diff --git a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/bnp_patch.cpp b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/bnp_patch.cpp
index fe5bdbc2b..baac733e8 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/bnp_patch.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/bnp_patch.cpp
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ bool CProductDescriptionForClient::load(const std::string& filePath)
 	clear();
 	static CPersistentDataRecord pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromBinFile(filePath.c_str());
+	pdr.readFromBinFile(filePath);
 	apply(pdr);
 
 	return true;
diff --git a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.cpp b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.cpp
index 8b99692ca..b11fcf0b9 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.cpp
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::toLines(std::string& result)
 	return pdt.readFromPdr(*this) && pdt.writeToBuffer(reinterpret_cast<NLMISC::CSString&>(result));
 }
 
-bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToBinFile(const char* fileName)
+bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToBinFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {
 	H_AUTO(CPersistentDataRecordWriteToBinFile);
 
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToBinFile(const char* fileName)
 	// write the buffer to a file
 	COFile f;
 	bool open = f.open(fileName);
-	DROP_IF(!open,NLMISC::toString("Failed to open output file %s",fileName).c_str(),return false);
+	DROP_IF(!open, NLMISC::toString("Failed to open output file %s", fileName.c_str()).c_str(),return false);
 
 	// write the binary data to file
 	try
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToBinFile(const char* fileName)
 	}
 	catch(...)
 	{
-		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to write output file: %s",fileName),return false);
+		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to write output file: %s", fileName.c_str()),return false);
 	}
 
 	// rewind the read pointer 'cos it's at the end of file
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToBinFile(const char* fileName)
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToTxtFile(const char* fileName,TStringFormat stringFormat)
+bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToTxtFile(const std::string &fileName,TStringFormat stringFormat)
 {
 	H_AUTO(CPersistentDataRecordWriteToTxtFile);
 
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToTxtFile(const char* fileName,TStringFormat st
 	// write the text buffer to a file
 	COFile f;
 	bool open = f.open(fileName);
-	DROP_IF(!open,NLMISC::toString("Failed to open output file %s",fileName).c_str(),return false);
+	DROP_IF(!open,NLMISC::toString("Failed to open output file %s", fileName.c_str()).c_str(), return false);
 
 	// write the binary data to file
 	try
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToTxtFile(const char* fileName,TStringFormat st
 	}
 	catch(...)
 	{
-		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to write output file: %s",fileName),return false);
+		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to write output file: %s", fileName.c_str()), return false);
 	}
 
 	// rewind the read pointer 'cos it's at the end of file
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToTxtFile(const char* fileName,TStringFormat st
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToFile(const char* fileName,TFileFormat fileFormat)
+bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToFile(const std::string &fileName, TFileFormat fileFormat)
 {
 	H_AUTO(CPersistentDataRecordWriteToFile);
 
@@ -805,18 +805,18 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::writeToFile(const char* fileName,TFileFormat fileFor
 	{
 	case BINARY_FILE:
 	binary_file:
-		nlinfo("saving binary file: %s",fileName);
+		nlinfo("saving binary file: %s", fileName.c_str());
 		return writeToBinFile(fileName);
 
 	case XML_FILE:
 	xml_file:
-		nlinfo("saving xml file: %s",fileName);
-		return writeToTxtFile(fileName,XML_STRING);
+		nlinfo("saving xml file: %s", fileName.c_str());
+		return writeToTxtFile(fileName, XML_STRING);
 
 	case LINES_FILE:
 	lines_file:
-		nlinfo("saving line-based txt file: %s",fileName);
-		return writeToTxtFile(fileName,LINES_STRING);
+		nlinfo("saving line-based txt file: %s", fileName.c_str());
+		return writeToTxtFile(fileName, LINES_STRING);
 
 	case ANY_FILE:
 		{
@@ -1113,15 +1113,15 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::fromBuffer(NLMISC::IStream& stream)
 }
 
 
-bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromFile(const char* fileName)
+bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {
 	H_AUTO(pdrReadFromFile)
 
 #ifdef NL_OS_WINDOWS
 
 	// open the file
-	FILE* inf= fopen(fileName,"rb");
-	DROP_IF( inf==NULL, "Failed to open input file "<<fileName, return false);
+	FILE* inf= fopen(fileName.c_str(), "rb");
+	DROP_IF( inf==NULL, "Failed to open input file " << fileName, return false);
 
