diff --git a/bin/cvt-submission.sh b/bin/cvt-submission.sh
index fe099fd72..7be41a6f2 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="1.3 2024-09-27"
+export VERSION="1.3.1 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -119,12 +119,35 @@ if [[ -z "$CHKENTRY_TOOL" ]]; then
     exit 5
 fi
 #
-JSTRDECODE_TOOL=$(type -P jstrdecode)
-export JSTRDECODE_TOOL
-if [[ -z "$JSTRDECODE_TOOL" ]]; then
-    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode tool is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $MKIOCCCENTRY_REPO; cd mkiocccentry" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: then if needed: make clobber all install" 1>&2
+VERGE=$(type -P verge)
+export VERGE
+if [[ -z $VERGE ]]; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: verge is not installed or not in \$PATH" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: to install verge:" 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 "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+#
+JSTRDECODE=$(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 "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
+    exit 5
+fi
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
+JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
+if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
+    echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: notice: consider updating jstrdecode from mkiocccentry repo" 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
 #
@@ -163,7 +186,7 @@ export X_3="X""X""X"
 # usage
 #
 export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir]
-	[-c chkentry] [-j jstrdecode] [-T tarball_dir]
+	[-c chkentry] [-T tarball_dir]
         [-i input_data] [-n] [-N] YYYY/dir
 
 	-h		print help message and exit
@@ -172,7 +195,6 @@ export USAGE="usage: $0 [-h] [-v level] [-V] [-d topdir]
 
 	-d topdir	set topdir (def: $TOPDIR)
 	-c chkentry	path to the chkentry tool (def: $CHKENTRY_TOOL)
-	-j jstrdecode	path to the jstrdecode tool (def: $JSTRDECODE_TOOL)
 
 	-T tarball_dir	where to form the compressed tarball of modified files (def: $TARBALL_DIR)
 
@@ -248,10 +270,10 @@ function prompt_string
 
 	# JSON decode value
 	#
-	DECODED=$("$JSTRDECODE_TOOL" -q -n -- "$INPUT")
+	DECODED=$("$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -- "$INPUT")
 	status="$?"
 	if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $DECODED ]]; then
-	    echo "$0: ERROR: in prompt_string: $JSTRDECODE_TOOL -q -n -- $INPUT failed," \
+	    echo "$0: ERROR: in prompt_string: $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -- $INPUT failed," \
 		 "error code: $status" 1>&2
 	    exit 1
 	fi
@@ -334,10 +356,10 @@ function prompt_integer
 	if [[ $INPUT =~ ^[[:digit:]]+$ && $INPUT -ge 0 && $INPUT -le 4294967295 ]]; then
 	    # JSON decode value
 	    #
-	    DECODED=$("$JSTRDECODE_TOOL" -q -n -- "$INPUT")
+	    DECODED=$("$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -- "$INPUT")
 	    status="$?"
 	    if [[ $status -ne 0 || -z $DECODED ]]; then
-		echo "$0: ERROR: in prompt_integer: $JSTRDECODE_TOOL -q -n -- $INPUT failed," \
+		echo "$0: ERROR: in prompt_integer: $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -- $INPUT failed," \
 		     "error code: $status" 1>&2
 		exit 1
 	    fi
@@ -723,7 +745,7 @@ function write_author_handle_file
 
 # parse command line
 #
-while getopts :hv:Vd:c:s:i:T:nN flag; do
+while getopts :hv:Vd:c:i:T:nN flag; do
   case "$flag" in
     h) echo "$USAGE" 1>&2
 	exit 2
@@ -737,8 +759,6 @@ while getopts :hv:Vd:c:s:i:T:nN flag; do
 	;;
     c) CHKENTRY_TOOL="$OPTARG"
 	;;
-    s) JSTRDECODE_TOOL="$OPTARG"
-	;;
     i) INPUT_DATA_FILE="$OPTARG"
 	;;
     T) TARBALL_DIR="$OPTARG"
@@ -1019,7 +1039,10 @@ if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GIT_TOOL=$GIT_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: TOPDIR=$TOPDIR" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: CHKENTRY_TOOL=$CHKENTRY_TOOL" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_TOOL=$JSTRDECODE_TOOL" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: VERGE=$VERGE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE=$JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
+    echo "$0: debug[3]: JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: GTAR_TOOL=$GTAR_TOOL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_TOP_URL=$REPO_TOP_URL" 1>&2
     echo "$0: debug[3]: REPO_URL=$REPO_URL" 1>&2
@@ -1111,28 +1134,6 @@ if [[ ! -x $CHKENTRY_TOOL ]]; then
 fi
 
