diff --git a/processing/pre/OIMang_hex2cub.py b/processing/pre/OIMang_hex2cub.py
index 73ad97810..ca7f0540a 100755
--- a/processing/pre/OIMang_hex2cub.py
+++ b/processing/pre/OIMang_hex2cub.py
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
- 
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
+
+
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -47,8 +48,8 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
+
   x = 0
   for line in file['input']:
     lineSplit=line.split()
diff --git a/processing/pre/abq_addUserOutput.py b/processing/pre/abq_addUserOutput.py
index f1be0070c..dc6f49b0c 100755
--- a/processing/pre/abq_addUserOutput.py
+++ b/processing/pre/abq_addUserOutput.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask 
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 # -----------------------------
 def ParseOutputFormat(filename,what,me):
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_addPrimitive.py b/processing/pre/geom_addPrimitive.py
index 00bc27785..250ed4c26 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_addPrimitive.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_addPrimitive.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import numpy as np
 from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
-scriptID   = string.replace('$Id: geom_pack.py 3679 2014-11-05 22:01:11Z p.eisenlohr $','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 oversampling = 2.
 
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   table = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels = False)
   table.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_canvas.py b/processing/pre/geom_canvas.py
index 1c470d6dd..1a4f536c1 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_canvas.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_canvas.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -68,10 +68,9 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
-  theTable = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels=False)
+  theTable = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels = False)
   theTable.head_read()
 
 #--- interpret header ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_check.py b/processing/pre/geom_check.py
index 1b9dbb17a..924c28f52 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_check.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_check.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
   
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -60,8 +60,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   theTable = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels=False)
   theTable.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_fromAng.py b/processing/pre/geom_fromAng.py
index f8825b6f6..378816e03 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_fromAng.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_fromAng.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_fromEuclideanDistance.py b/processing/pre/geom_fromEuclideanDistance.py
index bd1925c21..ab916b51f 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_fromEuclideanDistance.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_fromEuclideanDistance.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 def periodic_3Dpad(array, rimdim=(1,1,1)):
 
@@ -146,8 +146,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   table = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'][0],labels = False)
   table.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_fromMinimalSurface.py b/processing/pre/geom_fromMinimalSurface.py
index f0f8dd6fa..5f9f999c5 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_fromMinimalSurface.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_fromMinimalSurface.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_fromOsteonGeometry.py b/processing/pre/geom_fromOsteonGeometry.py
index f2a03d299..351038aff 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_fromOsteonGeometry.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_fromOsteonGeometry.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_fromVPSC.py b/processing/pre/geom_fromVPSC.py
index ad8bb5628..688692f35 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_fromVPSC.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_fromVPSC.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write(file['name']+'\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   info = {
           'grid':   np.zeros(3,'i'),
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_fromVoronoiTessellation.py b/processing/pre/geom_fromVoronoiTessellation.py
index 289d5df4a..9af5bf214 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_fromVoronoiTessellation.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_fromVoronoiTessellation.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 
 def meshgrid2(*arrs):
@@ -99,8 +99,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   table = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],buffered = False)
   table.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_pack.py b/processing/pre/geom_pack.py
index 369857c2c..d3c7723ec 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_pack.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_pack.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ else:
 
 # ------------------------------------------ loop over input files --------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m'+(': '+file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '')+'\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   if file['name'] != 'STDIN':
     file['input'] = open(file['name'])
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_rescale.py b/processing/pre/geom_rescale.py
index 10994afb3..5f10c2ade 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_rescale.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_rescale.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_translate.py b/processing/pre/geom_translate.py
index 0b603cb7d..7d426ea3c 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_translate.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_translate.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import damask
 from optparse import OptionParser
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   theTable = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels=False)
   theTable.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_unpack.py b/processing/pre/geom_unpack.py
index 46342487b..7b5fd475a 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_unpack.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_unpack.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ else:
 
 # ------------------------------------------ loop over input files ---------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   table = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels = False,buffered = False)           # make unbuffered ASCII_table
   table.head_read()                                                                                 # read ASCII header info
diff --git a/processing/pre/geom_vicinityOffset.py b/processing/pre/geom_vicinityOffset.py
index 938e471c0..f467f2b4e 100755
--- a/processing/pre/geom_vicinityOffset.py
+++ b/processing/pre/geom_vicinityOffset.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 class extendedOption(Option):
@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   theTable = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels=False)
   theTable.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/marc_addUserOutput.py b/processing/pre/marc_addUserOutput.py
index 68f577836..80b26b24c 100755
--- a/processing/pre/marc_addUserOutput.py
+++ b/processing/pre/marc_addUserOutput.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 # -----------------------------
 def ParseOutputFormat(filename,what,me):
diff --git a/processing/pre/mentat_pbcOnBoxMesh.py b/processing/pre/mentat_pbcOnBoxMesh.py
index 6c294e91a..0cbd573bb 100755
--- a/processing/pre/mentat_pbcOnBoxMesh.py
+++ b/processing/pre/mentat_pbcOnBoxMesh.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 sys.path.append(damask.solver.Marc().libraryPath('../../'))
 
diff --git a/processing/pre/mentat_spectralBox.py b/processing/pre/mentat_spectralBox.py
index 3f810d7b7..24fcb5b8e 100755
--- a/processing/pre/mentat_spectralBox.py
+++ b/processing/pre/mentat_spectralBox.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 def outMentat(cmd,locals):
diff --git a/processing/pre/patchFromReconstructedBoundaries.py b/processing/pre/patchFromReconstructedBoundaries.py
index e16af894e..ebcf88316 100755
--- a/processing/pre/patchFromReconstructedBoundaries.py
+++ b/processing/pre/patchFromReconstructedBoundaries.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 
 try:                                        # check for Python Image Lib
diff --git a/processing/pre/seeds_check.py b/processing/pre/seeds_check.py
index 94bc06f19..7c017df32 100755
--- a/processing/pre/seeds_check.py
+++ b/processing/pre/seeds_check.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import damask
 from optparse import OptionParser
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
      
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   theTable = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'])
   theTable.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/seeds_fromGeom.py b/processing/pre/seeds_fromGeom.py
index 3deadf5b4..38e659d0e 100755
--- a/processing/pre/seeds_fromGeom.py
+++ b/processing/pre/seeds_fromGeom.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   table = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],labels = False,buffered = False)
   table.head_read()
diff --git a/processing/pre/seeds_fromRandom.py b/processing/pre/seeds_fromRandom.py
index b1da2dee4..4c2c0ff6d 100755
--- a/processing/pre/seeds_fromRandom.py
+++ b/processing/pre/seeds_fromRandom.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 #                                MAIN
diff --git a/processing/pre/seeds_fromTable.py b/processing/pre/seeds_fromTable.py
index 4cfb8df41..bc011018d 100755
--- a/processing/pre/seeds_fromTable.py
+++ b/processing/pre/seeds_fromTable.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 import damask
 
 scriptID   = string.replace('$Id$','\n','\\n')
-scriptName = scriptID.split()[1][:-3]
+scriptName = os.path.splitext(scriptID.split()[1])[0]
 
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ else:
 
 #--- loop over input files ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 for file in files:
-  if file['name'] != 'STDIN': file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m: '+file['name']+'\n')
-  else: file['croak'].write('\033[1m'+scriptName+'\033[0m\n')
+  file['croak'].write('\033[1m' + scriptName + '\033[0m: ' + (file['name'] if file['name'] != 'STDIN' else '') + '\n')
 
   table = damask.ASCIItable(file['input'],file['output'],buffered = False)
   table.head_read()