diff --git a/otsdaq/FECore/FEVInterface.cc b/otsdaq/FECore/FEVInterface.cc
index cfcf1201..9042dbd8 100644
--- a/otsdaq/FECore/FEVInterface.cc
+++ b/otsdaq/FECore/FEVInterface.cc
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@ std::string FEVInterface::receiveFromFrontEnd(const std::string& requester, unsi
 // macroStruct_t constructor
 FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 {
-	__COUTV__(macroString);
+	__COUTVS__(20,macroString);
 
 	// example macro string:
 	//	{"name":"testPublic","sequence":"0:w:1001:writeVal,1:r:1001:","time":"Sat Feb 0
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 	std::vector<std::string> extractVec;
 	StringMacros::getVectorFromString(macroString, extractVec, {'"'});
 
-	__COUTV__(StringMacros::vectorToString(extractVec, " ||| "));
+	__COUTVS__(20,StringMacros::vectorToString(extractVec, " ||| "));
 
 	enum
 	{
@@ -1044,20 +1044,20 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 		__SS_THROW__;
 	}
 	macroName_ = extractVec[MACRONAME_VALUE_INDEX];
-	__COUTV__(macroName_);
+	__COUTVS__(20,macroName_);
 	lsbf_ = extractVec[LSFBF_VALUE_INDEX] == "false" ? false : true;
-	__COUTV__(lsbf_);
+	__COUTVS__(20,lsbf_);
 	std::string& sequence = extractVec[SEQUENCE_VALUE_INDEX];
-	__COUTV__(sequence);
+	__COUTVS__(20,sequence);
 
 	std::vector<std::string> sequenceCommands;
 	StringMacros::getVectorFromString(sequence, sequenceCommands, {','});
 
-	__COUTV__(StringMacros::vectorToString(sequenceCommands, " ### "));
+	__COUTVS__(20,StringMacros::vectorToString(sequenceCommands, " ### "));
 
 	for(auto& command : sequenceCommands)
 	{
-		__COUTV__(command);
+		__COUTVS__(20,command);
 
 		// Note: the only way to distinguish between variable and data
 		//	is hex characters or not (lower and upper case allowed for hex)
@@ -1065,9 +1065,9 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 		std::vector<std::string> commandPieces;
 		StringMacros::getVectorFromString(command, commandPieces, {':'});
 
-		__COUTV__(StringMacros::vectorToString(commandPieces, " ### "));
+		__COUTVS__(20,StringMacros::vectorToString(commandPieces, " ### "));
 
-		__COUTV__(commandPieces.size());
+		__COUTVS__(20,commandPieces.size());
 
 		// command format
 		//	index | type | address/sleep[ms] | data
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 
 		if(commandPieces[1][0] == 'r' && commandPieces.size() == 4)  // read type
 		{
-			__COUT__ << "Read type found." << __E__;
+			TLOG_DEBUG(20) << __COUT_HDR__ << "Read type found." << __E__;
 			// 2: address or optional variable name
 			// 3: optional variable name
 
@@ -1122,13 +1122,13 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 					commandPieces[2] = "0" + commandPieces[2];
 					for(unsigned int i = 0; i < commandPieces[2].size() / 2; ++i)
 					{
-						__COUTV__(commandPieces[2].size() - 2 * (i + 1));
+						__COUTVS__(20,commandPieces[2].size() - 2 * (i + 1));
 						// add one byte at a time, backwards
 						lsbfData += commandPieces[2][commandPieces[2].size() - 2 * (i + 1)];
 						lsbfData += commandPieces[2][commandPieces[2].size() - 2 * (i + 1) + 1];
 						__COUTV__(lsbfData);
 					}
-					__COUTV__(lsbfData);
+					__COUTVS__(20,lsbfData);
 					StringMacros::getNumber("0x" + lsbfData, readOps_.back().address_);
 				}
 				else
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 			else
 			{
 				readOps_.back().addressVarName_ = commandPieces[2];
-				__COUTV__(readOps_.back().addressVarName_);
+				__COUTVS__(20,readOps_.back().addressVarName_);
 
 				namesOfInputArguments_.emplace(readOps_.back().addressVarName_);
 			}
@@ -1145,14 +1145,14 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 			if(readOps_.back().dataIsVar_)
 			{
 				readOps_.back().dataVarName_ = commandPieces[3];
-				__COUTV__(readOps_.back().dataVarName_);
+				__COUTVS__(20,readOps_.back().dataVarName_);
 
 				namesOfOutputArguments_.emplace(readOps_.back().dataVarName_);
 			}
 		}
 		else if(commandPieces[1][0] == 'w' && commandPieces.size() == 4)  // write type
 		{
-			__COUT__ << "Write type found." << __E__;
+			TLOG_DEBUG(20) << __COUT_HDR__ << "Write type found." << __E__;
 			// 2: address or optional variable name
 			// 3: data or optional variable name
 
