diff --git a/plib/src/io.rs b/plib/src/io.rs
index 672dd2ec..17199a0b 100644
--- a/plib/src/io.rs
+++ b/plib/src/io.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ pub fn input_stream(pathname: &PathBuf, dashed_stdin: bool) -> io::Result<Box<dy
     Ok(file)
 }
 
+pub fn input_stream_opt(pathname: &Option<PathBuf>) -> io::Result<Box<dyn Read>> {
+    match pathname {
+        Some(path) => input_stream(&path, false),
+        None => input_stream(&PathBuf::new(), false),
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn input_reader(
     pathname: &PathBuf,
     dashed_stdin: bool,
diff --git a/text/src/asa.rs b/text/src/asa.rs
index d556cf00..23194ecd 100644
--- a/text/src/asa.rs
+++ b/text/src/asa.rs
@@ -17,15 +17,15 @@ extern crate plib;
 use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, gettext, textdomain};
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
-use std::io::{self, BufRead, Read};
+use std::io::{self, BufRead};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// asa - interpret carriage-control characters
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
 #[command(author, version, about, long_about)]
 struct Args {
     /// Files to read as input.
-    files: Vec<String>,
+    files: Vec<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 struct AsaState {
@@ -69,14 +69,8 @@ impl AsaState {
     }
 }
 
-fn asa_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if filename == "" {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    }
-    let mut reader = io::BufReader::new(file);
+fn asa_file(pathname: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let mut reader = plib::io::input_reader(pathname, false)?;
     let mut line_no: usize = 0;
     let mut state = AsaState::new();
 
@@ -142,7 +136,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     // if no files, read from stdin
     if args.files.is_empty() {
-        args.files.push(String::new());
+        args.files.push(PathBuf::new());
     }
 
     let mut exit_code = 0;
@@ -150,7 +144,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     for filename in &args.files {
         if let Err(e) = asa_file(filename) {
             exit_code = 1;
-            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename, e);
+            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename.display(), e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/text/src/expand.rs b/text/src/expand.rs
index 83b6ca5d..53d2618a 100644
--- a/text/src/expand.rs
+++ b/text/src/expand.rs
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ extern crate plib;
 use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, textdomain};
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
 use std::io::{self, BufWriter, Read, Write};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// expand - convert tabs to spaces
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ struct Args {
     tablist: Option<String>,
 
     /// Files to read as input.
-    files: Vec<String>,
+    files: Vec<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 enum TabList {
@@ -67,14 +67,9 @@ fn space_out(column: &mut usize, writer: &mut BufWriter<dyn Write>) -> io::Resul
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn expand_file(tablist: &TabList, filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
+fn expand_file(tablist: &TabList, pathname: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
     // open file, or stdin
-    let mut file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if filename == "" {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    }
+    let mut file = plib::io::input_stream(pathname, false)?;
 
     let mut raw_buffer = [0; plib::BUFSZ];
     let mut writer = BufWriter::new(io::stdout());
@@ -160,7 +155,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     // if no files, read from stdin
     if args.files.is_empty() {
-        args.files.push(String::new());
+        args.files.push(PathBuf::new());
     }
 
     let mut exit_code = 0;
@@ -168,7 +163,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     for filename in &args.files {
         if let Err(e) = expand_file(&tablist, filename) {
             exit_code = 1;
-            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename, e);
+            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename.display(), e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/text/src/fold.rs b/text/src/fold.rs
index a77e5551..20da046a 100644
--- a/text/src/fold.rs
+++ b/text/src/fold.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ extern crate plib;
 use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, textdomain};
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
 use std::io::{self, Read, Write};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 const TABSTOP: usize = 8;
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ struct Args {
     width: u64,
 
     /// Files to read as input.
-    files: Vec<String>,
+    files: Vec<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 struct OutputState {
@@ -105,14 +105,9 @@ fn find_last_blank(v: &Vec<u8>) -> Option<usize> {
     return None;
 }
 
