diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c7a78ff..0e8c343 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-footnotes
-=========
+![footnotes](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/media-competence-institute/footnotes/master/assets/footnotes.png)
 
 **footnotes** WordPress Plugin
 
@@ -7,6 +6,7 @@ footnotes
 
 **footnotes** gives you the ability to display decently-formated footnotes on your WordPress Pages or Posts.
 
+
 The syntax is based on the common DokuWiki syntax for footnotes. So, to include a footnote with the text "with a footnote," you use:
 
 	Your awesome text((with a footnote))
diff --git a/classes/footnotes_settings.php b/classes/footnotes_settings.php
index 32cc67c..499b5ac 100644
--- a/classes/footnotes_settings.php
+++ b/classes/footnotes_settings.php
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 	public static $a_arr_Default_Settings = array(
 		FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_COMBINE_IDENTICAL => 'yes',
 		FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_REFERENCES_LABEL  => 'References',
-		FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_COLLAPSE_REFERENCES => ''
+		FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_COLLAPSE_REFERENCES => '',
+		FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_START => '((',
+		FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_END => '))'
 	);
 	/*
 	 * resulting pagehook for adding a new sub menu page to the settings
@@ -45,10 +47,8 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 	 */
 	function __construct()
 	{
-		/* validates the settings of the plugin and replaces them with the default settings if invalid */
-		add_option( FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_CONTAINER, self::$a_arr_Default_Settings );
 		/* loads and filters the settings for this plugin */
-		$this->a_arr_Options = footnotes_filter_options( FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_CONTAINER );
+		$this->a_arr_Options = footnotes_filter_options( FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_CONTAINER, self::$a_arr_Default_Settings );
 
 		/* execute class includes on action-even: init, admin_init and admin_menu */
 		add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'LoadScriptsAndStylesheets' ) );
@@ -208,9 +208,11 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 	 * outputs a input type=text
 	 * @param string $p_str_SettingsID [id of the settings field]
 	 * @param string $p_str_ClassName [css class name]
+	 * @param int $p_str_MaxLength [max length for the input value]
+	 * @param string $p_str_Label [label text]
 	 * @since 1.0-beta
 	 */
-	function AddTextbox($p_str_SettingsID, $p_str_ClassName="")
+	function AddTextbox($p_str_SettingsID, $p_str_ClassName="", $p_str_MaxLength=0, $p_str_Label="")
 	{
 		/* collect data for given settings field */
 		$l_arr_Data = $this->LoadSetting( $p_str_SettingsID );
@@ -219,9 +221,17 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 		if (!empty($p_str_ClassName)) {
 			$p_str_ClassName = 'class="' . $p_str_ClassName . '"';
 		}
+		/* optional add a maxlength to the input field */
+		if (!empty($p_str_MaxLength)) {
+			$p_str_MaxLength = ' maxlength="'.$p_str_MaxLength.'"';
+		}
+		/* optional add a label in front of the input field */
+		if (!empty($p_str_Label)) {
+			echo '<label for="'.$l_arr_Data[ "id" ].'">'.$p_str_Label.'</label>';
+		}
 
