diff --git a/doc/ChangeLog.txt b/doc/ChangeLog.txt
index 707cc767..6b57282c 100644
--- a/doc/ChangeLog.txt
+++ b/doc/ChangeLog.txt
@@ -80,6 +80,20 @@ for compatibility in this current release.
 The read_parasitics command has been renamed read_spef and no longer
 supports the SPF format.
 
+....
+
+The make_net command now takes a single net name argument and returns
+the net.
+
+The delete_instance command deletes a single instance instead of a list
+of instances.
+
+The delete_net command deletes a single net instead of a list
+of nets.
+
+The disconnect_pins command is renamed disconnect_pin and disconnects a
+single pin.
+
 Release 1.11.0 2017/08/18
 -------------------------
 
diff --git a/doc/OpenSTA.odt b/doc/OpenSTA.odt
index 363af13f..cf2d1fa6 100644
Binary files a/doc/OpenSTA.odt and b/doc/OpenSTA.odt differ
diff --git a/network/ConcreteNetwork.cc b/network/ConcreteNetwork.cc
index ac1e95d2..e6c81ced 100644
--- a/network/ConcreteNetwork.cc
+++ b/network/ConcreteNetwork.cc
@@ -1231,6 +1231,14 @@ ConcreteNetwork::makeTerm(Pin *pin,
   return reinterpret_cast<Term*>(cterm);
 }
 
+Pin *
+ConcreteNetwork::connect(Instance *inst,
+			 LibertyPort *port,
+			 Net *net)
+{
+  return connect(inst, reinterpret_cast<Port*>(port), net);
+}
+
 Pin *
 ConcreteNetwork::connect(Instance *inst,
 			 Port *port,
diff --git a/network/ConcreteNetwork.hh b/network/ConcreteNetwork.hh
index 80108f96..4eeb88fe 100644
--- a/network/ConcreteNetwork.hh
+++ b/network/ConcreteNetwork.hh
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ public:
   virtual Pin *connect(Instance *inst,
 		       Port *port,
 		       Net *net);
+  virtual Pin *connect(Instance *inst,
+		       LibertyPort *port,
+		       Net *net);
   virtual void disconnectPin(Pin *pin);
   virtual void deletePin(Pin *pin);
   virtual Net *makeNet(const char *name,
diff --git a/network/Network.hh b/network/Network.hh
index 681c32cd..a974d1c7 100644
--- a/network/Network.hh
+++ b/network/Network.hh
@@ -491,6 +491,9 @@ public:
   virtual Pin *connect(Instance *inst,
 		       Port *port,
 		       Net *net) = 0;
+  virtual Pin *connect(Instance *inst,
+		       LibertyPort *port,
+		       Net *net) = 0;
   // makePin/connectPin replaced by connect.
   virtual void connectPin(Pin *pin,
 			  Net *net) __attribute__ ((deprecated));
diff --git a/network/SdcNetwork.cc b/network/SdcNetwork.cc
index 47f0ff55..9c942c69 100644
--- a/network/SdcNetwork.cc
+++ b/network/SdcNetwork.cc
@@ -943,6 +943,14 @@ NetworkNameAdapter::connect(Instance *inst,
   return network_edit_->connect(inst, port, net);
 }
 
+Pin *
+NetworkNameAdapter::connect(Instance *inst,
+			    LibertyPort *port,
+			    Net *net)
+{
+  return network_edit_->connect(inst, port, net);
+}
+
 void
 NetworkNameAdapter::disconnectPin(Pin *pin)
 {
diff --git a/network/SdcNetwork.hh b/network/SdcNetwork.hh
index 4e46f7f6..adfa89a5 100644
--- a/network/SdcNetwork.hh
+++ b/network/SdcNetwork.hh
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ public:
   virtual Pin *connect(Instance *inst,
 		       Port *port,
 		       Net *net);
+  virtual Pin *connect(Instance *inst,
+		       LibertyPort *port,
+		       Net *net);
   virtual void disconnectPin(Pin *pin);
   virtual void deleteNet(Net *net);
   virtual void deletePin(Pin *pin);
diff --git a/search/Sta.cc b/search/Sta.cc
index 96edce7a..381b92ad 100644
--- a/search/Sta.cc
+++ b/search/Sta.cc
@@ -3673,6 +3673,16 @@ Sta::connectPin(Instance *inst,
   connectPinAfter(pin);
 }
 
+void
+Sta::connectPin(Instance *inst,
+		LibertyPort *port,
+		Net *net)
+{
+  NetworkEdit *network = networkCmdEdit();
+  Pin *pin = network->connect(inst, port, net);
+  connectPinAfter(pin);
+}
+
 void
 Sta::disconnectPin(Pin *pin)
 {
@@ -3681,6 +3691,47 @@ Sta::disconnectPin(Pin *pin)
   network->disconnectPin(pin);
 }
 
+void
+Sta::insertBuffer(const char *buffer_name,
+		  LibertyCell *buffer_cell,
+		  Net *net,
+		  PinSeq *load_pins,
+		  const char *buffer_out_net_name)
+{
+  Instance *parent = network_->topInstance();
+  LibertyPort *buffer_in_port = findCellPort(buffer_cell, PortDirection::input());
+  LibertyPort *buffer_out_port = findCellPort(buffer_cell, PortDirection::output());
+  if (buffer_in_port && buffer_out_port) {
+    Instance *buffer = makeInstance(buffer_name, buffer_cell, parent);
+    connectPin(buffer, buffer_in_port, net);
+
+    Net *buffer_out_net = makeNet(buffer_out_net_name, parent);
+    connectPin(buffer, buffer_out_port, buffer_out_net);
+
+    PinSeq::Iterator pin_iter(load_pins);
+    while (pin_iter.hasNext()) {
+      Pin *load_pin = pin_iter.next();
+      auto load_inst = network_->instance(load_pin);
+      auto load_port = network_->port(load_pin);
+      disconnectPin(load_pin);
+      connectPin(load_inst, load_port, buffer_out_net);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+LibertyPort *
+Sta::findCellPort(LibertyCell *cell,
+		  PortDirection *dir)
+{
+  LibertyCellPortIterator port_iter(cell);
+  while (port_iter.hasNext()) {
+    auto port = port_iter.next();
+    if (port->direction() == dir)
+      return port;
+  }
+  return nullptr;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 // Network edit before/after methods.
diff --git a/search/Sta.hh b/search/Sta.hh
index 5e11b7fe..95df50be 100644
--- a/search/Sta.hh
+++ b/search/Sta.hh
@@ -1081,11 +1081,9 @@ public:
 		 float elmore);
 
   // TCL network edit function support.
-  // create_cell
   virtual Instance *makeInstance(const char *name,
 				 LibertyCell *cell,
 				 Instance *parent);
-  // remove_cell
   virtual void deleteInstance(Instance *inst);
   // replace_cell
   virtual void replaceCell(Instance *inst,
@@ -1097,9 +1095,22 @@ public:
   virtual void connectPin(Instance *inst,
 			  Port *port,
 			  Net *net);
+  virtual void connectPin(Instance *inst,
+			  LibertyPort *port,
+			  Net *net);
   // disconnect_net
   virtual void disconnectPin(Pin *pin);
 
+  // Insert a buffer_cell instance named inst_name by adding it's input
+  // pin on net and moving load_pins from net to the output of
+  // the instance. buffer_cell must have one input and one output port.
+  // The buffer's parent is the top_instance.
+  void insertBuffer(const char *buffer_name,
+		    LibertyCell *buffer_cell,
+		    Net *net,
+		    PinSeq *load_pins,
+		    const char *buffer_out_net_name);
+
   // Network edit before/after methods.
   void makeInstanceAfter(Instance *inst);
   // Not used by Sta (connectPinAfter).
@@ -1292,6 +1303,8 @@ protected:
   void powerPreamble();
   void disableFanoutCrprPruning(Vertex *vertex,
 			      int &fanou);
+  LibertyPort *findCellPort(LibertyCell *cell,
+			    PortDirection *dir);
 
   CmdNamespace cmd_namespace_;
   Instance *current_instance_;
diff --git a/tcl/NetworkEdit.i b/tcl/NetworkEdit.i
index 0fe381a4..faf7ebc0 100644
--- a/tcl/NetworkEdit.i
+++ b/tcl/NetworkEdit.i
@@ -93,4 +93,16 @@ disconnect_pin_cmd(Pin *pin)
   Sta::sta()->disconnectPin(pin);
 }
 
+void
+insert_buffer_cmd(const char *buffer_name,
+		  LibertyCell *buffer_cell,
+		  Net *net,
+		  PinSeq *load_pins,
+		  const char *buffer_out_net_name)
+{
+  Sta::sta()->insertBuffer(buffer_name, buffer_cell, net, load_pins,
+			   buffer_out_net_name);
+  delete load_pins;
+} 
+
 %} // inline
diff --git a/tcl/NetworkEdit.tcl b/tcl/NetworkEdit.tcl
index 5d9ec0ab..1afb1ecd 100644
--- a/tcl/NetworkEdit.tcl
+++ b/tcl/NetworkEdit.tcl
@@ -18,7 +18,66 @@
 
 namespace eval sta {
 
+proc connect_pin { net pin } {
+  set insts_port [parse_connect_pin $pin]
+  if { $insts_port == 0 } {
+    return 0
+  }
+  set net [get_net_warn "net" $net]
+  if { $net == "NULL" } {
+    return 0
+  }
+  lassign $insts_port inst port
+  connect_pin_cmd $inst $port $net
+  return 1
+}
+
+proc parse_connect_pin { arg } {
+  set path_regexp [path_regexp]
+  set insts_port {}
+  if { [is_object $arg] } {
+    set object_type [object_type $arg]
+    if { $object_type == "Pin" } {
+      set pin $arg
+      set inst [$pin instance]
+      set port [$pin port]
+    } elseif { $object_type == "Port" } {
+      # Explicit port arg - convert to pin.
+      set pin [find_pin [get_name $arg]]
+      set inst [$pin instance]
+      set port [$pin port]
+    } else {
+      sta_error "unsupported object type $object_type."
+    }
+  } else {
+    if {[regexp $path_regexp $arg ignore path_name port_name]} {
+      set inst [find_instance $path_name]
+      if { $inst == "NULL" } {
+	return 0
+      }
+    } else {
+      set inst [top_instance]
+      set port_name $arg
+    }
+    set cell [$inst cell]
+    set port [$cell find_port $port_name]
+    if { $port == "NULL" } {
+      return 0
+    }
+    set pin [$inst find_pin $port_name]
+  }
+  
+  # Make sure the pin is not currently connected to a net.
+  if { $pin != "NULL" \
+	 && ![$pin is_hierarchical] \
+	 && [$pin net] != "NULL" } {
+    return 0
+  }
+  return [list $inst $port]
+}
+
 proc connect_pins { net pins } {
+  sta_warn "connect_pins is deprecated.  Use connect_pin."
   # Visit the pins to make sure command will succeed.
   set insts_ports [parse_connect_pins $pins]
   if { $insts_ports == 0 } {
@@ -36,105 +95,61 @@ proc connect_pins { net pins } {
 
 proc parse_connect_pins { arg } {
   set path_regexp [path_regexp]
-  set insts_ports {}
+  set inst_ports {}
   # Copy backslashes that will be removed by foreach.
   set arg [string map {\\ \\\\} $arg]
   foreach obj $arg {
-    if { [is_object $obj] } {
-      set object_type [object_type $obj]
-      if { $object_type == "Pin" } {
-	set pin $obj
-	set inst [$pin instance]
-	set port [$pin port]
-      } elseif { $object_type == "Port" } {
-	# Explicit port arg - convert to pin.
-	set pin [find_pin [get_name $obj]]
-	set inst [$pin instance]
-	set port [$pin port]
-      } else {
-	sta_error "unsupported object type $object_type."
-      }
-    } else {
-      if {[regexp $path_regexp $obj ignore path_name port_name]} {
-	set inst [find_instance $path_name]
-	if { $inst == "NULL" } {
-	  return 0
-	}
-      } else {
-	set inst [top_instance]
-	set port_name $obj
-      }
-      set cell [$inst cell]
-      set port [$cell find_port $port_name]
-      if { $port == "NULL" } {
-	return 0
-      }
-      set pin [$inst find_pin $port_name]
-    }
-
-    # Make sure the pin is not currently connected to a net.
-    if { $pin != "NULL" \
-	   && ![$pin is_hierarchical] \
-	   && [$pin net] != "NULL" } {
+    set inst_port [parse_connect_pin $obj]
+    if { $inst_port == 0 } {
       return 0
     }
-    lappend insts_ports $inst $port
+    set inst_ports [concat $inst_ports $inst_port]
   }
-  return $insts_ports
+  return $inst_ports
 }
 
 ################################################################
 
-proc delete_instance { instances } {
-  # Copy backslashes that will be removed by foreach.
-  set instances1 [string map {\\ \\\\} $instances]
-  foreach obj $instances1 {
-    if { [is_object $obj] } {
-      set object_type [object_type $obj]
-      if { $object_type == "Instance" } {
-	set inst $obj
-      } else {
-	sta_error "unsupported object type $object_type."
-      }
+proc delete_instance { instance } {
+  if { [is_object $instance] } {
+    set object_type [object_type $instance]
+    if { $object_type == "Instance" } {
+      set inst $obj
     } else {
-      set inst [find_instance $obj]
-    }
-    if { $inst != "NULL" } {
-      delete_instance_cmd $inst
+      sta_error "unsupported object type $object_type."
     }
+  } else {
+    set inst [find_instance $instance]
+  }
+  if { $inst != "NULL" } {
+    delete_instance_cmd $inst
   }
 }
 
 ################################################################
 
-proc delete_net { net_list } {
-  # Copy backslashes that will be removed by foreach.
-  set net_list [string map {\\ \\\\} $net_list]
-  foreach obj $net_list {
-    if { [is_object $obj] } {
-      set object_type [object_type $obj]
-      if { $object_type == "Net" } {
-	set net $obj
-      } else {
-	sta_error "unsupported object type $object_type."
-      }
-    } else {
-      set net [find_net $obj]
-    }
-    if { $net != "NULL" } {
-      delete_net_cmd $net
+proc delete_net { net } {
+  if { [is_object $net] } {
+    set object_type [object_type $net]
+    if { $object_type != "Net" } {
+      sta_error "unsupported object type $object_type."
     }
+  } else {
+    set net [find_net $net]
+  }
+  if { $net != "NULL" } {
+    delete_net_cmd $net
   }
 }
 
 ################################################################
 
-proc disconnect_pins { net pins } {
+proc disconnect_pin { net pin } {
   set net [get_net_warn "net" $net]
   if { $net == "NULL" } {
     return 0
   }
-  if { $pins == "-all" } {
+  if { $pin == "-all" } {
     set iter [$net connected_pin_iterator]
     while {[$iter has_next]} {
       set pin [$iter next]
@@ -143,46 +158,43 @@ proc disconnect_pins { net pins } {
     $iter finish
     return 1
   } else {
-    # Copy backslashes that will be removed by foreach.
-    set pins [string map {\\ \\\\} $pins]
-    # Visit the pins to make sure command will succeed.
-    foreach pin $pins {
-      set pin1 [get_port_pin_warn "pin" $pin]
-      if { $pin1 == "NULL" } {
-	return 0
-      }
-    }
-    foreach pin $pins {
-      set pin1 [get_port_pin_warn "pin" $pin]
+    set pin1 [get_port_pin_warn "pin" $pin]
+    if { $pin1 == "NULL" } {
+      return 0
+    } else {
       disconnect_pin_cmd $pin1
+      return 1
     }
-    return 1
+  }
+}
+
+proc disconnect_pins { net pins } {
+  sta_warn "disconnect_pins is deprecated.  Use disconnect_pin."
+  foreach pin $pins {
+    disconnect_pin $net $pins
   }
 }
 
 ################################################################
 
-proc make_instance { inst_names lib_cell } {
+proc make_instance { inst_path lib_cell } {
   set lib_cell [get_lib_cell_warn "lib_cell" $lib_cell]
   if { $lib_cell != "NULL" } {
     set path_regexp [path_regexp]
-    foreach inst_path $inst_names {
-      if {[regexp $path_regexp $inst_path ignore path_name inst_name]} {
-	set parent [find_instance $path_name]
-	if { $parent == "NULL" } {
-	  # Parent instance not found.  This could be a typo, but since
-	  # SDC does not escape hierarchy dividers it can also be
-	  # an escaped name.
-	  set inst_name $inst_path
-	  set parent [top_instance]
-	}
-      } else {
+    if {[regexp $path_regexp $inst_path ignore path_name inst_name]} {
+      set parent [find_instance $path_name]
+      if { $parent == "NULL" } {
+	# Parent instance not found.  This could be a typo, but since
+	# SDC does not escape hierarchy dividers it can also be
+	# an escaped name.
 	set inst_name $inst_path
 	set parent [top_instance]
       }
-      make_instance_cmd $inst_name $lib_cell $parent
+    } else {
+      set inst_name $inst_path
+      set parent [top_instance]
     }
-    return 1
+    return [make_instance_cmd $inst_name $lib_cell $parent]
   } else {
     return 0
   }
@@ -190,29 +202,19 @@ proc make_instance { inst_names lib_cell } {
 
 ################################################################
 
-proc make_net { net_list } {
-  # Visit the net names to make sure command will succeed.
-  set path_regexp [path_regexp]
-  foreach net $net_list {
-    if {[regexp $path_regexp $net ignore path_name net_name]} {
-      set parent [find_instance $path_name]
-      if { $parent == "NULL" } {
-	return 0
-      }
-    }
-  }
+proc make_net { net_name } {
   # Copy backslashes that will be removed by foreach.
-  set net_list [string map {\\ \\\\} $net_list]
-  foreach net $net_list {
-    if {[regexp $path_regexp $net ignore path_name net_name]} {
-      set parent [find_instance $path_name]
-    } else {
-      set net_name $net
-      set parent [top_instance]
+  set net_name [string map {\\ \\\\} $net_name]
+  set path_regexp [path_regexp]
+  if {[regexp $path_regexp $net_name ignore path_name net_name]} {
+    set parent [find_instance $path_name]
+    if { $parent == "NULL" } {
+      return 0
     }
-    make_net_cmd $net_name $parent
+  } else {
+    set parent [top_instance]
   }
-  return 1
+  return [make_net_cmd $net_name $parent]
 }
 
 ################################################################
@@ -237,5 +239,23 @@ proc replace_cell { instances lib_cell } {
   }
 }
 
+################################################################
+
+proc insert_buffer { buffer_name buffer_cell net load_pins buffer_out_net_name } {
+  set buffer_cell [sta::get_lib_cell_warn "buffer_cell" $buffer_cell]
+  set net [sta::get_net_warn "net" $net]
+  
+  # Copy backslashes that will be removed by foreach.
+  set load_pins1 [string map {\\ \\\\} $load_pins]
+  set load_pins {}
+  foreach pin $load_pins1 {
+    set pin1 [get_port_pin_warn "pin" $pin]
+    if { $pin1 != "NULL" } {
+      lappend load_pins $pin1
+    }
+  }
+  insert_buffer_cmd $buffer_name $buffer_cell $net $load_pins $buffer_out_net_name
+}
+
 # sta namespace end.
 }
diff --git a/tcl/Sta.tcl b/tcl/Sta.tcl
index 24907782..96048354 100644
--- a/tcl/Sta.tcl
+++ b/tcl/Sta.tcl
@@ -677,12 +677,16 @@ proc unset_timing_derate { args } {
 #  
 ################################################################
 
+define_sta_cmd_args "connect_pin" {net pins}
+# deprecated 2.0.16 05/02/2019
 define_sta_cmd_args "connect_pins" {net pins}
 
 define_sta_cmd_args "delete_instance" {cell_list}
 
 define_sta_cmd_args "delete_net" {net_list}
 
+define_sta_cmd_args "disconnect_pin" {net -all|pin}
+# deprecated 2.0.16 05/02/2019
 define_sta_cmd_args "disconnect_pins" {net -all|pins}
 
 define_sta_cmd_args "make_instance" {inst_names lib_cell}
@@ -691,6 +695,9 @@ define_sta_cmd_args "make_net" {}
 
 define_sta_cmd_args "replace_cell" {instances lib_cell}
 
+define_sta_cmd_args "insert_buffer" {buffer_name buffer_cell net load_pins\
+				       buffer_out_net_name}
+
 ################################################################
 #
 # Delay calculation commands