diff --git a/src/modules/patternpunk-1.1.tm b/src/modules/patternpunk-1.1.tm
index 8c72e673..58c9e27f 100644
--- a/src/modules/patternpunk-1.1.tm
+++ b/src/modules/patternpunk-1.1.tm
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ v_ /|\/  /
 } \n]
 >punk .. Method gcross {{size 1} args} {
     package require textblock
-    textblock::gcross $size {*}$args
+    textblock::gcross {*}$args $size
 }
 
 >punk .. Method dumpProperties {{object ::>punk}} {
diff --git a/src/modules/punk-0.1.tm b/src/modules/punk-0.1.tm
index fee53bd3..6821acc8 100644
--- a/src/modules/punk-0.1.tm
+++ b/src/modules/punk-0.1.tm
@@ -1395,6 +1395,36 @@ namespace eval punk {
                         append script  \n {set assigned [string length $leveldata]}
                         set level_script_complete 1
                     }
+                    %str {
+                        set active_key_type "string"
+                        if $get_not {
+                            error "!%# not string-get is not supported"
+                        }
+                        lappend INDEX_OPERATIONS  string-get
+                        append script \n {# set active_key_type "" index_operation: string-get}
+                        append script  \n {set assigned $leveldata}
+                        set level_script_complete 1
+                    }
+                    %ansiview {
+                        set active_key_type "string"
+                        if $get_not {
+                            error "!%# not string-ansiview is not supported"
+                        }
+                        lappend INDEX_OPERATIONS  string-ansiview
+                        append script \n {# set active_key_type "" index_operation: string-ansiview}
+                        append script  \n {set assigned [ansistring VIEW $leveldata]}
+                        set level_script_complete 1
+                    }
+                    %ansiviewstyle {
+                        set active_key_type "string"
+                        if $get_not {
+                            error "!%# not string-ansiviewstyle is not supported"
+                        }
+                        lappend INDEX_OPERATIONS  string-ansiviewstyle
+                        append script \n {# set active_key_type "" index_operation: string-ansiviewstyle}
+                        append script  \n {set assigned [ansistring VIEWSTYLE $leveldata]}
+                        set level_script_complete 1
+                    }
                     @ {
                         #as this is a stateful list next index operation - we use not (!@) to mean there is no element at the next index (instead of returning the complement ie all elements except next)
                         #This is in contrast to other not operations on indices e.g /!2  which returns all elements except that at index 2
@@ -1849,7 +1879,7 @@ namespace eval punk {
                                         # set active_key_type "dict" index_operation: globvalue-get-keys-not
                                         set assigned [list]
                                         tcl::dict::for {k v} $leveldata {
-                                            if {![string match <keyglob> $v]} {
+                                            if {![string match "<keyglob>" $v]} {
                                                 lappend assigned $k
                                             }
                                         }
@@ -1860,7 +1890,7 @@ namespace eval punk {
                                         # set active_key_type "dict" index_operation: globvalue-get-keys
                                         set assigned [list]
                                         tcl::dict::for {k v} $leveldata {
-                                            if {[string match <keyglob> $v]} {
+                                            if {[string match "<keyglob>" $v]} {
                                                 lappend assigned $k
                                             }
                                         }
@@ -2745,7 +2775,9 @@ namespace eval punk {
         #'ismatch' must always be first element of dict - as we dispatch on ismatch 0 or ismatch 1 
         if {![string length $multivar]} {
             #treat the absence of a pattern as a match to anything
+            #JMN2 - changed to list based destructuring
             return [dict create ismatch 1 result $data setvars {} script {}]
+            #return [dict create ismatch 1 result [list $data] setvars {} script {}]
         }
         set returndict [dict create ismatch 0 result "" setvars {}]
         set script ""
@@ -2848,7 +2880,14 @@ namespace eval punk {
             if {[string length $v]} {
                 dict set returndict_setvars $v $assigned
             }
-            lappend assigned_values $assigned
+
+            #JMN2
+            #special case expansion for empty varspec (e.g ,<something>  or <something>,,<something>)
+            #if {$vspec eq ""} {
+            #    lappend assigned_values {*}$assigned
+            #} else {
+                lappend assigned_values $assigned
+            #}
             incr i
         }
 
