diff --git a/lib/damask_tools.py b/lib/damask_tools.py
index 302c7b409..a5ba78663 100644
--- a/lib/damask_tools.py
+++ b/lib/damask_tools.py
@@ -1,46 +1,100 @@
+import os,string,re
+
 class DAMASK_TOOLS():
-    import os,string
-    def check_env(self):
-        import os
-        if os.getenv('DAMASK_ROOT') is None:
-          print('No DAMASK_ROOT environment variable, did you run DAMASK/installation/setup_shellrc?')
-          sys.exit(1)
-        else:
-          return True       
+
+  def check_env(self):
+    import os
+    if os.getenv('DAMASK_ROOT') is None:
+      print('No DAMASK_ROOT environment variable, did you run DAMASK/installation/setup_shellrc?')
+      sys.exit(1)
+    else:
+      return True       
 
 
 class MATERIAL_CONFIG():
-    import os,sys
+  __slots__ = ['data']
+
+  def __init__(self):
+    self.data = {\
+              'homogenization': {'__order__': []},
+              'microstructure': {'__order__': []},
+              'crystallite':    {'__order__': []},
+              'phase':          {'__order__': []},
+              'texture':        {'__order__': []},
+           }
+           
+  def __repr__(self):
+    me = []
+    for part in [
+                 'homogenization',
+                 'microstructure',
+                 'crystallite',
+                 'phase',
+                 'texture',
+                ]:
+      me += ['','#-----------------------------#','<%s>'%part,'#-----------------------------#',]
+      for section in self.data[part]['__order__']:
+        me += ['','[%s]\t\t#-----------------------'%section,'',]
+        for key in self.data[part][section]['__order__']:
+          if key.startswith('(') and key.endswith(')'):                       # multiple (key)
+            me += ['%s\t%s'%(key,' '.join(values)) for values in self.data[part][section][key]]
+          else:                                                               # plain key
+            me += ['%s\t%s'%(key,' '.join(self.data[part][section][key]))]
+          
+    return '\n'.join(me)
+
+
+  def parse_data(self, part=None, sections=[], content=None):
+
+    re_part = re.compile(r'^<(.+)>$')                     # pattern for part
+    re_sec  = re.compile(r'^\[(.+)\]$')                   # pattern for section
+
+    name_section = ''
+    idx_section = 0
+    active = False
+
+    for line in content:
+      line = line.split('#')[0].strip()                   # kill comments and extra whitespace
+      if line:                                            # content survives...
+        match_part = re_part.match(line)
+        if match_part:                                    # found <part> separator
+          active = (match_part.group(1) == part)          # only active in <part>
+          continue
+        if active:
+          match_sec  = re_sec.match(line)
+          if match_sec:                                   # found [section]
+            name_section = match_sec.group(1)             # remember name ...
+            if '__order__' not in self.data[part]: self.data[part]['__order__'] = []
+            self.data[part]['__order__'].append(name_section)  # ... and position
+            self.data[part][name_section] = {'__order__':[]}
+            continue
+          
+          if sections == [] or name_section in sections:  # respect subset
+            items = line.split()
+            if items[0] not in self.data[part][name_section]:         # first encounter of key?
+              self.data[part][name_section][items[0]] = []            # create item
+              self.data[part][name_section]['__order__'].append(items[0])
+            if items[0].startswith('(') and items[0].endswith(')'):   # multiple "(key)"
+              self.data[part][name_section][items[0]].append(items[1:])
+            else:                                                     # plain key
+              self.data[part][name_section][items[0]] = items[1:]
+                  
+
+  def add_homogenization(self, name=None, type=None):
     
-    def __init__(self):
-      homogenization=[]
-    
-    def add_homogenization(self, name=None, type=None):
+    if type is 'isostrain':
+      h={'type':type}
+      h['ngrains']=ngrains
+      return h
       
-      if type is 'isostrain':
-        h={'type':type}
-        h['ngrains']=ngrains
-        return h
-        
-    def add_crystallite(self, name=None):
-        pass
-    def add_texture(self, name=None):
-        pass
-    def add_phase(self, name=None):
-        pass
-    def add_microstructure(self, name=None, phase=None, texture=None):
-        pass
-
-
+  def add_crystallite(self, name=None):
+      pass
+  def add_texture(self, name=None):
+      pass
+  def add_phase(self, name=None):
+      pass
+  def add_microstructure(self, name=None, phases=None, textures=None, fractions=None):
+    self.data['microstructure'][name] = {}        # kill existing entry (should warn?)
     
-    def write_file(self,label=None):
-      fname='material.config'
-      if label is not None: fname+='_%s'%label
-      #f=open(fname)
-      #f.write()
-      #f.close()
 
-
-class HOMOGENIZATION():
-    type=None
-    
\ No newline at end of file
+  
\ No newline at end of file