 
-# firewall - verify jstrdecode tool
-#
-if [[ ! -e $JSTRDECODE_TOOL ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jstrdecode file does not exist: $JSTRDECODE_TOOL" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $MKIOCCCENTRY_REPO; cd mkiocccentry" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: then if needed: make clobber all install" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-if [[ ! -f $JSTRDECODE_TOOL ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: jstrdecode is not a file: $JSTRDECODE_TOOL" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $MKIOCCCENTRY_REPO; cd mkiocccentry" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: then if needed: make clobber all install" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-if [[ ! -x $JSTRDECODE_TOOL ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: cannot find an executable jstrdecode tool: $JSTRDECODE_TOOL" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: if needed: $GIT_TOOL clone $MKIOCCCENTRY_REPO; cd mkiocccentry" 1>&2
-    echo "$0: Notice: then if needed: make clobber all install" 1>&2
-    exit 5
-fi
-
-
 # verify that YEAR is already in .top
 #
 if ! grep -E -q "^$YEAR_DIR$" "$TOP_FILE"; then
diff --git a/bin/entry2csv.sh b/bin/entry2csv.sh
index 4d2831d98..55129c067 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="1.6 2024-10-14"
+export VERSION="1.6.1 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -378,13 +378,13 @@ function output_abstract
     #
     PATTERN='$..abstract'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N -" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -" 1>&2
     fi
     export ABSTRACT
-    ABSTRACT=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N -)
+    ABSTRACT=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -)
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] || -z $ABSTRACT ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N -  failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
diff --git a/bin/gen-authors.sh b/bin/gen-authors.sh
index 32b9d18fe..04c983014 100755
--- a/bin/gen-authors.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-authors.sh
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.14.1 2024-10-10"
+export VERSION="1.14.2 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -283,12 +283,12 @@ function output_award
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N -" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N -
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N - failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ EOF
 		#
 		case "$NAME" in
 		full_name)
-		    FULL_NAME=$("$JSTRDECODE" "$VALUE")
+		    FULL_NAME=$("$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -- "$VALUE")
 		    ;;
 		location_code)
 		    LOCATION_CODE="$VALUE"
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ EOF
 		    AUTHOR_GITHUB="$VALUE"
 		    ;;
 		affiliation)
-		    AUTHOR_AFFILIATION=$("$JSTRDECODE" "$VALUE")
+		    AUTHOR_AFFILIATION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -- "$VALUE")
 		    ;;
 		author_handle)
 		    AUTHOR_HANDLE="$VALUE"
diff --git a/bin/gen-location.sh b/bin/gen-location.sh
index 613bbdf9c..0a25b609a 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="1.8.1 2024-10-10"
+export VERSION="1.8.2 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -593,7 +593,10 @@ find "$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" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N -)
+	if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	    echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -" 1>&2
+	fi
+	FULL_NAME=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -)
 	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 d42f79852..7eabb0dd6 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="1.6.1 2024-10-10"
+export VERSION="1.6.2 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -247,7 +247,10 @@ function output_award
     # obtain the award string
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
-    AWARD_STRING=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N -)
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $ENTRY_JSON_PATH \"$PATTERN\" | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -" 1>&2
+    fi
+    AWARD_STRING=$("$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -)
     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
diff --git a/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk b/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk
index 49c39e912..b292ec4a9 100755
--- a/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk
+++ b/bin/manifest.entry.json.awk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ BEGIN {
 
