The multistep direct reaction theory of Feshbach, Kerman and Koonin (FKK) is used with the enhanced non-DWBA matrix elements and with both the coherent vibrations and the incoherent particle--hole excitations, included. Distinction between bound and unbound final particle--hole states is made, since only the former determine genuine one-step cross sections that observe the energy weighted sum rule limits and can be convoluted to obtain the multistep cross sections for emission of one particle. The cross sections to unbound final states describe more complicated direct processes. Only the very specific of such processes can be evaluated in terms of the FKK theory. These novelties are verified in analyses of a representative series of reactions.

PACS numbers: 25.40.Fq, 25.40.Ep, 25.40.Kv, 24.60.Gv