Merge new generic netlist work, code cleaning, and BOM fixes

CHANGELOG.txt

@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@ KiCad ChangeLog 2010
 Please add newer entries at the top, list the date and your name with
 email address.
 
+2010-Jul-30 UPDATE Dick Hollenbeck <dick@softplc.com>
+================================================================================
+++eeschema:
+  * Now link with XML support within wxWidgets.
+  * Start of export the generic netlist in XML.  Still need to rework the chain
+    loaded netlist plugin.
+  * OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST class now uses a std::string to hold the 8 bit string m_Ref,
+    but hides this behind accessors which provide for both Unicode and 8 bit
+    set and get functions.
+  * build_BOM.cpp retains the selected filename on subsequent runs as a default.
+  * Code cleaning, especially in build_BOM.cpp.
+  * Will work tomorrow also.
+
+
 2010-jul-27, UPDATE Jean-Pierre Charras <jean-pierre.charras@gipsa-lab.inpg.fr>
 ================================================================================
 ++all:

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@ check_find_package_result(OPENGL_FOUND "OpenGL")
 
 # On Apple only wxwidgets 2.9 or higher doesn't need to find aui part of base
 if(APPLE)
-    find_package(wxWidgets COMPONENTS gl adv html core net base QUIET)
+    find_package(wxWidgets COMPONENTS gl adv html core net base xml QUIET)
 else(APPLE)
-    find_package(wxWidgets COMPONENTS gl aui adv html core net base QUIET)
+    find_package(wxWidgets COMPONENTS gl aui adv html core net base xml QUIET)
 endif(APPLE)
 check_find_package_result(wxWidgets_FOUND "wxWidgets")
 

eeschema/annotate.cpp

@@ -381,8 +381,7 @@ int AddComponentsInSheetToList(  std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aComponentsList,
             if( DrawLibItem->GetRef( aSheet ).IsEmpty() )
                 DrawLibItem->SetRef( aSheet, wxT( "DefRef?" ) );
 
-            strncpy( new_object.m_Reference,
-                     CONV_TO_UTF8( DrawLibItem->GetRef( aSheet ) ), 32 );
+            new_object.SetRef( DrawLibItem->GetRef( aSheet ) );
 
             new_object.m_NumRef = -1;
 
@@ -409,6 +408,7 @@ static void ReAnnotateComponents( std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aComponentsList
     /* update the reference numbers */
     for( unsigned ii = 0; ii < aComponentsList.size(); ii++ )
     {
+#if 0
         char*          Text = aComponentsList[ii].m_Reference;
         SCH_COMPONENT* component = aComponentsList[ii].m_RootCmp;
 
@@ -419,8 +419,23 @@ static void ReAnnotateComponents( std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aComponentsList
 
         component->SetRef( &(aComponentsList[ii].m_SheetPath),
                            CONV_FROM_UTF8( Text ) );
+#else
+
+        wxString        ref = aComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
+        SCH_COMPONENT*  component = aComponentsList[ii].m_RootCmp;
+
+        if( aComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef < 0 )
+            ref += wxChar( '?' );
+        else
+            ref << aComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef;
+
+        aComponentsList[ii].SetRef( ref );
+
+        component->SetRef( &aComponentsList[ii].m_SheetPath, ref );
+#endif
+
         component->m_Multi = aComponentsList[ii].m_Unit;
-        component->SetUnitSelection( &(aComponentsList[ii].m_SheetPath),
+        component->SetUnitSelection( &aComponentsList[ii].m_SheetPath,
                                      aComponentsList[ii].m_Unit );
     }
 }
@@ -437,41 +452,57 @@ static void ReAnnotateComponents( std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aComponentsList
  */
 void BreakReference( std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aComponentsList )
 {
-    char* Text;
+    std::string refText;    // construct once outside loop
 
     for( unsigned ii = 0; ii < aComponentsList.size(); ii++ )
     {
         aComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef = -1;
-        Text = aComponentsList[ii].m_Reference;
-        int ll = strlen( Text ) - 1;
-        if( Text[ll] == '?' )
+
+        refText = aComponentsList[ii].GetRefStr();
+
+        int ll = refText.length() - 1;
+
+        if( refText[ll] == '?' )
         {
             aComponentsList[ii].m_IsNew = true;
+
             if( !aComponentsList[ii].IsPartsLocked() )
                 aComponentsList[ii].m_Unit = 0x7FFFFFFF;
-            Text[ll] = 0;
-            continue;
+
+            refText.erase(ll);  // delete last char
+
+            aComponentsList[ii].SetRefStr( refText );
         }
 
-        if( isdigit( Text[ll] ) == 0 )
+        else if( isdigit( refText[ll] ) == 0 )
         {
             aComponentsList[ii].m_IsNew = true;
             if( !aComponentsList[ii].IsPartsLocked() )
                 aComponentsList[ii].m_Unit = 0x7FFFFFFF;
-            continue;
         }
 
-        while( ll >= 0 )
+        else
         {
-            if( (Text[ll] <= ' ' ) || isdigit( Text[ll] ) )
-                ll--;
-            else
+            while( ll >= 0 )
             {
-                if( isdigit( Text[ll + 1] ) )
-                    aComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef = atoi( &Text[ll + 1] );
-                Text[ll + 1] = 0;
-                break;
+                if( (refText[ll] <= ' ' ) || isdigit( refText[ll] ) )
+                    ll--;
+                else
+                {
+                    if( isdigit( refText[ll + 1] ) )
+                    {
+                        // nul terminated C string into cp
+                        const char* cp = refText.c_str() + ll + 1;
+
+                        aComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef = atoi( cp );
+                    }
+
+                    refText.erase( ll+1 );  // delete from ll+1 to end
+                    break;
+                }
             }
+
+            aComponentsList[ii].SetRefStr( refText );
         }
     }
 }
@@ -490,7 +521,7 @@ static void ComputeReferenceNumber( std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aComponentsLi
      */
     for( unsigned ii = 0; ii < aComponentsList.size(); ii++ )
     {
-        if( aComponentsList[ii].m_Reference[0] == '#' )
+        if( aComponentsList[ii].GetRefStr()[0] == '#' )
         {
             aComponentsList[ii].m_IsNew  = true;
             aComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef = 0;
@@ -716,9 +747,9 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
             else
                 Buff = wxT( "?" );
 
-            cmpref = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii].m_Reference );
+            cmpref = ComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
             msg.Printf( _( "item not annotated: %s%s" ),
-                       cmpref.GetData(), Buff.GetData() );
+                       GetChars( cmpref ), GetChars( Buff ) );
 
             if( ( ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit > 0 )
                 && ( ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit < 0x7FFFFFFF ) )
@@ -748,9 +779,10 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
             else
                 Buff = wxT( "?" );
 
-            cmpref = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii].m_Reference );
-            msg.Printf( _( "Error item %s%s" ), cmpref.GetData(),
-                       Buff.GetData() );
+            cmpref = ComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
+
+            msg.Printf( _( "Error item %s%s" ), GetChars( cmpref ),
+                       GetChars( Buff ) );
 
             Buff.Printf( _( " unit %d and no more than %d parts" ),
                          ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit,
@@ -789,9 +821,10 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
             else
                 Buff = wxT( "?" );
 
-            cmpref = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii].m_Reference );
+            cmpref = ComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
+
             msg.Printf( _( "Multiple item %s%s" ),
-                       cmpref.GetData(), Buff.GetData() );
+                       GetChars( cmpref ), GetChars( Buff ) );
 
             if( ( ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit > 0 )
                 && ( ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit < 0x7FFFFFFF ) )
@@ -819,9 +852,9 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
             else
                 Buff = wxT( "?" );
 
-            cmpref = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii].m_Reference );
+            cmpref = ComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
             msg.Printf( _( "Multiple item %s%s" ),
-                       cmpref.GetData(), Buff.GetData() );
+                       GetChars( cmpref ), GetChars( Buff ) );
 
             if( ( ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit > 0 )
                 && ( ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit < 0x7FFFFFFF ) )
@@ -846,16 +879,17 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
         int next = ii + 1;
         if( ComponentsList[ii].CompareValue( ComponentsList[next] ) != 0 )
         {
-            wxString nextcmpref;
-            cmpref     = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii].m_Reference );
-            nextcmpref = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[next].m_Reference );
+            wxString nextcmpref = ComponentsList[next].GetRef();
+
+            cmpref = ComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
+
 #if defined(KICAD_GOST)
             msg.Printf( _( "Diff values for %s%d.%c (%s) and %s%d.%c (%s)" ),
                         cmpref.GetData(),
                         ComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef,
                         ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit + '1' - 1,
-                        ComponentsList[ii].m_Value->GetData(),
-                        nextcmpref.GetData(),
+                        GetChars( *ComponentsList[ii].m_Value ),
+                        GetChars( nextcmpref ),
                         ComponentsList[next].m_NumRef,
                         ComponentsList[next].m_Unit + '1' - 1,
                         ComponentsList[next].m_Value->GetData() );
@@ -864,11 +898,11 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
                         cmpref.GetData(),
                         ComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef,
                         ComponentsList[ii].m_Unit + 'A' - 1,
-                        ComponentsList[ii].m_Value->GetData(),
-                        nextcmpref.GetData(),
+                        GetChars( *ComponentsList[ii].m_Value ),
+                        GetChars( nextcmpref ),
                         ComponentsList[next].m_NumRef,
                         ComponentsList[next].m_Unit + 'A' - 1,
-                        ComponentsList[next].m_Value->GetData() );
+                        GetChars( *ComponentsList[next].m_Value ) );
 #endif
 
             if( aMessageList )
@@ -897,15 +931,19 @@ int WinEDA_SchematicFrame::CheckAnnotate( wxArrayString* aMessageList,
         /* Same time stamp found.  */
         wxString nextcmpref;
         wxString full_path;
+
         full_path.Printf( wxT( "%s%8.8X" ),
-                          ComponentsList[ii].m_SheetPath.Path().GetData(),
+                          GetChars( ComponentsList[ii].m_SheetPath.Path() ),
                           ComponentsList[ii].m_TimeStamp );
-        cmpref     = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii].m_Reference );
-        nextcmpref = CONV_FROM_UTF8( ComponentsList[ii + 1].m_Reference );
+
+        cmpref     = ComponentsList[ii].GetRef();
+        nextcmpref = ComponentsList[ii + 1].GetRef();
+
         msg.Printf( _( "duplicate time stamp (%s) for %s%d and %s%d" ),
-                    full_path.GetData(),
-                    cmpref.GetData(), ComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef,
-                    nextcmpref.GetData(), ComponentsList[ii + 1].m_NumRef );
+                    GetChars( full_path ),
+                    GetChars( cmpref ), ComponentsList[ii].m_NumRef,
+                    GetChars( nextcmpref ), ComponentsList[ii + 1].m_NumRef );
+
         if( aMessageList )
         {
             aMessageList->Add( msg + wxT( "\n" ));

eeschema/class_drawsheetpath.cpp

@@ -477,12 +477,6 @@ SCH_SHEET_PATH* SCH_SHEET_LIST::GetSheet( int aIndex )
 }
 
 
-/** Function BuildSheetList
- * Build the list of sheets and their sheet path from the aSheet sheet
- * if aSheet = g_RootSheet, the full sheet path list (and full sheet list) is
- * built
- * @param aSheet = the starting sheet to  build list
- */
 void SCH_SHEET_LIST::BuildSheetList( SCH_SHEET* aSheet )
 {
     if( m_List == NULL )

eeschema/class_drawsheetpath.h

@@ -53,18 +53,15 @@
 class SCH_MARKER;
 
 
-/****************************************/
-/* class to handle and access to a sheet */
-/* a 'path' so to speak..               */
-/****************************************/
-
-/*
+/**
+ * Class SCH_SHEET_PATH
+ * handles access to a sheet by way of a path.
+ * <p>
  * The member m_sheets stores the list of sheets from the first (usually
- * g_RootSheet)
- * to a given sheet in last position.
- * The last sheet is usually the sheet we want to select or reach. So Last()
- * return this last sheet
- * Others sheets are the "path" from the first to the last sheet
+ * g_RootSheet) to a given sheet in last position.
+ * The _last_ sheet is usually the sheet we want to select or reach (which is
+ * what the function Last() returns).
+ * Others sheets constitute the "path" from the first to the last sheet.
  */
 class SCH_SHEET_PATH
 {
@@ -77,7 +74,7 @@ public:
 
 public:
     SCH_SHEET_PATH();
-    ~SCH_SHEET_PATH() { };
+    // ~SCH_SHEET_PATH() { };
 
     void Clear()
     {
@@ -137,7 +134,7 @@ public:
      * Pop is used when leaving a sheet after a selection or analyze
      * This is like cd .. in directories navigation
      */
-    SCH_SHEET* Pop();
+    SCH_SHEET*      Pop();
 
     /** Function Path
      * the path uses the time stamps which do not changes even when editing
@@ -215,15 +212,14 @@ public:
 };
 
 
-/*******************************************************/
-/* Class to handle the list of *Sheets* in a hierarchy */
-/*******************************************************/
-
-/* sheets are not unique - can have many sheets with the same
+/**
+ * Class SCH_SHEET_LIST
+ * handles the list of Sheets in a hiearchy.
+ * Sheets are not unique, there can be many sheets with the same
  * filename and the same SCH_SCREEN reference.
- * the schematic (SCH_SCREEN) is shared between these sheets,
+ * The schematic (SCH_SCREEN) is shared between these sheets,
  * and component references are specific to a sheet path.
- * When a sheet is entered, component references and sheet number are updated
+ * When a sheet is entered, component references and sheet number are updated.
  */
 class SCH_SHEET_LIST
 {
@@ -243,9 +239,12 @@ private:
     SCH_SHEET_PATH  m_currList;
 
 public:
-    /* The constructor: build the list of sheets from aSheet.
-     * If aSheet == NULL (default) build the whole list of sheets in hierarchy
-     * So usually call it with no param.
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor
+     * builds the list of sheets from aSheet.
+     * If aSheet == NULL (default) build the whole list of sheets in hierarchy.
+     * So usually call it with no parameter.
      */
     SCH_SHEET_LIST( SCH_SHEET* aSheet = NULL );
 
@@ -256,48 +255,54 @@ public:
         m_List = NULL;
     }
 
-
-    /** Function GetCount()
+    /**
+     * Function GetCount()
      * @return the number of sheets in list:
      * usually the number of sheets found in the whole hierarchy
      */
     int GetCount() { return m_count; }
 
-    /** Function GetFirst
-     *  @return the first item (sheet) in m_List and prepare calls to GetNext()
+    /**
+     * Function GetFirst
+     * @return the first item (sheet) in m_List and prepare calls to GetNext()
      */
     SCH_SHEET_PATH* GetFirst();
 
-    /** Function GetNext
-     *  @return the next item (sheet) in m_List or NULL if no more item in
+    /**
+     * Function GetNext
+     * @return the next item (sheet) in m_List or NULL if no more item in
      * sheet list
      */
     SCH_SHEET_PATH* GetNext();
 
     /**
-     * Get the last sheet in the sheet list.
+     * Function GetLast
+     * returns the last sheet in the sheet list.
      *
      * @return Last sheet in the list or NULL if sheet list is empty.
      */
     SCH_SHEET_PATH* GetLast();
 
     /**
-     * Get the previous sheet in the sheet list.
+     * Function GetPrevious
+     * returns the previous sheet in the sheet list.
      *
      * @return The previous sheet in the sheet list or NULL if already at the
      *         beginning of the list.
      */
     SCH_SHEET_PATH* GetPrevious();
 
-    /** Function GetSheet
-     *  @return the item (sheet) in aIndex position in m_List or NULL if less
+    /**
+     * Function GetSheet
+     * @return the item (sheet) in aIndex position in m_List or NULL if less
      * than index items
      * @param aIndex = index in sheet list to get the sheet
      */
     SCH_SHEET_PATH* GetSheet( int aIndex );
 
     /**
-     * Search the entire schematic for the next schematic object.
+     * Function FindNextItem
+     * searches the entire schematic for the next schematic object.
      *
      * @param aType - The type of schematic item to find.
      * @param aSheetFound - The sheet the item was found in.  NULL if the next item
@@ -310,7 +315,8 @@ public:
                             SCH_ITEM* aLastItem = NULL, bool aWrap = true );
 
     /**
-     * Search the entire schematic for the previous schematic item.
+     * Function FindPreviousItem
+     * searches the entire schematic for the previous schematic item.
      *
      * @param aType - The type of schematic item to find.
      * @param aSheetFound - The sheet the item was found in.  NULL if the previous item
@@ -323,7 +329,8 @@ public:
                                 SCH_ITEM* aLastItem = NULL, bool aWrap = true );
 
     /**
-     * Search the entire schematic for the next item that matches the search criteria.
+     * Function MatchNextItem
+     * searches the entire schematic for the next item that matches the search criteria.
      *
      * @param aSearchData - Criteria to search item against.
      * @param aSheetFound - The sheet the item was found in.  NULL if the next item
@@ -337,12 +344,15 @@ public:
 
 private:
 
-    /** Function BuildSheetList
-     * Build the list of sheets and their sheet path from the aSheet sheet
-     * if aSheet = g_RootSheet, the full sheet path and sheet list is built
-     * @param aSheet = the starting sheet from the built is made
+    /**
+     * Function BuildSheetList
+     * builds the list of sheets and their sheet path from \a aSheet.
+     * If aSheet = g_RootSheet, the full sheet path and sheet list is built
+     *
+     * @param aSheet is the starting sheet from which the list is built,
+     *   or NULL indicating that g_RootSheet should be used.
      */
     void           BuildSheetList( SCH_SHEET* sheet );
 };
 
-#endif /* CLASS_DRAWSHEET_PATH_H */
+#endif // CLASS_DRAWSHEET_PATH_H

eeschema/class_sch_cmp_field.cpp

@@ -216,18 +216,6 @@ void SCH_FIELD::SwapData( SCH_FIELD* copyitem )
 }
 
 
-/**
- * return True if the field is void, i.e.:
- *  contains  "~" or ""
- */
-bool SCH_FIELD::IsVoid()
-{
-    if( m_Text.IsEmpty() || m_Text == wxT( "~" ) )
-        return true;
-    return false;
-}
-
-
 /**
  * Function GetBoundaryBox()
  * @return an EDA_Rect contains the real (user coordinates) boundary box for

eeschema/class_sch_cmp_field.h

@@ -47,11 +47,20 @@ public:
         return wxT( "SCH_FIELD" );
     }
 
-
     void     Place( WinEDA_SchematicFrame* frame, wxDC* DC );
 
     EDA_Rect GetBoundaryBox() const;
-    bool     IsVoid();
+
+    /**
+     * Function IsVoid
+     * returns true if the field is either empty or holds "~".
+     */
+    bool     IsVoid()
+    {
+        size_t len = m_Text.Len();
+        return len == 0 || ( len == 1 && m_Text[0] == wxChar( '~' ) );
+    }
+
     void     SwapData( SCH_FIELD* copyitem );
 
     /** Function ImportValues

eeschema/class_sch_component.h

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ private:
      * multi = part selection in multi parts per package (0 or 1 for one part
      *         per package)
      */
-    wxArrayString m_PathsAndReferences;
+    wxArrayString   m_PathsAndReferences;
 
     void Init( const wxPoint& pos = wxPoint( 0, 0 ) );
 

eeschema/dialog_build_BOM.h

@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@
 
 #include "dialog_build_BOM_base.h"
 
+
 class DIALOG_BUILD_BOM : public DIALOG_BUILD_BOM_BASE
 {
 private:
-    WinEDA_DrawFrame * m_Parent;
-    wxConfig* m_Config;
-    wxString m_ListFileName;
+    WinEDA_DrawFrame *  m_Parent;
+    wxConfig*           m_Config;
+    wxString            m_ListFileName;
 
 private:
     void OnRadioboxSelectFormatSelected( wxCommandEvent& event );
@@ -22,30 +23,41 @@ private:
     void OnCancelClick( wxCommandEvent& event );
 
     void SavePreferences();
-    void Init( );
+    void Init();
     void Create_BOM_Lists(int  aTypeFile,
                           bool aIncludeSubComponents,
                           char aExportSeparatorSymbol,
                           bool aRunBrowser);
+
     void GenereListeOfItems(const wxString & FullFileName, bool aIncludeSubComponents );
     void CreateExportList(const wxString & FullFileName, bool aIncludeSubComponents);
-    void CreatePartsList(const wxString & FullFileName, bool aIncludeSubComponents);
+
+    /**
+     * Function CreateParstList
+     * prints a list of components, in a form which can be imported by a
+     * spreadsheet.  Form is:
+     *  cmp value; number of components; <footprint>; <field1>; ...;
+     *  list of references having the same value
+     */
+    void CreatePartsList( const wxString& aFullFileName, bool aIncludeSubComponents );
+
     int PrintComponentsListByRef( FILE * f, std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aList,
                             bool CompactForm, bool aIncludeSubComponents );
+
     int PrintComponentsListByVal( FILE *f, std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aList,
                             bool aIncludeSubComponents);
+
     int PrintComponentsListByPart( FILE *f, std::vector <OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST>& aList,
                             bool aIncludeSubComponents);
+
     void PrintFieldData(FILE * f, SCH_COMPONENT * DrawLibItem, bool CompactForm = FALSE);
-    bool IsFieldChecked(int aFieldId);
 
+    bool IsFieldChecked(int aFieldId);
 
 public:
     DIALOG_BUILD_BOM( WinEDA_DrawFrame* parent );
-    ~DIALOG_BUILD_BOM() {};
-
+    // ~DIALOG_BUILD_BOM() {};
 };
 
+#endif  // _DIALOG_BUILD_BOM_H_
 
-#endif
-    // _DIALOG_BUILD_BOM_H_

eeschema/netlist.h

@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ enum  TypeNetForm {
  */
 class OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST
 {
+private:
+    /// Component reference prefix, without number (for IC1, this is IC) )
+    std::string    m_Ref;               // it's private, use the accessors please
+
+
 public:
     SCH_COMPONENT* m_RootCmp;           // the component in schematic
     LIB_COMPONENT* m_Entry;             // the source component in library
@@ -57,8 +62,6 @@ public:
                                          * components */
     wxString*      m_Value;             /* Component value (same for all
                                          * instances) */
-    char           m_Reference[32];     /* Component reference prefix, without
-                                         * number (for IC1, this is IC) ) */
     int            m_NumRef;            /* Reference number (for IC1, this is
                                          * 1) ) depending on sheet path*/
     int            m_Flag;              /* flag for computations */
@@ -73,11 +76,32 @@ public:
         m_TimeStamp    = 0;
         m_IsNew        = false;
         m_Value        = NULL;
-        m_Reference[0] = 0;
         m_NumRef       = 0;
         m_Flag         = 0;
     }
 
+    /*  Some accessors which hide the strategy of how the reference is stored,
+        thereby making it easy to change that strategy.
+    */
+
+
+    void SetRef( const wxString& aReference )
+    {
+        m_Ref =  CONV_TO_UTF8( aReference );
+    }
+    wxString GetRef() const
+    {
+        return CONV_FROM_UTF8( m_Ref.c_str() );
+    }
+    void SetRefStr( const std::string& aReference )
+    {
+        m_Ref = aReference;
+    }
+    const char* GetRefStr() const
+    {
+        return m_Ref.c_str();
+    }
+
 
     int CompareValue( const OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST& item ) const
     {
@@ -87,7 +111,7 @@ public:
 
     int CompareRef( const OBJ_CMP_TO_LIST& item ) const
     {
-        return strnicmp( m_Reference, item.m_Reference, 32 );
+        return m_Ref.compare( item.m_Ref );
     }