diff --git a/DDTest/CMakeLists.txt b/DDTest/CMakeLists.txt
index 135c1bedfc1aa4e133f5381e60180309715a6d2d..f3424d10debd2b6fb651743a2c9ec070996bcaf2 100644
--- a/DDTest/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/DDTest/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -140,8 +140,21 @@ if (DD4HEP_USE_GEANT4)
add_test( t_ddsimUserPlugins "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test.sh"
ddsim --compactFile=${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/DDDetectors/compact/SiD.xml --runType=batch -N=10
- --outputFile=t_ddsimUserPlugins.root -G --steeringFile ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python/userSteeringFile.PY
- --part.userParticleHandler=)
+ --outputFile=t_ddsimUserPlugins.root -G
+ --steeringFile ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python/userPluginsSteeringFile.PY
+ --part.userParticleHandler=
+ )
+
+ add_test( t_ddsimUserActions "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test.sh"
+ ddsim --compactFile=${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/DDDetectors/compact/SiD.xml --runType=batch -N=10
+ --outputFile=t_ddsimUserActions.root -G
+ --steeringFile ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python/userActionsSteeringFile.PY
+ --action.event "Geant4TestEventAction/EventActionCLI1"
+ --action.step "Geant4TestStepAction/StepActionCLI1,Geant4TestStepAction/StepActionCLI2"
+ --action.step '[ "Geant4TestStepAction/StepActionCLI2", "Geant4TestStepAction/StepActionCLI3" ]'
+ --action.stack '{ "name" : "Geant4TestStackAction/StackActionCLI1" , "parameter" : { "Property_int" : 10 } }'
+ --action.stack '[ { "name" : "Geant4TestStackAction/StackActionCLI2" , "parameter" : { "Property_int" : 10 } } ]'
+ )
endif()
install(DIRECTORY include/DD4hep DESTINATION include)
diff --git a/DDTest/python/userActionsSteeringFile.PY b/DDTest/python/userActionsSteeringFile.PY
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5de07feaf6ae78f1be520b4134e5eeb1502e3bf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DDTest/python/userActionsSteeringFile.PY
@@ -0,0 +1,558 @@
+from DDSim.DD4hepSimulation import DD4hepSimulation
+from g4units import mm, GeV, MeV
+SIM = DD4hepSimulation()
+
+## The compact XML file, or multiple compact files, if the last one is the closer.
+SIM.compactFile = []
+## Lorentz boost for the crossing angle, in radian!
+SIM.crossingAngleBoost = 0.0
+SIM.enableDetailedShowerMode = False
+SIM.enableG4GPS = False
+SIM.enableG4Gun = False
+SIM.enableGun = False
+## InputFiles for simulation .stdhep, .slcio, .HEPEvt, .hepevt, .pairs, .hepmc, .hepmc.gz, .hepmc.xz, .hepmc.bz2, .hepmc3, .hepmc3.gz, .hepmc3.xz, .hepmc3.bz2, .hepmc3.tree.root files are supported
+SIM.inputFiles = []
+## Macro file to execute for runType 'run' or 'vis'
+SIM.macroFile = ""
+## number of events to simulate, used in batch mode
+SIM.numberOfEvents = 0
+## Outputfile from the simulation: .slcio, edm4hep.root and .root output files are supported
+SIM.outputFile = "dummyOutput.slcio"
+## Physics list to use in simulation
+SIM.physicsList = None
+## Verbosity use integers from 1(most) to 7(least) verbose
+## or strings: VERBOSE, DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, FATAL, ALWAYS
+SIM.printLevel = 3
+## The type of action to do in this invocation
+## batch: just simulate some events, needs numberOfEvents, and input file or gun
+## vis: enable visualisation, run the macroFile if it is set
+## qt: enable visualisation in Qt shell, run the macroFile if it is set
+## run: run the macroFile and exit
+## shell: enable interactive session
+SIM.runType = "batch"
+## Skip first N events when reading a file
+SIM.skipNEvents = 0
+## Steering file to change default behaviour
+SIM.steeringFile = None
+## FourVector of translation for the Smearing of the Vertex position: x y z t
+SIM.vertexOffset = [0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0]
+## FourVector of the Sigma for the Smearing of the Vertex position: x y z t
+SIM.vertexSigma = [0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0]
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Helper holding sensitive detector actions.
+##
+## The default tracker and calorimeter actions can be set with
+##
+## >>> SIM = DD4hepSimulation()
+## >>> SIM.action.tracker=('Geant4TrackerWeightedAction', {'HitPositionCombination': 2, 'CollectSingleDeposits': False})
+## >>> SIM.action.calo = "Geant4CalorimeterAction"
+##
+## The default sensitive actions for calorimeters and trackers are applied based on the sensitive type.
+## The list of sensitive types can be changed with
+##
+## >>> SIM = DD4hepSimulation()
+## >>> SIM.action.trackerSDTypes = ['tracker', 'myTrackerSensType']
+## >>> SIM.calor.calorimeterSDTypes = ['calorimeter', 'myCaloSensType']
+##
+## For specific subdetectors specific sensitive detectors can be set based on patterns in the name of the subdetector.
+##
+## >>> SIM = DD4hepSimulation()
+## >>> SIM.action.mapActions['tpc'] = "TPCSDAction"
+##
+## and additional parameters for the sensitive detectors can be set when the map is given a tuple
+##
+## >>> SIM = DD4hepSimulation()
+## >>> SIM.action.mapActions['ecal'] =( "CaloPreShowerSDAction", {"FirstLayerNumber": 1} )
+##
+##
+## Additional actions can be set as well with the following syntax variations:
+##
+## >>> SIM = DD4hepSimulation()
+## # single action by name only:
+## >>> SIM.action.run = "Geant4TestRunAction"
+## # multiple actions with comma-separated names:
+## >>> SIM.action.event = "Geant4TestEventAction/Action0,Geant4TestEventAction/Action1"
+## # single action by tuple of name and parameter dict:
+## >>> SIM.action.track = ( "Geant4TestTrackAction", {"Property_int": 10} )
+## # single action by dict of name and parameter dict:
+## >>> SIM.action.step = { "name": "Geant4TestStepAction", "parameter": {"Property_int": 10} }
+## # multiple actions by list of dict of name and parameter dict:
+## >>> SIM.action.stack = [ { "name": "Geant4TestStackAction", "parameter": {"Property_int": 10} } ]
+##
+## On the command line or in python, these actions can be specified as JSON strings:
+## $ ddsim --action.stack '{ "name": "Geant4TestStackAction", "parameter": { "Property_int": 10 } }'
+## or
+## >>> SIM.action.stack = '''
+## {
+## "name": "Geant4TestStackAction",
+## "parameter": {
+## "Property_int": 10,
+## "Property_double": "1.0*mm"
+## }
+## }
+## '''
+##
+##
+################################################################################
+
+## set the default calorimeter action
+SIM.action.calo = "Geant4ScintillatorCalorimeterAction"
+
+## List of patterns matching sensitive detectors of type Calorimeter.
+SIM.action.calorimeterSDTypes = ['calorimeter']
+
+## Create a map of patterns and actions to be applied to sensitive detectors.
+##
+## Example: if the name of the detector matches 'tpc' the TPCSDAction is used.
+##
+## SIM.action.mapActions['tpc'] = "TPCSDAction"
+##
+SIM.action.mapActions = {}
+
+## set the default tracker action
+SIM.action.tracker = ('Geant4TrackerWeightedAction', {'HitPositionCombination': 2, 'CollectSingleDeposits': False})
+
+## List of patterns matching sensitive detectors of type Tracker.
+SIM.action.trackerSDTypes = ['tracker']
+
+## single action by name only
+SIM.action.run = "Geant4TestRunAction/RunAction1"
+
+## multiple actions with comma-separated names:
+SIM.action.event = "Geant4TestEventAction/EventAction0,Geant4TestEventAction/EventAction1"
+
+## single action by tuple of name and parameter dict:
+SIM.action.track = ( "Geant4TestTrackAction/TrackAction1", {"Property_int": 10} )
+
+## single action by dict of name and parameter dict:
+SIM.action.step = { "name": "Geant4TestStepAction/StepAction1", "parameter": {"Property_int": 10} }
+
+## multiple actions by list of dict of name and parameter dict:
+SIM.action.stack = [ { "name": "Geant4TestStackAction/StackAction1", "parameter": {"Property_int": 10} } ]
+
+## On the command line or in python, these actions can be specified as JSON strings:
+SIM.action.stack = '''
+{
+ "name": "Geant4TestStackAction/StackActionJSON1",
+ "parameter": {
+ "Property_int": 10,
+ "Property_double": "1.0*mm"
+ }
+}
+'''
+
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the magnetic field (stepper)
+################################################################################
+SIM.field.delta_chord = 0.25
+SIM.field.delta_intersection = 0.001
+SIM.field.delta_one_step = 0.01
+SIM.field.eps_max = 0.001
+SIM.field.eps_min = 5e-05
+SIM.field.equation = "Mag_UsualEqRhs"
+SIM.field.largest_step = 10000.0
+SIM.field.min_chord_step = 0.01
+SIM.field.stepper = "ClassicalRK4"
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for sensitive detector filters
+##
+## Set the default filter for 'tracker'
+## >>> SIM.filter.tracker = "edep1kev"
+## Use no filter for 'calorimeter' by default
+## >>> SIM.filter.calo = ""
+##
+## Assign a filter to a sensitive detector via pattern matching
+## >>> SIM.filter.mapDetFilter['FTD'] = "edep1kev"
+##
+## Or more than one filter:
+## >>> SIM.filter.mapDetFilter['FTD'] = ["edep1kev", "geantino"]
+##
+## Don't use the default filter or anything else:
+## >>> SIM.filter.mapDetFilter['TPC'] = None ## or "" or []
+##
+## Create a custom filter. The dictionary is used to instantiate the filter later on
+## >>> SIM.filter.filters['edep3kev'] = dict(name="EnergyDepositMinimumCut/3keV", parameter={"Cut": 3.0*keV} )