-fn fold_file(args: &Args, filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
+fn fold_file(args: &Args, pathname: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
     // open file, or stdin
-    let mut file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if filename == "" {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    }
+    let mut file = plib::io::input_stream(pathname, false)?;
 
     let mut raw_buffer = [0; plib::BUFSZ];
     let mut state = OutputState::new(args);
@@ -185,7 +180,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     // if no files, read from stdin
     if args.files.is_empty() {
-        args.files.push(String::new());
+        args.files.push(PathBuf::new());
     }
 
     let mut exit_code = 0;
@@ -193,7 +188,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     for filename in &args.files {
         if let Err(e) = fold_file(&args, filename) {
             exit_code = 1;
-            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename, e);
+            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename.display(), e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/text/src/tsort.rs b/text/src/tsort.rs
index ddd00601..9b740e2a 100644
--- a/text/src/tsort.rs
+++ b/text/src/tsort.rs
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ extern crate plib;
 use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, textdomain};
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
-use std::io::{self, BufRead, Read};
+use std::io::{self, BufRead};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use topological_sort::TopologicalSort;
 
 /// tsort - topological sort
@@ -22,18 +22,13 @@ use topological_sort::TopologicalSort;
 #[command(author, version, about, long_about)]
 struct Args {
     /// File to read as input.
-    file: Option<String>,
+    file: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
 
-fn tsort_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if filename == "" {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    }
-
+fn tsort_file(pathname: &Option<PathBuf>) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let file = plib::io::input_stream_opt(pathname)?;
     let mut reader = io::BufReader::new(file);
+
     let mut ts = TopologicalSort::<String>::new();
     let mut sv: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
 
@@ -65,6 +60,13 @@ fn tsort_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn pathname_display(path: &Option<PathBuf>) -> String {
+    match path {
+        None => String::from("stdin"),
+        Some(p) => p.display().to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
 fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     // parse command line arguments
     let args = Args::parse();
@@ -74,14 +76,9 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     let mut exit_code = 0;
 
-    let filename = match &args.file {
-        None => String::new(),
-        Some(name) => String::from(name),
-    };
-
-    if let Err(e) = tsort_file(&filename) {
+    if let Err(e) = tsort_file(&args.file) {
         exit_code = 1;
-        eprintln!("{}: {}", filename, e);
+        eprintln!("{}: {}", pathname_display(&args.file), e);
     }
 
     std::process::exit(exit_code)
diff --git a/xform/src/cksum.rs b/xform/src/cksum.rs
index ec6eb268..69f2e612 100644
--- a/xform/src/cksum.rs
+++ b/xform/src/cksum.rs
@@ -23,24 +23,19 @@ mod crc32;
 use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, textdomain};
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
 use std::io::{self, Read};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// cksum - write file checksums and sizes
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
 #[command(author, version, about, long_about)]
 struct Args {
     /// Files to read as input.  Use "-" or no-args for stdin.
-    files: Vec<String>,
+    files: Vec<PathBuf>,
 }
 
-fn cksum_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let mut file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if filename == "" {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    }
+fn cksum_file(filename: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let mut file = plib::io::input_stream(filename, false)?;
 
     let mut buffer = [0; plib::BUFSZ];
     let mut n_bytes: u64 = 0;
@@ -57,7 +52,7 @@ fn cksum_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
     }
 
     let filename_prefix = {
-        if filename == "" {
+        if filename.as_os_str() == "" {
             ""
         } else {
             " "
@@ -68,7 +63,7 @@ fn cksum_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
         crc32::finalize(crc, n_bytes as usize),
         n_bytes,
         filename_prefix,
-        filename
+        filename.display()
     );
 
     Ok(())
@@ -83,7 +78,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     // if no file args, read from stdin
     if args.files.is_empty() {
-        args.files.push(String::new());
+        args.files.push(PathBuf::new());
     }
 
     let mut exit_code = 0;
@@ -91,7 +86,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     for filename in &args.files {
         if let Err(e) = cksum_file(filename) {
             exit_code = 1;
-            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename, e);
+            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename.display(), e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/xform/src/uncompress.rs b/xform/src/uncompress.rs
index 9b683ca3..59afdaac 100644
--- a/xform/src/uncompress.rs
+++ b/xform/src/uncompress.rs
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, textdomain};
 use lzw::UnixLZWReader;
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
-use std::io::{self, Read, Write};
+use std::io::{self, Write};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// uncompress - expand compressed data
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
@@ -41,17 +41,11 @@ struct Args {
     verbose: bool,
 
     /// Files to read as input.  Use "-" or no-args for stdin.
-    files: Vec<String>,
+    files: Vec<PathBuf>,
 }
 
-fn uncompress_file(filename: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if filename == "" {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    }
-
+fn uncompress_file(pathname: &PathBuf) -> io::Result<()> {
+    let file = plib::io::input_stream(pathname, false)?;
     let mut decoder = UnixLZWReader::new(file);
 
     loop {
@@ -80,7 +74,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     // if no file args, read from stdin
     if args.files.is_empty() {
-        args.files.push(String::new());
+        args.files.push(PathBuf::new());
     }
 
     // zcat is a special case:  always write to stdout
@@ -93,7 +87,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     for filename in &args.files {
         if let Err(e) = uncompress_file(filename) {
             exit_code = 1;
-            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename, e);
+            eprintln!("{}: {}", filename.display(), e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/xform/src/uuencode.rs b/xform/src/uuencode.rs
index db461792..6816cc05 100644
--- a/xform/src/uuencode.rs
+++ b/xform/src/uuencode.rs
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ use base64::prelude::*;
 use clap::Parser;
 use gettextrs::{bind_textdomain_codeset, textdomain};
 use plib::PROJECT_NAME;
-use std::fs;
 use std::io::{self, Read, Write};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 /// uuencode - encode a binary file
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
@@ -27,39 +27,30 @@ struct Args {
     base64: bool,
 
     /// File to read as input.
-    file: Option<String>,
+    file: Option<PathBuf>,
 
     /// Decode pathname
     decode_path: Option<String>,
 }
 
 fn encode_file(args: &Args) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let mut file: Box<dyn Read>;
-    if let Some(filename) = &args.file {
-        file = Box::new(fs::File::open(filename)?);
-    } else {
-        file = Box::new(io::stdin().lock());
-    }
+    let mut file = plib::io::input_stream_opt(&args.file)?;
 
     let mut buffer = Vec::new();
     file.read_to_end(&mut buffer)?;
 
-    let decode_path;
-    match &args.decode_path {
-        None => {
-            decode_path = String::from("/dev/stdout");
-        }
-        Some(path) => {
-            decode_path = String::from(path);
-        }
-    }
+    let decode_path = match &args.decode_path {
+        None => String::from("/dev/stdout"),
+        Some(path) => String::from(path),
+    };
 
-    let output;
-    if args.base64 {
-        output = BASE64_STANDARD.encode(&buffer[..]);
-    } else {
-        output = uuencode::uuencode(&decode_path, &buffer[..]);
-    }
+    let output = {
+        if args.base64 {
+            BASE64_STANDARD.encode(&buffer[..])
+        } else {
+            uuencode::uuencode(&decode_path, &buffer[..])
+        }
+    };
 
     io::stdout().write_all(output.as_bytes())?;
     io::stdout().write_all(b"\n")?;
@@ -67,6 +58,13 @@ fn encode_file(args: &Args) -> io::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn pathname_display(path: &Option<PathBuf>) -> String {
+    match path {
+        None => String::from("stdin"),
+        Some(p) => p.display().to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
 fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     // parse command line arguments
     let args = Args::parse();
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 
     if let Err(e) = encode_file(&args) {
         exit_code = 1;
-        eprintln!("{:?}: {}", args.file, e);
+        eprintln!("{:?}: {}", pathname_display(&args.file), e);
     }
 
     std::process::exit(exit_code)