diff --git a/code/sample/itape.py b/code/sample/itape.py
index 51be562..5d4c11d 100644
--- a/code/sample/itape.py
+++ b/code/sample/itape.py
@@ -5,37 +5,75 @@ import os, sys
 import argparse
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-parser.add_argument("mu_ratio", help="mu1/mu0, ratio between reaction-diffusion layer mu1 and convection-diffusion layer mu0")
-parser.add_argument("c_star",  help="reference c value seperate reaction-diffusion and convection-diffusion layers")
-args = parser.parse_args()
+file_parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+
+param_dict = {
+"nx"		:512,
+"l_0"		:4.,
+"int_pr"	:400,
+"tar_lo"	:0.60,
+"dt"		:0.001,
+"sc"		:0.75,
+"vis"		:0.020,
+"pre"		:2.10E+4,
+"ac"		:26.7,
+"bc"		:3.,
+"u0"		:0.21,
+"tf"		:100.,
+"dt_uf"		:0.4,
+"ctmp"		:0.,
+"c_cut"		:0.001,
+"c_ref"		:0.01,
+"min_wr"	:0.,
+"prof_wr"	:1.0,
+"rvis"		:1.0,
+"cstar"		:1.0,
+}
+
+file_parser.add_argument("--default", help="file containing override default values")
+
+file_args, others = file_parser.parse_known_args()
+
+if file_args.default is not None:
+    with open(file_args.default) as df:
+        try:
+            for line in df:
+                k, v = line.split()[:2]
+                if k in param_dict:
+                    param_dict[k] = v
+        except ValueError:
+          pass
 
 
-# with open("itape.format") as itapeform:
-    # format = itapeform.read()
+for k, v in param_dict.iteritems():
+    parser.add_argument("--"+k, default=v)
 
-itape = '''        nx     512
-       l_0     4.   !3[pi]   
-    int_pr     400
-    tar_lo     0.60
-        dt     0.001 
-        sc     0.75
-       vis     0.020           !2pi(162)ref  !2pi(256)mid  !2pi(256)Max !2p(162)Low
-       pre     2.10E+4       !185.75          !185.75       !316.88       !440.5       !102.69
-        ac     26.7            !22.250          !22.25        !22.56        !22.3        !22.39
-        bc     3.              !7.000           !7.0          !7.0          !7.0         !7.0
-        u0     0.21
-        tf     100.
-     dt_uf     0.4
-      ctmp     0.        !1.0e-14
-     c_cut     0.001 !0.012     ! c < c_cut -> wrate = 0.
-     c_ref     0.01  !0.003     ! 
-    min_wr     0.        ! 5.0e-14
-   prof_wr     1.0       
-      rvis     {}
-     cstar     {}
-'''
+args = parser.parse_args(others)
 
-print itape.format( args.mu_ratio, args.c_star )
+params = vars(args)
+
+itape = '''        nx     {0[nx]}
+       l_0     {0[l_0]}
+    int_pr     {0[int_pr]}
+    tar_lo     {0[tar_lo]}
+        dt     {0[dt]}
+        sc     {0[sc]}
+       vis     {0[vis]}
+       pre     {0[pre]}
+        ac     {0[ac]}
+        bc     {0[bc]}
+        u0     {0[u0]}
+        tf     {0[tf]}
+     dt_uf     {0[dt_uf]}
+      ctmp     {0[ctmp]}
+     c_cut     {0[c_cut]}
+     c_ref     {0[c_ref]}
+    min_wr     {0[min_wr]}
+   prof_wr     {0[prof_wr]}
+      rvis     {0[rvis]}
+     cstar     {0[cstar]} '''
+
+print itape.format( params )
 
 # for i in range(15,60,5):
     # with open("itape", 'w') as itape: