Index: Makefile
==================================================================
--- Makefile
+++ Makefile
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@
 # rm <files>.o ; make install CSCOPTS='-profile' ; ... ;  chicken-profile | less
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 PREFIX=$(PWD)
 CSCOPTS=
 INSTALL=install
-SRCFILES = items.scm launch.scm \
+SRCFILES = common.o items.scm launch.scm \
    ods.scm runconfig.scm server.scm configf.scm \
    db.scm keys.scm margs.scm megatest-version.scm \
    process.scm runs.scm tasks.scm tests.scm genexample.scm \
    http-transport.scm filedb.scm tdb.scm \
    client.scm mt.scm \
@@ -70,15 +70,15 @@
 PNGFILES = $(shell cd docs/manual;ls *png)
 
 #all : $(PREFIX)/bin/.$(ARCHSTR) mtest dboard mtut ndboard
 all : $(PREFIX)/bin/.$(ARCHSTR) mtest dboard mtut
 
-mtest: $(OFILES) readline-fix.scm megatest.scm $(MTMOFILES) megatest-fossil-hash.scm common.o
-	csc $(CSCOPTS) $(OFILES) $(MTMOFILES) common.o megatest.scm -o mtest
+mtest: $(OFILES) readline-fix.scm megatest.scm $(MTMOFILES) megatest-fossil-hash.scm
+	csc $(CSCOPTS) $(OFILES) $(MTMOFILES) megatest.scm -o mtest
 
-dboard : $(OFILES) $(GOFILES) dashboard.scm $(MTMOFILES) common.o
-	csc $(CSCOPTS) $(OFILES) common.o dashboard.scm $(GOFILES) $(MTMOFILES) -o dboard
+dboard : $(OFILES) $(GOFILES) dashboard.scm $(MTMOFILES)
+	csc $(CSCOPTS) $(OFILES) dashboard.scm $(GOFILES) $(MTMOFILES) -o dboard
 
 ndboard : newdashboard.scm $(MOFILES) gutils.o margs.o megatest-version.o 
 	csc $(CSCOPTS) $(MOFILES) gutils.o margs.o megatest-version.o newdashboard.scm -o ndboard
 
 mtut: megatest-fossil-hash.scm megatest-version.o margs.o mtut.scm $(MOFILES)

Index: archive.scm
==================================================================
--- archive.scm
+++ archive.scm
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@
 	(flavor  'plain) ;; type of machine to run jobs on
 	(maxload 1.5)   ;; max allowed load for this work
 	(adisks  (archive:get-archive-disks)))
     ;; get testdir size
     ;;   - hand off du to job mgr
-    (if (and (common:file-exists? testdir)
+    (if (and (file-exists? testdir)
 	     (file-is-writable? testdir))
 	(let* ((dused  (jobrunner:run-job 
 			flavor  ;; machine type
 			maxload ;; max allowed load
 			'()     ;; prevars - environment vars to set for the job
@@ -145,11 +145,11 @@
 				      (> (rmt:test-toplevel-num-items run-id test-name) 0)))
 	      (test-partial-path (conc target "/" run-name "/" (db:test-make-full-name test-name item-path)))
 	      ;; note the trailing slash to get the dir inspite of it being a link
 	      (test-path         (conc linktree "/" test-partial-path))
 	      (mutex-lock! rp-mutex)
-	      (test-physical-path (if (common:file-exists? test-path) 
+	      (test-physical-path (if (file-exists? test-path) 
 				      (common:real-path test-path)
 				      #f))
 	      (mutex-unlock! rp-mutex)
 	      (partial-path-index (if test-physical-path (substring-index test-partial-path test-physical-path) #f))
 	      (test-base         (if (and partial-path-index 
@@ -160,11 +160,11 @@
 				     #f)))
 	 
  	 (cond
 	  (toplevel/children
 	   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: cannot archive " test-name " with id " test-id " as it is a toplevel test with children"))
-	  ((not (common:file-exists? test-path))
+	  ((not (file-exists? test-path))
 	   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: Cannot archive " test-name "/" item-path " as path " test-path " does not exist"))
 	  (else
 	   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port*
 			"From test-dat=" test-dat " derived the following:\n"
 			"test-partial-path  = " test-partial-path "\n"
@@ -188,13 +188,13 @@
 					      (conc "-" compress) ;; or (conc "--compress=" compress)
 					      "-n" (conc (common:get-testsuite-name) "-" run-id)
 					      (conc "--strip-path=" disk-group))
 					test-paths))
 	      (print-prefix      #f)) ;; "Running: ")) ;; change to #f to turn off printing
-	 (if (not (common:file-exists? archive-dir))
+	 (if (not (file-exists? archive-dir))
 	     (create-directory archive-dir #t))
-	 (if (not (common:file-exists? (conc archive-dir "/HEAD")))
+	 (if (not (file-exists? (conc archive-dir "/HEAD")))
 	     (begin
 	       ;; replace this with jobrunner stuff enventually
 	       (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Init bup in " archive-dir)
 	       ;; (mutex-lock! bup-mutex)
 	       (run-n-wait bup-exe params: bup-init-params print-cmd: print-prefix)
@@ -241,11 +241,11 @@
 	      (test-partial-path (conc target "/" run-name "/" (db:test-make-full-name test-name item-path)))
 	      ;; note the trailing slash to get the dir inspite of it being a link
 	      (test-path         (conc linktree "/" test-partial-path))
 	      ;; if the old path was not deleted then prev-test-physical-path will end up pointing to a real directory
 	      (mutex-lock! rp-mutex)
-	      (prev-test-physical-path (if (common:file-exists? test-path)
+	      (prev-test-physical-path (if (file-exists? test-path)
 					   ;; (read-symbolic-link test-path #t)
 					   (common:real-path test-path)
 					   #f))
 	      (mutex-unlock! rp-mutex)
 	      (new-test-physical-path  (conc best-disk "/" test-partial-path))
@@ -258,11 +258,11 @@
 	 
 	 ;; some sanity checks, move an existing path out of the way - iif it is not a toplevel with children
 	 ;;
 	 (if (and (not toplevel/children)  ;; special handling needed for toplevel with children
 		  prev-test-physical-path
-		  (common:file-exists? prev-test-physical-path)) ;; what to do? abort or clean up or link it in?
+		  (file-exists? prev-test-physical-path)) ;; what to do? abort or clean up or link it in?
 	     (let* ((base (pathname-directory prev-test-physical-path))
 		    (dirn (pathname-file      prev-test-physical-path))
 		    (newn (conc base "/." dirn)))
 	       (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "the old directory " prev-test-physical-path ", still exists! Moving it to " newn)
 	       (rename-file prev-test-physical-path newn)))

Index: common.scm
==================================================================
--- common.scm
+++ common.scm
@@ -363,11 +363,11 @@
                      (> (file-size fullname) 200000))
                 (and (string-match "^server-.*.log" file)
                      (> (- (current-seconds) (file-modification-time fullname))
                         (* 8 60 60))))
             (let ((gzfile (conc fullname ".gz")))
-              (if (common:file-exists? gzfile)
+              (if (file-exists? gzfile)
                   (begin
                     (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "removing " gzfile)
                     (delete-file gzfile)))
               (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "compressing " file)
               (system (conc "gzip " fullname)))
@@ -393,11 +393,11 @@
 			 "WARNING: Version mismatch!\n"
 			 "   expected: " (common:version-signature) "\n"
 			 "   got:      " (common:get-last-run-version))
             (cond
              ((get-environment-variable "MT_SKIP_DB_MIGRATE") #t)
-             ((and (common:file-exists? mtconf) (common:file-exists? dbfile) (not read-only)
+             ((and (file-exists? mtconf) (file-exists? dbfile) (not read-only)
                    (eq? (current-user-id)(file-owner mtconf))) ;; safe to run -cleanup-db
               (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   I see you are the owner of megatest.config, attempting to cleanup and reset to new version")
               (handle-exceptions
                exn
                (begin
@@ -404,14 +404,14 @@
                  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "Failed to switch versions.")
                  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
                  (print-call-chain (current-error-port))
                  (exit 1))
                (common:cleanup-db dbstruct)))
-             ((not (common:file-exists? mtconf))
+             ((not (file-exists? mtconf))
               (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   megatest.config does not exist in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
-             ((not (common:file-exists? dbfile))
+             ((not (file-exists? dbfile))
               (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   megatest.db does not exist in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
              ((not (eq? (current-user-id)(file-owner mtconf)))
               (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "   You do not own megatest.db in this area.  Cannot proceed with megatest version migration.")
               (exit 1))
@@ -524,11 +524,11 @@
 ;;
 (define (common:simple-file-lock fname #!key (expire-time 300))
   (handle-exceptions
       exn
       #f ;; don't really care what went wrong right now. NOTE: I have not seen this one actually fail.
-    (if (common:file-exists? fname)
+    (if (file-exists? fname)
 	(if (> (- (current-seconds)(file-modification-time fname)) expire-time)
 	    (begin
 	      (delete-file* fname)
 	      (common:simple-file-lock fname expire-time: expire-time))
 	    #f)
@@ -535,11 +535,11 @@
 	(let ((key-string (conc (get-host-name) "-" (current-process-id))))
 	  (with-output-to-file fname
 	    (lambda ()
 	      (print key-string)))
 	  (thread-sleep! 0.25)
-	  (if (common:file-exists? fname)
+	  (if (file-exists? fname)
 	      (with-input-from-file fname
 		(lambda ()
 		  (equal? key-string (read-line))))
 	      #f)))))
 
@@ -922,19 +922,19 @@
       #f
       (let loop ((hed (car cmds))
 		 (tal (cdr cmds)))
 	(let ((res (with-input-from-pipe (conc "which " hed) read-line)))
 	  (if (and (string? res)
-		   (common:file-exists? res))
+		   (file-exists? res))
 	      res
 	      (if (null? tal)
 		  #f
 		  (loop (car tal)(cdr tal))))))))
   
 (define (common:get-install-area)
   (let ((exe-path (car (argv))))
-    (if (common:file-exists? exe-path)
+    (if (file-exists? exe-path)
 	(handle-exceptions
 	 exn
 	 #f
 	 (pathname-directory
 	  (pathname-directory 
@@ -1175,11 +1175,11 @@
 				 (begin
 				   (mutex-unlock! *homehost-mutex*)
 				   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: Failed to read .homehost file after trying five times. Giving up and exiting, message: "  ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
 				   (exit 1)))
 			   (let ((hhf (conc *toppath* "/.homehost")))
-			     (if (common:file-exists? hhf)
+			     (if (file-exists? hhf)
 				 (with-input-from-file hhf read-line)
 				 (if (file-write-access? *toppath*)
 				     (begin
 				       (with-output-to-file hhf
 					 (lambda ()
@@ -2581,14 +2581,14 @@
 ;;
 (define (common:load-views-config)
   (let* ((view-cfgdat    (make-hash-table))
 	 (home-cfgfile   (conc (get-environment-variable "HOME") "/.mtviews.config"))
 	 (mthome-cfgfile (conc *toppath* "/.mtviews.config")))
-    (if (common:file-exists? mthome-cfgfile)
+    (if (file-exists? mthome-cfgfile)
 	(read-config mthome-cfgfile view-cfgdat #t))
     ;; we load the home dir file AFTER the MTRAH file so the user can clobber settings when running the dashboard in read-only areas
-    (if (common:file-exists? home-cfgfile)
+    (if (file-exists? home-cfgfile)
 	(read-config home-cfgfile view-cfgdat #t))
     view-cfgdat))
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; H I E R A R C H I C A L   H A S H   T A B L E S
@@ -2708,11 +2708,11 @@
 	 (pdbpath  (or (configf:lookup mtconf "setup"  "pdbpath") pktsdir)))
     (cond
      ((not (and  pktsdir toppath pdbpath))
       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: settings are missing in your megatest.config for area management.")
       (debug:print  0 *default-log-port* "  you need to have pktsdir in the [setup] section."))
-     ((not (common:file-exists? pktsdir))
+     ((not (file-exists? pktsdir))
       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: pkts directory not found " pktsdir))
      ((not (equal? (file-owner pktsdir)(current-effective-user-id)))
       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: directory " pktsdir " is not owned by " (current-effective-user-name)))
      (else
 	(let* ((pdb  (open-queue-db pdbpath "pkts.db"
@@ -2725,11 +2725,11 @@
    mtconf
    (lambda (pktsdirs pktsdir pdb)
      (for-each
       (lambda (pktsdir) ;; look at all
 	(cond
-	 ((not (common:file-exists? pktsdir))
+	 ((not (file-exists? pktsdir))
 	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: packets directory " pktsdir " does not exist."))
 	 ((not (directory? pktsdir))
 	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: packets directory path " pktsdir " is not a directory."))
 	 ((not (file-read-access? pktsdir))
 	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: packets directory path " pktsdir " is not readable."))
@@ -2868,18 +2868,18 @@
 
