diff --git a/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cxx b/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cxx
index a4380bb..5f40f02 100644
--- a/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cxx
+++ b/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cxx
@@ -12,11 +12,7 @@ int main(int, char const*const*const argv) try {
     std::cout<<"Reader: "<<*it<<std::endl;
     pcsc::Connection::Reader::Status s(c.reader(*it).status());
     std::cout<<"Status = "<<s.state<<std::endl;
-    std::cout<<"Attribute = ";
-    for (std::vector<unsigned char>::const_iterator it(s.attr.begin());
-         it!=s.attr.end(); ++it)
-      std::cout<<std::hex<<(int)*it<<" ";
-    std::cout<<std::endl;
+    std::cout<<"ATR = "<<crypto::hex(s.atr)<<std::endl;
   }
   return 0;
  } catch (std::exception& x) {
diff --git a/src/pcsc.hxx b/src/pcsc.hxx
index a968f3a..4fc469a 100644
--- a/src/pcsc.hxx
+++ b/src/pcsc.hxx
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
   #endif
   namespace pcsc {
     //! stupid windows needs std::wstring
-    std::wstring strconv(std::string s) {
+    inline std::wstring strconv(std::string s) {
       return std::wstring(s.begin(), s.end());
     }
-    std::string strconv(std::wstring s) {
+    inline std::string strconv(std::wstring s) {
       return std::string(s.begin(), s.end());
     }
     typedef wchar_t char_t;
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
   #include <PCSC/wintypes.h>
   #include <PCSC/winscard.h>
   namespace pcsc {
-    const std::string& strconv(const std::string& s) {
+    inline const std::string& strconv(const std::string& s) {
       return s;
     }
     typedef char char_t;
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ namespace pcsc {
           exception("smardcard access error:\n"+reason) {
       }
   };
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  class runtime_error: public exception {
+    public:
+      runtime_error(const std::string& reason, const std::string& data) throw():
+          exception("runtime error,\n"+reason+":\n"+crypto::hex(data)) {}
+  };
   //@}
 
   //! @addtogroup pcsclib
@@ -175,22 +181,9 @@ namespace pcsc {
           //! State and attribute list of a reader.
           class Status {
             public:
-              Status(unsigned long s, const std::vector<unsigned char>& attrs):
-                  state(s), attr(attrs) {
-              }
-              Status(unsigned long s, const std::string& attrs):
-                  state(s), attr(convert(attrs)) {
-              }
+              Status(unsigned long s, const std::string& a): state(s), atr(a) {}
               const unsigned long state;
-              const std::vector<unsigned char> attr;
-            private:
-              static std::vector<unsigned char> convert(const std::string& a) {
-                std::vector<unsigned char> res;
-                for (std::string::const_iterator it(a.begin());
-                     it!=a.end(); ++it)
-                  res.push_back(*it);
-                return res;
-              }
+              const std::string atr;
           };
       
           //.............................................................methods
@@ -215,6 +208,54 @@ namespace pcsc {
           }
 
           //! Transmit data to reader.
+          /*! @note Take care: Stings may contain embedded @c 0. */
+          std::string transmit(char cla, char ins, char p1, char p2,
+                               const std::string& lc = std::string(),
+                               unsigned char le = 253) {
+            std::string claInsP1P2;
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(cla);
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(ins);
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(p1);
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(p2);
+            assert(claInsP1P2.size()==4);
+            return transmit(claInsP1P2, lc, le);
+          }
+          
+          //! Transmit data to reader.
+          /*! @note Take care: Stings may contain embedded @c 0. */
+          std::string transmit(char cla, char ins, char p1, char p2,
+                               const char* lc, int len,
+                               unsigned char le = 253) {
+            std::string claInsP1P2;
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(cla);
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(ins);
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(p1);
+            claInsP1P2.push_back(p2);
+            assert(claInsP1P2.size()==4);
+            return transmit(claInsP1P2, std::string(lc, len), le);
+          }
+          
+          //! Transmit data to reader.
+          /*! @note Take care: Stings may contain embedded @c 0.
+              @note Prefer the transmit methods that passes @c cla, @c
+                    ins, @c p1 and @c p2 separate.*/
+          std::string transmit(const std::string& claInsP1P2,
+                               const std::string& lc,
+                               unsigned char le = 253) {
+            if (claInsP1P2.size()!=4)
+              throw runtime_error("transmit: claInsP1P2 must be 4 byte",
+                                  claInsP1P2);
+            if (lc.size()>255) throw runtime_error("transmit: lc too long", lc);
+            std::string msg(claInsP1P2);
+            if (lc.size()) (msg+=(char)lc.size())+=lc;
+            msg+=le;
+            return transmit(msg);
+          }
+          
+          //! Transmit data to reader.
+          /*! @note Take care: Stings may contain embedded @c 0.
+              @note Prefer the transmit methods that passes @c cla, @c
+                    ins, @c p1 and @c p2 separate.*/
           std::string transmit(std::string in) {
             DWORD len(1024); // arbitrary
             unsigned char buff[len];
@@ -300,7 +341,7 @@ namespace pcsc {
             check(SCardConnect(_connection._id, strconv(name).c_str(),
                                mode, protocol,
                                &_id, &_protocol),
-                  "connect smartcard \""+name+"\" ("+crypto::hex(name)+")");
+                  "connect smartcard \""+name);
           }
 
           //! forbidden