diff --git a/shapefile.py b/shapefile.py
index 3b4e5295..26d93dc6 100644
--- a/shapefile.py
+++ b/shapefile.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
     from urllib.parse import urlparse, urlunparse
     from urllib.error import HTTPError
     from urllib.request import urlopen, Request
-    
+
 else:
     from itertools import izip
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
 # Helpers
 
 MISSING = [None,'']
-NODATA = -10e38 # as per the ESRI shapefile spec, only used for m-values. 
+NODATA = -10e38 # as per the ESRI shapefile spec, only used for m-values.
 
 if PYTHON3:
     def b(v, encoding='utf-8', encodingErrors='strict'):
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def signed_area(coords, fast=False):
 
 def is_cw(coords):
     """Returns True if a polygon ring has clockwise orientation, determined
-    by a negatively signed area. 
+    by a negatively signed area.
     """
     area2 = signed_area(coords, fast=True)
     return area2 < 0
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def ring_contains_point(coords, p):
 
     Adapted from code by Eric Haynes
     http://www.realtimerendering.com/resources/GraphicsGems//gemsiv/ptpoly_haines/ptinpoly.c
-    
+
     Original description:
         Shoot a test ray along +X axis.  The strategy, from MacMartin, is to
         compare vertex Y values to the testing point's Y and quickly discard
@@ -258,11 +258,11 @@ def ring_contains_point(coords, p):
     yflag0 = ( vtx0[1] >= ty )
 
     inside_flag = False
-    for vtx1 in coords[1:]: 
+    for vtx1 in coords[1:]:
         yflag1 = ( vtx1[1] >= ty )
         # check if endpoints straddle (are on opposite sides) of X axis
         # (i.e. the Y's differ); if so, +X ray could intersect this edge.
-        if yflag0 != yflag1: 
+        if yflag0 != yflag1:
             xflag0 = ( vtx0[0] >= tx )
             # check if endpoints are on same side of the Y axis (i.e. X's
             # are the same); if so, it's easy to test if edge hits or misses.
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def ring_sample(coords, ccw=False):
     finding the first centroid of a coordinate triplet whose orientation
     matches the orientation of the ring and passes the point-in-ring test.
     The orientation of the ring is assumed to be clockwise, unless ccw
-    (counter-clockwise) is set to True. 
+    (counter-clockwise) is set to True.
     """
     triplet = []
     def itercoords():
@@ -296,12 +296,12 @@ def itercoords():
             yield p
         # finally, yield the second coordinate to the end to allow checking the last triplet
         yield coords[1]
-        
-    for p in itercoords(): 
+
+    for p in itercoords():
         # add point to triplet (but not if duplicate)
         if p not in triplet:
             triplet.append(p)
-            
+
         # new triplet, try to get sample
         if len(triplet) == 3:
             # check that triplet does not form a straight line (not a triangle)
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ def itercoords():
             # failed to get sample point from this triplet
             # remove oldest triplet coord to allow iterating to next triplet
             triplet.pop(0)
-            
+
     else:
         raise Exception('Unexpected error: Unable to find a ring sample point.')
 
@@ -334,14 +334,14 @@ def ring_contains_ring(coords1, coords2):
 def organize_polygon_rings(rings, return_errors=None):
     '''Organize a list of coordinate rings into one or more polygons with holes.
     Returns a list of polygons, where each polygon is composed of a single exterior
-    ring, and one or more interior holes. If a return_errors dict is provided (optional), 
-    any errors encountered will be added to it. 
+    ring, and one or more interior holes. If a return_errors dict is provided (optional),
+    any errors encountered will be added to it.
 
     Rings must be closed, and cannot intersect each other (non-self-intersecting polygon).
     Rings are determined as exteriors if they run in clockwise direction, or interior
     holes if they run in counter-clockwise direction. This method is used to construct
     GeoJSON (multi)polygons from the shapefile polygon shape type, which does not
-    explicitly store the structure of the polygons beyond exterior/interior ring orientation. 
+    explicitly store the structure of the polygons beyond exterior/interior ring orientation.
     '''
     # first iterate rings and classify as exterior or hole
     exteriors = []
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ def organize_polygon_rings(rings, return_errors=None):
         else:
             # ring is a hole
             holes.append(ring)
-                
+
     # if only one exterior, then all holes belong to that exterior
     if len(exteriors) == 1:
         # exit early
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ def organize_polygon_rings(rings, return_errors=None):
                 poly = [ext]
                 polys.append(poly)
             return polys
-        
+
         # first determine each hole's candidate exteriors based on simple bbox contains test
         hole_exteriors = dict([(hole_i,[]) for hole_i in xrange(len(holes))])
         exterior_bboxes = [ring_bbox(ring) for ring in exteriors]
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ def organize_polygon_rings(rings, return_errors=None):
 