 		/* outputs an input field type TEXT */
-		echo '<input type="text" '.$p_str_ClassName.' name="'.$l_arr_Data[ "name" ].'" id="'.$l_arr_Data[ "id" ].'" value="'.$l_arr_Data[ "value" ].'"/>';
+		echo '<input type="text" '.$p_str_ClassName.$p_str_MaxLength.' name="'.$l_arr_Data[ "name" ].'" id="'.$l_arr_Data[ "id" ].'" value="'.$l_arr_Data[ "value" ].'"/>';
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -301,6 +311,7 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 		add_settings_field( 'Register_References_Label', __( "References label:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ), array( $this, 'Register_References_Label' ), FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_LABEL_GENERAL, $l_str_SectionName );
 		add_settings_field( 'Register_Collapse_References', __( "Collapse references by default:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ), array( $this, 'Register_Collapse_References' ), FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_LABEL_GENERAL, $l_str_SectionName );
 		add_settings_field( 'Register_Combine_Identical', __( "Combine identical footnotes:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ), array( $this, 'Register_Combine_Identical' ), FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_LABEL_GENERAL, $l_str_SectionName );
+		add_settings_field( 'Register_Placeholder_Tags', __( "Footnote tag:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ), array( $this, 'Register_Placeholder_Tags' ), FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_LABEL_GENERAL, $l_str_SectionName );
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -348,6 +359,20 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 		$this->AddSelectbox(FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_COMBINE_IDENTICAL, $l_arr_Options, "footnote_plugin_25");
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * outputs the settings fields for the footnote starting and ending tag
+	 * @since 1.0-gamma
+	 */
+	function Register_Placeholder_Tags()
+	{
+		/* add a textbox to the output */
+		$this->AddTextbox(FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_START, "", 14,  __( "starts with:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ));
+		/* small space between the two input fields */
+		echo '&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;';
+		/* add a textbox to the output */
+		$this->AddTextbox(FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_END, "", 14,  __( "ends with:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ));
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * initialize howto settings tab
 	 * called in class constructor @ admin_init
@@ -379,25 +404,27 @@ class Class_FootnotesSettings
 	 */
 	function Register_Howto_Box()
 	{
+		$l_arr_Footnote_StartingTag = $this->LoadSetting(FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_START);
+		$l_arr_Footnote_EndingTag = $this->LoadSetting(FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_END);
 		?>
 		<div style="text-align:center;">
 			<div class="footnote_placeholder_box_container">
 				<p>
 					<?php echo __( "Start your footnote with the following shortcode:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ); ?>
-					<span class="footnote_highlight_placeholder"><?php echo FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START; ?></span>
+					<span class="footnote_highlight_placeholder"><?php echo $l_arr_Footnote_StartingTag["value"]; ?></span>
 				</p>
 
 				<p>
 					<?php echo __( "...and end your footnote with this shortcode:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ); ?>
-					<span class="footnote_highlight_placeholder"><?php echo FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_END; ?></span>
+					<span class="footnote_highlight_placeholder"><?php echo $l_arr_Footnote_EndingTag["value"]; ?></span>
 				</p>
 
 				<div class="footnote_placeholder_box_example">
 					<p>
-						<span class="footnote_highlight_placeholder"><?php echo FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START . __( "example string", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ) . FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_END; ?></span>
+						<span class="footnote_highlight_placeholder"><?php echo $l_arr_Footnote_StartingTag["value"] . __( "example string", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ) . $l_arr_Footnote_EndingTag["value"]; ?></span>
 						<?php echo __( "will be displayed as:", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ); ?>
 						&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
-						<?php echo footnotes_replaceFootnotes( FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START . __( "example string", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ) . FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_END, true ); ?>
+						<?php echo footnotes_replaceFootnotes( $l_arr_Footnote_StartingTag["value"] . __( "example string", FOOTNOTES_PLUGIN_NAME ) . $l_arr_Footnote_EndingTag["value"], true ); ?>
 					</p>
 				</div>
 
diff --git a/includes/defines.php b/includes/defines.php
index 6ce803d..fcb8423 100644
--- a/includes/defines.php
+++ b/includes/defines.php
@@ -23,10 +23,8 @@ define( "FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_LABEL_HOWTO", "footnotes_howto" ); /* internal label
 define( "FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_COMBINE_IDENTICAL", "footnote_inputfield_combine_identical" ); /* id of input field for the combine identical setting */
 define( "FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_REFERENCES_LABEL", "footnote_inputfield_references_label" ); /* id of input field for the references label setting */
 define( "FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_COLLAPSE_REFERENCES", "footnote_inputfield_collapse_references" ); /* id of input field for the "collapse references" setting */
-
-/* PLUGIN DEFAULT PLACEHOLDER */
-define( "FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START", "((" ); /* defines the default start tag for the placeholder */
-define( "FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_END", "))" ); /* defines the default end tag for the placeholder */
+define( "FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_START", "footnote_inputfield_placeholder_start"); /* id of input field for the "placeholder starting tag" setting */
+define( "FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_END", "footnote_inputfield_placeholder_end"); /* id of input field for the "placeholder ending tag" setting */
 
 /* PLUGIN REFERENCES CONTAINER ID */
 define( "FOOTNOTE_REFERENCES_CONTAINER_ID", "footnote_references_container" ); /* id for the div surrounding the footnotes */
diff --git a/includes/plugin-settings.php b/includes/plugin-settings.php
index 43625ec..415a0f1 100644
--- a/includes/plugin-settings.php
+++ b/includes/plugin-settings.php
@@ -29,16 +29,28 @@ function footnotes_plugin_settings_link( $links, $file )
 
 /**
  * reads a option field, filters the values and returns the filtered option array
+ * fallback to default value since 1.0-gamma
  * @since 1.0
  * @param string $p_str_OptionsField
+ * @param array $p_arr_DefaultValues
  * @return array
  */
-function footnotes_filter_options( $p_str_OptionsField )
+function footnotes_filter_options( $p_str_OptionsField, $p_arr_DefaultValues )
 {
 	$l_arr_Options = get_option( $p_str_OptionsField );
 	/* loop through all keys in the array and filters them */
 	foreach ( $l_arr_Options as $l_str_Key => $l_str_Value ) {
-		$l_arr_Options[ $l_str_Key ] = stripcslashes( $l_str_Value );
+		/* removes special chars from the settings value */
+		$l_str_Value = stripcslashes( $l_str_Value );
+		/* check if settings value is not empty, otherwise load the default value, or empty string if no default is defined */
+		if (!empty($l_str_Value)) {
+			$l_arr_Options[ $l_str_Key ] = stripcslashes( $l_str_Value );
+		/* check if default value is defined */
+		} else if (array_key_exists($l_str_Key, $p_arr_DefaultValues)) {
+			$l_arr_Options[ $l_str_Key ] = $p_arr_DefaultValues[$l_str_Key];
+		} else {
+			$l_arr_Options[ $l_str_Key ] = "";
+		}
 	}
 	/* returns the filtered array */
 	return $l_arr_Options;
diff --git a/includes/replacer.php b/includes/replacer.php
index c2230e2..145b3ae 100644
--- a/includes/replacer.php
+++ b/includes/replacer.php
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ function footnotes_startReplacing( $p_str_Content )
 	/* stop the output and move it to a buffer instead, defines a callback function */
 	ob_start( "footnotes_replaceFootnotes" );
 	/* load footnote settings */
-	$g_arr_FootnotesSettings = footnotes_filter_options( FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_CONTAINER );
+	$g_arr_FootnotesSettings = footnotes_filter_options( FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_CONTAINER, Class_FootnotesSettings::$a_arr_Default_Settings );
 	/* return unchanged content */
 	return $p_str_Content;
 }
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ function footnotes_StopReplacing()
 
 /**
  * replaces all footnotes in the given content
+ * loading settings if not happened yet since 1.0-gamma
  * @since 1.0
  * @param string $p_str_Content
  * @param bool   $p_bool_OutputReferences [default: true]
@@ -73,6 +74,13 @@ function footnotes_replaceFootnotes( $p_str_Content, $p_bool_OutputReferences =
 {
 	/* get access to the global array */
 	global $g_arr_Footnotes;
+	/* access to the global settings collection */
+	global $g_arr_FootnotesSettings;
+	/* check if settings are already loaded, otherwise load them */
+	if (empty($g_arr_FootnotesSettings)) {
+		/* load footnote settings */
+		$g_arr_FootnotesSettings = footnotes_filter_options( FOOTNOTE_SETTINGS_CONTAINER, Class_FootnotesSettings::$a_arr_Default_Settings );
+	}
 
