diff --git a/ase/cmd/awk/Awk.cpp b/ase/cmd/awk/Awk.cpp
index db493ec2..af44e98c 100644
--- a/ase/cmd/awk/Awk.cpp
+++ b/ase/cmd/awk/Awk.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Awk.cpp 312 2008-08-02 13:40:04Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: Awk.cpp 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/StdAwk.hpp>
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ protected:
 		if (fp == NULL) return -1;
 
 		ConTrack* t = (ConTrack*) 
-			ase_awk_malloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(ConTrack));
+			ase_awk_alloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(ConTrack));
 		if (t == ASE_NULL)
 		{
 			if (fp != stdin && fp != stdout) fclose (fp);
diff --git a/ase/cmd/awk/awk.c b/ase/cmd/awk/awk.c
index 44afad62..d20e7f59 100644
--- a/ase/cmd/awk/awk.c
+++ b/ase/cmd/awk/awk.c
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 /*
- * $Id: awk.c 337 2008-08-20 09:17:25Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: awk.c 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  */
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk.h>
 #include <ase/cmn/sll.h>
 #include <ase/cmn/mem.h>
+#include <ase/cmn/chr.h>
 
-#include <ase/utl/helper.h>
 #include <ase/utl/getopt.h>
 #include <ase/utl/stdio.h>
 #include <ase/utl/main.h>
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ static void init_extension (ase_awk_t* awk)
 
 	ext->mmgr = *ase_awk_getmmgr(awk);
 	ase_awk_setmmgr (awk, &ext->mmgr);
-	ase_awk_setccls (awk, ASE_GETCCLS());
+	ase_awk_setccls (awk, ASE_CCLS_GETDFL());
 
 	ext->prmfns.pow         = custom_awk_pow;
 	ext->prmfns.sprintf     = custom_awk_sprintf;
diff --git a/ase/cmd/tgp/tgp.c b/ase/cmd/tgp/tgp.c
index 6f0b665b..c5cb8f1f 100644
--- a/ase/cmd/tgp/tgp.c
+++ b/ase/cmd/tgp/tgp.c
@@ -4,14 +4,13 @@
 
 #include <ase/tgp/tgp.h>
 
-#include <ase/utl/ctype.h>
 #include <ase/utl/stdio.h>
 #include <ase/utl/main.h>
 #include <ase/utl/getopt.h>
 #include <ase/cmn/mem.h>
+#include <ase/cmn/chr.h>
 #include <ase/cmn/str.h>
 
-#include <ase/utl/helper.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ static int io_out (int cmd, void* arg, ase_char_t* buf, int len)
 			return 0;
 
 		case ASE_TGP_IO_WRITE:
-			ase_fprintf (xout->fp, "%.*s", len, buf);
+			ase_fprintf (xout->fp, ASE_T("%.*s"), len, buf);
 			return len;
 	}	
 
diff --git a/ase/include/ase/awk/Awk.hpp b/ase/include/ase/awk/Awk.hpp
index 9f83ff10..6531d360 100644
--- a/ase/include/ase/awk/Awk.hpp
+++ b/ase/include/ase/awk/Awk.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Awk.hpp 283 2008-07-22 13:12:56Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: Awk.hpp 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include <ase/awk/awk.h>
 #include <ase/cmn/map.h>
+#include <ase/cmn/chr.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 
 /////////////////////////////////
@@ -49,6 +50,21 @@ public:
 	/** Represents the underlying interpreter */
 	typedef ase_awk_t awk_t;
 
+	enum ccls_type_t
+	{
+		CCLS_UPPER,
+		CCLS_LOWER,
+		CCLS_ALPHA,
+		CCLS_DIGIT,
+		CCLS_XDIGIT,
+		CCLS_ALNUM,
+		CCLS_SPACE,
+		CCLS_PRINT,
+		CCLS_GRAPH,
+		CCLS_CNTRL,
+		CCLS_PUNCT
+	};
+
 	/**
 	 * Represents the source code I/O context for Awk::parse.
 	 * An instance of Awk::Source is passed to Awk::openSource, 
@@ -712,12 +728,12 @@ public:
 
 
 		/**
-		 * Sets a value into the custom data area 
+		 * Sets a value into the data data area 
 		 */
-		void setCustom (void* custom);
+		void setCustom (void* data);
 
 		/**
-		 * Gets the value stored in the custom data area
+		 * Gets the value stored in the data data area
 		 */
 		void* getCustom () const;
 