 ;;;; return list (path fullpath configname)
 (define (common:find-config configname #!key (toppath #f))
   (if toppath
       (let ((cfname (conc toppath "/" configname)))
-	(if (common:file-exists? cfname)
+	(if (file-exists? cfname)
 	    (list toppath cfname configname)
 	    (list #f      #f     #f)))
       (let* ((cwd (string-split (current-directory) "/")))
 	(let loop ((dir cwd))
 	  (let* ((path     (conc "/" (string-intersperse dir "/")))
 		 (fullpath (conc path "/" configname)))
-	    (if (common:file-exists? fullpath)
+	    (if (file-exists? fullpath)
 		(list path fullpath configname)
 		(let ((remcwd (take dir (- (length dir) 1))))
 		  (if (null? remcwd)
 		      (list #f #f #f) ;;  #f #f) 
 		  (loop remcwd)))))))))

Index: configf.scm
==================================================================
--- configf.scm
+++ configf.scm
@@ -25,25 +25,26 @@
 (use regex regex-case) ;;  directory-utils)
 (declare (unit configf))
 (declare (uses process))
 (declare (uses env))
 (declare (uses keys))
+(declare (uses common))
 
 (include "common_records.scm")
 
 ;; return list (path fullpath configname)
 (define (find-config configname #!key (toppath #f))
   (if toppath
       (let ((cfname (conc toppath "/" configname)))
-	(if (common:file-exists? cfname)
+	(if (file-exists? cfname)
 	    (list toppath cfname configname)
 	    (list #f      #f     #f)))
       (let* ((cwd (string-split (current-directory) "/")))
 	(let loop ((dir cwd))
 	  (let* ((path     (conc "/" (string-intersperse dir "/")))
 		 (fullpath (conc path "/" configname)))
-	    (if (common:file-exists? fullpath)
+	    (if (file-exists? fullpath)
 		(list path fullpath configname)
 		(let ((remcwd (take dir (- (length dir) 1))))
 		  (if (null? remcwd)
 		      (list #f #f #f) ;;  #f #f) 
 		  (loop remcwd)))))))))
@@ -304,11 +305,11 @@
 ;;       				  ((port?   path) "port")
 ;;       				  (else (conc path))))
 ;;                        (T      . configf))
 ;;       	       *configdat* #t add-only: #t))
   (if (and (not (port? path))
-	   (not (common:file-exists? path))) ;; for case where we are handed a port
+	   (not (file-exists? path))) ;; for case where we are handed a port
       (begin 
 	(debug:print-info 1 *default-log-port* "read-config - file not found " path " current path: " (current-directory))
 	;; WARNING: This is a risky change but really, we should not return an empty hash table if no file read?
 	#f) ;; (if (not ht)(make-hash-table) ht))
       (let ((inp        (if (string? path)
@@ -365,11 +366,11 @@
                                                              (common:nice-path 
                                                               (conc (if curr-conf-dir
                                                                         curr-conf-dir
                                                                         ".")
                                                                     "/" include-file)))))
-                                     (if (common:file-exists? full-conf)
+                                     (if (file-exists? full-conf)
                                          (begin
                                            ;; (push-directory conf-dir)
                                            (debug:print 9 *default-log-port* "Including: " full-conf)
                                            (read-config full-conf res allow-system environ-patt: environ-patt
                                                         curr-section: curr-section-name sections: sections settings: settings
@@ -384,11 +385,11 @@
 	       (configf:script-rx ( x include-script params);; handle-exceptions
                                   ;;    exn
                                   ;;    (begin
                                   ;;      (debug:print '(0 2 9) #f "INFO: include from script " include-script " failed.")
                                   ;;      (loop (configf:read-line inp res (calc-allow-system allow-system curr-section-name sections) settings) curr-section-name #f #f))
-                                  (if (and (common:file-exists? include-script)(file-execute-access? include-script))
+                                  (if (and (file-exists? include-script)(file-execute-access? include-script))
                                       (let* ((local-allow-system  (calc-allow-system allow-system curr-section-name sections))
                                              (env-delta  (configf:cfgdat->env-alist curr-section-name res local-allow-system))
                                              (new-inp-port
                                               (common:with-env-vars
                                                env-delta
@@ -630,11 +631,11 @@
 	  (if (null? tal)
 	      newres
 	      (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) newres))))))
 
 (define (configf:file->list fname)
-  (if (common:file-exists? fname)
+  (if (file-exists? fname)
       (let ((inp (open-input-file fname)))
 	(let loop ((inl (read-line inp))
 		   (res '()))
 	  (if (eof-object? inl)
 	      (begin
@@ -734,11 +735,11 @@
 
 ;; reads a refdb into an assoc array of assoc arrays
 ;;   returns (list dat msg)
 (define (configf:read-refdb refdb-path)
   (let ((sheets-file  (conc refdb-path "/sheet-names.cfg")))
-    (if (not (common:file-exists? sheets-file))
+    (if (not (file-exists? sheets-file))
 	(list #f (conc "ERROR: no refdb found at " refdb-path))
 	(if (not (file-read-access? sheets-file))
 	    (list #f (conc "ERROR: refdb file not readable at " refdb-path))
 	    (let* ((sheets (with-input-from-file sheets-file
 			     (lambda ()
@@ -815,11 +816,11 @@
           (begin
             (with-output-to-file fname ;; first write out the file
               (lambda ()
                 (pp dat)))
             
-            (if (common:file-exists? fname)   ;; now verify it is readable
+            (if (file-exists? fname)   ;; now verify it is readable
                 (if (configf:read-alist fname)
                     #t ;; data is good.
                     (begin
                       (handle-exceptions
                        exn

Index: dashboard-context-menu.scm
==================================================================
--- dashboard-context-menu.scm
+++ dashboard-context-menu.scm
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@
   (let* ((exepath (common:get-this-exe-fullpath))
          (exedir  (pathname-directory exepath))
 
          ;; (cfg-sh  (conc *common:this-exe-dir* "/cfg.sh"))
          ;; (cmd (conc
-         ;;       (if (common:file-exists? cfg-sh)
+         ;;       (if (file-exists? cfg-sh)
          ;;           (conc "source "cfg-sh" && ")
          ;;           "")
          ;;       *common:this-exe-fullpath*
          ;;       " -test " run-id "," test-id
          ;;       " &"))
@@ -190,11 +190,11 @@
                          (status   (vector-ref step 3)))
                      (iup:menu-item
                       (conc stepname "/" (if (string=? logfile "") "no log!" logfile) " (" status ")")
                       #:action (lambda (obj)
                                  (let ((fullfile (conc rundir "/" logfile)))
-                                   (if (common:file-exists? fullfile)
+                                   (if (file-exists? fullfile)
                                        (dcommon:run-html-viewer fullfile)
                                        (message-window (conc "file " fullfile " not found"))))))))
                  steps)))))
 
 (define (dashboard:toplevel-menu-items  run-id test-id target runname test-name testpatt item-test-path test-info)
@@ -250,11 +250,11 @@
      #:action
      (lambda (obj)
        (let* ((rundir    (db:test-get-rundir      test-info))
               (logf      (db:test-get-final_logf  test-info))
               (fullfile  (conc rundir "/" logf)))
-         (if (common:file-exists? fullfile)
+         (if (file-exists? fullfile)
              (dcommon:run-html-viewer fullfile)
              (message-window (conc "file " fullfile " not found.")))))
      )
     ))
 ;; example section for megatest.config:

Index: dashboard-tests.scm
==================================================================
--- dashboard-tests.scm
+++ dashboard-tests.scm
@@ -255,11 +255,11 @@
 ;; if there is a submegatest create a button to launch dashboard in that area
 ;;
 (define (submegatest-panel dbstruct keydat testdat runname testconfig)
   (let* ((test-run-dir      (db:test-get-rundir testdat))
 	 (subarea           (subrun:get-runarea test-run-dir))
-	 (area-exists       (and subarea (common:file-exists? subarea silent: #t))))
+	 (area-exists       (and subarea (file-exists? subarea silent: #t))))
     (if subarea
 	(iup:frame 
 	 #:title "Megatest Run Info" ; #:expand "YES"
 	 (iup:button
 	  "Launch Dashboard"
@@ -478,11 +478,11 @@
 			    "/"))
 	       (item-path  (db:test-get-item-path testdat))
 	       ;; this next block was added to fix a bug where variables were
                ;; needed. Revisit this.
 	       (runconfig  (let ((runconfigf (conc  *toppath* "/runconfigs.config"))) ;; no rush but it would be good to convert this call to use runconfig:read
-	 		     (if (common:file-exists? runconfigf)
+	 		     (if (file-exists? runconfigf)
 	 			 (handle-exceptions
                                    exn
                                    #f  ;; do nothing, just keep on trucking ....
                                    (setup-env-defaults runconfigf run-id (make-hash-table) keydat environ-patt: keystring))
 	 			 (make-hash-table))))
@@ -492,18 +492,18 @@
 				(handle-exceptions
 				 exn  ;; NOTE: I've no idea why this was written this way. Research, study and fix needed!
 				 (tests:get-testconfig (db:test-get-testname testdat) (db:test-get-item-path testdat) test-registry #f allow-write-cache: #f)
 				 (tests:get-testconfig (db:test-get-testname testdat) item-path test-registry #t allow-write-cache: #f))))
 	       (viewlog    (lambda (x)
-			     (if (common:file-exists? logfile)
+			     (if (file-exists? logfile)
 					;(system (conc "firefox " logfile "&"))
 				 (dcommon:run-html-viewer logfile)
 				 (message-window (conc "File " logfile " not found")))))
 	       (view-a-log (lambda (lfile) 
 			     (let ((lfilename (conc rundir "/" lfile)))
 			       ;; (print "lfilename: " lfilename)
-			       (if (common:file-exists? lfilename)
+			       (if (file-exists? lfilename)
 					;(system (conc "firefox " logfile "&"))
 				   (dcommon:run-html-viewer lfilename)
 				   (message-window (conc "File " lfilename " not found"))))))
 	       (xterm      (lambda (x)
 			     (if (directory-exists? rundir)
@@ -516,11 +516,11 @@
 				    "MT_.*"))
 				 (message-window  (conc "Directory " rundir " not found")))))
 	       (widgets    (make-hash-table))
 	       (refreshdat (lambda ()
 			     (let* ((curr-mod-time (file-modification-time db-path))
-				                   ;;     (max ..... (if (common:file-exists? testdat-path)
+				                   ;;     (max ..... (if (file-exists? testdat-path)
 						   ;;      	      (file-modification-time testdat-path)
 						   ;;      	      (begin
 						   ;;      		(set! testdat-path (conc rundir "/testdat.db"))
 						   ;;      		0))))
 				    (need-update   (or (and (>= curr-mod-time db-mod-time)

Index: dashboard.scm
==================================================================
--- dashboard.scm
+++ dashboard.scm
@@ -1950,11 +1950,11 @@
   (let* ((success #t) ;; at any stage of the process set this flag to #f to skip downstream steps. Intention here is to recover gracefully if user provided tabs fail to load.
 	 (source  (configf:lookup views-cfgdat view-name "source"))
 	 (viewgen (configf:lookup views-cfgdat view-name "viewgen"))
 	 (updater (configf:lookup views-cfgdat view-name "updater"))
 	 (result-child #f))
-    (if (and (common:file-exists? source)
+    (if (and (file-exists? source)
 	     (file-read-access? source))
 	(handle-exceptions
 	 exn
 	 (begin
 	   (print-call-chain)
@@ -2703,11 +2703,11 @@
 		    (glob (conc dbdir "/*.db*"))))))
 