 	// get the file size
 	uint32 length= filelength(fileno(inf));
@@ -1166,14 +1166,14 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromFile(const char* fileName)
 #endif
 }
 
-bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromBinFile(const char* fileName)
+bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromBinFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {
 	H_AUTO(CPersistentDataRecordReadFromBinFile);
 
 	// open the file
 	CIFile f;
 	bool open = f.open(fileName);
-	DROP_IF(!open,NLMISC::toString("Failed to open input file %s",fileName).c_str(),return false)
+	DROP_IF(!open, NLMISC::toString("Failed to open input file %s", fileName.c_str()), return false)
 
 	// get the file size
 	uint32 len=CFile::getFileSize(fileName);
@@ -1189,7 +1189,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromBinFile(const char* fileName)
 	}
 	catch(...)
 	{
-		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to read input file: %s",fileName),return false);
+		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to read input file: %s", fileName.c_str()), return false);
 	}
 
 	// parse the buffer contents to re-generate the data
@@ -1199,14 +1199,14 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromBinFile(const char* fileName)
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromTxtFile(const char* fileName)
+bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromTxtFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {
 	H_AUTO(CPersistentDataRecordReadFromTxtFile);
 
 	// open the file
 	CIFile f;
 	bool open = f.open(fileName);
-	DROP_IF(!open,NLMISC::toString("Failed to open input file %s",fileName).c_str(),return false)
+	DROP_IF(!open, NLMISC::toString("Failed to open input file %s", fileName.c_str()), return false)
 
 	// get the file size
 	uint32 len=CFile::getFileSize(fileName);
@@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@ bool CPersistentDataRecord::readFromTxtFile(const char* fileName)
 	}
 	catch(...)
 	{
-		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to read input file: %s",fileName),return false);
+		DROP(NLMISC::toString("Failed to read input file: %s", fileName.c_str()), return false);
 	}
 
 	// parse the buffer contents to re-generate the data
diff --git a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.h b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.h
index 21d080d65..a02d92512 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.h
+++ b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/persistent_data.h
@@ -407,15 +407,15 @@ public:
 	bool toLines(std::string& result);
 
 	// perform a toBuffer() and write the result to a binary file
-	bool writeToBinFile(const char* fileName);
+	bool writeToBinFile(const std::string &fileName);
 
 	// perform a toString() and write the result to a text file
-	bool writeToTxtFile(const char* fileName,TStringFormat stringFormat=XML_STRING);
+	bool writeToTxtFile(const std::string &fileName, TStringFormat stringFormat=XML_STRING);
 
 	// if the format is set to 'ANY_FILE' then use the extension provided in the 'fileName' argument to
 	// determine the file type. In this case 'txt' and 'xml' have specific meanings
 	// returns writeToTxtFile(...) or writeToBinFile(...) depending on the file format
-	bool writeToFile(const char* fileName,TFileFormat fileFormat=ANY_FILE);
+	bool writeToFile(const std::string &fileName, TFileFormat fileFormat=ANY_FILE);
 
 
 	//-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -445,14 +445,14 @@ public:
 	bool fromLines(const std::string& s);
 
 	// read from a binary file
-	bool readFromBinFile(const char* fileName);
+	bool readFromBinFile(const std::string &fileName);
 
 	// read from a text file
-	bool readFromTxtFile(const char* fileName);
+	bool readFromTxtFile(const std::string &fileName);
 
 	// read a file and determine whether it's a binary or text file from it's
 	// content - then behave like readFromBinFile() or readFromTxtFile()
-	bool readFromFile(const char* fileName);
+	bool readFromFile(const std::string &fileName);
 
 
 private:
diff --git a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/server_animation_module.cpp b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/server_animation_module.cpp
index 8dd02f621..199a983ef 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/server_animation_module.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/common/src/game_share/server_animation_module.cpp
@@ -2039,7 +2039,7 @@ bool CServerAnimationModule::doMakeAnimationSession(CAnimationSession* animSessi
 		{
 			string tmp = toString("r2.%04u.act%u.pdr.xml", sessionId.asInt(), first);
 			nldebug( "writing xml pdr file %s", tmp.c_str() );
-			animSession->Pdrs[first].writeToTxtFile( tmp.c_str() );
+			animSession->Pdrs[first].writeToTxtFile( tmp );
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/ai_share/ai_actions_dr.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/ai_share/ai_actions_dr.cpp
index da668a725..1fa9cf40c 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/ai_share/ai_actions_dr.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/ai_share/ai_actions_dr.cpp
@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ void CAIActionsDataRecordPtr::clear()
 
