diff --git a/pa_job_manager.py b/pa_job_manager.py
index 29f2630..c77ff32 100644
--- a/pa_job_manager.py
+++ b/pa_job_manager.py
@@ -571,13 +571,15 @@ def MessageToFE( job_id, alert, message ):
 def SettingsRBPath():
     settings = session.query(Settings).first()
     if settings == None:
-        raise Exception("Cannot create file data with no settings / recycle bin path is missing")
+        print("Cannot create file data with no settings / recycle bin path is missing")
+        return
     # path setting is an absolute path, just use it, otherwise prepend base_path first
-    if settings.recycle_bin_path[0] == '/':
-        path = settings.recycle_bin_path
+    p=settings.recycle_bin_path
+    if p == '/':
+        return p
     else:
-        path = settings.base_path+settings.recycle_bin_path
-    return path
+        return settings.base_path+p
+
 
 ##############################################################################
 # ProcessRecycleBinDir(): create Path/symlink if needed (func called once on
@@ -601,42 +603,41 @@ def ProcessRecycleBinDir(job):
 # storage_path and add base_path if needed)
 ##############################################################################
 def SettingsSPath():
-    paths=[]
     settings = session.query(Settings).first()
-    if settings == None:
-        raise Exception("Cannot create file data with no settings / storage path is missing")
-    for p in settings.storage_path.split("#"):
-        if p[0] == '/':
-            paths.append(p)
-        else:
-            paths.append(settings.base_path+p)
-    return paths
+    if settings == None or settings.storage_path == "":
+        print("Cannot create file data with no settings / storage path is missing")
+        return
+    p=settings.storage_path
+    if p[0] == '/':
+        return p
+    else:
+        return settings.base_path+p
 
 ##############################################################################
 # ProcessStorageDirs(): wrapper func to call passed in job for each 
 # storage path defined in Settings - called via scan storage job
 ##############################################################################
 def ProcessStorageDirs(parent_job):
-    paths = SettingsSPath()
+    path = SettingsSPath()
     ptype = session.query(PathType).filter(PathType.name=='Storage').first()
-    JobsForPaths( parent_job, paths, ptype )
+    JobsForPath( parent_job, path, ptype )
     return
 
+
 ##############################################################################
-# SettingsIPath(): return modified array of paths (take each path in 
-# import_path and add base_path if needed)
+# SettingsIPath(): return import path (abs or add base_path if needed)
 ##############################################################################
 def SettingsIPath():
     paths=[]
     settings = session.query(Settings).first()
-    if settings == None:
-        raise Exception("Cannot create file data with no settings / import path is missing")
-    for p in settings.import_path.split("#"):
-        if p[0] == '/':
-            paths.append(p)
-        else:
-            paths.append(settings.base_path+p)
-    return paths
+    if settings == None or settings.import_path == "":
+        print("Cannot create file data with no settings / import path is missing")
+        return
+    p=settings.import_path
+    if p[0] == '/':
+        return p
+    else:
+        return settings.base_path+p
 
 
 ##############################################################################
@@ -659,35 +660,35 @@ def SettingsMPath():
 # storage path defined in Settings - called via scan import job
 ##############################################################################
 def ProcessImportDirs(parent_job):
-    paths = SettingsIPath()
+    path = SettingsIPath()
     ptype = session.query(PathType).filter(PathType.name=='Import').first()
-    JobsForPaths( parent_job, paths, ptype )
+    JobsForPath( parent_job, path, ptype )
     return
 
 ##############################################################################
-# JobsForPaths(): wrapper func to create jobs for passed in parent_job for 
-# each path passed in, with path_type passed in - used by
-# Process{Storage|Import}Dirs() above
+# JobsForPath(): wrapper func to create jobs for passed in parent_job for 
+# path, with path_type passed in - used by Process{Storage|Import}Dirs() above
 ##############################################################################
-def JobsForPaths( parent_job, paths, ptype ):
-    now=datetime.now(pytz.utc)
-    # make new set of Jobs per path... HandleJobs will make them run later
-    for path in paths:
-        p=session.query(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==SymlinkName(ptype.name,path,path+'/')).first()
-        cfn=0
-        if p:
-            cfn=p.num_files
-            
-        jex=[]
-        jex.append( JobExtra( name="path", value=path ) )
-        jex.append( JobExtra( name="path_type", value=ptype.id ) )
-        job1=NewJob( "importdir", cfn, None, jex, parent_job )
+def JobsForPath( parent_job, path, ptype ):
 
-        jex=[]
-        jex.append( JobExtra( name="path", value=path ) )
-        job2=NewJob("getfiledetails", 0, job1.id, jex, parent_job )
+    # try to find top of 'path' and use num_files for job later on
+    cfn=0
+    p=session.query(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==SymlinkName(ptype.name,path,path+'/')).first()
+    if p:
+        cfn=p.num_files
+        
+    # start with import dir
+    jex=[]
+    jex.append( JobExtra( name="path", value=path ) )
+    jex.append( JobExtra( name="path_type", value=ptype.id ) )
+    job1=NewJob( "importdir", cfn, None, jex, parent_job )
 
-    # can start straight after importdir - job1, does not need details
+    # then get file details (hash/thumbs)
+    jex=[]
+    jex.append( JobExtra( name="path", value=path ) )
+    job2=NewJob("getfiledetails", 0, job1.id, jex, parent_job )
+
+    # can start straight after importdir - job1, does not need details (job2)
     jex=[]
     jex.append( JobExtra( name="person", value="all" ) )
     jex.append( JobExtra( name="path_type", value=ptype.id ) )
@@ -697,6 +698,7 @@ def JobsForPaths( parent_job, paths, ptype ):
     # but it can fail - in which case the checkdup will be withdrawn
     job4=NewJob( "checkdups", 0, job2.id, None, parent_job )
 
+    # okay, now process all the new jobs
     HandleJobs(False)
     return
 
@@ -2331,23 +2333,21 @@ def InitialValidationChecks():
     else:
         AddLogForJob(job, "ERROR: The bin path in settings does not exist - Please fix now");
     sp_exists=0
-    paths = SettingsSPath()
-    for path in paths:
-        if os.path.exists(path):
-            sp_exists=1
-            ptype = session.query(PathType).filter(PathType.name=='Storage').first().id
-            symlink=CreateSymlink(job,ptype,path)
+    path = SettingsSPath()
+    if os.path.exists(path):
+        sp_exists=1
+        ptype = session.query(PathType).filter(PathType.name=='Storage').first().id
+        symlink=CreateSymlink(job,ptype,path)
     if not sp_exists:
-        AddLogForJob(job, "ERROR: None of the storage paths in the settings exist - Please fix now");
+        AddLogForJob(job, "ERROR: the storage path in the settings does not exist - Please fix now");
     ip_exists=0
-    paths = SettingsIPath()
-    for path in paths:
-        if os.path.exists(path):
-            ip_exists=1
-            ptype = session.query(PathType).filter(PathType.name=='Import').first().id
-            symlink=CreateSymlink(job,ptype,path)
+    path = SettingsIPath()
+    if os.path.exists(path):
+        ip_exists=1
+        ptype = session.query(PathType).filter(PathType.name=='Import').first().id
+        symlink=CreateSymlink(job,ptype,path)
     if not ip_exists:
-        AddLogForJob(job, "ERROR: None of the import paths in the settings exist - Please fix now");
+        AddLogForJob(job, "ERROR: the import path in the settings does not exist - Please fix now");
 
     path=SettingsMPath()
     mp_exists=0