diff --git a/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py b/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
index 838b46b28..cfe598cfd 100644
--- a/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
+++ b/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def real2float(realstr):
     return float(realstr.replace('d', 'E').replace('D', 'E'))
 
 
-def read_swiftest_param(param_file_name, param):
+def read_swiftest_param(param_file_name, param, verbose=True):
     """
     Reads in a Swiftest param.in file and saves it as a dictionary
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def read_swiftest_param(param_file_name, param):
     param['! VERSION'] = f"Swiftest parameter input from file {param_file_name}"
     
     # Read param.in file
-    print(f'Reading Swiftest file {param_file_name}')
+    if verbose: print(f'Reading Swiftest file {param_file_name}')
     try:
         with open(param_file_name, 'r') as f:
             for line in f.readlines():
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def read_swiftest_param(param_file_name, param):
     return param
 
 
-def read_swifter_param(param_file_name):
+def read_swifter_param(param_file_name, verbose=True):
     """
     Reads in a Swifter param.in file and saves it as a dictionary
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def read_swifter_param(param_file_name):
     }
     
     # Read param.in file
-    print(f'Reading Swifter file {param_file_name}')
+    if verbose: print(f'Reading Swifter file {param_file_name}')
     try:
         with open(param_file_name, 'r') as f:
             for line in f.readlines():
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def read_swifter_param(param_file_name):
     return param
 
 
-def read_swift_param(param_file_name, startfile="swift.in"):
+def read_swift_param(param_file_name, startfile="swift.in", verbose=True):
     """
     Reads in a Swift param.in file and saves it as a dictionary
 
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def read_swift_param(param_file_name, startfile="swift.in"):
     param['TP_IN'] = tpname
 
     # Read param.in file
-    print(f'Reading Swift file {param_file_name}')
+    if verbose: print(f'Reading Swift file {param_file_name}')
     try:
         with open(param_file_name, 'r') as f:
             line = f.readline().split()
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ def swiftest_stream(f, param):
               ntp, tpid, tpnames, tvec.T, tlab
 
 
-def swifter2xr(param):
+def swifter2xr(param, verbose=True):
     """
     Converts a Swifter binary data file into an xarray DataSet.
 
@@ -640,13 +640,13 @@ def swifter2xr(param):
         
         plds = plda.to_dataset(dim='vec')
         tpds = tpda.to_dataset(dim='vec')
-        print('\nCreating Dataset')
+        if verbose: print('\nCreating Dataset')
         ds = xr.combine_by_coords([plds, tpds])
-        print(f"Successfully converted {ds.sizes['time']} output frames.")
+        if verbose: print(f"Successfully converted {ds.sizes['time']} output frames.")
     return ds
 
 
-def swiftest2xr(param):
+def swiftest2xr(param, verbose=True):
     """
     Converts a Swiftest binary data file into an xarray DataSet.
 
@@ -700,23 +700,20 @@ def swiftest2xr(param):
         cbds = cbda.to_dataset(dim='vec')
         plds = plda.to_dataset(dim='vec')
         tpds = tpda.to_dataset(dim='vec')
-        print('\nCreating Dataset')
+        if verbose: print('\nCreating Dataset')
         ds = xr.combine_by_coords([cbds, plds, tpds])
 
     elif ((param['OUT_TYPE'] == 'NETCDF_DOUBLE') or (param['OUT_TYPE'] == 'NETCDF_FLOAT')):
-        print('\nCreating Dataset from NetCDF file')
+        if verbose: print('\nCreating Dataset from NetCDF file')
         ds = xr.open_dataset(param['BIN_OUT'], mask_and_scale=False)
         ds = clean_string_values(param, ds)
     else:
         print(f"Error encountered. OUT_TYPE {param['OUT_TYPE']} not recognized.")
         return None
-    print(f"Successfully converted {ds.sizes['time']} output frames.")
+    if verbose: print(f"Successfully converted {ds.sizes['time']} output frames.")
 
     return ds
 
-def xstrip(a):
-    func = lambda x: np.char.strip(x)
-    return xr.apply_ufunc(func, a.str.decode(encoding='utf-8'))
 
 def clean_string_values(param, ds):
     """
diff --git a/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py b/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py
index 846aba347..6a5f1728c 100644
--- a/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py
+++ b/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class Simulation:
     """
     This is a class that defines the basic Swift/Swifter/Swiftest simulation object
     """
-    def __init__(self, codename="Swiftest", param_file="", readbin=True):
+    def __init__(self, codename="Swiftest", param_file="param.in", readbin=True, verbose=True):
         self.ds = xr.Dataset()
         self.param = {
             '! VERSION': f"Swiftest parameter input",
@@ -54,12 +54,14 @@ def __init__(self, codename="Swiftest", param_file="", readbin=True):
             'ENCOUNTER_CHECK': "ADAPTIVE"
         }
         self.codename = codename
+        self.verbose = verbose
         if param_file != "" :
             dir_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(param_file))
-            self.read_param(param_file, codename)
+            self.read_param(param_file, codename=codename, verbose=self.verbose)
             if readbin:
-                if os.path.exists(dir_path + '/' + self.param['BIN_OUT']):
-                    self.param['BIN_OUT'] = dir_path + '/' + self.param['BIN_OUT']
+                binpath = os.path.join(dir_path,self.param['BIN_OUT'])
+                if os.path.exists(binpath):
+                    self.param['BIN_OUT'] = binpath
                     self.bin2xr()
                 else:
                     print(f"BIN_OUT file {self.param['BIN_OUT']} not found.")
@@ -114,15 +116,15 @@ def addp(self, idvals, namevals, t1, t2, t3, t4, t5, t6, GMpl=None, Rpl=None, rh
         return
     
     
-    def read_param(self, param_file, codename="Swiftest"):
+    def read_param(self, param_file, codename="Swiftest", verbose=True):
         if codename == "Swiftest":
-            self.param = io.read_swiftest_param(param_file, self.param)
+            self.param = io.read_swiftest_param(param_file, self.param, verbose=verbose)
             self.codename = "Swiftest"
         elif codename == "Swifter":
-            self.param = io.read_swifter_param(param_file)
+            self.param = io.read_swifter_param(param_file, verbose=verbose)
             self.codename = "Swifter"
         elif codename == "Swift":
-            self.param = io.read_swift_param(param_file)
+            self.param = io.read_swift_param(param_file, verbose=verbose)
             self.codename = "Swift"
         else:
             print(f'{codename} is not a recognized code name. Valid options are "Swiftest", "Swifter", or "Swift".')
@@ -180,11 +182,11 @@ def convert(self, param_file, newcodename="Swiftest", plname="pl.swiftest.in", t
     
     def bin2xr(self):
         if self.codename == "Swiftest":
-            self.ds = io.swiftest2xr(self.param)
-            print('Swiftest simulation data stored as xarray DataSet .ds')
+            self.ds = io.swiftest2xr(self.param, verbose=self.verbose)
+            if self.verbose: print('Swiftest simulation data stored as xarray DataSet .ds')
         elif self.codename == "Swifter":
-            self.ds = io.swifter2xr(self.param)
-            print('Swifter simulation data stored as xarray DataSet .ds')
+            self.ds = io.swifter2xr(self.param, verbose=self.verbose)
+            if self.verbose: print('Swifter simulation data stored as xarray DataSet .ds')
         elif self.codename == "Swift":
             print("Reading Swift simulation data is not implemented yet")
         else:
@@ -215,7 +217,7 @@ def follow(self, codestyle="Swifter"):
         else:
             fol = None
         
-        print('follow.out written')
+        if self.verbose: print('follow.out written')
         return fol