 void CAIActionsDataRecordPtr::readFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {
-	_PdrPtr->readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+	_PdrPtr->readFromFile(fileName);
 }
 
 void CAIActionsDataRecordPtr::writeFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {	
-	_PdrPtr->writeToFile(fileName.c_str());
+	_PdrPtr->writeToFile(fileName);
 }
 
 void CAIActionsDataRecordPtr::display()
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/backup_service/commands.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/backup_service/commands.cpp
index 79ac6c0f3..4bbdb9dc9 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/backup_service/commands.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/backup_service/commands.cpp
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND ( dumpCharacterFile, "dump the content of the save file for a cha
 	static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
 
-	if (!pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName.c_str()))
+	if (!pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName))
 	{
 		log.displayNL("Error while reading file '%s'", fileName.c_str());
 		return true;
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/admin.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/admin.cpp
index 22254c64b..ee9eb2630 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/admin.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/admin.cpp
@@ -2199,7 +2199,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(pdr,saveToXML,"save a character to an XML file","<eid
 		static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
 		c->store(pdr);
-		pdr.writeToTxtFile((fileName+".xml").c_str());
+		pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName+".xml");
 		return true;
 	}
 
@@ -2225,7 +2225,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(pdr,loadFromXML,"load a character from an XML file","
 
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromTxtFile((fileName+".xml").c_str());
+		pdr.readFromTxtFile(fileName+".xml");
 		c->apply(pdr);
 		c->setName(name);
 		c->setGuildId(guildId);
@@ -2256,7 +2256,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(pdr,saveToPDR,"save a character to a binary PDR file"
 		static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
 		c->store(pdr);
-		pdr.writeToBinFile((fileName+".pdr").c_str());
+		pdr.writeToBinFile(fileName+".pdr");
 		return true;
 	}
 
@@ -2282,7 +2282,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(pdr,loadFromPDR,"load a character from a binary PDR f
 
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromBinFile((fileName+".pdr").c_str());
+		pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName+".pdr");
 		c->apply(pdr);
 
 		c->setName(name);
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/entities_game_service.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/entities_game_service.cpp
index e6d4d3d8c..fa0985692 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/entities_game_service.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/entities_game_service.cpp
@@ -1720,7 +1720,7 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND(loadCharacterNames,"load all character save games and extract nam
 		pdr.clear();
 		{
 			H_AUTO(LoadCharacterNamesLoadFile);
-			pdr.readFromFile((*it).second.FileName.c_str());
+			pdr.readFromFile((*it).second.FileName);
 		}
 		CCharacterNameExtraction nameExtractor;
 		{
@@ -1760,25 +1760,25 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND(loadCharacterNames,"load all character save games and extract nam
 //				// std read tst
 //				static CPersistentDataRecord pdrRead("");
 //				pdrRead.clear();
-//				pdrRead.readFromBinFile(files[i].c_str());
-//				pdrRead.writeToTxtFile((saveDir + "test/txt_read/" + CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(file) + ".txt").c_str(), CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
+//				pdrRead.readFromBinFile(files[i]);
+//				pdrRead.writeToTxtFile(saveDir + "test/txt_read/" + CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(file) + ".txt", CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
 //
 //				// read write tst (even with a bad used RyzomStore class)
 //				static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore pdr;
 //				pdr.clear();
-//				pdr.readFromBinFile(files[i].c_str());
+//				pdr.readFromBinFile(files[i]);
 //				TTime	t0= CTime::getLocalTime();
-//				pdr.writeToBinFile((saveDir + "test/bin_new/" + file).c_str());
+//				pdr.writeToBinFile(saveDir + "test/bin_new/" + file);
 //				TTime	t1= CTime::getLocalTime();
 //				nlinfo("resaved %s in %d ms", file.c_str(), uint32(t1-t0));
-//				pdr.writeToTxtFile((saveDir + "test/txt_before/" + CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(file) + ".txt").c_str(), CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
+//				pdr.writeToTxtFile(saveDir + "test/txt_before/" + CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(file) + ".txt", CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
 //			}
 //			// ReLoad
 //			{
 //				static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore pdr;
 //				pdr.clear();
-//				pdr.readFromBinFile((saveDir + "test/bin_new/" + file).c_str());
-//				pdr.writeToTxtFile((saveDir + "test/txt_after/" + CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(file) + ".txt").c_str(), CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
+//				pdr.readFromBinFile(saveDir + "test/bin_new/" + file);
+//				pdr.writeToTxtFile(saveDir + "test/txt_after/" + CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(file) + ".txt", CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
 //			}
 //		}
 //	}
@@ -1813,10 +1813,10 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND(loadCharacterNames,"load all character save games and extract nam
 //				{
 //					static CPersistentDataRecord pdr;
 //					pdr.clear();
-//					pdr.readFromFile(files[i].c_str());
+//					pdr.readFromFile(files[i]);
 //					string txtFile= files[i];
 //					strFindReplace(txtFile, ".bin", ".txt");
-//					pdr.writeToTxtFile(txtFile.c_str(), CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
+//					pdr.writeToTxtFile(txtFile, CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING);
 //				}
 //			}
 //		}
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/game_event_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/game_event_manager.cpp
index b95fb1ad4..d96f122b9 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/game_event_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/game_event_manager.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ void CGameEventManager::init()
 	{
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromTxtFile(sFilename.c_str());
+		pdr.readFromTxtFile(sFilename);
 		apply(pdr);
 		createEventChannel();
 	}
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ void CGameEventManager::saveGameEventFile()
 		static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
 		store(pdr);
-		pdr.writeToTxtFile(sFilename.c_str());
+		pdr.writeToTxtFile(sFilename);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_commands.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_commands.cpp
index 9169443a6..3e840bd43 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_commands.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_commands.cpp
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND( importGuildFile, "Import a guild file into the server", "<filena
 		if ( id > 0)
 		{
 			// this is a guild file. We can load it
-			pdr.readFromBinFile(args[0].c_str());
+			pdr.readFromBinFile(args[0]);
 
