diff --git a/jparse/CHANGES.md b/jparse/CHANGES.md
index 704f3dd7f..a8d82f2ce 100644
--- a/jparse/CHANGES.md
+++ b/jparse/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,65 @@
 # Significant changes in the JSON parser repo
 
+## Release 1.0.21 2024-10-06
+
+Fix test cases in `jstr_test.sh`. Extra bytes were being written due to the way
+the size of the decoded string was being calculated. Instead a new function is
+in `json_utf8.c` called `count_utf8_bytes()`. This does the same sanity checks
+(though slightly different) in `json_decode()`. As well the for loop had to be
+fixed (the increment stage and the `\uxxxx` parsing) in `decode_json_string()`.
+With this change the `jstr_test.sh` script now passes all tests.
+
+The above fixes required a modification to `jstr_test.txt` and its change is the
+answer to the above fixes: it had extra bytes in it as all decoding with
+`\uxxxx` did. After that problem was fixed (the `count_utf8_bytes()`) the loop
+had to be fixed so that `char *utf8` (renamed from `offset`) is always
+incremented by 1 (this is why in `decode_json_string()` we now have `utf8 +=
+bytes - 1;` and `p += bytes;`).
+
+The `byte2asciistr` table had to be updated as obviously some size differences
+occurred.
+
+The JSON parser version has been bumped to `"1.1.7 2024-10-06"`.
+
+The issue #13 is NOT completely resolved as the recent commits do not address
+sequences in `\uxxxx\uxxxx` and it also does not work for every `\uxxxx`
+sequence.
+
+
+## Release 1.0.20 2024-10-05
+
+Add to `struct byte2asciistr` a `size_t` for the decoded length in order to
+verify the decoded length is correct, since not every byte has the same decoded
+length. This allows us to test the decoded length in the table.
+
+
+## Release 1.0.19 2024-10-04
+
+Fix the JSON decode bug #13. Using the function `utf8encode()` it appears that
+the bug is now fixed. More testing does need to be done but numerous test cases
+now seem to work.
+
+The calculation of the length to allocate has been changed somewhat to get this
+to work. The retlen had to be updated too, to refer to len, not mlen.
+
+The check for the `unicode` boolean should be improved and it is not
+even clear if it can remain the way it is (this is the part where it checks for
+invalid codes).
+
+Added test file `test_jparse/jstr_test.txt` to compare for a new decoding test
+in the `jstr_test.sh` script.
+
+A few tests in `jstr_test.sh` had to be temporarily disabled as in fixing the
+decoding seems to have broken them. Whether another fix with decoding bug is
+needed or a fix with the script itself is unclear at this time.
+
+The `jstr_test.sh` exit codes have been changed. Man page updated.
+
+Once the test cases have been enabled and the `unicode` boolean is implemented
+properly, and assuming this bug is resolved, the file `json_utf8.c` and
+`json_utf8.h` can be cleaned up.
+
+
 ## Release 1.0.18 2024-10-01
 
 Improve `test_jparse/is_available.sh`: it now will do a trivial test on
diff --git a/jparse/Makefile b/jparse/Makefile
index 7d7b5ceed..233e8a638 100644
--- a/jparse/Makefile
+++ b/jparse/Makefile
@@ -177,7 +177,8 @@ C_OPT= -O3
 
 # Compiler warnings
 #
-WARN_FLAGS= -pedantic -Wall -Wextra -Wno-unused-but-set-variable -Wno-char-subscripts -Wno-sign-compare
+WARN_FLAGS= -pedantic -Wall -Wextra -Wno-unused-but-set-variable -Wno-char-subscripts -Wno-sign-compare \
+	    -Wno-format
 #WARN_FLAGS= -pedantic -Wall -Wextra -Werror
 
 # special compiler flags
diff --git a/jparse/json_parse.c b/jparse/json_parse.c
index 0f42ced23..8cf886e59 100644
--- a/jparse/json_parse.c
+++ b/jparse/json_parse.c
@@ -71,100 +71,100 @@
 struct byte2asciistr byte2asciistr[JSON_BYTE_VALUES] = {
 
     /* \x00 - \x0f */
-    {0x00, 6, "\\u0000"}, {0x01, 6, "\\u0001"}, {0x02, 6, "\\u0002"}, {0x03, 6, "\\u0003"},
-    {0x04, 6, "\\u0004"}, {0x05, 6, "\\u0005"}, {0x06, 6, "\\u0006"}, {0x07, 6, "\\u0007"},
-    {0x08, 2, "\\b"}, {0x09, 2, "\\t"}, {0x0a, 2, "\\n"}, {0x0b, 6, "\\u000b"},
-    {0x0c, 2, "\\f"}, {0x0d, 2, "\\r"}, {0x0e, 6, "\\u000e"}, {0x0f, 6, "\\u000f"},
+    {0x00, 6, "\\u0000", 2}, {0x01, 6, "\\u0001", 1}, {0x02, 6, "\\u0002", 1}, {0x03, 6, "\\u0003",1},
+    {0x04, 6, "\\u0004", 1}, {0x05, 6, "\\u0005", 1}, {0x06, 6, "\\u0006", 1}, {0x07, 6, "\\u0007",1},
+    {0x08, 2, "\\b", 1}, {0x09, 2, "\\t", 1}, {0x0a, 2, "\\n", 1}, {0x0b, 6, "\\u000b", 1},
+    {0x0c, 2, "\\f", 1}, {0x0d, 2, "\\r", 1}, {0x0e, 6, "\\u000e", 1}, {0x0f, 6, "\\u000f", 1},
 
     /* \x10 - \x1f */
-    {0x10, 6, "\\u0010"}, {0x11, 6, "\\u0011"}, {0x12, 6, "\\u0012"}, {0x13, 6, "\\u0013"},
-    {0x14, 6, "\\u0014"}, {0x15, 6, "\\u0015"}, {0x16, 6, "\\u0016"}, {0x17, 6, "\\u0017"},
-    {0x18, 6, "\\u0018"}, {0x19, 6, "\\u0019"}, {0x1a, 6, "\\u001a"}, {0x1b, 6, "\\u001b"},
-    {0x1c, 6, "\\u001c"}, {0x1d, 6, "\\u001d"}, {0x1e, 6, "\\u001e"}, {0x1f, 6, "\\u001f"},
+    {0x10, 6, "\\u0010", 1}, {0x11, 6, "\\u0011", 1}, {0x12, 6, "\\u0012", 1}, {0x13, 6, "\\u0013", 1},
+    {0x14, 6, "\\u0014", 1}, {0x15, 6, "\\u0015", 1}, {0x16, 6, "\\u0016", 1}, {0x17, 6, "\\u0017", 1},
+    {0x18, 6, "\\u0018", 1}, {0x19, 6, "\\u0019", 1}, {0x1a, 6, "\\u001a", 1}, {0x1b, 6, "\\u001b", 1},
+    {0x1c, 6, "\\u001c", 1}, {0x1d, 6, "\\u001d", 1}, {0x1e, 6, "\\u001e", 1}, {0x1f, 6, "\\u001f", 1},
 
     /* \x20 - \x2f */
-    {' ', 1, " "}, {'!', 1, "!"}, {'"', 2, "\\\""}, {'#', 1, "#"},
-    {'$', 1, "$"}, {'%', 1, "%"}, {'&', 1, "&"}, {'\'', 1, "'"},
-    {'(', 1, "("}, {')', 1, ")"}, {'*', 1, "*"}, {'+', 1, "+"},
-    {',', 1, ","}, {'-', 1, "-"}, {'.', 1, "."}, {'/', 1, "/"},
+    {' ', 1, " ", 1}, {'!', 1, "!", 1}, {'"', 2, "\\\"", 1}, {'#', 1, "#", 1},
+    {'$', 1, "$", 1}, {'%', 1, "%", 1}, {'&', 1, "&", 1}, {'\'', 1, "'", 1},
+    {'(', 1, "(", 1}, {')', 1, ")", 1}, {'*', 1, "*", 1}, {'+', 1, "+", 1},
+    {',', 1, ",", 1}, {'-', 1, "-", 1}, {'.', 1, ".", 1}, {'/', 1, "/", 1},
 
