diff --git a/tools/Jamfile.v2 b/tools/Jamfile.v2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe14823
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/Jamfile.v2
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#  Boost.Format Library tools Jamfile
+#
+#  Copyright (c) 2017 James E. King, III
+#
+#  Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompany-
+#  ing file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+
+project
+    : requirements
+	  <define>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS
+	  <link>static
+	;
+
+exe format_matrix 
+    : format_matrix.cpp
+	  /boost/program_options//boost_program_options
+	  /boost/system//boost_system
+    ;
diff --git a/tools/format_matrix.cpp b/tools/format_matrix.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eaacce1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/format_matrix.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,476 @@
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//  format_matrix.cpp : tool to check for regressions between boost format
+//                      releases and compare format specification handling
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+//  Copyright 2017 James E. King, III. Use, modification, and distribution 
+//  are subject to the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
+//  file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+
+//  See http://www.boost.org/libs/format for library home page
+
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// reference (ISO C99)   : http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/io/c/fprintf
+// reference (Java)      : http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/util/Formatter.html
+// reference (Microsoft) : https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/c-runtime-library/format-specification-syntax-printf-and-wprintf-functions
+// reference (POSIX 2008): http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/printf.html
+
+#include <boost/array.hpp>
+#include <boost/config.hpp>
+#include <boost/cstdint.hpp>
+#include <boost/filesystem/path.hpp>
+#include <boost/format.hpp>
+#include <boost/io/ios_state.hpp>
+#include <boost/predef.h>
+#include <boost/program_options.hpp>
+#include <cerrno>
+#include <climits>
+#include <clocale>
+#if BOOST_COMP_MSVC && BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_MAJOR(BOOST_COMP_MSVC) >= 19
+#include <corecrt.h>    // wint_t
+#endif
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <cwchar>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <math.h>
+
+#define SNPRINTF snprintf
+#if BOOST_COMP_MSVC && BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_MAJOR(BOOST_COMP_MSVC) < 19
+#undef SNPRINTF
+#define SNPRINTF _snprintf
+#endif
+
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+namespace po = boost::program_options;
+using namespace std;
+
+namespace matrix
+{
+
+enum interop_datatype
+{
+    // special types:
+    ID_UNDEF,           // undefined behavior according to the spec, so combination is not tested
+    ID_NOTSUP,          // behavior is not supported and therefore not tested currently
+
+    // boolean type values:
+    ID_BOOLF,           // false
+    ID_BOOLT,           // true
+
+    // string type values:
+    ID_CHAR,            // single signed character
+    ID_UCHAR,           // single unsigned character
+    ID_WCHAR,           // single wide character
+    ID_STR,             // C style string
+    ID_WSTR,            // C style wide string
+
+    // integer type values:
+    ID_ZERO,            // zero value
+    ID_BYTE,            // int8_t
+    ID_UBYTE,           // uint8_t
+    ID_SHORT,           // signed short
+    ID_USHORT,          // unsigned short
+    ID_INT,             // signed integer
+    ID_UINT,            // unsigned integer
+    ID_LONG,            // signed long
+    ID_ULONG,           // unsigned long
+    ID_LLONG,           // signed long long
+    ID_ULLONG,          // unsigned long long
+    ID_INTMAX,          // intmax_t
+    ID_SSIZET,          // ssize_t
+    ID_SIZET,           // size_t
+    ID_SPTRDF,          // signed ptrdiff_t
+    ID_PTRDIF,          // ptrdiff_t
+
+    // floating type values:
+    ID_INF,             // infinity
+    ID_NAN,             // not a number
+    ID_DOUBLE,          // double
+    ID_NEGDBL,          // negative double
+    ID_LNGDBL,          // long double
+    ID_NEGLNG           // negative long double
+};
+
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const bool            g_bf  = false;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const bool            g_bt  = true;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const uint64_t        g_z   = 0;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const char            g_by  = 0x60;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const unsigned char   g_uby = 0xA0;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const char            g_c   = 0x58;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const wint_t          g_wc  = L'X';          // 'X', but wide
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const char *          g_s   = " string"; 
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const wchar_t *       g_ws  = L"widestr";
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const short           g_h   = numeric_limits<short>::min() + 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const unsigned short  g_uh  = numeric_limits<unsigned short>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const int             g_i   = numeric_limits<int>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const unsigned int    g_ui  = numeric_limits<unsigned int>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const long            g_l   = numeric_limits<long>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const unsigned long   g_ul  = numeric_limits<unsigned long>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const int64_t         g_ll  = numeric_limits<int64_t>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const uint64_t        g_ull = numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const intmax_t        g_max = numeric_limits<intmax_t>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const size_t          g_sst = numeric_limits<size_t>::min() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const size_t          g_st  = numeric_limits<size_t>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const ptrdiff_t       g_pt  = numeric_limits<ptrdiff_t>::max() - 12345;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const double          g_db  = 1234567.891234f;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const double          g_ndb = -1234567.891234f;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const long double     g_ldb = 6543211234567.891234l;
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const long double     g_nld = -6543211234567.891234l;
+#if defined(INFINITY)
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const double          g_inf = INFINITY;
+#endif
+#if defined(NAN)
+BOOST_CONSTEXPR const double          g_nan = NAN;
+#endif
+
+boost::array<const char *, 12> length_modifier = { { "hh", "h", "", "l", "ll", "j", "z", "L", "w", "I", "I32", "I64" } };
+boost::array<const char *, 6>  format_flags    = { { "", "-", "+", " ", "#", "0" } };
+boost::array<const char *, 6>  minimum_width   = { { "", "1", "2", "5", "10", "20" } };           // TODO: , "*" } };
+boost::array<const char *, 7>  precision       = { { "", ".", ".0", ".2", ".5", ".10", ".20" } }; // TODO: , ".*" } };
+
+struct interop_row
+{
+    char conversion_specifier;
+    interop_datatype datatype[12];
+};
+
+// Each row represents a conversion specifier which is indicated in the first column
+// The subsequent columns are argument type specifiers for that conversion specifier
+// The data in the cell is the value to pass into snprintf and format to see what comes out
+
+interop_row interop_matrix[] = {
+    //         |----------------------------------- ISO C99 ---------------------------------------|   |-------------- Microsoft --------------|
+    //  spc,   hh       , h        , (none)   , l        , ll       , j        , z        , L        , w        , I        , I32      , I64 
+      { 'c', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_CHAR  , ID_WCHAR , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_WCHAR , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 's', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_STR   , ID_WSTR  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_WSTR  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+
+      { 'd', { ID_BYTE  , ID_SHORT , ID_INT   , ID_LONG  , ID_LLONG , ID_INTMAX, ID_SSIZET, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_SPTRDF, ID_INT   , ID_LLONG } },
+      { 'd', { ID_UBYTE , ID_USHORT, ID_UINT  , ID_ULONG , ID_ULLONG, ID_INTMAX, ID_SIZET , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_PTRDIF, ID_UINT  , ID_ULLONG} },
+      { 'd', { ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  } },
+      { 'i', { ID_BYTE  , ID_SHORT , ID_INT   , ID_LONG  , ID_LLONG , ID_INTMAX, ID_SSIZET, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_SPTRDF, ID_INT   , ID_LLONG } },
+      { 'i', { ID_UBYTE , ID_USHORT, ID_UINT  , ID_ULONG , ID_ULLONG, ID_INTMAX, ID_SIZET , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_PTRDIF, ID_UINT  , ID_ULLONG} },
+      { 'i', { ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  } },
+
+      { 'o', { ID_UBYTE , ID_USHORT, ID_UINT  , ID_ULONG , ID_ULLONG, ID_INTMAX, ID_SIZET , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_PTRDIF, ID_UINT  , ID_ULLONG} },
+      { 'o', { ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  } },
+      { 'x', { ID_UBYTE , ID_USHORT, ID_UINT  , ID_ULONG , ID_ULLONG, ID_INTMAX, ID_SIZET , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_PTRDIF, ID_UINT  , ID_ULLONG} },
+      { 'x', { ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  } },
+      { 'X', { ID_UBYTE , ID_USHORT, ID_UINT  , ID_ULONG , ID_ULLONG, ID_INTMAX, ID_SIZET , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_PTRDIF, ID_UINT  , ID_ULLONG} },
+      { 'X', { ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  } },
+      { 'u', { ID_UBYTE , ID_USHORT, ID_UINT  , ID_ULONG , ID_ULLONG, ID_INTMAX, ID_SIZET , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_PTRDIF, ID_UINT  , ID_ULLONG} },
+      { 'u', { ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  } },
+
+      { 'f', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'f', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'f', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'f', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'f', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'F', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'F', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'F', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'F', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'F', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'e', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'e', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'e', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'e', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'e', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'E', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'E', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'E', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'E', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'E', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'a', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'a', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'a', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'a', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'a', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'A', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'A', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'A', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'A', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'A', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'g', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'g', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'g', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'g', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'g', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'G', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_DOUBLE, ID_DOUBLE, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_LNGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'G', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGDBL, ID_NEGDBL, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NEGLNG, ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'G', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_INF   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'G', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_NAN   , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'G', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_ZERO  , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+
+    // boolalpha - not supported in snprintf per ISO C99 but is by boost::format so...
+      { 'b', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_BOOLF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+      { 'b', { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_BOOLT , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+
+    // this is the terminator for conversion specifier loops:
+      {  0 , { ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF , ID_UNDEF } },
+};
+
+std::string call_snprintf(const std::string& fmtStr, interop_datatype type)
+{
+    // enough space to hold any value in this test
+    char buf[BUFSIZ];
+    int len = 0;
+
+    switch (type)
+    {
+        case ID_ZERO:   len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_z  ); break;
+        case ID_BOOLF:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_bf ); break;
+        case ID_BOOLT:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_bt ); break;
+        case ID_BYTE:   len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_by ); break;
+        case ID_UBYTE:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_uby); break;
+        case ID_CHAR:   len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_c  ); break;
+        case ID_WCHAR:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_wc ); break;
+        case ID_STR:    len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_s  ); break;
+        case ID_WSTR:   len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ws ); break;
+        case ID_SHORT:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_h  ); break;
+        case ID_USHORT: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_uh ); break;
+        case ID_INT:    len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_i  ); break;
+        case ID_UINT:   len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ui ); break;
+        case ID_LONG:   len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_l  ); break;
+        case ID_ULONG:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ul ); break;
+        case ID_LLONG:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ll ); break;
+        case ID_ULLONG: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ull); break;
+        case ID_INTMAX: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_max); break;
+        case ID_SSIZET: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_sst); break;
+        case ID_SIZET:  len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_st ); break;
+        case ID_SPTRDF: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_pt ); break;
+        case ID_PTRDIF: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_pt ); break;
+#if defined(INFINITY)
+        case ID_INF:    len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_inf); break;
+#endif
+#if defined(NAN)
+        case ID_NAN:    len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_nan); break;
+#endif
+        case ID_DOUBLE: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_db ); break;
+        case ID_NEGDBL: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ndb); break;
+        case ID_LNGDBL: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_ldb); break;
+        case ID_NEGLNG: len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, fmtStr.c_str(), g_nld); break;
+        default: throw logic_error("unhandled type in call_snprintf");
+    }
+
+    if (len < 0)
+    {
+        throw logic_error("snprintf length 0");
+    }
+
+    return std::string(buf, len);
+}
+
+std::string call_format(const std::string& fmtStr, interop_datatype type)
+{
+    switch (type)
+    {
+        case ID_ZERO:   return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_z  );
+        case ID_BOOLF:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_bf );
+        case ID_BOOLT:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_bt );
+        case ID_BYTE:   return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_by );
+        case ID_UBYTE:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_uby);
+        case ID_CHAR:   return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_c  );
+        case ID_WCHAR:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_wc );
+        case ID_STR:    return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_s  );
+        case ID_WSTR:   return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ws );
+        case ID_SHORT:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_h  );
+        case ID_USHORT: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_uh );
+        case ID_INT:    return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_i  );
+        case ID_UINT:   return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ui );
+        case ID_LONG:   return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_l  );
+        case ID_ULONG:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ul );
+        case ID_LLONG:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ll );
+        case ID_ULLONG: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ull);
+        case ID_INTMAX: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_max);
+        case ID_SSIZET: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_sst);
+        case ID_SIZET:  return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_st );
+        case ID_SPTRDF: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_pt );
+        case ID_PTRDIF: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_pt );
+#if defined(INFINITY)
+        case ID_INF:    return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_inf);
+#endif
+#if defined(NAN)
+        case ID_NAN:    return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_nan);
+#endif
+        case ID_DOUBLE: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_db );
+        case ID_NEGDBL: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ndb);
+        case ID_LNGDBL: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_ldb);
+        case ID_NEGLNG: return ::boost::str(::boost::format(fmtStr) % g_nld);
+        default: throw logic_error("unhandled type in call_format");
+    }
+}
+
+po::variables_map g_args;
+ofstream g_os;
+
+void
+write_header()
+{
+    if (g_args.count("snprintf"))
+    {
+#if BOOST_LIB_C_GNU
+        g_os << "# glibc.version = " << BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_MAJOR(BOOST_LIB_C_GNU) << "."
+                                     << BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_MINOR(BOOST_LIB_C_GNU) << "."
+                                     << BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_PATCH(BOOST_LIB_C_GNU)
+                                     << endl;
+#elif BOOST_COMP_MSVC
+        g_os << "# msvc.version = "  << BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_MAJOR(BOOST_COMP_MSVC) << "."
+                                     << BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_MINOR(BOOST_COMP_MSVC) << "."
+                                     << BOOST_VERSION_NUMBER_PATCH(BOOST_COMP_MSVC)
+                                     << endl;
+#else
+        g_os << "# libc.version = unknown" << endl;
+#endif
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        g_os << "# boost.version = " << BOOST_VERSION / 100000 << "."      // major version
+                                     << BOOST_VERSION / 100 % 1000 << "."  // minor version
+                                     << BOOST_VERSION % 100                // patch level
+                                     << endl;
+    }
+}
+
+void
+log(const std::string& spec, bool ok, const std::string& result)
+{
+    boost::io::ios_all_saver saver(g_os);
+    g_os << setw(20) << right << spec << "\t"
+         << (ok ? "OK " : "ERR") << "\t" << "\"" << result << "\"" << endl;
+}
+
+void cell(std::size_t nrow, std::size_t ncol)
+{
+    const interop_row& row(interop_matrix[nrow]);
+
+    const interop_datatype& dataType(row.datatype[ncol]);
+    if (dataType == ID_UNDEF || dataType == ID_NOTSUP)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
+#if !defined(INFINITY)
+    if (dataType == ID_INF)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+#endif
+
+#if !defined(NAN)
+    if (dataType == ID_NAN)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    // TODO: every combination of format flags - right now we do only one
+    for (std::size_t ffi = 0; ffi < format_flags.size(); ++ffi)
+    {
+        for (std::size_t mwi = 0; mwi < minimum_width.size(); ++mwi)
+        {
+            for (std::size_t pri = 0; pri < precision.size(); ++pri)
+            {
+                // Make the format string
+                std::stringstream fss;
+                fss << '%';
+                fss << format_flags[ffi];
+                fss << minimum_width[mwi];
+                fss << precision[pri];
+                fss << length_modifier[ncol];
+                fss << row.conversion_specifier;
+                std::string fmtStr = fss.str();
+
+                try
+                {
+                    std::string result = g_args.count("snprintf") ?
+                                            call_snprintf(fmtStr, dataType) : 
+                                            call_format  (fmtStr, dataType) ;
+                    log(fmtStr, true, result);
+                }
+                catch (const std::exception& ex)
+                {
+                    log(fmtStr, false, ex.what());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void
+matrix()
+{
+    for (std::size_t row = 0; interop_matrix[row].conversion_specifier != 0x00; ++row)
+    {
+        for (std::size_t col = 0; col < length_modifier.size(); ++col)
+        {
+            cell(row, col);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void
+write_pctpct()
+{
+    if (g_args.count("snprintf"))
+    {
+        char buf[BUFSIZ];
+        int len = SNPRINTF(buf, BUFSIZ, "%%");
+        log("%%", len == 1, len == 1 ? buf : "snprintf length != 1");
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            log("%%", true, ::boost::format("%%").str());
+        }
+        catch (std::exception& ex)
+        {
+            log("%%", false, ex.what());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void
+generate()
+{
+    string genpath = g_args["generate"].as<string>();
+    g_os.open(genpath.c_str(), ios::out | ios::trunc);
+    write_header();
+    write_pctpct();
+    matrix();
+    g_os.close();
+}
+
+} // matrix
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//  main entry point
+int
+main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    using matrix::g_args;
+
+    po::options_description desc("Allowed options");
+    desc.add_options()
+        ("generate,g", po::value<string>()->required(), "generate output filename")
+        ("help,h", "produce help message")
+        ("snprintf,s", "use snprintf instead of boost::format")
+        ;
+
+    po::store(po::command_line_parser(argc, argv).options(desc).run(), g_args);
+    po::notify(g_args);
+
+    if (g_args.count("help")) {
+        cout << "Usage: format_matrix [options]\n";
+        cout << desc;
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    matrix::generate();
+
+    return 0;
+}