 			guildId = id;
 		}
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND( importGuildFile, "Import a guild file into the server", "<filena
 			if ( id > 0)
 			{
 				// this is a guild file. We can load it
-				pdr.readFromTxtFile(args[0].c_str());
+				pdr.readFromTxtFile(args[0]);
 				guildId = id;
 			}
 			else
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_manager.cpp
index bb99c253f..a84f797dd 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/guild_manager/guild_manager.cpp
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ void CGuildManager::saveGuild( CGuild* guild )
 	{
 		H_AUTO( CGuildManagerUpdate_PDR_WRITE_TEXT )
 			string fileName = Bsi.getLocalPath()+NLMISC::toString("guilds/guild_%05u.txt", id & 0x000fffff);
-		pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName.c_str());
+		pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ void CGuildManager::saveGuild( CGuild* guild )
 		else
 		{
 			H_AUTO( CGuildManagerUpdatePDR_WRITE_BIN_NO_PDS )
-				pdr.writeToBinFile((Bsi.getLocalPath() + fileName).c_str());
+				pdr.writeToBinFile(Bsi.getLocalPath() + fileName);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/mission_manager/mission_queue_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/mission_manager/mission_queue_manager.cpp
index a821eef45..76ddcc3ae 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/mission_manager/mission_queue_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/mission_manager/mission_queue_manager.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ void CMissionQueueManager::init()
 	{
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromTxtFile(sFilename.c_str());
+		pdr.readFromTxtFile(sFilename);
 		apply(pdr);
 	}
 	_InitOk = true;
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/outpost_manager/outpost_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/outpost_manager/outpost_manager.cpp
index 3fa6429a5..681a9d7dd 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/outpost_manager/outpost_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/outpost_manager/outpost_manager.cpp
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ void COutpostManager::loadOutpostSaveFiles()
 //				// load dynamic data
 //				static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 //				pdr.clear();
-//				pdr.readFromBinFile(files[i].c_str());
+//				pdr.readFromBinFile(files[i]);
 //				outpost->apply( pdr );
 //				loadedOutposts.push_back( outpost );
 //			}
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ void COutpostManager::saveOutpost(NLMISC::CSmartPtr<COutpost> outpost)
 	else
 	{
 		H_AUTO( COutpostManagerSTORE_NO_BS )
-		pdr.writeToBinFile((Bsi.getLocalPath() + fileName).c_str());
+		pdr.writeToBinFile(Bsi.getLocalPath() + fileName);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player.cpp
index 03efc8291..fa5e216ae 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player.cpp
@@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ void CPlayer::loadAllCharacters()
 				bool isOK;
 				{
 					H_AUTO(LoadAllCharactersPdrBinReadFile);
-					isOK= pdr.readFromBinFile(pdrBinFileName.c_str());
+					isOK= pdr.readFromBinFile(pdrBinFileName);
 				}
 				if (!isOK)
 					break;
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ void CPlayer::loadAllCharacters()
 				bool isOK;
 				{
 					H_AUTO(LoadAllCharactersPdrXmlReadFile);
-					isOK= pdr.readFromTxtFile(pdrXmlFileName.c_str());
+					isOK= pdr.readFromTxtFile(pdrXmlFileName);
 				}
 				if (!isOK)
 					break;
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ void CPlayer::loadAllCharactersPdr()
 		// try loading the save data from disk
 		try
 		{
-			bool isOK= pdr.readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+			bool isOK= pdr.readFromFile(fileName);
 			if (!isOK)
 				continue;
 		}
@@ -1478,11 +1478,11 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(egs, convertToPdr, "Load all possible characters from
 				bool	writeSuccess = false;
 				if (xml)
 				{
-					writeSuccess = pdr.writeToTxtFile(dstFile.c_str());
+					writeSuccess = pdr.writeToTxtFile(dstFile);
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					writeSuccess = pdr.writeToBinFile(dstFile.c_str());
+					writeSuccess = pdr.writeToBinFile(dstFile);
 				}
 
 				// check file can be read back
@@ -1491,7 +1491,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(egs, convertToPdr, "Load all possible characters from
 					static CPersistentDataRecord	pdrTest;
 					pdrTest.clear();
 					
-					if (pdrTest.readFromFile(dstFile.c_str()))
+					if (pdrTest.readFromFile(dstFile))
 					{
 						CCharacter*	characterTest = new CCharacter();
 						characterTest->setId( PlayerManager.createCharacterId( UserId, CharId ) );
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player_manager.cpp
index befc0d95c..d02da2948 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/player_manager/player_manager.cpp
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ void CPlayerManager::savePlayerCharRecurs( uint32 userId, sint32 idx, std::set<C
 				}
 				{
 					H_AUTO(SavePlayerPDRSave);
-					pdr.writeToFile(pdrPathFileName.c_str());
+					pdr.writeToFile(pdrPathFileName);
 				}
 			}
 			catch(const Exception &)
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager.cpp
index 50b039522..31eacae82 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager.cpp
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ void CPVPFactionRewardManager::_totemFileCallback(const CFileDescription& fileDe
 	static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
 	pdr.fromBuffer(dataStream);
-//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath.c_str() );
+//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath );
 
 	apply( pdr );
 }
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ bool CPVPFactionRewardManager::_LoadFromPDR()
 //
 //	static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore pdr;
 //	pdr.clear();
-//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath.c_str() );
+//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath );
 //
 //	if ( pdr.isEndOfData() )
 //	{
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/totem_base.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/totem_base.cpp
index 2c63da06d..eda41255e 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/totem_base.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/pvp_manager/pvp_faction_reward_manager/totem_base.cpp
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ void CTotemBase::totemFileCallback(const CFileDescription& fileDescription, NLMI
 	static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
 	pdr.fromBuffer(dataStream);
-//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath.c_str() );
+//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath );
 
 	apply( pdr );
 }
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ void CTotemBase::loadFromPDR()
 	
 //	static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore pdr;
 //	pdr.clear();
-//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath.c_str() );
+//	pdr.readFromFile( sFilePath );
 //
 //	apply( pdr );
 }
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/dynamic_items.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/dynamic_items.cpp
index 00fe45900..4d51d8e50 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/dynamic_items.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/dynamic_items.cpp
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ void CDynamicItems::init()
 //			static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 //			pdr.clear();
 //			
-//			pdr.readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+//			pdr.readFromFile(fileName);
 //			apply(pdr, i);
 //
 //			for( uint32 j = 0; j < subVec.size(); ++j )
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/named_items.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/named_items.cpp
index 040deb898..9c5425c94 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/named_items.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/shop_type/named_items.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ void CNamedItems::loadNamedItemsFromFile(const std::string & fileName)
 
 	static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromTxtFile(path.c_str());
+	pdr.readFromTxtFile(path);
 	CInventoryPtr inv = loadFromPdr(pdr);
 	if (inv == NULL)
 	{
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/stat_db.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/stat_db.cpp
index c64086846..4c8b490eb 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/stat_db.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/entities_game_service/stat_db.cpp
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ void  CStatDB::valueLeaveFileCallback(const CFileDescription& fileDescription, N
 		CStatDBValueLeavesPD valueLeavesPD;
 
 		pdr.fromBuffer(dataStream);
-//		pdr.readFromFile(sFilePath.c_str());
+//		pdr.readFromFile(sFilePath);
 		valueLeavesPD.apply(pdr);
 		nTotalLoaded += fileDescription.FileSize;
 
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ void  CStatDB::tableLeaveFileCallback(const CFileDescription& fileDescription, N
 		CStatDBTableLeafPD tableLeafPD;
 
 		pdr.fromBuffer(dataStream);
-//		pdr.readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+//		pdr.readFromFile(fileName);
 		tableLeafPD.apply(pdr);
 		nTotalLoaded += CFile::getFileSize(fileName);
 
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ void CStatDB::load()
 //			pdr.clear();
 //			CStatDBValueLeavesPD valueLeavesPD;
 //
-//			pdr.readFromFile(sFilePath.c_str());
+//			pdr.readFromFile(sFilePath);
 //			valueLeavesPD.apply(pdr);
 //			nTotalLoaded += CFile::getFileSize(sFilePath);
 //
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ void CStatDB::load()
 //			pdr.clear();
 //			CStatDBTableLeafPD tableLeafPD;
 //
-//			pdr.readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+//			pdr.readFromFile(fileName);
 //			tableLeafPD.apply(pdr);
 //			nTotalLoaded += CFile::getFileSize(fileName);
 //
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_char_commands.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_char_commands.cpp
index a8203bb03..3a4c98232 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_char_commands.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_char_commands.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(Stats,listCharNames,"display the names of the charact
 	{
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromFile(files[i].c_str());
+		pdr.readFromFile(files[i]);
 
 		CStatsScanCharacter c;
 		c.apply(pdr);
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp
index 119b02a2f..890144224 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/general_utilities_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ bool CCharacterScanJob::runForFile(const std::string& fileName)
 	// load the file into a pdr record
 	static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+	pdr.readFromFile(fileName);
 
 	// create a character representation and apply the pdr
 	CStatsScanCharacter c;
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_char_commands.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_char_commands.cpp
index ed5641455..6cb5983aa 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_char_commands.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_char_commands.cpp
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(Stats,listCharNames,"display the names of the charact
 	{
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromFile(files[i].c_str());
+		pdr.readFromFile(files[i]);
 
 		CStatsScanCharacter c;
 		c.apply(pdr);
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp
index 119b02a2f..890144224 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/pd_support_service/stat_character_scan_job.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ bool CCharacterScanJob::runForFile(const std::string& fileName)
 	// load the file into a pdr record
 	static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromFile(fileName.c_str());
+	pdr.readFromFile(fileName);
 
 	// create a character representation and apply the pdr
 	CStatsScanCharacter c;
diff --git a/code/ryzom/server/src/server_share/handy_commands.cpp b/code/ryzom/server/src/server_share/handy_commands.cpp
index d7226dda8..dff486dd4 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/server/src/server_share/handy_commands.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/server/src/server_share/handy_commands.cpp
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdrBin2xml,"convert a binary pdr file to xml","
 
 	static CPersistentDataRecord pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromBinFile(args[0].c_str());
-	pdr.writeToTxtFile(args[1].c_str());
+	pdr.readFromBinFile(args[0]);
+	pdr.writeToTxtFile(args[1]);
 
 	return true;
 }
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdrXml2bin,"convert a text pdr file to binary",
 
 	static CPersistentDataRecord pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromTxtFile(args[0].c_str());
-	pdr.writeToBinFile(args[1].c_str());
+	pdr.readFromTxtFile(args[0]);
+	pdr.writeToBinFile(args[1]);
 
 	return true;
 }
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdr2xml,"convert one or more sets of pdr files
 			log.displayNL("Converting to XML : %s => %s",fd.FileName.c_str(),outputFileName.c_str());
 			static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 			pdr.clear();
-			pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName.c_str());
-			pdr.writeToFile(outputFileName.c_str());
+			pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName);
+			pdr.writeToFile(outputFileName);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdr2bin,"convert one or more sets of pdr files
 			log.displayNL("Converting to Binary : %s => %s",fd.FileName.c_str(),outputFileName.c_str());
 			static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 			pdr.clear();
-			pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName.c_str());
-			pdr.writeToFile(outputFileName.c_str());
+			pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName);
+			pdr.writeToFile(outputFileName);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdr2txt,"convert one or more sets of pdr files
 			log.displayNL("Converting to TXT : %s => %s",fd.FileName.c_str(),outputFileName.c_str());
 			static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 			pdr.clear();
-			pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName.c_str());
-			pdr.writeToFile(outputFileName.c_str());
+			pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName);
+			pdr.writeToFile(outputFileName);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -218,10 +218,10 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdrFileCompare,"Compare 2 pdr files","<first fi
 		return false;
 
 	CPersistentDataRecord pdr0;
-	pdr0.readFromFile(args[0].c_str());
+	pdr0.readFromFile(args[0]);
 
 	CPersistentDataRecord pdr1;
-	pdr1.readFromFile(args[1].c_str());
+	pdr1.readFromFile(args[1]);
 
 	log.displayNL("%s : %s / %s", (pdr0==pdr1)?"Files MATCH":"Files DON'T match", args[0].c_str(), args[1].c_str());
 
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ NLMISC_CATEGORISED_COMMAND(utils,pdrInfo,"Extract info from pdr file(s)","<input
 
 			{
 				H_AUTO(pdrInfo_readFromFile)
-				pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName.c_str());
+				pdr.readFromFile(fd.FileName);
 			}
 			log.displayNL("%s",pdr.getInfo().c_str());
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/tools/patch_gen/patch_gen_common.cpp b/code/ryzom/tools/patch_gen/patch_gen_common.cpp
index 7c72f28ed..df66a36fe 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/tools/patch_gen/patch_gen_common.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/tools/patch_gen/patch_gen_common.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void CPackageDescription::setup(const std::string& packageName)
 	// read new contents from input file
 	static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromTxtFile(packageName.c_str());
+	pdr.readFromTxtFile(packageName);
 	apply(pdr);
 
 	// root directory
@@ -229,30 +229,34 @@ void CPackageDescription::storeToPdr(CPersistentDataRecord& pdr) const
 
 void CPackageDescription::readIndex(CBNPFileSet& packageIndex) const
 {
-	nlinfo("Reading history file: %s ...",(_RootDirectory+_IndexFileName).c_str());
+	std::string indexPath = _RootDirectory + _IndexFileName;
+	
+	nlinfo("Reading history file: %s ...", indexPath.c_str());
 
 	// clear out old contents before reading from input file
 	packageIndex.clear();
 
 	// read new contents from input file
-	if (NLMISC::CFile::fileExists(_RootDirectory+_IndexFileName))
+	if (NLMISC::CFile::fileExists(indexPath))
 	{
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromTxtFile((_RootDirectory+_IndexFileName).c_str());
+		pdr.readFromTxtFile(indexPath);
 		packageIndex.apply(pdr);
 	}
 }
 
 void CPackageDescription::writeIndex(const CBNPFileSet& packageIndex) const
 {
-	nlinfo("Writing history file: %s ...",(_RootDirectory+_IndexFileName).c_str());
+	std::string indexPath = _RootDirectory + _IndexFileName;
+
+	nlinfo("Writing history file: %s ...", indexPath.c_str());
 
 	// write contents to output file
 	static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
 	packageIndex.store(pdr);
-	pdr.writeToTxtFile((_RootDirectory+_IndexFileName).c_str());
+	pdr.writeToTxtFile(indexPath);
 }
 
 void CPackageDescription::getCategories(CPersistentDataRecord &pdr) const
@@ -285,12 +289,16 @@ void CPackageDescription::updateIndexFileList(CBNPFileSet& packageIndex) const
 	}
 }
 
-void CPackageDescription::generateClientIndex(CProductDescriptionForClient& theClientPackage,const CBNPFileSet& packageIndex) const
+void CPackageDescription::generateClientIndex(CProductDescriptionForClient& theClientPackage, const CBNPFileSet& packageIndex) const
 {
-	nlinfo("Generating client index: %s ...",(_PatchDirectory+toString("%05u/", packageIndex.getVersionNumber())+_ClientIndexFileName).c_str());
+	std::string patchNumber = toString("%05u", packageIndex.getVersionNumber());
+	std::string patchDirectory = _PatchDirectory + patchNumber;
+	std::string patchFile = patchDirectory + "/" + _ClientIndexFileName;
+	
+	nlinfo("Generating client index: %s...", patchFile.c_str());
 
 	// make sure the version sub directory exist
-	CFile::createDirectory(_PatchDirectory+toString("%05u/", packageIndex.getVersionNumber()));
+	CFile::createDirectory(patchDirectory);
 
 	// clear out the client package before we start
 	theClientPackage.clear();
@@ -310,11 +318,10 @@ void CPackageDescription::generateClientIndex(CProductDescriptionForClient& theC
 	pdr.clear();
 	theClientPackage.store(pdr);
 
-	std::string newName = _PatchDirectory + toString("%05u/", packageIndex.getVersionNumber()) + NLMISC::CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(_ClientIndexFileName);
-	newName += NLMISC::toString("_%05u", packageIndex.getVersionNumber());
+	std::string newName = patchDirectory + "/" + NLMISC::CFile::getFilenameWithoutExtension(_ClientIndexFileName) + "_" + patchNumber;
 
-	pdr.writeToBinFile((newName+".idx").c_str());
-	pdr.writeToTxtFile((newName+"_debug.xml").c_str());
+	pdr.writeToBinFile(newName + ".idx");
+	pdr.writeToTxtFile(newName + "_debug.xml");
 }
 
 void CPackageDescription::addVersion(CBNPFileSet& packageIndex)
@@ -548,12 +555,13 @@ static bool createNewProduct(std::string fileName)
 	static CPersistentDataRecordRyzomStore	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
 	package.storeToPdr(pdr);
-	pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName.c_str());
+	pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName);
 	package.setup(fileName);
 	package.createDirectories();
 	package.buildDefaultFileList();
 	package.storeToPdr(pdr);
-	pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName.c_str());
+	pdr.writeToTxtFile(fileName);
+
 	BOMB_IF(!NLMISC::CFile::fileExists(fileName),("Failed to create new package file: "+fileName).c_str(),return false);
 	nlinfo("New package description file created successfully: %s",fileName.c_str());
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/tools/pdr_util/pdr_util.cpp b/code/ryzom/tools/pdr_util/pdr_util.cpp
index 367fe6e92..1c4bd7eae 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/tools/pdr_util/pdr_util.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/tools/pdr_util/pdr_util.cpp
@@ -258,25 +258,25 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			}
 			else
 				printf("Converting '%s' (XML) to '%s' (BINARY)\n", fileName.c_str(), outputFileName.c_str() );
-			if (!pdr.readFromTxtFile(fileName.c_str()))
+			if (!pdr.readFromTxtFile(fileName))
 				goto failureRead;
-			if (!pdr.writeToBinFile(outputFileName.c_str()))
+			if (!pdr.writeToBinFile(outputFileName))
 				goto failureWrite;
 			break;
 
 		case cm_to_xml:
 			printf("Converting '%s' (BINARY) to '%s' (XML)\n", fileName.c_str(), outputFileName.c_str() );
-			if (!pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName.c_str()))
+			if (!pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName))
 				goto failureRead;
-			if (!pdr.writeToTxtFile(outputFileName.c_str(), CPersistentDataRecord::XML_STRING))
+			if (!pdr.writeToTxtFile(outputFileName, CPersistentDataRecord::XML_STRING))
 				goto failureWrite;
 			break;
 
 		case cm_to_txt:
 			printf("Converting '%s' (BINARY) to '%s' (TXT)\n", fileName.c_str(), outputFileName.c_str() );
-			if (!pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName.c_str()))
+			if (!pdr.readFromBinFile(fileName))
 				goto failureRead;
-			if (!pdr.writeToTxtFile(outputFileName.c_str(), CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING))
+			if (!pdr.writeToTxtFile(outputFileName, CPersistentDataRecord::LINES_STRING))
 				goto failureWrite;
 			break;
 		default:
diff --git a/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/char_commands.cpp b/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/char_commands.cpp
index 6e6247c42..a42f3dcb0 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/char_commands.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/char_commands.cpp
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ NLMISC_COMMAND(listCharNames,"display the names of the characters int he listed
 	{
 		static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 		pdr.clear();
-		pdr.readFromFile(files[i].c_str());
+		pdr.readFromFile(files[i]);
 
 		CStatsScanCharacter c;
 		c.apply(pdr);
diff --git a/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/character_scan_job.cpp b/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/character_scan_job.cpp
index be0b785b4..b56aeeca2 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/character_scan_job.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/tools/stats_scan/character_scan_job.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void CCharacterScanJob::update()
 	// load the file into a pdr record
 	static CPersistentDataRecord	pdr;
 	pdr.clear();
-	pdr.readFromFile(_Files[_NextFile].c_str());
+	pdr.readFromFile(_Files[_NextFile]);
 	++_NextFile;
 
 	// create a character representation and apply the pdr