / test winning IOCCC entries.
 
-.PHONY: help genpath genfilelist all_jfmt verify_entry_files unicode_chk gen_authors quick_authors \
+.PHONY: help genpath genfilelist all_jfmt verify_entry_files gen_authors quick_authors \
 	gen_location quick_location gen_years find_missing_links test entry_index gen_top_html \
 	thanks gen_other_html quick_other_html quick_entry_index \
 	gen_year_index quick_year_index quick_www www untar_entry_tarball untar_year_tarball \
@@ -313,7 +312,6 @@ help:
 	@echo 'make genfilelist	;: generate YYYY level .filelist'
 	@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 unicode_chk	;: verify all .entry.json and author_handle.json files'
 	@echo 'make gen_authors	;: generate the top level authors.html page'
 	@echo 'make quick_authors	;: build authors.html if out of date with author JSON files'
 	@echo 'make gen_location	;: generate the top level location.html page'
@@ -449,11 +447,6 @@ verify_entry_files: ${ALL_RUN} ${CHK_ENTRY}
 	${ALL_RUN} -v 1 ${CHK_ENTRY}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
-unicode_chk: ${UNICODE_CHK}
-	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
-	${UNICODE_CHK} -v 1
-	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
-
 # sort .gitignore files according to rules in bin/sgi.sh
 #
 sort_gitignore: ${ALL_RUN} ${SORT_GITIGNORE}
@@ -464,14 +457,14 @@ sort_gitignore: ${ALL_RUN} ${SORT_GITIGNORE}
 # generate the top level authors.html page using the
 # ${GEN_AUTHORS} tool (bin/gen-authors.sh).
 #
-gen_authors: ${GEN_AUTHORS} authors.html
+gen_authors: ${GEN_AUTHORS}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	${GEN_AUTHORS} -v 1
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 # build authors.html if it is out of date from any author/author_handle.json file
 #
-quick_authors: ${GEN_AUTHORS} authors.html
+quick_authors: ${GEN_AUTHORS}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	${GEN_AUTHORS} -v 1 -Q
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
@@ -479,7 +472,7 @@ quick_authors: ${GEN_AUTHORS} authors.html
 # generate the top level location.html page using the
 # ${GEN_LOCATION} tool (bin/gen-location.sh).
 #
-gen_location: ${GEN_LOCATION} location.html
+gen_location: ${GEN_LOCATION}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	${GEN_LOCATION} -v 1
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
@@ -489,7 +482,7 @@ gen_location: ${GEN_LOCATION} location.html
 # generate the top level location.html page using the
 # ${GEN_LOCATION} tool (bin/gen-location.sh).
 #
-quick_location: ${GEN_LOCATION} location.html
+quick_location: ${GEN_LOCATION}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	${GEN_LOCATION} -v 1 -Q
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
@@ -497,7 +490,7 @@ quick_location: ${GEN_LOCATION} location.html
 # generate the top level years.html page using the ${GEN_YEARS}
 # tool (bin/gen-years.sh).
 #
-gen_years: ${GEN_YEARS} years.html
+gen_years: ${GEN_YEARS}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	${GEN_YEARS} -v 1
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
@@ -694,7 +687,6 @@ quick_www:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make genpath =-=-=-=-='
 	${MAKE} genfilelist
 	${MAKE} sort_gitignore
-	${MAKE} unicode_chk
 	${MAKE} verify_entry_files
 	${MAKE} quick_authors
 	${MAKE} quick_location
@@ -723,7 +715,6 @@ www:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make genpath =-=-=-=-='
 	${MAKE} genfilelist
 	${MAKE} sort_gitignore
-	${MAKE} unicode_chk
 	${MAKE} verify_entry_files
 	${MAKE} gen_authors
 	${MAKE} gen_location
diff --git a/bin/README.md b/bin/README.md
index 243bd72ca..aed88199a 100644
--- a/bin/README.md
+++ b/bin/README.md
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ The [jfmt-wrapper.sh](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh) tool is a wrapper
 tool for `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,
+NOTE: As of 2024 Oct 08 the `jfmt(1)` tool has not been written,
 so [jfmt-wrapper.sh](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh) uses the
 `JSONPath.sh(1)` tool from the recently forked and modified
 [JSONPath.sh tool](https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh).
