diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 64bf6d5..e513605 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -125,13 +125,13 @@ Add cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z/? axis with length <length>
     //cylinder z -12 3 mesecons:mesecon
     //cylinder ? 2 4 stone
     
-### //spiral <width> <height> <spacer> <node>
+### //spiral <size> <node>
 
-Add spiral at WorldEdit position 1 with width <width>, height <height>, space between walls <spacer>, composed of <node>.
+Add spiral at WorldEdit position 1 with size <size>, composed of <node>.
 
-    //spiral 20 5 3 dirt
-    //spiral 5 2 1 default:glass
-    //spiral 7 1 5 stone
+    //spiral 8 dirt
+    //spiral 5 default:glass
+    //spiral 2 stone
 
 
 ### //copy x/y/z/? <amount>
diff --git a/functions.lua b/functions.lua
index 38ac057..668b987 100644
--- a/functions.lua
+++ b/functions.lua
@@ -1,731 +1,685 @@
---modifies positions `pos1` and `pos2` so that each component of `pos1` is less than or equal to its corresponding conent of `pos2`, returning two new positions
-worldedit.sort_pos = function(pos1, pos2)
-	pos1 = {x=pos1.x, y=pos1.y, z=pos1.z}
-	pos2 = {x=pos2.x, y=pos2.y, z=pos2.z}
-	if pos1.x > pos2.x then
-		pos2.x, pos1.x = pos1.x, pos2.x
-	end
-	if pos1.y > pos2.y then
-		pos2.y, pos1.y = pos1.y, pos2.y
-	end
-	if pos1.z > pos2.z then
-		pos2.z, pos1.z = pos1.z, pos2.z
-	end
-	return pos1, pos2
-end
-
---determines the volume of the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2`, returning the volume
-worldedit.volume = function(pos1, pos2)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	return (pos2.x - pos1.x + 1) * (pos2.y - pos1.y + 1) * (pos2.z - pos1.z + 1)
-end
-
---sets a region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` to `nodename`, returning the number of nodes filled
-worldedit.set = function(pos1, pos2, nodename)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local env = minetest.env
-
-	local node = {name=nodename}
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				env:add_node(pos, node)
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---replaces all instances of `searchnode` with `replacenode` in a region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2`, returning the number of nodes replaced
-worldedit.replace = function(pos1, pos2, searchnode, replacenode)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local env = minetest.env
-
-	if minetest.registered_nodes[searchnode] == nil then
-		searchnode = "default:" .. searchnode
-	end
-	if minetest.registered_nodes[replacenode] == nil then
-		replacenode = "default:" .. replacenode
-	end
-
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	local node = {name=replacenode}
-	local count = 0
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				if env:get_node(pos).name == searchnode then
-					env:add_node(pos, node)
-					count = count + 1
-				end
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---adds a hollow sphere at `pos` with radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
-worldedit.hollow_sphere = function(pos, radius, nodename)
-	local node = {name=nodename}
-	local pos1 = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
-	local full_radius = radius * radius + radius
-	local env = minetest.env
-	for x = -radius, radius do
-		pos1.x = pos.x + x
-		for y = -radius, radius do
-			pos1.y = pos.y + y
-			for z = -radius, radius do
-				if x*x+y*y+z*z >= (radius-1) * (radius-1) + (radius-1) and x*x+y*y+z*z <= full_radius then
-					pos1.z = pos.z + z
-					env:add_node({x=pos.x+x,y=pos.y+y,z=pos.z+z}, node)
-				end
-			end
-		end
-	end
-end
-
---adds a sphere at `pos` with radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
-worldedit.sphere = function(pos, radius, nodename)
-	local node = {name=nodename}
-	local pos1 = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
-	local full_radius = radius * radius + radius
-	local count = 0
-	local env = minetest.env
-	for x = -radius, radius do
-		pos1.x = pos.x + x
-		for y = -radius, radius do
-			pos1.y = pos.y + y
-			for z = -radius, radius do
-				if x*x+y*y+z*z <= full_radius then
-					pos1.z = pos.z + z
-					env:add_node(pos1, node)
-					count = count + 1
-				end
-			end
-		end
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---adds a hollow cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
-worldedit.hollow_cylinder = function(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
-	local other1, other2
-	if axis == "x" then
-		other1, other2 = "y", "z"
-	elseif axis == "y" then
-		other1, other2 = "x", "z"
-	else --axis == "z"
-		other1, other2 = "x", "y"
-	end
-
-	local env = minetest.env
-	local currentpos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
-	local node = {name=nodename}
-	local count = 0
-	local step = 1
-	if length < 0 then
-		length = -length
-		step = -1
-	end
-	for i = 1, length do
-		local offset1, offset2 = 0, radius
-		local delta = -radius
-		while offset1 <= offset2 do
-			--add node at each octant
-			local first1, first2 = pos[other1] + offset1, pos[other1] - offset1
-			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset2, pos[other2] - offset2
-			currentpos[other1], currentpos[other2] = first1, second1
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 1
-			currentpos[other1] = first2
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 4
-			currentpos[other2] = second2
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 5
-			currentpos[other1] = first1
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 8
-			local first1, first2 = pos[other1] + offset2, pos[other1] - offset2
-			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset1, pos[other2] - offset1
-			currentpos[other1], currentpos[other2] = first1, second1
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 2
-			currentpos[other1] = first2
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 3
-			currentpos[other2] = second2
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 6
-			currentpos[other1] = first1
-			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 7
-
-			count = count + 8 --wip: broken
-
-			--move to next location
-			delta = delta + (offset1 * 2) + 1
-			if delta >= 0 then
-				offset2 = offset2 - 1
-				delta = delta - (offset2 * 2)
-			end
-			offset1 = offset1 + 1
-		end
-		currentpos[axis] = currentpos[axis] + step
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---adds a cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
-worldedit.cylinder = function(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
-	local other1, other2
-	if axis == "x" then
-		other1, other2 = "y", "z"
-	elseif axis == "y" then
-		other1, other2 = "x", "z"
-	else --axis == "z"
-		other1, other2 = "x", "y"
-	end
-
-	local env = minetest.env
-	local currentpos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
-	local node = {name=nodename}
-	local count = 0
-	local step = 1
-	if length < 0 then
-		length = -length
-		step = -1
-	end
-	for i = 1, length do
-		local offset1, offset2 = 0, radius
-		local delta = -radius
-		while offset1 <= offset2 do
-			--connect each pair of octants
-			currentpos[other1] = pos[other1] - offset1
-			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset2, pos[other2] - offset2
-			for i = 0, offset1 * 2 do
-				currentpos[other2] = second1
-				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 1 to 4
-				currentpos[other2] = second2
-				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 5 to 8
-				currentpos[other1] = currentpos[other1] + 1
-			end
-			currentpos[other1] = pos[other1] - offset2
-			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset1, pos[other2] - offset1
-			for i = 0, offset2 * 2 do
-				currentpos[other2] = second1
-				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 2 to 3
-				currentpos[other2] = second2
-				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 6 to 7
-				currentpos[other1] = currentpos[other1] + 1
-			end
-
-			count = count + (offset1 * 4) + (offset2 * 4) + 4 --wip: broken
-
-			--move to next location
-			delta = delta + (offset1 * 2) + 1
-			offset1 = offset1 + 1
-			if delta >= 0 then
-				offset2 = offset2 - 1
-				delta = delta - (offset2 * 2)
-			end
-		end
-		currentpos[axis] = currentpos[axis] + step
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---adds a spiral at `pos` with width `width`, height `height`, space between walls `spacer`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes changed
-worldedit.spiral = function(pos, width, height, spacer, nodename)
-	-- spiral matrix - http://rosettacode.org/wiki/Spiral_matrix#Lua
-	av, sn = math.abs, function(s) return s~=0 and s/av(s) or 0 end
-	local function sindex(z, x) -- returns the value at (x, z) in a spiral that starts at 1 and goes outwards
-		if z == -x and z >= x then return (2*z+1)^2 end
-		local l = math.max(av(z), av(x))
-		return (2*l-1)^2+4*l+2*l*sn(x+z)+sn(z^2-x^2)*(l-(av(z)==l and sn(z)*x or sn(x)*z)) -- OH GOD WHAT
-	end
-	local function spiralt(side)
-		local ret, id, start, stop = {}, 0, math.floor((-side+1)/2), math.floor((side-1)/2)
-		for i = 1, side do
-			for j = 1, side do
-				local id = side^2 - sindex(stop - i + 1,start + j - 1)
-				ret[id] = {x=i,z=j}
-			end
-		end
-		return ret
-	end
-	-- connect the joined parts
-	local spiral = spiralt(width)
-	height = tonumber(height)
-	if height < 1 then height = 1 end
-	spacer = tonumber(spacer)-1
-	if spacer < 1 then spacer = 1 end
-	local count = 0
-	local node = {name=nodename}
-	local np,lp
-	for y=0,height do
-		lp = nil
-		for _,v in ipairs(spiral) do
