diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index eac8f5d5a..826b50ce3 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 Package: soilDB
 Type: Package
 Title: Soil Database Interface
-Version: 2.6.0
-Date: 2020-12-02
+Version: 2.6.1
+Date: 2021-01-06
 Authors@R: c(person(given="Dylan", family="Beaudette", role = c("aut"), email = "dylan.beaudette@usda.gov"),
              person(given="Jay", family="Skovlin", role = c("aut")), 
              person(given="Stephen", family="Roecker", role = c("aut")), 
diff --git a/R/createStaticNASIS.R b/R/createStaticNASIS.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..50152deb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/createStaticNASIS.R
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+#' Method for "dumping" contents of an entire NASIS table
+#'
+#' @param table_name Character name of table.
+#' @param static_path Optional: path to SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; Default: \code{NULL}
+#'
+#' @return A data.frame or other result of \code{DBI::dbGetQuery}
+#'
+.dump_NASIS_table <- function(table_name, static_path = NULL) {
+  # connect to NASIS, identify columns 
+  con <- dbConnectNASIS(static_path) 
+  allcols <- "*"
+  
+  # handling for MSSQL/ODBC weirdness
+  if (is.null(static_path)) {
+    columns <- odbc::odbcConnectionColumns(con, table_name)
+    
+    # re-arrange VARCHAR(MAX) columns
+    longcols <- subset(columns, columns$field.type == "varchar" & columns$column_size == 0)$name
+    allcols <- columns$name
+    
+    if (length(longcols) > 0) {
+      allcols[which(allcols %in% longcols)] <- NA
+      allcols <- c(na.omit(allcols), longcols)
+    }
+  }
+  
+  # construct query and return result
+  q <- sprintf("SELECT %s FROM %s", paste(allcols, collapse = ", "), table_name)
+  return(dbQueryNASIS(con, q))
+}
+
+#' Create a memory or file-based instance of NASIS database (for selected tables) 
+#'
+#' @param tables Character vector of target tables. Default: \code{NULL} is all tables meeting the following criteria.
+#' @param SS Logical. Include "selected set" tables (ending with suffix \code{"_View1"}). Default: \code{FALSE}
+#' @param systables Logical. Include "system" tables (starting with prefix \code{"system"}). Default: \code{FALSE}
+#' @param static_path Optional: path to SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; Default: \code{NULL}
+#' @param output_path Optional: path to new/existing SQLite database to write tables to. Default: \code{NULL} returns table results as named list.
+#' @return A named list of results from calling \code{dbQueryNASIS} for all columns in each NASIS table.
+#' @export
+#' 
+#' @importFrom odbc dbListTables 
+#' @importFrom RSQLite dbListTables RSQLite
+#' @importFrom DBI dbConnect dbDisconnect dbWriteTable
+#' 
+#' @examples
+#' 
+#' \dontrun{
+#'  str(createStaticNASIS(tables = c("calculation","formtext")))
+#' }
+#' 
+createStaticNASIS <- function(tables = NULL, SS = FALSE, systables = FALSE, 
+                              static_path = NULL, output_path = NULL)  {
+  # can make static DB from another static DB, or default is local NASIS install (static_path=NULL)
+  con <- dbConnectNASIS(static_path = static_path) 
+  
+  nasis_table_names <- NULL
+  
+  # explicit handling of the connection types currently allowed
+  if (inherits(con, 'OdbcConnection')) nasis_table_names <- odbc::dbListTables(con)
+  
+  # you can read/write from SQLite with this method just as well as ODBC
+  if (inherits(con, 'SQLiteConnection')) nasis_table_names <- RSQLite::dbListTables(con)
+  
+  # must know names of tables in data source
+  stopifnot(!is.null(nasis_table_names))
+  
+  # never pull the system table
+  if (!systables) { 
+    systables <- grep("^system", nasis_table_names)
+    
+    if (length(systables) > 0) {
+      nasis_table_names <- nasis_table_names[-systables]
+    }
+  }
+  
+  # keep only explicitly listed tables, if any
+  if (!is.null(tables) & length(tables) > 0 & is.character(tables)) {
+    nasis_table_names <- nasis_table_names[nasis_table_names %in% tables]
+  }
+  
+  # remove selected set tables
+  if (!SS) {
+    sstables <- grep("_View1$", nasis_table_names)
+    nasis_table_names <- nasis_table_names[!nasis_table_names %in% sstables]
+  }
+  
+  # return list result if no output path
+  if (is.null(output_path)) {
+    
+    # return named list of data.frames or try-error (one per table)
+    res <- lapply(nasis_table_names, function(n) try(.dump_NASIS_table, static_path))
+    names(res) <- nasis_table_names
+    return(res)
+  
+  # otherwise, we are writing SQLite to output_path
+  } else {
+    
+    # TODO: validation of output_path?
+    
+    # create sqlite db
+    outcon <- DBI::dbConnect(RSQLite::SQLite(), output_path)
+    
+    # returns TRUE, invisibly, or try-error (one per table)
+    return(lapply(nasis_table_names, function(n) {
+        return(try({
+          DBI::dbWriteTable(conn = outcon, name =  n, 
+                            value = .dump_NASIS_table(n, 
+                                                      static_path = static_path), 
+                            overwrite = TRUE)
+        }))
+    }))
+    
+    # close output connection 
+    DBI::dbDisconnect(outcon)
+  }
+  
+  # close input connection
+  DBI::dbDisconnect(con)
+}
diff --git a/R/fetchNASISLabData.R b/R/fetchNASISLabData.R
index f14da80e7..e1c5540f1 100644
--- a/R/fetchNASISLabData.R
+++ b/R/fetchNASISLabData.R
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 fetchNASISLabData <- function(SS = TRUE) {
 
 	# test connection
-	if (!local_NASIS_defined())
+	if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path))
 			stop('Local NASIS ODBC connection has not been setup. Please see the `setup_ODBC_local_NASIS.pdf` document included with this package.')
 	
 	# 1. load data in pieces, results are DF objects
diff --git a/R/fetchNASIS_pedons.R b/R/fetchNASIS_pedons.R
index bb08fa15e..5e6098a6c 100644
--- a/R/fetchNASIS_pedons.R
+++ b/R/fetchNASIS_pedons.R
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
                                static_path = NULL) {
   
   # test connection
-  if (!local_NASIS_defined())
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path))
     stop('Local NASIS ODBC connection has not been setup. Please see `http://ncss-tech.github.io/AQP/soilDB/setup_local_nasis.html`.')
   
   # sanity check
diff --git a/R/fetchVegdata.R b/R/fetchVegdata.R
index 780da7f6b..8d6611697 100644
--- a/R/fetchVegdata.R
+++ b/R/fetchVegdata.R
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 fetchVegdata <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.stringsAsFactors()) {
 	
   # test connection
-  if (!local_NASIS_defined())
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path))
     stop('Local NASIS ODBC connection has not been setup. Please see `http://ncss-tech.github.io/AQP/soilDB/setup_local_nasis.html`.')
 	
 	# 1. load data in pieces
diff --git a/R/getHzErrorsNASIS.R b/R/getHzErrorsNASIS.R
index 009bbc696..5bd0fa5bd 100644
--- a/R/getHzErrorsNASIS.R
+++ b/R/getHzErrorsNASIS.R
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
 #' Check pedon horizon table for logic errors
 #'
 #' @param strict how strict should horizon boundaries be checked for consistency: TRUE=more | FALSE=less
-#'
+#' @param SS 	fetch data from the currently loaded selected set in NASIS or from the entire local database (default: TRUE)
+#' @param static_path Optional: path to local SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; default: NULL
 #' @return A data.frame containing problematic records with columns: 'peiid','pedon_id','hzdept','hzdepb','hzname' 
 #' @export
 #'
-getHzErrorsNASIS <- function(strict = TRUE) {
+getHzErrorsNASIS <- function(strict = TRUE, SS = TRUE, static_path = NULL) {
   
-  if (!local_NASIS_defined())
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path))
     stop('Local NASIS ODBC connection has not been setup. Please see `http://ncss-tech.github.io/AQP/soilDB/setup_local_nasis.html`.')
   
 	# get data
-	site_data <- get_site_data_from_NASIS_db()
+	site_data <- get_site_data_from_NASIS_db(SS = SS, static_path = static_path)
 	site_data$pedon_id <- NULL
-	hz_data <- get_hz_data_from_NASIS_db()
+	hz_data <- get_hz_data_from_NASIS_db(SS = SS, static_path = static_path)
 	
 	if (nrow(site_data) == 0) {
 	  message("No Site records in NASIS database")
diff --git a/R/get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS.R b/R/get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS.R
index ac34711b0..127b471cd 100644
--- a/R/get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS.R
+++ b/R/get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS.R
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS <- function(impute = TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.stringsAsFactors(), static_path = NULL) {
+get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS <- function(SS = TRUE, impute = TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.stringsAsFactors(), static_path = NULL) {
 
   q.cosoilmoist <- "SELECT dmuiidref AS dmuiid, coiid, compname, comppct_r, drainagecl, month, flodfreqcl, floddurcl, pondfreqcl, ponddurcl, cosoilmoistiid, soimoistdept_l, soimoistdept_r, soimoistdept_h, soimoistdepb_l, soimoistdepb_r, soimoistdepb_h, soimoiststat
 
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ get_cosoilmoist_from_NASIS <- function(impute = TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
+  # toggle selected set vs. local DB
+  if (SS == FALSE) {
+    q.cosoilmoist <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.cosoilmoist, fixed = TRUE)
+  }
+  
   # exec query
   d.cosoilmoist <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.cosoilmoist)  
   
diff --git a/R/get_vegplot_data_from_NASIS_db.R b/R/get_vegplot_data_from_NASIS_db.R
index ff1e7d78e..f7e19f6b7 100644
--- a/R/get_vegplot_data_from_NASIS_db.R
+++ b/R/get_vegplot_data_from_NASIS_db.R
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 get_vegplot_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.stringsAsFactors(), static_path = NULL) {
 
   # must have stringr installed
-  if(!requireNamespace('stringr'))
-    stop('please install the `stringr` package', call.=FALSE)
+  if (!requireNamespace('stringr'))
+    stop('please install the `stringr` package', call. = FALSE)
 
   q.vegplot <- "SELECT siteiid, p.peiid, usiteid as site_id, assocuserpedonid as pedon_id, v.vegplotid as vegplot_id, vegplotiid, vegplotname, obsdate, primarydatacollector, datacollectionpurpose, vegdataorigin, vegplotsize, soilprofileindicator, soil232idlegacy, ahorizondepth, alkalinesalineindicator, alkalineaffected, salinityclass, restrictivelayerdepthlegacy, legacysoilcompname, legacysoilphase, legacylocalsoilphase, legacysoilsurftext, legacysurftextmod, legacyterminlieu, erosionclasslegacy, landformgrouplegacy, cryptogamcovcllegacy, rangelandusehistory, cancovpctplotave, cancovtotalpct, cancovtotalclass, overstorycancontotalpct, overstorycancovtotalclass, dblsampannualprodave, compyieldproductionave, abovegroundbiomasstotave, understoryreprodabundance, woodyunderstoryabundance, herbundertoryabundance, lichensunderstoryabundance, crowncanclosurepct, crowncancloseassessmethod, crowncompfactorlpp, crowncomplppavedbh, basalcoverpctave, basalareaplottotal, basalareaassessmethod, constreeshrubgrp, windbreakrowonedirection, windbreaktrappedsoildepth, windbreaktrappedsoiltexture, understorydescindicator, mensurationdataindicator, vigorclasslegacy, siteconditionlegacy, overstoryspecieslegacy, plantmoiststate, currenttreedensity, currenttreespacing, currentdxspacing, currentplotavedbh, plotbasalareafactor, currentbasalarea, foreststandtype, foreststratainventoried, foreststandregen, foreststandquality, desiredtreedensity, desireddxspacing, desiredbasalarea, excessbasalarea, excesstreedensity, stockingchangepct, treepctgoodcondition, treepctfaircondition, treepctpoorcondition, treecounttotal, treesnagdensityhard, treesnagdensitysoft, pastureforagetype, pasturestanddensityave, pastureplanthtave, pastureprodave, pcidesirableplants, pciplantcover, pciplantdiversity, pcigroundcovresidue, pcistandingdeadforage, pciplantresiduecompscore, pciplantvigor, pcilegumepctclass, pciuseuniformity, pcilivestockconcareas, pcisoilcompaction, pcisheetrillerosion, pciwinderosion, pcistreamshoreerosion, pcigullyerosion, pcierosioncompscore, pcipastureconditionscore, refplantcommunity, repannualprod, totestannualprod, totallowableannualprod, totpalatableannualprod, similarityindex, annualuseableprod, harvesteffpct, takehalfleavehalf, acresperaum, aumperacre, audperacre, desirableplantvigor, desirableseedlingabundance, decadentplantabundance, plantresidueadequacy, undesirableinvadingspecies, majorinvadingspecies, invadingspeciescancovpct, soilsurferosion, soilcrusting, soilcompaction, baregroundpct, gullyrillpresence, soildegradationrating, rangetrendcurrent, rangetrendplanned, qcreviewperson, qcreviewdate, qareviewperson, qareviewdate, swcdlegacy, fieldofficelegacy, nrcsarealegacy, aktotallichencoverpct, aktotallitter1coverpct, aktotallitter2coverpct, aktotalmosscoverpct, aktotalrockcoverpct, aktotalsoilcoverpct, aktotalwatercoverpct, akecologicalsitestatus, aktotalbedrockcoverpct, akfieldecositeid
   FROM
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ get_vegplot_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.string
   ORDER BY s.siteiid;"
 
   channel <- dbConnectNASIS(static_path)
-  
+ 
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
@@ -24,17 +24,15 @@ get_vegplot_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.string
 
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.vegplot <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.vegplot, fixed = TRUE)
   }
 
-  d <- uncode(d.vegplot)
-
   # test for no data
-  if (nrow(d) == 0)
+  if (nrow(d.vegplot) == 0)
     stop('there are no NASIS vegplots in your selected set!')
 
   # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  d <- uncode(d.vegplot, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
 
   # done
   return(d)
@@ -57,23 +55,21 @@ get_vegplot_location_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = defau
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
-  # exec query
-  d.plotlocation <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.plotlocation, stringsAsFactors=FALSE)
-
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.plotlocation <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.plotlocation, fixed = TRUE)
   }
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.plotlocation <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.plotlocation, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
 
-  d <- uncode(d.plotlocation)
-
+  # uncode metadata domains
+  d <- uncode(d.plotlocation, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  
   # test for no data
   if (nrow(d) == 0)
     stop('there are no NASIS vegplots in your selected set!')
 
-  # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
-
   # hack for CRAN check
   state_FIPS_codes <- NULL
   
@@ -117,23 +113,22 @@ get_vegplot_trhi_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.s
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
-  # exec query
-  d.vegplotrhi <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegplotrhi)
-
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.vegplotrhi <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.vegplotrhi, fixed = TRUE)
   }
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.vegplotrhi <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegplotrhi)
 
-  d <- uncode(d.vegplotrhi)
+  # uncode metadata domains
+  d <- uncode(d.vegplotrhi, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
 
   # test for no data
-  if (nrow(d) == 0)
+  if (nrow(d) == 0) {
     stop('there are no NASIS vegplots in your selected set!')
-
-  # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
-
+  }
+  
   # done
   return(d)
 }
@@ -156,22 +151,21 @@ get_vegplot_species_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = defaul
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
-  # exec query
-  d.vegplotspecies <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegplotspecies)
-
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.vegplotspecies <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.vegplotspecies, fixed = TRUE)
   }
-
-  d <- uncode(d.vegplotspecies)
-
-  # test for no data
-  if(nrow(d) == 0)
-  stop('there are no NASIS vegplots in your selected set!')
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.vegplotspecies <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegplotspecies)
 
   # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  d <- uncode(d.vegplotspecies, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  
+  # test for no data
+  if (nrow(d) == 0) {
+    stop('there are no NASIS vegplots in your selected set!', call. = FALSE)
+  }
 
   # done
   return(d)
@@ -195,23 +189,22 @@ get_vegplot_transect_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = defau
   
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
-
-  # exec query
-  d.vegtransect <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegtransect)
-
+  
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.vegtransect <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.vegtransect, fixed = TRUE)
   }
   
-  d <- uncode(d.vegtransect)
+  # exec query
+  d.vegtransect <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegtransect)
 
   # test for no data
-  if (nrow(d) == 0)
-    stop('there are no NASIS vegplots transects in your selected set!')
-
+  if (nrow(d.vegtransect) == 0) {
+    stop('there are no NASIS vegplots transects in your selected set!', call. = FALSE)
+  }
+  
   # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  d <- uncode(d.vegtransect, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
 
   # done
   return(d)
@@ -236,23 +229,21 @@ get_vegplot_transpecies_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = de
   
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
-
-  # exec query
-  d.vegtransplantsum <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vtps)
-
+  
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.vtps <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.vtps, fixed = TRUE)
   }
-
-  d <- uncode(d.vegtransplantsum)
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.vegtransplantsum <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vtps)
 
   # test for no data
-  if (nrow(d) == 0)
+  if (nrow(d.vegtransplantsum) == 0)
     stop('there are no NASIS vegplots transect species in your selected set!')
 
   # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  d <- uncode(d.vegtransplantsum, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
 
   # done
   return(d)
@@ -262,7 +253,7 @@ get_vegplot_transpecies_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = de
 get_vegplot_tree_si_summary_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors = default.stringsAsFactors(), static_path = NULL) {
 
   # plot tree site index summary data
-  q.pltsis<- "SELECT vegplotiidref AS vegplotiid, pltsis.seqnum, plantiidref, plantsym, plantsciname, plantnatvernm, plantnativity, siteindexbase, speciestreecount, siteindexplotave, speciesdbhaverage, treeageave, treecanopyhttopave, plottreesiteindsumiid
+  q.pltsis <- "SELECT vegplotiidref AS vegplotiid, pltsis.seqnum, plantiidref, plantsym, plantsciname, plantnatvernm, plantnativity, siteindexbase, speciestreecount, siteindexplotave, speciesdbhaverage, treeageave, treecanopyhttopave, plottreesiteindsumiid
 
   FROM
   site_View_1 AS s
@@ -276,20 +267,20 @@ get_vegplot_tree_si_summary_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors
   
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
-
-  # exec query
-  d.vegsiteindexsum <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.pltsis)
-
+  
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.pltsis <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.pltsis, fixed = TRUE)
   }
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.vegsiteindexsum <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.pltsis)
 
   d <- uncode(d.vegsiteindexsum)
 
   # test for no data
   if (nrow(d) == 0)
-    stop('there are no NASIS vegplots tree site index data in your selected set!')
+    stop('there are no NASIS vegplots tree site index data in your selected set!', call. = FALSE)
 
   # uncode metadata domains
   d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
@@ -320,20 +311,20 @@ get_vegplot_tree_si_details_from_NASIS_db <- function(SS=TRUE, stringsAsFactors
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
-  # exec query
-  d.vegsiteindexdet <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.pltsid)
-
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.pltsid <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.pltsid, fixed = TRUE)
   }
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.vegsiteindexdet <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.pltsid)
 
   d <- uncode(d.vegsiteindexdet)
 
   # test for no data
-  if(nrow(d) == 0)
-  stop('there are no NASIS vegplots tree site index data in your selected set!')
-
+  if (nrow(d) == 0) {
+    stop('there are no NASIS vegplots tree site index data in your selected set!', call. = FALSE)
+  }
   # uncode metadata domains
   d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
 
@@ -355,22 +346,20 @@ FROM vegplottext_View_1;"
   if (inherits(channel, 'try-error'))
     return(data.frame())
   
-  # exec query
-  d.vegplottext <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegplottext)
-
   # toggle selected set vs. local DB
   if (SS == FALSE) {
-    q <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q, fixed = TRUE)
+    q.vegplottext <- gsub(pattern = '_View_1', replacement = '', x = q.vegplottext, fixed = TRUE)
   }
-
-  d <- uncode(d.vegplottext)
+  
+  # exec query
+  d.vegplottext <- dbQueryNASIS(channel, q.vegplottext)
 
   # test for no data
-  if (nrow(d) == 0)
-   stop('there are no NASIS vegplots textnotes in your selected set!')
+  if (nrow(d.vegplottext) == 0)
+   stop('there are no NASIS vegplots textnotes in your selected set!', call. = FALSE)
 
   # uncode metadata domains
-  d <- uncode(d, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
+  d <- uncode(d.vegplottext, stringsAsFactors = stringsAsFactors)
 
   # optionally convert \r\n -> \n
   if (fixLineEndings) {
diff --git a/R/openNASISchannel.R b/R/openNASISchannel.R
index e3f04f698..ce459cb42 100644
--- a/R/openNASISchannel.R
+++ b/R/openNASISchannel.R
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 .openNASISchannel <- function(static_path = NULL) {
 
   use_sqlite <- !is.null(static_path)
-  
+
   if (is.null(getOption('soilDB.NASIS.credentials')))
     stop("soilDB.NASIS.credentials not set")
 
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 
 #' Check for presence of `nasis_local` ODBC data source
 #'
+#' @param static_path Optional: path to local SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; default: NULL
+#'
 #' @return logical
 #' @export local_NASIS_defined
 #'
@@ -42,11 +44,15 @@
 #'   message('could not find `nasis_local` ODBC data source')
 #' }
 #' @importFrom odbc odbcListDataSources
-#' 
-local_NASIS_defined <- function() {
-  if ('nasis_local' %in% odbc::odbcListDataSources()$name) {
-    return(TRUE)
+#' @importFrom RSQLite dbCanConnect SQLite
+local_NASIS_defined <- function(static_path = NULL) {
+  if (is.null(static_path)) {
+    if ('nasis_local' %in% odbc::odbcListDataSources()$name) {
+      return(TRUE)
+    } else {
+      return(FALSE)
+    }
   } else {
-    return(FALSE)
+    return(RSQLite::dbCanConnect(RSQLite::SQLite(), static_path))
   }
 }
diff --git a/man/createStaticNASIS.Rd b/man/createStaticNASIS.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1c95933e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/createStaticNASIS.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/createStaticNASIS.R
+\name{createStaticNASIS}
+\alias{createStaticNASIS}
+\title{Create a memory or file-based instance of NASIS database (for selected tables)}
+\usage{
+createStaticNASIS(
+  tables = NULL,
+  SS = FALSE,
+  systables = FALSE,
+  static_path = NULL,
+  output_path = NULL
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{tables}{Character vector of target tables. Default: \code{NULL} is all tables meeting the following criteria.}
+
+\item{SS}{Logical. Include "selected set" tables (ending with suffix \code{"_View1"}). Default: \code{FALSE}}
+
+\item{systables}{Logical. Include "system" tables (starting with prefix \code{"system"}). Default: \code{FALSE}}
+
+\item{static_path}{Optional: path to SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; Default: \code{NULL}}
+
+\item{output_path}{Optional: path to new/existing SQLite database to write tables to. Default: \code{NULL} returns table results as named list.}
+}
+\value{
+A named list of results from calling \code{dbQueryNASIS} for all columns in each NASIS table.
+}
+\description{
+Create a memory or file-based instance of NASIS database (for selected tables)
+}
+\examples{
+
+\dontrun{
+ str(createStaticNASIS(tables = c("calculation","formtext")))
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/man/dot-dump_NASIS_table.Rd b/man/dot-dump_NASIS_table.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eac488705
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/dot-dump_NASIS_table.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/createStaticNASIS.R
+\name{.dump_NASIS_table}
+\alias{.dump_NASIS_table}
+\title{Method for "dumping" contents of an entire NASIS table}
+\usage{
+.dump_NASIS_table(table_name, static_path = NULL)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{table_name}{Character name of table.}
+
+\item{static_path}{Optional: path to SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; Default: \code{NULL}}
+}
+\value{
+A data.frame or other result of \code{DBI::dbGetQuery}
+}
+\description{
+Method for "dumping" contents of an entire NASIS table
+}
diff --git a/man/getHzErrorsNASIS.Rd b/man/getHzErrorsNASIS.Rd
index 9dd1d7440..f85671595 100644
--- a/man/getHzErrorsNASIS.Rd
+++ b/man/getHzErrorsNASIS.Rd
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@
 \alias{getHzErrorsNASIS}
 \title{Check pedon horizon table for logic errors}
 \usage{
-getHzErrorsNASIS(strict = TRUE)
+getHzErrorsNASIS(strict = TRUE, SS = TRUE, static_path = NULL)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{strict}{how strict should horizon boundaries be checked for consistency: TRUE=more | FALSE=less}
+
+\item{SS}{fetch data from the currently loaded selected set in NASIS or from the entire local database (default: TRUE)}
+
+\item{static_path}{Optional: path to local SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; default: NULL}
 }
 \value{
 A data.frame containing problematic records with columns: 'peiid','pedon_id','hzdept','hzdepb','hzname'
diff --git a/man/local_NASIS_defined.Rd b/man/local_NASIS_defined.Rd
index d6ac9a264..cf065f9e4 100644
--- a/man/local_NASIS_defined.Rd
+++ b/man/local_NASIS_defined.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@
 \alias{local_NASIS_defined}
 \title{Check for presence of `nasis_local` ODBC data source}
 \usage{
-local_NASIS_defined()
+local_NASIS_defined(static_path = NULL)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{static_path}{Optional: path to local SQLite database containing NASIS table structure; default: NULL}
 }
 \value{
 logical
diff --git a/misc/validate-NASIS-results.R b/misc/validate-NASIS-results.R
index 1c255ca99..db31ca5a0 100644
--- a/misc/validate-NASIS-results.R
+++ b/misc/validate-NASIS-results.R
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ f <- read.table(text = "R/fetchNASIS.R
 
 library(soilDB)
 
+# selected SET?
+selected_set <- FALSE
+
 fnames <- sapply(f, function(x) { 
   spv <- evalSource(x, package = "soilDB")
   # source(x)
@@ -45,7 +48,9 @@ fnames <- sapply(f, function(x) {
 test <- lapply(fnames, function(fname) {
     lapply(fname, function(FUN) {
       message(sprintf("Testing: %s", FUN))
-      try(get(FUN, envir = as.environment("package:soilDB"))())
+      if (FUN == "local_NASIS_defined") try(get(FUN, envir = as.environment("package:soilDB"))(static_path = "testStatic.sqlite"))
+      else try(get(FUN, envir = as.environment("package:soilDB"))(SS = selected_set, static_path = "testStatic.sqlite"))
+      # try(get(FUN, envir = as.environment("package:soilDB"))())
     })
   })
 
@@ -57,6 +62,8 @@ res <- unlist(lapply(names(test), function(x) lapply(seq_along(test[[x]]), funct
 
 res[which(res)]
 
+# get_vegplot_tree_si_details_from_NASIS_db(SS = FALSE, static_path = "testStatic.sqlite")
+
 # Fixed: Text fields must come at end of query per MSSQL specs
 # get_text_notes_from_NASIS_db()
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-fetchNASIS.R b/tests/testthat/test-fetchNASIS.R
index 7a1ade98c..983dad83d 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-fetchNASIS.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-fetchNASIS.R
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 context("fetchNASIS() -- requires local NASIS and ODBC connection")
 
+# TODO: develop minimal test set for NASIS data, stored as static SQLite DB
+static_path <- NULL
+
 ## helper functions used to skip tests that rely on special conditions
 # http://r-pkgs.had.co.nz/tests.html
 #
@@ -7,36 +10,36 @@ context("fetchNASIS() -- requires local NASIS and ODBC connection")
 # * pedons / component missing from local database
 
 
-check_local_NASIS_pedons_available <- function() {
+check_local_NASIS_pedons_available <- function(static_path = NULL) {
 
   # attempt to load pedons
   # these functions will return empty data.frame objects when there are no data in the SS
-  res1 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_site_data_from_NASIS_db()), silent = TRUE)
-  res2 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_hz_data_from_NASIS_db()), silent = TRUE)
+  res1 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_site_data_from_NASIS_db(static_path = static_path)), silent = TRUE)
+  res2 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_hz_data_from_NASIS_db(static_path = static_path)), silent = TRUE)
 
-  if(nrow(res1) == 0) {
+  if (nrow(res1) == 0) {
     skip("no Site/Pedon records in local NASIS database")
   }
-  if(nrow(res2) == 0) {
+  if (nrow(res2) == 0) {
     skip("no Pedon Horizon records in local NASIS database")
   }
 }
 
-check_local_NASIS_components_available <- function() {
+check_local_NASIS_components_available <- function(static_path = NULL) {
 
   # attempt to load components
   # these functions will return empty data.frame objects when there are no data in the SS
-  res1 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_component_data_from_NASIS_db()), silent = TRUE)
-  res2 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_component_horizon_data_from_NASIS_db()), silent = TRUE)
+  res1 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_component_data_from_NASIS_db(static_path = static_path)), silent = TRUE)
+  res2 <- try(suppressWarnings(get_component_horizon_data_from_NASIS_db(static_path = static_path)), silent = TRUE)
 
   # res <- try(suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from='pedons')), silent = TRUE)
   # note: this was too broad of a test -- any error in fetchNASIS will result in skipping the test!
   #if(class(res) == 'try-error'){
-  if(nrow(res1) == 0) {
+  if (nrow(res1) == 0) {
     skip("no Component records in local NASIS database")
   }
 
-  if(nrow(res2) == 0) {
+  if (nrow(res2) == 0) {
     skip("no Component Horizon records in local NASIS database")
   }
 }
@@ -47,17 +50,17 @@ check_local_NASIS_components_available <- function() {
 test_that("fetchNASIS(from='pedons') returns reasonable data", {
 
   # test for conditions permitting this test to run
-  if(!local_NASIS_defined()) {
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path = static_path)) {
     skip("local NASIS database not available")
   }
 
   # pedons must be present for tests
-  check_local_NASIS_pedons_available()
+  check_local_NASIS_pedons_available(static_path = static_path)
 
   # get data
   # ignore warnings for now
-  x <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from='pedons'))
-
+  x <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from = 'pedons'))
+  
   # expected outcomes
   expect_true(inherits(x, 'SoilProfileCollection'))
   expect_equal(nrow(site(x)) > 0, TRUE)
@@ -75,38 +78,38 @@ test_that("fetchNASIS(from='pedons') returns reasonable data", {
 test_that("fetchNASIS(from='pedons') nullFragsAreZero works as expected", {
 
   # test for conditions permitting this test to run
-  if(!local_NASIS_defined()) {
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path = static_path)) {
     skip("local NASIS database not available")
   }
 
   # components must be present for tests
-  check_local_NASIS_pedons_available()
+  check_local_NASIS_pedons_available(static_path = static_path)
 
   # get data
   # ignore warnings for now
-  x <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from='pedons'))
-  y <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from='pedons', nullFragsAreZero=FALSE))
+  x <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from = 'pedons'))
+  y <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from = 'pedons', nullFragsAreZero = FALSE))
 
   # no NA in total fragments using default arguments
-  expect_true(all(horizons(x)[is.na(y$total_frags_pct),'total_frags_pct'] ==0))
-  expect_true(all(horizons(x)[is.na(y$total_art_pct),'total_art_pct'] ==0))
+  expect_true(all(horizons(x)[is.na(y$total_frags_pct),'total_frags_pct'] == 0))
+  expect_true(all(horizons(x)[is.na(y$total_art_pct),'total_art_pct'] == 0))
 })
 
 test_that("fetchNASIS(from='components') returns reasonable data", {
 
   # hack for in-house testing only
   # WWW services aren't always available and will cause CRAN to drop our package if tests fail
-  if(!local_NASIS_defined()) {
-    skip("in-house testing only")
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path = static_path)) {
+    skip("local NASIS database not available")
   }
 
   # must have components to complete test
-  check_local_NASIS_components_available()
+  check_local_NASIS_components_available(static_path = static_path)
 
   # get data
   # ignore warnings for now
-  x <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from='components'))
-
+  x <- suppressWarnings(fetchNASIS(from = 'components'))
+ 
   # expected outcomes
   expect_true(inherits(x, 'SoilProfileCollection'))
   expect_equal(nrow(site(x)) > 0, TRUE)
@@ -117,17 +120,17 @@ test_that("fetchNASIS(from='components') returns reasonable data", {
 })
 
 test_that("get_text_notes_from_NASIS_db works", {
-  if (!local_NASIS_defined()) {
-    skip("in-house testing only")
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path = static_path)) {
+    skip("local NASIS database not available")
   }
   expect_silent({get_text_notes_from_NASIS_db()})
 })
 
 test_that("getHzErrorsNASIS works", { 
-  if (!local_NASIS_defined()) {
-    skip("in-house testing only")
+  if (!local_NASIS_defined(static_path = static_path)) {
+    skip("local NASIS database not available")
   }
-  expect_silent({suppressMessages(getHzErrorsNASIS())})
+  expect_silent({suppressMessages(getHzErrorsNASIS(static_path = static_path))})
 })