Merged revisions 709570,709598,710114,710134,710136,711505,711513-711515,711694,711739,711741,711746,711749 via svnmerge from

https://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/poi/trunk

........
  r709570 | josh | 2008-10-31 14:17:08 -0700 (Fri, 31 Oct 2008) | 1 line
  
  made DrawingSelectionRecord into a plain BIFF record (not an escher holder aggregate). Added some interpretation of fields
........
  r709598 | josh | 2008-10-31 16:24:41 -0700 (Fri, 31 Oct 2008) | 1 line
  
  Simplified multiple record expansion logic
........
  r710114 | yegor | 2008-11-03 09:54:01 -0800 (Mon, 03 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  fixed #46122: Picture#getEscherBSERecord threw NullPointerException if EscherContainerRecord.BSTORE_CONTAINER was not found
........
  r710134 | yegor | 2008-11-03 11:19:39 -0800 (Mon, 03 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  fixed bug #46033: table cells had incorrect text type resulting in corrupted style info
........
  r710136 | yegor | 2008-11-03 11:23:52 -0800 (Mon, 03 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  updated status of the fixed bug #46033
........
  r711505 | josh | 2008-11-04 19:50:31 -0800 (Tue, 04 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Refactored test case
........
  r711513 | josh | 2008-11-04 21:45:17 -0800 (Tue, 04 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Converted ConstantValueParser to use plain Strings instead of UnicodeStrings
........
  r711514 | josh | 2008-11-04 21:52:35 -0800 (Tue, 04 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Converted SupBookRecord to use plain Strings instead of UnicodeStrings
........
  r711515 | josh | 2008-11-04 22:15:59 -0800 (Tue, 04 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Refactored test case
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  r711694 | josh | 2008-11-05 12:46:00 -0800 (Wed, 05 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Fixed bug in conversion to/from text cells
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  r711739 | josh | 2008-11-05 15:28:55 -0800 (Wed, 05 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Refactoring test case
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  r711741 | josh | 2008-11-05 15:35:02 -0800 (Wed, 05 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Refactoring test case
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  r711746 | josh | 2008-11-05 15:45:42 -0800 (Wed, 05 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Fixed mistake in test case.  Constant value was 4 bytes too large (should be max *data* size not max *record* size).
........
  r711749 | josh | 2008-11-05 17:12:41 -0800 (Wed, 05 Nov 2008) | 1 line
  
  Introduced ContinuableRecord to help fix serialization of StringRecords with large data.  Fixed TextObjectRecord to only write 16bit unicode when needed.  Simplification in UnicodeString.
........


git-svn-id: https://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/poi/branches/ooxml@711755 13f79535-47bb-0310-9956-ffa450edef68

21 files changed, 988 insertions, 1045 deletions

diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/model/LinkTable.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/model/LinkTable.java
index 998712e5e8..f587f5e375 100755
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/model/LinkTable.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/model/LinkTable.java
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.ExternalNameRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.NameRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.Record;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.SupBookRecord;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.UnicodeString;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.formula.Area3DPtg;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.formula.NameXPtg;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.formula.Ref3DPtg;
 
 /**
  * Link Table (OOO pdf reference: 4.10.3 ) <p/>
@@ -311,10 +312,10 @@ final class LinkTable {
 			return null;
 		}
 		int shIx = _externSheetRecord.getFirstSheetIndexFromRefIndex(extRefIndex);
-		UnicodeString usSheetName = ebr.getSheetNames()[shIx];
+		String usSheetName = ebr.getSheetNames()[shIx];
 		return new String[] {
 				ebr.getURL(),
-				usSheetName.getString(),
+				usSheetName,
 		};
 	}
 
@@ -345,9 +346,9 @@ final class LinkTable {
 		return result;
 	}
 
-	private static int getSheetIndex(UnicodeString[] sheetNames, String sheetName) {
+	private static int getSheetIndex(String[] sheetNames, String sheetName) {
 		for (int i = 0; i < sheetNames.length; i++) {
-			if (sheetNames[i].getString().equals(sheetName)) {
+			if (sheetNames[i].equals(sheetName)) {
 				return i;
 			}
 			
