diff --git a/ase/awk/awk.c b/ase/awk/awk.c
index a7a4802b..71491da6 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk.c
+++ b/ase/awk/awk.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* 
- * $Id: awk.c,v 1.73 2006-08-31 15:09:23 bacon Exp $ 
+ * $Id: awk.c,v 1.74 2006-08-31 16:00:18 bacon Exp $ 
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ xp_awk_t* xp_awk_open (xp_awk_syscas_t* syscas)
 
 	awk->syscas = syscas;
 
-	if (xp_str_open (&awk->token.name, 128) == XP_NULL) 
+	if (xp_awk_str_open (&awk->token.name, 128, awk) == XP_NULL) 
 	{
 		XP_AWK_FREE (awk, awk);
 		return XP_NULL;	
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ xp_awk_t* xp_awk_open (xp_awk_syscas_t* syscas)
 	if (xp_awk_map_open (
 		&awk->tree.afns, awk, 256, __free_afn) == XP_NULL) 
 	{
-		xp_str_close (&awk->token.name);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&awk->token.name);
 		XP_AWK_FREE (awk, awk);
 		return XP_NULL;	
 	}
 
 	if (xp_awk_tab_open (&awk->parse.globals, awk) == XP_NULL) 
 	{
-		xp_str_close (&awk->token.name);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&awk->token.name);
 		xp_awk_map_close (&awk->tree.afns);
 		XP_AWK_FREE (awk, awk);
 		return XP_NULL;	
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ xp_awk_t* xp_awk_open (xp_awk_syscas_t* syscas)
 
 	if (xp_awk_tab_open (&awk->parse.locals, awk) == XP_NULL) 
 	{
-		xp_str_close (&awk->token.name);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&awk->token.name);
 		xp_awk_map_close (&awk->tree.afns);
 		xp_awk_tab_close (&awk->parse.globals);
 		XP_AWK_FREE (awk, awk);
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ xp_awk_t* xp_awk_open (xp_awk_syscas_t* syscas)
 
 	if (xp_awk_tab_open (&awk->parse.params, awk) == XP_NULL) 
 	{
-		xp_str_close (&awk->token.name);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&awk->token.name);
 		xp_awk_map_close (&awk->tree.afns);
 		xp_awk_tab_close (&awk->parse.globals);
 		xp_awk_tab_close (&awk->parse.locals);
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ int xp_awk_close (xp_awk_t* awk)
 	xp_awk_tab_close (&awk->parse.globals);
 	xp_awk_tab_close (&awk->parse.locals);
 	xp_awk_tab_close (&awk->parse.params);
-	xp_str_close (&awk->token.name);
+	xp_awk_str_close (&awk->token.name);
 
 	/* XP_AWK_MALLOC, XP_AWK_FREE, etc can not be used 
 	 * from the next line onwards */
diff --git a/ase/awk/awk_i.h b/ase/awk/awk_i.h
index adc25c3b..180db2e6 100644
--- a/ase/awk/awk_i.h
+++ b/ase/awk/awk_i.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: awk_i.h,v 1.50 2006-08-31 15:09:24 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: awk_i.h,v 1.51 2006-08-31 16:00:18 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_AWKI_H_
@@ -13,10 +13,9 @@ typedef struct xp_awk_tree_t xp_awk_tree_t;
 
 #ifdef XP_AWK_STAND_ALONE
 #include <xp/awk/sa.h>
-#else
-#include <xp/bas/str.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <xp/awk/str.h>
 #include <xp/awk/rex.h>
 #include <xp/awk/map.h>
 #include <xp/awk/val.h>
@@ -116,11 +115,11 @@ struct xp_awk_t
 	/* token */
 	struct 
 	{
-		int       prev;
-		int       type;
-		xp_str_t  name;
-		xp_size_t line;
-		xp_size_t column;
+		int          prev;
+		int          type;
+		xp_awk_str_t name;
+		xp_size_t    line;
+		xp_size_t    column;
 	} token;
 
 	/* builtin functions */
@@ -175,7 +174,7 @@ struct xp_awk_run_t
 		xp_size_t buf_len;
 		xp_bool_t eof;
 
-		xp_str_t line;
+		xp_awk_str_t line;
 		xp_awk_val_t* d0; /* $0 */
 
 		xp_size_t maxflds;
diff --git a/ase/awk/extio.c b/ase/awk/extio.c
index 84652051..ab556985 100644
--- a/ase/awk/extio.c
+++ b/ase/awk/extio.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: extio.c,v 1.41 2006-08-31 15:39:13 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: extio.c,v 1.42 2006-08-31 16:00:18 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static int __writeextio (
 
 int xp_awk_readextio (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, int in_type,
-	const xp_char_t* name, xp_str_t* buf)
+	const xp_char_t* name, xp_awk_str_t* buf)
 {
 	xp_awk_extio_t* p = run->extio.chain;
 	xp_awk_io_t handler;
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 	}
 
 	/* ready to read a line */
-	xp_str_clear (buf);
+	xp_awk_str_clear (buf);
 
 	/* get the record separator */
 	rs = xp_awk_getglobal (run, XP_AWK_GLOBAL_RS);
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 
 			if (p->in.eof)
 			{
-				if (XP_STR_LEN(buf) == 0) ret = 0;
+				if (XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf) == 0) ret = 0;
 				break;
 			}
 
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 			if (n == 0) 
 			{
 				p->in.eof = xp_true;
-				if (XP_STR_LEN(buf) == 0) ret = 0;
+				if (XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf) == 0) ret = 0;
 				break;
 			}
 