 (define (dashboard:monitor-changed? commondat tabdat)
   (let* ((run-update-time (current-seconds))
 	 (monitor-db-path (dboard:tabdat-monitor-db-path tabdat))
-	 (monitor-modtime (if (and monitor-db-path (common:file-exists? monitor-db-path))
+	 (monitor-modtime (if (and monitor-db-path (file-exists? monitor-db-path))
 			      (file-modification-time monitor-db-path)
 			      -1)))
     (if (and (eq? (dboard:commondat-curr-tab-num commondat) 0)
 	     (or (> monitor-modtime *last-monitor-update-time*)
 		 (> (- run-update-time *last-monitor-update-time*) 5))) ;; update every 1/2 minute just in case
@@ -3418,11 +3418,11 @@
 ;; The heavy lifting starts here
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (define (main)
   (let ((mtdb-path (conc *toppath* "/megatest.db"))) ;; 
-    (if (and (common:file-exists? mtdb-path)
+    (if (and (file-exists? mtdb-path)
 	     (file-write-access? mtdb-path))
 	(if (not (args:get-arg "-skip-version-check"))
             (common:exit-on-version-changed)))
     (let* ((commondat       (dboard:commondat-make)))
       ;; Move this stuff to db.scm? I'm not sure that is the right thing to do...
@@ -3477,12 +3477,12 @@
 	(thread-start! th2)
 	(thread-join! th2)))))
 
 ;; ease debugging by loading ~/.dashboardrc
 (let ((debugcontrolf (conc (get-environment-variable "HOME") "/.dashboardrc")))
-  (if (common:file-exists? debugcontrolf)
+  (if (file-exists? debugcontrolf)
       (load debugcontrolf)))
 
 (if (args:get-arg "-repl")
     (repl)
     (main))
 

Index: datashare.scm
==================================================================
--- datashare.scm
+++ datashare.scm
@@ -234,11 +234,11 @@
     (if (and path
 	     (directory? path)
 	     (file-read-access? path))
 	(let* ((dbpath    (conc path "/datashare.db"))
 	       (writeable (file-write-access? dbpath))
-	       (dbexists  (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+	       (dbexists  (file-exists? dbpath))
 	       (handler   (make-busy-timeout 136000)))
 	  (handle-exceptions
 	   exn
 	   (begin
 	     (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "ERROR: problem accessing db " dbpath
@@ -421,11 +421,11 @@
 	paths))
 
 ;; remove existing link and if possible ...
 ;; create path to next of tip of target, create link back to source
 (define (datashare:build-dir-make-link source target)
-  (if (common:file-exists? target)(datashare:backup-move target))
+  (if (file-exists? target)(datashare:backup-move target))
   (create-directory (pathname-directory target) #t)
   (create-symbolic-link source target))
 
 (define (datashare:backup-move path)
   (let* ((trashdir  (conc (pathname-directory path) "/.trash"))
@@ -526,11 +526,11 @@
 (define (datashare:path->lst path)
   (string-split path "/"))
 
 (define (datashare:pathdat-apply-heuristics configdat path)
   (cond
-   ((common:file-exists? path) "found")
+   ((file-exists? path) "found")
    (else (conc path " not installed"))))
 
 (define (datashare:get-view configdat)
   (iup:vbox
    (iup:hbox
@@ -700,11 +700,11 @@
 (define (datashare:find name paths)
   (if (null? paths)
       #f
       (let loop ((hed (car paths))
 		 (tal (cdr paths)))
-	(if (common:file-exists? (conc hed "/" name))
+	(if (file-exists? (conc hed "/" name))
 	    hed
 	    (if (null? tal)
 		#f
 		(loop (car tal)(cdr tal)))))))
 
@@ -714,11 +714,11 @@
 
 (define (datashare:load-config exe-dir exe-name)
   (let* ((fname   (conc exe-dir "/." exe-name ".config")))
     (ini:property-separator-patt " *  *")
     (ini:property-separator #\space)
-    (if (common:file-exists? fname)
+    (if (file-exists? fname)
 	;; (ini:read-ini fname)
 	(read-config fname #f #t)
 	(make-hash-table))))
 
 (define (datashare:process-action configdat action . args)
@@ -793,11 +793,11 @@
 	    versions)
        (sqlite3:finalize! db)))))
 
 ;; ease debugging by loading ~/.dashboardrc - REMOVE FROM PRODUCTION!
 (let ((debugcontrolf (conc (get-environment-variable "HOME") "/.datasharerc")))
-  (if (common:file-exists? debugcontrolf)
+  (if (file-exists? debugcontrolf)
       (load debugcontrolf)))
 
 (define (main)
   (let* ((args      (argv))
 	 (prog      (car args))

Index: db.scm
==================================================================
--- db.scm
+++ db.scm
@@ -213,20 +213,20 @@
 
 (define (db:lock-create-open fname initproc)
   (let* ((parent-dir   (or (pathname-directory fname)(current-directory))) ;; no parent? go local
          (raw-fname    (pathname-file fname))
 	 (dir-writable (file-write-access? parent-dir))
-	 (file-exists  (common:file-exists? fname))
+	 (file-exists  (file-exists? fname))
 	 (file-write   (if file-exists
 			   (file-write-access? fname)
 			   dir-writable )))
     ;; (mutex-lock! *db-open-mutex*) ;; tried this mutex, not clear it helped.
     (if file-write ;; dir-writable
 	(condition-case
          (let* ((lockfname   (conc fname ".lock"))
                 (readyfname  (conc parent-dir "/.ready-" raw-fname))
-                (readyexists (common:file-exists? readyfname)))
+                (readyexists (file-exists? readyfname)))
            (if (not readyexists)
                (common:simple-file-lock-and-wait lockfname))
            (let ((db      (sqlite3:open-database fname)))
              (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! db (make-busy-timeout 136000))
              (sqlite3:execute db "PRAGMA synchronous = 0;")
@@ -274,11 +274,11 @@
 
 ;; ;; This routine creates the db. It is only called if the db is not already opened
 ;; ;; 
 ;; (define (db:open-rundb dbstruct run-id #!key (attemptnum 0)(do-not-open #f)) ;;  (conc *toppath* "/megatest.db") (car *configinfo*)))
 ;;   (let* ((dbfile       (db:dbfile-path run-id)) ;; (conc toppath "/db/" run-id ".db"))
-;;          (dbexists     (common:file-exists? dbfile))
+;;          (dbexists     (file-exists? dbfile))
 ;;          (db           (db:lock-create-open dbfile (lambda (db)
 ;;                                                      (handle-exceptions
 ;;                                                       exn
 ;;                                                       (begin
 ;;                                                         ;; (release-dot-lock dbpath)
@@ -314,14 +314,14 @@
 (define (db:open-db dbstruct #!key (areapath #f)(do-sync #t)) ;; TODO: actually use areapath
   (let ((tmpdb-stack (dbr:dbstruct-dbstack dbstruct))) ;; RA => Returns the first reference in dbstruct
     (if (stack? tmpdb-stack)
 	(db:get-db tmpdb-stack) ;; get previously opened db (will create new db handle if all in the stack are already used
         (let* ((dbpath       (db:dbfile-path ))      ;; path to tmp db area
-               (dbexists     (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+               (dbexists     (file-exists? dbpath))
 	       (tmpdbfname   (conc dbpath "/megatest.db"))
-	       (dbfexists    (common:file-exists? tmpdbfname))  ;; (conc dbpath "/megatest.db")))
-               (mtdbexists   (common:file-exists? (conc *toppath* "/megatest.db")))
+	       (dbfexists    (file-exists? tmpdbfname))  ;; (conc dbpath "/megatest.db")))
+               (mtdbexists   (file-exists? (conc *toppath* "/megatest.db")))
                
                (mtdb         (db:open-megatest-db))
                (mtdbpath     (db:dbdat-get-path mtdb))
                (tmpdb        (db:open-megatest-db path: dbpath)) ;; lock-create-open dbpath db:initialize-main-db))
                (refndb       (db:open-megatest-db path: dbpath name: "megatest_ref.db"))
@@ -383,11 +383,11 @@
 ;;   NOTE: returns a dbdat not a dbstruct!
 ;;
 (define (db:open-megatest-db #!key (path #f)(name #f))
   (let* ((dbdir        (or path *toppath*))
          (dbpath       (conc  dbdir "/" (or name "megatest.db")))
-	 (dbexists     (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+	 (dbexists     (file-exists? dbpath))
 	 (db           (db:lock-create-open dbpath
 					    (lambda (db)
                                               (db:initialize-main-db db)
 					      ;;(db:initialize-run-id-db db)
 					      )))
@@ -558,11 +558,11 @@
 	 (tmpname  (conc fname "." (current-process-id)))
 	 (tmpjnl   (conc fnamejnl "." (current-process-id))))
     (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "" fname " appears corrupted. Making backup \"old/" fname "\"")
     (system (conc "cd " dbdir ";mkdir -p old;cat " fname " > old/" tmpname))
     (system (conc "rm -f " dbpath))
-    (if (common:file-exists? fnamejnl)
+    (if (file-exists? fnamejnl)
 	(begin
 	  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "" fnamejnl " found, moving it to old dir as " tmpjnl)
 	  (system (conc "cd " dbdir ";mkdir -p old;cat " fnamejnl " > old/" tmpjnl))
 	  (system (conc "rm -f " dbdir "/" fnamejnl))))
     ;; attempt to recreate database
@@ -932,11 +932,11 @@
 (define (db:cache-for-read-only source target #!key (use-last-update #f))
   (if (and (hash-table-ref/default *global-db-store* target #f)
 	   (>= (file-modification-time target)(file-modification-time source)))
       (hash-table-ref *global-db-store* target)
       (let* ((toppath   (launch:setup))
-	     (targ-db-last-mod (if (common:file-exists? target)
+	     (targ-db-last-mod (if (file-exists? target)
 				   (file-modification-time target)
 				   0))
 	     (cache-db  (or (hash-table-ref/default *global-db-store* target #f)
 			    (db:open-megatest-db path: target)))
 	     (source-db (db:open-megatest-db path: source))
@@ -964,11 +964,11 @@
 ;; 	(begin
 ;; 	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: Failed to find an area to write the cache db")
 ;; 	  (exit 1))
 ;; 	(let* ((th1      (make-thread
 ;; 			  (lambda ()
-;; 			    (if (and (common:file-exists? megatest-db)
+;; 			    (if (and (file-exists? megatest-db)
 ;; 				     (file-write-access? megatest-db))
 ;; 				(begin
 ;; 				  (db:sync-to-megatest.db dbstruct 'timestamps) ;; internally mutexes on *db-local-sync*
 ;; 				  (debug:print-info 2 *default-log-port* "Done syncing to megatest.db"))))
 ;; 			  "call-with-cached-db sync-to-megatest.db"))
@@ -1144,11 +1144,11 @@
 
 (define (db:initialize-main-db dbdat)
   (when (not *configinfo*)
            (launch:setup)) ;; added because Elena was getting stack dump because *configinfo* below was #f.
   (let* ((configdat (car *configinfo*))  ;; tut tut, global warning...
-	 (keys     (keys:config-get-fields configdat))
+	 (keys     (common:get-fields configdat))
 	 (havekeys (> (length keys) 0))
 	 (keystr   (keys->keystr keys))
 	 (fieldstr (keys:make-key/field-string configdat))
 	 (db       (db:dbdat-get-db dbdat)))
     (for-each (lambda (key)
@@ -1498,11 +1498,11 @@
 ;; L O G G I N G    D B 
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (define (open-logging-db)
   (let* ((dbpath    (conc (if *toppath* (conc *toppath* "/") "") "logging.db")) ;; fname)
-	 (dbexists  (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+	 (dbexists  (file-exists? dbpath))
 	 (db        (sqlite3:open-database dbpath))
 	 (handler   (make-busy-timeout (if (args:get-arg "-override-timeout")
 					   (string->number (args:get-arg "-override-timeout"))
 					   136000)))) ;; 136000)))
     (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! db handler)
@@ -1654,11 +1654,11 @@
        ;;
        ;; (db:delay-if-busy dbdat)
        (let* (;; (min-incompleted (filter (lambda (x)
               ;;      		      (let* ((testpath (cadr x))
               ;;      			     (tdatpath (conc testpath "/testdat.db"))
-              ;;      			     (dbexists (common:file-exists? tdatpath)))
+              ;;      			     (dbexists (file-exists? tdatpath)))
               ;;      			(or (not dbexists) ;; if no file then something wrong - mark as incomplete
               ;;      			    (> (- (current-seconds)(file-modification-time tdatpath)) 600)))) ;; no change in 10 minutes to testdat.db - she's dead Jim
               ;;      		    incompleted))
               (min-incompleted-ids (map car incompleted)) ;; do 'em all
               (all-ids             (append min-incompleted-ids (map car oldlaunched))))
@@ -1885,11 +1885,11 @@
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (define (db:open-no-sync-db)
   (let* ((dbpath (db:dbfile-path))
 	 (dbname (conc dbpath "/no-sync.db"))
-	 (db-exists (common:file-exists? dbname))
+	 (db-exists (file-exists? dbname))
 	 (db     (sqlite3:open-database dbname)))
     (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! db (make-busy-timeout 136000))
     (if (not db-exists)
 	(begin
 	  (sqlite3:execute db "PRAGMA synchronous = 0;")
@@ -1960,11 +1960,11 @@
 ;; use a global for some primitive caching, it is just silly to
 ;; re-read the db over and over again for the keys since they never
 ;; change
 
 ;; why get the keys from the db? why not get from the *configdat*
-;; using keys:config-get-fields?
+;; using common:get-fields?
 
