diff --git a/resources/install/scripts/ivr_menu.lua b/resources/install/scripts/ivr_menu.lua
index 7f8b887d8c..09c83397fc 100644
--- a/resources/install/scripts/ivr_menu.lua
+++ b/resources/install/scripts/ivr_menu.lua
@@ -38,8 +38,12 @@
 	require "resources.functions.database_handle";
 	dbh = database_handle('system');
 
+--get logger
+	local log = require "resources.functions.log".ivr_menu
+
 --include functions
 	require "resources.functions.format_ringback"
+	require "resources.functions.split"
 
 --get the variables
 	domain_name = session:getVariable("domain_name");
@@ -49,6 +53,8 @@
 	caller_id_number = session:getVariable("caller_id_number");
 	domain_uuid = session:getVariable("domain_uuid");
 
+	local recordings_dir = recordings_dir .. "/" .. domain_name
+
 --settings
 	require "resources.functions.settings";
 	settings = settings(domain_uuid);
@@ -79,11 +85,6 @@
 		end
 	end
 
-
---set default variable(s)
-	tries = 0;
-	option_found = "false";
-
 --define the trim function
 	require "resources.functions.trim"
 
@@ -98,9 +99,9 @@
 		WHERE ivr_menu_uuid = ']] .. ivr_menu_uuid ..[['
 		AND ivr_menu_enabled = 'true' ]];
 	if (debug["sql"]) then
-		freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] SQL: " .. sql .. "\n");
+		log.notice("SQL: " .. sql);
 	end
-	status = dbh:query(sql, function(row)
+	dbh:query(sql, function(row)
 		domain_uuid = row["domain_uuid"];
 		ivr_menu_name = row["ivr_menu_name"];
 		--ivr_menu_extension = row["ivr_menu_extension"];
@@ -127,12 +128,10 @@
 	end);
 
 --set the caller id name
-	if (caller_id_name) then
-		if (string.len(ivr_menu_cid_prefix) > 0) then
-			caller_id_name = ivr_menu_cid_prefix .. "#" .. caller_id_name;
-			session:setVariable("caller_id_name", caller_id_name);
-			session:setVariable("effective_caller_id_name", caller_id_name);
-		end
+	if caller_id_name and #caller_id_name >0 then
+		caller_id_name = ivr_menu_cid_prefix .. "#" .. caller_id_name;
+		session:setVariable("caller_id_name", caller_id_name);
+		session:setVariable("effective_caller_id_name", caller_id_name);
 	end
 
 --set ringback
@@ -142,38 +141,22 @@
 
 --get the sounds dir, language, dialect and voice
 	sounds_dir = session:getVariable("sounds_dir");
-	default_language = session:getVariable("default_language");
-	default_dialect = session:getVariable("default_dialect");
-	default_voice = session:getVariable("default_voice");
-	if (not default_language) then default_language = 'en'; end
-	if (not default_dialect) then default_dialect = 'us'; end
-	if (not default_voice) then default_voice = 'callie'; end
+	default_language = session:getVariable("default_language") or 'en';
+	default_dialect = session:getVariable("default_dialect") or 'us';
+	default_voice = session:getVariable("default_voice") or 'callie';
 
 --make the path relative
-	if (string.sub(ivr_menu_greet_long,0,71) == "$${sounds_dir}/${default_language}/${default_dialect}/${default_voice}/") then
-		ivr_menu_greet_long = string.sub(ivr_menu_greet_long,72);
-	end
-	if (string.sub(ivr_menu_greet_short,0,71) == "$${sounds_dir}/${default_language}/${default_dialect}/${default_voice}/") then
-		ivr_menu_greet_short = string.sub(ivr_menu_greet_short,72);
-	end
-	if (string.sub(ivr_menu_invalid_sound,0,71) == "$${sounds_dir}/${default_language}/${default_dialect}/${default_voice}/") then
-		ivr_menu_invalid_sound = string.sub(ivr_menu_invalid_sound,72);
-	end
-	if (string.sub(ivr_menu_exit_sound,0,71) == "$${sounds_dir}/${default_language}/${default_dialect}/${default_voice}/") then
-		ivr_menu_exit_sound = string.sub(ivr_menu_exit_sound,72);
-	end
+	local strip_pattern = "^$${sounds_dir}/${default_language}/${default_dialect}/${default_voice}/"
+	ivr_menu_greet_long    = string.gsub(ivr_menu_greet_long,    strip_pattern, "")
+	ivr_menu_greet_short   = string.gsub(ivr_menu_greet_short,   strip_pattern, "")
+	ivr_menu_invalid_sound = string.gsub(ivr_menu_invalid_sound, strip_pattern, "")
+	ivr_menu_exit_sound    = string.gsub(ivr_menu_exit_sound,    strip_pattern, "")
 
 --parse file names
-	greet_long_file_name = ivr_menu_greet_long:match("([^/]+)$");
-	greet_short_file_name = ivr_menu_greet_short:match("([^/]+)$");
-	invalid_sound_file_name = ivr_menu_invalid_sound:match("([^/]+)$");
-	exit_sound_file_name = ivr_menu_exit_sound:match("([^/]+)$");
-
---prevent nil concatenation errors
-	if (greet_long_file_name == nil) then greet_long_file_name = ""; end
-	if (greet_short_file_name == nil) then greet_short_file_name = ""; end
-	if (invalid_sound_file_name == nil) then invalid_sound_file_name = ""; end
-	if (exit_sound_file_name == nil) then exit_sound_file_name = ""; end
+	greet_long_file_name = ivr_menu_greet_long:match("([^/]+)$") or "";
+	greet_short_file_name = ivr_menu_greet_short:match("([^/]+)$") or "";
+	invalid_sound_file_name = ivr_menu_invalid_sound:match("([^/]+)$") or "";
+	exit_sound_file_name = ivr_menu_exit_sound:match("([^/]+)$") or "";
 
 --get the recordings from the database
 	ivr_menu_greet_long_is_base64 = false;
@@ -181,105 +164,66 @@
 	ivr_menu_invalid_sound_is_base64 = false;
 	ivr_menu_exit_sound_is_base64 = false;
 	if (storage_type == "base64") then
+
+		--add functions
+			require "resources.functions.base64";
+			require "resources.functions.mkdir";
+
+		--make sure the recordings directory exists
+			mkdir(recordings_dir);
+
+		--define function to load file from db
+			local function load_file(file_name)
+				local full_path = recordings_dir .. "/" .. file_name
+				if file_exists(full_path) then
+					return full_path
+				end
+
+				local sql = [[SELECT * FROM v_recordings WHERE domain_uuid = ']]..domain_uuid..
+							[['AND recording_filename = ']]..file_name..[[' ]];
+
+				if (debug["sql"]) then
+					log.notice("SQL: "..sql);
+				end
+
+				local is_base64
+				dbh:query(sql, function(row)
+					if #row.recording_base64 > 32 then
+						local file, err = io.open(full_path, "w");
+						if not file then
+							log.err("can not create file: "..full_path.."; Error - " .. tostring(err));
+							return
+						end
+						file:write(base64.decode(row.recording_base64));
+						file:close();
+						is_base64 = true;
+					end
+				end);
+
+				-- return path in any case
+				return full_path, is_base64
+			end
+
 		--greet long
-			if (string.len(ivr_menu_greet_long) > 1) then
-				if (not file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_long_file_name)) then
-					sql = [[SELECT * FROM v_recordings 
-						WHERE domain_uuid = ']]..domain_uuid..[['
-						AND recording_filename = ']]..greet_long_file_name..[[' ]];
-					if (debug["sql"]) then
-						freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] SQL: "..sql.."\n");
-					end
-					status = dbh:query(sql, function(row)
-						--add functions
-							require "resources.functions.base64";
-						--make sure the recordings directory exists
-							require "resources.functions.mkdir";
-							mkdir(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name);
-						--add the path to filename
-							ivr_menu_greet_long = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_long_file_name;
-							ivr_menu_greet_long_is_base64 = true;
-						--save the recording to the file system
-							if (string.len(row["recording_base64"]) > 32) then
-								local file = io.open(ivr_menu_greet_long, "w");
-								file:write(base64.decode(row["recording_base64"]));
-								file:close();
-							end
-					end);
-				end
+			if #ivr_menu_greet_long > 1 then
+				ivr_menu_greet_long, ivr_menu_greet_long_is_base64 = load_file(greet_long_file_name)
 			end
+
 		--greet short
-			if (string.len(ivr_menu_greet_short) > 1) then
-				if (not file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_short_file_name)) then
-					sql = [[SELECT * FROM v_recordings 
-						WHERE domain_uuid = ']]..domain_uuid..[['
-						AND recording_filename = ']]..greet_short_file_name..[[' ]];
-					if (debug["sql"]) then
-						freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] SQL: "..sql.."\n");
-					end
-					status = dbh:query(sql, function(row)
-						--add functions
-							require "resources.functions.base64";
-						--add the path to filename
-							ivr_menu_greet_short = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_short_file_name;
-							ivr_menu_greet_short_is_base64 = true;
-						--save the recording to the file system
-							if (string.len(row["recording_base64"]) > 32) then
-								local file = io.open(ivr_menu_greet_short, "w");
-								file:write(base64.decode(row["recording_base64"]));
-								file:close();
-							end
-					end);
-				end
+			if #ivr_menu_greet_short > 1 then
+				ivr_menu_greet_short, ivr_menu_greet_short_is_base64 = load_file(greet_short_file_name)
 			end
+
 		--invalid sound
-			if (string.len(ivr_menu_invalid_sound) > 1) then
-				if (not file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..invalid_sound_file_name)) then
-					sql = [[SELECT * FROM v_recordings 
-						WHERE domain_uuid = ']]..domain_uuid..[['
-						AND recording_filename = ']]..invalid_sound_file_name..[[' ]];
-					if (debug["sql"]) then
-						freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] SQL: "..sql.."\n");
-					end
-					status = dbh:query(sql, function(row)
-						--add functions
-							require "resources.functions.base64";
-						--add the path to filename
-							ivr_menu_invalid_sound = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..invalid_sound_file_name;
-							ivr_menu_invalid_sound_is_base64 = true;
-						--save the recording to the file system
-							if (string.len(row["recording_base64"]) > 32) then
-								local file = io.open(ivr_menu_invalid_sound, "w");
-								file:write(base64.decode(row["recording_base64"]));
-								file:close();
-							end
-					end);
-				end
+			if #ivr_menu_invalid_sound > 1 then
+				ivr_menu_invalid_sound, ivr_menu_invalid_sound_is_base64 = load_file(invalid_sound_file_name)
 			end
+
 		--exit sound
-			if (string.len(ivr_menu_exit_sound) > 1) then
-				if (not file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..exit_sound_file_name)) then
-					sql = [[SELECT * FROM v_recordings 
-						WHERE domain_uuid = ']]..domain_uuid..[['
-						AND recording_filename = ']]..exit_sound_file_name..[[' ]];
-					if (debug["sql"]) then
-						freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] SQL: "..sql.."\n");
-					end
-					status = dbh:query(sql, function(row)
-						--add functions
-							require "resources.functions.base64";
-						--add the path to filename
-							ivr_menu_exit_sound = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..exit_sound_file_name;
-							ivr_menu_exit_sound_is_base64 = true;
-						--save the recording to the file system
-							if (string.len(row["recording_base64"]) > 32) then
-								local file = io.open(ivr_menu_exit_sound, "w");
-								file:write(base64.decode(row["recording_base64"]));
-								file:close();
-							end
-					end);
-				end
+			if #ivr_menu_exit_sound > 1 then
+				ivr_menu_exit_sound, ivr_menu_exit_sound_is_base64 = load_file(exit_sound_file_name)
 			end
+
 	elseif (storage_type == "http_cache") then
 		--add the path to file name
 		ivr_menu_greet_long = storage_path.."/"..ivr_menu_greet_long;
@@ -289,204 +233,196 @@
 	end
 
 --adjust file paths
+	local function adjust_file_path(full_path, file_name)
+		return file_exists(full_path)
+			or file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..file_name)
+			or file_exists(sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..file_name)
+			or full_path
+	end
 	--greet long
-		if (not file_exists(ivr_menu_greet_long)) then
-			if (file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_long_file_name)) then
-				ivr_menu_greet_long = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_long_file_name;
-			elseif (file_exists(sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..greet_long_file_name)) then
-				ivr_menu_greet_long = sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..greet_long_file_name;
-			end
-		end
+		ivr_menu_greet_long = adjust_file_path(ivr_menu_greet_long, greet_long_file_name)
 	--greet short
-		if (string.len(ivr_menu_greet_short) > 1) then
-			if (not file_exists(ivr_menu_greet_short)) then
-				if (file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_short_file_name)) then
-					ivr_menu_greet_short = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..greet_short_file_name;
-				elseif (file_exists(sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..greet_short_file_name)) then
-					ivr_menu_greet_short = sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..greet_short_file_name;
-				end
-			end
+		if #ivr_menu_greet_short > 1 then
+			ivr_menu_greet_short = adjust_file_path(ivr_menu_greet_short, greet_short_file_name)
 		else
-			ivr_menu_greet_short = ivr_menu_greet_long;
+			ivr_menu_greet_short = ivr_menu_greet_long
 		end
 	--invalid sound
-		if (not file_exists(ivr_menu_invalid_sound)) then
-			if (file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..invalid_sound_file_name)) then
-				ivr_menu_invalid_sound = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..invalid_sound_file_name;
-			elseif (file_exists(sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..invalid_sound_file_name)) then
-				ivr_menu_invalid_sound = sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..invalid_sound_file_name;
-			end
-		end
+		ivr_menu_invalid_sound = adjust_file_path(ivr_menu_invalid_sound, invalid_sound_file_name)
 	--exit sound
-		if (not file_exists(ivr_menu_exit_sound)) then
-			if (file_exists(recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..exit_sound_file_name)) then
-				ivr_menu_exit_sound = recordings_dir.."/"..domain_name.."/"..exit_sound_file_name;
-			elseif (file_exists(sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..exit_sound_file_name)) then
-				ivr_menu_exit_sound = sounds_dir.."/"..default_language.."/"..default_dialect.."/"..default_voice.."/"..exit_sound_file_name;
-			end
-		end
+		ivr_menu_exit_sound = adjust_file_path(ivr_menu_exit_sound, exit_sound_file_name)
 
 --define the ivr menu
+	local menu_options, menu
+	local tries = 0;
 	function menu()
-		--increment the tries
-		tries = tries + 1;
-		min_digits = 1;
-		session:setVariable("slept", "false");
-		if (tries == 1) then
-			if (debug["tries"]) then
-				freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] greet long: " .. ivr_menu_greet_long .. "\n");
+		-- check number of failures
+			if (tries > 0) and (tries >= tonumber(ivr_menu_max_failures)) then
+				return
 			end
-			--check if phrase
-			pos = string.find(ivr_menu_greet_long, ":", 0, true);
-			if (pos ~= nil and string.sub(ivr_menu_greet_long, 0, pos-1) == 'phrase') then
-				freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] phrase detected\n");
-				dtmf_digits = session:playAndGetDigits(min_digits, ivr_menu_digit_len, 1, ivr_menu_timeout, ivr_menu_confirm_key, ivr_menu_greet_long, "", ".*");
+
+		-- increment the tries
+			tries = tries + 1;
+
+		--log the dtmf digits
+			if (debug["tries"]) then
+				log.noticef("tries: %d/%d", tries, tonumber(ivr_menu_max_failures) or '-1');
+			end
+
+		-- set the minimum dtmf lengts
+			local min_digits = 1;
+
+		-- set sound file and number of attempts
+			local sound, sound_type, attempts
+
+			if tries == 1 then
+				sound, sound_type, attempts = ivr_menu_greet_long or "", "long", 1
+			else
+				sound, sound_type, attempts = ivr_menu_greet_short or "", "short", tonumber(ivr_menu_max_timeouts) or 3
+			end
+
+			if (debug["tries"]) then
+				log.notice("greet " .. sound_type .. ": " .. sound);
+			end
+
+		-- read dtmf
+			local dtmf_digits
+			if attempts > 0 then
+				dtmf_digits = session:playAndGetDigits(min_digits, ivr_menu_digit_len, attempts, ivr_menu_timeout, ivr_menu_confirm_key, sound, "", ".*");
+				-- need pause before stream file
 				session:setVariable("slept", "false");
-			else 
-				dtmf_digits = session:playAndGetDigits(min_digits, ivr_menu_digit_len, 1, ivr_menu_timeout, ivr_menu_confirm_key, ivr_menu_greet_long, "", ".*");				
 			end
-		else
-			if (debug["tries"]) then
-				freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] greet long: " .. ivr_menu_greet_short .. "\n");
+
+		-- proceed dtmf
+			if dtmf_digits and #dtmf_digits > 0 then
+				if (debug["tries"]) then
+					log.notice("dtmf_digits: " .. dtmf_digits);
+				end
+				return menu_options(session, dtmf_digits);
 			end
-			dtmf_digits = session:playAndGetDigits(min_digits, ivr_menu_digit_len, ivr_menu_max_timeouts, ivr_menu_timeout, ivr_menu_confirm_key, ivr_menu_greet_short, "", ".*");
-		end
-		if (dtmf_digits ~= nil and string.len(dtmf_digits) > 0) then
-			if (debug["tries"]) then
-				freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] dtmf_digits: " .. dtmf_digits .. "\n");
-			end
-			menu_options(session, dtmf_digits);
-		else
-			if (tries < tonumber(ivr_menu_max_failures)) then
-				--log the dtmf digits
-					if (debug["tries"]) then
-						freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] tries: " .. tries .. "\n");
-					end
-				--run the menu again
-					menu(); 
-			end
-		end
+
+			return menu();
 	end
 
 	function menu_options(session, digits)
 
 		--log the dtmf digits
 			if (debug["dtmf"]) then
-				freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] dtmf: " .. digits .. "\n");
+				log.notice("dtmf: " .. digits);
 			end
 
 		--get the ivr menu options
 			sql = [[SELECT * FROM v_ivr_menu_options WHERE ivr_menu_uuid = ']] .. ivr_menu_uuid ..[[' ORDER BY ivr_menu_option_order asc ]];
 			if (debug["sql"]) then
-				freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] SQL: " .. sql .. "\n");
+				log.notice("SQL: " .. sql);
 			end
-			status = dbh:query(sql, function(row)
+
+			local actions = {}
+			dbh:query(sql, function(row)
+				-- declare vars
+					local action, script, data
+
 				--check for matching options
-					if (tonumber(row.ivr_menu_option_digits) ~= nil) then
+					if tonumber(row.ivr_menu_option_digits) then
 						row.ivr_menu_option_digits = "^"..row.ivr_menu_option_digits.."$";
 					end
-					if (api:execute("regex", "m:~"..digits.."~"..row.ivr_menu_option_digits) == "true") then
-						if (row.ivr_menu_option_action == "menu-exec-app") then
-							--get the action and data
-								pos = string.find(row.ivr_menu_option_param, " ", 0, true);
-								if pos then
-									action = string.sub(row.ivr_menu_option_param, 0, pos-1);
-									data = string.sub(row.ivr_menu_option_param, pos+1);
-								else
-									action, data = row.ivr_menu_option_param, ""
-								end
 
-							--check if the option uses a regex
-								regex = string.find(row.ivr_menu_option_digits, "(", 0, true);
-								if (regex) then
-									--get the regex result
-										result = trim(api:execute("regex", "m:~"..digits.."~"..row.ivr_menu_option_digits.."~$1"));
-										if (debug["regex"]) then
-											freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] regex m:~"..digits.."~"..row.ivr_menu_option_digits.."~$1\n");
-											freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] result: "..result.."\n");
-										end
-
-									--replace the $1 and the domain name
-										data = data:gsub("$1", result);
-										data = data:gsub("${domain_name}", domain_name);
-								end --if regex
-						end --if menu-exex-app
-						if (row.ivr_menu_option_action == "phrase") then
-							action = 'phrase';
-							data = row.ivr_menu_option_param;
-						end
-						if (action == "lua") then
-							pos = string.find(data, " ", 0, true);
-							if pos then
-								script = string.sub(data, 0, pos-1);
-							else
-								script = data
-							end
-						end
-					end --if regex match
-
-				--execute
-					if (action) then
-						if (string.len(action) > 0) then
-							--option found
-								option_found = "true";
-
-							--send to the log
-								if (debug["action"]) then
-									freeswitch.consoleLog("notice", "[ivr_menu] action: " .. action .. " data: ".. data .. "\n");
-								end
-							--run the action
-								if (action == 'phrase' or (script ~= nil and script == 'streamfile.lua')) then
-									session:execute(action, data);
-									menu();
-								else 
-									if (ivr_menu_exit_sound ~= nil) then
-										session:streamFile(ivr_menu_exit_sound);
-									end
-									session:execute(action, data);
-								end
-						end
+					if api:execute("regex", "m:~"..digits.."~"..row.ivr_menu_option_digits) ~= "true" then
+						return
 					end
 
-				--clear the variables
-					action = "";
-					data = "";
+					if row.ivr_menu_option_action == "menu-exec-app" then
+						--get the action and data
+							action, data = split_first(row.ivr_menu_option_param, ' ', true)
+							data = data or ""
+
+						--check if the option uses a regex
+							local regex = string.find(row.ivr_menu_option_digits, "(", 0, true);
+							if regex then
+								--get the regex result
+									regex = "m:~"..digits.."~"..row.ivr_menu_option_digits.."~$1"
+									local result = trim(api:execute("regex", regex));
+									if (debug["regex"]) then
+										log.notice("regex "..regex);
+										log.notice("result: "..result);
+									end
+
+								--replace the $1 and the domain name
+									data = data:gsub("$1", result);
+									data = data:gsub("${domain_name}", domain_name);
+							end --if regex
+					end --if menu-exex-app
+
+					if row.ivr_menu_option_action == "phrase" then
+						action = 'phrase';
+						data = row.ivr_menu_option_param;
+					end
+
+					if action == "lua" then
+						script = split_first(data, " ", true)
+					end
+
+				-- break loop
+					if action and #action > 0 then
+						actions[#actions + 1] = {action, script, data}
+						return
+					end
+
+				-- we have unsupported IVR action
+					log.warning("invalid action in ivr: " .. row.ivr_menu_option_action);
 			end); --end results
 
-		--direct dial
-			if (ivr_menu_direct_dial == "true") then
-				if (string.len(digits) < 6 and option_found == "false") then
-					--replace the $1 and the domain name
-						digits = digits:gsub("*", "");
-					--check to see if the user extension exists
-						cmd = "user_exists id ".. digits .." "..domain_name;
-						result = api:executeString(cmd);
-						freeswitch.consoleLog("NOTICE", "[ivr_menu][direct dial] "..cmd.." "..result.."\n");
-						if (result == "true") then
-							--log the action
-								freeswitch.consoleLog("NOTICE", "[ivr_menu][direct dial] "..digits.." XML "..context.."\n");
-							--run the action
-								session:execute("transfer", digits.." XML "..context);
-						else
-							--run the menu again
-								menu();
+		--execute
+			if #actions > 0 then
+				for _, t in ipairs(actions) do
+					local action, script, data = t[1],t[2],t[3]
+				-- send to the log
+					if (debug["action"]) then
+						log.notice("action: " .. action .. " data: ".. data);
+					end
+
+				-- run the action (with return to menu)
+					if action == 'phrase' or script == 'streamfile.lua' then
+						session:execute(action, data);
+					else
+						if ivr_menu_exit_sound and #ivr_menu_exit_sound > 0 then
+							session:streamFile(ivr_menu_exit_sound);
 						end
+						-- run the action (without return to menu)
+							return session:execute(action, data);
+					end
 				end
+				return menu();
 			end
 
-		--execute
-			if (action) then
-				if (string.len(action) == 0) then
-					session:streamFile(ivr_menu_invalid_sound);
-					menu();
-				end
-			else
-				if (action ~= 'phrase' and (script == nil or script ~= 'streamfile.lua')) then
-					session:streamFile(ivr_menu_invalid_sound);
-				end
-				menu();
+		--direct dial
+			if ivr_menu_direct_dial == "true" and #digits > 0 and #digits < 6 then
+				-- remove *#
+					digits = digits:gsub("[*#]", "");
+
+				-- check to see if the user extension exists
+					local cmd = "user_exists id ".. digits .." "..domain_name;
+					local result = api:executeString(cmd);
+					log.notice("[direct dial] "..cmd.." "..result);
+					if result == "true" then
+						--log the action
+							log.notice("[direct dial] "..digits.." XML "..context);
+						--run the action
+							return session:execute("transfer", digits.." XML "..context);
+					end
+
+				--run the menu again (without play ivr_menu_invalid_sound)
+					return menu();
 			end
-			
+
+		--invalid input try again
+			if (debug["action"]) then
+				log.notice("unrecgnized action");
+			end
+			if ivr_menu_invalid_sound and #ivr_menu_invalid_sound then
+				session:streamFile(ivr_menu_invalid_sound);
+			end
+			return menu();
 	end --end function
 
 --answer the session