diff --git a/pyext/ctool.i b/pyext/ctool.i
index 5120da1..3296033 100644
--- a/pyext/ctool.i
+++ b/pyext/ctool.i
@@ -113,8 +113,12 @@ public:
     // Protected methods
     const bool&           read_ahead(void) const;
     const GTimeReference& time_reference(void) const;
-    GObservations         get_observations(const bool& get_response = true);
-    void                  setup_observations(GObservations& obs);
+
+    // Protected high-level setup methods
+    void setup_observations(GObservations& obs, const bool& response = true,
+                                                const bool& list = true,
+                                                const bool& cube = true);
+    void setup_models(GObservations& obs, const std::string& name = "");
 
     // Protected methods that create objects from user parameters
     GEbounds        create_ebounds(void);
@@ -142,6 +146,7 @@ public:
                                     const std::vector<bool>& edisp) const;
     void              set_obs_response(GCTAObservation* obs);
     void              set_obs_bounds(GObservations& obs);
+    GObservations     get_observations(const bool& get_response = true);
     GSkyDir           get_mean_pointing(const GObservations& obs);
     size_t            get_current_rss(void);
     std::string       get_obs_header(const GObservation* obs);
diff --git a/src/ctbin/ctbin.cpp b/src/ctbin/ctbin.cpp
index ec799d9..c2f5584 100644
--- a/src/ctbin/ctbin.cpp
+++ b/src/ctbin/ctbin.cpp
@@ -437,20 +437,9 @@ void ctbin::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctbin::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Get observation container without response (not needed)
-        m_obs = get_observations(false);
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not request response
+    // information and do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, false, true, false);
 
     // Create an event cube based on task parameters
     GCTAEventCube cube = create_cube(m_obs);
diff --git a/src/ctbkgcube/ctbkgcube.cpp b/src/ctbkgcube/ctbkgcube.cpp
index c5fb596..7b542f6 100644
--- a/src/ctbkgcube/ctbkgcube.cpp
+++ b/src/ctbkgcube/ctbkgcube.cpp
@@ -473,26 +473,8 @@ void ctbkgcube::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctbkgcube::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, true, true, false);
 
     // Get the incube filename
     std::string incube = (*this)["incube"].filename();
diff --git a/src/ctbutterfly/ctbutterfly.cpp b/src/ctbutterfly/ctbutterfly.cpp
index 2bdac15..93d336a 100644
--- a/src/ctbutterfly/ctbutterfly.cpp
+++ b/src/ctbutterfly/ctbutterfly.cpp
@@ -584,37 +584,13 @@ void ctbutterfly::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctbutterfly::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
-
-    // If there is are no models associated with the observations then
-    // load now the model definition
-    if (m_obs.models().size() == 0) {
-
-        // Get models XML filename
-        std::string filename = (*this)["inmodel"].filename();
-
-        // Setup models for optimizing.
-        m_obs.models(GModels(filename));
-
-    } // endif: no models were associated with observations
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter
+    setup_observations(m_obs);
+    
+    // Setup models from "inmodel" parameter
+    setup_models(m_obs, (*this)["srcname"].string());
 
-    // Get name of test source and check container for this name
+    // Get name of test source
     m_srcname = (*this)["srcname"].string();
 
     // Check model name and type
diff --git a/src/ctcubemask/ctcubemask.cpp b/src/ctcubemask/ctcubemask.cpp
index cbdb7d8..d3ca674 100644
--- a/src/ctcubemask/ctcubemask.cpp
+++ b/src/ctcubemask/ctcubemask.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
 #define G_RUN                                             "ctcubemask::run()"
 #define G_APPLY_MASK               "ctcubemask::apply_mask(GCTAObservation*)"
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                       "ctcubemask::get_parameters()"
 
 /* __ Debug definitions __________________________________________________ */
 
@@ -439,9 +438,6 @@ void ctcubemask::free_members(void)
 /***********************************************************************//**
  * @brief Get application parameters
  *
- *  @exception GException::invalid_value
- *          Parameter "inobs" is required for ctcubemask.
- *
  * Get all task parameters from parameter file or (if required) by querying
  * the user. 
  *
@@ -455,20 +451,9 @@ void ctcubemask::get_parameters(void)
     m_select_energy = true;
     m_select_roi    = true;
 
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if event list is given
-        require_inobs_nolist(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container without response (not needed)
-        m_obs = get_observations(false);
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not request response
+    // information and do not accept event lists.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, false, false, true);
 
     // Get parameters
     m_regfile = (*this)["regfile"].filename();
diff --git a/src/ctedispcube/ctedispcube.cpp b/src/ctedispcube/ctedispcube.cpp
index 0b9e43b..722cc5e 100644
--- a/src/ctedispcube/ctedispcube.cpp
+++ b/src/ctedispcube/ctedispcube.cpp
@@ -346,26 +346,8 @@ void ctedispcube::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctedispcube::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, true, true, false);
 
     // Get the incube filename
     std::string incube = (*this)["incube"].filename();
diff --git a/src/cterror/cterror.cpp b/src/cterror/cterror.cpp
index dbfa88e..cd27e5f 100644
--- a/src/cterror/cterror.cpp
+++ b/src/cterror/cterror.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "GOptimizer.hpp"
 
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                         "cterror::get_parameters()"
 #define G_ERR_BISECTION         "cterror::error_bisection(double&, double&)"
 #define G_EVALUATE                              "cterror::evaluate(double&)"
 
@@ -455,52 +454,19 @@ void cterror::free_members(void)
 /***********************************************************************//**
  * @brief Get application parameters
  *
- * @exception GException::invalid_value
- *            Test source not found.
- *
  * Get all task parameters from parameter file or (if required) by querying
  * the user.
  ***************************************************************************/
 void cterror::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
-
-    // If there are no models associated with the observations then
-    // load now the model definition
-    if (m_obs.models().size() == 0) {
-
-        // Get models XML filename
-        std::string filename = (*this)["inmodel"].filename();
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter
+    setup_observations(m_obs);
+    
+    // Setup models from "inmodel" parameter
+    setup_models(m_obs, (*this)["srcname"].string());
 
-        // Setup models for optimizing.
-        m_obs.models(GModels(filename));
-
-    } // endif: no models were associated with observations
-
-    // Get name of test source and check container for this name
+    // Get name of test source
     m_srcname = (*this)["srcname"].string();
-    if (!m_obs.models().contains(m_srcname)) {
-        std::string msg = "Source \""+m_srcname+"\" not found in model "
-                          "container. Please add a source with that name "
-                          "or check for possible typos.";
-        throw GException::invalid_value(G_GET_PARAMETERS, msg);
-    }
 
     // Read energy dispersion flag
     m_apply_edisp = (*this)["edisp"].boolean();
diff --git a/src/ctexpcube/ctexpcube.cpp b/src/ctexpcube/ctexpcube.cpp
index 6245454..580ee1f 100644
--- a/src/ctexpcube/ctexpcube.cpp
+++ b/src/ctexpcube/ctexpcube.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "GWcs.hpp"
 
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                        "ctexpcube::get_parameters()"
 #define G_SET_FROM_CNTMAP          "ctexpcube::set_from_cntmap(std::string&)"
 
 /* __ Debug definitions __________________________________________________ */
@@ -371,26 +370,8 @@ void ctexpcube::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctexpcube::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, true, true, false);
 
     // Get the incube filename
     std::string incube = (*this)["incube"].filename();
diff --git a/src/ctlike/ctlike.cpp b/src/ctlike/ctlike.cpp
index 50f9c35..1ad0769 100644
--- a/src/ctlike/ctlike.cpp
+++ b/src/ctlike/ctlike.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include "GTools.hpp"
 
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                           "ctlike::get_parameters()"
 
 /* __ Debug definitions __________________________________________________ */
 
@@ -361,23 +360,8 @@ void ctlike::save(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctlike::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Get observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter
+    setup_observations(m_obs);
 
     // If only single observation is used, read statistics parameter
     if (!m_use_xml) {
diff --git a/src/ctpsfcube/ctpsfcube.cpp b/src/ctpsfcube/ctpsfcube.cpp
index d35f7b5..a36d89c 100644
--- a/src/ctpsfcube/ctpsfcube.cpp
+++ b/src/ctpsfcube/ctpsfcube.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "GWcs.hpp"
 
