diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1b8cd87fd47eec52657ec077fb78ceab7877a938..873655e7b9fb5e89159014f5e9fc6de384cb0fc6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ project(DD4hep)
 
 # project version
 SET( DD4hep_VERSION_MAJOR 0 )
-SET( DD4hep_VERSION_MINOR 5 )
+SET( DD4hep_VERSION_MINOR 6 )
 SET( DD4hep_VERSION_PATCH 0 )
 
 SET( DD4hep_VERSION "${DD4hep_VERSION_MAJOR}.${DD4hep_VERSION_MINOR}" )
@@ -108,11 +108,9 @@ add_subdirectory(UtilityApps)
 
 
 #---Configuration-------------------------------------------------------------------
-# ----for APPLE scripts have to set the DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH ?
-if( APPLE )
+# ----for APPLE scripts have to set the DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH 
+if( APPLE ) 
   set( USE_DYLD 1)
-else()
-  set( USE_DYLD 0)
 endif()
 
 configure_file(cmake/thisdd4hep.csh thisdd4hep.csh @ONLY)
@@ -125,7 +123,7 @@ install(FILES ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/thisdd4hep.csh ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/thisdd4hep.
 install(PROGRAMS ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/run_test.sh
   DESTINATION bin
   )
-#  PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ, OWNER_WRITE, OWNER_EXECUTE, GROUP_READ, GROUP_EXECUTE, WORLD_READ, WORLD_EXECUTE,
+
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 display_std_variables()
 
diff --git a/ReadMe.txt b/ReadMe.txt
index 71222af8ee32676f65a94ee43e9fe2d3b0d255ec..96afc9955d539929ef6eef37bc6c21fbbc8fdb99 100644
--- a/ReadMe.txt
+++ b/ReadMe.txt
@@ -194,6 +194,16 @@ or build all examples in one go:
   geoConverter -compact2lcdd -input file:../compact/ILDEx.xml -output ILD_toy.lcdd
 
 
+- running example tests:
+  -----------------------
+
+  make install ; make test
+ 
+  or: 
+  ctest -V -R converter
+  ctest -V -R sim
+  ctest -V -R noviceN04
+
 
 9) run SLIC simulation on lccd file created with DD4Hep:
 
diff --git a/cmake/run_test_package.sh b/cmake/run_test_package.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d108c97e07974df45214f1166a3c1df5ca62169e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/run_test_package.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+#
+# Simple script to run DD4hep tests
+# - sources this${PackageName}.sh first and then
+#   calls the command (given as first argument)
+#   with all following arguments
+#
+
+
+#----- initialize environment for this package - including DD4hep 
+
+source @CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@/bin/this@PackageName@.sh
+
+#----- parse command line - first argument is the 
+#      test to run
+command=$1
+theargs=""
+shift
+for i in "$@" ; do
+    if [ $i != ${command} ] ; then 
+	theargs="${theargs} $i"
+    fi
+done
+
+#echo " #### LD_LIBRARY_PATH = :  ${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}" 
+
+echo " ### running test :  '" ${command} ${theargs} "'"
+${command} ${theargs}
diff --git a/cmake/thisdd4hep.sh b/cmake/thisdd4hep.sh
index d2fdbbd0a294429e0767a515463212d8ff9b7513..f89ce8746b33549389058237bb4e796a0a1760c3 100644
--- a/cmake/thisdd4hep.sh
+++ b/cmake/thisdd4hep.sh
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 #
 # This script if for the csh like shells, see thisdd4hep.csh for csh like shells.
 #
-# Author: Pere Mato
+# Author: Pere Mato. F. Gaede
 
 
+#echo " ### thisdd4hep.sh:   initialize the environment for DD4hep ! " 
+
 if [ "x${BASH_ARGV[0]}" = "x" ]; then
     if [ ! -f bin/thisdd4hep.sh ]; then
         echo ERROR: must "cd where/dd4hep/is" before calling ". bin/thisdd4hep.sh" for this version of bash!
@@ -28,8 +30,15 @@ then
 # ---------- initialze geant4 environment
     test -r ${G4ENV_INIT} && { cd $(dirname ${G4ENV_INIT}) ; . ./$(basename ${G4ENV_INIT}) ; cd $OLDPWD ; }
 
+
+#---- if geant4 was built with external CLHEP we have to extend the dynamic search path
     if [ @GEANT4_WITH_CLHEP@ ] ; then
-	export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:@CLHEP_LIBRARY_PATH@
+	if [ @USE_DYLD@ ]
+	then
+	    export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH:@CLHEP_LIBRARY_PATH@
+	else
+	    export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:@CLHEP_LIBRARY_PATH@
+	fi
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/cmake/thisdd4hep_package.sh.in b/cmake/thisdd4hep_package.sh.in
index b100116a40e5f8a8542dc70300c38e7eb96b0c90..dd11907c4ea4297ddf08ea735db3fb5001e56d1d 100644
--- a/cmake/thisdd4hep_package.sh.in
+++ b/cmake/thisdd4hep_package.sh.in
@@ -17,3 +17,20 @@ then
 else
     export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@/lib
 fi
+
+
+# -- need to extend dynamic search path for all external libraries:
+
+for lp in @External_LIBRARY_DIRS@
+do
+
+
+    if [ @USE_DYLD@ ]
+    then
+	# echo "  ### 	export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH:${lp} "
+	export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH:${lp}
+    else
+	# echo "  ### 	export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:${lp} "
+	export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:${lp}
+    fi
+done
diff --git a/doc/release.notes b/doc/release.notes
index ddc2518280513dc75c2a1e6bf12a6d7cc7a3909e..0ad9ac86ba1794d35a5bf2978414d1213c6dd589 100644
--- a/doc/release.notes
+++ b/doc/release.notes
@@ -1,6 +1,24 @@
 DD4hep  ----  Release Notes
 =================================
 
+
+ --------
+| v00-06 |  sixth beta release ...
+ --------   
+
+2014/02/04  Frank Gaede
+-----------------------
+  - fixed environment scripts thisdd4hep.sh and this${PackageName}.sh
+    to also export library pathes for external libraries (CLHEP, LCIO, gear)
+
+  - added some simple tests to ILDExDet, ILDExSimu and noviceN04
+    - provide cmake script run_test_package.sh ( configured as run_test_${PackageName} ) 
+      to call test binaries after initializing the environment
+      (needed for automated/nightly tests)
+
+  - updated Readme.txt wrt build procedure and running the tests
+
+
 2014/01/17    Markus Frank
 --------------------------
   - Prepare implementation of Alignment using Release and Grap features of TGeoVolume
diff --git a/examples/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
index ca47233499afaf75d65f316c4b2549fc8153cbf3..6fea6e78d44970683e0c00e080d5730af1742706 100644
--- a/examples/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.3 FATAL_ERROR)
 
 project(DD4hepExample)
 
+#---Testing-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
+  include(CTest)
+  enable_testing()
+endif(BUILD_TESTING)
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # (un)comment as needed 
 #
@@ -27,7 +33,7 @@ add_subdirectory(CLICSiD)
 
 add_subdirectory(noviceN04)
 
-#---- does not build on mac ...
+#---- does not build on mac or ubuntu ...
 #add_subdirectory(Segmentation)
 
 
diff --git a/examples/CTestConfig.cmake b/examples/CTestConfig.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d694799651173d8cced79bcd83282cd18bb983ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/CTestConfig.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+## This file should be placed in the root directory of your project.
+## Then modify the CMakeLists.txt file in the root directory of your
+## project to incorporate the testing dashboard.
+## # The following are required to uses Dart and the Cdash dashboard
+##   ENABLE_TESTING()
+##   INCLUDE(CTest)
+set(CTEST_PROJECT_NAME "DD4hep")
+set(CTEST_NIGHTLY_START_TIME "01:00:00 UTC")
+
+set(CTEST_DROP_METHOD "http")
+set(CTEST_DROP_SITE "aidasoft.desy.de")
+set(CTEST_DROP_LOCATION "/CDash/submit.php?project=DD4hep")
+set(CTEST_DROP_SITE_CDASH TRUE)
diff --git a/examples/ILDExDet/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/ILDExDet/CMakeLists.txt
index 4ca814bd8ad1fed07715f6e62c30210b7ca92bb6..96a14b69d1b2fb3d9abd1868b81dad1aa603e712 100644
--- a/examples/ILDExDet/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/ILDExDet/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,7 +41,16 @@ find_package( ROOT REQUIRED )
 set( ROOT_COMPONENT_LIBRARIES Geom Reflex)
 