 (define (db:get-keys dbstruct)
   (if *db-keys* *db-keys* 
       (let ((res '()))
 	(db:with-db dbstruct #f #f
@@ -4106,11 +4106,11 @@
 		 exn
 		 (begin
 		   (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: failed to test for existance of " dbfj)
 		   (thread-sleep! 1)
 		   (db:delay-if-busy count (- count 1))) 
-		 (common:file-exists? dbfj))
+		 (file-exists? dbfj))
 		(case count
 		  ((6)
 		   (thread-sleep! 0.2)
 		   (db:delay-if-busy count: 5))
 		  ((5)
@@ -4540,12 +4540,12 @@
 					       (testname  (vector-ref vb (+  2 numkeys)))
 					       (item-path (vector-ref vb (+  3 numkeys)))
 					       (final-log (vector-ref vb (+  7 numkeys)))
 					       (run-dir   (vector-ref vb (+ 18 numkeys)))
 					       (log-fpath (conc run-dir "/"  final-log))) ;; (string-intersperse keyvals "/") "/" testname "/" item-path "/"
-					  (debug:print 4 *default-log-port* "log: " log-fpath " exists: " (common:file-exists? log-fpath))
-					  (vector-set! vb (+ 7 numkeys) (if (common:file-exists? log-fpath)
+					  (debug:print 4 *default-log-port* "log: " log-fpath " exists: " (file-exists? log-fpath))
+					  (vector-set! vb (+ 7 numkeys) (if (file-exists? log-fpath)
 									    (let ((newpath (conc pathmod "/"
 												 (string-intersperse keyvals "/")
 												 "/" runname "/" testname "/"
 												 (if (string=? item-path "") "" (conc "/" item-path))
 												 final-log)))

Index: env.scm
==================================================================
--- env.scm
+++ env.scm
@@ -17,15 +17,16 @@
 ;;     along with Megatest.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (declare (unit env))
+(declare (uses common))
 
 (use sql-de-lite) ;; srfi-1 posix regex regex-case srfi-69 srfi-18 call-with-environment-variables)
 
 (define (env:open-db fname)
-  (let* ((db-exists (common:file-exists? fname))
+  (let* ((db-exists (file-exists? fname))
 	 (db        (open-database fname)))
     (if (not db-exists)
 	(begin
 	  (exec (sql db "CREATE TABLE envvars (
                     id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,

Index: ezsteps.scm
==================================================================
--- ezsteps.scm
+++ ezsteps.scm
@@ -45,19 +45,19 @@
 	 (test-id       (db:test-get-id testdat))
 	 (run-id        (db:test-get-run_id testdat))
 	 (test-name     (db:test-get-testname testdat))
 	 (kill-job      #f)) ;; for future use (on re-factoring with launch.scm code
     (let loop ((count 5))
-      (if (common:file-exists? test-run-dir)
+      (if (file-exists? test-run-dir)
 	  (push-directory test-run-dir)
 	  (if (> count 0)
 	      (begin
 		(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: ezsteps attempting to run but test run directory " test-run-dir " is not there. Waiting and trying again " count " more times")
 		(sleep 3)
 		(loop (- count 1))))))
     (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Running in directory " test-run-dir)
-    (if (not (common:file-exists? ".ezsteps"))(create-directory ".ezsteps"))
+    (if (not (file-exists? ".ezsteps"))(create-directory ".ezsteps"))
     ;; if ezsteps was defined then we are sure to have at least one step but check anyway
     (if (not (> (length ezstepslst) 0))
 	(message-window "ERROR: You can only re-run steps defined via ezsteps")
 	(begin
 	  (let loop ((ezstep   (car ezstepslst))
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@
 			      (loop (car tal)(cdr tal) stepname #f))))
 
 		  (debug:print 4 *default-log-port* "ezsteps:\n stepname: " stepname " stepinfo: " stepinfo " stepparts: " stepparts
 			       " stepparms: " stepparms " stepcmd: " stepcmd)
 		  
-		  (if (common:file-exists? (conc stepname ".logpro"))(set! logpro-used #t))
+		  (if (file-exists? (conc stepname ".logpro"))(set! logpro-used #t))
 		  
 		  ;; call the command using mt_ezstep
 		  (set! script (conc "mt_ezstep " stepname " " (if prevstep prevstep "-") " " stepcmd))
 		  
 		  (debug:print 4 *default-log-port* "script: " script)

Index: filedb.scm
==================================================================
--- filedb.scm
+++ filedb.scm
@@ -19,17 +19,18 @@
 ;; (require-extension synch sqlite3 posix srfi-13 srfi-1 utils regex)
 (use sqlite3 srfi-1 posix regex srfi-69 srfi-13 posix-extras)
 (import (prefix sqlite3 sqlite3:))
 
 (declare (unit filedb))
+(declare (uses common))
 
 (include "fdb_records.scm")
 ;; (include "settings.scm")
 
 (define (filedb:open-db dbpath)
   (let* ((fdb      (make-filedb:fdb))
-	 (dbexists (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+	 (dbexists (file-exists? dbpath))
 	 (db (sqlite3:open-database dbpath)))
     (filedb:fdb-set-db!        fdb db)
     (filedb:fdb-set-dbpath!    fdb dbpath)
     (filedb:fdb-set-pathcache! fdb (make-hash-table))
     (filedb:fdb-set-idcache!   fdb (make-hash-table))

Index: genexample.scm
==================================================================
--- genexample.scm
+++ genexample.scm
@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@
 ;;     along with Megatest.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (declare (unit genexample))
+(declare (uses common))
 (use posix regex)
 
 (define genexample:example-logpro
 #<<EOF
   ;; You should have at least one expect:required. This ensures that your process ran
@@ -65,11 +66,11 @@
 	(begin
 	  (print "The path " path " does not exist or is not a directory. Attempting to create it now")
 	  (create-directory path #t)))
 
     ;; First check that the directory is empty!
-    (if (and (common:file-exists? path)
+    (if (and (file-exists? path)
 	     (not (null? (glob (conc path "/*")))))
 	(begin
 	  (print "WARNING: directory " path " is not empty, are you sure you want to continue?")
 	  (display "Enter y/n: ")
 	  (if (equal? "y" (read-line))
@@ -219,22 +220,22 @@
 	(scripts  '())
 	(items    '())
 	(rel-path #f))
 
     (cond
-     ((common:file-exists? "megatest.config")         (set! rel-path "./"))
-     ((common:file-exists? "../megatest.config")      (set! rel-path "../"))
-     ((common:file-exists? "../../megatest.config")   (set! rel-path "../../"))
-     ((common:file-exists? "../../../megatest.config")(set! rel-path "../../../"))) ;; good enough dang it.
+     ((file-exists? "megatest.config")         (set! rel-path "./"))
+     ((file-exists? "../megatest.config")      (set! rel-path "../"))
+     ((file-exists? "../../megatest.config")   (set! rel-path "../../"))
+     ((file-exists? "../../../megatest.config")(set! rel-path "../../../"))) ;; good enough dang it.
 
     ;; Don't gather data or continue if a) megatest.config can't be found or b) testconfig already exists
     (if (not rel-path)
 	(begin
 	  (print "ERROR: I could not find megatest.config, please run -create-test in the top dir of your megatest area")
 	  (exit 1)))
 
-    (if (common:file-exists? (conc rel-path "tests/" testname "/testconfig"))
+    (if (file-exists? (conc rel-path "tests/" testname "/testconfig"))
 	(begin
 	  (print "WARNING: You already have a testconfig in " rel-path "tests/" testname ", do you want to clobber your files?")
 	  (display "Enter y/n: ")
 	  (if (not (equal? "y" (read-line)))
 	      (begin

Index: http-transport.scm
==================================================================
--- http-transport.scm
+++ http-transport.scm
@@ -551,11 +551,11 @@
          (cleanup-proc        (lambda (msg)
                                 (let* ((serv-fname      (conc "server-" (current-process-id) "-" (get-host-name) ".log"))
                                        (full-serv-fname (conc *toppath* "/logs/" serv-fname))
                                        (new-serv-fname  (conc *toppath* "/logs/" "defunct-" serv-fname)))
                                   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* msg)
-                                  (if (common:file-exists? full-serv-fname)
+                                  (if (file-exists? full-serv-fname)
                                       (system (conc "sleep 1;mv -f " full-serv-fname " " new-serv-fname))
                                       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "INFO: cannot move " full-serv-fname " to " new-serv-fname))
                                   (exit)))))
     (if (and (not start-time-old) ;; last server start try was less than five seconds ago
 	     (not server-starting))

Index: keys.scm
==================================================================
--- keys.scm
+++ keys.scm
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@
 
 ;;======================================================================
 ;; config file related routines
 ;;======================================================================
 
-(define keys:config-get-fields common:get-fields)
+;; (define keys:config-get-fields common:get-fields)
 (define (keys:make-key/field-string confdat)
   (let ((fields (configf:get-section confdat "fields")))
     (string-join
      (map (lambda (field)(conc (car field) " " (cadr field)))
 	  fields)

Index: launch.scm
==================================================================
--- launch.scm
+++ launch.scm
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@
 ;; return (conc status ": " comment) from the final section so that
 ;;   the comment can be set in the step record in launch.scm
 ;;
 (define (launch:load-logpro-dat run-id test-id stepname)
   (let ((cname (conc stepname ".dat")))
-    (if (common:file-exists? cname)
+    (if (file-exists? cname)
 	(let* ((dat  (read-config cname #f #f))
 	       (csvr (db:logpro-dat->csv dat stepname))
 	       (csvt (let-values (((fmt-cell fmt-record fmt-csv) (make-format ",")))
 		       (fmt-csv (map list->csv-record csvr))))
 	       (status (configf:lookup dat "final" "exit-status"))
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@
 	 (script         "") ; "#!/bin/bash\n") ;; yep, we depend on bin/bash FIXME!!!\
 	 (logpro-file    (conc stepname ".logpro"))
 	 (html-file      (conc stepname ".html"))
 	 (dat-file       (conc stepname ".dat"))
 	 (tconfig-logpro (configf:lookup testconfig "logpro" stepname))
-	 (logpro-used    (common:file-exists? logpro-file)))
+	 (logpro-used    (file-exists? logpro-file)))
 
     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "stepparts: " stepparts ", stepparams: " stepparams
                  ", paramparts: " paramparts ", subrun: " subrun ", stepcmd: " stepcmd)
     
     (if (and tconfig-logpro
@@ -126,11 +126,11 @@
 		 " stepparams: " stepparams " stepcmd: " stepcmd)
     
     ;; ;; first source the previous environment
     ;; (let ((prev-env (conc ".ezsteps/" prevstep (if (string-search (regexp "csh") 
     ;;      							 (get-environment-variable "SHELL")) ".csh" ".sh"))))
-    ;;   (if (and prevstep (common:file-exists? prev-env))
+    ;;   (if (and prevstep (file-exists? prev-env))
     ;;       (set! script (conc script "source " prev-env))))
     
     ;; call the command using mt_ezstep
     ;; (set! script (conc "mt_ezstep " stepname " " (if prevstep prevstep "x") " " stepcmd))
     