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                        "ctpsfcube::get_parameters()"
 
 /* __ Debug definitions __________________________________________________ */
 
@@ -331,26 +330,8 @@ void ctpsfcube::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctpsfcube::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, true, true, false);
 
     // Get the incube filename
     std::string incube = (*this)["incube"].filename();
diff --git a/src/ctselect/ctselect.cpp b/src/ctselect/ctselect.cpp
index 5323eb8..7206015 100644
--- a/src/ctselect/ctselect.cpp
+++ b/src/ctselect/ctselect.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #define G_SELECT_EVENTS          "ctselect::select_events(GCTAObservation*, "\
                                   "std::string&, std::string&, std::string&)"
 #define G_SET_EBOUNDS    "ctselect::set_ebounds(GCTAObservation*, GEbounds&)"
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                         "ctselect::get_parameters()"
 
 /* __ Debug definitions __________________________________________________ */
 
@@ -502,20 +501,9 @@ void ctselect::get_parameters(void)
     m_select_roi    = true;
     m_select_time   = true;
 
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Get observation container without response (not needed)
-        m_obs = get_observations(false);
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not request response
+    // information and do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, false, true, false);
 
     // Get parameters
     m_usepnt = (*this)["usepnt"].boolean();
diff --git a/src/ctskymap/ctskymap.cpp b/src/ctskymap/ctskymap.cpp
index cfa1dc2..f705124 100644
--- a/src/ctskymap/ctskymap.cpp
+++ b/src/ctskymap/ctskymap.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
 #define G_INIT_MAP                 "ctskymap::init_map(GCTAObservation* obs)"
 #define G_BIN_EVENTS                 "ctskymap::bin_events(GCTAObservation*)"
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                         "ctskymap::get_parameters()"
 
 /* __ Debug definitions __________________________________________________ */
 
@@ -402,20 +401,9 @@ void ctskymap::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctskymap::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Throw exception if counts cube is given
-        require_inobs_nocube(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Get observation container without response (not needed)
-        m_obs = get_observations(false);
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter. Do not request response
+    // information and do not accept counts cubes.
+    setup_observations(m_obs, false, true, false);
 
     // Create sky map based on task parameters
     m_skymap = create_map(m_obs);
diff --git a/src/cttsmap/cttsmap.cpp b/src/cttsmap/cttsmap.cpp
index ce0553e..db730cb 100644
--- a/src/cttsmap/cttsmap.cpp
+++ b/src/cttsmap/cttsmap.cpp
@@ -500,8 +500,7 @@ void cttsmap::free_members(void)
  * @brief Get application parameters
  *
  * @exception GException::invalid_value
- *            Test source not found or no RA/DEC parameters found for test
- *            source.
+ *            Test source has no RA/DEC parameters.
  *
  * Get all task parameters from parameter file or (if required) by querying
  * the user. Most parameters are only required if no observation exists so
@@ -511,44 +510,14 @@ void cttsmap::free_members(void)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void cttsmap::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter
+    setup_observations(m_obs);
+    
+    // Setup models from "inmodel" parameter
+    setup_models(m_obs, (*this)["srcname"].string());
 
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Get observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
-
-    // If there is are no models associated with the observations then
-    // load now the model definition
-    if (m_obs.models().size() == 0) {
-
-        // Get models XML filename
-        std::string filename = (*this)["inmodel"].filename();
-
-        // Setup models for optimizing.
-        m_obs.models(GModels(filename));
-
-    } // endif: no models were associated with observations
-
-    // Get name of test source and check container for this name
+    // Get name of test source
     m_srcname = (*this)["srcname"].string();
-    if (!m_obs.models().contains(m_srcname)) {
-        std::string msg = "Source \""+m_srcname+"\" not found in model "
-                          "container. Please add a source with that name "
-                          "or check for a possible typos.";
-    	throw GException::invalid_value(G_GET_PARAMETERS, msg);
-    }
 