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/DrawingSelectionRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/DrawingSelectionRecord.java
index 687c11314b..85997e9139 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/DrawingSelectionRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/DrawingSelectionRecord.java
@@ -17,25 +17,129 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
-public final class DrawingSelectionRecord extends AbstractEscherHolderRecord {
-    public static final short sid = 0xED;
-
-    public DrawingSelectionRecord()
-    {
-    }
-
-    public DrawingSelectionRecord( RecordInputStream in )
-    {
-        super( in );
-    }
-
-    protected String getRecordName()
-    {
-        return "MSODRAWINGSELECTION";
-    }
-
-    public short getSid()
-    {
-        return sid;
-    }
+import org.apache.poi.util.HexDump;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianInput;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;
+
+/**
+ * MsoDrawingSelection (0x00ED)<p/>
+ * Reference:
+ * [MS-OGRAPH].pdf sec 2.4.69
+ * 
+ * @author Josh Micich
+ */
+public final class DrawingSelectionRecord extends Record {
+	public static final short sid = 0x00ED;
+
+	/**
+	 * From [MS-ODRAW].pdf sec 2.2.1<br/>
+	 * TODO - make EscherRecordHeader {@link LittleEndianInput} aware and refactor with this
+	 */
+	private static final class OfficeArtRecordHeader {
+		public static final int ENCODED_SIZE = 8;
+		/**
+		 * lower 4 bits is 'version' usually 0x01 or 0x0F (for containers)<br/>
+		 * upper 12 bits is 'instance'
+		 */
+		private final int _verAndInstance;
+		/** value should be between 0xF000 and 0xFFFF */
+		private final int _type;
+		private final int _length;
+
+		public OfficeArtRecordHeader(LittleEndianInput in) {
+			_verAndInstance = in.readUShort();
+			_type = in.readUShort();
+			_length = in.readInt();
+		}
+
+		public void serialize(LittleEndianOutput out) {
+			out.writeShort(_verAndInstance);
+			out.writeShort(_type);
+			out.writeInt(_length);
+		}
+
+		public String debugFormatAsString() {
+			StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(32);
+			sb.append("ver+inst=").append(HexDump.shortToHex(_verAndInstance));
+			sb.append(" type=").append(HexDump.shortToHex(_type));
+			sb.append(" len=").append(HexDump.intToHex(_length));
+			return sb.toString();
+		}
+	}
+
+	// [MS-OGRAPH].pdf says that the data of this record is an OfficeArtFDGSL structure
+	// as described in[MS-ODRAW].pdf sec 2.2.33
+	private OfficeArtRecordHeader _header;
+	private int _cpsp;
+	/** a MSODGSLK enum value for the current selection mode */
+	private int _dgslk;
+	private int _spidFocus;
+	/** selected shape IDs (e.g. from EscherSpRecord.ShapeId) */
+	private int[] _shapeIds;
+
+	public DrawingSelectionRecord(RecordInputStream in) {
+		_header = new OfficeArtRecordHeader(in);
+		_cpsp = in.readInt();
+		_dgslk = in.readInt();
+		_spidFocus = in.readInt();
+		int nShapes = in.available() / 4;
+		int[] shapeIds = new int[nShapes];
+		for (int i = 0; i < nShapes; i++) {
+			shapeIds[i] = in.readInt();
+		}
+		_shapeIds = shapeIds;
+	}
+
+	public short getSid() {
+		return sid;
+	}
+
+	protected int getDataSize() {
+		return OfficeArtRecordHeader.ENCODED_SIZE 
+			+ 12 // 3 int fields
+			+ _shapeIds.length * 4;
+	}
+
+	public int serialize(int offset, byte[] data) {
+		int dataSize = getDataSize();
+		int recSize = 4 + dataSize;
+		LittleEndianOutput out = new LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream(data, offset, recSize);
+		out.writeShort(sid);
+		out.writeShort(dataSize);
+		_header.serialize(out);
+		out.writeInt(_cpsp);
+		out.writeInt(_dgslk);
+		out.writeInt(_spidFocus);
+		for (int i = 0; i < _shapeIds.length; i++) {
+			out.writeInt(_shapeIds[i]);
+		}
+		return recSize;
+	}
+
+	public Object clone() {
+		// currently immutable
+		return this;
+	}
+
+	public String toString() {
+		StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
+
+		sb.append("[MSODRAWINGSELECTION]\n");
+		sb.append("    .rh       =(").append(_header.debugFormatAsString()).append(")\n");
+		sb.append("    .cpsp     =").append(HexDump.intToHex(_cpsp)).append('\n');
+		sb.append("    .dgslk    =").append(HexDump.intToHex(_dgslk)).append('\n');
+		sb.append("    .spidFocus=").append(HexDump.intToHex(_spidFocus)).append('\n');
+		sb.append("    .shapeIds =(");
+		for (int i = 0; i < _shapeIds.length; i++) {
+			if (i > 0) {
+				sb.append(", ");
+			}
+			sb.append(HexDump.intToHex(_shapeIds[i]));
+		}
+		sb.append(")\n");
+
+		sb.append("[/MSODRAWINGSELECTION]\n");
+		return sb.toString();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordFactory.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordFactory.java
index 7539e597da..bae867e512 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordFactory.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordFactory.java
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 	 * contains the classes for all the records we want to parse.<br/>
 	 * Note - this most but not *every* subclass of Record.
 	 */
-	private static final Class[] records = {
+	private static final Class[] recordClasses = {
 		ArrayRecord.class,
 		BackupRecord.class,
 		BlankRecord.class,
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 	/**
 	 * cache of the recordsToMap();
 	 */
-	private static Map recordsMap  = recordsToMap(records);
+	private static Map recordsMap  = recordsToMap(recordClasses);
 
 	private static short[] _allKnownRecordSIDs;
 	
