diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index f3deffa5..ae345387 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -584,14 +584,9 @@
       return _StorageModel.pathComponentsToString(...allComponents);
     };
     static getPath(locationName, filePath) {
-      return [DATA_VERSION, storageLocations[locationName], ...filePath];
+      return [DATA_VERSION, locationName, ...filePath];
     }
   };
-  var storageLocations = {
-    connectionModel: "connection",
-    chat: "chat",
-    settingsModel: "settings"
-  };
   var filePaths = {
     connectionModel: {
       socketAddress: ["socket-address"],
@@ -832,7 +827,7 @@
     // paths
     getBasePath = () => {
       return StorageModel.getPath(
-        "chat",
+        "chat" /* Chat */,
         filePaths.chat.files(this.chatModel.id)
       );
     };
@@ -1030,16 +1025,16 @@
     }
     // paths
     getBasePath = () => {
-      return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.chatBase(this.id));
+      return StorageModel.getPath("chat" /* Chat */, filePaths.chat.chatBase(this.id));
     };
     getInfoPath = () => {
-      return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.info(this.id));
+      return StorageModel.getPath("chat" /* Chat */, filePaths.chat.info(this.id));
     };
     getColorPath = () => {
-      return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.color(this.id));
+      return StorageModel.getPath("chat" /* Chat */, filePaths.chat.color(this.id));
     };
     getMessageDirPath = () => {
-      return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.messages(this.id));
+      return StorageModel.getPath("chat" /* Chat */, filePaths.chat.messages(this.id));
     };
     getMessagePath = (id) => {
       return [...this.getMessageDirPath(), id];
@@ -1292,7 +1287,7 @@
     };
     // load
     loadChats = () => {
-      const chatDir = StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.base);
+      const chatDir = StorageModel.getPath("chat" /* Chat */, filePaths.chat.base);
       const chatIds = this.storageModel.list(chatDir);
       for (const chatId of chatIds) {
         const chatModel = new ChatModel(
@@ -2015,7 +2010,7 @@
     // load
     loadPageSelection = () => {
       const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "chat",
+        "chat" /* Chat */,
         filePaths.chat.lastUsedPage(this.chatModel.id)
       );
       const lastUsedPage = this.storageModel.read(path);
@@ -3434,7 +3429,7 @@
       console.log("connection status:", this.isConnected, this.address);
       this.connectionChangeHandlerManager.trigger();
       if (this.isConnected == false) return;
-      if (!this.address) return;
+      if (this.address == void 0) return;
       this.connectMailbox();
       this.storeAddress(this.address);
       this.sendSubscriptionRequest();
@@ -3447,7 +3442,7 @@
     disconnect = () => {
       this.udn.disconnect();
       const reconnectAddressPath = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "connectionModel",
+        "connection" /* ConnectionModel */,
         filePaths.connectionModel.reconnectAddress
       );
       this.storageModel.remove(reconnectAddressPath);
@@ -3455,14 +3450,14 @@
     // mailbox
     getMailboxPath = (address) => {
       const mailboxDirPath = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "connectionModel",
+        "connection" /* ConnectionModel */,
         filePaths.connectionModel.mailboxes
       );
       const mailboxFilePath = [...mailboxDirPath, address];
       return mailboxFilePath;
     };
     requestNewMailbox = () => {
-      console.log("requesting mailbox");
+      console.log("requesting new mailbox");
       this.udn.requestMailbox();
     };
     connectMailbox = () => {
@@ -3491,7 +3486,7 @@
     // outbox
     getOutboxPath = () => {
       return StorageModel.getPath(
-        "connectionModel",
+        "connection" /* ConnectionModel */,
         filePaths.connectionModel.outbox
       );
     };
@@ -3543,7 +3538,7 @@
     // storage
     getPreviousAddressPath = () => {
       return StorageModel.getPath(
-        "connectionModel",
+        "connection" /* ConnectionModel */,
         filePaths.connectionModel.previousAddresses
       );
     };
@@ -3553,7 +3548,7 @@
     };
     getReconnectAddressPath = () => {
       return StorageModel.getPath(
-        "connectionModel",
+        "connection" /* ConnectionModel */,
         filePaths.connectionModel.reconnectAddress
       );
     };
@@ -3823,7 +3818,7 @@
     setName(newValue) {
       this.username = newValue;
       const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "settingsModel",
+        "settings" /* SettingsModel */,
         filePaths.settingsModel.username
       );
       this.storageModel.write(path, newValue);
@@ -3831,7 +3826,7 @@
     setFirstDayOfWeek(newValue) {
       this.firstDayOfWeek = newValue;
       const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "settingsModel",
+        "settings" /* SettingsModel */,
         filePaths.settingsModel.firstDayOfWeek
       );
       this.storageModel.write(path, newValue);
@@ -3839,7 +3834,7 @@
     // load
     loadUsernam() {
       const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "settingsModel",
+        "settings" /* SettingsModel */,
         filePaths.settingsModel.username
       );
       const content = this.storageModel.read(path);
@@ -3847,7 +3842,7 @@
     }
     loadFirstDayofWeek() {
       const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-        "settingsModel",
+        "settings" /* SettingsModel */,
         filePaths.settingsModel.firstDayOfWeek
       );
       const content = this.storageModel.read(path);
diff --git a/src/Model/Chat/chatListModel.ts b/src/Model/Chat/chatListModel.ts
index ea8418c6..7645592f 100644
--- a/src/Model/Chat/chatListModel.ts
+++ b/src/Model/Chat/chatListModel.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import ChatModel, { ChatMessage } from "./chatModel";
-import StorageModel, { filePaths } from "../Global/storageModel";
+import StorageModel, { StorageModelSubPath, filePaths } from "../Global/storageModel";
 
 import ConnectionModel from "../Global/connectionModel";
 import { Message } from "udn-frontend";
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export default class ChatListModel {
 
   // load
   loadChats = (): void => {
-    const chatDir = StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.base);
+    const chatDir = StorageModel.getPath(StorageModelSubPath.Chat, filePaths.chat.base);
     const chatIds = this.storageModel.list(chatDir);
     for (const chatId of chatIds) {
       const chatModel = new ChatModel(
diff --git a/src/Model/Chat/chatModel.ts b/src/Model/Chat/chatModel.ts
index 9b079cf7..9a079547 100644
--- a/src/Model/Chat/chatModel.ts
+++ b/src/Model/Chat/chatModel.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   parseValidObject,
   stringify,
 } from "../Utility/utility";
-import StorageModel, { filePaths } from "../Global/storageModel";
+import StorageModel, { StorageModelSubPath, filePaths } from "../Global/storageModel";
 import { decryptString, encryptString } from "../Utility/crypto";
 
 import ChatListModel from "./chatListModel";
@@ -39,19 +39,19 @@ export default class ChatModel {
 
   // paths
   getBasePath = (): string[] => {
-    return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.chatBase(this.id));
+    return StorageModel.getPath(StorageModelSubPath.Chat, filePaths.chat.chatBase(this.id));
   };
 
   getInfoPath = (): string[] => {
-    return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.info(this.id));
+    return StorageModel.getPath(StorageModelSubPath.Chat, filePaths.chat.info(this.id));
   };
 
   getColorPath = (): string[] => {
-    return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.color(this.id));
+    return StorageModel.getPath(StorageModelSubPath.Chat, filePaths.chat.color(this.id));
   };
 
   getMessageDirPath = (): string[] => {
-    return StorageModel.getPath("chat", filePaths.chat.messages(this.id));
+    return StorageModel.getPath(StorageModelSubPath.Chat, filePaths.chat.messages(this.id));
   };
 
   getMessagePath = (id: string): string[] => {
diff --git a/src/Model/Files/fileModel.ts b/src/Model/Files/fileModel.ts
index 16b02576..31f7e89a 100644
--- a/src/Model/Files/fileModel.ts
+++ b/src/Model/Files/fileModel.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
   parseValidObject,
   stringify,
 } from "../Utility/utility";
-import StorageModel, { filePaths } from "../Global/storageModel";
+import StorageModel, { StorageModelSubPath, filePaths } from "../Global/storageModel";
 
