diff --git a/DEV.md b/DEV.md
index e2212b3..83defeb 100644
--- a/DEV.md
+++ b/DEV.md
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ The Rust core takes commands three ways:
 - Multi-buffer structural (`edit_buffers` binding): Python passes ordered `(target, text)` buffers and target-resolved command tuples. Rust keeps one engine per target and executes the full call, including cross-target `m`/`t`, before returning per-target results.
 - Compact ex-style strings, where strings are the input medium:
   - `parse_commands_from_script(&str)`: for script strings; commands are separated by newlines. Single-line `a/i/c` text may be inline; if omitted, following lines up to `.` are used as the text block.
-  - `parse_commands_from_args(&[String], &mut BufRead)`: used by the `exhash` CLI via the `exhash_argv` binding; each arg is a command. Single-line `a/i/c` text may be inline; if omitted, text blocks are read from the stdin stream terminated by `.`.
+  - `parse_commands_from_args(&[String], &mut BufRead)`: used by the `exhash` CLI via the `exhash_argv` binding; each arg is a command. Single-line `a/i/c` text may be inline. One command may instead read a multiline text block from stdin through EOF.
 
 File-qualified addresses and notebook cell prefixes are resolved by the Python `file_exhash` wrapper after tuple normalization. The resulting target identifiers are opaque to Rust.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 175a89e..b289f39 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ When passing multiple commands, each command's lnhashes are verified immediately
 For CLI multiline `a/i/c` commands, omit inline text and provide the text block on stdin:
 
 ```bash
-printf "new line 1\nnew line 2\n.\n" | exhash file.txt "2|beef|a"
+printf "new line 1\nnew line 2\n" | exhash file.txt "2|beef|a"
 ```
 
 If the file does not exist and the command set is valid on empty input, exhash treats it as an empty file and writes the result. For example, `0|0000|a` can create a new file.
@@ -102,12 +102,14 @@ In `--stdin` mode, multiline `a/i/c` text blocks are not available.
 
 ### Notebook cells
 
-`lnhashview-cell` and `exhash-cell` apply the same workflow to one notebook cell, addressed by its exact or unique ID prefix:
+`lnhashview-cell` and `exhash-cell` apply the same workflow to notebook cells, addressed by exact or unique ID prefixes. Pass comma-separated IDs to view several cells together; the output adds a `# cell <id>` header to each group:
 
 ```bash
 lnhashview-cell nbs/00_core.ipynb ab12cd34
+lnhashview-cell nbs/00_core.ipynb ab12cd34,ef56ab78
 exhash-cell nbs/00_core.ipynb ab12cd34 '3|beef|s/old/new/'
 exhash-cell --dry-run nbs/00_core.ipynb ab12cd34 '3|beef|d'
+printf 'replacement line\n' | exhash-cell nbs/00_core.ipynb ab12cd34 '3|beef|c'
 ```
 
 ### Document outlines
diff --git a/python/exhash/_cli.py b/python/exhash/_cli.py
index 53e93f1..33bf322 100644
--- a/python/exhash/_cli.py
+++ b/python/exhash/_cli.py
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 
 COMMANDS
   s/pat/rep/[flags]  Substitute (Rust regex; flags g, i). y/src/dst/ transliterate.
-  d delete   a/i/c append/insert/change (inline text, or a text block via stdin
-  terminated by a '.' line)   j join   m/t move/copy to dest   >/< indent/dedent
+  d delete   a/i/c append/insert/change (inline text, or one text block read
+  from stdin through EOF)   j join   m/t move/copy to dest   >/< indent/dedent
   sort   p print   g/pat/cmd, g!/pat/cmd, v/pat/cmd global
 
 OPTIONS
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@
 EXHASH_CELL_USAGE = """\
 Usage: exhash-cell [-h] [--dry-run] [--sw N] <notebook> <cell-id> [commands...]
 
-Apply exhash commands to one notebook cell. Multiline a/i/c text blocks are read
-from stdin and terminated by a line containing only '.'.
+Apply compact exhash commands to one notebook cell. Put the verified address and
+operation in one argument, for example '3|beef|s/old/new/' or '3|beef|d'.
+
+Multiline a/i/c text blocks use a command such as '3|beef|c'. The one command
+that reads a text block consumes stdin through EOF. Every input line is literal.
 """
 
 
@@ -142,14 +145,18 @@ def _int(v, name):
 @call_parse(pos=['start', 'end'])
 def lnhashview_cell_main(
     file:str, # Notebook path
-    cell_id:str, # Exact or uniquely prefixed cell ID
+    cell_id:str, # Exact/prefixed cell ID, or comma-separated IDs
     start:int=None, # First source line to show
     end:int=None, # Last source line to show
 ):
-    "Show hash-addressed source lines from one notebook cell."
-    from . import lnhashview_cell
+    "Show hash-addressed source lines from one or more notebook cells."
+    from . import lnhashview_cell, lnhashview_cells
     if start is not None and end is None: end = start
-    try: print(lnhashview_cell(file, cell_id, start, end))
+    cell_ids = [o.strip() for o in cell_id.split(',')]
+    if any(not o for o in cell_ids): _die("error: cell IDs must be a comma-separated list without empty entries", 2)
+    try:
+        res = lnhashview_cell(file, cell_ids[0], start, end) if len(cell_ids) == 1 else lnhashview_cells(file, *cell_ids, start=start, end=end)
+        print(res)
     except Exception as e: _die(f"error: {e}")
 
 
diff --git a/src/parse.rs b/src/parse.rs
index 095fcdc..9f3bcaf 100644
--- a/src/parse.rs
+++ b/src/parse.rs
@@ -49,13 +49,18 @@ pub struct Subst {
     pub case_insensitive: bool,
 }
 
-/// Parse commands from CLI argv, reading any multiline text blocks from `stdin`.
+/// Parse commands from CLI argv, reading one multiline text block from `stdin` through EOF.
 ///
 /// Each element of `args` is a single command line (e.g. `42|a3f2|s/foo/bar/g`).
 pub fn parse_commands_from_args(args: &[String], stdin: &mut impl BufRead) -> Result<Vec<Command>, EditError> {
     let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(args.len());
+    let mut read_stdin = false;
     for a in args {
-        let cmd = parse_command_with_text(a, || read_text_block_from_bufread(stdin))?;
+        let cmd = parse_command_with_text(a, || {
+            if read_stdin { return Err(EditError::new("only one command can read a text block from stdin")); }
+            read_stdin = true;
+            read_text_block_from_bufread(stdin)
+        })?;
         out.push(cmd);
     }
     Ok(out)
@@ -365,14 +370,13 @@ fn read_text_block_from_bufread(stdin: &mut impl BufRead) -> Result<Vec<String>,
     loop {
         buf.clear();
         let n = stdin.read_line(&mut buf).map_err(|e| EditError::new(format!("failed to read stdin: {e}")))?;
-        if n == 0 { return Err(EditError::new("unexpected EOF while reading text block")); }
+        if n == 0 { break; }
         // Trim \n, then optional \r.
         if buf.ends_with('\n') {
             buf.pop();
             if buf.ends_with('\r') { buf.pop(); }
         }
-        if buf == "." { break; }
-        if buf == ".." { out.push(".".to_string()); } else { out.push(buf.clone()); }
+        out.push(buf.clone());
     }
     Ok(out)
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_cells.py b/tests/test_cells.py
index 3dc2c66..aa0226a 100644
--- a/tests/test_cells.py
+++ b/tests/test_cells.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import json, pytest
+import json, subprocess, pytest
 from exhash import lnhash, lnhashview_cell, lnhashview_cells, cell_exhash, file_exhash
 from exhash._cli import exhash_cell_main
 
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ def test_lnhashview_cells(tmp_path):
     assert lines[4].startswith(lnhash(1, 'x=1'))
     assert str(lines) == chr(10).join(lines)
 
+
+def test_lnhashview_cell_cli_accepts_comma_separated_ids(tmp_path):
+    p = tmp_path/'t.ipynb'
+    mk_nb(p, [('aaaa1111', 'x=1'), ('bbbb2222', 'y=2')])
+    single = subprocess.run(['lnhashview-cell', str(p), 'aaaa'], text=True, capture_output=True)
+    multiple = subprocess.run(['lnhashview-cell', str(p), 'aaaa,bbbb'], text=True, capture_output=True)
+    assert single.returncode == multiple.returncode == 0
+    assert single.stdout.startswith(f'{lnhash(1, "x=1")}x=1') and '# cell' not in single.stdout
+    assert '# cell aaaa1111' in multiple.stdout and '# cell bbbb2222' in multiple.stdout
+
 def test_lnhashview_cell_prefix_and_errors(tmp_path):
     p = tmp_path/'t.ipynb'
     mk_nb(p, [('aaaa1111', 'x=1'), ('aabb2222', 'y=2')])
@@ -81,6 +91,14 @@ def test_exhash_cell_cli_dry_run_then_write(tmp_path, capsys):
     assert 'x=2' in capsys.readouterr().out
 
 
+def test_exhash_cell_cli_help(capsys):
+    exhash_cell_main(['--help'])
+    help_ = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "'3|beef|s/old/new/'" in help_
+    assert "'3|beef|c'" in help_
+    assert 'through EOF' in help_
+
+
 def test_cell_exhash_stacks_call_start_addresses(tmp_path):
     p = tmp_path/'t.ipynb'
     mk_nb(p, [('aaaa1111', 'x = one + two')])
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index a7505b6..5f80af8 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def test_move_to_last_line_destination(tmp_path):
 def test_multiline_append_from_stdin(tmp_path):
     f = tmp_path / "f.txt"
     f.write_text("a\n")
-    out = run([str(f), f"{lnhash(1, 'a')}a"], input="x\ny\n.\n")
+    out = run([str(f), f"{lnhash(1, 'a')}a"], input="x\ny\n")
     assert out.returncode == 0
     assert add(2, "x") in out.stdout
     assert add(3, "y") in out.stdout
@@ -122,11 +122,18 @@ def test_inline_change_from_arg(tmp_path):
 
 def test_creates_missing_file_with_zero_append(tmp_path):
     f = tmp_path / "new.txt"
-    out = run([str(f), "0|0000|a"], input="first line\n.\n")
+    out = run([str(f), "0|0000|a"], input="first line\n")
     assert out.returncode == 0
     assert out.stdout == diff(f"{add(1, 'first line')}\n")
     assert f.read_text() == "first line\n"
 
+def test_multiline_stdin_is_literal(tmp_path):
+    f = tmp_path / "f.txt"
+    f.write_text("a\n")
+    out = run([str(f), f"{lnhash(1, 'a')}a"], input=".\n..\n")
+    assert out.returncode == 0
+    assert f.read_text() == "a\n.\n..\n"
+
 def test_rejects_binary_file(tmp_path):
     f = tmp_path / "f.bin"
     f.write_bytes(b"a\0b\n")
diff --git a/tests/test_exhash.py b/tests/test_exhash.py
index 50d1f75..130f1e9 100644
--- a/tests/test_exhash.py
+++ b/tests/test_exhash.py
@@ -535,8 +535,7 @@ def test_missing_path_error_messages(tmp_path):
 def test_unexpanded_ipython_variable_is_named_in_path_errors(tmp_path):
     "An undefined {name}/$name in a %%exhash line reaches us as literal text, so say so instead of blaming the directory"
     for p in ('{impdir}/DEV.md', '$impdir/DEV.md', '${impdir}/DEV.md'):
-        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match='unexpanded IPython variable'):
-            file_exhash(p, ("0|0000|", "a", "hi"))
+        with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match='unexpanded IPython variable'): file_exhash(p, ("0|0000|", "a", "hi"))
     with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError, match='unexpanded IPython variable'):
         cell_exhash('{nbdir}/nb.ipynb', 'ab12', ("1|abcd|", "c", "hi"))
     with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError) as e:   # an ordinary missing path keeps the plain message