diff --git a/extern/json b/extern/json
index db53bdac..f1768a54 160000
--- a/extern/json
+++ b/extern/json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit db53bdac1926d1baebcb459b685dcd2e4608c355
+Subproject commit f1768a540a7b7c5cc30cdcd6be9e9ef91083719b
diff --git a/include/CLI/App.hpp b/include/CLI/App.hpp
index 42d3bf88..237530a7 100644
--- a/include/CLI/App.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/App.hpp
@@ -1167,6 +1167,58 @@ class App {
         parse(args);
     }
 
+    /// parse a single string as if it contained command line arguments
+    /// this function splits the string into arguments then calls parse(std::vector<std::string> &)
+    /// the function takes an optional boolean argument specifying if the programName is included in the string to
+    /// process
+    void parse(std::string commandline, bool ProgramNameIncluded = false) {
+        detail::trim(commandline);
+        if(ProgramNameIncluded) {
+            // try to determine the programName
+            auto esp = commandline.find_first_of(' ', 1);
+            while(!ExistingFile(commandline.substr(0, esp)).empty()) {
+                esp = commandline.find_first_of(' ', esp + 1);
+                if(esp == std::string::npos) {
+                    // if we have reached the end and haven't found a valid file just assume the first argument is the
+                    // program name
+                    esp = commandline.find_first_of(' ', 1);
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            if(name_.empty()) {
+                name_ = commandline.substr(0, esp);
+                detail::rtrim(name_);
+            }
+            // strip the program name
+            commandline = commandline.substr(esp + 1);
+        }
+        // the first section of code is to deal with quoted arguments after and '='
+        if(!commandline.empty()) {
+            size_t offset = commandline.length() - 1;
+            auto qeq = commandline.find_last_of('=', offset);
+            while(qeq != std::string::npos) {
+                if((commandline[qeq + 1] == '\"') || (commandline[qeq + 1] == '\'') || (commandline[qeq + 1] == '`')) {
+                    auto astart = commandline.find_last_of("- \"\'`", qeq - 1);
+                    if(astart != std::string::npos) {
+                        if(commandline[astart] == '-') {
+                            commandline[qeq] = ' '; // interpret this a space so the split_up works properly
+                            offset = (astart == 0) ? 0 : (astart - 1);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                offset = qeq - 1;
+                qeq = commandline.find_last_of('=', offset);
+            }
+        }
+
+        auto args = detail::split_up(std::move(commandline));
+        // remove all empty strings
+        args.erase(std::remove(args.begin(), args.end(), std::string()), args.end());
+        std::reverse(args.begin(), args.end());
+
+        parse(args);
+    }
+
     /// The real work is done here. Expects a reversed vector.
     /// Changes the vector to the remaining options.
     void parse(std::vector<std::string> &args) {
diff --git a/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp b/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp
index 55068f95..42e4ba10 100644
--- a/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp
@@ -148,18 +148,38 @@ inline std::string remove_underscore(std::string str) {
     return str;
 }
 
+/// Find and replace a substring with another substring
+inline std::string find_and_replace(std::string str, std::string from, std::string to) {
+
+    size_t start_pos = 0;
+
+    while((start_pos = str.find(from, start_pos)) != std::string::npos) {
+        str.replace(start_pos, from.length(), to);
+        start_pos += to.length();
+    }
+
+    return str;
+}
+
 /// Split a string '"one two" "three"' into 'one two', 'three'
+/// Quote characters can be ` ' or "
 inline std::vector<std::string> split_up(std::string str) {
 
-    std::vector<char> delims = {'\'', '\"'};
+    const std::string delims("\'\"`");
     auto find_ws = [](char ch) { return std::isspace<char>(ch, std::locale()); };
     trim(str);
 
     std::vector<std::string> output;
-
+    bool embeddedQuote = false;
+    char keyChar = ' ';
     while(!str.empty()) {
-        if(str[0] == '\'') {
-            auto end = str.find('\'', 1);
+        if(delims.find_first_of(str[0]) != std::string::npos) {
+            keyChar = str[0];
+            auto end = str.find_first_of(keyChar, 1);
+            while((end != std::string::npos) && (str[end - 1] == '\\')) { // deal with escaped quotes
+                end = str.find_first_of(keyChar, end + 1);
+                embeddedQuote = true;
+            }
             if(end != std::string::npos) {
                 output.push_back(str.substr(1, end - 1));
                 str = str.substr(end + 1);
@@ -167,16 +187,6 @@ inline std::vector<std::string> split_up(std::string str) {
                 output.push_back(str.substr(1));
                 str = "";
             }
-        } else if(str[0] == '\"') {
-            auto end = str.find('\"', 1);
-            if(end != std::string::npos) {
-                output.push_back(str.substr(1, end - 1));
-                str = str.substr(end + 1);
-            } else {
-                output.push_back(str.substr(1));
-                str = "";
-            }
-
         } else {
             auto it = std::find_if(std::begin(str), std::end(str), find_ws);
             if(it != std::end(str)) {
@@ -188,9 +198,13 @@ inline std::vector<std::string> split_up(std::string str) {
                 str = "";
             }
         }
+        // transform any embedded quotes into the regular character
+        if(embeddedQuote) {
+            output.back() = find_and_replace(output.back(), std::string("\\") + keyChar, std::string(1, keyChar));
+            embeddedQuote = false;
+        }
         trim(str);
     }
-
     return output;
 }
 
@@ -210,18 +224,5 @@ inline std::string fix_newlines(std::string leader, std::string input) {
     return input;
 }
 
-/// Find and replace a subtring with another substring
-inline std::string find_and_replace(std::string str, std::string from, std::string to) {
-
-    size_t start_pos = 0;
-
-    while((start_pos = str.find(from, start_pos)) != std::string::npos) {
-        str.replace(start_pos, from.length(), to);
-        start_pos += to.length();
-    }
-
-    return str;
-}
-
 } // namespace detail
 } // namespace CLI
diff --git a/tests/AppTest.cpp b/tests/AppTest.cpp
index f8699a7b..af3a551a 100644
--- a/tests/AppTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/AppTest.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,18 @@ TEST_F(TApp, DashedOptions) {
     EXPECT_EQ((size_t)2, app.count("--that"));
 }
 
+TEST_F(TApp, DashedOptionsSingleString) {
+    app.add_flag("-c");
+    app.add_flag("--q");
+    app.add_flag("--this,--that");
+
+    app.parse("-c --q --this --that");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-c"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("--q"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)2, app.count("--this"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)2, app.count("--that"));
+}
+
 TEST_F(TApp, OneFlagRef) {
     int ref;
     app.add_flag("-c,--count", ref);
@@ -58,6 +70,16 @@ TEST_F(TApp, OneString) {
     EXPECT_EQ(str, "mystring");
 }
 
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringSingleStringInput) {
+    std::string str;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+
+    app.parse("--string mystring");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-s"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("--string"));
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "mystring");
+}
+
 TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersion) {
     std::string str;
     app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
@@ -68,6 +90,84 @@ TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersion) {
     EXPECT_EQ(str, "mystring");
 }
 
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleString) {
+    std::string str;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.parse("--string=mystring");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-s"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("--string"));
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "mystring");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleStringQuoted) {
+    std::string str;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.parse("--string=\"this is my quoted string\"");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-s"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("--string"));
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleStringQuotedMultiple) {
+    std::string str, str2, str3;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+    app.parse("--string=\"this is my quoted string\" -t 'qstring 2' -m=`\"quoted string\"`");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qstring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleStringQuotedMultipleInMiddle) {
+    std::string str, str2, str3;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+    app.parse(R"raw(--string="this is my quoted string" -t "qst\"ring 2" -m=`"quoted string"`")raw");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qst\"ring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleStringQuotedEscapedCharacters) {
+    std::string str, str2, str3;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+    app.parse(R"raw(--string="this is my \"quoted\" string" -t 'qst\'ring 2' -m=`"quoted\` string"`")raw");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my \"quoted\" string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qst\'ring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted` string\"");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleStringQuotedMultipleWithEqual) {
+    std::string str, str2, str3, str4;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+    app.add_option("-j,--jstr", str4);
+    app.parse("--string=\"this is my quoted string\" -t 'qstring 2' -m=`\"quoted string\"` --jstr=Unquoted");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qstring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str4, "Unquoted");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, OneStringEqualVersionSingleStringQuotedMultipleWithEqualAndProgram) {
+    std::string str, str2, str3, str4;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+    app.add_option("-j,--jstr", str4);
+    app.parse("program --string=\"this is my quoted string\" -t 'qstring 2' -m=`\"quoted string\"` --jstr=Unquoted",
+              true);
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qstring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str4, "Unquoted");
+}
+
 TEST_F(TApp, TogetherInt) {
     int i;
     app.add_option("-i,--int", i);
@@ -107,6 +207,15 @@ TEST_F(TApp, DefaultStringAgain) {
     EXPECT_EQ(str, "previous");
 }
 
+TEST_F(TApp, DefaultStringAgainEmpty) {
+    std::string str = "previous";
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.parse("   ");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)0, app.count("-s"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)0, app.count("--string"));
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "previous");
+}
+
 TEST_F(TApp, DualOptions) {
 
     std::string str = "previous";
@@ -136,6 +245,30 @@ TEST_F(TApp, LotsOfFlags) {
     EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-A"));
 }
 
+TEST_F(TApp, LotsOfFlagsSingleString) {
+
+    app.add_flag("-a");
+    app.add_flag("-A");
+    app.add_flag("-b");
+
+    app.parse("-a -b -aA");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)2, app.count("-a"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-b"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-A"));
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, LotsOfFlagsSingleStringExtraSpace) {
+
+    app.add_flag("-a");
+    app.add_flag("-A");
+    app.add_flag("-b");
+
+    app.parse("  -a    -b    -aA   ");
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)2, app.count("-a"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-b"));
+    EXPECT_EQ((size_t)1, app.count("-A"));
+}
+
 TEST_F(TApp, BoolAndIntFlags) {
 
     bool bflag;
@@ -686,7 +819,7 @@ TEST_F(TApp, CallbackFlags) {
     EXPECT_THROW(app.add_flag_function("hi", func), CLI::IncorrectConstruction);
 }
 
-#if __cplusplus >= 201402L
+#if __cplusplus >= 201402L || _MSC_VER >= 1900
 TEST_F(TApp, CallbackFlagsAuto) {
 
     size_t value = 0;
@@ -1381,7 +1514,7 @@ TEST_F(TApp, RangeDouble) {
     run();
 }
 
-// Check to make sure progromatic access to left over is available
+// Check to make sure programmatic access to left over is available
 TEST_F(TApp, AllowExtras) {
 
     app.allow_extras();
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 848f1bae..ffbdf43e 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ set(CLI11_TESTS
     NewParseTest
     OptionalTest
     DeprecatedTest
+	StringParseTest
     )
 
 if(WIN32)
diff --git a/tests/HelpersTest.cpp b/tests/HelpersTest.cpp
index d79354e7..2b6cb976 100644
--- a/tests/HelpersTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/HelpersTest.cpp
@@ -356,6 +356,20 @@ TEST(SplitUp, Simple) {
     EXPECT_EQ(oput, result);
 }
 
+TEST(SplitUp, SimpleDifferentQuotes) {
+    std::vector<std::string> oput = {"one", "two three"};
+    std::string orig{R"(one `two three`)"};
+    std::vector<std::string> result = CLI::detail::split_up(orig);
+    EXPECT_EQ(oput, result);
+}
+
+TEST(SplitUp, SimpleDifferentQuotes2) {
+    std::vector<std::string> oput = {"one", "two three"};
+    std::string orig{R"(one 'two three')"};
+    std::vector<std::string> result = CLI::detail::split_up(orig);
+    EXPECT_EQ(oput, result);
+}
+
 TEST(SplitUp, Layered) {
     std::vector<std::string> output = {R"(one 'two three')"};
     std::string orig{R"("one 'two three'")"};
diff --git a/tests/StringParseTest.cpp b/tests/StringParseTest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a457403c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/StringParseTest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+#include "app_helper.hpp"
+
+#include "gmock/gmock.h"
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <sstream>
+
+TEST_F(TApp, ExistingExeCheck) {
+
+    TempFile tmpexe{"existingExe.out"};
+
+    std::string str, str2, str3;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+
+    {
+        std::ofstream out{tmpexe};
+        out << "useless string doesn't matter" << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    app.parse(std::string("./") + std::string(tmpexe) +
+                  " --string=\"this is my quoted string\" -t 'qstring 2' -m=`\"quoted string\"`",
+              true);
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qstring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, ExistingExeCheckWithSpace) {
+
+    TempFile tmpexe{"Space File.out"};
+
+    std::string str, str2, str3;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+
+    {
+        std::ofstream out{tmpexe};
+        out << "useless string doesn't matter" << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    app.parse(std::string("./") + std::string(tmpexe) +
+                  " --string=\"this is my quoted string\" -t 'qstring 2' -m=`\"quoted string\"`",
+              true);
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qstring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(app.get_name(), std::string("./") + std::string(tmpexe));
+}
+
+TEST_F(TApp, ExistingExeCheckWithLotsOfSpace) {
+
+    TempFile tmpexe{"this is a weird file.exe"};
+
+    std::string str, str2, str3;
+    app.add_option("-s,--string", str);
+    app.add_option("-t,--tstr", str2);
+    app.add_option("-m,--mstr", str3);
+
+    {
+        std::ofstream out{tmpexe};
+        out << "useless string doesn't matter" << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    app.parse(std::string("./") + std::string(tmpexe) +
+                  " --string=\"this is my quoted string\" -t 'qstring 2' -m=`\"quoted string\"`",
+              true);
+    EXPECT_EQ(str, "this is my quoted string");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str2, "qstring 2");
+    EXPECT_EQ(str3, "\"quoted string\"");
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(app.get_name(), std::string("./") + std::string(tmpexe));
+}