diff --git a/openbr/core/core.cpp b/openbr/core/core.cpp
index a9eec23..70b2991 100644
--- a/openbr/core/core.cpp
+++ b/openbr/core/core.cpp
@@ -26,21 +26,20 @@ namespace br {
 struct AlgorithmCore
 {
     QSharedPointer<Transform> transform;
+    QSharedPointer<Transform> comparison;
     QSharedPointer<Distance> distance;
-    QString galleryCompareString;
-
-    QString transformString;
-    QString distanceString;
+    QSharedPointer<Transform> progressCounter;
 
     AlgorithmCore(const QString &name)
     {
         this->name = name;
         init(name);
+        progressCounter = QSharedPointer<Transform>(Transform::make("ProgressCounter", NULL));
     }
 
     bool isClassifier() const
     {
-        return distance.isNull();
+        return comparison.isNull();
     }
 
     void train(const File &input, const QString &model)
@@ -116,7 +115,9 @@ struct AlgorithmCore
         in >> name; init(Globals->abbreviations.contains(name) ? Globals->abbreviations[name] : name);
         transform->load(in);
         bool hasDistance; in >> hasDistance;
-        if (hasDistance) distance->load(in);
+        
+        if (hasDistance)
+            distance->load(in);
     }
 
     File getMemoryGallery(const File &file) const
@@ -148,54 +149,37 @@ struct AlgorithmCore
         Gallery *temp = Gallery::make(input);
         qint64 total = temp->totalSize();
 
-        QScopedPointer<Transform> basePipe;
-
-        QString pipeDesc = "GalleryOutput("+gallery.flat()+")+ProgressCounter("+QString::number(total)+")+Discard";
-
-        if (!multiProcess) {
-            basePipe.reset(Transform::make(pipeDesc,NULL));
-            CompositeTransform *downcast = dynamic_cast<CompositeTransform *>(basePipe.data());
-
-            if (downcast == NULL) qFatal("downcast failed?");
+        Transform * enroll = this->transform.data();
+        if (multiProcess)
+            enroll = wrapTransform(enroll, "ProcessWrapper");
 
-            downcast->transforms.prepend(this->transform.data());
-            if (fileExclusion) {
-                Transform *temp = Transform::make("FileExclusion(" + gallery.flat() + ")", downcast);
-                downcast->transforms.prepend(temp);
-            }
-
-            // call init on the pipe to collapse the algorithm (if its top level is a pipe)
-            downcast->init();
-        }
-        else {
-            pipeDesc = "ProcessWrapper("+transformString+")+"+pipeDesc;
-            if (fileExclusion)
-                pipeDesc = "FileExclusion(" + gallery.flat() +")+" + pipeDesc;
+        QList<Transform *> stages;
+        stages.append(enroll);
 
-            basePipe.reset(Transform::make(pipeDesc,NULL));
-        }
+        QString outputDesc;
+        if (fileExclusion)
+            outputDesc = "FileExclusion(" + gallery.flat() + ")+";
+        outputDesc.append("GalleryOutput("+gallery.flat()+")");
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> outputTform(Transform::make(outputDesc, NULL));
+        stages.append(outputTform.data());
+        stages.append(progressCounter.data());
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> discard(Transform::make("Discard",NULL));
+        stages.append(discard.data());
 
-        // Next, we make a Stream (with placeholder transform)
-        QString streamDesc = "Stream(readMode=StreamGallery)";
-        QScopedPointer<Transform> baseStream(Transform::make(streamDesc, NULL));
-        WrapperTransform *wrapper = dynamic_cast<WrapperTransform *> (baseStream.data());
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> pipeline(br::pipeTransforms(stages));
 
-        // replace that placeholder with the pipe we built
-        wrapper->transform = basePipe.data();
-
-        // and get the final stream's stages by reinterpreting the pipe. Perfectly straightforward.
-        wrapper->init();
-
-        Globals->startTime.start();
-        Globals->currentStep = 0;
-        Globals->totalSteps = total;
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> stream(br::wrapTransform(pipeline.data(), "Stream(readMode=StreamGallery)"));
 
         TemplateList data, output;
         data.append(input);
-        wrapper->projectUpdate(data, output);
+        progressCounter->setPropertyRecursive("totalProgress", QString::number(total));
+        stream->projectUpdate(data, output);
 
         files.append(output.files());
 
+        if (multiProcess)
+            delete enroll;
+
         return files;
     }
 
@@ -389,12 +373,12 @@ struct AlgorithmCore
         // simple make sure the enrolled data is stored in a memGallery, but in multi-process mode we save the enrolled
         // data to disk (as a .gal file) so that each worker process can read it without re-doing enrollment.
         File colEnrolledGallery = colGallery;
-        QString targetExtension = multiProcess ? "gal" : "mem";
+        QString targetExtension = "mem";
 
         // If the column gallery is not already of the appropriate type, we need to do something
         if (colGallery.suffix() != targetExtension) {
             // Build the name of a gallery containing the enrolled data, of the appropriate type.
-            colEnrolledGallery = colGallery.baseName() + colGallery.hash() + (multiProcess ? ".gal" : ".mem");
+            colEnrolledGallery = colGallery.baseName() + colGallery.hash() + '.' + targetExtension;
 