 import BoardsAndTasksModel from "./boardsAndTasksModel";
 import ChatModel from "../Chat/chatModel";
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export default class FileModel {
   // paths
   getBasePath = (): string[] => {
     return StorageModel.getPath(
-      "chat",
+      StorageModelSubPath.Chat,
       filePaths.chat.files(this.chatModel.id)
     );
   };
diff --git a/src/Model/Global/connectionModel.ts b/src/Model/Global/connectionModel.ts
index 3b93f6b7..be85766d 100644
--- a/src/Model/Global/connectionModel.ts
+++ b/src/Model/Global/connectionModel.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import { ChatMessage, ChatMessageReference } from "../Chat/chatModel";
 import { Handler, HandlerManager, stringify } from "../Utility/utility";
-import StorageModel, { filePaths } from "./storageModel";
+import StorageModel, { StorageModelSubPath, filePaths } from "./storageModel";
 import UDNFrontend, { Message } from "udn-frontend";
 
 export default class ConnectionModel {
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
     this.connectionChangeHandlerManager.trigger();
 
     if (this.isConnected == false) return;
-    if (!this.address) return;
+    if (this.address == undefined) return;
 
     this.connectMailbox();
     this.storeAddress(this.address);
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
 
     // do not reconnect
     const reconnectAddressPath: string[] = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "connectionModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.ConnectionModel,
       filePaths.connectionModel.reconnectAddress
     );
     this.storageModel.remove(reconnectAddressPath);
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
   // mailbox
   getMailboxPath = (address: string): string[] => {
     const mailboxDirPath = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "connectionModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.ConnectionModel,
       filePaths.connectionModel.mailboxes
     );
     const mailboxFilePath = [...mailboxDirPath, address];
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
   };
 
   requestNewMailbox = (): void => {
-    console.log("requesting mailbox");
+    console.log("requesting new mailbox");
     this.udn.requestMailbox();
   };
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
   // outbox
   getOutboxPath = (): string[] => {
     return StorageModel.getPath(
-      "connectionModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.ConnectionModel,
       filePaths.connectionModel.outbox
     );
   };
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
   // storage
   getPreviousAddressPath = (): string[] => {
     return StorageModel.getPath(
-      "connectionModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.ConnectionModel,
       filePaths.connectionModel.previousAddresses
     );
   };
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
 
   getReconnectAddressPath = (): string[] => {
     return StorageModel.getPath(
-      "connectionModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.ConnectionModel,
       filePaths.connectionModel.reconnectAddress
     );
   };
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ export default class ConnectionModel {
     const dirPath = this.getPreviousAddressPath();
     return this.storageModel.list(dirPath);
   }
-  
+
   // init
   constructor(storageModel: StorageModel) {
     // create frontend
diff --git a/src/Model/Global/settingsModel.ts b/src/Model/Global/settingsModel.ts
index dbaa6415..0a40c604 100644
--- a/src/Model/Global/settingsModel.ts
+++ b/src/Model/Global/settingsModel.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // this file is responsible for all settings.
 
-import StorageModel, { filePaths } from "./storageModel";
+import StorageModel, { StorageModelSubPath, filePaths } from "./storageModel";
 
 export default class SettingsModel {
   storageModel: StorageModel;
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export default class SettingsModel {
   setName(newValue: string): void {
     this.username = newValue;
     const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "settingsModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.SettingsModel,
       filePaths.settingsModel.username
     );
     this.storageModel.write(path, newValue);
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export default class SettingsModel {
   setFirstDayOfWeek(newValue: string): void {
     this.firstDayOfWeek = newValue;
     const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "settingsModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.SettingsModel,
       filePaths.settingsModel.firstDayOfWeek
     );
     this.storageModel.write(path, newValue);
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export default class SettingsModel {
   // load
   loadUsernam(): void {
     const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "settingsModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.SettingsModel,
       filePaths.settingsModel.username
     );
     const content = this.storageModel.read(path);
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export default class SettingsModel {
 
   loadFirstDayofWeek(): void {
     const path = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "settingsModel",
+      StorageModelSubPath.SettingsModel,
       filePaths.settingsModel.firstDayOfWeek
     );
     const content = this.storageModel.read(path);
diff --git a/src/Model/Global/storageModel.ts b/src/Model/Global/storageModel.ts
index 1db59fac..0d2dada5 100644
--- a/src/Model/Global/storageModel.ts
+++ b/src/Model/Global/storageModel.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 // this file is responsible for reading and writing persistent data.
 
-import {
-  DATA_VERSION,
-  ValidObject,
-} from "../Utility/typeSafety";
+import { DATA_VERSION, ValidObject } from "../Utility/typeSafety";
 import { localeCompare, parseValidObject, stringify } from "../Utility/utility";
 
 export const PATH_COMPONENT_SEPARATOR = "\\";
@@ -84,7 +81,6 @@ export default class StorageModel {
     const content: string | null = this.read(sourcePathComponents);
     if (content == null) return false;
 
-
     this.write(destinationPathComponents, content);
     this.remove(sourcePathComponents);
 
@@ -212,10 +208,10 @@ export default class StorageModel {
   };
 
   static getPath(
-    locationName: keyof typeof storageLocations,
+    locationName: StorageModelSubPath,
     filePath: string[]
   ): string[] {
-    return [DATA_VERSION, storageLocations[locationName], ...filePath];
+    return [DATA_VERSION, locationName, ...filePath];
   }
 }
 
@@ -223,13 +219,12 @@ export default class StorageModel {
 export type StorageEntry = { [key: string]: StorageEntry };
 
 // locations
-const storageLocations = {
-  connectionModel: "connection",
-
-  chat: "chat",
-
-  settingsModel: "settings",
-};
+export enum StorageModelSubPath {
+  Chat = "chat",
+  
+  ConnectionModel = "connection",
+  SettingsModel = "settings",
+}
 
 export const filePaths = {
   connectionModel: {
diff --git a/src/ViewModel/Chat/chatViewModel.ts b/src/ViewModel/Chat/chatViewModel.ts
index dd7fc5cc..b3677970 100644
--- a/src/ViewModel/Chat/chatViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/ViewModel/Chat/chatViewModel.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import * as React from "bloatless-react";
 
 import ChatModel, { ChatMessage } from "../../Model/Chat/chatModel";
-import StorageModel, { filePaths } from "../../Model/Global/storageModel";
+import StorageModel, { StorageModelSubPath, filePaths } from "../../Model/Global/storageModel";
 
 import ChatListViewModel from "./chatListViewModel";
 import { Color } from "../../colors";
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export default class ChatViewModel {
   // load
   loadPageSelection = (): void => {
     const path: string[] = StorageModel.getPath(
-      "chat",
+      StorageModelSubPath.Chat,
       filePaths.chat.lastUsedPage(this.chatModel.id)
     );
     const lastUsedPage: string | null = this.storageModel.read(path);
diff --git a/src/ViewModel/Pages/boardViewModel.ts b/src/ViewModel/Pages/boardViewModel.ts
index 545aa75e..b36a9b6f 100644
--- a/src/ViewModel/Pages/boardViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/ViewModel/Pages/boardViewModel.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export default class BoardViewModel {
   };
 
   getLastUsedBoardPath = (): string[] => {
-    return [...this.getBasePath(), BoardViewModelSubPaths.LastUsedView];
+    return [...this.getBasePath(), BoardViewModelSubPath.LastUsedView];
   };
 
   // settings
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ export default class BoardViewModel {
   }
 }
 
-export enum BoardViewModelSubPaths {
+export enum BoardViewModelSubPath {
   LastUsedView = "last-used-view",
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ViewModel/Pages/taskPageViewModel.ts b/src/ViewModel/Pages/taskPageViewModel.ts
index e96a24c1..bfd19300 100644
--- a/src/ViewModel/Pages/taskPageViewModel.ts
+++ b/src/ViewModel/Pages/taskPageViewModel.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export default class TaskPageViewModel {
   };
 
   getLastUsedBoardPath = (): string[] => {
-    return [...this.getBasePath(), TaskPageViewModelSubPaths.LastUsedBoard];
+    return [...this.getBasePath(), TaskPageViewModelSubPath.LastUsedBoard];
   };
 
   // state
@@ -162,6 +162,6 @@ export default class TaskPageViewModel {
   }
 }
 
-export enum TaskPageViewModelSubPaths {
+export enum TaskPageViewModelSubPath {
   LastUsedBoard = "last-used-board",
 }