+##
+##
+################################################################################
+
+##
+## default filter for calorimeter sensitive detectors;
+## this is applied if no other filter is used for a calorimeter
+##
+SIM.filter.calo = "edep0"
+
+## list of filter objects: map between name and parameter dictionary
+SIM.filter.filters = {'geantino': {'name': 'GeantinoRejectFilter/GeantinoRejector', 'parameter': {}}, 'edep1kev': {'name': 'EnergyDepositMinimumCut', 'parameter': {'Cut': 0.001}}, 'edep0': {'name': 'EnergyDepositMinimumCut/Cut0', 'parameter': {'Cut': 0.0}}}
+
+## a map between patterns and filter objects, using patterns to attach filters to sensitive detector
+SIM.filter.mapDetFilter = {}
+
+## default filter for tracking sensitive detectors; this is applied if no other filter is used for a tracker
+SIM.filter.tracker = "edep1kev"
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the Detector Construction.
+################################################################################
+SIM.geometry.dumpGDML = ""
+SIM.geometry.dumpHierarchy = 0
+
+## Print Debug information about Elements
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugElements = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Materials
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugMaterials = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Placements
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugPlacements = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Reflections
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugReflections = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Regions
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugRegions = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Shapes
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugShapes = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Surfaces
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugSurfaces = False
+
+## Print Debug information about Volumes
+SIM.geometry.enableDebugVolumes = False
+
+## Print information about placements
+SIM.geometry.enablePrintPlacements = False
+
+## Print information about Sensitives
+SIM.geometry.enablePrintSensitives = False
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the GuineaPig InputFiles
+################################################################################
+
+## Set the number of pair particles to simulate per event.
+## Only used if inputFile ends with ".pairs"
+## If "-1" all particles will be simulated in a single event
+##
+SIM.guineapig.particlesPerEvent = "-1"
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the DDG4 ParticleGun
+################################################################################
+
+## direction of the particle gun, 3 vector
+SIM.gun.direction = (0, 0, 1)
+
+## choose the distribution of the random direction for theta
+##
+## Options for random distributions:
+##
+## 'uniform' is the default distribution, flat in theta
+## 'cos(theta)' is flat in cos(theta)
+## 'eta', or 'pseudorapidity' is flat in pseudorapity
+## 'ffbar' is distributed according to 1+cos^2(theta)
+##
+## Setting a distribution will set isotrop = True
+##
+SIM.gun.distribution = None
+
+## Total energy (including mass) for the particle gun.
+##
+## If not None, it will overwrite the setting of momentumMin and momentumMax
+SIM.gun.energy = None
+
+## Maximal pseudorapidity for random distibution (overrides thetaMin)
+SIM.gun.etaMax = None
+
+## Minimal pseudorapidity for random distibution (overrides thetaMax)
+SIM.gun.etaMin = None
+
+## isotropic distribution for the particle gun
+##
+## use the options phiMin, phiMax, thetaMin, and thetaMax to limit the range of randomly distributed directions
+## if one of these options is not None the random distribution will be set to True and cannot be turned off!
+##
+SIM.gun.isotrop = False
+
+## Maximal momentum when using distribution (default = 0.0)
+SIM.gun.momentumMax = 10000.0
+
+## Minimal momentum when using distribution (default = 0.0)
+SIM.gun.momentumMin = 0.0
+SIM.gun.multiplicity = 1
+SIM.gun.particle = "mu-"
+
+## Maximal azimuthal angle for random distribution
+SIM.gun.phiMax = None
+
+## Minimal azimuthal angle for random distribution
+SIM.gun.phiMin = None
+
+## position of the particle gun, 3 vector
+SIM.gun.position = (0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
+
+## Maximal polar angle for random distribution
+SIM.gun.thetaMax = None
+
+## Minimal polar angle for random distribution
+SIM.gun.thetaMin = None
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the hepmc3 InputFiles
+################################################################################
+
+## Set the name of the attribute contraining color flow information index 0.
+SIM.hepmc3.Flow1 = "flow1"
+
+## Set the name of the attribute contraining color flow information index 1.
+SIM.hepmc3.Flow2 = "flow2"
+
+## Set to false if the input should be opened with the hepmc2 ascii reader.
+##
+## If ``True`` a '.hepmc' file will be opened with the HEPMC3 Reader Factory.
+##
+## Defaults to true if DD4hep was build with HEPMC3 support.
+##
+SIM.hepmc3.useHepMC3 = False
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for Input Files.
+################################################################################
+
+## Set one or more functions to configure input steps.
+##
+## The functions must take a ``DD4hepSimulation`` object as their only argument and return the created generatorAction
+## ``gen`` (for example).
+##
+## For example one can add this to the ddsim steering file:
+##
+## def exampleUserPlugin(dd4hepSimulation):
+## '''Example code for user created plugin.
+##
+## :param DD4hepSimulation dd4hepSimulation: The DD4hepSimulation instance, so all parameters can be accessed
+## :return: GeneratorAction
+## '''
+## from DDG4 import GeneratorAction, Kernel
+## # Geant4InputAction is the type of plugin, Cry1 just an identifier
+## gen = GeneratorAction(Kernel(), 'Geant4InputAction/Cry1' , True)
+## # CRYEventReader is the actual plugin, steeringFile its constructor parameter
+## gen.Input = 'CRYEventReader|' + 'steeringFile'
+## # we can give a dictionary of Parameters that has to be interpreted by the setParameters function of the plugin
+## gen.Parameters = {'DataFilePath': '/path/to/files/data'}
+## gen.enableUI()
+## return gen
+##
+## SIM.inputConfig.userInputPlugin = exampleUserPlugin
+##
+## Repeat function definition and assignment to add multiple input steps
+##
+##
+SIM.inputConfig.userInputPlugin = []
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the generator-level InputFiles
+################################################################################
+
+## Set the name of the collection containing the MCParticle input.
+## Default is "MCParticle".
+##
+SIM.lcio.mcParticleCollectionName = "MCParticle"
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the LCIO output file settings
+################################################################################
+
+## The event number offset to write in slcio output file. E.g setting it to 42 will start counting events from 42 instead of 0
+SIM.meta.eventNumberOffset = 0
+
+## Event parameters to write in every event. Use C/F/I ids to specify parameter type. E.g parameterName/F=0.42 to set a float parameter
+SIM.meta.eventParameters = []
+
+## The run number offset to write in slcio output file. E.g setting it to 42 will start counting runs from 42 instead of 0
+SIM.meta.runNumberOffset = 0
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the output levels of DDG4 components
+################################################################################
+
+## Output level for geometry.
+SIM.output.geometry = 2
+
+## Output level for input sources
+SIM.output.inputStage = 3
+
+## Output level for Geant4 kernel
+SIM.output.kernel = 3
+
+## Output level for ParticleHandler
+SIM.output.part = 3
+
+## Output level for Random Number Generator setup
+SIM.output.random = 6
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for Output Files.
+################################################################################
+
+## Set a function to configure the outputFile.
+##
+## The function must take a ``DD4hepSimulation`` object as its only argument and return ``None``.
+##
+## For example one can add this to the ddsim steering file:
+##
+## def exampleUserPlugin(dd4hepSimulation):
+## '''Example code for user created plugin.
+##
+## :param DD4hepSimulation dd4hepSimulation: The DD4hepSimulation instance, so all parameters can be accessed
+## :return: None
+## '''
+## from DDG4 import EventAction, Kernel
+## dd = dd4hepSimulation # just shorter variable name
+## evt_root = EventAction(Kernel(), 'Geant4Output2ROOT/' + dd.outputFile, True)
+## evt_root.HandleMCTruth = True or False
+## evt_root.Control = True
+## if not dd.outputFile.endswith(dd.outputConfig.myExtension):
+## output = dd.outputFile + dd.outputConfig.myExtension
+## evt_root.Output = output
+## evt_root.enableUI()
+## Kernel().eventAction().add(evt_root)
+## return None
+##
+## SIM.outputConfig.userOutputPlugin = exampleUserPlugin
+## # arbitrary options can be created and set via the steering file or command line
+## SIM.outputConfig.myExtension = '.csv'
+##
+SIM.outputConfig.userOutputPlugin = None
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the Particle Handler/ MCTruth treatment
+################################################################################
+
+## Enable lots of printout on simulated hits and MC-truth information
+SIM.part.enableDetailedHitsAndParticleInfo = False
+
+## Keep all created particles
+SIM.part.keepAllParticles = False
+
+## Minimal distance between particle vertex and endpoint of parent after
+## which the vertexIsNotEndpointOfParent flag is set
+##
+SIM.part.minDistToParentVertex = 2.2e-14
+
+## MinimalKineticEnergy to store particles created in the tracking region
+SIM.part.minimalKineticEnergy = 1.0
+
+## Printout at End of Tracking
+SIM.part.printEndTracking = False
+
+## Printout at Start of Tracking
+SIM.part.printStartTracking = False
+
+## List of processes to save, on command line give as whitespace separated string in quotation marks
+SIM.part.saveProcesses = ['Decay']
+
+## Optionally enable an extended Particle Handler
+SIM.part.userParticleHandler = "Geant4TCUserParticleHandler"
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Configuration for the PhysicsList
+################################################################################
+
+## If true, add decay processes for all particles.
+##
+## Only enable when creating a physics list not based on an existing Geant4 list!
+##
+SIM.physics.decays = False
+
+## The name of the Geant4 Physics list.
+SIM.physics.list = "FTFP_BERT"
+
+## location of particle.tbl file containing extra particles and their lifetime information
+##
+## For example in $DD4HEP/examples/DDG4/examples/particle.tbl
+##
+SIM.physics.pdgfile = None
+
+## The global geant4 rangecut for secondary production
+##
+## Default is 0.7 mm as is the case in geant4 10
+##
+## To disable this plugin and be absolutely sure to use the Geant4 default range cut use "None"
+##
+## Set printlevel to DEBUG to see a printout of all range cuts,
+## but this only works if range cut is not "None"
+##
+SIM.physics.rangecut = 0.7
+
+## Set of PDG IDs that will not be passed from the input record to Geant4.
+##
+## Quarks, gluons and W's Z's etc should not be treated by Geant4
+##
+SIM.physics.rejectPDGs = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 3201, 3203, 4101, 4103, 21, 23, 24, 5401, 25, 2203, 5403, 3101, 3103, 4403, 2101, 5301, 2103, 5303, 4301, 1103, 4303, 5201, 5203, 3303, 4201, 4203, 5101, 5103, 5503}
+
+## Set of PDG IDs for particles that should not be passed to Geant4 if their properTime is 0.
+##
+## The properTime of 0 indicates a documentation to add FSR to a lepton for example.
+##
+SIM.physics.zeroTimePDGs = {17, 11, 13, 15}
+
+def setupCerenkovScint(kernel):
+ from DDG4 import PhysicsList
+ seq = kernel.physicsList()
+
+ scint = PhysicsList(kernel, 'Geant4ScintillationPhysics/ScintillationPhys')
+ scint.VerboseLevel = 0
+ scint.TrackSecondariesFirst = True
+ scint.enableUI()
+ seq.adopt(scint)
+
+ cerenkov = PhysicsList(kernel, 'Geant4CerenkovPhysics/CerenkovPhys')
+ cerenkov.VerboseLevel = 0
+ cerenkov.MaxNumPhotonsPerStep = 10
+ cerenkov.MaxBetaChangePerStep = 10.0
+ cerenkov.TrackSecondariesFirst = True
+ cerenkov.enableUI()
+ seq.adopt(cerenkov)
+
+ ph = PhysicsList(kernel, 'Geant4OpticalPhotonPhysics/OpticalGammaPhys')
+ ph.addParticleConstructor('G4OpticalPhoton')
+ ph.VerboseLevel = 0
+ ph.enableUI()
+ seq.adopt(ph)
+
+ return None
+
+
+SIM.physics.setupUserPhysics(setupCerenkovScint)
+
+
+################################################################################
+## Properties for the random number generator
+################################################################################
+
+## If True, calculate random seed for each event basedon eventID and runID
+## Allows reproducibility even whenSkippingEvents
+SIM.random.enableEventSeed = False
+SIM.random.file = None
+SIM.random.luxury = 1
+SIM.random.replace_gRandom = True
+SIM.random.seed = None
+SIM.random.type = None
diff --git a/DDTest/python/userSteeringFile.PY b/DDTest/python/userPluginsSteeringFile.PY
similarity index 100%
rename from DDTest/python/userSteeringFile.PY
rename to DDTest/python/userPluginsSteeringFile.PY