     // Get Model and store it as protected member
     m_testsource = m_obs.models()[m_srcname]->clone();
diff --git a/src/ctulimit/ctulimit.cpp b/src/ctulimit/ctulimit.cpp
index 693bd14..a087a0d 100644
--- a/src/ctulimit/ctulimit.cpp
+++ b/src/ctulimit/ctulimit.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include "GOptimizer.hpp"
 
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
-#define G_GET_PARAMETERS                         "ctulimit::get_parameters()"
 #define G_GET_MODEL_PARAMETER               "ctulimit::get_model_parameter()"
 #define G_UL_BISECTION             "ctulimit::ul_bisection(double&, double&)"
 #define G_EVALUATE                              "ctulimit::evaluate(double&)"
@@ -461,46 +460,18 @@ void ctulimit::free_members(void)
 /***********************************************************************//**
  * @brief Get application parameters
  *
- * @exception GException::invalid_value
- *            Test source not found.
- *
  * Get all task parameters from parameter file or (if required) by querying
  * the user.
  ***************************************************************************/
 void ctulimit::get_parameters(void)
 {
-    // If there are no observations in container then load them via user
-    // parameters
-    if (m_obs.size() == 0) {
-
-        // Throw exception if no input observation file is given
-        require_inobs(G_GET_PARAMETERS);
-
-        // Build observation container
-        m_obs = get_observations();
-
-    } // endif: there was no observation in the container
-
-    // ... otherwise add response information and energy boundaries in case
-    // that they are missing
-    else {
-        setup_observations(m_obs);
-    }
-
-    // If there is are no models associated with the observations then
-    // load now the model definition
-    if (m_obs.models().size() == 0) {
-
-        // Get models XML filename
-        std::string filename = (*this)["inmodel"].filename();
-
-        // Setup models for optimizing.
-        m_obs.models(GModels(filename));
-
-    } // endif: no models were associated with observations
+    // Setup observations from "inobs" parameter
+    setup_observations(m_obs);
+    
+    // Setup models from "inmodel" parameter
+    setup_models(m_obs, (*this)["srcname"].string());
 
-    // Get name of test source. The get_model_parameter() method will check
-    // where a source with the given name exists in the model container.
+    // Get name of test source
     m_srcname = (*this)["srcname"].string();
 
     // Get relevant model and parameter for upper limit computation
diff --git a/src/support/ctool.cpp b/src/support/ctool.cpp
index db5a264..f015fe9 100644
--- a/src/support/ctool.cpp
+++ b/src/support/ctool.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 
 /* __ Method name definitions ____________________________________________ */
 #define G_SETUP_OBSERVATION       "ctool::setup_observations(GObservations&)"
+#define SETUP_MODELS      "ctool::setup_models(GObservations&, std::string&)"
 #define G_GET_MEAN_POINTING        "ctool::get_mean_pointing(GObservations&)"
 #define G_CREATE_EBOUNDS                            "ctool::create_ebounds()"
 #define G_RESTORE_EDISP               "ctool::restore_edisp(GObservations&, "\
@@ -304,189 +305,194 @@ void ctool::free_members(void)
 
