diff --git a/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html b/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html
index 90222099..e4f6ed33 100644
--- a/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html
+++ b/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html
@@ -1342,8 +1342,10 @@ C {verilog_timescale.sym} 1050 -100 0 0 {name=s1 timestep="1ns" precision="1ns"
    if x0, y0 not given use mouse coordinates </pre>
    <li><kbd>       rotate_in_place</kbd></li><pre>
    Rotate selected objects around their 0,0 coordinate point </pre>
-   <li><kbd>       save</kbd></li><pre>
-   Save schematic if modified. Does not ask confirmation! </pre>
+   <li><kbd>       save [fast]</kbd></li><pre>
+   Save schematic if modified. Does not ask confirmation!
+   if 'fast' is given it is passed to save_schematic() to avoid
+   updating window/tab/sim button states </pre>
    <li><kbd>       saveas [file] [type]</kbd></li><pre>
    save current schematic as 'file'
    if file is empty ({}) use current schematic name
@@ -1393,6 +1395,7 @@ C {verilog_timescale.sym} 1050 -100 0 0 {name=s1 timestep="1ns" precision="1ns"
        for all other objects 'id' is the position in the respective arrays
        if 'clear' is specified does an unselect operation
        if 'fast' is specified avoid sending information to infowindow and status bar
+       if 'nodraw' is given on select instance do not draw selection
        returns 1 if something selected, 0 otherwise </pre>
    <li><kbd>       select_all</kbd></li><pre>
    Selects all objects in schematic </pre>
diff --git a/src/actions.c b/src/actions.c
index 1d52d0b5..ab8af011 100644
--- a/src/actions.c
+++ b/src/actions.c
@@ -536,8 +536,9 @@ const char *get_file_path(char *f)
  *  1 : file saved or not needed to save since no change
  * -1 : user cancel
  *  0 : file not saved due to errors or per user request
+ *  confirm: 
  */
-int save(int confirm)
+int save(int confirm, int fast)
 {
   struct stat buf;
   char *name = xctx->sch[xctx->currsch];
@@ -556,10 +557,10 @@ int save(int confirm)
     if(confirm) {
       tcleval("ask_save_optional");
       if(!strcmp(tclresult(), "") ) return -1; /* user clicks "Cancel" */
-      else if(!strcmp(tclresult(), "yes") ) return save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]);
+      else if(!strcmp(tclresult(), "yes") ) return save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], fast);
       else return 0; /* user clicks "no" */
     } else {
-      return save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]);
+      return save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], fast);
     }
   }
   return 1; /* circuit not changed: always succeeed */
@@ -592,7 +593,7 @@ void saveas(const char *f, int type) /*  changed name from ask_save_file to save
 
     if(!res[0]) return;
     dbg(1, "saveas(): res = %s\n", res);
-    save_schematic(res);
+    save_schematic(res, 0);
     tclvareval("update_recent_file {", res,"}",  NULL);
     return;
 }
@@ -603,7 +604,7 @@ void ask_new_file(void)
 
     if(!has_x) return;
     if(xctx->modified) {
-      if(save(1) == -1 ) return; /*  user cancels save, so do nothing. */
+      if(save(1, 0) == -1 ) return; /*  user cancels save, so do nothing. */
     }
     tcleval("load_file_dialog {Load file} *.\\{sch,sym,tcl\\} INITIALLOADDIR");
     my_snprintf(f, S(f),"%s", tclresult());
@@ -2231,7 +2232,7 @@ int descend_schematic(int instnumber, int fallback, int alert, int set_title)
      my_strncpy(res, tclresult(), S(res));
      if(!res[0]) return 0;
      dbg(1, "descend_schematic(): saving: %s\n",res);
-     save_ok = save_schematic(res);
+     save_ok = save_schematic(res, 0);
      if(save_ok==0) return 0;
    }
    n = xctx->sel_array[0].n;
@@ -2248,7 +2249,7 @@ int descend_schematic(int instnumber, int fallback, int alert, int set_title)
    if(xctx->modified) {
      int ret;
  
-     ret = save(1);
+     ret = save(1, 0);
      /* if circuit is changed but not saved before descending
       * state will be inconsistent when returning, can not propagare hilights
       * save() return value:
@@ -2402,10 +2403,10 @@ void go_back(int confirm, int set_title) /*  20171006 add confirm */
   {
     if(confirm) {
       tcleval("ask_save_optional");
-      if(!strcmp(tclresult(), "yes") ) save_ok = save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]);
+      if(!strcmp(tclresult(), "yes") ) save_ok = save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], 0);
       else if(!strcmp(tclresult(), "") ) return;
     } else {
-      save_ok = save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]);
+      save_ok = save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], 0);
     }
   }
   if(save_ok==0) {
@@ -2458,7 +2459,7 @@ void go_back(int confirm, int set_title) /*  20171006 add confirm */
 
 void clear_schematic(int cancel, int symbol)
 {
-      if(cancel == 1) cancel=save(1);
+      if(cancel == 1) cancel=save(1, 0);
       if(cancel != -1) { /* -1 means user cancel save request */
         char name[PATH_MAX];
         struct stat buf;
diff --git a/src/callback.c b/src/callback.c
index 25da6526..429e1f69 100644
--- a/src/callback.c
+++ b/src/callback.c
@@ -2831,7 +2831,7 @@ int rstate; /* (reduced state, without ShiftMask) */
      if(!strcmp(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch],"") || strstr(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], "untitled")) {
        saveas(NULL, SCHEMATIC);
      } else {
-       save(1);
+       save(1, 0);
      }
      break;
    }
@@ -2907,7 +2907,7 @@ int rstate; /* (reduced state, without ShiftMask) */
             "-message {do you want to make symbol view ?}");
     if(strcmp(tclresult(),"ok")==0)
     {
-     save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]);
+     save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], 0);
      make_symbol();
     }
     break;
diff --git a/src/save.c b/src/save.c
index d9ac258a..bf880b1d 100644
--- a/src/save.c
+++ b/src/save.c
@@ -3315,7 +3315,7 @@ Sch_pin_record *sort_schematic_pins(int *npins)
  *   0 : did not save
  *   1 : schematic saved
  */
-int save_schematic(const char *schname) /* 20171020 added return value */
+int save_schematic(const char *schname, int fast) /* 20171020 added return value */
 {
   FILE *fd;
   struct stat buf;
@@ -3372,7 +3372,8 @@ int save_schematic(const char *schname) /* 20171020 added return value */
    * xctx->prep_hash_wires=0;
    */
   if(!strstr(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], ".xschem_embedded_")) {
-    set_modify(0);
+    if(fast) set_modify(2); /* only clear modified flag, no title/tab/sim buttons update */
+    else     set_modify(0);
   }
   tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".menubar entryconfigure Simulate -background $simulate_bg", NULL);
   tclvareval("set tctx::", xctx->current_win_path, "_simulate $simulate_bg", NULL);
@@ -5067,7 +5068,7 @@ void descend_symbol(void)
     if(xctx->modified)
     {
       int ret;
-      ret = save(1);
+      ret = save(1, 1);
       /* if circuit is changed but not saved before descending
        * state will be inconsistent when returning, can not propagare hilights
        * save() return value:
diff --git a/src/scheduler.c b/src/scheduler.c
index e66b69d7..e63088df 100644
--- a/src/scheduler.c
+++ b/src/scheduler.c
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       if(!xctx) {Tcl_SetResult(interp, not_avail, TCL_STATIC); return TCL_ERROR;}
       rebuild_selected_array();
       if(xctx->lastsel==0 ) {
-        save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]); /* sync data with disk file before editing file */
+        save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], 0); /* sync data with disk file before editing file */
         my_snprintf(name, S(name), "edit_file {%s}",
             abs_sym_path(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], ""));
         tcleval(name);
@@ -2815,7 +2815,7 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
         my_snprintf(f, S(f),"regsub {^~/} {%s} {%s/}", argv[2], home_dir);
         tcleval(f);
         my_strncpy(f, tclresult(), S(f));
-        if(force || !has_x || !xctx->modified  || save(1) != -1 ) { /* save(1)==-1 --> user cancel */
+        if(force || !has_x || !xctx->modified  || save(1, 0) != -1 ) { /* save(1)==-1 --> user cancel */
           char win_path[WINDOW_PATH_SIZE];
           int skip = 0;
           dbg(1, "scheduler(): load: filename=%s\n", argv[2]);
@@ -3049,7 +3049,7 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       if(has_x) tcleval("tk_messageBox -type okcancel -parent [xschem get topwindow] "
                         "-message {do you want to make symbol view ?}");
       if(!has_x || strcmp(tclresult(), "ok")==0) {
-        save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]);
+        save_schematic(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], 0);
         make_symbol();
       }
       Tcl_ResetResult(interp);
@@ -4590,16 +4590,23 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
     else { cmd_found = 0;}
     break;
     case 's': /*----------------------------------------------*/
-    /* save
-     *   Save schematic if modified. Does not ask confirmation! */
+    /* save [fast]
+     *   Save schematic if modified. Does not ask confirmation!
+     *   if 'fast' is given it is passed to save_schematic() to avoid
+     *   updating window/tab/sim button states */
     if(!strcmp(argv[1], "save"))
     {
+      int fast = 0;
       if(!xctx) {Tcl_SetResult(interp, not_avail, TCL_STATIC); return TCL_ERROR;}
       dbg(1, "scheduler(): saving: current schematic\n");
+      for(i = 2; i < argc; i++) {
+        if(!strcmp(argv[i], "fast")) fast |= 1;
+      }
+
       if(!strcmp(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], "")) {   /* check if unnamed schematic, use saveas in this case... */
         saveas(NULL, SCHEMATIC);
       } else {
-        save(0);
+        save(0, fast);
       }
     }
 
@@ -4745,6 +4752,7 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
      * for all other objects 'id' is the position in the respective arrays
      * if 'clear' is specified does an unselect operation
      * if 'fast' is specified avoid sending information to infowindow and status bar
+     * if 'nodraw' is given on select instance do not draw selection
      * returns 1 if something selected, 0 otherwise */
     else if(!strcmp(argv[1], "select"))
     {
@@ -4766,7 +4774,8 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
        int i;
        for(i = 4; i < argc; i++) {
          if(!strcmp(argv[i], "clear")) sel = 0;
-         if(!strcmp(argv[i], "fast")) fast = 1;
+         if(!strcmp(argv[i], "fast")) fast |= 1;
+         if(!strcmp(argv[i], "nodraw") && !strcmp(argv[2], "instance")) fast |= 2;
        }
       }
       if(!strcmp(argv[2], "instance") && argc > 3) {
diff --git a/src/select.c b/src/select.c
index bf8f3c92..324dac19 100644
--- a/src/select.c
+++ b/src/select.c
@@ -937,6 +937,10 @@ void select_wire(int i,unsigned short select_mode, int fast)
   xctx->need_reb_sel_arr=1;
 }
 
+/* fast == 1: do not update status line
+ * fast == 2: do not draw / undraw selected elements
+ * fast == 3: 1 + 2
+ */
 void select_element(int i,unsigned short select_mode, int fast, int override_lock)
 {
   int c, j;
@@ -946,7 +950,7 @@ void select_element(int i,unsigned short select_mode, int fast, int override_loc
   if(!strboolcmp(get_tok_value(xctx->inst[i].prop_ptr, "lock", 0), "true") &&
       select_mode == SELECTED && !override_lock) return;
   my_strncpy(s,xctx->inst[i].prop_ptr!=NULL?xctx->inst[i].prop_ptr:"<NULL>",S(s));
-  if( !fast )
+  if( !(fast & 1) )
   {
     my_snprintf(str, S(str), "Info: selected element %d: %s\nproperties:\n%s", i,
       xctx->inst[i].name ? xctx->inst[i].name : "<NULL>" , s);
@@ -976,7 +980,7 @@ void select_element(int i,unsigned short select_mode, int fast, int override_loc
   }
   xctx->inst[i].sel = select_mode;
   if(select_mode == SELECTED) set_first_sel(ELEMENT, i, 0);
-  if(!fast) {
+  if(!(fast & 2) ) {
     if(select_mode) {
       for(c=0;c<cadlayers; ++c) {
         draw_temp_symbol(ADD, xctx->gc[SELLAYER], i,c,0,0,0.0,0.0);
diff --git a/src/xschem.h b/src/xschem.h
index 3f59ee9b..60bfd767 100644
--- a/src/xschem.h
+++ b/src/xschem.h
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@ extern void new_xschem_process(const char *cell, int symbol);
 extern void ask_new_file(void);
 extern void saveas(const char *f, int type);
 extern const char *get_file_path(char *f);
-extern int save(int confirm);
+extern int save(int confirm, int fast);
 extern void save_ascii_string(const char *ptr, FILE *fd, int newline);
 extern Hilight_hashentry *bus_hilight_hash_lookup(const char *token, int value, int what) ;
 /* wrapper function to hash highlighted instances, avoid clash with net names */
@@ -1496,7 +1496,7 @@ extern int sym_vs_sch_pins(int all);
 extern char *get_generator_command(const char *str);
 extern int match_symbol(const char name[]);
 extern Sch_pin_record *sort_schematic_pins(int *npins);
-extern int save_schematic(const char *); /*  20171020 added return value */
+extern int save_schematic(const char *, int fast); /*  20171020 added return value */
 extern void copy_symbol(xSymbol *dest_sym, xSymbol *src_sym);
 extern void push_undo(void);
 extern void pop_undo(int redo, int set_modify_status);
diff --git a/src/xschem.tcl b/src/xschem.tcl
index e2ef5c13..3ee1dd12 100644
--- a/src/xschem.tcl
+++ b/src/xschem.tcl
@@ -1904,7 +1904,7 @@ proc traversal_setlabels {w parent_sch instname inst_sch sym_sch default_sch ins
         xschem setprop instance $instname schematic [$w get] fast ;# set schematic attr on instance
       } 
       xschem set_modify 3 ;# set only modified flag to force a save, do not update window/tab titles
-      xschem save
+      xschem save fast
       set inst_sch [$w get]
       # puts "inst_sch set to: $inst_sch"
       xschem load $current  noundoreset nodraw
@@ -2083,7 +2083,7 @@ proc hier_traversal {{level 0} {only_subckts 0} {all_hierarchy 1}} {
 
     set done_print 1
     if {$type eq {subcircuit} && $all_hierarchy} {
-      xschem select instance $i fast
+      xschem select instance $i fast nodraw
       set descended [xschem descend 1 6]
       if {$descended} {
         incr level