diff --git a/core/database.js b/core/database.js
index 3baf682a..5029d7e1 100644
--- a/core/database.js
+++ b/core/database.js
@@ -169,17 +169,19 @@ function createMessageBaseTables() {
 		'END;'
 	);
 
+	//	:TODO: need SQL to ensure cleaned up if delete from message?
 	dbs.message.run(
 		'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS message_meta ('						+
 		'	message_id		INTEGER NOT NULL,'							+
 		'	meta_category	INTEGER NOT NULL,'							+
 		'	meta_name		VARCHAR NOT NULL,'							+
 		'	meta_value		VARCHAR NOT NULL,'							+
-		'	UNIQUE(message_id, meta_category, meta_name, meta_value),'	+	//	why unique here? 
+		'	UNIQUE(message_id, meta_category, meta_name, meta_value),'	+	//	:TODO:why unique here? 
 		'	FOREIGN KEY(message_id) REFERENCES message(message_id)'		+
 		');'
 	);
 
+	//	:TODO: need SQL to ensure cleaned up if delete from message?
 	dbs.message.run(
 		'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS hash_tag ('		+
 		'	hash_tag_id		INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,'	+
@@ -188,6 +190,7 @@ function createMessageBaseTables() {
 		');'
 	);
 
+	//	:TODO: need SQL to ensure cleaned up if delete from message?
 	dbs.message.run(
 		'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS message_hash_tag ('	+
 		'	hash_tag_id	INTEGER NOT NULL,'				+
diff --git a/core/door.js b/core/door.js
index 2cca1151..2862be4b 100644
--- a/core/door.js
+++ b/core/door.js
@@ -1,24 +1,24 @@
 /* jslint node: true */
 'use strict';
 
-var spawn			= require('child_process').spawn;
-var events			= require('events');
+const events		= require('events');
 
-var _				= require('lodash');
-var pty				= require('ptyw.js');
-var decode 			= require('iconv-lite').decode;
-var net				= require('net');
-var async			= require('async');
+const _				= require('lodash');
+const pty			= require('ptyw.js');
+const decode 		= require('iconv-lite').decode;
+const createServer	= require('net').createServer;
 
 exports.Door		= Door;
 
 function Door(client, exeInfo) {
 	events.EventEmitter.call(this);
 
-	this.client			= client;
-	this.exeInfo		= exeInfo;
-
+	const self 				= this;
+	this.client				= client;
+	this.exeInfo			= exeInfo;
 	this.exeInfo.encoding	= this.exeInfo.encoding || 'cp437';
+	this.exeInfo.encoding	= this.exeInfo.encoding.toLowerCase();
+	let restored			= false;	
 
 	//
 	//	Members of exeInfo:
@@ -31,25 +31,17 @@ function Door(client, exeInfo) {
 	//	dropFile
 	//	node
 	//	inhSocket
-	//	
-}
+	//
 
-require('util').inherits(Door, events.EventEmitter);
-
-
-
-Door.prototype.run = function() {
-
-	var self = this;
-
-	var doorData = function(data) {
-		//	:TODO: skip decoding if we have a match, e.g. cp437 === cp437
-		self.client.term.write(decode(data, self.exeInfo.encoding));
+	this.doorDataHandler = function(data) {
+		if(self.client.term.outputEncoding === self.exeInfo.encoding) {
+			self.client.term.rawWrite(data);
+		} else {
+			self.client.term.write(decode(data, self.exeInfo.encoding));
+		}
 	};
 
-	var restored = false;
-
-	var restore = function(piped) {
+	this.restoreIo = function(piped) {
 		if(!restored && self.client.term.output) {
 			self.client.term.output.unpipe(piped);
 			self.client.term.output.resume();
@@ -57,100 +49,98 @@ Door.prototype.run = function() {
 		}
 	};
 
-	var sockServer;
+	this.prepareSocketIoServer = function(cb) {
+		if('socket' === self.exeInfo.io) {			
+			const sockServer =  createServer(conn => {
 
-	async.series(
-		[
-			function prepareServer(callback) {
-				if('socket' === self.exeInfo.io) {
-					sockServer =  net.createServer(function connected(conn) {
+				sockServer.getConnections( (err, count) => {
 
-						sockServer.getConnections(function connCount(err, count) {
+					//	We expect only one connection from our DOOR/emulator/etc.
+					if(!err && count <= 1) {
+						self.client.term.output.pipe(conn);
+						
+						conn.on('data', self.doorDataHandler);
 
-							//	We expect only one connection from our DOOR/emulator/etc.
-							if(!err && count <= 1) {
-								self.client.term.output.pipe(conn);
-								
-								conn.on('data', doorData);
-
-								conn.once('end', function ended() {
-									restore(conn);									
-								});
-
-								conn.once('error', function error(err) {
-									self.client.log.info('Door socket server connection error: ' + err.message);
-									restore(conn);
-								});
-							}
+						conn.once('end', () => {
+							return self.restoreIo(conn);									
 						});
-					});
 
-					sockServer.listen(0, function listening() {
-						callback(null);
-					});
-				} else {
-					callback(null);
-				}
-			},
-			function launch(callback) {
-				//	Expand arg strings, e.g. {dropFile} -> DOOR32.SYS
-				var args = _.clone(self.exeInfo.args);	//	we need a copy so the original is not modified
-
-				for(var i = 0; i < args.length; ++i) {
-					args[i] = self.exeInfo.args[i].format({
-						dropFile		: self.exeInfo.dropFile,
-						node			: self.exeInfo.node.toString(),
-						//inhSocket		: self.exeInfo.inhSocket.toString(),
-						srvPort			: sockServer ? sockServer.address().port.toString() : '-1',
-						userId			: self.client.user.userId.toString(),
-					});
-				}
-
-				var door = pty.spawn(self.exeInfo.cmd, args, {
-					cols : self.client.term.termWidth,
-					rows : self.client.term.termHeight,
-					//	:TODO: cwd
-					env	: self.exeInfo.env,
-				});				
-
-				if('stdio' === self.exeInfo.io) {
-					self.client.log.debug('Using stdio for door I/O');
-
-					self.client.term.output.pipe(door);
-
-					door.on('data', doorData);
-
-					door.once('close', function closed() {
-						restore(door);
-					});
-				} else if('socket' === self.exeInfo.io) {
-					self.client.log.debug(
-						{ port : sockServer.address().port }, 
-						'Using temporary socket server for door I/O');
-				}
-
-				door.once('exit', function exited(code) {
-					self.client.log.info( { code : code }, 'Door exited');
-
-					if(sockServer) {
-						sockServer.close();
+						conn.once('error', err => {
+							self.client.log.info( { error : err.toString() }, 'Door socket server connection');
+							return self.restoreIo(conn);
+						});
 					}
-
-					//	we may not get a close
-					if('stdio' === self.exeInfo.io) {
-						restore(door);
-					}
-
-					door.removeAllListeners();
-
-					self.emit('finished');
 				});
-			}
-		],
-		function complete(err) {
-			if(err) {
-				self.client.log.warn( { error : err.toString() }, 'Failed executing door');
-			}
+			});
+
+			sockServer.listen(0, () => {
+				return cb(null, sockServer);
+			});
+		} else {
+			return cb(null);
 		}
-	);
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+	};
+}
+
+require('util').inherits(Door, events.EventEmitter);
+
+Door.prototype.run = function() {
+	const self = this;
+
+	this.prepareSocketIoServer( (err, sockServer) => {
+		if(err) {
+			this.client.log.warn( { error : err.toString() }, 'Failed executing door');
+			return self.emit('finished');
+		}
+
+		//	Expand arg strings, e.g. {dropFile} -> DOOR32.SYS
+		let args = _.clone(self.exeInfo.args);	//	we need a copy so the original is not modified
+
+		for(let i = 0; i < args.length; ++i) {
+			args[i] = self.exeInfo.args[i].format({
+				dropFile		: self.exeInfo.dropFile,
+				node			: self.exeInfo.node.toString(),
+				srvPort			: sockServer ? sockServer.address().port.toString() : '-1',
+				userId			: self.client.user.userId.toString(),
+			});
+		}
+
+		const door = pty.spawn(self.exeInfo.cmd, args, {
+			cols : self.client.term.termWidth,
+			rows : self.client.term.termHeight,
+			//	:TODO: cwd
+			env	: self.exeInfo.env,
+		});				
+
+		if('stdio' === self.exeInfo.io) {
+			self.client.log.debug('Using stdio for door I/O');
+
+			self.client.term.output.pipe(door);
+
+			door.on('data', self.doorDataHandler);
+
+			door.once('close', () => {
+				return self.restoreIo(door);
+			});
+		} else if('socket' === self.exeInfo.io) {
+			self.client.log.debug( { port : sockServer.address().port }, 'Using temporary socket server for door I/O');
+		}
+
+		door.once('exit', exitCode => {
+			self.client.log.info( { exitCode : exitCode }, 'Door exited');
+
+			if(sockServer) {
+				sockServer.close();
+			}
+
+			//	we may not get a close
+			if('stdio' === self.exeInfo.io) {
+				return self.restoreIo(door);
+			}
+
+			door.removeAllListeners();
+
+			self.emit('finished');
+		});
+	});
+};
diff --git a/core/message_area.js b/core/message_area.js
index 67bd2821..323061dc 100644
--- a/core/message_area.js
+++ b/core/message_area.js
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 /* jslint node: true */
 'use strict';
 
-let msgDb			= require('./database.js').dbs.message;
-let Config			= require('./config.js').config;
-let Message			= require('./message.js');
-let Log				= require('./logger.js').log;
-let checkAcs        = require('./acs_util.js').checkAcs;
-let msgNetRecord	= require('./msg_network.js').recordMessage;
+const msgDb			= require('./database.js').dbs.message;
+const Config		= require('./config.js').config;
+const Message		= require('./message.js');
+const Log			= require('./logger.js').log;
+const checkAcs		= require('./acs_util.js').checkAcs;
+const msgNetRecord	= require('./msg_network.js').recordMessage;
 
-let async			= require('async');
-let _				= require('lodash');
-let assert			= require('assert');
+const async			= require('async');
+const _				= require('lodash');
+const assert		= require('assert');
+const moment		= require('moment');
 
 exports.getAvailableMessageConferences      = getAvailableMessageConferences;
 exports.getSortedAvailMessageConferences	= getSortedAvailMessageConferences;
@@ -427,8 +428,8 @@ function updateMessageAreaLastReadId(userId, areaTag, messageId, cb) {
 						'VALUES (?, ?, ?);',
 						[ userId, areaTag, messageId ],
 						function written(err) {
-                            callback(err, true);    //  true=didUpdate
-                        }
+							callback(err, true);    //  true=didUpdate
+						}
 					);
 				} else {
 					callback(null);
@@ -441,11 +442,11 @@ function updateMessageAreaLastReadId(userId, areaTag, messageId, cb) {
 					{ error : err.toString(), userId : userId, areaTag : areaTag, messageId : messageId }, 
 					'Failed updating area last read ID');
 			} else {
-                if(true === didUpdate) {
-                    Log.trace( 
-                        { userId : userId, areaTag : areaTag, messageId : messageId },
-                        'Area last read ID updated');
-                }
+				if(true === didUpdate) {
+					Log.trace( 
+						{ userId : userId, areaTag : areaTag, messageId : messageId },
+						'Area last read ID updated');
+				}
 			}
 			cb(err);
 		}
@@ -466,67 +467,60 @@ function persistMessage(message, cb) {
 	);
 }
 
-function trimMessagesToMax(areaTag, maxMessages, archivePath, cb) {
-	async.waterfall(
-		[
-			function getRemoteCount(callback) {
-				let removeCount = 0;
-				msgDb.get(
-					`SELECT COUNT(area_tag) AS msgCount
-					FROM message
-					WHERE area_tag = ?`,
-					[ areaTag ],
-					(err, row) => {
-						if(!err) {
-							if(row.msgCount >= maxMessages) {
-								removeCount = row.msgCount - maxMessages; 
-							}
-						}
-						return callback(err, removeCount);
-					}
-				);
-			},
-			function trimMessages(removeCount, callback) {
-				if(0 === removeCount) {
-					return callback(null);
-				}
-
-				if(archivePath) {
-
-				} else {
-					//	just delete 'em
-				}
-			}
-		],
-		err => {
-			return cb(err);
-		}
-	);
-}
-
 //	method exposed for event scheduler
 function trimMessageAreasScheduledEvent(args, cb) {
-	//
-	//	Available args:
-	//	- archive:/path/to/archive/dir/
-	//
-	let archivePath;
-	if(args) {
-		args.forEach(a => {
-			if(a.startsWith('archive:')) {
-				archivePath = a.split(':')[1]; 
+	
+	function trimMessageAreaByMaxMessages(areaInfo, cb) {
+		if(0 === areaInfo.maxMessages) {
+			return cb(null);
+		}
+
+		msgDb.run(
+			`DELETE FROM message
+			WHERE message_id IN
+				(SELECT message_id
+				FROM message
+				WHERE area_tag = ?
+				ORDER BY message_id
+				LIMIT (MAX(0, (SELECT COUNT()
+					FROM message
+					WHERE area_tag = ?) - ${areaInfo.maxMessages}
+					))
+				);`,
+			[ areaInfo.areaTag, areaInfo.areaTag],
+			err => {
+				if(err) {
+					Log.warn( { areaInfo : areaInfo, error : err.toString(), type : 'maxMessages' }, 'Error trimming message area');
+				} else {
+					Log.debug( { areaInfo : areaInfo, type : 'maxMessages' }, 'Area trimmed successfully');
+				}
+				return cb(err);
+			}	
+		);
+	}
+
+	function trimMessageAreaByMaxAgeDays(areaInfo, cb) {
+		if(0 === areaInfo.maxAgeDays) {
+			return cb(null);
+		}
+
+		msgDb.run(
+			`DELETE FROM message
+			WHERE area_tag = ? AND modified_timestamp < date('now', '-${areaInfo.maxAgeDays} days');`,
+			[ areaInfo.areaTag ],
+			err => {
+				if(err) {
+					Log.warn( { areaInfo : areaInfo, error : err.toString(), type : 'maxAgeDays' }, 'Error trimming message area');
+				} else {
+					Log.debug( { areaInfo : areaInfo, type : 'maxAgeDays' }, 'Area trimmed successfully');
+				}
+				return cb(err);
 			}
-		});
+		);
 	}
 	
-	//
-	//	Find all area_tag's in message. We don't rely on user configurations
-	//	in case one is no longer available. From there we can trim messages
-	//	that meet the criteria (too old, too many, ...) and optionally archive
-	//	them via moving them to a new DB with the same layout
-	//
 	async.waterfall(
-		[
+		[			
 			function getAreaTags(callback) {
 				let areaTags = [];
 				msgDb.each(
@@ -543,13 +537,16 @@ function trimMessageAreasScheduledEvent(args, cb) {
 					}
 				);
 			},
-			function trimAreas(areaTags, callback) {
+			function prepareAreaInfo(areaTags, callback) {
+				let areaInfos = [];
+
+				//	determine maxMessages & maxAgeDays per area
 				areaTags.forEach(areaTag => {
 					
 					let maxMessages = Config.messageAreaDefaults.maxMessages;
 					let maxAgeDays	= Config.messageAreaDefaults.maxAgeDays;
 					
-					const area = getMessageAreaByTag(areaTag);	//	note: we don't know the conf
+					const area = getMessageAreaByTag(areaTag);	//	note: we don't know the conf here
 					if(area) {
 						if(area.maxMessages) {
 							maxMessages = area.maxMessages;
@@ -558,18 +555,37 @@ function trimMessageAreasScheduledEvent(args, cb) {
 							maxAgeDays = area.maxAgeDays;
 						}
 					}
-					
-					if(maxMessages) {
-						trimMessagesToMax(areaTag, maxMessages, archivePath, err => {
 
-						});
-					}
-					
+					areaInfos.push( {
+						areaTag		: areaTag,
+						maxMessages	: maxMessages,
+						maxAgeDays	: maxAgeDays,
+					} );					
 				});
-			}
-		]	
+
+				return callback(null, areaInfos);
+			},
+			function trimAreas(areaInfos, callback) {
+				async.each(
+					areaInfos,
+					(areaInfo, next) => {
+						trimMessageAreaByMaxMessages(areaInfo, err => {
+							if(err) {
+								return next(err);
+							}
+
+							trimMessageAreaByMaxAgeDays(areaInfo, err => {
+								return next(err);
+							});							
+						});
+					},
+					callback
+				);
+			}			
+		],
+		err => {
+			return cb(err);
+		}
 	);
 	
-	console.log('trimming messages from scheduled event')	//	:TODO: remove me!!!
-	
 }
\ No newline at end of file