 
 /***********************************************************************//**
- * @brief Get observation container
+ * @brief Setup observation container
  *
- * @param[in] get_response Indicates whether response information should
- *                         be loaded (default: true)
+ * @param[in] obs Observation container
+ * @param[in] response Require response
+ * @param[in] list Accept event list as "inobs" parameter
+ * @param[in] cube Accept counts cube as "inobs" parameter
  *
- * Get an observation container according to the user parameters. The method
- * supports loading of a individual FITS file or an observation definition
- * file in XML format. If the input filename is empty, parameters are read
- * to build a CTA observation from scratch.
+ * @exception GException::invalid_value
+ *            Invalid "inobs" parameter encountered.
+ *
+ * Setup an observation container by extracting all required missing
+ * information from user parameters.
+ *
+ * If the observation container @p obs is empty, the method will extract the
+ * filename from the "inobs" parameter, and if the filename is neither empty
+ * nor "NONE", it will load the observation container from the specified file.
+ * Otherwise, the method will throw an exception.
+ *
+ * If the "inobs" file is a FITS file, and depending on the information that
+ * is found in the FITS file, the method will append a single CTA observation
+ * to the observation container, containing either an event list or a counts
+ * cube. It will set the m_use_xml member to false to signal that no
+ * observation XML file should be used for saving. The @p list and @p cube
+ * parameters can be used to specify whether the method actually should accept
+ * event lists or counts cube. If it shouldn't the method will throw an
+ * exception.
+ *
+ * If the "inobs" file is not a FITS file, the method assumes that an
+ * observation definition XML file has been specified, and will load that
+ * file into the observation container. It will set the m_use_xml member to
+ * true to signal that an observation XML file should be used for saving. No
+ * checking on event list or counts cubes will be done on the observation
+ * container.
+ *
+ * By default, the method will also setup the response for all CTA
+ * observations in the container. In case that no response information is
+ * required, the @p response argument should be set to @p false. See the
+ * set_response() method for details.
+ *
+ *
+ * The method will also setup the observation boundaries for all CTA
+ * observations in the container that contain event lists. For details, see
+ * the set_obs_bounds() method.
  ***************************************************************************/
-GObservations ctool::get_observations(const bool& get_response)
+void ctool::setup_observations(GObservations& obs,
+                               const bool&    response,
+                               const bool&    list,
+                               const bool&    cube)
 {
-    // Initialise empty observation container
-    GObservations obs;
-
-    // Get the filename from the input parameters
-    std::string filename = (*this)["inobs"].filename();
-
-    // If no observation definition file has been specified then read all
-    // parameters that are necessary to create an observation from scratch
-    if ((filename == "NONE") || (gammalib::strip_whitespace(filename) == "")) {
-
-        // Setup a new CTA observation
-        GCTAObservation cta_obs = create_cta_obs();
-
-        // Get response if required
-        if (get_response) {
-
-            // Set response
-            set_obs_response(&cta_obs);
-
-        } // endif: response was required
-
-       // Append observation to container
-       obs.append(cta_obs);
-
-    } // endif: filename was "NONE" or ""
+    // Load observations if there are none in the container
+    if (obs.size() == 0) {
 
-    // ... otherwise we have a file name
-    else {
+        // Get the filename from the "inobs" parameter
+        GFilename filename = (*this)["inobs"].filename();
 
-        // If file is a FITS file then create an empty CTA observation
-        // and load file into observation
-        if (GFilename(filename).is_fits()) {
+        // Throw an exception if the "inobs" parameter is not a valid
+        // filename
+        if ((gammalib::toupper(filename.url()) == "NONE") ||
+             filename.is_empty()) {
+            std::string msg = "The \"inobs\" parameter \""+filename.url()+
+                              "\" is not a valid filename. Please specify "
+                              "a valid event list, counts cube or "
+                              "observation definition XML file.";
+            throw GException::invalid_value(G_SETUP_OBSERVATION, msg);
+        }
 
-            // Allocate empty CTA observation
-            GCTAObservation cta_obs;
+        // If file does not exist then throw an exceptions
+        if (!filename.exists()) {
+            std::string msg = "The \"inobs\" parameter \""+filename.url()+
+                              "\" specifies a file that does not "
+                              "exist. Please specify  a valid event "
+                              "list, counts cube or  observation "
+                              "definition XML file.";
+            throw GException::invalid_value(G_SETUP_OBSERVATION, msg);
+        }
 
-            // Load data
-            cta_obs.load(filename);
+        // If the file is a FITS file then load it into a CTA
+        // observation and append that observation to the container ...
+        else if (filename.is_fits()) {
 
-            // Get response if required
-            if (get_response) {
+            // Load CTA observation
+            GCTAObservation cta(filename);
 
-                // Set response
-                set_obs_response(&cta_obs);
+            // If no event list is accepted but an event list has been
+            // loaded then throw an exception
+            if (!list && cta.eventtype() == "EventList") {
+                std::string msg = "The \"inobs\" parameter \""+filename.url()+
+                                  "\" specifies an event list, but this "
+                                  "tool does not accept event lists.";
+                throw GException::invalid_value(G_SETUP_OBSERVATION, msg);
+            }
 
