diff --git a/lib/dtutils.lua b/lib/dtutils.lua
index ad8abfa2..c17ce334 100644
--- a/lib/dtutils.lua
+++ b/lib/dtutils.lua
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ function dtutils.prequire(req_name)
   if status then
     log.msg(log.info, "Loaded " .. req_name)
   else
-    log.msg(log.info, "Error loading " .. req_name)
+    log.msg(log.error, "Error loading " .. req_name)
+    log.msg(log.error, "Error returned is " .. lib)
   end
   return status, lib
 end
diff --git a/tools/script_manager.lua b/tools/script_manager.lua
index 7befa037..c4546b65 100644
--- a/tools/script_manager.lua
+++ b/tools/script_manager.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 --[[
   This file is part of darktable,
-  copyright (c) 2018, 2020 Bill Ferguson <wpferguson@gmail.com>
+  copyright (c) 2018, 2020, 2023 Bill Ferguson <wpferguson@gmail.com>
   
   darktable is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -98,19 +98,8 @@ local LUA_API_VER = "API-" .. dt.configuration.api_version_string
 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
 dt.preferences.register(MODULE, "check_update", "bool",
-  "check for updated scripts on start up", 
-  "automatically update scripts to correct version", 
-  true)
-
-local check_for_updates = dt.preferences.read(MODULE, "check_update", "bool")
-
--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
--- P R E F E R E N C E S
--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
-
-dt.preferences.register(MODULE, "check_update", "bool",
-  "check for updated scripts on start up", 
-  "automatically update scripts to correct version", 
+  _("check for updated scripts on start up"), 
+  _("automatically update scripts to correct version"), 
   true)
 
 local check_for_updates = dt.preferences.read(MODULE, "check_update", "bool")
@@ -141,6 +130,10 @@ sm.event_registered = false
 sm.widgets = {}
 sm.categories = {}
 
+-- set log level for functions
+
+sm.log_level = DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL
+
 --[[
 
   sm.scripts is a table of tables for containing the scripts
@@ -170,6 +163,8 @@ sm.categories = {}
   storage_name  name of the exporter (in the exporter storage menu)
   has_action    true if it creates an action
   action_name   name on the button
+  has_select    true if it creates a select
+  select_name   name on the button
   has_event     true if it creates an event handler
   event_type    type of event, shortcut, post-xxx, pre-xxx
   callback      name of the callback routine
@@ -201,22 +196,42 @@ sm.run = false
 -- F U N C T I O N S
 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
+-------------------
+-- helper functions
+-------------------
+
+local function set_log_level(level)
+  local old_log_level = log.log_level()
+  log.log_level(level)
+  return old_log_level
+end
+
+local function restore_log_level(level)
+  log.log_level(level)
+end
+
 local function pref_read(name, pref_type)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   log.msg(log.debug, "name is " .. name .. " and type is " .. pref_type)
   local val = dt.preferences.read(MODULE, name, pref_type)
-  if not string.match(pref_type, "bool") then
-    log.msg(log.debug, "read value " .. tostring(val))
-  end
+  log.msg(log.debug, "read value " .. tostring(val))
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return val
 end
 
 local function pref_write(name, pref_type, value)
-   dt.preferences.write(MODULE, name, pref_type, value)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
+  log.msg(log.debug, "writing value " .. tostring(value) .. " for name " .. name)
+  dt.preferences.write(MODULE, name, pref_type, value)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
+----------------
 -- git interface
+----------------
 
 local function get_repo_status(repo)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local p = io.popen("cd " .. repo .. CS .. "git status")
   if p then
     local data = p:read("*a")
@@ -224,10 +239,12 @@ local function get_repo_status(repo)
     return data
   end
   log.msg(log.error, "unable to get status of " .. repo)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return nil
 end
 
 local function get_current_repo_branch(repo)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local branch = nil
   local p = io.popen("cd " .. repo .. CS .. "git branch --all")
   if p then
@@ -246,10 +263,12 @@ local function get_current_repo_branch(repo)
   if not branch then
     log.msg(log.error, "no current branch detected in repo_data")
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return nil
 end
 
 local function get_repo_branches(repo)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local branches = {}
   local p = io.popen("cd " .. repo .. CS .. "git pull --all" .. CS .. "git branch --all")
   if p then
@@ -266,11 +285,12 @@ local function get_repo_branches(repo)
       end
     end
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return branches 
 end
 
