diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c960330
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+from .library import Library
+from .structure import Structure
+from .elements import *
+
+from .record import *
+from .reader import Reader
+from .parser import *
diff --git a/elements.py b/elements.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fafa6aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements.py
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+from enum import Enum
+
+class Transformation(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.mirror_x = 0
+    
+        self.absolute_rotation = 0
+        self.absolute_magnification = 0
+
+        self.zoom = 1
+        self.rotation = 0
+
+class Element(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.elflags = 0
+        self.plex    = 0
+        
+class Drawable(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.layer   = 0
+        self.datatype = 0
+
+class Boundary(Element, Drawable):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.points = []
+    
+class Path(Element, Drawable):
+    class Styles(Enum):
+        SQUARE_ENDS  = 0
+        ROUNDED_ENDS = 1
+        OFFSET_ENDS  = 2
+        CUSTOM_END   = 4
+    
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.extendEnd = [0,0] # extend past start and end    
+        self.width     = 0
+        self.pathStyle = Path.Styles.SQUARE_ENDS
+    
+        self.points = []
+
+class Text(Element, Drawable):
+    class VJust(Enum):
+        Top    = 0
+        Middle = 1
+        Bottom = 2
+
+    class HJust(Enum):
+        Left   = 0
+        Center = 1
+        Right  = 2
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        # text info
+        self.string = ""
+        self.position = (0,0)
+        
+        # presentation
+        self.fontnumber               = 0
+        self.verticalJustification    = Text.VJust.Top
+        self.horizontalJustification  = Text.HJust.Left
+
+        # optional path info
+        self.pathStype = Path.Styles.SQUARE_ENDS
+        self.pathWidth = 0
+
+        self.transformation = Transformation()
+
+    
+class Box(Element, Drawable):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.points = []
+
+class SRef(Element):
+    """
+    A Structure Reference defines a single instance of a different structure in 
+    the structure we call parent here
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.position = (0,0)
+        self.structure = ""
+        
+        self.transformation  = Transformation()
+
+        self.parent = None
+
+class ARef(SRef):
+    """
+    An Array Reference is similar to the SRef, but it defines the instances in a grid
+    with size instances spaces evenly between the bound coordinates
+
+    with:
+
+    v1 = bounds[0] - position
+    v2 = bounds[1] - position
+    i  = xth instance index
+    j  = yth instance index
+
+    this will result in an array like this:
+        j\i | 0               |  1                        | ... | size[0]
+        ----+-----------------+---------------------------+-----+--------------------
+        0   | (position)      |  (position + v1)          | ... | (bounds[0])
+        1   | (position + v2) |  (position + v1*i + v2*j) | ... | (bounds[0] + v2)
+      ...   | ...             |  ...                      | ... | ...
+    size[1] | (bounds[2])     |  (bounds[2] + v1)         | ... | (bounds[0] + bounds[1])
+
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(ARef, self).__init__()
+
+        # positions of last instance in X and Y direction
+        self.bounds = [(0,0), (0,0)]
+        # number of instances in X and Y direction
+        self.size   = (0,0)
+
+
+
diff --git a/library.py b/library.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c11c9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+from .elements import SRef
+from .reader import ProgressGetter
+
+class Library(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.version = 0
+        self.name = "NONAME"
+
+        self.last_access = datetime.now()
+        self.last_mod    = datetime.now()
+
+        # unit setup
+        self.units_per_dbunit = 1
+        self.meters_per_unit  = 1
+
+        self.structures = {}
+
+    class LinkError(Exception):
+        element = None
+        pass
+    
+    
+    """
+    normalizes given coordinate according to library units
+    """
+    def normalize_coord(self, coord, to_meters=False):
+        fact = self.units_per_dbunit
+        if to_meters:
+            fact *= self.meters_per_unit
+        
+        return (coord[0] * fact, coord[1] * fact)
+
+    def link_refs(self, root, progress_callback=None):
+        for ref in root.references:
+            if isinstance(ref.structure, str):
+                try:
+                    element.structure = self.structures[ref.structure]
+                except KeyError:
+                    err = LinkError("dangeling sref (structure {} is not defined in library)".format(ref.structure))
+                    err.element = root
+                    raise err
+            
+        return root
+
+    def link_all_refs(self, progress_callback=None):
+        class Progress(ProgressGetter):
