diff --git a/sys/apps/Help.lua b/sys/apps/Help.lua
index ffd0486..8bae671 100644
--- a/sys/apps/Help.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/Help.lua
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ function page:eventHandler(event)
 		end
 
 	elseif event.type == 'text_change' then
-		if #event.text == 0 then
+		if not event.text then
 			self.grid.values = topics
 		else
 			self.grid.values = { }
diff --git a/sys/apps/Lua.lua b/sys/apps/Lua.lua
index 45cec04..2de6195 100644
--- a/sys/apps/Lua.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/Lua.lua
@@ -153,10 +153,11 @@ function page:eventHandler(event)
 		self.tabs:selectTab(self.tabs[2])
 
 	elseif event.type == 'autocomplete' then
-		local sz = #self.prompt.value
+		local value = self.prompt.value or ''
+		local sz = #value
 		local pos = self.prompt.entry.pos
-		self:setPrompt(autocomplete(sandboxEnv, self.prompt.value, self.prompt.entry.pos))
-		self.prompt:setPosition(pos + #self.prompt.value - sz)
+		self:setPrompt(autocomplete(sandboxEnv, value, self.prompt.entry.pos))
+		self.prompt:setPosition(pos + #value - sz)
 		self.prompt:updateCursor()
 
 	elseif event.type == 'device' then
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@ function page:eventHandler(event)
 		history:reset()
 
 	elseif event.type == 'command_enter' then
-		local s = tostring(self.prompt.value)
+		local s = tostring(self.prompt.value or '')
 
 		if #s > 0 then
 			self:executeStatement(s)
diff --git a/sys/apps/Welcome.lua b/sys/apps/Welcome.lua
index 04b60f9..a25278f 100644
--- a/sys/apps/Welcome.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/Welcome.lua
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ local page = UI.Page {
 }
 
 function page.wizard.pages.label:validate()
-	os.setComputerLabel(self.label.value)
+	if self.label.value then
+		os.setComputerLabel(self.label.value)
+	end
 	return true
 end
 
diff --git a/sys/apps/inspect.lua b/sys/apps/inspect.lua
index ce41738..ae991d6 100644
--- a/sys/apps/inspect.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/inspect.lua
@@ -6,11 +6,6 @@ local multishell = _ENV.multishell
 local name = ({ ... })[1] or error('Syntax: inspect COMPONENT')
 local events = { }
 local page
-local component = UI[name] and UI[name]() or error('Invalid component')
-
-if not component.example then
-	error('No example present')
-end
 
 local function isRelevant(el)
 	return page.testContainer == el or el.parent and isRelevant(el.parent)
@@ -18,8 +13,7 @@ end
 
 local emitter = UI.Window.emit
 function UI.Window:emit(event)
-	if not event.recorded and isRelevant(self) then
-		event.recorded = true
+	if not event._recorded and isRelevant(self) then
 		local t = { }
 		for k,v in pairs(event) do
 			if k ~= 'type' and k ~= 'recorded' then
@@ -35,9 +29,16 @@ function UI.Window:emit(event)
 			page.tabs.events.grid:draw()
 		end
 	end
+	event._recorded = true
 	return emitter(self, event)
 end
 
+-- do not load component until emit hook is in place
+local component = UI[name] and UI[name]() or error('Invalid component')
+if not component.example then
+	error('No example present')
+end
+
 page = UI.Page {
 	testContainer = UI.Window {
 		ey = 10,
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ page = UI.Page {
 			self.tabs.methodsTab.grid:draw()
 
 		elseif event.type == 'grid_select' and event.element == self.tabs.events.grid then
-			event.selected.raw.recorded = nil
+			event.selected.raw._recorded = nil
 			multishell.openTab({
 				path = 'sys/apps/Lua.lua',
 				args = { event.selected.raw },
diff --git a/sys/apps/system/label.lua b/sys/apps/system/label.lua
index e4a73f2..0dc77a7 100644
--- a/sys/apps/system/label.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/system/label.lua
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ local labelTab = UI.Tab {
 }
 
 function labelTab:eventHandler(event)
-	if event.type == 'update_label' then
+	if event.type == 'update_label' and self.label.value then
 		os.setComputerLabel(self.label.value)
 		self:emit({ type = 'success_message', message = 'Label updated' })
 		return true
diff --git a/sys/apps/system/path.lua b/sys/apps/system/path.lua
index bf30f7e..33249dd 100644
--- a/sys/apps/system/path.lua
+++ b/sys/apps/system/path.lua
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function tab:save()
 end
 