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ tool for `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 that tool has not been written, so
+As of 2024 Oct 08 that tool has not been written, so
 [jprint-wrapper.sh](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh) uses
 the `JSONPath.sh(1)` tool from the recently forked and modified
 [JSONPath.sh tool](https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh).
@@ -638,6 +638,55 @@ Or use in a pipe:
 ```
 
 
+<div id="jval-wrapper">
+### [jval-wrapper.sh](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/jval-wrapper.sh)
+</div>
+
+The [jval-wrapper.sh](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/jval-wrapper.sh) tool is a wrapper
+tool for `jval(1)`, a tool that will output a JSON value using the
+XPath for JSON mechanism.  For information in XPath for JSON see:
+
+- [https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/](https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/)
+- [https://jsonpath.com](https://jsonpath.com)
+- [https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh?tab=readme-ov-file#jsonpath-patterns-and-extensions](https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh?tab=readme-ov-file#jsonpath-patterns-and-extensions)
+
+NOTE: As of 2024 Oct 08 the `jval(1)` tool has not been written,
+so [jval-wrapper.sh](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/jval-wrapper.sh) uses the
+`jsp(1)` tool from [//github.com/kjozsa/jsp](//github.com/kjozsa/jsp)
+or if not found, the `JSONPath.sh(1)` tool from the recently forked and modified
+[JSONPath.sh tool](https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh).
+
+Usage:
+
+``` <!---sh-->
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh [-b] [-q] [-T] file.json [pattern]
+
+    -b        print only values (def: print both JSON member and JSON value)
+    -q        remove enclosing double quotes (def: keep any enclosing double quotes)
+    -T        trim all newlines (def: do not)
+
+    file.json JSON file to process, - ==> read stdin
+    pattern   Xpath for JSON query pattern
+```
+
+For example:
+
+
+``` <!---sh-->
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$.award'
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$..author_handle'
+
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$.manifest[2]'
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -q 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$.manifest[2]'
+
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -b 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$.manifest[2].entry_text'
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -b -q 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$.manifest[2].inventory_order'
+
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh author/Anton_Algmyr.json '$.full_name'
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -q -T author/Anton_Algmyr.json '$.full_name' | jstrdecode -
+```
+
+
 <div id="md2html_cfg">
 ### [md2html.cfg](%%REPO_URL%%/bin/md2html.cfg)
 </div>
diff --git a/bin/csv2entry.sh b/bin/csv2entry.sh
index c7aecba50..de4b0fca5 100755
--- a/bin/csv2entry.sh
+++ b/bin/csv2entry.sh
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ shopt -s lastpipe	# explicitly run the last command of the pipe line in the curr
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.4 2024-09-27"
+export VERSION="1.5 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -514,36 +514,19 @@ if [[ ! -x $JVAL_WRAPPER ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# verify that the bin/unicode-chk.sh tool is executable
-#
-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 $UNICODE_CHK ]]; then
-    echo  "$0: ERROR: bin/unicode-chk.sh is not a regular file: $UNICODE_CHK" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-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
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: combine_author_handle.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
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: combine_author_handle.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
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: combine_author_handle.sh is not an executable file: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
 
@@ -574,7 +557,6 @@ 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
@@ -1566,18 +1548,6 @@ sed -e '/^#/d' -e 's/,/ /g' "$MANIFEST_CSV" |
 		printf "}\n"
 	    } >> "$TMP_ENTRY_JSON"
 
-	    # check the JSON file
-	    #
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[5]: about to check: $PREV_ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-	    fi
-	    "$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
-
 	    # update entry .entry.json if different
 	    #
 	    if [[ -z $NOOP ]]; then
diff --git a/bin/entry2csv.sh b/bin/entry2csv.sh
index 3a7db7e8f..94e391e78 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="1.4 2024-09-27"
+export VERSION="1.5 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -135,6 +135,17 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
 fi
 export TOPDIR
 #
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 export NOOP=
 export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 export EXIT_CODE="0"
@@ -186,12 +197,12 @@ function output_award
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE - failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -346,14 +357,14 @@ function output_abstract
     #
     PATTERN='$..abstract'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -" 1>&2
     fi
     export ABSTRACT
-    ABSTRACT=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN")
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $ABSTRACT ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
+    ABSTRACT=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -)
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $ABSTRACT ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -  failed," \
+	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
     if [[ ${#ABSTRACT} -ge 65 ]]; then
@@ -364,13 +375,7 @@ function output_abstract
 	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: abstract contains ; or & or , in $ENTRY_JSON_PATH" 1>&2
 	return 7
     fi
-    sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" -e 's/[;&,]//g' <<< "$ABSTRACT"
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: sed -f $UNICODE_FIX_SED -e ... failed," \
-	     "error code: $status" 1>&2
-	return 8
-    fi
+    echo "${ABSTRACT//[;&,]/}"
     return 0
 }
 
@@ -623,23 +628,6 @@ if [[ ! -r $MANIFEST_ENTRY_CSV_ENTRY_AWK ]]; 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
