diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 169deca26..829020e0f 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -7,10 +7,7 @@ stages:
   - compileSpectralGNU
   - prepareSpectral
   - spectral
-  - compileMarc2014
-  - compileMarc2014.2
-  - compileMarc2015
-  - compileMarc2016
+  - compileMarc2017
   - marc
   - compileAbaqus2016
   - compileAbaqus2017
@@ -72,13 +69,10 @@ variables:
   # ++++++++++++ FEM +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
   Abaqus2016:                      "FEM/Abaqus/2016"
   Abaqus2017:                      "FEM/Abaqus/2017"
-  MSC2014:                         "FEM/MSC/2014"
-  MSC2014_2:                       "FEM/MSC/2014.2"
-  MSC2015:                         "FEM/MSC/2015"
-  MSC2016:                         "FEM/MSC/2016"
+  MSC2017:                         "FEM/MSC/2017"
   # ------------ Defaults ----------------------------------------------
   Abaqus:                          "$Abaqus2017"
-  MSC:                             "$MSC2016"
+  MSC:                             "$MSC2017"
   # ++++++++++++ Documentation +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
   Doxygen1_8_13:                   "Documentation/Doxygen/1.8.13"
   # ------------ Defaults ----------------------------------------------
@@ -331,42 +325,13 @@ TextureComponents:
     - master
     - release
 
-###################################################################################################
-Marc_compileIfort2014:
-  stage: compileMarc2014
-  script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC2014
-    - Marc_compileIfort/test.py -m 2014
-  except:
-    - master
-    - release
 
 ###################################################################################################
-Marc_compileIfort2014.2:
-  stage: compileMarc2014.2
+Marc_compileIfort2017:
+  stage: compileMarc2017
   script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC2014_2
-    - Marc_compileIfort/test.py -m 2014.2
-  except:
-    - master
-    - release
-
-###################################################################################################
-Marc_compileIfort2015:
-  stage: compileMarc2015
-  script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC2015
-    - Marc_compileIfort/test.py -m 2015
-  except:
-    - master
-    - release
-
-###################################################################################################
-Marc_compileIfort2016:
-  stage: compileMarc2016
-  script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC2016
-    - Marc_compileIfort/test.py -m 2016
+    - module load $IntelCompiler17_0 $MSC2017
+    - Marc_compileIfort/test.py -m 2017
   except:
     - master
     - release
@@ -375,7 +340,7 @@ Marc_compileIfort2016:
 Hex_elastic:
   stage: marc
   script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC
+    - module load $IntelCompiler17_0 $MSC
     - Hex_elastic/test.py
   except:
     - master
@@ -384,7 +349,7 @@ Hex_elastic:
 CubicFCC_elastic:
   stage: marc
   script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC
+    - module load $IntelCompiler17_0 $MSC
     - CubicFCC_elastic/test.py
   except:
     - master
@@ -393,7 +358,7 @@ CubicFCC_elastic:
 CubicBCC_elastic:
   stage: marc
   script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC
+    - module load $IntelCompiler17_0 $MSC
     - CubicBCC_elastic/test.py
   except:
     - master
@@ -402,7 +367,7 @@ CubicBCC_elastic:
 J2_plasticBehavior:
   stage: marc
   script:
-    - module load $IntelCompiler16_0 $MSC
+    - module load $IntelCompiler17_0 $MSC
     - J2_plasticBehavior/test.py
   except:
     - master
diff --git a/CONFIG b/CONFIG
index db75fa811..459216375 100644
--- a/CONFIG
+++ b/CONFIG
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@ set DAMASK_BIN            = ${DAMASK_ROOT}/bin
 set DAMASK_NUM_THREADS    = 4
 
 set MSC_ROOT              = /opt/msc
-set MARC_VERSION          = 2016
+set MARC_VERSION          = 2017
 
 set ABAQUS_VERSION        = 2017
diff --git a/env/DAMASK.sh b/env/DAMASK.sh
index 021603b57..509f5f1b7 100644
--- a/env/DAMASK.sh
+++ b/env/DAMASK.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # usage:  source DAMASK.sh
 
 function canonicalPath {
-  python -c "import os,sys; print(os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(sys.argv[1])))" $1
+  python -c "import os,sys; print(os.path.normpath(os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(sys.argv[1]))))" $1
 }
 
 function blink {
@@ -17,12 +17,8 @@ else
   DAMASK_ROOT=${STAT##* }
 fi
 
-# transition compatibility (renamed $DAMASK_ROOT/DAMASK_env.sh to $DAMASK_ROOT/env/DAMASK.sh)
-if [ ${BASH_SOURCE##*/} == "DAMASK.sh" ]; then
-  DAMASK_ROOT="$DAMASK_ROOT/.."
-fi
+DAMASK_ROOT=$(canonicalPath "$DAMASK_ROOT/../")
 