 function tab:eventHandler(event)
-	if event.type == 'update_path' then
+	if event.type == 'update_path' and self.entry.value then
 		table.insert(self.grid.values, {
 			value = self.entry.value,
 		})
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/entry.lua b/sys/modules/opus/entry.lua
index 693fe87..46e4eeb 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/entry.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/entry.lua
@@ -2,39 +2,48 @@ local class = require('opus.class')
 
 local os = _G.os
 
+-- convert value to a string (supporting nils or numbers in value)
+local function _val(a)
+	return a and tostring(a) or ''
+end
+
 local Entry = class()
 
 function Entry:init(args)
 	self.pos = 0
 	self.scroll = 0
-	self.value = ''
+	self.value = args.value
 	self.width = args.width or 256
 	self.limit = args.limit or 1024
 	self.mark = { }
 	self.offset = args.offset or 1
+	self.transform = args.transform or function(a) return a end
 end
 
 function Entry:reset()
 	self.pos = 0
 	self.scroll = 0
-	self.value = ''
+	self.value = nil
 	self.mark = { }
 end
 
 function Entry:nextWord()
-	return select(2, self.value:find("[%s%p]?%w[%s%p]", self.pos + 1)) or #self.value
+	local value = _val(self.value)
+	return select(2, value:find("[%s%p]?%w[%s%p]", self.pos + 1)) or #value
 end
 
 function Entry:prevWord()
-	local x = #self.value - (self.pos - 1)
-	local _, n = self.value:reverse():find("[%s%p]?%w[%s%p]", x)
-	return n and #self.value - n + 1 or 0
+	local value = _val(self.value)
+	local x = #value - (self.pos - 1)
+	local _, n = value:reverse():find("[%s%p]?%w[%s%p]", x)
+	return n and #value - n + 1 or 0
 end
 
 function Entry:updateScroll()
 	local ps = self.scroll
-	if self.pos > #self.value then
-		self.pos = #self.value
+	local value = _val(self.value)
+	if self.pos > #value then
+		self.pos = #value
 		self.scroll = 0 -- ??
 	end
 	if self.pos - self.scroll > self.width then
@@ -48,21 +57,25 @@ function Entry:updateScroll()
 end
 
 function Entry:copyText(cx, ex)
-	return self.value:sub(cx + 1, ex)
+	-- this should be transformed (ie. if number)
+	return _val(self.value):sub(cx + 1, ex)
 end
 
 function Entry:insertText(x, text)
-	if #self.value + #text > self.limit then
-		text = text:sub(1, self.limit-#self.value)
+	text = tostring(self.transform(text)) or ''
+	local value = _val(self.value)
+	if #value + #text > self.limit then
+		text = text:sub(1, self.limit-#value)
 	end
-	self.value = self.value:sub(1, x) .. text .. self.value:sub(x + 1)
+	self.value = self.transform(value:sub(1, x) .. text .. value:sub(x + 1))
 	self.pos = self.pos + #text
 end
 
 function Entry:deleteText(sx, ex)
-	local front = self.value:sub(1, sx)
-	local back = self.value:sub(ex + 1, #self.value)
-	self.value = front .. back
+	local value = _val(self.value)
+	local front = value:sub(1, sx)
+	local back = value:sub(ex + 1, #value)
+	self.value = self.transform(front .. back)
 	self.pos = sx
 end
 
@@ -74,7 +87,7 @@ function Entry:moveLeft()
 end
 
 function Entry:moveRight()
-	if self.pos < #self.value then
+	if self.pos < #_val(self.value) then
 		self.pos = self.pos + 1
 		return true
 	end
@@ -88,14 +101,14 @@ function Entry:moveHome()
 end
 
 function Entry:moveEnd()
-	if self.pos ~= #self.value then
-		self.pos = #self.value
+	if self.pos ~= #_val(self.value) then
+		self.pos = #_val(self.value)
 		return true
 	end
 end
 
 function Entry:moveTo(ie)
-	self.pos = math.max(0, math.min(ie.x + self.scroll - self.offset, #self.value))
+	self.pos = math.max(0, math.min(ie.x + self.scroll - self.offset, #_val(self.value)))
 end
 
