diff --git a/vars/checkResultsPublish.groovy b/vars/checkResultsPublish.groovy
index 3e6780217..8d4b9e29c 100644
--- a/vars/checkResultsPublish.groovy
+++ b/vars/checkResultsPublish.groovy
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 import com.cloudbees.groovy.cps.NonCPS
+
+import com.sap.piper.ConfigurationLoader
+import com.sap.piper.ConfigurationMerger
+import com.sap.piper.JsonUtils
 import com.sap.piper.Utils
 
-def getStepName(){return 'checkResultsPublish'}
+import groovy.transform.Field
+
+@Field def STEP_NAME = 'checkResultsPublish'
 
 /**
  * checkResultsPublish
@@ -9,69 +15,160 @@ def getStepName(){return 'checkResultsPublish'}
  * @param others document all parameters
  */
 def call(Map parameters = [:]) {
-    handlePipelineStepErrors (stepName: getStepName(), stepParameters: parameters) {
-        // GENERAL
-        def tasks = parameters.get('tasks', false)
-        def aggregation = parameters.get('aggregation', [:])
-        def doArchive = parameters.get('archive', false)
+    handlePipelineStepErrors (stepName: STEP_NAME, stepParameters: parameters) {
+        def script = parameters.script
+        if (script == null)
+            script = [commonPipelineEnvironment: commonPipelineEnvironment]
+        prepareDefaultValues script: script
+
+        Map configurationKeys = [
+            'aggregation': [
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'tasks': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'low': null,
+                'normal': null,
+                'high': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'pmd': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'cpd': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'findbugs': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'checkstyle': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'eslint': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'pylint': [
+                'pattern': null,
+                'archive': null,
+                'active': null,
+                'healthy': null,
+                'unHealthy': null,
+                'thresholds': [
+                    'fail': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null],
+                    'unstable': ['all': null,'low': null,'normal': null,'high': null]
+                ]
+            ],
+            'archive': null
+        ]
+        final Map stepDefaults = ConfigurationLoader.defaultStepConfiguration(script, STEP_NAME)
+        final Map stepConfiguration = ConfigurationLoader.stepConfiguration(script, STEP_NAME)
+        prepare(parameters)
+        Map configuration = ConfigurationMerger.mergeDeepStructure(parameters, configurationKeys, stepConfiguration, configurationKeys, stepDefaults)
+
+        def doArchive = configuration.get('archive')
         // JAVA
-        def pmd = parameters.get('pmd', false)
-        def cpd = parameters.get('cpd', false)
-        def findbugs = parameters.get('findbugs', false)
-        def checkstyle = parameters.get('checkstyle', false)
+        report('PmdPublisher', configuration.get('pmd'), doArchive)
+        report('DryPublisher', configuration.get('cpd'), doArchive)
+        report('FindBugsPublisher', configuration.get('findbugs'), doArchive)
+        report('CheckStylePublisher', configuration.get('checkstyle'), doArchive)
         // JAVA SCRIPT
-        def eslint = parameters.get('eslint', false)
+        reportWarnings('JSLint', configuration.get('eslint'), doArchive)
         // PYTHON
-        def pylint = parameters.get('pylint', false)
-
-        // report TODOs
-        reportTasks(tasks, '**/*.java')
-        // report PMD
-        report('PmdPublisher', pmd, '**/target/pmd.xml', doArchive)
-        // report CPD
-        report('DryPublisher', cpd, '**/target/cpd.xml', doArchive)
-        // report Findbugs
-        report('FindBugsPublisher', findbugs, '**/target/findbugsXml.xml, **/target/findbugs.xml', doArchive)
-        // report Checkstyle
-        report('CheckStylePublisher', checkstyle, '**/target/checkstyle-result.xml', doArchive)
-        // report ESLint
-        reportWarnings('JSLint', eslint, '**/eslint.xml', doArchive)
-        // report PyLint
-        reportWarnings('PyLint', pylint, '**/pylint.log', doArchive)
-
-        // aggregate results
-        aggregate(aggregation)
+        reportWarnings('PyLint', configuration.get('pylint'), doArchive)
+        // GENERAL
+        reportTasks(configuration.get('tasks'))
+        aggregate(configuration.get('aggregation'))
     }
 }
 
 def aggregate(settings){
-    if (!Boolean.FALSE.equals(settings)) {
-        settings = asMap(settings)
+    if (settings.active) {
         def options = createCommonOptionsMap('AnalysisPublisher', settings)
         // publish
         step(options)
     }
 }
 
-def report(publisherName, settings, defaultPattern, doArchive){
-    // exit if set to FALSE
-    if(!Boolean.FALSE.equals(settings)){
-        settings = asMap(settings)
-        def pattern = settings.get('pattern', defaultPattern)
+def reportTasks(settings){
+    if (settings.active) {
+        def options = createCommonOptionsMap('TasksPublisher', settings)
+        options.put('pattern', settings.get('pattern'))
+        options.put('high', settings.get('high'))
+        options.put('normal', settings.get('normal'))
+        options.put('low', settings.get('low'))
+        // publish
+        step(options)
+    }
+}
+
+def report(publisherName, settings, doArchive){
+    if (settings.active) {
+        def pattern = settings.get('pattern')
         def options = createCommonOptionsMap(publisherName, settings)
         options.put('pattern', pattern)
         // publish
         step(options)
         // archive check results
-        archiveResults(doArchive && settings.get('archive', 'true'), pattern, true)
+        archiveResults(doArchive && settings.get('archive'), pattern, true)
     }
 }
 
