remove warnings of intentionally unreachable code

[wxWidgets.git] / include / wx / string.h

diff --git a/include/wx/string.h b/include/wx/string.h
index 30b903e3226679bc6ff084a6b843fae524b21529..83ca3c62ee4e0a9c1289c503e769c647c2e3e2b7 100644 (file)
--- a/include/wx/string.h
+++ b/include/wx/string.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Name:        wx/string.h
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Name:        wx/string.h

-// Purpose:     wxString and wxArrayString classes
+// Purpose:     wxString class

 // Author:      Vadim Zeitlin
 // Modified by:
 // Created:     29/01/98
 // Author:      Vadim Zeitlin
 // Modified by:
 // Created:     29/01/98


@@ -15,12 +15,8 @@
     missing from string.h.
 */
 
     missing from string.h.
 */
 

-#ifndef _WX_WXSTRINGH__
-#define _WX_WXSTRINGH__
-
-#if defined(__GNUG__) && !defined(NO_GCC_PRAGMA)
-    #pragma interface "string.h"
-#endif
+#ifndef _WX_WXSTRING_H__
+#define _WX_WXSTRING_H__

 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // headers
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // headers


@@ -51,12 +47,26 @@
     #include <strings.h>    // for strcasecmp()
 #endif // HAVE_STRCASECMP_IN_STRINGS_H
 
     #include <strings.h>    // for strcasecmp()
 #endif // HAVE_STRCASECMP_IN_STRINGS_H
 

-#include "wx/wxchar.h"      // for wxChar
+#ifdef __WXPALMOS__
+    #include <StringMgr.h>
+#endif
+
+#include "wx/wxchar.h"      // for wxChar, wxStrlen() etc.
+#include "wx/strvararg.h"

 #include "wx/buffer.h"      // for wxCharBuffer
 #include "wx/strconv.h"     // for wxConvertXXX() macros and wxMBConv classes
 #include "wx/buffer.h"      // for wxCharBuffer
 #include "wx/strconv.h"     // for wxConvertXXX() macros and wxMBConv classes

+#include "wx/stringimpl.h"
+#include "wx/stringops.h"
+#include "wx/unichar.h"

 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString;
 
 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString;
 

+// unless this symbol is predefined to disable the compatibility functions, do
+// use them
+#ifndef WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER
+    #define WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER 1
+#endif
+

 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // macros
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // macros
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


@@ -68,48 +78,39 @@ class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString;
 #define   wxMBSTRINGCAST (char *)(const char *)
 #define   wxWCSTRINGCAST (wchar_t *)(const wchar_t *)
 
 #define   wxMBSTRINGCAST (char *)(const char *)
 #define   wxWCSTRINGCAST (wchar_t *)(const wchar_t *)
 

-// implementation only
-#define   wxASSERT_VALID_INDEX(i) \
-    wxASSERT_MSG( (size_t)(i) <= length(), _T("invalid index in wxString") )
-

 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constants
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constants
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

-#if defined(__VISAGECPP__) && __IBMCPP__ >= 400
-// must define this static for VA or else you get multiply defined symbols everywhere
-extern const unsigned int wxSTRING_MAXLEN;
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_6

 
 

-#else
+// deprecated in favour of wxString::npos, don't use in new code
+//

 // maximum possible length for a string means "take all string" everywhere
 // maximum possible length for a string means "take all string" everywhere

-//  (as sizeof(StringData) is unknown here, we substract 100)
-const unsigned int wxSTRING_MAXLEN = UINT_MAX - 100;
-
-#endif
+#define wxSTRING_MAXLEN wxString::npos

 
 

-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// global data
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-// global pointer to empty string
-extern WXDLLIMPEXP_DATA_BASE(const wxChar*) wxEmptyString;
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_6

 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // global functions complementing standard C string library replacements for
 // strlen() and portable strcasecmp()
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // global functions complementing standard C string library replacements for
 // strlen() and portable strcasecmp()
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

-// Use wxXXX() functions from wxchar.h instead! These functions are for
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_8
+// Use wxXXX() functions from wxcrt.h instead! These functions are for

 // backwards compatibility only.
 
 // checks whether the passed in pointer is NULL and if the string is empty
 // backwards compatibility only.
 
 // checks whether the passed in pointer is NULL and if the string is empty

+wxDEPRECATED( inline bool IsEmpty(const char *p) );

 inline bool IsEmpty(const char *p) { return (!p || !*p); }
 
 // safe version of strlen() (returns 0 if passed NULL pointer)
 inline bool IsEmpty(const char *p) { return (!p || !*p); }
 
 // safe version of strlen() (returns 0 if passed NULL pointer)

+wxDEPRECATED( inline size_t Strlen(const char *psz) );

 inline size_t Strlen(const char *psz)
   { return psz ? strlen(psz) : 0; }
 
 // portable strcasecmp/_stricmp
 inline size_t Strlen(const char *psz)
   { return psz ? strlen(psz) : 0; }
 
 // portable strcasecmp/_stricmp

+wxDEPRECATED( inline int Stricmp(const char *psz1, const char *psz2) );

 inline int Stricmp(const char *psz1, const char *psz2)
 {
 #if defined(__VISUALC__) && defined(__WXWINCE__)
 inline int Stricmp(const char *psz1, const char *psz2)
 {
 #if defined(__VISUALC__) && defined(__WXWINCE__)


@@ -136,7 +137,8 @@ inline int Stricmp(const char *psz1, const char *psz2)
   return stricmp(psz1, psz2);
 #elif defined(__WXPM__)
   return stricmp(psz1, psz2);
   return stricmp(psz1, psz2);
 #elif defined(__WXPM__)
   return stricmp(psz1, psz2);

-#elif defined(HAVE_STRCASECMP_IN_STRING_H) || \
+#elif defined(__WXPALMOS__) || \
+      defined(HAVE_STRCASECMP_IN_STRING_H) || \

       defined(HAVE_STRCASECMP_IN_STRINGS_H) || \
       defined(__GNUWIN32__)
   return strcasecmp(psz1, psz2);
       defined(HAVE_STRCASECMP_IN_STRINGS_H) || \
       defined(__GNUWIN32__)
   return strcasecmp(psz1, psz2);


@@ -166,528 +168,813 @@ inline int Stricmp(const char *psz1, const char *psz2)
 #endif  // OS/compiler
 }
 
 #endif  // OS/compiler
 }
 

-#if wxUSE_STL
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_8

 
 

-#include "wx/beforestd.h"
-#include <string>
-#include "wx/afterstd.h"
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// wxCStrData
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 

-#if wxUSE_UNICODE
-    #ifdef HAVE_STD_WSTRING
-        typedef std::wstring wxStringBase;
-    #else
-        typedef std::basic_string<wxChar> wxStringBase;
-    #endif
-#else
-    typedef std::string wxStringBase;
+// Lightweight object returned by wxString::c_str() and implicitly convertible
+// to either const char* or const wchar_t*.
+class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxCStrData
+{
+private:
+    // Ctors; for internal use by wxString and wxCStrData only
+    wxCStrData(const wxString *str, size_t offset = 0, bool owned = false)
+        : m_str(str), m_offset(offset), m_owned(owned) {}
+
+public:
+    // Ctor constructs the object from char literal; they are needed to make
+    // operator?: compile and they intentionally take char*, not const char*
+    wxCStrData(char *buf);
+    wxCStrData(wchar_t *buf);
+
+    inline ~wxCStrData();
+
+    // methods defined inline below must be declared inline or mingw32 3.4.5
+    // warns about "<symbol> defined locally after being referenced with
+    // dllimport linkage"
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+    inline

 #endif
 #endif

+    const wchar_t* AsWChar() const;
+    operator const wchar_t*() const { return AsWChar(); }

 
 

-#if (defined(__GNUG__) && (__GNUG__ < 3)) || \
-    (defined(_MSC_VER) && (_MSC_VER <= 1200))
-    #define wxSTRING_BASE_HASNT_CLEAR
+#if !wxUSE_UNICODE
+    inline

 #endif
 #endif

+    const char* AsChar() const;
+    const unsigned char* AsUnsignedChar() const
+        { return (const unsigned char *) AsChar(); }
+    operator const char*() const { return AsChar(); }
+    operator const unsigned char*() const { return AsUnsignedChar(); }

 
 

-#else // if !wxUSE_STL
+    operator const void*() const { return AsChar(); }

 
 

-#ifndef HAVE_STD_STRING_COMPARE
-    #define HAVE_STD_STRING_COMPARE
-#endif
+    inline const wxCharBuffer AsCharBuf() const;
+    inline const wxWCharBuffer AsWCharBuf() const;

 
 

-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// string data prepended with some housekeeping info (used by wxString class),
-// is never used directly (but had to be put here to allow inlining)
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    inline wxString AsString() const;

 
 

-struct WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringData
-{
-  int     nRefs;        // reference count
-  size_t  nDataLength,  // actual string length
-          nAllocLength; // allocated memory size
+    // allow expressions like "c_str()[0]":
+    inline wxUniChar operator[](size_t n) const;
+    wxUniChar operator[](int n) const { return operator[](size_t(n)); }
+    wxUniChar operator[](long n) const { return operator[](size_t(n)); }
+#ifndef wxSIZE_T_IS_UINT
+    wxUniChar operator[](unsigned int n) const { return operator[](size_t(n)); }
+#endif // size_t != unsigned int
+
+    // these operators are needed to emulate the pointer semantics of c_str():
+    // expressions like "wxChar *p = str.c_str() + 1;" should continue to work
+    // (we need both versions to resolve ambiguities):
+    wxCStrData operator+(int n) const
+        { return wxCStrData(m_str, m_offset + n, m_owned); }
+    wxCStrData operator+(long n) const
+        { return wxCStrData(m_str, m_offset + n, m_owned); }
+    wxCStrData operator+(size_t n) const
+        { return wxCStrData(m_str, m_offset + n, m_owned); }
+
+    // and these for "str.c_str() + n - 2":
+    wxCStrData operator-(int n) const
+    {
+        wxASSERT_MSG( n <= (int)m_offset,
+                      _T("attempt to construct address before the beginning of the string") );
+        return wxCStrData(m_str, m_offset - n, m_owned);
+    }
+    wxCStrData operator-(long n) const
+    {
+        wxASSERT_MSG( n <= (int)m_offset,
+                      _T("attempt to construct address before the beginning of the string") );
+        return wxCStrData(m_str, m_offset - n, m_owned);
+    }
+    wxCStrData operator-(size_t n) const
+    {
+        wxASSERT_MSG( n <= m_offset,
+                      _T("attempt to construct address before the beginning of the string") );
+        return wxCStrData(m_str, m_offset - n, m_owned);
+    }

 
 

-  // mimics declaration 'wxChar data[nAllocLength]'
-  wxChar* data() const { return (wxChar*)(this + 1); }
+    // this operator is needed to make expressions like "*c_str()" or
+    // "*(c_str() + 2)" work
+    inline wxUniChar operator*() const;

 
 

-  // empty string has a special ref count so it's never deleted
-  bool  IsEmpty()   const { return (nRefs == -1); }
-  bool  IsShared()  const { return (nRefs > 1);   }
+private:
+    const wxString *m_str;
+    size_t m_offset;
+    bool m_owned;

 
 

-  // lock/unlock
-  void  Lock()   { if ( !IsEmpty() ) nRefs++;                    }
+    friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString;
+};

 
 

-  // VC++ will refuse to inline Unlock but profiling shows that it is wrong
-#if defined(__VISUALC__) && (__VISUALC__ >= 1200)
-  __forceinline
-#endif
-  // VC++ free must take place in same DLL as allocation when using non dll
-  // run-time library (e.g. Multithreaded instead of Multithreaded DLL)
-#if defined(__VISUALC__) && defined(_MT) && !defined(_DLL)
-  void  Unlock() { if ( !IsEmpty() && --nRefs == 0) Free();  }
-  // we must not inline deallocation since allocation is not inlined
-  void  Free();
-#else
-  void  Unlock() { if ( !IsEmpty() && --nRefs == 0) free(this);  }
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// wxStringPrintfMixin
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// NB: VC6 has a bug that causes linker errors if you have template methods
+//     in a class using __declspec(dllimport). The solution is to split such
+//     class into two classes, one that contains the template methods and does
+//     *not* use WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE and another class that contains the rest
+//     (with DLL linkage).
+//
+//     We only do this for VC6 here, because the code is less efficient
+//     (Printf() has to use dynamic_cast<>) and because OpenWatcom compiler
+//     cannot compile this code.
+
+#if defined(__VISUALC__) && __VISUALC__ < 1300
+    #define wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN

 #endif
 
 #endif
 

-  // if we had taken control over string memory (GetWriteBuf), it's
-  // intentionally put in invalid state
-  void  Validate(bool b)  { nRefs = (b ? 1 : 0); }
-  bool  IsValid() const   { return (nRefs != 0); }
+#ifdef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+// this class contains implementation of wxString's vararg methods, it's
+// exported from wxBase DLL
+class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringPrintfMixinBase
+{
+protected:
+    wxStringPrintfMixinBase() {}
+
+    int DoPrintf(const wxChar *format, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_2;
+    static wxString DoFormat(const wxChar *format, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_1;

 };
 
 };
 

-class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBase
+// this class contains template wrappers for wxString's vararg methods, it's
+// intentionally *not* exported from the DLL in order to fix the VC6 bug
+// described above
+class wxStringPrintfMixin : public wxStringPrintfMixinBase

 {
 {

-#if !wxUSE_STL
-friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxArrayString;
+private:
+    // to further complicate things, we can't return wxString from
+    // wxStringPrintfMixin::Format() because wxString is not yet declared at
+    // this point; the solution is to use this fake type trait template - this
+    // way the compiler won't know the return type until Format() is used
+    // (this doesn't compile with Watcom, but VC6 compiles it just fine):
+    template<typename T> struct StringReturnType
+    {
+        typedef wxString type;
+    };
+
+public:
+    // these are duplicated wxString methods, they're also declared below
+    // if !wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN:
+
+    // int Printf(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...);
+    WX_DEFINE_VARARG_FUNC(int, Printf, DoPrintf)
+    // static wxString Format(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_1;
+    WX_DEFINE_VARARG_FUNC(static typename StringReturnType<T1>::type,
+                          Format, DoFormat)
+    // int sprintf(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_2;
+    WX_DEFINE_VARARG_FUNC(int, sprintf, DoPrintf)
+
+protected:
+    wxStringPrintfMixin() : wxStringPrintfMixinBase() {}
+};
+#endif // wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// wxString: string class trying to be compatible with std::string, MFC
+//           CString and wxWindows 1.x wxString all at once
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#ifdef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+    // "non dll-interface class 'wxStringPrintfMixin' used as base interface
+    // for dll-interface class 'wxString'" -- this is OK in our case
+    #pragma warning (disable:4275)
+#endif
+
+class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString
+#ifdef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+                                : public wxStringPrintfMixin

 #endif
 #endif

-public :
+{
+  // NB: special care was taken in arranging the member functions in such order
+  //     that all inline functions can be effectively inlined, verify that all
+  //     performance critical functions are still inlined if you change order!
+public:

   // an 'invalid' value for string index, moved to this place due to a CW bug
   static const size_t npos;
   // an 'invalid' value for string index, moved to this place due to a CW bug
   static const size_t npos;

-protected:
-  // points to data preceded by wxStringData structure with ref count info
-  wxChar *m_pchData;
-
-  // accessor to string data
-  wxStringData* GetStringData() const { return (wxStringData*)m_pchData - 1; }
-
-  // string (re)initialization functions
-    // initializes the string to the empty value (must be called only from
-    // ctors, use Reinit() otherwise)
-  void Init() { m_pchData = (wxChar *)wxEmptyString; }
-    // initializaes the string with (a part of) C-string
-  void InitWith(const wxChar *psz, size_t nPos = 0, size_t nLen = npos);
-    // as Init, but also frees old data
-  void Reinit() { GetStringData()->Unlock(); Init(); }
-
-  // memory allocation
-    // allocates memory for string of length nLen
-  bool AllocBuffer(size_t nLen);
-    // copies data to another string
-  bool AllocCopy(wxString&, int, int) const;
-    // effectively copies data to string
-  bool AssignCopy(size_t, const wxChar *);
-
-  // append a (sub)string
-  bool ConcatSelf(size_t nLen, const wxChar *src, size_t nMaxLen);
-  bool ConcatSelf(size_t nLen, const wxChar *src)
-    { return ConcatSelf(nLen, src, nLen); }
-
-  // functions called before writing to the string: they copy it if there
-  // are other references to our data (should be the only owner when writing)
-  bool CopyBeforeWrite();
-  bool AllocBeforeWrite(size_t);
-
-    // compatibility with wxString
-  bool Alloc(size_t nLen);
-public:
-  // standard types
-  typedef wxChar value_type;
-  typedef wxChar char_type;
-  typedef size_t size_type;
-  typedef value_type& reference;
-  typedef const value_type& const_reference;
-  typedef value_type* pointer;
-  typedef const value_type* const_pointer;
-  typedef value_type *iterator;
-  typedef const value_type *const_iterator;

 
 

-  // constructors and destructor
-    // ctor for an empty string
-  wxStringBase() { Init(); }
-    // copy ctor
-  wxStringBase(const wxStringBase& stringSrc)
-  {
-    wxASSERT_MSG( stringSrc.GetStringData()->IsValid(),
-                  _T("did you forget to call UngetWriteBuf()?") );
+private:
+  // if we hadn't made these operators private, it would be possible to
+  // compile "wxString s; s = 17;" without any warnings as 17 is implicitly
+  // converted to char in C and we do have operator=(char)
+  //
+  // NB: we don't need other versions (short/long and unsigned) as attempt
+  //     to assign another numeric type to wxString will now result in
+  //     ambiguity between operator=(char) and operator=(int)
+  wxString& operator=(int);
+
+  // these methods are not implemented - there is _no_ conversion from int to
+  // string, you're doing something wrong if the compiler wants to call it!
+  //
+  // try `s << i' or `s.Printf("%d", i)' instead
+  wxString(int);

 
 

-    if ( stringSrc.empty() ) {
-      // nothing to do for an empty string
-      Init();
-    }
-    else {
-      m_pchData = stringSrc.m_pchData;            // share same data
-      GetStringData()->Lock();                    // => one more copy
-    }
-  }
-    // string containing nRepeat copies of ch
-  wxStringBase(size_type nRepeat, wxChar ch);
-    // ctor takes first nLength characters from C string
-    // (default value of npos means take all the string)
-  wxStringBase(const wxChar *psz)
-      { InitWith(psz, 0, npos); }
-  wxStringBase(const wxChar *psz, size_t nLength)
-      { InitWith(psz, 0, nLength); }
-  wxStringBase(const wxChar *psz, wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv), size_t nLength = npos)
-      { InitWith(psz, 0, nLength); }
-    // take nLen chars starting at nPos
-  wxStringBase(const wxStringBase& str, size_t nPos, size_t nLen)
-  {
-    wxASSERT_MSG( str.GetStringData()->IsValid(),
-                  _T("did you forget to call UngetWriteBuf()?") );
-    Init();
-    size_t strLen = str.length() - nPos; nLen = strLen < nLen ? strLen : nLen;
-    InitWith(str.c_str(), nPos, nLen);
-  }
-    // take all characters from pStart to pEnd
-  wxStringBase(const void *pStart, const void *pEnd);

 
 

-    // dtor is not virtual, this class must not be inherited from!
-  ~wxStringBase()
+  // buffer for holding temporary substring when using any of the methods
+  // that take (char*,size_t) or (wchar_t*,size_t) arguments:
+  template<typename T>
+  struct SubstrBufFromType

   {
   {

-#if defined(__VISUALC__) && (__VISUALC__ >= 1200)
-      //RN - according to the above VC++ does indeed inline this,
-      //even though it spits out two warnings
-      #pragma warning (disable:4714)
+      T data;
+      size_t len;
+
+      SubstrBufFromType(const T& data_, size_t len_)
+          : data(data_), len(len_) {}
+  };
+
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+  // even char* -> char* needs conversion, from locale charset to UTF-8
+  typedef SubstrBufFromType<wxCharBuffer>    SubstrBufFromWC;
+  typedef SubstrBufFromType<wxCharBuffer>    SubstrBufFromMB;
+#elif wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+  typedef SubstrBufFromType<const wchar_t*>  SubstrBufFromWC;
+  typedef SubstrBufFromType<wxWCharBuffer>   SubstrBufFromMB;
+#else
+  typedef SubstrBufFromType<const char*>     SubstrBufFromMB;
+  typedef SubstrBufFromType<wxCharBuffer>    SubstrBufFromWC;

 #endif
 
 #endif
 

-      GetStringData()->Unlock();
-  }

 
 

-#if defined(__VISUALC__) && (__VISUALC__ >= 1200)
-    //re-enable inlining warning
-    #pragma warning (default:4714)
+  // Functions implementing primitive operations on string data; wxString
+  // methods and iterators are implemented in terms of it. The differences
+  // between UTF-8 and wchar_t* representations of the string are mostly
+  // contained here.
+
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+  static SubstrBufFromMB ConvertStr(const char *psz, size_t nLength,
+                                    const wxMBConv& conv);
+  static SubstrBufFromWC ConvertStr(const wchar_t *pwz, size_t nLength,
+                                    const wxMBConv& conv);
+#elif wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+  static SubstrBufFromMB ConvertStr(const char *psz, size_t nLength,
+                                    const wxMBConv& conv);
+#else
+  static SubstrBufFromWC ConvertStr(const wchar_t *pwz, size_t nLength,
+                                    const wxMBConv& conv);

 #endif
 #endif

-  // overloaded assignment
-    // from another wxString
-  wxStringBase& operator=(const wxStringBase& stringSrc);
-    // from a character
-  wxStringBase& operator=(wxChar ch);
-    // from a C string
-  wxStringBase& operator=(const wxChar *psz);
-
-    // return the length of the string
-  size_type size() const { return GetStringData()->nDataLength; }
-    // return the length of the string
-  size_type length() const { return size(); }
-    // return the maximum size of the string
-  size_type max_size() const { return wxSTRING_MAXLEN; }
-    // resize the string, filling the space with c if c != 0
-  void resize(size_t nSize, wxChar ch = wxT('\0'));
-    // delete the contents of the string
-  void clear() { erase(0, npos); }
-    // returns true if the string is empty
-  bool empty() const { return size() == 0; }
-    // inform string about planned change in size
-  void reserve(size_t sz) { Alloc(sz); }
-  size_type capacity() const { return GetStringData()->nAllocLength; }
-
-  // lib.string.access
-    // return the character at position n
-  value_type at(size_type n) const
-    { wxASSERT_VALID_INDEX( n ); return m_pchData[n]; }
-  value_type operator[](size_type n) const { return at(n); }
-    // returns the writable character at position n
-  reference at(size_type n)
-    { wxASSERT_VALID_INDEX( n ); CopyBeforeWrite(); return m_pchData[n]; }
-  reference operator[](size_type n)
-    { wxASSERT_VALID_INDEX( n ); CopyBeforeWrite(); return m_pchData[n]; }

 
 

-  // lib.string.modifiers
-    // append elements str[pos], ..., str[pos+n]
-  wxStringBase& append(const wxStringBase& str, size_t pos, size_t n)
+#if !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8 // wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR or !wxUSE_UNICODE
+  // returns C string encoded as the implementation expects:
+  #if wxUSE_UNICODE
+  static const wchar_t* ImplStr(const wchar_t* str)
+    { return str ? str : wxT(""); }
+  static const SubstrBufFromWC ImplStr(const wchar_t* str, size_t n)
+    { return SubstrBufFromWC(str, (str && n == npos) ? wxWcslen(str) : n); }
+  static wxWCharBuffer ImplStr(const char* str,
+                               const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, npos, conv).data; }
+  static SubstrBufFromMB ImplStr(const char* str, size_t n,
+                                 const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, n, conv); }
+  #else
+  static const char* ImplStr(const char* str,
+                             const wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv) = wxConvLibc)
+    { return str ? str : ""; }
+  static const SubstrBufFromMB ImplStr(const char* str, size_t n,
+                                       const wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv) = wxConvLibc)
+    { return SubstrBufFromMB(str, (str && n == npos) ? wxStrlen(str) : n); }
+  static wxCharBuffer ImplStr(const wchar_t* str)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, npos, wxConvLibc).data; }
+  static SubstrBufFromWC ImplStr(const wchar_t* str, size_t n)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, n, wxConvLibc); }
+  #endif
+
+  // translates position index in wxString to/from index in underlying
+  // wxStringImpl:
+  static size_t PosToImpl(size_t pos) { return pos; }
+  static void PosLenToImpl(size_t pos, size_t len,
+                           size_t *implPos, size_t *implLen)
+    { *implPos = pos; *implLen = len; }
+  static size_t LenToImpl(size_t len) { return len; }
+  static size_t PosFromImpl(size_t pos) { return pos; }
+
+#else // wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+
+  // FIXME-UTF8: return as-is without copying under UTF8 locale, return
+  //             converted string under other locales - needs wxCharBuffer
+  //             changes
+  static wxCharBuffer ImplStr(const char* str,
+                              const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, npos, conv).data; }
+  static SubstrBufFromMB ImplStr(const char* str, size_t n,
+                                 const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, n, conv); }
+
+  static wxCharBuffer ImplStr(const wchar_t* str)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, npos, wxConvUTF8).data; }
+  static SubstrBufFromWC ImplStr(const wchar_t* str, size_t n)
+    { return ConvertStr(str, n, wxConvUTF8); }
+
+  size_t PosToImpl(size_t pos) const

   {
   {

-    wxASSERT(pos <= str.length());
-    ConcatSelf(n, str.c_str() + pos, str.length() - pos);
-    return *this;
+      if ( pos == 0 || pos == npos )
+          return pos;
+      else
+          return (begin() + pos).impl() - m_impl.begin();

   }
   }

-    // append a string
-  wxStringBase& append(const wxStringBase& str)
-    { ConcatSelf(str.length(), str.c_str()); return *this; }
-    // append first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz
-  wxStringBase& append(const wxChar *sz)
-    { ConcatSelf(wxStrlen(sz), sz); return *this; }
-  wxStringBase& append(const wxChar *sz, size_t n)
-    { ConcatSelf(n, sz); return *this; }
-    // append n copies of ch
-  wxStringBase& append(size_t n, wxChar ch);
-    // append from first to last
-  wxStringBase& append(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
-    { ConcatSelf(last - first, first); return *this; }
-
-    // same as `this_string = str'
-  wxStringBase& assign(const wxStringBase& str)
-    { return *this = str; }
-    // same as ` = str[pos..pos + n]
-  wxStringBase& assign(const wxStringBase& str, size_t pos, size_t n)
-    { clear(); return append(str, pos, n); }
-    // same as `= first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz'
-  wxStringBase& assign(const wxChar *sz)
-    { clear(); return append(sz, wxStrlen(sz)); }
-  wxStringBase& assign(const wxChar *sz, size_t n)
-    { clear(); return append(sz, n); }
-    // same as `= n copies of ch'
-  wxStringBase& assign(size_t n, wxChar ch)
-    { clear(); return append(n, ch); }
-    // assign from first to last
-  wxStringBase& assign(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
-    { clear(); return append(first, last); }

 
 

-    // first valid index position
-  const_iterator begin() const { return m_pchData; }
-    // position one after the last valid one
-  const_iterator end() const { return m_pchData + length(); }
+  void PosLenToImpl(size_t pos, size_t len, size_t *implPos, size_t *implLen) const;

 
 

-  // first valid index position
-  iterator begin();
-  // position one after the last valid one
-  iterator end();
-
-    // insert another string
-  wxStringBase& insert(size_t nPos, const wxStringBase& str)
+  size_t LenToImpl(size_t len) const

   {
   {

-    wxASSERT( str.GetStringData()->IsValid() );
-    return insert(nPos, str.c_str(), str.length());
+      size_t pos, len2;
+      PosLenToImpl(0, len, &pos, &len2);
+      return len2;

   }
   }

-    // insert n chars of str starting at nStart (in str)
-  wxStringBase& insert(size_t nPos, const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart, size_t n)
-  {
-    wxASSERT( str.GetStringData()->IsValid() );
-    wxASSERT( nStart < str.length() );
-    size_t strLen = str.length() - nStart;
-    n = strLen < n ? strLen : n;
-    return insert(nPos, str.c_str() + nStart, n);
-  }
-    // insert first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz
-  wxStringBase& insert(size_t nPos, const wxChar *sz, size_t n = npos);
-    // insert n copies of ch
-  wxStringBase& insert(size_t nPos, size_t n, wxChar ch)
-    { return insert(nPos, wxStringBase(n, ch)); }
-  iterator insert(iterator it, wxChar ch)
-    { size_t idx = it - begin(); insert(idx, 1, ch); return begin() + idx; }
-  void insert(iterator it, const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
-    { insert(it - begin(), first, last - first); }
-  void insert(iterator it, size_type n, wxChar ch)
-    { insert(it - begin(), n, ch); }

 
 

-    // delete characters from nStart to nStart + nLen
-  wxStringBase& erase(size_type pos = 0, size_type n = npos);
-  iterator erase(iterator first, iterator last)
+  size_t PosFromImpl(size_t pos) const

   {
   {

-    size_t idx = first - begin();
-    erase(idx, last - first);
-    return begin() + idx;
+      if ( pos == 0 || pos == npos )
+          return pos;
+      else
+          return const_iterator(m_impl.begin() + pos) - begin();

   }
   }

-  iterator erase(iterator first);
-
-  // explicit conversion to C string (use this with printf()!)
-  const wxChar* c_str() const { return m_pchData; }
-  const wxChar* data() const { return m_pchData; }
-
-    // replaces the substring of length nLen starting at nStart
-  wxStringBase& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxChar* sz);
-    // replaces the substring of length nLen starting at nStart
-  wxStringBase& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxStringBase& str)
-    { return replace(nStart, nLen, str.c_str()); }
-    // replaces the substring with nCount copies of ch
-  wxStringBase& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, size_t nCount, wxChar ch);
-    // replaces a substring with another substring
-  wxStringBase& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
-                        const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart2, size_t nLen2);
-    // replaces the substring with first nCount chars of sz
-  wxStringBase& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
-                        const wxChar* sz, size_t nCount);
-  wxStringBase& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const_pointer s)
-    { return replace(first - begin(), last - first, s); }
-  wxStringBase& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const_pointer s,
-                        size_type n)
-    { return replace(first - begin(), last - first, s, n); }
-  wxStringBase& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const wxStringBase& s)
-    { return replace(first - begin(), last - first, s); }
-  wxStringBase& replace(iterator first, iterator last, size_type n, wxChar c)
-    { return replace(first - begin(), last - first, n, c); }
-  wxStringBase& replace(iterator first, iterator last,
-                        const_iterator first1, const_iterator last1)
-    { return replace(first - begin(), last - first, first1, last1 - first1); }
-
-    // swap two strings
-  void swap(wxStringBase& str);
-
-    // All find() functions take the nStart argument which specifies the
-    // position to start the search on, the default value is 0. All functions
-    // return npos if there were no match.
-
-    // find a substring
-  size_t find(const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+#endif // !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8/wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8

 
 

-  // VC++ 1.5 can't cope with this syntax.
-#if !defined(__VISUALC__) || defined(__WIN32__)
-    // find first n characters of sz
-  size_t find(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart = 0, size_t n = npos) const;
-#endif // VC++ 1.5
+public:
+  // standard types
+  typedef wxUniChar value_type;
+  typedef wxUniChar char_type;
+  typedef wxUniCharRef reference;
+  typedef wxChar* pointer;
+  typedef const wxChar* const_pointer;

 
 

-    // find the first occurence of character ch after nStart
-  size_t find(wxChar ch, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+  typedef size_t size_type;
+  typedef wxUniChar const_reference;

 
 

-    // rfind() family is exactly like find() but works right to left
+#if wxUSE_STL
+  #if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    // random access is not O(1), as required by Random Access Iterator
+    #define WX_STR_ITERATOR_TAG std::bidirectional_iterator_tag
+  #else
+    #define WX_STR_ITERATOR_TAG std::random_access_iterator_tag
+  #endif
+#else
+  #define WX_STR_ITERATOR_TAG void /* dummy type */
+#endif

 
 

-    // as find, but from the end
-  size_t rfind(const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+  #define WX_STR_ITERATOR_IMPL(iterator_name, pointer_type,                 \
+                               reference_type, reference_ctor)              \
+      private:                                                              \
+          typedef wxStringImpl::iterator_name underlying_iterator;          \
+      public:                                                               \
+          typedef WX_STR_ITERATOR_TAG iterator_category;                    \
+          typedef wxUniChar value_type;                                     \
+          typedef int difference_type;                                      \
+          typedef reference_type reference;                                 \
+          typedef pointer_type pointer;                                     \
+                                                                            \
+          reference operator*() const { return reference_ctor; }            \
+          reference operator[](size_t n) const { return *(*this + n); }     \
+                                                                            \
+          iterator_name& operator++()                                       \
+            { wxStringOperations::IncIter(m_cur); return *this; }           \
+          iterator_name& operator--()                                       \
+            { wxStringOperations::DecIter(m_cur); return *this; }           \
+          iterator_name operator++(int)                                     \
+          {                                                                 \
+              iterator_name tmp = *this;                                    \
+              wxStringOperations::IncIter(m_cur);                           \
+              return tmp;                                                   \
+          }                                                                 \
+          iterator_name operator--(int)                                     \
+          {                                                                 \
+              iterator_name tmp = *this;                                    \
+              wxStringOperations::DecIter(m_cur);                           \
+              return tmp;                                                   \
+          }                                                                 \
+                                                                            \
+          iterator_name& operator+=(int n)                                  \
+          {                                                                 \
+              m_cur = wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, n);              \
+              return *this;                                                 \
+          }                                                                 \
+          iterator_name& operator+=(size_t n)                               \
+          {                                                                 \
+              m_cur = wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, (int)n);         \
+              return *this;                                                 \
+          }                                                                 \
+          iterator_name& operator-=(int n)                                  \
+          {                                                                 \
+              m_cur = wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -n);             \
+              return *this;                                                 \
+          }                                                                 \
+          iterator_name& operator-=(size_t n)                               \
+          {                                                                 \
+              m_cur = wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -(int)n);        \
+              return *this;                                                 \
+          }                                                                 \
+                                                                            \
+          difference_type operator-(const iterator_name& i) const           \
+            { return wxStringOperations::DiffIters(m_cur, i.m_cur); }       \
+                                                                            \
+          bool operator==(const iterator_name& i) const                     \
+            { return m_cur == i.m_cur; }                                    \
+          bool operator!=(const iterator_name& i) const                     \
+            { return m_cur != i.m_cur; }                                    \
+                                                                            \
+          bool operator<(const iterator_name& i) const                      \
+            { return m_cur < i.m_cur; }                                     \
+          bool operator>(const iterator_name& i) const                      \
+            { return m_cur > i.m_cur; }                                     \
+          bool operator<=(const iterator_name& i) const                     \
+            { return m_cur <= i.m_cur; }                                    \
+          bool operator>=(const iterator_name& i) const                     \
+            { return m_cur >= i.m_cur; }                                    \
+                                                                            \
+      private:                                                              \
+          /* for internal wxString use only: */                             \
+          underlying_iterator impl() const { return m_cur; }                \
+                                                                            \
+          friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString;                           \
+          friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxCStrData;                         \
+                                                                            \
+      private:                                                              \
+          underlying_iterator m_cur
+
+  class const_iterator;
+
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+  class iterator
+  {
+      // NB: In UTF-8 build, (non-const) iterator needs to keep reference
+      //     to the underlying wxStringImpl, because UTF-8 is variable-length
+      //     encoding and changing the value pointer to by an iterator using
+      //     its operator* requires calling wxStringImpl::replace() if the old
+      //     and new values differ in their encoding's length.

 
 

-  // VC++ 1.5 can't cope with this syntax.
-    // as find, but from the end
-  size_t rfind(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart = npos,
-               size_t n = npos) const;
-    // as find, but from the end
-  size_t rfind(wxChar ch, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+      WX_STR_ITERATOR_IMPL(iterator, wxChar*, wxUniCharRef,
+                           wxUniCharRef::CreateForString(m_str, m_cur));

 
 

-    // find first/last occurence of any character in the set
+  public:
+      iterator(const iterator& i) : m_cur(i.m_cur), m_str(i.m_str) {}

 
 

-    // as strpbrk() but starts at nStart, returns npos if not found
-  size_t find_first_of(const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
-    { return find_first_of(str.c_str(), nStart); }
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_first_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const;
-  size_t find_first_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
-    // same as find(char, size_t)
-  size_t find_first_of(wxChar c, size_t nStart = 0) const
-    { return find(c, nStart); }
-    // find the last (starting from nStart) char from str in this string
-  size_t find_last_of (const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
-    { return find_last_of(str.c_str(), nStart); }
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_last_of (const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const;
-  size_t find_last_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_last_of(wxChar c, size_t nStart = npos) const
-    { return rfind(c, nStart); }
+      iterator operator+(int n) const
+        { return iterator(m_str, wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, n)); }
+      iterator operator+(size_t n) const
+        { return iterator(m_str, wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, (int)n)); }
+      iterator operator-(int n) const
+        { return iterator(m_str, wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -n)); }
+      iterator operator-(size_t n) const
+        { return iterator(m_str, wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -(int)n)); }

 
 

-    // find first/last occurence of any character not in the set
+  private:
+      iterator(wxString *str, underlying_iterator ptr)
+          : m_cur(ptr), m_str(str->m_impl) {}
+      iterator(wxStringImpl& str, underlying_iterator ptr)
+          : m_cur(ptr), m_str(str) {}

 
 

-    // as strspn() (starting from nStart), returns npos on failure
-  size_t find_first_not_of(const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
-    { return find_first_not_of(str.c_str(), nStart); }
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_first_not_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const;
-  size_t find_first_not_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_first_not_of(wxChar ch, size_t nStart = 0) const;
-    //  as strcspn()
-  size_t find_last_not_of(const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
-    { return find_last_not_of(str.c_str(), nStart); }
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_last_not_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const;
-  size_t find_last_not_of(const wxChar* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
-    // same as above
-  size_t find_last_not_of(wxChar ch, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+      wxStringImpl& m_str;

 
 

-    // All compare functions return -1, 0 or 1 if the [sub]string is less,
-    // equal or greater than the compare() argument.
+      friend class const_iterator;
+  };

 
 

-    // comparison with another string
-  int compare(const wxStringBase& str) const;
-    // comparison with a substring
-  int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxStringBase& str) const;
-    // comparison of 2 substrings
-  int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
-              const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart2, size_t nLen2) const;
-    // comparison with a c string
-  int compare(const wxChar* sz) const;
-    // substring comparison with first nCount characters of sz
-  int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
-              const wxChar* sz, size_t nCount = npos) const;
+  size_t IterToImplPos(wxString::iterator i) const
+    { return wxStringImpl::const_iterator(i.impl()) - m_impl.begin(); }

 
 

-  size_type copy(wxChar* s, size_type n, size_type pos = 0);
+#else // !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8

 
 

-  // substring extraction
-  wxStringBase substr(size_t nStart = 0, size_t nLen = npos) const;
+  class iterator
+  {
+      WX_STR_ITERATOR_IMPL(iterator, wxChar*, wxUniCharRef,
+                           wxUniCharRef::CreateForString(m_cur));
+
+  public:
+      iterator(const iterator& i) : m_cur(i.m_cur) {}
+
+      iterator operator+(int n) const
+        { return iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, n)); }
+      iterator operator+(size_t n) const
+        { return iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, (int)n)); }
+      iterator operator-(int n) const
+        { return iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -n)); }
+      iterator operator-(size_t n) const
+        { return iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -(int)n)); }
+
+  private:
+      // for internal wxString use only:
+      iterator(underlying_iterator ptr) : m_cur(ptr) {}
+      iterator(wxString *WXUNUSED(str), underlying_iterator ptr) : m_cur(ptr) {}
+
+      friend class const_iterator;
+  };
+#endif // wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8/!wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+
+  class const_iterator
+  {
+      // NB: reference_type is intentionally value, not reference, the character
+      //     may be encoded differently in wxString data:
+      WX_STR_ITERATOR_IMPL(const_iterator, const wxChar*, wxUniChar,
+                           wxStringOperations::DecodeChar(m_cur));
+
+  public:
+      const_iterator(const const_iterator& i) : m_cur(i.m_cur) {}
+      const_iterator(const iterator& i) : m_cur(i.m_cur) {}
+
+      const_iterator operator+(int n) const
+        { return const_iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, n)); }
+      const_iterator operator+(size_t n) const
+        { return const_iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, (int)n)); }
+      const_iterator operator-(int n) const
+        { return const_iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -n)); }
+      const_iterator operator-(size_t n) const
+        { return const_iterator(wxStringOperations::AddToIter(m_cur, -(int)n)); }
+
+  private:
+      // for internal wxString use only:
+      const_iterator(underlying_iterator ptr) : m_cur(ptr) {}
+  };
+
+  #undef WX_STR_ITERATOR_TAG
+  #undef WX_STR_ITERATOR_IMPL
+
+  friend class iterator;
+  friend class const_iterator;
+
+  template <typename T>
+  class reverse_iterator_impl
+  {
+  public:
+      typedef T iterator_type;
+
+      typedef typename T::iterator_category iterator_category;
+      typedef typename T::value_type value_type;
+      typedef typename T::difference_type difference_type;
+      typedef typename T::reference reference;
+      typedef typename T::pointer *pointer;
+
+      reverse_iterator_impl(iterator_type i) : m_cur(i) {}
+      reverse_iterator_impl(const reverse_iterator_impl& ri)
+          : m_cur(ri.m_cur) {}
+
+      iterator_type base() const { return m_cur; }
+
+      reference operator*() const { return *(m_cur-1); }
+      reference operator[](size_t n) const { return *(*this + n); }
+
+      reverse_iterator_impl& operator++()
+        { --m_cur; return *this; }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator++(int)
+        { reverse_iterator_impl tmp = *this; --m_cur; return tmp; }
+      reverse_iterator_impl& operator--()
+        { ++m_cur; return *this; }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator--(int)
+        { reverse_iterator_impl tmp = *this; ++m_cur; return tmp; }
+
+      // NB: explicit <T> in the functions below is to keep BCC 5.5 happy
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator+(int n) const
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur - n); }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator+(size_t n) const
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur - n); }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator-(int n) const
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur + n); }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator-(size_t n) const
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur + n); }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator+=(int n)
+        { m_cur -= n; return *this; }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator+=(size_t n)
+        { m_cur -= n; return *this; }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator-=(int n)
+        { m_cur += n; return *this; }
+      reverse_iterator_impl operator-=(size_t n)
+        { m_cur += n; return *this; }
+
+      unsigned operator-(const reverse_iterator_impl& i) const
+        { return i.m_cur - m_cur; }
+
+      bool operator==(const reverse_iterator_impl& ri) const
+        { return m_cur == ri.m_cur; }
+      bool operator!=(const reverse_iterator_impl& ri) const
+        { return !(*this == ri); }
+
+      bool operator<(const reverse_iterator_impl& i) const
+        { return m_cur > i.m_cur; }
+      bool operator>(const reverse_iterator_impl& i) const
+        { return m_cur < i.m_cur; }
+      bool operator<=(const reverse_iterator_impl& i) const
+        { return m_cur >= i.m_cur; }
+      bool operator>=(const reverse_iterator_impl& i) const
+        { return m_cur <= i.m_cur; }
+
+  private:
+      iterator_type m_cur;
+  };
+
+  typedef reverse_iterator_impl<iterator> reverse_iterator;
+  typedef reverse_iterator_impl<const_iterator> const_reverse_iterator;

 
 

-      // string += string
-  wxStringBase& operator+=(const wxStringBase& s) { return append(s); }
-      // string += C string
-  wxStringBase& operator+=(const wxChar *psz) { return append(psz); }
-      // string += char
-  wxStringBase& operator+=(wxChar ch) { return append(1, ch); }
-};
+private:
+  // used to transform an expression built using c_str() (and hence of type
+  // wxCStrData) to an iterator into the string
+  static const_iterator CreateConstIterator(const wxCStrData& data)
+  {
+      return const_iterator(data.m_str->begin() + data.m_offset);
+  }

 
 

-#endif // !wxUSE_STL
+  // in UTF-8 STL build, creation from std::string requires conversion under
+  // non-UTF8 locales, so we can't have and use wxString(wxStringImpl) ctor;
+  // instead we define dummy type that lets us have wxString ctor for creation
+  // from wxStringImpl that couldn't be used by user code (in all other builds,
+  // "standard" ctors can be used):
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8 && wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING
+  struct CtorFromStringImplTag {};

 
 

-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// This is (yet another one) String class for C++ programmers. It doesn't use
-// any of "advanced" C++ features (i.e. templates, exceptions, namespaces...)
-// thus you should be able to compile it with practicaly any C++ compiler.
-// This class uses copy-on-write technique, i.e. identical strings share the
-// same memory as long as neither of them is changed.
-//
-// This class aims to be as compatible as possible with the new standard
-// std::string class, but adds some additional functions and should be at
-// least as efficient than the standard implementation.
-//
-// Performance note: it's more efficient to write functions which take "const
-// String&" arguments than "const char *" if you assign the argument to
-// another string.
-//
-// It was compiled and tested under Win32, Linux (libc 5 & 6), Solaris 5.5.
-//
-// To do:
-//  - ressource support (string tables in ressources)
-//  - more wide character (UNICODE) support
-//  - regular expressions support
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  wxString(CtorFromStringImplTag* WXUNUSED(dummy), const wxStringImpl& src)
+      : m_impl(src) {}

 
 

-class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString : public wxStringBase
-{
-#if !wxUSE_STL
-friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxArrayString;
+  static wxString FromImpl(const wxStringImpl& src)
+      { return wxString((CtorFromStringImplTag*)NULL, src); }
+#else
+  #if !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING
+  wxString(const wxStringImpl& src) : m_impl(src) { }
+  // else: already defined as wxString(wxStdString) below
+  #endif
+  static wxString FromImpl(const wxStringImpl& src) { return wxString(src); }

 #endif
 
 #endif
 

-  // NB: special care was taken in arranging the member functions in such order
-  //     that all inline functions can be effectively inlined, verify that all
-  //     performace critical functions are still inlined if you change order!
-private:
-  // if we hadn't made these operators private, it would be possible to
-  // compile "wxString s; s = 17;" without any warnings as 17 is implicitly
-  // converted to char in C and we do have operator=(char)
-  //
-  // NB: we don't need other versions (short/long and unsigned) as attempt
-  //     to assign another numeric type to wxString will now result in
-  //     ambiguity between operator=(char) and operator=(int)
-  wxString& operator=(int);
-
-  // these methods are not implemented - there is _no_ conversion from int to
-  // string, you're doing something wrong if the compiler wants to call it!
-  //
-  // try `s << i' or `s.Printf("%d", i)' instead
-  wxString(int);
-

 public:
   // constructors and destructor
     // ctor for an empty string
 public:
   // constructors and destructor
     // ctor for an empty string

-  wxString() : wxStringBase() { }
+  wxString() {}
+

     // copy ctor
     // copy ctor

-  wxString(const wxStringBase& stringSrc) : wxStringBase(stringSrc) { }
-  wxString(const wxString& stringSrc) : wxStringBase(stringSrc) { }
+  wxString(const wxString& stringSrc) : m_impl(stringSrc.m_impl) { }
+

     // string containing nRepeat copies of ch
     // string containing nRepeat copies of ch

-  wxString(wxChar ch, size_t nRepeat = 1)
-      : wxStringBase(nRepeat, ch) { }
-  wxString(size_t nRepeat, wxChar ch)
-      : wxStringBase(nRepeat, ch) { }
-    // ctor takes first nLength characters from C string
-    // (default value of npos means take all the string)
-  wxString(const wxChar *psz)
-      : wxStringBase(psz ? psz : wxT("")) { }
-  wxString(const wxChar *psz, size_t nLength)
-      : wxStringBase(psz, nLength) { }
-  wxString(const wxChar *psz, wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv), size_t nLength = npos)
-      : wxStringBase(psz, nLength == npos ? wxStrlen(psz) : nLength) { }
+  wxString(wxUniChar ch, size_t nRepeat = 1)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(size_t nRepeat, wxUniChar ch)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nRepeat = 1)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(size_t nRepeat, wxUniCharRef ch)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(char ch, size_t nRepeat = 1)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(size_t nRepeat, char ch)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(wchar_t ch, size_t nRepeat = 1)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+  wxString(size_t nRepeat, wchar_t ch)
+    { assign(nRepeat, ch); }
+
+    // ctors from char* strings:
+  wxString(const char *psz)
+    : m_impl(ImplStr(psz)) {}
+  wxString(const char *psz, const wxMBConv& conv)
+    : m_impl(ImplStr(psz, conv)) {}
+  wxString(const char *psz, size_t nLength)
+    { assign(psz, nLength); }
+  wxString(const char *psz, const wxMBConv& conv, size_t nLength)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(psz, nLength, conv));
+    m_impl.assign(str.data, str.len);
+  }

 
 

-#if wxUSE_UNICODE
-    // from multibyte string
-  wxString(const char *psz, wxMBConv& conv, size_t nLength = npos);
-    // from wxWCharBuffer (i.e. return from wxGetString)
-  wxString(const wxWCharBuffer& psz) : wxStringBase(psz.data()) { }
-#else // ANSI
-    // from C string (for compilers using unsigned char)
-  wxString(const unsigned char* psz, size_t nLength = npos)
-      : wxStringBase((const char*)psz, nLength) { }
+    // and unsigned char*:
+  wxString(const unsigned char *psz)
+    : m_impl(ImplStr((const char*)psz)) {}
+  wxString(const unsigned char *psz, const wxMBConv& conv)
+    : m_impl(ImplStr((const char*)psz, conv)) {}
+  wxString(const unsigned char *psz, size_t nLength)
+    { assign((const char*)psz, nLength); }
+  wxString(const unsigned char *psz, const wxMBConv& conv, size_t nLength)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr((const char*)psz, nLength, conv));
+    m_impl.assign(str.data, str.len);
+  }

 
 

-#if wxUSE_WCHAR_T
-    // from wide (Unicode) string
-  wxString(const wchar_t *pwz, wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc, size_t nLength = npos);
-#endif // !wxUSE_WCHAR_T
+    // ctors from wchar_t* strings:
+  wxString(const wchar_t *pwz)
+    : m_impl(ImplStr(pwz)) {}
+  wxString(const wchar_t *pwz, const wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv))
+    : m_impl(ImplStr(pwz)) {}
+  wxString(const wchar_t *pwz, size_t nLength)
+    { assign(pwz, nLength); }
+  wxString(const wchar_t *pwz, const wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv), size_t nLength)
+    { assign(pwz, nLength); }
+
+  wxString(const wxCharBuffer& buf)
+    { assign(buf.data()); } // FIXME-UTF8: fix for embedded NUL and buffer length
+  wxString(const wxWCharBuffer& buf)
+    { assign(buf.data()); } // FIXME-UTF8: fix for embedded NUL and buffer length
+
+  wxString(const wxCStrData& cstr)
+      : m_impl(cstr.AsString().m_impl) { }
+
+    // as we provide both ctors with this signature for both char and unsigned
+    // char string, we need to provide one for wxCStrData to resolve ambiguity
+  wxString(const wxCStrData& cstr, size_t nLength)
+      : m_impl(cstr.AsString().Mid(0, nLength).m_impl) {}
+
+    // and because wxString is convertible to wxCStrData and const wxChar *
+    // we also need to provide this one
+  wxString(const wxString& str, size_t nLength)
+      : m_impl(str.Mid(0, nLength).m_impl) {}
+
+  // even if we're not built with wxUSE_STL == 1 it is very convenient to allow
+  // implicit conversions from std::string to wxString and vice verse as this
+  // allows to use the same strings in non-GUI and GUI code, however we don't
+  // want to unconditionally add this ctor as it would make wx lib dependent on
+  // libstdc++ on some Linux versions which is bad, so instead we ask the
+  // client code to define this wxUSE_STD_STRING symbol if they need it
+#if wxUSE_STD_STRING
+
+  #if wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+    wxString(const wxStdWideString& str) : m_impl(str) {}
+  #else // UTF-8 or ANSI
+    wxString(const wxStdWideString& str)
+        { assign(str.c_str(), str.length()); }
+  #endif
+
+  #if !wxUSE_UNICODE // ANSI build
+    // FIXME-UTF8: do this in UTF8 build #if wxUSE_UTF8_LOCALE_ONLY, too
+    wxString(const std::string& str) : m_impl(str) {}
+  #else // Unicode
+    wxString(const std::string& str)
+        { assign(str.c_str(), str.length()); }
+  #endif
+
+  #if wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR && wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING
+    // wxStringImpl is std::string in the encoding we want
+    operator const wxStdWideString&() const { return m_impl; }
+  #else
+    // wxStringImpl is either not std::string or needs conversion
+    operator wxStdWideString() const
+        // FIXME-UTF8: broken for embedded NULs
+        { return wxStdWideString(wc_str()); }
+  #endif
+
+  #if !wxUSE_UNICODE && wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING
+    // FIXME-UTF8: do this in UTF8 build #if wxUSE_UTF8_LOCALE_ONLY, too
+    // wxStringImpl is std::string in the encoding we want
+    operator const std::string&() const { return m_impl; }
+  #else
+    // wxStringImpl is either not std::string or needs conversion
+    operator std::string() const
+        // FIXME-UTF8: broken for embedded NULs
+        { return std::string(mb_str()); }
+  #endif
+
+#endif // wxUSE_STD_STRING

 
 

-    // from wxCharBuffer
-  wxString(const wxCharBuffer& psz)
-      : wxStringBase(psz) { }
-#endif // Unicode/ANSI
+  // first valid index position
+  const_iterator begin() const { return const_iterator(m_impl.begin()); }
+  iterator begin() { return iterator(this, m_impl.begin()); }
+  // position one after the last valid one
+  const_iterator end() const { return const_iterator(m_impl.end()); }
+  iterator end() { return iterator(this, m_impl.end()); }
+
+  // first element of the reversed string
+  const_reverse_iterator rbegin() const
+    { return const_reverse_iterator(end()); }
+  reverse_iterator rbegin()
+    { return reverse_iterator(end()); }
+  // one beyond the end of the reversed string
+  const_reverse_iterator rend() const
+    { return const_reverse_iterator(begin()); }
+  reverse_iterator rend()
+    { return reverse_iterator(begin()); }
+
+  // std::string methods:
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+  size_t length() const { return end() - begin(); } // FIXME-UTF8: optimize!
+#else
+  size_t length() const { return m_impl.length(); }
+#endif
+
+  size_type size() const { return length(); }
+  size_type max_size() const { return npos; }
+
+  bool empty() const { return m_impl.empty(); }
+
+  size_type capacity() const { return m_impl.capacity(); } // FIXME-UTF8
+  void reserve(size_t sz) { m_impl.reserve(sz); } // FIXME-UTF8
+
+  void resize(size_t nSize, wxUniChar ch = wxT('\0'))
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+    {
+        size_t len = length();
+        if ( nSize == len)
+            return;
+        else if ( nSize < len )
+            erase(nSize);
+        else
+            append(nSize - len, ch);
+    }
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.resize(nSize, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+  }
+
+  wxString substr(size_t nStart = 0, size_t nLen = npos) const
+  {
+    size_t pos, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &pos, &len);
+    return FromImpl(m_impl.substr(pos, len));
+  }

 
   // generic attributes & operations
     // as standard strlen()
 
   // generic attributes & operations
     // as standard strlen()


@@ -695,7 +982,7 @@ public:
     // string contains any characters?
   bool IsEmpty() const { return empty(); }
     // empty string is "false", so !str will return true
     // string contains any characters?
   bool IsEmpty() const { return empty(); }
     // empty string is "false", so !str will return true

-  bool operator!() const { return IsEmpty(); }
+  bool operator!() const { return empty(); }

     // truncate the string to given length
   wxString& Truncate(size_t uiLen);
     // empty string contents
     // truncate the string to given length
   wxString& Truncate(size_t uiLen);
     // empty string contents


@@ -703,7 +990,7 @@ public:
   {
     Truncate(0);
 
   {
     Truncate(0);
 

-    wxASSERT_MSG( IsEmpty(), _T("string not empty after call to Empty()?") );
+    wxASSERT_MSG( empty(), _T("string not empty after call to Empty()?") );

   }
     // empty the string and free memory
   void Clear()
   }
     // empty the string and free memory
   void Clear()


@@ -722,76 +1009,88 @@ public:
 
   // data access (all indexes are 0 based)
     // read access
 
   // data access (all indexes are 0 based)
     // read access

-    wxChar  GetChar(size_t n) const
-      { return operator[](n); }
+    wxUniChar at(size_t n) const
+      { return *(begin() + n); } // FIXME-UTF8: optimize?
+    wxUniChar GetChar(size_t n) const
+      { return at(n); }

     // read/write access
     // read/write access

-    wxChar& GetWritableChar(size_t n)
-      { return operator[](n); }
+    wxUniCharRef at(size_t n)
+      { return *(begin() + n); } // FIXME-UTF8: optimize?
+    wxUniCharRef GetWritableChar(size_t n)
+      { return at(n); }

     // write access
     // write access

-    void  SetChar(size_t n, wxChar ch)
-      { operator[](n) = ch; }
+    void  SetChar(size_t n, wxUniChar ch)
+      { at(n) = ch; }

 
     // get last character
 
     // get last character

-    wxChar  Last() const
+    wxUniChar Last() const

       {
       {

-          wxASSERT_MSG( !IsEmpty(), _T("wxString: index out of bounds") );
+          wxASSERT_MSG( !empty(), _T("wxString: index out of bounds") );

 
 

-          return operator[](length() - 1);
+          return at(length() - 1);

       }
 
     // get writable last character
       }
 
     // get writable last character

-    wxChar& Last()
+    wxUniCharRef Last()

       {
       {

-          wxASSERT_MSG( !IsEmpty(), _T("wxString: index out of bounds") );
-          return operator[](length() - 1);
+          wxASSERT_MSG( !empty(), _T("wxString: index out of bounds") );
+          return at(length() - 1);

       }
 
     /*
       }
 
     /*

-        So why do we have all these overloaded operator[]s? A bit of history:
-        initially there was only one of them, taking size_t. Then people
-        started complaining because they wanted to use ints as indices (I
-        wonder why) and compilers were giving warnings about it, so we had to
-        add the operator[](int). Then it became apparent that you couldn't
-        write str[0] any longer because there was ambiguity between two
-        overloads and so you now had to write str[0u] (or, of course, use the
-        explicit casts to either int or size_t but nobody did this).
-
-        Finally, someone decided to compile wxWin on an Alpha machine and got
-        a surprize: str[0u] didn't compile there because it is of type
-        unsigned int and size_t is unsigned _long_ on Alpha and so there was
-        ambiguity between converting uint to int or ulong. To fix this one we
-        now add operator[](uint) for the machines where size_t is not already
-        the same as unsigned int - hopefully this fixes the problem (for some
-        time)
-
-        The only real fix is, of course, to remove all versions but the one
-        taking size_t...
+       Note that we we must define all of the overloads below to avoid
+       ambiguity when using str[0].

      */
      */

-
-    // operator version of GetChar
-    wxChar  operator[](int n) const
-      { return wxStringBase::operator[](n); }
-    wxChar& operator[](size_type n)
-      { return wxStringBase::operator[](n); }
-    wxChar operator[](size_type n) const
-      { return wxStringBase::operator[](n); }
+    wxUniChar operator[](int n) const
+      { return at(n); }
+    wxUniChar operator[](long n) const
+      { return at(n); }
+    wxUniChar operator[](size_t n) const
+      { return at(n); }

 #ifndef wxSIZE_T_IS_UINT
 #ifndef wxSIZE_T_IS_UINT

-    // operator version of GetChar
-    wxChar operator[](unsigned int n) const
-      { return wxStringBase::operator[](n); }
+    wxUniChar operator[](unsigned int n) const
+      { return at(n); }
+#endif // size_t != unsigned int

 
 

-    // operator version of GetWriteableChar
-    wxChar& operator[](unsigned int n)
-      { return wxStringBase::operator[](n); }
+    // operator versions of GetWriteableChar()
+    wxUniCharRef operator[](int n)
+      { return at(n); }
+    wxUniCharRef operator[](long n)
+      { return at(n); }
+    wxUniCharRef operator[](size_t n)
+      { return at(n); }
+#ifndef wxSIZE_T_IS_UINT
+    wxUniCharRef operator[](unsigned int n)
+      { return at(n); }

 #endif // size_t != unsigned int
 
 #endif // size_t != unsigned int
 

+    // explicit conversion to C string (use this with printf()!)
+    wxCStrData c_str() const { return wxCStrData(this); }
+    wxCStrData data() const { return c_str(); }
+

     // implicit conversion to C string
     // implicit conversion to C string

-    operator const wxChar*() const { return c_str(); }
+    operator wxCStrData() const { return c_str(); }
+    operator const char*() const { return c_str(); }
+    operator const wchar_t*() const { return c_str(); }
+
+    // implicit conversion to untyped pointer for compatibility with previous
+    // wxWidgets versions: this is the same as conversion to const char * so it
+    // may fail!
+    operator const void*() const { return c_str(); }

 
 

-    // identical to c_str(), for wxWin 1.6x compatibility
-    const wxChar* wx_str()  const { return c_str(); }

     // identical to c_str(), for MFC compatibility
     // identical to c_str(), for MFC compatibility

-    const wxChar* GetData() const { return c_str(); }
+    const wxCStrData GetData() const { return c_str(); }
+
+    // explicit conversion to C string in internal representation (char*,
+    // wchar_t*, UTF-8-encoded char*, depending on the build):
+    const wxStringCharType *wx_str() const { return m_impl.c_str(); }
+
+    // conversion to *non-const* multibyte or widestring buffer; modifying
+    // returned buffer won't affect the string, these methods are only useful
+    // for passing values to const-incorrect functions
+    wxWritableCharBuffer char_str(const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc) const
+        { return mb_str(conv); }
+    wxWritableWCharBuffer wchar_str() const { return wc_str(); }

 
     // conversion to/from plain (i.e. 7 bit) ASCII: this is useful for
     // converting numbers or strings which are certain not to contain special
 
     // conversion to/from plain (i.e. 7 bit) ASCII: this is useful for
     // converting numbers or strings which are certain not to contain special


@@ -819,60 +1118,82 @@ public:
     // type differs because a function may either return pointer to the buffer
     // directly or have to use intermediate buffer for translation.
 #if wxUSE_UNICODE
     // type differs because a function may either return pointer to the buffer
     // directly or have to use intermediate buffer for translation.
 #if wxUSE_UNICODE

-    const wxCharBuffer mb_str(wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc) const;
+    const wxCharBuffer mb_str(const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc) const;

 
     const wxWX2MBbuf mbc_str() const { return mb_str(*wxConvCurrent); }
 
 
     const wxWX2MBbuf mbc_str() const { return mb_str(*wxConvCurrent); }
 

-    const wxChar* wc_str() const { return c_str(); }
-
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+    const wxChar* wc_str() const { return wx_str(); }
+#elif wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    const wxWCharBuffer wc_str() const;
+#endif

     // for compatibility with !wxUSE_UNICODE version
     // for compatibility with !wxUSE_UNICODE version

-    const wxChar* wc_str(wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv)) const { return c_str(); }
+    const wxWX2WCbuf wc_str(const wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv)) const
+      { return wc_str(); }

 
 #if wxMBFILES
     const wxCharBuffer fn_str() const { return mb_str(wxConvFile); }
 #else // !wxMBFILES
 
 #if wxMBFILES
     const wxCharBuffer fn_str() const { return mb_str(wxConvFile); }
 #else // !wxMBFILES

-    const wxChar* fn_str() const { return c_str(); }
+    const wxWX2WCbuf fn_str() const { return wc_str(); }

 #endif // wxMBFILES/!wxMBFILES
 #endif // wxMBFILES/!wxMBFILES

+

 #else // ANSI
 #else // ANSI

-    const wxChar* mb_str() const { return c_str(); }
+    const wxChar* mb_str() const { return wx_str(); }

