diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e260d8b..08330c2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ build: goimports
 bak:
 	mv -f autogenpb autogenpb.last
 
+redo-protobuf:
+	rm -f *.pb.go
+	autogenpb --proto file.proto --package main
+
 install: test
 	GO111MODULE=off go install \
 		-ldflags "-X main.VERSION=${VERSION} -X main.BUILDTIME=${BUILDTIME} -X gui.GUIVERSION=${VERSION}"
diff --git a/example/fruit.proto b/example/fruit.proto
index d43a741..65e36f1 100644
--- a/example/fruit.proto
+++ b/example/fruit.proto
@@ -15,24 +15,24 @@ package main;
 
 import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto"; // Import the well-known type for Timestamp
 
-message Apple {	       	        	        // `autogenpb:marshal`
+message Apple {
 	string name                     = 1;    // `autogenpb:unique` // generates SortByxxx() and AppendUnique() functions
 	string genus                    = 2;    // `autogenpb:unique` // generates same thing here but SortByGenus()
         google.protobuf.Timestamp ctime = 3;    // when the apple was born
 }
 
-message Pear {
+message Pear {                        // `autogenpb:nomutex`
 	string   name	        = 1;    // `autogenpb:sort`
 	string   favorite       = 2;    // `autogenpb:sort` `autogenpb:unique`
 }
 
-message Banana {
+message Banana {                        // `autogenpb:nomutex`
 	repeated string   name  = 1;    // `autogenpb:sort`
 	string   favorite       = 2;    // `autogenpb:sort` `autogenpb:unique`
 	string   country        = 3;    // `autogenpb:sort`
 }
 
-message Basket {
+message Basket {                        // `autogenpb:nomutex`
 	repeated string   name  = 1;    // `autogenpb:sort` `autogenpb:unique`
 	string   favorite       = 2;    // `autogenpb:sort` `autogenpb:unique`
 	int64    price          = 3;    // `autogenpb:sort`
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ message Basket {
 }
 
 // "Fruit" must exist. you can put anything in it
-message Fruit {                         // `autogenpb:marshal`
+message Fruit {
         string brand             = 1;    // `autogenpb:unique` `autogenpb:sort`
         repeated Apple apples    = 2;
         repeated Pear  pears     = 3;
diff --git a/file.proto b/file.proto
index f2f6887..591e15f 100644
--- a/file.proto
+++ b/file.proto
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ message MsgName {
         repeated MsgVar vars	= 9;    // store all the vars in the message
         bool     needIter       = 10;   // true if the sort iterator has not been generated yet
         bool     needAll        = 11;   // true if the sort iterator has not been generated yet
+        bool     noMutex        = 12;    // only use the global mutex
 }
 
 message Sort {
diff --git a/generate.go b/generate.go
index 43e5092..7e42447 100644
--- a/generate.go
+++ b/generate.go
@@ -60,7 +60,13 @@ func (pb *Files) makeNewSortfile(pf *File) error {
 		APPLE := s.VarType
 		APPLES := s.VarName
 		LOCK := s.Lockname
-		funcdef := newIterAll(wSort, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES, LOCK)
+
+		msg := pf.findMsg(s.VarType)
+		if msg == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to find struct %s", s.VarType)
+		}
+
+		funcdef := msg.newIterAll(wSort, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES, LOCK)
 		log.Printf("JUNK: %-2d %20s %20s %20s %20s %s\n", i, FRUIT, APPLE, "", LOCK, funcdef)
 	}
 	log.Printf("\n")
@@ -73,7 +79,12 @@ func (pb *Files) makeNewSortfile(pf *File) error {
 		VARNAME := s.VarName
 		LOCK := s.Lockname
 
-		funcdef := addSelectAll(wSort, PARENT, CHILD, VARNAME, LOCK)
+		msg := pf.findMsg(s.VarType)
+		if msg == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to find struct %s", s.VarType)
+		}
+
+		funcdef := msg.addSelectAll(wSort, PARENT, CHILD, VARNAME, LOCK)
 		log.Printf("SORT: %-2d %20s %20s %20s %20s %s\n", i, PARENT, CHILD, VARNAME, LOCK, funcdef)
 	}
 	log.Printf("END SELECT\n")
@@ -121,7 +132,7 @@ func (pb *Files) makeNewSortfile(pf *File) error {
 					}
 					sortname := s.VarType + v.VarName
 					selectName := "selectAll" + VARNAME
-					funcdef := newSortBy(wSort, PARENT, s.VarType, sortname, sortby, selectName)
+					funcdef := newSortBy(wSort, PARENT, s.VarType, sortname, sortby, selectName, v.VarName)
 					log.Printf("      %-2s %20s %20s %20s %s %s\n", "", "", "", "", "", funcdef)
 				} else {
 					funcname := "func (x *" + FUNCTYPE + ") SortBy" + v.VarName + "(" + v.VarType + ") *[]iter" + s.VarType + " # can not do this yet"
diff --git a/generateFind.go b/generateFind.go
index 7d8637d..a0fd743 100644
--- a/generateFind.go
+++ b/generateFind.go
@@ -7,17 +7,6 @@ import (
 
 // generates Find() and some other stuff
 
-func (msg *MsgName) getLockname(s string) string {
-	// leave this function stubbed in for development of autogenpb
-	//	if argv.Mutex {
-	//		// use the mutex lock from the modified protoc.pb.go file
-	//		return s + ".Lock"
-	//		// return s // causes Marshal() to panic? always use the variable name 'Lock'?
-	//	}
-	// a single global lock by struct name
-	return msg.Lockname
-}
-
 func (msg *MsgName) generateFindBy(w io.Writer, FUNCNAME, STRUCT, VARNAME, VARTYPE, COLOR string) string {
 	LOCK := msg.getLockname("x")
 	funcdef := "func (x *" + STRUCT + ") " + FUNCNAME + "(s string) *" + VARTYPE
diff --git a/generateMutex.go b/generateMutex.go
index 45d0d2e..790816b 100644
--- a/generateMutex.go
+++ b/generateMutex.go
@@ -13,8 +13,19 @@ import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
+func (msg *MsgName) getLockname(s string) string {
+	// leave this function stubbed in for development of autogenpb
+	//	if argv.Mutex {
+	//		// use the mutex lock from the modified protoc.pb.go file
+	//		return s + ".Lock"
+	//		// return s // causes Marshal() to panic? always use the variable name 'Lock'?
+	//	}
+	// a single global lock by struct name
+	return msg.Lockname
+}
+
 func (pf *File) syncLock(w io.Writer) {
-	var LOCK string = pf.Base.Lockname // if the Marshall code changes, this will have to change
+	var LOCK string = pf.Filebase + "Mu" // this should be lowercase. do not export the Mutex
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// a simple global lock")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "var "+LOCK+" sync.RWMutex")
@@ -110,7 +121,6 @@ func (pf *File) structMatch(line string) bool {
 	start = "type " + msg.Name + " struct {"
 	if strings.HasPrefix(line, start) {
 		msg.MutexFound = true
-		msg.Lockname = "x.Lock"
 		return true
 	}
 
@@ -120,7 +130,7 @@ func (pf *File) structMatch(line string) bool {
 	start = "type " + msg.Name + " struct {"
 	if strings.HasPrefix(line, start) {
 		msg.MutexFound = true
-		// msg.Lockname = "x.Lock"
+		msg.Lockname = "x.Lock"
 		return true
 	}
 
@@ -128,7 +138,11 @@ func (pf *File) structMatch(line string) bool {
 		start = "type " + msg.Name + " struct {"
 		if strings.HasPrefix(line, start) {
 			msg.MutexFound = true
-			// msg.Lockname = "x.Lock"
+			if msg.NoMutex {
+				msg.Lockname = pf.Filebase + "Mu" // this should be lowercase. do not export the Mutex
+			} else {
+				msg.Lockname = "x.Lock"
+			}
 			return true
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/generateSort.go b/generateSort.go
index b92a4b1..3f14e21 100644
--- a/generateSort.go
+++ b/generateSort.go
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ import (
 	"io"
 )
 
-func newIterAll(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES, LOCK string) string {
+func (msg *MsgName) newIterAll(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES, LOCK string) string {
+	LOCK = msg.getLockname("x")
+
 	funcdef := "func (x *" + FRUIT + ") all" + APPLES + "() []*" + APPLE + " {"
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// safely returns a slice of pointers to the FRUIT protobufs")
@@ -35,7 +37,9 @@ func newIter(w io.Writer, msg *MsgName) string {
 	msg.NeedIter = false
 	APPLE := msg.Name
 
-	funcdef := "func New" + APPLE + "Iterator(things []*" + APPLE + ") *" + APPLE + "Iterator"
+	// should this be 'new' or 'New' ? Does it matter? I think it's totally internal here
+	// in this file where it is "new or "New". I changed it to lower case 2025.01.12
+	funcdef := "func new" + APPLE + "Iterator(things []*" + APPLE + ") *" + APPLE + "Iterator"
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// DEFINE THE", APPLE, "ITERATOR.")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// itializes a new iterator.")
@@ -76,6 +80,8 @@ func newIter(w io.Writer, msg *MsgName) string {
 // TODO; figure out what types this actually works on
 // TODO; add timestamppb compare
 func newSortType(w io.Writer, STRUCT, VARNAME string) string {
+
+	// Can these be lower case? Should they be lower case? maybe sort.Sort() requires upper case?
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// sort struct by", VARNAME)
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "type "+STRUCT+VARNAME+" []*"+STRUCT+"")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
@@ -87,16 +93,21 @@ func newSortType(w io.Writer, STRUCT, VARNAME string) string {
 	return "type " + STRUCT + VARNAME + " []*" + STRUCT + "  // { return a[i]." + VARNAME + " < a[j]." + VARNAME + " }"
 }
 
-func newSortBy(w io.Writer, STRUCT, ITER, SORTNAME, SORTBY, SELECT string) string {
+func newSortBy(w io.Writer, STRUCT, ITER, SORTNAME, SORTBY, SELECT, VARNAME string) string {
 	funcdef := "func (x *" + STRUCT + ") " + SORTBY + "() *" + ITER + "Iterator"
 
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, funcdef, "{")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	// copy the pointers as fast as possible.")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	things := x."+SELECT+"()")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// todo: try slices.SortFunc() instead to see what happens")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	sort.Sort("+SORTNAME+"(things))")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	iterator := New"+ITER+"Iterator(things)")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return iterator")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "//    slices.SortFunc(things, func(a, b *"+STRUCT+") bool {")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "//        return a."+VARNAME+" < b."+VARNAME+" // Sort by ??. let the compiler work it out??")
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "//    })")
+	// should this be 'new' or 'New' ? Does it matter? I think it's totally internal here
+	// in this file where it is "new or "New". I changed it to lower case 2025.01.12
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return new"+ITER+"Iterator(things)")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
 
 	return funcdef
@@ -108,7 +119,9 @@ func addAllFunc(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES string) string {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, funcdef)
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	"+APPLE+"Pointers := x.selectAll"+APPLES+"()")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	iterator := New"+APPLE+"Iterator("+APPLE+"Pointers)")
+	// should this be 'new' or 'New' ? Does it matter? I think it's totally internal here. I think there are only 3 places
+	// in this file where it is "new or "New". I changed it to lower case 2025.01.12
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	iterator := new"+APPLE+"Iterator("+APPLE+"Pointers)")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "	return iterator")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "}")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "")
@@ -130,7 +143,9 @@ func addLenFunc(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLES, LOCK string) string {
 	return funcdef
 }
 
-func addSelectAll(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES, LOCK string) string {
+func (msg *MsgName) addSelectAll(w io.Writer, FRUIT, APPLE, APPLES, LOCK string) string {
+	LOCK = msg.getLockname("x")
+
 	funcdef := "func (x *" + FRUIT + ") selectAll" + APPLES + "() []*" + APPLE
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "// safely returns a slice of pointers to the "+APPLE+" protobufs")
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, funcdef, "{")
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index df6d00d..d066507 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import (
 var VERSION string
 var BUILDTIME string
 
-var fsort *os.File // the sort.pb.go output file
+// var fsort *os.File // the sort.pb.go output file
 
 func main() {
 	pp := arg.MustParse(&argv)
diff --git a/protoParse.go b/protoParse.go
index 1e4cf79..8b6a313 100644
--- a/protoParse.go
+++ b/protoParse.go
@@ -265,6 +265,10 @@ func (pf *File) parseForMessage(line string) *MsgName {
 		msg.DoMutex = true
 		log.Info("Added Mutex=true:", msg.Name)
 	}
+	if strings.Contains(line, "`autogenpb:nomutex`") {
+		msg.NoMutex = true
+		log.Info("Added Mutex=true:", msg.Name)
+	}
 	if strings.Contains(line, "`autogenpb:marshal`") {
 		msg.DoMarshal = true
 		log.Info("Added Marshal=true:", msg.Name)