diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index d63665e..fdd8acd 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Trial by Antino Kim
 # Top level Makefile.am
+ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS=-I m4
 
 SUBDIRS = \
 	doc \
@@ -7,8 +8,6 @@ SUBDIRS = \
 	test \
 	tools
 
-EXTRA_DIST = configure-crayxt
-
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = \
 	config.h \
 	config.log \
diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index c89e6be..c7e0f6a 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ aclocal $ACLOCAL_FLAGS || {
 echo
 echo
 echo
-echo
 echo "+ running autoheader ... "
 autoheader || {
   echo
@@ -25,6 +24,15 @@ autoheader || {
 echo
 echo
 echo
+echo "+ running libtoolize ... "
+libtoolize --force || {
+  echo
+  echo "libtoolize failed"
+  exit 1
+}
+echo
+echo
+echo
 echo "+ running autoconf ... "
 autoconf || {
   echo
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 52cd90a..937eead 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@
 # Every configure script must call AC_INIT before doing anything else.
 # AC_INIT (package, version, [bug-report], [tarname])
-AC_INIT([H5Part], [1.6.2], [h5part@lists.psi.ch], H5Part)
-
+AC_INIT([H5Part], [1.6.3], [h5part@lists.psi.ch], H5Part)
 
 # Ensure that a recent enough version of Autoconf is being used. 
 # If the version of Autoconf being used to create configure is earlier than version, 
 # print an error message to the standard error output and do not create configure.
-#AC_PREREQ(2.59)
-
+AC_PREREQ(2.59)
 
 # should be called right after AC_INIT.
 # configure scripts can create a C header file containing `#define' directives. 
 # The AC_CONFIG_HEADERS macro selects this kind of output.
-AC_CONFIG_HEADER(config.h)
+AC_CONFIG_HEADERS(config.h)
+
+# AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE is required to use autoconf with automake
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
+
+BUILD_LIBS='libH5Part'
+BUILD_TESTS='test'
 
 ###############################################################################
 ################# --enable-xxx and --with-xxx Argument ########################
@@ -21,32 +25,20 @@ AC_CONFIG_HEADER(config.h)
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 	[debug],
 	[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],
-	[Compile with debug support [default=no]])],
+	[Compile with debug flags [default=no]])],
 	[USE_DEBUG=$enableval])
 
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(
-	[shared],
-	[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-shared],
-	[Compile with shared library support [default=no]])],
-	[USE_SHARED=$enableval])
-
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(
-	[64],
-	[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-64],
-	[Compile using 64-bit flags [default=no]])],
-	[USE_64=$enableval])
-
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 	[fortran],
-        [AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-fortran],
+	[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-fortran],
 	[Compile the Fortran interface [default=no]])],
-        [USE_FORTRAN=$enableval])
+	[USE_FORTRAN=$enableval])
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 	[parallel],
-        [AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-parallel],
+	[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-parallel],
 	[Compile the MPI/IO interface [default=no]])],
-        [USE_PARALLEL=$enableval])
+	[USE_PARALLEL=$enableval])
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 	[tools],
@@ -55,14 +47,8 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(
         [USE_TOOLS=$enableval])
 
 AC_ARG_WITH(
-	[mpipath],
-	[AC_HELP_STRING([--with-mpipath],
-	[path to MPI installation [default=""]])],
-        [MPIPATH=$withval], [MPIPATH=""])
-
-AC_ARG_WITH(
-	[hdf5path],
-	[AC_HELP_STRING([--with-hdf5path],
+	[hdf5],
+	[AC_HELP_STRING([--with-hdf5],
 	[path to HDF5 installation [default=""]])],
 	[HDF5PATH=$withval], [HDF5PATH=""])
 
@@ -73,16 +59,12 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(
 SAVE_CC=$CC
 SAVE_CXX=$CXX
 SAVE_FC=$FC
-SAVE_MPICC=$MPICC
-SAVE_MPICXX=$MPICXX
-SAVE_MPIFC=$MPIFC
-SAVE_MPILIB=$MPILIB
-SAVE_MPIINC=$MPIINC
 SAVE_CFLAGS=$CFLAGS
+SAVE_CXXFLAGS=$CXXFLAGS
 SAVE_FFLAGS=$FFLAGS
-SAVE_MPIROOT=$MPIROOT
-SAVE_HDF5ROOT=$HDF5ROOT
+SAVE_INCLUDES=$INCLUDES
 SAVE_LDFLAGS=$LDFLAGS
+SAVE_LIBS=$LIBS
 