-DAMASK_ROOT=$(canonicalPath $DAMASK_ROOT)
 
 # shorthand command to change to DAMASK_ROOT directory
 eval "function DAMASK_root() { cd $DAMASK_ROOT; }"
diff --git a/env/DAMASK.zsh b/env/DAMASK.zsh
index 2d2bc9aa0..3ceeb116a 100644
--- a/env/DAMASK.zsh
+++ b/env/DAMASK.zsh
@@ -2,15 +2,14 @@
 # usage:  source DAMASK.zsh
 
 function canonicalPath {
-  python -c "import os,sys; print(os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(sys.argv[1])))" $1
+  python -c "import os,sys; print(os.path.normpath(os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(sys.argv[1]))))" $1
 }
 
-# transition compatibility (renamed $DAMASK_ROOT/DAMASK_env.zsh to $DAMASK_ROOT/env/DAMASK.zsh)
-if [ ${0:t:r} = 'DAMASK' ]; then
-  DAMASK_ROOT=${0:a:h}'/..'
-else
-  DAMASK_ROOT=${0:a:h}
-fi
+function blink {
+  echo -e "\033[2;5m$1\033[0m"
+}
+
+DAMASK_ROOT=$(canonicalPath "${0:a:h}'/..")
 
 # shorthand command to change to DAMASK_ROOT directory
 eval "function DAMASK_root() { cd $DAMASK_ROOT; }"
@@ -25,13 +24,13 @@ unset -f set
 # add DAMASK_BIN if present
 [ "x$DAMASK_BIN != x" ] && PATH=$DAMASK_BIN:$PATH
 
-SOLVER=$(type -p DAMASK_spectral || true 2>/dev/null)
-[ "x$SOLVER == x" ] && SOLVER='Not found!'
+SOLVER=$(which DAMASK_spectral || true 2>/dev/null)
+[ "x$SOLVER" = "x" ] && SOLVER=$(blink 'Not found!')
 
-PROCESSING=$(type -p postResults || true 2>/dev/null)
-[ "x$PROCESSING == x" ] && PROCESSING='Not found!'
+PROCESSING=$(which postResults || true 2>/dev/null)
+[ "x$PROCESSING" = "x" ] && PROCESSING=$(blink 'Not found!')
 
-[ "x$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS == x" ] && DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=1
+[ "x$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS" = "x" ] && DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=1
 
 # currently, there is no information that unlimited causes problems
 # still,  http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/topic/501500 suggest to fix it
@@ -52,16 +51,18 @@ if [ ! -z "$PS1" ]; then
   echo "DAMASK             $DAMASK_ROOT"
   echo "Spectral Solver    $SOLVER" 
   echo "Post Processing    $PROCESSING"
-  echo "Multithreading     DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS"
   if [ "x$PETSC_DIR"   != "x" ]; then
-    echo "PETSc location     $PETSC_DIR"
+    echo -n "PETSc location     "
+    [ -d $PETSC_DIR ] && echo $PETSC_DIR || blink $PETSC_DIR
     [[ $(canonicalPath "$PETSC_DIR") == $PETSC_DIR ]] \
     || echo "               ~~> "$(canonicalPath "$PETSC_DIR")
   fi
   [[ "x$PETSC_ARCH"  == "x" ]] \
   || echo "PETSc architecture $PETSC_ARCH"
-  echo "MSC.Marc/Mentat    $MSC_ROOT"
+  echo -n "MSC.Marc/Mentat    "
+  [ -d $MSC_ROOT ] && echo $MSC_ROOT || blink $MSC_ROOT
   echo
+  echo "Multithreading     DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS"
   echo -n "heap  size         "
    [[ "$(ulimit -d)" == "unlimited" ]] \
    && echo "unlimited" \
diff --git a/lib/damask/solver/marc.py b/lib/damask/solver/marc.py
index 16f3c8451..59feb3325 100644
--- a/lib/damask/solver/marc.py
+++ b/lib/damask/solver/marc.py
@@ -9,10 +9,8 @@ class Marc(Solver):
   def __init__(self):
     self.solver = 'Marc'
     self.releases = { \
+              '2017':  ['linux64',''],
               '2016':  ['linux64',''],
-              '2015':  ['linux64',''],
-              '2014.2':['linux64',''],
-              '2014'  :['linux64',''],
              }
 
