diff --git a/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json b/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28d6e94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/numbered-bookmarks.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+	"bookmarks": [
+		{
+			"fsPath": "$ROOTPATH$/borghelper.sh",
+			"bookmarks": [
+				-1,
+				8,
+				-1,
+				-1,
+				-1,
+				-1,
+				-1,
+				-1,
+				-1,
+				-1
+			]
+		}
+	]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/borghelper.sh b/borghelper.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd47a0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/borghelper.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+#
+## borg helper script for viewing and restoring backups
+#
+
+
+### functions
+consoleError() {
+    printf "%s\n%s\n" "$err" "$2"
+    printf "Exiting.\n\n%s" "$norm"
+    exit "$1"
+}
+
+textblock() {
+    printf "%s\n" "$1" | fold -w "$width" -s
+}
+
+
+### text formatting presets
+err=$(tput bold)$(tput setaf 1)
+norm$(tput sgr0)
+width=$(tput cols)
+
+
+### pre-requisites
+
+# is user root?
+if [ ! "$( id -u )" -eq 0 ]; then
+    consoleError 1 'You must be root to run this script.'
+fi
+
+# has a parameter been passed to this script?
+if [ -z "$1" ]; then
+    consoleError 1 "No operation requested. Please run this script with '--help' for valid parameters."
+fi
+
+# process startup parameters
+while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        -a|--archive)
+            # name of backup archive
+            if [ -z "$2" ]; then
+                consoleError 1 "Please provide the name of the backup archive you want to work with or use '--list-all' to get a full list."
+            fi
+            archiveName="$2"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        -f|--file)
+            # specific file to restore
+            if [ -z "$2" ]; then
+                consoleError 1 'Please provide the name of the specific file you want to restore.'
+            fi
+            fileName="$2"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        -h|-\?|--help)
+            # display help
+            printf "\nStill working on the help text :-)\n\n"
+            exit 0
+            ;;
+        -l|--list)
+            # list contents of specific backup
+            operation='viewarchive'
+            ;;
+            
+        -la|--list-all)
+            # list all backup archives
+            operation='listall'
+            ;;
+        -p|--path)
+            # path to restore files
+            if [ -z "$2" ]; then
+                consoleError 1 'Please specify a path where you want files restored.'
+            fi
+            restorePath="${2%/}"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        -v|--vars)
+            # location of borgvars file
+            if [ -z "$2" ]; then
+                consoleError 1 'Please provide the path to the file with your borg connection information.'
+            elif [ ! -f "$2" ]; then
+                consoleError 1 'The specified borg connection information file does not exist.'
+                exit 1
+            fi
+            varsFile="$2"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        *)
+            # invalid option
+            printf "%s\nUnknown option: %s\n" "$err" "$1"
+            printf "Use '--help' for valid options.\n\n%s" "$norm"
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+    shift
+done
+