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 			/* TODO: handle different line terminator like \r\n */
 			if (line_len == 0 && c == XP_T('\n'))
 			{
-				if (XP_STR_LEN(buf) <= 0) 
+				if (XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf) <= 0) 
 				{
 					/* if the record is empty when a blank 
 					 * line is encountered, the line 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 				 * it needs to snip off the line 
 				 * terminator of the previous line */
 				/* TODO: handle different line terminator like \r\n */
-				XP_STR_LEN(buf) -= 1;
+				XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf) -= 1;
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 
 			/* TODO: safematchrex */
 			n = xp_awk_matchrex (run->extio.rs_rex, 
-				XP_STR_BUF(buf), XP_STR_LEN(buf), 
+				XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf), XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf), 
 				&match_ptr, &match_len, &run->errnum);
 			if (n == -1)
 			{
@@ -306,15 +306,15 @@ int xp_awk_readextio (
 				/* the match should be found at the end of
 				 * the current buffer */
 				xp_assert (
-					XP_STR_BUF(buf) + XP_STR_LEN(buf) ==
+					XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf) + XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf) ==
 					match_ptr + match_len);
 
-				XP_STR_LEN(buf) -= match_len;
+				XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf) -= match_len;
 				break;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (xp_str_ccat (buf, c) == (xp_size_t)-1)
+		if (xp_awk_str_ccat (buf, c) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 		{
 			run->errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
 			ret = -1;
diff --git a/ase/awk/extio.h b/ase/awk/extio.h
index 5be9cc0d..b0af3075 100644
--- a/ase/awk/extio.h
+++ b/ase/awk/extio.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: extio.h,v 1.11 2006-08-27 15:29:21 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: extio.h,v 1.12 2006-08-31 16:00:18 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_EXTIO_H_
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ extern "C"
 
 int xp_awk_readextio (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, int in_type, 
-	const xp_char_t* name, xp_str_t* buf);
+	const xp_char_t* name, xp_awk_str_t* buf);
 
 int xp_awk_writeextio (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, int out_type, 
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.bcc b/ase/awk/makefile.bcc
index 5c4b9204..05c11ff7 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.bcc
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.bcc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
 	run.c sa.c val.c func.c misc.c extio.c rex.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.obj)
 OUT = xpawk.lib
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.cl b/ase/awk/makefile.cl
index c16a4a3d..85df2d53 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.cl
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.cl
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 SRCS = \
-	awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
+	awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
 	run.c sa.c val.c func.c misc.c extio.c rex.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.obj)
 OUT = xpawk
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.fbsd b/ase/awk/makefile.fbsd
index 4c85dbff..adc1cb1f 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.fbsd
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.fbsd
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
 	run.c sa.c val.c func.c misc.c extio.c rex.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.o)
 OUT = libxpawk.a
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.in b/ase/awk/makefile.in
index a6f934eb..12871488 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.in
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.in
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c \
 	run.c sa.c val.c func.c misc.c extio.c rex.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.o)
 OUT = libxpawk.a
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.lcc b/ase/awk/makefile.lcc
index 99c5e0f7..f93315ab 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.lcc
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.lcc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c misc.c
-OBJS = awk.obj err.obj tree.obj tab.obj map.obj parse.obj run.obj sa.obj val.obj misc.obj
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c misc.c
+OBJS = awk.obj err.obj tree.obj str.obj tab.obj map.obj parse.obj run.obj sa.obj val.obj misc.obj
 OUT = xpawk.lib
 
 CC = lcc
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.sco b/ase/awk/makefile.sco
index 2bb34e9a..ee987510 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.sco
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.sco
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c func.c misc.c extio.c
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c func.c misc.c extio.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.o)
 OUT = libxpawk.a
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.sol64 b/ase/awk/makefile.sol64
index 785be489..6eec1f54 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.sol64
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.sol64
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c misc.c
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c misc.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.o)
 OUT = libxpawk.a
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/makefile.tcc b/ase/awk/makefile.tcc
index 692f2208..701eecd4 100644
--- a/ase/awk/makefile.tcc
+++ b/ase/awk/makefile.tcc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c misc.c extio.c rex.c
+SRCS = awk.c err.c tree.c str.c tab.c map.c parse.c run.c sa.c val.c misc.c extio.c rex.c
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.obj)
 OUT = xpawk.lib
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/parse.c b/ase/awk/parse.c
index f730f8ce..bfdc963a 100644
--- a/ase/awk/parse.c
+++ b/ase/awk/parse.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: parse.c,v 1.173 2006-08-31 14:52:12 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: parse.c,v 1.174 2006-08-31 16:00:19 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -308,14 +308,14 @@ static struct __bvent __bvtab[] =
 
 #define ADD_TOKEN_CHAR(awk,c) \
 	do { \
-		if (xp_str_ccat(&(awk)->token.name,(c)) == (xp_size_t)-1) { \
+		if (xp_awk_str_ccat(&(awk)->token.name,(c)) == (xp_size_t)-1) { \
 			(awk)->errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM; return -1; \
 		} \
 	} while (0)
 
 #define ADD_TOKEN_STR(awk,str) \
 	do { \
-		if (xp_str_cat(&(awk)->token.name,(str)) == (xp_size_t)-1) { \
+		if (xp_awk_str_cat(&(awk)->token.name,(str)) == (xp_size_t)-1) { \
 			(awk)->errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM; return -1; \
 		} \
 	} while (0)
@@ -578,8 +578,8 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_function (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		PANIC (awk, XP_AWK_EIDENT);
 	}
 
-	name = XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name);
-	name_len = XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
+	name = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name);
+	name_len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
 	if (xp_awk_map_get(&awk->tree.afns, name, name_len) != XP_NULL) 
 	{
 		/* the function is defined previously */
@@ -649,8 +649,8 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_function (xp_awk_t* awk)
 				PANIC (awk, XP_AWK_EIDENT);
 			}
 