@@ -3374,7 +3413,13 @@ namespace eval punk {
             incr i
         }
 
-        set returnval [lindex $assigned_values 0]
+        #JMN2
+        #set returnval [lindex $assigned_values 0]
+        if {[llength $assigned_values] == 1} {
+            set returnval [join $assigned_values]
+        } else {
+            set returnval $assigned_values
+        }
         #puts stdout "----> > rep returnval: [rep $returnval]"
 
 
@@ -3492,6 +3537,8 @@ namespace eval punk {
 
         if {![llength $var_names]} {
             #var_name entries can be blank - but it will still be a list
+            #JMN2
+            #dict set returndict result [list $data]
             dict set returndict result $data
         } else {
             assert {$i == [llength $var_names]} assertion_fail _multi_bind_result condition {$i == [llength $var_names]}
@@ -4764,7 +4811,9 @@ namespace eval punk {
                 }
 
                 #set forward_result $segment_result
+                #JMN2
                 set previous_result $segment_result
+                #set previous_result [join $segment_result]
             } else {
                 debug.punk.pipe {[a+ cyan bold]End of pipe segments ($i)[a]} 4
                 #output pipe spec at tail of pipeline
@@ -4783,12 +4832,16 @@ namespace eval punk {
 
             #the segment_result is based on the leftmost var on the lhs of the .= 
             #whereas forward_result is always the entire output of the segment
+            #JMN2
+            #lappend segment_result_list [join $segment_result]
             lappend segment_result_list $segment_result
             incr i
             incr j
         } ;# end while
 
         return [lindex $segment_result_list end]
+        #JMN2
+        #return $segment_result_list
         #return $forward_result
     }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/punk/ansi-999999.0a1.0.tm b/src/modules/punk/ansi-999999.0a1.0.tm
index 5f8484b8..8017b5e6 100644
--- a/src/modules/punk/ansi-999999.0a1.0.tm
+++ b/src/modules/punk/ansi-999999.0a1.0.tm
@@ -2261,7 +2261,15 @@ Brightblack 100   Brightred 101   Brightgreen 102   Brightyellow 103   Brightblu
     set sgr_cache [tcl::dict::create]
 
     #sgr_cache clear called by punk::console::ansi when set to off
-    proc sgr_cache {{action ""}} {
+    proc sgr_cache {args} {
+        set argd [punk::args::get_dict {
+            -action -default "" -choices "clear"
+            -pretty -default 1  -help "use 'pdict punk::ansi::sgr_cache */%str,%ansiview' output"
+            *values -min 0 -max 0
+        } $args]
+        set action [dict get $argd opts -action]
+        set pretty [dict get $argd opts -pretty]
+
         variable sgr_cache
         if {$action ni {"" clear}} {
             error "sgr_cache action '$action' not understood. Valid actions: clear"
@@ -2270,6 +2278,10 @@ Brightblack 100   Brightred 101   Brightgreen 102   Brightyellow 103   Brightblu
             set sgr_cache [tcl::dict::create]
             return "sgr_cache cleared"
         }
+        if {$pretty} {
+            return [pdict -channel none sgr_cache */%str,%ansiview]
+        }
+
         if {[catch {
             set termwidth [tcl::dict::get [punk::console::get_size] columns]
         } errM]} {
@@ -5439,7 +5451,28 @@ tcl::namespace::eval punk::ansi::class {
     }
 }
 tcl::namespace::eval punk::ansi {
-    proc stripansi {text} [string map [list <re> $::punk::ansi::ta::re_ansi_split]  {
+    proc stripansi {text} {
+        #ever so slightly slower on short strings - much faster than split_at_codes version for large/complex ansi blocks
+        if {[punk::ansi::ta::detect_g0 $text]} {
+            set text [convert_g0 $text];#Convert ansi borders to unicode line drawing instead of ascii letters 
+        }
+        set parts [punk::ansi::ta::split_codes $text]
+        set out ""
+        foreach {pt code} $parts {
+            append out $pt
+        }
+        return $out
+    }
+    proc stripansiraw {text} {
+        #slightly slower on short strings - much faster than split_at_codes version for large/complex ansi blocks
+        set parts [punk::ansi::ta::split_codes $text]
+        set out ""
+        foreach {pt code} $parts {
+            append out $pt
+        }
+        return $out
+    }
+    proc stripansi3 {text} [string map [list <re> $::punk::ansi::ta::re_ansi_split]  {
         #*** !doctools
         #[call [fun stripansi] [arg text] ]
         #[para]Return a string with ansi codes stripped out
@@ -5459,7 +5492,7 @@ tcl::namespace::eval punk::ansi {
         punk::ansi::ta::Do_split_at_codes_join $text {<re>} 
     }]
 