         # then, for holes with still more than one possible exterior, do more detailed hole-in-ring test
         for hole_i,exterior_candidates in hole_exteriors.items():
-            
+
             if len(exterior_candidates) > 1:
                 # get hole sample point
                 ccw = not is_cw(holes[hole_i])
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ def organize_polygon_rings(rings, return_errors=None):
 
         # if still holes with more than one possible exterior, means we have an exterior hole nested inside another exterior's hole
         for hole_i,exterior_candidates in hole_exteriors.items():
-            
+
             if len(exterior_candidates) > 1:
                 # exterior candidate with the smallest area is the hole's most immediate parent
                 ext_i = sorted(exterior_candidates, key=lambda x: abs(signed_area(exteriors[x], fast=True)))[0]
@@ -463,17 +463,17 @@ def __init__(self, shapeType=NULL, points=None, parts=None, partTypes=None, oid=
         geometry record then those shapes are called parts. Parts
         are designated by their starting index in geometry record's
         list of shapes. For MultiPatch geometry, partTypes designates
-        the patch type of each of the parts. 
+        the patch type of each of the parts.
         """
         self.shapeType = shapeType
         self.points = points or []
         self.parts = parts or []
         if partTypes:
             self.partTypes = partTypes
-        
+
         # and a dict to silently record any errors encountered
         self._errors = {}
-        
+
         # add oid
         if oid is not None:
             self.__oid = oid
@@ -557,12 +557,12 @@ def __geo_interface__(self):
                     rings.append(ring)
 
                 # organize rings into list of polygons, where each polygon is defined as list of rings.
-                # the first ring is the exterior and any remaining rings are holes (same as GeoJSON). 
+                # the first ring is the exterior and any remaining rings are holes (same as GeoJSON).
                 polys = organize_polygon_rings(rings, self._errors)
-                
+
                 # if VERBOSE is True, issue detailed warning about any shape errors
                 # encountered during the Shapefile to GeoJSON conversion
-                if VERBOSE and self._errors: 
+                if VERBOSE and self._errors:
                     header = 'Possible issue encountered when converting Shape #{} to GeoJSON: '.format(self.oid)
                     orphans = self._errors.get('polygon_orphaned_holes', None)
                     if orphans:
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ def _from_geojson(geoj):
         else:
             raise Exception("Cannot create Shape from GeoJSON type '%s'" % geojType)
         shape.shapeType = shapeType
-        
+
         # set points and parts
         if geojType == "Point":
             shape.points = [ geoj["coordinates"] ]
@@ -629,9 +629,9 @@ def _from_geojson(geoj):
             parts = []
             index = 0
             for i,ext_or_hole in enumerate(geoj["coordinates"]):
-                # although the latest GeoJSON spec states that exterior rings should have 
-                # counter-clockwise orientation, we explicitly check orientation since older 
-                # GeoJSONs might not enforce this. 
+                # although the latest GeoJSON spec states that exterior rings should have
+                # counter-clockwise orientation, we explicitly check orientation since older
+                # GeoJSONs might not enforce this.
                 if i == 0 and not is_cw(ext_or_hole):
                     # flip exterior direction
                     ext_or_hole = rewind(ext_or_hole)
@@ -659,9 +659,9 @@ def _from_geojson(geoj):
             index = 0
             for polygon in geoj["coordinates"]:
                 for i,ext_or_hole in enumerate(polygon):
-                    # although the latest GeoJSON spec states that exterior rings should have 
-                    # counter-clockwise orientation, we explicitly check orientation since older 
-                    # GeoJSONs might not enforce this. 
+                    # although the latest GeoJSON spec states that exterior rings should have
+                    # counter-clockwise orientation, we explicitly check orientation since older
+                    # GeoJSONs might not enforce this.
                     if i == 0 and not is_cw(ext_or_hole):
                         # flip exterior direction
                         ext_or_hole = rewind(ext_or_hole)
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ def __getattr__(self, item):
         :param item: The field name, used as attribute
         :return: Value of the field
         :raises: AttributeError, if item is not a field of the shapefile
-                and IndexError, if the field exists but the field's 
+                and IndexError, if the field exists but the field's
                 corresponding value in the Record does not exist
         """
         try:
@@ -823,8 +823,8 @@ def __dir__(self):
         """
         default = list(dir(type(self))) # default list methods and attributes of this class
         fnames = list(self.__field_positions.keys()) # plus field names (random order if Python version < 3.6)
-        return default + fnames 
-        
+        return default + fnames
+
 class ShapeRecord(object):
     """A ShapeRecord object containing a shape along with its attributes.
     Provides the GeoJSON __geo_interface__ to return a Feature dictionary."""
@@ -919,8 +919,8 @@ class Reader(object):
     but is not required to read the geometry from the .shp
     file. The "shapefile" argument in the constructor is the
     name of the file you want to open, and can be the path
-    to a shapefile on a local filesystem, inside a zipfile, 
-    or a url. 
+    to a shapefile on a local filesystem, inside a zipfile,
+    or a url.
 
     You can instantiate a Reader without specifying a shapefile
     and then specify one later with the load() method.
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     # Load and exit early
                     self.load(path)
                     return
-                    
+
         # Otherwise, load from separate shp/shx/dbf args (must be path or file-like)
         if "shp" in kwargs.keys():
             if hasattr(kwargs["shp"], "read"):
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             else:
                 (baseName, ext) = os.path.splitext(kwargs["shp"])
                 self.load_shp(baseName)
-            
+
             if "shx" in kwargs.keys():
                 if hasattr(kwargs["shx"], "read"):
                     self.shx = kwargs["shx"]
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                 else:
                     (baseName, ext) = os.path.splitext(kwargs["shx"])
                     self.load_shx(baseName)
-                
+
         if "dbf" in kwargs.keys():
             if hasattr(kwargs["dbf"], "read"):
                 self.dbf = kwargs["dbf"]
@@ -1086,7 +1086,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             else:
                 (baseName, ext) = os.path.splitext(kwargs["dbf"])
                 self.load_dbf(baseName)
-            
+
         # Load the files
         if self.shp or self.dbf:
             self.load()
@@ -1122,9 +1122,9 @@ def __len__(self):
             # Preferably use dbf record count
             if self.numRecords is None:
                 self.__dbfHeader()
-                
+
             return self.numRecords
-        
+
         elif self.shp:
             # Otherwise use shape count
             if self.shx:
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ def __len__(self):
                     self.__shxHeader()
 
                 return self.numShapes
-            
+
             else:
                 # Index file not available, iterate all shapes to get total count
                 if self.numShapes is None:
@@ -1158,12 +1158,12 @@ def __len__(self):
                     self._offsets = offsets
                     # Return to previous file position
                     shp.seek(checkpoint)
-                    
+
                 return self.numShapes
-            
+
         else:
             # No file loaded yet, treat as 'empty' shapefile
-            return 0 
+            return 0
 
     def __iter__(self):
         """Iterates through the shapes/records in the shapefile."""
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@ def __shape(self, oid=None, bbox=None):
                 record.m = [None]
         # Seek to the end of this record as defined by the record header because
         # the shapefile spec doesn't require the actual content to meet the header
-        # definition.  Probably allowed for lazy feature deletion. 
+        # definition.  Probably allowed for lazy feature deletion.
         f.seek(next)
         return record
 
@@ -1427,8 +1427,8 @@ def __shapeIndex(self, i=None):
     def shape(self, i=0, bbox=None):
         """Returns a shape object for a shape in the geometry
         record file.
-        If the 'bbox' arg is given (list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax), 
-        returns None if the shape is not within that region. 
+        If the 'bbox' arg is given (list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax),
+        returns None if the shape is not within that region.
         """
         shp = self.__getFileObj(self.shp)
         i = self.__restrictIndex(i)
@@ -1464,7 +1464,7 @@ def shape(self, i=0, bbox=None):
     def shapes(self, bbox=None):
         """Returns all shapes in a shapefile.
         To only read shapes within a given spatial region, specify the 'bbox'
-        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax. 
+        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax.
         """
         shapes = Shapes()
         shapes.extend(self.iterShapes(bbox=bbox))
@@ -1474,7 +1474,7 @@ def iterShapes(self, bbox=None):
         """Returns a generator of shapes in a shapefile. Useful
         for handling large shapefiles.
         To only read shapes within a given spatial region, specify the 'bbox'
-        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax. 
+        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax.
         """
         shp = self.__getFileObj(self.shp)
         # Found shapefiles which report incorrect
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ def iterShapes(self, bbox=None):
         if self.numShapes:
             # Iterate exactly the number of shapes from shx header
             for i in xrange(self.numShapes):
-                # MAYBE: check if more left of file or exit early? 
+                # MAYBE: check if more left of file or exit early?
                 shape = self.__shape(oid=i, bbox=bbox)
                 if shape:
                     yield shape
@@ -1509,7 +1509,7 @@ def iterShapes(self, bbox=None):
             # Entire shp file consumed
             # Update the number of shapes and list of offsets
             assert i == len(offsets)
-            self.numShapes = i 
+            self.numShapes = i
             self._offsets = offsets
 
     def __dbfHeader(self):
@@ -1539,7 +1539,7 @@ def __dbfHeader(self):
         terminator = dbf.read(1)
         if terminator != b"\r":
             raise ShapefileException("Shapefile dbf header lacks expected terminator. (likely corrupt?)")
-        
+
         # insert deletion field at start
         self.fields.insert(0, ('DeletionFlag', 'C', 1, 0))
 
