Merge pull request #105 from wjp/strings

 Replace boost::lexical_cast by stringstreams

52 files changed, 272 insertions, 373 deletions

diff --git a/build/linux/configure.ac b/build/linux/configure.ac
index 487a8cc..684a4c5 100644
--- a/build/linux/configure.ac
+++ b/build/linux/configure.ac
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ AC_SUBST(HAVEBOOSTUTF)
 AC_SUBST(LIBS_BOOSTUTF)
 
 BOOSTok=yes
-AC_CHECK_HEADER([boost/lexical_cast.hpp],[],[BOOSTok=no],[])
 AC_CHECK_HEADER([boost/any.hpp],[],[BOOSTok=no],[])
 dnl AC_CHECK_HEADER([boost/thread.hpp],[],[BOOSTok=no],[])
 dnl AC_CHECK_HEADER([boost/bind.hpp],[],[BOOSTok=no],[])
diff --git a/include/astra/Utilities.h b/include/astra/Utilities.h
index 68471d0..3ae0e6c 100644
--- a/include/astra/Utilities.h
+++ b/include/astra/Utilities.h
@@ -31,89 +31,63 @@ $Id$
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
-#include <algorithm>
-#include <sstream>
 #include <map>
 
 #include "Globals.h"
 
 namespace astra {
 
-/**
- * This class contains some usefull static utility functions for std strings.
- */
-class StringUtil {
 
+
+namespace StringUtil {
+
+// Exception thrown by functions below
+class bad_cast : public std::exception {
 public:
-	/**
-	 * Removes whitespace characters such as spaces and tabs at the extremas.
-	 * Optionally you can specify which extrema to trim (default=both) 
-	 *
-	 * @param _sString The string to trim.
-	 * @param _bLeft Trim the left extrema?  Default = true.
-	 * @param _bRight Trim the right extrema?  Default = true.
-	 */
-	static void trim(std::string& _sString, bool _bLeft = true, bool _bRight = true);
-
-	/**
-	 * Returns a vector of strings that contains all the substrings delimited by 
-	 * the characters in _sDelims.
-	 *
-	 * @param _sString The string to split.
-	 * @param _sDelims The delimiter string.
-	 * @return Vector of strings.
-	 */
-	static std::vector<std::string> split(const std::string& _sString, const std::string& _sDelims);
-
-	/**
-	 * Cast a string to an integer.
-	 *
-	 * @param _sString The string to cast.
-	 * @param _iValue Output integer parameter.
-	 * @return success?
-	 */
-	static bool toInt(const std::string& _sString, int& _iValue);
-
-	/**
-	 * Cast a string to a float32.
-	 *
-	 * @param _sString The string to cast.
-	 * @param _fValue Output float32 parameter.
-	 * @return success?
-	 */
-	static bool toFloat32(const std::string& _sString, float32& _fValue);
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert a string to lower case.
-	 *
-	 * @param _sString The string to convert.
-	 */
-	static void toLowerCase(std::string& _sString);
-	
-	/**
-	 * Convert a string to upper case.
-	 *
-	 * @param _sString The string to convert.
-	 */
-	static void toUpperCase(std::string& _sString);
+	bad_cast() { }
 };
 
-/**
- * This class contains some usefull static utility functions for std strings.
- */
-class FileSystemUtil {
 
-public:
-	/**
-	 * Get the extensions of a filename.  Always in lower case.
-	 *
-	 * @param _sFilename file to get extensions from.
-	 * @return Extension (lower case).  Empty string if filename is a directory or not a valid file format.
-	 */
-	static std::string getExtension(std::string& _sFilename);
+//< Parse string as int.
+//< Throw exception on failure.
+int stringToInt(const std::string& s);
+
+//< Parse string as float.
+//< Throw exception on failure.
+float stringToFloat(const std::string& s);
+
+//< Parse string as double.
+//< Throw exception on failure.
+double stringToDouble(const std::string& s);
+
+template<typename T>
+T stringTo(const std::string& s);
+
+//< Parse comma/semicolon-separated string as float vector.
+//< Throw exception on failure.
+std::vector<float> stringToFloatVector(const std::string& s);
+
+//< Parse comma/semicolon-separated string as double vector.
+//< Throw exception on failure.
+std::vector<double> stringToDoubleVector(const std::string& s);
+
+template<typename T>
+std::vector<T> stringToVector(const std::string& s);
+
+
+
+//< Generate string from float.
+std::string floatToString(float f);
+
+//< Generate string from double.
+std::string doubleToString(double f);
+
+template<typename T>
+std::string toString(T f);
+
+}
 
 
-};
 
 
 template<typename T, typename S>
diff --git a/include/astra/XMLNode.h b/include/astra/XMLNode.h
index 4d29d5c..7d1edf5 100644
--- a/include/astra/XMLNode.h
+++ b/include/astra/XMLNode.h
@@ -101,6 +101,12 @@ public:
 	 */ 
 	string getContent() const;
 
+	/** Get the content of the XML node as an integer
+	 *
+	 * @return node content
+	 */
+	int getContentInt() const;
+
 	/** Get the content of the XML node as a numerical.
 	 *
 	 * @return node content
@@ -152,6 +158,7 @@ public:
 	 */ 
 	float32 getAttributeNumerical(string _sName, float32 _fDefaultValue = 0) const;
 	double getAttributeNumericalDouble(string _sName, double _fDefaultValue = 0) const;
+	int getAttributeInt(string _sName, int _fDefaultValue = 0) const;
 
 	/** Get the value of a boolean attribute.
 	 *
@@ -186,6 +193,7 @@ public:
 	 * @return option value, _fDefaultValue if the option doesn't exist
 	 */ 
 	float32 getOptionNumerical(string _sKey, float32 _fDefaultValue = 0) const;
+	int getOptionInt(string _sKey, int _fDefaultValue = 0) const;
 
 	/** Get the value of an option within this XML Node
 	 *
diff --git a/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.cpp b/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.cpp
index 58e84d2..13c4ade 100644
--- a/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.cpp
+++ b/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.cpp
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ $Id$
  *  \brief Contains some functions for interfacing matlab with c data structures
  */
 #include "mexHelpFunctions.h"
+#include "astra/Utilities.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/classification.hpp>
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ string mexToString(const mxArray* pInput)
 
 	// is scalar?
 	if (mxIsNumeric(pInput) && mxGetM(pInput)*mxGetN(pInput) == 1) {
-		return boost::lexical_cast<string>(mxGetScalar(pInput));
+		return StringUtil::doubleToString(mxGetScalar(pInput));
 	}
 
 	return "";
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ mxArray* stringToMxArray(std::string input)
 			boost::split(col_strings, row_strings[row], boost::is_any_of(","));
 			// check size
 			for (unsigned int col = 0; col < col_strings.size(); col++) {
-				out[col*rows + row] = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(col_strings[col]);
+				out[col*rows + row] = StringUtil::stringToFloat(col_strings[col]);
 			}
 		}
 		return pMatrix;
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ mxArray* stringToMxArray(std::string input)
 
 		// loop elements
 		for (unsigned int i = 0; i < items.size(); i++) {
-			out[i] = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(items[i]);
+			out[i] = StringUtil::stringToFloat(items[i]);
 		}
 		return pVector;
 	}
diff --git a/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.h b/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.h
index 3ac5bd8..07edc64 100644
--- a/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.h
+++ b/matlab/mex/mexHelpFunctions.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ $Id$
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <mex.h>
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <boost/any.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/Globals.h"
diff --git a/src/ArtAlgorithm.cpp b/src/ArtAlgorithm.cpp
index 6a699ec..b59bd93 100644
--- a/src/ArtAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/ArtAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ArtAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 using namespace std;
diff --git a/src/BackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp b/src/BackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
index f561a90..c9beee1 100644
--- a/src/BackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/BackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/BackProjectionAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/CglsAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CglsAlgorithm.cpp
index b9031e3..1ca2549 100644
--- a/src/CglsAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CglsAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CglsAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 using namespace std;
diff --git a/src/ConeProjectionGeometry3D.cpp b/src/ConeProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
index 18f0f8a..99b4bf4 100644
--- a/src/ConeProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
+++ b/src/ConeProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/Logging.h"
 #include "astra/GeometryUtil3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <cstring>
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -90,13 +89,13 @@ bool CConeProjectionGeometry3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DistanceOriginDetector
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DistanceOriginDetector");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ConeProjectionGeometry3D", "No DistanceOriginDetector tag specified.");
-	m_fOriginDetectorDistance = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fOriginDetectorDistance = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DistanceOriginDetector");
 
 	// Required: DetectorOriginSource
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DistanceOriginSource");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ConeProjectionGeometry3D", "No DistanceOriginSource tag specified.");
-	m_fOriginSourceDistance = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fOriginSourceDistance = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DistanceOriginSource");
 
 	// success
diff --git a/src/ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp b/src/ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
index 86e3bd6..f4f900d 100644
--- a/src/ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
+++ b/src/ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ $Id$
 */
 
 #include "astra/ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D.h"
+#include "astra/Utilities.h"
 
 #include <cstring>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -82,13 +82,13 @@ bool CConeVecProjectionGeometry3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DetectorRowCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorRowCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorRowCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorRowCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorRowCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorRowCount");
 
 	// Required: DetectorColCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorColCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ConeVecProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorColCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorColCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorColCount = node.getContentInt();
 	m_iDetectorTotCount = m_iDetectorRowCount * m_iDetectorColCount;
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorColCount");
 
@@ -212,18 +212,18 @@ Config* CConeVecProjectionGeometry3D::getConfiguration() const
 	std::string vectors = "";
 	for (int i = 0; i < m_iProjectionAngleCount; ++i) {
 		SConeProjection& p = m_pProjectionAngles[i];
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fSrcX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fSrcY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fSrcZ) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUZ) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUZ) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetVX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetVY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetVZ);
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fSrcX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fSrcY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fSrcZ) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUZ) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUZ) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetVX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetVY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetVZ);
 		if (i < m_iProjectionAngleCount-1) vectors += ';';
 	}
 	cfg->self.addChildNode("Vectors", vectors);
diff --git a/src/CudaBackProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaBackProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp
index ce8e111..76d7b35 100644
--- a/src/CudaBackProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaBackProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CudaBackProjectionAlgorithm3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 #include "astra/CudaProjector3D.h"
diff --git a/src/CudaCglsAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaCglsAlgorithm3D.cpp
index abc18d1..930a71e 100644
--- a/src/CudaCglsAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaCglsAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CudaCglsAlgorithm3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 #include "astra/CudaProjector3D.h"
diff --git a/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm.cpp
index 950b428..c2a4cca 100644
--- a/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "../cuda/2d/algo.h"
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -67,14 +66,14 @@ bool CCudaDartMaskAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// reconstruction data
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("SegmentationDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No SegmentationDataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSegmentation = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("SegmentationDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("MaskDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No MaskDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("MaskDataId");
 
diff --git a/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm3D.cpp
index b0dfc5b..dd12c58 100644
--- a/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaDartMaskAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "../cuda/3d/dims3d.h"
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -67,14 +66,14 @@ bool CCudaDartMaskAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// reconstruction data
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("SegmentationDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No SegmentationDataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSegmentation = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3DMemory*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("SegmentationDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("MaskDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No MaskDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3DMemory*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("MaskDataId");
 
diff --git a/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm.cpp
index 7e22809..425f0a3 100644
--- a/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "../cuda/2d/algo.h"
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -67,14 +66,14 @@ bool CCudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// reconstruction data
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("InDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No InDataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pIn = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("InDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("OutDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No OutDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pOut = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("OutDataId");
 
diff --git a/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm3D.cpp
index 9c4437a..df7e0df 100644
--- a/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "../cuda/3d/dims3d.h"
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -67,14 +66,14 @@ bool CCudaDartSmoothingAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// reconstruction data
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("InDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No InDataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pIn = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3DMemory*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("InDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("OutDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaDartMask", "No OutDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pOut = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3DMemory*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("OutDataId");
 
diff --git a/src/CudaDataOperationAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaDataOperationAlgorithm.cpp
index ae133c2..15886a4 100644
--- a/src/CudaDataOperationAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaDataOperationAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "../cuda/2d/arith.h"
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ bool CCudaDataOperationAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CCudaDataOperationAlgorithm", "No DataId tag specified.");
 	vector<string> data = node.getContentArray();
 	for (vector<string>::iterator it = data.begin(); it != data.end(); it++){
-		int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(*it);
+		int id = StringUtil::stringToInt(*it);
 		m_pData.push_back(dynamic_cast<CFloat32Data2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id)));
 	}
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DataId");
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ bool CCudaDataOperationAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 		CC.markOptionParsed("GPUIndex");
 
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("MaskId")) {
-		int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("MaskId"));
+		int id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("MaskId");
 		m_pMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32Data2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("MaskId");
diff --git a/src/CudaFDKAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaFDKAlgorithm3D.cpp
index 1316daa..b5ce545 100644
--- a/src/CudaFDKAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaFDKAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CudaFDKAlgorithm3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 #include "astra/CudaProjector3D.h"
diff --git a/src/CudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
index bcd70c4..aa97eec 100644
--- a/src/CudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include <astra/CudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.h>
 #include <astra/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.h>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <cstring>
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ bool CCudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	CCudaProjector2D* pCudaProjector = 0;
 	if (node) {
-		int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+		int id = node.getContentInt();
 		CProjector2D *projector = CProjector2DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 		pCudaProjector = dynamic_cast<CCudaProjector2D*>(projector);
 		if (!pCudaProjector) {
@@ -113,14 +112,14 @@ bool CCudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaFBP", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSinogram = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectionDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ReconstructionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaFBP", "No ReconstructionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pReconstruction = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ReconstructionDataId");
 
@@ -140,7 +139,7 @@ bool CCudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("FilterSinogramId");
 	if (node)
 	{
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+		id = node.getContentInt();
 		const CFloat32ProjectionData2D * pFilterData = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 		m_iFilterWidth = pFilterData->getGeometry()->getDetectorCount();
 		int iFilterProjectionCount = pFilterData->getGeometry()->getProjectionAngleCount();
@@ -159,7 +158,7 @@ bool CCudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("FilterParameter");
 	if (node)
 	{
-		float fParameter = boost::lexical_cast<float>(node.getContent());
+		float fParameter = node.getContentNumerical();
 		m_fFilterParameter = fParameter;
 	}
 	else
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ bool CCudaFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("FilterD");
 	if (node)
 	{
-		float fD = boost::lexical_cast<float>(node.getContent());
+		float fD = node.getContentNumerical();
 		m_fFilterD = fD;
 	}
 	else
diff --git a/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
index d38469c..80f2e02 100644
--- a/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ $Id$
 #include <driver_types.h>
 #include <cuda_runtime_api.h>
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 #include "astra/ParallelProjectionGeometry2D.h"
 #include "astra/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.h"
@@ -97,7 +95,7 @@ bool CCudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	m_pProjector = 0;
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	if (node) {
-		int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+		int id = node.getContentInt();
 		m_pProjector = CProjector2DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 	}
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectorId");
@@ -107,14 +105,14 @@ bool CCudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FP_CUDA", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSinogram = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectionDataId");
 
 	// volume data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("VolumeDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FP_CUDA", "No VolumeDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pVolume = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("VolumeDataId");
 
diff --git a/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp
index 209f5a5..f709e34 100644
--- a/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #ifdef ASTRA_CUDA
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 #include "astra/CudaProjector3D.h"
@@ -103,14 +101,14 @@ bool CCudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaForwardProjection3D", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pProjections = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData3DMemory*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectionDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("VolumeDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaForwardProjection3D", "No VolumeDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pVolume = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3DMemory*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("VolumeDataId");
 
@@ -118,7 +116,7 @@ bool CCudaForwardProjectionAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	m_pProjector = 0;
 	if (node) {
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+		id = node.getContentInt();
 		m_pProjector = CProjector3DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 	}
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectorId");
diff --git a/src/CudaReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp b/src/CudaReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp
index 71dddf7..5a1910c 100644
--- a/src/CudaReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CudaReconstructionAlgorithm2D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 #include "astra/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.h"
 #include "astra/FanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D.h"
diff --git a/src/CudaRoiSelectAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaRoiSelectAlgorithm.cpp
index 7635c69..dfb8056 100644
--- a/src/CudaRoiSelectAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaRoiSelectAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "../cuda/2d/algo.h"
 
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ bool CCudaRoiSelectAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// reconstruction data
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "CudaRoiSelect", "No DataId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pData = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DataId");
 
diff --git a/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm.cpp b/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm.cpp
index ab0a418..33e381a 100644
--- a/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CudaSirtAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 #include "../cuda/2d/sirt.h"
@@ -77,12 +76,12 @@ bool CCudaSirtAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 
 	// min/max masks
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("MinMaskId")) {
-		int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("MinMaskId"));
+		int id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("MinMaskId");
 		m_pMinMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("MinMaskId");
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("MaxMaskId")) {
-		int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("MaxMaskId"));
+		int id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("MaxMaskId");
 		m_pMaxMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("MaxMaskId");
diff --git a/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm3D.cpp
index 1fa0da2..605c470 100644
--- a/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/CudaSirtAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/CudaSirtAlgorithm3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 #include "astra/ConeProjectionGeometry3D.h"
diff --git a/src/FanFlatBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp b/src/FanFlatBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp
index 0681715..fd4195b 100644
--- a/src/FanFlatBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/FanFlatBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include <cmath>
 #include <cstring>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/FanFlatBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp b/src/FanFlatBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp
index e94d3da..b48beab 100644
--- a/src/FanFlatBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/FanFlatBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/FanFlatBeamStripKernelProjector2D.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.cpp b/src/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
index 32a19bc..8bee0d6 100644
--- a/src/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
+++ b/src/FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include <cstring>
 #include <sstream>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -136,13 +135,13 @@ bool CFanFlatProjectionGeometry2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DistanceOriginDetector
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DistanceOriginDetector");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D", "No DistanceOriginDetector tag specified.");
-	m_fOriginDetectorDistance = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fOriginDetectorDistance = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DistanceOriginDetector");
 
 	// Required: DetectorOriginSource
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DistanceOriginSource");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FanFlatProjectionGeometry2D", "No DistanceOriginSource tag specified.");
-	m_fOriginSourceDistance = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fOriginSourceDistance = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DistanceOriginSource");
 
 	// success
diff --git a/src/FanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D.cpp b/src/FanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
index 4104379..0b76fc5 100644
--- a/src/FanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
+++ b/src/FanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include <cstring>
 #include <sstream>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ bool CFanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DetectorCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FanFlatVecProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorRowCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorCount");
 
 	// Required: Vectors
@@ -235,12 +234,12 @@ Config* CFanFlatVecProjectionGeometry2D::getConfiguration() const
 	std::string vectors = "";
 	for (int i = 0; i < m_iProjectionAngleCount; ++i) {
 		SFanProjection& p = m_pProjectionAngles[i];
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fSrcX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fSrcY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSX + 0.5f * m_iDetectorCount * p.fDetUX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSY + 0.5f * m_iDetectorCount * p.fDetUY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUY);
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fSrcX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fSrcY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSX + 0.5f * m_iDetectorCount * p.fDetUX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSY + 0.5f * m_iDetectorCount * p.fDetUY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUY);
 		if (i < m_iProjectionAngleCount-1) vectors += ';';
 	}
 	cfg->self.addChildNode("Vectors", vectors);
diff --git a/src/FilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp b/src/FilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
index f494d22..c195578 100644
--- a/src/FilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/FilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/FilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include <iostream>
 #include <iomanip>
 #include <math.h>
@@ -96,19 +94,19 @@ bool CFilteredBackProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// projector
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FilteredBackProjection", "No ProjectorId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pProjector = CProjector2DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FilteredBackProjection", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSinogram = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 
 	// volume data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ReconstructionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "FilteredBackProjection", "No ReconstructionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pReconstruction = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionIndex");
diff --git a/src/ForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp b/src/ForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
index f356824..dcf5790 100644
--- a/src/ForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/ForwardProjectionAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ForwardProjectionAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
@@ -128,32 +126,32 @@ bool CForwardProjectionAlgorithm::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// projector
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ForwardProjection", "No ProjectorId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pProjector = CProjector2DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ForwardProjection", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSinogram = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 
 	// volume data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("VolumeDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ForwardProjection", "No VolumeDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pVolume = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	
 	// volume mask
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("VolumeMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseVolumeMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("VolumeMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("VolumeMaskId");
 		m_pVolumeMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 
 	// sino mask
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("SinogramMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseSinogramMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("SinogramMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("SinogramMaskId");
 		m_pSinogramMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/ParallelBeamBlobKernelProjector2D.cpp b/src/ParallelBeamBlobKernelProjector2D.cpp
index 4559a48..679d5c6 100644
--- a/src/ParallelBeamBlobKernelProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelBeamBlobKernelProjector2D.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/ParallelBeamBlobKernelProjector2D.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
@@ -134,17 +133,17 @@ bool CParallelBeamBlobKernelProjector2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 		// Required: KernelSize
 		XMLNode node2 = node.getSingleNode("KernelSize");
 		ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node2, "BlobProjector", "No Kernel/KernelSize tag specified.");
-		m_fBlobSize = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node2.getContent());
+		m_fBlobSize = node2.getContentNumerical();
 
 		// Required: SampleRate
 		node2 = node.getSingleNode("SampleRate");
 		ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node2, "BlobProjector", "No Kernel/SampleRate tag specified.");
-		m_fBlobSampleRate = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node2.getContent());
+		m_fBlobSampleRate = node2.getContentNumerical();
 	
 		// Required: SampleCount
 		node2 = node.getSingleNode("SampleCount");
 		ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node2, "BlobProjector", "No Kernel/SampleCount tag specified.");
-		m_iBlobSampleCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node2.getContent());
+		m_iBlobSampleCount = node2.getContentInt();
 	
 		// Required: KernelValues
 		node2 = node.getSingleNode("KernelValues");
diff --git a/src/ParallelBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp b/src/ParallelBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp
index 5a23413..e4a1bff 100644
--- a/src/ParallelBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelBeamLineKernelProjector2D.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/ParallelBeamLineKernelProjector2D.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/ParallelBeamLinearKernelProjector2D.cpp b/src/ParallelBeamLinearKernelProjector2D.cpp
index a710664..27aa168 100644
--- a/src/ParallelBeamLinearKernelProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelBeamLinearKernelProjector2D.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/ParallelBeamLinearKernelProjector2D.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/ParallelBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp b/src/ParallelBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp
index 44c6fec..3f4e7f3 100644
--- a/src/ParallelBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelBeamStripKernelProjector2D.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/ParallelBeamStripKernelProjector2D.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry2D.cpp b/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
index 7260b83..cc2a129 100644
--- a/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ $Id$
 */
 
 #include "astra/ParallelProjectionGeometry2D.h"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include <cstring>
 
diff --git a/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry3D.cpp b/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
index 7b64fd9..2f80883 100644
--- a/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/GeometryUtil3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <cstring>
 
 using namespace std;
diff --git a/src/ParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp b/src/ParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
index d04400b..3172818 100644
--- a/src/ParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
+++ b/src/ParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ $Id$
 */
 
 #include "astra/ParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D.h"
+#include "astra/Utilities.h"
 
 #include <cstring>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -82,13 +82,13 @@ bool CParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DetectorRowCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorRowCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorRowCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorRowCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorRowCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorRowCount");
 
 	// Required: DetectorCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorColCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "", "No DetectorColCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorColCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorColCount = node.getContentInt();
 	m_iDetectorTotCount = m_iDetectorRowCount * m_iDetectorColCount;
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorColCount");
 
@@ -212,18 +212,18 @@ Config* CParallelVecProjectionGeometry3D::getConfiguration() const
 	std::string vectors = "";
 	for (int i = 0; i < m_iProjectionAngleCount; ++i) {
 		SPar3DProjection& p = m_pProjectionAngles[i];
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fRayX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fRayY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fRayZ) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetSZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUZ) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetUZ) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetVX) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetVY) + ",";
-		vectors += boost::lexical_cast<string>(p.fDetVZ);
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fRayX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fRayY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fRayZ) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVX + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVY + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetSZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorRowCount*p.fDetVZ + 0.5f*m_iDetectorColCount*p.fDetUZ) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetUZ) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetVX) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetVY) + ",";
+		vectors += StringUtil::toString(p.fDetVZ);
 		if (i < m_iProjectionAngleCount-1) vectors += ';';
 	}
 	cfg->self.addChildNode("Vectors", vectors);
diff --git a/src/PluginAlgorithm.cpp b/src/PluginAlgorithm.cpp
index 8f7dfc5..9fc511a 100644
--- a/src/PluginAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/PluginAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/PluginAlgorithm.h"
 #include "astra/Logging.h"
+#include "astra/Utilities.h"
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <string>
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ PyObject* stringToPythonValue(std::string str){
             boost::split(row, rows[i], boost::is_any_of(","));
             PyObject *rowlist = PyList_New(row.size());
             for(unsigned int j=0;j<row.size();j++){
-                PyList_SetItem(rowlist, j, PyFloat_FromDouble(boost::lexical_cast<double>(row[j])));
+                PyList_SetItem(rowlist, j, PyFloat_FromDouble(StringUtil::stringToDouble(row[j])));
             }
             PyList_SetItem(mat, i, rowlist);
         }
@@ -349,16 +349,16 @@ PyObject* stringToPythonValue(std::string str){
         boost::split(vec, str, boost::is_any_of(","));
         PyObject *veclist = PyList_New(vec.size());
         for(unsigned int i=0;i<vec.size();i++){
-            PyList_SetItem(veclist, i, PyFloat_FromDouble(boost::lexical_cast<double>(vec[i])));
+            PyList_SetItem(veclist, i, PyFloat_FromDouble(StringUtil::stringToDouble(vec[i])));
         }
         return veclist;
     }
     try{
-        return PyLong_FromLong(boost::lexical_cast<long>(str));
-    }catch(const boost::bad_lexical_cast &){
+        return PyLong_FromLong(StringUtil::stringToInt(str));
+    }catch(const StringUtil::bad_cast &){
         try{
-            return PyFloat_FromDouble(boost::lexical_cast<double>(str));
-        }catch(const boost::bad_lexical_cast &){
+            return PyFloat_FromDouble(StringUtil::stringToDouble(str));
+        }catch(const StringUtil::bad_cast &){
             return pyStringFromString(str);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/ProjectionGeometry2D.cpp b/src/ProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
index b89605b..8ce06dc 100644
--- a/src/ProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ProjectionGeometry2D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 using namespace std;
 
 namespace astra
@@ -126,13 +124,13 @@ bool CProjectionGeometry2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DetectorWidth
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorWidth");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ProjectionGeometry2D", "No DetectorWidth tag specified.");
-	m_fDetectorWidth = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fDetectorWidth = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorWidth");
 
 	// Required: DetectorCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ProjectionGeometry2D", "No DetectorCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorCount");
 
 	// Required: ProjectionAngles
diff --git a/src/ProjectionGeometry3D.cpp b/src/ProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
index ef0246c..281db7c 100644
--- a/src/ProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectionGeometry3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ProjectionGeometry3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 using namespace std;
 
 namespace astra
@@ -151,25 +149,25 @@ bool CProjectionGeometry3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: DetectorWidth
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorSpacingX");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorSpacingX tag specified.");
-	m_fDetectorSpacingX = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fDetectorSpacingX = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorSpacingX");
 
 	// Required: DetectorHeight
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorSpacingY");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorSpacingY tag specified.");
-	m_fDetectorSpacingY = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(node.getContent());
+	m_fDetectorSpacingY = node.getContentNumerical();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorSpacingY");
 
 	// Required: DetectorRowCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorRowCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorRowCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorRowCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorRowCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorRowCount");
 
 	// Required: DetectorCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("DetectorColCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ProjectionGeometry3D", "No DetectorColCount tag specified.");
-	m_iDetectorColCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iDetectorColCount = node.getContentInt();
 	m_iDetectorTotCount = m_iDetectorRowCount * m_iDetectorColCount;
 	CC.markNodeParsed("DetectorColCount");
 
diff --git a/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp b/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp
index 4575ff7..1c6d855 100644
--- a/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm2D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ReconstructionAlgorithm2D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -90,7 +88,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithm2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	}
 	int id;
 	if (node) {
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+		id = node.getContentInt();
 		m_pProjector = CProjector2DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 	} else {
 		m_pProjector = 0;
@@ -100,21 +98,21 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithm2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "Reconstruction2D", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSinogram = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectionDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ReconstructionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "Reconstruction2D", "No ReconstructionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pReconstruction = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ReconstructionDataId");
 
 	// fixed mask
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("ReconstructionMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseReconstructionMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("ReconstructionMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("ReconstructionMaskId");
 		m_pReconstructionMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 		ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(m_pReconstructionMask, "Reconstruction2D", "Invalid ReconstructionMaskId.");
 	}
@@ -123,7 +121,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithm2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// fixed mask
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("SinogramMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseSinogramMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("SinogramMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("SinogramMaskId");
 		m_pSinogramMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 		ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(m_pSinogramMask, "Reconstruction2D", "Invalid SinogramMaskId.");
 	}
diff --git a/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm3D.cpp b/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm3D.cpp
index 13d4b07..55f1031 100644
--- a/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm3D.cpp
+++ b/src/ReconstructionAlgorithm3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ReconstructionAlgorithm3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -111,7 +109,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	m_pProjector = 0;
 	if (node) {
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+		id = node.getContentInt();
 		m_pProjector = CProjector3DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 		if (!m_pProjector) {
 			// TODO: Report
@@ -122,21 +120,21 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// sinogram data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ProjectionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "Reconstruction3D", "No ProjectionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pSinogram = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData3D*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectionDataId");
 
 	// reconstruction data
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("ReconstructionDataId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "Reconstruction3D", "No ReconstructionDataId tag specified.");
-	id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pReconstruction = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3D*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ReconstructionDataId");
 
 	// fixed mask
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("ReconstructionMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseReconstructionMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("ReconstructionMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("ReconstructionMaskId");
 		m_pReconstructionMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData3D*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("ReconstructionMaskId");
@@ -144,7 +142,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithm3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// fixed mask
 	if (_cfg.self.hasOption("SinogramMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseSinogramMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self.getOption("SinogramMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self.getOptionInt("SinogramMaskId");
 		m_pSinogramMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData3D*>(CData3DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("SinogramMaskId");
diff --git a/src/ReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D.cpp b/src/ReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D.cpp
index fe64c86..39c337f 100644
--- a/src/ReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D.cpp
+++ b/src/ReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/ReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -96,7 +94,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// projector
 	XMLNode* node = _cfg.self->getSingleNode("ProjectorId");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "Reconstruction2D", "No ProjectorId tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node->getContent());
+	int id = node->getContentInt();
 	m_pProjector = CProjector2DManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 	ASTRA_DELETE(node);
 	CC.markNodeParsed("ProjectorId");
@@ -125,7 +123,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// reconstruction masks
 	if (_cfg.self->hasOption("ReconstructionMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseReconstructionMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self->getOption("ReconstructionMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self->getOptionInt("ReconstructionMaskId");
 		m_pReconstructionMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32VolumeData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("ReconstructionMaskId");
@@ -133,7 +131,7 @@ bool CReconstructionAlgorithmMultiSlice2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// sinogram masks
 	if (_cfg.self->hasOption("SinogramMaskId")) {
 		m_bUseSinogramMask = true;
-		id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(_cfg.self->getOption("SinogramMaskId"));
+		id = _cfg.self->getOptionInt("SinogramMaskId");
 		m_pSinogramMask = dynamic_cast<CFloat32ProjectionData2D*>(CData2DManager::getSingleton().get(id));
 	}
 	CC.markOptionParsed("SinogramMaskId");
diff --git a/src/SartAlgorithm.cpp b/src/SartAlgorithm.cpp
index e4dc5c7..9346160 100644
--- a/src/SartAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/SartAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/SartAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/SirtAlgorithm.cpp b/src/SirtAlgorithm.cpp
index ae3b3bc..d9f3a65 100644
--- a/src/SirtAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/SirtAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/SirtAlgorithm.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/SparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D.cpp b/src/SparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
index 073720f..358c992 100644
--- a/src/SparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
+++ b/src/SparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/SparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include "astra/AstraObjectManager.h"
 
 
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ bool CSparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// get matrix
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("MatrixID");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "SparseMatrixProjectionGeometry2D", "No MatrixID tag specified.");
-	int id = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	int id = node.getContentInt();
 	m_pMatrix = CMatrixManager::getSingleton().get(id);
 	CC.markNodeParsed("MatrixID");
 
diff --git a/src/SparseMatrixProjector2D.cpp b/src/SparseMatrixProjector2D.cpp
index bc2e974..be7e069 100644
--- a/src/SparseMatrixProjector2D.cpp
+++ b/src/SparseMatrixProjector2D.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "astra/SparseMatrixProjector2D.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 #include "astra/DataProjectorPolicies.h"
 
diff --git a/src/Utilities.cpp b/src/Utilities.cpp
index 3f65e9a..4b80503 100644
--- a/src/Utilities.cpp
+++ b/src/Utilities.cpp
@@ -28,101 +28,99 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/Utilities.h"
 
-using namespace std;
-using namespace astra;
+#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
+#include <boost/algorithm/string/classification.hpp>
 
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Trim Whitespace Characters
-void StringUtil::trim(std::string& _sString, bool _bLeft, bool _bRight)
+#include <sstream>
+#include <locale>
+#include <iomanip>
+
+namespace astra {
+
+namespace StringUtil {
+
+int stringToInt(const std::string& s)
 {
-	// trim right
-	if (_bRight)
-		_sString.erase(_sString.find_last_not_of(" \t\r") + 1); 
+	double i;
+	std::istringstream iss(s);
+	iss.imbue(std::locale::classic());
+	iss >> i;
+	if (iss.fail() || !iss.eof())
+		throw bad_cast();
+	return i;
 
-	// trim left
-	if (_bLeft)
-		_sString.erase(0, _sString.find_first_not_of(" \t\r")); 
 }
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Split String
-vector<string> StringUtil::split(const string& _sString, const string& _sDelims)
+
+float stringToFloat(const std::string& s)
 {
-	std::vector<string> ret;
-
-	size_t start, pos;
-	start = 0;
-	do {
-		pos = _sString.find_first_of(_sDelims, start);
-		if (pos == start) {
-			// Do nothing
-			start = pos + 1;
-		} else if (pos == string::npos) {
-			// Copy the rest of the string
-			ret.push_back(_sString.substr(start));
-			break;
-		} else {
-			// Copy up to newt delimiter
-			ret.push_back(_sString.substr(start, pos - start));
-			start = pos + 1;
-		}
-
-		// Parse up to next real data (in case there are two delims after each other)
-		start = _sString.find_first_not_of(_sDelims, start);
-	} while (pos != string::npos);
-
-	return ret;
+	return (float)stringToDouble(s);
 }
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Cast string to int
-bool StringUtil::toInt(const string& _sString, int& _iValue)
+
+double stringToDouble(const std::string& s)
 {
-	std::istringstream ss(_sString);
-	ss >> _iValue;
-	return !ss.fail();
+	double f;
+	std::istringstream iss(s);
+	iss.imbue(std::locale::classic());
+	iss >> f;
+	if (iss.fail() || !iss.eof())
+		throw bad_cast();
+	return f;
 }
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Cast string to float
-bool StringUtil::toFloat32(const string& _sString, float32& _fValue)
+
+template<> float stringTo(const std::string& s) { return stringToFloat(s); }
+template<> double stringTo(const std::string& s) { return stringToDouble(s); }
+
+std::vector<float> stringToFloatVector(const std::string &s)
 {
-	std::istringstream ss(_sString);
-	ss >> _fValue;
-	return !ss.fail();
+	return stringToVector<float>(s);
 }
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Convert string to Lower Case
-void StringUtil::toLowerCase(std::string& _sString)
+
+std::vector<double> stringToDoubleVector(const std::string &s)
 {
-	std::transform(_sString.begin(),
-				   _sString.end(),		
-				   _sString.begin(),
-				   ::tolower);
+	return stringToVector<double>(s);
 }
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------    
-// Convert string to Upper Case
-void StringUtil::toUpperCase(std::string& _sString) 
+
+template<typename T>
+std::vector<T> stringToVector(const std::string& s)
 {
-	std::transform(_sString.begin(),
-				   _sString.end(),
-				   _sString.begin(),
-				   ::toupper);
-}
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+	// split
+	std::vector<std::string> items;
+	boost::split(items, s, boost::is_any_of(",;"));
 
+	// init list
+	std::vector<T> out;
+	out.resize(items.size());
 
+	// loop elements
+	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < items.size(); i++) {
+		out[i] = stringTo<T>(items[i]);
+	}
+	return out;
+}
 
 
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------    
-// Get Extension
-string FileSystemUtil::getExtension(string& _sFilename)
+std::string floatToString(float f)
 {
-	string sExtension = "";
-	for (int i = _sFilename.length() - 1; 0 < i; i--) {
-		if (_sFilename[i] == '.') {
-			std::transform(sExtension.begin(),sExtension.end(),sExtension.begin(),::tolower);
-			return sExtension;
-		}
-		sExtension = _sFilename[i] + sExtension;
-	}
-	return "";
+	std::ostringstream s;
+	s.imbue(std::locale::classic());
+	s << std::setprecision(9) << f;
+	return s.str();
+}
+
+std::string doubleToString(double f)
+{
+	std::ostringstream s;
+	s.imbue(std::locale::classic());
+	s << std::setprecision(17) << f;
+	return s.str();
+}
+
+
+template<> std::string toString(float f) { return floatToString(f); }
+template<> std::string toString(double f) { return doubleToString(f); }
+
+
+}
+
 }
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/VolumeGeometry2D.cpp b/src/VolumeGeometry2D.cpp
index 6eea1b2..9d74e47 100644
--- a/src/VolumeGeometry2D.cpp
+++ b/src/VolumeGeometry2D.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/VolumeGeometry2D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include <cmath>
 
 namespace astra
@@ -166,13 +165,13 @@ bool CVolumeGeometry2D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: GridColCount
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("GridColCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ReconstructionGeometry2D", "No GridColCount tag specified.");
-	m_iGridColCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iGridColCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("GridColCount");
 
 	// Required: GridRowCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("GridRowCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ReconstructionGeometry2D", "No GridRowCount tag specified.");
-	m_iGridRowCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iGridRowCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("GridRowCount");
 
 	// Optional: Window minima and maxima
diff --git a/src/VolumeGeometry3D.cpp b/src/VolumeGeometry3D.cpp
index 3de146f..5d72c24 100644
--- a/src/VolumeGeometry3D.cpp
+++ b/src/VolumeGeometry3D.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ $Id$
 
 #include "astra/VolumeGeometry3D.h"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-
 namespace astra
 {
 
@@ -196,19 +194,19 @@ bool CVolumeGeometry3D::initialize(const Config& _cfg)
 	// Required: GridColCount
 	XMLNode node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("GridColCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ReconstructionGeometry2D", "No GridColCount tag specified.");
-	m_iGridColCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iGridColCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("GridColCount");
 
 	// Required: GridRowCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("GridRowCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ReconstructionGeometry2D", "No GridRowCount tag specified.");
-	m_iGridRowCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iGridRowCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("GridRowCount");
 
 	// Required: GridRowCount
 	node = _cfg.self.getSingleNode("GridSliceCount");
 	ASTRA_CONFIG_CHECK(node, "ReconstructionGeometry2D", "No GridSliceCount tag specified.");
-	m_iGridSliceCount = boost::lexical_cast<int>(node.getContent());
+	m_iGridSliceCount = node.getContentInt();
 	CC.markNodeParsed("GridSliceCount");
 
 	// Optional: Window minima and maxima
diff --git a/src/XMLNode.cpp b/src/XMLNode.cpp
index 0ec701f..40a9b22 100644
--- a/src/XMLNode.cpp
+++ b/src/XMLNode.cpp
@@ -31,12 +31,6 @@ $Id$
 #include "rapidxml/rapidxml.hpp"
 #include "rapidxml/rapidxml_print.hpp"
 
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
-#include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
-#include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
-#include <boost/algorithm/string/classification.hpp>
-
-
 
 using namespace rapidxml;
 using namespace astra;
@@ -138,8 +132,13 @@ string XMLNode::getContent() const
 // Get node content - NUMERICAL
 float32 XMLNode::getContentNumerical() const
 {
-	return boost::lexical_cast<float32>(getContent());
+	return StringUtil::stringToFloat(getContent());
 }
+int XMLNode::getContentInt() const
+{
+	return StringUtil::stringToInt(getContent());
+}
+
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------	
 // Get node content - BOOLEAN
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ bool XMLNode::getContentBool() const
 vector<string> XMLNode::getContentArray() const
 {
 	// get listsize
-	int iSize = boost::lexical_cast<int>(getAttribute("listsize"));
+	int iSize = StringUtil::stringToInt(getAttribute("listsize"));
 	// create result array
 	vector<string> res(iSize);
 	// loop all list item nodes
@@ -175,40 +174,12 @@ vector<string> XMLNode::getContentArray() const
 // NB: A 2D matrix is returned as a linear list
 vector<float32> XMLNode::getContentNumericalArray() const
 {
-	string input = getContent();
-
-	// split
-	std::vector<std::string> items;
-	boost::split(items, input, boost::is_any_of(",;"));
-
-	// init list
-	vector<float32> out;
-	out.resize(items.size());
-
-	// loop elements
-	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < items.size(); i++) {
-		out[i] = boost::lexical_cast<float32>(items[i]);
-	}
-	return out;
+	return StringUtil::stringToFloatVector(getContent());
 }
 
 vector<double> XMLNode::getContentNumericalArrayDouble() const
 {
-	string input = getContent();
-
-	// split
-	std::vector<std::string> items;
-	boost::split(items, input, boost::is_any_of(",;"));
-
-	// init list
-	vector<double> out;
-	out.resize(items.size());
-
-	// loop elements
-	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < items.size(); i++) {
-		out[i] = boost::lexical_cast<double>(items[i]);
-	}
-	return out;
+	return StringUtil::stringToDoubleVector(getContent());
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------	
@@ -235,14 +206,20 @@ string XMLNode::getAttribute(string _sName, string _sDefaultValue) const
 float32 XMLNode::getAttributeNumerical(string _sName, float32 _fDefaultValue) const
 {
 	if (!hasAttribute(_sName)) return _fDefaultValue;
-	return boost::lexical_cast<float32>(getAttribute(_sName));
+	return StringUtil::stringToFloat(getAttribute(_sName));
 }
 double XMLNode::getAttributeNumericalDouble(string _sName, double _fDefaultValue) const
 {
 	if (!hasAttribute(_sName)) return _fDefaultValue;
-	return boost::lexical_cast<double>(getAttribute(_sName));
+	return StringUtil::stringToDouble(getAttribute(_sName));
+}
+int XMLNode::getAttributeInt(string _sName, int _iDefaultValue) const
+{
+	if (!hasAttribute(_sName)) return _iDefaultValue;
+	return StringUtil::stringToInt(getAttribute(_sName));
 }
 
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------	
 // Get attribute - BOOLEAN
 bool XMLNode::getAttributeBool(string _sName, bool _bDefaultValue) const
@@ -287,9 +264,15 @@ string XMLNode::getOption(string _sKey, string _sDefaultValue) const
 float32 XMLNode::getOptionNumerical(string _sKey, float32 _fDefaultValue) const
 {
 	if (!hasOption(_sKey)) return _fDefaultValue;
-	return boost::lexical_cast<float32>(getOption(_sKey));
+	return StringUtil::stringToFloat(getOption(_sKey));
+}
+int XMLNode::getOptionInt(string _sKey, int _iDefaultValue) const
+{
+	if (!hasOption(_sKey)) return _iDefaultValue;
+	return StringUtil::stringToInt(getOption(_sKey));
 }
 
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------	
 // Get option - BOOL
 bool XMLNode::getOptionBool(string _sKey, bool _bDefaultValue) const
@@ -386,7 +369,7 @@ void XMLNode::setContent(string _sText)
 // Set content - FLOAT
 void XMLNode::setContent(float32 _fValue) 
 {
-	setContent(boost::lexical_cast<string>(_fValue));
+	setContent(StringUtil::floatToString(_fValue));
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------	
@@ -394,9 +377,9 @@ void XMLNode::setContent(float32 _fValue)
 
 template<typename T>
 static std::string setContentList_internal(T* pfList, int _iSize) {
-	std::string str = (_iSize > 0) ? boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(pfList[0]) : "";
+	std::string str = (_iSize > 0) ? StringUtil::toString(pfList[0]) : "";
 	for (int i = 1; i < _iSize; i++) {
-		str += "," + boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(pfList[i]);
+		str += "," + StringUtil::toString(pfList[i]);
 	}
 	return str;
 }
@@ -431,9 +414,9 @@ static std::string setContentMatrix_internal(T* _pfMatrix, int _iWidth, int _iHe
 
 	for (int y = 0; y < _iHeight; ++y) {
 		if (_iWidth > 0)
-			str += boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(_pfMatrix[0*s1 + y*s2]);
+			str += StringUtil::toString(_pfMatrix[0*s1 + y*s2]);
 			for (int x = 1; x < _iWidth; x++)
-				str += "," + boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(_pfMatrix[x*s1 + y*s2]);
+				str += "," + StringUtil::toString(_pfMatrix[x*s1 + y*s2]);
 
 		if (y != _iHeight-1)
 			str += ";";
@@ -468,7 +451,7 @@ void XMLNode::addAttribute(string _sName, string _sText)
 // Add attribute - FLOAT
 void XMLNode::addAttribute(string _sName, float32 _fValue) 
 {
-	addAttribute(_sName, boost::lexical_cast<string>(_fValue)); 
+	addAttribute(_sName, StringUtil::floatToString(_fValue));
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------