 ###############################################################################
 ############### PATH SERACH FUNCTION - to be used later... ####################
@@ -96,35 +78,26 @@ SAVE_LDFLAGS=$LDFLAGS
 #   @enddesc
 #@@*/
 
-PATH_Search()
-{
-  eval  $1=""
-  if test $# -lt 4 ; then
-    h5part_basedir=""
-  else
-    h5part_basedir="$4/"
-  fi
-  for h5part_place in $2
-    do
-      echo -n "looking in $h5part_place ... $ac_c" #1>&6
-      if test -r "$h5part_basedir$h5part_place/$3" ; then
-        echo "$ac_t"" found" #1>&6
-        eval $1="$h5part_place"
-        break
-      fi
-      if test -d "$h5part_basedir$h5part_place/$3" ; then
-        echo "$ac_t"" found" #1>&6
-        eval $1="$h5part_place"
-        break
-      fi
-      echo "$ac_t"" no" #1>&6
-    done
-
-  return
+PATH_Search() {
+	eval  $1=""
+	if test $# -lt 4 ; then
+		h5part_basedir=""
+	else
+		h5part_basedir="$4/"
+	fi
+	for h5part_place in $2; do
+		AC_MSG_CHECKING([looking in $h5part_place ... ])
+		if test -r "$h5part_basedir$h5part_place/$3" ; then
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([found])
+			eval $1="$h5part_place"
+			break
+		fi
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+	done
+	return
 }
 
 
-
 ###############################################################################
 ############# MISC SETTINGS INCLUDING C & C++ COMPILER SETTING ################
 ###############################################################################
@@ -132,81 +105,53 @@ PATH_Search()
 # individual parts host_cpu, host_vendor, and host_os.
 AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 
+AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
 
-uname=`uname -s`
-if test $uname = "AIX"; then
-  AC_MSG_CHECKING([if system is AIX])
-  AC_MSG_RESULT([OK])
-
-  # If on AIX, define _ALL_SOURCE. Allows the use of some BSD functions. 
-  # Should be called before any macros that run the C compiler.
-  AC_AIX
-fi
-
-
-# DAVINCI SPECIFIC!!!
-if test `uname -n` = "davinci"; then
-   echo "DAVINCI SPECIFIC TESTING FOR STDC++ LIBRARY!"
-   PATH_Search STDCXX_CHECK '/usr/lib64 /usr/lib' libstdc++.a
-
-   # if STDCXX_CHECK is set...
-   if test "$STDCXX_CHECK" = "/usr/lib64"; then
-      echo "STDCXX setting ..."
-      echo "STDCXX_CHECK = $STDCXX_CHECK ..."
-      STDCXX="-L/usr/lib64 -lstdc++"
-      echo "STDCXX =  $STDCXX ..."
-   elif test "$STDCXX_CHECK" = "/usr/lib"; then
-      echo "STDCXX setting ..."
-      echo "STDCXX_CHECK = $STDCXX_CHECK ..."
-      STDCXX="-L/usr/lib -lstdc++"
-      echo "STDCXX =  $STDCXX ..."
-   fi 
-fi
-
-
-# Determine a C compiler to use. 
+# Determine a C/C++ compiler to use. 
 # If CC is not already set in the environment, check for gcc and cc, then
 # for other C compilers. 
 # Set output variable CC to the name of the compiler found.
-AC_PROG_CC(pgcc pathcc icc cc_r gcc cc)
+if test "x$USE_PARALLEL" = "xyes"; then
+   	CCOMPILERS="mpicc cc"
+   	CXXCOMPILERS="mpic++ mpicxx CC"
+else
+	CCOMPILERS="pgcc pathcc icc gcc cc_r cc"
+   	CXXCOMPILERS="pgCC pathCC icpc g++"
+fi
 
-# AC_PROG_CC doesn't pick up cc_r in Bassi. The following AC_PATH_PROGS
-# is the fix.
-AC_PATH_PROGS([BAS_CC], [cc_r], [], [$PATH])
-
-# if BAS_CC not empty
-if test -n "$BAS_CC"; then
-  echo "CC setting for Bassi ..."
-  CC=$BAS_CC
-  echo "CC =  $CC ..."
-fi 
-
-
-# Determine a C++ compiler to use. 
-# Check if the environment variable CXX or CCC (in that order) is set; 
-# if so, then set output variable CXX to its value.
-# Otherwise, if the macro is invoked without an argument, 
-# then search for a C++ compiler under the likely names (first g++ and c++
-# then other names). 
-# If none of those checks succeed, then as a last resort set CXX to g++.
-AC_PROG_CXX(pgCC pathCC icc cc_r g++ gcc cc)
+AC_PROG_CC($CCOMPILERS)
 
