diff --git a/gds/library.py b/gds/library.py
index 88ab6ca..2889fda 100644
--- a/gds/library.py
+++ b/gds/library.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ class Library(object):
         count = Progress(self)
 
         for key, value in self.structures.items():
-            
             for element in value.references:             
                 if isinstance(element.structure, str):
                     # try to resolve link
diff --git a/gds/parser.py b/gds/parser.py
index 9c1ff18..c3f0179 100644
--- a/gds/parser.py
+++ b/gds/parser.py
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ class Parser(Reader):
 
     def parse_structure(self):
         self.structure = Structure()
+        print(self.structure.references)
 
         if self.token.ident != Records.BGNSTR:
             return False
@@ -166,16 +167,18 @@ class Parser(Reader):
             element.plex = self.read_int()
             self.next_token(True)
 
-    def parse_boundary(self):
-        element = Boundary()
-        if not self.next_token():
+    def parse_layer(self, element):
+        if self.token.ident != Records.LAYER:
             raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
 
-        self.parse_element(element)
+        element.layer = self.read_ushort()
+
+    def parse_boundary(self):
+        element = Boundary()
+        self.next_token(True)
+        self.parse_element(element)
+        self.parse_layer(element)
 
-        if self.token.ident == Records.LAYER:
-            element.layer = self.read_short()
-        
         if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.DATATYPE:
             raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_DATATYPE)
 
@@ -193,15 +196,9 @@ class Parser(Reader):
 
     def parse_path(self):
         element = Path()
-        if not self.next_token():
-            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
-
+        self.next_token(True)
         self.parse_element(element)
-
-        if self.token.ident != Records.LAYER:
-            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
-
-        element.layer = self.read_short()
+        self.parse_layer(element)
 
         if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.DATATYPE:
             raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_DATATYPE)
@@ -246,15 +243,9 @@ class Parser(Reader):
 
     def parse_text(self):
         element = Text()
-        if not self.next_token():
-            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
-        
+        self.next_token(True)
         self.parse_element(element)
-
-        if not self.token.ident == Records.LAYER:
-            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
-        
-        element.layer = self.read_short()
+        self.parse_layer(element)
 
         if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.TEXTTYPE:
             raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_TEXTTYPE)
@@ -298,12 +289,13 @@ class Parser(Reader):
             raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDEL)
 
         self.structure.elements.append(element)
+        
 
     def parse_strans(self, trans:Transformation):
         if self.token.ident != Records.STRANS:
             return
 
-        flags = self.read_short()
+        flags = self.read_ushort()
         if flags & 0x01:
             trans.mirror_x = True
 
@@ -325,15 +317,9 @@ class Parser(Reader):
 
     def parse_box(self):
         element = Box()
-        if not self.next_token():
-            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
-        
+        self.next_token(True)
         self.parse_element(element)
-
-        if self.token.ident != Records.LAYER:
-            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
-        
-        element.layer = self.read_short()
+        self.parse_layer(element)
 
         if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.BOXTYPE:
             raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_BOXTYPE)
@@ -393,6 +379,7 @@ class Parser(Reader):
         element.structure = self.read_ascii(self.token.len)
         
         self.next_token(True)
+
         self.parse_strans(element.transformation)
 
         if self.token.ident != Records.COLROW:
diff --git a/gds/structure.py b/gds/structure.py
index f79cf1a..c6b0a0c 100644
--- a/gds/structure.py
+++ b/gds/structure.py
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@ class Structure(object):
 
     # contains all the low level elements
     elements = []
+    
     # contains all sref and aref elements
-    references = [] 
\ No newline at end of file
+    references = []
\ No newline at end of file