Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/camtoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/camtoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/camtoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -154,5 +154,5 @@
             "define banana 1", NULL);
     psMetadataAddS16(addprocessedexpArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-code",  0,
-            "set fault code (required)", 0);
+            "set fault code", 0);
     psMetadataAddBool(addprocessedexpArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-faulted",  0,
             "only return imfiles with a fault status set", false);
@@ -199,61 +199,21 @@
             "name of a label to unmask", NULL);
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {;\
-        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option);\
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-queue",           CAMTOOL_MODE_QUEUE,         queueArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-pendingexp",      CAMTOOL_MODE_PENDINGEXP,    pendingexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-pendingimfile",CAMTOOL_MODE_PENDINGIMFILE, pendingimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addprocessedexp", CAMTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDEXP, addprocessedexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-processedexp", CAMTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDEXP,  processedexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updateprocessedexp", CAMTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDEXP,updateprocessedexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-block",           CAMTOOL_MODE_BLOCK,         blockArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-masked",          CAMTOOL_MODE_MASKED,        maskedArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-unblock",         CAMTOOL_MODE_UNBLOCK,       unblockArgs);
-
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == CAMTOOL_MODE_NONE) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Camera Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n");
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    psMetadata *modes = psMetadataAlloc(); 
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-queue",               "", CAMTOOL_MODE_QUEUE,         queueArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-pendingexp",          "", CAMTOOL_MODE_PENDINGEXP,    pendingexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-pendingimfile",       "", CAMTOOL_MODE_PENDINGIMFILE, pendingimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addprocessedexp",     "", CAMTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDEXP, addprocessedexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-processedexp",        "", CAMTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDEXP,  processedexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updateprocessedexp",  "", CAMTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDEXP,updateprocessedexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-block",               "", CAMTOOL_MODE_BLOCK,         blockArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-masked",              "", CAMTOOL_MODE_MASKED,        maskedArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-unblock",             "", CAMTOOL_MODE_UNBLOCK,       unblockArgs);
+
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -261,4 +221,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -346,8 +307,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/chiptool.h
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/chiptool.h	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/chiptool.h	(revision 13578)
@@ -32,5 +32,6 @@
     CHIPTOOL_MODE_BLOCK,
     CHIPTOOL_MODE_MASKED,
-    CHIPTOOL_MODE_UNBLOCK
+    CHIPTOOL_MODE_UNBLOCK,
+    CHIPTOOL_MODE_RETRYPROCESSEDIMFILE
 } chiptoolMode;
 
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/chiptoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/chiptoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/chiptoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -27,5 +27,6 @@
 #include "chiptool.h"
 
-pxConfig *chiptoolConfig(pxConfig *config, int argc, char **argv) {
+pxConfig *chiptoolConfig(pxConfig *config, int argc, char **argv)
+{
     if (!config) {
         config = pxConfigAlloc();
@@ -135,5 +136,5 @@
             "define banana 1", NULL);
     psMetadataAddS8(addprocessedimfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-code",  0,
-            "set fault code (required)", 0);
+            "set fault code", 0);
 
     // -processedimfile
@@ -173,4 +174,14 @@
             "set fault code (required)", 0);
 
+    // -retryprocessedimfile
+    psMetadata *retryprocessedimfileArgs = psMetadataAlloc();
+    psMetadataAddStr(retryprocessedimfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-chip_id",  0,
+            "define chip ID (required)", NULL);
+    psMetadataAddStr(retryprocessedimfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-exp_tag",  0,
+            "search by exposure ID", NULL);
+    psMetadataAddStr(retryprocessedimfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-class",  0,
+            "search by class", NULL);
+    psMetadataAddStr(retryprocessedimfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-class_id",  0,
+            "search by class ID", NULL);
 
     // -block
@@ -189,59 +200,21 @@
             "name of a label to unmask", NULL);
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {; \
-        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option); \
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-queue",           CHIPTOOL_MODE_QUEUE,          queueArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-pendingimfile",   CHIPTOOL_MODE_PENDINGIMFILE,  pendingimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addprocessedimfile",CHIPTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDIMFILE,addprocessedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-processedimfile",CHIPTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDIMFILE, processedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updateprocessedimfile",CHIPTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDIMFILE,    updateprocessedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-block",           CHIPTOOL_MODE_BLOCK,          blockArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-masked",          CHIPTOOL_MODE_MASKED,         maskedArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-unblock",         CHIPTOOL_MODE_UNBLOCK,        unblockArgs);
-
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == CHIPTOOL_MODE_NONE) {
-            argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Chip Tool\n\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n");
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    psMetadata *modes = psMetadataAlloc();
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-queue",               "", CHIPTOOL_MODE_QUEUE,          queueArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-pendingimfile",       "", CHIPTOOL_MODE_PENDINGIMFILE,  pendingimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addprocessedimfile",  "", CHIPTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDIMFILE,addprocessedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-processedimfile",     "", CHIPTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDIMFILE, processedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updateprocessedimfile", "", CHIPTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDIMFILE,    updateprocessedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-retryprocessedimfile", "", CHIPTOOL_MODE_RETRYPROCESSEDIMFILE,    retryprocessedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-block",               "",            CHIPTOOL_MODE_BLOCK,          blockArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-masked",              "",      CHIPTOOL_MODE_MASKED,         maskedArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-unblock",             "",  CHIPTOOL_MODE_UNBLOCK,        unblockArgs);
+
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -249,4 +222,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -321,8 +295,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/detselectConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/detselectConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/detselectConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -78,54 +78,14 @@
             "use the simple output format", false);
     
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {;\
-        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option);\
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-search",  DETSELECT_MODE_SEARCH, searchArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-select",  DETSELECT_MODE_SELECT, selectArgs);
-
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == DETSELECT_MODE_NONE) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS detrend select Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n");
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    psMetadata *modes = psMetadataAlloc();
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-search",  "search for an appropriate detrend", DETSELECT_MODE_SEARCH, searchArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-select",  "retreive detrend information", DETSELECT_MODE_SELECT, selectArgs);
+
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -133,4 +93,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -262,8 +223,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/dettoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/dettoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/dettoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -934,8 +934,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/difftoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/difftoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/difftoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
     psMetadata *inputskyfileArgs = psMetadataAlloc();
     psMetadataAddStr(inputskyfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-diff_id", 0,
-            "search by diff ID (required)", NULL);
+            "search by diff ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(inputskyfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-warp_id", 0,
-            "search by warp ID (required)", NULL);
+            "search by warp ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(inputskyfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-skycell_id", 0,
             "search by skycell ID", NULL);
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
             "search by warp ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(diffskyfileArgs , PS_LIST_TAIL, "-skycell_id",  0,
-            "define skycell ID (required)", NULL);
+            "define skycell ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(diffskyfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-tess_id",  0,
-            "define tessellation ID (required)", NULL);
+            "define tessellation ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddU64(diffskyfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-limit",  0,
             "limit result set to N items", 0);
@@ -142,60 +142,19 @@
     psFree(now);
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {;\
-        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option); \
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-definerun",       DIFFTOOL_MODE_DEFINERUN,      definerunArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updaterun",       DIFFTOOL_MODE_UPDATERUN,      updaterunArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addinputskyfile",  DIFFTOOL_MODE_ADDINPUTSKYFILE, addinputskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-inputskyfile",     DIFFTOOL_MODE_INPUTSKYFILE,    inputskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-todiffskyfile",    DIFFTOOL_MODE_TODIFFSKYFILE,   todiffskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-adddiffskyfile",   DIFFTOOL_MODE_ADDDIFFSKYFILE,  adddiffskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-diffskyfile",      DIFFTOOL_MODE_DIFFSKYFILE,     diffskyfileArgs);
-
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == DIFFTOOL_MODE_NONE) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Difference Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n"); 
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");
-            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    psMetadata *modes = psMetadataAlloc();
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-definerun",       "", DIFFTOOL_MODE_DEFINERUN,      definerunArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updaterun",       "",       DIFFTOOL_MODE_UPDATERUN,      updaterunArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addinputskyfile", "",  DIFFTOOL_MODE_ADDINPUTSKYFILE, addinputskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-inputskyfile",    "",     DIFFTOOL_MODE_INPUTSKYFILE,    inputskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-todiffskyfile",   "",    DIFFTOOL_MODE_TODIFFSKYFILE,   todiffskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-adddiffskyfile",  "",   DIFFTOOL_MODE_ADDDIFFSKYFILE,  adddiffskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-diffskyfile",     "",      DIFFTOOL_MODE_DIFFSKYFILE,     diffskyfileArgs);
+
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -203,4 +162,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -275,8 +235,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/pxconfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/pxconfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/pxconfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -201,4 +201,8 @@
     psFree(iter);
 