@@ -725,7 +741,7 @@ public:
 		Awk* awk;
 		run_t* run;
 		bool callbackFailed;
-		void* custom;
+		void* data;
 	};
 
 	/** Constructor */
@@ -927,7 +943,7 @@ protected:
 	 * methods. You can determine the context of the method by calling
 	 * Awk::Source::getMode and inspecting its return value. You may use
 	 * Awk::Source::getHandle and Awk::Source::setHandle to store and
-	 * retrieve the custom information needed to complete the operation.
+	 * retrieve the data information needed to complete the operation.
 	 */
 	/*@{*/
 	/** 
@@ -1022,19 +1038,8 @@ protected:
 	virtual void* reallocMem (void* ptr, size_t n) = 0;
 	virtual void  freeMem    (void* ptr) = 0;
 
-	virtual bool_t isUpper  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isLower  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isAlpha  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isDigit  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isXdigit (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isAlnum  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isSpace  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isPrint  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isGraph  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isCntrl  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual bool_t isPunct  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual cint_t toUpper  (cint_t c) = 0;
-	virtual cint_t toLower  (cint_t c) = 0;
+	virtual bool_t isType    (cint_t c, ccls_type_t type) = 0;
+	virtual cint_t transCase (cint_t c, ccls_type_t type) = 0;
 
 	virtual real_t pow (real_t x, real_t y) = 0;
 	virtual int    vsprintf (char_t* buf, size_t size,
@@ -1058,33 +1063,22 @@ protected:
 		run_t* run, const char_t* name, size_t len);
 	static void freeFunctionMapValue (void* owner, void* value);
 
-	static void onRunStart (run_t* run, void* custom);
-	static void onRunEnd (run_t* run, int errnum, void* custom);
-	static void onRunReturn (run_t* run, val_t* ret, void* custom);
-	static void onRunStatement (run_t* run, size_t line, void* custom);
+	static void onRunStart (run_t* run, void* data);
+	static void onRunEnd (run_t* run, int errnum, void* data);
+	static void onRunReturn (run_t* run, val_t* ret, void* data);
+	static void onRunStatement (run_t* run, size_t line, void* data);
 
-	static void* allocMem   (void* custom, size_t n);
-	static void* reallocMem (void* custom, void* ptr, size_t n);
-	static void  freeMem    (void* custom, void* ptr);
+	static void* allocMem   (void* data, size_t n);
+	static void* reallocMem (void* data, void* ptr, size_t n);
+	static void  freeMem    (void* data, void* ptr);
 
-	static bool_t isUpper  (void* custom, cint_t c); 
-	static bool_t isLower  (void* custom, cint_t c); 
-	static bool_t isAlpha  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isDigit  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isXdigit (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isAlnum  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isSpace  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isPrint  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isGraph  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isCntrl  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static bool_t isPunct  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static cint_t toUpper  (void* custom, cint_t c);
-	static cint_t toLower  (void* custom, cint_t c);
+	static bool_t isType    (void* data, cint_t c, int type);
+	static cint_t transCase (void* data, cint_t c, int type);
 
-	static real_t pow     (void* custom, real_t x, real_t y);
-	static int    sprintf (void* custom, char_t* buf, size_t size,
+	static real_t pow     (void* data, real_t x, real_t y);
+	static int    sprintf (void* data, char_t* buf, size_t size,
 	                       const char_t* fmt, ...);
-	static void   dprintf (void* custom, const char_t* fmt, ...);
+	static void   dprintf (void* data, const char_t* fmt, ...);
 
 protected:
 	awk_t* awk;
diff --git a/ase/include/ase/awk/StdAwk.hpp b/ase/include/ase/awk/StdAwk.hpp
index e805d891..3fba8e7a 100644
--- a/ase/include/ase/awk/StdAwk.hpp
+++ b/ase/include/ase/awk/StdAwk.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: StdAwk.hpp 195 2008-06-06 13:01:55Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: StdAwk.hpp 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -77,19 +77,8 @@ protected:
 	void* reallocMem (void* ptr, size_t n);
 	void  freeMem    (void* ptr);
 
-	bool_t isUpper  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isLower  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isAlpha  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isDigit  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isXdigit (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isAlnum  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isSpace  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isPrint  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isGraph  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isCntrl  (cint_t c);
-	bool_t isPunct  (cint_t c);
-	cint_t toUpper  (cint_t c);
-	cint_t toLower  (cint_t c);
+	bool_t isType    (cint_t c, ccls_type_t type);
+	cint_t transCase (cint_t c, ccls_type_t type);
 
 	real_t pow (real_t x, real_t y);
 	int    vsprintf (char_t* buf, size_t size,
diff --git a/ase/include/ase/cmn/chr.h b/ase/include/ase/cmn/chr.h
index 5454edcf..415edbed 100644
--- a/ase/include/ase/cmn/chr.h
+++ b/ase/include/ase/cmn/chr.h
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ extern "C" {
 
 extern ase_ccls_t* ase_ccls;
 
