Index: megatest.scm
==================================================================
--- megatest.scm
+++ megatest.scm
@@ -317,10 +317,11 @@
 			"-start-dir"
                         "-run-patt"
                         "-target-patt"   
 			"-contour"
                         "-area-tag"  
+                        "-area"  
 			"-server"
 			"-transport"
 			"-port"
 			"-extract-ods"
 			"-pathmod"

Index: server.scm
==================================================================
--- server.scm
+++ server.scm
@@ -160,13 +160,13 @@
 	 (rep        (server:start-nmsg mode))
 	 (last-msg   (current-seconds))
 	 (th1        (make-thread
 		      (lambda ()
 			(let loop ()
-			  (let ((pktdat (nmsg:recv rep)))
+			  (let ((pktdat (server:receive rep)))
 			    (set! last-msg (current-seconds))
-			    (print "received: " pktdat)
+			    ;; (print "received: " pktdat)
 			    (if (not (eof-object? pktdat))
 				(begin
 				  (proc pktdat)
 				  (loop))))))
 		      "message handler"))
@@ -221,23 +221,36 @@
 	 (hkey   (alist-ref 'Z        servpkt))
 	 (addr   (conc (or ip host) ":" port)) ;; fall back to host if ip not provided
 	 (myport (area-port *area-info*))
 	 (myhost (area-myaddr *area-info*))
 	 (mykey  (area-pktid  *area-info*))
-	 (msg    (alist->pkt `((hostname . ,myhost)
-			       (port     . ,myport)
-			       (servkey  . ,hkey)     ;; server looks at this to ensure message is for them
-			       (hostkey  . ,mykey)
-			       (format   . ,dtype)    ;; formating of the message
-			       (data     . ,data))
-			     *pktspec*)))
+	 (msg    (with-output-to-string
+		   (lambda ()
+		     (write `((hostname . ,myhost)
+			      (port     . ,myport)
+			      (servkey  . ,hkey)     ;; server looks at this to ensure message is for them
+			      (hostkey  . ,mykey)
+			      (format   . ,dtype)    ;; formating of the message
+			      (data     . ,data))
+			    ;; *pktspec*
+			    ;; ptype: 'data))
+			    )))))
+    (print "msg: " msg)
     (if (and port host)
 	(begin
 	  (print "sending " msg " to " addr)
 	  (nmsg:open-send-receive addr msg))
 	#f)))
 
+;; get the response
+;;
+(define (server:receive rep)
+  (let ((instr (nmsg:recv rep)))
+    (if (string? instr)
+	(with-input-from-string instr read)
+	instr)))
+	 
 ;; is the server alive?
 ;;
 (define (server:ping servpkt)
   (let* ((start-time (current-milliseconds))
 	 (res        (server:send servpkt "ping" "t")))