-    proc stripansiraw {text} [string map [list <re> $::punk::ansi::ta::re_ansi_split] {
+    proc stripansiraw3 {text} [string map [list <re> $::punk::ansi::ta::re_ansi_split] {
         #*** !doctools
         #[call [fun stripansi] [arg text] ]
         #[para]Return a string with ansi codes stripped out 
diff --git a/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm b/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm
index 3b1f4e95..4a8a3738 100644
--- a/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm
+++ b/src/modules/punk/lib-999999.0a1.0.tm
@@ -696,12 +696,17 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                         }
                         ## {
                             dict set pattern_this_structure $pattern_nest dict 
-                            lappend keyset ##
+                            lappend keyset [list ## query]
                         }
                         @* {
                             dict set pattern_this_structure $pattern_nest list
                             lappend keyset {*}[punk::lib::range 0 [llength $dval]-1]
                         }
+                        @@ {
+                            #get first k v from dict
+                            dict set pattern_this_structure $pattern_nest dict
+                            lappend keyset [list @@ query]
+                        }
                         @*k@* - @*K@* {
                             #returns keys only
                             lappend keyset [list $p query]
@@ -832,7 +837,7 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                     } elseif {$this_type eq "dict"} {
                                         #default equivalent to @\*@*
                                         dict set pattern_this_structure $pattern_nest dict 
-                                        puts "dict: appending keys from index '$p' keys: [dict keys $dval $p]"
+                                        #puts "dict: appending keys from index '$p' keys: [dict keys $dval $p]"
                                         lappend keyset {*}[dict keys $dval $p] 
                                     } else {
                                         puts stderr "list: unrecognised pattern $p"
@@ -857,6 +862,9 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                         # {
                             set substructure list 
                         }
+                        ## {
+                            set substructure dict
+                        }
                         %# {
                             set substructure string
                         }
@@ -887,18 +895,21 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                     dict set pattern_next_substructure $pattern_nest $substructure
                     # -- --- --- --- 
 
-                    set int_keyset 1
-                    foreach k $keyset {
-                        if {![string is integer -strict $k]} {
-                            set int_keyset 0
-                            break
+                    if {$opt_keysorttype ne "none"} {
+                        set int_keyset 1
+                        foreach k $keyset {
+                            if {![string is integer -strict $k]} {
+                                set int_keyset 0
+                                break
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if {$int_keyset} {
+                            set keyset [lsort -integer $keyset]
+                        } else {
+                            set keyset [lsort -$opt_keysorttype $keyset]
                         }
                     }
-                    if {$int_keyset} {
-                        set keyset [lsort -integer $keyset]
-                    } else {
-                        set keyset [lsort -dictionary $keyset]
-                    }
+
                     foreach k $keyset {
                         lappend pattern_key_index $pattern_nest
                     }
@@ -935,11 +946,13 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
 
                     set kidx 0
                     foreach keydisplay $display_keys key $filtered_keys  {
+                        set hidekey 0
                         set pattern_nest [lindex $pattern_key_index $kidx]
                         set pattern_nest_list [split $pattern_nest /]
                         #puts stderr "---> kidx:$kidx key:$key - pattern_nest:$pattern_nest"
                         set this_type [dict get $pattern_this_structure $pattern_nest]
 
