diff --git a/RTIG/Federation.cc b/RTIG/Federation.cc
index d35f864..dd6973e 100644
--- a/RTIG/Federation.cc
+++ b/RTIG/Federation.cc
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ throw (FederateNotExecutionMember,
 		D.Out(pdRequest,
 				" Param %d Value %s",
 				parameter_handles[i],
-				parameter_values[i].c_str());
+				string(&(parameter_values[i][0]), parameter_values[i].size()).c_str());
 
 	G.Out(pdGendoc,"exit Federation::broadcastInteraction with time");
 
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ throw (FederateNotExecutionMember,
 		D.Out(pdRequest,
 				" Param %d Value %s",
 				parameter_handles[i],
-				parameter_values[i].c_str());
+				string(&(parameter_values[i][0]), parameter_values[i].size()).c_str());
 
 	G.Out(pdGendoc,"exit Federation::broadcastInteraction without time");
 
diff --git a/include/certi.hh b/include/certi.hh
index 197b5b2..3cf4213 100644
--- a/include/certi.hh
+++ b/include/certi.hh
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@
 #define CERTI_DECODE_DOUBLE_FROM_UINT64BE(val)  (CERTI_UINT64_FROM_BE (*(uint64_t*)(val)))
 
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 #include <sstream>
 
 /**
@@ -162,8 +163,8 @@ typedef Handle   EventRetractionHandle;
 typedef double TickTime;
 
 typedef std::string ObjectName_t ;
-typedef std::string AttributeValue_t;
-typedef std::string ParameterValue_t;
+typedef std::vector<char> AttributeValue_t;
+typedef std::vector<char> ParameterValue_t;
 
 enum ResignAction {
     RELEASE_ATTRIBUTES = 1,
diff --git a/libCERTI/M_Classes.cc b/libCERTI/M_Classes.cc
index 5c53c72..8dac7f3 100644
--- a/libCERTI/M_Classes.cc
+++ b/libCERTI/M_Classes.cc
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEventRetraction);
       if (_hasEventRetraction) {
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       _hasEventRetraction = msgBuffer.read_bool();
       if (_hasEventRetraction) {
@@ -1037,7 +1037,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << "(opt) eventRetraction =" << eventRetraction.show(out)      << std::endl;
@@ -1124,7 +1124,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEventRetraction);
       if (_hasEventRetraction) {
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       _hasEventRetraction = msgBuffer.read_bool();
       if (_hasEventRetraction) {
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << "(opt) eventRetraction =" << eventRetraction.show(out)      << std::endl;
@@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(region);
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEventRetraction);
@@ -1224,7 +1224,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       region = static_cast<RegionHandle>(msgBuffer.read_uint32());
       _hasEventRetraction = msgBuffer.read_bool();
@@ -1245,7 +1245,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << " region = " << region << " "       << std::endl;
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(region);
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEventRetraction);
@@ -1303,7 +1303,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       region = static_cast<RegionHandle>(msgBuffer.read_uint32());
       _hasEventRetraction = msgBuffer.read_bool();
@@ -1324,7 +1324,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << " region = " << region << " "       << std::endl;
diff --git a/libCERTI/NM_Classes.cc b/libCERTI/NM_Classes.cc
index 139dd0c..06872e8 100644
--- a/libCERTI/NM_Classes.cc
+++ b/libCERTI/NM_Classes.cc
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEvent);
       if (_hasEvent) {
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       _hasEvent = msgBuffer.read_bool();
       if (_hasEvent) {
@@ -1254,7 +1254,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << "(opt) event =" << "      //FIXME FIXME don't know how to serialize native field <event> of type <EventRetractionHandle>"      << std::endl;
@@ -1288,7 +1288,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEvent);
       if (_hasEvent) {
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       _hasEvent = msgBuffer.read_bool();
       if (_hasEvent) {
@@ -1331,7 +1331,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << "(opt) event =" << "      //FIXME FIXME don't know how to serialize native field <event> of type <EventRetractionHandle>"      << std::endl;
@@ -1364,7 +1364,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(region);
    }
@@ -1382,7 +1382,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       region = static_cast<RegionHandle>(msgBuffer.read_uint32());
    }
@@ -1399,7 +1399,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << " region = " << region << " "       << std::endl;
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = values.size();
       msgBuffer.write_uint32(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.write_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.write_vector(values[i]);
       }
       msgBuffer.write_bool(_hasEvent);
       if (_hasEvent) {
@@ -1455,7 +1455,7 @@ namespace certi {
       uint32_t valuesSize = msgBuffer.read_uint32();
       values.resize(valuesSize);
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < valuesSize; ++i) {
-         msgBuffer.read_string(values[i]);
+         msgBuffer.read_vector(values[i]);
       }
       _hasEvent = msgBuffer.read_bool();
       if (_hasEvent) {
@@ -1476,7 +1476,7 @@ namespace certi {
       out << std::endl;
       out << "    values [] =" << std::endl;
       for (uint32_t i = 0; i < getValuesSize(); ++i) {
-         out << values[i] << " " ;
+         out << std::string(&(values[i][0]), values[i].size()) << " " ;
       }
       out << std::endl;
       out << "(opt) event =" << "      //FIXME FIXME don't know how to serialize native field <event> of type <EventRetractionHandle>"      << std::endl;
diff --git a/libHLA/MessageBuffer.cc b/libHLA/MessageBuffer.cc
index ec18ec2..c525553 100644
--- a/libHLA/MessageBuffer.cc
+++ b/libHLA/MessageBuffer.cc
@@ -425,6 +425,13 @@ MessageBuffer::write_string(const std::string& str) {
     return write_chars(str.data(),str.length());
 } /* end of write_string */
 
+int32_t
+MessageBuffer::write_vector(const std::vector<char>& str) {
+    write_int32(str.size());
+    return write_chars(&(str[0]),str.size());
+} /* end of write_vector */
+
+
 std::string
 MessageBuffer::read_string() {
     std::string retval;
@@ -449,6 +456,25 @@ MessageBuffer::read_string(std::string& s)
     readOffset += len;
 } /* end of read_string */
 
+void
+MessageBuffer::read_vector(std::vector<char>& s)
+{
+    int32_t len = read_int32();
+
+    if (len + readOffset > writeOffset) {
+        throw MessageBufferError(stringize()
+            << "read_string::invalid read of size <" << len
+            << "> inside a buffer of readable size <"
+            << (int32_t)writeOffset-readOffset << "> (writeOffset="
+            << writeOffset << ",readOffset="<<readOffset <<").");
+    }
+
+	s.resize(len);
+	memcpy(&(s[0]), reinterpret_cast<const char*>(buffer + readOffset), len);
+    readOffset += len;
+} /* end of read_vector */
+
+
 void MessageBuffer::updateReservedBytes() {
 	/* set up buffer endianess */
 	if ((HostIsBigEndian() && bufferHasMyEndianness) ||
diff --git a/libHLA/MessageBuffer.hh b/libHLA/MessageBuffer.hh
index 1f1e2dc..a1019d9 100644
--- a/libHLA/MessageBuffer.hh
+++ b/libHLA/MessageBuffer.hh
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "libhla.hh"
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 #define DEFAULT_MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE 255
 
@@ -267,11 +268,17 @@ datatype read_##type() {\
 	int32_t
 	write_string(const std::string& str);
 
+	int32_t
+	write_vector(const std::vector<char>& str);
+
 	std::string
 	read_string();
 
         void
 	read_string(std::string&);
+
+    void
+	read_vector(std::vector<char>&);
 	
 	int32_t
 	write_bool(const bool toggle) {
diff --git a/libRTI/RTI1516ambPrivateRefs.cpp b/libRTI/RTI1516ambPrivateRefs.cpp
index b472e0b..7fd5610 100644
--- a/libRTI/RTI1516ambPrivateRefs.cpp
+++ b/libRTI/RTI1516ambPrivateRefs.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ getAHVMFromRequest(T* request)
 	
 	for (uint32_t i = 0 ; i < size ; ++i) {
 		rti1516::AttributeHandle attribute = rti1516::AttributeHandleFriend::createRTI1516Handle(request->getAttributes(i)); 		
-		rti1516::VariableLengthData varData(request->getValues(i).data(), request->getValues(i).length()); 
+		rti1516::VariableLengthData varData(&(request->getValues(i)[0]), request->getValues(i).size()); 
 		result->insert(std::pair<rti1516::AttributeHandle,rti1516::VariableLengthData>(attribute, varData)); 
 	}
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ getPHVMFromRequest(T* request)
 
 	for (uint32_t i = 0 ; i < size ; ++i) {
 		rti1516::ParameterHandle parameter = rti1516::ParameterHandleFriend::createRTI1516Handle(request->getParameters(i));
-		rti1516::VariableLengthData varData(request->getValues(i).data(), request->getValues(i).length()); 
+		rti1516::VariableLengthData varData(&(request->getValues(i)[0]), request->getValues(i).size()); 
 		result->insert(std::pair<rti1516::ParameterHandle,rti1516::VariableLengthData>(parameter, varData)); 
 	}
 
diff --git a/libRTI/RTI1516ambassador.cpp b/libRTI/RTI1516ambassador.cpp
index a45b37d..0c880c8 100644
--- a/libRTI/RTI1516ambassador.cpp
+++ b/libRTI/RTI1516ambassador.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ namespace rti1516
 		for ( rti1516::ParameterHandleValueMap::const_iterator it = PHVM.begin(); it != PHVM.end(); it++, ++i)
 		{
 			req.setParameters(ParameterHandleFriend::toCertiHandle(it->first),i);
-			req.setValues(certi::ParameterValue_t( (char*)it->second.data(), it->second.size() ), i);
+ 			certi::ParameterValue_t paramValue;
+ 			paramValue.resize(it->second.size());
+ 			memcpy(&(paramValue[0]), it->second.data(), it->second.size());
+ 			req.setValues(paramValue, i);  
 		}
 		privateRefs->executeService(&req, &rep);
 	}
@@ -56,7 +59,10 @@ namespace rti1516
 		for ( rti1516::AttributeHandleValueMap::const_iterator it = AHVM.begin(); it != AHVM.end(); it++, ++i)
 		{
 			req.setAttributes(AttributeHandleFriend::toCertiHandle(it->first),i);
-			req.setValues(certi::AttributeValue_t( (char*)it->second.data(),it->second.size() ), i);
+ 			certi::AttributeValue_t attrValue;
+ 			attrValue.resize(it->second.size());
+ 			memcpy(&(attrValue[0]), it->second.data(), it->second.size());
+ 			req.setValues(attrValue, i);  
 		}
 		privateRefs->executeService(&req, &rep);
 	}
diff --git a/libRTI/RTIambPrivateRefs.cc b/libRTI/RTIambPrivateRefs.cc
index c9fac67..f6f77b2 100644
--- a/libRTI/RTIambPrivateRefs.cc
+++ b/libRTI/RTIambPrivateRefs.cc
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ getAHVPSFromRequest(T* request)
 
 	for (uint32_t i = 0 ; i < size ; ++i) {
 		result[i].first = request->getAttributes(i);
-		result[i].second.assign(request->getValues(i).data(), request->getValues(i).length());
+		result[i].second.resize(request->getValues(i).size());
+		memcpy(&(result[i].second[0]), &(request->getValues(i)[0]), request->getValues(i).size());
 	}
 
 	return result;
@@ -62,7 +63,8 @@ getPHVPSFromRequest(T* request)
 
 	for (uint32_t i = 0 ; i < size ; ++i) {
 		result[i].first = request->getParameters(i);
-		result[i].second.assign(request->getValues(i).data(), request->getValues(i).length());
+		result[i].second.resize(request->getValues(i).size());
+		memcpy(&(result[i].second[0]), &(request->getValues(i)[0]), request->getValues(i).size());
 	}
 
 	return result;
diff --git a/libRTI/RTItypesImp.cc b/libRTI/RTItypesImp.cc
index a84a4ac..8f0c007 100644
--- a/libRTI/RTItypesImp.cc
+++ b/libRTI/RTItypesImp.cc
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void AttributeHandleValuePairSetImp::getValue(RTI::ULong i, char *buff, RTI::ULo
     if (i < size()) {
         const AttributeHandleValuePair_t& item = _set[i];
         len = item.second.size();
-        memcpy(buff, item.second.data(), len);
+        memcpy(buff, &(item.second[0]), len);
     }
     else
         throw RTI::ArrayIndexOutOfBounds("");
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ char *AttributeHandleValuePairSetImp::getValuePointer(RTI::ULong i, RTI::ULong &
     if (i < size()) {
         const AttributeHandleValuePair_t& item = _set[i];
         len = item.second.size();
-        return (char *)item.second.data();
+        return (char *)&(item.second[0]);
     }
     else
         throw RTI::ArrayIndexOutOfBounds("");
@@ -119,7 +119,10 @@ RTI::Region *AttributeHandleValuePairSetImp::getRegion(RTI::ULong) const
 void AttributeHandleValuePairSetImp::add(RTI::Handle h, const char *str, RTI::ULong len)
     throw (RTI::ValueLengthExceeded, RTI::ValueCountExceeded)
 {
-    _set.push_back(AttributeHandleValuePair_t(h, std::string(str, len)));
+	std::vector<char> v;
+	v.resize(len);
+	memcpy(&(v[0]), str, len);
+    _set.push_back(AttributeHandleValuePair_t(h, v));
 }
 
 void AttributeHandleValuePairSetImp::remove(RTI::Handle h)
@@ -342,7 +345,7 @@ void ParameterHandleValuePairSetImp::getValue(RTI::ULong i, char *buff, RTI::ULo
     if (i < size()) {
         const ParameterHandleValuePair_t& item = _set[i];
         len = item.second.size();
-        memcpy(buff, item.second.data(), len);
+        memcpy(buff, &(item.second[0]), len);
     }
     else
         throw RTI::ArrayIndexOutOfBounds("");
@@ -354,7 +357,7 @@ char *ParameterHandleValuePairSetImp::getValuePointer(RTI::ULong i, RTI::ULong &
     if (i < size()) {
         const ParameterHandleValuePair_t& item = _set[i];
         len = item.second.size();
-        return (char *)item.second.data();
+        return (char *)&(item.second[0]);
     }
     else
         throw RTI::ArrayIndexOutOfBounds("");
@@ -381,7 +384,10 @@ RTI::Region *ParameterHandleValuePairSetImp::getRegion() const
 void ParameterHandleValuePairSetImp::add(RTI::Handle h, const char *str, RTI::ULong len)
     throw (RTI::ValueLengthExceeded, RTI::ValueCountExceeded)
 {
-    _set.push_back(ParameterHandleValuePair_t(h, std::string(str, len)));
+	std::vector<char> v;
+	v.resize(len);
+	memcpy(&(v[0]), str, len);
+    _set.push_back(ParameterHandleValuePair_t(h, v));
 }
 
 void ParameterHandleValuePairSetImp::remove(RTI::Handle h)