+    // save argv/argc 
+    config->argv = argv;
+    config->argc = argc;
+
     return true;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/pxinjectConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/pxinjectConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/pxinjectConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -69,47 +69,20 @@
         "define the URI (required)", NULL);
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-}
+    psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
+    psMetadata *modes = psMetadataAlloc();
 
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-newExp",          PXINJECT_MODE_NEWEXP,       newExpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-newImfile",       PXINJECT_MODE_NEWIMFILE,    newImfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-newExp",      "", PXINJECT_MODE_NEWEXP,       newExpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-newImfile",   "", PXINJECT_MODE_NEWIMFILE,    newImfileArgs);
 
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == PXINJECT_MODE_NONE) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Detrend Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> : [-newExp|-newImfile]\n\n");
-        fprintf (stdout, "-newExp ");
-        psArgumentHelp(newExpArgs);
-        psFree(newExpArgs);
-        fprintf (stdout, "-newImfile ");
-        psArgumentHelp(newImfileArgs);
-        psFree(newImfileArgs);
-
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
+        psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    psFree(newExpArgs);
-    psFree(newImfileArgs);
+    psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -211,8 +184,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/regtoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/regtoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/regtoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -96,5 +96,5 @@
         "define observation time", NULL);
     psMetadataAddS8(addprocessedimfileArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-code",  0,
-        "set fault code (required)", 0);
+        "set fault code", 0);
 
     // -processedimfile
@@ -179,5 +179,5 @@
         "define label for phase 2 processing (non-detrend data only)", NULL);
     psMetadataAddS8(addprocessedexpArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-code",  0,
-        "set fault code (required)", 0);
+        "set fault code", 0);
     /*
     psMetadataAddStr(updateArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-recip",  0,
@@ -208,62 +208,20 @@
     
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PXTOOLS_ERR_CONFIG, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {;\
-        psError(PXTOOLS_ERR_PROG, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option);\
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-pendingimfile",   REGTOOL_MODE_PENDINGIMFILE, pendingimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addprocessedimfile", REGTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDIMFILE, addprocessedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-processedimfile", REGTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDIMFILE, processedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updateprocessedimfile",  REGTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDIMFILE, updateprocessedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-pendingexp",      REGTOOL_MODE_PENDINGEXP,pendingexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addprocessedexp", REGTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDEXP, addprocessedexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-processedexp",    REGTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDEXP, processedexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updateprocessedexp", REGTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDEXP,      updatedprocessedexpArgs);
-
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == REGTOOL_MODE_NONE) {
-	psError(PXTOOLS_ERR_CONFIG, false, "missing mode argument");
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-        argErr = true;
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-	psError(PXTOOLS_ERR_CONFIG, false, "unknown argument");
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-        argErr = true;
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Registration Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n");
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    psMetadata *modes = psMetadataAlloc();
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-pendingimfile",           "", REGTOOL_MODE_PENDINGIMFILE, pendingimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addprocessedimfile",      "",  REGTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDIMFILE, addprocessedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-processedimfile",         "", REGTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDIMFILE, processedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updateprocessedimfile",   "",   REGTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDIMFILE, updateprocessedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-pendingexp",              "",       REGTOOL_MODE_PENDINGEXP,pendingexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addprocessedexp",         "",  REGTOOL_MODE_ADDPROCESSEDEXP, addprocessedexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-processedexp",            "",     REGTOOL_MODE_PROCESSEDEXP, processedexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updateprocessedexp",      "",  REGTOOL_MODE_UPDATEPROCESSEDEXP,      updatedprocessedexpArgs);
+
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -271,4 +229,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -333,8 +292,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/stacktoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/stacktoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/stacktoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -27,5 +27,6 @@
 #include "stacktool.h"
 
-pxConfig *stacktoolConfig(pxConfig *config, int argc, char **argv) {
+pxConfig *stacktoolConfig(pxConfig *config, int argc, char **argv)
+{
     if (!config) {
         config = pxConfigAlloc();
@@ -129,60 +130,19 @@
     psFree(now);
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {;\
-        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option); \
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-definerun",       STACKTOOL_MODE_DEFINERUN,      definerunArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updaterun",       STACKTOOL_MODE_UPDATERUN,      updaterunArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addinputskyfile",  STACKTOOL_MODE_ADDINPUTSKYFILE, addinputskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-inputskyfile",     STACKTOOL_MODE_INPUTSKYFILE,    inputskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-tosum",           STACKTOOL_MODE_TOSUM,          tosumArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addsumskyfile",    STACKTOOL_MODE_ADDSUMSKYFILE,   addsumskyfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-sumskyfile",       STACKTOOL_MODE_SUMSKYFILE,      sumskyfileArgs);
-
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == STACKTOOL_MODE_NONE) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Stack Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n"); 
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");
-            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    psMetadata *modes   = psMetadataAlloc();
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-definerun",       "", STACKTOOL_MODE_DEFINERUN,      definerunArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updaterun",       "", STACKTOOL_MODE_UPDATERUN,      updaterunArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addinputskyfile", "", STACKTOOL_MODE_ADDINPUTSKYFILE, addinputskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-inputskyfile",    "", STACKTOOL_MODE_INPUTSKYFILE,    inputskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-tosum",           "", STACKTOOL_MODE_TOSUM,          tosumArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addsumskyfile",   "", STACKTOOL_MODE_ADDSUMSKYFILE,   addsumskyfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-sumskyfile",      "", STACKTOOL_MODE_SUMSKYFILE,      sumskyfileArgs);
+
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -190,4 +150,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -252,8 +213,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
Index: /trunk/ippTools/src/warptoolConfig.c
===================================================================
--- /trunk/ippTools/src/warptoolConfig.c	(revision 13577)
+++ /trunk/ippTools/src/warptoolConfig.c	(revision 13578)
@@ -27,5 +27,6 @@
 #include "warptool.h"
 
-pxConfig *warptoolConfig(pxConfig *config, int argc, char **argv) {
+pxConfig *warptoolConfig(pxConfig *config, int argc, char **argv)
+{
     if (!config) {
         config = pxConfigAlloc();
@@ -157,11 +158,11 @@
             "search by warptool ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(warpedArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-skycell_id",  0,
-            "define skycell ID (required)", NULL);
+            "define skycell ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(warpedArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-tess_id",  0,
-            "define tessellation ID (required)", NULL);
+            "define tessellation ID", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(warpedArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-exp_tag", 0,
-            "define exposure tag (required)", NULL);
+            "define exposure tag", NULL);
     psMetadataAddStr(warpedArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-cam_id", 0,
-            "define phase 3 version of exposure tag (required)", NULL);
+            "define phase 3 version of exposure tag", NULL);
     psMetadataAddU64(warpedArgs, PS_LIST_TAIL, "-limit",  0,
             "limit result set to N items", 0);
@@ -171,72 +172,31 @@
     psFree(now);
 
-#define PXTOOL_MODE(option, modeval, argset) \
-{ \
-    int N = 0; \
-    if ((N = psArgumentGet (argc, argv, option))) { \
-        psArgumentRemove (N, &argc, argv); \
-        if (config->mode) { \
-            psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "only one mode selection is allowed"); \
-            psFree(config); \
-            return NULL; \
-        } \
-        config->mode = modeval; \
-        config->args = psMemIncrRefCounter(argset); \
-    } \
-    if (!psMetadataAddMetadata(argSets, PS_LIST_TAIL, option, 0, NULL, argset)) {;\
-        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, false, "failed to add argset for %s", option); \
-    } \
-    psFree(argset); \
-}
-
     psMetadata *argSets = psMetadataAlloc();
-    // find which mode we're running under
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-definerun",       WARPTOOL_MODE_DEFINERUN,      definerunArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-updaterun",       WARPTOOL_MODE_UPDATERUN,      updaterunArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addinputexp",     WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDINPUTEXP,    addinputexpArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-exp",             WARPTOOL_MODE_EXP,            expArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-imfile",          WARPTOOL_MODE_IMFILE,         imfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-tooverlap",       WARPTOOL_MODE_TOOVERLAP,      tooverlapArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addoverlap",      WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDOVERLAP,     addoverlapArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-scmap",           WARPTOOL_MODE_SCMAP,          scmapArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-towarped",        WARPTOOL_MODE_TOWARPED,       towarpedArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addwarped",       WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDWARPED,      addwarpedArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-warped",          WARPTOOL_MODE_WARPED,         warpedArgs);
+    psMetadata *modes   = psMetadataAlloc();
+
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-definerun",       "", WARPTOOL_MODE_DEFINERUN,      definerunArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-updaterun",       "", WARPTOOL_MODE_UPDATERUN,      updaterunArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addinputexp",     "", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDINPUTEXP,    addinputexpArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-exp",             "", WARPTOOL_MODE_EXP,            expArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-imfile",          "", WARPTOOL_MODE_IMFILE,         imfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-tooverlap",       "", WARPTOOL_MODE_TOOVERLAP,      tooverlapArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addoverlap",      "", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDOVERLAP,     addoverlapArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-scmap",           "", WARPTOOL_MODE_SCMAP,          scmapArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-towarped",        "", WARPTOOL_MODE_TOWARPED,       towarpedArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addwarped",       "", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDWARPED,      addwarpedArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-warped",          "", WARPTOOL_MODE_WARPED,         warpedArgs);
 #if 0
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-tostackedimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_TOSTACKEDIMFILE, tostackedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-addstackedimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDSTACKEDIMFILE, addstackedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-stackedimfile",   WARPTOOL_MODE_STACKEDIMFILE, stackedimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-todiffimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_TODIFFIMFILE, todiffimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-adddiffimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDDIFFIMFILE, adddiffimfileArgs);
-    PXTOOL_MODE("-diffimfile",   WARPTOOL_MODE_DIFFIMFILE, diffimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-tostackedimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_TOSTACKEDIMFILE, tostackedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-addstackedimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDSTACKEDIMFILE, addstackedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-stackedimfile",   WARPTOOL_MODE_STACKEDIMFILE, stackedimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-todiffimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_TODIFFIMFILE, todiffimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-adddiffimfile", WARPTOOL_MODE_ADDDIFFIMFILE, adddiffimfileArgs);
+    PXTOOL_ADD_MODE("-diffimfile",   WARPTOOL_MODE_DIFFIMFILE, diffimfileArgs);
 #endif
 
-    bool argErr = false;
-    if (config->mode == WARPTOOL_MODE_NONE) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "mode argument is required\n");
-    } else if (! psArgumentParse(config->args, &argc, argv) || argc != 1) {
-        argErr = true;
-        fprintf (stderr, "error parsing arguments\n");
-    }
-
-    if (argErr) {
-        printf("\nPan-STARRS Warp Tool\n");
-        printf("Usage: %s <mode> [<options>]\n\n", argv[0]);
-        printf(" <mode> :\n\n"); 
-
-        psMetadataIterator *iter = psMetadataIteratorAlloc(argSets, 0, NULL);
-        psMetadataItem *item = NULL;
-        while ((item = psMetadataGetAndIncrement(iter))) {
-            if (!item->type == PS_DATA_METADATA) {
-                psAbort("all options must be specified as a metadata");
-            }
-
-            fprintf(stdout, "%s ", item->name);
-            psArgumentHelp(item->data.md);
-        }
-        psFree(iter);
-
+    if (!pxGetOptions(stderr, argc, argv, config, modes, argSets)) {
+        psError(PS_ERR_UNKNOWN, true, "option parsing failed");
         psFree(argSets);
+        psFree(modes);
         psFree(config);
         return NULL;
@@ -244,4 +204,5 @@
 
     psFree(argSets);
+    psFree(modes);
 
     // setup search criterion
@@ -306,8 +267,4 @@
     }
 
-    // save argv/argc
-    config->argv = argv;
-    config->argc = argc;
-
     return config;
 }