-
 local function is_repo_clean(repo_data)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   if string.match(repo_data, "\n%s-%a.-%a:%s-%a%g-\n") then
     log.msg(log.info, "repo is dirty")
     return false
@@ -278,14 +298,22 @@ local function is_repo_clean(repo_data)
     log.msg(log.info, "repo is clean")
     return true
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function checkout_repo_branch(repo, branch)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   log.msg(log.info, "checkout out branch " .. branch .. " from repository " .. repo)
   os.execute("cd " .. repo .. CS .. "git checkout " .. branch)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
+--------------------
+-- utility functions
+--------------------
+
 local function update_combobox_choices(combobox, choice_table, selected)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local items = #combobox
   local choices = #choice_table
   for i, name in ipairs(choice_table) do 
@@ -301,11 +329,14 @@ local function update_combobox_choices(combobox, choice_table, selected)
   end
 
   combobox.value = selected
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function string_trim(str)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local result = string.gsub(str, "^%s+", "")
   result = string.gsub(result, "%s+$", "")
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return result
 end
 
@@ -313,15 +344,22 @@ local function string_dequote(str)
   return string.gsub(str, "['\"]", "")
 end
 
+------------------
+-- script handling
+------------------
+
 local function add_script_category(category)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   if #sm.categories == 0 or not string.match(du.join(sm.categories, " "), ds.sanitize_lua(category)) then
     table.insert(sm.categories, category)
     sm.scripts[category] = {}
     log.msg(log.debug, "created category " .. category)
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function get_script_doc(script)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local description = nil
   f = io.open(LUA_DIR .. PS .. script .. ".lua")
   if f then
@@ -334,13 +372,16 @@ local function get_script_doc(script)
     log.msg(log.error, _("Cant read from " .. script))
   end
   if description then
+    restore_log_level(old_log_level)
     return description
   else
+    restore_log_level(old_log_level)
     return "No documentation available"
   end
 end
 
 local function activate(script)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local status = nil -- status of start function
   local err = nil    -- error message returned if module doesn't start
   log.msg(log.info, "activating " .. script.name)
@@ -356,7 +397,7 @@ local function activate(script)
       if err ~= true then
         log.msg(log.debug, "got lib data")
         script.data = err
-        if script.data.destroy_method and script.data.destroy_method == "hide" then
+        if script.data.destroy_method and script.data.destroy_method == "hide" and script.data.show then
           script.data.show()
         end
       else
@@ -373,16 +414,20 @@ local function activate(script)
     status = true
     pref_write(script.script_name, "bool", true)
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return status
 end
 
 local function deactivate(script)
-  -- presently the lua api doesn't support unloading gui elements however, we
- -- can hide libs, so we just mark those as hidden and hide the gui
- -- can delete storage
-  --therefore we just mark then inactive for the next time darktable starts
+  -- presently the lua api doesn't support unloading lib elements however, we
+  --   can hide libs, so we just mark those as hidden and hide the gui
+  --   can delete storages
+  --   can delete actions
+  --   can delete selects
+  --   and mark them inactive for the next time darktable starts
 
   -- deactivate it....
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   pref_write(script.script_name, "bool", false)
   if script.data then
     script.data.destroy()
@@ -404,9 +449,11 @@ local function deactivate(script)
     log.msg(log.info, "setting " .. script.script_name .. " to not start")
     log.msg(log.screen, script.name .. _(" will not start when darktable is restarted"))
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function add_script_name(name, path, category)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   log.msg(log.debug, "category is " .. category)
   log.msg(log.debug, "name is " .. name)
   local script = { 
@@ -421,9 +468,11 @@ local function add_script_name(name, path, category)
   if pref_read(script.script_name, "bool") then
     activate(script)
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function process_script_data(script_file)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
 
   -- the script file supplied is category/filename.filetype
   -- the following pattern splits the string into category, path, name, fileename, and filetype
@@ -454,9 +503,11 @@ local function process_script_data(script_file)
   if name then
     add_script_name(name, path, category)
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function scan_scripts(script_dir)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local script_count = 0
   local find_cmd = "find -L " .. script_dir .. " -name \\*.lua -print | sort"
   if dt.configuration.running_os == "windows" then
@@ -479,10 +530,12 @@ local function scan_scripts(script_dir)
       end
     end
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return script_count
 end
 
 local function update_scripts()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local result = false
 
   local git = sm.executables.git
@@ -505,10 +558,16 @@ local function update_scripts()
     dt.print(_("lua scripts successfully updated"))
   end
 