     /* \x30 - \x3f */
-    {'0', 1, "0"}, {'1', 1, "1"}, {'2', 1, "2"}, {'3', 1, "3"},
-    {'4', 1, "4"}, {'5', 1, "5"}, {'6', 1, "6"}, {'7', 1, "7"},
-    {'8', 1, "8"}, {'9', 1, "9"}, {':', 1, ":"}, {';', 1, ";"},
-    {'<', 1, "<"}, {'=', 1, "="}, {'>', 1, ">"}, {'?', 1, "?"},
+    {'0', 1, "0", 1}, {'1', 1, "1", 1}, {'2', 1, "2", 1}, {'3', 1, "3", 1},
+    {'4', 1, "4", 1}, {'5', 1, "5", 1}, {'6', 1, "6", 1}, {'7', 1, "7", 1},
+    {'8', 1, "8", 1}, {'9', 1, "9", 1}, {':', 1, ":", 1}, {';', 1, ";", 1},
+    {'<', 1, "<", 1}, {'=', 1, "=", 1}, {'>', 1, ">", 1}, {'?', 1, "?", 1},
 
     /* \x40 - \x4f */
-    {'@', 1, "@"}, {'A', 1, "A"}, {'B', 1, "B"}, {'C', 1, "C"},
-    {'D', 1, "D"}, {'E', 1, "E"}, {'F', 1, "F"}, {'G', 1, "G"},
-    {'H', 1, "H"}, {'I', 1, "I"}, {'J', 1, "J"}, {'K', 1, "K"},
-    {'L', 1, "L"}, {'M', 1, "M"}, {'N', 1, "N"}, {'O', 1, "O"},
+    {'@', 1, "@", 1}, {'A', 1, "A", 1}, {'B', 1, "B", 1}, {'C', 1, "C", 1},
+    {'D', 1, "D", 1}, {'E', 1, "E", 1}, {'F', 1, "F", 1}, {'G', 1, "G", 1},
+    {'H', 1, "H", 1}, {'I', 1, "I", 1}, {'J', 1, "J", 1}, {'K', 1, "K", 1},
+    {'L', 1, "L", 1}, {'M', 1, "M", 1}, {'N', 1, "N", 1}, {'O', 1, "O", 1},
 
     /* \x50 - \x5f */
-    {'P', 1, "P"}, {'Q', 1, "Q"}, {'R', 1, "R"}, {'S', 1, "S"},
-    {'T', 1, "T"}, {'U', 1, "U"}, {'V', 1, "V"}, {'W', 1, "W"},
-    {'X', 1, "X"}, {'Y', 1, "Y"}, {'Z', 1, "Z"}, {'[', 1, "["},
-    {'\\', 2, "\\\\"}, {']', 1, "]"}, {'^', 1, "^"}, {'_', 1, "_"},
+    {'P', 1, "P", 1}, {'Q', 1, "Q", 1},    {'R', 1, "R", 1}, {'S', 1, "S", 1},
+    {'T', 1, "T", 1}, {'U', 1, "U", 1},    {'V', 1, "V", 1}, {'W', 1, "W", 1},
+    {'X', 1, "X", 1}, {'Y', 1, "Y", 1},    {'Z', 1, "Z", 1}, {'[', 1, "[", 1},
+    {'\\', 2, "\\\\", 1}, {']', 1, "]",1}, {'^', 1, "^", 1}, {'_', 1, "_", 1},
 
     /* \x60 - \x6f */
-    {'`', 1, "`"}, {'a', 1, "a"}, {'b', 1, "b"}, {'c', 1, "c"},
-    {'d', 1, "d"}, {'e', 1, "e"}, {'f', 1, "f"}, {'g', 1, "g"},
-    {'h', 1, "h"}, {'i', 1, "i"}, {'j', 1, "j"}, {'k', 1, "k"},
-    {'l', 1, "l"}, {'m', 1, "m"}, {'n', 1, "n"}, {'o', 1, "o"},
+    {'`', 1, "`", 1}, {'a', 1, "a", 1}, {'b', 1, "b", 1}, {'c', 1, "c", 1},
+    {'d', 1, "d", 1}, {'e', 1, "e", 1}, {'f', 1, "f", 1}, {'g', 1, "g", 1},
+    {'h', 1, "h", 1}, {'i', 1, "i", 1}, {'j', 1, "j", 1}, {'k', 1, "k", 1},
+    {'l', 1, "l", 1}, {'m', 1, "m", 1}, {'n', 1, "n", 1}, {'o', 1, "o", 1},
 
     /* \x70 - \x7f */
-    {'p', 1, "p"}, {'q', 1, "q"}, {'r', 1, "r"}, {'s', 1, "s"},
-    {'t', 1, "t"}, {'u', 1, "u"}, {'v', 1, "v"}, {'w', 1, "w"},
-    {'x', 1, "x"}, {'y', 1, "y"}, {'z', 1, "z"}, {'{', 1, "{"},
-    {'|', 1, "|"}, {'}', 1, "}"}, {'~', 1, "~"}, {0x7f, 6, "\\u007f"},
+    {'p', 1, "p", 1}, {'q', 1, "q", 1}, {'r', 1, "r", 1}, {'s', 1, "s", 1},
+    {'t', 1, "t", 1}, {'u', 1, "u", 1}, {'v', 1, "v", 1}, {'w', 1, "w", 1},
+    {'x', 1, "x", 1}, {'y', 1, "y", 1}, {'z', 1, "z", 1}, {'{', 1, "{", 1},
+    {'|', 1, "|", 1}, {'}', 1, "}", 1}, {'~', 1, "~", 1}, {0x7f, 6, "\\u007f", 1},
 
     /* \x80 - \x8f */
-    {0x80, 1, "\x80"}, {0x81, 1, "\x81"}, {0x82, 1, "\x82"}, {0x83, 1, "\x83"},
-    {0x84, 1, "\x84"}, {0x85, 1, "\x85"}, {0x86, 1, "\x86"}, {0x87, 1, "\x87"},
-    {0x88, 1, "\x88"}, {0x89, 1, "\x89"}, {0x8a, 1, "\x8a"}, {0x8b, 1, "\x8b"},
-    {0x8c, 1, "\x8c"}, {0x8d, 1, "\x8d"}, {0x8e, 1, "\x8e"}, {0x8f, 1, "\x8f"},
+    {0x80, 1, "\x80", 1}, {0x81, 1, "\x81", 1}, {0x82, 1, "\x82", 1}, {0x83, 1, "\x83", 1},
+    {0x84, 1, "\x84", 1}, {0x85, 1, "\x85", 1}, {0x86, 1, "\x86", 1}, {0x87, 1, "\x87", 1},
+    {0x88, 1, "\x88", 1}, {0x89, 1, "\x89", 1}, {0x8a, 1, "\x8a", 1}, {0x8b, 1, "\x8b", 1},
+    {0x8c, 1, "\x8c", 1}, {0x8d, 1, "\x8d", 1}, {0x8e, 1, "\x8e", 1}, {0x8f, 1, "\x8f", 1},
 
