Yeah, I've done that already, since that is the easiest thing to do. It behaves as expected for mock input files.

Like I said in my first post, I dont want to assume I am 100% right, when I might be claiming that results in a paper from the lab of an established big wig in my field are incorrect / falsified! :(

But now, thanks to all your inputs, I know there is no fatal error in logic for this step. So thank you all!