diff --git a/actions.py b/actions.py
index cda7aef..6b99006 100644
--- a/actions.py
+++ b/actions.py
@@ -531,7 +531,8 @@ class Actions(object):
             self.data.settings['shader']['STROBE_AMOUNT']['value'] = scaled_amount
 
     def get_midi_status(self):
-        self.message_handler.set_message('INFO', ("midi status is {} to %s"%(self.data.midi_device_name)).format(self.data.midi_status))
+        device_name = 'none' if not hasattr(self.data,'midi_device_name') else self.data.midi_device_name
+        self.message_handler.set_message('INFO', ("midi status is {} to %s"%(device_name)).format(self.data.midi_status))
 
     def cycle_midi_port_index(self):
         self.data.midi_port_index = self.data.midi_port_index + 1
diff --git a/plugins/ManipulatePlugin.py b/plugins/ManipulatePlugin.py
index 1e66290..4539961 100644
--- a/plugins/ManipulatePlugin.py
+++ b/plugins/ManipulatePlugin.py
@@ -10,22 +10,34 @@ use |f: : to bookend your formula
 eg
 
     "control_change 48": {
-            "DEFAULT": ["invert|f:sin(x*pi):|set_the_shader_param_0_layer_offset_0_continuous&&set_variable_A&&print_arguments","set_strobe_amount_continuous"],
+            "DEFAULT": ["invert|f:sin(x*pi):|set_the_shader_param_0_layer_offset_0_continuous>&print_arguments&&set_variable_A&&print_arguments","set_strobe_amount_continuous"],
             "NAV_DETOUR": ["set_detour_speed_position_continuous"]
     },
 
-example above inverts input, runs sin(x*pi) on it, then uses that value to set the shader param layer 0.  it also sets variable A to be the *original* value, and call print_arguments to print it
+example above inverts input, runs sin(x*pi) on it, then uses that value to set the shader param layer 0 and prints the value to console.  it also sets variable A to be the *original* value, and calls print_arguments to print it
 
+           "DEFAULT": ["invert|f:sin(x*pi):|set_the_shader_param_0_layer_offset_0_continuous>&set_variable_B>&print_arguments&&set_variable_A&&print_arguments","set_strobe_amount_continuous"],
+
+this one is similar the above but there's three branches as separated by the &&:-
+            invert|
+                f:sin(x*pi):|
+                    set_the_shader_param_0_layer_offset_0_continuous>&
+                    set_variable_B>&
+                    print_arguments
+            &&
+            set_variable_A
+            &&
+            print_arguments
 
     "control_change 49": {
             "DEFAULT": ["set_the_shader_param_1_layer_offset_0_continuous&&A>print_arguments","set_shader_speed_layer_0_amount"],
             "NAV_DETOUR": ["set_detour_start_continuous"]
     },
 
-example above outputs value stored in variable A and prints it
+example above outputs value stored in variable A and prints it as well as seting current shader value
 
 TODO: >> ??    invert|set_the_shader_param_0_layer_>>print_arguments>>set_variable_A
-	invert input, send to variable and to shader ?
+     invert input, send to variable and to shader ?
 
 """
 
@@ -38,12 +50,19 @@ class ManipulatePlugin(ActionsPlugin):
     @property
     def parserlist(self):
         return [ 
+                ( r"(.*)&&(.*)", self.run_multi ),  # split && first since they need to be processed separately
                 ( r"^invert\|(.*)$", self.invert ),
-                ( r"^f:(.*):\|(.*)$", self.formula ), 
+                ( r"^f:(.*):\|(.*)$", self.formula ), # formula eg ```f:sin(x):|```
                 ( r"^set_variable_([a-zA-Z0-9]+)$", self.set_variable ),
-                ( r"^([A-Z0-9]+)>(.*)$", self.recall_variable )
+                ( r"^([A-Z0-9]+)>(.*)$", self.recall_variable ), # recall variable and pipe into righthand side eg ```VAR1>invert|set_the_shader_.....```
+                ( r"^(.*)>\&(.*)$", self.run_multi ) # pick up piped commands that duplicate a chain of values last
         ]
 
+    def run_multi(self, action1, action2, value):
+        print("multi running %s and %s with value %s" % (action1, action2, value))
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(action1, value)
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(action2, value)
+
     variables = {}
 
     def invert(self, action, value):
@@ -65,10 +84,34 @@ class ManipulatePlugin(ActionsPlugin):
         )
 
     def set_variable(self, var_name, value):
+        print("set_variable     (%s) to %s" % (var_name, value))
         self.variables[var_name] = value
 
     def recall_variable(self, var_name, action, *args):
-        print ("recall_variable(%s) got args %s" % (var_name,args))
+        print ("recall_variable (%s) as %s" % (var_name,args))
         self.pc.actions.call_method_name(
                 action, self.variables.get(var_name)# + list(args)
         )
+
+    """def pipe2(self, left, right1, separator, right2, tail, value):
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(
+                left + separator + right1, value
+        )
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(
+                left + separator + right2, value
+        )
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(
+                tail, value
+        )"""
+
+    def pipe(self, left, right, value):
+        # ??
+        print("pipe calling left '%s' and right '%s', both with value '%s'" % (left, right, value))
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(
+                left, value
+        )
+
+        self.pc.actions.call_method_name(
+                right, value
+        )
+
diff --git a/plugins/MultiActionsPlugin.py b/plugins/MultiActionsPlugin.py
index 1038482..41474cd 100644
--- a/plugins/MultiActionsPlugin.py
+++ b/plugins/MultiActionsPlugin.py
@@ -2,10 +2,16 @@ import data_centre.plugin_collection
 from data_centre.plugin_collection import ActionsPlugin
 
 class MultiActionsPlugin(ActionsPlugin):
-    disabled = False
+    disabled = False # this is only a demo of very basic multi-actions plugin -- superceded by ManipulatePlugin
 
     def __init__(self, plugin_collection):
         super().__init__(plugin_collection)
+        try:
+            from plugins import ManipulatePlugin
+            self.disabled = True # if we've found ManipulatePlugin then disable this one
+        except:
+            # if it fails, we're good to go (so long as not disabled explictly above)
+            pass
 
     @property
     def parserlist(self):