diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/implicit.i b/SWIG/Lib/python/implicit.i
index ab3531976..442f99f0e 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/implicit.i
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/implicit.i
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 %define %implicit_code(...)
   if (swigpy::check<__VA_ARGS__ >(obj)) {
     if (val) *val = new value_type(swigpy::as<__VA_ARGS__ >(obj));
-    return 2;
+    return SWIG_NEWPTR;
   }
 %enddef
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
     static swig_type_info* desc = SWIG_TypeQuery("Type *");
     if ((SWIG_ConvertPtr(obj, (void **)&vptr, desc, 0) != -1)) {
       if (val) *val = vptr;
-      return 1;
+      return SWIG_OLDPTR;
     } else {
       if (PyErr_Occurred()) PyErr_Clear();
       %formacro_1(%implicit_code,__VA_ARGS__)
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
     static swig_type_info* desc = SWIG_TypeQuery("Type *");
     if ((SWIG_ConvertPtr(obj, (void **)&vptr, desc, 0) != -1)) {
       if (val) *val = vptr;
-      return 1;
+      return SWIG_OLDPTR;
     } else {
       if (PyErr_Occurred()) PyErr_Clear();
       %implicit_code(Imp1);
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
     static swig_type_info* desc = SWIG_TypeQuery("Type *");
     if ((SWIG_ConvertPtr(obj, (void **)&vptr, desc, 0) != -1)) {
       if (val) *val = vptr;
-      return 1;
+      return SWIG_OLDPTR;
     } else {
       if (PyErr_Occurred()) PyErr_Clear();
       %implicit_code(Imp1);
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
     static swig_type_info* desc = SWIG_TypeQuery("Type *");
     if ((SWIG_ConvertPtr(obj, (void **)&vptr, desc, 0) != -1)) {
       if (val) *val = vptr;
-      return 1;
+      return SWIG_OLDPTR;
     } else {
       if (PyErr_Occurred()) PyErr_Clear();
       %implicit_code(Imp1);
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/pycontainer.i b/SWIG/Lib/python/pycontainer.i
index c2e51e52a..a906a2158 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/pycontainer.i
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/pycontainer.i
@@ -37,7 +37,13 @@ namespace swigpy
     operator T () const 
     {
       swigpy::PyObject_var item = PySequence_GetItem(_seq, _index);
-      return swigpy::as<T>(item);
+      try {
+	return swigpy::as<T>(item, true);
+      } catch (std::exception& e) {
+	PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, 
+		     "error in sequence element %d: %s", _index, e.what());
+	throw;
+      }
     }
     
     PySequence_Ref& operator=(const T& v) 
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/pymacros.swg b/SWIG/Lib/python/pymacros.swg
index ee0275442..1f5e51b8c 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/pymacros.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/pymacros.swg
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 %{
 /* Auxiliar swig  macros that appear in the header */
 
+#define SWIG_OLDPTR  1
+#define SWIG_NEWPTR  2
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 #define SWIGSTATICINLINE(a) static inline a
 #define SWIGSTATIC(a) static a
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/pyprimtypes.swg b/SWIG/Lib/python/pyprimtypes.swg
index 96f82f75b..91cb6d0f8 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/pyprimtypes.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/pyprimtypes.swg
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ _apply_macro(Macro, bool, __VA_ARGS__);
 %define %apply_cpptypes(Macro,...)
 %apply_otypes(Macro, __VA_ARGS__)
 _apply_macro(Macro, bool, __VA_ARGS__);
-_apply_macro(Macro, std::string, __VA_ARGS__);
+_apply_macro(Macro, std::basic_string<char>, __VA_ARGS__);
 _apply_macro(Macro, std::complex<float>, __VA_ARGS__);
 _apply_macro(Macro, std::complex<double>, __VA_ARGS__);
 %enddef
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/pyptrtypes.swg b/SWIG/Lib/python/pyptrtypes.swg
index cd42ca3c9..66b0a5286 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/pyptrtypes.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/pyptrtypes.swg
@@ -7,106 +7,66 @@
 
 %define PYPTR_IN_TYPEMAP(pyobj_asptr,pyfrag,...)
   %typemap(in,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ {
-    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr;
+    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr = (__VA_ARGS__ *)0;
     int res = pyobj_asptr($input, &ptr);
-    if (!res) SWIG_fail;
+    if (!res || !ptr) SWIG_fail;
     $1 = *ptr;
-    if (res > 1) delete ptr;
+    if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete ptr;
   }
   %typemap(in,fragment=pyfrag) const __VA_ARGS__ & (int res = 0) 
-    "if (!(res = pyobj_asptr($input, &$1))) SWIG_fail;";
+    "if (!(res = pyobj_asptr($input, &$1)) || !($1)) SWIG_fail;";
 