     # setup
     #
-    VERSION="1.2 2024-09-17"
+    VERSION="1.2.1 2024-11-16"
     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
@@ -308,9 +308,9 @@ within_manifest_array == 1 && begin_manifest_element == 1 && NF >= 3 && $1 ~ /^"
     # form the jstrdecode command
     #
     if (jstrdecode_arg ~ /^".*"$/) {
-	jstrdecode_cmd = "jstrdecode -Q -- " "'" substr(jstrdecode_arg, 2, length(jstrdecode_arg)-2)  "'";
+	jstrdecode_cmd = "jstrdecode -d -q -Q -- " "'" substr(jstrdecode_arg, 2, length(jstrdecode_arg)-2)  "'";
     } else {
-	jstrdecode_cmd = "jstrdecode -Q -- " "'" jstrdecode_arg "'";
+	jstrdecode_cmd = "jstrdecode -d -q -Q -- " "'" jstrdecode_arg "'";
     }
     jstrdecode_cmd = jstrdecode_cmd " 2>/dev/null; echo $?";
 
diff --git a/bin/output-index-author.sh b/bin/output-index-author.sh
index 2b5f8891e..2ab4f4153 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="1.10.1 2024-10-10"
+export VERSION="1.10.2 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -345,10 +345,13 @@ function output_full_name
     # extract Full Name from the author/author_handle.json file
     #
     PATTERN='$..full_name'
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N -
+    if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -" 1>&2
+    fi
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N - failed," \
+	echo  "$0: ERROR: in output_full_name: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q $AUTHOR_HANDLE_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - failed," \
 	      "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
diff --git a/bin/output-year-index.sh b/bin/output-year-index.sh
index ad1339e85..a013e1fcf 100755
--- a/bin/output-year-index.sh
+++ b/bin/output-year-index.sh
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.6.1 2024-10-10"
+export VERSION="1.6.2 2024-11-16"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -259,12 +259,12 @@ function output_award
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N -" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N -" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N -
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N -
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N - failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
diff --git a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
index 5140b8a09..29d3de3ec 100755
--- a/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
+++ b/bin/subst.entry-index.sh
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ if [[ -z $JSTRDECODE ]]; then
     echo "$0: notice: then: cd jparse && sudo make install clobber" 1>&2
     exit 5
 fi
-export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.0"
+export MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION="2.1.2"
 JSTRDECODE_VERSION=$("$JSTRDECODE" -V | head -1 | awk '{print $3;}')
 if ! "$VERGE" "$JSTRDECODE_VERSION" "$MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION"; then
     echo "$0: FATAL: jstrdecode version: $JSTRDECODE_VERSION < minimum version: $MIN_JSTRDECODE_VERSION" 1>&2
@@ -254,12 +254,12 @@ function output_award
     #
     PATTERN='$..award'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N - | sed -f "$HTML_SED"
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N - | sed -f "$HTML_SED"
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_award: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi
@@ -305,12 +305,12 @@ function output_abstract
     #
     PATTERN='$..abstract'
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 5 ]]; then
-	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED" 1>&2
+	echo  "$0: debug[5]: about to run: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN' | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED" 1>&2
     fi
-    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -N - | sed -f "$HTML_SED"
+    "$JVAL_WRAPPER" -b -q "$ENTRY_JSON_PATH" "$PATTERN" | "$JSTRDECODE" -d -q -N - | sed -f "$HTML_SED"
     status_codes=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
     if [[ ${status_codes[*]} =~ [1-9] ]]; then
-	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN | $JSTRDECODE -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED failed," \
+	echo "$0: ERROR: in output_abstract: $JVAL_WRAPPER -b -q -- $ENTRY_JSON_PATH '$PATTERN | $JSTRDECODE -d -q -N - | sed -f $HTML_SED failed," \
 	     "error codes: ${status_codes[*]}" 1>&2
 	return 5
     fi