diff --git a/hio/lib/Makefile.am b/hio/lib/Makefile.am
index 26f19db..c55d6d5 100644
--- a/hio/lib/Makefile.am
+++ b/hio/lib/Makefile.am
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ EXTRA_DIST = \
 	utl-str.c.m4 \
 	utl-str.m4
 
+BUILT_SOURCES = \
+	hio-utl.h \
+	utl-str.c 
+
 ##################################################
 # MAIN LIBRARY 
 ##################################################
@@ -140,10 +144,9 @@ install-data-hook:
 uninstall-hook:
 	@rm -f "$(DESTDIR)$(includedir)/hio-cfg.h"
 
-$(srcdir)/hio-utl.h: utl-str.m4 hio-utl.h.m4
+hio-utl.h: utl-str.m4 hio-utl.h.m4
 	m4 -I$(srcdir) $(srcdir)/hio-utl.h.m4 > $(srcdir)/hio-utl.h
 
-# do NOT put $(srcdir) before utl-str.c
 utl-str.c: utl-str.m4 utl-str.c.m4 
 	m4 -I$(srcdir) $(srcdir)/utl-str.c.m4 > $(srcdir)/utl-str.c
 
diff --git a/hio/lib/Makefile.in b/hio/lib/Makefile.in
index 286e664..e304ded 100644
--- a/hio/lib/Makefile.in
+++ b/hio/lib/Makefile.in
@@ -434,6 +434,10 @@ EXTRA_DIST = \
 	utl-str.c.m4 \
 	utl-str.m4
 
+BUILT_SOURCES = \
+	hio-utl.h \
+	utl-str.c 
+
 
 ##################################################
 # MAIN LIBRARY 
@@ -471,7 +475,7 @@ libhio_la_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS_LIB_COMMON) $(am__append_3)
 libhio_la_LDFLAGS = $(LDFLAGS_LIB_COMMON) $(am__append_4)
 libhio_la_LIBADD = $(LIBADD_LIB_COMMON) $(SSL_LIBS) $(SOCKET_LIBS) \
 	$(SENDFILE_LIBS) $(am__append_5) $(am__append_6)
-all: hio-cfg.h
+all: $(BUILT_SOURCES) hio-cfg.h
 	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) all-am
 
 .SUFFIXES:
@@ -1053,13 +1057,15 @@ distdir-am: $(DISTFILES)
 	  fi; \
 	done
 check-am: all-am
-check: check-am
+check: $(BUILT_SOURCES)
+	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) check-am
 all-am: Makefile $(LTLIBRARIES) $(HEADERS) hio-cfg.h
 installdirs:
 	for dir in "$(DESTDIR)$(libdir)" "$(DESTDIR)$(includedir)"; do \
 	  test -z "$$dir" || $(MKDIR_P) "$$dir"; \
 	done
-install: install-am
+install: $(BUILT_SOURCES)
+	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) install-am
 install-exec: install-exec-am
 install-data: install-data-am
 uninstall: uninstall-am
@@ -1089,6 +1095,7 @@ distclean-generic:
 maintainer-clean-generic:
 	@echo "This command is intended for maintainers to use"
 	@echo "it deletes files that may require special tools to rebuild."
+	-test -z "$(BUILT_SOURCES)" || rm -f $(BUILT_SOURCES)
 clean: clean-am
 
 clean-am: clean-generic clean-libLTLIBRARIES clean-libtool \
@@ -1246,7 +1253,8 @@ ps-am:
 uninstall-am: uninstall-includeHEADERS uninstall-libLTLIBRARIES
 	@$(NORMAL_INSTALL)
 	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) uninstall-hook
-.MAKE: all install-am install-data-am install-strip uninstall-am
+.MAKE: all check install install-am install-data-am install-strip \
+	uninstall-am
 
 .PHONY: CTAGS GTAGS TAGS all all-am am--depfiles check check-am clean \
 	clean-generic clean-libLTLIBRARIES clean-libtool cscopelist-am \
@@ -1278,10 +1286,9 @@ install-data-hook:
 uninstall-hook:
 	@rm -f "$(DESTDIR)$(includedir)/hio-cfg.h"
 
-$(srcdir)/hio-utl.h: utl-str.m4 hio-utl.h.m4
+hio-utl.h: utl-str.m4 hio-utl.h.m4
 	m4 -I$(srcdir) $(srcdir)/hio-utl.h.m4 > $(srcdir)/hio-utl.h
 
-# do NOT put $(srcdir) before utl-str.c
 utl-str.c: utl-str.m4 utl-str.c.m4 
 	m4 -I$(srcdir) $(srcdir)/utl-str.c.m4 > $(srcdir)/utl-str.c
 
diff --git a/hio/lib/hio-utl.h b/hio/lib/hio-utl.h
index 37d299e..acc67b0 100644
--- a/hio/lib/hio-utl.h
+++ b/hio/lib/hio-utl.h
@@ -412,6 +412,18 @@ HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_bchars_to_bcstr_unlimited (
 	hio_oow_t        len
 );
 
+HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr_to_uchars (
+	hio_uch_t*        dst,
+	hio_oow_t         dlen,
+	const hio_uch_t*  src
+);
+
+HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_bcstr_to_bchars (
+	hio_bch_t*        dst,
+	hio_oow_t         dlen,
+	const hio_bch_t*  src
+);
+
 HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr (
 	hio_uch_t*       dst,
 	hio_oow_t        len,
@@ -647,6 +659,17 @@ HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_byte_to_bcstr (
 	hio_bch_t     fill
 );
 
+#define HIO_BYTE_TO_UCSTR_RADIXMASK (0xFF)
+#define HIO_BYTE_TO_UCSTR_LOWERCASE (1 << 8)
+ 
+HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_byte_to_ucstr (
+	hio_uint8_t   byte,  
+	hio_uch_t*    buf,
+	hio_oow_t     size,
+	int           flagged_radix,
+	hio_uch_t     fill
+);
+
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 #define HIO_CHARS_TO_INT_MAKE_OPTION(e,ltrim,rtrim,base) (((!!(e)) << 0) | ((!!(ltrim)) << 2) | ((!!(rtrim)) << 3) | ((base) << 8))
 #define HIO_CHARS_TO_INT_GET_OPTION_E(option) ((option) & 1)
diff --git a/hio/lib/hio-utl.h.m4 b/hio/lib/hio-utl.h.m4
index 3f880d8..c12eaaa 100644
--- a/hio/lib/hio-utl.h.m4
+++ b/hio/lib/hio-utl.h.m4
@@ -413,6 +413,18 @@ HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_bchars_to_bcstr_unlimited (
 	hio_oow_t        len
 );
 
+HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr_to_uchars (
+	hio_uch_t*        dst,
+	hio_oow_t         dlen,
+	const hio_uch_t*  src
+);
+
+HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_bcstr_to_bchars (
+	hio_bch_t*        dst,
+	hio_oow_t         dlen,
+	const hio_bch_t*  src
+);
+
 HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr (
 	hio_uch_t*       dst,
 	hio_oow_t        len,
@@ -648,6 +660,17 @@ HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_byte_to_bcstr (
 	hio_bch_t     fill
 );
 
+#define HIO_BYTE_TO_UCSTR_RADIXMASK (0xFF)
+#define HIO_BYTE_TO_UCSTR_LOWERCASE (1 << 8)
+ 
+HIO_EXPORT hio_oow_t hio_byte_to_ucstr (
+	hio_uint8_t   byte,  
+	hio_uch_t*    buf,
+	hio_oow_t     size,
+	int           flagged_radix,
+	hio_uch_t     fill
+);
+
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 #define HIO_CHARS_TO_INT_MAKE_OPTION(e,ltrim,rtrim,base) (((!!(e)) << 0) | ((!!(ltrim)) << 2) | ((!!(rtrim)) << 3) | ((base) << 8))
 #define HIO_CHARS_TO_INT_GET_OPTION_E(option) ((option) & 1)
diff --git a/hio/lib/utl-str.c b/hio/lib/utl-str.c
index 39dc6e8..9af25e5 100644
--- a/hio/lib/utl-str.c
+++ b/hio/lib/utl-str.c
@@ -417,6 +417,38 @@ hio_oow_t hio_copy_bchars_to_bcstr_unlimited (hio_bch_t* dst, const hio_bch_t* s
 	return i;
 }
 
+hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr_to_uchars (hio_uch_t* dst, hio_oow_t len, const hio_uch_t* src)
+{
+	/* no null termination */
+	hio_uch_t* p, * p2;
+
+	p = dst; p2 = dst + len - 1;
+
+	while (p < p2)
+	{
+		if (*src == '\0') break;
+		*p++ = *src++;
+	}
+
+	return p - dst;
+}
+
+hio_oow_t hio_copy_bcstr_to_bchars (hio_bch_t* dst, hio_oow_t len, const hio_bch_t* src)
+{
+	/* no null termination */
+	hio_bch_t* p, * p2;
+
+	p = dst; p2 = dst + len - 1;
+
+	while (p < p2)
+	{
+		if (*src == '\0') break;
+		*p++ = *src++;
+	}
+
+	return p - dst;
+}
+
 hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr (hio_uch_t* dst, hio_oow_t len, const hio_uch_t* src)
 {
 	hio_uch_t* p, * p2;
@@ -431,7 +463,7 @@ hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr (hio_uch_t* dst, hio_oow_t len, const hio_uch_t* src)
 
 	if (len > 0) *p = '\0';
 	return p - dst;
-} 
+}
 
 hio_oow_t hio_copy_bcstr (hio_bch_t* dst, hio_oow_t len, const hio_bch_t* src)
 {
@@ -447,7 +479,7 @@ hio_oow_t hio_copy_bcstr (hio_bch_t* dst, hio_oow_t len, const hio_bch_t* src)
 
