diff --git a/mrw/deque.hpp b/mrw/deque.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82088f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/deque.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy © Marc Wäckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__DEQUE__HPP__
+#define __MRW__DEQUE__HPP__
+
+#include <deque>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief push a value to a deque
+
+    @code
+    std::deque<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a deque of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into deque @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/deque.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, typename A>
+std::deque<T, A>& operator<<(std::deque<T, A>& l, const T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  l.push_back(o);
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a deque
+
+    @code
+    std::deque<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    test>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 test=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a deque of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from deque @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if deque was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a deque, it is removed
+    from the deque, that means after every shift the deque is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, typename A>
+std::deque<T, A>& operator>>(std::deque<T, A>& l, T& o) throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::deque<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::deque<>& operator>>(std::deque<>&, T&),"
+                            " deque is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/list.hpp b/mrw/list.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b03cf58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/list.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__LIST__HPP__
+#define __MRW__LIST__HPP__
+
+#include <list>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief push a value to a list
+
+    @code
+    std::list<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a list of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into list @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/list.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, typename A>
+std::list<T, A>& operator<<(std::list<T, A>& l, const T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  l.push_back(o);
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a list
+
+    @code
+    std::list<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    test>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 test=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a list of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from list @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if list was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a list, it is removed
+    from the list, that means after every shift the list is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, typename A>
+std::list<T, A>& operator>>(std::list<T, A>& l, T& o) throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::list<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::list<>& operator>>(std::list<>&, T&),"
+                            " list is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/map.hpp b/mrw/map.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96d7326
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/map.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__MAP__HPP__
+#define __MRW__MAP__HPP__
+
+#include <map>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief insert a value in a map
+
+    @code
+    std::map<int, std::string> test;
+    test<<std::make_pair(1, std::string("one"))
+        <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"));
+    @endcode
+
+    @throw mrw::invalid_argument, if element is already in map
+    @param l a map of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into map @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/map.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::map<K, T, C, A>& operator<<(std::map<K, T, C, A>& l, const std::pair<K, T>& o)
+  throw(std::exception) {
+  if (!l.insert(o).second)
+    throw mrw::invalid_argument(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                                ": std::map<>&"
+                                " operator<<(std::map<>&, const T&),"
+                                "map element already exists");
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a map
+
+    @code
+    std::map<int, std::string> test;
+    test<<std::make_pair(1, std::string("one"))
+        <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"));
+    std::pair<int, std::string> i1, i2;
+    test>>i1>>i2;
+    // now: i1==(1, "one") i2==(2, "two") test=={}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a map of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from map @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if map was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a map, it is removed
+    from the map, that means after every shift the map is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::map<K, T, C, A>& operator>>(std::map<K, T, C, A>& l, std::pair<K, T>& o)
+  throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::map<K, T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::map<>& operator>>(std::map<>&, T&),"
+                            " map is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/multimap.hpp b/mrw/multimap.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..007227e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/multimap.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__MULTIMAP__HPP__
+#define __MRW__MULTIMAP__HPP__
+
+#include <map>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief insert a value in a multimap
+
+    @code
+    std::multimap<int, std::string> test;
+    test<<std::make_pair(1, std::string("one"))
+        <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"));
+    @endcode
+
+    @throw mrw::invalid_argument, if element is already in multimap
+    @param l a multimap of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into multimap @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/multimap.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::multimap<K, T, C, A>& operator<<(std::multimap<K, T, C, A>& l, const std::pair<K, T>& o)
+  throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  l.insert(o);
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a multimap
+
+    @code
+    std::multimap<int, std::string> test;
+    test<<std::make_pair(1, std::string("one"))
+        <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"));
+    std::pair<int, std::string> i1, i2;