@@ -1555,9 +1555,9 @@ def __dbfHeader(self):
         self.__fullRecLookup = recLookup
 
     def __recordFmt(self, fields=None):
-        """Calculates the format and size of a .dbf record. Optional 'fields' arg 
+        """Calculates the format and size of a .dbf record. Optional 'fields' arg
         specifies which fieldnames to unpack and which to ignore. Note that this
-        always includes the DeletionFlag at index 0, regardless of the 'fields' arg. 
+        always includes the DeletionFlag at index 0, regardless of the 'fields' arg.
         """
         if self.numRecords is None:
             self.__dbfHeader()
@@ -1565,7 +1565,7 @@ def __recordFmt(self, fields=None):
                         for fieldinfo in self.fields]
         if fields is not None:
             # only unpack specified fields, ignore others using padbytes (x)
-            structcodes = [code if fieldinfo[0] in fields 
+            structcodes = [code if fieldinfo[0] in fields
                             or fieldinfo[0] == 'DeletionFlag' # always unpack delflag
                             else '%dx' % fieldinfo[2]
                             for fieldinfo,code in zip(self.fields, structcodes)]
@@ -1580,10 +1580,10 @@ def __recordFmt(self, fields=None):
 
     def __recordFields(self, fields=None):
         """Returns the necessary info required to unpack a record's fields,
-        restricted to a subset of fieldnames 'fields' if specified. 
-        Returns a list of field info tuples, a name-index lookup dict, 
+        restricted to a subset of fieldnames 'fields' if specified.
+        Returns a list of field info tuples, a name-index lookup dict,
         and a Struct instance for unpacking these fields. Note that DeletionFlag
-        is not a valid field. 
+        is not a valid field.
         """
         if fields is not None:
             # restrict info to the specified fields
@@ -1613,13 +1613,13 @@ def __recordFields(self, fields=None):
 
     def __record(self, fieldTuples, recLookup, recStruct, oid=None):
         """Reads and returns a dbf record row as a list of values. Requires specifying
-        a list of field info tuples 'fieldTuples', a record name-index dict 'recLookup', 
-        and a Struct instance 'recStruct' for unpacking these fields. 
+        a list of field info tuples 'fieldTuples', a record name-index dict 'recLookup',
+        and a Struct instance 'recStruct' for unpacking these fields.
         """
         f = self.__getFileObj(self.dbf)
 
         recordContents = recStruct.unpack(f.read(recStruct.size))
-        
+
         # deletion flag field is always unpacked as first value (see __recordFmt)
         if recordContents[0] != b' ':
             # deleted record
@@ -1637,7 +1637,7 @@ def __record(self, fieldTuples, recLookup, recStruct, oid=None):
         record = []
         for (name, typ, size, deci),value in zip(fieldTuples, recordContents):
             if typ in ("N","F"):
-                # numeric or float: number stored as a string, right justified, and padded with blanks to the width of the field. 
+                # numeric or float: number stored as a string, right justified, and padded with blanks to the width of the field.
                 value = value.split(b'\0')[0]
                 value = value.replace(b'*', b'')  # QGIS NULL is all '*' chars
                 if value == b'':
@@ -1654,7 +1654,7 @@ def __record(self, fieldTuples, recLookup, recStruct, oid=None):
                         # first try to force directly to int.
                         # forcing a large int to float and back to int
                         # will lose information and result in wrong nr.
-                        value = int(value) 
+                        value = int(value)
                     except ValueError:
                         # forcing directly to int failed, so was probably a float.
                         try:
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ def __record(self, fieldTuples, recLookup, recStruct, oid=None):
     def record(self, i=0, fields=None):
         """Returns a specific dbf record based on the supplied index.
         To only read some of the fields, specify the 'fields' arg as a
-        list of one or more fieldnames. 
+        list of one or more fieldnames.
         """
         f = self.__getFileObj(self.dbf)
         if self.numRecords is None:
@@ -1711,7 +1711,7 @@ def record(self, i=0, fields=None):
         return self.__record(oid=i, fieldTuples=fieldTuples, recLookup=recLookup, recStruct=recStruct)
 
     def records(self, fields=None):
-        """Returns all records in a dbf file. 
+        """Returns all records in a dbf file.
         To only read some of the fields, specify the 'fields' arg as a
         list of one or more fieldnames.
         """
@@ -1745,11 +1745,11 @@ def iterRecords(self, fields=None):
 
     def shapeRecord(self, i=0, fields=None, bbox=None):
         """Returns a combination geometry and attribute record for the
-        supplied record index. 
+        supplied record index.
         To only read some of the fields, specify the 'fields' arg as a
-        list of one or more fieldnames. 
-        If the 'bbox' arg is given (list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax), 
-        returns None if the shape is not within that region. 
+        list of one or more fieldnames.
+        If the 'bbox' arg is given (list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax),
+        returns None if the shape is not within that region.
         """
         i = self.__restrictIndex(i)
         shape = self.shape(i, bbox=bbox)
@@ -1761,9 +1761,9 @@ def shapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
         """Returns a list of combination geometry/attribute records for
         all records in a shapefile.
         To only read some of the fields, specify the 'fields' arg as a
-        list of one or more fieldnames. 
+        list of one or more fieldnames.
         To only read entries within a given spatial region, specify the 'bbox'
-        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax. 
+        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax.
         """
         return ShapeRecords(self.iterShapeRecords(fields=fields, bbox=bbox))
 
@@ -1771,9 +1771,9 @@ def iterShapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
         """Returns a generator of combination geometry/attribute records for
         all records in a shapefile.
         To only read some of the fields, specify the 'fields' arg as a
-        list of one or more fieldnames. 
+        list of one or more fieldnames.
         To only read entries within a given spatial region, specify the 'bbox'
-        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax. 
+        arg as a list or tuple of xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax.
         """
         if bbox is None:
             # iterate through all shapes and records
@@ -1782,13 +1782,13 @@ def iterShapeRecords(self, fields=None, bbox=None):
         else:
             # only iterate where shape.bbox overlaps with the given bbox
             # TODO: internal __record method should be faster but would have to
-            # make sure to seek to correct file location... 
+            # make sure to seek to correct file location...
 
             #fieldTuples,recLookup,recStruct = self.__recordFields(fields)
             for shape in self.iterShapes(bbox=bbox):
                 if shape:
                     #record = self.__record(oid=i, fieldTuples=fieldTuples, recLookup=recLookup, recStruct=recStruct)
-                    record = self.record(i=shape.oid, fields=fields) 
+                    record = self.record(i=shape.oid, fields=fields)
                     yield ShapeRecord(shape=shape, record=record)
 
 
@@ -1819,8 +1819,8 @@ def __init__(self, target=None, shapeType=None, autoBalance=False, **kwargs):
         else:
             raise Exception('Either the target filepath, or any of shp, shx, or dbf must be set to create a shapefile.')
         # Initiate with empty headers, to be finalized upon closing
-        if self.shp: self.shp.write(b'9'*100) 
-        if self.shx: self.shx.write(b'9'*100) 
+        if self.shp: self.shp.write(b'9'*100)
+        if self.shx: self.shx.write(b'9'*100)
         # Geometry record offsets and lengths for writing shx file.
         self.recNum = 0
         self.shpNum = 0
@@ -1828,16 +1828,16 @@ def __init__(self, target=None, shapeType=None, autoBalance=False, **kwargs):
         self._zbox = None
         self._mbox = None
         # Use deletion flags in dbf? Default is false (0). Note: Currently has no effect, records should NOT contain deletion flags.
-        self.deletionFlag = 0 
+        self.deletionFlag = 0
         # Encoding
         self.encoding = kwargs.pop('encoding', 'utf-8')
         self.encodingErrors = kwargs.pop('encodingErrors', 'strict')
 
     def __len__(self):
-        """Returns the current number of features written to the shapefile. 
+        """Returns the current number of features written to the shapefile.
         If shapes and records are unbalanced, the length is considered the highest
         of the two."""
-        return max(self.recNum, self.shpNum) 
+        return max(self.recNum, self.shpNum)
 
     def __enter__(self):
         """
@@ -1862,7 +1862,7 @@ def close(self):
         shp_open = self.shp and not (hasattr(self.shp, 'closed') and self.shp.closed)
         shx_open = self.shx and not (hasattr(self.shx, 'closed') and self.shx.closed)
         dbf_open = self.dbf and not (hasattr(self.dbf, 'closed') and self.dbf.closed)
-            
+
         # Balance if already not balanced
         if self.shp and shp_open and self.dbf and dbf_open:
             if self.autoBalance:
@@ -1934,8 +1934,8 @@ def __bbox(self, s):
             y.extend(py)
         else:
             # this should not happen.
-            # any shape that is not null should have at least one point, and only those should be sent here. 
-            # could also mean that earlier code failed to add points to a non-null shape. 
+            # any shape that is not null should have at least one point, and only those should be sent here.
+            # could also mean that earlier code failed to add points to a non-null shape.
             raise Exception("Cannot create bbox. Expected a valid shape with at least one point. Got a shape of type '%s' and 0 points." % s.shapeType)
         bbox = [min(x), min(y), max(x), max(y)]
         # update global
@@ -2035,7 +2035,7 @@ def __shapefileHeader(self, fileObj, headerType='shp'):
                     # In such cases of empty shapefiles, ESRI spec says the bbox values are 'unspecified'.
                     # Not sure what that means, so for now just setting to 0s, which is the same behavior as in previous versions.
                     # This would also make sense since the Z and M bounds are similarly set to 0 for non-Z/M type shapefiles.
-                    bbox = [0,0,0,0] 
+                    bbox = [0,0,0,0]
                 f.write(pack("<4d", *bbox))
             except error:
                 raise ShapefileException("Failed to write shapefile bounding box. Floats required.")
@@ -2179,7 +2179,7 @@ def __shpRecord(self, s):
                     f.write(pack("<%sd" % len(s.z), *s.z))
                 else:
                     # if z values are stored as 3rd dimension
-                    [f.write(pack("<d", p[2] if len(p) > 2 else 0)) for p in s.points]  
+                    [f.write(pack("<d", p[2] if len(p) > 2 else 0)) for p in s.points]
             except error:
                 raise ShapefileException("Failed to write elevation values for record %s. Expected floats." % self.shpNum)
         # Write m extremes and values
@@ -2191,7 +2191,7 @@ def __shpRecord(self, s):
             except error:
                 raise ShapefileException("Failed to write measure extremes for record %s. Expected floats" % self.shpNum)
             try:
-                if hasattr(s,"m"): 
+                if hasattr(s,"m"):
                     # if m values are stored in attribute
                     f.write(pack("<%sd" % len(s.m), *[m if m is not None else NODATA for m in s.m]))
                 else:
@@ -2239,7 +2239,7 @@ def __shpRecord(self, s):
                 # if m values are stored in attribute
                 try:
                     if not s.m or s.m[0] is None:
-                        s.m = (NODATA,) 
+                        s.m = (NODATA,)
                     f.write(pack("<1d", s.m[0]))
                 except error:
                     raise ShapefileException("Failed to write measure value for record %s. Expected floats." % self.shpNum)
@@ -2284,7 +2284,7 @@ def record(self, *recordList, **recordDict):
         # Balance if already not balanced
         if self.autoBalance and self.recNum > self.shpNum:
             self.balance()
-            
+
         fieldCount = sum((1 for field in self.fields if field[0] != 'DeletionFlag'))
         if recordList:
             record = list(recordList)
@@ -2322,7 +2322,7 @@ def __dbfRecord(self, record):
         self.recNum += 1
         fields = (field for field in self.fields if field[0] != 'DeletionFlag') # ignore deletionflag field in case it was specified
         for (fieldName, fieldType, size, deci), value in zip(fields, record):
-            # write 
+            # write
             fieldType = fieldType.upper()
             size = int(size)
             if fieldType in ("N","F"):
@@ -2335,7 +2335,7 @@ def __dbfRecord(self, record):
                         # first try to force directly to int.
                         # forcing a large int to float and back to int
                         # will lose information and result in wrong nr.
-                        value = int(value) 
+                        value = int(value)
                     except ValueError:
                         # forcing directly to int failed, so was probably a float.
                         value = int(float(value))
@@ -2415,7 +2415,7 @@ def pointz(self, x, y, z=0, m=None):
         pointShape = Shape(shapeType)
         pointShape.points.append([x, y, z, m])
         self.shape(pointShape)
-        
+
 
     def multipoint(self, points):
         """Creates a MULTIPOINT shape.
@@ -2600,8 +2600,8 @@ def field(self, name, fieldType="C", size="50", decimal=0):
 ##        be written exclusively using saveShp, saveShx, and saveDbf respectively.
 ##        If target is specified but not shp, shx, or dbf then the target path and
 ##        file name are used.  If no options or specified, a unique base file name
-##        is generated to save the files and the base file name is returned as a 
-##        string. 
+##        is generated to save the files and the base file name is returned as a
+##        string.
 ##        """
 ##        # Balance if already not balanced
 ##        if shp and dbf:
@@ -2624,7 +2624,7 @@ def field(self, name, fieldType="C", size="50", decimal=0):
 ##            if not target:
 ##                temp = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(prefix="shapefile_",dir=os.getcwd())
 ##                target = temp.name
-##                generated = True         
+##                generated = True
 ##            self.saveShp(target)
 ##            self.shp.close()
 ##            self.saveShx(target)
@@ -2670,11 +2670,11 @@ def summarize(self):
             runner.summarize(verbosity)
 
     return failure_count
-    
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     """
     Doctests are contained in the file 'README.md', and are tested using the built-in
-    testing libraries. 
+    testing libraries.
     """
     failure_count = test()
     sys.exit(failure_count)
diff --git a/test_shapefile.py b/test_shapefile.py
index 774e59cd..ec73b457 100644
--- a/test_shapefile.py
+++ b/test_shapefile.py
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ def test_reader_zip():
             pass
         assert len(sf) > 0
     assert sf.shp.closed == sf.shx.closed == sf.dbf.closed == True
-    
+
     # test require specific path when reading multi-shapefile zipfile
     with pytest.raises(shapefile.ShapefileException):
         with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups_multishapefile.zip") as sf:
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ def test_reader_shapefile_delayed_load():
     with shapefile.Reader() as sf:
         # assert that data request raises exception, since no file has been provided yet
         with pytest.raises(shapefile.ShapefileException):
-            sf.shape(0) 
+            sf.shape(0)
         # assert that works after loading file manually
         sf.load("shapefiles/blockgroups")
         assert len(sf) == 663
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ def test_records_match_shapes():
 
 def test_record_attributes(fields=None):
     """
-    Assert that record retrieves all relevant values and can 
+    Assert that record retrieves all relevant values and can
     be accessed as attributes and dictionary items.
     """
     # note
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ def test_record_attributes(fields=None):
 
 def test_record_subfields():
     """
-    Assert that reader correctly retrieves only a subset 
+    Assert that reader correctly retrieves only a subset
     of fields when specified.
     """
     fields = ["AREA","POP1990","MALES","FEMALES","MOBILEHOME"]
@@ -643,9 +643,9 @@ def test_record_subfields():
 
 def test_record_subfields_unordered():
     """
-    Assert that reader correctly retrieves only a subset 
-    of fields when specified, given in random order but 
-    retrieved in the order of the shapefile fields. 
+    Assert that reader correctly retrieves only a subset
+    of fields when specified, given in random order but
+    retrieved in the order of the shapefile fields.
     """
     fields = sorted(["AREA","POP1990","MALES","FEMALES","MOBILEHOME"])
     test_record_attributes(fields=fields)
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ def test_record_subfields_delflag_notvalid():
 def test_record_subfields_duplicates():
     """
     Assert that reader correctly retrieves only a subset
-    of fields when specified, handling duplicate input fields. 
+    of fields when specified, handling duplicate input fields.
     """
     fields = ["AREA","AREA","AREA","MALES","MALES","MOBILEHOME"]
     test_record_attributes(fields=fields)
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ def test_record_subfields_duplicates():
 def test_record_subfields_empty():
     """
     Assert that reader does not retrieve any fields when given
-    an empty list. 
+    an empty list.
     """
     fields = []
     test_record_attributes(fields=fields)
@@ -774,8 +774,8 @@ def test_shape_oid_no_shx():
 
 def test_reader_offsets():
     """
-    Assert that reader will not read the shx offsets unless necessary, 
-    i.e. requesting a shape index. 
+    Assert that reader will not read the shx offsets unless necessary,
+    i.e. requesting a shape index.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     with shapefile.Reader(basename) as sf:
@@ -788,8 +788,8 @@ def test_reader_offsets():
 
 def test_reader_offsets_no_shx():
     """
-    Assert that reading a shapefile without a shx file will not build 
-    the offsets unless necessary, i.e. reading all the shapes. 
+    Assert that reading a shapefile without a shx file will not build
+    the offsets unless necessary, i.e. reading all the shapes.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     shp = open(basename + ".shp", 'rb')
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ def test_reader_offsets_no_shx():
 def test_reader_numshapes():
     """
     Assert that reader reads the numShapes attribute from the
-    shx file header during loading. 
+    shx file header during loading.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     with shapefile.Reader(basename) as sf:
@@ -839,8 +839,8 @@ def test_reader_numshapes_no_shx():
 
 def test_reader_len():
     """
-    Assert that calling len() on reader is equal to length of 
-    all shapes and records. 
+    Assert that calling len() on reader is equal to length of
+    all shapes and records.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     with shapefile.Reader(basename) as sf:
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ def test_reader_len():
 def test_reader_len_not_loaded():
     """
     Assert that calling len() on reader that hasn't loaded a shapefile
-    yet is equal to 0. 
+    yet is equal to 0.
     """
     with shapefile.Reader() as sf:
         assert len(sf) == 0
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ def test_reader_len_not_loaded():
 def test_reader_len_dbf_only():
     """
     Assert that calling len() on reader when reading a dbf file only,
-    is equal to length of all records. 
+    is equal to length of all records.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     dbf = open(basename + ".dbf", 'rb')
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ def test_reader_len_dbf_only():
 def test_reader_len_no_dbf():
     """
     Assert that calling len() on reader when dbf file is missing,
-    is equal to length of all shapes. 
+    is equal to length of all shapes.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     shp = open(basename + ".shp", 'rb')
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ def test_reader_len_no_dbf():
 def test_reader_len_no_dbf_shx():
     """
     Assert that calling len() on reader when dbf and shx file is missing,
-    is equal to length of all shapes. 
+    is equal to length of all shapes.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/blockgroups"
     shp = open(basename + ".shp", 'rb')
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ def test_reader_len_no_dbf_shx():
 def test_reader_corrupt_files():
     """
     Assert that reader is able to handle corrupt files by
-    strictly going off the header information. 
+    strictly going off the header information.
     """
     basename = "shapefiles/test/corrupt_too_long"
 
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ def test_reader_corrupt_files():
 def test_bboxfilter_shape():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to shape() correctly ignores the shape
-    if it falls outside, and returns it if inside. 
+    if it falls outside, and returns it if inside.
     """
     inside = [-122.4, 37.8, -122.35, 37.82]
     outside = list(inside)
@@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ def test_bboxfilter_shape():
 def test_bboxfilter_shapes():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to shapes() correctly ignores shapes
-    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside. 
+    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside.
     """
     bbox = [-122.4, 37.8, -122.35, 37.82]
     with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups") as sf:
@@ -967,7 +967,7 @@ def test_bboxfilter_shapes():
 def test_bboxfilter_shapes_outside():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to shapes() correctly returns
-    no shapes when the bbox is outside the entire shapefile. 
+    no shapes when the bbox is outside the entire shapefile.
     """
     bbox = [-180, 89, -179, 90]
     with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups") as sf:
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ def test_bboxfilter_shapes_outside():
 def test_bboxfilter_itershapes():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to iterShapes() correctly ignores shapes
-    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside. 
+    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside.
     """
     bbox = [-122.4, 37.8, -122.35, 37.82]
     with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups") as sf:
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ def test_bboxfilter_itershapes():
 def test_bboxfilter_shaperecord():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to shapeRecord() correctly ignores the shape
-    if it falls outside, and returns it if inside. 
+    if it falls outside, and returns it if inside.
     """
     inside = [-122.4, 37.8, -122.35, 37.82]
     outside = list(inside)
@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ def test_bboxfilter_shaperecord():
 def test_bboxfilter_shaperecords():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to shapeRecords() correctly ignores shapes
-    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside. 
+    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside.
     """
     bbox = [-122.4, 37.8, -122.35, 37.82]
     with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups") as sf:
@@ -1046,7 +1046,7 @@ def test_bboxfilter_shaperecords():
 def test_bboxfilter_itershaperecords():
     """
     Assert that applying the bbox filter to iterShapeRecords() correctly ignores shapes
-    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside. 
+    that fall outside, and returns those that fall inside.
     """
     bbox = [-122.4, 37.8, -122.35, 37.82]
     with shapefile.Reader("shapefiles/blockgroups") as sf:
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ def test_write_shp_only(tmpdir):
 
     # assert test.shp exists
     assert os.path.exists(filename+'.shp')
-    
+
     # test that can read shapes
     with shapefile.Reader(shp=filename+'.shp') as reader:
         assert reader.shp and not reader.shx and not reader.dbf
@@ -1220,7 +1220,7 @@ def test_write_shp_dbf_only(tmpdir):
 
     # assert test.dbf exists
     assert os.path.exists(filename+'.dbf')
-    
+
     # test that can read records and shapes
     with shapefile.Reader(shp=filename+'.shp', dbf=filename+'.dbf') as reader:
         assert reader.shp and not reader.shx and reader.dbf
@@ -1308,7 +1308,7 @@ def test_write_filelike(tmpdir):
         writer.field('field1', 'C') # required to create a valid dbf file
         writer.record('value')
         writer.null()
-        
+
     # test that filelike objects were written correctly
     with shapefile.Reader(shp=shp, shx=shx, dbf=dbf) as reader:
         assert len(reader) == 1
@@ -1431,17 +1431,17 @@ def test_write_shapefile_extension_ignored(tmpdir):
 def test_write_record(tmpdir):
     """
     Test that .record() correctly writes a record using either a list of *args
-    or a dict of **kwargs. 
+    or a dict of **kwargs.
     """
     filename = tmpdir.join("test.shp").strpath
     with shapefile.Writer(filename) as writer:
         writer.autoBalance = True
 
-        writer.field('one', 'C') 
-        writer.field('two', 'C') 
-        writer.field('three', 'C') 
-        writer.field('four', 'C') 
-        
+        writer.field('one', 'C')
+        writer.field('two', 'C')
+        writer.field('three', 'C')
+        writer.field('four', 'C')
+
         values = ['one','two','three','four']
         writer.record(*values)
         writer.record(*values)
@@ -1458,17 +1458,17 @@ def test_write_record(tmpdir):
 def test_write_partial_record(tmpdir):
     """
     Test that .record() correctly writes a partial record (given only some of the values)
-    using either a list of *args or a dict of **kwargs. Should fill in the gaps. 
+    using either a list of *args or a dict of **kwargs. Should fill in the gaps.
     """
     filename = tmpdir.join("test.shp").strpath
     with shapefile.Writer(filename) as writer:
         writer.autoBalance = True
-        
-        writer.field('one', 'C') 
-        writer.field('two', 'C') 
-        writer.field('three', 'C') 
-        writer.field('four', 'C') 
-        
+
+        writer.field('one', 'C')
+        writer.field('two', 'C')
+        writer.field('three', 'C')
+        writer.field('four', 'C')
+
         values = ['one','two']
         writer.record(*values)
         writer.record(*values)
@@ -1519,7 +1519,7 @@ def test_write_geojson(tmpdir):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("shape_type", shape_types)
 def test_write_empty_shapefile(tmpdir, shape_type):
     """
-    Assert that can write an empty shapefile, for all different shape types. 
+    Assert that can write an empty shapefile, for all different shape types.
     """
     filename = tmpdir.join("test").strpath
     with shapefile.Writer(filename, shapeType=shape_type) as w: