diff --git a/catcli/catalog.py b/catcli/catalog.py
index 2744430..dfdc696 100644
--- a/catcli/catalog.py
+++ b/catcli/catalog.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def _restore_json(self, string: str) -> Optional[NodeTop]:
         if root.type != nodes.TYPE_TOP:
             return None
         top = NodeTop(root.name, children=root.children)
-        self._debug(f'top imported: {top.name}')
+        self._debug(f'top imported: {top.get_name()}')
         return top
 
 
diff --git a/catcli/catcli.py b/catcli/catcli.py
index 55b20a4..3f926f2 100755
--- a/catcli/catcli.py
+++ b/catcli/catcli.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
 from catcli.catalog import Catalog
 from catcli.walker import Walker
 from catcli.noder import Noder
-from catcli.utils import ask, edit, path_to_search_all
+from catcli.utils import ask, edit
+from catcli.nodes_utils import path_to_search_all
 from catcli.exceptions import BadFormatException, CatcliException
 
 NAME = 'catcli'
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ def cmd_find(args: Dict[str, Any],
     script = args['--script']
     search_for = args['<term>']
     if args['--verbose']:
-        Logger.debug(f'search for \"{search_for}\" under \"{top.name}\"')
+        Logger.debug(f'search for "{search_for}" under "{top.get_name()}"')
     found = noder.find(top, search_for,
                        script=script,
                        startnode=startpath,
@@ -279,10 +280,10 @@ def cmd_rename(args: Dict[str, Any],
     """rename action"""
     storage = args['<storage>']
     new = args['<name>']
-    storages = list(x.name for x in top.children)
+    storages = list(x.get_name() for x in top.children)
     if storage in storages:
-        node = next(filter(lambda x: x.name == storage, top.children))
-        node.name = new
+        node = next(filter(lambda x: x.get_name() == storage, top.children))
+        node.set_name(new)
         if catalog.save(top):
             msg = f'Storage \"{storage}\" renamed to \"{new}\"'
             Logger.info(msg)
@@ -296,9 +297,9 @@ def cmd_edit(args: Dict[str, Any],
              top: NodeTop) -> None:
     """edit action"""
     storage = args['<storage>']
-    storages = list(x.name for x in top.children)
+    storages = list(x.get_name() for x in top.children)
     if storage in storages:
-        node = next(filter(lambda x: x.name == storage, top.children))
+        node = next(filter(lambda x: x.get_name() == storage, top.children))
         attr = node.attr
         if not attr:
             attr = ''
diff --git a/catcli/fuser.py b/catcli/fuser.py
index afbcfd2..9c525f8 100644
--- a/catcli/fuser.py
+++ b/catcli/fuser.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # local imports
 from catcli.noder import Noder
 from catcli.nodes import NodeTop, NodeAny
-from catcli.utils import path_to_search_all, path_to_top
+from catcli.nodes_utils import path_to_search_all, path_to_top
 from catcli import nodes
 
 
@@ -129,5 +129,5 @@ def readdir(self, path: str, _fh: Any) -> List[str]:
         content = ['.', '..']
         entries = self._get_entries(path)
         for entry in entries:
-            content.append(entry.name)
+            content.append(entry.get_name())
         return content
diff --git a/catcli/noder.py b/catcli/noder.py
index 57ef430..25b5764 100644
--- a/catcli/noder.py
+++ b/catcli/noder.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 from catcli.nodes import NodeAny, NodeStorage, \
     NodeTop, NodeFile, NodeArchived, NodeDir, NodeMeta, \
     typcast_node
-from catcli.utils import md5sum, fix_badchars, has_attr
+from catcli.utils import md5sum
 from catcli.logger import Logger
 from catcli.printer_native import NativePrinter
 from catcli.printer_csv import CsvPrinter
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def get_node_if_changed(self,
             return node, False
         # force re-indexing if no maccess
         maccess = os.path.getmtime(path)
-        if not has_attr(node, 'maccess') or \
+        if not node.has_attr('maccess') or \
                 not node.maccess:
             self._debug('\tchange: no maccess found')
             return node, True
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ def _print_node_native(self, node: NodeAny,
         typcast_node(node)
         if node.type == nodes.TYPE_TOP:
             # top node
-            self.native_printer.print_top(pre, node.name)
+            self.native_printer.print_top(pre, node.get_name())
         elif node.type == nodes.TYPE_FILE:
             # node of type file
             self.native_printer.print_file(pre, node,
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ def _to_fzf(self, node: NodeAny, fmt: str) -> None:
                 continue
             parents = rend.get_fullpath()
             storage = rend.get_storage_node()
-            fullpath = os.path.join(storage.name, parents)
+            fullpath = os.path.join(storage.get_name(), parents)
             the_nodes[fullpath] = rend
         # prompt with fzf
         paths = self._fzf_prompt(the_nodes.keys())
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ def find(self, top: NodeTop,
         paths = {}
         for item in found:
             typcast_node(item)
-            item.name = fix_badchars(item.name)
+            item.set_name(item.get_name())
             key = item.get_fullpath()
             paths[key] = item
 
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ def list(self, top: NodeTop,
         @fmt: output format
         @raw: print raw size
         """
-        self._debug(f'ls walking path: \"{path}\" from \"{top.name}\"')
+        self._debug(f'ls walking path: \"{path}\" from \"{top.get_name()}\"')
         resolv = anytree.resolver.Resolver('name')
         found = []
         try:
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ def diskusage(self, top: NodeTop,
                   path: str,
                   raw: bool = False) -> List[NodeAny]:
         """disk usage"""
-        self._debug(f'du walking path: \"{path}\" from \"{top.name}\"')
+        self._debug(f'du walking path: \"{path}\" from \"{top.get_name()}\"')
         resolv = anytree.resolver.Resolver('name')
         found: NodeAny
         try:
@@ -660,15 +660,15 @@ def _add_entry(self, name: str,
         """add an entry to the tree"""
         entries = name.rstrip(os.sep).split(os.sep)
         if len(entries) == 1:
-            self.new_archive_node(name, top, top.name)
+            self.new_archive_node(name, top, top.get_name())
             return
         sub = os.sep.join(entries[:-1])
         nodename = entries[-1]
         try:
             parent = resolv.get(top, sub)
-            parent = self.new_archive_node(nodename, parent, top.name)
+            parent = self.new_archive_node(nodename, parent, top.get_name())
         except anytree.resolver.ChildResolverError:
-            self.new_archive_node(nodename, top, top.name)
+            self.new_archive_node(nodename, top, top.get_name())
 
     def list_to_tree(self, parent: NodeAny, names: List[str]) -> None:
         """convert list of files to a tree"""
diff --git a/catcli/nodes.py b/catcli/nodes.py
index 3f19553..97acab3 100644
--- a/catcli/nodes.py
+++ b/catcli/nodes.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from anytree import NodeMixin
 
 from catcli.exceptions import CatcliException
+from catcli.utils import fix_badchars
 
 
 TYPE_TOP = 'top'
@@ -58,6 +59,18 @@ def __init__(self,  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
         if children:
             self.children = children
 
+    def get_name(self) -> str:
+        """get node name"""
+        return fix_badchars(self.name)
+
+    def set_name(self, name: str) -> None:
+        """set node name"""
+        self.name = fix_badchars(name)
+
+    def has_attr(self, attr: str) -> bool:
+        """return True if node has attr as attribute"""
+        return attr in self.__dict__
+
     def may_have_children(self) -> bool:
         """can node contains sub"""
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -75,12 +88,12 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
     def get_fullpath(self) -> str:
         """return full path to this node"""
-        path = self.name
+        path = self.get_name()
         if self.parent:
             typcast_node(self.parent)
             ppath = self.parent.get_fullpath()
             path = os.path.join(ppath, path)
-        return str(path)
+        return fix_badchars(path)
 
     def get_rec_size(self) -> int:
         """recursively traverse tree and return size"""
diff --git a/catcli/nodes_utils.py b/catcli/nodes_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e43fdc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/catcli/nodes_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""
+author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+Copyright (c) 2024, deadc0de6
+
+nodes helpers
+"""
+
+import os
+
+# local imports
+from catcli import nodes
+
+
+def path_to_top(path: str) -> str:
+    """path pivot under top"""
+    pre = f"{os.path.sep}{nodes.NAME_TOP}"
+    if not path.startswith(pre):
+        # prepend with top node path
+        path = pre + path
+    return path
+
+
+def path_to_search_all(path: str) -> str:
+    """path to search for all subs"""
+    if not path:
+        path = os.path.sep
+    if not path.startswith(os.path.sep):
+        path = os.path.sep + path
+    pre = f"{os.path.sep}{nodes.NAME_TOP}"
+    if not path.startswith(pre):
+        # prepend with top node path
+        path = pre + path
+    # if not path.endswith(os.path.sep):
+    #     # ensure ends with a separator
+    #     path += os.path.sep
+    # if not path.endswith(WILD):
+    #     # add wild card
+    #     path += WILD
+    return path
diff --git a/catcli/printer_csv.py b/catcli/printer_csv.py
index eed7dc5..ae6068b 100644
--- a/catcli/printer_csv.py
+++ b/catcli/printer_csv.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 from typing import List
 
 from catcli.nodes import NodeAny, NodeStorage, TYPE_DIR
-from catcli.utils import size_to_str, epoch_to_str, \
-    has_attr
+from catcli.utils import size_to_str, epoch_to_str
 
 
 class CsvPrinter:
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ def print_storage(self, node: NodeStorage,
                       raw: bool = False) -> None:
         """print a storage node"""
         out = []
-        out.append(node.name)   # name
+        out.append(node.get_name())   # name
         out.append(node.type)   # type
         out.append('')          # fake full path
         size = node.get_rec_size()
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ def print_node(self, node: NodeAny,
                    raw: bool = False) -> None:
         """print other nodes"""
         out = []
-        out.append(node.name.replace('"', '""'))  # name
+        out.append(node.get_name().replace('"', '""'))  # name
         out.append(node.type)  # type
         fullpath = node.get_fullpath()
         out.append(fullpath.replace('"', '""'))  # full path
@@ -64,11 +63,11 @@ def print_node(self, node: NodeAny,
         out.append(size_to_str(node.nodesize, raw=raw))  # size
         storage = node.get_storage_node()
         out.append(epoch_to_str(storage.ts))  # indexed_at
-        if has_attr(node, 'maccess'):
+        if node.has_attr('maccess'):
             out.append(epoch_to_str(node.maccess))  # maccess
         else:
             out.append('')  # fake maccess
-        if has_attr(node, 'md5'):
+        if node.has_attr('md5'):
             out.append(node.md5)  # md5
         else:
             out.append('')  # fake md5
diff --git a/catcli/printer_native.py b/catcli/printer_native.py
index dc3d6bb..8954b5a 100644
--- a/catcli/printer_native.py
+++ b/catcli/printer_native.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from catcli.colors import Colors
 from catcli.logger import Logger
 from catcli.utils import fix_badchars, size_to_str, \
-    has_attr, epoch_to_str
+    epoch_to_str
 
 
 COLOR_STORAGE = Colors.YELLOW
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ def print_storage(self, pre: str,
                       raw: bool = False) -> None:
         """print a storage node"""
         # construct name
-        name = node.name
-        name = fix_badchars(name)
+        name = node.get_name()
         # construct attrs
         attrs = []
         # nb files
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ def print_storage(self, pre: str,
         szused = size_to_str(node.total - node.free, raw=raw)
         attrs.append(f'du:{szused}/{sztotal}')
         # timestamp
-        if has_attr(node, 'ts'):
+        if node.has_attr('ts'):
             attrs.append(f'date:{epoch_to_str(node.ts)}')
 
         # print
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ def print_file(self, pre: str,
                    raw: bool = False) -> None:
         """print a file node"""
         # construct name
-        name = node.name
+        name = node.get_name()
         storage = node.get_storage_node()
         if withpath:
             name = node.get_fullpath()
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ def print_file(self, pre: str,
         if node.md5:
             attrs.append(f'md5:{node.md5}')
         if withstorage:
-            content = Logger.get_bold_text(storage.name)
+            content = Logger.get_bold_text(storage.get_name())
             attrs.append(f'storage:{content}')
         # print
         out = []
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ def print_file(self, pre: str,
             size = node.nodesize
         line = size_to_str(size, raw=raw)
         out.append(f'{COLOR_SIZE}{line}{Colors.RESET}')
-        if has_attr(node, 'maccess'):
+        if node.has_attr('maccess'):
             line = epoch_to_str(node.maccess)
             out.append(f'{COLOR_TS}{line}{Colors.RESET}')
         if attrs:
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ def print_dir(self, pre: str,
                   raw: bool = False) -> None:
         """print a directory node"""
         # construct name
-        name = node.name
+        name = node.get_name()
         storage = node.get_storage_node()
         if withpath:
             name = node.get_fullpath()
@@ -138,7 +137,7 @@ def print_dir(self, pre: str,
             nbchildren = len(node.children)
             attrs.append(f'{self.NBFILES}:{nbchildren}')
         if withstorage:
-            attrs.append(f'storage:{Logger.get_bold_text(storage.name)}')
+            attrs.append(f"storage:{Logger.get_bold_text(storage.get_name())}")
         # print
         out = []
         out.append(f'{pre}')
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ def print_dir(self, pre: str,
             size = node.nodesize
         line = size_to_str(size, raw=raw)
         out.append(f'{COLOR_SIZE}{line}{Colors.RESET}')
-        if has_attr(node, 'maccess'):
+        if node.has_attr('maccess'):
             line = epoch_to_str(node.maccess)
             out.append(f'{COLOR_TS}{line}{Colors.RESET}')
         if attrs:
diff --git a/catcli/utils.py b/catcli/utils.py
index 7fef081..228fb49 100644
--- a/catcli/utils.py
+++ b/catcli/utils.py
@@ -10,43 +10,15 @@
 import tempfile
 import subprocess
 import datetime
+import string
 
 # local imports
-from catcli import nodes
 from catcli.exceptions import CatcliException
 
 
 WILD = '*'
 
 
-def path_to_top(path: str) -> str:
-    """path pivot under top"""
-    pre = f'{os.path.sep}{nodes.NAME_TOP}'
-    if not path.startswith(pre):
-        # prepend with top node path
-        path = pre + path
-    return path
-
-
-def path_to_search_all(path: str) -> str:
-    """path to search for all subs"""
-    if not path:
-        path = os.path.sep
-    if not path.startswith(os.path.sep):
-        path = os.path.sep + path
-    pre = f'{os.path.sep}{nodes.NAME_TOP}'
-    if not path.startswith(pre):
-        # prepend with top node path
-        path = pre + path
-    # if not path.endswith(os.path.sep):
-    #     # ensure ends with a separator
-    #     path += os.path.sep
-    # if not path.endswith(WILD):
-    #     # add wild card
-    #     path += WILD
-    return path
-
-
 def md5sum(path: str) -> str:
     """
     calculate md5 sum of a file
@@ -101,24 +73,20 @@ def ask(question: str) -> bool:
     return resp.lower() == 'y'
 
 
-def edit(string: str) -> str:
+def edit(data: str) -> str:
     """edit the information with the default EDITOR"""
-    data = string.encode('utf-8')
+    content = fix_badchars(data)
     editor = os.environ.get('EDITOR', 'vim')
     with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(prefix='catcli', suffix='.tmp') as file:
-        file.write(data)
+        file.write(content.encode('utf-8'))
         file.flush()
-        subprocess.call([editor, file.name])
+        subprocess.call([editor, file.get_name()])
         file.seek(0)
         new = file.read()
     return new.decode('utf-8')
 
 
-def fix_badchars(string: str) -> str:
+def fix_badchars(data: str) -> str:
     """fix none utf-8 chars in string"""
-    return string.encode('utf-8', 'ignore').decode('utf-8')
-
-
-def has_attr(node: nodes.NodeAny, attr: str) -> bool:
-    """return True if node has attr as attribute"""
-    return attr in node.__dict__.keys()
+    data = "".join(x for x in data if x in string.printable)
+    return data.encode("utf-8", "ignore").decode("utf-8")
diff --git a/catcli/walker.py b/catcli/walker.py
index d57f5cd..3c0d6b6 100644
--- a/catcli/walker.py
+++ b/catcli/walker.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def _need_reindex(self,
         if node and changed:
             # remove this node and re-add
             self._debug(f'\t{path} has changed')
-            self._debug(f'\tremoving node {node.name} for {path}')
+            self._debug(f"\tremoving node {node.get_name()} for {path}")
             node.parent = None
         return True, node
 
diff --git a/tests/test_index.py b/tests/test_index.py
index 46734de..d8680ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_index.py
+++ b/tests/test_index.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def test_index(self):
         self.assertTrue(len(storage.children) == 5)
 
         # ensures files and directories are in
-        names = [x.name for x in storage.children]
+        names = [x.get_name() for x in storage.children]
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file1) in names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file2) in names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file3) in names)
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ def test_index(self):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(dir2) in names)
 
         for node in storage.children:
-            if node.name == os.path.basename(dir1):
+            if node.get_name() == os.path.basename(dir1):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 2)
-            elif node.name == os.path.basename(dir2):
+            elif node.get_name() == os.path.basename(dir2):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 1)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_update.py b/tests/test_update.py
index d70c564..053ce00 100644
--- a/tests/test_update.py
+++ b/tests/test_update.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def test_update(self):
         self.assertTrue(nod.md5 == d2f2_md5_new)
 
         # ensures files and directories are in
-        names = [node.name for node in anytree.PreOrderIter(storage)]
+        names = [node.get_name() for node in anytree.PreOrderIter(storage)]
         print(names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file1) in names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file2) in names)
@@ -169,13 +169,13 @@ def test_update(self):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(new5) in names)
 
         for node in storage.children:
-            if node.name == os.path.basename(dir1):
+            if node.get_name() == os.path.basename(dir1):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 3)
-            elif node.name == os.path.basename(dir2):
+            elif node.get_name() == os.path.basename(dir2):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 3)
-            elif node.name == os.path.basename(new3):
+            elif node.get_name() == os.path.basename(new3):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 0)
-            elif node.name == os.path.basename(new4):
+            elif node.get_name() == os.path.basename(new4):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 1)
         self.assertTrue(read_from_file(d1f1) == editval)
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def test_update(self):
         cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top)
 
         # ensures files and directories are (not) in
-        names = [node.name for node in anytree.PreOrderIter(storage)]
+        names = [node.get_name() for node in anytree.PreOrderIter(storage)]
         print(names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file1) in names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(file2) in names)
@@ -207,9 +207,9 @@ def test_update(self):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(new4) not in names)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.basename(new5) not in names)
         for node in storage.children:
-            if node.name == os.path.basename(dir1):
+            if node.get_name() == os.path.basename(dir1):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 2)
-            elif node.name == os.path.basename(new3):
+            elif node.get_name() == os.path.basename(new3):
                 self.assertTrue(len(node.children) == 0)