Index: TODO
===================================================================
diff -u -rf2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- TODO	(.../TODO)	(revision f2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113)
+++ TODO	(.../TODO)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -2008,6 +2008,12 @@
   * C-level: NsfLog()
   * Tcl-level: ::nsf::log
 
+- quote name of referenced parameter in error message to ease reading
+- new parameter checker "parameter", performing an approximate checking 
+  for valid parameter specs
+- set NSF_ARG_CHECK_NONPOS only when there are multiple arguments
+- remove space checking for NSF_ARG_CHECK_NONPOS in favor of parameter checker
+
 TODO:
 
 - "-returns" 
Index: generic/nsf.c
===================================================================
diff -u -rf2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- generic/nsf.c	(.../nsf.c)	(revision f2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113)
+++ generic/nsf.c	(.../nsf.c)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -7976,7 +7976,7 @@
       } else {
 	result = NsfVarErrMsg(interp, "expected ", ObjStr(pPtr->converterArg),
 				" but got \"", ObjStr(objPtr),
-                                "\" for parameter ", pPtr->name, NULL);
+                                "\" for parameter \"", pPtr->name, "\"", NULL);
       }
     }
   } else {
@@ -7986,8 +7986,9 @@
       if (*value == '-' 
 	  && (pPtr->flags & NSF_ARG_CHECK_NONPOS) 
 	  && isalpha(*(value+1)) 
-	  && strchr(value+1, ' ') == 0) {
-	NsfLog(interp, NSF_LOG_WARN, "Value '%s' of parameter %s could be a non-positional argument",
+	  /* && strchr(value+1, ' ') == 0 */
+	  ) {
+	NsfLog(interp, NSF_LOG_WARN, "Value '%s' of parameter '%s' could be a non-positional argument",
 	       value, pPtr->name);
       }
     } 
@@ -8016,7 +8017,7 @@
     *clientData = (ClientData)INT2PTR(bool);
   } else {
     NsfVarErrMsg(interp, "expected boolean value but got \"", ObjStr(objPtr),
-                   "\" for parameter ", pPtr->name, NULL);
+                   "\" for parameter \"", pPtr->name, "\"", NULL);
   }
   *outObjPtr = objPtr;
   return result;
@@ -8034,7 +8035,7 @@
     *outObjPtr = objPtr;
   } else {
     NsfVarErrMsg(interp, "expected integer but got \"", ObjStr(objPtr),
-                   "\" for parameter ", pPtr->name, NULL);
+                   "\" for parameter \"", pPtr->name, "\"", NULL);
   }
   return result;
 }
@@ -8113,6 +8114,22 @@
 }
 
 static int
+ConvertToParameter(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *objPtr, NsfParam CONST *pPtr,
+		   ClientData *clientData, Tcl_Obj **outObjPtr) {
+  CONST char *value = ObjStr(objPtr);
+
+  *outObjPtr = objPtr;
+  /*fprintf(stderr, "convert to parameter '%s' t '%s'\n", value, pPtr->type);*/
+  if (*value == ':' || (*value == '-' && *(value + 1) == ':')) {
+    return NsfObjErrType(interp, objPtr, pPtr->type, pPtr->name);
+  }
+
+  *clientData = (char *)ObjStr(objPtr);
+  *outObjPtr = objPtr;
+  return TCL_OK;
+}
+
+static int
 ConvertViaCmd(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *objPtr,  NsfParam CONST *pPtr,
 	      ClientData *clientData, Tcl_Obj **outObjPtr) {
   Tcl_Obj *ov[5], *savedResult;
@@ -8312,6 +8329,8 @@
     result = ParamOptionSetConverter(interp, paramPtr, "relation", ConvertToRelation);
     paramPtr->flags |= NSF_ARG_RELATION;
     /*paramPtr->type = "tclobj";*/
+  } else if (strncmp(option, "parameter", 9) == 0) {
+    result = ParamOptionSetConverter(interp, paramPtr, "parameter", ConvertToParameter);
   } else if (length >= 6 && strncmp(option, "type=", 5) == 0) {
     if (paramPtr->converter != ConvertToObject &&
         paramPtr->converter != ConvertToClass)
@@ -8574,7 +8593,7 @@
         return result;
       }
     }
-    if (nrNonposArgs > 0) {
+    if (nrNonposArgs > 0 && argsc > 1) {
       for (i=0; i < argsc; i++) {
 	(paramsPtr + i)->flags |= NSF_ARG_CHECK_NONPOS;
       }
@@ -13366,8 +13385,8 @@
 
   if (theobj || thecls) {
     ObjectSystemFree(interp, osPtr);
-    NsfLog(interp, NSF_LOG_WARN, "Base %s class exists already; ignoring definition", 
-	   theobj ? object : class);
+    NsfLog(interp, NSF_LOG_WARN, "Base class '%s' exists already; ignoring definition", 
+	   theobj ? objectName : className);
     return TCL_OK;
   }
 
