diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/Makefile.am b/met/data/wrappers/Makefile.am
index f3518fa27b..d2f83ff125 100644
--- a/met/data/wrappers/Makefile.am
+++ b/met/data/wrappers/Makefile.am
@@ -21,13 +21,12 @@ SUBDIRS =
 wrappersdir = $(pkgdatadir)/wrappers
 
 wrappers_DATA = \
-     generic_python.py \
-     generic_pickle.py \
+     set_python_env.py \
      read_tmp_dataplane.py \
-     write_tmp_dataplane.py \
-     write_pickle_mpr.py \
      read_tmp_ascii.py \
-     write_tmp_point.py
+     write_tmp_dataplane.py \
+     write_tmp_point.py \
+     write_tmp_mpr.py
 
 EXTRA_DIST = ${wrappers_DATA}
 
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/generic_pickle.py b/met/data/wrappers/generic_pickle.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 2ea1528f56..0000000000
--- a/met/data/wrappers/generic_pickle.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-########################################################################
-#
-# When MET_PYTHON_EXE is defined, this script initializes the Python
-# environment for reading the temporary pickle file back into MET.
-#
-########################################################################
-
-import sys
-import numpy as np
-import pickle
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/read_tmp_ascii.py b/met/data/wrappers/read_tmp_ascii.py
index b4f4303044..66c008e3cd 100644
--- a/met/data/wrappers/read_tmp_ascii.py
+++ b/met/data/wrappers/read_tmp_ascii.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
     Message_Type, Station_ID, Valid_Time, Lat, Lon, Elevation,
     GRIB_Code or Variable_Name, Level, Height, QC_String, Observation_Value
 
+MPR format: See documentation of the MPR line type
+
 Version  Date
 1.0.0    2021/02/18  David Fillmore  Initial version
 """
@@ -18,25 +20,22 @@
 
 import argparse
 
-point_data = None
-
 def read_tmp_ascii(filename):
     """
     Arguments:
-        filename (string): temporary file created by write_tmp_point.py
+        filename (string): temporary file created by write_tmp_point.py or write_tmp_mpr.py
 
     Returns:
-        (list of lists): point data
+        (list of lists): point or mpr data
     """
-    print('read_tmp_ascii:' + filename)
     f = open(filename, 'r')
     lines = f.readlines()
     f.close()
 
-    global point_data
-    point_data = [eval(line.strip('\n')) for line in lines]
-
-    return point_data
+    global ascii_data
+    ascii_data = [eval(line.strip('\n')) for line in lines]
+    
+    return ascii_data
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     """
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/generic_python.py b/met/data/wrappers/set_python_env.py
similarity index 63%
rename from met/data/wrappers/generic_python.py
rename to met/data/wrappers/set_python_env.py
index b436b6325a..5b6c2743c2 100644
--- a/met/data/wrappers/generic_python.py
+++ b/met/data/wrappers/set_python_env.py
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 ########################################################################
 #
-# When MET_PYTHON_EXE is not defined, this script initializes
-# MET's python runtime environment.
+# This script initializes MET's python runtime environment.
 #
 ########################################################################
 
 import os
 import sys
 import numpy as np
-import pickle
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/write_pickle_mpr.py b/met/data/wrappers/write_pickle_mpr.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 2e3f2d0d04..0000000000
--- a/met/data/wrappers/write_pickle_mpr.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-########################################################################
-#
-#    Adapted from a script provided by George McCabe
-#    Adapted by Randy Bullock
-#
-#    usage:  /path/to/python write_pickle_mpr.py \
-#            pickle_output_filename <user_python_script>.py <args>
-#
-########################################################################
-
-import os
-import sys
-import pickle
-import importlib.util
-
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
-print('User Command:\t',  sys.argv[2:])
-print('Write Pickle:\t',  sys.argv[1])
-
-pickle_filename = sys.argv[1]
-
-pyembed_module_name = sys.argv[2]
-sys.argv = sys.argv[2:]
-
-user_base = os.path.basename(pyembed_module_name).replace('.py','')
-
-spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(user_base, pyembed_module_name)
-met_in = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
-spec.loader.exec_module(met_in)
-
-print(met_in)
-
-pickle.dump( met_in.mpr_data, open( pickle_filename, "wb" ) )
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_dataplane.py b/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_dataplane.py
index b9194b2920..ff254bf978 100644
--- a/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_dataplane.py
+++ b/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_dataplane.py
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 import importlib.util
 import netCDF4 as nc
 
+print("Python Script:\t"  + repr(sys.argv[0]))
+print("User Command:\t"   + repr(' '.join(sys.argv[2:])))
+print("Temporary File:\t" + repr(sys.argv[1]))
+
 netcdf_filename = sys.argv[1]
 pyembed_module_name = sys.argv[2]
 sys.argv = sys.argv[2:]
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_mpr.py b/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_mpr.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ed0f4f0675
--- /dev/null
+++ b/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_mpr.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+########################################################################
+#
+#    Adapted from a script provided by George McCabe
+#    Adapted by Randy Bullock
+#
+#    usage:  /path/to/python write_tmp_mpr.py \
+#            tmp_output_filename <user_python_script>.py <args>
+#
+########################################################################
+
+import os
+import sys
+import importlib.util
+
+print("Python Script:\t"  + repr(sys.argv[0]))
+print("User Command:\t"   + repr(' '.join(sys.argv[2:])))
+print("Temporary File:\t" + repr(sys.argv[1]))
+
+tmp_filename = sys.argv[1]
+pyembed_module_name = sys.argv[2]
+sys.argv = sys.argv[2:]
+
+# append user script dir to system path
+pyembed_dir, pyembed_file = os.path.split(pyembed_module_name)
+if pyembed_dir:
+    sys.path.insert(0, pyembed_dir)
+
+if not pyembed_module_name.endswith('.py'):
+    pyembed_module_name += '.py'
+
+user_base = os.path.basename(pyembed_module_name).replace('.py','')
+
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(user_base, pyembed_module_name)
+met_in = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+spec.loader.exec_module(met_in)
+
+f = open(tmp_filename, 'w')
+for line in met_in.mpr_data:
+    f.write(str(line) + '\n')
diff --git a/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_point.py b/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_point.py
index 94f56cd3dd..b6cecddfbb 100644
--- a/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_point.py
+++ b/met/data/wrappers/write_tmp_point.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #    Adapted by Randy Bullock
 #
 #    usage:  /path/to/python write_tmp_point.py \
-#            tmp_ascii_output_filename <user_python_script>.py <args>
+#            tmp_output_filename <user_python_script>.py <args>
 #
 ########################################################################
 
@@ -12,15 +12,22 @@
 import sys
 import importlib.util
 
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
-print('User Command:\t',  sys.argv[2:])
-print('Write Temporary Ascii:\t',  sys.argv[1])
+print("Python Script:\t"  + repr(sys.argv[0]))
+print("User Command:\t"   + repr(' '.join(sys.argv[2:])))
+print("Temporary File:\t" + repr(sys.argv[1]))
 
 tmp_filename = sys.argv[1]
-
 pyembed_module_name = sys.argv[2]
 sys.argv = sys.argv[2:]
 
+# append user script dir to system path
+pyembed_dir, pyembed_file = os.path.split(pyembed_module_name)
+if pyembed_dir:
+    sys.path.insert(0, pyembed_dir)
+
+if not pyembed_module_name.endswith('.py'):
+    pyembed_module_name += '.py'
+
 user_base = os.path.basename(pyembed_module_name).replace('.py','')
 
 spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(user_base, pyembed_module_name)
diff --git a/met/docs/Users_Guide/appendixF.rst b/met/docs/Users_Guide/appendixF.rst
index a5e34df338..ee895a8166 100644
--- a/met/docs/Users_Guide/appendixF.rst
+++ b/met/docs/Users_Guide/appendixF.rst
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ The types of Python embedding supported in MET are described below. In all cases
 
 Setting this environment variable triggers slightly different processing logic in MET. Rather than executing the user-specified script with compiled Python instance directly, MET does the following:
 
-1. Wrap the user's Python script and arguments with a wrapper script (write_pickle_mpr.py, write_pickle_point.py, or write_pickle_dataplane.py) and specify the name of a temporary file to be written.
+1. Wrap the user's Python script and arguments with a wrapper script (write_tmp_mpr.py, write_tmp_point.py, or write_tmp_dataplane.py) and specify the name of a temporary file to be written.
 
-2. Use a system call to the **MET_PYTHON_EXE** Python instance to execute these commands and write the resulting data objects to a temporary Python pickle file.
+2. Use a system call to the **MET_PYTHON_EXE** Python instance to execute these commands and write the resulting data objects to a temporary ASCII or NetCDF file.
 
-3. Use the compiled Python instance to read data from that temporary pickle file.
+3. Use the compiled Python instance to run a wrapper script (read_tmp_ascii.py or read_tmp_dataplane.py) to read data from that temporary file.
 
 With this approach, users should be able to execute Python scripts in their own custom environments.
 
diff --git a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_mpr.py b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_mpr.py
index 781485c58c..4a8c988405 100755
--- a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_mpr.py
+++ b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_mpr.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ########################################################################
 
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
+print("Python Script:\t" + repr(sys.argv[0]))
 
    ##
    ##  input file specified on the command line
diff --git a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy.py b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy.py
index 70393db6d8..b7a1e081b4 100755
--- a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy.py
+++ b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ###########################################
 
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
+print("Python Script:\t" + repr(sys.argv[0]))
 
    ##
    ##  input file specified on the command line
diff --git a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy_grid.py b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy_grid.py
index 88d868a2ad..fa72cbff6b 100755
--- a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy_grid.py
+++ b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_numpy_grid.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ###########################################
 
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
+print("Python Script:\t" + repr(sys.argv[0]))
 
    ##
    ##  input file specified on the command line
diff --git a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_point.py b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_point.py
index d5521eb0ca..cfd37d272a 100755
--- a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_point.py
+++ b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_point.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ########################################################################
 
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
+print("Python Script:\t" + repr(sys.argv[0]))
 
    ##
    ##  input file specified on the command line
diff --git a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_xarray.py b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_xarray.py
index 0d15030f88..53f8574d48 100755
--- a/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_xarray.py
+++ b/met/scripts/python/read_ascii_xarray.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 ###########################################
 
-print('Python Script:\t', sys.argv[0])
+print("Python Script:\t" + repr(sys.argv[0]))
 
    ##
    ##  input file specified on the command line
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_util/data_line.cc b/met/src/basic/vx_util/data_line.cc
index da012b9a0a..16f275327e 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_util/data_line.cc
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_util/data_line.cc
@@ -193,18 +193,12 @@ out << prefix << "\n";
 
 if ( N_items == 0 )  { out.flush();  return; }
 
-// std::ostringstream sstream;
-// sstream.width(2);
-
 for (j=0; j<N_items; ++j)  {
 
    snprintf(junk, sizeof(junk), "Item[%2d]       = \"", j);
 
    out << prefix << junk << Items[j] << "\"\n";
 
-   // sstream << "Item[" << j << "]       = \"";
-   // out << prefix << sstream.str() << Line.substr(j) << "\"\n";
-
    if ( (j%5) == 4 )  out << prefix << '\n';
 
    out.flush();
@@ -213,26 +207,18 @@ for (j=0; j<N_items; ++j)  {
 
 out << prefix << "\n";
 
-
-// sstream.str("");
-// sstream.clear();
-
 for (j=0; j<N_items; ++j)  {
 
    snprintf(junk, sizeof(junk), "Offset[%2d]     = ", j);
 
    out << prefix << junk << Offset[j] << '\n';
 
-   // sstream << "Offset[" << j << "]     = ";
-   // out << prefix << sstream.str() << Offset[j] << "\n";
-
    if ( (j%5) == 4 )  out << prefix << '\n';
 
    out.flush();
 
 }
 
-
    //
    //  done
    //
@@ -276,7 +262,7 @@ const LineDataFile * DataLine::get_file() const
 
 {
 
-  return File;
+return File;
 
 }
 
@@ -333,19 +319,15 @@ clear();
 
 size_t pos, count;
 
-
 pos = 0;
 count = 0;
 
-
    //
    //  get a line from the file
    //
 
-
 if ( ! read_single_text_line(ldf) )  { clear();  return ( 0 ); }
 
-
    //
    //  parse the line with strtok
    //
@@ -384,6 +366,7 @@ return ( 1 );
 int DataLine::read_fwf_line(LineDataFile * ldf, const int *wdth, int n_wdth)
 
 {
+
 const char *method_name = "DataLine::read_fwf_line() -> ";
 
 clear();
@@ -420,7 +403,6 @@ for( i=0; i<n_wdth; i++ )  {
    if ( !f )  { clear();  return ( 0 ); }
 
    ++count;
-
    
    //
    //  get the next entry
@@ -516,7 +498,6 @@ bool DataLine::is_header() const
 
 {
 
-// return ( false );
 return ( IsHeader );
 
 }
@@ -528,7 +509,9 @@ return ( IsHeader );
 void DataLine::set_delimiter(const char *delimiter)
 
 {
-  Delimiter.assign(delimiter);
+
+Delimiter.assign(delimiter);
+
 }
 
 
@@ -539,21 +522,19 @@ bool DataLine::read_single_text_line(LineDataFile * ldf)
 
 {
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 #ifdef  WITH_PYTHON
 
-   PyLineDataFile * pldf = dynamic_cast<PyLineDataFile *>(ldf);
+PyLineDataFile * pldf = dynamic_cast<PyLineDataFile *>(ldf);
 
-   if ( pldf )  {
+if ( pldf )  {
 
-      const bool status = read_py_single_text_line(pldf);
+   const bool status = read_py_single_text_line(pldf);
 
-      return ( status );
+	return ( status );
 
-   }
+}
 
 #endif   /*  WITH_PYTHON  */
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 ifstream & f = *(ldf->in);
 
@@ -606,6 +587,7 @@ return ( true );
 
 #endif   /*  WITH_PYTHON  */
 
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
@@ -848,6 +830,7 @@ for (j=0; j<a.n_items(); ++j)  {
 
 }
 
+ 
 return;
 
 }
@@ -907,6 +890,7 @@ out.put('\n');
 
 out.flush();
 
+
 return ( out );
 
 }
@@ -921,41 +905,18 @@ Logger & operator<<(Logger & lgr, const DataLine & L)
 
 if ( L.n_items() == 0 )  return ( lgr );
 
-int j;
-
-// k = L.N_items - 1;   //  last item
-// 
-// N = L.Offset[k] + strlen(L[k]);
-// 
-// for (j=0; j<N; ++j)  {
-// 
-//    c = L.Line[j];
-// 
-//       //
-//       //  patch the nul chars put there by strtok
-//       //
-// 
-//    if ( c == 0 )  lgr << ' ';
-//    else           lgr << c;
-// 
-// }
-
-for (j = 0; j < L.Items.size(); j++) {
+for (int j = 0; j < L.Items.size(); j++) {
     lgr << L.Items[j];
     if (j < (L.Items.size() - 1))
         lgr << ' ';
 }
 
-
 lgr << '\n';
 
+
 return ( lgr );
 
 }
 
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
-
-
-
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.cc b/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.cc
index 2f166d781a..43a4dfc7dd 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.cc
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.cc
@@ -32,14 +32,15 @@ using namespace std;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-static const char generic_python_wrapper [] = "generic_python";
-static const char generic_pickle_wrapper [] = "generic_pickle";
+static const char set_python_env_wrapper [] = "set_python_env";
 
-static const char write_pickle_wrapper   [] = "MET_BASE/wrappers/write_pickle_mpr.py";
+static const char write_tmp_mpr_wrapper  [] = "MET_BASE/wrappers/write_tmp_mpr.py";
 
 static const char list_name              [] = "mpr_data";
 
-static const char pickle_base_name       [] = "tmp_mpr_pickle";
+static const char tmp_list_name          [] = "ascii_data";
+
+static const char tmp_base_name          [] = "tmp_mpr";
 
 static const char line_type              [] = "MPR";
 
@@ -122,7 +123,8 @@ return;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-bool PyLineDataFile::open(const char * user_script_path, const StringArray & user_script_args)
+bool PyLineDataFile::open(const char * user_script_path,
+                          const StringArray & user_script_args)
 
 {
 
@@ -142,7 +144,7 @@ if ( c )  {
 
    UserPathToPython = c;
 
-   do_pickle();
+   do_tmp_ascii ();
 
 } else {
 
@@ -157,7 +159,7 @@ if ( c )  {
 if ( ! PyList_Check(main_list) )  {
 
    mlog << Error << "\nPyLineDataFile::open() -> "
-        << "pickle object is not a list!\n\n";
+        << "tmp ascii object is not a list!\n\n";
 
    exit ( 1 );
 
@@ -301,7 +303,7 @@ void PyLineDataFile::do_straight()
 
 ConcatString command, path, user_base;
 
