diff --git a/include/meta.h b/include/meta.h
index fc880c5..7504092 100644
--- a/include/meta.h
+++ b/include/meta.h
@@ -181,21 +181,11 @@ typedef struct s_map {
 
 typedef struct s_flag
 {
-	char	*flag;
-	char	*content;
+	char			*flag;
+	char			*content;
 	struct s_flag	*next;
 }	t_flag;
 
-
-typedef struct s_lex {
-	t_flag	n;
-	t_flag	s;
-	t_flag	e;
-	t_flag	w;
-	t_flag	c;
-	t_flag	f;
-}	t_lex;
-
 typedef struct s_sprite {
 	t_vec2d			pos;
 	mlx_texture_t	*tex;
@@ -239,8 +229,7 @@ typedef struct s_meta {
 	t_attr		attributes;
 	const char	*scene_name;
 	char		*map_element;
-	t_lex		lexer;
-	t_flag		*extras;
+	t_flag		*elements;
 }	t_meta;
 
 
@@ -318,16 +307,14 @@ void	sprite_sort(double *sprite_dist, int32_t *sprite_order);
 
 
 // lexer.c
-char *extract_file(char *map_file);
-bool	mandatory_elements(t_lex *lex);
-int	lex(char *file, t_lex *lexer, t_map *map, t_flag **extras);
-int	lexer(t_meta *meta, char *map_file);
+char 	*extract_file(char *map_file);
+int		lex(char *file, t_map *map, t_flag **elements);
+int		lexer(t_meta *meta, char *map_file);
 
 // lexer_utils.c
 
-void	print_lexer_mandatory(t_lex *lexer);
 void	print_lexer_map(t_map *map);
-void	print_lexer_extras(t_flag **extras);
+void print_lexer_elements(t_flag *elements);
 
 // map_lexer.c
 
@@ -335,7 +322,7 @@ bool	nl_only_spaces(char *file);
 int		end_of_map(char *file);
 void	skip_map_element(char **file, int *skip);
 int		input_map_lexer(char *file, t_map *map);
-int		map_lex(char **file, t_map *map, t_lex *lexer, int *skip);
+int		map_lex(char **file, t_map *map, int *skip, int mandatory);
 
 // extra_lexer.c
 
@@ -344,10 +331,6 @@ int		save_extra_title(t_flag **extras, char **file);
 bool	is_valid_extra(char *file);
 int		lexer_input_extra(t_flag **extras, char *file, int *skip);
 
-//flag_lexer.c
-
-char	*get_val(char *file);
-int		input_lexer(t_lex *lex, char *file, int *skip);
 
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/cub3d.c b/src/cub3d.c
index c43a422..081c8bf 100644
--- a/src/cub3d.c
+++ b/src/cub3d.c
@@ -106,10 +106,12 @@ int cub3d(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	if (lexer(&meta, argv[1]))
 		return (EXIT_FAILURE);
-	print_lexer_mandatory(&meta.lexer);
 	print_lexer_map(&meta.map);
-	print_lexer_extras(&meta.extras);
-	return 0;
+	printf("!!!: %s\n", meta.elements->flag);
+	print_lexer_elements(meta.elements);
+	// free stuff
+	return (0);
+
 	if (parser(&meta, argv[1]))
 		return(meta_free(&meta), EXIT_FAILURE);
 	if (set_textures(&meta.attributes))
diff --git a/src/parser/check_elements.c b/src/parser/check_elements.c
index 8dfcc6a..b889dea 100644
--- a/src/parser/check_elements.c
+++ b/src/parser/check_elements.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 // checks if the element abbreviations are valid
 bool	is_valid_element(char *file)
 {
-	char*el[6] = {"NO", "SO", "WE", "EA", "F", "C"};
+	char	*el[6] = {"NO", "SO", "WE", "EA", "F", "C"};
 	size_t  i;
 
 	i = 0;
diff --git a/src/parser/extra_lexer.c b/src/parser/extra_lexer.c
index 04e030c..3f17bce 100644
--- a/src/parser/extra_lexer.c
+++ b/src/parser/extra_lexer.c
@@ -32,48 +32,3 @@ char	*get_title_val(char *file)
 	return (ft_strdup(""));
 }
 
-// saves the flag of the extra (for now only sprites called "OBJ")
-int	save_extra_title(t_flag **extras, char **file)
-{
-	t_flag *new_node;
-	int	i;
-
-	i = 0;
-	new_node = malloc(sizeof(t_flag) * 1);
-	if (!new_node)
-		return (pr_err(MALL_ERR), EXIT_FAILURE);
-	new_node->next = NULL;
-	new_node->flag = get_title_val(*file);
-	if (*extras == NULL)
-		*extras = new_node;
-	else
-	{
-		while ((*extras)->next == NULL)
-			*extras = (*extras)->next;
-		*extras = new_node;
-	}
-	while (new_node->flag[i])
-	{
-		i++;
-		(*file)++;
-	}
-	return (EXIT_SUCCESS);
-}
-
-bool	is_valid_extra(char *file)
-{
-	if (*file && !ft_strncmp(file, "OBJ", 3))
-		return (true);
-	return (false);
-}
-
-// inputs extras into the extras linked list (for now only sprites)
-int	lexer_input_extra(t_flag **extras, char *file, int *skip)
-{
-	while (*extras && (*extras)->next != NULL)
-		*extras = (*extras)->next;
-	(*extras)->content = get_val(file);
-	(*extras)->next = NULL;
-	*skip = 1;
-	return (EXIT_SUCCESS);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/flag_lexer.c b/src/parser/flag_lexer.c
index 239bc3d..a0ce951 100644
--- a/src/parser/flag_lexer.c
+++ b/src/parser/flag_lexer.c
@@ -13,47 +13,3 @@
 #include "meta.h"
 #include "parser.h"
 
-char	*get_val(char *file)
-{
-	int		i;
-	char	*val;
-
-	i = 0;
-	skip_spaces(&file);
-	while (file[i] && file[i] != '\n')
-		i++;
-	if (i)
-	{
-		val = ft_substr(file, 0, i);
-		if (!val)
-			return (NULL);
-		return (val);
-	}
-	return (ft_strdup(""));
-}
-
-int	input_lexer(t_lex *lex, char *file, int *skip)
-{
-	char	element[6] = {'N', 'S', 'W', 'E', 'F', 'C'};
-	char**	content[6] = {&lex->n.content, &lex->s.content, &lex->w.content, &lex->e.content, &lex->c.content, &lex->f.content};
-	int i;
-
-	i = 0;
-	*skip = 1;
-	skip_spaces(&file);
-	while (i < 6)
-	{
-		if (*file && *file == element[i])
-		{
-			if (*content[i])
-				return (pr_err(DUP_ELEMENTS));
-			*content[i] = get_val(file + 2);
-			if (!(content[i]))
-				return (pr_err(MALL_ERR), EXIT_FAILURE);
-			if (!ft_strncmp(*content[i], "", 1))
-				return (pr_err(M_PATH), EXIT_FAILURE);
-		}
-		i++;
-	}
-	return (EXIT_SUCCESS);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/lexer.c b/src/parser/lexer.c
index c0d486e..bc07111 100644
--- a/src/parser/lexer.c
+++ b/src/parser/lexer.c
@@ -29,46 +29,128 @@ char *extract_file(char *map_file)
 	return (file);
 }
 
-bool	mandatory_elements(t_lex *lex)
+char	*get_key(char *file)
 {
-	int	i;	
-	char*	flags[6] = {lex->n.content, lex->s.content, lex->w.content, lex->e.content, lex->c.content, lex->f.content};
+	int		i;
+	char	*key;
 
 	i = 0;
-	while (i < 6)
-	{
-		if (flags[i] == NULL)
-			return (false);
+	while (file[i] != ' ')
 		i++;
+	if (i)
+	{
+		key = ft_substr(file, 0, i);
+		if (!key)
+			return (pr_err(MALL_ERR), NULL);
+		return (key);
+	}
+	return (ft_strdup(""));
+}
+
+char	*get_val(char *file)
+{
+	int		i;
+	int		j;
+	char	*val;
+
+	i = 0;
+	j = 0;
+	while (file[j] != ' ')
+		j++;
+	while (file[j] == ' ')
+		j++;
+	i = j;
+	while (file[j] != '\n' && file[j])
+		j++;
+	if (i < j)
+	{	val = ft_substr(file, i, j);
+		if (!val)
+			return (pr_err(MALL_ERR), NULL);
+		return (val);
+	}
+	return (ft_strdup(""));
+}
+
+t_flag	*create_new_node(char *file)
+{
+	t_flag	*node;
+
+	node = malloc(sizeof(t_flag) * 1);
+	node->flag = get_key(file);
+	if (!node->flag)
+		return (NULL);
+	node->content = get_val(file);
+	if (!node->content)
+		return (free(node->flag), NULL);
+	node->next = NULL;
+	return (node);
+}
+
+void	add_to_list (t_flag **elements, t_flag *new_node)
+{
+	t_flag **list;
+
+	list = elements;
+	if (!*list)
+	{	
+		*list = new_node;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		while ((*list)->next != NULL)
+			*list = (*list)->next;
+		(*list)->next = new_node;
+	}
+}
+
+bool	is_duplicate_flag(t_flag *elements, char *key)
+{
+	while (elements != NULL)
+	{
+		if (!ft_strncmp(elements->flag, key, ft_strlen(key)))
+			return (true);
+		elements = elements->next;
 	}
+	return (false);
+}
+
+// if key is not a duplicate and is mandatory
+bool	is_valid_key(t_flag **elements, t_flag *new_node)
+{
+	if (is_duplicate_flag(*elements, new_node->flag) && is_valid_element(new_node->flag))
+		return (false);
 	return (true);
 }
 
-int	lex(char *file, t_lex *lexer, t_map *map, t_flag **extras)
+int	lex(char *file, t_map *map, t_flag **elements)
 {
+	t_flag	*new_node;
 	int	exit_code;
 	int	skip;
+	int	mandatory = 0;
 
 	while (*file)
 	{
 		exit_code = 0;
 		skip = 1;
 		skip_spaces(&file);
-		if (is_valid_element(file))
-		{
-			exit_code = input_lexer(lexer, file, &skip);
-		}
-		else if (is_map_element(file) && !only_spaces(file))
-		{
-			exit_code = map_lex(&file, map, lexer, &skip);
-		}
-		else if (is_valid_extra(file) && !save_extra_title(extras, &file))
+		if (is_map_element(file) && !only_spaces(file))
 		{
-			exit_code = lexer_input_extra(extras, file, &skip);
+			exit_code = map_lex(&file, map, &skip, mandatory);
 		}
-		else if (!only_spaces(file))
-		{
-			exit_code = pr_err(INV_ELE);
+		else if (only_spaces(file))
+			skip = 1;
+		else
+		{	
+			new_node = create_new_node(file);
+			if (!new_node)
+				return (pr_err(MALL_ERR));
+			if (is_valid_key(elements, new_node))
+				mandatory++;
+			else
+				return (free(new_node->flag), free(new_node->content), \
+						free(new_node), pr_err(DUP_ELEMENTS));
+			add_to_list(elements, new_node);
 		}
 		if (exit_code)
 			return (EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -87,7 +169,7 @@ int	lexer(t_meta *meta, char *map_file)
 	file = extract_file(map_file);
 	if (!file)
 		return(EXIT_FAILURE);
-	if (lex(file, &meta->lexer, &meta->map, &meta->extras))
+	if (lex(file, &meta->map, &meta->elements))
 		return (EXIT_FAILURE); //also free everything in case of error!
 	return (EXIT_SUCCESS);
 }
diff --git a/src/parser/lexer_utils.c b/src/parser/lexer_utils.c
index 47e3315..81cb49d 100644
--- a/src/parser/lexer_utils.c
+++ b/src/parser/lexer_utils.c
@@ -13,26 +13,18 @@
 #include "meta.h"
 #include "parser.h"
 
-void print_lexer_mandatory(t_lex *lexer)
-{
-	printf("NO: %s\n", lexer->n.content);
-	printf("SO: %s\n", lexer->s.content);
-	printf("EA: %s\n", lexer->e.content);
-	printf("WE: %s\n", lexer->w.content);
-	printf("F: %s\n", lexer->c.content);
-	printf("C: %s\n", lexer->f.content);
-}
 
 void	print_lexer_map(t_map *map)
 {
 	printf("MAP: %s\n", map->map_element);
 }
 
-void print_lexer_extras(t_flag **extras)
+void print_lexer_elements(t_flag *elements)
 {
-	while (*extras)
+	while (elements != NULL)
 	{
-		printf("OBJ: %s\n", (*extras)->content);
-		*extras = (*extras)->next;
+		printf("%s: ", elements->flag);
+		printf("%s\n", elements->content);
+		elements = elements->next;
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/parser/map_lexer.c b/src/parser/map_lexer.c
index f1b9a9d..8d3a795 100644
--- a/src/parser/map_lexer.c
+++ b/src/parser/map_lexer.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ int	input_map_lexer(char *file, t_map *map)
 
 // map_lex returns an error if 1) the map element exists already (that means there are two maps in the file)
 // 2) if the map element is reached before all mandatory elements are found (N, S, E, W) - wrong order
-int	map_lex(char **file, t_map *map, t_lex *lexer, int *skip)
+int	map_lex(char **file, t_map *map, int *skip, int mandatory)
 {
 	int	exit_code;
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ int	map_lex(char **file, t_map *map, t_lex *lexer, int *skip)
 	{	
 		exit_code = pr_err(DUP_ELEMENTS);
 	}
-	else if (mandatory_elements(lexer))
+	else if (mandatory == 6)
 	{
 		exit_code = input_map_lexer(*file, map);
 	}
diff --git a/test_maps/simple.cub b/test_maps/simple.cub
index 851ad66..a326af6 100644
--- a/test_maps/simple.cub
+++ b/test_maps/simple.cub
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
-NO  texture_examples/redbrick.png
-WE  texture_examples/purplestone.png
-EA  texture_examples/purplestone.png
-SO	texture_examples/redbrick.png
-F	texture_examples/redbrick.png
-C	texture_examples/redbrick.png
+NO texture_examples/redbrick.png
+WE texture_examples/purplestone.png
+EA texture_examples/purplestone.png
+SO texture_examples/redbrick.png
+SO texture_examples/redbrick.png
+F texture_examples/redbrick.png
+C texture_examples/redbrick.png
 
 11111
 10001
 10E01
 10001
-11111
-
-
-
-OBJ oemwiufhwe
\ No newline at end of file
+11111
\ No newline at end of file