+ase_bool_t ase_ccls_is (ase_cint_t c, int type);
+ase_cint_t ase_ccls_to (ase_cint_t c, int type);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/ase/lib/awk/Awk.cpp b/ase/lib/awk/Awk.cpp
index 4f456088..b0b75cc7 100644
--- a/ase/lib/awk/Awk.cpp
+++ b/ase/lib/awk/Awk.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: Awk.cpp 332 2008-08-18 11:21:48Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: Awk.cpp 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ void Awk::Argument::clear ()
 
 void* Awk::Argument::operator new (size_t n, awk_t* awk) throw ()
 {
-	void* ptr = ase_awk_malloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(awk) + n);
+	void* ptr = ase_awk_alloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(awk) + n);
 	if (ptr == ASE_NULL) return ASE_NULL;
 
 	*(awk_t**)ptr = awk;
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ void* Awk::Argument::operator new (size_t n, awk_t* awk) throw ()
 
 void* Awk::Argument::operator new[] (size_t n, awk_t* awk) throw ()
 {
-	void* ptr = ase_awk_malloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(awk) + n);
+	void* ptr = ase_awk_alloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(awk) + n);
 	if (ptr == ASE_NULL) return ASE_NULL;
 
 	*(awk_t**)ptr = awk;
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ Awk::Run::Run (Awk* awk):
 }
 
 Awk::Run::Run (Awk* awk, run_t* run): 
-	awk (awk), run (run), callbackFailed (false), custom (ASE_NULL)
+	awk (awk), run (run), callbackFailed (false), data (ASE_NULL)
 {
 	ASE_ASSERT (this->run != ASE_NULL);
 }
@@ -1008,14 +1008,14 @@ int Awk::Run::getGlobal (int id, Argument& global) const
 	return global.init (ase_awk_getglobal(this->run,id));
 }
 
-void Awk::Run::setCustom (void* custom)
+void Awk::Run::setCustom (void* data)
 {
-	this->custom = custom;
+	this->data = data;
 }
 
 void* Awk::Run::getCustom () const
 {
-	return this->custom;
+	return this->data;
 }
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -1029,24 +1029,13 @@ Awk::Awk (): awk (ASE_NULL), functionMap (ASE_NULL),
 {
 	this->errmsg[0] = ASE_T('\0');
 
-	mmgr.malloc      = allocMem;
-	mmgr.realloc     = reallocMem;
-	mmgr.free        = freeMem;
-	mmgr.data = this;
+	mmgr.alloc   = allocMem;
+	mmgr.realloc = reallocMem;
+	mmgr.free    = freeMem;
+	mmgr.data    = this;
 
-	ccls.is_upper    = isUpper;
-	ccls.is_lower    = isLower;
-	ccls.is_alpha    = isAlpha;
-	ccls.is_digit    = isDigit;
-	ccls.is_xdigit   = isXdigit;
-	ccls.is_alnum    = isAlnum;
-	ccls.is_space    = isSpace;
-	ccls.is_print    = isPrint;
-	ccls.is_graph    = isGraph;
-	ccls.is_cntrl    = isCntrl;
-	ccls.is_punct    = isPunct;
-	ccls.to_upper    = toUpper;
-	ccls.to_lower    = toLower;
+	ccls.is = isType;
+	ccls.to = transCase;
 	ccls.data = this;
 
 	prmfns.pow         = pow;
@@ -1326,7 +1315,7 @@ int Awk::run (const char_t* main, const char_t** args, size_t nargs)
 	
 	if (nargs > 0)
 	{
-		runarg = (ase_awk_runarg_t*) ase_awk_malloc (
+		runarg = (ase_awk_runarg_t*) ase_awk_alloc (
 			awk, ASE_SIZEOF(ase_awk_runarg_t)*(nargs+1));
 
 		if (runarg == ASE_NULL)
@@ -1453,7 +1442,7 @@ int Awk::addFunction (
 	ASE_ASSERT (awk != ASE_NULL);
 
 	FunctionHandler* tmp = (FunctionHandler*) 
-		ase_awk_malloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(handler));
+		ase_awk_alloc (awk, ASE_SIZEOF(handler));
 	if (tmp == ASE_NULL)
 	{
 		setError (ERR_NOMEM);
@@ -1677,9 +1666,9 @@ void Awk::freeFunctionMapValue (void* owner, void* value)
 	ase_awk_free (awk->awk, value);
 }
 
-void Awk::onRunStart (run_t* run, void* custom)
+void Awk::onRunStart (run_t* run, void* data)
 {
-	Run* r = (Run*)custom;
+	Run* r = (Run*)data;
 
 	// the actual run_t value for the run-time callback is set here.
 	// r here refers to runctx declared in Awk::run. As onRunStart
@@ -1693,9 +1682,9 @@ void Awk::onRunStart (run_t* run, void* custom)
 	r->awk->triggerOnRunStart (*r);
 }
 
-void Awk::onRunEnd (run_t* run, int errnum, void* custom)
+void Awk::onRunEnd (run_t* run, int errnum, void* data)
 {
-	Run* r = (Run*)custom;
+	Run* r = (Run*)data;
 
 	if (errnum == ERR_NOERR && r->callbackFailed)
 	{
@@ -1705,9 +1694,9 @@ void Awk::onRunEnd (run_t* run, int errnum, void* custom)
 	r->awk->onRunEnd (*r);
 }
 
-void Awk::onRunReturn (run_t* run, val_t* ret, void* custom)
+void Awk::onRunReturn (run_t* run, val_t* ret, void* data)
 {
-	Run* r = (Run*)custom;
+	Run* r = (Run*)data;
 	if (r->callbackFailed) return;
 
 	Argument x (r);
@@ -1721,113 +1710,58 @@ void Awk::onRunReturn (run_t* run, val_t* ret, void* custom)
 	}
 }
 
-void Awk::onRunStatement (run_t* run, size_t line, void* custom)
+void Awk::onRunStatement (run_t* run, size_t line, void* data)
 {
-	Run* r = (Run*)custom;
+	Run* r = (Run*)data;
 	if (r->callbackFailed) return;
 	r->awk->onRunStatement (*r, line);
 }
 
-void* Awk::allocMem (void* custom, size_t n)
+void* Awk::allocMem (void* data, size_t n)
 {
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->allocMem (n);
+	return ((Awk*)data)->allocMem (n);
 }
 
-void* Awk::reallocMem (void* custom, void* ptr, size_t n)
+void* Awk::reallocMem (void* data, void* ptr, size_t n)
 {
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->reallocMem (ptr, n);
+	return ((Awk*)data)->reallocMem (ptr, n);
 }
 
-void Awk::freeMem (void* custom, void* ptr)
+void Awk::freeMem (void* data, void* ptr)
 {
-	((Awk*)custom)->freeMem (ptr);
+	((Awk*)data)->freeMem (ptr);
 }
 
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isUpper (void* custom, cint_t c)  
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isUpper (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isLower (void* custom, cint_t c)  
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isLower (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isAlpha (void* custom, cint_t c)  
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isAlpha (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isDigit (void* custom, cint_t c)  
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isDigit (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isXdigit (void* custom, cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isXdigit (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isAlnum (void* custom, cint_t c)
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isAlnum (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isSpace (void* custom, cint_t c)
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isSpace (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isPrint (void* custom, cint_t c)
-{ 
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isPrint (c);
-}
-
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isGraph (void* custom, cint_t c)
+Awk::bool_t Awk::isType (void* data, cint_t c, int type) 
 {
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isGraph (c);
+	return ((Awk*)data)->isType (c, (Awk::ccls_type_t)type);
 }
 
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isCntrl (void* custom, cint_t c)
+Awk::cint_t Awk::transCase (void* data, cint_t c, int type) 
 {
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isCntrl (c);
+	return ((Awk*)data)->transCase (c, (Awk::ccls_type_t)type);
 }
 
-Awk::bool_t Awk::isPunct (void* custom, cint_t c)
+Awk::real_t Awk::pow (void* data, real_t x, real_t y)
 {
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->isPunct (c);
-}
-
-Awk::cint_t Awk::toUpper (void* custom, cint_t c)
-{
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->toUpper (c);
-}
-
-Awk::cint_t Awk::toLower (void* custom, cint_t c)
-{
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->toLower (c);
-}
-
-Awk::real_t Awk::pow (void* custom, real_t x, real_t y)
-{
-	return ((Awk*)custom)->pow (x, y);
+	return ((Awk*)data)->pow (x, y);
 }
 	