-			np = {x=pos.x+v.x*spacer, y=pos.y+y, z=pos.z+v.z*spacer}
-			if lp~=nil then
-				if lp.x~=np.x then 
-					if lp.x<np.x then 
-						for i=lp.x+1,np.x do
-							minetest.env:add_node({x=i, y=np.y, z=np.z}, node)
-							count = count + 1
-						end
-					else
-						for i=np.x,lp.x-1 do
-							minetest.env:add_node({x=i, y=np.y, z=np.z}, node)
-							count = count + 1
-						end
-					end
-				end
-				if lp.z~=np.z then 
-					if lp.z<np.z then 
-						for i=lp.z+1,np.z do
-							minetest.env:add_node({x=np.x, y=np.y, z=i}, node)
-							count = count + 1
-						end
-					else
-						for i=np.z,lp.z-1 do
-							minetest.env:add_node({x=np.x, y=np.y, z=i}, node)
-							count = count + 1
-						end
-					end
-				end
-			end
-			lp = np
-		end
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---wip: 
-sign = function(s)
-	if s > 0 then
-		return 1
-	end
-	if s < 0 then
-		return -1
-	end
-	return 0
-end
-
---wip: needs to be faster
-function spiral_index(y, x) -- returns the value at (x, y) in a spiral that starts at 1 and goes outwards
-	if y == -x and y >= x then
-		return (2 * y + 1) ^ 2
-	end
-	local l = math.max(math.abs(y), math.abs(x))
-	local value
-	if math.abs(y) == l then
-		value = x
-		if y < 0 then
-			value = -value
-		end
-	else
-		value = y
-		if x < 0 then
-			value = -value
-		end
-	end
-	t1 = l * 2
-	if x + y < 0 then
-		t1 = -t1
-	end
-	t2 = y ^ 2 - x ^ 2
-	if t2 < 0 then
-		t2 = -t2
-	end
-	return ((2 * l - 1) ^ 2) + (l * 4) + t1 + (t2 * (l - value))
-end
-
---wip: needs to be faster
-function spiralt(side)
-	local spiral = {}
-	local start, stop = math.floor((-side+1)/2), math.floor((side-1)/2)
-	for i = 1, side do
-		spiral[i] = {}
-		for j = 1, side do
-			spiral[i][j] = side ^ 2 - spiral_index(stop - i + 1,start + j - 1) --moves the coordinates so (0,0) is at the center of the spiral
-		end
-	end
-	return spiral
-end
-
---copies the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") by `amount` nodes, returning the number of nodes copied
-worldedit.copy = function(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local env = minetest.env
-
-	if amount < 0 then
-		local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-		while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-			pos.y = pos1.y
-			while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-				pos.z = pos1.z
-				while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-					local node = env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
-					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get meta of current node
-					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
-					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
-					env:add_node(pos, node) --copy node to new position
-					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
-					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
-					pos.z = pos.z + 1
-				end
-				pos.y = pos.y + 1
-			end
-			pos.x = pos.x + 1
-		end
-	else
-		local pos = {x=pos2.x, y=0, z=0}
-		while pos.x >= pos1.x do
-			pos.y = pos2.y
-			while pos.y >= pos1.y do
-				pos.z = pos2.z
-				while pos.z >= pos1.z do
-					local node = minetest.env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
-					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get meta of current node
-					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
-					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
-					minetest.env:add_node(pos, node) --copy node to new position
-					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
-					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
-					pos.z = pos.z - 1
-				end
-				pos.y = pos.y - 1
-			end
-			pos.x = pos.x - 1
-		end
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---moves the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") by `amount` nodes, returning the number of nodes moved
-worldedit.move = function(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local env = minetest.env
-
-	if amount < 0 then
-		local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-		while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-			pos.y = pos1.y
-			while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-				pos.z = pos1.z
-				while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-					local node = env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
-					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get metadata of current node
-					env:remove_node(pos)
-					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
-					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
-					env:add_node(pos, node) --move node to new position
-					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
-					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
-					pos.z = pos.z + 1
-				end
-				pos.y = pos.y + 1
-			end
-			pos.x = pos.x + 1
-		end
-	else
-		local pos = {x=pos2.x, y=0, z=0}
-		while pos.x >= pos1.x do
-			pos.y = pos2.y
-			while pos.y >= pos1.y do
-				pos.z = pos2.z
-				while pos.z >= pos1.z do
-					local node = env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
-					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get metadata of current node
-					env:remove_node(pos)
-					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
-					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
-					env:add_node(pos, node) --move node to new position
-					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
-					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
-					pos.z = pos.z - 1
-				end
-				pos.y = pos.y - 1
-			end
-			pos.x = pos.x - 1
-		end
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---duplicates the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") `count` times, returning the number of nodes stacked
-worldedit.stack = function(pos1, pos2, axis, count)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local length = pos2[axis] - pos1[axis] + 1
-	if count < 0 then
-		count = -count
-		length = -length
-	end
-	local amount = 0
-	local copy = worldedit.copy
-	for i = 1, count do
-		amount = amount + length
-		copy(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---transposes a region defined by the positions `pos1` and `pos2` between the `axis1` and `axis2` axes, returning the number of nodes transposed
-worldedit.transpose = function(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	local env = minetest.env
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				local extent1, extent2 = pos[axis1] - pos1[axis1], pos[axis2] - pos1[axis2]
-				if extent1 < extent2 then
-					local node1 = env:get_node(pos)
-					local meta1 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
-					local value1, value2 = pos[axis1], pos[axis2]
-					pos[axis1], pos[axis2] = value1 + extent2, value2 + extent1
-					local node2 = env:get_node(pos)
-					local meta2 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
-					env:add_node(pos, node1)
-					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta1)
-					pos[axis1], pos[axis2] = value1, value2
-					env:add_node(pos, node2)
-					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta2)
-				end
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---flips a region defined by the positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z"), returning the number of nodes flipped
-worldedit.flip = function(pos1, pos2, axis)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	local start = pos1[axis] + pos2[axis]
-	pos2[axis] = pos1[axis] + math.floor((pos2[axis] - pos1[axis]) / 2)
-	local env = minetest.env
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				local node1 = env:get_node(pos)
-				local meta1 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
-				local value = pos[axis]
-				pos[axis] = start - value
-				local node2 = env:get_node(pos)
-				local meta2 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
-				env:add_node(pos, node1)
-				env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta1)
-				pos[axis] = value
-				env:add_node(pos, node2)
-				env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta2)
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---rotates a region defined by the positions `pos1` and `pos2` by `angle` degrees clockwise around axis `axis` (90 degree increment), returning the number of nodes rotated
-worldedit.rotate = function(pos1, pos2, axis, angle)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-
-	local axis1, axis2
-	if axis == "x" then
-		axis1, axis2 = "z", "y"
-	elseif axis == "y" then
-		axis1, axis2 = "x", "z"
-	else --axis == "z"
-		axis1, axis2 = "y", "x"
-	end
-	angle = angle % 360
-
-	if angle == 90 then
-		worldedit.transpose(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
-		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis2)
-	elseif angle == 180 then
-		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis1)
-		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis2)
-	elseif angle == 270 then
-		worldedit.transpose(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
-		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis1)
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---digs a region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2`, returning the number of nodes dug
-worldedit.dig = function(pos1, pos2)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local env = minetest.env
-
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				env:dig_node(pos)
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-end
-
