diff --git a/src/clasqa/QADB.groovy b/src/clasqa/QADB.groovy
index f806996..8e16cef 100644
--- a/src/clasqa/QADB.groovy
+++ b/src/clasqa/QADB.groovy
@@ -11,21 +11,32 @@ class QADB {
   // constructor
   //``````````````
   // arguments:
+  // - cook: which cook (pass) to use:
+  //   - 'latest': just use the latest available one
+  //   - 'pass1': use pass 1
+  //   - 'pass2': use pass 2
   // - runnumMin and runnumMax: if both are negative (default), then the
   //   entire QADB will be read; you can restrict to a specific range of
   //   runs to limit QADB, which may be more effecient
   // - verbose: if true, print (a lot) more information
-  public QADB(int runnumMin=-1, runnumMax=-1, boolean verbose_=false) {
+  public QADB(String cook, int runnumMin=-1, runnumMax=-1, boolean verbose_=false) {
 
     // setup
     verbose = verbose_
     util = new Tools()
     nbits = util.bitDefinitions.size()
-    dbDirN = System.getenv('QADB') + '/qadb/latest'
+    dbDirN = System.getenv('QADB')
     if(dbDirN==null) {
       System.err << "ERROR: env var QADB not set; source environ.sh\n\n\n"
       return
     }
+    dbDirN += '/qadb'
+    if(cook in ["latest", "pass1", "pass2"]) {
+      dbDirN += "/${cook}"
+    } else {
+      System.err << "\nERROR: cook '${cook}' is not available in the QADB\n\n"
+      return
+    }
     if(verbose) println("QADB dir = ${dbDirN}")
 
     // concatenate trees
@@ -112,6 +123,18 @@ class QADB {
     allowMiscBitList = []
   }
 
+  public QADB(int runnumMin=-1, runnumMax=-1, boolean verbose_=false) {
+    System.err.print('''| ERROR: the QADB constructor now requires you to specify the cook as the first argument
+|   - use "latest" to use the latest available cook's QADB
+|     - see the QADB documentation for the list of available QADBs
+|     - the latest cook may not yet have a QADB
+|   - use "pass1" to restrict to Pass 1 cooks
+|     - older data may have less QA defect bits, or other issues
+|   - use "pass2" to restrict to Pass 2 data, etc.
+''')
+    return
+  }
+
   //...............................
   // deprecation warnings
   //```````````````````````````````
diff --git a/src/examples/chargeSum.groovy b/src/examples/chargeSum.groovy
index ad9607c..0fbacd6 100644
--- a/src/examples/chargeSum.groovy
+++ b/src/examples/chargeSum.groovy
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ reader.open(inHipoFile)
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
 // define variables
diff --git a/src/examples/cutAsymmetry.groovy b/src/examples/cutAsymmetry.groovy
index d11f50c..ee0908e 100644
--- a/src/examples/cutAsymmetry.groovy
+++ b/src/examples/cutAsymmetry.groovy
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ reader.open(inHipoFile)
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
 // define variables
diff --git a/src/examples/cutCustom.groovy b/src/examples/cutCustom.groovy
index ec1457c..41590ce 100644
--- a/src/examples/cutCustom.groovy
+++ b/src/examples/cutCustom.groovy
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ reader.open(inHipoFile)
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
 // custom QA cut definition
diff --git a/src/examples/cutGolden.groovy b/src/examples/cutGolden.groovy
index 4fdd44a..c48dbd8 100644
--- a/src/examples/cutGolden.groovy
+++ b/src/examples/cutGolden.groovy
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ reader.open(inHipoFile)
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
 // define variables
diff --git a/src/examples/dumpQADB.groovy b/src/examples/dumpQADB.groovy
index 93b5f39..c52dbc3 100644
--- a/src/examples/dumpQADB.groovy
+++ b/src/examples/dumpQADB.groovy
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ println "dump QADB for RUN NUMBER $runnum"
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
 // loop through QA bins
diff --git a/src/tests/testCharge.groovy b/src/tests/testCharge.groovy
index 3edd667..63e12cb 100644
--- a/src/tests/testCharge.groovy
+++ b/src/tests/testCharge.groovy
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import clasqa.QADB // access QADB
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 int evnum
 def defname
 int chargeInt
diff --git a/src/tests/testDumpQADB.groovy b/src/tests/testDumpQADB.groovy
index 0f278cb..4bc7827 100644
--- a/src/tests/testDumpQADB.groovy
+++ b/src/tests/testDumpQADB.groovy
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ println "test QADB for RUN NUMBER $runnum"
 