+# Only need C++ for some of the tools
+#if test "x$USE_TOOLS" = "xyes"; then
+	AC_PROG_CXX($CXXCOMPILERS)
+#fi
 
 # Set output variable INSTALL to the path of a BSD-compatible install program,
 # if one is found in the current PATH. 
 # Otherwise, set INSTALL to `dir/install-sh -c`
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 
+AC_PROG_AWK
 
-# AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE is required to use autoconf with automake
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE()
-
-
-AC_PROG_RANLIB
+# Disable shared libraries by default: can be enabled with --enable-shared
+LT_INIT([disable-shared])
+AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
 # Default prefix for bindir, etc... (eg >> ./build/bin)
 AC_PREFIX_DEFAULT(`pwd`/build)
 
+# Checks for header files.
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS([fcntl.h stdlib.h string.h unistd.h])
+
+# Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.
+AC_HEADER_STDBOOL
+AC_TYPE_INT64_T
+AC_TYPE_SIZE_T
+AC_TYPE_SSIZE_T
+
+# Checks for library functions.
+AC_FUNC_MALLOC
+AC_CHECK_FUNCS([memset pow strchr strdup])
 
 # AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED (variable, value, [description])
 # Define the C preprocessor variable variable to value
@@ -218,7 +163,6 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(MY_GNUNAME, "${host_cpu}-${host_vendor}-${host_os}", "")
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(MY_UNAME, "$uname", "")
 
 
-
 ###############################################################################
 ######################## CONFIGURE LINE OPTIONS ###############################
 ###############################################################################
@@ -228,216 +172,85 @@ AC_MSG_CHECKING([if debug is enabled])
 if test "X$USE_DEBUG" = "Xyes"; then
     AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
     CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -g"
+    CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -g"
+    FFLAGS="$FFLAGS -g"
 else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi
 
-# shared library
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([if shared libraries are enabled])
-
-if test "X$USE_SHARED" = "Xyes"; then
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-    CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -fPIC"
-    FFLAGS="$FFLAGS -fPIC"
-else
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-fi
-
-###################### 64-bit compilation enabled #############################
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([if 64-bit compilation is enabled])
-
-
-# If --enable-64 is set in the configure line
-if test "X$USE_64:/f90
-" = "Xyes"; then
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-    if test $uname = "AIX"; then
-        CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -q64"
-        FFLAGS="$FFLAGS -q64"
-    fi
-
-    if test $uname = "IRIX64"; then
-        CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -64"
-        FFLAGS="$FFLAGS -64 -fPIC -fno-second-underscore"
-    fi
-else
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-fi
-
-
 ############################ fortran enabled ##################################
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([if fortran interface enabled])
 if test "X$USE_FORTRAN" = "Xyes"; then
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	LIB_FORTRAN="libH5hutF.la"
+        BUILD_LIBS="$BUILD_LIBS libH5PartF"
+	BUILD_TESTS="$BUILD_TESTS testF"
 
-    AC_PROG_FC(pgf90 ifort xlf_r pathf90 g95 g90 ftn gfortran)
-    if test -z "$FC" ; then
-        AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find a fortran compiler!!!])
-        exit 1
-    fi
+	if test "X$USE_PARALLEL" = "Xyes"; then
+		AC_PROG_FC(mpif90 mpif77)
+	else
+		AC_PROG_FC(pgf90 ifort xlf_r pathf90 g95 g90 ftn gfortran)
+	fi
 
-    if test ! $uname = "AIX"; then
-        FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -fPIC"
-    fi
+	if test -z "$FC" ; then
+		AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find a Fortran compiler!])
+		exit 1
+	fi
 
-    if test $FC = "g90"; then
-	FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -fno-second-underscore"
-    fi
+	if test $FC = "g90"; then
+		FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -fno-second-underscore"
+	fi
 
-    if test $FC = "g95"; then
-	FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -fno-second-underscore"
-    fi
+	if test $FC = "g95"; then
+		FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -fno-second-underscore"
+	fi
 
-    if test $FC = "gfortran"; then
-        FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -DHAVE_GFORTRAN"
-    fi
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([symbol convention in object files])
+	`cd src && rm -f TestUnderscore.o TestUnderscoreC.o TestUnderscore`
+	`cd src && ${FC} ${FFLAGS} -c TestUnderscore.f`
+	`cd src && ${CC} ${CFLAGS} -c TestUnderscoreC.c`
+	`cd src && ${FC} ${FFLAGS} -o TestUnderscore TestUnderscore.o TestUnderscoreC.o`
 