+    test>>i1>>i2;
+    // now: i1==(1, "one") i2==(2, "two") test=={}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a multimap of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from multimap @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if multimap was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a multimap, it is removed
+    from the multimap, that means after every shift the multimap is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename K, typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::multimap<K, T, C, A>& operator>>(std::multimap<K, T, C, A>& l, std::pair<K, T>& o)
+  throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::multimap<K, T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::multimap<>& operator>>(std::multimap<>&, T&),"
+                            " multimap is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/multiset.hpp b/mrw/multiset.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa82c64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/multiset.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__MULTISET__HPP__
+#define __MRW__MULTISET__HPP__
+
+#include <set>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief insert a value in a multiset
+
+    @code
+    std::multiset<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a multiset of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into multiset @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/multiset.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::multiset<T, C, A>& operator<<(std::multiset<T, C, A>& l, const T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  l.insert(o);
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a multiset
+
+    @code
+    std::multiset<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    test>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 test=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a multiset of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from multiset @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if set was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a multiset, it is removed
+    from the multiset, that means after every shift the multiset is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::multiset<T, C, A>& operator>>(std::multiset<T, C, A>& l, T& o) throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::multiset<T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::multiset<>& operator>>(std::multiset<>&, T&),"
+                            " multiset is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/set.hpp b/mrw/set.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c5554f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/set.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__SET__HPP__
+#define __MRW__SET__HPP__
+
+#include <set>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief insert a value in a set
+
+    @code
+    std::set<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    @endcode
+
+    @throw mrw::invalid_argument, if element is already in set
+    @param l a set of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into set @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/set.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::set<T, C, A>& operator<<(std::set<T, C, A>& l, const T& o)
+  throw(std::exception) {
+  if (!l.insert(o).second)
+    throw mrw::invalid_argument(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                                ": std::set<>&"
+                                " operator<<(std::set<>&, const T&),"
+                                "set element already exists");
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a set
+
+    @code
+    std::set<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    test>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 test=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a set of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from set @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if set was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a set, it is removed
+    from the set, that means after every shift the set is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, class C, typename A>
+std::set<T, C, A>& operator>>(std::set<T, C, A>& l, T& o)
+  throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::set<T, C, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::set<>& operator>>(std::set<>&, T&),"
+                            " set is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/stdext_test.cpp b/mrw/stdext_test.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2527a02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/stdext_test.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+#include <mrw/list.hpp>
+#include <mrw/vector.hpp>
+#include <mrw/deque.hpp>
+#include <mrw/set.hpp>
+#include <mrw/map.hpp>
+#include <mrw/multiset.hpp>
+#include <mrw/multimap.hpp>
+#include <cppunit/TestFixture.h>
+#include <cppunit/ui/text/TestRunner.h>
+#include <cppunit/extensions/HelperMacros.h>
+#include <cppunit/extensions/TestFactoryRegistry.h>
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+class StdExtTest: public CppUnit::TestFixture { 
+public:
+  void StringConv() {
+    std::string s("Integer=");
+    int i(4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s+mrw::string(i) == "Integer=4");
+  }
+  void StringShift() {
+    std::string s("Integer=");
+    int i(4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT((s<<i<<" test "<<4<<(long)5<<" xx") == "Integer=4 test 45 xx");
+    int i2 = 0;
+    std::string s2, s3;
+    s>>s2>>s3>>i2;
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s2=="Integer=4");
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s3=="test");
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i2==45);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s==" xx");
+    s2=""; s3="";
+    s>>s2>>s3;
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s2=="xx");
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s3=="");
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s=="");
+    
+  }
+  void StringAdd() {
+    std::string s;
+    s=s+(signed short)1+(signed int)2+(signed long)3+(signed char)'A'+
+      (unsigned short)1+(unsigned int)2+(unsigned long)3+(unsigned char)'A'+'c';
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s=="1236512365c");
+    s=(signed short)-4+s;
+    s=(signed int)5+s;
+    s=(signed long)6+s;
+    s=(signed char)8+s;
+    s=(unsigned short)4+s;
+    s=(unsigned int)5+s;
+    s=(unsigned long)6+s;
+    s=(unsigned char)8+s;
+    s='a'+s;
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s=="a8654865-41236512365c");
+    s+=(signed short)-4;
+    s+=(signed int)5  ;
+    s+=(signed long)6;
+    s+=(signed char)8  ;
+    s+=(unsigned short)4;
+    s+=(unsigned int)5  ;
+    s+=(unsigned long)6;
+    s+=(unsigned char)8  ;
+    s+='a';
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s=="a8654865-41236512365c-45684568a");
+  }
+  void ListShift() {
+    std::list<int> l;
+    l<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    l>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 l=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==1 && i2==2 && i3==3 && i4==4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(l.size()==4);
+    for (int i=0; i<4; (l.pop_front(), ++i)) {
+      CPPUNIT_ASSERT(l.front()==i+5);
+    }
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      l>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  void VectorShift() {
+    std::vector<int> l;
+    l<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    l>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 l=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==1 && i2==2 && i3==3 && i4==4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(l.size()==4);
+    for (int i=0; i<4; (l.erase(l.begin()), ++i)) {
+      CPPUNIT_ASSERT(l.front()==i+5);
+    }
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      l>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  void DequeShift() {
+    std::deque<int> l;
+    l<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    l>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 l=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==1 && i2==2 && i3==3 && i4==4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(l.size()==4);
+    for (int i=0; i<4; (l.erase(l.begin()), ++i)) {
+      CPPUNIT_ASSERT(l.front()==i+5);
+    }
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      l>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  void SetShift() {
+    std::set<int> s;
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      s<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8<<8;
+    } catch (mrw::invalid_argument& e) {
+      std::cout<<"******** EXCEPTION"<<std::endl
+               <<e.what()<<std::endl
+               <<e.stacktrace();
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    s>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 s=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==1 && i2==2 && i3==3 && i4==4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s.size()==4);
+    for (int i=0; i<4; ++i) {
+      CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s.find(i+5)!=s.end());
+    }
+    s.erase(s.begin(), s.end());
+    exc=false;
+    try {
+      s>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  void MapShift() {
+    std::map<int, std::string> s;
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      s<<std::make_pair(1, std::string("one"))
+       <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"))
+       <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"));
+    } catch (mrw::invalid_argument& e) {
+      std::cout<<"******** EXCEPTION"<<std::endl
+               <<e.what()<<std::endl
+               <<e.stacktrace();
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+    std::pair<int, std::string> i1, i2;
+    s>>i1>>i2;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 s=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==std::make_pair(1, std::string("one")) &&
+                   i2==std::make_pair(2, std::string("two")));
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s.size()==0);
+    exc=false;
+    try {
+      s>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  void MultisetShift() {
+    std::multiset<int> s;
+    s<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8<<9;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    s>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 s=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==1 && i2==2 && i3==3 && i4==4);
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s.size()==5);
+    for (int i=0; i<5; ++i) {
+      CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s.find(i+5)!=s.end());
+    }
+    s.erase(s.begin(), s.end());
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      s>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  void MultimapShift() {
+    std::multimap<int, std::string> s;
+    s<<std::make_pair(1, std::string("one"))
+     <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"))
+     <<std::make_pair(2, std::string("two"));
+    std::pair<int, std::string> i1, i2;
+    s>>i1>>i2;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 s=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==std::make_pair(1, std::string("one")) &&
+                   i2==std::make_pair(2, std::string("two")));
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(s.size()==1);
+    s>>i1;
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(i1==std::make_pair(2, std::string("two")));
+    bool exc(false);
+    try {
+      s>>i1;
+    } catch (mrw::length_error&) {
+      exc=true;
+    }
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(exc);
+  }
+  CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE(StdExtTest);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(StringConv);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(StringShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(StringAdd);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(ListShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(VectorShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(DequeShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(SetShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(MapShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(MultisetShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(MultimapShift);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_END();
+};
+CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_REGISTRATION(StdExtTest);
+
+int main() {
+  CppUnit::TextUi::TestRunner runner;
+  runner.addTest(CppUnit::TestFactoryRegistry::getRegistry().makeTest());
+  return runner.run() ? 0 : 1;
+}
diff --git a/mrw/string.hpp b/mrw/string.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc5d63b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/string.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,450 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__STRING__HPP__
+#define __MRW__STRING__HPP__
+
+#include <string>
+#include <sstream>
+
+
+namespace mrw {
+  
+  /** @defgroup StdExt Extensions for C++ Standard Libraries
+    
+      There are some feature I am often missing in standard C++. They
+      are relatively easy to obtain, but they could be even simpler. I
+      am mainly a convinced C++ programmer, because I love
+      simplicity. This means, to convert an integer to a string,
+      something like this is not simple enough:
+
+      @code
+        int i;
+        std::string s;
+          [...]
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss<<"length is: "<<i<<"mm";
+        ss>>s;
+      @endcode
+
+      Why can't it simply be:
+
+      @code
+        int i;
+        std::string s;
+          [...]
+        s<<"length is: "<<i<<"mm";
+      @endcode
+
+      Or:
+
+      @code
+        int i;
+        std::string s;
+          [...]
+        s += i; // convert i to string and append it
+      @endcode
+
+      Because we are using the great and powerful C++ language, it can
+      be! That's why you need this module.
+
+      In addition to the shift in and shift out operator for strings,
+      you also get a shhift in and shift out operator for all STL
+      container classes:
+
+      @code
+        std::list<int> l;
+        l<<1<<2<<<3<<4;
+        int i1, i2, i3, i4;
+        l>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+      @endcode
+
+      And the possibility to add strings to integers and vice versa:
+      
+      @code
+        std::string s("x");
+        s = 1+s+2; // s=="1x2"
+      @endcode
+
+      @warning Please note that global namespace is polluted with some
+      operators. If you don't want this, just don't include any of
+      these include files files. There's no impact from this module,
+      if you don't include a header, since all code is inline.
+
+      @warning This code is still experimental and subject to frequent
+      changes! Do not rely your projects on it yet!
+
+      @since 1.0.0
+  */
+  //@{
+
+
+  /** @brief convert any value to a std::string 
+
+      @code
+      std::string s = mrw::string(15);
+      @endcode
+
+      @param o a value to be converted to std::string
+      @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+      @pre T must support operator<< to a stream
+
+  */
+  template <typename T> std::string string(const T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss<<o;
+    return ss.str();
+  }
+
+  /** @brief convert std::string to any value
+
+      @code
+      int i = mrw::to<int>("15");
+      @endcode
+
+      @param s the string where a value of type @c T is extracted from
+      @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+      @pre T must support operator>> from a stream
+  */
+  template <typename T> T to(const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+    T o;
+    std::stringstream ss(s);
+    ss>>o;
+    return o;
+  }
+
+  //@}
+
+}
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief append any value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s<<"length is: "<<i<<"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+    @pre T must support operator<< to a stream
+*/
+template <typename T> std::string& operator<<(std::string& s, const T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief extract any value from a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s1("length: 15 mm");
+    string s2, s3;
+    int i(0);
+    s1>>s2>>is3;
+    // now: s1=="" s2=="length:" i==15 s3=="mm"
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, from which o is extracted
+    @param o the value to extract from s
+    @note when something is extracted from a string, it is removed
+    from the string, that means after every shift the string is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+    @pre T must support operator>> from a stream
+*/
+template <typename T> std::string& operator>>(std::string& s, T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  std::stringstream ss(s);
+  ss>>o;
+  return (s=ss.tellg()>0?s.substr(ss.tellg()):"");
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c unsigned short value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(const std::string& s, unsigned short o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief append a string to a @c unsigned short value
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is prepended
+    @param o the value to prepend in front of @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(unsigned short o, const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return mrw::string(o)+s;
+}
+
+/** @brief add an @c unsigned int value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(const std::string& s, unsigned int o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief append a string to an @c unsigned int value
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is prepended
+    @param o the value to prepend in front of @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(unsigned int o, const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return mrw::string(o)+s;
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c unsigned long value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(const std::string& s, unsigned long o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief append a string to a @c unsigned long value
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is prepended
+    @param o the value to prepend in front of @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(unsigned long o, const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return mrw::string(o)+s;
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c signed short value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(const std::string& s, signed short o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief append a string to a @c signed short value
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is prepended
+    @param o the value to prepend in front of @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(signed short o, const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return mrw::string(o)+s;
+}
+
+/** @brief add an @c signed int value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(const std::string& s, signed int o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief append a string to an @c signed int value
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is prepended
+    @param o the value to prepend in front of @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(signed int o, const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return mrw::string(o)+s;
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c signed long value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(const std::string& s, signed long o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief append a string to a @c signed long value
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s+"length is: "+i+"mm";
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is prepended
+    @param o the value to prepend in front of @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string operator+(signed long o, const std::string& s) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return mrw::string(o)+s;
+}
+
+
+/** @brief add a @c unsigned short value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s += o;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string& operator+=(std::string& s, unsigned short o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief add an @c unsigned int value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s += o;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string& operator+=(std::string& s, unsigned int o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c unsigned long value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s += o;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string& operator+=(std::string& s, unsigned long o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c signed short value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s += o;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string& operator+=(std::string& s, signed short o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief add an @c signed int value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s += o;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string& operator+=(std::string& s, signed int o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+/** @brief add a @c signed long value to a string
+
+    @code
+    std::string s;
+    s += o;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param s the string, where @c o is appended
+    @param o the value to append to @c s
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+std::string& operator+=(std::string& s, signed long o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  return s+=mrw::string(o);
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/mrw/vector.hpp b/mrw/vector.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4cfd183
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrw/vector.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/** @file
+
+    $Id$
+
+    $Date$
+    $Author$
+
+    @copy &copy; Marc W&auml;ckerlin
+    @license LGPL, see file <a href="license.html">COPYING</a>
+
+    $Log$
+    Revision 1.1  2004/10/07 09:31:30  marc
+    new feature
+
+
+*/
+#ifndef __MRW__VECTOR__HPP__
+#define __MRW__VECTOR__HPP__
+
+#include <vector>
+#include <mrw/exception.hpp>
+#include <mrw/string.hpp>
+
+/** @addtogroup StdExt
+ */
+//@{
+
+/** @brief push a value to a vector
+
+    @code
+    std::vector<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a vector of values
+    @param o a value to be inserted into vector @c l
+    @pre #include <mrw/vector.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, typename A>
+std::vector<T, A>& operator<<(std::vector<T, A>& l, const T& o) throw(std::bad_exception) {
+  l.push_back(o);
+  return l;
+}
+
+/** @brief extract the first value of a vector
+
+    @code
+    std::vector<int> test;
+    test<<1<<2<<3<<4<<5<<6<<7<<8;
+    int i1(0), i2(0), i3(0), i4(0);
+    test>>i1>>i2>>i3>>i4;
+    // now: i1==1 i2==2 i3==3 i4==4 test=={5, 6, 7, 8}
+    @endcode
+
+    @param l a vector of values
+    @param o a value to be extracted from vector @c l
+    @throw mrw::length_error, if vector was empty on entry
+    @note when something is extracted from a vector, it is removed
+    from the vector, that means after every shift the vector is
+    shortened by the shifted element
+    @pre #include <mrw/string.hpp>
+*/
+template <typename T, typename A>
+std::vector<T, A>& operator>>(std::vector<T, A>& l, T& o) throw(std::exception) {
+  typename std::vector<T, A>::iterator it(l.begin());
+  if (it==l.end())
+    throw mrw::length_error(std::string(__FILE__ ":")+__LINE__+
+                            ": std::vector<>& operator>>(std::vector<>&, T&),"
+                            " vector is empty");
+  o = *it;
+  l.erase(it);
+  return l;
+}
+
+//@}
+
+#endif