 	/* replace all footnotes in the content */
 	$p_str_Content = footnotes_getFromString( $p_str_Content );
@@ -89,6 +97,7 @@ function footnotes_replaceFootnotes( $p_str_Content, $p_bool_OutputReferences =
 
 /**
  * replace all footnotes in the given string and adds them to an array
+ * using a personal starting and ending tag for the footnotes since 1.0-gamma
  * @since 1.0
  * @param string $p_str_Content
  * @return string
@@ -97,32 +106,38 @@ function footnotes_getFromString( $p_str_Content )
 {
 	/* get access to the global array to store footnotes */
 	global $g_arr_Footnotes;
+	/* access to the global settings collection */
+	global $g_arr_FootnotesSettings;
 	/* contains the index for the next footnote on this page */
 	$l_int_FootnoteIndex = 1;
 	/* contains the starting position for the lookup of a footnote */
 	$l_int_PosStart = 0;
 	/* contains the footnote template */
 	$l_str_FootnoteTemplate = file_get_contents( FOOTNOTES_TEMPLATES_DIR . "footnote.html" );
+	/* get footnote starting tag */
+	$l_str_StartingTag = $g_arr_FootnotesSettings[FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_START];
+	/*get footnote ending tag */
+	$l_str_EndingTag = $g_arr_FootnotesSettings[FOOTNOTE_INPUTFIELD_PLACEHOLDER_END];
 
 	/* check for a footnote placeholder in the current page */
 	do {
 		/* get first occurence of a footnote starting tag */
-		$l_int_PosStart = strpos( $p_str_Content, FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START, $l_int_PosStart );
+		$l_int_PosStart = strpos( $p_str_Content, $l_str_StartingTag, $l_int_PosStart );
 		/* tag found */
 		if ( $l_int_PosStart !== false ) {
 			/* get first occurence of a footnote ending tag after the starting tag */
-			$l_int_PosEnd = strpos( $p_str_Content, FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_END, $l_int_PosStart );
+			$l_int_PosEnd = strpos( $p_str_Content, $l_str_EndingTag, $l_int_PosStart );
 			/* tag found */
 			if ( $l_int_PosEnd !== false ) {
 				/* get length of footnote text */
 				$l_int_Length = $l_int_PosEnd - $l_int_PosStart;
 				/* get text inside footnote */
-				$l_str_FootnoteText = substr( $p_str_Content, $l_int_PosStart + strlen( FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START ), $l_int_Length - strlen( FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_START ) );
+				$l_str_FootnoteText = substr( $p_str_Content, $l_int_PosStart + strlen( $l_str_StartingTag ), $l_int_Length - strlen( $l_str_StartingTag ) );
 				/* set replacer for the footnote */
 				$l_str_ReplaceText = str_replace( "[[FOOTNOTE INDEX]]", $l_int_FootnoteIndex, $l_str_FootnoteTemplate );
 				$l_str_ReplaceText = str_replace( "[[FOOTNOTE TEXT]]", $l_str_FootnoteText, $l_str_ReplaceText );
 				/* replace footnote in content */
-				$p_str_Content = substr_replace( $p_str_Content, $l_str_ReplaceText, $l_int_PosStart, $l_int_Length + strlen( FOOTNOTE_PLACEHOLDER_END ) );
+				$p_str_Content = substr_replace( $p_str_Content, $l_str_ReplaceText, $l_int_PosStart, $l_int_Length + strlen( $l_str_EndingTag ) );
 				/* set footnote to the output box at the end */
 				$g_arr_Footnotes[ ] = $l_str_FootnoteText;
 				/* increase footnote index */
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 33daf4a..d1c3103 100755
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 	Plugin URI: http://www.herndler.org
 	Description: simple adding footnotes to your pages
 	Author: Mark Cheret, Stefan Herndler
-	Version: 1.0.2
+	Version: 1.0.3
 	Author URI: http://www.cheret.de
 	Text Domain: footnotes
 	Domain Path: /languages
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ require_once( dirname( __FILE__ ) . "/includes/scripts.php" );
 /* include script and stylesheet functions */
 require_once( dirname( __FILE__ ) . "/includes/replacer.php" );
 
+/* require plugin class */
+require_once( dirname( __FILE__ ) . "/classes/footnotes.php" );
+/* require plugin settings class */
+require_once( dirname( __FILE__ ) . "/classes/footnotes_settings.php" );
+
 /* calls the wordpress filter function to replace page content before displayed on public pages */
 add_filter( 'the_content', 'footnotes_startReplacing' );
 add_filter( 'the_excerpt', 'footnotes_DummyReplacing' );
@@ -68,11 +73,6 @@ if ( !function_exists( 'is_admin' ) ) {
 	exit();
 }
 
-/* require plugin class */
-require_once( dirname( __FILE__ ) . "/classes/footnotes.php" );
-/* require plugin settings class */
-require_once( dirname( __FILE__ ) . "/classes/footnotes_settings.php" );
-
 /* action to locate language and load the wordpress-specific language file */
 add_action( 'plugins_loaded', 'footnotes_load_language' );
 
diff --git a/languages/footnotes-de.mo b/languages/footnotes-de.mo
index 3ef8d1d..c340cbc 100755
Binary files a/languages/footnotes-de.mo and b/languages/footnotes-de.mo differ
diff --git a/languages/footnotes-de.po b/languages/footnotes-de.po
index 6dba5bd..06cd63b 100755
--- a/languages/footnotes-de.po
+++ b/languages/footnotes-de.po
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: footnotes\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-05-16 21:52+0100\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2014-05-16 21:53+0100\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-05-16 22:36+0100\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2014-05-16 22:37+0100\n"
 "Last-Translator: SHE <s.herndler@methis.at>\n"
 "Language-Team: SHE <s.herndler@methis.at>\n"
 "Language: de\n"
@@ -18,59 +18,71 @@ msgstr ""
 "Plural-Forms: nplurals=2; plural=(n != 1);\n"
 "X-Poedit-SearchPath-0: .\n"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:298
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:308
 msgid "General"
 msgstr "Allgemein"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:300 includes/plugin-settings.php:22
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:310 includes/plugin-settings.php:22
 msgid "Settings"
 msgstr "Einstellungen"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:301
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:311
 msgid "References label:"
 msgstr "Überschrift \"Einzelnachweis\":"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:302
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:312
 msgid "Collapse references by default:"
 msgstr "Verstecke Einzelnachweise standardmäßig:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:303
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:313
 msgid "Combine identical footnotes:"
 msgstr "Kombiniere meine Fußnoten:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:344
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:314
+msgid "Footnote tag:"
+msgstr "Fußzeile einbinden:"
+
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:355
 msgid "Yes"
 msgstr "Ja"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:345
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:356
 msgid "No"
 msgstr "Nein"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:360 classes/footnotes_settings.php:362
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:369
+msgid "starts with:"
+msgstr "beginnt mit:"
+
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:373
+msgid "ends with:"
+msgstr "endet mit:"
+
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:385 classes/footnotes_settings.php:387
 msgid "HowTo"
 msgstr "Hilfe"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:373
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:398
 msgid "This is a brief introduction in how to use the plugin."
 msgstr "Eine kurze Anleitung für die Verwendung des Plugins."
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:386
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:413
 msgid "Start your footnote with the following shortcode:"
 msgstr "Starten Sie eine Fußnote mit:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:391
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:418
 msgid "...and end your footnote with this shortcode:"
 msgstr "...und beenden Sie diese mit:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:397 classes/footnotes_settings.php:400
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:424 classes/footnotes_settings.php:427
 msgid "example string"
 msgstr "Beispieltext"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:398
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:425
 msgid "will be displayed as:"
 msgstr "wird dargestellt als:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:405
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:432
 #, php-format
 msgid "If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to %smail us%s."
 msgstr "Bei Fragen können Sie uns gerne eine %se-Mail%s senden."
diff --git a/languages/footnotes-en.mo b/languages/footnotes-en.mo
index df8504a..6fa1a95 100755
Binary files a/languages/footnotes-en.mo and b/languages/footnotes-en.mo differ
diff --git a/languages/footnotes-en.po b/languages/footnotes-en.po
index d31da85..d8471f2 100755
--- a/languages/footnotes-en.po
+++ b/languages/footnotes-en.po
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: footnotes\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-05-16 21:52+0100\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2014-05-16 21:52+0100\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2014-05-16 22:36+0100\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2014-05-16 22:36+0100\n"
 "Last-Translator: SHE <s.herndler@methis.at>\n"
 "Language-Team: SHE <s.herndler@methis.at>\n"
 "Language: en\n"
@@ -18,59 +18,71 @@ msgstr ""
 "Plural-Forms: nplurals=2; plural=(n != 1);\n"
 "X-Poedit-SearchPath-0: .\n"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:298
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:308
 msgid "General"
 msgstr "General"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:300 includes/plugin-settings.php:22
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:310 includes/plugin-settings.php:22
 msgid "Settings"
 msgstr "Settings"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:301
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:311
 msgid "References label:"
 msgstr "References label:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:302
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:312
 msgid "Collapse references by default:"
 msgstr "Collapse references by default:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:303
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:313
 msgid "Combine identical footnotes:"
 msgstr "Combine identical footnotes:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:344
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:314
+msgid "Footnote tag:"
+msgstr "Footnote tag:"
+
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:355
 msgid "Yes"
 msgstr "Yes"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:345
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:356
 msgid "No"
 msgstr "No"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:360 classes/footnotes_settings.php:362
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:369
+msgid "starts with:"
+msgstr "starts with:"
+
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:373
+msgid "ends with:"
+msgstr "ends with:"
+
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:385 classes/footnotes_settings.php:387
 msgid "HowTo"
 msgstr "HowTo"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:373
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:398
 msgid "This is a brief introduction in how to use the plugin."
 msgstr "This is a brief introduction in how to use the plugin."
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:386
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:413
 msgid "Start your footnote with the following shortcode:"
 msgstr "Start your footnote with the following shortcode:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:391
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:418
 msgid "...and end your footnote with this shortcode:"
 msgstr "...and end your footnote with this shortcode:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:397 classes/footnotes_settings.php:400
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:424 classes/footnotes_settings.php:427
 msgid "example string"
 msgstr "example string"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:398
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:425
 msgid "will be displayed as:"
 msgstr "will be displayed as:"
 
-#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:405
+#: classes/footnotes_settings.php:432
 #, php-format
 msgid "If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to %smail us%s."
 msgstr "If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to %smail us%s."
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 1f963d2..211564b 100755
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Requires at least: 3.9
 Tested up to: 3.9.1
 License: GPLv3 or later
 License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
-Stable tag: 1.0.2
+Stable Tag: 1.0.3
 
 == Description ==
 
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ coming soon
 
 == Changelog ==
 
+= 1.0.3 =
+* New setting to use personal starting and ending tag for the footnotes
+* Updated translations for the new setting
+* Updated reading settings and fallback to default values (bugfix)
+
 = 1.0.2 =
 * New setting to collapse the reference container by default
 * Added link behind the footnotes to automatically jump to the reference container
@@ -49,7 +54,7 @@ coming soon
 * Updated translations for EN and DE
 * Changed version number from 3 digits to 2 digits
 
-= 1.0 =
+= 1.0.0 =
 * First development Version of the Plugin
 
 == Feedback ==