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return result
 end
 
+--------------
+-- UI handling
+--------------
+
 local function update_script_update_choices()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local installs = {}
   local pref_string = ""
   for i, repo in ipairs(sm.installed_repositories) do
@@ -518,9 +577,11 @@ local function update_script_update_choices()
   update_combobox_choices(sm.widgets.update_script_choices, installs, 1)
   log.msg(log.debug, "repo pref string is " .. pref_string)
   pref_write("installed_repos", "string", pref_string)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function scan_repositories()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local script_count = 0
   local find_cmd = "find -L " .. LUA_DIR .. " -name \\*.git -print | sort"
   if dt.configuration.running_os == "windows" then
@@ -555,15 +616,18 @@ local function scan_repositories()
     end
   end
   update_script_update_choices()
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function install_scripts()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local url = sm.widgets.script_url.text
   local category = sm.widgets.new_category.text
 
   if string.match(du.join(sm.categories, " "), ds.sanitize_lua(category)) then
     log.msg(log.screen, _("category ") .. category .. _(" is already in use. Please specify a different category name."))
     log.msg(log.error, "category " .. category .. " already exists, returning...")
+    restore_log_level(old_log_level)
     return
   end
 
@@ -573,6 +637,7 @@ local function install_scripts()
 
   if not git then
     dt.print(_("ERROR: git not found.  Install or specify the location of the git executable."))
+    restore_log_level(old_log_level)
     return
   end
 
@@ -614,28 +679,34 @@ local function install_scripts()
     dt.print(_("failed to download scripts"))
   end
 
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return result
 end
 
 local function clear_button(number)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local button = sm.widgets.buttons[number]
   button.label = ""
   button.tooltip = ""
   button.sensitive = false
---button.name = ""
+  --button.name = ""
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function find_script(category, name)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   log.msg(log.debug, "looking for script " .. name .. " in category " .. category)
   for _, script in ipairs(sm.scripts[category]) do
     if string.match(script.name, "^" .. ds.sanitize_lua(name) .. "$") then
       return script
     end
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
   return nil
 end
 
 local function populate_buttons(category, first, last)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   log.msg(log.debug, "category is " .. category .. " and first is " .. first .. " and last is " .. last)
   local button_num = 1
   for i = first, last do
@@ -700,9 +771,11 @@ local function populate_buttons(category, first, last)
       clear_button(i)
     end
   end
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function paginate(direction)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   local category = sm.page_status.category
   log.msg(log.debug, "category is " .. category)
   local num_scripts = #sm.scripts[category]
@@ -754,9 +827,11 @@ local function paginate(direction)
   sm.widgets.page_status.label = _("Page ") .. cur_page .. _(" of ") .. max_pages
 
   populate_buttons(category, first, last)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function change_category(category)
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   if not category then
     log.msg(log.debug "setting category to selector value " ..  sm.widgets.category_selector.value)
     sm.page_status.category = sm.widgets.category_selector.value
@@ -766,9 +841,11 @@ local function change_category(category)
   end
 
   paginate(2)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function change_num_buttons()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   cur_buttons = sm.page_status.num_buttons
   new_buttons = sm.widgets.num_buttons.value
   pref_write("num_buttons", "integer", new_buttons)
@@ -799,9 +876,11 @@ local function change_num_buttons()
   log.msg(log.debug, "num_buttons set to " .. sm.page_status.num_buttons)
   paginate(2) -- force the buttons to repopulate
   sm.widgets.main_menu.selected = 3 -- jump back to start/stop scripts
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function load_preferences()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   -- load the prefs and update settings
   -- update_script_choices
   local pref_string = pref_read("installed_repos", "string")
@@ -843,9 +922,11 @@ local function load_preferences()
   log.msg(log.debug, "set main menu to val " .. val .. " which is " .. sm.widgets.main_menu.value)
 
   log.msg(log.debug, "set main menu to " .. sm.widgets.main_menu.value)
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 local function install_module()
+  local old_log_level = set_log_level(sm.log_level)
   if not sm.module_installed then
     dt.register_lib(
       "script_manager",     -- Module name
@@ -875,6 +956,7 @@ local function install_module()
   dt.control.sleep(5000)
   dt.print_log("setting sm expanded true")
   dt.gui.libs["script_manager"].expanded = true]]
+  restore_log_level(old_log_level)
 end
 
 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
@@ -1164,6 +1246,7 @@ sm.widgets.main_box = dt.new_widget("box"){
 }
 
 script_manager_running_script = nil
+
 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 -- D A R K T A B L E  I N T E G R A T I O N 
 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -