diff --git a/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cpp b/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e37c33c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/examples/pcsc-demo.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+//g++ -I ../svn -I /usr/include/PCSC test.cpp -lpcsclite -ggdb3
+#include "pcscpp/pcsc.hxx"
+#include "pcscpp/cardos.hxx"
+#include <iostream>
+
+int main(int, char const*const*const argv) try {
+  pcsc::Connection c;
+  pcsc::Connection::Strings reader(c.scan());
+  std::cout<<"Suche PCSC-Reader ..."<<std::endl;
+  if (!reader.size()) std::cout<<"Keine gefunden."<<std::endl;
+  for (pcsc::Connection::Strings::const_iterator it(reader.begin());
+       it!=reader.end(); ++it) {
+    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;
+  }
+  return 0;
+ } catch (std::exception& x) {
+  std::cerr<<"**** FEHLER in "<<*argv<<": "<<x.what()<<std::endl;
+ }
diff --git a/src/pcsc.hxx b/src/pcsc.hxx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74d72cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pcsc.hxx
@@ -0,0 +1,405 @@
+/*! @file
+
+    This file offers a C++ access to the PCSC library.
+
+    @id $Id$
+*/
+//       1         2         3         4         5         6         7         8
+// 45678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
+
+#ifndef PCSC_HXX
+#define PCSC_HXX
+
+#include <PCSC/wintypes.h>
+#include <PCSC/pcsclite.h>
+#include <PCSC/winscard.h>
+
+#include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <map>
+#include <memory>
+
+#include <sstream>
+#include <iomanip>
+
+//! This library is a C++ wrapper to the awful pcsc-lite interface.
+/*! The reason for this wrapper is to get a nice object oriented
+    interface written in C++ manner and using standard types and so to
+    avoid the ugly M$-C-quirks. This interface is memory clean.
+    @todo: Not implemented, not supported:
+        - SCardGetStatusChange(hContext, 0, rgReaderStates, 1);
+        - SCardReconnect(hCard, SCARD_SHARE_SHARED,
+                         SCARD_PROTOCOL_T0 | SCARD_PROTOCOL_T1,
+                         SCARD_LEAVE_CARD,
+                         &dwActiveProtocol);
+        - several other
+    I do not need these, and I don't know the usecase where they are
+    required.  If you need something that is not yet supported, please
+    let me know, what you need and why. Then I'll add it so that it
+    best fits the common needs. */
+namespace pcsc {
+
+  std::string hex(const std::string& data) {
+    std::stringstream res;
+    for (std::string::const_iterator it(data.begin()); it!=data.end(); ++it)
+      res<<std::hex<<std::setfill('0')<<std::setw(2)<<(int)*it;
+    return res.str();
+  }
+
+  //============================================================================
+  class exception: public std::exception {
+    public:
+      exception(const std::string& reason) throw(): _what("pcsc: "+reason) {}
+      ~exception() throw() {}
+      const char* what() const throw() {
+        return _what.c_str();
+      }
+    private:
+      std::string _what;
+  };
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  class not_implemented: exception {
+    public:
+      not_implemented(const std::string& reason) throw():
+          exception("feature is not implemented:\n"+reason) {
+      }
+  };
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  class access_error: exception {
+    public:
+      access_error(const std::string& reason) throw():
+          exception("smardcard access error:\n"+reason) {
+      }
+  };
+
+  //============================================================================
+  class Connection {
+      
+      //...............................................................typedefs
+    public:
+      
+
+      //------------------------------------------------------------------Reader
+      friend class Reader;
+      class Reader {
+
+          //............................................................typedefs
+        public:
+
+          friend class Transaction;
+          //! Scoped transaction.
+          /*! This is a scoped transaction. That means, the
+              transaction is started in the constructor and cancelled
+              in the destructor, unless it is committed before. That
+              means: If you commit the transaction, it is executed. If
+              you leave the code block unexpectedly, i.e. through an
+              exception, the transaction is cancelled.
+
+              @code
+              pcsc::Connection c;
+              {
+              Transaction t(c.reader("name"));
+              [...] // do some stuff, possible exceptions thrown
+              if (problem) return; // automatically cancelled
+              [...]
+              t.commit(); // commit if we reach this line
+              } // cancelled, unless commit reaced
+              @endcode */
+          class Transaction {
+            public:
+              //! Begins a transaction.