-			param = XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name);
-			param_len = XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
+			param = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name);
+			param_len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
 
 			if (awk->option & XP_AWK_UNIQUE) 
 			{
@@ -1041,8 +1041,8 @@ static xp_awk_t* __collect_globals (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		}
 
 		if (__add_global (awk,
-			XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name),
-			XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name)) == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
+			XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name),
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name)) == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
 
 		if (__get_token(awk) == -1) return XP_NULL;
 
@@ -1074,8 +1074,8 @@ static xp_awk_t* __collect_locals (xp_awk_t* awk, xp_size_t nlocals)
 			PANIC (awk, XP_AWK_EIDENT);
 		}
 
-		local = XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name);
-		local_len = XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
+		local = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name);
+		local_len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
 
 		/* NOTE: it is not checked againt globals names */
 
@@ -1944,11 +1944,11 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		nde->type = XP_AWK_NDE_INT;
 		nde->next = XP_NULL;
 		nde->val = xp_awk_strtolong (
-			XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), 0, XP_NULL);
+			XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), 0, XP_NULL);
 
 		xp_assert (
-			XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name) ==
-			xp_strlen(XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name)));
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name) ==
+			xp_strlen(XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name)));
 
 		if (__get_token(awk) == -1) 
 		{
@@ -1968,11 +1968,11 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary (xp_awk_t* awk)
 
 		nde->type = XP_AWK_NDE_REAL;
 		nde->next = XP_NULL;
-		nde->val = xp_awk_strtoreal (XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name));
+		nde->val = xp_awk_strtoreal (XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name));
 
 		xp_assert (
-			XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name) ==
-			xp_strlen(XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name)));
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name) ==
+			xp_strlen(XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name)));
 
 		if (__get_token(awk) == -1) 
 		{
@@ -1992,8 +1992,8 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary (xp_awk_t* awk)
 
 		nde->type = XP_AWK_NDE_STR;
 		nde->next = XP_NULL;
-		nde->len = XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
-		nde->buf = xp_strxdup(XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), nde->len);
+		nde->len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
+		nde->buf = xp_strxdup(XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), nde->len);
 		if (nde->buf == XP_NULL) 
 		{
 			XP_AWK_FREE (awk, nde);
@@ -2017,7 +2017,7 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		/* the regular expression is tokenized here because 
 		 * of the context-sensitivity of the slash symbol */
 		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (awk, TOKEN_REX);
-		xp_str_clear (&awk->token.name);
+		xp_awk_str_clear (&awk->token.name);
 		if (__get_rexstr (awk) == -1) return XP_NULL;
 		xp_assert (MATCH(awk,TOKEN_REX));
 
@@ -2028,10 +2028,10 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		nde->type = XP_AWK_NDE_REX;
 		nde->next = XP_NULL;
 
-		nde->len = XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
+		nde->len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
 		nde->buf = xp_strxdup (
-			XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name),
-			XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name));
+			XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name),
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name));
 		if (nde->buf == XP_NULL)
 		{
 			XP_AWK_FREE (awk, nde);
@@ -2039,8 +2039,8 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		}
 
 		nde->code = xp_awk_buildrex (
-			XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), 
-			XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name), 
+			XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), 
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name), 
 			&errnum);
 		if (nde->code == XP_NULL)
 		{
@@ -2234,9 +2234,9 @@ static xp_awk_nde_t* __parse_primary_ident (xp_awk_t* awk)
 	xp_assert (MATCH(awk,TOKEN_IDENT));
 
 	name_dup = xp_strxdup (
-		XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name));
+		XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name));
 	if (name_dup == XP_NULL) PANIC (awk, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
-	name_len = XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
+	name_len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name);
 
 	if (__get_token(awk) == -1) 
 	{
@@ -3224,7 +3224,7 @@ static int __get_token (xp_awk_t* awk)
 	} 
 	while (n == 1);
 
-	xp_str_clear (&awk->token.name);
+	xp_awk_str_clear (&awk->token.name);
 	awk->token.line = awk->src.lex.line;
 	awk->token.column = awk->src.lex.column;
 
@@ -3263,8 +3263,8 @@ static int __get_token (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		while (xp_isalpha(c) || c == XP_T('_') || xp_isdigit(c));
 
 		type = __classify_ident (awk, 
-			XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), 
-			XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name));
+			XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name), 
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name));
 		SET_TOKEN_TYPE (awk, type);
 	}
 	else if (c == XP_T('\"')) 
@@ -3599,7 +3599,7 @@ static int __get_token (xp_awk_t* awk)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-/*xp_printf (XP_T("token -> [%s]\n"), XP_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name));*/
+/*xp_printf (XP_T("token -> [%s]\n"), XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&awk->token.name));*/
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -3607,7 +3607,7 @@ static int __get_number (xp_awk_t* awk)
 {
 	xp_cint_t c;
 
-	xp_assert (XP_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name) == 0);
+	xp_assert (XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&awk->token.name) == 0);
 	SET_TOKEN_TYPE (awk, TOKEN_INT);
 
 	c = awk->src.lex.curc;
diff --git a/ase/awk/run.c b/ase/awk/run.c
index c5aab6d4..d8100b68 100644
--- a/ase/awk/run.c
+++ b/ase/awk/run.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: run.c,v 1.189 2006-08-31 15:39:14 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: run.c,v 1.190 2006-08-31 16:00:19 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -506,7 +506,8 @@ static int __init_run (
 	run->inrec.nflds = 0;
 	run->inrec.maxflds = 0;
 	run->inrec.d0 = xp_awk_val_nil;
-	if (xp_str_open (&run->inrec.line, DEF_BUF_CAPA) == XP_NULL)
+	if (xp_awk_str_open (
+		&run->inrec.line, DEF_BUF_CAPA, run->awk) == XP_NULL)
 	{
 		*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM; 
 		return -1;
@@ -515,7 +516,7 @@ static int __init_run (
 	if (xp_awk_map_open (&run->named, 
 		run, DEF_BUF_CAPA, __free_namedval) == XP_NULL) 
 	{
-		xp_str_close (&run->inrec.line);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&run->inrec.line);
 		*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM; 
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -525,7 +526,7 @@ static int __init_run (
 	if (run->pattern_range_state == XP_NULL)
 	{
 		xp_awk_map_close (&run->named);
-		xp_str_close (&run->inrec.line);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&run->inrec.line);
 		*errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM; 
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -564,7 +565,7 @@ static void __deinit_run (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 		run->inrec.flds = XP_NULL;
 		run->inrec.maxflds = 0;
 	}
-	xp_str_close (&run->inrec.line);
+	xp_awk_str_close (&run->inrec.line);
 
 	/* destroy run stack */
 	if (run->stack != XP_NULL)
@@ -2243,7 +2244,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_pos (
 			return XP_NULL;
 		}
 
-		if (xp_str_ncpy (&run->inrec.line, str, len) == (xp_size_t)-1)
+		if (xp_awk_str_ncpy (&run->inrec.line, str, len) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 		{
 			XP_AWK_FREE (run->awk, str);
 			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
@@ -2260,8 +2261,8 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_pos (
 		{
 			v = xp_awk_makestrval (
 				run,
-				XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line), 
-				XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line));
+				XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line), 
+				XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line));
 			if (v == XP_NULL)
 			{
 				__clear_record (run, xp_false);
@@ -2298,8 +2299,8 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __do_assignment_pos (
 		/* recompose $0 */
 		v = xp_awk_makestrval (
 			run,
-			XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line), 
-			XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line));
+			XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line), 
+			XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line));
 		if (v == XP_NULL)
 		{
 			__clear_record (run, xp_false);
@@ -4432,7 +4433,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 	xp_awk_val_t* v, * res;
 	xp_char_t* in = XP_NULL;
 	const xp_char_t* dst;
-	xp_str_t buf;
+	xp_awk_str_t buf;
 	int n;
 
 	p = (xp_awk_nde_getline_t*)nde;
@@ -4489,7 +4490,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 	dst = (in == XP_NULL)? XP_T(""): in;
 
 	/* TODO: optimize the line buffer management */
-	if (xp_str_open (&buf, DEF_BUF_CAPA) == XP_NULL)
+	if (xp_awk_str_open (&buf, DEF_BUF_CAPA, run->awk) == XP_NULL)
 	{
 		if (in != XP_NULL) XP_AWK_FREE (run->awk, in);
 		PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
@@ -4502,7 +4503,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 	{
 		if (run->errnum != XP_AWK_EIOHANDLER)
 		{
-			xp_str_close (&buf);
+			xp_awk_str_close (&buf);
 			return XP_NULL;
 		}
 
@@ -4518,27 +4519,27 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 			/* set $0 with the input value */
 			if (__clear_record (run, xp_false) == -1)
 			{
-				xp_str_close (&buf);
+				xp_awk_str_close (&buf);
 				return XP_NULL;
 			}
 
 			if (__set_record (run, 
-				XP_STR_BUF(&buf), XP_STR_LEN(&buf)) == -1)
+				XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&buf), XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&buf)) == -1)
 			{
-				xp_str_close (&buf);
+				xp_awk_str_close (&buf);
 				return XP_NULL;
 			}
 
-			xp_str_close (&buf);
+			xp_awk_str_close (&buf);
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			xp_awk_val_t* v;
 
 			v = xp_awk_makestrval (
-				run, XP_STR_BUF(&buf), XP_STR_LEN(&buf));
+				run, XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&buf), XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&buf));
 
-			xp_str_close (&buf);
+			xp_awk_str_close (&buf);
 
 			if (v == XP_NULL) PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
 			xp_awk_refupval (v);
@@ -4553,7 +4554,7 @@ static xp_awk_val_t* __eval_getline (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_nde_t* nde)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		xp_str_close (&buf);
+		xp_awk_str_close (&buf);
 	}
 	
 skip_read:
@@ -4623,13 +4624,13 @@ static int __read_record (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 	}
 	if (n == 0) 
 	{
-		xp_assert (XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line) == 0);
+		xp_assert (XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line) == 0);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
 	if (__set_record (run, 
-		XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line), 
-		XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line)) == -1) return -1;
+		XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line), 
+		XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line)) == -1) return -1;
 
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -4696,8 +4697,8 @@ static int __split_record (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 #endif
 
 	/* scan the input record to count the fields */
-	p = XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line);
-	len = XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
+	p = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line);
+	len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
 
 	nflds = 0;
 	while (p != XP_NULL)
@@ -4740,8 +4741,8 @@ static int __split_record (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 		xp_assert ((tok != XP_NULL && tok_len > 0) || tok_len == 0);
 
 		nflds++;
-		len = XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line) - 
-			(p - XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line));
+		len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line) - 
+			(p - XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line));
 	}
 
 /* THIS PART IS WRONG. XP_AWK_FREE IT AFTER THE NEXT SPLIT LOOP */
@@ -4766,8 +4767,8 @@ static int __split_record (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 	}
 
 	/* scan again and split it */
-	p = XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line);
-	len = XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
+	p = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line);
+	len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
 
 	while (p != XP_NULL)
 	{
@@ -4786,8 +4787,8 @@ static int __split_record (xp_awk_run_t* run)
 		xp_awk_refupval (run->inrec.flds[run->inrec.nflds].val);
 		run->inrec.nflds++;
 
-		len = XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line) - 
-			(p - XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line));
+		len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line) - 
+			(p - XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line));
 	}
 