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 						lsbfData += commandPieces[2][commandPieces[2].size() - 2 * (i + 1) + 1];
 						__COUTV__(lsbfData);
 					}
-					__COUTV__(lsbfData);
+					__COUTVS__(20,lsbfData);
 					StringMacros::getNumber("0x" + lsbfData, writeOps_.back().address_);
 				}
 				else
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 			else
 			{
 				writeOps_.back().addressVarName_ = commandPieces[2];
-				__COUTV__(writeOps_.back().addressVarName_);
+				__COUTVS__(20,writeOps_.back().addressVarName_);
 
 				namesOfInputArguments_.emplace(writeOps_.back().addressVarName_);
 			}
@@ -1202,11 +1202,11 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 					commandPieces[2] = "0" + commandPieces[3];
 					for(unsigned int i = 0; i < commandPieces[3].size() / 2; ++i)
 					{
-						__COUTV__(commandPieces[3].size() - 2 * (i + 1));
+						__COUTVS__(20,commandPieces[3].size() - 2 * (i + 1));
 						// add one byte at a time, backwards
 						lsbfData += commandPieces[3][commandPieces[3].size() - 2 * (i + 1)];
 						lsbfData += commandPieces[3][commandPieces[3].size() - 2 * (i + 1) + 1];
-						__COUTV__(lsbfData);
+						__COUTVS__(20,lsbfData);
 					}
 					__COUTV__(lsbfData);
 					StringMacros::getNumber("0x" + lsbfData, writeOps_.back().data_);
@@ -1217,14 +1217,14 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 			else
 			{
 				writeOps_.back().dataVarName_ = commandPieces[3];
-				__COUTV__(writeOps_.back().dataVarName_);
+				__COUTVS__(20,writeOps_.back().dataVarName_);
 
 				namesOfInputArguments_.emplace(writeOps_.back().dataVarName_);
 			}
 		}
 		else if(commandPieces[1][0] == 'd' && commandPieces.size() == 3)  // delay type
 		{
-			__COUT__ << "Delay type found." << __E__;
+			TLOG_DEBUG(20) << __COUT_HDR__ << "Delay type found." << __E__;
 			// 2: delay[ms] or optional variable name
 
 			operations_.push_back(std::make_pair(macroStruct_t::OP_TYPE_DELAY, delayOps_.size()));
@@ -1237,7 +1237,7 @@ FEVInterface::macroStruct_t::macroStruct_t(const std::string& macroString)
 			else
 			{
 				delayOps_.back().delayVarName_ = commandPieces[2];
-				__COUTV__(delayOps_.back().delayVarName_);
+				__COUTVS__(20,delayOps_.back().delayVarName_);
 
 				namesOfInputArguments_.emplace(delayOps_.back().delayVarName_);
 			}
diff --git a/otsdaq/Macros/CoutMacros.h b/otsdaq/Macros/CoutMacros.h
index 4d8cd99c..5269475d 100644
--- a/otsdaq/Macros/CoutMacros.h
+++ b/otsdaq/Macros/CoutMacros.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 #define __COUTT__           __COUT_TYPE__(TLVL_TRACE) 	<< __COUT_HDR__
 #define __COUTV__(X) 		__COUT__ << QUOTE(X) << " = " << X << __E__
 #define __COUTTV__(X) 		__COUTT__ << QUOTE(X) << " = " << X << __E__
-
+#define __COUTVS__(LVL,X)	TLOG(TLVL_DEBUG + LVL) << __COUT_HDR__ << QUOTE(X) << " = " << X << __E__
 
 //////// ==============================================================
 //////// Use __MCOUT__ for cout and Message Facility use in one line (that compiler
diff --git a/otsdaq/TableCore/TableView.cc b/otsdaq/TableCore/TableView.cc
index 4ca508d0..a8074a93 100644
--- a/otsdaq/TableCore/TableView.cc
+++ b/otsdaq/TableCore/TableView.cc
@@ -1209,7 +1209,8 @@ unsigned int TableView::getColStatus(void) const
 
 	ss << StringMacros::stackTrace() << __E__;
 
-	__SS_THROW__;
+	__COUT_WARN__ << ss.str();
+	__SS_ONLY_THROW__;
 }  // end getColStatus()
 
 //==============================================================================
diff --git a/tools/common.sh b/tools/common.sh
index d495580b..731899ae 100644
--- a/tools/common.sh
+++ b/tools/common.sh
@@ -1,85 +1,85 @@
+#!/bin/sh
 # Source this to get color code variables to use during output
-# Not sure why this is encapsulated into a function...
 
 defineColors ()
 {
   # Regular Colors
-  Black='\033[0;30m'        # Black
-  Red='\033[0;31m'          # Red
-  Green='\033[0;32m'        # Green
-  Yellow='\033[0;32m'       # \033[0;33m  Yellow -- too hard to see on white (so making green)
-  Blue='\033[0;34m'         # Blue
-  Purple='\033[0;35m'       # Purple
-  Cyan='\033[0;36m'         # Cyan
-  White='\033[0;37m'        # White
+  Black=`printf '\033[0;30m'`        # Black
+  Red=`printf '\033[0;31m'`          # Red
+  Green=`printf '\033[0;32m'`        # Green
+  Yellow=`printf '\033[0;32m'`       # \033[0;33m  Yellow -- too hard to see on white (so making green)
+  Blue=`printf '\033[0;34m'`         # Blue
+  Purple=`printf '\033[0;35m'`       # Purple
+  Cyan=`printf '\033[0;36m'`         # Cyan
+  White=`printf '\033[0;37m'`        # White
 
   # Bold
-  BBlack='\033[1;30m'       # Black
-  BRed='\033[1;31m'         # Red
-  BGreen='\033[1;32m'       # Green
-  BYellow='\033[1;33m'      # Yellow
-  BBlue='\033[1;34m'        # Blue
-  BPurple='\033[1;35m'      # Purple
-  BCyan='\033[1;36m'        # Cyan
-  BWhite='\033[1;37m'       # White
+  BBlack=`printf '\033[1;30m'`       # Black
+  BRed=`printf '\033[1;31m'`         # Red
+  BGreen=`printf '\033[1;32m'`       # Green
+  BYellow=`printf '\033[1;33m'`      # Yellow
+  BBlue=`printf '\033[1;34m'`        # Blue
+  BPurple=`printf '\033[1;35m'`      # Purple
+  BCyan=`printf '\033[1;36m'`        # Cyan
+  BWhite=`printf '\033[1;37m'`       # White
 
   # Underline
-  UBlack='\033[4;30m'       # Black
-  URed='\033[4;31m'         # Red
-  UGreen='\033[4;32m'       # Green
-  UYellow='\033[4;33m'      # Yellow
-  UBlue='\033[4;34m'        # Blue
-  UPurple='\033[4;35m'      # Purple
-  UCyan='\033[4;36m'        # Cyan
-  UWhite='\033[4;37m'       # White
+  UBlack=`printf '\033[4;30m'`       # Black
+  URed=`printf '\033[4;31m'`         # Red
+  UGreen=`printf '\033[4;32m'`       # Green
+  UYellow=`printf '\033[4;33m'`      # Yellow
+  UBlue=`printf '\033[4;34m'`        # Blue
+  UPurple=`printf '\033[4;35m'`      # Purple
+  UCyan=`printf '\033[4;36m'`        # Cyan
+  UWhite=`printf '\033[4;37m'`       # White
 
   # Background
-  On_Black='\033[40m'       # Black
-  On_Red='\033[41m'         # Red
-  On_Green='\033[42m'       # Green
-  On_Yellow='\033[43m'      # Yellow
-  On_Blue='\033[44m'        # Blue
-  On_Purple='\033[45m'      # Purple
-  On_Cyan='\033[46m'        # Cyan
-  On_White='\033[47m'       # White
+  On_Black=`printf '\033[40m'`       # Black
+  On_Red=`printf '\033[41m'`         # Red
+  On_Green=`printf '\033[42m'`       # Green
+  On_Yellow=`printf '\033[43m'`      # Yellow
+  On_Blue=`printf '\033[44m'`        # Blue
+  On_Purple=`printf '\033[45m'`      # Purple
+  On_Cyan=`printf '\033[46m'`        # Cyan
+  On_White=`printf '\033[47m'`       # White
 
   # High Intensity
-  IBlack='\033[0;90m'       # Black
-  IRed='\033[0;91m'         # Red
-  IGreen='\033[0;92m'       # Green
-  IYellow='\033[0;31m'      #'\033[0;93m'      # Yellow  -- too hard to see on white (so making light red)
-  IBlue='\033[0;94m'        # Blue
-  IPurple='\033[0;95m'      # Purple
-  ICyan='\033[0;96m'        # Cyan
-  IWhite='\033[0;97m'       # White
+  IBlack=`printf '\033[0;90m'`       # Black
+  IRed=`printf '\033[0;91m'`         # Red
+  IGreen=`printf '\033[0;92m'`       # Green
+  IYellow=`printf '\033[0;31m'`      #'\033[0;93m'      # Yellow  -- too hard to see on white (so making light red)
+  IBlue=`printf '\033[0;94m'`        # Blue
+  IPurple=`printf '\033[0;95m'`      # Purple
+  ICyan=`printf '\033[0;96m'`        # Cyan
+  IWhite=`printf '\033[0;97m'`       # White
 
   # Bold High Intensity
-  BIBlack='\033[1;90m'      # Black
-  BIRed='\033[1;91m'        # Red
-  BIGreen='\033[1;92m'      # Green
-  BIYellow='\033[1;93m'     # Yellow
-  BIBlue='\033[1;94m'       # Blue
-  BIPurple='\033[1;95m'     # Purple
-  BICyan='\033[1;96m'       # Cyan
-  BIWhite='\033[1;97m'      # White
+  BIBlack=`printf '\033[1;90m'`      # Black
+  BIRed=`printf '\033[1;91m'`        # Red
+  BIGreen=`printf '\033[1;92m'`      # Green
+  BIYellow=`printf '\033[1;93m'`     # Yellow
+  BIBlue=`printf '\033[1;94m'`       # Blue
+  BIPurple=`printf '\033[1;95m'`     # Purple
+  BICyan=`printf '\033[1;96m'`       # Cyan
+  BIWhite=`printf '\033[1;97m'`      # White
 
   # High Intensity backgrounds
-  On_IBlack='\033[0;100m'   # Black
-  On_IRed='\033[0;101m'     # Red
-  On_IGreen='\033[0;102m'   # Green
-  On_IYellow='\033[0;103m'  # Yellow
-  On_IBlue='\033[0;104m'    # Blue
-  On_IPurple='\033[0;105m'  # Purple
-  On_ICyan='\033[0;106m'    # Cyan
-  On_IWhite='\033[0;107m'   # White
+  On_IBlack=`printf '\033[0;100m'`   # Black
+  On_IRed=`printf '\033[0;101m'`     # Red
+  On_IGreen=`printf '\033[0;102m'`   # Green
+  On_IYellow=`printf '\033[0;103m'`  # Yellow
+  On_IBlue=`printf '\033[0;104m'`    # Blue
+  On_IPurple=`printf '\033[0;105m'`  # Purple
+  On_ICyan=`printf '\033[0;106m'`    # Cyan
+  On_IWhite=`printf '\033[0;107m'`   # White
 
+  RstClr=`printf '\033[0m'`         # Reset color
   Bold=`tput bold -T xterm`          # Select bold mode                  
   DIM=`tput dim -T xterm`            # Select dim (half-bright) mode     
   Blink=`tput blink -T xterm`        # Select dim (half-bright) mode 
   EUNDERLINE=`tput smul -T xterm`    # Enable underline mode             
   DUNDERLINE=`tput rmul -T xterm`    # Disable underline mode            
   REV=`tput rev -T xterm`            # Turn on reverse video mode        
-  RstClr='\e[0m'         # Reset color
 #Reset=`tput init -T xterm`         # Reset all
   Reset=`tput init -T xterm 2>/dev/null;tput sgr0 -T xterm`         # Reset all
   EBold=`tput smso -T xterm`         # Enter standout (bold) mode        
@@ -88,11 +88,21 @@ defineColors ()
 
 defineColors
 
-SCRIPT_NAME=$1
-out() { echo -e "${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}$(date +'%d%h%y.%T') ${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr} ${SCRIPT_NAME}:${Cyan}${BASH_LINENO[0]}${RstClr} |${IBlack}\t${RstClr}$@${RstClr}"; }
-info() { echo -e "${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}$(date +'%d%h%y.%T') ${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr} ${SCRIPT_NAME}:${Cyan}${BASH_LINENO[0]}${RstClr} |${IBlack}\t${RstClr}${IBlue}$@${RstClr}"; }
-success() { echo -e "${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}$(date +'%d%h%y.%T') ${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr} ${SCRIPT_NAME}:${Cyan}${BASH_LINENO[0]}${RstClr} |${IBlack}\t${RstClr}${IGreen}$@${RstClr}"; }
-error() { echo -e "${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}$(date +'%d%h%y.%T') ${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr} ${SCRIPT_NAME}:${Cyan}${BASH_LINENO[0]}${RstClr} |${IBlack}\t${RstClr}${IRed}$@${RstClr}"; } >&2
-warning() { echo -e "${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}$(date +'%d%h%y.%T') ${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr} ${SCRIPT_NAME}:${Cyan}${BASH_LINENO[0]}${RstClr} |${IBlack}\t${RstClr}${IYellow}$@${RstClr}"; } >&2
-die() { echo -e "${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}$(date +'%d%h%y.%T') ${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr} ${SCRIPT_NAME}:${Cyan}${BASH_LINENO[0]}${RstClr} |${IBlack}\t${RstClr}${IRed}$@${RstClr}"; exit 1; }
+#SCRIPT_NAME=$1
+out()     { part1="${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}" part2="${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr}" part3="|${IBlack}	${RstClr}";         do_out TLVL_LOG     "$*"; }
+info()    { part1="${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}" part2="${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr}" part3="|${IBlack}	${RstClr}$IBlue";   do_out TLVL_INFO    "$*"; }
+success() { part1="${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}" part2="${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr}" part3="|${IBlack}	${RstClr}$IGreen";  do_out TLVL_NOTICE  "$*"; }
+warning() { part1="${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}" part2="${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr}" part3="|${IBlack}	${RstClr}$IYellow"; do_out TLVL_WARNING "$*" >&2; }
+error()   { part1="${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}" part2="${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr}" part3="|${IBlack}	${RstClr}$IRed";    do_out TLVL_ERROR   "$*" >&2; }
+die()     { part1="${RstClr}${IRed}${STARTTIME}${RstClr}-${Green}" part2="${IBlue}${THIS_HOST}${RstClr}" part3="|${IBlack}	${RstClr}$IRed";    do_out TLVL_FATAL   "$*"; exit 1; }
+
+do_out() {
+    tlvl=$1;shift
+    if hash trace_cntl >/dev/null 2>&1;then
+	TRACE_TIME_FMT=%d%h%y.%T TRACE_PRINT="${part1}%T $part2 %n:$Cyan${BASH_LINENO[1]}$RstClr $part3" \
+	    trace_cntl -n`basename "${BASH_SOURCE[2]}"` -L${BASH_LINENO[1]} TRACE TLVL_LOG "$(echo -e "$*")${RstClr}"
+    else
+	echo -e "${part1}`date +%d%h%y.%T` $part2 `basename "${BASH_SOURCE[2]}"`:$Cyan${BASH_LINENO[0]}$RstClr ${part3}${*}${RstClr}"
+    fi
+}
 
diff --git a/tools/ots b/tools/ots
index 7eaf28b6..f6beb7a5 100644
--- a/tools/ots
+++ b/tools/ots
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ if [ "x$OTS_USER_STUB" == "x" ]; then
 fi
 
 # Get color code variables and other common utility portions of the code
-source "${SCRIPT_DIR}"/common.sh ots
+source "${SCRIPT_DIR}"/common.sh
 
 function setupTrace() 
 {	
@@ -36,11 +36,10 @@ function setupTrace()
 	#setup TRACE v3_13_04
 	#ups active
 	#which trace_cntl
-	#type toffS
+	#type toffS #for muting TRACE
 
 	
-	#for muting trace
-	export TRACE_NAME=OTSDAQ_TRACE
+	#for throttling trace:
 	export TRACE_LIMIT_MS="0,50,50" #unlimited trace messages
 	#tinfo #show trace info
 
@@ -2182,7 +2181,7 @@ export -f printMainURL
 #########################################################
 otsActionHandler() {
 
-	info "Starting action handler on {${THIS_HOST}}..."
+	info "Starting action handler on ${THIS_HOST}..."
 
 	if [[ ($ISCONFIG == 1) || ("${THIS_HOST}" == "${gatewayHostname}") ]]; then
 		out "The script, on ${THIS_HOST}, is the gateway ots script, so it will drive the exit of ots scripts running on other hosts."