-    AC_MSG_CHECKING([symbol convention in object files])
-    `cd src && rm -f TestUnderscore.o TestUnderscoreC.o TestUnderscore`
-    `cd src && ${FC} ${FFLAGS} -c TestUnderscore.f`
-    `cd src && ${CC} ${CFLAGS} -c TestUnderscoreC.c`
-    `cd src && ${FC} ${FFLAGS} -o TestUnderscore TestUnderscore.o TestUnderscoreC.o -lc`
+	if test -f src/TestUnderscore ; then
+		UNDERSCORE_H=Underscore.h
+		`cd src && ./TestUnderscore > Underscore.h`
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([ok])
+	else
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([nok])
+		AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot determine the symbon convention for Fortran object files!])
+		exit 1
+	fi
 
-    if test -f src/TestUnderscore ; then
-        UNDERSCORE_H=Underscore.h
-        `cd src && ./TestUnderscore > Underscore.h`
-        AC_MSG_RESULT([ok])
-    else
-        AC_MSG_RESULT([nok])
-        AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot build fortran executables!!!])
-        exit 1
-    fi
 else
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi
 
 
 ######################## parallel interface enabled ###########################
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([if parallel interface enabled])
 if test "X$USE_PARALLEL" = "Xyes"; then
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
 
-    CFLAGS="${CFLAGS} -DPARALLEL_IO -DH5_HAVE_PARALLEL -DMPICH_IGNORE_CXX_SEEK"
+	CFLAGS="${CFLAGS} -DPARALLEL_IO -DMPICH_IGNORE_CXX_SEEK"
 
-    AC_MSG_CHECKING([if we can compile MPI code without setting flags])
-    AC_TRY_LINK([#include "mpi.h"], [
-        MPI_Comm comm;
-	int n;
-	MPI_Comm_size( comm, &n ); ], 
-	[echo 'yes'; r='yes'], [echo "no"; r='no'] )
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([if we can compile MPI code without setting flags])
+	AC_TRY_LINK([#include "mpi.h"], [
+		MPI_Comm comm;
+		int n;
+		MPI_Comm_size( comm, &n ); ], 
+		[AC_MSG_RESULT([yes]); r='yes'], [AC_MSG_RESULT([no]); r='no'] )
 
-    if test "X$r" = "Xno"; then
-        AC_PATH_PROGS([MPICC], [mpicc mpcc_r], [], [$PATH])
-        AC_PATH_PROGS([MPICXX], [mpicxx mpcc_r], [], [$PATH])
-        if test -z "$MPICC" -o -z "$MPICXX"; then 
-            AC_MSG_CHECKING([for MPI root ])
-            AC_MSG_RESULT([])
-            if test -n "$MPIROOT"; then
-                P=${MPIROOT}
-            elif test -n "$MPIHOME"; then
-                P=${MPIHOME}
-            elif test -n "$MPIPATH"; then
-                P=${MPIPATH}
-            else
-                P=''
-                P="$P /usr"
-                P="$P /usr/local"
-                P="$P /usr/local/mpi"
-                P="$P /usr/local/packages/mpi"
-                P="$P /usr/local/mpich2"
-                P="$P /usr/local/mpich"
-                P="$P /opt/xt-mpt/default/mpich2-64/P2"
-            fi
-            PATH_Search MPIROOT "$P" include/mpi.h
-            if test ! -n "$MPIROOT"; then
-		AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot determine MPI root!!!])
-                exit 1
-            fi
-
-	    if test -e "${MPIROOT}/bin/mpicc"; then
-	       MPICC=${MPIROOT}/bin/mpicc
-	    fi
-
-	    if test -e "${MPIROOT}/bin/mpicxx"; then
-	       MPICXX=${MPIROOT}/bin/mpicxx
-	    fi
+	if test "X$r" = "Xno"; then
+		AC_MSG_ERROR([MPI wrapper can't compile or link MPI program! Please set the INCLUDE and LIBS variables manually.])
+		exit 1
 	fi
 
-        if test -z "$MPICC" -o -z "$MPICXX"; then 
-            MPIINC="${MPIINC} -I${MPIROOT}/include"
-            FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -I${MPIROOT}/include"
-            AC_MSG_CHECKING([for name of MPI lib ])
-            if test -e ${MPIROOT}/lib/libmpi.a; then
-                MPILIB="-L${MPIROOT}/lib -lmpi"
-            elif test -e ${MPIROOT}/lib/libmpi.so; then
-                MPILIB="-L${MPIROOT}/lib -lmpi"
-            elif test -e ${MPIROOT}/lib/libmpich.a; then
-                MPILIB="-L${MPIROOT}/lib -lmpich"
-            elif test -e ${MPIROOT}/lib/libmpich.so; then
-                MPILIB="-L${MPIROOT}/lib -lmpich"
-            else
-                AC_MSG_RESULT([not found])
-                exit 1
-            fi
-            AC_MSG_RESULT([${MPILIB}])
-	fi
-
-        if test -n "$MPICC"; then
-	    CC=${MPICC}
-        fi 
-  
-        if test -n "$MPICXX"; then
-	    CXX=${MPICXX}
-        fi
-    fi
-
-    H5P_LIB_NAME="-lpH5Part"
-    MTARGET="libpH5Part.a"
-    TTARGET="test"
-
-
-    # parallel + fortran
-    if test "X$USE_FORTRAN" = "Xyes"; then
-        AC_PATH_PROGS([MPIFC], [mpxlf_r mpif90], [], [$PATH])
-
-        FFLAGS="${FFLAGS} -DPARALLEL_IO"
-
-	if test -z "${MPIFC}" ; then
-	    if test -e "${MPIROOT}/bin/mpif90"; then
-	       MPIFC=${MPIROOT}/bin/mpif90
-	    fi
-	fi
- 
-        # if MPIFC empty
-        if test ! -n "$MPIFC"; then
-            AC_MSG_CHECKING([ No MPIFC detected. Setting MPIFC to FC.])
-            MPIFC=$FC
-            echo "MPIFC =  $MPIFC ..."
-        fi 
-
-	if test -n "$MPIFC"; then
-	    FC=${MPIFC}
-	fi
- 
-        H5P_LIB_NAME="-lpH5PartF"
-        MTARGET="${MTARGET} libpH5PartF.a"
-        TTARGET="${TTARGET} testf"
-    fi
-
 else  # --enable-parallel=no
-    AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-
-    H5P_LIB_NAME="-lH5Part"
-    MTARGET="libH5Part.a"
-    TTARGET="test"
-
-    if test "X$USE_FORTRAN" = "Xyes"; then
-        H5P_LIB_NAME="-lH5PartF"
-        MTARGET="${MTARGET} libH5PartF.a"
-        TTARGET="${TTARGET} testf"
-    fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi
 
+
+######################## tools enabled ###########################
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether tools are enabled])
 if test "X$USE_TOOLS" = "Xyes"; then
     AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
@@ -450,76 +263,53 @@ else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi
 
+
 ###############################################################################
 ######################### PATH CHECKING & SETTING #############################
 ###############################################################################
 
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for HDF5 root ])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([])
-if test -n "${HDF5ROOT}"; then
-    P=${HDF5ROOT}
+if test -n "${HDF5PATH}" ; then
+	P=${HDF5PATH}
+elif test -n "${HDF5ROOT}"; then
+	P=${HDF5ROOT}
 elif test -n "${HDF5HOME}" ; then
-    P=${HDF5HOME}
-elif test -n "${HDF5PATH}" ; then
-    P=${HDF5PATH}
+	P=${HDF5HOME}
+elif test -n "${HDF5_DIR}" ; then
+	P=${HDF5_DIR}
 else
-    P=''
-    P="$P /usr"
-    P="$P /usr/local"
-    P="$P /usr/local/hdf5"
-    P="$P /usr/local/packages/hdf5"
-    P="$P /apps/hdf5"
-
-    if test "X$USE_PARALLEL" = "Xyes"; then
-        P="$P /usr/local/phdf5"
-        P="$P /usr/local/hdf5/hdf5_par"
-        if test "X$USE_64" = "Xyes"; then
-            P="$P /usr/common/usg/hdf5/64/default/parallel"
-        else
-            P="$P /usr/common/usg/hdf5/32/default/parallel"
-        fi
-    else
-        P="$P /usr/local/hdf5/hdf5_serial"
-        if test "X$USE_64" = "Xyes"; then
-            P="$P /usr/common/usg/hdf5/64/default/serial"
-        else
-            P="$P /usr/common/usg/hdf5/32/default/serial"
-        fi
-    fi
+	P=''
+	P="$P /usr"
+	P="$P /usr/local"
+	P="$P /usr/local/hdf5"
+	P="$P /usr/local/packages/hdf5"
+	P="$P /apps/hdf5"
+	P="$P /opt/hdf5"
 fi
 PATH_Search HDF5ROOT "$P" include/hdf5.h
 if test -z "$HDF5ROOT"; then
-    AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot determine HDF5 root!!!])
-    exit 1
+	AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find an HDF5 library!])
+	exit 1
 fi
 
+INCLUDES="$INCLUDES -I$HDF5ROOT/include"
+LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$HDF5ROOT/lib"
+LIBS="$LIBS -lhdf5"
+
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([if we need to link to libsz ])
 if test -n "$HDF5ROOT"; then
-    if test -f $HDF5ROOT/lib/libsz.a; then
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-        SZLIB="-L$HDF5ROOT/lib/ -lsz"
-    else
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-        SZLIB=""
-    fi
+	if test -f $HDF5ROOT/lib/libsz.a; then
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+		LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$HDF5ROOT/lib"
+                LIBS="$LIBS -lsz"
+	else
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+	fi
 fi
 
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([for static zlib root ])
-echo
-PATH_Search ZLIBROOT '/apps/zlib' lib/libz.a
-if test -n "$ZLIBROOT"; then
-    LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$ZLIBROOT/lib"
-fi
+LIBS="$LIBS -lz -lm"
 
-FCFLAGS=${FFLAGS}
-CXXFLAGS=${CFLAGS}
-
-
-###############################################################################
-#################### MISC SETTINGS - path, flags, etc #########################
-###############################################################################
-
-H5P_LIB_LOC=`pwd`/src
 
 ###############################################################################
 ################# A SIMPLE WORK AROUND TO USE ENV. VARS #######################
@@ -527,94 +317,70 @@ H5P_LIB_LOC=`pwd`/src
 
 #if there was an external input for the variable...
 if test -n "$SAVE_CC"; then
-CC=$SAVE_CC
+	CC="$SAVE_CC"
 fi
 
 if test -n "$SAVE_CXX"; then
-CXX=$SAVE_CXX
+	CXX="$SAVE_CXX"
 fi
 
 if test -n "$SAVE_FC"; then
-FC=$SAVE_FC
-fi
-
-if test -n "$SAVE_MPICC"; then
-MPICC=$SAVE_MPICC
-fi
-
-if test -n "$SAVE_MPICXX"; then
-MPICXX=$SAVE_MPICXX
-fi
-
-if test -n "$SAVE_MPIFC"; then
-MPIFC=$SAVE_MPIFC
-fi
-
-if test -n "$SAVE_MPILIB"; then
-MPILIB=$SAVE_MPILIB
-fi
-
-if test -n "$SAVE_MPIINC"; then
-MPIINC=$SAVE_MPIINC
+	FC="$SAVE_FC"
 fi
 
 if test -n "$SAVE_CFLAGS"; then
-CFLAGS="$SAVE_CFLAGS ${CFLAGS}"
+	CFLAGS="$SAVE_CFLAGS"
+fi
+
+if test -n "$SAVE_CXXFLAGS"; then
+	CFLAGS="$SAVE_CXXFLAGS"
 fi
 
 if test -n "$SAVE_FFLAGS"; then
-FFLAGS=$SAVE_FFLAGS
+	FFLAGS="$SAVE_FFLAGS"
 fi
 
-if test -n "$SAVE_MPIROOT"; then
-MPIROOT=$SAVE_MPIROOT
-fi
-
-if test -n "$SAVE_HDF5ROOT"; then
-HDF5ROOT=$SAVE_HDF5ROOT
+if test -n "$SAVE_INCLUDES"; then
+	INCLUDES="$SAVE_INCLUDES"
 fi
 
 if test -n "$SAVE_LDFLAGS"; then
-LDFLAGS=$SAVE_LDFLAGS
+	LDFLAGS="$SAVE_LDFLAGS"
+fi
+
+if test -n "$SAVE_LIBS"; then
+	LIBS="$SAVE_LIBS"
 fi
 
 ###############################################################################
 ############## EXPORTING VARIABLES & CREATING OUTPUT FILES ####################
 ###############################################################################
 # AC_SUBST (variable, [value])
-# Create an output variable from a shell variable. 
-# Make AC_OUTPUT substitute the variable variable into output files (typically one or more `Makefile's). 
-# This means that AC_OUTPUT will replace instances of `@variable@' in input files with the value that 
-# the shell variable variable has when AC_OUTPUT is called. 
-# This value of variable should not contain literal newlines.
-# If value is given, in addition assign it to variable. 
-AC_SUBST(MPIROOT)
-AC_SUBST(HDF5ROOT)
-AC_SUBST(MPIINC)
-AC_SUBST(MPILIB)
-AC_SUBST(MPICC)
-AC_SUBST(MPICXX)
-AC_SUBST(MPIFC)
-AC_SUBST(MTARGET)
-AC_SUBST(TTARGET)
-AC_SUBST(SZLIB)
+# Create an output variable from a shell variable.  Make AC_OUTPUT substitute
+# the variable variable into output files (typically one or more `Makefile's).
+# This means that AC_OUTPUT will replace instances of `@variable@' in input
+# files with the value that the shell variable variable has when AC_OUTPUT is
+# called.  This value of variable should not contain literal newlines.  If
+# value is given, in addition assign it to variable. 
 AC_SUBST(CFLAGS)
+AC_SUBST(CXXFLAGS)
 AC_SUBST(FFLAGS)
-AC_SUBST(STDCXX)
-AC_SUBST(H5P_LIB_LOC)
-AC_SUBST(H5P_LIB_NAME)
-AC_SUBST(UNDERSCORE_H)
-AC_SUBST(BUILD_TOOLS)
+AC_SUBST(INCLUDES)
 AC_SUBST(LDFLAGS)
+AC_SUBST(LIBS)
+AC_SUBST(UNDERSCORE_H)
+AC_SUBST(LIB_FORTRAN)
+AC_SUBST(BUILD_TESTS)
+AC_SUBST(BUILD_TOOLS)
 
 # Make AC_OUTPUT create each `file' by copying an input file (by default `file.in'),
 # substituting the output variable values.
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([
-Makefile
-doc/Makefile
-src/Makefile
-test/Makefile
-tools/Makefile
+	Makefile
+	src/Makefile
+	doc/Makefile
+	test/Makefile
+	tools/Makefile
 ])
 
 AC_OUTPUT
@@ -622,27 +388,23 @@ AC_OUTPUT
 ###############################################################################
 ########################## PRINTING SUMMARY ###################################
 ###############################################################################
-echo
-echo
-echo "Summary for `(hostname || uname -n) 2>/dev/null | sed 1q`:"
-echo
-echo "Host OS:             $host_os"
-echo "Host CPU:            $host_cpu"
-echo "Host vendor:         $host_vendor"
-echo "Build libraries:     $MTARGET"
-echo "Build test programs: $TTARGET"
-echo "Build tools:         $BUILD_TOOLS"
-echo "CC =                 $CC"
-echo "CXX =                $CXX"
-echo "FC =                 $FC"
-echo "MPICC =              $MPICC"
-echo "MPICXX =             $MPICXX"
-echo "MPIFC =              $MPIFC"
-echo "CFLAGS =             $CFLAGS"
-echo "FFLAGS =             $FFLAGS"
-echo "MPILIB =             $MPILIB"
-echo "MPIINC =             $MPIINC"
-echo "MPIROOT =            $MPIROOT"
-echo "HDF5ROOT =           $HDF5ROOT"
-echo "LDFLAGS =            $LDFLAGS"
-echo
+AC_MSG_RESULT([ ])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Summary:])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([ ])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Host OS:             $host_os])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Host CPU:            $host_cpu])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Host vendor:         $host_vendor])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Build libraries:     $BUILD_LIBS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Build test programs: $BUILD_TESTS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([Build tools:         $BUILD_TOOLS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([CC =                 $CC])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([CXX =                $CXX])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([FC =                 $FC])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([CFLAGS =             $CFLAGS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([CXXFLAGS =           $CXXFLAGS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([FFLAGS =             $FFLAGS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([INCLUDES =           $INCLUDES])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([LDFLAGS =            $LDFLAGS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([LIBS =               $LIBS])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([HDF5ROOT =           $HDF5ROOT])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([ ])
diff --git a/src/H5Part.h b/src/H5Part.h
index b95a05b..724be55 100644
--- a/src/H5Part.h
+++ b/src/H5Part.h
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "H5MultiBlock.h"
 #endif
 
-#define H5PART_VER_STRING	"1.6.2"
+#define H5PART_VER_STRING	"1.6.3"
 #define H5PART_VER_MAJOR	1
 #define H5PART_VER_MINOR	6
-#define H5PART_VER_RELEASE	2
+#define H5PART_VER_RELEASE	3
 
 /* error values */
 #define H5PART_SUCCESS		0
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index d7fd142..9ac8c56 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 
 OBJEXT=o
 
-INCLUDES = -I@HDF5ROOT@/include @MPIINC@
-
 EXTRA_HEADERS = 	H5PartPrivate.h \
 			H5BlockPrivate.h \
 			H5MultiBlockPrivate.h \
@@ -25,10 +23,10 @@ EXTRA_DIST =		TestUnderscoreC.c \
 nodist_include_HEADERS = H5PartF.h @UNDERSCORE_H@
 
 # What to build... Will be determined by configure script.
-lib_LIBRARIES = @MTARGET@
+lib_LTLIBRARIES = libH5Part.la @LIB_FORTRAN@
 
 # Listing of all possible targets that I may build.
-EXTRA_LIBRARIES = libH5Part.a libH5PartF.a
+EXTRA_LTLIBRARIES = libH5PartF.la
 
 # Header files that I wish to install in $(prefix)/include
 include_HEADERS = 	H5Part.h \
@@ -47,27 +45,23 @@ include_HEADERS = 	H5Part.h \
 			@UNDERSCORE_H@
 
 # Listing of sources
-libH5Part_a_SOURCES =	H5Part.c \
+libH5Part_la_SOURCES =	H5Part.c \
 			H5PartAttrib.c \
 			H5Block.c \
 			H5BlockReadWrite.c \
 			H5MultiBlock.c \
 			H5MultiBlockReadWrite.c
 
-libH5PartF_a_SOURCES =	$(libH5Part_a_SOURCES) \
+libH5Part_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 0:0:0
+
+libH5PartF_la_SOURCES =	$(libH5Part_la_SOURCES) \
 			H5PartF.c \
 			H5PartAttribF.c \
 			H5BlockF.c \
 			H5BlockReadWriteF.c
 
+libH5PartF_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 0:0:0 -rpath '$(libdir)'
+
 H5PartF.h: H5Part.f90 H5PartAttrib.f90 H5Block.f90 H5BlockReadWrite.f90
 	awk '/INTEGER\*8 FUNCTION/{print "\t" $$1 " " $$3}' $^ >$@
 
-libpH5Part.a: libH5Part.a
-	$(RM) $@
-	ln -s $^ $@
-
-libpH5PartF.a: libH5PartF.a
-	$(RM) $@
-	ln -s $^ $@
-
diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index 38077ed..9b83fa5 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -2,15 +2,12 @@
 
 OBJEXT=o
 
-HDFLIB = -L@HDF5ROOT@/lib -lhdf5 -lz @SZLIB@
-LIBS = -L@H5P_LIB_LOC@ @H5P_LIB_NAME@ $(HDFLIB) -lm
+INCLUDES = -I../src
 
-INCLUDES = -I@H5P_LIB_LOC@ -I@HDF5ROOT@/include @MPIINC@
-
-noinst_PROGRAMS = @TTARGET@
+noinst_PROGRAMS = @BUILD_TESTS@
 
 TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = env LD_LIBRARY_PATH=@HDF5ROOT@/lib:$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH)
-TESTS = @TTARGET@
+TESTS = @BUILD_TESTS@
 
 EXTRA_PROGRAMS = test testf
 
@@ -20,8 +17,10 @@ test_SOURCES =	test.c \
 		read.c \
 		testframe.h \
 		params.h
+test_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5Part.la
 
 testf_SOURCES = testf.F90
+testf_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5PartF.la
 
 clean: clean-am
 	rm -f *.h5
diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index 6cf0cec..a57dbb2 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -2,10 +2,8 @@
 
 OBJEXT=o
 
-HDFLIB = -L@HDF5ROOT@/lib -lhdf5 -lz @SZLIB@
-LIBS = -L@H5P_LIB_LOC@ @H5P_LIB_NAME@ $(HDFLIB) -lm @STDCXX@
-
-INCLUDES = -I@H5P_LIB_LOC@ -I@HDF5ROOT@/include @MPIINC@
+INCLUDES = -I../src
+LIBS =@LIBS@ -lm @STDCXX@
 
 # What to build... make install will place these files in the $(prefix)/bin directory.
 bin_PROGRAMS = @BUILD_TOOLS@
@@ -19,8 +17,17 @@ EXTRA_PROGRAMS =	h5pAttrib \
 
 # Listing of sources
 h5pAttrib_SOURCES =	h5pAttrib.cc
-h5pToGNUplot_SOURCES =	h5pToGNUplot.cc
-homdynToH5p_SOURCES =	homdynToH5p.cc
-H5PartBench_SOURCES =	H5PartBench.c
-H5BlockBench_SOURCES =	H5BlockBench.c
+h5pAttrib_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5Part.la
+
+h5pToGNUplot_SOURCES =	h5pToGNUplot.cc
+h5pToGNUplot_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5Part.la
+
+homdynToH5p_SOURCES =	homdynToH5p.cc
+homdynToH5p_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5Part.la
+
+H5PartBench_SOURCES =	H5PartBench.c
+H5PartBench_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5Part.la
+
+H5BlockBench_SOURCES =	H5BlockBench.c
+H5BlockBench_LDADD   =  ../src/libH5Part.la