diff --git a/shep/persist.py b/shep/persist.py
index 7c3d2b0..5f037d4 100644
--- a/shep/persist.py
+++ b/shep/persist.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import datetime
 # local imports
 from .state import (
         State,
-        to_elements,
         )
 from .error import (
         StateItemExists,
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ class PersistedState(State):
         return to_state
 
 
-    def sync(self, state=None, not_state=None):
+    def sync(self, state=None, not_state=None, ignore_auto=True):
         """Reload resources for a single state in memory from the persisted state store.
 
         :param state: State to load
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ class PersistedState(State):
 
         states_numeric = []
         if state == None:
-            states_numeric = list(self.all(numeric=True))
+            states_numeric = list(self.all(numeric=True, ignore_auto=ignore_auto))
         else:
             states_numeric = [state]
        
@@ -250,6 +249,5 @@ class PersistedState(State):
 
 
     def alias(self, key, *args):
-        v = to_elements(key)
         self.__ensure_store(key)
         super(PersistedState, self).alias(key, *args)
diff --git a/shep/state.py b/shep/state.py
index df67b60..55ffb07 100644
--- a/shep/state.py
+++ b/shep/state.py
@@ -15,8 +15,16 @@ from shep.error import (
 
 re_name = r'^[a-zA-Z_\.]+$'
 
-def to_elements(states):
-    return '_' + '.'.join(states)
+def join_elements(states):
+    return '_' + '__'.join(states)
+
+
+def split_elements(s):
+    if len(s) == 0:
+        return []
+    if s[0] == '_':
+        s = s[1:]
+    return s.split('__')
 
 
 class State:
@@ -212,6 +220,7 @@ class State:
             v = self.__check_limit(v | a, pure=False)
         if self.is_pure(v):
             raise ValueError('use add to add pure values')
+        k = k.replace('.', '__')
         return self.__set(k, v)
 
 
@@ -231,7 +240,7 @@ class State:
         return self.__alias(k, *args)    
 
 
-    def all(self, pure=False, numeric=False):
+    def all(self, pure=False, numeric=False, ignore_auto=True):
         """Return list of all unique atomic and alias state strings.
         
         :rtype: list of ints
@@ -240,7 +249,7 @@ class State:
         l = []
         for k in dir(self):
             state = None
-            if k[0] == '_':
+            if k[0] == '_' and ignore_auto:
                 continue
             if k.upper() != k:
                 continue
@@ -264,7 +273,7 @@ class State:
             return self.base_state_name
         c = 1
         for i in range(self.__bits):
-            if v & c > 0:
+            if (v & c) > 0:
                 if numeric:
                     r.append(c)
                 else:
@@ -274,14 +283,17 @@ class State:
         if numeric or not as_string:
             return r
 
-        return to_elements(r) #'_' + '.'.join(r)
+        if len(r) == 1:
+            return self.name(v)
+
+        return join_elements(r) #'_' + '.'.join(r)
 
 
     def from_elements(self, k):
         r = 0
         if k[0] != '_':
             raise ValueError('elements string must start with underscore (_), got {}'.format(k))
-        for v in k[1:].split('.'):
+        for v in k[1:].split('__'):
             r |= self.from_name(v) 
         return r
 
diff --git a/tests/test_state.py b/tests/test_state.py
index bdf86b3..9c88f5e 100644
--- a/tests/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/test_state.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class TestState(unittest.TestCase):
         states.set('abcd', states.BAZ)
         v = states.state('abcd')
         s = states.name(v)
-        self.assertEqual(s, '_FOO.BAZ')
+        self.assertEqual(s, '_FOO__BAZ')
 
 
     def test_peek(self):