+                        set is_match 1 ;#whether to display the normal separator or bad-match separator
                         switch -- $this_type {
                             dict {
                                 #todo? - slower lsearch if -dupes 1 flag set so we can display duplicate 'keys' if var not a proper dict but rather a dict-shaped list that we want to display as a dict
@@ -958,7 +971,7 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                 set nextsub [dict get $pattern_next_substructure $pattern_nest]
                                 if {[llength $pattern_nest_list]} {
                                     set nest [lrange $pattern_nest_list 1 end]
-                                    lappend nextpatterns [join $nest /]
+                                    lappend nextpatterns {*}[join $nest /]
                                 }
                                 set nextopts [dict get $argd opts] 
 
@@ -973,7 +986,12 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                 #puts stderr "showdict {*}$nextopts $thisval [lindex $args end]"
 
                                 if {[llength $nextpatterns]} {
-                                    set thisval [showdict {*}$nextopts -- $thisval {*}$nextpatterns]
+                                    if {[catch {
+                                        set thisval [showdict {*}$nextopts -- $thisval {*}$nextpatterns]
+                                    } errMsg]} {
+                                        #puts stderr ">>> nextpatterns:'$nextpatterns' nextopts:'$nextopts'"
+                                        set is_match 0
+                                    }
                                 }
                             }
                             list {
@@ -993,7 +1011,7 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                 set nextsub [dict get $pattern_next_substructure $pattern_nest]
                                 if {[llength $pattern_nest_list]} {
                                     set nest [lrange $pattern_nest_list 1 end]
-                                    lappend nextpatterns [join $nest /]
+                                    lappend nextpatterns {*}[join $nest /]
                                 }
                                 set nextopts [dict get $argd opts] 
 
@@ -1004,12 +1022,32 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                 #    set nextpatterns *
                                 #}
                                 if {[llength $nextpatterns]} {
+                                    if {[catch {
                                     set thisval [showdict {*}$nextopts -- $thisval {*}$nextpatterns]
+                                    } errMsg]} {
+                                        set is_match 0
+                                    }
                                 }
                             }
                             string {
+                                set hidekey 0
                                 if {$key eq "%string"} {
+                                    set hidekey 1
                                     set thisval $dval
+                                } elseif {$key eq "%ansiview"} {
+                                    set thisval [ansistring VIEW -lf 1 $dval]
+                                } elseif {$key eq "%ansiviewstyle"} {
+                                    set thisval [ansistring VIEWSTYLE -lf 1 $dval]
+                                } elseif {[string match *lpad-* $key]} {
+                                    set hidekey 1
+                                    lassign [split $key -] _ extra 
+                                    set width [expr {[textblock::width $dval] + $extra}]
+                                    set thisval [textblock::pad $dval -which left -width $width]
+                                } elseif {[string match *rpad-* $key]} {
+                                    set hidekey 1
+                                    lassign [split $key -] _ extra 
+                                    set width [expr {[textblock::width $dval] + $extra}]
+                                    set thisval [textblock::pad $dval -which right -width $width]
                                 } else {
                                     if {[lindex $key 1] eq "query"} {
                                         set qry [lindex $key 0]
@@ -1028,7 +1066,7 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                     set nextsub [dict get $pattern_next_substructure $pattern_nest]
                                     if {[llength $pattern_nest_list]} {
                                         set nest [lrange $pattern_nest_list 1 end]
-                                        lappend nextpatterns [join $nest /]
+                                        lappend nextpatterns {*}[join $nest /]
                                     }
                                     #set nextopts [dict get $argd opts] 
                                     dict set nextopts -roottype $nextsub
@@ -1040,7 +1078,7 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                                 
                             }
                         }
-                        if {$this_type eq "string" && $key eq "%string"} {
+                        if {$this_type eq "string" && $hidekey} {
                             lassign [textblock::size $thisval] _vw vwidth _vh vheight
                             #set blanks_above [string repeat \n [expr {$kheight -1}]]
                             set vblock $opt_ansibase_values$thisval$RST
@@ -1054,9 +1092,17 @@ namespace eval punk::lib {
                             set totalheight [expr {$kheight + $vheight -1}]
                             set blanks_above [string repeat \n [expr {$kheight -1}]]
                             set blanks_below [string repeat \n [expr {$vheight -1}]]
-                            set sepwidth  [textblock::width $opt_sep]
+
+                            if {$is_match} {
+                                set use_sep $opt_sep
+                            } else {
+                                set use_sep " [a+ Web-red undercurly underline undert-white]mismatch[a] "
+                            }
+
+
+                            set sepwidth  [textblock::width $use_sep]
                             set kblock [textblock::pad $ansibase_key$keydisplay$RST$blanks_below -width $maxl]
-                            set sblock [textblock::pad $blanks_above$opt_sep$blanks_below -width $sepwidth]
+                            set sblock [textblock::pad $blanks_above$use_sep$blanks_below -width $sepwidth]
                             set vblock $blanks_above$opt_ansibase_values$thisval$RST
                             #only vblock is ragged - we can do a basic join because we don't care about rhs whitespace
                             append result [textblock::join_basic -- $kblock $sblock $vblock] \n
diff --git a/src/modules/punk/mix/commandset/debug-999999.0a1.0.tm b/src/modules/punk/mix/commandset/debug-999999.0a1.0.tm
index 9a1f612e..dc9d93a6 100644
--- a/src/modules/punk/mix/commandset/debug-999999.0a1.0.tm
+++ b/src/modules/punk/mix/commandset/debug-999999.0a1.0.tm
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace eval punk::mix::commandset::debug {
         set out ""
         puts stdout "find_repos output:" 
         set pathinfo [punk::repo::find_repos [pwd]]
-        pdict $pathinfo
+        pdict pathinfo
 
         set projectdir [dict get $pathinfo closest]
         set modulefolders [lib::find_source_module_paths $projectdir]
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace eval punk::mix::commandset::debug {
 
         set template_base_dict [punk::mix::base::lib::get_template_basefolders]
         puts stdout "get_template_basefolders output:"
-        pdict $template_base_dict
+        pdict template_base_dict */*
         return 
     }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/textblock-999999.0a1.0.tm b/src/modules/textblock-999999.0a1.0.tm
index bf9f1160..05ad5bc0 100644
--- a/src/modules/textblock-999999.0a1.0.tm
+++ b/src/modules/textblock-999999.0a1.0.tm
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ package require textutil
 tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
     #review - what about ansi off in punk::console?
     tcl::namespace::import ::punk::ansi::a ::punk::ansi::a+
+    tcl::namespace::export block frame frame_cache framedef frametypes gcross height width widthtopline join join_basic list_as_table pad testblock 
 
     tcl::namespace::eval class {
         variable opts_table_defaults
@@ -3733,7 +3734,6 @@ tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
 #Note: A textblock does not necessarily have lines the same length - either in number of characters or print-width
 #
 tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
-    tcl::namespace::export block width
     tcl::namespace::eval cd {
         #todo - save and restore existing tcl::namespace::export in case macros::cd has default exports in future
         tcl::namespace::eval ::term::ansi::code::macros::cd {tcl::namespace::export *}
@@ -3799,6 +3799,7 @@ tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
                             -choices {table tableobject}\
                             -help "default choice 'table' returns the displayable table output"
             -compact        -default 1  -type boolean  -help "compact true defaults: -show_vseps 0 -show_header 0 -show_edge 0"
+            -frame          -default 1  -type boolean
             -show_vseps     -default "" -type boolean
             -show_header    -default "" -type boolean
             -show_edge      -default "" -type boolean
@@ -3950,7 +3951,11 @@ tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
         -frametype block
 
         if {$opt_return eq "table"} {
-            set output [textblock::frame -ansiborder [a+ {*}$fc Web-black web-cornflowerblue] -type heavy -title "[a+ {*}$fc Web-black] Periodic Table " [$t print]]
+            if {[dict get $opts -frame]} {
+                set output [textblock::frame -ansiborder [a+ {*}$fc Web-black web-cornflowerblue] -type heavy -title "[a+ {*}$fc Web-black] Periodic Table " [$t print]]
+            } else {
+                set output [$t print]
+            }
             $t destroy
             return $output
         }
@@ -6288,33 +6293,44 @@ tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
 
     variable frame_cache
     set frame_cache [tcl::dict::create]
-    proc frame_cache {{action ""}} {
+    proc frame_cache {args} {
+        set argd [punk::args::get_dict {
+            -action -default "" -choices {clear} -help "Clear the textblock::frame_cache dictionary"
+            -pretty -default 1                   -help "Use 'pdict textblock::frame_cache */*' for prettier output"
+            *values -min 0 -max 0
+        } $args]
+        set action [dict get $argd opts -action]
+
         if {$action ni [list clear ""]} {
             error "frame_cache action '$action' not understood. Valid actions: clear"
         }
         variable frame_cache
-        set out ""
-        if {[catch {
-            set termwidth [tcl::dict::get [punk::console::get_size] columns]
-        }]} {
-            set termwidth 80
-        }
+        if {[dict get $argd opts -pretty]} {
+            set out [pdict -chan none frame_cache */*]
+        } else {
+            set out ""
+            if {[catch {
+                set termwidth [tcl::dict::get [punk::console::get_size] columns]
+            }]} {
+                set termwidth 80
+            }
 
-        tcl::dict::for {k v} $frame_cache {
-            lassign $v _f frame _used used
-            set fwidth [textblock::widthtopline $frame] 
-            #review - are cached frames uniform width lines? 
-            #set fwidth [textblock::width $frame]
-            set frameinfo "$k used:$used "
-            set allinone_width [expr {[tcl::string::length $frameinfo] + $fwidth}]
-            if {$allinone_width >= $termwidth} {
-                #split across 2 lines
-                append out "$frameinfo\n" 
-                append out $frame \n
-            } else {
-                append out [textblock::join -- $frameinfo $frame]\n
+            tcl::dict::for {k v} $frame_cache {
+                lassign $v _f frame _used used
+                set fwidth [textblock::widthtopline $frame] 
+                #review - are cached frames uniform width lines? 
+                #set fwidth [textblock::width $frame]
+                set frameinfo "$k used:$used "
+                set allinone_width [expr {[tcl::string::length $frameinfo] + $fwidth}]
+                if {$allinone_width >= $termwidth} {
+                    #split across 2 lines
+                    append out "$frameinfo\n" 
+                    append out $frame \n
+                } else {
+                    append out [textblock::join -- $frameinfo $frame]\n
+                }
+                append out \n ;# frames used to build tables often have joins - keep a line in between for clarity
             }
-            append out \n ;# frames used to build tables often have joins - keep a line in between for clarity
         }
         if {$action eq "clear"} {
             set frame_cache [tcl::dict::create]
@@ -7038,15 +7054,24 @@ tcl::namespace::eval textblock {
             return $fs
         }
     }
-    proc gcross {{size 1} args} {
+    proc gcross {args} {
+        set argd [punk::args::get_dict {
+            -max_cross_size -default 0 -type integer -help "Largest size cross to use to make up the block
+            Only cross sizes that divide the size of the overall block will be used.
+            e.g if the 'size' chosen is 19 (a prime number) - only 1 or the full size of 19 can be used as the crosses to make up the block.
+            Whereas for a block size of 24, -max_cross_size of 1,2,3,4,6,8,12 or 24 will work. (all divisors)
+            If a number chosen for -max_cross_size isn't a divisor, the largest divisor below the chosen value will be used.
+            "
+            *values -min 1
+            size -default 1 -type integer
+        } $args]
+        set size [dict get $argd values size]
+        set opts [dict get $argd opts]
+
         if {$size == 0} {
             return ""
         }
 
-        set defaults [list\
-            -max_cross_size 0
-        ]
-        set opts [tcl::dict::merge $defaults $args]
         set opt_max_cross_size [tcl::dict::get $opts -max_cross_size]
 
         #set fit_size [punk::lib::greatestOddFactor $size]