-path = generic_python_wrapper;
+path = set_python_env_wrapper;
 
 mlog << Debug(3) 
      << "PyLineDataFile::do_straight() -> "
@@ -372,7 +374,13 @@ return;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-void PyLineDataFile::do_pickle()
+   //
+   //  wrapper usage:  /path/to/python wrapper.py
+   //                  tmp_output_filename user_script_name
+   //                  [ user_script args ... ]
+   //
+
+void PyLineDataFile::do_tmp_ascii()
 
 {
 
@@ -380,7 +388,7 @@ int j;
 const int N = UserScriptArgs.n();
 ConcatString command;
 ConcatString path;
-ConcatString pickle_path;
+ConcatString tmp_ascii_path;
 const char * tmp_dir = 0;
 int status;
 
@@ -394,15 +402,16 @@ if ( ! tmp_dir )  tmp_dir = default_tmp_dir;
 
 path << cs_erase
      << tmp_dir << '/'
-     << pickle_base_name;
+     << tmp_base_name;
 
-pickle_path = make_temp_file_name(path.text(), 0);
+tmp_ascii_path = make_temp_file_name(path.text(), 0);
+tmp_ascii_path << ".txt";
 
 command << cs_erase
-        << UserPathToPython                   << ' '    //  user's path to python
-        << replace_path(write_pickle_wrapper) << ' '    //  write_pickle.py
-        << pickle_path                        << ' '    //  pickle output filename
-        << UserScriptPath;                              //  user's script name
+        << UserPathToPython                    << ' '    //  user's path to python
+        << replace_path(write_tmp_mpr_wrapper) << ' '    //  write_tmp_mpr.py
+        << tmp_ascii_path                      << ' '    //  temporary ascii output filename
+        << UserScriptPath;                               //  user's script name
 
 for (j=0; j<N; ++j)  {
 
@@ -417,7 +426,7 @@ status = system(command.text());
 
 if ( status )  {
 
-   mlog << Error << "\nPyLineDataFile::do_pickle() -> "
+   mlog << Error << "\nPyLineDataFile::do_tmp_ascii() -> "
         << "command \"" << command.text() << "\" failed ... status = "
         << status << "\n\n";
 
@@ -427,31 +436,24 @@ if ( status )  {
 
 ConcatString wrapper;
 
-wrapper = generic_pickle_wrapper;
+wrapper = set_python_env_wrapper;
 
 script = new Python3_Script (wrapper.text());
 
 mlog << Debug(4) << "Reading temporary Python line data file: "
-     << pickle_path << "\n";
-
-script->read_pickle(list_name, pickle_path.text());
+     << tmp_ascii_path << "\n";
 
-main_list = script->lookup(list_name);
+script->import_read_tmp_ascii_py();
 
-if ( ! main_list )  {
+PyObject * dobj = script->read_tmp_ascii(tmp_ascii_path.text());
 
-   mlog << Error << "\nPyLineDataFile::do_pickle() ->"
-        << "nul main list pointer!\n\n";
-
-   exit ( 1 );
-
-}
+main_list = script->lookup_ascii(tmp_list_name);
 
    //
    //  cleanup
    //
 
-remove_temp_file(pickle_path);
+remove_temp_file(tmp_ascii_path);
 
    //
    //  done
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.h b/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.h
index b5a51bd230..5f994a144d 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.h
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_util/python_line.h
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ class PyLineDataFile : public LineDataFile {
 
       ConcatString UserPathToPython;
 
-      void do_straight ();   //  straight-up python, no pickle
-      void do_pickle   ();   //  pickle
+      void do_straight ();  //  run compiled python interpreter
+      void do_tmp_ascii();  //  run user-defined MET_PYTHON_EXE
 
       ConcatString make_header_line () const;
       ConcatString make_data_line   ();
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/Makefile.am b/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/Makefile.am
index ae3d3c21d3..185dd5d548 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/Makefile.am
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/Makefile.am
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ libvx_data2d_python_a_SOURCES = \
               grid_from_python_dict.h grid_from_python_dict.cc \
               python_dataplane.h python_dataplane.cc \
               data2d_python.h data2d_python.cc \
-              var_info_python.h var_info_python.cc \
-              global_python.h
+              var_info_python.h var_info_python.cc
 libvx_data2d_python_a_CPPFLAGS = ${MET_CPPFLAGS} -I../vx_python2_utils ${MET_PYTHON_CC} $(MET_PYTHON_LD)
 