---converts the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` into a single string, returning the serialized data and the number of nodes serialized
-worldedit.serialize = function(pos1, pos2)
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	local count = 0
-	local result = {}
-	local env = minetest.env
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				local node = env:get_node(pos)
-				if node.name ~= "air" and node.name ~= "ignore" then
-					count = count + 1
-					result[count] = pos.x - pos1.x .. " " .. pos.y - pos1.y .. " " .. pos.z - pos1.z .. " " .. node.name .. " " .. node.param1 .. " " .. node.param2
-				end
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	result = table.concat(result, "\n")
-	return result, count
-end
-
---loads the nodes represented by string `value` at position `originpos`, returning the number of nodes deserialized
-worldedit.deserialize = function(originpos, value)
-	local pos = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
-	local node = {name="", param1=0, param2=0}
-	local count = 0
-	local env = minetest.env
-	for x, y, z, name, param1, param2 in value:gmatch("([+-]?%d+)%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+([^%s]+)%s+(%d+)%s+(%d+)[^\r\n]*[\r\n]*") do
-		pos.x = originpos.x + tonumber(x)
-		pos.y = originpos.y + tonumber(y)
-		pos.z = originpos.z + tonumber(z)
-		node.name = name
-		node.param1 = param1
-		node.param2 = param2
-		env:add_node(pos, node)
-		count = count + 1
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---loads the nodes represented by string `value` at position `originpos`, returning the number of nodes deserialized
---based on [table.save/table.load](http://lua-users.org/wiki/SaveTableToFile) by ChillCode, available under the MIT license (GPL compatible)
-worldedit.deserialize_old = function(originpos, value)
-	--obtain the node table
-	local count = 0
-	local get_tables = loadstring(value)
-	if get_tables == nil then --error loading value
-		return count
-	end
-	local tables = get_tables()
-
-	--transform the node table into an array of nodes
-	for i = 1, #tables do
-		for j, v in pairs(tables[i]) do
-			if type(v) == "table" then
-				tables[i][j] = tables[v[1]]
-			end
-		end
-	end
-
-	--load the node array
-	local env = minetest.env
-	for i, v in ipairs(tables[1]) do
-		local pos = v[1]
-		pos.x, pos.y, pos.z = originpos.x + pos.x, originpos.y + pos.y, originpos.z + pos.z
-		env:add_node(pos, v[2])
-		count = count + 1
-	end
-	return count
-end
-
---saves the nodes and meta defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` into a file, returning the number of nodes saved
-worldedit.metasave = function(pos1, pos2, file)
-	local path = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems"
-	local filename = path .. "/" .. file .. ".wem"
-	os.execute("mkdir \"" .. path .. "\"") --create directory if it does not already exist
-	local rows = {}
-	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
-	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
-	local count = 0
-	local result = {}
-	local env = minetest.env
-	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
-		pos.y = pos1.y
-		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
-			pos.z = pos1.z
-			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
-				local node = env:get_node(pos)
-				if node.name ~= "air" and node.name ~= "ignore" then
-					count = count + 1
-					local row = {
-						x = pos.x-pos1.x,
-						y = pos.y-pos1.y,
-						z = pos.z-pos1.z,
-						name = node.name,
-						param1 = node.param1,
-						param2 = node.param2,
-						meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table(),
-					}
-					table.insert(rows, row)
-				end
-				pos.z = pos.z + 1
-			end
-			pos.y = pos.y + 1
-		end
-		pos.x = pos.x + 1
-	end
-	local err = table.save(rows,filename)
-	if err then return _,err end
-	return count
-end
-
---loads the nodes and meta from `file` to position `pos1`, returning the number of nodes loaded
-worldedit.metaload = function(pos1, file)
-	local filename = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems/" .. file .. ".wem"
-	local rows, err = table.load(filename)
-	if err then return _,err end
-	local pos = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
-	local node = {name="", param1=0, param2=0}
-	local count = 0
-	local env = minetest.env
-	for i,row in pairs(rows) do
-		pos.x = pos1.x + tonumber(row.x)
-		pos.y = pos1.y + tonumber(row.y)
-		pos.z = pos1.z + tonumber(row.z)
-		node.name = row.name
-		node.param1 = row.param1
-		node.param2 = row.param2
-		env:add_node(pos, node)
-		env:get_meta(pos):from_table(row.meta)
-		count = count + 1
-	end
-	return count
+--modifies positions `pos1` and `pos2` so that each component of `pos1` is less than or equal to its corresponding conent of `pos2`, returning two new positions
+worldedit.sort_pos = function(pos1, pos2)
+	pos1 = {x=pos1.x, y=pos1.y, z=pos1.z}
+	pos2 = {x=pos2.x, y=pos2.y, z=pos2.z}
+	if pos1.x > pos2.x then
+		pos2.x, pos1.x = pos1.x, pos2.x
+	end
+	if pos1.y > pos2.y then
+		pos2.y, pos1.y = pos1.y, pos2.y
+	end
+	if pos1.z > pos2.z then
+		pos2.z, pos1.z = pos1.z, pos2.z
+	end
+	return pos1, pos2
+end
+
+--determines the volume of the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2`, returning the volume
+worldedit.volume = function(pos1, pos2)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	return (pos2.x - pos1.x + 1) * (pos2.y - pos1.y + 1) * (pos2.z - pos1.z + 1)
+end
+
+--sets a region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` to `nodename`, returning the number of nodes filled
+worldedit.set = function(pos1, pos2, nodename)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local env = minetest.env
+
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				env:add_node(pos, node)
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--replaces all instances of `searchnode` with `replacenode` in a region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2`, returning the number of nodes replaced
+worldedit.replace = function(pos1, pos2, searchnode, replacenode)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local env = minetest.env
+
+	if minetest.registered_nodes[searchnode] == nil then
+		searchnode = "default:" .. searchnode
+	end
+	if minetest.registered_nodes[replacenode] == nil then
+		replacenode = "default:" .. replacenode
+	end
+
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	local node = {name=replacenode}
+	local count = 0
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				if env:get_node(pos).name == searchnode then
+					env:add_node(pos, node)
+					count = count + 1
+				end
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--adds a hollow sphere at `pos` with radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
+worldedit.hollow_sphere = function(pos, radius, nodename)
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local pos1 = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
+	local full_radius = radius * radius + radius
+	local env = minetest.env
+	for x = -radius, radius do
+		pos1.x = pos.x + x
+		for y = -radius, radius do
+			pos1.y = pos.y + y
+			for z = -radius, radius do
+				if x*x+y*y+z*z >= (radius-1) * (radius-1) + (radius-1) and x*x+y*y+z*z <= full_radius then
+					pos1.z = pos.z + z
+					env:add_node({x=pos.x+x,y=pos.y+y,z=pos.z+z}, node)
+				end
+			end
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+--adds a sphere at `pos` with radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
+worldedit.sphere = function(pos, radius, nodename)
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local pos1 = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
+	local full_radius = radius * radius + radius
+	local count = 0
+	local env = minetest.env
+	for x = -radius, radius do
+		pos1.x = pos.x + x
+		for y = -radius, radius do
+			pos1.y = pos.y + y
+			for z = -radius, radius do
+				if x*x+y*y+z*z <= full_radius then
+					pos1.z = pos.z + z
+					env:add_node(pos1, node)
+					count = count + 1
+				end
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--adds a hollow cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
+worldedit.hollow_cylinder = function(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
+	local other1, other2
+	if axis == "x" then
+		other1, other2 = "y", "z"
+	elseif axis == "y" then
+		other1, other2 = "x", "z"
+	else --axis == "z"
+		other1, other2 = "x", "y"
+	end
+
+	local env = minetest.env
+	local currentpos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local count = 0
+	local step = 1
+	if length < 0 then
+		length = -length
+		step = -1
+	end
+	for i = 1, length do
+		local offset1, offset2 = 0, radius
+		local delta = -radius
+		while offset1 <= offset2 do
+			--add node at each octant
+			local first1, first2 = pos[other1] + offset1, pos[other1] - offset1
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset2, pos[other2] - offset2
+			currentpos[other1], currentpos[other2] = first1, second1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 1
+			currentpos[other1] = first2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 4
+			currentpos[other2] = second2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 5
+			currentpos[other1] = first1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 8
+			local first1, first2 = pos[other1] + offset2, pos[other1] - offset2
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset1, pos[other2] - offset1
+			currentpos[other1], currentpos[other2] = first1, second1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 2
