diff --git a/src/connection.lisp b/src/connection.lisp
index 2b3839c..3ee2c21 100644
--- a/src/connection.lisp
+++ b/src/connection.lisp
@@ -121,7 +121,12 @@
                                     :type (conn-type ,conn)
                                     :host (db-host ,conn)
                                     :port (db-port ,conn)
-                                    :user (db-user ,conn))))))))
+                                    :user (db-user ,conn)))
+
+                            (t
+                             (error 'connection-error
+                                    :mesg (format nil "~a" e)
+                                    :type (conn-type ,conn))))))))
        (unwind-protect
             (progn ,@forms)
          (close-connection ,var)))))
diff --git a/src/package.lisp b/src/package.lisp
index 064d162..a434281 100644
--- a/src/package.lisp
+++ b/src/package.lisp
@@ -124,6 +124,13 @@
            #:query
            #:check-connection
 
+           ;; also export slot names
+           #:type
+           #:handle
+           #:uri
+           #:arch
+           #:path
+
            ;; file based connections API for HTTP and Archives support
            #:fetch-file
            #:expand
@@ -159,6 +166,13 @@
 	   #:copy-to
 	   #:copy-database
 
+           ;; the md-connection facilities
+           #:md-connection
+           #:md-spec
+           #:md-strm
+           #:expand-spec
+           #:open-next-stream
+
            ;; common schema facilities
            #:push-to-end
 
@@ -264,8 +278,7 @@
   (:import-from #:pgloader.pgsql
                 #:maybe-drop-indexes
                 #:create-indexes-again)
-  (:export #:*csv-path-root*
-           #:csv-connection
+  (:export #:csv-connection
            #:specs
            #:csv-specs
 	   #:get-pathname
@@ -471,6 +484,9 @@
   (:use #:cl #:esrap #:metabang.bind
         #:pgloader.params #:pgloader.utils #:pgloader.sql #:pgloader.connection)
   (:import-from #:alexandria #:read-file-into-string)
+  (:import-from #:pgloader.sources
+                #:md-connection
+                #:md-spec)
   (:import-from #:pgloader.pgsql
                 #:pgsql-connection
 		#:with-pgsql-transaction
@@ -554,7 +570,7 @@
                 #:connection-error)
   (:export #:*version-string*
 	   #:*state*
-	   #:*csv-path-root*
+	   #:*fd-path-root*
 	   #:*root-dir*
 	   #:*pg-settings*
 
diff --git a/src/params.lisp b/src/params.lisp
index 50581d0..26ad3aa 100644
--- a/src/params.lisp
+++ b/src/params.lisp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   (:export #:*version-string*
            #:*dry-run*
            #:*self-upgrade-immutable-systems*
-	   #:*csv-path-root*
+	   #:*fd-path-root*
 	   #:*root-dir*
 	   #:*log-filename*
            #:*summary-pathname*
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@
 (defparameter *state* nil
   "State of the current loading.")
 
-(defparameter *csv-path-root* nil
-  "Where to load CSV files from, when loading from an archive.")
+(defparameter *fd-path-root* nil
+  "Where to load files from, when loading from an archive or expanding regexps.")
 
 (defparameter *root-dir*
   #+unix (make-pathname :directory "/tmp/pgloader/")
diff --git a/src/parsers/command-archive.lisp b/src/parsers/command-archive.lisp
index 9bd63eb..b0326f8 100644
--- a/src/parsers/command-archive.lisp
+++ b/src/parsers/command-archive.lisp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
                                                         ("download" :state state-before)
                                                       (pgloader.archive:http-fetch-file ,url)))
                                         (:filename url))))
-                (*csv-path-root*
+                (*fd-path-root*
                  (with-stats-collection ("extract" :state state-before)
                    (pgloader.archive:expand-archive archive-file))))
            (progn
diff --git a/src/parsers/command-copy.lisp b/src/parsers/command-copy.lisp
index 7bff140..672fa85 100644
--- a/src/parsers/command-copy.lisp
+++ b/src/parsers/command-copy.lisp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 (defrule copy-uri (and "copy://" filename)
   (:lambda (source)
     (bind (((_ filename) source))
-      (make-instance 'copy-connection :specs filename))))
+      (make-instance 'copy-connection :spec filename))))
 
 (defrule copy-file-source (or stdin
                               inline
@@ -72,10 +72,10 @@
     (if (typep src 'copy-connection) src
         (destructuring-bind (type &rest specs) src
           (case type
-            (:stdin    (make-instance 'copy-connection :specs src))
-            (:inline   (make-instance 'copy-connection :specs src))
-            (:filename (make-instance 'copy-connection :specs src))
-            (:regex    (make-instance 'copy-connection :specs src))
+            (:stdin    (make-instance 'copy-connection :spec src))
+            (:inline   (make-instance 'copy-connection :spec src))
+            (:filename (make-instance 'copy-connection :spec src))
+            (:regex    (make-instance 'copy-connection :spec src))
             (:http     (make-instance 'copy-connection :uri (first specs))))))))
 
 (defrule get-copy-file-source-from-environment-variable (and kw-getenv name)
diff --git a/src/parsers/command-csv.lisp b/src/parsers/command-csv.lisp
index 8ea5cef..e7046bd 100644
--- a/src/parsers/command-csv.lisp
+++ b/src/parsers/command-csv.lisp
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@
 (defrule csv-uri (and "csv://" filename)
   (:lambda (source)
     (bind (((_ filename) source))
-      (make-instance 'csv-connection :specs filename))))
+      (make-instance 'csv-connection :spec filename))))
 
 (defrule csv-file-source (or stdin
 			     inline
@@ -389,10 +389,10 @@
     (if (typep src 'csv-connection) src
         (destructuring-bind (type &rest specs) src
           (case type
-            (:stdin    (make-instance 'csv-connection :specs src))
-            (:inline   (make-instance 'csv-connection :specs src))
-            (:filename (make-instance 'csv-connection :specs src))
-            (:regex    (make-instance 'csv-connection :specs src))
+            (:stdin    (make-instance 'csv-connection :spec src))
+            (:inline   (make-instance 'csv-connection :spec src))
+            (:filename (make-instance 'csv-connection :spec src))
+            (:regex    (make-instance 'csv-connection :spec src))
             (:http     (make-instance 'csv-connection :uri (first specs))))))))
 
 (defrule get-csv-file-source-from-environment-variable (and kw-getenv name)
diff --git a/src/parsers/command-fixed.lisp b/src/parsers/command-fixed.lisp
index 18c8717..0485535 100644
--- a/src/parsers/command-fixed.lisp
+++ b/src/parsers/command-fixed.lisp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 (defrule fixed-uri (and "fixed://" filename)
   (:lambda (source)
     (bind (((_ filename) source))
-      (make-instance 'fixed-connection :specs filename))))
+      (make-instance 'fixed-connection :spec filename))))
 
 (defrule fixed-file-source (or stdin
 			       inline
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@
     (if (typep src 'fixed-connection) src
         (destructuring-bind (type &rest specs) src
           (case type
-            (:stdin    (make-instance 'fixed-connection :specs src))
-            (:inline   (make-instance 'fixed-connection :specs src))
-            (:filename (make-instance 'fixed-connection :specs src))
-            (:regex    (make-instance 'fixed-connection :specs src))
+            (:stdin    (make-instance 'fixed-connection :spec src))
+            (:inline   (make-instance 'fixed-connection :spec src))
+            (:filename (make-instance 'fixed-connection :spec src))
+            (:regex    (make-instance 'fixed-connection :spec src))
             (:http     (make-instance 'fixed-connection :uri (first specs))))))))
 
 (defrule get-fixed-file-source-from-environment-variable (and kw-getenv name)
diff --git a/src/parsers/command-parser.lisp b/src/parsers/command-parser.lisp
index 6bdee0e..e4c3f59 100644
--- a/src/parsers/command-parser.lisp
+++ b/src/parsers/command-parser.lisp
@@ -37,11 +37,10 @@
   (loop
      :for s-exp :in command
 
-     :when (and (or (typep s-exp 'csv-connection)
-                    (typep s-exp 'fixed-connection))
-                (slot-boundp s-exp 'specs)
-                (eq :inline (first (csv-specs s-exp))))
-     :do (setf (second (csv-specs s-exp)) position)
+     :when (and (typep s-exp 'md-connection)
+                (slot-boundp s-exp 'pgloader.sources::spec)
+                (eq :inline (first (md-spec s-exp))))
+     :do (setf (second (md-spec s-exp)) position)
      :and :collect s-exp
 
      :else :collect (if (and (consp s-exp) (listp (cdr s-exp)))
@@ -67,13 +66,12 @@
                                                     filename)))
                      s-exp)
 
-                    ((and (or (typep s-exp 'csv-connection)
-                              (typep s-exp 'fixed-connection))
-                          (slot-boundp s-exp 'specs)
-                          (eq :filename (car (csv-specs s-exp))))
-                     (let ((path (second (csv-specs s-exp))))
+                    ((and (typep s-exp 'md-connection)
+                          (slot-boundp s-exp 'pgloader.sources::spec)
+                          (eq :filename (car (md-spec s-exp))))
+                     (let ((path (second (md-spec s-exp))))
                        (if (uiop:relative-pathname-p path)
-                           (progn (setf (csv-specs s-exp)
+                           (progn (setf (md-spec s-exp)
                                         `(:filename
                                           ,(uiop:merge-pathnames* path
                                                                   filename)))
diff --git a/src/sources/common/files-and-pathnames.lisp b/src/sources/common/files-and-pathnames.lisp
index e00f652..d01d515 100644
--- a/src/sources/common/files-and-pathnames.lisp
+++ b/src/sources/common/files-and-pathnames.lisp
@@ -3,31 +3,109 @@
 ;;;
 (in-package #:pgloader.sources)
 
-(defmacro with-open-file-or-stream ((&whole arguments
-                                           stream filename-or-stream
-                                           &key &allow-other-keys)
-                                             &body body)
-  "Generate a with-open-file call, or just bind STREAM varialbe to the
-   FILENAME-OR-STREAM stream when this variable is of type STREAM."
-  `(typecase ,filename-or-stream
-     (stream (let ((,stream *standard-input*))
-               ,@body))
+(defclass md-connection (fd-connection)
+  ((spec :initarg :spec :accessor md-spec)
+   (strm :initarg :strm :accessor md-strm))
+  (:documentation "pgloader connection parameters for a multi-files source."))
 
-     (t      (with-open-file (,stream ,filename-or-stream ,@(cddr arguments))
-               ,@body))))
+(defmethod print-object ((c md-connection) stream)
+  (print-unreadable-object (c stream :type t :identity t)
+    (with-slots (type spec) c
+      (let ((path (when (slot-boundp c 'path) (slot-value c 'path))))
+        (format stream "~a://~a:~{~a~^,~}" type (first spec) path)))))
 
-(defun get-pathname (dbname table-name &key (csv-path-root *csv-path-root*))
+(defmethod expand :after ((md md-connection))
+  "Expand the archive for the MD connection."
+  (when (and (slot-boundp md 'pgloader.connection::path)
+             (slot-value md 'pgloader.connection::path)
+             (uiop:file-pathname-p (fd-path md)))
+    (setf (md-spec md) `(:filename ,(fd-path md)))))
+
+(defmethod fetch-file :after ((md md-connection))
+  "When the fd-connection has an URI slot, download its file."
+  (when (and (slot-boundp md 'pgloader.connection::path)
+             (slot-value md 'pgloader.connection::path))
+    (setf (md-spec md) `(:filename ,(fd-path md)))))
+
+(defgeneric expand-spec (md-connection)
+  (:documentation "Expand specification for an FD source."))
+
+(defgeneric open-next-stream (md-connection &rest args &key)
+  (:documentation "Open the next input stream from FD."))
+
+(defmethod expand-spec ((md md-connection))
+  "Given fd spec as a CONS of a source type and a tagged object, expand the
+  tagged object depending on the source type and return a list of pathnames."
+  (destructuring-bind (type &rest part) (md-spec md)
+    (ecase type
+      (:inline   (list (caar part)))
+      (:stdin    (list *standard-input*))
+      (:regex    (destructuring-bind (keep regex root) part
+		   (filter-directory regex
+                                     :keep keep
+                                     :root (or *fd-path-root* root))))
+      (:filename (let* ((filename (first part))
+                        (realname
+                         (if (fad:pathname-absolute-p filename) filename
+                             (merge-pathnames filename *fd-path-root*))))
+		   (if (probe-file realname) (list realname)
+		       (error "File does not exists: '~a'." realname)))))))
+
+(defmethod open-next-stream ((md md-connection)
+                             &rest args
+                             &key &allow-other-keys)
+  "Switch to the following file in the PATH list."
+  ;; first close current stream
+  (when (slot-boundp md 'strm)
+    (close (md-strm md)))
+
+  ;; now open the new one
+  (when (fd-path md)
+    (let ((current-path (pop (fd-path md))))
+      (when current-path
+        (log-message :info "Open ~s" current-path)
+        (prog1
+            (setf (md-strm md)
+                  (typecase current-path
+                    (stream current-path)
+                    (t      (apply #'open current-path args))))
+          ;;
+          ;; The :inline md spec is a little special, it's a filename and a
+          ;; position where to skip to at opening the file. It allows for
+          ;; easier self-contained tests.
+          ;;
+          (when (eq :inline (car (md-spec md)))
+            (file-position (md-strm md) (cdadr (md-spec md)))))))))
+
+(defmethod open-connection ((md md-connection) &key)
+  "The fd connection supports several specs to open a connection:
+     - if we have a path, that's a single file to open
+     - otherwise spec is an CONS wherin
+         - car is the source type
+         - cdr is an object suitable for `get-absolute-pathname`"
+  (setf (fd-path md) (expand-spec md))
+  md)
+
+(defmethod close-connection ((md md-connection))
+  "Reset."
+  (when (and (slot-boundp md 'strm) (md-strm md))
+    (close (md-strm md)))
+
+  (setf (md-strm md) nil
+        (fd-path md) nil))
+
+(defun get-pathname (dbname table-name &key (fd-path-root *fd-path-root*))
   "Return a pathname where to read or write the file data"
   (make-pathname
    :directory (pathname-directory
-	       (merge-pathnames (format nil "~a/" dbname) csv-path-root))
+	       (merge-pathnames (format nil "~a/" dbname) fd-path-root))
    :name table-name
    :type "csv"))
 
 (defun filter-directory (regex
 			 &key
 			   (keep :first) ; or :all
-			   (root *csv-path-root*))
+			   (root *fd-path-root*))
   "Walk the ROOT directory and KEEP either the :first or :all the matches
    against the given regexp."
   (let* ((candidates (pgloader.archive:get-matching-filenames root regex))
@@ -42,26 +120,3 @@
 	      (error "File does not exists: '~a'." candidate))
        finally (return candidates))))
 
-(defun get-absolute-pathname (pathname-or-regex &key (root *csv-path-root*))
-  "PATHNAME-OR-REGEX is expected to be either (:regexp expression)
-   or (:filename pathname). In the first case, this fonction check if the
-   pathname is absolute or relative and returns an absolute pathname given
-   current working directory of ROOT.
-
-   In the second case, walk the ROOT directory and return the first pathname
-   that matches the regex. TODO: consider signaling a condition when we have
-   more than one match."
-  (destructuring-bind (type &rest part) pathname-or-regex
-    (ecase type
-      (:inline   (car part))		; because of &rest
-      (:stdin    *standard-input*)
-      (:regex    (destructuring-bind (keep regex root) part
-		   (filter-directory regex
-                                     :keep keep
-                                     :root (or *csv-path-root* root))))
-      (:filename (let* ((filename (first part))
-                        (realname
-                         (if (fad:pathname-absolute-p filename) filename
-                             (merge-pathnames filename root))))
-		   (if (probe-file realname) realname
-		       (error "File does not exists: '~a'." realname)))))))
diff --git a/src/sources/copy.lisp b/src/sources/copy.lisp
index 1807f1e..2c4c56c 100644
--- a/src/sources/copy.lisp
+++ b/src/sources/copy.lisp
@@ -3,16 +3,14 @@
 ;;;
 (in-package :pgloader.copy)
 
-(defclass copy-connection (csv-connection) ())
+(defclass copy-connection (md-connection) ())
 
-(defmethod initialize-instance :after ((csvconn copy-connection) &key)
+(defmethod initialize-instance :after ((copy copy-connection) &key)
   "Assign the type slot to sqlite."
-  (setf (slot-value csvconn 'type) "copy"))
+  (setf (slot-value copy 'type) "copy"))
 
 (defclass copy-copy (copy)
-  ((source-type :accessor source-type	  ; one of :inline, :stdin, :regex
-		:initarg :source-type)	  ;  or :filename
-   (encoding    :accessor encoding	  ; file encoding
+  ((encoding    :accessor encoding	  ; file encoding
 	        :initarg :encoding)	  ;
    (skip-lines  :accessor skip-lines	  ; we might want to skip COPY lines
 	        :initarg :skip-lines	  ;
@@ -28,10 +26,6 @@
 (defmethod initialize-instance :after ((copy copy-copy) &key)
   "Compute the real source definition from the given source parameter, and
    set the transforms function list as needed too."
-  (let ((source (csv-specs (slot-value copy 'source))))
-    (setf (slot-value copy 'source-type) (car source))
-    (setf (slot-value copy 'source)      (get-absolute-pathname source)))
-
   (let ((transforms (when (slot-boundp copy 'transforms)
 		      (slot-value copy 'transforms)))
 	(columns
@@ -69,48 +63,37 @@
    list as its only parameter.
 
    Returns how many rows were read and processed."
-  (let ((filenames   (case (source-type copy)
-                       (:stdin   (list (source copy)))
-		       (:inline  (list (car (source copy))))
-		       (:regex   (source copy))
-		       (t        (list (source copy))))))
-    (loop :for filename :in filenames
-       :do
-	 (with-open-file-or-stream
-	     ;; we just ignore files that don't exist
-	     (input filename
-		    :direction :input
-		    :external-format (encoding copy)
-		    :if-does-not-exist nil)
-	   (when input
-	     ;; first go to given inline position when filename is :inline
-	     (when (eq (source-type copy) :inline)
-	       (file-position input (cdr (source copy))))
+  (with-connection (cnx (source copy))
+    (loop :for input := (open-next-stream cnx
+                                          :direction :input
+                                          :external-format (encoding copy)
+                                          :if-does-not-exist nil)
+       :while input
+       :do (progn
+             ;; ignore as much as skip-lines lines in the file
+             (loop repeat (skip-lines copy) do (read-line input nil nil))
 
-	     ;; ignore as much as skip-lines lines in the file
-	     (loop repeat (skip-lines copy) do (read-line input nil nil))
-
-	     ;; read in the text file, split it into columns, process NULL
-	     ;; columns the way postmodern expects them, and call
-	     ;; PROCESS-ROW-FN on them
-	     (let ((reformat-then-process
-		    (reformat-then-process :fields  (fields copy)
-					   :columns (columns copy)
-					   :target  (target copy)
-					   :process-row-fn process-row-fn)))
-	       (loop
-		  :with fun := reformat-then-process
-		  :for line := (read-line input nil nil)
-		  :counting line :into read
-		  :while line
-		  :do (handler-case
+             ;; read in the text file, split it into columns, process NULL
+             ;; columns the way postmodern expects them, and call
+             ;; PROCESS-ROW-FN on them
+             (let ((reformat-then-process
+                    (reformat-then-process :fields  (fields copy)
+                                           :columns (columns copy)
+                                           :target  (target copy)
+                                           :process-row-fn process-row-fn)))
+               (loop
+                  :with fun := reformat-then-process
+                  :for line := (read-line input nil nil)
+                  :counting line :into read
+                  :while line
+                  :do (handler-case
                           (funcall fun (parse-row line
                                                   :delimiter (delimiter copy)
                                                   :null-as   (null-as copy)))
                         (condition (e)
                           (progn
                             (log-message :error "~a" e)
-                            (pgstate-incf *state* (target copy) :errs 1)))))))))))
+                            (pgstate-incf *state* (target copy) :errs 1))))))))))
 
 (defmethod copy-to-queue ((copy copy-copy) queue)
   "Copy data from given COPY definition into lparallel.queue DATAQ"
diff --git a/src/sources/csv/csv-database.lisp b/src/sources/csv/csv-database.lisp
index 49b8432..3faef8f 100644
--- a/src/sources/csv/csv-database.lisp
+++ b/src/sources/csv/csv-database.lisp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 ;;;
 (defun import-database (dbname
 			&key
-			  (csv-path-root *csv-path-root*)
+			  (fd-path-root *fd-path-root*)
 			  (skip-lines 0)
 			  (separator #\Tab)
 			  (quote cl-csv:*quote*)
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     (loop
        for (table-name . date-columns) in (pgloader.pgsql:list-tables dbname)
        for filename = (get-pathname dbname table-name
-				    :csv-path-root csv-path-root)
+				    :fd-path-root fd-path-root)
        when (or (null only-tables)
 		(member table-name only-tables :test #'equal))
        do
diff --git a/src/sources/csv/csv.lisp b/src/sources/csv/csv.lisp
index 9006efd..7d77697 100644
--- a/src/sources/csv/csv.lisp
+++ b/src/sources/csv/csv.lisp
@@ -4,32 +4,11 @@
 
 (in-package :pgloader.csv)
 
-(defclass csv-connection (fd-connection)
-  ((specs :initarg :specs :accessor csv-specs)))
+(defclass csv-connection (md-connection) ())
 
-(defmethod initialize-instance :after ((csvconn csv-connection) &key)
+(defmethod initialize-instance :after ((csv csv-connection) &key)
   "Assign the type slot to sqlite."
-  (setf (slot-value csvconn 'type) "csv"))
-
-(defmethod print-object ((csv csv-connection) stream)
-  (print-unreadable-object (csv stream :type t :identity t)
-    (let ((specs (if (slot-boundp csv 'specs) (slot-value csv 'specs)
-                     `(:http ,(slot-value csv 'pgloader.connection::uri)))))
-      (with-slots (type) csv
-        (format stream "~a://~a:~a" type (first specs) (second specs))))))
-
-(defmethod expand :after ((csv csv-connection))
-  "Expand the archive for the FD connection."
-  (when (and (slot-boundp csv 'pgloader.connection::path)
-             (slot-value csv 'pgloader.connection::path)
-             (uiop:file-pathname-p (fd-path csv)))
-    (setf (csv-specs csv) `(:filename ,(fd-path csv)))))
-
-(defmethod fetch-file :after ((csv csv-connection))
-  "When the fd-connection has an URI slot, download its file."
-  (when (and (slot-boundp csv 'pgloader.connection::path)
-             (slot-value csv 'pgloader.connection::path))
-    (setf (csv-specs csv) `(:filename ,(fd-path csv)))))
+  (setf (slot-value csv 'type) "csv"))
 
 ;;;
 ;;; Implementing the pgloader source API
@@ -68,10 +47,6 @@
 (defmethod initialize-instance :after ((csv copy-csv) &key)
   "Compute the real source definition from the given source parameter, and
    set the transforms function list as needed too."
-  (let ((source (csv-specs (slot-value csv 'source))))
-    (setf (slot-value csv 'source-type) (car source))
-    (setf (slot-value csv 'source)      (get-absolute-pathname source)))
-
   (let ((transforms (when (slot-boundp csv 'transforms)
 		      (slot-value csv 'transforms)))
 	(columns
@@ -105,32 +80,16 @@
    Each row is pre-processed then PROCESS-ROW-FN is called with the row as a
    list as its only parameter.
 
-   FILESPEC is either a filename or a pair (filename . position) where
-   position is the number of bytes to skip in the file before getting to the
-   data. That's used to handle the INLINE data loading.
-
    Finally returns how many rows where read and processed."
-  (let ((filenames   (case (source-type csv)
-                       (:stdin   (list (source csv)))
-                       (:inline  (list (car (source csv))))
-                       (:regex   (source csv))
-                       (t        (list (source csv))))))
-    (loop for filename in filenames
-       do
-	 (with-open-file-or-stream
-	     ;; we just ignore files that don't exist
-	     (input filename
-		    :direction :input
-		    :external-format (encoding csv)
-		    :if-does-not-exist nil)
-	   (when input
-	     (log-message :info "COPY FROM ~s" filename)
 
-	     ;; first go to given inline position when filename is :inline
-	     (when (eq (source-type csv) :inline)
-	       (file-position input (cdr (source csv))))
-
-	     ;; we handle skipping more than one line here, as cl-csv only knows
+  (with-connection (cnx (source csv))
+    (loop :for input := (open-next-stream cnx
+                                          :direction :input
+                                          :external-format (encoding csv)
+                                          :if-does-not-exist nil)
+       :while input
+       :do (progn
+             ;; we handle skipping more than one line here, as cl-csv only knows
 	     ;; about skipping the first line
 	     (loop repeat (skip-lines csv) do (read-line input nil nil))
 
@@ -167,7 +126,7 @@
                  (condition (e)
                    (progn
                      (log-message :error "~a" e)
-                     (pgstate-incf *state* (target csv) :errs 1))))))))))
+                     (pgstate-incf *state* (target csv) :errs 1)))))))))
 
 (defmethod copy-to-queue ((csv copy-csv) queue)
   "Copy data from given CSV definition into lparallel.queue DATAQ"
diff --git a/src/sources/fixed.lisp b/src/sources/fixed.lisp
index bde1c0f..54620f5 100644
--- a/src/sources/fixed.lisp
+++ b/src/sources/fixed.lisp
@@ -4,16 +4,14 @@
 
 (in-package :pgloader.fixed)
 
-(defclass fixed-connection (csv-connection) ())
+(defclass fixed-connection (md-connection) ())
 
-(defmethod initialize-instance :after ((csvconn fixed-connection) &key)
+(defmethod initialize-instance :after ((fixed fixed-connection) &key)
   "Assign the type slot to sqlite."
-  (setf (slot-value csvconn 'type) "fixed"))
+  (setf (slot-value fixed 'type) "fixed"))
 
 (defclass copy-fixed (copy)
-  ((source-type :accessor source-type	  ; one of :inline, :stdin, :regex
-		:initarg :source-type)	  ;  or :filename
-   (encoding    :accessor encoding	  ; file encoding
+  ((encoding    :accessor encoding	  ; file encoding
 	        :initarg :encoding)	  ;
    (skip-lines  :accessor skip-lines	  ; CSV headers
 	        :initarg :skip-lines	  ;
@@ -23,10 +21,6 @@
 (defmethod initialize-instance :after ((fixed copy-fixed) &key)
   "Compute the real source definition from the given source parameter, and
    set the transforms function list as needed too."
-  (let ((source (csv-specs (slot-value fixed 'source))))
-    (setf (slot-value fixed 'source-type) (car source))
-    (setf (slot-value fixed 'source)      (get-absolute-pathname source)))
-
   (let ((transforms (when (slot-boundp fixed 'transforms)
 		      (slot-value fixed 'transforms)))
 	(columns
@@ -57,47 +51,35 @@
    list as its only parameter.
 
    Returns how many rows where read and processed."
-  (let ((filenames   (case (source-type fixed)
-                       (:stdin   (list (source fixed)))
-		       (:inline  (list (car (source fixed))))
-		       (:regex   (source fixed))
-		       (t        (list (source fixed))))))
-    (loop :for filename :in filenames
-       :do
-	 (with-open-file-or-stream
-	     ;; we just ignore files that don't exist
-	     (input filename
-		    :direction :input
-		    :external-format (encoding fixed)
-		    :if-does-not-exist nil)
-	   (when input
-	     ;; first go to given inline position when filename is :inline
-	     (when (eq (source-type fixed) :inline)
-	       (file-position input (cdr (source fixed))))
+  (with-connection (cnx (source fixed))
+    (loop :for input := (open-next-stream cnx
+                                          :direction :input
+                                          :external-format (encoding fixed)
+                                          :if-does-not-exist nil)
+       :while input
+       :do (progn ;; ignore as much as skip-lines lines in the file
+             (loop repeat (skip-lines fixed) do (read-line input nil nil))
 
-	     ;; ignore as much as skip-lines lines in the file
-	     (loop repeat (skip-lines fixed) do (read-line input nil nil))
-
-	     ;; read in the text file, split it into columns, process NULL
-	     ;; columns the way postmodern expects them, and call
-	     ;; PROCESS-ROW-FN on them
-	     (let ((reformat-then-process
-		    (reformat-then-process :fields  (fields fixed)
-					   :columns (columns fixed)
-					   :target  (target fixed)
-					   :process-row-fn process-row-fn)))
-	       (loop
-		  :with fun := (compile nil reformat-then-process)
+             ;; read in the text file, split it into columns, process NULL
+             ;; columns the way postmodern expects them, and call
+             ;; PROCESS-ROW-FN on them
+             (let ((reformat-then-process
+                    (reformat-then-process :fields  (fields fixed)
+                                           :columns (columns fixed)
+                                           :target  (target fixed)
+                                           :process-row-fn process-row-fn)))
+               (loop
+                  :with fun := (compile nil reformat-then-process)
                   :with fixed-cols-specs := (mapcar #'cdr (fields fixed))
-		  :for line := (read-line input nil nil)
-		  :counting line :into read
-		  :while line
-		  :do (handler-case
+                  :for line := (read-line input nil nil)
+                  :counting line :into read
+                  :while line
+                  :do (handler-case
                           (funcall fun (parse-row fixed-cols-specs line))
                         (condition (e)
                           (progn
                             (log-message :error "~a" e)
-                            (pgstate-incf *state* (target fixed) :errs 1)))))))))))
+                            (pgstate-incf *state* (target fixed) :errs 1))))))))))
 
 (defmethod copy-to-queue ((fixed copy-fixed) queue)
   "Copy data from given FIXED definition into lparallel.queue DATAQ"
@@ -126,7 +108,7 @@
                             :dbname (db-name (target-db fixed))
                             :state *state*
                             :summary summary)
-      (lp:task-handler-bind ((error #'lp:invoke-transfer-error))
+      (lp:task-handler-bind () ;; ((error #'lp:invoke-transfer-error))
         (log-message :notice "COPY ~a" (target fixed))
         (lp:submit-task channel #'copy-to-queue fixed queue)
 
diff --git a/src/utils/threads.lisp b/src/utils/threads.lisp
index 88fc9e3..60c95a9 100644
--- a/src/utils/threads.lisp
+++ b/src/utils/threads.lisp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
                             (*concurrent-batches* . ,*concurrent-batches*)
 			    (*pg-settings*        . ',*pg-settings*)
 			    (*state*              . ,*state*)
+                            (*fd-path-root*       . ,*fd-path-root*)
                             (*client-min-messages* . ,*client-min-messages*)
                             (*log-min-messages*    . ,*log-min-messages*)