diff --git a/src/energenie/OpenThings_test.py b/src/energenie/OpenThings_test.py
index 554617c..9ee20c4 100644
--- a/src/energenie/OpenThings_test.py
+++ b/src/energenie/OpenThings_test.py
@@ -135,35 +135,72 @@
 
 import Devices
 
+# ACCESSOR VARIANTS
+#  as method parameters:
+#     {pydict}
+#
+#     header={pydict}
+#     header_mfrid=123
+#
+#     recs_0={pydict}
+#     recs_0_paramid=PARAM_SWITCH_STATE
+#     recs_SWITCH_STATE={pydict}
+#     recs_SWITCH_STATE_value=1
+#
+#  as attribute accessors
+#    msg["header"]
+#    msg["recs"][0]
+#    msg[PARAM_SWITCH_STATE]
+
+
 class TestMessage(unittest.TestCase):
+
 	def test_blank(self):
 		# create a blank message
 		msg = Message()
 		msg.dump()
 
-	def XXXtest_blank_create_header(self):
+	def test_blank_create_dict(self):
+		msg = Message({"header":{}, "recs":[{"parmid":PARAM_SWITCH_STATE, "value":1}]})
+		msg.dump()
+
+	#### HEADER
+
+	def XXXtest_blank_create_header_dict(self):
+		# create a blank message and add a header at creation from a dict
+		msg = Message(header={"mfrid":123, "productid":456, "sensorid":789})
+		msg.dump()
+
+	def XXXtest_blank_create_header_paths(self):
 		# create a blank message and add some header fields at creation time
 		msg = Message(header_mfrid=123, header_productid=456, header_sensorid=789)
 		msg.dump()
 
-	def XXXtest_add_header_dict(self):
+	def XXXtest_add_header_attr(self):
 		# add header fields to a message after creation like a pydict
 		msg = Message()
 		msg["header"]["mfrid"] = 123
 		msg.dump()
 
-	def XXXtest_add_rec_dict(self):
-		# add rec fields to a message after creation like a pydict
-		msg = Message()
-		msg["recs"][0] = {"paramid": PARAM_SWITCH_STATE, "value": 1}
-		msg.dump()
-
 	def XXXtest_add_header_path(self):
 		# add header fields to a message after creation via pathed keys
 		msg = Message()
 		msg.add(header_mfrid=123, header_productid=456)
 		msg.dump()
 
+	def XXXtest_add_header_dict(self):
+		msg = Message()
+		msg.add(header={"mfrid":123, "productid":456, "sensorid":789})
+		msg.dump()
+
+	#### RECORDS
+
+	def XXXtest_add_rec_attr(self):
+		# add rec fields to a message after creation like a pydict
+		msg = Message()
+		msg["recs"][0] = {"paramid": PARAM_SWITCH_STATE, "value": 1}
+		msg.dump()
+
 	def XXXtest_add_rec_path(self):
 		# add rec fields to a message after creation via pathed indexed keys
 		msg = Message()
@@ -176,6 +213,11 @@
 		msg.add_rec(PARAM_SWITCH_STATE, value=1)
 		msg.dump()
 
+	def XXXtest_add_rec_dict(self):
+		# add rec fields from a dict parameter
+		msg = Message()
+		msg.add_rec({"paramid":PARAM_SWITCH_STATE, "value":1})
+
 	def XXXtest_create_template(self):
 		# create a message from a template
 		msg = Message(Devices.MIHO005_REPORT)
@@ -185,14 +227,13 @@
 		# alter rec fields in a template
 		msg = Message(Devices.MIHO005_REPORT)
 		msg.alter(header_productid=123)
-		msg.alter(recs_SWITCH_STATE_value=1)
 		msg.dump()
 
-	def XXXtest_dump(self):
-		## dump a message in printable format
+	def XXXtest_alter_rec_template_paramname(self):
+		# alter rec fields in a template
 		msg = Message(Devices.MIHO005_REPORT)
-		print(msg)
-		print(str(msg))
+		msg.alter(recs_SWITCH_STATE_value=1)
+		msg.dump()
 
 	def XXXtest_pydict_read(self):
 		## access a specific keyed entry like a normal pydict, for read
@@ -223,6 +264,17 @@
 		msg.dump()
 
 
+	def XXXtest_repr(self):
+		## dump a message in printable format
+		msg = Message(Devices.MIHO005_REPORT)
+		print(msg)
+
+	def XXXtest_str(self):
+		## dump a message in printable format
+		msg = Message(Devices.MIHO005_REPORT)
+		print(str(msg))
+
+
 def test_message():
 	import unittest
 	unittest.main()