 	if (len > 0) *p = '\0';
 	return p - dst;
-} 
+}
 
 hio_oow_t hio_copy_ucstr_unlimited (hio_uch_t* dst, const hio_uch_t* src)
 {
diff --git a/hio/lib/utl-str.c.m4 b/hio/lib/utl-str.c.m4
index 361a519..679485b 100644
--- a/hio/lib/utl-str.c.m4
+++ b/hio/lib/utl-str.c.m4
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ dnl --
 fn_copy_chars_to_cstr_unlimited(hio_copy_uchars_to_ucstr_unlimited, hio_uch_t)
 fn_copy_chars_to_cstr_unlimited(hio_copy_bchars_to_bcstr_unlimited, hio_bch_t)
 dnl --
+fn_copy_cstr_to_chars(hio_copy_ucstr_to_uchars, hio_uch_t)
+fn_copy_cstr_to_chars(hio_copy_bcstr_to_bchars, hio_bch_t)
+dnl --
 fn_copy_cstr(hio_copy_ucstr, hio_uch_t)
 fn_copy_cstr(hio_copy_bcstr, hio_bch_t)
 dnl --
diff --git a/hio/lib/utl-str.m4 b/hio/lib/utl-str.m4
index da17d50..44e32f6 100644
--- a/hio/lib/utl-str.m4
+++ b/hio/lib/utl-str.m4
@@ -221,6 +221,25 @@ hio_oow_t _fn_name_ (_char_type_* dst, const _char_type_* src, hio_oow_t len)
 popdef([[_fn_name_]])popdef([[_char_type_]])dnl
 ]])dnl
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+define([[fn_copy_cstr_to_chars]], [[pushdef([[_fn_name_]], $1)pushdef([[_char_type_]], $2)dnl
+hio_oow_t _fn_name_ (_char_type_* dst, hio_oow_t len, const _char_type_* src)
+{
+	/* no null termination */
+	_char_type_* p, * p2;
+
+	p = dst; p2 = dst + len - 1;
+
+	while (p < p2)
+	{
+		if (*src == '\0') break;
+		*p++ = *src++;
+	}
+
+	return p - dst;
+}
+popdef([[_fn_name_]])popdef([[_char_type_]])dnl
+]])dnl
+dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 define([[fn_copy_cstr]], [[pushdef([[_fn_name_]], $1)pushdef([[_char_type_]], $2)dnl
 hio_oow_t _fn_name_ (_char_type_* dst, hio_oow_t len, const _char_type_* src)
 {
@@ -236,7 +255,7 @@ hio_oow_t _fn_name_ (_char_type_* dst, hio_oow_t len, const _char_type_* src)
 
 	if (len > 0) *p = '\0';
 	return p - dst;
-} 
+}
 popdef([[_fn_name_]])popdef([[_char_type_]])dnl
 ]])dnl
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/hio/lib/utl.c b/hio/lib/utl.c
index b438d8a..3bc24cc 100644
--- a/hio/lib/utl.c
+++ b/hio/lib/utl.c
@@ -180,6 +180,40 @@ const hio_uch_t* hio_find_ucstr_word_in_ucstr (const hio_uch_t* str, const hio_u
 
 /* ========================================================================= */
 
+hio_oow_t hio_byte_to_ucstr (hio_oob_t byte, hio_uch_t* buf, hio_oow_t size, int flagged_radix, hio_uch_t fill)
+{
+	hio_uch_t tmp[(HIO_SIZEOF(hio_oob_t) * HIO_BITS_PER_BYTE)];
+	hio_uch_t* p = tmp, * bp = buf, * be = buf + size - 1;
+	int radix;
+	hio_uch_t radix_char;
+
+	radix = (flagged_radix & HIO_BYTE_TO_UCSTR_RADIXMASK);
+	radix_char = (flagged_radix & HIO_BYTE_TO_UCSTR_LOWERCASE)? 'a': 'A';
+	if (radix < 2 || radix > 36 || size <= 0) return 0;
+
+	do 
+	{
+		hio_uint8_t digit = byte % radix;	
+		if (digit < 10) *p++ = digit + '0';
+		else *p++ = digit + radix_char - 10;
+		byte /= radix;
+	}
+	while (byte > 0);
+
+	if (fill != '\0') 
+	{
+		while (size - 1 > p - tmp) 
+		{
+			*bp++ = fill;
+			size--;
+		}
+	}
+
+	while (p > tmp && bp < be) *bp++ = *--p;
+	*bp = '\0';
+	return bp - buf;
+}
+
 hio_oow_t hio_byte_to_bcstr (hio_uint8_t byte, hio_bch_t* buf, hio_oow_t size, int flagged_radix, hio_bch_t fill)
 {
 	hio_bch_t tmp[(HIO_SIZEOF(hio_uint8_t) * HIO_BITS_PER_BYTE)];