diff --git a/config/versions.conf b/config/versions.conf
index 56dae3e..a220e3c 100644
--- a/config/versions.conf
+++ b/config/versions.conf
@@ -1,31 +1,29 @@
-AUTOCONF_VERSION=2.69
-AUTOMAKE_VERSION=1.14
-CMAKE_VERSION=2.8.12.2
-EMACS_VERSION=24.3
-FILEBENCH_VERSION=1.4.9.1
-GCC_VERSION=4.7.3
-GCC_VERSION=4.8.2
-GIFLIB_VERSION=5.0.6
-GMP_VERSION=5.1.1
-GNUPLOT_VERSION=4.6.3
-GSL_VERSION=1.15
-H5HUT_SERIAL_VERSION=1.99.13
-H5HUT_VERSION=1.99.13
-H5ROOT_VERSION=1.2.0
-HDF5_SERIAL_VERSION=1.8.12
-HDF5_VERSION=1.8.12
-IPPL_VERSION=1.1.0
-LIBTOOL_VERSION=2.4.2
-LIBUNGIF_VERSION=4.1.4
-LUA_VERSION=5.1.4.5
-M4_VERSION=1.4.17
-MATHLIB_VERSION=1.0.0
-MODULES_VERSION=3.2.10
-MPC_VERSION=1.0.2
-MPFR_VERSION=3.1.2
-OPAL_VERSION=1.2.0
-PARMETIS_VERSION=3.2.0
-ROOT_VERSION=5.34.11
-TIFF_VERSION=4.0.3
-TRILINOS_VERSION=11.4.1
-VTK_VERSION=5.10.1
+autoconf	2.69
+automake	1.14
+cmake		2.8.12.2
+emacs		24.3
+filebench	1.4.9.1
+giflib		5.0.6
+gmp		5.1.1
+gnuplot		4.6.3
+gsl		1.15
+h5hut_serial	1.99.13
+H5hut		1.99.13
+H5root		1.2.0
+hdf5_serial	1.8.12
+hdf5		1.8.12
+ippl		1.1.0
+libtool		2.4.2
+libungif	4.1.4
+lua		5.1.4.5
+m4		1.4.17
+mathlib		1.0.0
+Modules		3.2.10
+mpc		1.0.2
+mpfr		3.1.2
+OPAL		1.2.0
+parmetis	3.2.0
+root		5.34.11
+tiff		4.0.3
+trilinos	11.4.1
+vtk		5.10.1
diff --git a/lib/libem.bash b/lib/libem.bash
index c80016a..886588f 100644
--- a/lib/libem.bash
+++ b/lib/libem.bash
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-declare -rx ARGS="$@"
-
-declare -rx SHLIBDIR=$( cd $(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE") && pwd )
-
-declare -r OS=$(uname -s)
-
 PATH=/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/opt/X11/bin
 
+declare -rx	ARGS="$@"
+declare -rx	SHLIBDIR=$( cd $(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE") && pwd )
+declare -r	OS=$(uname -s)
+
+# number of parallel make jobs
+declare -i	JOBS=3
+
 source "${SHLIBDIR}/lib.bash"
 
 function usage() {
@@ -48,26 +49,19 @@ ENV=VALUE
 	exit 1
 }
 
+
+# 
 # the module name might already be set in the build script(!)
-if [[ -z $P ]]; then
+#if [[ -z $P ]]; then
 	P=$(basename $0)
 	P=${P%.*}
-fi
+#fi
 
 # unset the version of the module
 _P=$(echo $P | tr [:lower:] [:upper:])
 _V=${_P}_VERSION
-unset ${_V}
-
-declare -i  JOBS=3
-
-#while read _name _version; do
-#	[[ -z ${_name} ]] && continue
-#	[[ -z ${_version} ]] && continue
-#	[[ "${_name:0:1}" == '#' ]] && continue
-#	_NAME=$(echo ${_name} | tr [:lower:] [:upper:])
-#	eval ${_NAME}_VERSION=$_version 
-#done < "${VERSIONS}"
+#unset ${_V}
+#fi
 
 DEBUG_ON=''
 FORCE_REBUILD=''
@@ -143,6 +137,8 @@ declare -x  CONFIG_DIR="${EM_BASEDIR}/config"
 declare -x  SCRIPTDIR="${EM_BASEDIR}/scripts"
 declare -x  EM_TMPDIR="${EM_BASEDIR}/tmp"
 
+declare -x  DEFAULT_VERSIONS_FILE="${CONFIG_DIR}/versions.conf"
+
 # these directories are module dependend
 declare -x  EM_SRCDIR=''
 declare -x  EM_BUILDDIR=''
@@ -204,7 +200,14 @@ function em.add_to_family() {
 		die 43 "${1}: family does not exist."
 	fi
 	EM_FAMILY=$1
-	source "${CONFIG_DIR}/versions.conf"
+	while read _name _version; do
+		[[ -z ${_name} ]] && continue
+		[[ -z ${_version} ]] && continue
+		[[ "${_name:0:1}" == '#' ]] && continue
+		_NAME=$(echo ${_name} | tr [:lower:] [:upper:])
+		eval ${_NAME}_VERSION=$_version 
+	done < "${DEFAULT_VERSIONS_FILE}"
+	#source "${CONFIG_DIR}/versions.conf"
 	for f in "${CONFIG_DIR}/families.d/"*.conf; do
 		source "${f}"
 	done