 
diff --git a/src/DAMASK_marc2014.2.f90 b/src/DAMASK_marc2014.2.f90
deleted file mode 120000
index 2c5bec706..000000000
--- a/src/DAMASK_marc2014.2.f90
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-DAMASK_marc.f90
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/DAMASK_marc2014.f90 b/src/DAMASK_marc2014.f90
deleted file mode 120000
index 2c5bec706..000000000
--- a/src/DAMASK_marc2014.f90
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-DAMASK_marc.f90
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/DAMASK_marc2015.f90 b/src/DAMASK_marc2015.f90
deleted file mode 120000
index 2c5bec706..000000000
--- a/src/DAMASK_marc2015.f90
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-DAMASK_marc.f90
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/config.f90 b/src/config.f90
index d87bb754d..9d2ddde4c 100644
--- a/src/config.f90
+++ b/src/config.f90
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ end function getString
 !> @details for cumulative keys, "()", values from all occurrences are return. Otherwise only all
 !! values from the last occurrence. If key is not found exits with error unless default is given.
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-function getFloats(this,key,defaultVal)
+function getFloats(this,key,defaultVal,requiredShape)
  use IO, only: &
    IO_error, &
    IO_stringValue, &
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@ function getFloats(this,key,defaultVal)
  class(tPartitionedStringList), intent(in)           :: this
  character(len=*),              intent(in)           :: key
  real(pReal),   dimension(:),   intent(in), optional :: defaultVal
+ integer(pInt), dimension(:),   intent(in), optional :: requiredShape
  type(tPartitionedStringList),  pointer              :: item
  integer(pInt)                                       :: i
  logical                                             :: found, &
@@ -577,7 +578,7 @@ end function getFloats
 !> @details for cumulative keys, "()", values from all occurrences are return. Otherwise only all
 !! values from the last occurrence. If key is not found exits with error unless default is given.
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-function getInts(this,key,defaultVal)
+function getInts(this,key,defaultVal,requiredShape)
  use IO, only: &
    IO_error, &
    IO_stringValue, &
@@ -587,7 +588,8 @@ function getInts(this,key,defaultVal)
  integer(pInt), dimension(:), allocatable            :: getInts
  class(tPartitionedStringList), intent(in)           :: this
  character(len=*),              intent(in)           :: key
- integer(pInt), dimension(:),   intent(in), optional :: defaultVal
+ integer(pInt), dimension(:),   intent(in), optional :: defaultVal, &
+                                                        requiredShape
  type(tPartitionedStringList),  pointer              :: item
  integer(pInt)                                       :: i
  logical                                             :: found, &
@@ -624,7 +626,7 @@ end function getInts
 !! values from the last occurrence. If key is not found exits with error unless default is given.
 !! If raw is true, the the complete string is returned, otherwise the individual chunks are returned
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-function getStrings(this,key,defaultVal,raw)
+function getStrings(this,key,defaultVal,requiredShape,raw)
  use IO, only: &
    IO_error, &
    IO_StringValue
@@ -634,6 +636,7 @@ function getStrings(this,key,defaultVal,raw)
  class(tPartitionedStringList),      intent(in)           :: this
  character(len=*),                   intent(in)           :: key
  character(len=65536),dimension(:),  intent(in), optional :: defaultVal
+ integer(pInt),       dimension(:),  intent(in), optional :: requiredShape
  logical,                            intent(in), optional :: raw
  type(tPartitionedStringList), pointer                    :: item
  character(len=65536)                                     :: str
diff --git a/src/plastic_kinematichardening.f90 b/src/plastic_kinematichardening.f90
index 0cc51817a..5089cd5ca 100644
--- a/src/plastic_kinematichardening.f90
+++ b/src/plastic_kinematichardening.f90
@@ -370,11 +370,11 @@ subroutine plastic_kinehardening_init(fileUnit)
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  sanity checks
  
-     if (any(plastic_kinehardening_Nslip(1:nSlipFamilies,instance) > 0_pInt &
-             .and. param(instance)%crss0(1:nSlipFamilies)           < 0.0_pReal)) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' crss0'
-     if (any(plastic_kinehardening_Nslip(1:nSlipFamilies,instance) > 0_pInt &
-             .and. param(instance)%tau1(1:nSlipFamilies)          <= 0.0_pReal)) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' tau1'
-     if (any(plastic_kinehardening_Nslip(1:nSlipFamilies,instance) > 0_pInt &
+     if (any(plastic_kinehardening_Nslip (1:nSlipFamilies,instance) > 0_pInt &
+             .and. param(instance)%crss0 (1:nSlipFamilies)          < 0.0_pReal)) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' crss0'
+     if (any(plastic_kinehardening_Nslip (1:nSlipFamilies,instance) > 0_pInt &
+             .and. param(instance)%tau1  (1:nSlipFamilies)         <= 0.0_pReal)) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' tau1'
+     if (any(plastic_kinehardening_Nslip (1:nSlipFamilies,instance) > 0_pInt &
              .and. param(instance)%tau1_b(1:nSlipFamilies)         < 0.0_pReal)) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' tau1_b'
      if (param(instance)%gdot0            <= 0.0_pReal) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' gdot0'
      if (param(instance)%n_slip           <= 0.0_pReal) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' n_slip'