 function Entry:backspace()
@@ -107,7 +120,7 @@ function Entry:backspace()
 end
 
 function Entry:moveWordRight()
-	if self.pos < #self.value then
+	if self.pos < #_val(self.value) then
 		self.pos = self:nextWord(self.value, self.pos + 1)
 		return true
 	end
@@ -123,7 +136,7 @@ end
 function Entry:delete()
 	if self.mark.active then
 		self:deleteText(self.mark.x, self.mark.ex)
-	elseif self.pos < #self.value then
+	elseif self.pos < #_val(self.value) then
 		self:deleteText(self.pos, self.pos + 1)
 	end
 end
@@ -137,15 +150,16 @@ function Entry:cutFromStart()
 end
 
 function Entry:cutToEnd()
-	if self.pos < #self.value then
-		local text = self:copyText(self.pos, #self.value)
-		self:deleteText(self.pos, #self.value)
+	local value = _val(self.value)
+	if self.pos < #value then
+		local text = self:copyText(self.pos, #value)
+		self:deleteText(self.pos, #value)
 		os.queueEvent('clipboard_copy', text)
 	end
 end
 
 function Entry:cutNextWord()
-	if self.pos < #self.value then
+	if self.pos < #_val(self.value) then
 		local ex = self:nextWord(self.value, self.pos)
 		local text = self:copyText(self.pos, ex)
 		self:deleteText(self.pos, ex)
@@ -170,7 +184,7 @@ function Entry:insertChar(ie)
 end
 
 function Entry:copy()
-	if #self.value > 0 then
+	if #_val(self.value) > 0 then
 		self.mark.continue = true
 		if self.mark.active then
 			self:copyMarked()
@@ -202,7 +216,7 @@ function Entry:paste(ie)
 end
 
 function Entry:clearLine()
-	if #self.value > 0 then
+	if #_val(self.value) > 0 then
 		self:reset()
 	end
 end
@@ -233,10 +247,13 @@ function Entry:unmark()
 end
 
 function Entry:markAnchor(ie)
+	local wasMarking = self.mark.active
 	self:unmark()
 	self:moveTo(ie)
 	self:markBegin()
 	self:markFinish()
+
+	self.textChanged = wasMarking
 end
 
 function Entry:markLeft()
@@ -257,7 +274,7 @@ function Entry:markWord(ie)
 	local index = 1
 	self:moveTo(ie)
 	while true do
-		local s, e = self.value:find('%w+', index)
+		local s, e = _val(self.value):find('%w+', index)
 		if not s or s - 1 > self.pos then
 			break
 		end
@@ -288,12 +305,12 @@ function Entry:markPrevWord()
 end
 
 function Entry:markAll()
-	if #self.value > 0 then
+	if #_val(self.value) > 0 then
 		self.mark.anchor = { x = 1 }
 		self.mark.active = true
 		self.mark.continue = true
 		self.mark.x = 0
-		self.mark.ex = #self.value
+		self.mark.ex = #_val(self.value)
 		self.textChanged = true
 	end
 end
@@ -373,6 +390,10 @@ function Entry:process(ie)
 
 		action(self, ie)
 
+		if not self.value or #_val(self.value) == 0 then
+			self.value = nil
+		end
+_syslog(tostring(line) .. ' ' .. tostring(self.value) .. ' ' .. tostring(self.textChanged))
 		self.textChanged = self.textChanged or self.value ~= line
 		self.posChanged = pos ~= self.pos
 		self:updateScroll()
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Form.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Form.lua
index ed9ae0d..da312d9 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Form.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Form.lua
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function UI.Form:setValues(values)
 			if child.setValue then
 				child:setValue(self.values[child.formKey])
 			else
-				child.value = self.values[child.formKey] or ''
+				child.value = self.values[child.formKey]
 			end
 		end
 	end
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ function UI.Form:createForm()
 	for _, child in pairs(self) do
 		if type(child) == 'table' and child.UIElement then
 			if child.formKey then
-				child.value = self.values[child.formKey] or ''
+				child.value = self.values[child.formKey]
 			end
 			if child.formLabel then
 				child.x = self.labelWidth + self.margin - 1
@@ -99,14 +99,6 @@ function UI.Form:validateField(field)
 			return false, 'Field is required'
 		end
 	end
-	if field.validate == 'numeric' then
-		field.value = field.value or ''
-		if #tostring(field.value) > 0 then
-			if not tonumber(field.value) then
-				return false, 'Invalid number'
-			end
-		end
-	end
 	return true
 end
 