     /* \x90 - \x9f */
-    {0x90, 1, "\x90"}, {0x91, 1, "\x91"}, {0x92, 1, "\x92"}, {0x93, 1, "\x93"},
-    {0x94, 1, "\x94"}, {0x95, 1, "\x95"}, {0x96, 1, "\x96"}, {0x97, 1, "\x97"},
-    {0x98, 1, "\x98"}, {0x99, 1, "\x99"}, {0x9a, 1, "\x9a"}, {0x9b, 1, "\x9b"},
-    {0x9c, 1, "\x9c"}, {0x9d, 1, "\x9d"}, {0x9e, 1, "\x9e"}, {0x9f, 1, "\x9f"},
+    {0x90, 1, "\x90", 1}, {0x91, 1, "\x91", 1}, {0x92, 1, "\x92", 1}, {0x93, 1, "\x93", 1},
+    {0x94, 1, "\x94", 1}, {0x95, 1, "\x95", 1}, {0x96, 1, "\x96", 1}, {0x97, 1, "\x97", 1},
+    {0x98, 1, "\x98", 1}, {0x99, 1, "\x99", 1}, {0x9a, 1, "\x9a", 1}, {0x9b, 1, "\x9b", 1},
+    {0x9c, 1, "\x9c", 1}, {0x9d, 1, "\x9d", 1}, {0x9e, 1, "\x9e", 1}, {0x9f, 1, "\x9f", 1},
 
     /* \xa0 - \xaf */
-    {0xa0, 1, "\xa0"}, {0xa1, 1, "\xa1"}, {0xa2, 1, "\xa2"}, {0xa3, 1, "\xa3"},
-    {0xa4, 1, "\xa4"}, {0xa5, 1, "\xa5"}, {0xa6, 1, "\xa6"}, {0xa7, 1, "\xa7"},
-    {0xa8, 1, "\xa8"}, {0xa9, 1, "\xa9"}, {0xaa, 1, "\xaa"}, {0xab, 1, "\xab"},
-    {0xac, 1, "\xac"}, {0xad, 1, "\xad"}, {0xae, 1, "\xae"}, {0xaf, 1, "\xaf"},
+    {0xa0, 1, "\xa0", 1}, {0xa1, 1, "\xa1", 1}, {0xa2, 1, "\xa2", 1}, {0xa3, 1, "\xa3", 1},
+    {0xa4, 1, "\xa4", 1}, {0xa5, 1, "\xa5", 1}, {0xa6, 1, "\xa6", 1}, {0xa7, 1, "\xa7", 1},
+    {0xa8, 1, "\xa8", 1}, {0xa9, 1, "\xa9", 1}, {0xaa, 1, "\xaa", 1}, {0xab, 1, "\xab", 1},
+    {0xac, 1, "\xac", 1}, {0xad, 1, "\xad", 1}, {0xae, 1, "\xae", 1}, {0xaf, 1, "\xaf", 1},
 
     /* \xb0 - \xbf */
-    {0xb0, 1, "\xb0"}, {0xb1, 1, "\xb1"}, {0xb2, 1, "\xb2"}, {0xb3, 1, "\xb3"},
-    {0xb4, 1, "\xb4"}, {0xb5, 1, "\xb5"}, {0xb6, 1, "\xb6"}, {0xb7, 1, "\xb7"},
-    {0xb8, 1, "\xb8"}, {0xb9, 1, "\xb9"}, {0xba, 1, "\xba"}, {0xbb, 1, "\xbb"},
-    {0xbc, 1, "\xbc"}, {0xbd, 1, "\xbd"}, {0xbe, 1, "\xbe"}, {0xbf, 1, "\xbf"},
+    {0xb0, 1, "\xb0", 1}, {0xb1, 1, "\xb1", 1}, {0xb2, 1, "\xb2", 1}, {0xb3, 1, "\xb3", 1},
+    {0xb4, 1, "\xb4", 1}, {0xb5, 1, "\xb5", 1}, {0xb6, 1, "\xb6", 1}, {0xb7, 1, "\xb7", 1},
+    {0xb8, 1, "\xb8", 1}, {0xb9, 1, "\xb9", 1}, {0xba, 1, "\xba", 1}, {0xbb, 1, "\xbb", 1},
+    {0xbc, 1, "\xbc", 1}, {0xbd, 1, "\xbd", 1}, {0xbe, 1, "\xbe", 1}, {0xbf, 1, "\xbf", 1},
 
     /* \xc0 - \xcf */
-    {0xc0, 1, "\xc0"}, {0xc1, 1, "\xc1"}, {0xc2, 1, "\xc2"}, {0xc3, 1, "\xc3"},
-    {0xc4, 1, "\xc4"}, {0xc5, 1, "\xc5"}, {0xc6, 1, "\xc6"}, {0xc7, 1, "\xc7"},
-    {0xc8, 1, "\xc8"}, {0xc9, 1, "\xc9"}, {0xca, 1, "\xca"}, {0xcb, 1, "\xcb"},
-    {0xcc, 1, "\xcc"}, {0xcd, 1, "\xcd"}, {0xce, 1, "\xce"}, {0xcf, 1, "\xcf"},
+    {0xc0, 1, "\xc0", 1}, {0xc1, 1, "\xc1", 1}, {0xc2, 1, "\xc2", 1}, {0xc3, 1, "\xc3", 1},
+    {0xc4, 1, "\xc4", 1}, {0xc5, 1, "\xc5", 1}, {0xc6, 1, "\xc6", 1}, {0xc7, 1, "\xc7", 1},
+    {0xc8, 1, "\xc8", 1}, {0xc9, 1, "\xc9", 1}, {0xca, 1, "\xca", 1}, {0xcb, 1, "\xcb", 1},
+    {0xcc, 1, "\xcc", 1}, {0xcd, 1, "\xcd", 1}, {0xce, 1, "\xce", 1}, {0xcf, 1, "\xcf", 1},
 
     /* \xd0 - \xdf */
-    {0xd0, 1, "\xd0"}, {0xd1, 1, "\xd1"}, {0xd2, 1, "\xd2"}, {0xd3, 1, "\xd3"},
-    {0xd4, 1, "\xd4"}, {0xd5, 1, "\xd5"}, {0xd6, 1, "\xd6"}, {0xd7, 1, "\xd7"},
-    {0xd8, 1, "\xd8"}, {0xd9, 1, "\xd9"}, {0xda, 1, "\xda"}, {0xdb, 1, "\xdb"},
-    {0xdc, 1, "\xdc"}, {0xdd, 1, "\xdd"}, {0xde, 1, "\xde"}, {0xdf, 1, "\xdf"},
+    {0xd0, 1, "\xd0", 1}, {0xd1, 1, "\xd1", 1}, {0xd2, 1, "\xd2", 1}, {0xd3, 1, "\xd3", 1},
+    {0xd4, 1, "\xd4", 1}, {0xd5, 1, "\xd5", 1}, {0xd6, 1, "\xd6", 1}, {0xd7, 1, "\xd7", 1},
+    {0xd8, 1, "\xd8", 1}, {0xd9, 1, "\xd9", 1}, {0xda, 1, "\xda", 1}, {0xdb, 1, "\xdb", 1},
+    {0xdc, 1, "\xdc", 1}, {0xdd, 1, "\xdd", 1}, {0xde, 1, "\xde", 1}, {0xdf, 1, "\xdf", 1},
 
     /* \xe0 - \xef */
-    {0xe0, 1, "\xe0"}, {0xe1, 1, "\xe1"}, {0xe2, 1, "\xe2"}, {0xe3, 1, "\xe3"},
-    {0xe4, 1, "\xe4"}, {0xe5, 1, "\xe5"}, {0xe6, 1, "\xe6"}, {0xe7, 1, "\xe7"},
-    {0xe8, 1, "\xe8"}, {0xe9, 1, "\xe9"}, {0xea, 1, "\xea"}, {0xeb, 1, "\xeb"},
-    {0xec, 1, "\xec"}, {0xed, 1, "\xed"}, {0xee, 1, "\xee"}, {0xef, 1, "\xef"},
+    {0xe0, 1, "\xe0", 1}, {0xe1, 1, "\xe1", 1}, {0xe2, 1, "\xe2", 1}, {0xe3, 1, "\xe3", 1},
+    {0xe4, 1, "\xe4", 1}, {0xe5, 1, "\xe5", 1}, {0xe6, 1, "\xe6", 1}, {0xe7, 1, "\xe7", 1},
+    {0xe8, 1, "\xe8", 1}, {0xe9, 1, "\xe9", 1}, {0xea, 1, "\xea", 1}, {0xeb, 1, "\xeb", 1},
+    {0xec, 1, "\xec", 1}, {0xed, 1, "\xed", 1}, {0xee, 1, "\xee", 1}, {0xef, 1, "\xef", 1},
 
     /* \xf0 - \xff */
-    {0xf0, 1, "\xf0"}, {0xf1, 1, "\xf1"}, {0xf2, 1, "\xf2"}, {0xf3, 1, "\xf3"},
-    {0xf4, 1, "\xf4"}, {0xf5, 1, "\xf5"}, {0xf6, 1, "\xf6"}, {0xf7, 1, "\xf7"},
-    {0xf8, 1, "\xf8"}, {0xf9, 1, "\xf9"}, {0xfa, 1, "\xfa"}, {0xfb, 1, "\xfb"},
-    {0xfc, 1, "\xfc"}, {0xfd, 1, "\xfd"}, {0xfe, 1, "\xfe"}, {0xff, 1, "\xff"}
+    {0xf0, 1, "\xf0", 1}, {0xf1, 1, "\xf1", 1}, {0xf2, 1, "\xf2", 1}, {0xf3, 1, "\xf3", 1},
+    {0xf4, 1, "\xf4", 1}, {0xf5, 1, "\xf5", 1}, {0xf6, 1, "\xf6", 1}, {0xf7, 1, "\xf7", 1},
+    {0xf8, 1, "\xf8", 1}, {0xf9, 1, "\xf9", 1}, {0xfa, 1, "\xfa", 1}, {0xfb, 1, "\xfb", 1},
+    {0xfc, 1, "\xfc", 1}, {0xfd, 1, "\xfd", 1}, {0xfe, 1, "\xfe", 1}, {0xff, 1, "\xff", 1}
 };
 
 
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ static char *decode_json_string(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t mlen, size_t
 static bool json_process_decimal(struct json_number *item, char const *str, size_t len);
 static bool json_process_floating(struct json_number *item, char const *str, size_t len);
 
-
 /*
  * json_encode - return a JSON encoding of a block of memory
  *
@@ -772,9 +771,9 @@ jencchk(void)
 			       mstr, (uintmax_t)mlen2);
 	    not_reached();
 	}
-	if (mlen2 != 1) {
-	    err(148, __func__, "json_decode_str(<%s>, *mlen2 %ju != 1, true)",
-			       mstr, (uintmax_t)mlen2);
+	if (mlen2 != byte2asciistr[i].decoded_len) {
+	    err(148, __func__, "json_decode_str(<%s>, *mlen2 %ju != %ju, true)",
+			       mstr, (uintmax_t)mlen2, byte2asciistr[i].decoded_len);
 	    not_reached();
 	}
 	if ((uint8_t)(mstr2[0]) != i) {
@@ -795,7 +794,7 @@ jencchk(void)
     }
 
     /*
-     * all seems well win the byte2asciistr[] table
+     * all seems well with the byte2asciistr[] table
      */
     dbg(DBG_VVHIGH, "byte2asciistr[] table passes");
     return;
@@ -825,11 +824,11 @@ decode_json_string(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t mlen, size_t *retlen, boo
     char *p = NULL;	    /* next place to encode */
     char n = 0;		    /* next character beyond a \\ */
     int xa = 0;		    /* first hex character numeric value */
-    int xb = 0;		    /* second hex character numeric value */
     char c = 0;		    /* character to decode or third hex character after \u */
-    int xc = 0;		    /* 3nd hex character numeric value */
-    int xd = 0;		    /* fourth hex character numeric value */
     size_t i;
+    int32_t bytes = 0;
+    char *utf8 = NULL;
+    int scanned = 0;
 
     /*
      * firewall
@@ -867,29 +866,30 @@ decode_json_string(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t mlen, size_t *retlen, boo
      * decoded string, we already determined that the JSON encoded block of
      * memory is valid.
      */
-    for (i=0, p=ret; i < len; ++i) {
-
-	/*
-	 * examine the current character
-	 */
-	c = (char)((uint8_t)(ptr[i]));
-
+    for (i=0, p=utf8=ret; i < len; ++i, ++utf8) {
 	/*
 	 * paranoia
 	 */
 	if (p >= beyond) {
-	    /* error - free buffer and clear allocated length */
+	    /* error - clear allocated length and buffer */
+	    if (retlen != NULL) {
+		*retlen = 0;
+	    }
 	    if (ret != NULL) {
 		free(ret);
 		ret = NULL;
 	    }
-	    if (retlen != NULL) {
-		*retlen = 0;
-	    }
+
 	    warn(__func__, "ran beyond end of decoded string");
 	    return NULL;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * examine the current character
+	 */
+	c = (char)((uint8_t)(ptr[i]));
+
+
 	/*
 	 * case: JSON decode non \-escape character
 	 */
@@ -954,77 +954,76 @@ decode_json_string(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t mlen, size_t *retlen, boo
 	     * decode \uxxxx
 	     */
 	    case 'u':
-
 		/*
 		 * there must be at least five more characters beyond \
 		 */
 		if (i+5 >= len) {
-		    /* error - free buffer and clear allocated length */
+		    /* error - clear allocated length and free buffer */
+		    if (retlen != NULL) {
+			*retlen = 0;
+		    }
 		    if (ret != NULL) {
 			free(ret);
 			ret = NULL;
 		    }
+
+		    warn(__func__, "found \\u while decoding, but not enough for 4 hex chars at end of buffer");
+		    return NULL;
+		}
+		xa = 0;
+		scanned = sscanf(ptr + i + 2, "%4x", &xa);
+		if (scanned == EOF) {
+		    /* error - clear allocated length and free buffer */
 		    if (retlen != NULL) {
 			*retlen = 0;
 		    }
-		    warn(__func__, "found \\u while decoding, but not enough for 4 hex chars at end of buffer");
+		    if (ret != NULL) {
+			free(ret);
+			ret = NULL;
+		    }
+
+		    warn(__func__, "reached EOF trying to scan for hex bytes");
+		    return NULL;
+		} else if (scanned != 1) {
+		    /* error - clear allocated length and free buffer */
+		    if (retlen != NULL) {
+			*retlen = 0;
+		    }
+		    if (ret != NULL) {
+			free(ret);
+			ret = NULL;
+		    }
+		    warn(__func__, "did not read \\uxxxx hex value");
 		    return NULL;
 		}
-		xa = hexval[(uint8_t)(ptr[i+2])];
-		xb = hexval[(uint8_t)(ptr[i+3])];
-		xc = hexval[(uint8_t)(ptr[i+4])];
-		xd = hexval[(uint8_t)(ptr[i+5])];
 
+		bytes = utf8encode(utf8, xa);
 		/*
-		 * case: \u00xx
+		 * bytes - 1 because we increment utf8 in the increment phase
+		 * of the loop
 		 */
-		if (xa == 0 && xb == 0) {
-		    /* single byte \u00xx */
-		    i += 5;
-		    *p++ = (char)((xc << 4) | xd);
-
-		    if (xc == 0 && xd == 0 && has_nul != NULL) {
-			*has_nul = true; /* record NUL byte */
-		    }
+		utf8 += bytes - 1;
 		/*
-		 * case: \uxxxx
+		 * however, for p we need to update the entire amount
 		 */
-		} else {
+		p += bytes;
+		i += 5;
 
-		    /*
-		     * paranoia
-		     */
-		    if (p+1 >= beyond) {
-			/* error - free buffer and clear allocated length */
-			if (ret != NULL) {
-			    free(ret);
-			    ret = NULL;
-			}
-			if (retlen != NULL) {
-			    *retlen = 0;
-			}
-			warn(__func__, "ran beyond end of decoded string for non-UTF-8 \\u encoding");
-			return NULL;
-		    }
-		    /* double byte \uxxxx */
-		    i += 5;
-		    *p++ = (char)((xa << 4) | xb);
-		    *p++ = (char)((xc << 4) | xd);
-		}
 		break;
 
 	    /*
 	     * unknown \c escaped pairs
 	     */
 	    default:
-		/* error - free buffer and clear allocated length */
+		/* error - clear allocated length and free buffer */
+		if (retlen != NULL) {
+		    *retlen = 0;
+		}
 		if (ret != NULL) {
 		    free(ret);
 		    ret = NULL;
 		}
-		if (retlen != NULL) {
-		    *retlen = 0;
-		}
+
 		warn(__func__, "found invalid JSON \\-escape while decoding: followed by 0x%02x", (uint8_t)c);
 		return NULL;
 	    }
@@ -1037,20 +1036,20 @@ decode_json_string(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t mlen, size_t *retlen, boo
     if (unicode != NULL) {
 	*unicode = unicode_count_chars((uint8_t *)ptr) >= 0;
     }
+
     /*
      * return result
      */
-    dbg(DBG_VVVHIGH, "returning from decode_json_string(ptr, %ju, %ju, *%ju, %s, %s)",
-		 (uintmax_t)len, (uintmax_t)mlen, retlen != NULL ? *retlen : 0, has_nul != NULL ? booltostr(*has_nul) : "false",
-		 unicode != NULL ? booltostr(*unicode) : "false");
+
+    dbg(DBG_VVVHIGH, "returning from decode_json_string(ptr, %ju, %ju, *%ju, %s)",
+		 (uintmax_t)len, (uintmax_t)mlen, retlen != NULL ? *retlen : 0, has_nul != NULL ? booltostr(*has_nul) : "false");
     if (retlen != NULL) {
-	*retlen = len;
+	*retlen = mlen;
     }
 
     return ret;
 }
 
-
 /*
  * json_decode - return the decoding of a JSON encoded block of memory
  *
@@ -1077,6 +1076,7 @@ json_decode(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t *retlen, bool *has_nul, bool *un
     char c = 0;		    /* character to decode or third hex character after \u */
     char d = 0;		    /* fourth hex character after \u */
     size_t i;
+    size_t bytes = 0;	    /* for count_utf8_bytes() */
 
     /*
      * firewall
@@ -1185,6 +1185,11 @@ json_decode(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t *retlen, bool *has_nul, bool *un
 	     */
 	    case 'u':
 
+		/*
+		 * Yes, count_utf8_bytes() also makes the below checks but we
+		 * still do these here.
+		 */
+
 		/*
 		 * there must be at least five more characters beyond \
 		 */
@@ -1205,32 +1210,25 @@ json_decode(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t *retlen, bool *has_nul, bool *un
 		 * the next 4 characters beyond \u must be hex characters
 		 */
 		if (isxdigit(a) && isxdigit(b) && isxdigit(c) && isxdigit(d)) {
-
-		    /*
-		     * case: \u00xx is 1 character
-		     */
-		    if (a == '0' && b == '0') {
-			++mlen;
-			i += 5;
-
-			if (c == '0' && d == '0' && has_nul != NULL) {
-			    *has_nul = true; /* set has_nul to true */
+		    bytes = 0; /* reset bytes */
+		    if (!count_utf8_bytes(ptr + i, &bytes)) {
+			if (retlen != NULL) {
+			    *retlen = 0;
 			}
-		    /*
-		     * case: count \uxxxx as 2 characters
-		     */
-		    } else {
-			mlen += 2;
-			i += 5;
+			/* count_utf8_bytes() already warns */
+			return NULL;
 		    }
-		    break;
+		    dbg(DBG_VVHIGH, "UTF-8 bytes: %ju", (uintmax_t)bytes);
+		    mlen += bytes;
+		    i += 5;
 
+		    break;
 		/*
 		 * case: \uxxxx is invalid because xxxx is not HEX
 		 */
 		} else {
-			warn(__func__, "\\u, not followed by 4 hex chars");
-			return NULL;
+		    warn(__func__, "\\u, not followed by 4 hex chars");
+		    return NULL;
 		}
 		break;
 
@@ -1259,14 +1257,11 @@ json_decode(char const *ptr, size_t len, size_t *retlen, bool *has_nul, bool *un
     if (ret != NULL) {
 	dbg(DBG_VVVHIGH, "returning from json_decode(ptr, %ju, *%ju, %s)",
 			 (uintmax_t)len, (uintmax_t)mlen, has_nul != NULL ? booltostr(*has_nul) : "false");
-	if (retlen != NULL) {
-	    *retlen = mlen;
-	}
     } else {
 	dbg(DBG_VVVHIGH, "in json_decode(): decode_json_string(ptr, %ju, *%ju, %s) returned NULL",
 			 (uintmax_t)len, (uintmax_t)mlen, has_nul != NULL ? booltostr(*has_nul) : "false");
 	if (retlen != NULL) {
-	    *retlen = mlen;
+	    *retlen = 0;
 	}
 	return NULL;
     }
@@ -1312,6 +1307,14 @@ json_decode_str(char const *str, size_t *retlen)
 	warn(__func__, "called with NULL ptr");
 	return NULL;
     }
+
+    if (retlen != NULL) {
+	/*
+	 * set *retlen = 0
+	 */
+	*retlen = 0;
+    }
+
     len = strlen(str);
 
     /*
@@ -1322,8 +1325,13 @@ json_decode_str(char const *str, size_t *retlen)
 	dbg(DBG_VVHIGH, "returning NULL for decoding of: <%s>", str);
     } else {
 	dbg(DBG_VVHIGH, "string: <%s> JSON decoded", str);
+	if (retlen != NULL) {
+	    dbg(DBG_VVHIGH, "retlen for <%s> is %ju", str, *retlen);
+	}
     }
 
+
+
     /*
      * return decoded result or NULL
      */
diff --git a/jparse/json_parse.h b/jparse/json_parse.h
index fac120185..7980781f3 100644
--- a/jparse/json_parse.h
+++ b/jparse/json_parse.h
@@ -56,9 +56,10 @@
  */
 struct byte2asciistr
 {
-    const u_int8_t byte;    /* 8 bit character to encode */
-    const size_t len;	    /* length of encoding */
-    const char * const enc; /* JSON encoding of val */
+    const u_int8_t byte;	/* 8 bit character to encode */
+    const size_t len;		/* length of encoding */
+    const char * const enc;	/* JSON encoding of val */
+    const size_t decoded_len;   /* length of decoded byte */
 };
 
 
diff --git a/jparse/json_utf8.c b/jparse/json_utf8.c
index 714bece93..3554027d7 100644
--- a/jparse/json_utf8.c
+++ b/jparse/json_utf8.c
@@ -19,8 +19,115 @@
 
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
 #include "json_utf8.h"
 
+/*
+ * count_utf8_bytes	- count bytes needed to encode/decode in str
+ *
+ * given:
+ *
+ *	str	the string to parse
+ *	bytes	pointer to the number of bytes
+ *
+ * NOTE: if either str or count is NULL we return false. Otherwise we attempt to
+ * parse the string as %4x and then, assuming we extract a value, we count the
+ * number of bytes required for the string and place it in *count. As long as
+ * this can be done we return true.
+ *
+ * NOTE: *str should point to the \u!
+ */
+bool
+count_utf8_bytes(const char *str, size_t *bytes)
+{
+    unsigned char xa = 0;    /* first hex digit */
+    unsigned char xb = 0;    /* second hex digit */
+    unsigned char xc = 0;    /* third hex digit */
+    unsigned char xd = 0;    /* fourth hex digit */
+    unsigned int x = 0;	    /* the hex value we attempt to extract */
+    size_t len = 0;	    /* the number of bytes which *bytes will be set to */
+    int scanned = 0;	    /* how many values read */
+
+
+    /*
+     * firewall
+     */
+    if (bytes == NULL) {
+	warn(__func__, "bytes is NULL");
+	return false;
+    } else {
+	*bytes = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (str == NULL) {
+	warn(__func__, "str is NULL");
+
+	if (bytes != NULL) {
+	    *bytes = 0;
+	}
+	return false;
+    }
+
+    scanned = sscanf(str, "\\u%c%c%c%c", &xa, &xb, &xc, &xd);
+    if (scanned != 4) {
+	warn(__func__, "did not find \\u followed by four HEX digits: %ju values: <%s>: %x %x %x %x", scanned, str,
+		xa, xb, xc, xd);
+	if (bytes != NULL) {
+	    *bytes = 0;
+	}
+	return false;
+    } else {
+	/*
+	 * extra sanity check
+	 */
+	if (!isxdigit(xa) || !isxdigit(xb) || !isxdigit(xc) || !isxdigit(xd)) {
+	    warn(__func__, "sscanf() found \\uxxxx but not all values are hex digits!");
+	    if (bytes != NULL) {
+		*bytes = 0;
+	    }
+	    return false;
+	}
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * now that we know that there is a \u followed by FOUR HEX digits we can
+     * try and extract it as a SINGLE HEX number
+     */
+    scanned = sscanf(str, "\\u%4x", &x);
+    if (scanned != 1) {
+	err(10, __func__, "found \\uxxxx but NOT a hex value!");
+	not_reached();
+    } else {
+	/*
+	 * now that we have a SINGLE HEX number, we need to check the number of
+	 * bytes required, setting it in *bytes.
+	 */
+
+	if (x < 0x80) {
+	    len = 1;
+	} else if (x < 0x800) {
+	    len = 2;
+	} else if (x < 0x10000) {
+	    len = 3;
+	} else if (x < 0x110000) {
+	    len = 4;
+	} else {
+	    warn(__func__, "%x: illegal value\n", x);
+
+	    if (bytes != NULL) {
+		*bytes = 0;
+	    }
+
+	    return false;
+	}
+
+	if (bytes != NULL) {
+	    *bytes = len;
+	}
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
 /*
  * NOTE: until the bug documented at https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/issues/13
  * is resolved fully, we have code here that comes from a number of locations.
diff --git a/jparse/json_utf8.h b/jparse/json_utf8.h
index ab1fecd26..8c7714614 100644
--- a/jparse/json_utf8.h
+++ b/jparse/json_utf8.h
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@
 #include <dbg.h>
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * util - common utility functions for the JSON parser
+ */
+#include "util.h"
+
+extern bool count_utf8_bytes(const char *str, size_t *bytes);
+
 /*
  * NOTE: until the bug documented at https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/issues/13
  * is resolved fully, we have code here that comes from a number of locations.
diff --git a/jparse/man/man8/jstr_test.8 b/jparse/man/man8/jstr_test.8
index 3c0812bc0..4a18d2a83 100644
--- a/jparse/man/man8/jstr_test.8
+++ b/jparse/man/man8/jstr_test.8
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 .\" "Share and Enjoy!"
 .\"     --  Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Complaints Division, JSON spec department. :-)
 .\"
-.TH jstr_test.sh 8 "06 September 2024" "jstr_test.sh" "jparse tools"
+.TH jstr_test.sh 8 "04 October 2024" "jstr_test.sh" "jparse tools"
 .SH NAME
 .B jstr_test.sh
 \- JSON string encoding and decoding tests
@@ -105,25 +105,21 @@ all is well
 command line usage error
 .TQ
 4
-test #0 failed
+one or more tests failed
 .TQ
 5
-test #1 failed
-.TQ
-6
-test #2 failed
-.TQ
-7
-test #3 failed
-.TQ
-8
 missing or non\-executable
 .BR jstrencode (1)
 .TQ
-9
+6
 missing or non\-executable
 .BR jstrdecode (1)
 .TQ
+7
+missing or unreadable
+.B jstr_test.txt
+file
+.TQ
 >=10
 internal error
 .SH FILES
@@ -168,5 +164,4 @@ It can be found at
 .BR jparse (1),
 .BR jparse (3),
 .BR jstrencode (1),
-.BR jstrdecode (1),
-\<https://www.ioccc.org\>
+.BR jstrdecode (1)
diff --git a/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.sh b/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.sh
index 6e3698a2a..eae17dd5d 100755
--- a/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.sh
+++ b/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.sh
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export JSTRENCODE="./jstrencode"
 export JSTRDECODE="./jstrdecode"
 export TEST_FILE="./test_jparse/jstr_test.out"
 export TEST_FILE2="./test_jparse/jstr_test2.out"
+export JSTR_TEST_TXT="./test_jparse/jstr_test.txt"
 export JSTR_TEST_VERSION="1.0.3 2024-09-13" # version format: major.minor YYYY-MM-DD
 export TOPDIR=
 
@@ -39,12 +40,10 @@ Exit codes:
      0	 all tests OK
      2	 help or version printed
      3	 invalid command line, invalid option or option missing an argument
-     4	 test #0 failed
-     5	 test #1 failed
-     6	 test #2 failed
-     7	 test #3 failed
-     8	 missing or non-executable jstrencode
-     9	 missing or non-executable jstrdecode
+     4	 one or more tests failed
+     5	 missing or non-executable jstrencode
+     6	 missing or non-executable jstrdecode
+     7   missing or unreadable jstr_test.txt file
   >= 10	 internal error
 
 jstr_test.sh version: $JSTR_TEST_VERSION"
@@ -141,15 +140,22 @@ fi
 #
 if [[ ! -x "$JSTRENCODE" ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: missing jstrencode tool: $JSTRENCODE" 1>&2
-    exit 8
+    exit 5
 fi
 if [[ ! -x "$JSTRDECODE" ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: missing jstrdecode tool: $JSTRDECODE" 1>&2
-    exit 9
+    exit 6
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -r "$JSTR_TEST_TXT" ]]; then
+    echo "$0: ERROR: file jstr_test.txt missing or not regular readable file" 1>&2
+    exit 7
 fi
 
 # try removing the test files first
 #
+# NOTE: do NOT remove the jstr_test.txt file!
+#
 echo rm -f "$TEST_FILE $TEST_FILE2"
 rm -f "$TEST_FILE $TEST_FILE2"
 
@@ -179,7 +185,6 @@ else
 fi
 
 # test JSON encoding and decoding pipe
-#
 echo "$0: about to run test #1"
 echo "$JSTRENCODE -v $V_FLAG -n < $JSTRENCODE | $JSTRDECODE -v $V_FLAG -n > $TEST_FILE"
 # This warning is not correct in our case:
@@ -192,8 +197,9 @@ if cmp -s "$JSTRENCODE" "$TEST_FILE"; then
     echo "$0: test #1 passed" 1>&2
 else
     echo "$0: test #1 failed" 1>&2
-    EXIT_CODE=5
+    EXIT_CODE=4
 fi
+
 echo "$0: about to run test #2"
 echo "$JSTRENCODE -v $V_FLAG -n < $JSTRDECODE | $JSTRDECODE -v $V_FLAG -n > $TEST_FILE"
 # This warning is incorrect in our case:
@@ -201,12 +207,13 @@ echo "$JSTRENCODE -v $V_FLAG -n < $JSTRDECODE | $JSTRDECODE -v $V_FLAG -n > $TES
 # SC2094 (info): Make sure not to read and write the same file in the same pipeline.
 # https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2094
 # shellcheck disable=SC2094
+#
 "$JSTRENCODE" -v "$V_FLAG" -n < "$JSTRDECODE" | "$JSTRDECODE" -v "$V_FLAG" -n > "$TEST_FILE"
 if cmp -s "$JSTRDECODE" "$TEST_FILE"; then
     echo "$0: test #2 passed"
 else
     echo "$0: test #2 failed" 1>&2
-    EXIT_CODE=6
+    EXIT_CODE=4
 fi
 
 # test some text holes in the encoding and decoding pipe
@@ -242,11 +249,13 @@ cat $SRC_SET | "$JSTRENCODE" -v "$V_FLAG" -n | "$JSTRDECODE" -v "$V_FLAG" -n > "
 # copy the PIPESTATUS array as the following command will destroy its contents
 STATUS=("${PIPESTATUS[@]}")
 # test each part of the pipeline
+#
+
 ERROR=
 for status in "${STATUS[@]}"; do
     if [[ "$status" -ne 0 ]]; then
 	echo "$0: test #3 failed" 1>&2
-	EXIT_CODE=7
+	EXIT_CODE=4
 	ERROR=1
 	break
     fi
@@ -261,12 +270,12 @@ if [[ -z "$ERROR" ]]; then
     # shellcheck disable=SC2086
     if ! cat $SRC_SET > "$TEST_FILE2"; then
 	echo "$0: test #3 failed" 1>&2
-	EXIT_CODE=7
+	EXIT_CODE=4
     elif cmp -s "$TEST_FILE2" "$TEST_FILE"; then
 	echo "$0: test #3 passed" 1>&2
     else
 	echo "$0: test #3 failed" 1>&2
-	EXIT_CODE=7
+	EXIT_CODE=4
     fi
 fi
 
@@ -277,7 +286,7 @@ if [[ "$RESULT" = '"foobar"' ]]; then
     echo "$0: test #4 passed" 1>&2
 else
     echo "$0: test #4 failed" 1>&2
-    EXIT_CODE=8
+    EXIT_CODE=4
 fi
 
 echo "$0: about to run test #5" 1>&2
@@ -287,7 +296,7 @@ if [[ "$RESULT" = '"\"foo\"\"bar\""' ]]; then
     echo "$0: test #5 passed" 1>&2
 else
     echo "$0: test #5 failed" 1>&2
-    EXIT_CODE=9
+    EXIT_CODE=4
 fi
 
 echo "$0: about to run test #6" 1>&2
@@ -297,9 +306,18 @@ if [[ "$RESULT" = '\"foo\"\"bar\"' ]]; then
     echo "$0: test #6 passed" 1>&2
 else
     echo "$0: test #6 failed" 1>&2
-    EXIT_CODE=9
+    EXIT_CODE=4
 fi
 
+echo "$0: about to run test #7" 1>&2
+echo "$JSTRDECODE '\\u0153\\u00df\\u00e5\\u00e9'"
+"$JSTRDECODE" "\\u0153\\u00df\\u00e5\\u00e9" > "$TEST_FILE"
+if cmp "$JSTR_TEST_TXT" "$TEST_FILE"; then
+    echo "$0: test #7 passed" 1>&2
+else
+    echo "$0: test #7 failed: result: $RESULT" 1>&2
+    EXIT_CODE=4
+fi
 