@@ -152,11 +152,11 @@
 	 
          (with-output-to-file "Makefile.ezsteps"
            (lambda ()
              (print stepname ".log :")
              (print "\t" cmd)
-             (if (common:file-exists? (conc stepname ".logpro"))
+             (if (file-exists? (conc stepname ".logpro"))
                  (print "\tlogpro " stepname ".logpro " stepname ".html < " stepname ".log"))
              (print)
              (print stepname " : " stepname ".log")
              (print))
            #:append)
@@ -196,11 +196,11 @@
 	  (logfna (if logpro-used (conc stepname ".html") ""))
 	  (comment #f))
       (if logpro-used
 	  (let ((datfile (conc stepname ".dat")))
 	    ;; load the .dat file into the test_data table if it exists
-	    (if (common:file-exists? datfile)
+	    (if (file-exists? datfile)
 		(set! comment (launch:load-logpro-dat run-id test-id stepname)))
 	    (rmt:test-set-log! run-id test-id (conc stepname ".html"))))
       (rmt:teststep-set-status! run-id test-id stepname "end" exinfo comment logfna))
     ;; set the test final status
     (let* ((process-exit-status (launch:einf-exit-code exit-info)) ;; (vector-ref exit-info 2))
@@ -342,11 +342,11 @@
                             (list (list "subrun" (conc "{subrun=true} " mt-cmd)))))))
 
 	;; process the ezsteps
 	(if ezsteps
 	    (begin
-	      (if (not (common:file-exists? ".ezsteps"))(create-directory ".ezsteps"))
+	      (if (not (file-exists? ".ezsteps"))(create-directory ".ezsteps"))
 	      ;; if ezsteps was defined then we are sure to have at least one step but check anyway
 	      (if (not (> (length ezstepslst) 0))
 		  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "ezsteps defined but ezstepslst is zero length")
 		  (let loop ((ezstep (car ezstepslst))
 			     (tal    (cdr ezstepslst))
@@ -355,11 +355,11 @@
 		    ;; check exit-info (vector-ref exit-info 1)
 		    (if (launch:einf-exit-status exit-info) ;; (vector-ref exit-info 1)
 			(let ((logpro-used (launch:runstep ezstep run-id test-id exit-info m tal testconfig))
 			      (stepname    (car ezstep)))
 			  ;; if logpro-used read in the stepname.dat file
-			  (if (and logpro-used (common:file-exists? (conc stepname ".dat")))
+			  (if (and logpro-used (file-exists? (conc stepname ".dat")))
 			      (launch:load-logpro-dat run-id test-id stepname))
 			  (if (steprun-good? logpro-used (launch:einf-exit-code exit-info))
 			      (if (not (null? tal))
 				  (loop (car tal) (cdr tal) stepname))
 			      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: step " (car ezstep) " failed. Stopping")))
@@ -500,11 +500,11 @@
 	       (fullrunscript (if (not runscript)
                                   #f
                                   (if (substring-index "/" runscript)
                                       runscript ;; use unadultered if contains slashes
                                       (let ((fulln (conc work-area "/" runscript)))
-	                                  (if (and (common:file-exists? fulln)
+	                                  (if (and (file-exists? fulln)
                                                    (file-execute-access? fulln))
                                               fulln
                                               runscript))))) ;; assume it is on the path
                (check-work-area           (lambda ()
                                             ;; NFS might not have propagated the directory meta data to the run host - give it time if needed
@@ -661,11 +661,11 @@
 	     (list "default" target)))
           ;;(bb-check-path msg: "launch:execute post block 1")
 
 	  ;; NFS might not have propagated the directory meta data to the run host - give it time if needed
 	  (let loop ((count 0))
-	    (if (or (common:file-exists? work-area)
+	    (if (or (file-exists? work-area)
 		    (> count 10))
 		(change-directory work-area)
 		(begin
 		  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "INFO: Not starting job yet - directory " work-area " not found")
 		  (thread-sleep! 10)
@@ -738,11 +738,11 @@
 	  ;; (thread-sleep! 0.3) ;; NFS slowness has caused grief here
 
 	  (if (args:get-arg "-xterm")
 	      (set! fullrunscript "xterm")
 	      (if (and fullrunscript 
-		       (common:file-exists? fullrunscript)
+		       (file-exists? fullrunscript)
 		       (not (file-execute-access? fullrunscript)))
 		  (system (conc "chmod ug+x " fullrunscript))))
 
 	  ;; We are about to actually kick off the test
 	  ;; so this is a good place to remove the records for 
@@ -837,22 +837,22 @@
 			   (args:get-arg ":runname")
 			   (getenv "MT_RUNNAME")))
 	     (fulldir  (conc linktree "/"
 			     target "/"
 			     runname)))
-	(if (and linktree (common:file-exists? linktree)) ;; can't proceed without linktree
+	(if (and linktree (file-exists? linktree)) ;; can't proceed without linktree
 	    (begin
 	      (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Have -run with target=" target ", runname=" runname ", fulldir=" fulldir ", testpatt=" (or (args:get-arg "-testpatt") "%"))
-	      (if (not (common:file-exists? fulldir))
+	      (if (not (file-exists? fulldir))
 		  (create-directory fulldir #t)) ;; need to protect with exception handler 
 	      (if (and target
 		       runname
-		       (common:file-exists? fulldir))
+		       (file-exists? fulldir))
 		  (let ((tmpfile  (conc fulldir "/.megatest.cfg." (current-seconds)))
 			(targfile (conc fulldir "/.megatest.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash))
 			(rconfig  (conc fulldir "/.runconfig." megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
-		    (if (common:file-exists? rconfig) ;; only cache megatest.config AFTER runconfigs has been cached
+		    (if (file-exists? rconfig) ;; only cache megatest.config AFTER runconfigs has been cached
 			(begin
 			  (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Caching megatest.config in " tmpfile)
                           (if (not (common:in-running-test?))
                               (configf:write-alist *configdat* tmpfile))
 			  (system (conc "ln -sf " tmpfile " " targfile))))
@@ -930,21 +930,21 @@
 			     #f
 			     (car cachefiles))) ;; (and cachedir (conc cachedir "/" ".megatest.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
 	     (rccachef   (if (null? cachefiles)
 			     #f
 			     (cdr cachefiles)))) ;; (and cachedir (conc cachedir "/" ".runconfigs.cfg-"  megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash)))
-	      ;; (cancreate (and cachedir (common:file-exists? cachedir)(file-write-access? cachedir) (not (common:in-running-test?)))))
+	      ;; (cancreate (and cachedir (file-exists? cachedir)(file-write-access? cachedir) (not (common:in-running-test?)))))
 	(set! *toppath* toppath) ;; This is needed when we are running as a test using CMDINFO as a datasource
         ;;(BB> "launch:setup-body -- cachefiles="cachefiles)
 	(cond
 	 ;; if mtcachef exists just read it, however we need to assume toppath is available in $MT_RUN_AREA_HOME
 	 ((and (not force-reread)
 	       mtcachef  rccachef
 	       use-cache
 	       (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")
-	       (common:file-exists? mtcachef)
-	       (common:file-exists? rccachef))
+	       (file-exists? mtcachef)
+	       (file-exists? rccachef))
           ;;(BB> "launch:setup-body -- cond branch 1 - use-cache")
           (set! *configdat*    (configf:read-alist mtcachef))
           ;;(BB> "launch:setup-body -- 1 set! *configdat*="*configdat*)
 	  (set! *runconfigdat* (configf:read-alist rccachef))
 	  (set! *configinfo*   (list *configdat*  (get-environment-variable "MT_RUN_AREA_HOME")))
@@ -1054,11 +1054,11 @@
 	;; additional house keeping
 	(let* ((linktree (or (common:get-linktree)
 			     (conc *toppath* "/lt"))))
 	  (if linktree
 	      (begin
-		(if (not (common:file-exists? linktree))
+		(if (not (file-exists? linktree))
 		    (begin
 		      (handle-exceptions
 			  exn
 			  (begin
 			    (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Something went wrong when trying to create linktree dir at " linktree)
@@ -1069,11 +1069,11 @@
 		    exn
 		    (begin
 		      (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Something went wrong when trying to create link to linktree at " *toppath*)
 		      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn)))
 		  (let ((tlink (conc *toppath* "/lt")))
-		    (if (not (common:file-exists? tlink))
+		    (if (not (file-exists? tlink))
 			(create-symbolic-link linktree tlink)))))
 	      (begin
 		(debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "linktree not defined in [setup] section of megatest.config")
 		)))
 	(if (and *toppath*
@@ -1092,17 +1092,17 @@
                (rccachef     (cdr cachefiles)))
 
           ;; trap exception due to stale NFS handle -- Error: (open-output-file) cannot open file - Stale NFS file handle: "...somepath.../.runconfigs.cfg-1.6427-7d1e789cb3f62f9cde719a4865bb51b3c17ea853" - ticket 220546342
           ;; TODO - consider 1) using simple-lock to bracket cache write
           ;;                 2) cache in hash on server, since need to do rmt: anyway to lock.
-          (if (and rccachef *runconfigdat* (not (common:file-exists? rccachef)))
+          (if (and rccachef *runconfigdat* (not (file-exists? rccachef)))
               (common:fail-safe
                (lambda ()
                  (configf:write-alist *runconfigdat* rccachef))
                (conc "Could not write cache file - "rccachef))
               )
-          (if (and mtcachef *configdat*    (not (common:file-exists? mtcachef)))
+          (if (and mtcachef *configdat*    (not (file-exists? mtcachef)))
               (common:fail-safe
                (lambda ()
                  (configf:write-alist *configdat* mtcachef))
                (conc "Could not write cache file - "mtcachef))
               )
@@ -1196,17 +1196,17 @@
     ;; Update the rundir path in the test record for all, rundir=physical, shortdir=logical
     ;;                                                 rundir   shortdir
     (rmt:general-call 'test-set-rundir-shortdir run-id lnkpathf test-path testname item-path run-id)
 
     (debug:print 2 *default-log-port* "INFO:\n       lnkbase=" lnkbase "\n       lnkpath=" lnkpath "\n  toptest-path=" toptest-path "\n     test-path=" test-path)
-    (if (not (common:file-exists? linktree))
+    (if (not (file-exists? linktree))
 	(begin
 	  (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: linktree did not exist! Creating it now at " linktree)
 	  (create-directory linktree #t))) ;; (system (conc "mkdir -p " linktree))))
     ;; create the directory for the tests dir links, this is needed no matter what...
     (if (and (not (common:directory-exists? lnkbase))
-	     (not (common:file-exists? lnkbase)))
+	     (not (file-exists? lnkbase)))
 	(handle-exceptions
 	 exn
 	 (begin
 	   (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Problem creating linktree base at " lnkbase)
 	   (print-error-message exn (current-error-port)))
@@ -1237,11 +1237,11 @@
 	 (begin
 	   (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* " Failed to remove symlink " lnkpath ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn) ", exiting")
 	   (exit 1))
 	 (delete-file lnkpath)))
 
-    (if (not (or (common:file-exists? lnkpath)
+    (if (not (or (file-exists? lnkpath)
 		 (symbolic-link? lnkpath)))
 	(handle-exceptions
 	 exn
 	 (begin
 	   (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* " Failed to create symlink " lnkpath ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn) ", exiting")
@@ -1262,11 +1262,11 @@
 				   (db:test-get-rundir testinfo) ;; ) ;; )
 				   #f)))
 	  (hash-table-set! *toptest-paths* testname curr-test-path)
 	  ;; NB// Was this for the test or for the parent in an iterated test?
 	  (rmt:general-call 'test-set-rundir-shortdir run-id lnkpath 
-			    (if (common:file-exists? lnkpath)
+			    (if (file-exists? lnkpath)
 				;; (resolve-pathname lnkpath)
 				(common:nice-path lnkpath)
 				lnkpath)
 			    testname "" run-id)
 	  ;; (rmt:general-call 'test-set-rundir run-id lnkpath testname "") ;; toptest-path)
@@ -1301,11 +1301,11 @@
 	   exn
 	   (begin
 	     (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* " Failed to re-create link " lnktarget ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn) ", exiting")
 	     (exit))
 	   (if (symbolic-link? lnktarget)     (delete-file lnktarget))
-	   (if (not (common:file-exists? lnktarget)) (create-symbolic-link test-path lnktarget)))))
+	   (if (not (file-exists? lnktarget)) (create-symbolic-link test-path lnktarget)))))
 
     (if (not (directory? test-path))
 	(create-directory test-path #t)) ;; this is a hack, I don't know why out of the blue this path does not exist sometimes
 
     (if (and test-src-path (directory? test-path))
@@ -1471,11 +1471,11 @@
 					(list 'mt-bindir-path mt-bindir-path))))))))
       