 
     // for compatibility with wxUSE_UNICODE version
 
     // for compatibility with wxUSE_UNICODE version

-    const wxChar* mb_str(wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv)) const { return c_str(); }
+    const wxChar* mb_str(const wxMBConv& WXUNUSED(conv)) const { return wx_str(); }

 
     const wxWX2MBbuf mbc_str() const { return mb_str(); }
 
 #if wxUSE_WCHAR_T
 
     const wxWX2MBbuf mbc_str() const { return mb_str(); }
 
 #if wxUSE_WCHAR_T

-    const wxWCharBuffer wc_str(wxMBConv& conv) const;
+    const wxWCharBuffer wc_str(const wxMBConv& conv = wxConvLibc) const;

 #endif // wxUSE_WCHAR_T
 #endif // wxUSE_WCHAR_T

-
+#ifdef __WXOSX__
+    const wxCharBuffer fn_str() const { return wxConvFile.cWC2WX( wc_str( wxConvLocal ) ); }
+#else

     const wxChar* fn_str() const { return c_str(); }
     const wxChar* fn_str() const { return c_str(); }

+#endif

 #endif // Unicode/ANSI
 
   // overloaded assignment
     // from another wxString
 #endif // Unicode/ANSI
 
   // overloaded assignment
     // from another wxString

-  wxString& operator=(const wxStringBase& stringSrc)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::operator=(stringSrc); }
+  wxString& operator=(const wxString& stringSrc)
+    { m_impl = stringSrc.m_impl; return *this; }
+  wxString& operator=(const wxCStrData& cstr)
+    { return *this = cstr.AsString(); }

     // from a character
     // from a character

-  wxString& operator=(wxChar ch)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::operator=(ch); }
-    // from a C string
-  wxString& operator=(const wxChar *psz)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::operator=(psz); }
-#if wxUSE_UNICODE
+  wxString& operator=(wxUniChar ch)
+    { m_impl = wxStringOperations::EncodeChar(ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator=(wxUniCharRef ch)
+    { return operator=((wxUniChar)ch); }
+  wxString& operator=(char ch)
+    { return operator=(wxUniChar(ch)); }
+  wxString& operator=(unsigned char ch)
+    { return operator=(wxUniChar(ch)); }
+  wxString& operator=(wchar_t ch)
+    { return operator=(wxUniChar(ch)); }
+    // from a C string - STL probably will crash on NULL,
+    // so we need to compensate in that case
+#if wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING
+  wxString& operator=(const char *psz)
+    { if (psz) m_impl = ImplStr(psz); else Clear(); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator=(const wchar_t *pwz)
+    { if (pwz) m_impl = ImplStr(pwz); else Clear(); return *this; }
+#else
+  wxString& operator=(const char *psz)
+    { m_impl = ImplStr(psz); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator=(const wchar_t *pwz)
+    { m_impl = ImplStr(pwz); return *this; }
+#endif
+  wxString& operator=(const unsigned char *psz)
+    { return operator=((const char*)psz); }
+

     // from wxWCharBuffer
     // from wxWCharBuffer

-  wxString& operator=(const wxWCharBuffer& psz)
-    { (void) operator=((const wchar_t *)psz); return *this; }
-#else // ANSI
-    // from another kind of C string
-  wxString& operator=(const unsigned char* psz);
-#if wxUSE_WCHAR_T
-    // from a wide string
-  wxString& operator=(const wchar_t *pwz);
-#endif
+  wxString& operator=(const wxWCharBuffer& s)
+    { return operator=(s.data()); } // FIXME-UTF8: fix for embedded NULs

     // from wxCharBuffer
     // from wxCharBuffer

-  wxString& operator=(const wxCharBuffer& psz)
-    { (void) operator=((const char *)psz); return *this; }
-#endif // Unicode/ANSI
+  wxString& operator=(const wxCharBuffer& s)
+    { return operator=(s.data()); } // FIXME-UTF8: fix for embedded NULs

 
   // string concatenation
     // in place concatenation
 
   // string concatenation
     // in place concatenation


@@ -884,8 +1205,8 @@ public:
       // string += string
   wxString& operator<<(const wxString& s)
   {
       // string += string
   wxString& operator<<(const wxString& s)
   {

-#if !wxUSE_STL
-    wxASSERT_MSG( s.GetStringData()->IsValid(),
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_8 && !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    wxASSERT_MSG( s.IsValid(),

                   _T("did you forget to call UngetWriteBuf()?") );
 #endif
 
                   _T("did you forget to call UngetWriteBuf()?") );
 #endif
 


@@ -893,57 +1214,84 @@ public:
     return *this;
   }
       // string += C string
     return *this;
   }
       // string += C string

-  wxString& operator<<(const wxChar *psz)
+  wxString& operator<<(const char *psz)

     { append(psz); return *this; }
     { append(psz); return *this; }

+  wxString& operator<<(const wchar_t *pwz)
+    { append(pwz); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator<<(const wxCStrData& psz)
+    { append(psz.AsString()); return *this; }

       // string += char
       // string += char

-  wxString& operator<<(wxChar ch) { append(1, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator<<(wxUniChar ch) { append(1, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator<<(wxUniCharRef ch) { append(1, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator<<(char ch) { append(1, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator<<(unsigned char ch) { append(1, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator<<(wchar_t ch) { append(1, ch); return *this; }

 
       // string += buffer (i.e. from wxGetString)
 
       // string += buffer (i.e. from wxGetString)

-#if wxUSE_UNICODE

   wxString& operator<<(const wxWCharBuffer& s)
   wxString& operator<<(const wxWCharBuffer& s)

-    { (void)operator<<((const wchar_t *)s); return *this; }
-  void operator+=(const wxWCharBuffer& s)
-    { (void)operator<<((const wchar_t *)s); }
-#else // !wxUSE_UNICODE
+    { return operator<<((const wchar_t *)s); }
+  wxString& operator+=(const wxWCharBuffer& s)
+    { return operator<<((const wchar_t *)s); }
+

   wxString& operator<<(const wxCharBuffer& s)
   wxString& operator<<(const wxCharBuffer& s)

-    { (void)operator<<((const char *)s); return *this; }
-  void operator+=(const wxCharBuffer& s)
-    { (void)operator<<((const char *)s); }
-#endif // wxUSE_UNICODE/!wxUSE_UNICODE
+    { return operator<<((const char *)s); }
+  wxString& operator+=(const wxCharBuffer& s)
+    { return operator<<((const char *)s); }

 
     // string += C string
   wxString& Append(const wxString& s)
     {
 
     // string += C string
   wxString& Append(const wxString& s)
     {

-        // test for IsEmpty() to share the string if possible
-        if ( IsEmpty() )
+        // test for empty() to share the string if possible
+        if ( empty() )

             *this = s;
         else
             append(s);
         return *this;
     }
             *this = s;
         else
             append(s);
         return *this;
     }

-  wxString& Append(const wxChar* psz)
+  wxString& Append(const wxCStrData& psz)

     { append(psz); return *this; }
     { append(psz); return *this; }

+  wxString& Append(const char* psz)
+    { append(psz); return *this; }
+  wxString& Append(const wchar_t* pwz)
+    { append(pwz); return *this; }

     // append count copies of given character
     // append count copies of given character

-  wxString& Append(wxChar ch, size_t count = 1u)
+  wxString& Append(wxUniChar ch, size_t count = 1u)
+    { append(count, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& Append(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t count = 1u)

     { append(count, ch); return *this; }
     { append(count, ch); return *this; }

-  wxString& Append(const wxChar* psz, size_t nLen)
+  wxString& Append(char ch, size_t count = 1u)
+    { append(count, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& Append(unsigned char ch, size_t count = 1u)
+    { append(count, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& Append(wchar_t ch, size_t count = 1u)
+    { append(count, ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& Append(const char* psz, size_t nLen)

     { append(psz, nLen); return *this; }
     { append(psz, nLen); return *this; }

+  wxString& Append(const wchar_t* pwz, size_t nLen)
+    { append(pwz, nLen); return *this; }

 
     // prepend a string, return the string itself
   wxString& Prepend(const wxString& str)
     { *this = str + *this; return *this; }
 
     // non-destructive concatenation
 
     // prepend a string, return the string itself
   wxString& Prepend(const wxString& str)
     { *this = str + *this; return *this; }
 
     // non-destructive concatenation

-      //
-  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string1,  const wxString& string2);
-      //
-  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, wxChar ch);
-      //
-  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(wxChar ch, const wxString& string);
-      //
-  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, const wxChar *psz);
-      //
-  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxChar *psz, const wxString& string);
+      // two strings
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string1,
+                                             const wxString& string2);
+      // string with a single char
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, wxUniChar ch);
+      // char with a string
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(wxUniChar ch, const wxString& string);
+      // string with C string
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string,
+                                             const char *psz);
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string,
+                                             const wchar_t *pwz);
+      // C string with string
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const char *psz,
+                                             const wxString& string);
+  friend wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wchar_t *pwz,
+                                             const wxString& string);

 
   // stream-like functions
       // insert an int into string
 
   // stream-like functions
       // insert an int into string


@@ -958,6 +1306,20 @@ public:
       // insert an unsigned long into string
   wxString& operator<<(unsigned long ul)
     { return (*this) << Format(_T("%lu"), ul); }
       // insert an unsigned long into string
   wxString& operator<<(unsigned long ul)
     { return (*this) << Format(_T("%lu"), ul); }

+#if defined wxLongLong_t && !defined wxLongLongIsLong
+      // insert a long long if they exist and aren't longs
+  wxString& operator<<(wxLongLong_t ll)
+    {
+      const wxChar *fmt = _T("%") wxLongLongFmtSpec _T("d");
+      return (*this) << Format(fmt, ll);
+    }
+      // insert an unsigned long long
+  wxString& operator<<(wxULongLong_t ull)
+    {
+      const wxChar *fmt = _T("%") wxLongLongFmtSpec _T("u");
+      return (*this) << Format(fmt , ull);
+    }
+#endif

       // insert a float into string
   wxString& operator<<(float f)
     { return (*this) << Format(_T("%f"), f); }
       // insert a float into string
   wxString& operator<<(float f)
     { return (*this) << Format(_T("%f"), f); }


@@ -967,21 +1329,43 @@ public:
 
   // string comparison
     // case-sensitive comparison (returns a value < 0, = 0 or > 0)
 
   // string comparison
     // case-sensitive comparison (returns a value < 0, = 0 or > 0)

-  int Cmp(const wxChar *psz) const;
-  int Cmp(const wxString& s) const;
+  int Cmp(const char *psz) const
+    { return compare(psz); }
+  int Cmp(const wchar_t *pwz) const
+    { return compare(pwz); }
+  int Cmp(const wxString& s) const
+    { return compare(s); }

     // same as Cmp() but not case-sensitive
     // same as Cmp() but not case-sensitive

-  int CmpNoCase(const wxChar *psz) const;

   int CmpNoCase(const wxString& s) const;
   int CmpNoCase(const wxString& s) const;

+  int CmpNoCase(const char *psz) const
+    { return CmpNoCase(wxString(psz)); }
+  int CmpNoCase(const wchar_t *pwz) const
+    { return CmpNoCase(wxString(pwz)); }

     // test for the string equality, either considering case or not
     // (if compareWithCase then the case matters)
     // test for the string equality, either considering case or not
     // (if compareWithCase then the case matters)

-  bool IsSameAs(const wxChar *psz, bool compareWithCase = true) const
-    { return (compareWithCase ? Cmp(psz) : CmpNoCase(psz)) == 0; }
-    // comparison with a signle character: returns true if equal
-  bool IsSameAs(wxChar c, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+  bool IsSameAs(const wxString& str, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return (compareWithCase ? Cmp(str) : CmpNoCase(str)) == 0; }
+  bool IsSameAs(const char *str, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return (compareWithCase ? Cmp(str) : CmpNoCase(str)) == 0; }
+  bool IsSameAs(const wchar_t *str, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return (compareWithCase ? Cmp(str) : CmpNoCase(str)) == 0; }
+    // comparison with a single character: returns true if equal
+  bool IsSameAs(wxUniChar c, bool compareWithCase = true) const

     {
       return (length() == 1) && (compareWithCase ? GetChar(0u) == c
                               : wxToupper(GetChar(0u)) == wxToupper(c));
     }
     {
       return (length() == 1) && (compareWithCase ? GetChar(0u) == c
                               : wxToupper(GetChar(0u)) == wxToupper(c));
     }

+  // FIXME-UTF8: remove these overloads
+  bool IsSameAs(wxUniCharRef c, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return IsSameAs(wxUniChar(c), compareWithCase); }
+  bool IsSameAs(char c, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return IsSameAs(wxUniChar(c), compareWithCase); }
+  bool IsSameAs(unsigned char c, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return IsSameAs(wxUniChar(c), compareWithCase); }
+  bool IsSameAs(wchar_t c, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return IsSameAs(wxUniChar(c), compareWithCase); }
+  bool IsSameAs(int c, bool compareWithCase = true) const
+    { return IsSameAs(wxUniChar(c), compareWithCase); }

 
   // simple sub-string extraction
       // return substring starting at nFirst of length nCount (or till the end
 
   // simple sub-string extraction
       // return substring starting at nFirst of length nCount (or till the end


@@ -992,10 +1376,14 @@ public:
   wxString  operator()(size_t start, size_t len) const
     { return Mid(start, len); }
 
   wxString  operator()(size_t start, size_t len) const
     { return Mid(start, len); }
 

-      // check that the string starts with prefix and return the rest of the
-      // string in the provided pointer if it is not NULL, otherwise return
-      // false
+      // check if the string starts with the given prefix and return the rest
+      // of the string in the provided pointer if it is not NULL; otherwise
+      // return false

   bool StartsWith(const wxChar *prefix, wxString *rest = NULL) const;
   bool StartsWith(const wxChar *prefix, wxString *rest = NULL) const;

+      // check if the string ends with the given suffix and return the
+      // beginning of the string before the suffix in the provided pointer if
+      // it is not NULL; otherwise return false
+  bool EndsWith(const wxChar *suffix, wxString *rest = NULL) const;

 
       // get first nCount characters
   wxString Left(size_t nCount) const;
 
       // get first nCount characters
   wxString Left(size_t nCount) const;


@@ -1003,20 +1391,20 @@ public:
   wxString Right(size_t nCount) const;
       // get all characters before the first occurance of ch
       // (returns the whole string if ch not found)
   wxString Right(size_t nCount) const;
       // get all characters before the first occurance of ch
       // (returns the whole string if ch not found)

-  wxString BeforeFirst(wxChar ch) const;
+  wxString BeforeFirst(wxUniChar ch) const;

       // get all characters before the last occurence of ch
       // (returns empty string if ch not found)
       // get all characters before the last occurence of ch
       // (returns empty string if ch not found)

-  wxString BeforeLast(wxChar ch) const;
+  wxString BeforeLast(wxUniChar ch) const;

       // get all characters after the first occurence of ch
       // (returns empty string if ch not found)
       // get all characters after the first occurence of ch
       // (returns empty string if ch not found)

-  wxString AfterFirst(wxChar ch) const;
+  wxString AfterFirst(wxUniChar ch) const;

       // get all characters after the last occurence of ch
       // (returns the whole string if ch not found)
       // get all characters after the last occurence of ch
       // (returns the whole string if ch not found)

-  wxString AfterLast(wxChar ch) const;
+  wxString AfterLast(wxUniChar ch) const;

 
     // for compatibility only, use more explicitly named functions above
 
     // for compatibility only, use more explicitly named functions above

-  wxString Before(wxChar ch) const { return BeforeLast(ch); }
-  wxString After(wxChar ch) const { return AfterFirst(ch); }
+  wxString Before(wxUniChar ch) const { return BeforeLast(ch); }
+  wxString After(wxUniChar ch) const { return AfterFirst(ch); }

 
   // case conversion
       // convert to upper case in place, return the string itself
 
   // case conversion
       // convert to upper case in place, return the string itself


@@ -1033,21 +1421,45 @@ public:
       // remove spaces from left or from right (default) side
   wxString& Trim(bool bFromRight = true);
       // add nCount copies chPad in the beginning or at the end (default)
       // remove spaces from left or from right (default) side
   wxString& Trim(bool bFromRight = true);
       // add nCount copies chPad in the beginning or at the end (default)

-  wxString& Pad(size_t nCount, wxChar chPad = wxT(' '), bool bFromRight = true);
+  wxString& Pad(size_t nCount, wxUniChar chPad = wxT(' '), bool bFromRight = true);

 
   // searching and replacing
       // searching (return starting index, or -1 if not found)
 
   // searching and replacing
       // searching (return starting index, or -1 if not found)

-  int Find(wxChar ch, bool bFromEnd = false) const;   // like strchr/strrchr
+  int Find(wxUniChar ch, bool bFromEnd = false) const;   // like strchr/strrchr
+  int Find(wxUniCharRef ch, bool bFromEnd = false) const
+    { return Find(wxUniChar(ch), bFromEnd); }
+  int Find(char ch, bool bFromEnd = false) const
+    { return Find(wxUniChar(ch), bFromEnd); }
+  int Find(unsigned char ch, bool bFromEnd = false) const
+    { return Find(wxUniChar(ch), bFromEnd); }
+  int Find(wchar_t ch, bool bFromEnd = false) const
+    { return Find(wxUniChar(ch), bFromEnd); }

       // searching (return starting index, or -1 if not found)
       // searching (return starting index, or -1 if not found)

-  int Find(const wxChar *pszSub) const;               // like strstr
+  // FIXME-UTF8: keep wxString overload only
+  int Find(const wxString& sub) const               // like strstr
+  {
+    size_type idx = find(sub);
+    return (idx == npos) ? wxNOT_FOUND : (int)idx;
+  }
+  int Find(const char *sub) const               // like strstr
+  {
+    size_type idx = find(sub);
+    return (idx == npos) ? wxNOT_FOUND : (int)idx;
+  }
+  int Find(const wchar_t *sub) const               // like strstr
+  {
+    size_type idx = find(sub);
+    return (idx == npos) ? wxNOT_FOUND : (int)idx;
+  }
+

       // replace first (or all of bReplaceAll) occurences of substring with
       // another string, returns the number of replacements made
       // replace first (or all of bReplaceAll) occurences of substring with
       // another string, returns the number of replacements made

-  size_t Replace(const wxChar *szOld,
-                 const wxChar *szNew,
+  size_t Replace(const wxString& strOld,
+                 const wxString& strNew,

                  bool bReplaceAll = true);
 
     // check if the string contents matches a mask containing '*' and '?'
                  bool bReplaceAll = true);
 
     // check if the string contents matches a mask containing '*' and '?'

-  bool Matches(const wxChar *szMask) const;
+  bool Matches(const wxString& mask) const;

 
     // conversion to numbers: all functions return true only if the whole
     // string is a number and put the value of this number into the pointer
 
     // conversion to numbers: all functions return true only if the whole
     // string is a number and put the value of this number into the pointer


@@ -1058,20 +1470,33 @@ public:
     bool ToLong(long *val, int base = 10) const;
         // convert to an unsigned integer
     bool ToULong(unsigned long *val, int base = 10) const;
     bool ToLong(long *val, int base = 10) const;
         // convert to an unsigned integer
     bool ToULong(unsigned long *val, int base = 10) const;

+        // convert to wxLongLong
+#if defined(wxLongLong_t)
+    bool ToLongLong(wxLongLong_t *val, int base = 10) const;
+        // convert to wxULongLong
+    bool ToULongLong(wxULongLong_t *val, int base = 10) const;
+#endif // wxLongLong_t

         // convert to a double
     bool ToDouble(double *val) const;
 
         // convert to a double
     bool ToDouble(double *val) const;
 

-  // formated input/output
+
+#ifndef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+  // formatted input/output

     // as sprintf(), returns the number of characters written or < 0 on error
     // (take 'this' into account in attribute parameter count)
     // as sprintf(), returns the number of characters written or < 0 on error
     // (take 'this' into account in attribute parameter count)

-  int Printf(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_2;
+  // int Printf(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...);
+  WX_DEFINE_VARARG_FUNC(int, Printf, DoPrintf)
+#endif // !wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN

     // as vprintf(), returns the number of characters written or < 0 on error
     // as vprintf(), returns the number of characters written or < 0 on error

-  int PrintfV(const wxChar* pszFormat, va_list argptr);
+  int PrintfV(const wxString& format, va_list argptr);

 
 

+#ifndef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN

     // returns the string containing the result of Printf() to it
     // returns the string containing the result of Printf() to it

-  static wxString Format(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_1;
+  // static wxString Format(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_1;
+  WX_DEFINE_VARARG_FUNC(static wxString, Format, DoFormat)
+#endif

     // the same as above, but takes a va_list
     // the same as above, but takes a va_list

-  static wxString FormatV(const wxChar *pszFormat, va_list argptr);
+  static wxString FormatV(const wxString& format, va_list argptr);

 
   // raw access to string memory
     // ensure that string has space for at least nLen characters
 
   // raw access to string memory
     // ensure that string has space for at least nLen characters


@@ -1080,14 +1505,16 @@ public:
     // minimize the string's memory
     // only works if the data of this string is not shared
   bool Shrink();
     // minimize the string's memory
     // only works if the data of this string is not shared
   bool Shrink();

-#if !wxUSE_STL
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_8 && !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    // These are deprecated, use wxStringBuffer or wxStringBufferLength instead
+    //

     // get writable buffer of at least nLen bytes. Unget() *must* be called
     // a.s.a.p. to put string back in a reasonable state!
     // get writable buffer of at least nLen bytes. Unget() *must* be called
     // a.s.a.p. to put string back in a reasonable state!

-  wxChar *GetWriteBuf(size_t nLen);
+  wxDEPRECATED( wxStringCharType *GetWriteBuf(size_t nLen) );

     // call this immediately after GetWriteBuf() has been used
     // call this immediately after GetWriteBuf() has been used

-  void UngetWriteBuf();
-  void UngetWriteBuf(size_t nLen);
-#endif
+  wxDEPRECATED( void UngetWriteBuf() );
+  wxDEPRECATED( void UngetWriteBuf(size_t nLen) );
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_8 && !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8

 
   // wxWidgets version 1 compatibility functions
 
 
   // wxWidgets version 1 compatibility functions
 


@@ -1099,18 +1526,21 @@ public:
     // values for first parameter of Strip function
   enum stripType {leading = 0x1, trailing = 0x2, both = 0x3};
 
     // values for first parameter of Strip function
   enum stripType {leading = 0x1, trailing = 0x2, both = 0x3};
 

+#ifndef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN

   // use Printf()
   // (take 'this' into account in attribute parameter count)
   // use Printf()
   // (take 'this' into account in attribute parameter count)

-  int sprintf(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_2;
+  // int sprintf(const wxChar *pszFormat, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_2;
+  WX_DEFINE_VARARG_FUNC(int, sprintf, DoPrintf)
+#endif // wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN

 
     // use Cmp()
   inline int CompareTo(const wxChar* psz, caseCompare cmp = exact) const
     { return cmp == exact ? Cmp(psz) : CmpNoCase(psz); }
 
 
     // use Cmp()
   inline int CompareTo(const wxChar* psz, caseCompare cmp = exact) const
     { return cmp == exact ? Cmp(psz) : CmpNoCase(psz); }
 

-    // use Len
+    // use length()

   size_t Length() const { return length(); }
     // Count the number of characters
   size_t Length() const { return length(); }
     // Count the number of characters

-  int Freq(wxChar ch) const;
+  int Freq(wxUniChar ch) const;

     // use MakeLower
   void LowerCase() { MakeLower(); }
     // use MakeUpper
     // use MakeLower
   void LowerCase() { MakeLower(); }
     // use MakeUpper


@@ -1120,7 +1550,7 @@ public:
 
     // use Find (more general variants not yet supported)
   size_t Index(const wxChar* psz) const { return Find(psz); }
 
     // use Find (more general variants not yet supported)
   size_t Index(const wxChar* psz) const { return Find(psz); }

-  size_t Index(wxChar ch)         const { return Find(ch);  }
+  size_t Index(wxUniChar ch)         const { return Find(ch);  }

     // use Truncate
   wxString& Remove(size_t pos) { return Truncate(pos); }
   wxString& RemoveLast(size_t n = 1) { return Truncate(length() - n); }
     // use Truncate
   wxString& Remove(size_t pos) { return Truncate(pos); }
   wxString& RemoveLast(size_t n = 1) { return Truncate(length() - n); }


@@ -1129,176 +1559,769 @@ public:
       { return (wxString&)erase( nStart, nLen ); }
 
     // use Find()
       { return (wxString&)erase( nStart, nLen ); }
 
     // use Find()

-  int First( const wxChar ch ) const { return Find(ch); }
+  int First( wxUniChar ch ) const { return Find(ch); }
+  int First( wxUniCharRef ch ) const { return Find(ch); }
+  int First( char ch ) const { return Find(ch); }
+  int First( unsigned char ch ) const { return Find(ch); }
+  int First( wchar_t ch ) const { return Find(ch); }

   int First( const wxChar* psz ) const { return Find(psz); }
   int First( const wxChar* psz ) const { return Find(psz); }

-  int First( const wxString &str ) const { return Find(str); }
-  int Last( const wxChar ch ) const { return Find(ch, true); }
+  int First( const wxString& str ) const { return Find(str); }
+  int Last( wxUniChar ch ) const { return Find(ch, true); }

   bool Contains(const wxString& str) const { return Find(str) != wxNOT_FOUND; }
 
   bool Contains(const wxString& str) const { return Find(str) != wxNOT_FOUND; }
 

-    // use IsEmpty()
-  bool IsNull() const { return IsEmpty(); }
+    // use empty()
+  bool IsNull() const { return empty(); }

 
   // std::string compatibility functions
 
     // take nLen chars starting at nPos
   wxString(const wxString& str, size_t nPos, size_t nLen)
 
   // std::string compatibility functions
 
     // take nLen chars starting at nPos
   wxString(const wxString& str, size_t nPos, size_t nLen)

-      : wxStringBase(str, nPos, nLen) { }
-    // take all characters from pStart to pEnd
-  wxString(const void *pStart, const void *pEnd)
-      : wxStringBase((const wxChar*)pStart, (const wxChar*)pEnd) { }
-#if wxUSE_STL
+      : m_impl(str.m_impl, nPos, nLen) { }
+    // take all characters from first to last

   wxString(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
   wxString(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)

-      : wxStringBase(first, last) { }
-#endif
+      : m_impl(first.impl(), last.impl()) { }
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER
+    // the 2 overloads below are for compatibility with the existing code using
+    // pointers instead of iterators
+  wxString(const char *first, const char *last)
+  {
+      SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(first, last - first));
+      m_impl.assign(str.data, str.len);
+  }
+  wxString(const wchar_t *first, const wchar_t *last)
+  {
+      SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(first, last - first));
+      m_impl.assign(str.data, str.len);
+  }
+    // and this one is needed to compile code adding offsets to c_str() result
+  wxString(const wxCStrData& first, const wxCStrData& last)
+      : m_impl(CreateConstIterator(first).impl(),
+               CreateConstIterator(last).impl())
+  {
+      wxASSERT_MSG( first.m_str == last.m_str,
+                    _T("pointers must be into the same string") );
+  }
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER

 
   // lib.string.modifiers
     // append elements str[pos], ..., str[pos+n]
   wxString& append(const wxString& str, size_t pos, size_t n)
 
   // lib.string.modifiers
     // append elements str[pos], ..., str[pos+n]
   wxString& append(const wxString& str, size_t pos, size_t n)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::append(str, pos, n); }
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    str.PosLenToImpl(pos, n, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.append(str.m_impl, from, len);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // append a string
   wxString& append(const wxString& str)
     // append a string
   wxString& append(const wxString& str)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::append(str); }
+    { m_impl.append(str.m_impl); return *this; }
+  wxString& append(const wxCStrData& str)
+    { m_impl.append(str.AsString().m_impl); return *this; }

     // append first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz
     // append first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz

-  wxString& append(const wxChar *sz)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::append(sz); }
-  wxString& append(const wxChar *sz, size_t n)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::append(sz, n); }
+  wxString& append(const char *sz)
+    { m_impl.append(ImplStr(sz)); return *this; }
+  wxString& append(const wchar_t *sz)
+    { m_impl.append(ImplStr(sz)); return *this; }
+  wxString& append(const char *sz, size_t n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+    m_impl.append(str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& append(const wchar_t *sz, size_t n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+    m_impl.append(str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // append n copies of ch
     // append n copies of ch

-  wxString& append(size_t n, wxChar ch)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::append(n, ch); }
+  wxString& append(size_t n, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+        m_impl.append(wxStringOperations::EncodeNChars(n, ch));
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.append(n, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // append from first to last
   wxString& append(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
     // append from first to last
   wxString& append(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::append(first, last); }
+    { m_impl.append(first.impl(), last.impl()); return *this; }
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER
+  wxString& append(const char *first, const char *last)
+    { return append(first, last - first); }
+  wxString& append(const wchar_t *first, const wchar_t *last)
+    { return append(first, last - first); }
+  wxString& append(const wxCStrData& first, const wxCStrData& last)
+    { return append(CreateConstIterator(first), CreateConstIterator(last)); }
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER

 
     // same as `this_string = str'
   wxString& assign(const wxString& str)
 
     // same as `this_string = str'
   wxString& assign(const wxString& str)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::assign(str); }
+    { m_impl = str.m_impl; return *this; }
+  wxString& assign(const wxString& str, size_t len)
+  {
+    m_impl.assign(str.m_impl, 0, str.LenToImpl(len));
+    return *this;
+  }

     // same as ` = str[pos..pos + n]
   wxString& assign(const wxString& str, size_t pos, size_t n)
     // same as ` = str[pos..pos + n]
   wxString& assign(const wxString& str, size_t pos, size_t n)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::assign(str, pos, n); }
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    str.PosLenToImpl(pos, n, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.assign(str.m_impl, from, len);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // same as `= first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz'
     // same as `= first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz'

-  wxString& assign(const wxChar *sz)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::assign(sz); }
-  wxString& assign(const wxChar *sz, size_t n)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::assign(sz, n); }
+  wxString& assign(const char *sz)
+    { m_impl.assign(ImplStr(sz)); return *this; }
+  wxString& assign(const wchar_t *sz)
+    { m_impl.assign(ImplStr(sz)); return *this; }
+  wxString& assign(const char *sz, size_t n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+    m_impl.assign(str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& assign(const wchar_t *sz, size_t n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+    m_impl.assign(str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // same as `= n copies of ch'
     // same as `= n copies of ch'

-  wxString& assign(size_t n, wxChar ch)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::assign(n, ch); }
+  wxString& assign(size_t n, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+        m_impl.assign(wxStringOperations::EncodeNChars(n, ch));
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.assign(n, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  wxString& assign(size_t n, wxUniCharRef ch)
+    { return assign(n, wxUniChar(ch)); }
+  wxString& assign(size_t n, char ch)
+    { return assign(n, wxUniChar(ch)); }
+  wxString& assign(size_t n, unsigned char ch)
+    { return assign(n, wxUniChar(ch)); }
+  wxString& assign(size_t n, wchar_t ch)
+    { return assign(n, wxUniChar(ch)); }
+

     // assign from first to last
   wxString& assign(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
     // assign from first to last
   wxString& assign(const_iterator first, const_iterator last)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::assign(first, last); }
+    { m_impl.assign(first.impl(), last.impl()); return *this; }
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER
+  wxString& assign(const char *first, const char *last)
+    { return assign(first, last - first); }
+  wxString& assign(const wchar_t *first, const wchar_t *last)
+    { return assign(first, last - first); }
+  wxString& assign(const wxCStrData& first, const wxCStrData& last)
+    { return assign(CreateConstIterator(first), CreateConstIterator(last)); }
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER

 
     // string comparison
 
     // string comparison

-#ifndef HAVE_STD_STRING_COMPARE
-  int compare(const wxStringBase& str) const;
+  int compare(const wxString& str) const;

     // comparison with a substring
     // comparison with a substring

-  int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxStringBase& str) const;
+  int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxString& str) const;

     // comparison of 2 substrings
   int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
     // comparison of 2 substrings
   int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,

-              const wxStringBase& str, size_t nStart2, size_t nLen2) const;
+              const wxString& str, size_t nStart2, size_t nLen2) const;

     // just like strcmp()
     // just like strcmp()

-  int compare(const wxChar* sz) const;
+  int compare(const char* sz) const;
+  int compare(const wchar_t* sz) const;

     // substring comparison with first nCount characters of sz
   int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
     // substring comparison with first nCount characters of sz
   int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,

-              const wxChar* sz, size_t nCount = npos) const;
-#endif // !defined HAVE_STD_STRING_COMPARE
+              const char* sz, size_t nCount = npos) const;
+  int compare(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
+              const wchar_t* sz, size_t nCount = npos) const;

 
     // insert another string
   wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wxString& str)
 
     // insert another string
   wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wxString& str)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::insert(nPos, str); }
+    { insert(begin() + nPos, str.begin(), str.end()); return *this; }

     // insert n chars of str starting at nStart (in str)
   wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wxString& str, size_t nStart, size_t n)
     // insert n chars of str starting at nStart (in str)
   wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wxString& str, size_t nStart, size_t n)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::insert(nPos, str, nStart, n); }
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    str.PosLenToImpl(nStart, n, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), str.m_impl, from, len);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // insert first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz
     // insert first n (or all if n == npos) characters of sz

-  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wxChar *sz)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::insert(nPos, sz); }
-  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wxChar *sz, size_t n)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::insert(nPos, sz, n); }
+  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const char *sz)
+    { m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), ImplStr(sz)); return *this; }
+  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wchar_t *sz)
+    { m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), ImplStr(sz)); return *this; }
+  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const char *sz, size_t n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+    m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, const wchar_t *sz, size_t n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+    m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // insert n copies of ch
     // insert n copies of ch

-  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, size_t n, wxChar ch)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::insert(nPos, n, ch); }
-  iterator insert(iterator it, wxChar ch)
-    { return wxStringBase::insert(it, ch); }
+  wxString& insert(size_t nPos, size_t n, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+        m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), wxStringOperations::EncodeNChars(n, ch));
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.insert(PosToImpl(nPos), n, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  iterator insert(iterator it, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+    {
+        size_t pos = IterToImplPos(it);
+        m_impl.insert(pos, wxStringOperations::EncodeChar(ch));
+        return iterator(this, m_impl.begin() + pos);
+    }
+    else
+#endif
+        return iterator(this, m_impl.insert(it.impl(), (wxStringCharType)ch));
+  }

   void insert(iterator it, const_iterator first, const_iterator last)
   void insert(iterator it, const_iterator first, const_iterator last)

-    { wxStringBase::insert(it, first, last); }
-  void insert(iterator it, size_type n, wxChar ch)
-    { wxStringBase::insert(it, n, ch); }
+    { m_impl.insert(it.impl(), first.impl(), last.impl()); }
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER
+  void insert(iterator it, const char *first, const char *last)
+    { insert(it - begin(), first, last - first); }
+  void insert(iterator it, const wchar_t *first, const wchar_t *last)
+    { insert(it - begin(), first, last - first); }
+  void insert(iterator it, const wxCStrData& first, const wxCStrData& last)
+    { insert(it, CreateConstIterator(first), CreateConstIterator(last)); }
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_STRING_PTR_AS_ITER
+
+  void insert(iterator it, size_type n, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+        m_impl.insert(IterToImplPos(it), wxStringOperations::EncodeNChars(n, ch));
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.insert(it.impl(), n, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+  }

 
     // delete characters from nStart to nStart + nLen
   wxString& erase(size_type pos = 0, size_type n = npos)
 
     // delete characters from nStart to nStart + nLen
   wxString& erase(size_type pos = 0, size_type n = npos)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::erase(pos, n); }
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(pos, n, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.erase(from, len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+    // delete characters from first up to last

   iterator erase(iterator first, iterator last)
   iterator erase(iterator first, iterator last)

-    { return wxStringBase::erase(first, last); }
+    { return iterator(this, m_impl.erase(first.impl(), last.impl())); }

   iterator erase(iterator first)
   iterator erase(iterator first)

-    { return wxStringBase::erase(first); }
+    { return iterator(this, m_impl.erase(first.impl())); }

 
 #ifdef wxSTRING_BASE_HASNT_CLEAR
   void clear() { erase(); }
 
 #ifdef wxSTRING_BASE_HASNT_CLEAR
   void clear() { erase(); }

+#else
+  void clear() { m_impl.clear(); }

 #endif
 
     // replaces the substring of length nLen starting at nStart
 #endif
 
     // replaces the substring of length nLen starting at nStart

-  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxChar* sz)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(nStart, nLen, sz); }
+  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const char* sz)
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, ImplStr(sz));
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wchar_t* sz)
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, ImplStr(sz));
+    return *this;
+  }

     // replaces the substring of length nLen starting at nStart
   wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxString& str)
     // replaces the substring of length nLen starting at nStart
   wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, const wxString& str)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(nStart, nLen, str); }
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, str.m_impl);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // replaces the substring with nCount copies of ch
     // replaces the substring with nCount copies of ch

-  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, size_t nCount, wxChar ch)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(nStart, nLen, nCount, ch); }
+  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen, size_t nCount, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+        m_impl.replace(from, len, wxStringOperations::EncodeNChars(nCount, ch));
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.replace(from, len, nCount, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+    return *this;
+  }

     // replaces a substring with another substring
   wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
                     const wxString& str, size_t nStart2, size_t nLen2)
     // replaces a substring with another substring
   wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
                     const wxString& str, size_t nStart2, size_t nLen2)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(nStart, nLen, str,
-                                              nStart2, nLen2); }
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+
+    size_t from2, len2;
+    str.PosLenToImpl(nStart2, nLen2, &from2, &len2);
+
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, str.m_impl, from2, len2);
+    return *this;
+  }

      // replaces the substring with first nCount chars of sz
   wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
      // replaces the substring with first nCount chars of sz
   wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,

-                    const wxChar* sz, size_t nCount)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(nStart, nLen, sz, nCount); }
-  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const_pointer s)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(first, last, s); }
-  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const_pointer s,
-                    size_type n)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(first, last, s, n); }
+                    const char* sz, size_t nCount)
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(sz, nCount));
+
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
+                    const wchar_t* sz, size_t nCount)
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+
+    SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(sz, nCount));
+
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& replace(size_t nStart, size_t nLen,
+                    const wxString& s, size_t nCount)
+  {
+    size_t from, len;
+    PosLenToImpl(nStart, nLen, &from, &len);
+    m_impl.replace(from, len, s.m_impl.c_str(), s.LenToImpl(nCount));
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const char* s)
+    { m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), ImplStr(s)); return *this; }
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const wchar_t* s)
+    { m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), ImplStr(s)); return *this; }
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const char* s, size_type n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(s, n));
+    m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const wchar_t* s, size_type n)
+  {
+    SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(s, n));
+    m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), str.data, str.len);
+    return *this;
+  }

   wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const wxString& s)
   wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, const wxString& s)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(first, last, s); }
-  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, size_type n, wxChar c)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(first, last, n, c); }
+    { m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), s.m_impl); return *this; }
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last, size_type n, wxUniChar ch)
+  {
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+    if ( !ch.IsAscii() )
+        m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(),
+                       wxStringOperations::EncodeNChars(n, ch));
+    else
+#endif
+        m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), n, (wxStringCharType)ch);
+    return *this;
+  }

   wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last,
                     const_iterator first1, const_iterator last1)
   wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last,
                     const_iterator first1, const_iterator last1)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::replace(first, last, first1, last1); }
+  {
+    m_impl.replace(first.impl(), last.impl(), first1.impl(), last1.impl());
+    return *this;
+  }
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last,
+                    const char *first1, const char *last1)
+    { replace(first, last, first1, last1 - first1); return *this; }
+  wxString& replace(iterator first, iterator last,
+                    const wchar_t *first1, const wchar_t *last1)
+    { replace(first, last, first1, last1 - first1); return *this; }
+
+  // swap two strings
+  void swap(wxString& str)
+    { m_impl.swap(str.m_impl); }
+
+    // find a substring
+  size_t find(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return PosFromImpl(m_impl.find(str.m_impl, PosToImpl(nStart))); }
+
+    // find first n characters of sz
+  size_t find(const char* sz, size_t nStart = 0, size_t n = npos) const
+  {
+      SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+      return PosFromImpl(m_impl.find(str.data, PosToImpl(nStart), str.len));
+  }
+  size_t find(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = 0, size_t n = npos) const
+  {
+      SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+      return PosFromImpl(m_impl.find(str.data, PosToImpl(nStart), str.len));
+  }
+
+    // find the first occurence of character ch after nStart
+  size_t find(wxUniChar ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+  {
+    return PosFromImpl(m_impl.find(wxStringOperations::EncodeChar(ch),
+                                   PosToImpl(nStart)));
+  }
+  size_t find(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find(char ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find(unsigned char ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find(wchar_t ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+
+    // rfind() family is exactly like find() but works right to left
+
+    // as find, but from the end
+  size_t rfind(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return PosFromImpl(m_impl.rfind(str.m_impl, PosToImpl(nStart))); }
+
+    // as find, but from the end
+  size_t rfind(const char* sz, size_t nStart = npos, size_t n = npos) const
+  {
+      SubstrBufFromMB str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+      return PosFromImpl(m_impl.rfind(str.data, PosToImpl(nStart), str.len));
+  }
+  size_t rfind(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = npos, size_t n = npos) const
+  {
+      SubstrBufFromWC str(ImplStr(sz, n));
+      return PosFromImpl(m_impl.rfind(str.data, PosToImpl(nStart), str.len));
+  }
+    // as find, but from the end
+  size_t rfind(wxUniChar ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+  {
+    return PosFromImpl(m_impl.rfind(wxStringOperations::EncodeChar(ch),
+                                    PosToImpl(nStart)));
+  }
+  size_t rfind(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return rfind(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t rfind(char ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return rfind(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t rfind(unsigned char ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return rfind(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t rfind(wchar_t ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return rfind(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+
+  // find first/last occurence of any character (not) in the set:
+#if wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+  // FIXME-UTF8: this is not entirely correct, because it doesn't work if
+  //             sizeof(wchar_t)==2 and surrogates are present in the string;
+  //             should we care? Probably not.
+  size_t find_first_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_of(str.m_impl, nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_first_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_first_of(wxUniChar c, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_of((wxChar)c, nStart); }
+
+  size_t find_last_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_of(str.m_impl, nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_last_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_last_of(wxUniChar c, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_of((wxChar)c, nStart); }
+
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_not_of(str.m_impl, nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(wxUniChar c, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return m_impl.find_first_not_of((wxChar)c, nStart); }
+
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_not_of(str.m_impl, nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_not_of(ImplStr(sz), nStart, n); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(wxUniChar c, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return m_impl.find_last_not_of((wxChar)c, nStart); }
+#else
+  // we can't use std::string implementation in UTF-8 build, because the
+  // character sets would be interpreted wrongly:
+
+    // as strpbrk() but starts at nStart, returns npos if not found
+  size_t find_first_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE // FIXME-UTF8: temporary
+    { return find_first_of(str.mb_str().data(), nStart); }
+#else
+    { return find_first_of((const wxChar*)str.c_str(), nStart); }
+#endif
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_first_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+  size_t find_first_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+  size_t find_first_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+  size_t find_first_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+    // same as find(char, size_t)
+  size_t find_first_of(wxUniChar c, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    { return find(c, nStart); }
+    // find the last (starting from nStart) char from str in this string
+  size_t find_last_of (const wxString& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE // FIXME-UTF8: temporary
+    { return find_last_of(str.mb_str().data(), nStart); }
+#else
+    { return find_last_of((const wxChar*)str.c_str(), nStart); }
+#endif
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_last_of (const char* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+  size_t find_last_of (const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+  size_t find_last_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+  size_t find_last_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_last_of(wxUniChar c, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    { return rfind(c, nStart); }
+
+    // find first/last occurence of any character not in the set
+
+    // as strspn() (starting from nStart), returns npos on failure
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = 0) const
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE // FIXME-UTF8: temporary
+    { return find_first_not_of(str.mb_str().data(), nStart); }
+#else
+    { return find_first_not_of((const wxChar*)str.c_str(), nStart); }
+#endif
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+  size_t find_first_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_first_not_of(wxUniChar ch, size_t nStart = 0) const;
+    //  as strcspn()
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const wxString& str, size_t nStart = npos) const
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE // FIXME-UTF8: temporary
+    { return find_last_not_of(str.mb_str().data(), nStart); }
+#else
+    { return find_last_not_of((const wxChar*)str.c_str(), nStart); }
+#endif
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const char* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+  size_t find_last_not_of(const wchar_t* sz, size_t nStart, size_t n) const;
+    // same as above
+  size_t find_last_not_of(wxUniChar ch, size_t nStart = npos) const;
+#endif // wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8 or not
+
+  // provide char/wchar_t/wxUniCharRef overloads for char-finding functions
+  // above to resolve ambiguities:
+  size_t find_first_of(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_of(char ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_of(unsigned char ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_of(wchar_t ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(char ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(unsigned char ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_of(wchar_t ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(char ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(unsigned char ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_first_not_of(wchar_t ch, size_t nStart = 0) const
+    {  return find_first_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(wxUniCharRef ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(char ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(unsigned char ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }
+  size_t find_last_not_of(wchar_t ch, size_t nStart = npos) const
+    {  return find_last_not_of(wxUniChar(ch), nStart); }

 
       // string += string
   wxString& operator+=(const wxString& s)
 
       // string += string
   wxString& operator+=(const wxString& s)

-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::operator+=(s); }
+    { m_impl += s.m_impl; return *this; }

       // string += C string
       // string += C string

-  wxString& operator+=(const wxChar *psz)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::operator+=(psz); }
+  wxString& operator+=(const char *psz)
+    { m_impl += ImplStr(psz); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator+=(const wchar_t *pwz)
+    { m_impl += ImplStr(pwz); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator+=(const wxCStrData& s)
+    { m_impl += s.AsString().m_impl; return *this; }

       // string += char
       // string += char

-  wxString& operator+=(wxChar ch)
-    { return (wxString&)wxStringBase::operator+=(ch); }
+  wxString& operator+=(wxUniChar ch)
+    { m_impl += wxStringOperations::EncodeChar(ch); return *this; }
+  wxString& operator+=(wxUniCharRef ch) { return *this += wxUniChar(ch); }
+  wxString& operator+=(int ch) { return *this += wxUniChar(ch); }
+  wxString& operator+=(char ch) { return *this += wxUniChar(ch); }
+  wxString& operator+=(unsigned char ch) { return *this += wxUniChar(ch); }
+  wxString& operator+=(wchar_t ch) { return *this += wxUniChar(ch); }
+
+private:
+#if !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+  // helpers for wxStringBuffer and wxStringBufferLength
+  wxStringCharType *DoGetWriteBuf(size_t nLen)
+    { return m_impl.DoGetWriteBuf(nLen); }
+  void DoUngetWriteBuf()
+    { m_impl.DoUngetWriteBuf(); }
+  void DoUngetWriteBuf(size_t nLen)
+    { m_impl.DoUngetWriteBuf(nLen); }
+
+  friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBuffer;
+  friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBufferLength;
+#endif // !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8
+
+#ifndef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+  int DoPrintf(const wxChar *format, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_2;
+  static wxString DoFormat(const wxChar *format, ...) ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF_1;
+#endif
+
+#if !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING
+  // check string's data validity
+  bool IsValid() const { return m_impl.GetStringData()->IsValid(); }
+#endif
+
+private:
+  wxStringImpl m_impl;
+
+  // buffers for compatibility conversion from (char*)c_str() and
+  // (wchar_t*)c_str():
+  // FIXME-UTF8: bechmark various approaches to keeping compatibility buffers
+  template<typename T>
+  struct ConvertedBuffer
+  {
+      ConvertedBuffer() : m_buf(NULL) {}
+      ~ConvertedBuffer()
+          { free(m_buf); }
+
+      operator T*() const { return m_buf; }
+
+      ConvertedBuffer& operator=(T *str)
+      {
+          free(m_buf);
+          m_buf = str;
+          return *this;
+      }
+
+      T *m_buf;
+  };
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE
+  ConvertedBuffer<char> m_convertedToChar;
+#endif
+#if !wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+  ConvertedBuffer<wchar_t> m_convertedToWChar;
+#endif
+  friend class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxCStrData;

 };
 
 };
 

-// define wxArrayString, for compatibility
-#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2_4 && !wxUSE_STL
-    #include "wx/arrstr.h"
+#ifdef wxNEEDS_WXSTRING_PRINTF_MIXIN
+    #pragma warning (default:4275)

 #endif
 
 #endif
 

-#if wxUSE_STL
+// string iterator operators that satisfy STL Random Access Iterator
+// requirements:
+inline wxString::iterator operator+(int n, wxString::iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::iterator operator+(size_t n, wxString::iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::const_iterator operator+(int n, wxString::const_iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::const_iterator operator+(size_t n, wxString::const_iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::reverse_iterator operator+(int n, wxString::reverse_iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::reverse_iterator operator+(size_t n, wxString::reverse_iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::const_reverse_iterator operator+(int n, wxString::const_reverse_iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+inline wxString::const_reverse_iterator operator+(size_t n, wxString::const_reverse_iterator i)
+  { return i + n; }
+
+// notice that even though for many compilers the friend declarations above are
+// enough, from the point of view of C++ standard we must have the declarations
+// here as friend ones are not injected in the enclosing namespace and without
+// them the code fails to compile with conforming compilers such as xlC or g++4
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string1, const wxString& string2);
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, const char *psz);
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, const wchar_t *pwz);
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const char *psz, const wxString& string);
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wchar_t *pwz, const wxString& string);
+
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, wxUniChar ch);
+wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(wxUniChar ch, const wxString& string);
+
+inline wxString operator+(const wxString& string, wxUniCharRef ch)
+    { return string + (wxUniChar)ch; }
+inline wxString operator+(const wxString& string, char ch)
+    { return string + wxUniChar(ch); }
+inline wxString operator+(const wxString& string, wchar_t ch)
+    { return string + wxUniChar(ch); }
+inline wxString operator+(wxUniCharRef ch, const wxString& string)
+    { return (wxUniChar)ch + string; }
+inline wxString operator+(char ch, const wxString& string)
+    { return wxUniChar(ch) + string; }
+inline wxString operator+(wchar_t ch, const wxString& string)
+    { return wxUniChar(ch) + string; }
+
+
+#if wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING

     // return an empty wxString (not very useful with wxUSE_STL == 1)
     inline const wxString wxGetEmptyString() { return wxString(); }
     // return an empty wxString (not very useful with wxUSE_STL == 1)
     inline const wxString wxGetEmptyString() { return wxString(); }

-#else // !wxUSE_STL
+#else // !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING

     // return an empty wxString (more efficient than wxString() here)
     inline const wxString& wxGetEmptyString()
     {
         return *(wxString *)&wxEmptyString;
     }
     // return an empty wxString (more efficient than wxString() here)
     inline const wxString& wxGetEmptyString()
     {
         return *(wxString *)&wxEmptyString;
     }

-#endif // wxUSE_STL/!wxUSE_STL
+#endif // wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING/!wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING

 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // wxStringBuffer: a tiny class allowing to get a writable pointer into string
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // wxStringBuffer: a tiny class allowing to get a writable pointer into string
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

-#if wxUSE_STL
+#if wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING || wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8

 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBuffer
 {
 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBuffer
 {


@@ -1351,16 +2374,16 @@ private:
     DECLARE_NO_COPY_CLASS(wxStringBufferLength)
 };
 
     DECLARE_NO_COPY_CLASS(wxStringBufferLength)
 };
 

-#else // if !wxUSE_STL
+#else // if !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8

 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBuffer
 {
 public:
     wxStringBuffer(wxString& str, size_t lenWanted = 1024)
         : m_str(str), m_buf(NULL)
 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBuffer
 {
 public:
     wxStringBuffer(wxString& str, size_t lenWanted = 1024)
         : m_str(str), m_buf(NULL)

-        { m_buf = m_str.GetWriteBuf(lenWanted); }
+        { m_buf = m_str.DoGetWriteBuf(lenWanted); }

 
 

-    ~wxStringBuffer() { m_str.UngetWriteBuf(); }
+    ~wxStringBuffer() { m_str.DoUngetWriteBuf(); }

 
     operator wxChar*() const { return m_buf; }
 
 
     operator wxChar*() const { return m_buf; }
 


@@ -1376,12 +2399,15 @@ class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxStringBufferLength
 public:
     wxStringBufferLength(wxString& str, size_t lenWanted = 1024)
         : m_str(str), m_buf(NULL), m_len(0), m_lenSet(false)
 public:
     wxStringBufferLength(wxString& str, size_t lenWanted = 1024)
         : m_str(str), m_buf(NULL), m_len(0), m_lenSet(false)

-        { m_buf = m_str.GetWriteBuf(lenWanted); }
+    {
+        m_buf = m_str.DoGetWriteBuf(lenWanted);
+        wxASSERT(m_buf != NULL);
+    }

 
     ~wxStringBufferLength()
     {
         wxASSERT(m_lenSet);
 
     ~wxStringBufferLength()
     {
         wxASSERT(m_lenSet);

-        m_str.UngetWriteBuf(m_len);
+        m_str.DoUngetWriteBuf(m_len);

     }
 
     operator wxChar*() const { return m_buf; }
     }
 
     operator wxChar*() const { return m_buf; }


@@ -1396,97 +2422,32 @@ private:
     DECLARE_NO_COPY_CLASS(wxStringBufferLength)
 };
 
     DECLARE_NO_COPY_CLASS(wxStringBufferLength)
 };
 

-#endif // !wxUSE_STL
+#endif // !wxUSE_STL_BASED_WXSTRING && !wxUSE_UNICODE_UTF8

 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // wxString comparison functions: operator versions are always case sensitive
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // wxString comparison functions: operator versions are always case sensitive
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

-#if wxUSE_STL
+#define wxCMP_WXCHAR_STRING(p, s, op) 0 op s.Cmp(p)

 
 

-inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) == 0; }
-inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) == 0; }
-inline bool operator==(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.compare(s1) == 0; }
-inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) != 0; }
-inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) != 0; }
-inline bool operator!=(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.compare(s1) != 0; }
-inline bool operator< (const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) <  0; }
-inline bool operator< (const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) <  0; }
-inline bool operator< (const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.compare(s1) >  0; }
-inline bool operator> (const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) >  0; }
-inline bool operator> (const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) >  0; }
-inline bool operator> (const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.compare(s1) <  0; }
-inline bool operator<=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) <= 0; }
-inline bool operator<=(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) <= 0; }
-inline bool operator<=(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.compare(s1) >= 0; }
-inline bool operator>=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) >= 0; }
-inline bool operator>=(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.compare(s2) >= 0; }
-inline bool operator>=(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.compare(s1) <= 0; }
+wxDEFINE_ALL_COMPARISONS(const wxChar *, const wxString&, wxCMP_WXCHAR_STRING)

 
 

-#else // if !wxUSE_STL
+#undef wxCMP_WXCHAR_STRING

 
 

+// note that there is an optimization in operator==() and !=(): we (quickly)
+// checks the strings length first, before comparing their data

 inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return (s1.Len() == s2.Len()) && (s1.Cmp(s2) == 0); }
 inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return (s1.Len() == s2.Len()) && (s1.Cmp(s2) == 0); }

-inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.Cmp(s2) == 0; }
-inline bool operator==(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.Cmp(s1) == 0; }

 inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return (s1.Len() != s2.Len()) || (s1.Cmp(s2) != 0); }
 inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return (s1.Len() != s2.Len()) || (s1.Cmp(s2) != 0); }

-inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.Cmp(s2) != 0; }
-inline bool operator!=(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.Cmp(s1) != 0; }

 inline bool operator< (const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) < 0; }
 inline bool operator< (const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) < 0; }

-inline bool operator< (const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.Cmp(s2) <  0; }
-inline bool operator< (const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.Cmp(s1) >  0; }

 inline bool operator> (const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) >  0; }
 inline bool operator> (const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) >  0; }

-inline bool operator> (const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.Cmp(s2) >  0; }
-inline bool operator> (const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.Cmp(s1) <  0; }

 inline bool operator<=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) <= 0; }
 inline bool operator<=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) <= 0; }

-inline bool operator<=(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.Cmp(s2) <= 0; }
-inline bool operator<=(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.Cmp(s1) >= 0; }

 inline bool operator>=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) >= 0; }
 inline bool operator>=(const wxString& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return s1.Cmp(s2) >= 0; }

-inline bool operator>=(const wxString& s1, const wxChar  * s2)
-    { return s1.Cmp(s2) >= 0; }
-inline bool operator>=(const wxChar  * s1, const wxString& s2)
-    { return s2.Cmp(s1) <= 0; }
-
-#endif // !wxUSE_STL
-
-// comparison with char
-inline bool operator==(wxChar c, const wxString& s) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
-inline bool operator==(const wxString& s, wxChar c) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
-inline bool operator!=(wxChar c, const wxString& s) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
-inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s, wxChar c) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }

 
 #if wxUSE_UNICODE
 inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxWCharBuffer& s2)
 
 #if wxUSE_UNICODE
 inline bool operator==(const wxString& s1, const wxWCharBuffer& s2)


@@ -1508,16 +2469,6 @@ inline bool operator!=(const wxCharBuffer& s1, const wxString& s2)
     { return (s2.Cmp((const char *)s1) != 0); }
 #endif // wxUSE_UNICODE/!wxUSE_UNICODE
 
     { return (s2.Cmp((const char *)s1) != 0); }
 #endif // wxUSE_UNICODE/!wxUSE_UNICODE
 

-#if !wxUSE_STL
-
-wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string1,  const wxString& string2);
-wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, wxChar ch);
-wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(wxChar ch, const wxString& string);
-wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxString& string, const wxChar *psz);
-wxString WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE operator+(const wxChar *psz, const wxString& string);
-
-#endif // !wxUSE_STL
-

 #if wxUSE_UNICODE
 inline wxString operator+(const wxString& string, const wxWCharBuffer& buf)
     { return string + (const wchar_t *)buf; }
 #if wxUSE_UNICODE
 inline wxString operator+(const wxString& string, const wxWCharBuffer& buf)
     { return string + (const wchar_t *)buf; }


@@ -1530,20 +2481,169 @@ inline wxString operator+(const wxCharBuffer& buf, const wxString& string)
     { return (const char *)buf + string; }
 #endif // wxUSE_UNICODE/!wxUSE_UNICODE
 
     { return (const char *)buf + string; }
 #endif // wxUSE_UNICODE/!wxUSE_UNICODE
 

+// comparison with char
+inline bool operator==(const wxUniChar& c, const wxString& s) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(const wxUniCharRef& c, const wxString& s) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(char c, const wxString& s) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(wchar_t c, const wxString& s) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(int c, const wxString& s) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(const wxString& s, const wxUniChar& c) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(const wxString& s, const wxUniCharRef& c) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(const wxString& s, char c) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator==(const wxString& s, wchar_t c) { return s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(const wxUniChar& c, const wxString& s) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(const wxUniCharRef& c, const wxString& s) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(char c, const wxString& s) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(wchar_t c, const wxString& s) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(int c, const wxString& s) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s, const wxUniChar& c) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s, const wxUniCharRef& c) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s, char c) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+inline bool operator!=(const wxString& s, wchar_t c) { return !s.IsSameAs(c); }
+
+// comparison with C string in Unicode build
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE
+
+#define wxCMP_CHAR_STRING(p, s, op) wxString(p) op s
+
+wxDEFINE_ALL_COMPARISONS(const char *, const wxString&, wxCMP_CHAR_STRING)
+
+#undef wxCMP_CHAR_STRING
+
+#endif // wxUSE_UNICODE
+
+// we also need to provide the operators for comparison with wxCStrData to
+// resolve ambiguity between operator(const wxChar *,const wxString &) and
+// operator(const wxChar *, const wxChar *) for "p == s.c_str()"
+//
+// notice that these are (shallow) pointer comparisons, not (deep) string ones
+#define wxCMP_CHAR_CSTRDATA(p, s, op) p op s.AsChar()
+#define wxCMP_WCHAR_CSTRDATA(p, s, op) p op s.AsWChar()
+
+wxDEFINE_ALL_COMPARISONS(const wchar_t *, const wxCStrData&, wxCMP_WCHAR_CSTRDATA)
+wxDEFINE_ALL_COMPARISONS(const char *, const wxCStrData&, wxCMP_CHAR_CSTRDATA)
+
+#undef wxCMP_CHAR_CSTRDATA
+#undef wxCMP_WCHAR_CSTRDATA
+

 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Implementation only from here until the end of file
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Implementation only from here until the end of file
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

-// don't pollute the library user's name space
-#undef wxASSERT_VALID_INDEX
-

 #if wxUSE_STD_IOSTREAM
 
 #include "wx/iosfwrap.h"
 
 #if wxUSE_STD_IOSTREAM
 
 #include "wx/iosfwrap.h"
 

-WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxSTD istream& operator>>(wxSTD istream&, wxString&);

 WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxSTD ostream& operator<<(wxSTD ostream&, const wxString&);
 WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxSTD ostream& operator<<(wxSTD ostream&, const wxString&);

+WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxSTD ostream& operator<<(wxSTD ostream&, const wxCStrData&);
+WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxSTD ostream& operator<<(wxSTD ostream&, const wxCharBuffer&);
+#ifndef __BORLANDC__
+WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxSTD ostream& operator<<(wxSTD ostream&, const wxWCharBuffer&);
+#endif

 
 #endif  // wxSTD_STRING_COMPATIBILITY
 
 
 #endif  // wxSTD_STRING_COMPATIBILITY
 

-#endif  // _WX_WXSTRINGH__
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// wxCStrData implementation
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+inline wxCStrData::wxCStrData(char *buf)
+    : m_str(new wxString(buf)), m_offset(0), m_owned(true) {}
+inline wxCStrData::wxCStrData(wchar_t *buf)
+    : m_str(new wxString(buf)), m_offset(0), m_owned(true) {}
+
+inline wxCStrData::~wxCStrData()
+{
+    if ( m_owned )
+        delete m_str;
+}
+
+// simple cases for AsChar() and AsWChar(), the complicated ones are
+// in string.cpp
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+inline const wchar_t* wxCStrData::AsWChar() const
+{
+    return m_str->wx_str() + m_offset;
+}
+#endif // wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+
+#if !wxUSE_UNICODE
+inline const char* wxCStrData::AsChar() const
+{
+    return m_str->wx_str() + m_offset;
+}
+#endif // !wxUSE_UNICODE
+
+inline const wxCharBuffer wxCStrData::AsCharBuf() const
+{
+#if !wxUSE_UNICODE
+    return wxCharBuffer::CreateNonOwned(AsChar());
+#else
+    return AsString().mb_str();
+#endif
+}
+
+inline const wxWCharBuffer wxCStrData::AsWCharBuf() const
+{
+#if wxUSE_UNICODE_WCHAR
+    return wxWCharBuffer::CreateNonOwned(AsWChar());
+#else
+    return AsString().wc_str();
+#endif
+}
+
+inline wxString wxCStrData::AsString() const
+{
+    if ( m_offset == 0 )
+        return *m_str;
+    else
+        return m_str->Mid(m_offset);
+}
+
+inline wxUniChar wxCStrData::operator*() const
+{
+    if ( m_str->empty() )
+        return wxUniChar(_T('\0'));
+    else
+        return (*m_str)[m_offset];
+}
+
+inline wxUniChar wxCStrData::operator[](size_t n) const
+{
+    // NB: we intentionally use operator[] and not at() here because the former
+    //     works for the terminating NUL while the latter does not
+    return (*m_str)[m_offset + n];
+}
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// more wxCStrData operators
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// we need to define those to allow "size_t pos = p - s.c_str()" where p is
+// some pointer into the string
+inline size_t operator-(const char *p, const wxCStrData& cs)
+{
+    return p - cs.AsChar();
+}
+
+inline size_t operator-(const wchar_t *p, const wxCStrData& cs)
+{
+    return p - cs.AsWChar();
+}
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// implementation of wx[W]CharBuffer inline methods using wxCStrData
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// FIXME-UTF8: move this to buffer.h
+inline wxCharBuffer::wxCharBuffer(const wxCStrData& cstr)
+                    : wxCharTypeBufferBase(cstr.AsCharBuf())
+{
+}
+
+inline wxWCharBuffer::wxWCharBuffer(const wxCStrData& cstr)
+                    : wxCharTypeBufferBase(cstr.AsWCharBuf())
+{
+}
+
+#endif  // _WX_WXSTRING_H_