 	/* set the number of fields */
@@ -4829,7 +4830,7 @@ static int __clear_record (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_bool_t noline)
 	}
 
 	xp_assert (run->inrec.nflds == 0);
-	if (!noline) xp_str_clear (&run->inrec.line);
+	if (!noline) xp_awk_str_clear (&run->inrec.line);
 
 	return n;
 }
@@ -4886,7 +4887,7 @@ static int __recomp_record_fields (
 
 	lv = lv - 1; /* adjust the value to 0-based index */
 
-	xp_str_clear (&run->inrec.line);
+	xp_awk_str_clear (&run->inrec.line);
 
 	if (max > 1)
 	{
@@ -4912,7 +4913,7 @@ static int __recomp_record_fields (
 	{
 		if (i > 0)
 		{
-			if (xp_str_ncat (
+			if (xp_awk_str_ncat (
 				&run->inrec.line, 
 				ofs, ofs_len) == (xp_size_t)-1) 
 			{
@@ -4927,11 +4928,11 @@ static int __recomp_record_fields (
 			xp_awk_val_t* tmp;
 
 			run->inrec.flds[i].ptr = 
-				XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line) +
-				XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
+				XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line) +
+				XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
 			run->inrec.flds[i].len = len;
 
-			if (xp_str_ncat (
+			if (xp_awk_str_ncat (
 				&run->inrec.line, str, len) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
 				if (ofsp != XP_NULL) XP_AWK_FREE (run->awk, ofsp);
@@ -4956,11 +4957,11 @@ static int __recomp_record_fields (
 		else if (i >= nflds)
 		{
 			run->inrec.flds[i].ptr = 
-				XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line) +
-				XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
+				XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line) +
+				XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
 			run->inrec.flds[i].len = 0;
 
-			if (xp_str_cat (
+			if (xp_awk_str_cat (
 				&run->inrec.line, XP_T("")) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
 				if (ofsp != XP_NULL) XP_AWK_FREE (run->awk, ofsp);
@@ -4983,11 +4984,11 @@ static int __recomp_record_fields (
 			tmp = (xp_awk_val_str_t*)run->inrec.flds[i].val;
 
 			run->inrec.flds[i].ptr = 
-				XP_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line) +
-				XP_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
+				XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&run->inrec.line) +
+				XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&run->inrec.line);
 			run->inrec.flds[i].len = tmp->len;
 
-			if (xp_str_ncat (&run->inrec.line, 
+			if (xp_awk_str_ncat (&run->inrec.line, 
 				tmp->buf, tmp->len) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
 				if (ofsp != XP_NULL) XP_AWK_FREE (run->awk, ofsp);
@@ -5045,9 +5046,10 @@ static xp_char_t* __idxnde_to_str (
 	else
 	{
 		/* multidimensional index */
-		xp_str_t idxstr;
+		xp_awk_str_t idxstr;
 
-		if (xp_str_open (&idxstr, DEF_BUF_CAPA) == XP_NULL) 
+		if (xp_awk_str_open (
+			&idxstr, DEF_BUF_CAPA, run->awk) == XP_NULL) 
 		{
 			PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
 		}
@@ -5057,18 +5059,18 @@ static xp_char_t* __idxnde_to_str (
 			idx = __eval_expression (run, nde);
 			if (idx == XP_NULL) 
 			{
-				xp_str_close (&idxstr);
+				xp_awk_str_close (&idxstr);
 				return XP_NULL;
 			}
 
 			xp_awk_refupval (idx);
 
 /* TODO: configurable index seperator, not just a comma */
-			if (XP_STR_LEN(&idxstr) > 0 &&
-			    xp_str_cat (&idxstr, XP_T(",")) == (xp_size_t)-1)
+			if (XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&idxstr) > 0 &&
+			    xp_awk_str_cat (&idxstr, XP_T(",")) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
 				xp_awk_refdownval (run, idx);
-				xp_str_close (&idxstr);
+				xp_awk_str_close (&idxstr);
 				PANIC (run, XP_AWK_ENOMEM);
 			}
 
@@ -5076,7 +5078,7 @@ static xp_char_t* __idxnde_to_str (
 				idx, xp_false, &idxstr, XP_NULL) == XP_NULL)
 			{
 				xp_awk_refdownval (run, idx);
-				xp_str_close (&idxstr);
+				xp_awk_str_close (&idxstr);
 				return XP_NULL;
 			}
 
@@ -5084,9 +5086,9 @@ static xp_char_t* __idxnde_to_str (
 			nde = nde->next;
 		}
 
-		str = XP_STR_BUF(&idxstr);
-		*len = XP_STR_LEN(&idxstr);
-		xp_str_forfeit (&idxstr);
+		str = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&idxstr);
+		*len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(&idxstr);
+		xp_awk_str_forfeit (&idxstr);
 	}
 
 	return str;
diff --git a/ase/awk/sa.c b/ase/awk/sa.c
index 3e8ee858..91ab2312 100644
--- a/ase/awk/sa.c
+++ b/ase/awk/sa.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: sa.c,v 1.31 2006-08-30 14:23:19 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: sa.c,v 1.32 2006-08-31 16:00:19 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -273,143 +273,14 @@ int xp_vsprintf (xp_char_t* buf, xp_size_t size, const xp_char_t* fmt, xp_va_lis
 	return n;
 }
 