+			currentpos[other1] = first2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 3
+			currentpos[other2] = second2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 6
+			currentpos[other1] = first1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 7
+
+			count = count + 8 --wip: broken
+
+			--move to next location
+			delta = delta + (offset1 * 2) + 1
+			if delta >= 0 then
+				offset2 = offset2 - 1
+				delta = delta - (offset2 * 2)
+			end
+			offset1 = offset1 + 1
+		end
+		currentpos[axis] = currentpos[axis] + step
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--adds a cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes added
+worldedit.cylinder = function(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
+	local other1, other2
+	if axis == "x" then
+		other1, other2 = "y", "z"
+	elseif axis == "y" then
+		other1, other2 = "x", "z"
+	else --axis == "z"
+		other1, other2 = "x", "y"
+	end
+
+	local env = minetest.env
+	local currentpos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local count = 0
+	local step = 1
+	if length < 0 then
+		length = -length
+		step = -1
+	end
+	for i = 1, length do
+		local offset1, offset2 = 0, radius
+		local delta = -radius
+		while offset1 <= offset2 do
+			--connect each pair of octants
+			currentpos[other1] = pos[other1] - offset1
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset2, pos[other2] - offset2
+			for i = 0, offset1 * 2 do
+				currentpos[other2] = second1
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 1 to 4
+				currentpos[other2] = second2
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 5 to 8
+				currentpos[other1] = currentpos[other1] + 1
+			end
+			currentpos[other1] = pos[other1] - offset2
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset1, pos[other2] - offset1
+			for i = 0, offset2 * 2 do
+				currentpos[other2] = second1
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 2 to 3
+				currentpos[other2] = second2
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 6 to 7
+				currentpos[other1] = currentpos[other1] + 1
+			end
+
+			count = count + (offset1 * 4) + (offset2 * 4) + 4 --wip: broken
+
+			--move to next location
+			delta = delta + (offset1 * 2) + 1
+			offset1 = offset1 + 1
+			if delta >= 0 then
+				offset2 = offset2 - 1
+				delta = delta - (offset2 * 2)
+			end
+		end
+		currentpos[axis] = currentpos[axis] + step
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--adds a spiral at `pos` with size `size`, composed of `nodename`, returning the number of nodes changed
+worldedit.spiral = function(pos, size, nodename)
+	local shift_x, shift_y
+	sa = spiralt(size)
+	shift_y = #sa -- "Height" of the Array
+	local fe = sa[1]
+	shift_x = #fe -- "Width" of the Array
+	fe = nil
+
+	local count = 0
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	for x, v in ipairs(sa) do
+		for y, z in ipairs(v) do
+			minetest.env:add_node({x=pos.x - shift_x + x,y=pos.y - shift_y + y,z=pos.z + z}, node)
+			count = count + 1
+		end
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--wip: 
+sign = function(s)
+	if s > 0 then
+		return 1
+	end
+	if s < 0 then
+		return -1
+	end
+	return 0
+end
+
+--wip: needs to be faster
+function spiral_index(y, x) -- returns the value at (x, y) in a spiral that starts at 1 and goes outwards
+	if y == -x and y >= x then
+		return (2 * y + 1) ^ 2
+	end
+	local l = math.max(math.abs(y), math.abs(x))
+	local value
+	if math.abs(y) == l then
+		value = x
+		if y < 0 then
+			value = -value
+		end
+	else
+		value = y
+		if x < 0 then
+			value = -value
+		end
+	end
+	t1 = l * 2
+	if x + y < 0 then
+		t1 = -t1
+	end
+	t2 = y ^ 2 - x ^ 2
+	if t2 < 0 then
+		t2 = -t2
+	end
+	return ((2 * l - 1) ^ 2) + (l * 4) + t1 + (t2 * (l - value))
+end
+
+--wip: needs to be faster
+function spiralt(side)
+	local spiral = {}
+	local start, stop = math.floor((-side+1)/2), math.floor((side-1)/2)
+	for i = 1, side do
+		spiral[i] = {}
+		for j = 1, side do
+			spiral[i][j] = side ^ 2 - spiral_index(stop - i + 1,start + j - 1) --moves the coordinates so (0,0) is at the center of the spiral
+		end
+	end
+	return spiral
+end
+
+--copies the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") by `amount` nodes, returning the number of nodes copied
+worldedit.copy = function(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local env = minetest.env
+
+	if amount < 0 then
+		local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+		while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+			pos.y = pos1.y
+			while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+				pos.z = pos1.z
+				while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+					local node = env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
+					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get meta of current node
+					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
+					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
+					env:add_node(pos, node) --copy node to new position
+					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
+					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
+					pos.z = pos.z + 1
+				end
+				pos.y = pos.y + 1
+			end
+			pos.x = pos.x + 1
+		end
+	else
+		local pos = {x=pos2.x, y=0, z=0}
+		while pos.x >= pos1.x do
+			pos.y = pos2.y
+			while pos.y >= pos1.y do
+				pos.z = pos2.z
+				while pos.z >= pos1.z do
+					local node = minetest.env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
+					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get meta of current node
+					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
+					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
+					minetest.env:add_node(pos, node) --copy node to new position
+					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
+					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
+					pos.z = pos.z - 1
+				end
+				pos.y = pos.y - 1
+			end
+			pos.x = pos.x - 1
+		end
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--moves the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") by `amount` nodes, returning the number of nodes moved
+worldedit.move = function(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local env = minetest.env
+
+	if amount < 0 then
+		local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+		while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+			pos.y = pos1.y
+			while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+				pos.z = pos1.z
+				while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+					local node = env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
+					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get metadata of current node
+					env:remove_node(pos)
+					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
+					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
+					env:add_node(pos, node) --move node to new position
+					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
+					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
+					pos.z = pos.z + 1
+				end
+				pos.y = pos.y + 1
+			end
+			pos.x = pos.x + 1
+		end
+	else
+		local pos = {x=pos2.x, y=0, z=0}
+		while pos.x >= pos1.x do
+			pos.y = pos2.y
+			while pos.y >= pos1.y do
+				pos.z = pos2.z
+				while pos.z >= pos1.z do
+					local node = env:get_node(pos) --obtain current node
+					local meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table() --get metadata of current node
+					env:remove_node(pos)
+					local value = pos[axis] --store current position
+					pos[axis] = value + amount --move along axis
+					env:add_node(pos, node) --move node to new position
+					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta) --set metadata of new node
+					pos[axis] = value --restore old position
+					pos.z = pos.z - 1
+				end
+				pos.y = pos.y - 1
+			end
+			pos.x = pos.x - 1
+		end
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--duplicates the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") `count` times, returning the number of nodes stacked
+worldedit.stack = function(pos1, pos2, axis, count)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local length = pos2[axis] - pos1[axis] + 1
+	if count < 0 then
+		count = -count
+		length = -length
+	end
+	local amount = 0
+	local copy = worldedit.copy
+	for i = 1, count do
+		amount = amount + length
+		copy(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--transposes a region defined by the positions `pos1` and `pos2` between the `axis1` and `axis2` axes, returning the number of nodes transposed
+worldedit.transpose = function(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	local env = minetest.env
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				local extent1, extent2 = pos[axis1] - pos1[axis1], pos[axis2] - pos1[axis2]
+				if extent1 < extent2 then
+					local node1 = env:get_node(pos)
+					local meta1 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
+					local value1, value2 = pos[axis1], pos[axis2]
+					pos[axis1], pos[axis2] = value1 + extent2, value2 + extent1
+					local node2 = env:get_node(pos)
+					local meta2 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
+					env:add_node(pos, node1)
+					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta1)
+					pos[axis1], pos[axis2] = value1, value2
+					env:add_node(pos, node2)
+					env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta2)
+				end
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--flips a region defined by the positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z"), returning the number of nodes flipped
+worldedit.flip = function(pos1, pos2, axis)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	local start = pos1[axis] + pos2[axis]
+	pos2[axis] = pos1[axis] + math.floor((pos2[axis] - pos1[axis]) / 2)
+	local env = minetest.env
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				local node1 = env:get_node(pos)
+				local meta1 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
+				local value = pos[axis]
+				pos[axis] = start - value
+				local node2 = env:get_node(pos)
+				local meta2 = env:get_meta(pos):to_table()
+				env:add_node(pos, node1)
+				env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta1)
+				pos[axis] = value
+				env:add_node(pos, node2)
+				env:get_meta(pos):from_table(meta2)
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--rotates a region defined by the positions `pos1` and `pos2` by `angle` degrees clockwise around axis `axis` (90 degree increment), returning the number of nodes rotated
+worldedit.rotate = function(pos1, pos2, axis, angle)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+
+	local axis1, axis2
+	if axis == "x" then
+		axis1, axis2 = "z", "y"
+	elseif axis == "y" then
+		axis1, axis2 = "x", "z"
+	else --axis == "z"
+		axis1, axis2 = "y", "x"
+	end
+	angle = angle % 360
+
+	if angle == 90 then
+		worldedit.transpose(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
+		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis2)
+	elseif angle == 180 then
+		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis1)
+		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis2)
+	elseif angle == 270 then
+		worldedit.transpose(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
+		worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, axis1)
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--digs a region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2`, returning the number of nodes dug
+worldedit.dig = function(pos1, pos2)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local env = minetest.env
+
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				env:dig_node(pos)
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	return worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+end
+
+--converts the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` into a single string, returning the serialized data and the number of nodes serialized
+worldedit.serialize = function(pos1, pos2)
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	local count = 0
+	local result = {}
+	local env = minetest.env
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				local node = env:get_node(pos)
+				if node.name ~= "air" and node.name ~= "ignore" then
+					count = count + 1
+					result[count] = pos.x - pos1.x .. " " .. pos.y - pos1.y .. " " .. pos.z - pos1.z .. " " .. node.name .. " " .. node.param1 .. " " .. node.param2
+				end
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	result = table.concat(result, "\n")
+	return result, count
+end
+
+--loads the nodes represented by string `value` at position `originpos`, returning the number of nodes deserialized
+worldedit.deserialize = function(originpos, value)
+	local pos = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
+	local node = {name="", param1=0, param2=0}
+	local count = 0
+	local env = minetest.env
+	for x, y, z, name, param1, param2 in value:gmatch("([+-]?%d+)%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+([^%s]+)%s+(%d+)%s+(%d+)[^\r\n]*[\r\n]*") do
+		pos.x = originpos.x + tonumber(x)
+		pos.y = originpos.y + tonumber(y)
+		pos.z = originpos.z + tonumber(z)
+		node.name = name
+		node.param1 = param1
+		node.param2 = param2
+		env:add_node(pos, node)
+		count = count + 1
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--loads the nodes represented by string `value` at position `originpos`, returning the number of nodes deserialized
+--based on [table.save/table.load](http://lua-users.org/wiki/SaveTableToFile) by ChillCode, available under the MIT license (GPL compatible)
+worldedit.deserialize_old = function(originpos, value)
+	--obtain the node table
+	local count = 0
+	local get_tables = loadstring(value)
+	if get_tables == nil then --error loading value
+		return count
+	end
+	local tables = get_tables()
+
+	--transform the node table into an array of nodes
+	for i = 1, #tables do
+		for j, v in pairs(tables[i]) do
+			if type(v) == "table" then
+				tables[i][j] = tables[v[1]]
+			end
+		end
+	end
+
+	--load the node array
+	local env = minetest.env
+	for i, v in ipairs(tables[1]) do
+		local pos = v[1]
+		pos.x, pos.y, pos.z = originpos.x + pos.x, originpos.y + pos.y, originpos.z + pos.z
+		env:add_node(pos, v[2])
+		count = count + 1
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--saves the nodes and meta defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` into a file, returning the number of nodes saved
+worldedit.metasave = function(pos1, pos2, file)
+	local path = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems"
+	local filename = path .. "/" .. file .. ".wem"
+	os.execute("mkdir \"" .. path .. "\"") --create directory if it does not already exist
+	local rows = {}
+	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
+	local pos = {x=pos1.x, y=0, z=0}
+	local count = 0
+	local result = {}
+	local env = minetest.env
+	while pos.x <= pos2.x do
+		pos.y = pos1.y
+		while pos.y <= pos2.y do
+			pos.z = pos1.z
+			while pos.z <= pos2.z do
+				local node = env:get_node(pos)
+				if node.name ~= "air" and node.name ~= "ignore" then
+					count = count + 1
+					local row = {
+						x = pos.x-pos1.x,
+						y = pos.y-pos1.y,
+						z = pos.z-pos1.z,
+						name = node.name,
+						param1 = node.param1,
+						param2 = node.param2,
+						meta = env:get_meta(pos):to_table(),
+					}
+					table.insert(rows, row)
+				end
+				pos.z = pos.z + 1
+			end
+			pos.y = pos.y + 1
+		end
+		pos.x = pos.x + 1
+	end
+	local err = table.save(rows,filename)
+	if err then return _,err end
+	return count
+end
+
+--loads the nodes and meta from `file` to position `pos1`, returning the number of nodes loaded
+worldedit.metaload = function(pos1, file)
+	local filename = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems/" .. file .. ".wem"
+	local rows, err = table.load(filename)
+	if err then return _,err end
+	local pos = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
+	local node = {name="", param1=0, param2=0}
+	local count = 0
+	local env = minetest.env
+	for i,row in pairs(rows) do
+		pos.x = pos1.x + tonumber(row.x)
+		pos.y = pos1.y + tonumber(row.y)
+		pos.z = pos1.z + tonumber(row.z)
+		node.name = row.name
+		node.param1 = row.param1
+		node.param2 = row.param2
+		env:add_node(pos, node)
+		env:get_meta(pos):from_table(row.meta)
+		count = count + 1
+	end
+	return count
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 6ef3446..a7e1947 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -1,629 +1,629 @@
-minetest.register_privilege("worldedit", "Can use WorldEdit commands")
-
-worldedit = {}
-
-worldedit.set_pos = {}
-
-worldedit.pos1 = {}
-worldedit.pos2 = {}
-
-dofile(minetest.get_modpath("worldedit") .. "/functions.lua")
-dofile(minetest.get_modpath("worldedit") .. "/mark.lua")
-
---determines whether `nodename` is a valid node name, returning a boolean
-worldedit.node_is_valid = function(temp_pos, nodename)
-	return minetest.registered_nodes[nodename] ~= nil
-	or minetest.registered_nodes["default:" .. nodename] ~= nil
-end
-
---determines the axis in which a player is facing, returning an axis ("x", "y", or "z") and the sign (1 or -1)
-worldedit.player_axis = function(name)
-	local dir = minetest.env:get_player_by_name(name):get_look_dir()
-	local x, y, z = math.abs(dir.x), math.abs(dir.y), math.abs(dir.z)
-	if x > y then
-		if x > z then
-			return "x", dir.x > 0 and 1 or -1
-		end
-	elseif y > z then
-		return "y", dir.y > 0 and 1 or -1
-	end
-	return "z", dir.z > 0 and 1 or -1
-end
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/reset", {
-	params = "",
-	description = "Reset the region so that it is empty",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		worldedit.pos1[name] = nil
-		worldedit.pos2[name] = nil
-		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
-		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region reset")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/mark", {
-	params = "",
-	description = "Show markers at the region positions",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
-		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region marked")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/pos1", {
-	params = "",
-	description = "Set WorldEdit region position 1 to the player's location",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = minetest.env:get_player_by_name(name):getpos()
-		pos.x, pos.y, pos.z = math.floor(pos.x), math.floor(pos.y), math.floor(pos.z)
-		worldedit.pos1[name] = pos
-		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 1 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/pos2", {
-	params = "",
-	description = "Set WorldEdit region position 2 to the player's location",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = minetest.env:get_player_by_name(name):getpos()
-		pos.x, pos.y, pos.z = math.floor(pos.x), math.floor(pos.y), math.floor(pos.z)
-		worldedit.pos2[name] = pos
-		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 2 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/p", {
-	params = "set/get",
-	description = "Set WorldEdit region by punching two nodes, or display the current WorldEdit region",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		if param == "set" then --set both WorldEdit positions
-			worldedit.set_pos[name] = 1
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Select positions by punching two nodes")
-		elseif param == "get" then --display current WorldEdit positions
-			if worldedit.pos1[name] ~= nil then
-				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 1: " .. minetest.pos_to_string(worldedit.pos1[name]))
-			else
-				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 1 not set")
-			end
-			if worldedit.pos2[name] ~= nil then
-				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 2: " .. minetest.pos_to_string(worldedit.pos2[name]))
-			else
-				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 2 not set")
-			end
-		else
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Unknown subcommand: " .. param)
-		end
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_on_punchnode(function(pos, node, puncher)
-	local name = puncher:get_player_name()
-	if name ~= "" and worldedit.set_pos[name] ~= nil then --currently setting position
-		if worldedit.set_pos[name] == 1 then --setting position 1
-			worldedit.set_pos[name] = 2 --set position 2 on the next invocation
-			worldedit.pos1[name] = pos
-			worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region position 1 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
-		else --setting position 2
-			worldedit.set_pos[name] = nil --finished setting positions
-			worldedit.pos2[name] = pos
-			worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region position 2 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
-		end
-	end
-end)
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/volume", {
-	params = "",
-	description = "Display the volume of the current WorldEdit region",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local volume = worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Current WorldEdit region has a volume of " .. volume .. " nodes (" .. pos2.x - pos1.x .. "*" .. pos2.y - pos1.y .. "*" .. pos2.z - pos1.z .. ")")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/set", {
-	params = "<node>",
-	description = "Set the current WorldEdit region to <node>",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		if param == "" or not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos1, param) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.set(pos1, pos2, param)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes set")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/replace", {
-	params = "<search node> <replace node>",
-	description = "Replace all instances of <search node> with <place node> in the current WorldEdit region",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, searchnode, replacenode = param:find("^([^%s]+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos1, searchnode) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid search node name: " .. searchnode)
-			return
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos1, replacenode) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid replace node name: " .. replacenode)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.replace(pos1, pos2, searchnode, replacenode)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes replaced")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/hollowsphere", {
-	params = "<radius> <node>",
-	description = "Add hollow sphere at WorldEdit position 1 with radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, radius, nodename = param:find("^(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.hollow_sphere(pos, tonumber(radius), nodename)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/sphere", {
-	params = "<radius> <node>",
-	description = "Add sphere at WorldEdit position 1 with radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, radius, nodename = param:find("^(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.sphere(pos, tonumber(radius), nodename)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/hollowcylinder", {
-	params = "x/y/z/? <length> <radius> <node>",
-	description = "Add hollow cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z/? axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis, length, radius, nodename = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis == "?" then
-			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-			length = length * sign
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.hollow_cylinder(pos, axis, tonumber(length), tonumber(radius), nodename)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/spiral", {
-	params = "<width> <height> <space> <node>",
-	description = "Add spiral at WorldEdit position 1 with width <width>, height <height>, space between walls <space>, composed of <node>",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, width, height, space, nodename = param:find("(%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.spiral(pos, tonumber(width), tonumber(height), tonumber(space), nodename)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes changed")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/cylinder", {
-	params = "x/y/z/? <length> <radius> <node>",
-	description = "Add cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z/? axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis, length, radius, nodename = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis == "?" then
-			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-			length = length * sign
-		end
-		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.cylinder(pos, axis, tonumber(length), tonumber(radius), nodename)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/copy", {
-	params = "x/y/z/? <amount>",
-	description = "Copy the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis by <amount> nodes",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis, amount = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis == "?" then
-			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-			amount = amount * sign
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.copy(pos1, pos2, axis, tonumber(amount))
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes copied")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/move", {
-	params = "x/y/z/? <amount>",
-	description = "Move the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis by <amount> nodes",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis, amount = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis == "?" then
-			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-			amount = amount * sign
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.move(pos1, pos2, axis, tonumber(amount))
-
-		pos1[axis] = pos1[axis] + amount
-		pos2[axis] = pos2[axis] + amount
-		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
-		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
-
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes moved")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/stack", {
-	params = "x/y/z/? <count>",
-	description = "Stack the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis <count> times",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis, count = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis == "?" then
-			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-			count = count * sign
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.stack(pos1, pos2, axis, tonumber(count))
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes stacked")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/transpose", {
-	params = "x/y/z/? x/y/z/?",
-	description = "Transpose the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? and x/y/z/? axes",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis1, axis2 = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([xyz%?])$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis1 == "?" then
-			axis1 = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-		end
-		if axis2 == "?" then
-			axis2 = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-		end
-		if axis1 == axis2 then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: axes are the same")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.transpose(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes transposed")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/flip", {
-	params = "x/y/z/?",
-	description = "Flip the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		if param == "?" then
-			param = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-		end
-		if param ~= "x" and param ~= "y" and param ~= "z" then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, param)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes flipped")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/rotate", {
-	params = "<axis> <angle>",
-	description = "Rotate the current WorldEdit region around the axis <axis> by angle <angle> (90 degree increment)",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local found, _, axis, angle = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
-		if found == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		if axis == "?" then
-			axis = worldedit.player_axis(name)
-		end
-		if angle % 90 ~= 0 then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: angle must be multiple of 90")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.rotate(pos1, pos2, axis, angle)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes rotated")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/dig", {
-	params = "",
-	description = "Dig the current WorldEdit region",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		local count = worldedit.dig(pos1, pos2)
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes dug")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/save", {
-	params = "<file>",
-	description = "Save the current WorldEdit region to \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.we\"",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		if param == "" then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local result, count = worldedit.serialize(pos1, pos2)
-
-		local path = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems"
-		local filename = path .. "/" .. param .. ".we"
-		os.execute("mkdir \"" .. path .. "\"") --create directory if it does not already exist
-		local file, err = io.open(filename, "wb")
-		if err ~= nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Could not save file to \"" .. filename .. "\"")
-			return
-		end
-		file:write(result)
-		file:flush()
-		file:close()
-
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes saved")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/load", {
-	params = "<file>",
-	description = "Load nodes from \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.we\" with position 1 of the current WorldEdit region as the origin",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1 = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos1 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-
-		if param == "" then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-
-		local filename = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems/" .. param .. ".we"
-		local file, err = io.open(filename, "rb")
-		if err ~= nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Could not open file \"" .. filename .. "\"")
-			return
-		end
-		local value = file:read("*a")
-		file:close()
-
-		local count
-		if value:find("{") then --old WorldEdit format
-			count = worldedit.deserialize_old(pos1, value)
-		else --new WorldEdit format
-			count = worldedit.deserialize(pos1, value)
-		end
-
-		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes loaded")
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/metasave", {
-	params = "<file>",
-	description = "Save the current WorldEdit region to \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.wem\"",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
-		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-		if param == "" then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		local count, err = worldedit.metasave(pos1, pos2, param)
-		if err then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "error loading file: " .. err)
-		else
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes saved")
-		end
-	end,
-})
-
-minetest.register_chatcommand("/metaload", {
-	params = "<file>",
-	description = "Load nodes from \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.wem\" with position 1 of the current WorldEdit region as the origin",
-	privs = {worldedit=true},
-	func = function(name, param)
-		local pos1 = worldedit.pos1[name]
-		if pos1 == nil then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
-			return
-		end
-		if param == "" then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
-			return
-		end
-		local count, err = worldedit.metaload(pos1, param)
-		if err then
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "error loading file: " .. err)
-		else
-			minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes loaded")
-		end
-	end,
-})
+minetest.register_privilege("worldedit", "Can use WorldEdit commands")
+
+worldedit = {}
+
+worldedit.set_pos = {}
+
+worldedit.pos1 = {}
+worldedit.pos2 = {}
+
+dofile(minetest.get_modpath("worldedit") .. "/functions.lua")
+dofile(minetest.get_modpath("worldedit") .. "/mark.lua")
+
+--determines whether `nodename` is a valid node name, returning a boolean
+worldedit.node_is_valid = function(temp_pos, nodename)
+	return minetest.registered_nodes[nodename] ~= nil
+	or minetest.registered_nodes["default:" .. nodename] ~= nil
+end
+
+--determines the axis in which a player is facing, returning an axis ("x", "y", or "z") and the sign (1 or -1)
+worldedit.player_axis = function(name)
+	local dir = minetest.env:get_player_by_name(name):get_look_dir()
+	local x, y, z = math.abs(dir.x), math.abs(dir.y), math.abs(dir.z)
+	if x > y then
+		if x > z then
+			return "x", dir.x > 0 and 1 or -1
+		end
+	elseif y > z then
+		return "y", dir.y > 0 and 1 or -1
+	end
+	return "z", dir.z > 0 and 1 or -1
+end
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/reset", {
+	params = "",
+	description = "Reset the region so that it is empty",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		worldedit.pos1[name] = nil
+		worldedit.pos2[name] = nil
+		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
+		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region reset")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/mark", {
+	params = "",
+	description = "Show markers at the region positions",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
+		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region marked")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/pos1", {
+	params = "",
+	description = "Set WorldEdit region position 1 to the player's location",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = minetest.env:get_player_by_name(name):getpos()
+		pos.x, pos.y, pos.z = math.floor(pos.x), math.floor(pos.y), math.floor(pos.z)
+		worldedit.pos1[name] = pos
+		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 1 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/pos2", {
+	params = "",
+	description = "Set WorldEdit region position 2 to the player's location",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = minetest.env:get_player_by_name(name):getpos()
+		pos.x, pos.y, pos.z = math.floor(pos.x), math.floor(pos.y), math.floor(pos.z)
+		worldedit.pos2[name] = pos
+		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 2 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/p", {
+	params = "set/get",
+	description = "Set WorldEdit region by punching two nodes, or display the current WorldEdit region",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		if param == "set" then --set both WorldEdit positions
+			worldedit.set_pos[name] = 1
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Select positions by punching two nodes")
+		elseif param == "get" then --display current WorldEdit positions
+			if worldedit.pos1[name] ~= nil then
+				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 1: " .. minetest.pos_to_string(worldedit.pos1[name]))
+			else
+				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 1 not set")
+			end
+			if worldedit.pos2[name] ~= nil then
+				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 2: " .. minetest.pos_to_string(worldedit.pos2[name]))
+			else
+				minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit position 2 not set")
+			end
+		else
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Unknown subcommand: " .. param)
+		end
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_on_punchnode(function(pos, node, puncher)
+	local name = puncher:get_player_name()
+	if name ~= "" and worldedit.set_pos[name] ~= nil then --currently setting position
+		if worldedit.set_pos[name] == 1 then --setting position 1
+			worldedit.set_pos[name] = 2 --set position 2 on the next invocation
+			worldedit.pos1[name] = pos
+			worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region position 1 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
+		else --setting position 2
+			worldedit.set_pos[name] = nil --finished setting positions
+			worldedit.pos2[name] = pos
+			worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "WorldEdit region position 2 set to " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
+		end
+	end
+end)
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/volume", {
+	params = "",
+	description = "Display the volume of the current WorldEdit region",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local volume = worldedit.volume(pos1, pos2)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Current WorldEdit region has a volume of " .. volume .. " nodes (" .. pos2.x - pos1.x .. "*" .. pos2.y - pos1.y .. "*" .. pos2.z - pos1.z .. ")")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/set", {
+	params = "<node>",
+	description = "Set the current WorldEdit region to <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		if param == "" or not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos1, param) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.set(pos1, pos2, param)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes set")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/replace", {
+	params = "<search node> <replace node>",
+	description = "Replace all instances of <search node> with <place node> in the current WorldEdit region",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, searchnode, replacenode = param:find("^([^%s]+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos1, searchnode) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid search node name: " .. searchnode)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos1, replacenode) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid replace node name: " .. replacenode)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.replace(pos1, pos2, searchnode, replacenode)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes replaced")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/hollowsphere", {
+	params = "<radius> <node>",
+	description = "Add hollow sphere at WorldEdit position 1 with radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, radius, nodename = param:find("^(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.hollow_sphere(pos, tonumber(radius), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/sphere", {
+	params = "<radius> <node>",
+	description = "Add sphere at WorldEdit position 1 with radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, radius, nodename = param:find("^(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.sphere(pos, tonumber(radius), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/hollowcylinder", {
+	params = "x/y/z/? <length> <radius> <node>",
+	description = "Add hollow cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z/? axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, length, radius, nodename = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis == "?" then
+			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+			length = length * sign
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.hollow_cylinder(pos, axis, tonumber(length), tonumber(radius), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/spiral", {
+	params = "<size> <node>",
+	description = "Add spiral at WorldEdit position 1 with size <size>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, size, nodename = param:find("(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.spiral(pos, tonumber(size), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes changed")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/cylinder", {
+	params = "x/y/z/? <length> <radius> <node>",
+	description = "Add cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z/? axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, length, radius, nodename = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis == "?" then
+			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+			length = length * sign
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.cylinder(pos, axis, tonumber(length), tonumber(radius), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/copy", {
+	params = "x/y/z/? <amount>",
+	description = "Copy the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis by <amount> nodes",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, amount = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis == "?" then
+			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+			amount = amount * sign
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.copy(pos1, pos2, axis, tonumber(amount))
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes copied")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/move", {
+	params = "x/y/z/? <amount>",
+	description = "Move the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis by <amount> nodes",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, amount = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis == "?" then
+			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+			amount = amount * sign
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.move(pos1, pos2, axis, tonumber(amount))
+
+		pos1[axis] = pos1[axis] + amount
+		pos2[axis] = pos2[axis] + amount
+		worldedit.mark_pos1(name)
+		worldedit.mark_pos2(name)
+
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes moved")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/stack", {
+	params = "x/y/z/? <count>",
+	description = "Stack the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis <count> times",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, count = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis == "?" then
+			axis, sign = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+			count = count * sign
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.stack(pos1, pos2, axis, tonumber(count))
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes stacked")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/transpose", {
+	params = "x/y/z/? x/y/z/?",
+	description = "Transpose the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? and x/y/z/? axes",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis1, axis2 = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([xyz%?])$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis1 == "?" then
+			axis1 = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+		end
+		if axis2 == "?" then
+			axis2 = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+		end
+		if axis1 == axis2 then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: axes are the same")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.transpose(pos1, pos2, axis1, axis2)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes transposed")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/flip", {
+	params = "x/y/z/?",
+	description = "Flip the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z/? axis",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		if param == "?" then
+			param = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+		end
+		if param ~= "x" and param ~= "y" and param ~= "z" then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.flip(pos1, pos2, param)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes flipped")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/rotate", {
+	params = "<axis> <angle>",
+	description = "Rotate the current WorldEdit region around the axis <axis> by angle <angle> (90 degree increment)",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, angle = param:find("^([xyz%?])%s+([+-]?%d+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if axis == "?" then
+			axis = worldedit.player_axis(name)
+		end
+		if angle % 90 ~= 0 then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: angle must be multiple of 90")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.rotate(pos1, pos2, axis, angle)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes rotated")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/dig", {
+	params = "",
+	description = "Dig the current WorldEdit region",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.dig(pos1, pos2)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes dug")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/save", {
+	params = "<file>",
+	description = "Save the current WorldEdit region to \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.we\"",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		if param == "" then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local result, count = worldedit.serialize(pos1, pos2)
+
+		local path = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems"
+		local filename = path .. "/" .. param .. ".we"
+		os.execute("mkdir \"" .. path .. "\"") --create directory if it does not already exist
+		local file, err = io.open(filename, "wb")
+		if err ~= nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Could not save file to \"" .. filename .. "\"")
+			return
+		end
+		file:write(result)
+		file:flush()
+		file:close()
+
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes saved")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/load", {
+	params = "<file>",
+	description = "Load nodes from \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.we\" with position 1 of the current WorldEdit region as the origin",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1 = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos1 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		if param == "" then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local filename = minetest.get_worldpath() .. "/schems/" .. param .. ".we"
+		local file, err = io.open(filename, "rb")
+		if err ~= nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Could not open file \"" .. filename .. "\"")
+			return
+		end
+		local value = file:read("*a")
+		file:close()
+
+		local count
+		if value:find("{") then --old WorldEdit format
+			count = worldedit.deserialize_old(pos1, value)
+		else --new WorldEdit format
+			count = worldedit.deserialize(pos1, value)
+		end
+
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes loaded")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/metasave", {
+	params = "<file>",
+	description = "Save the current WorldEdit region to \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.wem\"",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.pos1[name], worldedit.pos2[name]
+		if pos1 == nil or pos2 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+		if param == "" then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		local count, err = worldedit.metasave(pos1, pos2, param)
+		if err then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "error loading file: " .. err)
+		else
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes saved")
+		end
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/metaload", {
+	params = "<file>",
+	description = "Load nodes from \"(world folder)/schems/<file>.wem\" with position 1 of the current WorldEdit region as the origin",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos1 = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos1 == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+		if param == "" then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		local count, err = worldedit.metaload(pos1, param)
+		if err then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "error loading file: " .. err)
+		else
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes loaded")
+		end
+	end,
+})