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/Makefile.am b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/Makefile.am
index 0f45bb5214..3d0941ec47 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/Makefile.am
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/Makefile.am
@@ -22,5 +22,6 @@ libvx_python3_utils_a_SOURCES = \
               python3_script.h python3_script.cc \
               python3_numpy.h python3_numpy.cc \
               python3_util.h python3_util.cc \
-              vx_python3_utils.h
+              vx_python3_utils.h \
+              global_python.h
 libvx_python3_utils_a_CPPFLAGS = ${MET_CPPFLAGS} ${CPPFLAGS} ${MET_PYTHON_CC} $(MET_PYTHON_LD)
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/global_python.h b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/global_python.h
similarity index 100%
rename from met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/global_python.h
rename to met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/global_python.h
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.cc b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.cc
index 7bd567ae2c..d9ac7f41e5 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.cc
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.cc
@@ -165,8 +165,10 @@ return ( var );
 
 }
 
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+
 PyObject * Python3_Script::lookup_ascii(const char * name) const
 
 {
@@ -175,10 +177,30 @@ PyObject * var = 0;
 
 var = PyDict_GetItemString (DictAscii, name);
 
+if ( ! var )  {
+
+   mlog << Error << "\nPython3_Script::lookup_ascii(const char * name) -> "
+        << "value for name \"" << name << "\" not found\n\n";
+
+
+   exit ( 1 );
+
+}
+
+if ( ! PyList_Check(var) )  {
+
+   mlog << Error << "\nPython3_Script::lookup_ascii(const char * name) -> "
+        << "value for name \"" << name << "\" not a python list\n\n";
+
+   exit ( 1 );
+
+}
+
 return ( var );
 
 }
 
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
@@ -219,46 +241,6 @@ return pobj;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-   //
-   //  example:
-   //
-   //      data = pickle.load( open( "save.p", "rb" ) )
-   //
-
-
-void Python3_Script::read_pickle(const char * variable, const char * pickle_filename) const
-
-{
-
-mlog << Debug(3) << "Reading temporary pickle file: "
-     << pickle_filename << "\n";
-
-ConcatString command;
-
-command << variable 
-        << " = pickle.load(open(\""
-        << pickle_filename
-        << "\", \"rb\"))";
-
-PyErr_Clear();
-
-run(command.text());
-
-if ( PyErr_Occurred() )  {
-
-   mlog << Error << "\nPython3_Script::read_pickle() -> "
-        << "command \"" << command << "\" failed!\n\n";
-
-   exit ( 1 );
-
-}
-
-return;
-
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
 void Python3_Script::import_read_tmp_ascii_py(void)
 
 {
@@ -310,8 +292,10 @@ fflush(stderr);
 
 }
 
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+
 PyObject* Python3_Script::read_tmp_ascii(const char * tmp_filename) const
 
 {
@@ -325,8 +309,6 @@ command << "read_tmp_ascii(\""
         << tmp_filename
         << "\")";
 
-mlog << Debug(3) << command << "\n";
-
 PyErr_Clear();
 
 PyObject * pobj;
@@ -341,15 +323,11 @@ if ( PyErr_Occurred() )  {
    exit ( 1 );
 }
 
-PyTypeObject* type = pobj->ob_type;
-
-const char* p = type->tp_name;
-
-mlog << Debug(2) << "read_tmp_ascii return type: " << p << "\n";
-
 return pobj;
+
 }
 
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.h b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.h
index 6930d226a5..1174385c15 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.h
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_script.h
@@ -83,8 +83,6 @@ class Python3_Script {
 
       PyObject * run(const char * command) const;   //  runs a command in the namespace of the script
 
-      void read_pickle  (const char * variable_name, const char * pickle_filename) const;
-
       void import_read_tmp_ascii_py (void);
 
       PyObject * read_tmp_ascii (const char * tmp_filename) const;
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_util.cc b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_util.cc
index 82990d8999..fe56b6f6b2 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_util.cc
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_python3_utils/python3_util.cc
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ if ( PyLong_Check(obj) )  {   //  long?
 
 }
 
-
 return ( k );
 
 }
@@ -154,7 +153,6 @@ if ( PyLong_Check(obj) )  {   //  long?
 