 
 // instantiate QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-//QADB qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+//QADB qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
 // loop through files
diff --git a/src/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.groovy b/src/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.groovy
index dd44747..f153351 100644
--- a/src/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.groovy
+++ b/src/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.groovy
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ System.out.println("WARNING: run with `-Xmx4096m`")
 // to avoid in their analysis, and a list of runs for which the `Misc` defect bit
 // should be ignored
 System.out.println('Loading QADBs...\n...1/3...')
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 qa.checkForDefect('TotalOutlier')     // these choices match the criteria of `OkForAsymmetry`
 qa.checkForDefect('TerminalOutlier')
 qa.checkForDefect('MarginalOutlier')
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ qa.checkForDefect('Misc')
 
 // instantiate more QADBs, for comparison (`qa` will use the general method)
 System.out.println('...2/3...')
-QADB qa_deprecated = new QADB()  // will use `OkForAsymmetry`, which is deprecated
+QADB qa_deprecated = new QADB("latest")  // will use `OkForAsymmetry`, which is deprecated
 System.out.println('...3/3...')
-QADB qa_third_party = new QADB() // a third party, only used for DB traversal
+QADB qa_third_party = new QADB("latest") // a third party, only used for DB traversal
 System.out.println('...done')
 
 // compare the QADBs' results: prove the above general method is equivalent to `OkForAsymmetry`
diff --git a/srcC/examples/chargeSum.cpp b/srcC/examples/chargeSum.cpp
index b30bdd6..e99caea 100644
--- a/srcC/examples/chargeSum.cpp
+++ b/srcC/examples/chargeSum.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
   // define variables
diff --git a/srcC/examples/cutAsymmetry.cpp b/srcC/examples/cutAsymmetry.cpp
index 96497e8..494ff84 100644
--- a/srcC/examples/cutAsymmetry.cpp
+++ b/srcC/examples/cutAsymmetry.cpp
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
   // define variables
diff --git a/srcC/examples/cutCustom.cpp b/srcC/examples/cutCustom.cpp
index 76dff83..e75932d 100644
--- a/srcC/examples/cutCustom.cpp
+++ b/srcC/examples/cutCustom.cpp
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
   // custom QA cut definition
   // - decide which defects you want to check for; an event will not pass
diff --git a/srcC/examples/cutGolden.cpp b/srcC/examples/cutGolden.cpp
index f81b281..fb7946c 100644
--- a/srcC/examples/cutGolden.cpp
+++ b/srcC/examples/cutGolden.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
   // define variables
diff --git a/srcC/examples/dumpQADB.cpp b/srcC/examples/dumpQADB.cpp
index 6f6682c..f5317a6 100644
--- a/srcC/examples/dumpQADB.cpp
+++ b/srcC/examples/dumpQADB.cpp
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
   
