diff --git a/src/ebusd/knxhandler.cpp b/src/ebusd/knxhandler.cpp
index 2e73a8d1..912482e8 100644
--- a/src/ebusd/knxhandler.cpp
+++ b/src/ebusd/knxhandler.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ static vector<string>* g_integrationVars = nullptr;  //!< the integration settin
  * @param arg the option argument, or nullptr.
  * @param state the parsing state.
  */
-static int knx_parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
+static int knx_parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt, void *userArg) {
   result_t result;
   unsigned int value;
   switch (key) {
diff --git a/src/ebusd/main.cpp b/src/ebusd/main.cpp
index 5995c8ee..c404edf2 100644
--- a/src/ebusd/main.cpp
+++ b/src/ebusd/main.cpp
@@ -222,8 +222,7 @@ void signalHandler(int sig) {
  * @return the exit code.
  */
 int main(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[]) {
-  int arg_index = -1;
-  switch (parse_main_args(argc, argv, envp, &s_opt, &arg_index)) {
+  switch (parse_main_args(argc, argv, envp, &s_opt)) {
     case 0:  // OK
       break;
     case '?':  // help printed
@@ -236,9 +235,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[]) {
       return EINVAL;
   }
 
-  if (arg_index >= 0) {
+  if (s_opt.injectCount > 0) {
     if (!s_opt.injectMessages && !(s_opt.checkConfig && s_opt.scanConfig)) {
-      fprintf(stderr, "invalid arguments starting with \"%s\"", argv[arg_index]);
+      fprintf(stderr, "invalid inject arguments");
       return EINVAL;
     }
   }
@@ -302,10 +301,11 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[]) {
   if (s_opt.checkConfig) {
     logNotice(lf_main, PACKAGE_STRING "." REVISION " performing configuration check...");
 
-    result_t result = s_scanHelper->loadConfigFiles(!s_opt.scanConfig || arg_index >= argc);
+    result_t result = s_scanHelper->loadConfigFiles(!s_opt.scanConfig || s_opt.injectCount <= 0);
     result_t overallResult = s_scanHelper->executeInstructions(nullptr);
     MasterSymbolString master;
     SlaveSymbolString slave;
+    int arg_index = argc - s_opt.injectCount;
     while (result == RESULT_OK && s_opt.scanConfig && arg_index < argc) {
       // check scan config for each passed ident message
       if (!s_scanHelper->parseMessage(argv[arg_index++], true, &master, &slave)) {
@@ -413,11 +413,11 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[]) {
   if (s_opt.injectMessages) {
     int scanAdrCount = 0;
     bool scanAddresses[256] = {};
-    while (arg_index < argc) {
+    for (int arg_index = argc - s_opt.injectCount; arg_index < argc; arg_index++) {
       // add each passed message
       MasterSymbolString master;
       SlaveSymbolString slave;
-      if (!s_scanHelper->parseMessage(argv[arg_index++], false, &master, &slave)) {
+      if (!s_scanHelper->parseMessage(argv[arg_index], false, &master, &slave)) {
         continue;
       }
       protocol->injectMessage(master, slave);
diff --git a/src/ebusd/main.h b/src/ebusd/main.h
index 03543e24..2935b1ce 100755
--- a/src/ebusd/main.h
+++ b/src/ebusd/main.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ namespace ebusd {
  */
 
 /** the config path part behind the scheme (scheme without "://"). */
+//#define CONFIG_PATH_SUFFIX "://ebus.github.io/cfg/de/"
+
 #define CONFIG_PATH_SUFFIX "://cfg.ebusd.eu/"
 
 /** A structure holding all program options. */
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ typedef struct options {
   unsigned int pollInterval;  //!< poll interval in seconds, 0 to disable [5]
   bool injectMessages;  //!< inject remaining arguments as already seen messages
   bool stopAfterInject;  //!< only inject messages once, then stop
+  int injectCount;  //!< number of message arguments to inject, or 0
   const char* caFile;  //!< the CA file to use (uses defaults if neither caFile nor caPath are set), or "#" for insecure
   const char* caPath;  //!< the path with CA files to use (uses defaults if neither caFile nor caPath are set)
 
@@ -107,11 +110,10 @@ typedef struct options {
  * @param argv the command line arguments.
  * @param envp the environment variables to parse before the args, or nullptr.
  * @param opt pointer to the parsed arguments (will be initialized to defaults first).
- * @param argIndex optional pointer for storing the index to the first non-argument found in argv.
  * @return 0 on success, '!' for an invalid argument value, ':' for a missing argument value,
  * '?' when "-?" was given, or the result of the parse function if non-zero.
  */
-int parse_main_args(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[], options_t* opt, int* argIndex);
+int parse_main_args(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[], options_t* opt);
 
 }  // namespace ebusd
 
diff --git a/src/ebusd/main_args.cpp b/src/ebusd/main_args.cpp
index be8a0da1..61d39b0b 100755
--- a/src/ebusd/main_args.cpp
+++ b/src/ebusd/main_args.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ static const options_t s_default_opt = {
   .pollInterval = 5,
   .injectMessages = false,
   .stopAfterInject = false,
+  .injectCount = 0,
   .caFile = nullptr,
   .caPath = nullptr,
 
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ static string s_configPath = CONFIG_PATH;
 #define O_DMPFIL (O_RAWSIZ-1)
 #define O_DMPSIZ (O_DMPFIL-1)
 #define O_DMPFLU (O_DMPSIZ-1)
+#define O_INJPOS 0x100
 
 /** the definition of the known program arguments. */
 static const argDef argDefs[] = {
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ static const argDef argDefs[] = {
   {"pollinterval",   O_POLINT, "SEC",      0, "Poll for data every SEC seconds (0=disable) [5]"},
   {"inject",         'i',      "stop", af_optional, "Inject remaining arguments as already seen messages (e.g. "
       "\"FF08070400/0AB5454850303003277201\"), optionally stop afterwards"},
+  {nullptr,          O_INJPOS, "INJECT", af_optional|af_multiple, "Message(s) to inject (if --inject was given)"},
 #ifdef HAVE_SSL
   {"cafile",         O_CAFILE, "FILE",     0, "Use CA FILE for checking certificates (uses defaults,"
                                               " \"#\" for insecure)"},
@@ -229,8 +232,7 @@ static const argDef argDefs[] = {
  * @param arg the option argument, or nullptr.
  * @param parseOpt the parse options.
  */
-static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
-  struct options *opt = (struct options*)parseOpt->userArg;
+static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt, struct options *opt) {
   result_t result = RESULT_OK;
   unsigned int value;
 
@@ -590,7 +592,14 @@ static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
     break;
 
   default:
-    return ESRCH;
+    if (key >= O_INJPOS) {  // INJECT
+      if (!opt->injectMessages || !arg || !arg[0]) {
+        return ESRCH;
+      }
+      opt->injectCount++;
+    } else {
+      return ESRCH;
+    }
   }
 
   // check for invalid arg combinations
@@ -610,18 +619,15 @@ static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
   return 0;
 }
 
-int parse_main_args(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[], options_t *opt, int *arg_index) {
+int parse_main_args(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[], options_t *opt) {
   *opt = s_default_opt;
   const argParseOpt parseOpt = {
     argDefs,
-    parse_opt,
+    reinterpret_cast<parse_function_t>(parse_opt),
     0,
-    "" PACKAGE_NAME,
-    "[INJECT...]",
     "A daemon for communication with eBUS heating systems.",
     "Report bugs to " PACKAGE_BUGREPORT " .",
-    datahandler_getargs(),
-    opt
+    datahandler_getargs()
   };
 
   char envname[32] = "--";  // needs to cover at least max length of any option name plus "--"
@@ -651,7 +657,7 @@ int parse_main_args(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[], options_t *opt, int *a
     int cnt = pos[1] ? 2 : 1;
     if (pos[1] && strlen(*env) < sizeof(envname)-3
     && (strcmp(envopt, "scanconfig") == 0 || strcmp(envopt, "lograwdata") == 0)) {
-      // only really special case: OPTION_ARG_OPTIONAL with non-empty arg needs to use "=" syntax
+      // only really special case: af_optional with non-empty arg needs to use "=" syntax
       cnt = 1;
       strcat(envopt, pos);
     }
@@ -666,8 +672,7 @@ int parse_main_args(int argc, char* argv[], char* envp[], options_t *opt, int *a
     }
   }
 
-  *arg_index = -1;
-  int ret = argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, arg_index);
+  int ret = argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, reinterpret_cast<void*>(opt));
   if (ret != 0) {
     return ret;
   }
diff --git a/src/ebusd/mqtthandler.cpp b/src/ebusd/mqtthandler.cpp
index 51aedd84..459c99d1 100755
--- a/src/ebusd/mqtthandler.cpp
+++ b/src/ebusd/mqtthandler.cpp
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void splitFields(const string& str, vector<string>* row);
  * @param arg the option argument, or nullptr.
  * @param state the parsing state.
  */
-static int mqtt_parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
+static int mqtt_parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt, void *userArg) {
   result_t result = RESULT_OK;
   unsigned int value;
   switch (key) {
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/arg.cpp b/src/lib/utils/arg.cpp
index 7653271f..fc8e4cdc 100755
--- a/src/lib/utils/arg.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/utils/arg.cpp
@@ -28,50 +28,50 @@ namespace ebusd {
 
 #define isAlpha(c) (((c) >= 'a' && (c) <= 'z') || ((c) >= 'A' && (c) <= 'Z'))
 
-void calcCounts(const argDef *argDefs, int &count, int &shortCharsCount, int &shortOptsCount) {
+void calcCounts(const argDef *argDefs, int *count, int *shortCharsCount, int *shortOptsCount) {
   for (const argDef *arg = argDefs; arg && arg->help; arg++) {
     if (!arg->name) {
       continue;
     }
-    count++;
+    (*count)++;
     if (!isAlpha(arg->key)) {
       continue;
     }
-    shortCharsCount++;
-    shortOptsCount++;
+    (*shortCharsCount)++;
+    (*shortOptsCount)++;
     if (arg->valueName) {
-      shortOptsCount++;
+      (*shortOptsCount)++;
       if (arg->flags & af_optional) {
-        shortOptsCount++;
+        (*shortOptsCount)++;
       }
     }
   }
 }
 
-void buildOpts(const argDef *argDefs, int &count, int &shortCharsCount, int &shortOptsCount,
+void buildOpts(const argDef *argDefs, int *count, int *shortCharsCount, int *shortOptsCount,
   struct option *longOpts, char *shortChars, int *shortIndexes, char *shortOpts, int argDefIdx) {
-  struct option *opt = longOpts+count;
+  struct option *opt = longOpts+(*count);
   for (const argDef *arg = argDefs; arg && arg->help; arg++, argDefIdx++) {
     if (!arg->name) {
       continue;
     }
     opt->name = arg->name;
     opt->has_arg = arg->valueName ? ((arg->flags & af_optional) ? optional_argument : required_argument) : no_argument;
-    opt->flag = nullptr;
+    opt->flag = NULL;
     opt->val = argDefIdx;
     if (isAlpha(arg->key)) {
-      shortChars[shortCharsCount] = static_cast<char>(arg->key);
-      shortIndexes[shortCharsCount++] = count;
-      shortOpts[shortOptsCount++] = static_cast<char>(arg->key);
+      shortChars[(*shortCharsCount)] = static_cast<char>(arg->key);
+      shortIndexes[(*shortCharsCount)++] = *count;
+      shortOpts[(*shortOptsCount)++] = static_cast<char>(arg->key);
       if (arg->valueName) {
-        shortOpts[shortOptsCount++] = ':';
+        shortOpts[(*shortOptsCount)++] = ':';
         if (arg->flags & af_optional) {
-          shortOpts[shortOptsCount++] = ':';
+          shortOpts[(*shortOptsCount)++] = ':';
         }
       }
     }
     opt++;
-    count++;
+    (*count)++;
   }
 }
 
@@ -87,17 +87,17 @@ static const argDef versionArgDefs[] = {
   endArgDef
 };
 
-int argParse(const argParseOpt *parseOpt, int argc, char **argv, int *argIndex) {
+int argParse(const argParseOpt *parseOpt, int argc, char **argv, void* userArg) {
   int count = 0, shortCharsCount = 0, shortOptsCount = 0;
   if (!(parseOpt->flags & af_noHelp)) {
-    calcCounts(helpArgDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount);
+    calcCounts(helpArgDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount);
   }
   if (!(parseOpt->flags & af_noVersion)) {
-    calcCounts(versionArgDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount);
+    calcCounts(versionArgDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount);
   }
-  calcCounts(parseOpt->argDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount);
+  calcCounts(parseOpt->argDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount);
   for (const argParseChildOpt *child = parseOpt->childOpts; child && child->argDefs; child++) {
-    calcCounts(child->argDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount);
+    calcCounts(child->argDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount);
   }
   struct option *longOpts = (struct option*)calloc(count+1, sizeof(struct option));  // room for EOF
   char *shortChars = reinterpret_cast<char*>(calloc(shortCharsCount+1, sizeof(char)));  // room for \0
@@ -109,18 +109,18 @@ int argParse(const argParseOpt *parseOpt, int argc, char **argv, int *argIndex)
   shortOpts[shortOptsCount++] = '+';  // posix mode to stop at first non-option
   shortOpts[shortOptsCount++] = ':';  // return ':' for missing option
   if (!(parseOpt->flags & af_noHelp)) {
-    buildOpts(helpArgDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
+    buildOpts(helpArgDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
       shortIndexes, shortOpts, 0xff00);
   }
   if (!(parseOpt->flags & af_noVersion)) {
-    buildOpts(versionArgDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
+    buildOpts(versionArgDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
       shortIndexes, shortOpts, 0xff01);
   }
-  buildOpts(parseOpt->argDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
+  buildOpts(parseOpt->argDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
     shortIndexes, shortOpts, 0);
   int children = 0;
   for (const argParseChildOpt *child = parseOpt->childOpts; child && child->argDefs; child++) {
-    buildOpts(child->argDefs, count, shortCharsCount, shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
+    buildOpts(child->argDefs, &count, &shortCharsCount, &shortOptsCount, longOpts, shortChars,
       shortIndexes, shortOpts, 0x100*(++children));
   }
   optind = 1;  // setting to 0 does not work
@@ -177,16 +177,49 @@ int argParse(const argParseOpt *parseOpt, int argc, char **argv, int *argIndex)
       parser = parseOpt->parser;
     }
     const argDef *arg = argDefs + (val & 0xff);
-    c = parser(arg->key, optarg, parseOpt);
+    c = parser(arg->key, optarg, parseOpt, userArg);
     if (c != 0) {
       ret = c;
       break;
     }
   }
+  if (ret == 0) {
+    // check for positionals
+    for (const argDef *arg = parseOpt->argDefs; arg && arg->help; arg++) {
+      if (arg->name || !arg->valueName) {
+        continue;  // short/long arg or group
+      }
+      if (optind < argc) {
+        int key = arg->key;
+        do {
+          c = parseOpt->parser(key, argv[optind], parseOpt, userArg);
+          if (c != 0) {
+            ret = c;
+            break;
+          }
+          if (optind+1 >= argc || !(arg->flags & af_multiple)) {
+            break;
+          }
+          key++;
+          optind++;
+        } while (true);
+        if (ret != 0) {
+          break;
+        }
+      } else if (!(arg->flags & af_optional)) {
+        ret = ':';  // missing argument
+        fprintf(stderr, "missing argument\n");
+        break;
+      }
+      optind++;
+    }
+    if (ret == 0 && optind < argc) {
+      ret = '!';  // extra unexpected argument
+      fprintf(stderr, "extra argument %s\n", argv[optind]);
+    }
+  }
   if (ret == '?') {
-    argHelp(parseOpt);
-  } else if (argIndex && optind < argc) {
-    *argIndex = optind;
+    argHelp(argv[0], parseOpt);
   }
   free(longOpts);
   free(shortChars);
@@ -270,7 +303,7 @@ size_t calcIndent(const argDef *argDefs) {
 
 void printArgs(const argDef *argDefs, size_t indent) {
   for (const argDef *arg = argDefs; arg && arg->help; arg++) {
-    if (!arg->name) {
+    if (!arg->name && !arg->valueName) {
       if (*arg->help) {
         printf("\n %s\n", arg->help);
       } else {
@@ -284,15 +317,21 @@ void printArgs(const argDef *argDefs, size_t indent) {
     } else {
       printf("   ");
     }
-    printf(" --%s", arg->name);
-    size_t taken = 2 + 3 + 3 + strlen(arg->name);
+    size_t taken = 2 + 3 + 3;
+    if (arg->name) {
+      printf(" --%s", arg->name);
+      taken += strlen(arg->name);
+    } else {
+      printf("   ");
+    }
     if (arg->valueName) {
-      taken += 1 + strlen(arg->valueName);
+      bool multi = arg->flags & af_multiple;
+      taken += (arg->name ? 1 : 0) + strlen(arg->valueName) + (multi ? 3 : 0);
       if (arg->flags & af_optional) {
-        printf("[=%s]", arg->valueName);
+        printf("[%s%s%s]", arg->name ? "=" : "", arg->valueName, multi ? "..." : "");
         taken += 2;
       } else {
-        printf("=%s", arg->valueName);
+        printf("%s%s%s", arg->name ? "=" : "", arg->valueName, multi ? "..." : "");
       }
     }
     if (taken > indent) {
@@ -305,7 +344,7 @@ void printArgs(const argDef *argDefs, size_t indent) {
   }
 }
 
-void argHelp(const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
+void argHelp(const char* name, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
   size_t indent = calcIndent(parseOpt->argDefs);
   if (indent < MAX_INDENT) {
     for (const argParseChildOpt *child = parseOpt->childOpts; child && child->argDefs; child++) {
@@ -323,9 +362,19 @@ void argHelp(const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
   } else if (indent < MIN_INDENT) {
     indent = MIN_INDENT;
   }
-  printf("Usage: %s [OPTION...] %s\n",
-    parseOpt->name,
-    parseOpt->positional ? parseOpt->positional : "");
+  printf("Usage: %s [OPTION...]", basename(name));
+  for (const argDef *arg = parseOpt->argDefs; arg && arg->help; arg++) {
+    if (arg->name || !arg->valueName) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    bool multi = arg->flags & af_multiple;
+    if (arg->flags & af_optional) {
+      printf(" [%s%s]", arg->valueName, multi ? "..." : "");
+    } else {
+      printf(" %s%s", arg->valueName, multi ? "..." : "");
+    }
+  }
+  printf("\n");
   wrap(parseOpt->help, 0, 0);
   printArgs(parseOpt->argDefs, indent);
   for (const argParseChildOpt *child = parseOpt->childOpts; child && child->argDefs; child++) {
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/arg.h b/src/lib/utils/arg.h
index 5bc8963f..8ef28961 100755
--- a/src/lib/utils/arg.h
+++ b/src/lib/utils/arg.h
@@ -26,15 +26,16 @@ namespace ebusd {
 /** the available arg flags. */
 enum ArgFlag {
   af_optional = 1<<0,  //!< optional argument value
-  af_noHelp = 1<<1,  //!< do not include -?/--help option
-  af_noVersion = 1<<2,  //!< do not include -V/--version option
+  af_multiple = 1<<1,  //!< may appear multiple times (only allowed for last positional)
+  af_noHelp = 1<<2,  //!< do not include -?/--help option
+  af_noVersion = 1<<3,  //!< do not include -V/--version option
 };
 
 /** Definition of a single argument. */
 typedef struct argDef {
-  const char* name;  //!< the (long) name of the argument, or nullptr for a group header
+  const char* name;  //!< the (long) name of the argument, or nullptr for a group header or positional
   int key;  //!< the argument key, also used as short name if alphabetic or the question mark
-  const char* valueName;  //!< the optional argument value name
+  const char* valueName;  //!< the optional argument value name, or nullptr for group header or argument without value name
   int flags;  //!< flags for the argument, bit combination of @a ArgFlag
   const char* help;  //!< help text (mandatory)
 } argDef;
@@ -43,12 +44,13 @@ struct argParseOpt;
 
 /**
  * Function to be called for each argument.
- * @param key the argument key as defined.
+ * @param key the argument key as defined. for positional arguments with multiple flag this will be increased with each call.
  * @param arg the argument value, or nullptr.
- * @param parseOpt ppointer to the @a argParseOpt structure.
+ * @param parseOpt pointer to the @a argParseOpt structure.
+ * @param userArg pointer to user argument.
  * @return 0 on success, non-zero otherwise.
  */
-typedef int (*parse_function_t)(int key, char *arg, const struct argParseOpt *parseOpt);
+typedef int (*parse_function_t)(int key, char *arg, const struct argParseOpt *parseOpt, void *userArg);
 
 /** Options for child definitions. */
 typedef struct argParseChildOpt {
@@ -61,12 +63,9 @@ typedef struct argParseOpt {
   const argDef *argDefs;  //!< pointer to the argument defintions (last one needs to have nullptr help as end sign)
   parse_function_t parser;  //!< parse function to use
   int flags;  //!< flags for the parser, bit combination of @a ArgFlag
-  const char* name;  //!< name of the program parsed
-  const char* positional;  //!< help text for optional positional argument
   const char* help;  //!< help text for the program (second line of help output)
   const char* suffix;  //!< optional help suffix text
   const argParseChildOpt *childOpts;  //!< optional child definitions
-  void* userArg;  //!< optional user argument
 } argParseOpt;
 
 /**
@@ -74,17 +73,18 @@ typedef struct argParseOpt {
  * @param parseOpt pointer to the @a argParseOpt structure.
  * @param argc the argument count (including the full program name in index 0).
  * @param argv the argument values (including the full program name in index 0).
- * @param argIndex optional pointer for storing the index to the first non-argument found in argv.
+ * @param userArg pointer to user argument to pass to parser.
  * @return 0 on success, '!' for an invalid argument value, ':' for a missing argument value,
  * '?' when "-?" was given, or the result of the parse function if non-zero.
  */
-int argParse(const argParseOpt *parseOpt, int argc, char **argv, int *argIndex);
+int argParse(const argParseOpt *parseOpt, int argc, char **argv, void *userArg);
 
 /**
  * Print the help text.
- * @param parseOpt ppointer to the @a argParseOpt structure.
+ * @param name the name of the program.
+ * @param parseOpt pointer to the @a argParseOpt structure.
  */
-void argHelp(const argParseOpt *parseOpt);
+void argHelp(const char* name, const argParseOpt *parseOpt);
 
 /**
  * Convenience macro to print an error message to stderr.
diff --git a/src/tools/ebusctl.cpp b/src/tools/ebusctl.cpp
index 42d8ad22..95b240d3 100755
--- a/src/tools/ebusctl.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/ebusctl.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ struct options {
   uint16_t timeout;       //!< ebusd connect/send/receive timeout
   bool errorResponse;     //!< non-zero exit on error response
 
-  char* const *args;      //!< arguments to pass to ebusd
   unsigned int argCount;  //!< number of arguments to pass to ebusd
 };
 
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ static struct options opt = {
   60,           // timeout
   false,        // non-zero exit on error response
 
-  nullptr,      // args
   0             // argCount
 };
 
@@ -71,6 +69,8 @@ static const argDef argDefs[] = {
                                ", 0 for none [60]"},
   {"error",   'e', nullptr, 0, "Exit non-zero if the connection was fine but the response indicates non-success"},
 
+  {nullptr, 0x100, "COMMAND", af_optional|af_multiple, "COMMAND (and arguments) to send to " PACKAGE "."},
+
   {nullptr,     0, nullptr, 0, nullptr},
 };
 
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ static const argDef argDefs[] = {
  * @param arg the option argument, or nullptr.
  * @param parseOpt the parse options.
  */
-static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
-  struct options *opt = (struct options*)parseOpt->userArg;
+static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt, struct options *opt) {
   char* strEnd = nullptr;
   unsigned int value;
   switch (key) {
@@ -113,7 +112,11 @@ static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
     opt->errorResponse = true;
     break;
   default:
-    return ESRCH;
+    if (key >= 0x100) {
+      opt->argCount++;
+    } else {
+      return ESRCH;
+    }
   }
   return 0;
 }
@@ -344,18 +347,14 @@ bool connect(const char* host, uint16_t port, uint16_t timeout, char* const *arg
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
   argParseOpt parseOpt = {
     argDefs,
-    parse_opt,
+    reinterpret_cast<parse_function_t>(parse_opt),
     af_noVersion,
-    "ebusctl",
-    "[COMMAND [CMDOPT...]]",
     "Client for accessing " PACKAGE " via TCP.",
-    "If given, send COMMAND together with CMDOPT options to " PACKAGE ".\n"
+    "If given, send COMMAND together with arguments to " PACKAGE ".\n"
     "Use 'help' as COMMAND for help on available " PACKAGE " commands.",
     nullptr,
-    &opt
   };
-  int arg_index = -1;
-  switch (argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, &arg_index)) {
+  switch (argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, &opt)) {
     case 0:  // OK
       break;
     case '?':  // help printed
@@ -363,12 +362,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     default:
       return EINVAL;
   }
-  if (arg_index >= 0) {
-    opt.args = argv + arg_index;
-    opt.argCount = argc - arg_index;
-  }
 
-  bool success = connect(opt.server, opt.port, opt.timeout, opt.args, opt.argCount);
+  bool success = connect(opt.server, opt.port, opt.timeout, argv + argc - opt.argCount, opt.argCount);
 
   exit(success ? EXIT_SUCCESS : EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
diff --git a/src/tools/ebusfeed.cpp b/src/tools/ebusfeed.cpp
index f423611f..fbc89339 100755
--- a/src/tools/ebusfeed.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/ebusfeed.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ static struct options opt = {
 static const ebusd::argDef argDefs[] = {
   {"device", 'd', "DEV",     0, "Write to DEV (serial device) [/dev/ttyUSB60]"},
   {"time",   't', "USEC",    0, "Delay each byte by USEC us [10000]"},
+  {nullptr, 0x100, "DUMPFILE", af_optional, "Dump file to read [/tmp/ebus_dump.bin]"},
 
   {nullptr,    0, nullptr,   0, nullptr},
 };
@@ -72,8 +73,7 @@ static const ebusd::argDef argDefs[] = {
  * @param arg the option argument, or nullptr.
  * @param parseOpt the parse options.
  */
-static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
-  struct options *opt = (struct options*)parseOpt->userArg;
+static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt, struct options *opt) {
   char* strEnd = nullptr;
   switch (key) {
   // Device settings:
@@ -91,6 +91,14 @@ static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
       return EINVAL;
     }
     break;
+  case 0x100:  // DUMPFILE
+    if (arg[0] == 0 || strcmp("/", arg) == 0) {
+      argParseError(parseOpt, "invalid dumpfile");
+      return EINVAL;
+    }
+    opt->dumpFile = arg;
+    break;
+
   default:
     return ESRCH;
   }
@@ -107,13 +115,9 @@ static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
   ebusd::argParseOpt parseOpt = {
     argDefs,
-    parse_opt,
+    reinterpret_cast<parse_function_t>(parse_opt),
     af_noVersion,
-    "ebusfeed",
-    "[DUMPFILE]",
     "Feed data from an " PACKAGE " DUMPFILE to a serial device.",
-    "With no DUMPFILE, /tmp/ebus_dump.bin is used.\n"
-    "\n"
     "Example for setting up two pseudo terminals with 'socat':\n"
     "  1. 'socat -d -d pty,raw,echo=0 pty,raw,echo=0'\n"
     "  2. create symbol links to appropriate devices, e.g.\n"
@@ -122,10 +126,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     "  3. start " PACKAGE ": '" PACKAGE " -f -d /dev/ttyUSB20 --nodevicecheck'\n"
     "  4. start ebusfeed: 'ebusfeed /path/to/ebus_dump.bin'",
     nullptr,
-    &opt
   };
-  int arg_index = -1;
-  switch (ebusd::argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, &arg_index)) {
+  switch (ebusd::argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, &opt)) {
     case 0:  // OK
       break;
     case '?':  // help printed
@@ -133,20 +135,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     default:
       return EINVAL;
   }
-  if (arg_index >= 0) {
-    if (argv[arg_index][0] == 0 || strcmp("/", argv[arg_index]) == 0) {
-      argParseError(parseOpt, "invalid dumpfile");
-      return EINVAL;
-    }
-    if (arg_index != argc -1) {
-      // more than one arg
-      argParseError(parseOpt, "multiple dumpfile");
-      return EINVAL;
-    }
-    opt.dumpFile = argv[arg_index];
-  }
 
-  Device* device = Device::create(opt.device, false, false, false);
+  Device* device = Device::create(opt.device, 0, false);
   if (device == nullptr) {
     cout << "unable to create device " << opt.device << endl;
     return EINVAL;
diff --git a/src/tools/ebuspicloader.cpp b/src/tools/ebuspicloader.cpp
index 36dae377..ab59bb64 100644
--- a/src/tools/ebuspicloader.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/ebuspicloader.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ static const ebusd::argDef argDefs[] = {
     {nullptr,     0, nullptr, 0, "Tool options:"},
     {"verbose", 'v', nullptr, 0, "enable verbose output"},
     {"slow",    's', nullptr, 0, "low speed mode for transfer (115kBd instead of 921kBd)"},
+    {nullptr, 0x100, "PORT", ebusd::af_optional, "port to connect to"},
     {nullptr,     0, nullptr, 0, nullptr},
 };
 
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ static bool setVariantForced = false;
 static char* flashFile = nullptr;
 static bool reset = false;
 static bool lowSpeed = false;
+static const char* portArg = nullptr;
 
 bool parseByte(const char *arg, uint8_t minValue, uint8_t maxValue, uint8_t *result) {
   char* strEnd = nullptr;
@@ -125,7 +127,7 @@ bool parseShort(const char *arg, uint16_t minValue, uint16_t maxValue, uint16_t
  * @param arg the option argument, or nullptr.
  * @param parseOpt the parse options.
  */
-static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
+static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt, void *userArg) {
   char *ip = nullptr, *part = nullptr;
   int pos = 0, sum = 0;
   struct stat st;
@@ -327,6 +329,9 @@ static int parse_opt(int key, char *arg, const ebusd::argParseOpt *parseOpt) {
     case 's':  // --slow
       lowSpeed = true;
       break;
+    case 0x100:  // PORT
+      portArg = arg;
+      break;
     default:
       return ESRCH;
   }
@@ -1161,10 +1166,8 @@ int run(int fd);
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
   ebusd::argParseOpt parseOpt = {
     argDefs,
-    parse_opt,
+    reinterpret_cast<ebusd::parse_function_t>(parse_opt),
     ebusd::af_noVersion,
-    "ebuspicloader",
-    "[PORT]",
     "A tool for loading firmware to the eBUS adapter PIC and configure adjustable settings.",
     "PORT is either the serial port to use (e.g. "
 #ifdef __CYGWIN__
@@ -1174,11 +1177,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 #endif
     ") that also supports a trailing wildcard '*' for testing"
     " multiple ports, or a network port as \"ip:port\" for use with e.g. socat or ebusd-esp in PIC pass-through mode.",
-    nullptr,
     nullptr
   };
-  int arg_index = -1;
-  switch (ebusd::argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, &arg_index)) {
+  switch (ebusd::argParse(&parseOpt, argc, argv, nullptr)) {
     case 0:  // OK
       break;
     case '?':  // help printed
@@ -1187,20 +1188,21 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
       return EINVAL;
   }
 
+  bool forceHelp = false;
   if (setIp != setMask || (setMacFromIp && !setIp)) {
     std::cerr << "incomplete IP arguments" << std::endl;
-    arg_index = argc;  // force help output
+    forceHelp = true;
   }
-  if (arg_index < 0 || argc-arg_index < 1) {
+  if (forceHelp || !portArg) {
     if (flashFile) {
       printFileChecksum();
       exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
     } else {
-      ebusd::argHelp(&parseOpt);
+      ebusd::argHelp(argv[0], &parseOpt);
       exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
   }
-  std::string port = argv[arg_index];
+  std::string port = portArg;
   std::string::size_type pos = port.find('*');
   if (pos == std::string::npos || pos != port.length()-1) {
     int fd;