 
 # All Done!!! All Done!!! -- Jessica Noll, Age 2
diff --git a/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.txt b/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d79c0c668
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jparse/test_jparse/jstr_test.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+œßåé
diff --git a/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/bad/party.json b/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/bad/party.json
index 69c923280..a841767d5 100644
--- a/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/bad/party.json
+++ b/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/bad/party.json
@@ -1,84 +1,85 @@
 {
-        "event" : "A Long-expected Party",
-	"location" : "Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, the Shire, Middle-earth",
-	"date" : "22 September T.A. 3001",
-	"birthdays" :
-		{
-		    "hobbit" : [
-			{
-			    "name" : "Bilbo Baggins",
-			    "age" : 111,
-			    "inheritance" : false
-			},
-			{
-			    "name": "Frodo Baggins",
-			    "age": 33,
-			    "inheritance" : true
-			}
-		    ]
-		}
-	],
+    "no_comment" : "mandatory comment: because comments were removed from the original JSON spec",
+    "event" : "A Long-expected Party",
+    "location" : "Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, the Shire, Middle-earth",
+    "date" : "22 September T.A. 3001",
+    "birthdays" :
+        {
+            "hobbit" : [
+            {
+                "name" : "Bilbo Baggins",
+                "age" : 111,
+                "inheritance" : false
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "Frodo Baggins",
+                "age": 33,
+                "inheritance" : true
+            }
+            ]
+        }
+    ],
         "guest_list" : [
                 {
                         "name" : "Gandalf",
                         "alias" : "Gandalf the Grey",
                         "alias" : "Mithrandir",
-			"alias" : "Tharkûn",
-			"alias" : "Olórin",
-			"alias" : "Incánus",
+            "alias" : "Tharkûn",
+            "alias" : "Olórin",
+            "alias" : "Incánus",
                         "RSVP_requested" : false,
                         "attendance" : "assumed",
                         "guest_number":  1,
-			"Gross" : false,
+            "Gross" : false,
                         "like_level" : 1.0,
                         "RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
                 },
                 {
                         "name" : "Meriadoc Brandybuck",
-			"alias" : "Merry",
+            "alias" : "Merry",
                         "RSVP_requested" : false,
                         "attendance" : "assumed",
                         "guest_number":  2,
-			"Gross" : false,
+            "Gross" : false,
                         "like_level" : 1.0,
                         "RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
                 },
                 {
                         "name" : "Peregrin Took",
-			"alias" : "Pippin",
-			"alias" : "Pip",
+            "alias" : "Pippin",
+            "alias" : "Pip",
                         "RSVP_requested" : false,
                         "attendance" : "assumed",
                         "guest_number":  3,
-			"Gross" : false,
+            "Gross" : false,
                         "like_level" : 1.0,
                         "RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
                 },
-		{
+        {
                         "name" : "Sauron",
                         "alias" : "(Second) Dark Lord",
                         "alias" : "Annatar, the Lord of Gifts",
-			"alias" : "Gorthaur",
-			"alias" : "Aulendil",
-			"alias" : "Artano",
-			"alias" : "Thû",
-			"alias" : "the Necromancer",
+            "alias" : "Gorthaur",
+            "alias" : "Aulendil",
+            "alias" : "Artano",
+            "alias" : "Thû",
+            "alias" : "the Necromancer",
                         "RSVP_requested" : ,
                         "attendance" : "denied",
                         "guest_number":  -1,
-			"Gross" : false,
+            "Gross" : false,
                         "like_level" : -1.0,
                         "RSVP_state" : "'What are Hobbits?'"
                 },
-		{
+        {
                         "name" : "Gollum",
                         "alias" : "Precious",
-			"alias" : "Sméagol",
-			"alias" : "Dígol",
+            "alias" : "Sméagol",
+            "alias" : "Dígol",
                         "RSVP_requested" : false,
                         "attendance" : "denied",
                         "guest_number":  -1,
-			"Gross" : false,
+            "Gross" : false,
                         "like_level" : -1.0,
                         "RSVP_state" : null
                 },
@@ -88,17 +89,17 @@
                         "RSVP_requested" : true,
                         "attendance" : "pending",
                         "guest_number":  3,
-			"Gross" : false,
+            "Gross" : false,
                         "like_level" : 0.5,
                         "RSVP_state" : "pending"
                 },
                 {
                         "name": "Sackville-Baggins",
-			"alias": "Spoons thieves",
+            "alias": "Spoons thieves",
                         "RSVP_requested" : false,
                         "attendance" : "tolerated",
                         "guest_number":  144,
-			"Gross" : true,
+            "Gross" : true,
                         "like_level" : -0.1,
                         "RSVP_state" : "party crash"
                 }
diff --git a/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/good/party.json b/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/good/party.json
index 8dfc22cda..f16c645d9 100644
--- a/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/good/party.json
+++ b/jparse/test_jparse/test_JSON/good/party.json
@@ -1,93 +1,94 @@
 {
-	"event" : "A Long-expected Party",
-	"location" : "Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, the Shire, Middle-earth",
-	"date" : "22 September T.A. 3001",
-	"birthdays" : [
-		{
-		    "hobbit" : [
-			{
-			    "name" : "Bilbo Baggins",
-			    "age" : 111,
-			    "inheritance" : false
-			},
-			{
-			    "name": "Frodo Baggins",
-			    "age": 33,
-			    "inheritance" : true
-			}
-		    ]
-		}
-	],
-	"guest_list" : [
-		{
-			"name" : "Gandalf",
-			"alias" : "Gandalf the Grey",
-			"alias" : "Mithrandir",
-			"alias" : "Tharkûn",
-			"alias" : "Olórin",
-			"alias" : "Incánus",
-			"RSVP_requested" : false,
-			"attendance" : "assumed",
-			"guest_number":	 1,
-			"Gross" : false,
-			"like_level" : 1.0,
-			"RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
-		},
-		{
-			"name" : "Meriadoc Brandybuck",
-			"alias" : "Merry",
-			"RSVP_requested" : false,
-			"attendance" : "assumed",
-			"guest_number":	 2,
-			"Gross" : false,
-			"like_level" : 1.0,
-			"RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
-		},
-		{
-			"name" : "Peregrin Took",
-			"alias" : "Pippin",
-			"alias" : "Pip",
-			"RSVP_requested" : false,
-			"attendance" : "assumed",
-			"guest_number":	 3,
-			"Gross" : false,
-			"like_level" : 1.0,
-			"RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
-		},
-		{
-			"name" : "Gollum",
-			"alias" : "Precious",
-			"alias" : "Sméagol",
-			"alias" : "Dígol",
-			"RSVP_requested" : true,
-			"attendance" : "denied",
-			"guest_number":	 -1,
-			"Gross" : false,
-			"like_level" : -1.0,
-			"RSVP_state" : null
-		},
-		{
-			"name": "Proudfoot",
-			"alias": "Proudfeet",
-			"RSVP_requested" : true,
-			"attendance" : "pending",
-			"guest_number":	 4,
-			"Gross" : false,
-			"like_level" : 0.5,
-			"RSVP_state" : "pending"
-		},
-		{
-			"name": "Sackville-Bagginses",
-			"alias": "Spoons thieves",
-			"RSVP_requested" : false,
-			"attendance" : "tolerated",
-			"guest_number":	 144,
-			"Gross" : true,
-			"like_level" : -0.1,
-			"RSVP_state" : "begrudgingly"
-		}
-	],
-	"guest_list_state" : "incomplete",
-	"overall_like_level" : 0.5,
-	"total_guests" : 144
+    "no_comment" : "mandatory comment: because comments were removed from the original JSON spec",
+    "event" : "A Long-expected Party",
+    "location" : "Bag End, Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, the Shire, Middle-earth",
+    "date" : "22 September T.A. 3001",
+    "birthdays" : [
+        {
+            "hobbit" : [
+            {
+                "name" : "Bilbo Baggins",
+                "age" : 111,
+                "inheritance" : false
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "Frodo Baggins",
+                "age": 33,
+                "inheritance" : true
+            }
+            ]
+        }
+    ],
+    "guest_list" : [
+        {
+            "name" : "Gandalf",
+            "alias" : "Gandalf the Grey",
+            "alias" : "Mithrandir",
+            "alias" : "Tharkûn",
+            "alias" : "Olórin",
+            "alias" : "Incánus",
+            "RSVP_requested" : false,
+            "attendance" : "assumed",
+            "guest_number":  1,
+            "Gross" : false,
+            "like_level" : 1.0,
+            "RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
+        },
+        {
+            "name" : "Meriadoc Brandybuck",
+            "alias" : "Merry",
+            "RSVP_requested" : false,
+            "attendance" : "assumed",
+            "guest_number":  2,
+            "Gross" : false,
+            "like_level" : 1.0,
+            "RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
+        },
+        {
+            "name" : "Peregrin Took",
+            "alias" : "Pippin",
+            "alias" : "Pip",
+            "RSVP_requested" : false,
+            "attendance" : "assumed",
+            "guest_number":  3,
+            "Gross" : false,
+            "like_level" : 1.0,
+            "RSVP_state" : "default accepted"
+        },
+        {
+            "name" : "Gollum",
+            "alias" : "Precious",
+            "alias" : "Sméagol",
+            "alias" : "Dígol",
+            "RSVP_requested" : true,
+            "attendance" : "denied",
+            "guest_number":  -1,
+            "Gross" : false,
+            "like_level" : -1.0,
+            "RSVP_state" : null
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Proudfoot",
+            "alias": "Proudfeet",
+            "RSVP_requested" : true,
+            "attendance" : "pending",
+            "guest_number":  4,
+            "Gross" : false,
+            "like_level" : 0.5,
+            "RSVP_state" : "pending"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Sackville-Bagginses",
+            "alias": "Spoons thieves",
+            "RSVP_requested" : false,
+            "attendance" : "tolerated",
+            "guest_number":  144,
+            "Gross" : true,
+            "like_level" : -0.1,
+            "RSVP_state" : "begrudgingly"
+        }
+    ],
+    "guest_list_state" : "incomplete",
+    "overall_like_level" : 0.5,
+    "total_guests" : 144
 }
diff --git a/jparse/version.h b/jparse/version.h
index 975418942..bfe9da9af 100644
--- a/jparse/version.h
+++ b/jparse/version.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
  *
  * NOTE: this should match the latest Release string in CHANGES.md
  */
-#define JPARSE_REPO_VERSION "1.0.18 2024-10-01"		/* format: major.minor YYYY-MM-DD */
+#define JPARSE_REPO_VERSION "1.0.21 2024-10-06"		/* format: major.minor YYYY-MM-DD */
 
 /*
  * official jparse version
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 /*
  * official JSON parser version
  */
-#define JSON_PARSER_VERSION "1.1.6 2024-09-24"		/* library version format: major.minor YYYY-MM-DD */
+#define JSON_PARSER_VERSION "1.1.7 2024-10-06"		/* library version format: major.minor YYYY-MM-DD */
 
 
 #endif /* INCLUDE_JPARSE_VERSION_H */