+              /*! @note Please note that the Reader is required in the
+                  destructor und must therefore live longer than the
+                  Transaction instance. */
+              Transaction(Reader& r): _reader(r), _running(true) {
+                _reader.beginTransaction();
+              }
+              //! Cancels the transaction if not yet finished.
+              ~Transaction() try {
+                if (_running) cancel();
+              } catch (...) {
+                if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
+              }
+              //! Ends (commits) the running transaction.
+              void commit() {
+                if (_running) _reader.commitTransaction();
+                _running = false;
+              }
+              //! Cancels the running transaction.
+              void cancel() {
+                if (_running) _reader.cancelTransaction();
+                _running = false;
+              }
+            private:
+              Reader& _reader;
+              bool _running;
+          };
+
+          //! 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)) {
+              }
+              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;
+              }
+          };
+      
+          //.............................................................methods
+        public:
+
+          //! Disconnects connection.
+          ~Reader() {
+            _state = SCardDisconnect(_id, SCARD_LEAVE_CARD);
+            if (!std::uncaught_exception()) _connection.check();
+          }
+
+          //! Get reader status.
+          Status status() {
+            unsigned long dummy(0);
+            unsigned long s;
+            unsigned long len(MAX_ATR_SIZE);
+            unsigned char a[len];
+            check(SCardStatus(_id, 0, &dummy, &s, &_protocol, a, &len));
+            return Status(s, std::string((char*)a, len));
+          }
+
+          //! Transmit data to reader.
+          std::string transmit(std::string in) {
+            unsigned long len(1024); // arbitrary
+            unsigned char buff[len];
+            SCARD_IO_REQUEST rPci;
+            check(SCardTransmit(_id, pci(),
+                                (unsigned char*)in.c_str(), in.size(),
+                                &rPci, buff, &len));
+            return std::string((char*)buff, len);
+          }
+
+          //! @c false if last operation was not successful
+          operator bool() const {
+            return _state==SCARD_S_SUCCESS;
+          }
+          
+          //...........................................................variables
+        public:
+      
+          const std::string name;
+
+          //.............................................................methods
+        private:
+
+          //! Use scoped transactions with @ref Transaction
+          void beginTransaction() {
+            check(SCardBeginTransaction(_id));
+          }
+
+          //! Use scoped transactions with @ref Transaction
+          void commitTransaction() {
+            check(SCardEndTransaction(_id, SCARD_LEAVE_CARD));
+          }
+
+          //! Use scoped transactions with @ref Transaction
+          void cancelTransaction() {
+            check(SCardCancelTransaction(_id));
+          }
+
+          /*! @throw not_implemented if _protocol is unknown. */
+          SCARD_IO_REQUEST* pci() {
+            switch(_protocol) {
+              case SCARD_PROTOCOL_T0: return SCARD_PCI_T0;
+              case SCARD_PROTOCOL_T1: return SCARD_PCI_T1;
+            }
+            if (_connection._exc) throw not_implemented("unknown protocol");
+            return 0;
+          }
+          
+          //! Sets state and throws an exception if neccessary.
+          /*! @throw access_error if it is instanciated for exceptions and
+              an error occured in the last command. */
+          bool check(long state) {
+            _state = state;
+            return _connection.check(state);
+          }
+
+          //! Only Connection is allowed to instanciate.
+          friend class Connection;
+          
+          //! Establishes a connection to the given named cardreader
+          Reader(const std::string& nm, Connection& c):
+              name(nm), _connection(c) {
+            check(SCardConnect(_connection._id, name.c_str(),
+                               SCARD_SHARE_SHARED,
+                               SCARD_PROTOCOL_T0|SCARD_PROTOCOL_T1,
+                               &_id, &_protocol));
+          }
+
+          //! forbidden
+          Reader();
+
+          //! forbidden
+          Reader(const Reader&);
+
+          //...........................................................variables
+        private:
+
+          Connection& _connection;
+          long _id;
+          long _state;
+          unsigned long _protocol;
+      
+      };
+      //------------------------------------------------------------------Reader
+      
+      enum Scope {
+        USER     = SCARD_SCOPE_USER,
+        TERMINAL = SCARD_SCOPE_TERMINAL,
+        SYSTEM   = SCARD_SCOPE_SYSTEM
+      };
+
+      typedef std::vector<std::string> Strings;
+      
+      //................................................................methods
+    public:
+
+      //! Opens a connection (establishes a smartcard context)
+      /*! The errorhandling is defined with the @c exceptions flag:
+
+          Using exceptions:
+          @code
+          try {
+            pcsc::Connection c; // standard with exceptions
+            pcsc::Connection::Strings r(c.scan());
+          } catch (std::exception& x) {
+            std::cout<<"Error with message: "<<x.what()<<std::endl;
+          }
+          @endcode
+
+          Without exceptions:
+          @code
+          pcsc::Connection c(SYSTEM, false);
+          if (!c) std::cout<<"Error with message: "<<c.error()<<std::endl;
+          pcsc::Connection::Strings r(c.scan());
+          if (!c) std::cout<<"Error with message: "<<c.error()<<std::endl;
+          @endcode
+
+          Recommendation: Use exceptions!
+
+          @param s defines the scope of the connection
+          @param exceptions
+            - @c true:  class throws exceptions in case of an error
+            - @c false: no exceptions, check your instance after each
+                        operation */
+      Connection(Scope s=SYSTEM, bool exceptions=true):
+          _exc(exceptions), _id(0),
+          _state(SCardEstablishContext(s, 0, 0, &_id)) {
+        check();
+      }
+
+      //! Closes the connection (releases the smartcard context)
+      ~Connection() {
+        _state = SCardReleaseContext(_id);
+        if (!std::uncaught_exception()) check();
+      }
+
+      //! Scans for available readers from a specified list of groups.
+      /*! Defaults to all groups. */
+      Strings scan(const Strings& groups = Strings()) {
+        Strings res;
+        std::string grp(join(groups));
+        unsigned long num(0);
+        if (!check(SCardListReaders(_id, grp.size()?grp.data():0, 0, &num)))
+          return res;
+        std::auto_ptr<char> nm(new char[num]);
+        if (!check(SCardListReaders(_id, grp.size()?grp.data():0,
+                                    nm.get(), &num)))
+          return res;
+        return res = split(std::string(nm.get(), num-1));
+      }
+
+      //! Get a reader, open a connection if not already open.
+      /*! First use scan() to get a list of readers, then open a
+          connection to the reader, then access it. */
+      Reader& reader(const std::string& name) {
+        if (_reader.find(name)==_reader.end())
+          _reader.insert(std::make_pair(name, new Reader(name, *this)));
+        return *_reader.find(name)->second;
+      }
+
+      //! Close connection of a named reader.
+      /*! If you access the same reader through raeder() later, the
+          connection will be reestablished. */
+      void close(const std::string& s) {
+        
+      }
+
+      //! @c false if last operation was not successful
+      operator bool() const {
+        return _state==SCARD_S_SUCCESS;
+      }
+
+      //! Get the describing text of the last error
+      std::string error() const {
+        return pcsc_stringify_error(_state);
+      }
+      
+      //................................................................methods
+    private:
+      
+      //! Sets state and throws an exception if neccessary.
+      /*! @throw access_error if it is instanciated for exceptions and
+          an error occured in the last command. */
+      bool check(long state) {
+        _state = state;
+        return check();
+      }
+      
+      //! Throws an exception if neccessary.
+      /*! @throw access_error if it is instanciated for exceptions and
+          an error occured in the last command. */
+      bool check() {
+        if (_exc&&_state!=SCARD_S_SUCCESS) throw access_error(error());
+        return _state==SCARD_S_SUCCESS;
+      }
+
+      //! Splits a buffer with 0 separators into a vector of strings.
+      Strings split(const std::string& in) {
+        Strings res;
+        for (std::string::size_type pos(0); pos<in.size();
+             pos+=res.rbegin()->size()+1)
+          res.push_back(in.substr(pos).c_str());
+        return res;
+      }
+      
+      //!  Joins a vector of strings into a  buffer with 0 separators.
+      std::string join(const Strings& in) {
+        std::string res;
+        for (Strings::const_iterator it(in.begin());
+             it!=in.end(); ++it)
+          res+=*it+'\0';
+        return res;
+      }
+      
+      //..............................................................variables
+    private:
+      
+      bool _exc;
+      long _id;
+      long _state;
+      std::map<std::string, boost::shared_ptr<Reader> > _reader;
+
+  };
+
+}
+#endif