   %typemap(freearg) const __VA_ARGS__ & 
     "if (res$argnum > 1) delete $1;";
 %enddef
 
-/* out */
-
-%define PYPTR_OUT_TYPEMAP(pyobj_from,pyfrag,...)
-  %typemap(out,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ 
-  "$result = pyobj_from($1);";
-  %typemap(out,fragment=pyfrag) const __VA_ARGS__& 
-  "$result = pyobj_from(*($1));";
-%enddef
-
 /* varin */
 
 %define PYPTR_VARIN_TYPEMAP(pyobj_asptr,pyfrag,...)
   %typemap(varin,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ {
-    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr;
+    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr = (__VA_ARGS__ *)0;
     int res = pyobj_asptr($input, &ptr);
-    if (!res) {
+    if (!res || !ptr) {
       PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "C variable '$name ($1_ltype)'");
       return 1;
     }
-    if (!res) SWIG_fail;
     $1 = *ptr;
-    if (res > 1) delete ptr;
+    if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete ptr;
   }
 %enddef
 
-/* varout */
-
-%define PYPTR_VAROUT_TYPEMAP(pyobj_from,pyfrag,...)
-  %typemap(varout,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__, const __VA_ARGS__&  
-   "$result = pyobj_from($1);";
-%enddef
-
-/* Primitive types */
-%define PYPTR_CONSTCODE_TYPEMAP(pyobj_from,pyfrag,...)
-  %typemap(constcode,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ 
-     "PyDict_SetItemString(d,\"$symname\", pyobj_from($value));";
-%enddef
-
-
-/* directorin */
-
-%define PYPTR_DIRECTORIN_TYPEMAP(pyobj_from,pyfrag,...)
-  %typemap(directorin,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__
-  "$input = pyobj_from($1_name);";
-%enddef
-
 /* directorout */
 
 %define PYPTR_DIRECTOROUT_TYPEMAP(pyobj_asptr,pyfrag,...)
   %typemap(directorargout,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ *DIRECTOROUT ($*1_ltype temp) {
-    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr;
+  __VA_ARGS__ *ptr = 0;
     int res = pyobj_asptr($input, &ptr);
-    if (!res) 
+    if (!res || !ptr) 
       throw Swig::DirectorTypeMismatchException("Error converting Python object using pyobj_asptr");
     temp = *ptr;
     $result = &temp;
-    if (res > 1) delete ptr;
+    if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete ptr;
   }
   %typemap(directorout,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ {
-    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr;
+    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr = 0;
     int res = pyobj_asptr($input, &ptr);
-    if (!res) 
+    if (!res || !ptr) 
       throw Swig::DirectorTypeMismatchException("Error converting Python object using pyobj_asptr");
     $result = *ptr;
-    if (res > 1) delete ptr;
+    if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete ptr;
   }
   %typemap(directorout,fragment=pyfrag) const __VA_ARGS__& ($*1_ltype temp) {
-    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr;
+    __VA_ARGS__ *ptr = 0;
     int res = pyobj_asptr($input, &ptr);
-    if (!res) 
+    if (!res || !ptr) 
       throw Swig::DirectorTypeMismatchException("Error converting Python object using pyobj_asptr");
     temp = *ptr;
     $result = &temp;
-    if (res > 1) delete ptr;
+    if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete ptr;
   }
   %typemap(directorout,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ &DIRECTOROUT = __VA_ARGS__
 %enddef
 
-/* throws */
-
-%define PYPTR_THROWS_TYPEMAP(pyobj_from,pyfrag,...)
-  %typemap(throws,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ {
-  PyErr_SetObject(PyExc_RuntimeError, pyobj_from($1));
-    SWIG_fail;
-  }
-%enddef
-
 /* typecheck */
 
 %define PYPTR_TYPECHECK_TYPEMAP(check,pyobj_asptr,pyfrag,...)
@@ -121,25 +81,40 @@
 
 %define %typemap_asptrfrom(CheckCode, AsPtrMeth, FromMeth, AsPtrFrag, FromFrag, ...)
   PYPTR_IN_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(AsPtrMeth), SWIG_arg(AsPtrFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
-  PYPTR_OUT_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
   PYPTR_VARIN_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(AsPtrMeth), SWIG_arg(AsPtrFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
-  PYPTR_VAROUT_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
-  PYPTR_CONSTCODE_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
-  PYPTR_DIRECTORIN_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
   PYPTR_DIRECTOROUT_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(AsPtrMeth), SWIG_arg(AsPtrFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
-  PYPTR_THROWS_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag),__VA_ARGS__);
   PYPTR_TYPECHECK_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(CheckCode), SWIG_arg(AsPtrMeth), 
-		       SWIG_arg(AsPtrFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
+			  SWIG_arg(AsPtrFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
+  PYVAL_DIRECTORIN_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
+  PYVAL_OUT_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
+  PYVAL_VAROUT_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
+  PYVAL_CONSTCODE_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag), __VA_ARGS__);
+  PYVAL_THROWS_TYPEMAP(SWIG_arg(FromMeth), SWIG_arg(FromFrag),__VA_ARGS__);
 %enddef
 
 /*
-  typemap for simple swig types with only AsPtr/From conversor methods
+  typemap for simple swig types with only AsPtr/From methods
 */
 
 %define %typemap_asptrfromn(CheckCode, ...)
+%fragment(SWIG_AsVal_frag(__VA_ARGS__),"header",
+	  fragment=SWIG_AsPtr_frag(__VA_ARGS__)) %{
+SWIGSTATICINLINE(int)
+  SWIG_AsVal_meth(__VA_ARGS__)(PyObject* obj, __VA_ARGS__ *val)
+{
+  __VA_ARGS__ *v = (__VA_ARGS__ *)0;
+  int res = SWIG_AsPtr_meth(__VA_ARGS__)(obj, &v);
+  if (!res || !v) return 0;  
+  if (val) {
+    *val = *v;
+    if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete v;
+  }
+  return 1;
+}
+%}
 %typemap_asptrfrom(SWIG_arg(CheckCode),
-		   SWIG_AsPtr_meth(__VA_ARGS__), 
-		   SWIG_From_meth(__VA_ARGS__), 
+		   SWIG_arg(SWIG_AsPtr_meth(__VA_ARGS__)), 
+		   SWIG_arg(SWIG_From_meth(__VA_ARGS__)), 
 		   SWIG_arg(SWIG_AsPtr_frag(__VA_ARGS__)), 
 		   SWIG_arg(SWIG_From_frag(__VA_ARGS__)), 
 		   __VA_ARGS__);
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/pystrings.swg b/SWIG/Lib/python/pystrings.swg
index 499cc5d8a..d144bd120 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/pystrings.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/pystrings.swg
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ SWIG_AsCharPtrAndSize(PyObject *obj, char** cptr, size_t* size)
   if (SWIG_ConvertPtr(obj, (void**)&vptr, pchar_info, 0) != -1) {
     if (cptr) *cptr = vptr;
     if (size) *size = vptr ? (strlen(vptr) + 1) : 0;
-    return 1;
+    return SWIG_OLDPTR;
   } else {
     if (PyString_Check(obj)) {
 #if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x02000000
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ SWIG_AsCharPtrAndSize(PyObject *obj, char** cptr, size_t* size)
 #endif
       if (cptr) *cptr = vptr;
       if (size) *size = vsize;
-      return 2;
+      return SWIG_NEWPTR;
     }
   }
   if (cptr || size) {
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/python.swg b/SWIG/Lib/python/python.swg
index bb9a3fa28..8a055bb22 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/python.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/python.swg
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 %include "pyobject.swg"
 %include "pystrings.swg"
 %include "pyvaltypes.swg"
+%include "pyptrtypes.swg"
 %include "pyprimtypes.swg"
 %include "pymisctypes.swg"
 
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/pyvaltypes.swg b/SWIG/Lib/python/pyvaltypes.swg
index eca6d28aa..8baa7efc4 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/pyvaltypes.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/pyvaltypes.swg
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
    "$result = pyobj_from((__VA_ARGS__)$1);";
 %enddef
 
-/* Primitive types */
+/* constant installation code */
 %define PYVAL_CONSTCODE_TYPEMAP(pyobj_from,pyfrag,...)
   %typemap(constcode,fragment=pyfrag) __VA_ARGS__ 
      "PyDict_SetItemString(d,\"$symname\", pyobj_from((__VA_ARGS__)$value));";
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/std_common.i b/SWIG/Lib/python/std_common.i
index 089aac3f7..ad92be105 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/std_common.i
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/std_common.i
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
 	int res = asptr(obj, &p);
 	if (res) {
 	  *val = *p;
-	  if (res > 1) delete p;
+	  if (res == SWIG_NEWPTR) delete p;
 	}
 	return res;
       } else {
@@ -167,16 +167,16 @@ namespace swigpy {
   struct traits_as<Type, value_category>
   {
     typedef Type value_type;
-    static value_type as(PyObject *obj) {
+    static value_type as(PyObject *obj, bool throw_error) {
       value_type v;
-      if (!asval(obj, &v)) {
-	std::string msg= "a value of type '";
+      if (!obj || !asval(obj, &v)) {
+	std::string msg = "a value of type '";
 	msg += swigpy::type_name<Type>();
 	msg += "' is expected";
 	if (!PyErr_Occurred()) {
 	  PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, msg.c_str());
 	}
-	throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
+	if (throw_error) throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
       }
       return v;
     }
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ namespace swigpy {
   struct traits_as<Type, pointer_category>
   {
     typedef Type value_type;
-    static value_type as(PyObject *obj) {
+    static value_type as(PyObject *obj, bool throw_error) {
       value_type *v = 0;
-      int res = asptr(obj, &v);
+      int res = obj ? asptr(obj, &v) : 0;
       if (res) {
 	if (res > 1) {
 	  value_type r(*v);
@@ -198,20 +198,20 @@ namespace swigpy {
 	  return *v;
 	}
       } else {
-	std::string msg= "a value of type '";
+	std::string msg = "a value of type '";
 	msg += swigpy::type_name<Type>();
 	msg += "' is expected";
 	if (!PyErr_Occurred()) {
 	  PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, msg.c_str());
 	}
-	throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
+	if (throw_error) throw std::invalid_argument(msg);
       }
     }
   };
     
   template <class Type>
-  inline Type as(PyObject *obj) {
-    return traits_as<Type, typename traits<Type>::category>::as(obj);
+  inline Type as(PyObject *obj, bool te = false) {
+    return traits_as<Type, typename traits<Type>::category>::as(obj, te);
   }
 
   template <class Type, class Category> 
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
   {
     typedef Type value_type;
     static bool check(PyObject *obj) {
-      return asval(obj, (value_type *)(0));
+      return obj && asval(obj, (value_type *)(0));
     }
   };
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ namespace swigpy {
   {
     typedef Type value_type;
     static bool check(PyObject *obj) {
-      return asptr(obj, (value_type **)(0));
+      return obj && asptr(obj, (value_type **)(0));
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/std_container.i b/SWIG/Lib/python/std_container.i
index 11fceb353..4991d656c 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/std_container.i
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/std_container.i
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
 	      sequence *pseq = new sequence();
 	      assign(pyseq, pseq);
 	      *seq = pseq;
-	      return 2;
+	      return SWIG_NEWPTR;
 	    } else {
 	      return pyseq.check();
 	    }
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/python/std_string.i b/SWIG/Lib/python/std_string.i
index 1127cf984..547fba4fa 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/python/std_string.i
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/python/std_string.i
@@ -12,42 +12,194 @@
 // However, I think I'll wait until someone asks for it...
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+%include exception.i
+%include pycontainer.i
+
 %{
 #include <string>
 %}
 
+namespace std {
+  template <class _CharT> 
+  class basic_string
+  {
+  public:
+    typedef size_t size_type;    
+    typedef ptrdiff_t difference_type;
+    typedef _CharT value_type;
+    typedef value_type reference;
+    typedef value_type const_reference;
+    
+    static const size_type npos;
 
-/* defining the std::string as/from methods */
+    basic_string();
+    basic_string(const basic_string& __str);
+    basic_string(const _CharT* __s, size_type __n);
 
-%fragment(SWIG_AsVal_frag(std::string),"header",
+    // Capacity:
+    size_type size() const;
+
+    size_type length() const;
+
+    size_type max_size() const;
+
+    void resize(size_type __n, _CharT __c);
+
+    void resize(size_type __n);
+
+    size_type capacity() const;
+
+    void reserve(size_type __res_arg = 0);
+
+    void clear();
+
+    bool empty() const;
+
+    // Modifiers:
+    basic_string
+    operator+=(const basic_string& __str);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    append(const basic_string& __str);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    append(const basic_string& __str, size_type __pos, size_type __n);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    append(const _CharT* __s, size_type __n);
+    
+    basic_string& 
+    append(size_type __n, _CharT __c);
+
+    void push_back(_CharT __c);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    assign(const basic_string& __str);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    assign(const basic_string& __str, size_type __pos, size_type __n);
+    
+    basic_string& 
+    assign(const _CharT* __s, size_type __n);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    assign(size_type __n, _CharT __c);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    insert(size_type __pos1, const basic_string& __str);    
+
+    basic_string& 
+    insert(size_type __pos1, const basic_string& __str,
+	   size_type __pos2, size_type __n);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    insert(size_type __pos, const _CharT* __s, size_type __n);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    insert(size_type __pos, size_type __n, _CharT __c);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    erase(size_type __pos = 0, size_type __n = npos);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(size_type __pos, size_type __n, const basic_string& __str);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(size_type __pos1, size_type __n1, const basic_string& __str,
+	    size_type __pos2, size_type __n2);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(size_type __pos, size_type __n1, const _CharT* __s,
+	    size_type __n2);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(size_type __pos, size_type __n1, size_type __n2, _CharT __c);
+
+    %ignore pop();
+    %pysequence_methods_val(std::basic_string<_CharT>);
+
+    #ifdef SWIG_EXPORT_ITERATOR_METHODS
+    iterator 
+    insert(iterator __p, _CharT __c = _CharT());
+
+    iterator 
+    erase(iterator __position);
+
+    iterator 
+    erase(iterator __first, iterator __last);
+
+    void 
+    insert(iterator __p, size_type __n, _CharT __c);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, const basic_string& __str);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2,
+	    const _CharT* __s, size_type __n);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, const _CharT* __s);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, size_type __n, _CharT __c);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, _CharT* __k1, _CharT* __k2);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, const _CharT* __k1, const _CharT* __k2);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, iterator __k1, iterator __k2);
+
+    basic_string& 
+    replace(iterator __i1, iterator __i2, const_iterator __k1, const_iterator __k2);
+    #endif
+  };
+  
+  typedef basic_string<char> string;
+
+}
+
+/* defining the std::string asptr/from methods */
+
+%fragment(SWIG_AsPtr_frag(std::basic_string<char>),"header",
 	  fragment="SWIG_AsCharPtrAndSize") {
 SWIGSTATICINLINE(int)
-  SWIG_AsVal_meth(std::string)(PyObject* obj, std::string *val)
-{
-  char* buf = 0 ; size_t size = 0;
-  if (SWIG_AsCharPtrAndSize(obj, &buf, &size)) {
-    if (buf) {
-      if (val) val->assign(buf, size);
-      return 1;
+  SWIG_AsPtr_meth(std::basic_string<char>)(PyObject* obj, std::string **val)
+  {
+    static swig_type_info* string_info = SWIG_TypeQuery("std::basic_string<char> *");
+    std::string *vptr;    
+    if (SWIG_ConvertPtr(obj, (void**)&vptr, string_info, 0) != -1) {
+      if (val) *val = vptr;
+      return SWIG_OLDPTR;
+    } else {
+      char* buf = 0 ; size_t size = 0;
+      if (SWIG_AsCharPtrAndSize(obj, &buf, &size)) {
+	if (buf) {
+	  if (val) *val = new std::string(buf, size);
+	  return SWIG_NEWPTR;
+	}
+      } else {
+	PyErr_Clear();
+      }  
+      if (val) {
+	PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,"a string is expected");
+      }
+      return 0;
     }
-  } else {
-    PyErr_Clear();
-  }  
-  if (val) {
-    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,"a string is expected");
   }
-  return 0;
-}
 }
 
-%fragment(SWIG_From_frag(std::string),"header",
+%fragment(SWIG_From_frag(std::basic_string<char>),"header",
 	  fragment="SWIG_FromCharArray") {
 SWIGSTATICINLINE(PyObject*)
-  SWIG_From_meth(std::string)(const std::string& s) {
-  return SWIG_FromCharArray(s.data(), s.size());
-}
+  SWIG_From_meth(std::basic_string<char>)(const std::string& s)
+  {
+    return SWIG_FromCharArray(s.data(), s.size());
+  }
 }
 
-%typemap_primitive(SWIG_CCode(STRING),  std::string);
+%typemap_asptrfromn(SWIG_CCode(STRING), std::basic_string<char>);
 
-/* declaring the typemaps */