   // loop through QA bins
diff --git a/srcC/include/QADB.h b/srcC/include/QADB.h
index 9d48701..8688d8c 100644
--- a/srcC/include/QADB.h
+++ b/srcC/include/QADB.h
@@ -42,12 +42,27 @@ namespace QA {
       // constructor
       //`````````````````
       //arguments:
+      // - cook: which cook (pass) to use:
+      //   - 'latest': just use the latest available one
+      //   - 'pass1': use pass 1
+      //   - 'pass2': use pass 2
       // - runnumMin and runnumMax: if both are negative (default), then the
       //   entire QADB will be read; you can restrict to a specific range of
       //   runs to limit QADB, which may be more effecient
       // - verbose: if true, print (a lot) more information
-      inline QADB(int runnumMin_=-1, int runnumMax=-1, bool verbose_=false);
-
+      inline QADB(std::string const& cook, int runnumMin_=-1, int runnumMax=-1, bool verbose_=false);
+
+      inline QADB(int runnumMin_=-1, int runnumMax=-1, bool verbose_=false) {
+        std::cerr << R"(| ERROR: the QADB constructor now requires you to specify the cook as the first argument
+|   - use "latest" to use the latest available cook's QADB
+|     - see the QADB documentation for the list of available QADBs
+|     - the latest cook may not yet have a QADB
+|   - use "pass1" to restrict to Pass 1 cooks
+|     - older data may have less QA defect bits, or other issues
+|   - use "pass2" to restrict to Pass 2 data, etc.
+)";
+        throw std::runtime_error("please specify the cook");
+      }
 
       //...............................
       // golden QA cut
@@ -228,7 +243,7 @@ namespace QA {
   //...............
   // constructor
   //```````````````
-  QADB::QADB(int runnumMin_, int runnumMax_, bool verbose_) {
+  QADB::QADB(std::string const& cook, int runnumMin_, int runnumMax_, bool verbose_) {
 
     runnumMin = runnumMin_;
     runnumMax = runnumMax_;
@@ -241,7 +256,12 @@ namespace QA {
       std::cerr << "ERROR: QADB environment variable not set" << std::endl;
       return;
     };
-    dbDirN += "/qadb/latest";
+    dbDirN += "/qadb";
+    std::set<std::string> cooks_avail{"latest", "pass1", "pass2"};
+    if(cooks_avail.find(cook) != cooks_avail.end())
+      dbDirN += std::string("/") + cook;
+    else
+      throw std::runtime_error("cook '" + cook + "' is not available in the QADB");
     if(verbose) std::cout << "QADB at " << dbDirN << std::endl;
 
     // get list of json files
diff --git a/srcC/tests/testCharge.cpp b/srcC/tests/testCharge.cpp
index dd1099d..32694d0 100644
--- a/srcC/tests/testCharge.cpp
+++ b/srcC/tests/testCharge.cpp
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ using namespace std;
 int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
   int evnum;
   string defname;
   int chargeInt;
diff --git a/srcC/tests/testDumpQADB.cpp b/srcC/tests/testDumpQADB.cpp
index 1b6fd97..89f51bb 100644
--- a/srcC/tests/testDumpQADB.cpp
+++ b/srcC/tests/testDumpQADB.cpp
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate QADB
-  QADB * qa = new QADB();
+  QADB * qa = new QADB("latest");
   // alternatively, specify run range to restrict QADB (may be more efficient)
-  //QADB * qa = new QADB(5000,5500);
+  //QADB * qa = new QADB("latest",5000,5500);
 
 
   
diff --git a/srcC/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.cpp b/srcC/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.cpp
index b6d46bf..7f0e4ad 100644
--- a/srcC/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.cpp
+++ b/srcC/tests/testOkForAsymmetry.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
   // to avoid in their analysis, and a list of runs for which the `Misc` defect bit
   // should be ignored
   std::cout << "Loading QADBs..." << std::endl;
-  auto qa = new QA::QADB();
+  auto qa = new QA::QADB("latest");
   qa->CheckForDefect("TotalOutlier");     // these choices match the criteria of `OkForAsymmetry`
   qa->CheckForDefect("TerminalOutlier");
   qa->CheckForDefect("MarginalOutlier");
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
 
 
   // instantiate more QADBs, for comparison (`qa` will use the general method)
-  auto qa_deprecated = new QA::QADB();  // will use `OkForAsymmetry`, which is deprecated
-  auto qa_third_party = new QA::QADB(); // a third party, only used for DB traversal
+  auto qa_deprecated = new QA::QADB("latest");  // will use `OkForAsymmetry`, which is deprecated
+  auto qa_third_party = new QA::QADB("latest"); // a third party, only used for DB traversal
   std::cout << "...done" << std::endl;
 