@@ -124,11 +116,7 @@ function UI.Form:save()
 	end
 	for _,child in pairs(self.children) do
 		if child.formKey then
-			if child.validate == 'numeric' then
-				self.values[child.formKey] = tonumber(child.value)
-			else
-				self.values[child.formKey] = child.value
-			end
+			self.values[child.formKey] = child.value
 		end
 	end
 
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Grid.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Grid.lua
index bcdab81..e1edfe8 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Grid.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/Grid.lua
@@ -493,3 +493,43 @@ function UI.Grid:eventHandler(event)
 	end
 	return true
 end
+
+function UI.Grid.example()
+	local values = {
+		{ key = 'key1', value = 'value1' },
+		{ key = 'key2', value = 'value2' },
+		{ key = 'key3', value = 'value3-longer value text' },
+		{ key = 'key4', value = 'value4' },
+		{ key = 'key5', value = 'value5' },
+	}
+	return UI.Window {
+		regular = UI.Grid {
+			ex = '48%', ey = 4,
+			values = values,
+			sortColumn = 'key',
+			inverseSort = true,
+			columns = {
+				{ heading = 'key', key = 'key' },
+				{ heading = 'value', key = 'value' },
+			},
+		},
+		noheader = UI.Grid {
+			ex = '48%', y = 6, ey = -2,
+			disableHeader = true,
+			values = values,
+			columns = {
+				{ heading = 'key', key = 'key', width = 6,  },
+				{ heading = 'value', key = 'value', textColor = colors.yellow },
+			},
+		},
+		autospace = UI.Grid {
+			x = '52%', ey = 4,
+			autospace = true,
+			values = values,
+			columns = {
+				{ heading = 'key', key = 'key' },
+				{ heading = 'value', key = 'value' },
+			},
+		},
+	}
+end
diff --git a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua
index ea507c8..1a3f604 100644
--- a/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua
+++ b/sys/modules/opus/ui/components/TextEntry.lua
@@ -5,8 +5,15 @@ local Util  = require('opus.util')
 
 local colors = _G.colors
 local _rep   = string.rep
-local _lower = string.lower
-local _upper = string.upper
+
+local function transform(directive)
+	local transforms = {
+		lowercase = string.lower,
+		uppercase = string.upper,
+		number    = tonumber,
+	}
+	return transforms[directive]
+end
 
 UI.TextEntry = class(UI.Window)
 UI.TextEntry.defaults = {
@@ -25,7 +32,7 @@ UI.TextEntry.defaults = {
 	}
 }
 function UI.TextEntry:postInit()
-	self.entry = entry({ limit = self.limit, offset = 2 })
+	self.entry = entry({ limit = self.limit, offset = 2, transform = transform(self.transform) })
 end
 
 function UI.TextEntry:layout()
@@ -36,13 +43,13 @@ end
 function UI.TextEntry:setValue(value)
 	self.value = value --or ''
 	self.entry:unmark()
-	self.entry.value = tostring(value)
+	self.entry.value = value --tostring(value or '')
 	self.entry:updateScroll()
 end
 
 function UI.TextEntry:setPosition(pos)
 	self.entry.pos = pos
-	self.entry.value = tostring(self.value or '')
+	self.entry.value = self.value --tostring(self.value or '') -- WHY HERE ?
 	self.entry:updateScroll()
 end
 
@@ -105,27 +112,15 @@ function UI.TextEntry:focus()
 	end
 end
 
-function UI.TextEntry:_transform(text)
-	if self.transform == 'lowercase' then
-		return _lower(text)
-	elseif self.transform == 'uppercase' then
-		return _upper(text)
-	elseif self.transform == 'number' then
-		return tonumber(text) --or 0
-	end
-	return text
-end
-
 function UI.TextEntry:eventHandler(event)
-	local text = self.value --or ''
-	self.entry.value = tostring(text or '')
+	local text = self.value
+	self.entry.value = text
 	if event.ie and self.entry:process(event.ie) then
 		if self.entry.textChanged then
-			self.value = self:_transform(self.entry.value)
+--_syslog(tostring(self.entry.value) .. ' ' .. tostring(self.value))
+			self.value = self.entry.value
 			self:draw()
-			if text ~= self.value then
-				self:emit({ type = 'text_change', text = self.value, element = self })
-			end
+			self:emit({ type = 'text_change', text = self.value, element = self })
 		elseif self.entry.posChanged then
 			self:updateCursor()
 		end