diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5799f8d..ca432fe 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 .RData
 .Rproj.user
 /ignored
+.DS_Store
diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index a8d313b..6ffb718 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Description:
 License: GPL-3
 Encoding: UTF-8
 LazyData: true
-RoxygenNote: 7.2.3
+RoxygenNote: 7.3.1
 Imports: 
     dplyr,
     readr,
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 3c9a120..b7eb52c 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export(build_chairs)
 export(build_horse)
 export(build_table)
 export(check_grain)
+export(create_status_cols)
 export(debark)
 export(dedupe_MA)
 export(do_MA)
diff --git a/R/build_chairs.R b/R/build_chairs.R
index 08a31d6..d7a40a8 100644
--- a/R/build_chairs.R
+++ b/R/build_chairs.R
@@ -47,12 +47,20 @@
 #'
 #' @export
 
+# Encapsulating odds_ratio and se_log_or separately
+# When the grain is the odds_ratio, the function would just return the odds ratio passed (when flag is OR)
+#   If parameter se = TRUE, then pass se as well
+#
+# Support different log_base, default to exp(1) -- natural log base
+#
+#
+# Next step: Create a function that works on tables, based on passed odds ratios/se
 
 build_chairs <- function(timber, log_base = exp(1)) {
 
   dplyr::mutate(timber,
                 odds_ratio = dplyr::case_when(
-                  grain == "odds_ratio" ~ odds,
+                  grain == "odds_ratio" ~ odds, # Call this function, pass it with the odds ratio
                   grain == "con_table_pos_neg" | grain == "con_table_pos_tot" | grain == "prev_table_pos_tot" ~ (A/B) / (C/D),
                   TRUE ~ NA_real_),
                 se_log_or  = dplyr::case_when(
diff --git a/R/check_grain.R b/R/check_grain.R
index 648c47e..17b5ce8 100644
--- a/R/check_grain.R
+++ b/R/check_grain.R
@@ -133,20 +133,24 @@ check_grain <- function(timber) {
     timber[ , 'grain'] <- NA_character_
   }
 
-  # Column `sawmill_pass` indicates whether sawmill should operate on the
-  # resistance outcome. Set `sawmill_pass = FALSE` after other co-occurring
-  # events during check failure.
-  if (!('sawmill_pass' %in% names(timber))) {
-    timber[ , 'sawmill_pass'] <- TRUE
-    message("Column 'sawmill_pass' did not exist and was created.")
-  }
-
-  # Column `sawmill_status` indicates the current sawmill status.
-  # Set `sawmill_status` after every sawmill operation.
-  if (!('sawmill_status' %in% names(timber))) {
-    timber[ , 'sawmill_status'] <- 'Initialized.'
-    message("Column 'sawmill_status' did not exist and was created.")
-  }
+  # Initialize 'sawmill_pass' and 'sawmill_status' if they do not exist
+  create_status_cols(timber)
+
+
+  # # Column `sawmill_pass` indicates whether sawmill should operate on the
+  # # resistance outcome. Set `sawmill_pass = FALSE` after other co-occurring
+  # # events during check failure.
+  # if (!('sawmill_pass' %in% names(timber))) {
+  #   timber[ , 'sawmill_pass'] <- TRUE
+  #   message("Column 'sawmill_pass' did not exist and was created.")
+  # }
+  #
+  # # Column `sawmill_status` indicates the current sawmill status.
+  # # Set `sawmill_status` after every sawmill operation.
+  # if (!('sawmill_status' %in% names(timber))) {
+  #   timber[ , 'sawmill_status'] <- 'Initialized.'
+  #   message("Column 'sawmill_status' did not exist and was created.")
+  # }
 
 
   # Check if `res_format` is a supported grain --------------------------------
diff --git a/R/create_status_cols.R b/R/create_status_cols.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7df34db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/create_status_cols.R
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+
+
+#' @title
+#'    Initializes the `sawmill_status` and `sawmill_pass` columns at the start
+#'    of the \code{check_grain()} function
+#'
+#' @description
+#'    \code{create_status_cols()} adds columns to the passed tibble, containing
+#'    the sawmill status provided.
+#'
+#' @param timber
+#'    A tibble of timber, with a table built by \code{\link{build_table}}.
+#'
+#' @param status
+#'    A sawmill status description.
+#'
+#' @details
+#'    The \code{create_status_cols()} function works by initializing the default
+#'    sawmill status as specified in the \code{check_grain()} function.
+#'    The `sawmill_pass` column indicates whether sawmill should operate on the
+#'    resistance outcome. Set `sawmill_pass = FALSE` after other co-occurring
+#'    events during check failure.
+#'
+#' @return
+#'    The passed tibble of timber with additional columns containing the current
+#'    sawmill status.
+#'
+#'
+#' @export
+
+create_status_cols <- function(timber, status = "Initialized.") {
+    # Column 'sawmill_pass' indicates whether sawmill should operate on the
+    # resistance outcome. Set 'sawmill_pass = FALSE' after other co-occurring
+    # events during check failure.
+    if (!('sawmill_pass' %in% names(timber))) {
+        timber[ , 'sawmill_pass'] <- TRUE
+        message("Column 'sawmill_pass' did not exist and was created.")
+    }
+
+    # Column 'sawmill_status' indicates the current sawmill status.
+    # Set 'sawmill_status' after every sawmill operation.
+    if (!('sawmill_status' %in% names(timber))) {
+        # Default status
+        timber[ , 'sawmill_status'] <- status
+        message("Column 'sawmill_status' did not exist and was created.")
+    }
+
+    return(timber)
+
+}
diff --git a/R/validate_contingency_table.R b/R/validate_contingency_table.R
index aea9b7c..f1c477f 100644
--- a/R/validate_contingency_table.R
+++ b/R/validate_contingency_table.R
@@ -86,8 +86,23 @@ validate_contingency_table <- function (.A = NA, .B = NA,
                 table_type = table_type))
   }
 
+  # Check table type.
+  if ( !is.na(.A) & !is.na(.C) ) {
 
-  status_OK <- "OK: parameters pass checks for contingency table."
+    table_type <- "con_table_pos_tot"
+
+  } else if ( !is.na(.B) & !is.na(.D) ) {
+
+    table_type <- "con_table_neg_tot"
+
+  } else {
+
+    status     <- "Error: could not determine table type."
+    table_type <- "NA: could not determine table type."
+
+  }
+
+  status <- "OK: parameters pass checks for contingency table."
 
   return(list(is_valid   = TRUE,
               status     = status,
diff --git a/man/create_status_cols.Rd b/man/create_status_cols.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ba7966
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/create_status_cols.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/create_status_cols.R
+\name{create_status_cols}
+\alias{create_status_cols}
+\title{Initializes the `sawmill_status` and `sawmill_pass` columns at the start
+   of the \code{check_grain()} function}
+\usage{
+create_status_cols(timber, status = "Initialized.")
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{timber}{A tibble of timber, with a table built by \code{\link{build_table}}.}
+
+\item{status}{A sawmill status description.}
+}
+\value{
+The passed tibble of timber with additional columns containing the current
+   sawmill status.
+}
+\description{
+\code{create_status_cols()} adds columns to the passed tibble, containing
+   the sawmill status provided.
+}
+\details{
+The \code{create_status_cols()} function works by initializing the default
+   sawmill status as specified in the \code{check_grain()} function.
+   The `sawmill_pass` column indicates whether sawmill should operate on the
+   resistance outcome. Set `sawmill_pass = FALSE` after other co-occurring
+   events during check failure.
+}
diff --git a/man/sawmill.Rd b/man/sawmill.Rd
index 01d7289..3e2d381 100644
--- a/man/sawmill.Rd
+++ b/man/sawmill.Rd
@@ -2,9 +2,19 @@
 % Please edit documentation in R/sawmill.R
 \docType{package}
 \name{sawmill}
+\alias{sawmill-package}
 \alias{sawmill}
 \title{sawmill: A Package to Process CEDAR Queries}
 \description{
 The \code{sawmill} package is used to process queries exported from CEDAR, herein refered to
   as \strong{timber}.
 }
+\author{
+\strong{Maintainer}: Brennan Chapman \email{chapmanb@uoguelph.ca}
+
+Authors:
+\itemize{
+  \item Charly Phillips
+}
+
+}