 }
 
-
 return ( x );
 
 }
@@ -205,8 +203,6 @@ if ( PyUnicode_Check(obj) )  {   //  string?
    mlog << Error << "\npyobject_as_concat_string(PyObject *) -> "
         << "bad object type\n\n";
 
-      cout << "\n\n  pyobject_as_concat_string: obj = " << obj << "\n\n" << flush;
-
    exit ( 1 );
 
 }
diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_statistics/pair_base.cc b/met/src/libcode/vx_statistics/pair_base.cc
index 0fe6a1b006..1061423e25 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_statistics/pair_base.cc
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_statistics/pair_base.cc
@@ -496,8 +496,7 @@ void PairBase::set_point_obs(int i_obs, const char *sid,
    if(i_obs < 0 || i_obs >= n_obs) {
       mlog << Error << "\nPairBase::set_point_obs() -> "
            << "range check error: " << i_obs << " not in (0, "
-           << n_obs << ").\n\n"
-          ;
+           << n_obs << ").\n\n";
       exit(1);
    }
 
diff --git a/met/src/tools/core/stat_analysis/stat_analysis.cc b/met/src/tools/core/stat_analysis/stat_analysis.cc
index c3d6788b71..02365d1525 100644
--- a/met/src/tools/core/stat_analysis/stat_analysis.cc
+++ b/met/src/tools/core/stat_analysis/stat_analysis.cc
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 //   010    07/26/18  Halley Gotway  Support masks from gen_vx_mask.
 //   011    10/14/19  Halley Gotway  Add support for climo distribution
 //                    percentile thresholds.
+//   012    04/25/21  Halley Gotway  Replace pickle files for temporary
+//                    ascii.
 //
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
diff --git a/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/ascii2nc.cc b/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/ascii2nc.cc
index 360329659c..6df5e2ba97 100644
--- a/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/ascii2nc.cc
+++ b/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/ascii2nc.cc
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@
 //   015    03-20-19  Fillmore       Add aeronetv2 and aeronetv3 options.
 //   016    01-30-20  Bullock        Add python option.
 //   017    01-25-21  Halley Gotway  MET #1630 Handle zero obs.
-//   018    03-01-21  Fillmore       Replace pickle files for temporary ascii.
+//   018    03-01-21  Fillmore       Replace pickle files for temporary
+//                                   ascii.
 //
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
diff --git a/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.cc b/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.cc
index 09c7b90d2c..2f3a0927c9 100644
--- a/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.cc
+++ b/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.cc
@@ -26,12 +26,14 @@ using namespace std;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-static const char generic_python_wrapper [] = "generic_python";
+static const char set_python_env_wrapper [] = "set_python_env";
 
 static const char write_tmp_ascii_wrapper[] = "MET_BASE/wrappers/write_tmp_point.py";
 
 static const char list_name              [] = "point_data";
 
+static const char tmp_list_name          [] = "ascii_data";
+
 static const char tmp_base_name          [] = "tmp_ascii2nc";
 
 
@@ -230,8 +232,8 @@ bool PythonHandler::readAsciiFiles(const vector< ConcatString > &ascii_filename_
 
 bool status = false;
 
-if ( use_tmp_ascii )  status = do_tmp_ascii   ();
-else               status = do_straight ();
+if ( use_tmp_ascii )  status = do_tmp_ascii ();
+else                  status = do_straight ();
 
 return ( status );
 
@@ -247,7 +249,7 @@ bool PythonHandler::do_straight()
 
 ConcatString command, path, user_base;
 
-path = generic_python_wrapper;
+path = set_python_env_wrapper;
 
 mlog << Debug(3)
      << "Running user's python script ("
@@ -319,7 +321,9 @@ return ( true );
 
 
    //
-   //  wrapper usage:  /path/to/python wrapper.py tmp_output_filename user_script_name [ user_script args ... ]
+   //  wrapper usage:  /path/to/python wrapper.py
+   //                  tmp_output_filename user_script_name
+   //                  [ user_script args ... ]
    //
 
 bool PythonHandler::do_tmp_ascii()
@@ -378,7 +382,7 @@ if ( status )  {
 
 ConcatString wrapper;
 
-wrapper = generic_python_wrapper;
+wrapper = set_python_env_wrapper;
 
 Python3_Script script(wrapper.text());
 
@@ -389,7 +393,7 @@ script.import_read_tmp_ascii_py();
 
 PyObject * dobj = script.read_tmp_ascii(tmp_ascii_path.text());
 
-PyObject * obj = script.lookup_ascii(list_name);
+PyObject * obj = script.lookup_ascii(tmp_list_name);
 
 if ( ! PyList_Check(obj) )  {
 
diff --git a/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.h b/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.h
index b0fb2ef492..695b8fcb96 100644
--- a/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.h
+++ b/met/src/tools/other/ascii2nc/python_handler.h
@@ -68,12 +68,11 @@ class PythonHandler : public FileHandler
 
       virtual bool readAsciiFiles(const vector< ConcatString > &ascii_filename_list);
 
-      bool do_tmp_ascii();
-      bool do_straight ();   //  straight-up python, no temporary ascii
+      bool do_straight ();  //  run compiled python interpreter
+      bool do_tmp_ascii();  //  run user-defined MET_PYTHON_EXE
 
       void load_python_obs(PyObject *);   //  python object is list of lists
 
-
       bool read_obs_from_script (const char * script_name, const char * variable_name);
   
 };
diff --git a/test/xml/unit_python.xml b/test/xml/unit_python.xml
index 6ed8dfa9d8..572e2f925d 100644
--- a/test/xml/unit_python.xml
+++ b/test/xml/unit_python.xml
@@ -374,24 +374,24 @@
     </output>
   </test>
 
-  <!-- Invokes Python pickle logic to read point data  -->
-  <test name="python_ascii2nc_pickle">
+  <!-- Invokes user-python logic to read point data  -->
+  <test name="python_ascii2nc_user_python">
     <exec>&MET_BIN;/ascii2nc</exec>
     <env>
        <pair><name>MET_PYTHON_EXE</name> <value>&MET_PYTHON_EXE;</value></pair>
     </env>
     <param> \
       "&MET_BASE;/python/read_ascii_point.py &MET_DATA;/sample_obs/ascii/sample_ascii_obs.txt" \
-      &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/ascii2nc_pickle.nc \
+      &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/ascii2nc_user_python.nc \
       -format python
     </param>
     <output>
-      <point_nc>&OUTPUT_DIR;/python/ascii2nc_pickle.nc</point_nc>
+      <point_nc>&OUTPUT_DIR;/python/ascii2nc_user_python.nc</point_nc>
     </output>
   </test>
 
-  <!-- Invokes Python pickle logic to read NUMPY text data -->
-  <test name="python_numpy_plot_data_plane_pickle">
+  <!-- Invokes user-python logic to read NUMPY text data -->
+  <test name="python_numpy_plot_data_plane_user_python">
     <exec>export PATH='&ANACONDA_BIN;:${PATH}'; \
           &MET_BIN;/plot_data_plane</exec>
     <env>
@@ -399,19 +399,19 @@
     </env>
     <param> \
       PYTHON_NUMPY \
-      &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/letter_pickle.ps \
+      &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/letter_user_python.ps \
       'name = "&MET_BASE;/python/read_ascii_numpy.py &DATA_DIR_PYTHON;/letter.txt LETTER";' \
       -plot_range 0.0 255.0 \
       -title "Python enabled plot_data_plane" \
       -v 1
     </param>
     <output>
-      <ps>&OUTPUT_DIR;/python/letter_pickle.ps</ps>
+      <ps>&OUTPUT_DIR;/python/letter_user_python.ps</ps>
     </output>
   </test>
 
-  <!-- Invokes Python pickle logic to pass MPR data to Stat-Analysis  -->
-  <test name="python_stat_analysis_pickle">
+  <!-- Invokes user-python logic to pass MPR data to Stat-Analysis  -->
+  <test name="python_stat_analysis_user_python">
     <exec>&MET_BIN;/stat_analysis</exec>
     <env>
        <pair><name>MET_PYTHON_EXE</name> <value>&MET_PYTHON_EXE;</value></pair>
@@ -419,10 +419,10 @@
     <param> \
       -lookin python &MET_BASE;/python/read_ascii_mpr.py &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/point_stat_120000L_20050807_120000V.stat \
       -job aggregate_stat -line_type MPR -out_line_type sl1l2 -by FCST_VAR \
-      -out_stat &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/stat_analysis_pickle_AGGR_MPR_to_SL1L2.stat
+      -out_stat &OUTPUT_DIR;/python/stat_analysis_user_python_AGGR_MPR_to_SL1L2.stat
     </param>
     <output>
-      <stat>&OUTPUT_DIR;/python/stat_analysis_pickle_AGGR_MPR_to_SL1L2.stat</stat>
+      <stat>&OUTPUT_DIR;/python/stat_analysis_user_python_AGGR_MPR_to_SL1L2.stat</stat>
     </output>
   </test>