-xp_str_t* xp_str_open (xp_str_t* str, xp_size_t capa)
-{
-	if (str == XP_NULL) 
-	{
-		str = (xp_str_t*) xp_malloc (sizeof(xp_str_t));
-		if (str == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
-		str->__dynamic = xp_true;
-	}
-	else str->__dynamic = xp_false;
-
-	str->buf = (xp_char_t*) xp_malloc (xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (capa + 1));
-	if (str->buf == XP_NULL) 
-	{
-		if (str->__dynamic) xp_free (str);
-		return XP_NULL;
-	}
-
-	str->size = 0;
-	str->capa  = capa;
-	str->buf[0] = XP_T('\0');
-
-	return str;
-}
-
-void xp_str_close (xp_str_t* str)
-{
-	xp_free (str->buf);
-	if (str->__dynamic) xp_free (str);
-}
-
-void xp_str_forfeit (xp_str_t* str)
-{
-	if (str->__dynamic) xp_free (str);
-}
-
-xp_size_t xp_str_cpy (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s)
-{
-	/* TODO: improve it */
-	return xp_str_ncpy (str, s, xp_strlen(s));
-}
-
-xp_size_t xp_str_ncpy (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len)
-{
-	xp_char_t* buf;
-
-	if (len > str->capa) 
-	{
-		buf = (xp_char_t*) xp_malloc (xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (len + 1));
-		if (buf == XP_NULL) return (xp_size_t)-1;
-
-		xp_free (str->buf);
-		str->capa = len;
-		str->buf = buf;
-	}
-
-	str->size = xp_strncpy (str->buf, s, len);
-	str->buf[str->size] = XP_T('\0');
-	return str->size;
-}
-
-xp_size_t xp_str_cat (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s)
-{
-	/* TODO: improve it */
-	return xp_str_ncat (str, s, xp_strlen(s));
-}
-
-xp_size_t xp_str_ncat (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len)
-{
-	if (len > str->capa - str->size) 
-	{
-		xp_char_t* tmp;
-		xp_size_t capa;
-
-		capa = str->size + len;
-
-		/* double the capa if necessary for concatenation */
-		if (capa < str->capa * 2) capa = str->capa * 2;
-
-#ifndef XP_AWK_NTDDK
-		tmp = (xp_char_t*) xp_realloc (
-			str->buf, xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (capa + 1));
-		if (tmp == XP_NULL) return (xp_size_t)-1;
-#else
-		tmp = (xp_char_t*) xp_malloc (
-			xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (capa + 1));
-		if (tmp == XP_NULL) return (xp_size_t)-1;
-		if (str->buf != XP_NULL)
-		{
-			xp_memcpy (tmp, str->buf, 
-				xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (str->capa + 1));
-			xp_free (str->buf);
-		}
-#endif
-
-		str->capa = capa;
-		str->buf = tmp;
-	}
-
-	str->size += xp_strncpy (&str->buf[str->size], s, len);
-	str->buf[str->size] = XP_T('\0');
-	return str->size;
-}
-
-xp_size_t xp_str_ccat (xp_str_t* str, xp_char_t c)
-{
-	return xp_str_ncat (str, &c, 1);
-}
-
-xp_size_t xp_str_nccat (xp_str_t* str, xp_char_t c, xp_size_t len)
-{
-	while (len > 0)
-	{
-		if (xp_str_ncat (str, &c, 1) == (xp_size_t)-1) 
-		{
-			return (xp_size_t)-1;
-		}
-
-		len--;
-	}
-	return str->size;
-}
-
-void xp_str_clear (xp_str_t* str)
-{
-	str->size = 0;
-	str->buf[0] = XP_T('\0');
-}
-
-
 #define MOD_SHORT       1
 #define MOD_LONG        2
 #define MOD_LONGLONG    3
 
 #define ADDC(str,c) \
 	do { \
-		if (xp_str_ccat(&str, c) == (xp_size_t)-1) { \
-			xp_str_close (&str); \
+		if (xp_awk_str_ccat(&str, c) == (xp_size_t)-1) { \
+			xp_awk_str_close (&str); \
 			return XP_NULL; \
 		} \
 	} while (0)
@@ -418,11 +289,11 @@ static xp_char_t* __adjust_format (const xp_char_t* format)
 {
 	const xp_char_t* fp = format;
 	xp_char_t* tmp;
-	xp_str_t str;
+	xp_awk_str_t str;
 	xp_char_t ch;
 	int modifier;
 
-	if (xp_str_open (&str, 256) == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
+	if (xp_awk_str_open (&str, 256) == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
 
 	while (*fp != XP_T('\0')) 
 	{
@@ -548,8 +419,8 @@ static xp_char_t* __adjust_format (const xp_char_t* format)
 		else ADDC (str, ch);
 	}
 
-	tmp = XP_STR_BUF(&str);
-	xp_str_forfeit (&str);
+	tmp = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(&str);
+	xp_awk_str_forfeit (&str);
 	return tmp;
 }
 
diff --git a/ase/awk/sa.h b/ase/awk/sa.h
index 3cc7cf30..869f1a70 100644
--- a/ase/awk/sa.h
+++ b/ase/awk/sa.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: sa.h,v 1.34 2006-08-31 04:21:04 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: sa.h,v 1.35 2006-08-31 16:00:19 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_SA_H_
@@ -96,22 +96,6 @@
 #define xp_va_end(pvar)      va_end(pvar)
 #define xp_va_arg(pvar,type) va_arg(pvar,type)
 
-#define XP_STR_LEN(x)  ((x)->size)
-#define XP_STR_SIZE(x) ((x)->size + 1)
-#define XP_STR_CAPA(x) ((x)->capa)
-#define XP_STR_BUF(x)  ((x)->buf)
-#define XP_STR_CHAR(x,idx) ((x)->buf[idx])
-
-typedef struct xp_str_t xp_str_t;
-
-struct xp_str_t
-{
-	xp_char_t* buf;
-	xp_size_t size;
-	xp_size_t capa;
-	xp_bool_t __dynamic;
-};
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -177,36 +161,6 @@ int xp_sprintf (
 int xp_vsprintf (
 	xp_char_t* buf, xp_size_t size, const xp_char_t* fmt, xp_va_list ap);
 
-#define xp_str_open xp_awk_str_open
-xp_str_t* xp_str_open (xp_str_t* str, xp_size_t capa);
-
-#define xp_str_close xp_awk_str_close
-void xp_str_close (xp_str_t* str);
-
-#define xp_str_forfeit xp_awk_str_forfeit
-void xp_str_forfeit (xp_str_t* str);
-
-#define xp_str_cpy xp_awk_str_cpy
-xp_size_t xp_str_cpy (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s);
-
-#define xp_str_ncpy xp_awk_str_ncpy
-xp_size_t xp_str_ncpy (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len);
-
-#define xp_str_cat xp_awk_str_cat
-xp_size_t xp_str_cat (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s);
-
-#define xp_str_ncat xp_awk_str_ncat
-xp_size_t xp_str_ncat (xp_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len);
-
-#define xp_str_ccat xp_awk_str_ccat
-xp_size_t xp_str_ccat (xp_str_t* str, xp_char_t c);
-
-#define xp_str_nccat xp_awk_str_nccat
-xp_size_t xp_str_nccat (xp_str_t* str, xp_char_t c, xp_size_t len);
-
-#define xp_str_clear xp_awk_str_clear
-void xp_str_clear (xp_str_t* str);
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/ase/awk/str.c b/ase/awk/str.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ac13db4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ase/awk/str.c
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/*
+ * $Id: str.c,v 1.1 2006-08-31 16:00:19 bacon Exp $
+ */
+
+#include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
+
+#ifndef XP_AWK_STAND_ALONE
+#include <xp/bas/memory.h>
+#include <xp/bas/string.h>
+#include <xp/bas/assert.h>
+#endif
+
+xp_awk_str_t* xp_awk_str_open (
+	xp_awk_str_t* str, xp_size_t capa, xp_awk_t* awk)
+{
+	if (str == XP_NULL) 
+	{
+		str = (xp_awk_str_t*) XP_AWK_MALLOC (awk, sizeof(xp_awk_str_t));
+		if (str == XP_NULL) return XP_NULL;
+		str->__dynamic = xp_true;
+	}
+	else str->__dynamic = xp_false;
+
+	str->awk = awk;
+	str->buf = (xp_char_t*) XP_AWK_MALLOC (
+		awk, xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (capa + 1));
+	if (str->buf == XP_NULL) 
+	{
+		if (str->__dynamic) XP_AWK_FREE (awk, str);
+		return XP_NULL;
+	}
+
+	str->size = 0;
+	str->capa  = capa;
+	str->buf[0] = XP_T('\0');
+
+	return str;
+}
+
+void xp_awk_str_close (xp_awk_str_t* str)
+{
+	XP_AWK_FREE (str->awk, str->buf);
+	if (str->__dynamic) XP_AWK_FREE (str->awk, str);
+}
+
+void xp_awk_str_forfeit (xp_awk_str_t* str)
+{
+	if (str->__dynamic) XP_AWK_FREE (str->awk, str);
+}
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_cpy (xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s)
+{
+	/* TODO: improve it */
+	return xp_awk_str_ncpy (str, s, xp_strlen(s));
+}
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_ncpy (xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len)
+{
+	xp_char_t* buf;
+
+	if (len > str->capa) 
+	{
+		buf = (xp_char_t*) XP_AWK_MALLOC (
+			str->awk, xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (len + 1));
+		if (buf == XP_NULL) return (xp_size_t)-1;
+
+		XP_AWK_FREE (str->awk, str->buf);
+		str->capa = len;
+		str->buf = buf;
+	}
+
+	str->size = xp_strncpy (str->buf, s, len);
+	str->buf[str->size] = XP_T('\0');
+	return str->size;
+}
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_cat (xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s)
+{
+	/* TODO: improve it */
+	return xp_awk_str_ncat (str, s, xp_strlen(s));
+}
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_ncat (xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len)
+{
+	if (len > str->capa - str->size) 
+	{
+		xp_char_t* tmp;
+		xp_size_t capa;
+
+		capa = str->size + len;
+
+		/* double the capa if necessary for concatenation */
+		if (capa < str->capa * 2) capa = str->capa * 2;
+
+		if (str->awk->syscas->realloc != XP_NULL)
+		{
+			tmp = (xp_char_t*) XP_AWK_REALLOC (
+				str->awk, str->buf, 
+				xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (capa + 1));
+			if (tmp == XP_NULL) return (xp_size_t)-1;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			tmp = (xp_char_t*) XP_AWK_MALLOC (
+				str->awk, xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (capa + 1));
+			if (tmp == XP_NULL) return (xp_size_t)-1;
+			if (str->buf != XP_NULL)
+			{
+				xp_memcpy (tmp, str->buf, 
+					xp_sizeof(xp_char_t) * (str->capa + 1));
+				XP_AWK_FREE (str->awk, str->buf);
+			}
+		}
+
+		str->capa = capa;
+		str->buf = tmp;
+	}
+
+	str->size += xp_strncpy (&str->buf[str->size], s, len);
+	str->buf[str->size] = XP_T('\0');
+	return str->size;
+}
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_ccat (xp_awk_str_t* str, xp_char_t c)
+{
+	return xp_awk_str_ncat (str, &c, 1);
+}
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_nccat (xp_awk_str_t* str, xp_char_t c, xp_size_t len)
+{
+	while (len > 0)
+	{
+		if (xp_awk_str_ncat (str, &c, 1) == (xp_size_t)-1) 
+		{
+			return (xp_size_t)-1;
+		}
+
+		len--;
+	}
+	return str->size;
+}
+
+void xp_awk_str_clear (xp_awk_str_t* str)
+{
+	str->size = 0;
+	str->buf[0] = XP_T('\0');
+}
+
diff --git a/ase/awk/str.h b/ase/awk/str.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4b5e75f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ase/awk/str.h
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/*
+ * $Id: str.h,v 1.1 2006-08-31 16:00:20 bacon Exp $
+ */
+
+#ifndef _XP_AWK_STR_H_
+#define _XP_AWK_STR_H_
+
+#ifndef _XP_AWK_AWK_H_
+#error Never include this file directly. Include <xp/awk/awk.h> instead
+#endif
+
+#define XP_AWK_STR_LEN(x)  ((x)->size)
+#define XP_AWK_STR_SIZE(x) ((x)->size + 1)
+#define XP_AWK_STR_CAPA(x) ((x)->capa)
+#define XP_AWK_STR_BUF(x)  ((x)->buf)
+#define XP_AWK_STR_CHAR(x,idx) ((x)->buf[idx])
+
+typedef struct xp_awk_str_t xp_awk_str_t;
+
+struct xp_awk_str_t
+{
+	xp_char_t* buf;
+	xp_size_t size;
+	xp_size_t capa;
+	xp_awk_t* awk;
+	xp_bool_t __dynamic;
+};
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+xp_awk_str_t* xp_awk_str_open (
+	xp_awk_str_t* str, xp_size_t capa, xp_awk_t* awk);
+
+void xp_awk_str_close (xp_awk_str_t* str);
+
+void xp_awk_str_forfeit (xp_awk_str_t* str);
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_cpy (xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s);
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_ncpy (
+	xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len);
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_cat (xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s);
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_ncat (
+	xp_awk_str_t* str, const xp_char_t* s, xp_size_t len);
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_ccat (xp_awk_str_t* str, xp_char_t c);
+
+xp_size_t xp_awk_str_nccat (xp_awk_str_t* str, xp_char_t c, xp_size_t len);
+
+void xp_awk_str_clear (xp_awk_str_t* str);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/ase/awk/val.c b/ase/awk/val.c
index cdac195f..81c55cab 100644
--- a/ase/awk/val.c
+++ b/ase/awk/val.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: val.c,v 1.55 2006-08-31 15:41:11 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: val.c,v 1.56 2006-08-31 16:00:20 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #include <xp/awk/awk_i.h>
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ xp_bool_t xp_awk_valtobool (xp_awk_val_t* val)
 
 xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_val_t* v,
-	xp_bool_t clear_buf, xp_str_t* buf, xp_size_t* len)
+	xp_bool_t clear_buf, xp_awk_str_t* buf, xp_size_t* len)
 {
 	if (v->type == XP_AWK_VAL_NIL)
 	{
@@ -386,10 +386,10 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			if (clear_buf) xp_str_clear (buf);
+			if (clear_buf) xp_awk_str_clear (buf);
 
-			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_STR_LEN(buf);
-			return XP_STR_BUF(buf);
+			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf);
+			return XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -420,15 +420,15 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				if (clear_buf) xp_str_clear (buf);
-				if (xp_str_cat (buf, XP_T("0")) == (xp_size_t)-1)
+				if (clear_buf) xp_awk_str_clear (buf);
+				if (xp_awk_str_cat (buf, XP_T("0")) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 				{
 					run->errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
 					return XP_NULL;
 				}
 
-				if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_STR_LEN(buf);
-				return XP_STR_BUF(buf);
+				if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf);
+				return XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf);
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -452,12 +452,12 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 		else
 		{
 			/* clear the buffer */
-			if (clear_buf) xp_str_clear (buf);
+			if (clear_buf) xp_awk_str_clear (buf);
 
-			tmp = XP_STR_BUF(buf) + XP_STR_LEN(buf);
+			tmp = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf) + XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf);
 
 			/* extend the buffer */
-			if (xp_str_nccat (
+			if (xp_awk_str_nccat (
 				buf, XP_T(' '), l) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
 				run->errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
@@ -478,8 +478,8 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 
 		if (buf != XP_NULL) 
 		{
-			tmp = XP_STR_BUF(buf);
-			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_STR_LEN(buf);
+			tmp = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf);
+			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf);
 		}
 
 		return tmp;
@@ -515,16 +515,16 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			if (clear_buf) xp_str_clear (buf);
+			if (clear_buf) xp_awk_str_clear (buf);
 
-			if (xp_str_cat (buf, tbuf) == (xp_size_t)-1)
+			if (xp_awk_str_cat (buf, tbuf) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
 				run->errnum = XP_AWK_ENOMEM;
 				return XP_NULL;
 			}
 
-			tmp = XP_STR_BUF(buf);
-			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_STR_LEN(buf);
+			tmp = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf);
+			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf);
 		}
 
 		return tmp;
@@ -549,9 +549,9 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			if (clear_buf) xp_str_clear (buf);
+			if (clear_buf) xp_awk_str_clear (buf);
 
-			if (xp_str_ncat (buf, 
+			if (xp_awk_str_ncat (buf, 
 				((xp_awk_val_str_t*)v)->buf, 
 				((xp_awk_val_str_t*)v)->len) == (xp_size_t)-1)
 			{
@@ -559,8 +559,8 @@ xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 				return XP_NULL;
 			}
 
-			tmp = XP_STR_BUF(buf);
-			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_STR_LEN(buf);
+			tmp = XP_AWK_STR_BUF(buf);
+			if (len != XP_NULL) *len = XP_AWK_STR_LEN(buf);
 		}
 
 		return tmp;
diff --git a/ase/awk/val.h b/ase/awk/val.h
index ada74e58..c68b11ba 100644
--- a/ase/awk/val.h
+++ b/ase/awk/val.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * $Id: val.h,v 1.38 2006-08-31 15:39:14 bacon Exp $
+ * $Id: val.h,v 1.39 2006-08-31 16:00:20 bacon Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _XP_AWK_VAL_H_
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ void xp_awk_refdownval_nofree (xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_val_t* val);
 xp_bool_t xp_awk_valtobool (xp_awk_val_t* val);
 xp_char_t* xp_awk_valtostr (
 	xp_awk_run_t* run, xp_awk_val_t* val, 
-	xp_bool_t clear_buf, xp_str_t* buf, xp_size_t* len);
+	xp_bool_t clear_buf, xp_awk_str_t* buf, xp_size_t* len);
 int xp_awk_valtonum (xp_awk_val_t* v, xp_long_t* l, xp_real_t* r);
 
 void xp_awk_printval (xp_awk_val_t* val);