-            } // endif: response was required
+            // If no counts cube is accepted but a conts cube has been
+            // loaded then throw an exception
+            if (!cube && cta.eventtype() == "CountsCube") {
+                std::string msg = "The \"inobs\" parameter \""+filename.url()+
+                                  "\" specifies a counts cube, but this "
+                                  "tool does not accept counts cubes.";
+                throw GException::invalid_value(G_SETUP_OBSERVATION, msg);
+            }
 
-            // Append observation to container
-            obs.append(cta_obs);
+            // Append CTA observation to observation container
+            obs.append(cta);
 
             // Signal that no XML file should be used for storage
             m_use_xml = false;
 
-        }
+        } // endelse: file was a FITS file
 
-        // ... otherwise load file into observation container
+        // ... otherwise it is assumed that the file is an observation
+        // definition XML file and the file is loaded into the
+        // observation container
         else {
 
-            // Load observations from XML file
+            // Load observation definition file
             obs.load(filename);
 
-            // Get response if required
-            if (get_response) {
-
-                // For all observations that have no response, set the response
-                // from the task parameters
-                set_response(obs);
-
-            } // endif: response was required
-
-            // Set observation boundary parameters (emin, emax, rad)
-            set_obs_bounds(obs);
-
             // Signal that XML file should be used for storage
             m_use_xml = true;
 
         } // endelse: file was an XML file
 
+    } // endif: there were no observations in the container
+
+    // Setup the response for all CTA observations in the observation
+    // container if response information is required
+    if (response) {
+        set_response(obs);
     }
 
-    // Return observation container
-    return obs;
+    // Setup boundaries for all CTA observations containing event lists
+    set_obs_bounds(obs);
+
+    // Return
+    return;
 }
 
 
 /***********************************************************************//**
- * @brief Setup observation container
+ * @brief Setup model container
  *
  * @param[in] obs Observation container
+ * @param[in] name Mandatory model name
  *
  * @exception GException::invalid_value
- *            Invalid "inobs" parameter encountered.
+ *            Mandatory model name not found in observation container.
  *
- * Setup an observation container by appending all required information that
- * is missing using user parameters.
+ * Setup a model container by loading the models from the "inmodel"
+ * parameter.
  *
- * If the observation container @p obs is empty, the method will extract the
- * filename from the "inobs" parameter, and if the filename is neither empty
- * nor "NONE", will load the observation container from the specified file.
- * If the file is a FITS file, and dependent on the information that is found
- * in the FITS file, the method will append a single CTA observation to the
- * observation container, containing either an event list or a counts cube.
- * Otherwise, the method assumes that the file is an observation definition
- * XML file and will load that file into the observation container.
- *
- * If the filename is empty or "NONE", the method will throw an exception.
- *
- * The method will then setup the response for all CTA observations in the
- * container (see the set_response() method for more information).
- * 
- * The method will furthermore setup the observation boundaries for all CTA
- * observations in the container that contain event lists (see the
- * set_obs_bounds() method for more information).
+ * If the model container in the observation container @p obs is empty, the
+ * method will extract the model container filename from the "inmodel"
+ * parameter, load the model container and assign it to the observations
+ * container.
+ *
+ * If a mandatory model name is specified, the method will further check
+ * whether a model with the name exists in the model container.
  ***************************************************************************/
-void ctool::setup_observations(GObservations& obs)
+void ctool::setup_models(GObservations&     obs,
+                         const std::string& name)
 {
-    // Load observations if there are none in the container
-    if (obs.size() == 0) {
+    // If there are no models in the observation container then load model
+    // container from the "inmodel" parameter and attach it to the
+    // observation container
+    if (obs.models().size() == 0) {
 
-        // Get the filename from the "inobs" parameter
-        GFilename filename((*this)["inobs"].filename());
-        
-        // Load observation container from file if the filename is neither
-        // "NONE" nor empty ...
-        if ((gammalib::toupper(filename.url()) != "NONE") &&
-            !filename.is_empty()) {
-
-            // If file does not exist then throw an exceptions
-            if (!filename.exists()) {
-                std::string msg = "The \"inobs\" parameter \""+filename+
-                                  "\" specifies a file that does not "
-                                  "exist. Please specify  a valid event "
-                                  "list, counts cube or  observation "
-                                  "definition XML file.";
-                throw GException::invalid_value(G_SETUP_OBSERVATION, msg);
-            }
+        // Get models XML filename
+        GFilename filename = (*this)["inmodel"].filename();
 
-            // If the file is a FITS file then load it into a CTA
-            // observation and append that observation to the container ...
-            else if (filename.is_fits()) {
-                GCTAObservation cta(filename);
-                obs.append(cta);
-            }
+        // Load model container and assign it to observations container
+        obs.models(GModels(filename.url()));
 
-            // ... otherwise it is assumed that the file is an observation
-            // definition XML file and the file is loaded into the
-            // observation container
-            else {
-                obs.load(filename);
-            }
+    } // endif: no models were in observations container
 
-        }
+    // If a mandatory model name exists then check whether this model is
+    // part of the observation container. Throw an exception if the model
+    // does not exist
+    if (!name.empty()) {
 
-        // ... otherwise, if the filename is "NONE" or empty then throw
-        // an exception.
-        else {
-            std::string msg = "The \"inobs\" parameter \""+filename+
-                              "\" is not a valid filename. Please specify "
-                              "a valid event list, counts cube or "
-                              "observation definition XML file.";
-            throw GException::invalid_value(G_SETUP_OBSERVATION, msg);
+        // Throw an exception if the model name does not exist
+        if (!obs.models().contains(name)) {
+            std::string msg = "Model \""+name+"\" not found in model "
+                              "container. Please add a model with that name "
+                              "or check for possible typos.";
+            throw GException::invalid_value(SETUP_MODELS, msg);
         }
 
-    } // endif: there were no observations in the container
-
-    // Setup the response for all CTA observations in the observation
-    // container
-    set_response(obs);
-
-    // Setup boundaries for all CTA observations containing event lists
-    set_obs_bounds(obs);
+    } // endif: mandatory model name existed
 
     // Return
     return;
@@ -1329,6 +1335,104 @@ void ctool::set_obs_bounds(GObservations& obs)
 
 
 /***********************************************************************//**
+ * @brief Get observation container
+ *
+ * @param[in] get_response Indicates whether response information should
+ *                         be loaded (default: true)
+ *
+ * Get an observation container according to the user parameters. The method
+ * supports loading of a individual FITS file or an observation definition
+ * file in XML format. If the input filename is empty, parameters are read
+ * to build a CTA observation from scratch.
+ ***************************************************************************/
+GObservations ctool::get_observations(const bool& get_response)
+{
+    // Initialise empty observation container
+    GObservations obs;
+
+    // Get the filename from the input parameters
+    std::string filename = (*this)["inobs"].filename();
+
+    // If no observation definition file has been specified then read all
+    // parameters that are necessary to create an observation from scratch
+    if ((filename == "NONE") || (gammalib::strip_whitespace(filename) == "")) {
+
+        // Setup a new CTA observation
+        GCTAObservation cta_obs = create_cta_obs();
+
+        // Get response if required
+        if (get_response) {
+
+            // Set response
+            set_obs_response(&cta_obs);
+
+        } // endif: response was required
+
+       // Append observation to container
+       obs.append(cta_obs);
+
+    } // endif: filename was "NONE" or ""
+
+    // ... otherwise we have a file name
+    else {
+
+        // If file is a FITS file then create an empty CTA observation
+        // and load file into observation
+        if (GFilename(filename).is_fits()) {
+
+            // Allocate empty CTA observation
+            GCTAObservation cta_obs;
+
+            // Load data
+            cta_obs.load(filename);
+
+            // Get response if required
+            if (get_response) {
+
+                // Set response
+                set_obs_response(&cta_obs);
+
+            } // endif: response was required
+
+            // Append observation to container
+            obs.append(cta_obs);
+
+            // Signal that no XML file should be used for storage
+            m_use_xml = false;
+
+        }
+
+        // ... otherwise load file into observation container
+        else {
+
+            // Load observations from XML file
+            obs.load(filename);
+
+            // Get response if required
+            if (get_response) {
+
+                // For all observations that have no response, set the response
+                // from the task parameters
+                set_response(obs);
+
+            } // endif: response was required
+
+            // Set observation boundary parameters (emin, emax, rad)
+            set_obs_bounds(obs);
+
+            // Signal that XML file should be used for storage
+            m_use_xml = true;
+
+        } // endelse: file was an XML file
+
+    }
+
+    // Return observation container
+    return obs;
+}
+
+
+/***********************************************************************//**
  * @brief Derives mean pointing from CTA observations
  *
  * @param[in] obs Observation container.
diff --git a/src/support/ctool.hpp b/src/support/ctool.hpp
index 427a24e..3d46fe6 100644
--- a/src/support/ctool.hpp
+++ b/src/support/ctool.hpp
@@ -71,8 +71,12 @@ protected:
     void                  free_members(void);
     const bool&           read_ahead(void) const;
     const GTimeReference& time_reference(void) const;
-    GObservations         get_observations(const bool& get_response = true);
-    void                  setup_observations(GObservations& obs);
+
+    // Protected high-level setup methods
+    void setup_observations(GObservations& obs, const bool& response = true,
+                                                const bool& list = true,
+                                                const bool& cube = true);
+    void setup_models(GObservations& obs, const std::string& name = "");
 