 
+
 find_package( GEAR REQUIRED)
+
+# add all gear library pathes to External_LIBRARY_DIRS for the environment script
+foreach(lp ${GEAR_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+  set( External_LIBRARY_DIRS "${External_LIBRARY_DIRS} ${lp}")
+endforeach(lp) 
+#message( STATUS " *** pathes : ${External_LIBRARY_DIRS} "  )
+
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------
 # add additional packages here
 
@@ -81,6 +90,16 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 
+#---Testing-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
+  include(CTest)
+  enable_testing()
+endif(BUILD_TESTING)
+
+configure_file( ${DD4hep_ROOT}/cmake/run_test_package.sh run_test_${PackageName}.sh @ONLY)
+INSTALL(PROGRAMS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/run_test_${PackageName}.sh
+  DESTINATION bin )
+
 #---- configure run environment ---------------
 configure_file( ${DD4hep_ROOT}/cmake/thisdd4hep_package.sh.in  this${PackageName}.sh @ONLY)
 
@@ -102,5 +121,45 @@ install(TARGETS ${PackageName}
   RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
   LIBRARY DESTINATION lib
   )
+
 # to do: add corresponding uninstall...
 #-------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+####################################
+#
+#  Add Tests foir ILDExDet here
+# 
+####################################
+
+SET( test_name "test_converter_lcdd" )
+ADD_TEST( t_${test_name} "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test_${PackageName}.sh" 
+  geoConverter -compact2lcdd -input ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/ILDExDet/compact/ILDEx.xml -output ILDExDet.lcdd )
+#----- here we simply require that at least 100 volumes have been converted
+SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  " Handled [1-9][0-9][0-9]+ volumes" )
+
+SET( test_name "test_converter_gdml" )
+ADD_TEST( t_${test_name} "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test_${PackageName}.sh" 
+  geoConverter -compact2gdml -input ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/ILDExDet/compact/ILDEx.xml -output ILDExDet.gdml )
+#----- here we simply require that at least 100 volumes have been converted
+SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  " Handled [1-9][0-9][0-9]+ volumes" )
+
+SET( test_name "test_converter_vis" )
+ADD_TEST( t_${test_name} "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test_${PackageName}.sh" 
+  geoConverter -compact2vis -input ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/ILDExDet/compact/ILDEx.xml -output ILDExDet.vis )
+#----- here we simply require that at least 100 volumes have been converted
+SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  " Handled [1-9][0-9][0-9]+ volumes" )
+
+
+#SET( test_name "test_converter_pandora" )
+#ADD_TEST( t_${test_name} "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test_${PackageName}.sh" 
+#  geoConverter -compact2pandora -input ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/ILDExDet/compact/ILDEx.xml -output ILDExDet.pandora )
+##----- here we simply require that at least 100 volumes have been converted
+#SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  " Handled [1-9][0-9][0-9]+ volumes" )
+
+
+# no explicit failed condition
+#SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES FAIL_REGULAR_EXPRESSION "TEST_FAILED" )
+
+
diff --git a/examples/ILDExSimu/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/ILDExSimu/CMakeLists.txt
index c46f236dc87a8f2767e923e8777804bfa495ed4f..7ab346f3c2345dbe408794894190cf50daeaee43 100644
--- a/examples/ILDExSimu/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/ILDExSimu/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ INCLUDE(${Geant4_USE_FILE})   # this also takes care of geant 4 definitions and
 
 
 find_package(LCIO REQUIRED) 
+# add all lcio library pathes to External_LIBRARY_DIRS for the environment script
+foreach(lp ${LCIO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+  set( External_LIBRARY_DIRS "${External_LIBRARY_DIRS} ${lp}")
+endforeach(lp) 
 
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -90,6 +94,16 @@ target_link_libraries(${PackageName} ${DD4hep_LIBRARIES}
   )
 
 
+#---Testing-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
+  include(CTest)
+  enable_testing()
+endif(BUILD_TESTING)
+
+configure_file( ${DD4hep_ROOT}/cmake/run_test_package.sh run_test_${PackageName}.sh @ONLY)
+INSTALL(PROGRAMS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/run_test_${PackageName}.sh
+  DESTINATION bin )
+
 #---Rootmap generation--------------------------------------------------------------
 # fg: not needed here (?)
 #if(APPLE)
@@ -116,4 +130,18 @@ install(TARGETS ${PackageName}
 
 
 # to do: add corresponding uninstall...
-#-------------------------------------------------------
\ No newline at end of file
+#-------------------------------------------------------
+
+####################################
+#
+#  Add Tests foir ILDExSimu here
+# 
+####################################
+
+SET( test_name "test_sim_ildexdet" )
+ADD_TEST( t_${test_name} "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test_${PackageName}.sh" 
+  ILDExSimu file:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../ILDExDet/compact/ILDEx.xml file:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../ILDExDet/compact/geant4.xml ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/run1.mac )
+
+#----- check for typical expected output:
+SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  " Begin of event: 2" )
+SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  "-End of Run-" )
diff --git a/examples/noviceN04/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/noviceN04/CMakeLists.txt
index 127d3456512b02f80b6a07fe3eae3602084bb56a..0bfbfab6a95081d15fc31a5bed6aec49669cde8a 100644
--- a/examples/noviceN04/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/noviceN04/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -44,16 +44,8 @@ set( ROOT_COMPONENT_LIBRARIES Geom Reflex)
 # add additional packages here
 
 find_package(Geant4 REQUIRED ui_all vis_all)
-##---Handle the case CLHEP is not included in Geant4------------------------------
-#if(NOT Geant4_clhep_FOUND)
-#  find_package(CLHEP REQUIRED)
-#  set(Geant4_INCLUDE_DIRS ${Geant4_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${CLHEP_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-#  set(Geant4_LIBRARIES ${Geant4_LIBRARIES} ${CLHEP_LIBRARIES})
-#endif()
-INCLUDE(${Geant4_USE_FILE})   # this also takes care of geant 4 definitions and include dirs
-
 
-#find_package(LCIO REQUIRED) 
+INCLUDE(${Geant4_USE_FILE})   # this also takes care of geant 4 definitions and include dirs
 
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -87,14 +79,18 @@ target_link_libraries(${PackageName} ${DD4hep_LIBRARIES}
 
 add_executable( exampleN04 exampleN04.cc )
 
-target_link_libraries(exampleN04 ${PackageName} 
-#  ${DD4hep_LIBRARIES}  
-#  ${ROOT_LIBRARIES} 
-#  ${ROOT_COMPONENT_LIBRARIES} 
-#  ${Geant4_LIBRARIES} 
-#  ${LCIO_LIBRARIES}
-  )
+target_link_libraries(exampleN04 ${PackageName}  )
+
 
+#---Testing-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
+  include(CTest)
+  enable_testing()
+endif(BUILD_TESTING)
+
+configure_file( ${DD4hep_ROOT}/cmake/run_test_package.sh run_test_${PackageName}.sh @ONLY)
+INSTALL(PROGRAMS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/run_test_${PackageName}.sh
+  DESTINATION bin )
 
 #---Rootmap generation--------------------------------------------------------------
 if(APPLE)
@@ -104,6 +100,9 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 
+
+
+
 #---- configure run environment ---------------
 configure_file( ${DD4hep_ROOT}/cmake/thisdd4hep_package.sh.in  this${PackageName}.sh @ONLY)
 
@@ -145,3 +144,17 @@ install(TARGETS ${PackageName} exampleN04
 
 # to do: add corresponding uninstall...
 #-------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+####################################
+#
+#  Add Tests foir noviceN04 here
+# 
+####################################
+
+SET( test_name "test_noviceN04" )
+ADD_TEST( t_${test_name} "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/run_test_${PackageName}.sh" 
+  exampleN04 file:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/compact/N04.xml file:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/compact/geant4.xml ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/exampleN04.in )
+
+#----- check for typical expected output:
+SET_TESTS_PROPERTIES( t_${test_name} PROPERTIES PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION  " Number of events processed : 3" )