@@ -172,16 +172,33 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 	 * are returned digested into the non-mul form.
 	 */
 	public static Record [] createRecord(RecordInputStream in) {
+		
+		Record record = createSingleRecord(in);
+		if (record instanceof DBCellRecord) {
+			// Not needed by POI.  Regenerated from scratch by POI when spreadsheet is written
+			return new Record[] { null, };
+		}
+		if (record instanceof RKRecord) {
+			return new Record[] { convertToNumberRecord((RKRecord) record), };
+		}
+		if (record instanceof MulRKRecord) {
+			return convertRKRecords((MulRKRecord)record);
+		}
+		if (record instanceof MulBlankRecord) {
+			return convertMulBlankRecords((MulBlankRecord)record);
+		}
+		return new Record[] { record, };
+	}
+	
+	private static Record createSingleRecord(RecordInputStream in) {
 		Constructor constructor = (Constructor) recordsMap.get(new Short(in.getSid()));
 
 		if (constructor == null) {
-			return new Record[] { new UnknownRecord(in), };
+			return new UnknownRecord(in);
 		}
 		
-		Record retval;
-
 		try {
-			retval = ( Record ) constructor.newInstance(new Object[] { in });
+			return (Record) constructor.newInstance(new Object[] { in });
 		} catch (InvocationTargetException e) {
 			throw new RecordFormatException("Unable to construct record instance" , e.getTargetException());
 		} catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
@@ -191,54 +208,55 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 		} catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
 			throw new RuntimeException(e);
 		}
-		
-		if (retval instanceof RKRecord) {
-			// RK record is a slightly smaller alternative to NumberRecord
-			// POI likes NumberRecord better
-			RKRecord	 rk  = ( RKRecord ) retval;
-			NumberRecord num = new NumberRecord();
+	}
 
-			num.setColumn(rk.getColumn());
-			num.setRow(rk.getRow());
-			num.setXFIndex(rk.getXFIndex());
-			num.setValue(rk.getRKNumber());
-			return new Record[] { num, };
-		}
-		if (retval instanceof DBCellRecord) {
-			// Not needed by POI.  Regenerated from scratch by POI when spreadsheet is written
-			return new Record[] { null, };
-		}
-		// expand multiple records where necessary
-		if (retval instanceof MulRKRecord) {
-			MulRKRecord mrk = ( MulRKRecord ) retval;
+	/**
+	 * RK record is a slightly smaller alternative to NumberRecord
+	 * POI likes NumberRecord better
+	 */
+	private static NumberRecord convertToNumberRecord(RKRecord rk) {
+		NumberRecord num = new NumberRecord();
+
+		num.setColumn(rk.getColumn());
+		num.setRow(rk.getRow());
+		num.setXFIndex(rk.getXFIndex());
+		num.setValue(rk.getRKNumber());
+		return num;
+	}
 
-			Record[] mulRecs = new Record[ mrk.getNumColumns() ];
-			for (int k = 0; k < mrk.getNumColumns(); k++) {
-				NumberRecord nr = new NumberRecord();
+	/**
+	 * Converts a {@link MulRKRecord} into an equivalent array of {@link NumberRecord}s
+	 */
+	private static NumberRecord[] convertRKRecords(MulRKRecord mrk) {
 
-				nr.setColumn(( short ) (k + mrk.getFirstColumn()));
-				nr.setRow(mrk.getRow());
-				nr.setXFIndex(mrk.getXFAt(k));
-				nr.setValue(mrk.getRKNumberAt(k));
-				mulRecs[ k ] = nr;
-			}
-			return mulRecs;
+		NumberRecord[] mulRecs = new NumberRecord[mrk.getNumColumns()];
+		for (int k = 0; k < mrk.getNumColumns(); k++) {
+			NumberRecord nr = new NumberRecord();
+
+			nr.setColumn((short) (k + mrk.getFirstColumn()));
+			nr.setRow(mrk.getRow());
+			nr.setXFIndex(mrk.getXFAt(k));
+			nr.setValue(mrk.getRKNumberAt(k));
+			mulRecs[k] = nr;
 		}
-		if (retval instanceof MulBlankRecord) {
-			MulBlankRecord mb = ( MulBlankRecord ) retval;
+		return mulRecs;
+	}
 
-			Record[] mulRecs = new Record[ mb.getNumColumns() ];
-			for (int k = 0; k < mb.getNumColumns(); k++) {
-				BlankRecord br = new BlankRecord();
+	/**
+	 * Converts a {@link MulBlankRecord} into an equivalent array of {@link BlankRecord}s
+	 */
+	private static BlankRecord[] convertMulBlankRecords(MulBlankRecord mb) {
 