       ;; clean out step records from previous run if they exist
       ;; (rmt:delete-test-step-records run-id test-id)
       ;; if the dir does not exist we may have a itempath where individual variables are a path, launch anyway
-      (if (common:file-exists? work-area)
+      (if (file-exists? work-area)
 	  (change-directory work-area)) ;; so that log files from the launch process don't clutter the test dir
       (cond
        ;; ((and launcher hosts) ;; must be using ssh hostname
        ;;    (set! fullcmd (append launcher (car hosts)(list remote-megatest "-m" test-sig "-execute" cmdparms) debug-param)))
        ;; (set! fullcmd (append launcher (car hosts)(list remote-megatest test-sig "-execute" cmdparms))))

Index: lock-queue.scm
==================================================================
--- lock-queue.scm
+++ lock-queue.scm
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@
   (let ((fname (lock-queue:db-dat-get-path dbdat)))
     (system (conc "rm -f " fname "*"))))
 
 (define (lock-queue:open-db fname #!key (count 10))
   (let* ((actualfname (conc fname ".lockdb"))
-	 (dbexists (common:file-exists? actualfname))
+	 (dbexists (file-exists? actualfname))
 	 (db       (sqlite3:open-database actualfname))
 	 (handler  (make-busy-timeout 136000)))
     (if dbexists
 	(vector db actualfname)
 	(begin
@@ -172,12 +172,12 @@
 	     ;; If we've tried ten times and failed there is a serious problem
 	     ;; try to remove the lock db and allow it to be recreated
 	     (handle-exceptions
 	      exn
 	      #f
-	      (if (common:file-exists? journal)(delete-file journal))
-	      (if (common:file-exists? fname)  (delete-file fname))
+	      (if (file-exists? journal)(delete-file journal))
+	      (if (file-exists? fname)  (delete-file fname))
 	      #f))))
      (sqlite3:execute (lock-queue:db-dat-get-db dbdat) "DELETE FROM runlocks WHERE test_id=?;" test-id)
      (sqlite3:finalize! (lock-queue:db-dat-get-db dbdat)))))
 
 (define (lock-queue:steal-lock dbdat test-id #!key (count 10))

Index: megatest.scm
==================================================================
--- megatest.scm
+++ megatest.scm
@@ -68,11 +68,11 @@
 (define *usage-use-seconds* #t) ;; for Epoc seconds in usage logging change this to #t in ~/.megatestrc file
 
 ;; load the ~/.megatestrc file, put (use trace)(trace-call-sites #t)(trace function-you-want-to-trace) in this file
 ;;
 (let ((debugcontrolf (conc (get-environment-variable "HOME") "/.megatestrc")))
-  (if (common:file-exists? debugcontrolf)
+  (if (file-exists? debugcontrolf)
       (load debugcontrolf)))
 
 ;; usage logging, careful with this, it is not designed to deal with all real world challenges!
 ;;
 (if (and *usage-log-file*
@@ -438,11 +438,11 @@
     (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "Unrecognised arguments: " (string-intersperse (if (list? remargs) remargs (argv))  " ")))
 
 ;; before doing anything else change to the start-dir if provided
 ;;
 (if (args:get-arg "-start-dir")
-    (if (common:file-exists? (args:get-arg "-start-dir"))
+    (if (file-exists? (args:get-arg "-start-dir"))
         (let ((fullpath (common:real-path (args:get-arg "-start-dir"))))
           (setenv "PWD" fullpath)
           (change-directory fullpath))
 	(begin
 	  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "non-existant start dir " (args:get-arg "-start-dir") " specified, exiting.")
@@ -532,11 +532,11 @@
     (let* ((htmlviewercmd (or (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "htmlviewercmd")
 			      (common:which '("firefox" "arora"))))
 	   (install-home  (common:get-install-area))
 	   (manual-html   (conc install-home "/share/docs/megatest_manual.html")))
       (if (and install-home
-	       (common:file-exists? manual-html))
+	       (file-exists? manual-html))
 	  (system (conc "(" htmlviewercmd " " manual-html " ) &"))
 	  (system (conc "(" htmlviewercmd " http://www.kiatoa.com/cgi-bin/fossils/megatest/doc/tip/docs/manual/megatest_manual.html ) &")))
       (exit)))
 
 (if (args:get-arg "-version")
@@ -787,11 +787,11 @@
 				 (else
 				  (loop row (+ col 1) (append curr-row (list val)) result)))))))))
 		    (hash-table-keys results))))
 		((sqlite3)
 		 (let* ((db-file   (or out-file (pathname-file input-db)))
-			(db-exists (common:file-exists? db-file))
+			(db-exists (file-exists? db-file))
 			(db        (sqlite3:open-database db-file)))
 		   (if (not db-exists)(sqlite3:execute db "CREATE TABLE data (sheet,section,var,val);"))
 		   (configf:map-all-hier-alist
 		    data
 		    (lambda (sheetname sectionname varname val)
@@ -935,11 +935,11 @@
   (let* ((rundir (if (and (getenv "MT_LINKTREE")(getenv "MT_TARGET")(getenv "MT_RUNNAME"))
 		     (conc (getenv "MT_LINKTREE") "/" (getenv "MT_TARGET") "/" (getenv "MT_RUNNAME"))
 		     #f))
 	 (cfgf   (if rundir (conc rundir "/.runconfig." megatest-version "-" megatest-fossil-hash) #f)))
     (if (and cfgf
-	     (common:file-exists? cfgf)
+	     (file-exists? cfgf)
 	     (file-write-access? cfgf)
 	     (common:use-cache?))
 	(configf:read-alist cfgf)
 	(let* ((keys   (rmt:get-keys))
 	       (target (common:args-get-target))
@@ -1780,11 +1780,11 @@
 	  (let* ((keys     (rmt:get-keys))
 		 ;; db:test-get-paths must not be run remote
 		 (paths    (tests:test-get-paths-matching keys target (args:get-arg "-test-files"))))
 	    (set! *didsomething* #t)
 	    (for-each (lambda (path)
-			(if (common:file-exists? path)
+			(if (file-exists? path)
 			(print path)))	
 		      paths)))
 	;; else do a general-run-call
 	(general-run-call 
 	 "-test-files"

Index: mt.scm
==================================================================
--- mt.scm
+++ mt.scm
@@ -201,11 +201,11 @@
                                     "\n")
                  (print-call-chain (current-error-port))
                  #f)
                (if (and test-name
                         test-rundir)   ;; #f means no dir set yet
-                   ;; (common:file-exists? test-rundir)
+                   ;; (file-exists? test-rundir)
                    ;; (directory? test-rundir))
                    (call-with-environment-variables
                     (list (cons "MT_TEST_NAME"    (or test-name "no such test"))
                           (cons "MT_TEST_RUN_DIR" (or test-rundir "no test directory yet"))
                           (cons "MT_ITEMPATH"     (or item-path "")))
@@ -271,11 +271,11 @@
 	(let ((test-dirs (tests:get-tests-search-path *configdat*)))
 	  (let loop ((hed (car test-dirs))
 		     (tal (cdr test-dirs)))
 	    ;; Setting MT_LINKTREE here is almost certainly unnecessary. 
 	    (let ((tconfig-file (conc hed "/" test-name "/testconfig")))
-	      (if (and (common:file-exists? tconfig-file)
+	      (if (and (file-exists? tconfig-file)
 		       (file-read-access? tconfig-file))
 		  (let ((link-tree-path (common:get-linktree)) ;; (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "linktree"))
 			(old-link-tree  (get-environment-variable "MT_LINKTREE")))
 		    (if link-tree-path (setenv "MT_LINKTREE" link-tree-path))
 		    (let ((newtcfg (read-config tconfig-file #f #f))) ;; NOTE: Does NOT run [system ...]

Index: mtut.scm
==================================================================
--- mtut.scm
+++ mtut.scm
@@ -95,14 +95,14 @@
 ;;  ii. Check that we are in a legal megatest area?
 ;; iii. Have some form of authentication or record of the md5sum or similar of the file?
 ;;  iv. Use compiled version in preference to .scm version. Thus there is a manual "blessing"
 ;;      required to use .mtutil.scm.
 ;;
-(if (common:file-exists? "megatest.config")
-    (if (common:file-exists? ".mtutil.so")
+(if (file-exists? "megatest.config")
+    (if (file-exists? ".mtutil.so")
 	(load ".mtutil.so")
-	(if (common:file-exists? ".mtutil.scm")
+	(if (file-exists? ".mtutil.scm")
             (load ".mtutil.scm"))))
 
 ;; main three types of run
 ;;  "-run"         => initiate a run
 ;;  "-rerun-clean" => set failed, aborted, killed, etc. (not pass/fail) to NOT_STARTED and kick off run
@@ -323,11 +323,11 @@
 	(print "ERROR: failed to create directory " dest-dir " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
       (create-directory dest-dir #t))
     (handle-exceptions
 	exn
 	(print "ERROR: failed to clone or sync 1ossil " url " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
-      (if (common:file-exists? targ-file)
+      (if (file-exists? targ-file)
 	  (system (conc "fossil pull --once " url " -R " targ-file))
 	  (system (conc "fossil clone " url " " targ-file))
 	  ))))
 
 (define (fossil:last-change-node-and-time fossils-dir fossil-name branch)
@@ -1202,11 +1202,11 @@
   (let ((pktsdirs  (configf:lookup mtconf "setup" "pktsdirs"))
 	(pktsdir   (if pktsdirs (car (string-split pktsdirs " ")) #f)))
     pktsdir))
 
 (let ((debugcontrolf (conc (get-environment-variable "HOME") "/.mtutilrc")))
-  (if (common:file-exists? debugcontrolf)
+  (if (file-exists? debugcontrolf)
       (load debugcontrolf)))
 
 (if *action*
     (case (string->symbol *action*)
       ((run remove rerun rerun-clean rerun-all set-ss archive kill list)
@@ -1304,16 +1304,16 @@
 	   (let ((subcmd (car remargs)))
 	     (case (string->symbol subcmd)
 	       ((pgschema)
 		(let* ((install-home (common:get-install-area))
 		       (schema-file  (conc install-home "/share/db/mt-pg.sql")))
-		  (if (common:file-exists? schema-file)
+		  (if (file-exists? schema-file)
 		      (system (conc "/bin/cat " schema-file)))))
 	       ((sqlite3schema)
 		(let* ((install-home (common:get-install-area))
 		       (schema-file  (conc install-home "/share/db/mt-sqlite3.sql")))
-		  (if (common:file-exists? schema-file)
+		  (if (file-exists? schema-file)
 		      (system (conc "/bin/cat " schema-file)))))
 	       ((junk)
 		(rmt:get-keys))))))
       ((tsend)
        (if (null? remargs)

Index: newdashboard.scm
==================================================================
--- newdashboard.scm
+++ newdashboard.scm
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@
       (print help)
       (exit)))
 
 ;; ;; ease debugging by loading ~/.dashboardrc
 ;; (let ((debugcontrolf (conc (get-environment-variable "HOME") "/.dashboardrc")))
-;;   (if (common:file-exists? debugcontrolf)
+;;   (if (file-exists? debugcontrolf)
 ;;       (load debugcontrolf)))
 ;; 
 ;; (debug:setup)
 
 (define *tim* (iup:timer))

Index: ods.scm
==================================================================
--- ods.scm
+++ ods.scm
@@ -206,11 +206,11 @@
 ;;   '( (sheet1 (r1c1 r1c2 r1c3 ...)
 ;;              (r2c1 r2c3 r2c3 ...) )
 ;;      (sheet2 ( ... )
 ;;              ( ... ) ) )
 (define (ods:list->ods path fname data)
-  (if (not (common:file-exists? path))
+  (if (not (file-exists? path))
       (print "ERROR: path to create ods data must pre-exist")
       (begin
 	(with-output-to-file (conc path "/content.xml")
 	  (lambda ()
 	    (ods:construct-dir path)

Index: portlogger.scm
==================================================================
--- portlogger.scm
+++ portlogger.scm
@@ -22,17 +22,18 @@
 (use sqlite3 srfi-1 posix srfi-69 hostinfo dot-locking z3)
 (import (prefix sqlite3 sqlite3:))
 
 (declare (unit portlogger))
 (declare (uses db))
+(declare (uses common))
 
 ;; lsof -i
 
 
 (define (portlogger:open-db fname)
   (let* ((avail    (tasks:wait-on-journal fname 5 remove: #t)) ;; wait up to about 10 seconds for the journal to go away
-	 (exists   (common:file-exists? fname))
+	 (exists   (file-exists? fname))
 	 (db       (if avail 
 		       (sqlite3:open-database fname)
 		       (begin
 			 (system (conc "rm -f " fname))
 			 (sqlite3:open-database fname))))
@@ -66,11 +67,11 @@
      (begin
        ;; (release-dot-lock fname)
        (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "portlogger:open-run-close failed. " proc " " params)
        (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
        (debug:print 5 *default-log-port* "exn=" (condition->list exn))
-       (if (common:file-exists? fname)(delete-file fname)) ;; brutally get rid of it
+       (if (file-exists? fname)(delete-file fname)) ;; brutally get rid of it
        (print-call-chain (current-error-port)))
      (let* (;; (lock   (obtain-dot-lock fname 2 9 10))
 	    (db     (portlogger:open-db fname))
 	    (res    (apply proc db params)))
        (sqlite3:finalize! db)

Index: process.scm
==================================================================
--- process.scm
+++ process.scm
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@
 ;; Process convience utils
 ;;======================================================================
 
 (use regex)
 (declare (unit process))
+(declare (uses common))
 
 (define (process:conservative-read port)
   (let loop ((res ""))
     (if (not (eof-object? (peek-char port)))
 	(loop (conc res (read-char port)))
@@ -180,11 +181,11 @@
 
 (define (process:alive? pid)
   (handle-exceptions
    exn
    ;; possibly pid is a process not a child, look in /proc to see if it is running still
-   (common:file-exists? (conc "/proc/" pid))
+   (file-exists? (conc "/proc/" pid))
    (let-values (((rpid exit-type exit-signal)(process-wait pid #t)))
        (and (number? rpid)
 	    (equal? rpid pid)))))
 
 (define (process:alive-on-host? host pid)

Index: rmt.scm
==================================================================
--- rmt.scm
+++ rmt.scm
@@ -21,10 +21,12 @@
 (use format typed-records) ;; RADT => purpose of json format??
 
 (declare (unit rmt))
 (declare (uses api))
 (declare (uses http-transport))
+(declare (uses common))
+
 (include "common_records.scm")
 
 ;;
 ;; THESE ARE ALL CALLED ON THE CLIENT SIDE!!!
 ;;

Index: runconfig.scm
==================================================================
--- runconfig.scm
+++ runconfig.scm
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@
   (let ((runconfigf (conc  *toppath* "/runconfigs.config"))
 	(targ       (or (common:args-get-target)
 			targ-from-db
 			(get-environment-variable "MT_TARGET"))))
     (pop-directory)
-    (if (common:file-exists? runconfigf)
+    (if (file-exists? runconfigf)
 	(setup-env-defaults runconfigf run-id #t keyvals
 			    environ-patt: (conc "(default"
 						(if targ
 						    (conc "|" targ ")")
 						    ")")))

Index: runs.scm
==================================================================
--- runs.scm
+++ runs.scm
@@ -365,11 +365,11 @@
 ;;  test-names: Comma separated patterns same as test-patts but used in selection 
 ;;              of tests to run. The item portions are not respected.
 ;;              FIXME: error out if /patt specified
 ;;            
 (define (runs:run-tests target runname test-patts user flags #!key (run-count 1)) ;; test-names
-  (let* ((keys               (keys:config-get-fields *configdat*))
+  (let* ((keys               (common:get-fields *configdat*))
 	 (keyvals            (keys:target->keyval keys target))
 	 (run-id             (rmt:register-run keyvals runname "new" "n/a" user (args:get-arg "-contour")))  ;;  test-name)))
 	 ;; (deferred          '()) ;; delay running these since they have a waiton clause
 	 (runconfigf         (conc  *toppath* "/runconfigs.config"))
          (dbfile             (conc  *toppath* "/megatest.db"))
@@ -426,11 +426,11 @@
     ;; force the starting of a server -- removed BB 17ww28 - no longer needed.
     ;;(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "waiting on server...")
     ;;(server:start-and-wait *toppath*)
     
     (runs:set-megatest-env-vars run-id inkeys: keys inrunname: runname) ;; these may be needed by the launching process
-    (set! runconf (if (common:file-exists? runconfigf)
+    (set! runconf (if (file-exists? runconfigf)
 		      (setup-env-defaults runconfigf run-id *already-seen-runconfig-info* keyvals target)
 		      (begin
 			(debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: You do not have a run config file: " runconfigf)
 			#f)))
 
@@ -1765,11 +1765,11 @@
 		  (thread-sleep! 1)
 		  (loop)))))
       (if (not testdat) ;; should NOT happen
 	  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "failed to get test record for test-id " test-id))
       (set! test-id (db:test-get-id testdat))
-      (if (common:file-exists? test-path)
+      (if (file-exists? test-path)
 	  (change-directory test-path)
 	  (begin
 	    (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "test run path not created before attempting to run the test. Perhaps you are running -remove-runs at the same time?")
 	    (change-directory *toppath*)))
       (case (if force ;; (args:get-arg "-force")
@@ -1833,11 +1833,11 @@
 		   (let ((running-tests (rmt:get-tests-for-runs-mindata #f full-test-name '("RUNNING" "REMOTEHOSTSTART" "LAUNCHED") '() #f)))
 		     (if (not (null? running-tests)) ;; have to skip 
 			 (set! skip-test "Skipping due to previous tests running"))))
 		  ((and skip-check
 			(configf:lookup test-conf "skip" "fileexists"))
-		   (if (common:file-exists? (configf:lookup test-conf "skip" "fileexists"))
+		   (if (file-exists? (configf:lookup test-conf "skip" "fileexists"))
 		       (set! skip-test (conc "Skipping due to existance of file " (configf:lookup test-conf "skip" "fileexists")))))
 		  ((and skip-check
 			(configf:lookup test-conf "skip" "rundelay"))
 		   ;; run-ids = #f means *all* runs
 		   (let* ((numseconds      (common:hms-string->seconds (configf:lookup test-conf "skip" "rundelay")))
@@ -2252,11 +2252,11 @@
                                 ;; BB TODO - manage has-subrun case
 				(if (and run-dir (not toplevel-with-children))
 				    (let ((ddir (conc run-dir "/")))
 				      (case (string->symbol (args:get-arg "-archive"))
 					((save save-remove keep-html)
-					 (if (common:file-exists? ddir)
+					 (if (file-exists? ddir)
 					     (debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "Estimating disk space usage for " test-fulln ": " (common:get-disk-space-used ddir)))))))
 				(if (not (null? tal))
 				    (loop (car tal)(cdr tal))))
 			       )))
 		       )
@@ -2289,11 +2289,11 @@
     )
   #t)
 
 (define (runs:remove-test-directory test mode) ;; remove-data-only)
   (let* ((run-dir       (db:test-get-rundir test))    ;; run dir is from the link tree
-	 (real-dir      (if (common:file-exists? run-dir)
+	 (real-dir      (if (file-exists? run-dir)
 			    ;; (resolve-pathname run-dir)
 			    (common:nice-path run-dir)
 			    #f))
          (clean-mode    (or mode 'remove-all))
          (test-id       (db:test-get-id test))
@@ -2316,14 +2316,14 @@
       ((remove-all)      (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id (db:test-get-run_id test)(db:test-get-id test) "REMOVING" "LOCKED" #f))
       ((archive-remove)  (mt:test-set-state-status-by-id (db:test-get-run_id test)(db:test-get-id test) "ARCHIVE_REMOVING" #f #f)))
     (debug:print-info 1 *default-log-port* "Attempting to remove " (if real-dir (conc " dir " real-dir " and ") "") " link " run-dir)
     (if (and real-dir 
 	     (> (string-length real-dir) 5)
-	     (common:file-exists? real-dir)) ;; bad heuristic but should prevent /tmp /home etc.
+	     (file-exists? real-dir)) ;; bad heuristic but should prevent /tmp /home etc.
 	(begin ;; let* ((realpath (resolve-pathname run-dir)))
 	  (debug:print-info 1 *default-log-port* "Recursively removing " real-dir)
-	  (if (common:file-exists? real-dir)
+	  (if (file-exists? real-dir)
 	      (runs:safe-delete-test-dir real-dir)
 	      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: test dir " real-dir " appears to not exist or is not readable")))
 	(if real-dir 
 	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: directory " real-dir " does not exist")
 	    (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: no real directory corrosponding to link " run-dir ", nothing done")))
@@ -2381,11 +2381,11 @@
 	    (begin 
 	      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "Failed to setup, exiting")
 	      (exit 1)))
 
         
-	(set! keys (keys:config-get-fields *configdat*))
+	(set! keys (common:get-fields *configdat*))
 	;; have enough to process -target or -reqtarg here
 	(if (args:get-arg "-reqtarg")
 	    (let* ((runconfigf (conc  *toppath* "/runconfigs.config")) ;; DO NOT EVALUATE ALL 
 		   (runconfig  (read-config runconfigf #f #t environ-patt: #f)))
 	      (if (hash-table-ref/default runconfig (args:get-arg "-reqtarg") #f)
@@ -2536,11 +2536,11 @@
 (define (runs:clean-cache target runname toppath)
   (if target
       (if runname
 	  (let* ((linktree (common:get-linktree)) ;; (if toppath (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "linktree")))
 		 (runtop   (conc linktree "/" target "/" runname))
-		 (files    (if (common:file-exists? runtop)
+		 (files    (if (file-exists? runtop)
 			       (append (glob (conc runtop "/.megatest*"))
 				       (glob (conc runtop "/.runconfig*")))
 			       '())))
 	    (if (null? files)
 		(debug:print-info 0 *default-log-port* "No cached megatest or runconfigs files found. None removed.")

Index: sdb.scm
==================================================================
--- sdb.scm
+++ sdb.scm
@@ -27,15 +27,16 @@
 (use sqlite3 srfi-1 posix regex regex-case srfi-69 csv-xml s11n md5 message-digest base64)
 (import (prefix sqlite3 sqlite3:))
 (import (prefix base64 base64:))
 
 (declare (unit sdb))
+(declare (uses common))
 
 ;; 
 (define (sdb:open fname)
   (let* ((dbpath    (pathname-directory fname))
-	 (dbexists  (let ((fe (common:file-exists? fname)))
+	 (dbexists  (let ((fe (file-exists? fname)))
 		      (if fe 
 			  fe
 			  (begin
 			    (create-directory dbpath #t)
 			    #f))))

Index: server.scm
==================================================================
--- server.scm
+++ server.scm
@@ -517,14 +517,14 @@
 		   (should-sync      (and (not *time-to-exit*)
                                           (> (- (current-seconds) *db-last-sync*) min-intersync-delay))) ;; sync every five seconds minimum, deprecated logic, can probably be removed
 		   (start-time       (current-seconds))
                    (cpu-load-adj     (alist-ref 'adj-proc-load (common:get-normalized-cpu-load #f)))
 		   (mt-mod-time      (file-modification-time mtpath))
-		   (last-sync-start  (if (common:file-exists? start-file)
+		   (last-sync-start  (if (file-exists? start-file)
 					 (file-modification-time start-file)
 					 0))
-		   (last-sync-end    (if (common:file-exists? end-file)
+		   (last-sync-end    (if (file-exists? end-file)
 					 (file-modification-time end-file)
 					 10))
                    (sync-period      (+ 3 (* cpu-load-adj 30))) ;; as adjusted load increases increase the sync period
 		   (recently-synced  (and (< (- start-time mt-mod-time) sync-period) ;; not useful if sync didn't modify megatest.db!
 					  (< mt-mod-time last-sync-start)))

Index: subrun.scm
==================================================================
--- subrun.scm
+++ subrun.scm
@@ -38,38 +38,38 @@
 (include "db_records.scm") ;; provides db:test-get-id
 ;;(include "run_records.scm")
 ;;(include "test_records.scm")
 
 (define (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir)
-  (if (and (common:file-exists? (conc test-run-dir "/subrun-area") )
-           (common:file-exists? (conc test-run-dir "/testconfig.subrun") ))
+  (if (and (file-exists? (conc test-run-dir "/subrun-area") )
+           (file-exists? (conc test-run-dir "/testconfig.subrun") ))
       #t
       #f))
 
 (define (subrun:launch-dashboard test-run-dir)
   (if (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir)
       (let* ((subarea (subrun:get-runarea test-run-dir)))
-        (if (and subarea (common:file-exists? subarea))
+        (if (and subarea (file-exists? subarea))
             (system (conc "cd " subarea ";env -i PATH=$PATH DISPLAY=$DISPLAY HOME=$HOME USER=$USER dashboard &"))))))
 
 (define (subrun:subrun-removed? test-run-dir)
   (if (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir)
       (let ((flagfile (conc test-run-dir "/subrun.removed")))
-        (if (common:file-exists? flagfile)
+        (if (file-exists? flagfile)
             #t
             #f))
       #t))
 
 (define (subrun:set-subrun-removed test-run-dir)
   (let ((flagfile (conc test-run-dir "/subrun.removed")))
-    (if (and (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir) (not (common:file-exists? flagfile)))
+    (if (and (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir) (not (file-exists? flagfile)))
         (with-output-to-file flagfile
           (lambda () (print (current-seconds)))))))
 
 (define (subrun:unset-subrun-removed test-run-dir)
   (let ((flagfile (conc test-run-dir "/subrun.removed")))
-    (if (and (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir) (common:file-exists? flagfile))
+    (if (and (subrun:subrun-test-initialized? test-run-dir) (file-exists? flagfile))
         (delete-file flagfile))))
 
 
 (define (subrun:testconfig-defines-subrun? testconfig)
   (configf:lookup testconfig "subrun" "runwait")) ;; we use runwait as the flag that a subrun is requested
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@
               ;; we need to force the setting in the testconfig so it will
           ;; be preserved in the testconfig.subrun file
       (configf:set-section-var testconfig "subrun" "runarea" *toppath*))
     (configf:set-section-var testconfig "logpro" "subrun" logpro) ;; append the logpro rules to the logpro section as stepname subrun
 
-    (if (common:file-exists? symlink-target)
+    (if (file-exists? symlink-target)
         (delete-file symlink-target))
     
     (create-symbolic-link ra symlink-target)
 
     (configf:write-alist testconfig "testconfig.subrun")))

Index: tasks.scm
==================================================================
--- tasks.scm
+++ tasks.scm
@@ -48,21 +48,21 @@
 	   (print-call-chain (current-error-port))
 	   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
 	   (debug:print 5 *default-log-port* " exn=" (condition->list exn))
 	   (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "tasks:wait-on-journal failed. Continuing on, you can ignore this call-chain")
 	   #t) ;; if stuff goes wrong just allow it to move on
-	 (let loop ((journal-exists (common:file-exists? fullpath))
+	 (let loop ((journal-exists (file-exists? fullpath))
 		    (count          n)) ;; wait ten times ...
 	   (if journal-exists
 	       (begin
 		 (if (and waiting-msg
 			  (eq? (modulo n 30) 0))
 		     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* waiting-msg))
 		 (if (> count 0)
 		     (begin
 		       (thread-sleep! 1)
-		       (loop (common:file-exists? fullpath)
+		       (loop (file-exists? fullpath)
 			     (- count 1)))
 		     (begin
 		       (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: removing the journal file " fullpath ", this is not good. Look for disk full, write access and other issues.")
 		       (if remove (system (conc "rm -rf " fullpath)))
 		       #f)))
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@
 	     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* " message: " ((condition-property-accessor 'exn 'message) exn))
 	     (debug:print 5 *default-log-port* " exn=" (condition->list exn))))
        (let* ((dbpath        (db:dbfile-path )) ;; (tasks:get-task-db-path))
 	      (dbfile       (conc dbpath "/monitor.db"))
 	      (avail        (tasks:wait-on-journal dbpath 10)) ;; wait up to about 10 seconds for the journal to go away
-	      (exists       (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+	      (exists       (file-exists? dbpath))
 	      (write-access (file-write-access? dbpath))
 	      (mdb          (cond ;; what the hek is *toppath* doing here?
 			     ((and (string? *toppath*)(file-write-access? *toppath*))
 			      (sqlite3:open-database dbfile))
 			     ((file-read-access? dbpath)    (sqlite3:open-database dbfile))
@@ -203,11 +203,11 @@
 
     (system (conc "nbfake kill "kill-switch" "pid))
 
     (when logfile
       (thread-sleep! 0.5)
-      (if (common:file-exists? gzfile) (delete-file gzfile))
+      (if (file-exists? gzfile) (delete-file gzfile))
       (system (conc "gzip " logfile))
       
       (unsetenv "TARGETHOST_LOGF")
       (unsetenv "TARGETHOST"))))
     

Index: tdb.scm
==================================================================
--- tdb.scm
+++ tdb.scm
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@
   (debug:print-info 11 *default-log-port* "open-test-db " work-area)
   (if (and work-area 
 	   (directory? work-area)
 	   (file-read-access? work-area))
       (let* ((dbpath              (conc work-area "/testdat.db"))
-	     (dbexists            (common:file-exists? dbpath))
+	     (dbexists            (file-exists? dbpath))
 	     (work-area-writeable (file-write-access? work-area))
 	     (db                  (handle-exceptions  ;; open the db if area writeable or db pre-existing. open in-mem otherwise. if exception, open in-mem
 				   exn
 				   (begin
 				     (print-call-chain (current-error-port))

Index: tests.scm
==================================================================
--- tests.scm
+++ tests.scm
@@ -72,16 +72,16 @@
 (define (tests:get-valid-tests test-registry tests-paths)
   (if (null? tests-paths) 
       test-registry
       (let loop ((hed (car tests-paths))
 		 (tal (cdr tests-paths)))
-	(if (common:file-exists? hed)
+	(if (file-exists? hed)
 	    (for-each (lambda (test-path)
 			(let* ((tname   (last (string-split test-path "/")))
 			       (tconfig (conc test-path "/testconfig")))
 			  (if (and (not (hash-table-ref/default test-registry tname #f))
-				   (common:file-exists? tconfig))
+				   (file-exists? tconfig))
 			      (hash-table-set! test-registry tname test-path))))
 		      (glob (conc hed "/*"))))
 	(if (null? tal)
 	    test-registry
 	    (loop (car tal)(cdr tal))))))
@@ -350,11 +350,11 @@
 	  (db:test-get-rundir prev-testdat)) ;; )
 	 (waivers     (if testconfig (configf:section-vars testconfig "waivers") '()))
 	 (waiver-rx   (regexp "^(\\S+)\\s+(.*)$"))
 	 (diff-rule   "diff %file1% %file2%")
 	 (logpro-rule "diff %file1% %file2% | logpro %waivername%.logpro %waivername%.html"))
-    (if (not (common:file-exists? test-rundir))
+    (if (not (file-exists? test-rundir))
 	(begin
 	  (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "test run directory is gone, cannot propagate waiver")
 	  #f)
 	(begin
 	  (push-directory test-rundir)
@@ -367,11 +367,11 @@
 				     (wparts      (if waiver (string-match waiver-rx waiver) #f))
 				     (waiver-rule (if wparts (cadr wparts)  #f))
 				     (waiver-glob (if wparts (caddr wparts) #f))
 				     (logpro-file (if waiver
 						      (let ((fname (conc hed ".logpro")))
-							(if (common:file-exists? fname)
+							(if (file-exists? fname)
 							    fname 
 							    (begin
 							      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "INFO: No logpro file " fname " falling back to diff")
 							      #f)))
 						      #f))
@@ -1194,11 +1194,11 @@
 						      '()
 						      (lambda (x p)
 							(let* ((targ-path (string-intersperse p "/"))
                                                                (full-path (conc linktree "/" targ-path))
                                                                (run-name  (car (reverse p))))
-                                                          (if (and (common:file-exists? full-path)
+                                                          (if (and (file-exists? full-path)
                                                                    (directory?   full-path)
                                                                    (file-write-access? full-path))
                                                               (s:a run-name 'href (conc targ-path "/run-summary.html"))
                                                               (begin
                                                                 (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "INFO: Can't create " targ-path "/run-summary.html")
@@ -1233,11 +1233,11 @@
                                            path-parts))
                                        test-dats))
                     (tests-htree (common:list->htree tests-tree-dat))
                     (html-dir    (conc linktree "/" (string-intersperse run-dir "/")))
                     (html-path   (conc html-dir "/run-summary.html"))
-                    (oup         (if (and (common:file-exists? html-dir)
+                    (oup         (if (and (file-exists? html-dir)
                                           (directory?   html-dir)
                                           (file-write-access? html-dir))
                                      (open-output-file  html-path)
                                      #f)))
                ;; (print "run-dir: " run-dir ", tests-tree-dat: " tests-tree-dat)
@@ -1261,21 +1261,21 @@
                                                                           (item-path ;; (if (> (length p) 2) ;; test-name + run-name
                                                                            (string-intersperse p "/"))
                                                                           (full-targ (conc html-dir "/" targ-path))
                                                                           (std-file  (conc full-targ "/test-summary.html"))
                                                                           (alt-file  (conc full-targ "/megatest-rollup-" test-name ".html"))
-                                                                          (html-file (if (common:file-exists? alt-file)
+                                                                          (html-file (if (file-exists? alt-file)
                                                                                          alt-file
                                                                                          std-file))
                                                                           (run-name  (car (reverse p))))
-                                                                     (if (and (not (common:file-exists? full-targ))
+                                                                     (if (and (not (file-exists? full-targ))
                                                                               (directory? full-targ)
                                                                               (file-write-access? full-targ))
                                                                          (tests:summarize-test 
                                                                           run-id 
                                                                           (rmt:get-test-id run-id test-name item-path)))
-                                                                     (if (common:file-exists? full-targ)
+                                                                     (if (file-exists? full-targ)
                                                                          (s:a run-name 'href html-file)
                                                                          (begin
                                                                            (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "ERROR: can't access " full-targ)
                                                                            (conc "No summary for " run-name)))))
                                                                  ))))))
@@ -1484,11 +1484,11 @@
 ;; Gather data from test/task specifications
 ;;======================================================================
 
 ;; (define (tests:get-valid-tests testsdir test-patts) ;;  #!key (test-names '()))
 ;;   (let ((tests (glob (conc testsdir "/tests/*")))) ;; " (string-translate patt "%" "*")))))
-;;     (set! tests (filter (lambda (test)(common:file-exists? (conc test "/testconfig"))) tests))
+;;     (set! tests (filter (lambda (test)(file-exists? (conc test "/testconfig"))) tests))
 ;;     (delete-duplicates
 ;;      (filter (lambda (testname)
 ;; 	       (tests:match test-patts testname #f))
 ;; 	     (map (lambda (testp)
 ;; 		    (last (string-split testp "/")))
@@ -1519,11 +1519,11 @@
   (let* ((use-cache    (common:use-cache?))
 	 (cache-path   (tests:get-test-path-from-environment))
 	 (cache-file   (and cache-path (conc cache-path "/.testconfig")))
 	 (cache-exists (and cache-file
 			    (not force-create)  ;; if force-create then pretend there is no cache to read
-			    (common:file-exists? cache-file)))
+			    (file-exists? cache-file)))
 	 (cached-dat   (if (and (not force-create)
 				cache-exists
 				use-cache)
 			   (handle-exceptions
 			    exn
@@ -1543,11 +1543,11 @@
 	      (let* ((treg         (or test-registry
 				       (tests:get-all)))
 		     (test-path    (or (hash-table-ref/default treg test-name #f)
 				       (conc *toppath* "/tests/" test-name)))
 		     (test-configf (conc test-path "/testconfig"))
-		     (testexists   (and (common:file-exists? test-configf)(file-read-access? test-configf)))
+		     (testexists   (and (file-exists? test-configf)(file-read-access? test-configf)))
 		     (tcfg         (if testexists
 				       (read-config test-configf #f system-allowed
 						    environ-patt: (if system-allowed
 								      "pre-launch-env-vars"
 								      #f))
@@ -1713,11 +1713,11 @@
 ;;
 (define (tests:lazy-dot testrecords  outtype sizex sizey)
   (let ((dfile (conc "/tmp/." (current-user-name) "-" (server:mk-signature) ".dot"))
 	(fname (conc "/tmp/." (current-user-name) "-" (server:mk-signature) ".dotdat")))
     (tests:write-dot-file testrecords dfile sizex sizey)
-    (if (common:file-exists? fname)
+    (if (file-exists? fname)
 	(let ((res (with-input-from-file fname
 		     (lambda ()
 		       (read-lines)))))
 	  (system (conc "env -i PATH=$PATH dot -T " outtype " < " dfile " > " fname "&"))
 	  res)