diff --git a/RIXSconfig/RIXSconfig.py b/RIXSconfig/RIXSconfig.py
index d268dba..a038e08 100755
--- a/RIXSconfig/RIXSconfig.py
+++ b/RIXSconfig/RIXSconfig.py
@@ -160,8 +160,40 @@ class WndMainRIXS(QWidget):
     w.clicked.connect(lambda val, w=w:self.OnEnergyChanged(w, val))
     lg.addWidget(w, row, 2)
     row+=1
+
+    w=QPushButton('sync motors')
+    w.clicked.connect(self.btnSyncMotors)
+    lv.addWidget(w)
     self.show()
 
+  def btnSyncMotors(self):
+    #reads the epics motor and updates the vizualization
+    _log.info('')
+    app=QApplication.instance()
+    dev=app._dev
+    pv_rbv=dev._pvDict['rbv']
+    geo=dev._geo
+    for k,v in pv_rbv.items():
+      if v.connected:
+        geo[k]=v.get()
+      else:
+        _log.warning(f'pv {k} not connected')
+        return
+    dev.motor2geometry()
+    dev.setGeometry(dev._geo)
+    try:
+      wndCld=app._wndVisualize
+    except AttributeError as e:
+      pass
+    else:
+      wndCld.updateDevice(dev)
+    try:
+      wndCld=app._wndVars
+    except AttributeError as e:
+      pass
+    else:
+      wndCld.updateDevice(dev)
+
   def OnOpenChildWnd(self,wnd):
     app=QApplication.instance()
     if wnd=='Visualize':
@@ -934,23 +966,19 @@ class WndVars(QWidget):
       if pv.connected:
         v=pv.get(as_string=True)
       else:
-        v=t
+        v=m
       w=QLineEdit(v,objectName=m)
       w.setToolTip(desc)
       l.addWidget(w, i,1)
 
-      v=f"<font color='#808080'>{t}</font>"
+      v=f"<font color='#808080'>{m}</font>"
       w=QLabel(v,objectName=m)
       l.addWidget(w, i, 2)
       #pv=pvd[rcNm]
 
-    w=QPushButton('sync motors')
-    w.clicked.connect(self.btnSyncMotors)
-    l.addWidget(w, i+1, 1)
-
     w=QPushButton('move motors')
     w.clicked.connect(self.btnMoveMotors)
-    l.addWidget(w, i+2, 1)
+    l.addWidget(w, i+1, 1)
 
 
 
@@ -983,72 +1011,61 @@ class WndVars(QWidget):
       val=v
       pv_rbv=dev._pvDict['rbv']
       pv=pv_rbv[k]
-      rbv=pv.get()
+      if pv.connected:
+        rbv=pv.get()
+      else:
+        rbv=None
       _log.debug(f'change: {key}:{val}:{rbv}')
     grpMot=self._wdGrpMotor
     wLe=grpMot.findChild(QLineEdit, key)
     if wLe is not None:
       wCb=grpMot.findChild(QCheckBox, key)
       wLb=grpMot.findChild(QLabel, key)
+      #TODO:
       if val is None:
-        v=f"<font color='#606060'>{rbv:.5g}</font>"
+        v=f"<font color='#606060'>{rbv}</font>"
       else:
         wLe.setText(f'{val:.3f}')  # {v:.6g}
-        d=abs(val-rbv)
-        b=bool(d>0.001)
-        wCb.setChecked(b)
-        if b:
-          c='ff8080'
+        if rbv is None:
+          v=f"<font color='#606060'>{rbv}</font>"
         else:
-          c='60a060'
-        v=f"<font color='#{c}'>{rbv:.5g} ({d:+.5g})</font>"
+          d=abs(val-rbv)
+          b=bool(d>0.001)
+          wCb.setChecked(b)
+          if b:
+            c='ff8080'
+          else:
+            c='60a060'
+          v=f"<font color='#{c}'>{rbv:.5g} ({d:+.5g})</font>"
       wLb.setText(v)
 
   def btnMoveMotors(self):
-    grpMot=self._wdGrpMotor
-    lg=grpMot.layout()
-    col=lg.columnCount()
-    eDevs=self._epicsDevDct
-
-    for k,eDev in eDevs.items():
-      wCb=grpMot.findChild(QCheckBox, k)
-      if wCb.isChecked():
-        wLe=grpMot.findChild(QLineEdit, k)
-        v=float(wLe.text())
-        if eDev is not None:
-          _log.info(f'move motor {k} to {v}')
-          if type(eDev)==SimEpicsDevice:
-            eDev.VAL=v # move motor #comment out for safety
-            self.update_label(key=k,val=v)
-          else:
-            #eDev.VAL=v # move motor #comment out for safety
-            pass
-
-  def btnSyncMotors(self):
-    #reads the epics motor and updates the vizualization
-    _log.info('')
     app=QApplication.instance()
     dev=app._dev
     pv_rbv=dev._pvDict['rbv']
+    try:
+      pv_val=dev._pvDict['val']
+    except KeyError as e:
+      pv_val=dev._pvDict['val']=dict()
+
     geo=dev._geo
-    for k,v in pv_rbv.items():
-      geo[k]=v.get()
-
-    dev.motor2geometry()
-    dev.setGeometry(dev._geo)
-    try:
-      wndCld=app._wndVisualize
-    except AttributeError as e:
-      pass
-    else:
-      wndCld.updateDevice(dev)
-    try:
-      wndCld=app._wndVars
-    except AttributeError as e:
-      pass
-    else:
-      wndCld.updateDevice(dev)
-
+    grpMot=self._wdGrpMotor
+    lg=grpMot.layout()
+    col=lg.columnCount()
+    row=lg.rowCount()
+    for r in range(row-1): # -1 because last one is a button
+      wCb=lg.itemAtPosition(r, 0)
+      if wCb is None:
+        continue
+      wCb=wCb.widget()
+      if wCb.isChecked():
+        m=wCb.objectName()
+        try:
+          pv=pv_val[m]
+        except KeyError as e:
+          pvn=RIXSdevice._prefix+'MOT_'+m.upper()+'.VAL'
+          pv=pv_val[m]=epics.get_pv(pvn)#,connection_callback=self.OnConnectionChange,callback=self.OnValueChange)
+        pv.put(geo[m])
 
 
 # ->>>> https://pyepics.github.io/pyepics/devices.html >>> USE THIS