             // Check if we have to do real enrollment, and not just convert the gallery's type.
             if (!(QStringList() << "gal" << "template" << "mem").contains(colGallery.suffix()))
@@ -435,37 +419,23 @@ struct AlgorithmCore
         // The actual comparison step is done by a GalleryCompare transform, which has a Distance, and a gallery as data.
         // Incoming templates are compared against the templates in the gallery, and the output is the resulting score
         // vector.
+        TemplateList tlist = TemplateList::fromGallery(colEnrolledGallery);
+        comparison->train(tlist);
+        comparison->setPropertyRecursive("galleryName","");
+
         QString compareRegionDesc;
+        QList<Transform *> enrollCompare;
+        enrollCompare.append(comparison.data());
+        // if we have to enroll the row gallery, add that transform to the list
+        if (needEnrollRows)
+            enrollCompare.prepend(this->transform.data());
 
-        if (this->galleryCompareString.isEmpty() )
-            compareRegionDesc = "Pipe([GalleryCompare("+Globals->algorithm+",galleryName="+colEnrolledGallery.flat()+")])";
-        else
-            compareRegionDesc = "Pipe(["+galleryCompareString+"(galleryName="+colEnrolledGallery.flat()+")])";
-
-        QScopedPointer<Transform> compareRegion;
-        // If we need to enroll the row set, we add the current algorithm's enrollment transform before the
-        // GalleryCompare in a pipe.
-        if (needEnrollRows) {
-            if (!multiProcess) {
-                compareRegionDesc = compareRegionDesc;
-                compareRegion.reset(Transform::make(compareRegionDesc,NULL));
-                CompositeTransform *downcast = dynamic_cast<CompositeTransform *> (compareRegion.data());
-                if (downcast == NULL)
-                    qFatal("Pipe downcast failed in compare");
-
-                downcast->transforms.prepend(this->transform.data());
-                downcast->init();
-            }
-            else {
-                compareRegionDesc = "ProcessWrapper(" + this->transformString + "+" + compareRegionDesc + ")";
-                compareRegion.reset(Transform::make(compareRegionDesc, NULL));
-            }
-        }
-        else {
-            if (multiProcess)
-                compareRegionDesc = "ProcessWrapper(" + compareRegionDesc + ")";
-            compareRegion.reset(Transform::make(compareRegionDesc,NULL));
-        }
+        Transform * compareRegionBase = pipeTransforms(enrollCompare);
+        // If in multi-process mode, wrap the enroll+compare structure in a ProcessWrapper.
+        if (multiProcess)
+            compareRegionBase = wrapTransform(compareRegionBase, "ProcessWrapper");
+
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> compareRegion(compareRegionBase);
 
         // At this point, compareRegion is a transform, which optionally does enrollment, then compares the row
         // set against the column set. If in multi-process mode, the enrollment and comparison are wrapped in a 
@@ -473,47 +443,36 @@ struct AlgorithmCore
 
         // We also need to add Output and progress counting to the algorithm we are building, so we will assign them to
         // two stages of a pipe.
-        QString joinDesc = "Pipe()";
-        QScopedPointer<Transform> join(Transform::make(joinDesc, NULL));
+        QList<Transform *> compareOutput;
+        compareOutput.append(compareRegion.data());
 
         // The output transform takes the metadata memGalleries we set up previously as input, along with the
         // output specification we were passed. Gallery metadata is necessary for some Outputs to function correctly.
         QString outputString = output.flat().isEmpty() ? "Empty" : output.flat();
         QString outputRegionDesc = "Output("+ outputString +"," + targetGallery.flat() +"," + queryGallery.flat() + ","+ QString::number(transposeMode ? 1 : 0) + ")";
-        // The ProgressCounter transform will simply provide a display about the number of rows completed.
-        outputRegionDesc += "+ProgressCounter("+QString::number(rowSize)+")+Discard";
-        QScopedPointer<Transform> outputTform(Transform::make(outputRegionDesc, NULL));
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> outputTForm(Transform::make(outputRegionDesc,NULL));
+        compareOutput.append(outputTForm.data());
 
-        // Assign the comparison transform we previously built, and the output transform  we just built to
-        // two stages of a pipe.
-        CompositeTransform *downcast = dynamic_cast<CompositeTransform *> (join.data());
-        downcast->transforms.append(compareRegion.data());
-        downcast->transforms.append(outputTform.data());
+        // The ProgressCounter transform will simply provide a display about the number of rows completed.
+        compareOutput.append(progressCounter.data());
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> discard(Transform::make("Discard",NULL));
+        compareOutput.append(discard.data());
 
         // With this, we have set up a transform which (optionally) enrolls templates, compares them
         // against a gallery, and outputs them.
-        join->init();
+        Transform * pipeline = br::pipeTransforms(compareOutput);
 
         // Now, we will give that base transform to a stream, which will incrementally read the row gallery
         // and pass the transforms it reads through the base algorithm.
-        QString streamDesc = "Stream(readMode=StreamGallery)";
-        QScopedPointer<Transform> streamBase(Transform::make(streamDesc, NULL));
-        WrapperTransform *streamWrapper = dynamic_cast<WrapperTransform *> (streamBase.data());
-        streamWrapper->transform = join.data();
-
-        // The transform we will use is now complete.
-        streamWrapper->init();
+        QScopedPointer<Transform> streamWrapper(br::wrapTransform(pipeline, "Stream(readMode=StreamGallery)"));
 
         // We set up a template containing the rowGallery we want to compare. 
         TemplateList rowGalleryTemplate;
         rowGalleryTemplate.append(Template(rowGallery));
         TemplateList outputGallery;
 
-        // Set up progress counting variables
-        Globals->currentStep = 0;
-        Globals->currentProgress = 0;
-        Globals->totalSteps = rowSize;
-        Globals->startTime.start();
+        // initialize the progress counter
+        progressCounter->setPropertyRecursive("totalProgress", QString::number(rowSize));
 
         // Do the actual comparisons
         streamWrapper->projectUpdate(rowGalleryTemplate, outputGallery);
@@ -557,27 +516,22 @@ private:
             return;
         }
 
+        //! [Parsing the algorithm description]
         const bool compareTransform = description.contains('!');
         QStringList words = QtUtils::parse(description, compareTransform ? '!' : ':');
 
         if ((words.size() < 1) || (words.size() > 2)) qFatal("Invalid algorithm format.");
 
-        //! [Parsing the algorithm description]
-        transformString = words[0];
-
         //! [Creating the template generation and comparison methods]
         transform = QSharedPointer<Transform>(Transform::make(words[0], NULL));
         if (words.size() > 1) {
             if (!compareTransform) {
                 distance = QSharedPointer<Distance>(Distance::make(words[1], NULL));
-                distanceString = words[1];
-                galleryCompareString.clear();
-            }
-            else {
-                galleryCompareString = words[1];
-                distanceString.clear();
+                comparison = QSharedPointer<Transform>(Transform::make("GalleryCompare", NULL));
+                comparison->setPropertyRecursive("distance", QVariant::fromValue(distance.data()));
             }
-            
+            else
+                comparison = QSharedPointer<Transform>(Transform::make(words[1], NULL));
         }
         //! [Creating the template generation and comparison methods]
     }
diff --git a/openbr/openbr_plugin.cpp b/openbr/openbr_plugin.cpp
index 0d84260..fb107c7 100644
--- a/openbr/openbr_plugin.cpp
+++ b/openbr/openbr_plugin.cpp
@@ -577,16 +577,31 @@ QStringList Object::parameters() const
     return parameters;
 }
 
-QStringList Object::arguments() const
+QStringList Object::arguments(bool expanded)
 {
     QStringList arguments;
-    for (int i=metaObject()->propertyOffset(); i<metaObject()->propertyCount(); i++)
-        arguments.append(argument(i));
+    
+    for (int i=firstAvailablePropertyIdx; i<metaObject()->propertyCount(); i++) {
+        const char *name = metaObject()->property(i).name();
+
+        QVariant oldVal = property(name);
+        QVariant defaultVal = oldVal;
+
+        if (metaObject()->property(i).isResettable()) {
+            metaObject()->property(i).reset(this);
+            defaultVal = property(name);
+        }
+        
+        if (defaultVal != oldVal) {
+            metaObject()->property(i).write(this, oldVal);
+            arguments.append(name + QString("=") + argument(i, expanded));
+        }
+    }
 
     return arguments;
 }
 
-QString Object::argument(int index) const
+QString Object::argument(int index, bool expanded) const
 {
     if ((index < 0) || (index > metaObject()->propertyCount())) return "";
     const QMetaProperty property = metaObject()->property(index);
@@ -604,19 +619,19 @@ QString Object::argument(int index) const
                 strings.append(QString::number(value));
         } else if (type == "QList<br::Transform*>") {
             foreach (Transform *transform, variant.value< QList<Transform*> >())
-                strings.append(transform->description());
+                strings.append(transform->description(expanded));
         } else if (type == "QList<br::Distance*>") {
             foreach (Distance *distance, variant.value< QList<Distance*> >())
-                strings.append(distance->description());
+                strings.append(distance->description(expanded));
         } else {
             qFatal("Unrecognized type: %s", qPrintable(type));
         }
 
         return "[" + strings.join(",") + "]";
     } else if (type == "br::Transform*") {
-        return variant.value<Transform*>()->description();
+        return variant.value<Transform*>()->description(expanded);
     } else if (type == "br::Distance*") {
-        return variant.value<Distance*>()->description();
+        return variant.value<Distance*>()->description(expanded);
     } else if (type == "QStringList") {
         return "[" + variant.toStringList().join(",") + "]";
     }
@@ -624,13 +639,17 @@ QString Object::argument(int index) const
     return variant.toString();
 }
 
-QString Object::description() const
+QString Object::description(bool expanded)
 {
-    QString argumentString = arguments().join(",");
+    (void) expanded;
+    QString argumentString = arguments(expanded).join(",");
+    if (argumentString.endsWith(","))
+        argumentString.chop(1);
+
     return objectName() + (argumentString.isEmpty() ? "" : ("(" + argumentString + ")"));
 }
 
-void Object::store(QDataStream &stream) const
+void Object::store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
 {
     // Start from 1 to skip QObject::objectName
     for (int i=1; i<metaObject()->propertyCount(); i++) {
@@ -641,14 +660,14 @@ void Object::store(QDataStream &stream) const
         const QString type = property.typeName();
         if (type == "QList<br::Transform*>") {
             foreach (Transform *transform, property.read(this).value< QList<Transform*> >())
-                transform->store(stream);
+                transform->store(stream, force);
         } else if (type == "QList<br::Distance*>") {
             foreach (Distance *distance, property.read(this).value< QList<Distance*> >())
-                distance->store(stream);
+                distance->store(stream, force);
         } else if (type == "br::Transform*") {
-            property.read(this).value<Transform*>()->store(stream);
+            property.read(this).value<Transform*>()->store(stream, force);
         } else if (type == "br::Distance*") {
-            property.read(this).value<Distance*>()->store(stream);
+            property.read(this).value<Distance*>()->store(stream, force);
         } else if (type == "bool") {
             stream << property.read(this).toBool();
         } else if (type == "int") {
@@ -1284,7 +1303,8 @@ Transform *Transform::make(QString str, QObject *parent)
 
 Transform *Transform::clone() const
 {
-    Transform *clone = Factory<Transform>::make(file.flat());
+    Transform * temp = (Transform *) this;
+    Transform *clone = Factory<Transform>::make("."+temp->description(false));
     return clone;
 }
 
@@ -1453,3 +1473,17 @@ void br::applyAdditionalProperties(const File &temp, Transform *target)
         target->setPropertyRecursive(i.key(), i.value() );
     }
 }
+
+Transform *br::wrapTransform(Transform *base, const QString &target)
+{
+    Transform *res = Transform::make(target, NULL);
+    res->setPropertyRecursive("transform", QVariant::fromValue(base));
+    return res;
+}
+
+Transform *br::pipeTransforms(QList<Transform *> &transforms)
+{
+    Transform *res = Transform::make("Pipe",NULL);
+    res->setPropertyRecursive("transforms", QVariant::fromValue(transforms));
+    return res;
+}
diff --git a/openbr/openbr_plugin.h b/openbr/openbr_plugin.h
index bc30f40..949db6d 100644
--- a/openbr/openbr_plugin.h
+++ b/openbr/openbr_plugin.h
@@ -589,13 +589,20 @@ public:
     File file; /*!< \brief The file used to construct the plugin. */
 
     virtual void init() {} /*!< \brief Overload this function instead of the default constructor to initialize the derived class. It should be safe to call this function multiple times. */
-    virtual void store(QDataStream &stream) const; /*!< \brief Serialize the object. */
+    virtual void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force = false) const; /*!< \brief Serialize the object. */
     virtual void load(QDataStream &stream); /*!< \brief Deserialize the object. Default implementation calls init() after deserialization. */
 
+    virtual void serialize(QDataStream & stream, bool force)
+    {
+        stream << description(force);
+        store(stream, force);
+    }
+
     QStringList parameters() const; /*!< \brief A string describing the parameters the object takes. */
-    QStringList arguments() const; /*!< \brief A string describing the values the object has. */
-    QString argument(int index) const; /*!< \brief A string value for the argument at the specified index. */
-    QString description() const; /*!< \brief Returns a string description of the object. */
+    QStringList arguments(bool expanded = false); /*!< \brief A string describing the values the object has. */
+    QString argument(int index, bool expanded) const; /*!< \brief A string value for the argument at the specified index. */
+    virtual QString description(bool expanded = false); /*!< \brief Returns a string description of the object. */
+    
     void setProperty(const QString &name, QVariant value); /*!< \brief Overload of QObject::setProperty to handle OpenBR data types. */
     virtual bool setPropertyRecursive(const QString &name, QVariant value); /*!< \brief Recursive version of setProperty, try to set the property on this object, or its children, returns true if successful. */
 
@@ -1273,6 +1280,15 @@ public:
      */
     QList<Transform *> getChildren() const;
 
+    static Transform *deserialize(QDataStream &stream)
+    {
+        QString desc;
+        stream >> desc;
+        Transform *res = Transform::make(desc, NULL);
+        res->load(stream);
+        return res;
+    }
+
 protected:
     Transform(bool independent = true, bool trainable = true); /*!< \brief Construct a transform. */
     inline Transform *make(const QString &description) { return make(description, this); } /*!< \brief Make a subtransform. */
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/cascade.cpp b/openbr/plugins/cascade.cpp
index d91ac89..e6fa835 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/cascade.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/cascade.cpp
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ class CascadeTransform : public MetaTransform
     }
 
     // TODO: Remove this code when ready to break binary compatibility
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         int size = 1;
         stream << size;
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/cluster.cpp b/openbr/plugins/cluster.cpp
index 24bea1f..cf47a70 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/cluster.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/cluster.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class KMeansTransform : public Transform
         reindex();
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << centers;
     }
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class KNNTransform : public Transform
         dst.file.set("Nearest", gallery[sortedScores[0].second].file.name);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << gallery;
     }
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class RandomCentroidsTransform : public Transform
         reindex();
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << centers;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/distance.cpp b/openbr/plugins/distance.cpp
index 34e91e8..a6ac657 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/distance.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/distance.cpp
@@ -253,11 +253,11 @@ private:
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << distances.size();
         foreach (Distance *distance, distances)
-            distance->store(stream);
+            distance->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
@@ -328,9 +328,9 @@ class NegativeLogPlusOneDistance : public Distance
         return -log(distance->compare(a,b)+1);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        distance->store(stream);
+        distance->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
@@ -460,13 +460,12 @@ BR_REGISTER(Distance, SumDistance)
 class GalleryCompareTransform : public Transform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_PROPERTY(QString distanceAlgorithm READ get_distanceAlgorithm WRITE set_distanceAlgorithm RESET reset_distanceAlgorithm STORED false)
+    Q_PROPERTY(br::Distance *distance READ get_distance WRITE set_distance RESET reset_distance STORED true)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString galleryName READ get_galleryName WRITE set_galleryName RESET reset_galleryName STORED false)
-    BR_PROPERTY(QString, distanceAlgorithm, "")
+    BR_PROPERTY(br::Distance*, distance, NULL)
     BR_PROPERTY(QString, galleryName, "")
 
     TemplateList gallery;
-    QSharedPointer<Distance> distance;
 
     void project(const Template &src, Template &dst) const
     {
@@ -480,16 +479,29 @@ class GalleryCompareTransform : public Transform
 
     void init()
     {
-        if (!galleryName.isEmpty()) {
+        if (!galleryName.isEmpty())
             gallery = TemplateList::fromGallery(galleryName);
-        }
-        if (!distanceAlgorithm.isEmpty())
-        {
-            distance = Distance::fromAlgorithm(distanceAlgorithm);
-        }
     }
+
+    void train(const TemplateList & data)
+    {
+        gallery = data;
+    }
+
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
+    {
+        br::Object::store(stream, force);
+        stream << gallery;
+    }
+
+    void load(QDataStream &stream)
+    {
+        br::Object::load(stream);
+        stream >> gallery;
+    }
+
 public:
-    GalleryCompareTransform() : Transform(false, false) {}
+    GalleryCompareTransform() : Transform(false, true) {}
 };
 
 BR_REGISTER(Transform, GalleryCompareTransform)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/eigen3.cpp b/openbr/plugins/eigen3.cpp
index 45fd671..f3caa60 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/eigen3.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/eigen3.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ private:
         outMap = eVecs.transpose() * (inMap - mean);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << keep << drop << whiten << originalRows << mean << eVals << eVecs;
     }
@@ -295,9 +295,9 @@ class DFFSTransform : public Transform
         dst.file.set("DFFS", sqrt(pca.residualReconstructionError((*cvtFloat)(src))));
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        pca.store(stream);
+        pca.store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ class LDATransform : public Transform
             dst.m().at<float>(0,0) = dst.m().at<float>(0,0) / stdDev;
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << pcaKeep;
         stream << directLDA;
@@ -631,10 +631,10 @@ class SparseLDATransform : public Transform
         ldaSparse.project(Template(src.file, inSelect), dst);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << pcaKeep;
-        stream << ldaSparse;
+        ldaSparse.store(stream, force);
         stream << dimsOut;
         stream << selections;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/frames.cpp b/openbr/plugins/frames.cpp
index fb7f507..58a3def 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/frames.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/frames.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ private:
         buffer.clear();
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         (void) stream;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/independent.cpp b/openbr/plugins/independent.cpp
index 2a627c1..3ac80ae 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/independent.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/independent.cpp
@@ -126,6 +126,10 @@ class IndependentTransform : public MetaTransform
 
     QList<Transform*> transforms;
 
+    QString description(bool expanded)
+    {
+        return transform->description(expanded);
+    }
 
     bool setPropertyRecursive(const QString &name, QVariant value)
     {
@@ -226,12 +230,12 @@ class IndependentTransform : public MetaTransform
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         const int size = transforms.size();
         stream << size;
         for (int i=0; i<size; i++)
-            transforms[i]->store(stream);
+            transforms[i]->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
@@ -292,10 +296,10 @@ class SingletonTransform : public MetaTransform
         transform->project(src, dst);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         if (transform->parent() == this)
-            transform->store(stream);
+            transform->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/integral.cpp b/openbr/plugins/integral.cpp
index f6117a0..fe00573 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/integral.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/integral.cpp
@@ -251,12 +251,12 @@ class RecursiveIntegralSamplerTransform : public Transform
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        transform->store(stream);
+        transform->store(stream, force);
         stream << (subTransform != NULL);
         if (subTransform != NULL)
-            subTransform->store(stream);
+            subTransform->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/landmarks.cpp b/openbr/plugins/landmarks.cpp
index 993312d..caafc29 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/landmarks.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/landmarks.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class ProcrustesTransform : public Transform
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << meanShape;
     }
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class ProcrustesAlignTransform : public Transform
         dst.file.set("ProcrustesBound", QRectF(0, 0, width + 2 * padding, (qRound(width / aspectRatio) + 2 * padding)));
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << referenceShape;
         stream << minX;
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/meta.cpp b/openbr/plugins/meta.cpp
index dc2d6e9..79a3e11 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/meta.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/meta.cpp
@@ -482,9 +482,9 @@ BR_REGISTER(Transform, CacheTransform)
 class LoadStoreTransform : public MetaTransform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_PROPERTY(QString description READ get_description WRITE set_description RESET reset_description STORED false)
+    Q_PROPERTY(QString description2 READ get_description2 WRITE set_description2 RESET reset_description2 STORED false)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString fileName READ get_fileName WRITE set_fileName RESET reset_fileName STORED false)
-    BR_PROPERTY(QString, description, "Identity")
+    BR_PROPERTY(QString, description2, "Identity")
     BR_PROPERTY(QString, fileName, QString())
 
     Transform *transform;
@@ -493,6 +493,13 @@ class LoadStoreTransform : public MetaTransform
 public:
     LoadStoreTransform() : transform(NULL) {}
 
+    QString description(bool expanded = false)
+    {
+        if (expanded)
+            return transform->description(expanded);
+        return br::Object::description(expanded);
+    }
+
     bool setPropertyRecursive(const QString &name, QVariant value)
     {
         if (br::Object::setPropertyRecursive(name, value))
@@ -500,12 +507,22 @@ public:
         return transform->setPropertyRecursive(name, value);
     }
 private:
+
+    virtual void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force = false) const
+    {
+        if (force) {
+            transform->store(stream, force);
+        }
+        
+        br::Object::store(stream, false);
+    }
+
     void init()
     {
         if (transform != NULL) return;
-        if (fileName.isEmpty()) baseName = QRegExp("^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$").exactMatch(description) ? description : QtUtils::shortTextHash(description);
+        if (fileName.isEmpty()) baseName = QRegExp("^[a-zA-Z0-9]+$").exactMatch(description2) ? description2 : QtUtils::shortTextHash(description2);
         else baseName = fileName;
-        if (!tryLoad()) transform = make(description);
+        if (!tryLoad()) transform = make(description2);
         else            trainable = false;
     }
 
@@ -524,7 +541,7 @@ private:
         qDebug("Storing %s", qPrintable(baseName));
         QByteArray byteArray;
         QDataStream stream(&byteArray, QFile::WriteOnly);
-        stream << description;
+        stream << description2;
         transform->store(stream);
         QtUtils::writeFile(baseName, byteArray, -1);
     }
@@ -570,8 +587,8 @@ private:
         QByteArray data;
         QtUtils::readFile(file, data, true);
         QDataStream stream(&data, QFile::ReadOnly);
-        stream >> description;
-        transform = Transform::make(description);
+        stream >> description2;
+        transform = Transform::make(description2);
         transform->load(stream);
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/misc.cpp b/openbr/plugins/misc.cpp
index 35db597..dc7d76a 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/misc.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/misc.cpp
@@ -617,8 +617,8 @@ class ProgressCounterTransform : public TimeVaryingTransform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
-    Q_PROPERTY(int totalTemplates READ get_totalTemplates WRITE set_totalTemplates RESET reset_totalTemplates STORED false)
-    BR_PROPERTY(int, totalTemplates, 1)
+    Q_PROPERTY(int totalProgress READ get_totalProgress WRITE set_totalProgress RESET reset_totalProgress STORED false)
+    BR_PROPERTY(int, totalProgress, 1)
 
     void projectUpdate(const TemplateList &src, TemplateList &dst)
     {
@@ -658,16 +658,20 @@ class ProgressCounterTransform : public TimeVaryingTransform
         (void) data;
         float p = br_progress();
         qDebug("\r%05.2f%%  ELAPSED=%s  REMAINING=%s  COUNT=%g", p*100, QtUtils::toTime(Globals->startTime.elapsed()/1000.0f).toStdString().c_str(), QtUtils::toTime(0).toStdString().c_str(), Globals->currentStep);
+        timer.start();
+        Globals->startTime.start();
         Globals->currentStep = 0;
         Globals->currentProgress = 0;
-        Globals->totalSteps = 0;
+        Globals->totalSteps = totalProgress;
     }
 
     void init()
     {
         timer.start();
+        Globals->startTime.start();
         Globals->currentStep = 0;
         Globals->currentProgress = 0;
+        Globals->totalSteps = totalProgress;
     }
 
 public:
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/normalize.cpp b/openbr/plugins/normalize.cpp
index 449ca61..80609b5 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/normalize.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/normalize.cpp
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ private:
         divide(dst, a, dst);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << a << b;
     }
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class RowWiseMeanCenterTransform : public Transform
         dst = m;
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << mean;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/openbr_internal.h b/openbr/plugins/openbr_internal.h
index 2283760..999c05e 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/openbr_internal.h
+++ b/openbr/plugins/openbr_internal.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ protected:
 private:
     Transform *clone() const { return const_cast<UntrainableTransform*>(this); }
     void train(const TemplateList &data) { (void) data; }
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const { (void) stream; }
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const { (void) stream; (void) force; }
     void load(QDataStream &stream) { (void) stream; }
 };
 
@@ -212,6 +212,45 @@ public:
         }
         return false;
     }
+
+    Transform * smartCopy(bool & newTransform)
+    {
+        if (!timeVarying()) {
+            newTransform = false;
+            return this;
+        }
+        newTransform = true;
+
+        QString name = metaObject()->className();
+        name.replace("Transform","");
+        name += "(Identity";
+
+        QStringList arguments = this->arguments();
+        if (!arguments.isEmpty()) {
+            name += ",";
+            name += this->arguments().join(",");
+        }
+
+        name += ")";
+        name.replace("br::","");
+
+        WrapperTransform *output = dynamic_cast<WrapperTransform *>(Transform::make(name, NULL));
+
+        if (output == NULL)
+            qFatal("Dynamic cast failed!");
+
+        bool newItem = false;
+        Transform * maybe_copy = transform->smartCopy(newItem);
+        if (newItem)
+            maybe_copy->setParent(output);
+        output->transform = maybe_copy;
+
+        output->file = this->file;
+        output->init();
+
+        return output;
+    }
+
 };
 
 /*!
@@ -388,6 +427,10 @@ public:
 
 void applyAdditionalProperties(const File &temp, Transform *target);
 
+Transform *wrapTransform(Transform *base, const QString &target);
+
+Transform *pipeTransforms(QList<Transform *> &transforms);
+
 }
 
 #endif // OPENBR_INTERNAL_H
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/pp5.cpp b/openbr/plugins/pp5.cpp
index e605839..c3e960c 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/pp5.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/pp5.cpp
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ class PP5GalleryTransform: public UntrainableMetaTransform
 
     ppr_gallery_type target;
     QList<int> targetIDs;
+    TemplateList gallery;
 
     void project(const Template & src, Template & dst) const
     {
@@ -495,11 +496,33 @@ class PP5GalleryTransform: public UntrainableMetaTransform
 
     void init()
     {
-        // set up the gallery
-        ppr_create_gallery(context, &target);
-        TemplateList templates = TemplateList::fromGallery(galleryName);
-        enroll(templates,&target, targetIDs);
+        if (!galleryName.isEmpty() || !gallery.isEmpty()) {
+            // set up the gallery
+            ppr_create_gallery(context, &target);
+            if (gallery.isEmpty() )
+                gallery = TemplateList::fromGallery(galleryName);
+            enroll(gallery, &target, targetIDs);
+        }
+    }
+
+    void train(const TemplateList & data)
+    {
+        gallery = data;
     }
+
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
+    {
+        br::Object::store(stream, force);
+        stream << gallery;
+    }
+
+    void load(QDataStream &stream)
+    {
+        br::Object::load(stream);
+        stream >> gallery;
+        init();
+    }
+
 };
 
 BR_REGISTER(Transform, PP5GalleryTransform)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/process.cpp b/openbr/plugins/process.cpp
index b8c519c..29f5969 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/process.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/process.cpp
@@ -305,9 +305,7 @@ public:
         while (!inbound || inbound->state() != QLocalSocket::ConnectedState) {
             bool res = receivedWait.wait(&receivedLock,30*1000);
             if (!res)
-            {
                 qDebug() << key << " " << QThread::currentThread() << " waiting timed out, server thread is " << server.thread() << " base thread " << basis;
-            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -338,6 +336,16 @@ public:
         return true;
     }
 
+    Transform * readTForm()
+    {
+        emit pulseReadSerialized();
+
+        QByteArray data = readArray;
+        QDataStream deserializer(data);
+        Transform * res = Transform::deserialize(deserializer);
+        return res;
+    }
+
     template<typename T>
     bool sendData(const T & output)
     {
@@ -401,6 +409,8 @@ public:
         comm->connectToRemote(baseName+"_master");
 
         comm->waitForInbound();
+
+        transform = comm->readTForm();
     }
 
     void workerLoop()
@@ -428,7 +438,7 @@ public:
 void WorkerProcess::mainLoop()
 {
     processInterface = new EnrollmentWorker();
-    processInterface->transform = Transform::make(this->transform,NULL);
+    processInterface->transform = NULL;
     processInterface->connections(baseName);
     processInterface->workerLoop();
     delete processInterface;
@@ -478,63 +488,98 @@ protected slots:
     }
 };
 
+struct ProcessData
+{
+    CommunicationManager comm;
+    ProcessInterface proc;
+    bool initialized;
+    ProcessData()
+    {
+        initialized = false;
+    }
+
+    ~ProcessData()
+    {
+        comm.sendSignal(CommunicationManager::SHOULD_END);
+        proc.endProcess();
+        comm.shutdown();
+        comm.shutDownThread();
+    }
+};
+
+
 /*!
  * \ingroup transforms
  * \brief Interface to a separate process
  * \author Charles Otto \cite caotto
  */
-class ProcessWrapperTransform : public TimeVaryingTransform
+class ProcessWrapperTransform : public WrapperTransform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
-    Q_PROPERTY(QString transform READ get_transform WRITE set_transform RESET reset_transform)
-    BR_PROPERTY(QString, transform, "")
-
     QString baseKey;
 
-    ProcessInterface workerProcess;
-    CommunicationManager * comm;
+    Resource<ProcessData> processes;
+
+    Transform * smartCopy(bool & newTransform)
+    {
+        newTransform = false;
+        return this;
+    }
 
-    void projectUpdate(const TemplateList &src, TemplateList &dst)
+    void project(const TemplateList &src, TemplateList &dst) const
     {
         if (src.empty())
             return;
+        
+        ProcessData *data = processes.acquire();
+        if (!data->initialized)
+            activateProcess(data);
 
-        if (!processActive)
-        {
-            activateProcess();
-        }
-        comm->sendSignal(CommunicationManager::INPUT_AVAILABLE);
-
-        comm->sendData(src);
+        CommunicationManager * localComm = &(data->comm);
+        localComm->sendSignal(CommunicationManager::INPUT_AVAILABLE);
 
-        comm->readData(dst);
+        localComm->sendData(src);
+        localComm->readData(dst);
+        processes.release(data);
     }
 
-
     void train(const TemplateList& data)
     {
         (void) data;
     }
 
-    // create the process
     void init()
     {
         processActive = false;
+        serialized.clear();
+        if (transform) {
+            QDataStream out(&serialized, QFile::WriteOnly);
+            transform->serialize(out, true);
+        }
     }
 
-    void activateProcess()
+    QByteArray serialized;
+    void transmitTForm(CommunicationManager * localComm) const
     {
-        comm = new CommunicationManager();
-        processActive = true;
+        if (serialized.isEmpty() )
+            qFatal("Trying to transmit empty transform!");
+
+        localComm->writeArray = serialized;
+        emit localComm->pulseSendSerialized();
+    }
 
+    void activateProcess(ProcessData * data) const
+    {
+        data->initialized = true;
         // generate a uuid for our local servers
         QUuid id = QUuid::createUuid();
-        baseKey = id.toString();
+        QString baseKey = id.toString();
 
         QStringList argumentList;
+        // We serialize and transmit the transform directly, so algorithm doesn't matter.
         argumentList.append("-algorithm");
-        argumentList.append(transform);
+        argumentList.append("Identity");
         if (!Globals->path.isEmpty()) {
             argumentList.append("-path");
             argumentList.append(Globals->path);
@@ -544,36 +589,25 @@ class ProcessWrapperTransform : public TimeVaryingTransform
         argumentList.append("-slave");
         argumentList.append(baseKey);
 
-        comm->key = "master_"+baseKey.mid(1,5);
+        data->comm.key = "master_"+baseKey.mid(1,5);
 
-        comm->startServer(baseKey+"_master");
-        workerProcess.startProcess(argumentList);
-        comm->waitForInbound();
-        comm->connectToRemote(baseKey+"_worker");
-    }
+        data->comm.startServer(baseKey+"_master");
 
-    bool timeVarying() const {
-        return false;
+        data->proc.startProcess(argumentList);
+        data->comm.waitForInbound();
+        data->comm.connectToRemote(baseKey+"_worker");
+
+        transmitTForm(&(data->comm));
     }
 
-    ~ProcessWrapperTransform()
+    bool timeVarying() const
     {
-        // end the process
-        if (this->processActive) {
-            comm->sendSignal(CommunicationManager::SHOULD_END);
-
-            workerProcess.endProcess();
-            processActive = false;
-            comm->shutdown();
-            comm->shutDownThread();
-
-            delete comm;
-        }
+        return false;
     }
 
 public:
     bool processActive;
-    ProcessWrapperTransform() : TimeVaryingTransform(false,false) { processActive = false; }
+    ProcessWrapperTransform() : WrapperTransform(false) { processActive = false; }
 };
 
 BR_REGISTER(Transform, ProcessWrapperTransform)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/quality.cpp b/openbr/plugins/quality.cpp
index 0a02f40..5cbff2d 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/quality.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/quality.cpp
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ class ImpostorUniquenessMeasureTransform : public Transform
         dst.file.set("Impostor_Uniqueness_Measure_Bin", ium < mean-stddev ? 0 : (ium < mean+stddev ? 1 : 2));
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        distance->store(stream);
+        distance->store(stream, force);
         stream << mean << stddev << impostors;
     }
 
@@ -199,9 +199,9 @@ class MatchProbabilityDistance : public Distance
         return mp(score, gaussian);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        distance->store(stream);
+        distance->store(stream, force);
         stream << mp;
     }
 
@@ -264,9 +264,9 @@ class ZScoreDistance : public Distance
         return score;
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        distance->store(stream);
+        distance->store(stream, force);
         stream << min << max << mean << stddev;
     }
 
@@ -335,11 +335,11 @@ class HeatMapDistance : public Distance
         }
      }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << distances.size();
         foreach (Distance *distance, distances)
-            distance->store(stream);
+            distance->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/quantize.cpp b/openbr/plugins/quantize.cpp
index 3091e09..bf7477c 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/quantize.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/quantize.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class HistEqQuantizationTransform : public Transform
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << thresholds;
     }
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class BayesianQuantizationDistance : public Distance
         return likelihood;
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << loglikelihoods;
     }
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ private:
             dst.m().at<uchar>(0,sizeof(quint16)+i) = getIndex(m.colRange(max(0, i*step-offset), (i+1)*step-offset), centers[i]);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << index << centers << ProductQuantizationLUTs[index];
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/quantize2.cpp b/openbr/plugins/quantize2.cpp
index 8d05523..2ecea1c 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/quantize2.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/quantize2.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class BayesianQuantizationTransform : public Transform
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << thresholds;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/random.cpp b/openbr/plugins/random.cpp
index 970061a..1bc4841 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/random.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/random.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class RndSubspaceTransform : public Transform
         remap(src, dst, map, Mat(), INTER_NEAREST);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << fraction << weighted << map;
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/slidingwindow.cpp b/openbr/plugins/slidingwindow.cpp
index 1ae5663..4dc89ef 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/slidingwindow.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/slidingwindow.cpp
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ private:
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        transform->store(stream);
+        transform->store(stream, force);
         stream << windowHeight;
     }
 
@@ -289,9 +289,9 @@ private:
         }
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
-        transform->store(stream);
+        transform->store(stream, force);
         stream << aspectRatio << windowHeight;
     }
     void load(QDataStream &stream)
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/svm.cpp b/openbr/plugins/svm.cpp
index c374586..79a6c5d 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/svm.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/svm.cpp
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ private:
             dst.file.set(outputVariable, reverseLookup[prediction]);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         storeSVM(svm, stream);
         stream << labelMap << reverseLookup;
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ private:
         return svm.predict(delta.reshape(1, 1));
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         storeSVM(svm, stream);
     }
diff --git a/openbr/plugins/validate.cpp b/openbr/plugins/validate.cpp
index 75bca83..873c9ec 100644
--- a/openbr/plugins/validate.cpp
+++ b/openbr/plugins/validate.cpp
@@ -114,11 +114,11 @@ class CrossValidateTransform : public MetaTransform
         transforms[partition]->project(src, dst);
     }
 
-    void store(QDataStream &stream) const
+    void store(QDataStream &stream, bool force) const
     {
         stream << transforms.size();
         foreach (Transform *transform, transforms)
-            transform->store(stream);
+            transform->store(stream, force);
     }
 
     void load(QDataStream &stream)