-
-
 # print running info if verbose
 #
 # If -v 3 or higher, print exported variables in order that they were exported.
@@ -650,6 +638,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 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
@@ -665,7 +654,6 @@ 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
diff --git a/bin/gen-authors.sh b/bin/gen-authors.sh
index ca9ab6d4b..337344492 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="1.13 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.14 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -104,6 +104,18 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
     TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 fi
 export TOPDIR
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="./"
 export TAGLINE="bin/$NAME"
 export MD2HTML_SH="bin/md2html.sh"
@@ -240,13 +252,13 @@ function output_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
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$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: $status" 1>&2
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE - failed," \
+	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
     return 0
@@ -489,32 +501,15 @@ export AUTHORS_HTML="authors.html"
 #
 export COMBINE_AUTHOR="$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
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: combine_author_handle.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
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: combine_author_handle.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
+    echo  "$0: ERROR: combine_author_handle.sh is not an executable file: $COMBINE_AUTHOR" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
 
@@ -529,6 +524,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TAGLINE=$TAGLINE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MD2HTML_SH=$MD2HTML_SH" 1>&2
@@ -556,7 +552,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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
 
 
@@ -738,7 +733,6 @@ EOF
 	    fi
 	    export AUTHOR_DATA
 	    AUTHOR_DATA=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -q -- "$filename" |
-			  sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED" |
 			  LC_ALL=C sort -d)
 	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
 	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
@@ -767,7 +761,7 @@ EOF
 		#
 		case "$NAME" in
 		full_name)
-		    FULL_NAME="$VALUE"
+		    FULL_NAME=$("$JSTRDECODE" "$VALUE")
 		    ;;
 		location_code)
 		    LOCATION_CODE="$VALUE"
@@ -788,7 +782,7 @@ EOF
 		    AUTHOR_GITHUB="$VALUE"
 		    ;;
 		affiliation)
-		    AUTHOR_AFFILIATION="$VALUE"
+		    AUTHOR_AFFILIATION=$("$JSTRDECODE" "$VALUE")
 		    ;;
 		author_handle)
 		    AUTHOR_HANDLE="$VALUE"
@@ -955,7 +949,7 @@ EOF
 
 		# collect the award for this entry id
 		#
-		AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
+		AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON")
 		export AWARD
 		if [[ -z $AWARD ]]; then
 		    echo "$0: ERROR: award not found in .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/gen-location.sh b/bin/gen-location.sh
index ce60b4b36..65dd5369b 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="1.7 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.8 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -101,6 +101,18 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
     TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 fi
 export TOPDIR
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="./"
 export TAGLINE="bin/$NAME"
 export PANDOC_WRAPPER="bin/pandoc-wrapper.sh"
@@ -397,23 +409,6 @@ 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.
@@ -424,6 +419,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TAGLINE=$TAGLINE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: MD2HTML_SH=$MD2HTML_SH" 1>&2
@@ -447,7 +443,6 @@ 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
@@ -574,7 +569,7 @@ find "$AUTHOR_DIR" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.json' -print |
 	# obtain the author full name
 	#
 	PATTERN='$..full_name'
-	FULL_NAME=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
+	FULL_NAME=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -)
 	status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
 	if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $FULL_NAME ]]; then
 	    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot full name from: $AUTHOR_HANDLE" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/gen-years.sh b/bin/gen-years.sh
index c36345806..89e510d7f 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="1.5 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.6 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -104,6 +104,18 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
     TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 fi
 export TOPDIR
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 TAC_TOOL=$(type -P tac)
 export TAC_TOOL
 if [[ ! -x $TAC_TOOL ]]; then
@@ -214,9 +226,9 @@ function output_award
     # obtain the award string
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
-    AWARD_STRING=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN")
-    status="$?"
-    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $AWARD_STRING ]]; then
+    AWARD_STRING=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -)
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -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
@@ -552,23 +564,6 @@ 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.
@@ -579,6 +574,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TAC_TOOL=$TAC_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: FMT_TOOL=$FMT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
@@ -601,7 +597,6 @@ 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
 
 
@@ -868,9 +863,9 @@ for YYYY in $("$TAC_TOOL" "$TOP_FILE"); do
 
 	# determine the award for this entry
 	#
-	AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
-	status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
-	if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $AWARD ]]; then
+	AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON")
+	status="$?"
+	if [[ $status -ne 0 || -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/index.html b/bin/index.html
index ff6bf99ed..03249d077 100644
--- a/bin/index.html
+++ b/bin/index.html
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ do that, that is not a problem.</p>
 <p>The <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh">jfmt-wrapper.sh</a> tool is a wrapper
 tool for <code>jfmt(1)</code>, a tool that will format a JSON
 # file into a canonical style.</p>
-<p>NOTE: As of 2024 July 28 the <code>jfmt(1)</code> tool has not been written,
+<p>NOTE: As of 2024 Oct 08 the <code>jfmt(1)</code> tool has not been written,
 so <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh">jfmt-wrapper.sh</a> uses the
 <code>JSONPath.sh(1)</code> tool from the recently forked and modified
 <a href="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh">JSONPath.sh tool</a>.</p>
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ so <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jfmt-wr
 tool for <code>jprint(1)</code>, a tool that will format JSON in a canonical style
 to stdout.</p>
 <p>NOTE: <code>jprint(1)</code> is a planned tool based on <code>jfmt(1)</code>.
-As of 2024 July 28 that tool has not been written, so
+As of 2024 Oct 08 that tool has not been written, so
 <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh">jprint-wrapper.sh</a> uses
 the <code>JSONPath.sh(1)</code> tool from the recently forked and modified
 <a href="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh">JSONPath.sh tool</a>.</p>
@@ -756,6 +756,43 @@ the <code>JSONPath.sh(1)</code> tool from the recently forked and modified
 <pre><code>    bin/jprint-wrapper.sh .entry.json</code></pre>
 <p>Or use in a pipe:</p>
 <pre><code>    cat .info.json | bin/jprint-wrapper.sh</code></pre>
+<div id="jval-wrapper">
+<h3 id="jval-wrapper.sh"><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jval-wrapper.sh">jval-wrapper.sh</a></h3>
+</div>
+<p>The <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jval-wrapper.sh">jval-wrapper.sh</a> tool is a wrapper
+tool for <code>jval(1)</code>, a tool that will output a JSON value using the
+XPath for JSON mechanism. For information in XPath for JSON see:</p>
+<ul>
+<li><a href="https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/">https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/</a></li>
+<li><a href="https://jsonpath.com">https://jsonpath.com</a></li>
+<li><a href="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh?tab=readme-ov-file#jsonpath-patterns-and-extensions">https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh?tab=readme-ov-file#jsonpath-patterns-and-extensions</a></li>
+</ul>
+<p>NOTE: As of 2024 Oct 08 the <code>jval(1)</code> tool has not been written,
+so <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/jval-wrapper.sh">jval-wrapper.sh</a> uses the
+<code>jsp(1)</code> tool from <a href="//github.com/kjozsa/jsp">//github.com/kjozsa/jsp</a>
+or if not found, the <code>JSONPath.sh(1)</code> tool from the recently forked and modified
+<a href="https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh">JSONPath.sh tool</a>.</p>
+<p>Usage:</p>
+<pre><code>    bin/jval-wrapper.sh [-b] [-q] [-T] file.json [pattern]
+
+    -b        print only values (def: print both JSON member and JSON value)
+    -q        remove enclosing double quotes (def: keep any enclosing double quotes)
+    -T        trim all newlines (def: do not)
+
+    file.json JSON file to process, - ==&gt; read stdin
+    pattern   Xpath for JSON query pattern</code></pre>
+<p>For example:</p>
+<pre><code>    bin/jval-wrapper.sh 1984/mullender/.entry.json &#39;$.award&#39;
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh 1984/mullender/.entry.json &#39;$..author_handle&#39;
+
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh 1984/mullender/.entry.json &#39;$.manifest[2]&#39;
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -q 1984/mullender/.entry.json &#39;$.manifest[2]&#39;
+
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -b 1984/mullender/.entry.json &#39;$.manifest[2].entry_text&#39;
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -b -q 1984/mullender/.entry.json &#39;$.manifest[2].inventory_order&#39;
+
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh author/Anton_Algmyr.json &#39;$.full_name&#39;
+    bin/jval-wrapper.sh -q -T author/Anton_Algmyr.json &#39;$.full_name&#39; | jstrdecode -</code></pre>
 <div id="md2html_cfg">
 <h3 id="md2html.cfg"><a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc/blob/master/bin/md2html.cfg">md2html.cfg</a></h3>
 </div>
diff --git a/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh b/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh
index 9dd44a71b..ff5b52038 100755
--- a/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh
+++ b/bin/jfmt-wrapper.sh
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.2 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.3 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -326,23 +326,6 @@ 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
@@ -446,7 +429,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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
 
 
@@ -495,7 +477,7 @@ case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
 	    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"
+	    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", \
diff --git a/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh b/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh
index c3d2514de..b4a5b42de 100755
--- a/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh
+++ b/bin/jprint-wrapper.sh
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.3 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.4 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ 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"
@@ -326,23 +327,6 @@ 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
@@ -446,7 +430,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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
 
 
@@ -485,7 +468,7 @@ case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
 		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 : /'
+		sed -e 's/\(\S\): /\1 : /'
 	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
 	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color | sed ...  failed", \
@@ -500,7 +483,7 @@ case "$XPATHJSON_USE" in
 		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 : /'
+		sed -e 's/\(\S\): /\1 : /'
 	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
 	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
 		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --indent 4 --format --no-color < $JSON_FILE | sed ...  failed", \
diff --git a/bin/jval-wrapper.sh b/bin/jval-wrapper.sh
index d3e8c367a..75deba9f2 100755
--- a/bin/jval-wrapper.sh
+++ b/bin/jval-wrapper.sh
@@ -1,25 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 #
-# jval-wrapper.sh - print JSON values to stdout
+# jval-wrapper.sh - print JSON values to stdout using the XPath for JSON model
 #
 # We form a wrapper for the `jval(1)`, a tool that allow the printing of JSON values.
 #
-# We propose that the grammar used by JSONPath.sh(1):
-#
-#   https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh
-#
-# becomes the model for how `jval(1)` prints JSON values.  Consider, for, example:
-#
-#   JSONPath.sh -w -f 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$author_set..author_handle'
-#
-# and in particular:
-#
-#   JSONPath.sh -w -b -f 1984/mullender/.entry.json '$author_set..author_handle'
-#
-# as a model of printing the `author_handle` values from the JSON `author_set` array.
-#
-# See the following URL for more information.
+# See the following on XPath for JSON model:
 #
+#   https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/
+#   https://jsonpath.com
 #   https://github.com/lcn2/JSONPath.sh?tab=readme-ov-file#jsonpath-patterns-and-extensions
 #
 # Copyright (c) 2024 by Landon Curt Noll.  All Rights Reserved.
@@ -106,7 +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 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.2 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -122,6 +110,7 @@ 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"
@@ -150,11 +139,12 @@ export PATTERN=""
 export PRINT_ONLY_VALUES=""
 export REMOVE_QUOTES=""
 export QUICK_CHECK=""
+export TRIM_NEWLINE=""
 
 
 # set usage message
 #
-export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-b] [-q] [-t tool] [-Q] file.json [pattern]
+export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-b] [-q] [-T] [-t tool] [-Q] file.json [pattern]
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
 	-v level	set verbosity level (def level: 0)
@@ -165,12 +155,13 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-n] [-N] [-b] [-q] [-t tool] [-Q]
 
 	-b		print only values (def: print both JSON member and JSON value)
 	-q		remove enclosing double quotes (def: keep any enclosing double quotes)
+	-T		trim all newlines (def: do not)
 
 	-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}
+	pattern		Xpath for JSON query pattern (def: $PATTERN}
 
 Exit codes:
      0         all OK
@@ -193,7 +184,7 @@ export DO_NOT_PROCESS=
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:VnNbqt:Q flag; do
+while getopts :hv:VnNbqTt:Q flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -211,6 +202,8 @@ while getopts :hv:VnNbqt:Q flag; do
 	;;
     q) REMOVE_QUOTES="true"
        ;;
+    T) TRIM_NEWLINE="true"
+       ;;
     t) # validate -t tool
        case "$OPTARG" in
        jsp) XPATHJSON_USE="jsp" ;;
@@ -339,23 +332,6 @@ 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
@@ -455,6 +431,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: TRIM_NEWLINE=$TRIM_NEWLINE" 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
@@ -462,7 +439,6 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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
 
 
@@ -502,30 +478,72 @@ jsp)
     #
     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
+	if [[ -z $TRIM_NEWLINE ]]; then
+
+	    # case: jsp w/o -T from standard input
+	    #
+	    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
+
+	else
+
+	    # case: jsp -T from standard input
+	    #
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+		NL='\\n'
+		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' | tr -d $NL" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSP_TOOL" --no-color --format --indent 0 -- "$PATTERN" | tr -d '\n'
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' failed", \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
 	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
+	if [[ -z $TRIM_NEWLINE ]]; then
+
+	    # case: jsp w/o -T from file
+	    #
+	    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
+
+	else
+
+	    # case: jsp -T from file
+	    #
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
+		NL='\\n'
+		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' < $JSON_FILE | tr -d $NL" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSP_TOOL" --no-color --format --indent 0 -- "$PATTERN" < "$JSON_FILE" | tr -d '\n'
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSP_TOOL --no-color --format --indent 0 -- '$PATTERN' < $JSON_FILE failed", \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
 	fi
 
     # case: print only values from jsp output
@@ -621,32 +639,76 @@ JSONPath.sh)
     #
     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
+	if [[ -z $TRIM_NEWLINE ]]; then
+
+	    # case: JSONPath.sh w/o -T from standard input
+	    #
+	    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
+
+	else
+
+	    # case: JSONPath.sh -T from standard input
+	    #
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+		NL='\\n'
+		echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -- '$PATTERN' | tr -d $NL" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSP_TOOL" --no-color --format --indent 0 -- "$PATTERN" | tr -d '\n'
+	    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
+		echo "$0: ERROR: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -- '$PATTERN' failed", \
+		     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
+		exit 1
+	    fi
 	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
+	if [[ -z $TRIM_NEWLINE ]]; then
+
+	    # case: JSONPath.sh w/o -T from file
+	    #
+	    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
+
+	else
+
+	    # case: JSONPath.sh -T from file
+	    #
+	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
+		NL='\\n'
+		echo "$0: debug[1]: about to: $JSONPATH_SH -w -u -f $JSON_FILE -- '$PATTERN' | tr -d $NL" 1>&2
+	    fi
+	    "$JSONPATH_SH" -w -u -f "$JSON_FILE" -- "$PATTERN" | tr -d '\n'
+	    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
+
 	fi
 
+
     # case: print only values from JSONPath.sh output
     #
     fi | if [[ -n $PRINT_ONLY_VALUES ]]; then
diff --git a/bin/output-index-author.sh b/bin/output-index-author.sh
index dd478bb78..1521030ee 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="1.9 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.10 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -120,6 +120,18 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
     TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 fi
 export TOPDIR
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
 export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
 # GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
@@ -312,7 +324,7 @@ function output_full_name
     # extract Full Name from the author/author_handle.json file
     #
     PATTERN='$..full_name'
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -
     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," \
@@ -646,23 +658,6 @@ 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
@@ -671,6 +666,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
@@ -698,7 +694,6 @@ 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 89a332ebb..54b1369af 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="1.5 2024-09-23"
+export VERSION="1.6 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -129,6 +129,18 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
     TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 fi
 export TOPDIR
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
 export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
 # GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
@@ -216,13 +228,13 @@ function output_award
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN'" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$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: $status" 1>&2
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -
+    status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
+    if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE - failed," \
+	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
     return 0
@@ -534,23 +546,6 @@ 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
@@ -559,6 +554,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
@@ -572,7 +568,6 @@ 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
 
 
@@ -697,7 +692,7 @@ for YYYY_DIR in $(< "$YEAR_FILE"); do
 
     # determine the award for this entry
     #
-    AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED")
+    AWARD=$(output_award "$ENTRY_JSON")
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $AWARD ]]; then
 	echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find award in .entry.json: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
diff --git a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
index 16da9a8f8..b93974be8 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="1.7 2024-09-27"
+export VERSION="1.8 2024-10-08"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -122,6 +122,18 @@ if [[ $status -eq 0 ]]; then
     TOPDIR=$("$GIT_TOOL" rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 fi
 export TOPDIR
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(type -P jstrdecode)
+export JSTRDECODE
+if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install jstrdecode:" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: run: git clone https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry.git" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd mkiocccentry && make clobber all" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
 export DOCROOT_SLASH="../../"
 export REPO_TOP_URL="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc"
 # GitHub puts individual files under the "blob/master" sub-directory.
@@ -206,13 +218,12 @@ function output_award
     #
     PATTERN='$..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
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
-    status="$?"
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -
     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," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE - failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -258,13 +269,12 @@ function output_abstract
     #
     PATTERN='$..abstract'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | sed ..." 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | sed -f "$UNICODE_FIX_SED"
-    status="$?"
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q -T "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN | sed ... failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -T -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN | $JSTRDECODE - failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -445,23 +455,6 @@ 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"
@@ -581,6 +574,7 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     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 "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: DOCROOT_SLASH=$DOCROOT_SLASH" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
@@ -597,7 +591,6 @@ 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
deleted file mode 100755
index d0ec87a0c..000000000
--- a/bin/unicode-chk.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,735 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-#
-# unicode-chk.sh - verify all \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} and JSON syntax 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 "$0: Notice: For macOS users: install Homebrew (see https://brew.sh), then run" \
-	 ""brew install bash" and then modify your \$PATH so that \"#!/usr/bin/env bash\"" \
-	 "finds the Homebrew installed (usually /opt/homebrew/bin/bash) version of bash" 1>&2
-    exit 4
-fi
-
-
-# setup bash file matching
-#
-# We must declare arrays with -ag or -Ag, and we need loops to "export" modified variables.
-# This requires a bash with a version 4.2 or later.  See the larger comment above about bash versions.
-#
-shopt -s nullglob	# enable expanded to nothing rather than remaining unexpanded
-shopt -u failglob	# disable error message if no matches are found
-shopt -u dotglob	# disable matching files starting with .
-shopt -u nocaseglob	# disable strict case matching
-shopt -u extglob	# enable extended globbing patterns
-shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories and subdirectories
-
-
-# set variables referenced in the usage message
-#
-export VERSION="1.1 2024-09-24"
-NAME=$(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"
-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
-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 "$0: ERROR: in -D docroot/, the docroot must end in /" 1>&2
-	   echo 1>&2
-	   echo "$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
-	echo "$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 "$0: debug[3]: JPARSE_TOOL=$JPARSE_TOOL" 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
-
-	# verify the JSON of the file
-	#
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[1]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-	fi
-	"$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$JSON_FILE"
-	status="$?"
-	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: Warning: invalid JSON: $JSON_FILE" 1>&2
-	    echo "$JSON_FILE"
-	    continue
-	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
-
-	    # verify the JSON of the .entry.json file
-	    #
-	    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $YYYY_DIR/.entry.json" 1>&2
-	    fi
-	    "$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$YYYY_DIR/.entry.json"
-	    status="$?"
-	    if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-		echo "$0: Warning: invalid JSON: $YYYY_DIR/.entry.json" 1>&2
-		echo "$YYYY_DIR/.entry.json"
-		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: $TOPDIR/$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
-
-	# verify the JSON of the .entry.json file
-	#
-	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: debug[3]: about to run: $JPARSE_TOOL -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	fi
-	"$JPARSE_TOOL" -q -- "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"
-	status="$?"
-	if [[ $status -ne 0 ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: Warning: invalid JSON: $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" 1>&2
-	    echo "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON"
-	    continue
-	fi
-
-	# 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 "$0: debug[5]: list of JSON file problems, starts below" 1>&2
-    cat "$TMP_JSON_PROBLEM" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[5]: list of JSON file problems, 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
deleted file mode 100644
index fa2dd2c38..000000000
--- a/bin/unicode-fix.sed
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env sed
-#
-# bin/unicode-fix.sed - workaround to pre-translate certain JSON /u codes
-#
-# Until the jstrdecode(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 workaround to
-# avoid the jstrdecode(1) bug. We must do this as it's a more complicated bug
-# and we wish to move along with the IOCCC.
-#
-# 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 workaround to avoid to avoid any
-# problematic \\u[[:xdigit:]]{4} combinations in JSON encoded strings.
-#
-# For information on the jstrdecode(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