     // Protected methods that create objects from user parameters
     GEbounds        create_ebounds(void);
@@ -100,6 +104,7 @@ protected:
                                     const std::vector<bool>& edisp) const;
     void              set_obs_response(GCTAObservation* obs);
     void              set_obs_bounds(GObservations& obs);
+    GObservations     get_observations(const bool& get_response = true);
     GSkyDir           get_mean_pointing(const GObservations& obs);
     size_t            get_current_rss(void);
     std::string       get_obs_header(const GObservation* obs);
diff --git a/test/test_ctobssim.py b/test/test_ctobssim.py
index fe55cac..8e905c0 100755
--- a/test/test_ctobssim.py
+++ b/test/test_ctobssim.py
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ class Test(test):
                        ' outevents="events.fits"'+ \
                        ' caldb="'+self._caldb+'" irf="'+self._irf+'" '+ \
                        ' ra=83.63 dec=22.01 rad=10.0'+ \
-                       ' tmin=0.0 tmax=1800.0 emin=0.1 emax=100.0'
+                       ' tmin=0.0 tmax=1800.0 emin=0.1 emax=100.0'+ \
+                       ' logfile="ctobssim_cmd1.log" chatter=1'
 
         # Check if execution of wrong command fails
         self.test_assert(self._execute('command_that_does_not_exist') != 0,
@@ -93,7 +94,8 @@ class Test(test):
                        ' outevents="events.fits"'+ \
                        ' caldb="'+self._caldb+'" irf="'+self._irf+'" '+ \
                        ' ra=83.63 dec=22.01 rad=10.0'+ \
-                       ' tmin=0.0 tmax=1800.0 emin=0.1 emax=100.0'
+                       ' tmin=0.0 tmax=1800.0 emin=0.1 emax=100.0'+ \
+                       ' logfile="ctobssim_cmd2.log" chatter=1'
 
         # Check if execution failed
         self.test_assert(self._execute(cmd) != 0,
@@ -120,8 +122,11 @@ class Test(test):
         sim['tmax']      = 1800.0
         sim['emin']      = 0.1
         sim['emax']      = 100.0
+        sim['logfile']   = 'ctobssim_py1.log'
+        sim['chatter']   = 2
 
         # Run tool
+        sim.logFileOpen()
         sim.run()
 
         # Check content of observation
@@ -146,8 +151,11 @@ class Test(test):
         sim = ctools.ctobssim(obs)
         sim['outevents'] = 'sim_events.xml'
         sim['inmodel']   = self._model
+        sim['logfile']   = 'ctobssim_py2.log'
+        sim['chatter']   = 3
 
         # Run tool
+        sim.logFileOpen()
         sim.run()
 
         # Retrieve observation and check content
@@ -182,10 +190,13 @@ class Test(test):
         sim['tmax']      = 1800.0
         sim['emin']      = 0.1
         sim['emax']      = 100.0
+        sim['logfile']   = 'ctobssim_py3.log'
+        sim['chatter']   = 4
 
         # Run ctbin tool
         self.test_try('Run ctobssim with invalid model file')
         try:
+            sim.logFileOpen()
             sim.run()
             self.test_try_failure()
         except: