diff --git a/utils/g5505_utils.py b/utils/g5505_utils.py
index 48de47f..49f577d 100644
--- a/utils/g5505_utils.py
+++ b/utils/g5505_utils.py
@@ -190,7 +190,11 @@ def progressBar(count_value, total, suffix=''):
     sys.stdout.write('[%s] %s%s ...%s\r' %(bar, percentage, '%', suffix))
     sys.stdout.flush()
 
-def copy_directory_with_contraints(input_dir_path, output_dir_path, select_dir_keywords, select_file_keywords, allowed_file_extensions):
+def copy_directory_with_contraints(input_dir_path, output_dir_path, 
+                                   select_dir_keywords = None, 
+                                   select_file_keywords = None, 
+                                   allowed_file_extensions = None,
+                                   dry_run = False):
     """
         Copies files from input_dir_path to output_dir_path based on specified constraints.
 
@@ -198,24 +202,30 @@ def copy_directory_with_contraints(input_dir_path, output_dir_path, select_dir_k
         ----------
             input_dir_path (str): Path to the input directory.
             output_dir_path (str): Path to the output directory.
-            select_dir_keywords (list): List of keywords for selecting directories.
-            select_file_keywords (list): List of keywords for selecting files.
-            allowed_file_extensions (list): List of allowed file extensions.
+            select_dir_keywords (list): optional, List of keywords for selecting directories.
+            select_file_keywords (list): optional, List of keywords for selecting files.
+            allowed_file_extensions (list): optional, List of allowed file extensions.
 
         Returns
         -------
             path_to_files_dict (dict): dictionary mapping directory paths to lists of copied file names satisfying the constraints.
     """
 
+    # Unconstrained default behavior: No filters, make sure variable are lists even when defined as None in function signature
+    select_dir_keywords = select_dir_keywords or []
+    select_file_keywords = select_file_keywords or []
+    allowed_file_extensions = allowed_file_extensions or []
+
     date = created_at()
     log_dir='logs/'
     setup_logging(log_dir, f"copy_directory_with_contraints_{date}.log")
 
+    # Define helper functions. Return by default true when filtering lists are either None or []
     def has_allowed_extension(filename):
-        return os.path.splitext(filename)[1] in allowed_file_extensions
-    
+        return not allowed_file_extensions or os.path.splitext(filename)[1] in allowed_file_extensions
+
     def file_is_selected(filename):
-        return any(keyword in filename for keyword in select_file_keywords) if select_file_keywords else True
+        return not select_file_keywords or any(keyword in filename for keyword in select_file_keywords)
 
     
     # Collect paths of directories, which are directly connected to the root dir and match select_dir_keywords
@@ -227,7 +237,7 @@ def copy_directory_with_contraints(input_dir_path, output_dir_path, select_dir_k
     else:
         paths.append(input_dir_path) #paths.append(Path(input_dir_path))
 
-    ROOT_DIR = input_dir_path
+
     path_to_files_dict  = {} # Dictionary to store directory-file pairs satisfying constraints
 
     for subpath in paths:
@@ -235,23 +245,29 @@ def copy_directory_with_contraints(input_dir_path, output_dir_path, select_dir_k
         for dirpath, _, filenames in os.walk(subpath,topdown=False):
 
             # Reduce filenames to those that are admissible
-            admissible_filenames = [filename for filename in filenames if has_allowed_extension(filename) and file_is_selected(filename)]
+            admissible_filenames = [
+                filename for filename in filenames 
+                if file_is_selected(filename) and has_allowed_extension(filename)
+            ]
 
             if admissible_filenames:  # Only create directory if there are files to copy
-
                 
-                relative_dirpath = os.path.relpath(dirpath, ROOT_DIR)
+                relative_dirpath = os.path.relpath(dirpath, input_dir_path)
                 target_dirpath = os.path.join(output_dir_path, relative_dirpath)
-                #path_to_files_dict[dirpath] = admissible_filenames
                 path_to_files_dict[target_dirpath] = admissible_filenames
-                os.makedirs(target_dirpath, exist_ok=True)
-                
-                for filename in admissible_filenames:
-                    src_file_path = os.path.join(dirpath, filename)
-                    dest_file_path = os.path.join(target_dirpath, filename)
-                    try:
-                        shutil.copy2(src_file_path, dest_file_path)
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        logging.error("Failed to copy %s: %s", src_file_path, e)
+
+                if not dry_run:
+
+                    # Perform the actual copying
+
+                    os.makedirs(target_dirpath, exist_ok=True)
+                    
+                    for filename in admissible_filenames:
+                        src_file_path = os.path.join(dirpath, filename)
+                        dest_file_path = os.path.join(target_dirpath, filename)
+                        try:
+                            shutil.copy2(src_file_path, dest_file_path)
+                        except Exception as e:
+                            logging.error("Failed to copy %s: %s", src_file_path, e)
 
     return path_to_files_dict 
\ No newline at end of file