-int Awk::sprintf (void* custom, char_t* buf, size_t size,
+int Awk::sprintf (void* data, char_t* buf, size_t size,
                   const char_t* fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list ap;
 	va_start (ap, fmt);
-	int n = ((Awk*)custom)->vsprintf (buf, size, fmt, ap);
+	int n = ((Awk*)data)->vsprintf (buf, size, fmt, ap);
 	va_end (ap);
 	return n;
 }
 
-void Awk::dprintf (void* custom, const char_t* fmt, ...)
+void Awk::dprintf (void* data, const char_t* fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list ap;
 	va_start (ap, fmt);
-	((Awk*)custom)->vdprintf (fmt, ap);
+	((Awk*)data)->vdprintf (fmt, ap);
 	va_end (ap);
 }
 
diff --git a/ase/lib/awk/StdAwk.cpp b/ase/lib/awk/StdAwk.cpp
index 7d9d96f5..c3a8d751 100644
--- a/ase/lib/awk/StdAwk.cpp
+++ b/ase/lib/awk/StdAwk.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: StdAwk.cpp 152 2008-03-21 11:57:29Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: StdAwk.cpp 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  *
  * {License}
  */
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include <ase/awk/StdAwk.hpp>
 #include <ase/cmn/str.h>
 #include <ase/utl/stdio.h>
-#include <ase/utl/ctype.h>
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <math.h>
@@ -218,7 +217,7 @@ int StdAwk::system (Run& run, Return& ret, const Argument* args, size_t nargs,
 #elif defined(ASE_CHAR_IS_MCHAR)
 	return ret.set ((long_t)::system(ptr));
 #else
-	char* mbs = (char*)ase_awk_malloc (awk, l*5+1);
+	char* mbs = (char*) ase_awk_alloc (awk, l*5+1);
 	if (mbs == ASE_NULL) return -1;
 
 	::size_t mbl = ::wcstombs (mbs, ptr, l*5);
@@ -435,70 +434,15 @@ void  StdAwk::freeMem (void* ptr)
 	::free (ptr); 
 }
 
-// character class primitives
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isUpper (cint_t c)
-{ 
-	return ase_isupper (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isLower (cint_t c) 
+// character handling primitive
+Awk::bool_t StdAwk::isType (cint_t c, ccls_type_t type)
 {
-	return ase_islower (c); 
+	return ase_ccls_is (c, type);
 }
 
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isAlpha (cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ase_isalpha (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isDigit (cint_t c) 
+Awk::cint_t StdAwk::transCase (cint_t c, ccls_type_t type)
 {
-	return ase_isdigit (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isXdigit (cint_t c)
-{
-	return ase_isxdigit (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isAlnum (cint_t c) 
-{
-	return ase_isalnum (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isSpace (cint_t c) 
-{
-	return ase_isspace (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isPrint (cint_t c) 
-{
-	return ase_isprint (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isGraph (cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ase_isgraph (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isCntrl (cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ase_iscntrl (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::bool_t StdAwk::isPunct (cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ase_ispunct (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::cint_t StdAwk::toUpper (cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ase_toupper (c); 
-}
-
-StdAwk::cint_t StdAwk::toLower (cint_t c) 
-{ 
-	return ase_tolower (c); 
+	return ase_ccls_to (c, type);
 }
 
 // miscellaneous primitive
diff --git a/ase/lib/awk/std.c b/ase/lib/awk/std.c
index 892c83ab..5f53a85d 100644
--- a/ase/lib/awk/std.c
+++ b/ase/lib/awk/std.c
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 #include "awk.h"
 #include <ase/utl/stdio.h>
-#include <ase/utl/helper.h>
 #include <math.h>
 
 typedef struct ext_t
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ ase_awk_t* ase_awk_openstd (void)
 	ext_t* ext;
 
 	awk = ase_awk_open (ASE_NULL, ASE_SIZEOF(ext_t), ASE_NULL);
-	ase_awk_setccls (awk, ASE_GETCCLS());
+	ase_awk_setccls (awk, ASE_CCLS_GETDFL());
 
 	ext = (ext_t*) ase_awk_getextension (awk);
 	ext->prmfns.pow     = custom_awk_pow;
diff --git a/ase/lib/cmn/chr.c b/ase/lib/cmn/chr.c
index 7505ea7b..98521e2e 100644
--- a/ase/lib/cmn/chr.c
+++ b/ase/lib/cmn/chr.c
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@
 
 #include <ctype.h>
 
-static ase_bool_t ccls_is (void* data, ase_cint_t c, ase_ccls_type_t type)
+ase_bool_t ase_ccls_is (ase_cint_t c, int type)
 { 
 	/* TODO: use GetStringTypeW/A for WIN32 to implement these */
 #error NOT IMPLEMENTED YET.
 }
 
-static ase_cint_t ccls_to (void* data, ase_cint_t c, in type)  
+ase_cint_t ase_ccls_to (ase_cint_t c, int type)  
 { 
 	ASE_ASSERTX (type >= ASE_CCLS_UPPER && type <= ASE_CCLS_LOWER,
 		"The character type should be one of ASE_CCLS_UPPER and ASE_CCLS_LOWER");
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ static ase_cint_t ccls_to (void* data, ase_cint_t c, in type)
 
 #include <wctype.h>
 
-static ase_bool_t ccls_is (void* data, ase_cint_t c, int type)
+ase_bool_t ase_ccls_is (ase_cint_t c, int type)
 { 
 	static const char* name[] = 
 	{
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ static ase_bool_t ccls_is (void* data, ase_cint_t c, int type)
 	return iswctype (c, desc[type]);
 }
 
-static ase_cint_t ccls_to (void* data, ase_cint_t c, int type)  
+ase_cint_t ase_ccls_to (ase_cint_t c, int type)  
 { 
 	static const char* name[] = 
 	{
@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ static ase_cint_t ccls_to (void* data, ase_cint_t c, int type)
 	#error unsupported character type
 #endif
 
+static ase_bool_t ccls_is (void* data, ase_cint_t c, int type)
+{
+	return ase_ccls_is (c, type);
+}
+
+static ase_cint_t ccls_to (void* data, ase_cint_t c, int type)  
+{
+	return ase_ccls_to (c, type);
+}
+
 static ase_ccls_t ccls =
 {
 	ccls_is,
diff --git a/ase/lib/cmn/chr.h b/ase/lib/cmn/chr.h
index a7ad7fed..30329075 100644
--- a/ase/lib/cmn/chr.h
+++ b/ase/lib/cmn/chr.h
@@ -9,4 +9,63 @@
 
 #include <ase/cmn/chr.h>
 
+#ifdef USE_STDC
+
+	#if defined(ASE_CHAR_IS_MCHAR)
+
+		#include <ctype.h>
+		#define ASE_ISUPPER(c) isupper(c)
+		#define ASE_ISLOWER(c) islower(c)
+		#define ASE_ISALPHA(c) isalpha(c)
+		#define ASE_ISDIGIT(c) isdigit(c)
+		#define ASE_ISXDIGIT(c) isxdigit(c)
+		#define ASE_ISALNUM(c) isalnum(c)
+		#define ASE_ISSPACE(c) isspace(c)
+		#define ASE_ISPRINT(c) isprint(c)
+		#define ASE_ISGRAPH(c) isgraph(c)
+		#define ASE_ISCNTRL(c) iscntrl(c)
+		#define ASE_ISPUNCT(c) ispunct(c)
+		#define ASE_TOUPPER(c) toupper(c)
+		#define ASE_TOLOWER(c) tolower(c)
+	
+	#elif defined(ASE_CHAR_IS_WCHAR)
+	
+		#include <ctype.h>
+		#include <wctype.h>
+		#define ASE_ISUPPER(c) iswupper(c)
+		#define ASE_ISLOWER(c) iswlower(c)
+		#define ASE_ISALPHA(c) iswalpha(c)
+		#define ASE_ISDIGIT(c) iswdigit(c)
+		#define ASE_ISXDIGIT(c) iswxdigit(c)
+		#define ASE_ISALNUM(c) iswalnum(c)
+		#define ASE_ISSPACE(c) iswspace(c)
+		#define ASE_ISPRINT(c) iswprint(c)
+		#define ASE_ISGRAPH(c) iswgraph(c)
+		#define ASE_ISCNTRL(c) iswcntrl(c)
+		#define ASE_ISPUNCT(c) iswpunct(c)
+		#define ASE_TOUPPER(c) towupper(c)
+		#define ASE_TOLOWER(c) towlower(c)
+
+	#else
+		#error Unsupported character type
+	#endif
+
+#else
+
+	#define ASE_ISUPPER(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_UPPER))
+	#define ASE_ISLOWER(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_LOWER))
+	#define ASE_ISALPHA(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_ALPHA))
+	#define ASE_ISDIGIT(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_DIGIT))
+	#define ASE_ISXDIGIT(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_XDIGIT))
+	#define ASE_ISALNUM(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_ALNUM))
+	#define ASE_ISSPACE(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_SPACE))
+	#define ASE_ISPRINT(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_PRINT))
+	#define ASE_ISGRAPH(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_GRAPH))
+	#define ASE_ISCNTRL(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_CNTRL))
+	#define ASE_ISPUNCT(c) (ase_ccls_is(c,ASE_CCLS_PUNCT))
+	#define ASE_TOUPPER(c) (ase_ccls_to(c,ASE_CCLS_UPPER))
+	#define ASE_TOLOWER(c) (ase_ccls_to(c,ASE_CCLS_LOWER))
+
+#endif
+
 #endif
diff --git a/ase/lib/utl/http.c b/ase/lib/utl/http.c
index 6550d6ea..c9eb2726 100644
--- a/ase/lib/utl/http.c
+++ b/ase/lib/utl/http.c
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 /*
- * $Id: http.c 332 2008-08-18 11:21:48Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: http.c 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  * 
  * {License}
  */
 
 #include <ase/utl/http.h>
-#include <ase/utl/ctype.h>
 #include "../cmn/mem.h"
+#include "../cmn/chr.h"
 
 static int is_http_space (ase_char_t c)
 {
-	return ase_isspace(c) && c != ASE_T('\r') && c != ASE_T('\n');
+	return ASE_ISSPACE(c) && c != ASE_T('\r') && c != ASE_T('\n');
 }
 
-#define is_http_ctl(c) ase_iscntrl(c)
+#define is_http_ctl(c) ASE_ISCNTRL(c)
 
 static int is_http_separator (ase_char_t c)
 {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static int is_http_separator (ase_char_t c)
 
 static int is_http_token (ase_char_t c)
 {
-	return ase_isprint(c) && !is_http_ctl(c) && !is_http_separator(c);
+	return ASE_ISPRINT(c) && !is_http_ctl(c) && !is_http_separator(c);
 }
 
 static int digit_to_num (ase_char_t c)
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ ase_char_t* ase_parsehttpreq (ase_char_t* buf, ase_http_req_t* req)
 	while (is_http_space(*p)) p++;
 
 	/* the method should start with an alphabet */
-	if (!ase_isalpha(*p)) return ASE_NULL;
+	if (!ASE_ISALPHA(*p)) return ASE_NULL;
 
 	/* scan the method */
-	req->method = p; while (ase_isalpha(*p)) p++;
+	req->method = p; while (ASE_ISALPHA(*p)) p++;
 
 	/* the method should be followed by a space */
 	if (!is_http_space(*p)) return ASE_NULL;
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ ase_char_t* ase_parsehttpreq (ase_char_t* buf, ase_http_req_t* req)
 	req->args.ptr = ASE_NULL;
 
 	x = p;
-	while (ase_isprint(*p) && !ase_isspace(*p)) 
+	while (ASE_ISPRINT(*p) && !ASE_ISSPACE(*p)) 
 	{
-		if (*p == ASE_T('%') && ase_isxdigit(*(p+1)) && ase_isxdigit(*(p+2)))
+		if (*p == ASE_T('%') && ASE_ISXDIGIT(*(p+1)) && ASE_ISXDIGIT(*(p+2)))
 		{
 			*x++ = (digit_to_num(*(p+1)) << 4) + digit_to_num(*(p+2));
 			p += 3;
@@ -120,15 +120,15 @@ ase_char_t* ase_parsehttpreq (ase_char_t* buf, ase_http_req_t* req)
 	    (p[3] == ASE_T('P') || p[3] == ASE_T('p')) &&
 	    p[4] == ASE_T('/') && p[6] == ASE_T('.'))
 	{
-		if (!ase_isdigit(p[5])) return ASE_NULL;
-		if (!ase_isdigit(p[7])) return ASE_NULL;
+		if (!ASE_ISDIGIT(p[5])) return ASE_NULL;
+		if (!ASE_ISDIGIT(p[7])) return ASE_NULL;
 		req->vers.major = p[5] - ASE_T('0');
 		req->vers.minor = p[7] - ASE_T('0');
 		p += 8;
 	}
 	else return ASE_NULL;
 
-	while (ase_isspace(*p)) 
+	while (ASE_ISSPACE(*p)) 
 	{
 		if (*p++ == ASE_T('\n')) goto ok;
 	}
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ ase_char_t* ase_parsehttphdr (ase_char_t* buf, ase_http_hdr_t* hdr)
 	ase_char_t* p = buf, * last;
 
 	/* ignore leading spaces including CR and NL */
-	while (ase_isspace(*p)) p++;
+	while (ASE_ISSPACE(*p)) p++;
 
 	if (*p == ASE_T('\0')) 
 	{
@@ -172,13 +172,13 @@ ase_char_t* ase_parsehttphdr (ase_char_t* buf, ase_http_hdr_t* hdr)
 	do { p++; } while (is_http_space(*p));
 
 	hdr->value.ptr = last = p;
-	while (ase_isprint(*p))
+	while (ASE_ISPRINT(*p))
 	{
-		if (!ase_isspace(*p++)) last = p;
+		if (!ASE_ISSPACE(*p++)) last = p;
 	}
 	hdr->value.len = last - hdr->value.ptr;
 
-	while (ase_isspace(*p)) 
+	while (ASE_ISSPACE(*p)) 
 	{
 		if (*p++ == ASE_T('\n')) goto ok;
 	}
diff --git a/ase/lib/utl/makefile.in b/ase/lib/utl/makefile.in
index c5c1844e..7c76211f 100644
--- a/ase/lib/utl/makefile.in
+++ b/ase/lib/utl/makefile.in
@@ -55,8 +55,7 @@ am__installdirs = "$(DESTDIR)$(libdir)"
 libLTLIBRARIES_INSTALL = $(INSTALL)
 LTLIBRARIES = $(lib_LTLIBRARIES)
 libaseutl_la_LIBADD =
-am_libaseutl_la_OBJECTS = helper.lo assert.lo ctype.lo getopt.lo \
-	http.lo main.lo stdio.lo
+am_libaseutl_la_OBJECTS = assert.lo getopt.lo http.lo main.lo stdio.lo
 libaseutl_la_OBJECTS = $(am_libaseutl_la_OBJECTS)
 DEFAULT_INCLUDES = -I. -I$(srcdir) -I$(top_builddir)/include/ase
 depcomp = $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/autoconf/depcomp
@@ -194,7 +193,7 @@ sysconfdir = @sysconfdir@
 target_alias = @target_alias@
 AM_CFLAGS = -I$(top_builddir)/include
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libaseutl.la
-libaseutl_la_SOURCES = helper.c assert.c ctype.c getopt.c http.c main.c stdio.c
+libaseutl_la_SOURCES = assert.c getopt.c http.c main.c stdio.c
 libaseutl_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 1:0:0
 all: all-am
 
@@ -266,9 +265,7 @@ distclean-compile:
 	-rm -f *.tab.c
 
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/assert.Plo@am__quote@
-@AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/ctype.Plo@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/getopt.Plo@am__quote@
-@AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/helper.Plo@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/http.Plo@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/main.Plo@am__quote@
 @AMDEP_TRUE@@am__include@ @am__quote@./$(DEPDIR)/stdio.Plo@am__quote@
diff --git a/ase/lib/utl/stdio.c b/ase/lib/utl/stdio.c
index c8179f26..fbf43b72 100644
--- a/ase/lib/utl/stdio.c
+++ b/ase/lib/utl/stdio.c
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 /*
- * $Id: stdio.c 149 2008-03-20 09:49:53Z baconevi $
+ * $Id: stdio.c 341 2008-08-20 10:58:19Z baconevi $
  *
  * {License}
  */
 
 #include <ase/utl/stdio.h>
-#include <ase/utl/ctype.h>
+#include "../cmn/chr.h"
 
 #include <wchar.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ static ase_char_t* __adjust_format (const ase_char_t* format)
 		}
 		else 
 		{
-			while (ase_isdigit(ch)) 
+			while (ASE_ISDIGIT(ch)) 
 			{
 				ADDC (buf, ch);
 				ch = *fp++;
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ static ase_char_t* __adjust_format (const ase_char_t* format)
 			}
 			else 
 			{
-				while (ase_isdigit(ch)) 
+				while (ASE_ISDIGIT(ch)) 
 				{
 					ADDC (buf, ch);
 					ch = *fp++;
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ static ase_char_t* __adjust_format (const ase_char_t* format)
 	#ifdef ASE_CHAR_IS_MCHAR
 			ADDC (buf, 'l');
 	#endif
-			ADDC (buf, ase_tolower(ch));
+			ADDC (buf, ASE_TOLOWER(ch));
 #endif
 		}
 		else if (ch == ASE_T('d') || ch == ASE_T('i') ||