diff --git a/sequencer.sh b/sequencer.sh
index 0694d03..1747aac 100755
--- a/sequencer.sh
+++ b/sequencer.sh
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ set -o pipefail
   _sqr_single=0
   readonly _sqr_stepMax=512
   _sqr_verbose=0
+  # Part of a pipe or output to terminal
+  _sqr_term=0 && [ -t 1 ] && _sqr_term=1
+  readonly _sqr_term
+  _sqr_colorAlways=0
 
   ## Terminal position
   _sqr_savePosAlias= ;[ -t 1 ] && _sqr_savePosAlias='\033[1A\033[1C\033[s\033[1B\033[1C'
@@ -80,23 +84,24 @@ set -o pipefail
   _sqr_restorePos= ;[ -t 1 ] && _sqr_restorePos='\033[u'
 
   ## Terminal colors
-  col_black= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_black='\033[0;30m'
-  col_darkgrey= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_darkgrey='\033[1;30m'
-  col_red= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_red='\033[0;31m'
-  col_lightred= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_lightred='\033[1;31m'
-  col_green= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_green='\033[0;32m'
-  col_lightgreen= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_lightgreen='\033[1;32m'
-  col_orange= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_orange='\033[0;33m'
-  col_yellow= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_yellow='\033[1;33m'
-  col_blue= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_blue='\033[0;34m'
-  col_lightblue= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_lightblue='\033[1;34m'
-  col_purple= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_purple='\033[0;35m'
-  col_lightpurple= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_lightpurple='\033[1;35m'
-  col_cyan= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_cyan='\033[0;36m'
-  col_lightcyan= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_lightcyan='\033[1;36m'
-  col_lightgray= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_lightgray='\033[0;37m'
-  col_white= ; [ -t 1 ] && col_white='\033[1;37m'
-  col_off= ;[ -t 1 ] && col_off='\033[0m' # No Color
+  col_black() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;30m';}
+  col_darkgrey() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;30m';}
+  col_red() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;31m';}
+  col_lightred() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;31m';}
+  col_green() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;32m';}
+  col_lightgreen() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;32m';}
+  col_orange() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;33m';}
+  col_yellow() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;33m';}
+  col_blue() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;34m';}
+  col_lightblue() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;34m';}
+  col_purple() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;35m';}
+  col_lightpurple() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;35m';}
+  col_cyan() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;36m';}
+  col_lightcyan() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;36m';}
+  col_lightgray() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0;37m';}
+  col_white() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[1;37m';}
+  ## No Color
+  col_off() { ((_sqr_term)) || ((_sqr_colorAlways)) && printf '%b' '\033[0m';}
 }
 
 helpSequencer() {
@@ -105,6 +110,7 @@ Usage: ${seq_name} [OPTIONS] [STEP NUMBER(s) or ALIAS] [STEP ARGUMENTS]
 
  [OPTIONS]
   --all,       -a   : Run all steps regardless of continuity
+  --color           : Output color codes also within pipe
   --config,    -c   : Open sequence configuration file (also sets -qq)
   --dry-run,   -d   : Only print to console what would be done
                       ! Attention - Sequence must support this
@@ -169,19 +175,19 @@ sequencer.sh global variables:
 
 sequencer.sh build-in functions:
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} root${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) root$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if current user is root.
     e.g. root || echo "Not root"
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} running${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) running$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if same script already runs.
     e.g. running && exit 1
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} exists [OPTIONS] [ELEMENT]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) exists [OPTIONS] [ELEMENT]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     [ELEMENT]
          : either a variable- or a funtion name (-f)
@@ -189,37 +195,37 @@ USAGE_API
       -f : a function
       -- : end of options
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} quiet${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) quiet$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if seq runs non-interactive (-q|-qq).
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} silent${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) silent$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if seq runs interactive.
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} dry${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) dry$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if seq runs in dry-run mode (-d)
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} verbose${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) verbose$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if seq runs in verbose mode (-v)
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} contextHelp${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) contextHelp$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if current output is only for help purposes.
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} contextExe${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) contextExe$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Returns true if current output is in execution mode.
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} confirm [OPTIONS] [QUESTION]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) confirm [OPTIONS] [QUESTION]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Default (empty character) = no
     Invalid character trigger the default
@@ -230,7 +236,7 @@ USAGE_API
       --  :  end of options
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} ask [OPTION] [QUESTION] [DEFAULT]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) ask [OPTION] [QUESTION] [DEFAULT]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Will ask for input even if quiet, when [DEFAULT] is empty
     [OPTION]
@@ -242,14 +248,14 @@ USAGE_API
       --  :  End of options
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} exe [COMMANDLINE]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) exe [COMMANDLINE]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Execute command line without pipes or redirects (>,<,|).
     Supporting: dry-run (-d): only print command without execution
                 verbose (-v): print command before execution
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} exep \"[COMMAND STRING(s)]\"${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) exep \"[COMMAND STRING(s)]\"$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     See exe, but support for pipes or redirects.
       e.g.: exep echo hello world \\> \\'out put.log\\'
@@ -261,13 +267,13 @@ USAGE_API
       - All apostrophes need to be esacped since the command line is given as string.
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} escpath <PATH>${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) escpath <PATH>$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Escaping non-printable characters with the proposed POSIX $'' syntax
       e.g. \$(escpath /my own/ho me/path) = $(escpath /my own/ho me/path)
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} initSeqConfig [OPTION] <NAME> [TEMPLATE]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) initSeqConfig [OPTION] <NAME> [TEMPLATE]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Create a configuration file in ${seq_configRoot}/ and source it if already existent.
       [OPTION]
@@ -282,7 +288,7 @@ USAGE_API
          3       : No configuration created
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} addConf <OPTIONS> [SOURCE TYPE] <SOURCE> <DESTINATION FILE>${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) addConf <OPTIONS> [SOURCE TYPE] <SOURCE> <DESTINATION FILE>$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Trying to write or append text or a file (<SOURCE>) to a destination file.
     If the CONFIGFILE exists, a backup (name_%Y%m%d-%H%M%S.bck) is saved at the same location.
@@ -301,13 +307,13 @@ USAGE_API
         Target file to be created or modified.
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} step <STEP NUMBER OR ALIAS>${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) step <STEP NUMBER OR ALIAS>$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Executes a single step also by alias. Useful if step numbers get reorganized.
     dry-run is not applied in this function! The executed step is responsible.
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} color [FOREGROUND COLOR] [BACKGROUND COLOR]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) color [FOREGROUND COLOR] [BACKGROUND COLOR]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Set output color permanently until reset.
     No argument or unknown foreground color restores shell default (reset).
@@ -315,7 +321,7 @@ USAGE_API
       [COLOR]: black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, white
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} info|warning|error|debug [OPTIONS] [STRING]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) info|warning|error|debug [OPTIONS] [STRING]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Output [STRING] (can be multiline) to stdout according to log level.
       [OPTIONS]
@@ -325,13 +331,13 @@ USAGE_API
         -n  : No newline
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} echoinfo [...]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) echoinfo [...]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     echo additional correctly indented line to step info
       [...] : all parameter are forwared to echo
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} echoinfoArgs [...]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) echoinfoArgs [...]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     echo argument description after step number or alias.
     This must be called first in the step info function.
@@ -339,24 +345,24 @@ USAGE_API
       [...] : no parameter are forwared to echo
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} endIfEmpty <VARIABLENAME> [DESCRIPTION]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) endIfEmpty <VARIABLENAME> [DESCRIPTION]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
-    exit 666 if variable is empty
+    exit 6 if variable is empty
       <VARIABLENAME> : Name without \$
       [DESCRIPTION]  : Additional text for error output
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} saveReturn [ERRORCODE]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) saveReturn [ERRORCODE]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Save ERRORCODE if it is != 0 for later use with endReturn
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} getReturn${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) getReturn$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Return last saved error code
 
 USAGE_API
-  echo -e "${col_green} endReturn [OPTIONS] [MESSAGE]${col_off}"
+  echo -e "$(col_green) endReturn [OPTIONS] [MESSAGE]$(col_off)"
   cat <<USAGE_API
     Notifys user that there was an error (previously saved by saveReturn,
     or -o [ERRORCODE]) and asks to continue or end the sequence.
@@ -397,7 +403,8 @@ USAGE_API
     local appendText=
     local direct=0 # no prefix and timestamp
     local newline='\n'
-    local col_end="${col_off}"
+    local col_end=
+    col_end="$(col_off)"
     local outp='/dev/stdout'
 
     local log_level="${1:-}"
@@ -413,16 +420,11 @@ USAGE_API
 
     while getopts "aden" arg; do
       case "${arg}" in
-        a)
-          appendText=1 ;;
-        d)
-          direct=1 ;;
-        e)
-          outp='/dev/stderr' ;;
-        n)
-          newline='' ;;
-        *)
-          ;;
+        a) appendText=1 ;;
+        d) direct=1 ;;
+        e) outp='/dev/stderr' ;;
+        n) newline='' ;;
+        *) ;;
       esac
     done
     shift "$((OPTIND-1))"; OPTIND=1
@@ -460,12 +462,12 @@ USAGE_API
     sqr::debugContinue
   }
 
-  fatal ()   { sqr::log "stop" "${col_red}" "${@}"; exit 1; }
+  fatal ()   { sqr::log "stop" "$(col_red)" "${@}"; exit 1; }
   die ()     { sqr::log "end" "" "${@}"; exit 1; }
-  error ()   { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_error} ]] && sqr::log "e" "${col_red}" "${@}"; true; }
-  warning () { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_warning} ]] && sqr::log "w" "${col_orange}" "${@}"; true; }
+  error ()   { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_error} ]] && sqr::log "e" "$(col_red)" "${@}"; true; }
+  warning () { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_warning} ]] && sqr::log "w" "$(col_orange)" "${@}"; true; }
   info ()    { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_info}  ]] && sqr::log "i" "" "${@}"; true; }
-  debug ()   { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_debug} ]] && sqr::log "dbug" "${col_lightpurple}" "${@}"; true; }
+  debug ()   { [[ "${LOG_LEVEL:-0}" -ge ${log_debug} ]] && sqr::log "dbug" "$(col_lightpurple)" "${@}"; true; }
 
   # internal print(s) same loglevel as error
   # shellcheck disable=SC2059 # don't use variables in format
@@ -1112,7 +1114,7 @@ displayHelp() {
 
       # Display alias if exists
       if exists -f "step_${i}_alias" ; then
-        echo -en " = ${col_orange}$("step_${i}_alias")${col_off}${_sqr_savePosAlias}"
+        echo -en " = $(col_orange)$("step_${i}_alias")$(col_off)${_sqr_savePosAlias}"
         # Newline only if step info() exists
         exists -f "step_${i}_info" && printf '\n%s' "$_sqr_indentHelp"
       else
@@ -1345,7 +1347,7 @@ execute() {
     exists -f "step_${1}_alias" && stepAlias=$("step_${1}_alias")
     printf '\n [%3d] ' "${1}"
     if [ -n "${stepAlias}" ]; then
-      echo -en "${col_orange}${stepAlias}${col_off}${_sqr_savePosAlias}"
+      echo -en "$(col_orange)${stepAlias}$(col_off)${_sqr_savePosAlias}"
       # Only add newline if step info() available
       exists -f "step_${1}_info" && printf '\n%s' "${_sqr_indentExe}"
     else
@@ -1511,6 +1513,9 @@ sqr::main() {
       --config|-c) # open sequence configuration file
         _seq_configEdit=1
         shift ;;
+      --color) # Output color codes within pipe
+        _sqr_colorAlways=1
+        shift ;;
       --debug)
         _sqr_debug="1"
         shift ;;
@@ -1518,14 +1523,13 @@ sqr::main() {
         _sqr_dry=1
         shift ;;
       --help|-h) # show only help
-        displayHelp 1 "${2:-}"
-        exit 0 ;;
+        local _sqr_optHelp=1
+        shift ;;
       --helpapi|-ha) #show build-in functions
-        helpApi
-        exit 0;;
+        local _sqr_optHelpapi=1
+        shift ;;
       --liststeps|-ls)
-        shift
-        listSteps "${1:-}"
+        listSteps "${2:-}"
         exit 0 ;;
       --profile|-p) # seq profile name
         sqr_args+=" $1 ${2:-}"
@@ -1565,6 +1569,9 @@ sqr::main() {
     esac
   done
 
+  ((${_sqr_optHelp:-})) && displayHelp 1 "${1:-}" && exit 0
+  ((${_sqr_optHelpapi:-})) && helpApi | less -R && exit 0
+
   # debug mode
   if [[ "${_sqr_debug:-}" = "1" ]]; then
     set -o xtrace
@@ -1576,14 +1583,14 @@ sqr::main() {
   # Don't show help if only configuration should be edited
   [ ${_seq_configEdit} -ne 0 ] && [ -z "${1:-}" ] && LOG_LEVEL=1
 
-  if [ -z "${1:-}" ] && [ $quickStartOne -eq 0 ] ; then
+  if [ -z "${1:-}" ] && (( ! quickStartOne )) ; then
     if ! quiet && [[ ${LOG_LEVEL} -ge $log_info ]] ; then
       # Empty -> show help
       displayHelp
     fi
     # Assume starting at one for interactive mode
     toStart=( "1" )
-  elif [ $quickStartOne -ne 0 ] ; then
+  elif (( quickStartOne )) ; then
     emptyCall=0
     toStart=( "1" )
     seq_args=( "$@" )
@@ -1635,7 +1642,7 @@ sqr::main() {
       else
         error "No configuration file available"
       fi
-      [ ${emptyCall} -ne 0 ] && exit 0
+      (( emptyCall )) && exit 0
     fi
 
     if checkStep "${toStart[0]}" >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
@@ -1658,7 +1665,7 @@ sqr::main() {
   fi
 
   # check if more than one step is given and select execution mode
-  if [ ${_sqr_single} -ne 0 ] ; then
+  if (( _sqr_single )) ; then
     selection "${toStart[0]}"
   elif [ "${#toStart[@]}" -gt "1" ]; then
     selection "${toStart[@]}"