diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 00bb48e..b1d58c3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 >>
     |
     | A bash template (BaT) to ease argument parsing and management
-    |   0.2.0
     |
     | Usage:
     |   bash_template.sh -a alpha -b bravo [-c charlie] -d delta
diff --git a/args b/args
index aad0d1b..710cbcb 100644
--- a/args
+++ b/args
@@ -11,51 +11,51 @@ PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 #
 # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 # ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
-# FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License at 
+# FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License at
 # <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/> for more details.
 #
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # bash library for command line argument loading/parsing/validating
 #
-
-readonly ARGS_FILE="data/config.json"
+EXEC_DIR="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")"
+readonly ARGS_FILE="${EXEC_DIR}/data/config.json"
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# query data/config.json, returning the details object
+# get_config_details(), using external jq command, queries data/config.json,
+# returning the details object
 #
-function get_config_details {
-  printf "%s" "$(jq -r '.details.'"$1"'' < "${ARGS_FILE}")"
+function get_config_details() {
+  printf "%s" "$(jq -r '.details.'"$1"'' <"${ARGS_FILE}")"
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# query data/config.json, returning the arguments object
+# get_config_arg(), using external jq command, queries data/config.json,
+# returning the arguments object
 #
-function get_config_arg {
-  printf "%s" "$(jq -r '.arguments['"$1"'].'"$2"'' < "${ARGS_FILE}")"
+function get_config_arg() {
+  printf "%s" "$(jq -r '.arguments['"$1"'].'"$2"'' <"${ARGS_FILE}")"
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# query data/config.json, returning the count of arguments
+# get_config_args_length(), using external jq command, queries
+# data/config.json, returning the count of arguments
 #
-function get_config_args_length {
-  printf "%s" "$(jq -r '.arguments|length' < "${ARGS_FILE}")"
+function get_config_args_length() {
+  printf "%s" "$(jq -r '.arguments|length' <"${ARGS_FILE}")"
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# return argument value from argument key passed into
+# get_config_arg_value() returns argument value text from argument keys
 #
-function get_config_arg_value {
+function get_config_arg_value() {
 
   local count_config_args=0
   count_config_args=$(get_config_args_length)
 
-  for ((j=0;j<count_config_args;j++)) do
-
-    local arg_options=""
-    arg_options=$(get_config_arg "$j" text_string)
+  for ((j = 0; j < count_config_args; j++)); do
 
-    if echo "$1" | grep -Eq "$arg_options"; then
+    if [ "$1" == "$(get_config_arg "$j" text_string)" ]; then
       echo "${ARG_VALUE[$j]}"
       return
     fi
@@ -65,44 +65,39 @@ function get_config_arg_value {
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# scan command line for arguments
+# scan_for_args() scans command line for arguments, setting global ARG_VALUE[]
 #
-function scan_for_args {
+function scan_for_args() {
 
-  while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]
-  do
+  while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
 
     local count_config_args=0
     count_config_args=$(get_config_args_length)
 
-    for ((j=0;j<count_config_args;j++)) do
-
-      local arg_options=""
-      arg_options='('$(get_config_arg "$j" short_form)'|'$(get_config_arg "$j" long_form)')'
+    for ((j = 0; j < count_config_args; j++)); do
 
-      if echo "$1" | grep -Eq "$arg_options"; then
+      if [ "$1" == "$(get_config_arg "$j" short_form)" ] || [ "$1" == "$(get_config_arg "$j" long_form)" ]; then
         ARG_VALUE[${j}]="$2"
-        shift # skip to next argument
         break
       fi
 
     done
-
     shift # skip to next argument
   done
 
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# check for arguments completeness, quitting if required arguments are missing
+# check_for_args_completeness() checks for arguments completeness, quitting
+# with a message if required arguments are missing
 #
-function check_for_args_completeness {
+function check_for_args_completeness() {
 
   local count_errs=0
   local count_config_args=0
   count_config_args=$(get_config_args_length)
 
-  for ((j=0;j<count_config_args;j++)) do
+  for ((j = 0; j < count_config_args; j++)); do
 
     if [ -z "${ARG_VALUE[${j}]}" ] && [ "$(get_config_arg "$j" required)" == "true" ]; then
       printf "%s\n" "Error: $(get_config_arg "$j" text_string) argument ($(get_config_arg "$j" short_form)|$(get_config_arg "$j" long_form)) missing."
@@ -115,4 +110,4 @@ function check_for_args_completeness {
     quit 1
   fi
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/general b/general
index a966f24..70d6db1 100644
--- a/general
+++ b/general
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 #
 # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 # ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
-# FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License at 
+# FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License at
 # <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/> for more details.
 #
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@ PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
 #
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# check program dependencies
+# check_program_dependencies() checks external program dependencies passed in
+# through $0
 #
-function check_program_dependencies {
+function check_program_dependencies() {
 
   local -a deps=("$@")
 
@@ -38,9 +39,9 @@ function check_program_dependencies {
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# check file dependencies
+# check_file_dependencies() checks file dependencies passed in through $0
 #
-function check_file_dependencies {
+function check_file_dependencies() {
 
   local -a deps=("$@")
 
@@ -56,9 +57,10 @@ function check_file_dependencies {
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# display script banner
+# display_banner() builds and displays a custom-sized script banner using
+# configuration details managed through the args library
 #
-function display_banner {
+function display_banner() {
 
   printf "\n"
   printf "%s\n" " |"
@@ -75,13 +77,13 @@ function display_banner {
 
   # determine maximum column width for setting output columns
   #
-  for ((j=0;j<count_args;j++)) do
+  for ((j = 0; j < count_args; j++)); do
     arg_len=$(get_config_arg "$j" short_form)+$(get_config_arg "$j" long_form)
     ((${#arg_len} > max_col)) && max_col=${#arg_len}
-    ((j == count_args-1 )) && ((max_col+=6))
+    ((j == count_args - 1)) && ((max_col += 6))
   done
 
-  for ((j=0;j<count_args;j++)) do
+  for ((j = 0; j < count_args; j++)); do
     printf "%-${max_col}s %s\n" " |  $(get_config_arg "$j" short_form), $(get_config_arg "$j" long_form)" "$(get_config_arg "$j" description)"
   done
 
@@ -90,9 +92,9 @@ function display_banner {
 }
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# exit program (with exit status passed in)
+# quit() exits program (with exit status passed in)
 #
-function quit {
+function quit() {
 
   local result=""
   result=("${1}")
@@ -100,4 +102,4 @@ function quit {
   printf "\n"
   exit "${result[0]}"
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}