-def reportWarnings(parserName, settings, defaultPattern, doArchive){
-    // exit if set to FALSE
-    if(!Boolean.FALSE.equals(settings)){
-        settings = asMap(settings)
-        def pattern = settings.get('pattern', defaultPattern)
+def reportWarnings(parserName, settings, doArchive){
+    if (settings.active) {
+        def pattern = settings.get('pattern')
         def options = createCommonOptionsMap('WarningsPublisher', settings)
         options.put('parserConfigurations', [[
             parserName: parserName,
@@ -80,21 +177,7 @@ def reportWarnings(parserName, settings, defaultPattern, doArchive){
         // publish
         step(options)
         // archive check results
-        archiveResults(doArchive && settings.get('archive', 'true'), pattern, true)
-    }
-}
-
-def reportTasks(settings, defaultPattern){
-    // exit if set to FALSE
-    if(!Boolean.FALSE.equals(settings)){
-        settings = asMap(settings)
-        def options = createCommonOptionsMap('TasksPublisher', settings)
-        options.put('pattern', settings.get('pattern', defaultPattern))
-        options.put('high', settings.get('high', 'FIXME'))
-        options.put('normal', settings.get('normal', 'TODO,REVISE,XXX'))
-        options.put('low', settings.get('low', ''))
-        // publish
-        step(options)
+        archiveResults(doArchive && settings.get('archive'), pattern, true)
     }
 }
 
@@ -102,25 +185,29 @@ def reportTasks(settings, defaultPattern){
 def ensureMap(parameters, name){
     def value = parameters.get(name, [:])
     if(!isMap(value))
-        error "Expected parameter ${name} to be a map."
+        error "[${STEP_NAME}] Expected parameter ${name} to be a map."
     return value
 }
 
-@NonCPS
-def asMap(parameter){
-    if(Boolean.TRUE.equals(parameter))
-        return [:]
-    return parameter
-}
-
 @NonCPS
 def isMap(object){
     return object in Map
 }
 
+@NonCPS
+def toMap(parameter, activeByDefault = false){
+    if(isMap(parameter))
+        parameter.put('active', true)
+    else if(activeByDefault && !Boolean.FALSE.equals(parameter) || Boolean.TRUE.equals(parameter))
+        parameter = [active: true]
+    else
+        parameter = [active: false]
+    return parameter
+}
+
 def archiveResults(archive, pattern, allowEmpty){
     if(archive){
-        echo "[${getStepName()}] archive ${pattern}"
+        echo "[${STEP_NAME}] archive ${pattern}"
         archiveArtifacts artifacts: pattern, allowEmptyArchive: allowEmpty
     }
 }
@@ -128,22 +215,36 @@ def archiveResults(archive, pattern, allowEmpty){
 @NonCPS
 def createCommonOptionsMap(publisherName, settings){
     Map result = [:]
-    def thresholds = ensureMap(settings, 'thresholds')
-    def fail = ensureMap(thresholds, 'fail')
-    def unstable = ensureMap(thresholds, 'unstable')
+    def thresholds = settings.get('thresholds')
+    def fail = thresholds.get('fail')
+    def unstable = thresholds.get('unstable')
 
     result.put('$class', publisherName)
-    result.put('healthy', settings.get('healthy', ''))
-    result.put('unHealthy', settings.get('unHealthy', ''))
+    result.put('healthy', settings.get('healthy'))
+    result.put('unHealthy', settings.get('unHealthy'))
     result.put('canRunOnFailed', true)
-    result.put('failedTotalAll', '' + fail.get('all', ''))
-    result.put('failedTotalHigh', '' + fail.get('high', ''))
-    result.put('failedTotalNormal', '' + fail.get('normal', ''))
-    result.put('failedTotalLow', '' + fail.get('low', ''))
-    result.put('unstableTotalAll', '' + unstable.get('all', ''))
-    result.put('unstableTotalHigh', '' + unstable.get('high', ''))
-    result.put('unstableTotalNormal', '' + unstable.get('normal', ''))
-    result.put('unstableTotalLow', '' + unstable.get('low', ''))
+    result.put('failedTotalAll', '' + fail.get('all'))
+    result.put('failedTotalHigh', '' + fail.get('high'))
+    result.put('failedTotalNormal', '' + fail.get('normal'))
+    result.put('failedTotalLow', '' + fail.get('low'))
+    result.put('unstableTotalAll', '' + unstable.get('all'))
+    result.put('unstableTotalHigh', '' + unstable.get('high'))
+    result.put('unstableTotalNormal', '' + unstable.get('normal'))
+    result.put('unstableTotalLow', '' + unstable.get('low'))
 
     return result
 }
+
+@NonCPS
+def prepare(parameters){
+    // ensure tool maps are initialized
+    parameters.aggregation = toMap(parameters.aggregation, true)
+    parameters.tasks = toMap(parameters.tasks)
+    parameters.pmd = toMap(parameters.pmd)
+    parameters.cpd = toMap(parameters.cpd)
+    parameters.findbugs = toMap(parameters.findbugs)
+    parameters.checkstyle = toMap(parameters.checkstyle)
+    parameters.eslint = toMap(parameters.eslint)
+    parameters.pylint = toMap(parameters.pylint)
+    return parameters
+}