Index: generic/nsf.decls
===================================================================
diff -u -rf2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- generic/nsf.decls	(.../nsf.decls)	(revision f2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113)
+++ generic/nsf.decls	(.../nsf.decls)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
    int NsfErrBadVal_(Tcl_Interp *interp, char *expected, char *value)
 }
 declare 19 generic {
-    int NsfObjErrType(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *nm, char *wt, char *parameterName)
+    int NsfObjErrType(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *nm, CONST char *type, char *parameterName)
 }
 declare 20 generic {
     void NsfStackDump (Tcl_Interp *interp)
Index: generic/nsfDecls.h
===================================================================
diff -u -rf2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- generic/nsfDecls.h	(.../nsfDecls.h)	(revision f2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113)
+++ generic/nsfDecls.h	(.../nsfDecls.h)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
 #define NsfObjErrType_TCL_DECLARED
 /* 19 */
 EXTERN int		NsfObjErrType(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *nm,
-				char *wt, char *parameterName);
+				CONST char *type, char *parameterName);
 #endif
 #ifndef NsfStackDump_TCL_DECLARED
 #define NsfStackDump_TCL_DECLARED
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
     void (*nsfDStringPrintf) (Tcl_DString *dsPtr, CONST char *fmt, va_list apSrc); /* 16 */
     int (*nsfErrInProc) (Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *objName, Tcl_Obj *clName, CONST char *procName); /* 17 */
     int (*nsfErrBadVal_) (Tcl_Interp *interp, char *expected, char *value); /* 18 */
-    int (*nsfObjErrType) (Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *nm, char *wt, char *parameterName); /* 19 */
+    int (*nsfObjErrType) (Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *nm, CONST char *type, char *parameterName); /* 19 */
     void (*nsfStackDump) (Tcl_Interp *interp); /* 20 */
     void (*nsfSetObjClientData) (Nsf_Object *obj, ClientData data); /* 21 */
     ClientData (*nsfGetObjClientData) (Nsf_Object *obj); /* 22 */
Index: generic/nsfError.c
===================================================================
diff -u -rf2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- generic/nsfError.c	(.../nsfError.c)	(revision f2c0f8e055015e58f3fa7bd338c872a2b7d76113)
+++ generic/nsfError.c	(.../nsfError.c)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -141,11 +141,12 @@
 }
 
 extern int
-NsfObjErrType(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *value, char *type, char *parameterName) {
+NsfObjErrType(Tcl_Interp *interp, Tcl_Obj *value, CONST char *type, char *parameterName) {
   Tcl_ResetResult(interp);
   Tcl_AppendResult(interp,"expected ", type, " but got \"",  ObjStr(value), "\"", 
-                   parameterName ? " for parameter " : "",
+                   parameterName ? " for parameter \"" : "",
                    parameterName ? parameterName : "",
+                   parameterName ? "\"" : "",
                    (char *) NULL);
   return TCL_ERROR;
 }
Index: library/nx/nx.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r892aa579d3cc7195ce90e93d4bf8b70c2909e451 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- library/nx/nx.tcl	(.../nx.tcl)	(revision 892aa579d3cc7195ce90e93d4bf8b70c2909e451)
+++ library/nx/nx.tcl	(.../nx.tcl)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
   #
   # get frequenly used primitiva from the next scripting framework 
   #
-  namespace eval ::nsf {}; # makein pkg indexer happy
+  namespace eval ::nsf {}; # make pkg indexer happy
   namespace import ::nsf::next ::nsf::current ::nsf::self
 
   #
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
   # define method "method" for Class and Object
 
   ::nsf::method Class method {
-    name arguments -returns body -precondition -postcondition
+    name arguments:parameter,multivalued -returns body -precondition -postcondition
   } {
     set conditions [list]
     if {[info exists precondition]}  {lappend conditions -precondition  $precondition}
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@
   }
 
   ::nsf::method Object method {
-    name arguments -returns body -precondition -postcondition
+    name arguments:parameter,multivalued -returns body -precondition -postcondition
   } {
     set conditions [list]
     if {[info exists precondition]}  {lappend conditions -precondition  $precondition}
Index: library/xotcl/library/xotcl2.tcl
===================================================================
diff -u -r2767762e5ef68bee6e82cbff0d69f54b01c37a13 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- library/xotcl/library/xotcl2.tcl	(.../xotcl2.tcl)	(revision 2767762e5ef68bee6e82cbff0d69f54b01c37a13)
+++ library/xotcl/library/xotcl2.tcl	(.../xotcl2.tcl)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
 
   # define instproc and proc
   ::nsf::method Class instproc {
-    name arguments body precondition:optional postcondition:optional
+    name arguments:parameter,multivalued body precondition:optional postcondition:optional
   } {
     set conditions [list]
     if {[info exists precondition]}  {lappend conditions -precondition  $precondition}
@@ -260,10 +260,10 @@
   }
 
   # define a minimal implementation of "method"
-  Object instproc method {name arguments body} {
+  Object instproc method {name arguments:parameter,multivalued body} {
     :proc $name $arguments $body                                  
   }
-  Class instproc method {-per-object:switch name arguments body} {
+  Class instproc method {-per-object:switch name arguments:parameter,multivalued body} {
     if {${per-object}} {
       :proc $name $arguments $body       
     } else {
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@
   # "init" must exist on Object. per default it is empty.
   Object instproc init args {
     if {![::nsf::current isnextcall] && [llength $args] > 0 && [::nsf::configure debug] > 0} {
-      puts stderr "Warning: arguments '$args' to constructor of object [self] are most likely not processed"
+      ::nsf::log Warning "Arguments '$args' to constructor of object [self] are most likely not processed"
     }
   }
 
Index: library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl
===================================================================
diff -u -reb82f3d8597d0eb8b6764997660ccc7c535fd339 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl	(.../slottest.xotcl)	(revision eb82f3d8597d0eb8b6764997660ccc7c535fd339)
+++ library/xotcl/tests/slottest.xotcl	(.../slottest.xotcl)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@
 
 Person p2 -name "Gustaf"
 p2 projects add ::project1
-? {p2 projects add ::o1} {expected object of type ::Project but got "::o1" for parameter value}
+? {p2 projects add ::o1} {expected object of type ::Project but got "::o1" for parameter "value"}
 p2 salary 100
 ? {catch {p2 salary 100.9}} 1
 ? {p2 salary} 100
Index: library/xotcl/tests/testx.xotcl
===================================================================
diff -u -rfc4e3f5f6a94ef7324baffab90d58cd7eb513907 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- library/xotcl/tests/testx.xotcl	(.../testx.xotcl)	(revision fc4e3f5f6a94ef7324baffab90d58cd7eb513907)
+++ library/xotcl/tests/testx.xotcl	(.../testx.xotcl)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -4032,7 +4032,7 @@
     catch {
 	o z3 -b abc -- -b
     } m
-  errorCheck $m {expected boolean value but got "abc" for parameter -b} "not boolean"
+  errorCheck $m {expected boolean value but got "abc" for parameter "-b"} "not boolean"
 
     set ::r ""    
     #o z4 -c 1 1
Index: tests/info-method.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r99bb4b85e4a123d25f8b867b3498171eadaa2015 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- tests/info-method.test	(.../info-method.test)	(revision 99bb4b85e4a123d25f8b867b3498171eadaa2015)
+++ tests/info-method.test	(.../info-method.test)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
       {::C public method m-with-assertions {} {return proc-[self proc]} -precondition 1 -postcondition 2}
   ? {C info method parameter m} {x}
   ? {nx::Class info method parameter method} \
-      {name arguments -returns body -precondition -postcondition}
+      {name arguments:parameter,multivalued -returns body -precondition -postcondition}
   ? {nx::Object info method parameter alias} \
       {methodName -returns {-frame default} cmd}
   # raises currently an error
Index: tests/parameters.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r99bb4b85e4a123d25f8b867b3498171eadaa2015 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- tests/parameters.test	(.../parameters.test)	(revision 99bb4b85e4a123d25f8b867b3498171eadaa2015)
+++ tests/parameters.test	(.../parameters.test)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -41,17 +41,17 @@
   ? {::nsf::is object o1} 1
   ? {::nsf::is object o1} 1
   ? {::nsf::is object o1000} 0
-  ? {::nsf::is -complain object o1000} {expected object but got "o1000" for parameter value}
+  ? {::nsf::is -complain object o1000} {expected object but got "o1000" for parameter "value"}
   ? {::nsf::is integer 1} 1
   ? {::nsf::is object,type=::C c1} 1
-  ? {::nsf::is -complain object,type=::C o} {expected object but got "o" for parameter value}
+  ? {::nsf::is -complain object,type=::C o} {expected object but got "o" for parameter "value"}
   ? {::nsf::is object,type=::C o} 0
 
   ? {c1 info has mixin ::M} 1  
-  ? {c1 info has mixin ::M1} {expected class but got "::M1" for parameter class}
+  ? {c1 info has mixin ::M1} {expected class but got "::M1" for parameter "class"}
   
   ? {c1 info has type C} 1
-  ? {c1 info has type C1} {expected class but got "C1" for parameter class}
+  ? {c1 info has type C1} {expected class but got "C1" for parameter "class"}
 
   ? {c1 ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype C} 1
   ? {::nsf::dispatch c1 ::nsf::methods::object::info::hastype C} 1
@@ -96,20 +96,20 @@
   ? {::nsf::is metaclass ::nx::Class} 1
   ? {::nsf::is metaclass ::nx::Object} 0
 
-  ? {::nsf::is -complain class o1} {expected class but got "o1" for parameter value}
+  ? {::nsf::is -complain class o1} {expected class but got "o1" for parameter "value"}
   ? {::nsf::is class o1} 0
   ? {::nsf::is -complain class Test} 1
   ? {::nsf::is -complain object,multivalued [list o1 Test]} 1
 
   ? {::nsf::is -complain integer,multivalued [list 1 2 3]} 1
   ? {::nsf::is -complain integer,multivalued [list 1 2 3 a]} \
-      {invalid value in "1 2 3 a": expected integer but got "a" for parameter value}
+      {invalid value in "1 2 3 a": expected integer but got "a" for parameter "value"}
   ? {::nsf::is -complain object,type=::C c1} 1
   ? {::nsf::is -complain object,type=::C o} \
-      {expected object but got "o" for parameter value} \
+      {expected object but got "o" for parameter "value"} \
       "object, but different type"
   ? {::nsf::is -complain object,type=::C c} \
-      {expected object but got "c" for parameter value} \
+      {expected object but got "c" for parameter "value"} \
       "no object"
   ? {::nsf::is -complain object,type=::nx::Object c1} 1 "general type"
   
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
   
   ? {::nsf::is -complain lower c} 1 "lower case char"
   ? {::nsf::is -complain lower abc} 1 "lower case chars"
-  ? {::nsf::is -complain lower Abc} {expected lower but got "Abc" for parameter value} 
+  ? {::nsf::is -complain lower Abc} {expected lower but got "Abc" for parameter "value"} 
   ? {string is lower abc} 1 "tcl command 'string is lower'"
   
   ? {::nsf::is -complain {i:integer 1} 2} {invalid value constraints "i:integer 1"}
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@
   ? {D create d1} "::d1 configure: required argument 'd' is missing" "check error msg"
   
   ? {D create d2 -d x -b a} \
-      {expected boolean value but got "a" for parameter -b} \
+      {expected boolean value but got "a" for parameter "-b"} \
       "create d2 without required argument given"
 
   D create d1 -d 1
@@ -342,31 +342,31 @@
       "call method without a required argument"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r a} \
-      {expected integer but got "a" for parameter -r} \
+      {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "-r"} \
       "required argument is not integer"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r 1} \
-      {expected integer but got "aaa" for parameter -x} \
+      {expected integer but got "aaa" for parameter "-x"} \
       "default value is not of type integer"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r 1 -x 1 -object d1} \
       "" \
       "pass object"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r 1 -x 1 -object d11} \
-      {expected object but got "d11" for parameter -object} \
+      {expected object but got "d11" for parameter "-object"} \
       "pass non-existing object"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r 1 -x 1 -class D} \
       "" \
       "pass class"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r 1 -x 1 -class d1} \
-      {expected class but got "d1" for parameter -class} \
+      {expected class but got "d1" for parameter "-class"} \
       "pass object instead of class"
   
   ? {d1 foo -r 1 -x 1 -class D11} \
-      {expected class but got "D11" for parameter -class} \
+      {expected class but got "D11" for parameter "-class"} \
       "pass non-existing class"
   
   ? {D public method foo {a:relation} {}} \
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@
       "allow 'string is XXXX' for argument checking"
   ? {d1 foo 1} 1 "check int as double"
   ? {d1 foo 1.1} 1.1 "check double as double"
-  ? {d1 foo 1.1a} {expected double but got "1.1a" for parameter a} "check non-double as double"
+  ? {d1 foo 1.1a} {expected double but got "1.1a" for parameter "a"} "check non-double as double"
   ? {D info method parameter foo} a:double
 }
 
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@
   ? {d1 foo 1} "1" "single value"
   ? {d1 foo {1 2}} "1 2" "multiple values"
   ? {d1 foo {1 a 2}} \
-      {invalid value in "1 a 2": expected integer but got "a" for parameter m} \
+      {invalid value in "1 a 2": expected integer but got "a" for parameter "m"} \
       "multiple values with wrong value"
   
   D public method foo {m:object,multivalued} {
@@ -429,14 +429,14 @@
   ? {d1 foo ""} "" "emtpy list"
   ? {d1 foo o} "o" "single value"
   ? {d1 foo {o d1 x}} \
-      {invalid value in "o d1 x": expected object but got "x" for parameter m} \
+      {invalid value in "o d1 x": expected object but got "x" for parameter "m"} \
       "multiple values"
   
   Class create Foo -attributes {
     {ints:integer,multivalued}
   }
   ? {Foo create foo -ints {1 2}} "::foo"
-  ? {Foo create foo -ints {1 a 2}} {invalid value in "1 a 2": expected integer but got "a" for parameter -ints}
+  ? {Foo create foo -ints {1 a 2}} {invalid value in "1 a 2": expected integer but got "a" for parameter "-ints"}
 
   # make slot incremental
   Foo::slot::ints eval {
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@
 
   Foo create foo -ints {1 2}
   ? {foo ints add 0} "0 1 2"
-  ? {foo ints add a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter value}
+  ? {foo ints add a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "value"}
 }
 
 #######################################################
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@
       "query instparams with default, no paramdefs needed"
 
   ? {Class info method parameter method} \
-      "name arguments -returns body -precondition -postcondition" \
+      "name arguments:parameter,multivalued -returns body -precondition -postcondition" \
       "query instparams for scripted method 'method'"
   
   ? {Object info method parameter ::nsf::forward} \
@@ -702,31 +702,31 @@
   
   ? {d1 foo-base ::nx::Object} "::nx::Object"
   ? {d1 foo-base C} \
-      {expected baseclass but got "C" for parameter x} \
+      {expected baseclass but got "C" for parameter "x"} \
       "not a base class"
   
   ? {d1 foo-class D} "D"
   ? {d1 foo-class xxx} \
-      {expected class but got "xxx" for parameter x} \
+      {expected class but got "xxx" for parameter "x"} \
       "not a class"
   ? {d1 foo-class o} \
-      {expected class but got "o" for parameter x} \
+      {expected class but got "o" for parameter "x"} \
       "not a class"
   
   ? {d1 foo-meta ::nx::Class} "::nx::Class"
   ? {d1 foo-meta ::nx::Object} \
-      {expected metaclass but got "::nx::Object" for parameter x} \
+      {expected metaclass but got "::nx::Object" for parameter "x"} \
       "not a base class"
 
   ? {d1 foo-object o} "o"
   ? {d1 foo-object xxx} \
-      {expected object but got "xxx" for parameter x} \
+      {expected object but got "xxx" for parameter "x"} \
       "not an object"
   
   ? {d1 foo-type d1} "d1"
   ? {d1 foo-type c1} "c1"
   ? {d1 foo-type o} \
-      {expected object of type ::C but got "o" for parameter x} \
+      {expected object of type ::C but got "o" for parameter "x"} \
       "o not of type ::C"
 }
 
@@ -758,17 +758,17 @@
   
   ? {s1 bar} 1
   ? {s1 bar 3} 3
-  ? {s1 bar a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter y}
+  ? {s1 bar a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "y"}
   
-  ? {s1 baz} {expected integer but got "b" for parameter x}
+  ? {s1 baz} {expected integer but got "b" for parameter "x"}
   ? {s1 baz 20} 20
   s1 y 100
   ? {s1 baz} 100
   ? {s1 baz 101} 101
   
   ? {s1 boz} {1 2 3}
   s1 z {1 x 100}
-  ? {s1 boz} {invalid value in "1 x 100": expected integer but got "x" for parameter x}
+  ? {s1 boz} {invalid value in "1 x 100": expected integer but got "x" for parameter "x"}
   ? {s1 boz {100 200}} {100 200}
   
   set ::aaa 100
@@ -861,35 +861,35 @@
   
   ? {ParamTest create p -o o} ::p
   ? {ParamTest create p -o xxx} \
-      {expected object but got "xxx" for parameter -o} \
+      {expected object but got "xxx" for parameter "-o"} \
       "not an object"
   
   ? {ParamTest create p -c C} ::p "class"
   ? {ParamTest create p -c o} \
-      {expected class but got "o" for parameter -c} \
+      {expected class but got "o" for parameter "-c"} \
       "not a class"
   
   ? {ParamTest create p -c1 MC1} ::p "instance of meta-class MC"
   ? {ParamTest create p -c1 C} \
-      {expected class of type ::MC but got "C" for parameter -c1} \
+      {expected class of type ::MC but got "C" for parameter "-c1"} \
       "not an instance of meta-class MC"
   
   ? {ParamTest create p -d d1} ::p
   ? {ParamTest create p -d1 d1} ::p
   ? {ParamTest create p -d c1} ::p
   ? {ParamTest create p -d o} \
-      {expected object of type ::C but got "o" for parameter -d} \
+      {expected object of type ::C but got "o" for parameter "-d"} \
       "o not of type ::C"
   
   #? {ParamTest create p -mix c1} ::p
   #? {ParamTest create p -mix o} \
-      {expected object with mixin M but got "o" for parameter mix} \
+      {expected object with mixin M but got "o" for parameter "mix"} \
       "does not have mixin M"
   
   ? {ParamTest create p -u A} ::p
-  ? {ParamTest create p -u c1} {expected upper but got "c1" for parameter -u}
+  ? {ParamTest create p -u c1} {expected upper but got "c1" for parameter "-u"}
   ? {ParamTest create p -us {A B c}} \
-      {invalid value in "A B c": expected upper but got "c" for parameter -us}
+      {invalid value in "A B c": expected upper but got "c" for parameter "-us"}
   ParamTest::slot::us eval {
     set :incremental 1
     :optimize
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@
       "value is an object"
 
   ? {p o xxx} \
-      {expected object but got "xxx" for parameter o} \
+      {expected object but got "xxx" for parameter "o"} \
       "value is not an object"
 
   #ParamTest slots {
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@
       "value is a list of objects (multiple elements)"
   
   ? {p os {o xxx d1}} \
-      {invalid value in "o xxx d1": expected object but got "xxx" for parameter os} \
+      {invalid value in "o xxx d1": expected object but got "xxx" for parameter "os"} \
       "list with invalid object"
 }
 
@@ -1002,14 +1002,14 @@
   
   ? {o foo 1 2 {o1 o2}} 1 "all values specified"
   ? {o foo "" 2 {o1 o2}} "" "first is empty"
-  ? {o foo 1 "" {o1 o2}} {expected integer but got "" for parameter y} "second is empty"
+  ? {o foo 1 "" {o1 o2}} {expected integer but got "" for parameter "y"} "second is empty"
   ? {o foo 1 2 {}} 1 "empty list, does not require allowempty"
   ? {o foo 1 2 {o1 "" o2}} 1 "list contains empty value"
 
   ? {o info method parameter foo} "x:integer,allowempty y:integer os:object,multivalued,allowempty"
 
   o public method foo {x:integer,allowempty y:integer os:object,multivalued} {return $x}
-  ? {o foo 1 2 {o1 "" o2}} {invalid value in "o1 "" o2": expected object but got "" for parameter os} \
+  ? {o foo 1 2 {o1 "" o2}} {invalid value in "o1 "" o2": expected object but got "" for parameter "os"} \
       "list contains empty value"
 
 }
@@ -1071,10 +1071,10 @@
   ? {o info method args o} "o"
 
   ? {o a 2} 2
-  ? {o a hugo} {expected integer but got "hugo" for parameter a}
+  ? {o a hugo} {expected integer but got "hugo" for parameter "a"}
 
   ? {o ints {10 100 1000}} {10 100 1000}
-  ? {o ints hugo} {invalid value in "hugo": expected integer but got "hugo" for parameter ints}
+  ? {o ints hugo} {invalid value in "hugo": expected integer but got "hugo" for parameter "ints"}
   ? {o o o} o
   ? {::nsf::setter o {d default}} {parameter "d" is not allowed to have default "default"}
   ? {::nsf::setter o -x} {invalid setter name "-x" (must not start with a dash or colon)}
@@ -1136,19 +1136,19 @@
   ? {f1 onearg 1} 1
   # built-in checker
   ? {f1 intarg 1} 1
-  ? {f1 intarg a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter x}
+  ? {f1 intarg a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "x"}
   ? {f1 intsarg {10 11 12}} {10 11 12}
-  ? {f1 intsarg {10 11 1a2}} {invalid value in "10 11 1a2": expected integer but got "1a2" for parameter x}
+  ? {f1 intsarg {10 11 1a2}} {invalid value in "10 11 1a2": expected integer but got "1a2" for parameter "x"}
   ? {f1 boolarg 1} 1
-  ? {f1 boolarg a} {expected boolean value but got "a" for parameter x}
+  ? {f1 boolarg a} {expected boolean value but got "a" for parameter "x"}
   ? {f1 classarg ::Foo} ::Foo
-  ? {f1 classarg f1} {expected class but got "f1" for parameter x}
+  ? {f1 classarg f1} {expected class but got "f1" for parameter "x"}
   # tcl checker
   ? {f1 upperarg ABC} ABC
-  ? {f1 upperarg abc} {expected upper but got "abc" for parameter x}
+  ? {f1 upperarg abc} {expected upper but got "abc" for parameter "x"}
   # scripted  checker
   ? {f1 metaclassarg ::nx::Class} ::nx::Class
-  ? {f1 metaclassarg ::Foo} {expected metaclass but got "::Foo" for parameter x}
+  ? {f1 metaclassarg ::Foo} {expected metaclass but got "::Foo" for parameter "x"}
 }
 
 Test case slot-traces {
Index: tests/returns.test
===================================================================
diff -u -r6b039871ad08a490bb975e3ddd713177f6dd9ea9 -rcd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a
--- tests/returns.test	(.../returns.test)	(revision 6b039871ad08a490bb975e3ddd713177f6dd9ea9)
+++ tests/returns.test	(.../returns.test)	(revision cd96543a3a6fb25ec8e52548892d12d244208a1a)
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@
 
     ? {c1 bar-ok1 1 2} 1
     ? {c1 bar-ok2 1 2} 1
-    ? {c1 bar-nok 1 2} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter return-value}
+    ? {c1 bar-nok 1 2} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "return-value"}
 
     ? {c1 incr x} 1
     ? {c1 incr x} 10002
 
-    ? {c1 lappend l e1} {expected integer but got "e1" for parameter return-value}
+    ? {c1 lappend l e1} {expected integer but got "e1" for parameter "return-value"}
 
     # query the returns value
     ? {::nsf::methodproperty C lappend returns} integer
@@ -318,14 +318,14 @@
     ? {c1 bar-ok1 1 2} 1
     ? {c1 bar-ok2 1 2} 1
     ? {c1 ++ 1000} 1001
-    ? {c1 | a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter return-value}
+    ? {c1 | a} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "return-value"}
     ? {::nsf::methodproperty ::C ::nsf::classes::C::bar-nok returns} integer
-    ? {c1 bar-nok 1 2} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter return-value}
+    ? {c1 bar-nok 1 2} {expected integer but got "a" for parameter "return-value"}
 
     ? {c1 incr x} 1
     ? {c1 incr x} 1002
 
-    ? {c1 lappend l e1} {expected integer but got "e1" for parameter return-value}
+    ? {c1 lappend l e1} {expected integer but got "e1" for parameter "return-value"}
 
     # query the returns value
     ? {::nsf::methodproperty C lappend returns} integer