diff --git a/src/mpapi/__init__.py b/src/mpapi/__init__.py
index dd2ef53..f90e10c 100644
--- a/src/mpapi/__init__.py
+++ b/src/mpapi/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """An Unofficial Open Source Client for the MuseumPlus API"""
 
-__version__ = "0.1.8"  # cleanup, Vocabulary, validate cli
+__version__ = "0.1.9"  # replace pyexiv, cleanup __init__
 import argparse
 from getAttachments import GetAttachments
 from mpapi.mink import Mink
@@ -9,8 +9,23 @@
 from mpapi.constants import get_credentials
 from mpapi.validate import Validate
 from pathlib import Path
+import sys
 
-user, pw, baseURL = get_credentials()
+
+def _login() -> MpApi:
+    user, pw, baseURL = get_credentials()
+    c = MpApi(baseURL=baseURL, pw=pw, user=user)
+
+
+def _setup_args(parser):
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-v", "--version", help="Display version information", action="store_true"
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    if args.version:
+        print(f"Version: {__version__}")
+        sys.exit(0)
+    return args
 
 
 def getDefinition():
@@ -21,14 +36,9 @@ def getDefinition():
         help="module type (Object, Multimedia etc.); optional",
         default=None,
     )
-    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="Display version information")
-    args = parser.parse_args()
+    args = _setup_args(parser)
+    c = _login()
 
-    if args.version:
-        print(f"Version: {__version__}")
-        sys.exit(0)
-
-    c = MpApi(baseURL=baseURL, pw=pw, user=user)
     print(f"Logging in as '{user}'")
     m = c.getDefinition2(mtype=args.mtype)
     if args.mtype is None:
@@ -50,15 +60,9 @@ def getItem():
         "-u", "--upload", help="Save in upload form", action="store_true"
     )
     parser.add_argument("-i", "--ID", help="ID")
-    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="Display version information")
-    args = parser.parse_args()
-
-    if args.version:
-        print(f"Version: {__version__}")
-        sys.exit(0)
+    args = _setup_args(parser)
 
-    c = MpApi(baseURL=baseURL, pw=pw, user=user)
-    print(f"Logging in as '{user}'")
+    c = _login()
     m = c.getItem2(mtype=args.mtype, ID=args.ID)
     if args.upload:
         fn = f"getItem-{args.mtype}{args.ID}u.xml"
@@ -79,7 +83,8 @@ def getAttachments():
     parser.add_argument(
         "-j", "--job", required=True, help="pick a job from getAttachments.jobs file"
     )
-    args = parser.parse_args()
+    args = _setup_args(parser)
+
     GetAttachments(baseURL=baseURL, job=args.job, user=user, pw=pw)
 
 
@@ -87,11 +92,8 @@ def mink():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Commandline frontend for MpApi.py")
     parser.add_argument("-j", "--job", help="job to run")  # , required=True
     parser.add_argument("-c", "--conf", help="config file", default="jobs.dsl")
-    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="Display version information")
-    args = parser.parse_args()
-    if args.version:
-        print(f"Version: {__version__}")
-        sys.exit(0)
+    args = _setup_args(parser)
+
     m = Mink(job=args.job, conf=args.conf, baseURL=baseURL, pw=pw, user=user)
 
 
@@ -100,24 +102,18 @@ def updateItem():
     parser.add_argument("-f", "--file", help="File location to upload")
     parser.add_argument("-i", "--id", help="moduleItem/@id")
     parser.add_argument("-t", "--mtype", help="module type")
-    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="Display version information")
-    args = parser.parse_args()
+    args = _setup_args(parser)
 
     # todowe could extract module type and id from the record
 
     required_args = ["file", "id", "mtype"]
 
-    if args.version:
-        print(f"Version: {__version__}")
-        sys.exit(0)
-
     for req in required_args:
         if not req in args:
             raise SyntaxError("Required args not provided")
 
-    args = parser.parse_args()
     m = Module(file=args.file)
-    c = MpApi(baseURL=baseURL, pw=pw, user=user)
+    c = _login()
     m = c.uploadItem2(mtype=args.mtype, ID=args.ID)
 
 
@@ -126,12 +122,8 @@ def validate():
     parser.add_argument(
         "-m", "--mode", help="mode (module, search or vocabulary)", default="module"
     )
-    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="Display version information")
     parser.add_argument("file", nargs="?")
-    args = parser.parse_args()
-    if args.version:
-        print(f"Version: {__version__}")
-        sys.exit(0)
+    args = _setup_args(parser)
     if args.file is None:
         raise SyntaxError("ERROR: Required arg 'file' not provided!")