diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1c665a9..0386068 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export BASH_SHELL_NETWORK=$BASH_SHELL/network
 export BASH_SHELL_HOST=$BASH_SHELL/host
 
 # by default SHELL sources will be looked for under $HOME/shell
-# but can be user set below to $HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER
+# but can be user set below to BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR
 # export BASH_SHELL_USER=<some directory under $HOME>
 if there is a script setup.sh in the root of these directoies it will be run.  If not then all files no matter how deep will be sourced in alpha order order.
 
diff --git a/load.sh b/load.sh
index d4a215c..66b0c88 100755
--- a/load.sh
+++ b/load.sh
@@ -1,30 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-reload_shell () {
-  source $BASH_SHELL_BASE/load.sh $@
-}
-
-load_shell_host () {
-  module_load shell-process-directory
-  [[ $BASH_SHELL_HOST ]] && shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_HOST
-}
-
-load_shell_user () {
-  module_load shell-process-directory
-  [[ -d $HOME/${BASH_SHELL_USER:-shell} ]] && shell_process_directory $HOME/${BASH_SHELL_USER:-shell} 
-}
-
-load_shell_dev () {
-  module_load shell-process-directory
-  [[ $BASH_SHELL_DEV ]] && shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_DEV 
-}
-
-load_shell_host_user_dev () {
-  load_shell_host
-  load_shell_user
-  load_shell_dev
-}
-
 # PRIMARY SHELL LOAD SCRIPT - RUN FOR ALL INTERACTIVE SHELLS
 
 # don't bother if bash is not the shell
@@ -42,6 +17,42 @@ function debug () {
 }
 fi
 
+reload_shell () {
+  source $BASH_SHELL_BASE/load.sh $@
+}
+
+load_custom_shell_env () {
+  [[ -f $BASH_SHELL_HOST/shell.env ]] && source $BASH_SHELL_HOST/shell.env
+  [[ -f $HOME/${BASH_SHELL_USER:-shell}/shell.env ]] && source $HOME/${BASH_SHELL_USER:-shell}/shell.env 
+  [[ -f $BASH_SHELL_DEV/shell.env ]] && shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_DEV/shell.env 
+}
+
+load_shell_host () {
+  module_load shell-process-directory
+  [[ -d $BASH_SHELL_HOST ]] && shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_HOST
+}
+
+load_shell_user () {
+  module_load shell-process-directory
+  BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR=${BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR:-$HOME/shell}
+  [[ -d $BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR ]] && shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR 
+}
+
+load_shell_dev () {
+  module_load shell-process-directory
+  [[ $BASH_SHELL_DEV ]] && shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_DEV 
+}
+
+load_shell_host_user_dev () {
+  load_shell_host
+  load_shell_user
+  load_shell_dev
+}
+
+###  START LOAD SCRIPT #####
+
+load_custom_shell_env
+
 ([[ $BASH_ENV ]] && [[ ! $- == *i* ]] && [[ $BASH_USE_ALIAS ]]) && shopt -s expand_aliases  
 
 # process the base directory by default
@@ -60,10 +71,10 @@ module_load shell-process-directory
 #   shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_BASE
 #   shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_ANY_HOST
 #   shell_process_directory $BASH_SHELL_HOST
-
 #   export BASH_SHELL_BASE_LOADED=true
 
-  # process base any  
+  # process base and any host and any network directories  
+  # as set in shell.env
 for dir in ${1:-$BASH_SHELL_DIRS}; do
   # env | grep BASH
   # echo base $dir
@@ -71,15 +82,19 @@ for dir in ${1:-$BASH_SHELL_DIRS}; do
   [[ "$dir" = "$BASH_SHELL_BASE" ]] && export BASH_SHELL_BASE_LOADED=true
 done
 
-# set one or the other of these in shell.env if you want to load networks with every shell
-if [[ $BASH_SHELL_HOME_NETWORK_LOAD ]] || [[ $BASH_SHELL_NETWORKS_LOAD ]] || [[ $BASH_SHELL_NETWORK ]] ; then
-  if [[ $BASH_SHELL_ANY_NETWORK ]]; then 
-    module_load networks
-    [[ $(is_function _load_networks) ]] && _load_networks $BASH_SHELL_NETWORK
-  fi  
+
+# # set one or the other of these in shell.env if you want to load networks with every shell
+if [[ $BASH_SHELL_HOME_NETWORK_LOAD ]] || [[ $BASH_SHELL_ALL_NETWORKS_LOAD ]] || [[ $BASH_SHELL_NETWORKS_LOAD ]] ; then
+  module_load networks
+  if [[ $BASH_SHELL_ALL_NETWORKS_LOAD ]]; then
+     networks_load -a
+    else 
+    [[ $BASH_SHELL_HOME_NETWORK_LOAD ]] && networks_load -h
+  fi
+  [[ $BASH_SHELL_NETWORKS_LOAD ]] && networks_load $BASH_SHELL_NETWORKS_LOAD
 fi
 
-load_shell_host_user_dev
+load_shell_host
  
 export BASH_SHELL_LOADED=true
 
diff --git a/module.lib b/module.lib
index cc2d7bd..960e8ea 100644
--- a/module.lib
+++ b/module.lib
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ fi
 # BASH_SHELL_DIRS holds shell directories to search for modules.  If will be searched
 # in revsere order, user or network repos over host over base
 DIRS=( ${BASH_SHELL_DIRS:-$BASH_SHELL_BASE} )
-[ -d $HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER ] && DIRS=("${DIRS[@]}" "$HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER")
+[ -d BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR ] && DIRS=("${DIRS[@]}" "BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR")
 [ -d $BASH_SHELL_DEV ] && DIRS=("${DIRS[@]}" "$BASH_SHELL_DEV")
 
 cnt=${#DIRS[@]}
diff --git a/modules/shell-process-directory.func b/modules/shell-process-directory.mod
similarity index 61%
rename from modules/shell-process-directory.func
rename to modules/shell-process-directory.mod
index 5a9a2dc..87091e1 100644
--- a/modules/shell-process-directory.func
+++ b/modules/shell-process-directory.mod
@@ -1,5 +1,31 @@
 #!/bin/bash 
 
+shell_source_subdirs () {
+          # default processing
+          [[ ! -d $1 ]] && echo no directory $1 from which to process subdirectories && return 1
+          local DIR=
+          local SUBDIRS
+          local IGNORE_FILE
+          DIR=$1
+          SUBDIRS=$([[ -f "$DIR/.bash-shell-include" ]] && cat "$DIR/.bash-shell-include" || cat "$BASH_SHELL_BASE/.bash-shell-include")
+          [[ $SSH_SESSION ]] && SUBDIRS+=" ssh/session"
+          IGNORE_FILE="$([[ -f "$DIR/.bash-shell-ignore" ]] && echo "$DIR" || echo "$BASH_SHELL_BASE")/.bash-shell-ignore"
+          # echo $DIR
+          # echo $SUBDIRS
+          for SUBDIR in $SUBDIRS;  do
+            if [ -e  "$DIR/$SUBDIR" ]; then
+              # echo processing subdirectory $DIR/$SUBDIR
+              # must quote all globs to avoid bash glob expansion which is likely on
+              # TODO have default set of ignores plus check for shell-ignore
+              # source_dir -p "archive" -x '"*.off" "*.md"  "*TODO*" "LICENSE" "*.sample"'   -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
+              # source_dir -p "archive" -x "$excludes" -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
+              source_dir -f "$IGNORE_FILE" -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
+             #  else
+                # echo no subdirectory $DIR/$SUBDIR to process, ignorning
+            fi
+          done
+}       
+
 function shell_process_directory () {
     local SUBDIRS
     local DIR
@@ -7,8 +33,8 @@ function shell_process_directory () {
     module_load file
     [[ $? -ne 0 ]] && echo unable to access the file module, aborting load && return 1
 
-
     DIR=${1:-$BASH_SHELL_BASE}
+
     # echo sourcing directory $DIR
     # if [[ $DIR = "$BASH_SHELL_BASE" ]]; then
     #   BASH_SHELL_IGNORE=$(shell_get_ignores)
@@ -32,29 +58,31 @@ function shell_process_directory () {
         fi
 
       if [[ $DIR != "$BASH_SHELL_BASE" ]] && [[ -f  $DIR/load.sh ]]; then
-        # echo "$DIR/load.sh" found, running instead of default load
+        #
+        echo "$DIR/load.sh" found, running instead of base load.sh script
         source "$DIR/load.sh"
        else
-          # default processing
-          local SUBDIRS
-          local IGNORE_FILE
-          SUBDIRS=$([[ -f "$DIR/.bash-shell-include" ]] && cat "$DIR/.bash-shell-include" || cat "$BASH_SHELL_BASE/.bash-shell-include")
-          [[ $SSH_SESSION ]] && SUBDIRS+=" ssh/session"
-          IGNORE_FILE="$([[ -f "$DIR/.bash-shell-ignore" ]] && echo "$DIR" || echo "$BASH_SHELL_BASE")/.bash-shell-ignore"
-          # echo $DIR
-          # echo $SUBDIRS
-          for SUBDIR in $SUBDIRS;  do
-            if [ -e  "$DIR/$SUBDIR" ]; then
-              # echo processing subdirectory $DIR/$SUBDIR
-              # must quote all globs to avoid bash glob expansion which is likely on
-              # TODO have default set of ignores plus check for shell-ignore
-              # source_dir -p "archive" -x '"*.off" "*.md"  "*TODO*" "LICENSE" "*.sample"'   -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
-              # source_dir -p "archive" -x "$excludes" -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
-              source_dir -f "$IGNORE_FILE" -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
-             #  else
-                # echo no subdirectory $DIR/$SUBDIR to process, ignorning
-            fi
-          done
+          shell_source_subdirs $DIR
+          # # default processing
+          # local SUBDIRS
+          # local IGNORE_FILE
+          # SUBDIRS=$([[ -f "$DIR/.bash-shell-include" ]] && cat "$DIR/.bash-shell-include" || cat "$BASH_SHELL_BASE/.bash-shell-include")
+          # [[ $SSH_SESSION ]] && SUBDIRS+=" ssh/session"
+          # IGNORE_FILE="$([[ -f "$DIR/.bash-shell-ignore" ]] && echo "$DIR" || echo "$BASH_SHELL_BASE")/.bash-shell-ignore"
+          # # echo $DIR
+          # # echo $SUBDIRS
+          # for SUBDIR in $SUBDIRS;  do
+          #   if [ -e  "$DIR/$SUBDIR" ]; then
+          #     # echo processing subdirectory $DIR/$SUBDIR
+          #     # must quote all globs to avoid bash glob expansion which is likely on
+          #     # TODO have default set of ignores plus check for shell-ignore
+          #     # source_dir -p "archive" -x '"*.off" "*.md"  "*TODO*" "LICENSE" "*.sample"'   -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
+          #     # source_dir -p "archive" -x "$excludes" -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
+          #     source_dir -f "$IGNORE_FILE" -d 0 $DIR/$SUBDIR
+          #    #  else
+          #       # echo no subdirectory $DIR/$SUBDIR to process, ignorning
+          #   fi
+          # done
         fi
         # echo "done sourcing directory $DIR"
      # else
diff --git a/modules/utility/file.lib b/modules/utility/file.lib
index ecf8576..bd91279 100644
--- a/modules/utility/file.lib
+++ b/modules/utility/file.lib
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ isFile() {
     fi
 }
 
-                                                                                # env_file_pretty () {
-  
-# }
+#TODO
+ # env_file_pretty () {
+ # }
 
 # https://www.baeldung.com/linux/envsubst-command
 env_subs_file () {
@@ -60,14 +60,16 @@ env_subs_file () {
 build_file () {
   # local file
   # echo build file $1 $2
+  # todo merge no cr
   [[ $1 == "-f" ]] && file=true && shift 1
-  [[ -f "$2" ]] || (iecho "output file $2 does not exist";return 1)
+  [[ -f "$2" ]] || { iecho "output file $2 does not exist"; return 1; }
   if [[ -f "$1" ]]; then
-  # echo $1
+    # echo adding file $1 to $2
     [[ $file ]] && echo -e "\n####### ADDED $1 ########" >> $2
     # remove comment lines,  remove blank last line
     cat "$1" | sed '/^\s*#/d' | sed '/^$/{:a;N;s/\n$//;ta}' >> $2
-  else iecho "no such file $1 to append"
+    [[ ! $file ]] && echo -e "\n" >> $2
+  else iecho "no such file $1 to append to $2"
   fi
 }
 
diff --git a/setup/user/.bashrc b/setup/user/.bashrc
index 876596d..a95ae83 100644
--- a/setup/user/.bashrc
+++ b/setup/user/.bashrc
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 if ( [[ $SHELL_INTERACTIVE ]] );then
     if ( [[ $BASH_SHELL_BASE_LOADED = true ]] ) ; then
         export BASH_SHELL_USER=${BASH_SHELL_USER:-"shell"}
-        # echo loading user $USER shell at $HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER
-        [[ -d $HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER ]] && shell_process_directory "$HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER" ||\
-         echo no user shell directory $HOME/$BASH_SHELL_USER to process, create one or clone a template
+        # echo loading user $USER shell at BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR
+        [[ -d BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR ]] && shell_process_directory "BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR" ||\
+         echo no user shell directory BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR to process, create one or clone a template
     fi
   # uncomment to add non-interactive setup/sourcing  
   # else  
diff --git a/shell.env b/shell.env
index 53e4161..d3419d9 100755
--- a/shell.env
+++ b/shell.env
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 # In a nutshell its a set of directories that are sourced when creating a shell
 # The repos allow one to organize functionality across machines, users and networks
 
+# In general do not change or edit this base shell.env file
+# Instead add a custom shell.env to specific shell host directory, 
+# user shell directory or dev shell directory
+
 # echo DEBUG: sourcing shell.env
 
 # This file gets sourced early in /etc/profile for all login and 
@@ -15,7 +19,6 @@
 # with NO_BASH_SHELL_SSH=true
 # this does not effect non-interactive login shells like at user first login
 
-
 # if bash is not installed then don't bother to continue
 ! command -v bash >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo no bash command && return 1
 export SHELL=$(command -v bash )
@@ -98,41 +101,34 @@ BASH_SHELL_DEV=${BASH_SHELL_DEV:-/opt/shell}
 [[ -d $BASH_SHELL_DEV ]] && export BASH_SHELL_DEV
 
 # by default USER shell sources will be looked for under $HOME/shell
-# but the default directory for ALL users can be set manually below 
-# export BASH_SHELL_USER=<some directory under $HOME>
-export BASH_SHELL_USER=${BASH_SHELL_USER:-shell}    
-# or add this export to .bashrc for custom directory.  This can be done during or after using the user setup script
+# export BASH_SHELL_USER_DIR=$HOME/shell    
+
 
 # set up default location to look for other network shell directories 
 BASH_NETWORKS_DIR=$parent/networks
 # BASH_NETWORKS_DIR=<some directory>  # alt directory to look for networks
 export BASH_NETWORKS_DIR
 
-# set one or the other of these if you want to load networks with every shell
-export BASH_SHELL_HOME_NETWORK_LOAD=true
+# set one or the other of these here for all users or put in shell.env under HOST/USER/DEV directories
+# if you want to load networks with every shell
+# export BASH_SHELL_HOME_NETWORK_LOAD=true
 # export BASH_SHELL_NETWORKS_LOAD=true
 # export BASH_SHELL_NETWORK=<some directory>
-# export BASH_SHELL_NETWORK=238.kebler.net
+
 
 # now load and export module loading functions library so it is always available
 source $BASH_SHELL_BASE/module.lib
 
+# echo done shell.env
 
 # echo ALL DIRS: $BASH_SHELL_DIRS
-
-# cat $HOME/.bashrc
-# source "$HOME/.bashrc"
-
 # env | grep BASH
 # env | grep NETWORK_DIRS
 # echo  ---------------------------------
 # echo $BASH_SHELL_DIRS
 # echo  ---------------------------------
 
-# echo end shell env
-
 #archived ---for deletion or better explanation
-
 # echo enabling aliases with non-interactive shell
 # DEPRECATED # export BASH_USE_ALIAS=true  # will source aliases for non-interactive
 # if not using implicit sourcing for non-interactive shells then one can do this per script
@@ -143,3 +139,5 @@ source $BASH_SHELL_BASE/module.lib
 #  < your script code >
 # shopt -u expand_aliases
 ####################
+
+