   // compare the QADBs' results: prove the above general method is equivalent to `OkForAsymmetry`
diff --git a/util/access.groovy b/util/access.groovy
index b3e8677..fd18d00 100644
--- a/util/access.groovy
+++ b/util/access.groovy
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import clasqa.QADB
 import clasqa.Tools
 
 Tools T = new Tools()
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 
 /*
 println "=========== raw"
diff --git a/util/chargeSumRuns.groovy b/util/chargeSumRuns.groovy
index fa80b9b..90c3017 100644
--- a/util/chargeSumRuns.groovy
+++ b/util/chargeSumRuns.groovy
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ if(args.length==2) {
 }
 else { System.err << "ARGUMENTS: [runLB] [runUB]\n"; return; }
 println "run range: $runLB to $runUB"
-QADB qa = new QADB(runLB,runUB)
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest",runLB,runUB)
 
 
 // loop over runs and files
diff --git a/util/gap_charge_systematic/calculateGapCharge.groovy b/util/gap_charge_systematic/calculateGapCharge.groovy
index 7a81fea..8d3d2f0 100644
--- a/util/gap_charge_systematic/calculateGapCharge.groovy
+++ b/util/gap_charge_systematic/calculateGapCharge.groovy
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ if(args.length<1) {
   System.exit(101)
 }
 def arg_runnum = args[0].toInteger()
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 
 // define output file
 def datfileName   = "charge_gaps.dat"
diff --git a/util/makeLatexTable2.groovy b/util/makeLatexTable2.groovy
index 02f1095..e872fa9 100644
--- a/util/makeLatexTable2.groovy
+++ b/util/makeLatexTable2.groovy
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ if(args.length==2) {
 }
 else { System.err << "ARGUMENTS: [runLB] [runUB]\n"; return; }
 println "run range: $runLB to $runUB"
-QADB qa = new QADB(runLB,runUB)
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest",runLB,runUB)
 
 def nPassQA, nTotal
 def exList = []
diff --git a/util/parseQaTree.groovy b/util/parseQaTree.groovy
index a79faa8..efa8e65 100644
--- a/util/parseQaTree.groovy
+++ b/util/parseQaTree.groovy
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import clasqa.Tools
 Tools T = new Tools()
 /*
 import clasqa.QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 */
 
 infile="qa/qaTree.json"
diff --git a/util/printGoldenFiles.groovy b/util/printGoldenFiles.groovy
index 21cc037..297f78e 100644
--- a/util/printGoldenFiles.groovy
+++ b/util/printGoldenFiles.groovy
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // - "golden" means no defects
 
 import clasqa.QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 
 // open output file writer
 def outFileObj = new File(System.getenv('QADB')+"/text/listOfGoldenFiles.txt")
diff --git a/util/printGoldenRuns.groovy b/util/printGoldenRuns.groovy
index c3ef2f8..a9fbbf4 100644
--- a/util/printGoldenRuns.groovy
+++ b/util/printGoldenRuns.groovy
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import clasqa.QADB
 
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 def gold,silver
 def defect
 
diff --git a/util/printSummary.cpp b/util/printSummary.cpp
index 080232c..c746af7 100644
--- a/util/printSummary.cpp
+++ b/util/printSummary.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ using namespace std;
 
 int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
 
-  QA::QADB * qa = new QA::QADB();
+  QA::QADB * qa = new QA::QADB("latest");
   
   /// get sorted list of runs
   auto qaTree = qa->GetQaTree();
diff --git a/util/syncCheck.groovy b/util/syncCheck.groovy
index e290325..a396ca6 100644
--- a/util/syncCheck.groovy
+++ b/util/syncCheck.groovy
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 // open QADB
 import clasqa.QADB
-QADB qa = new QADB()
+QADB qa = new QADB("latest")
 
 
 def printSep