+            total   = 0
+            current = 0
+
+            def __init__(self, lib):
+                for key, value in lib.structures.items():
+                    self.total += len(value.references)
+
+            def progress(self):
+                return float(self.current) / self.total
+
+            def inc(self):
+                self.current += 1
+
+        count = Progress(self)
+
+        for key, value in self.structures.items():
+            for element in value.references:             
+                if isinstance(element.structure, str):
+                    # try to resolve link
+                    try:
+                        ref = self.structures[element.structure]
+                        element.structure = ref
+                    except KeyError:
+                        err = LinkError("dangeling sref (structure {} is not defined in library)".format(element.structure))
+                        err.element = element
+
+                        raise err
+
+                count.inc()
+
+                if progress_callback:
+                    progress_callback(count)
+                    
+                    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/parser.py b/parser.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44abf53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser.py
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+from . import *
+from enum import Enum
+
+class errors(Enum):
+    UNEXPECTED_EOF   = "unexpected EOF"
+    EXPECTED_HEADER  = "expected file header"    
+    EXPECTED_BGNLIB  = "expected beginning of library"
+    EXPECTED_LIBNAME = "Library name is missing"
+    EXPECTED_ENDMASK = "MASK records was not terminated by ENDMASK"
+    EXPECTED_STRNAME = "encountered nameless structure"
+    EXPECTED_UNITS   = "no unit record in file"
+    EXPECTED_LAYER   = "expected a layer record in element"
+    EXPECTED_POINTS  = "expected coordinates for element"
+    EXPECTED_POINT   = "expected coordinate for element"
+    EXPECTED_DATATYPE = "expected datatype"
+    EXPECTED_ENDEL   = "end of element is missing"
+    EXPECTED_TEXTTYPE = "expected TEXTTYPE"
+    EXPECTED_STRING   = "textelement is missing text"
+    EXPECTED_BOXTYPE  = "expected BOXTYPE"
+    EXPECTED_SNAME    = "expected SNAME"
+    EXPECTED_COLROW   = "expected COLROW"
+    AREF_MISSING_POINTS = "aref needs three points"
+    INVALID_PATHTYPE = "pathtype must be in range [0,2]"
+
+class Warnings(Enum):
+    EXPECTED_ENDLIB  = "missing end of library"
+    
+class ParserError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+class Parser(Reader):
+    def __init__(self, file, progress_callback=None):
+        super(Parser, self).__init__(file)
+        
+        self._token = None
+        self.progress_callback = progress_callback
+        
+        # parser state
+        self.Library = Library()
+        self.current_structure = None
+    
+    @property
+    def token(self):
+        return self._token
+    
+    @token.setter
+    def token(self, t):
+        self._token = t
+
+    def next_token(self, throw=False):
+        self.token = self.read_record()
+
+        if not self.token and throw:
+            raise ParserError(errors.UNEXPECTED_EOF)
+
+        # if self.token:
+        #     print(self.token.ident.name)
+
+        return self.token
+
+    def parse_lib(self):
+        # read header  
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.HEADER:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_HEADER)
+        
+        self.Library.version = self.read_short()
+
+        # must see BGNLIB
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.BGNLIB:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_BGNLIB)
+        
+        self.Library.last_mod    = self.read_date()
+        self.Library.last_access = self.read_date()
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.LIBNAME:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LIBNAME)
+
+        self.Library.name = self.read_ascii(self.token.len)
+
+        # read optional records
+        while self.next_token():
+            if self.token.ident  == Records.REFLIBS or    \
+                self.token.ident == Records.FONTS or     \
+                self.token.ident == Records.ATTRTABLE or \
+                self.token.ident == Records.GENERATIONS:
+                # skip these records
+                self.skip(self.token.len)
+
+            elif self.token.ident == Records.FORMAT:
+                self.skip(self.token.len)
+
+                # look for optional mask
+                while self.next_token().ident == Records.MASK:
+                    self.skip(self.token.len)
+                                   
+                if self.token.ident != Records.ENDMASK:
+                    raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDMASK)
+
+            else:
+                # continue
+                break
+
+        if self.token.ident != Records.UNITS:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_UNITS)
+
+        # read units
+        self.Library.units_per_dbunit = self.read_double()
+        self.Library.meters_per_unit  = self.read_double()
+        
+        while self.next_token() and self.parse_structure():
+            pass
+       
+        if self.token.ident != Records.ENDLIB:
+            print(Warnings.EXPECTED_ENDLIB.value)
+
+        # tell callback that the process completed
+        if self.progress_callback:
+            self.progress_callback(self)
+
+    def parse_structure(self):
+        self.structure = Structure()
+        
+        if self.token.ident != Records.BGNSTR:
+            return False
+
+        self.structure.last_mod = self.read_date()
+        self.structure.last_access = self.read_date()
+
+        # read sname
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.STRNAME:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_STRNAME)
+        
+        self.structure.name = self.read_ascii(self.token.len)
+
+        while self.next_token() and self.token.ident != Records.ENDSTR:
+            if self.token.ident == Records.BOUNDARY:
+                self.parse_boundary()
+            elif self.token.ident == Records.PATH:
+                self.parse_path()
+            elif self.token.ident == Records.TEXT:
+                self.parse_text()
+            elif self.token.ident == Records.SREF:
+                self.parse_sref()
+            elif self.token.ident == Records.AREF:
+                self.parse_aref()
+            else:
+                self.skip(self.token.len)
+            
+            if self.progress_callback:
+                self.progress_callback(self)
+
+        self.Library.structures[self.structure.name] = self.structure
+        self.structure = None
+
+        return True
+
+    def parse_element(self, element):
+        if self.token.ident == Records.ELFLAGS:
+            element.elflags = self.read_short()
+            self.next_token(True)
+        
+        if self.token.ident == Records.PLEX:
+            element.plex = self.read_int()
+            self.next_token(True)
+
+    def parse_layer(self, element):
+        if self.token.ident != Records.LAYER:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_LAYER)
+
+        element.layer = self.read_ushort()
+
+    def parse_boundary(self):
+        element = Boundary()
+        self.next_token(True)
+        self.parse_element(element)
+        self.parse_layer(element)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.DATATYPE:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_DATATYPE)
+
+        element.datatype = self.read_short()
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.XY:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_POINTS)
+
+        element.points = self.read_coords(self.token.len)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.ENDEL:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDEL)
+
+        self.structure.elements.append(element)
+
+    def parse_path(self):
+        element = Path()
+        self.next_token(True)
+        self.parse_element(element)
+        self.parse_layer(element)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.DATATYPE:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_DATATYPE)
+        
+        element.datatype = self.read_short()
+            
+        self.next_token(True)
+        
+        if self.token.ident == Records.PATHTYPE:
+            pathtype = self.read_short()
+            if pathtype < 0 or pathtype > 4 or pathtype == 3:  
+                raise ParserError(errors.INVALID_PATHTYPE)
+            
+            element.pathStyle = Path.Styles(pathtype)
+            self.next_token(True)
+        
+        if self.token.ident == Records.WIDTH:
+            element.width = self.read_int()
+            self.next_token(True)
+
+        if self.token.ident == Records.BGNEXTN:
+            element.extendEnd[0] = self.read_int()
+            self.next_token(True)
+        elif element.pathStyle == Path.Styles.OFFSET_ENDS:
+            element.extendEnd[0] = element.width/2
+
+        if self.token.ident == Records.ENDEXTN:
+            element.extendEnd[1] = self.read_int()
+            self.next_token(True)
+        elif element.pathStyle == Path.Styles.OFFSET_ENDS:
+            element.extendEnd[1] = element.width/2
+
+        if self.token.ident != Records.XY:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_POINTS)
+
+        element.points = self.read_coords(self.token.len)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.ENDEL:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDEL)
+    
+        self.structure.elements.append(element)
+
+    def parse_text(self):
+        element = Text()
+        self.next_token(True)
+        self.parse_element(element)
+        self.parse_layer(element)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.TEXTTYPE:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_TEXTTYPE)
+
+        element.datatype = self.read_short()
+
+        self.next_token(True)
+
+        if self.token.ident == Records.PRESENTATION:
+            temp = self.read_short()
+            element.fontnumber = (temp>>10)&0x03
+            element.verticalJustification   = Text.VJust((temp>>12)&0x03)
+            element.horizontalJustification = Text.HJust((temp>>14)&0X03)
+            
+            self.next_token(True)
+
+        if self.token.ident == Records.PATHTYPE:
+            element.pathStype = Path.Styles(self.read_short())
+            self.next_token(True)
+        
+        if self.token.ident == Records.WIDTH:
+            element.pathWidth = self.read_short()
+            self.next_token(True)
+
+        self.parse_strans(element.transformation)
+        
+        if self.token.ident != Records.XY:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_POINT)
+
+        element.point = self.read_coord()
+        
+        # skip potential array (if given)
+        self.skip(self.token.len - 8)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.STRING:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_STRING)
+
+        element.string = self.read_ascii(self.token.len)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.ENDEL:
+            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_ushort()
+        if flags & 0x01:
+            trans.mirror_x = True
+
+        if flags & 0x2000:
+            trans.absolute_magnification = True
+
+        if flags & 0x4000:
+            trans.absolute_rotation = True
+    
+        self.next_token(True) 
+
+        if self.token.ident == Records.MAG:
+            trans.zoom = self.read_double()
+            self.next_token(True)
+
+        if self.token.ident == Records.ANGLE:
+            trans.rotation = self.read_double()
+            self.next_token(True)
+
+    def parse_box(self):
+        element = Box()
+        self.next_token(True)
+        self.parse_element(element)
+        self.parse_layer(element)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.BOXTYPE:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_BOXTYPE)
+        
+        element.datatype = self.read_short()
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.XY:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_POINTS)
+
+        element.points = self.read_coords(self.token.len)
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.ENDEL:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDEL)
+        
+        self.structure.elements.append(element)
+    
+    def parse_sref(self):
+        element = SRef()
+        element.parent = self.structure
+
+        if not self.next_token(): 
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_SNAME)
+        
+        self.parse_element(element)
+
+        if self.token.ident != Records.SNAME:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_SNAME)
+        
+        element.structure = self.read_ascii(self.token.len)
+        
+        self.next_token(True)
+        self.parse_strans(element.transformation)
+
+        if self.token.ident != Records.XY:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_POINT)
+
+        element.position = self.read_coord()
+        self.skip(self.token.len - 8)
+        
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.ENDEL:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDEL)
+        
+        self.structure.references.append(element)
+    
+    def parse_aref(self):
+        element = ARef()
+        element.parent = self.structure
+
+        if not self.next_token(): 
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_SNAME)
+        
+        self.parse_element(element)
+
+        if self.token.ident != Records.SNAME:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_SNAME)
+        
+        element.structure = self.read_ascii(self.token.len)
+        
+        self.next_token(True)
+
+        self.parse_strans(element.transformation)
+
+        if self.token.ident != Records.COLROW:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_COLROW)
+
+        element.size = (self.read_short(), self.read_short())
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.XY:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_POINT)
+
+        if self.token.len != 3*8:
+            raise ParserError(errors.AREF_MISSING_POINTS)
+
+        element.position = self.read_coord()
+        element.bounds[0] = self.read_coord()
+        element.bounds[1] = self.read_coord()
+
+        if not self.next_token() or self.token.ident != Records.ENDEL:
+            raise ParserError(errors.EXPECTED_ENDEL)
+        
+        self.structure.references.append(element)
+
+def parse_file(file, progress_func=None):
+    parser = Parser(file, progress_callback=progress_func)
+    parser.parse_lib()
+
+    return parser.Library
+
+
diff --git a/reader.py b/reader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c37e98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/reader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+from .record import *
+import abc
+import ctypes
+
+class ProgressGetter(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
+    @abc.abstractproperty
+    def current(self):
+        pass
+    @abc.abstractproperty
+    def total(self):
+        pass
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def progress(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError("getting the progess is not implemented")
+                
+class Reader(ProgressGetter):
+    @property
+    def current(self):
+        return float(self.stream.tell())
+
+    # returns the read progress in percent
+    def progress(self):
+        if self.total <= 0:
+            return 1.0
+
+        return self.current / self.total
+
+    @property
+    def total(self):
+        return self._total
+
+    def __init__(self, file):
+        self.stream = file
+
+        # find file size
+        self.stream.seek(0, 2)
+        self._total = self.stream.tell()
+        self.stream.seek(0, 0)
+
+    def skip(self, n):
+        self.stream.read(n)
+
+    def read_uint(self):
+        temp = self.stream.read(4)
+        if len(temp) != 4:
+            return None
+
+        return int(temp[3]) | int(temp[2]) << 8 | int(temp[1]) << 16 | int(temp[0]) << 24
+
+    def read_ushort(self):
+        temp = self.stream.read(2)
+        if len(temp) != 2:
+            return None
+
+        return int(temp[1]) | int(temp[0]) << 8
+
+    def read_short(self):
+        temp = self.read_ushort()
+
+        if temp == None:
+            return None
+        
+        return ctypes.c_short(temp).value
+        
+    def read_int(self):
+        temp = self.read_uint()
+
+        if temp == None:
+            return None
+
+        return ctypes.c_int(temp).value
+        
+    def read_double(self):
+        temp = self.stream.read(8)
+        if len(temp) != 8:
+            return None
+            
+        result = 0
+
+        for i in temp:
+            if int(i) != 0: 
+                # read double
+                for j in range(1,8):
+                    result += float(temp[j])/(2.0**(j*8))
+
+                exp = int(temp[0]) & 0x7F
+                exp -= 64
+                result *= 16**exp
+
+                if int(temp[0]) & 0x80:
+                    result += -1
+
+                return result
+                
+        
+        # double is Zero
+        return 0
+
+    def read_ascii(self, len):
+        # removes zero terminators
+        # as well as trailing and beginning whitespaces
+        return self.stream.read(len).decode("ASCII").replace("\x00", "").strip()
+
+    def read_record(self):
+        result = Record()
+        try:
+            result.len = self.read_ushort() 
+            result.ident = Records(self.read_ushort())
+        except ValueError:
+            return None
+
+        result.len -= 4 # remove record header len 
+
+        return result
+
+    def read_date(self):
+        # date
+        year  = self.read_ushort()
+        month = self.read_ushort()
+        day   = self.read_ushort()
+
+        # time
+        hour   = self.read_ushort()
+        minute = self.read_ushort()
+        second = self.read_ushort()
+
+        return datetime(year=year, month=month, day=day, hour=hour, minute=minute, second=second)
+
+    def read_coord(self):
+        X = self.read_int()
+        Y = self.read_int()
+
+        return (X,Y)
+    
+    def read_coords(self, len):
+        len /= 8
+        result = []
+        while len > 0:
+            point = self.read_coord()
+            if not point:
+                return None
+
+            result.append(point)
+            len -= 1
+
+        return result
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/record.py b/record.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c8ff63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/record.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+from enum import Enum
+
+class Records(Enum):
+    UNKNOWN      = 0x0000
+    HEADER       = 0x0002
+    BGNLIB       = 0x0102
+    LIBNAME      = 0x0206
+    REFLIBS      = 0x1F06
+    FONTS        = 0x2006
+    ATTRTABLE    = 0x2306
+    GENERATIONS  = 0x2202
+    FORMAT       = 0x3602
+    MASK         = 0x3706
+    ENDMASKS     = 0x3800
+    UNITS        = 0x0305
+    ENDLIB       = 0x0400
+    BGNSTR       = 0x0502
+    STRNAME      = 0x0606
+    ENDEL        = 0x1100
+    ENDSTR       = 0x0700
+    BOUNDARY     = 0x0800
+    PATH         = 0x0900
+    SREF         = 0x0A00
+    AREF         = 0x0B00
+    TEXT         = 0x0C00
+    NODE         = 0x1500
+    BOX          = 0x2D00
+    ELFLAGS      = 0x2601
+    PLEX         = 0x2F03
+    LAYER        = 0x0D02
+    DATATYPE     = 0x0E02
+    XY	         = 0x1003
+    PATHTYPE     = 0x2102
+    WIDTH        = 0x0F03
+    BGNEXTN      = 0x3003
+    ENDEXTN      = 0x3103
+    SNAME        = 0x1206
+    STRANS       = 0x1A01
+    MAG          = 0x1B05
+    ANGLE        = 0x1C05
+    COLROW       = 0x1302
+    TEXTTYPE     = 0x1602
+    PRESENTATION = 0x1701
+    NODETYPE     = 0x2A02
+    BOXTYPE      = 0x2E02
+    STRING       = 0x1906
+    PROPATTR     = 0x2B02
+    PROPVALUE    = 0x2C06
+
+class Record(object):
+    ident = Records.UNKNOWN
+    len   = 0
diff --git a/structure.py b/structure.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50f9b70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/structure.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+
+class Structure(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        # metainfo
+        self.creation_date = datetime.now()
+        self.last_mod      = datetime.now()
+        self.name          = "NONAME"
+
+        # contains all the low level elements
+        self.elements = []
+        
+        # contains all sref and aref elements
+        self.references = []
\ No newline at end of file