-				br.setColumn(( short ) (k + mb.getFirstColumn()));
-				br.setRow(mb.getRow());
-				br.setXFIndex(mb.getXFAt(k));
-				mulRecs[ k ] = br;
-			}
-			return mulRecs;
+		BlankRecord[] mulRecs = new BlankRecord[mb.getNumColumns()];
+		for (int k = 0; k < mb.getNumColumns(); k++) {
+			BlankRecord br = new BlankRecord();
+
+			br.setColumn((short) (k + mb.getFirstColumn()));
+			br.setRow(mb.getRow());
+			br.setXFIndex(mb.getXFAt(k));
+			mulRecs[k] = br;
 		}
-		return new Record[] { retval, };
+		return mulRecs;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -325,19 +343,26 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 				// After EOF, Excel seems to pad block with zeros
 				continue;
 			}
-			Record[] recs = createRecord(recStream);   // handle MulRK records
+			Record record = createSingleRecord(recStream);
 
-			if (recs.length > 1) {
-				for (int k = 0; k < recs.length; k++) {
-					records.add(recs[ k ]);			   // these will be number records
-				}
+			if (record instanceof DBCellRecord) {
+				// Not needed by POI.  Regenerated from scratch by POI when spreadsheet is written
 				continue;
 			}
-			Record record = recs[ 0 ];
 
-			if (record == null) {
+			if (record instanceof RKRecord) {
+				records.add(convertToNumberRecord((RKRecord) record));
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (record instanceof MulRKRecord) {
+				addAll(records, convertRKRecords((MulRKRecord)record));
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (record instanceof MulBlankRecord) {
+				addAll(records, convertMulBlankRecords((MulBlankRecord)record));
 				continue;
 			}
+
 			if (record.getSid() == DrawingGroupRecord.sid
 				   && lastRecord instanceof DrawingGroupRecord) {
 				DrawingGroupRecord lastDGRecord = (DrawingGroupRecord) lastRecord;
@@ -354,8 +379,6 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 					records.add(record);
 				} else if (lastRecord instanceof DrawingGroupRecord) {
 					((DrawingGroupRecord)lastRecord).processContinueRecord(contRec.getData());
-				} else if (lastRecord instanceof StringRecord) {
-					((StringRecord)lastRecord).processContinueRecord(contRec.getData());
 				} else if (lastRecord instanceof UnknownRecord) {
 					//Gracefully handle records that we don't know about,
 					//that happen to be continued
@@ -373,4 +396,10 @@ public final class RecordFactory {
 		}
 		return records;
 	}
+
+	private static void addAll(List destList, Record[] srcRecs) {
+		for (int i = 0; i < srcRecs.length; i++) {
+			destList.add(srcRecs[i]);
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordInputStream.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordInputStream.java
index b66bf0e96d..2f275ed928 100755
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordInputStream.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/RecordInputStream.java
@@ -320,16 +320,6 @@ public final class RecordInputStream extends InputStream implements LittleEndian
 		}
 	}
 
-  /** Returns an excel style unicode string from the bytes reminaing in the record.
-   * <i>Note:</i> Unicode strings differ from <b>normal</b> strings due to the addition of
-   * formatting information.
-   *
-   * @return The unicode string representation of the remaining bytes.
-   */
-  public UnicodeString readUnicodeString() {
-    return new UnicodeString(this);
-  }
-
 	/** Returns the remaining bytes for the current record.
 	 *
 	  * @return The remaining bytes of the current record.
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecord.java
index 7c56d955ec..98bd075e34 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecord.java
@@ -17,14 +17,16 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
+import java.util.Iterator;
+
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecord;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecordOutput;
 import org.apache.poi.util.IntMapper;
 import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianConsts;
 
-import java.util.Iterator;
-
 /**
- * Title:        Static String Table Record
- * <P>
+ * Title:        Static String Table Record (0x00FC)<p/>
+ *
  * Description:  This holds all the strings for LabelSSTRecords.
  * <P>
  * REFERENCE:    PG 389 Microsoft Excel 97 Developer's Kit (ISBN:
@@ -37,27 +39,20 @@ import java.util.Iterator;
  * @see org.apache.poi.hssf.record.LabelSSTRecord
  * @see org.apache.poi.hssf.record.ContinueRecord
  */
-public final class SSTRecord extends Record {
+public final class SSTRecord extends ContinuableRecord {
     public static final short sid = 0x00FC;
 
-      private static UnicodeString EMPTY_STRING = new UnicodeString("");
-
-    /** how big can an SST record be? As big as any record can be: 8228 bytes */
-    static final int MAX_RECORD_SIZE = 8228;
+    private static final UnicodeString EMPTY_STRING = new UnicodeString("");
 
+    // TODO - move these constants to test class (the only consumer)
     /** standard record overhead: two shorts (record id plus data space size)*/
-    static final int STD_RECORD_OVERHEAD =
-            2 * LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
+    static final int STD_RECORD_OVERHEAD = 2 * LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
 
     /** SST overhead: the standard record overhead, plus the number of strings and the number of unique strings -- two ints */
-    static final int SST_RECORD_OVERHEAD =
-            ( STD_RECORD_OVERHEAD + ( 2 * LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE ) );
+    static final int SST_RECORD_OVERHEAD = STD_RECORD_OVERHEAD + 2 * LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
 
     /** how much data can we stuff into an SST record? That would be _max minus the standard SST record overhead */
-    static final int MAX_DATA_SPACE = MAX_RECORD_SIZE - SST_RECORD_OVERHEAD;
-
-    /** overhead for each string includes the string's character count (a short) and the flag describing its characteristics (a byte) */
-    static final int STRING_MINIMAL_OVERHEAD = LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE + LittleEndianConsts.BYTE_SIZE;
+    static final int MAX_DATA_SPACE = RecordInputStream.MAX_RECORD_DATA_SIZE - 8;
 
     /** union of strings in the SST and EXTSST */
     private int field_1_num_strings;
@@ -133,37 +128,6 @@ public final class SSTRecord extends Record {
         return field_2_num_unique_strings;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * USE THIS METHOD AT YOUR OWN PERIL: THE <code>addString</code>
-     * METHODS MANIPULATE THE NUMBER OF STRINGS AS A SIDE EFFECT; YOUR
-     * ATTEMPTS AT MANIPULATING THE STRING COUNT IS LIKELY TO BE VERY
-     * WRONG AND WILL RESULT IN BAD BEHAVIOR WHEN THIS RECORD IS
-     * WRITTEN OUT AND ANOTHER PROCESS ATTEMPTS TO READ THE RECORD
-     *
-     * @param count  number of strings
-     *
-     */
-
-    public void setNumStrings( final int count )
-    {
-        field_1_num_strings = count;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * USE THIS METHOD AT YOUR OWN PERIL: THE <code>addString</code>
-     * METHODS MANIPULATE THE NUMBER OF UNIQUE STRINGS AS A SIDE
-     * EFFECT; YOUR ATTEMPTS AT MANIPULATING THE UNIQUE STRING COUNT
-     * IS LIKELY TO BE VERY WRONG AND WILL RESULT IN BAD BEHAVIOR WHEN
-     * THIS RECORD IS WRITTEN OUT AND ANOTHER PROCESS ATTEMPTS TO READ
-     * THE RECORD
-     *
-     * @param count  number of strings
-     */
-
-    public void setNumUniqueStrings( final int count )
-    {
-        field_2_num_unique_strings = count;
-    }
 
     /**
      * Get a particular string by its index
@@ -178,11 +142,6 @@ public final class SSTRecord extends Record {
         return (UnicodeString) field_3_strings.get( id );
     }
 
-    public boolean isString16bit( final int id )
-    {
-        UnicodeString unicodeString = ( (UnicodeString) field_3_strings.get( id  ) );
-        return ( ( unicodeString.getOptionFlags() & 0x01 ) == 1 );
-    }
 
     /**
      * Return a debugging string representation
@@ -350,29 +309,11 @@ public final class SSTRecord extends Record {
         return field_3_strings.size();
     }
 
-    /**
-     * called by the class that is responsible for writing this sucker.
-     * Subclasses should implement this so that their data is passed back in a
-     * byte array.
-     *
-     * @return size
-     */
-
-    public int serialize( int offset, byte[] data )
-    {
-        SSTSerializer serializer = new SSTSerializer(
-               field_3_strings, getNumStrings(), getNumUniqueStrings() );
-        int bytes = serializer.serialize( offset, data );
+    protected void serialize(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
+        SSTSerializer serializer = new SSTSerializer(field_3_strings, getNumStrings(), getNumUniqueStrings() );
+        serializer.serialize(out);
         bucketAbsoluteOffsets = serializer.getBucketAbsoluteOffsets();
         bucketRelativeOffsets = serializer.getBucketRelativeOffsets();
-        return bytes;
-    }
-
-
-    protected int getDataSize() {
-        SSTRecordSizeCalculator calculator = new SSTRecordSizeCalculator(field_3_strings);
-        int recordSize = calculator.getRecordSize();
-        return recordSize-4;
     }
 
     SSTDeserializer getDeserializer()
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecordHeader.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecordHeader.java
deleted file mode 100644
index e5696111f8..0000000000
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecordHeader.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,76 +0,0 @@
-
-/* ====================================================================
-   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
-   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
-   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
-   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
-   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
-   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-   limitations under the License.
-==================================================================== */
-        
-
-package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
-
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianConsts;
-
-/**
- * Write out an SST header record.
- *
- * @author Glen Stampoultzis (glens at apache.org)
- */
-class SSTRecordHeader
-{
-    int numStrings;
-    int numUniqueStrings;
-
-    public SSTRecordHeader( int numStrings, int numUniqueStrings )
-    {
-        this.numStrings = numStrings;
-        this.numUniqueStrings = numUniqueStrings;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Writes out the SST record.  This consists of the sid, the record size, the number of
-     * strings and the number of unique strings.
-     *
-     * @param data          The data buffer to write the header to.
-     * @param bufferIndex   The index into the data buffer where the header should be written.
-     * @param recSize       The number of records written.
-     *
-     * @return The bufer of bytes modified.
-     */
-    public int writeSSTHeader( UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats stats, byte[] data, int bufferIndex, int recSize )
-    {
-        int offset = bufferIndex;
-
-        LittleEndian.putShort( data, offset, SSTRecord.sid );
-        offset += LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
-        stats.recordSize += LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
-        stats.remainingSize -= LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
-        //Delay writing the length
-        stats.lastLengthPos = offset;
-        offset += LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
-        stats.recordSize += LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
-        stats.remainingSize -= LittleEndianConsts.SHORT_SIZE;
-        LittleEndian.putInt( data, offset, numStrings );
-        offset += LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
-        stats.recordSize += LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
-        stats.remainingSize -= LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
-        LittleEndian.putInt( data, offset, numUniqueStrings );
-        offset += LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
-        stats.recordSize += LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
-        stats.remainingSize -= LittleEndianConsts.INT_SIZE;
-
-        return offset - bufferIndex;
-    }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecordSizeCalculator.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecordSizeCalculator.java
deleted file mode 100644
index c10c21d83d..0000000000
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTRecordSizeCalculator.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-/* ====================================================================
-   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
-   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
-   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
-   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
-   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
-   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-   limitations under the License.
-==================================================================== */
-        
-
-package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
-
-import org.apache.poi.util.IntMapper;
-
-/**
- * Used to calculate the record sizes for a particular record.  This kind of
- * sucks because it's similar to the SST serialization code.  In general
- * the SST serialization code needs to be rewritten.
- *
- * @author Glen Stampoultzis (glens at apache.org)
- * @author Jason Height (jheight at apache.org)
- */
-class SSTRecordSizeCalculator
-{
-    private IntMapper strings;
-
-    public SSTRecordSizeCalculator(IntMapper strings)
-    {
-        this.strings = strings;
-    }
-
-    public int getRecordSize() {
-        UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats rs = new UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats();
-        rs.remainingSize -= SSTRecord.SST_RECORD_OVERHEAD;
-        rs.recordSize += SSTRecord.SST_RECORD_OVERHEAD;
-        for (int i=0; i < strings.size(); i++ )
-        {
-          UnicodeString unistr = ( (UnicodeString) strings.get(i));
-          unistr.getRecordSize(rs);
-    }
-        return rs.recordSize;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTSerializer.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTSerializer.java
index 3f97fa3e3a..78844deb30 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTSerializer.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SSTSerializer.java
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 /* ====================================================================
    Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
    contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
@@ -15,12 +14,11 @@
    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
    limitations under the License.
 ==================================================================== */
-        
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecordOutput;
 import org.apache.poi.util.IntMapper;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
 
 /**
  * This class handles serialization of SST records.  It utilizes the record processor
@@ -28,71 +26,50 @@ import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
  *
  * @author Glen Stampoultzis (glens at apache.org)
  */
-class SSTSerializer
-{
+final class SSTSerializer {
 
-    // todo: make private again
-    private IntMapper strings;
+	private final int _numStrings;
+	private final int _numUniqueStrings;
 
-    private SSTRecordHeader sstRecordHeader;
+    private final IntMapper strings;
 
     /** Offsets from the beginning of the SST record (even across continuations) */
-    int[] bucketAbsoluteOffsets;
+    private final int[] bucketAbsoluteOffsets;
     /** Offsets relative the start of the current SST or continue record */
-    int[] bucketRelativeOffsets;
+    private final int[] bucketRelativeOffsets;
     int startOfSST, startOfRecord;
 
     public SSTSerializer( IntMapper strings, int numStrings, int numUniqueStrings )
     {
         this.strings = strings;
-        this.sstRecordHeader = new SSTRecordHeader( numStrings, numUniqueStrings );
+		_numStrings = numStrings;
+		_numUniqueStrings = numUniqueStrings;
 
         int infoRecs = ExtSSTRecord.getNumberOfInfoRecsForStrings(strings.size());
         this.bucketAbsoluteOffsets = new int[infoRecs];
         this.bucketRelativeOffsets = new int[infoRecs];
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Create a byte array consisting of an SST record and any
-     * required Continue records, ready to be written out.
-     * <p>
-     * If an SST record and any subsequent Continue records are read
-     * in to create this instance, this method should produce a byte
-     * array that is identical to the byte array produced by
-     * concatenating the input records' data.
-     *
-     * @return the byte array
-     */
-    public int serialize(int offset, byte[] data )
-    {
-      UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats stats = new UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats();
-      sstRecordHeader.writeSSTHeader( stats, data, 0 + offset, 0 );
-      int pos = offset + SSTRecord.SST_RECORD_OVERHEAD;
+    public void serialize(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
+        out.writeInt(_numStrings);
+        out.writeInt(_numUniqueStrings);
 
         for ( int k = 0; k < strings.size(); k++ )
         {
             if (k % ExtSSTRecord.DEFAULT_BUCKET_SIZE == 0)
             {
+                int rOff = out.getTotalSize();
               int index = k/ExtSSTRecord.DEFAULT_BUCKET_SIZE;
               if (index < ExtSSTRecord.MAX_BUCKETS) {
                 //Excel only indexes the first 128 buckets.
-              bucketAbsoluteOffsets[index] = pos-offset;
-              bucketRelativeOffsets[index] = pos-offset;
-              }
+                    bucketAbsoluteOffsets[index] = rOff;
+                    bucketRelativeOffsets[index] = rOff;
+                }
             }
           UnicodeString s = getUnicodeString(k);
-          pos += s.serialize(stats, pos, data);
-            }
-      //Check to see if there is a hanging continue record length
-      if (stats.lastLengthPos != -1) {
-        short lastRecordLength = (short)(pos - stats.lastLengthPos-2);
-        if (lastRecordLength > 8224)
-          throw new InternalError();
-
-        LittleEndian.putShort(data, stats.lastLengthPos, lastRecordLength);
-                  }
-      return pos - offset;
-                }
+          s.serialize(out);
+        }
+    }
 
 
     private UnicodeString getUnicodeString( int index )
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/StringRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/StringRecord.java
index 620a07e093..45322bea4b 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/StringRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/StringRecord.java
@@ -17,19 +17,23 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecord;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecordOutput;
 import org.apache.poi.util.StringUtil;
 
 /**
- * Supports the STRING record structure. (0x0207)
+ * STRING (0x0207)<p/>
+ * 
+ * Stores the cached result of a text formula
  *
  * @author Glen Stampoultzis (glens at apache.org)
  */
-public class StringRecord extends Record {
-    public final static short   sid = 0x0207;
-    private int                 field_1_string_length;
-    private byte                field_2_unicode_flag;
-    private String              field_3_string;
+public final class StringRecord extends ContinuableRecord {
+
+	public final static short sid = 0x0207;
+
+	private boolean _is16bitUnicode;
+	private String _text;
 
 
     public StringRecord()
@@ -39,77 +43,24 @@ public class StringRecord extends Record {
     /**
      * @param in the RecordInputstream to read the record from
      */
-    public StringRecord( RecordInputStream in)
-    {
-        field_1_string_length           = in.readShort();
-        field_2_unicode_flag            = in.readByte();
-        byte[] data = in.readRemainder();
-        //Why isn't this using the in.readString methods???
-        if (isUnCompressedUnicode())
-        {
-            field_3_string = StringUtil.getFromUnicodeLE(data, 0, field_1_string_length );
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            field_3_string = StringUtil.getFromCompressedUnicode(data, 0, field_1_string_length);
+    public StringRecord( RecordInputStream in) {
+        int field_1_string_length           = in.readUShort();
+        _is16bitUnicode            = in.readByte() != 0x00;
+        
+        if (_is16bitUnicode){
+            _text = in.readUnicodeLEString(field_1_string_length);
+        } else {
+            _text = in.readCompressedUnicode(field_1_string_length);
         }
     }
-    
-    public void processContinueRecord(byte[] data) {
-    	if(isUnCompressedUnicode()) {
-    		field_3_string += StringUtil.getFromUnicodeLE(data, 0, field_1_string_length - field_3_string.length());
-    	} else {
-    		field_3_string += StringUtil.getFromCompressedUnicode(data, 0, field_1_string_length - field_3_string.length());
-    	}
-    }
 
-    private int getStringByteLength()
-    {
-        return isUnCompressedUnicode() ? field_1_string_length * 2 : field_1_string_length;
-    }
-
-    protected int getDataSize() {
-        return 2 + 1 + getStringByteLength();
-    }
 
-    /**
-     * is this uncompressed unicode (16bit)?  Or just 8-bit compressed?
-     * @return isUnicode - True for 16bit- false for 8bit
-     */
-    public boolean isUnCompressedUnicode()
-    {
-        return (field_2_unicode_flag == 1);
+    protected void serialize(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
+        out.writeShort(_text.length());
+        out.writeStringData(_text);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * called by the class that is responsible for writing this sucker.
-     * Subclasses should implement this so that their data is passed back in a
-     * byte array.
-     *
-     * @param offset to begin writing at
-     * @param data byte array containing instance data
-     * @return number of bytes written
-     */
-    public int serialize( int offset, byte[] data )
-    {
-        LittleEndian.putUShort(data, 0 + offset, sid);
-        LittleEndian.putUShort(data, 2 + offset, 3 + getStringByteLength());
-        LittleEndian.putUShort(data, 4 + offset, field_1_string_length);
-        data[6 + offset] = field_2_unicode_flag;
-        if (isUnCompressedUnicode())
-        {
-            StringUtil.putUnicodeLE(field_3_string, data, 7 + offset);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            StringUtil.putCompressedUnicode(field_3_string, data, 7 + offset);
-        }
-        return getRecordSize();
-    }
 
-    /**
-     * return the non static version of the id for this record.
-     */
     public short getSid()
     {
         return sid;
@@ -120,26 +71,16 @@ public class StringRecord extends Record {
      */
     public String getString()
     {
-        return field_3_string;
+        return _text;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Sets whether the string is compressed or not
-     * @param unicode_flag   1 = uncompressed, 0 = compressed
-     */
-    public void setCompressedFlag( byte unicode_flag )
-    {
-        this.field_2_unicode_flag = unicode_flag;
-    }
 
     /**
      * Sets the string represented by this record.
      */
-    public void setString( String string )
-    {
-        this.field_1_string_length = string.length();
-        this.field_3_string = string;
-        setCompressedFlag(StringUtil.hasMultibyte(string) ?  (byte)1 : (byte)0);        
+    public void setString(String string) {
+        _text = string;
+        _is16bitUnicode = StringUtil.hasMultibyte(string);        
     }
 
     public String toString()
@@ -148,16 +89,15 @@ public class StringRecord extends Record {
 
         buffer.append("[STRING]\n");
         buffer.append("    .string            = ")
-            .append(field_3_string).append("\n");
+            .append(_text).append("\n");
         buffer.append("[/STRING]\n");
         return buffer.toString();
     }
     
     public Object clone() {
         StringRecord rec = new StringRecord();
-        rec.field_1_string_length = this.field_1_string_length;
-        rec.field_2_unicode_flag= this.field_2_unicode_flag;
-        rec.field_3_string = this.field_3_string;
+        rec._is16bitUnicode= _is16bitUnicode;
+        rec._text = _text;
         return rec;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SupBookRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SupBookRecord.java
index a58c5c8c97..5cbfd42d6a 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SupBookRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/SupBookRecord.java
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;
+import org.apache.poi.util.StringUtil;
 
 /**
- * Title:        Sup Book (EXTERNALBOOK) <P>
+ * Title:        Sup Book - EXTERNALBOOK (0x01AE) <p/>
  * Description:  A External Workbook Description (Supplemental Book)
  *               Its only a dummy record for making new ExternSheet Record <P>
  * REFERENCE:  5.38<P>
@@ -31,25 +32,25 @@ import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
  */
 public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
 
-    public final static short sid = 0x1AE;
+    public final static short sid = 0x01AE;
 
     private static final short SMALL_RECORD_SIZE = 4;
     private static final short TAG_INTERNAL_REFERENCES = 0x0401;
     private static final short TAG_ADD_IN_FUNCTIONS = 0x3A01;
 
-    private short             field_1_number_of_sheets;
-    private UnicodeString     field_2_encoded_url;
-    private UnicodeString[]   field_3_sheet_names;
-    private boolean           _isAddInFunctions;
+    private short field_1_number_of_sheets;
+    private String field_2_encoded_url;
+    private String[] field_3_sheet_names;
+    private boolean _isAddInFunctions;
+
 
-    
     public static SupBookRecord createInternalReferences(short numberOfSheets) {
         return new SupBookRecord(false, numberOfSheets);
     }
     public static SupBookRecord createAddInFunctions() {
         return new SupBookRecord(true, (short)0);
     }
-    public static SupBookRecord createExternalReferences(UnicodeString url, UnicodeString[] sheetNames) {
+    public static SupBookRecord createExternalReferences(String url, String[] sheetNames) {
         return new SupBookRecord(url, sheetNames);
     }
     private SupBookRecord(boolean isAddInFuncs, short numberOfSheets) {
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
         field_3_sheet_names = null;
         _isAddInFunctions = isAddInFuncs;
     }
-    public SupBookRecord(UnicodeString url, UnicodeString[] sheetNames) {
+    public SupBookRecord(String url, String[] sheetNames) {
         field_1_number_of_sheets = (short) sheetNames.length;
         field_2_encoded_url = url;
         field_3_sheet_names = sheetNames;
@@ -84,18 +85,18 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
      * @param offset of the record's data (provided a big array of the file)
      */
     public SupBookRecord(RecordInputStream in) {
-    	int recLen = in.remaining();
-    	
+        int recLen = in.remaining();
+
         field_1_number_of_sheets = in.readShort();
-        
+
         if(recLen > SMALL_RECORD_SIZE) {
             // 5.38.1 External References
             _isAddInFunctions = false;
 
-            field_2_encoded_url = in.readUnicodeString();
-            UnicodeString[] sheetNames = new UnicodeString[field_1_number_of_sheets];
+            field_2_encoded_url = in.readString();
+            String[] sheetNames = new String[field_1_number_of_sheets];
             for (int i = 0; i < sheetNames.length; i++) {
-                sheetNames[i] = in.readUnicodeString();
+                sheetNames[i] = in.readString();
             }
             field_3_sheet_names = sheetNames;
             return;
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
         // else not 'External References'
         field_2_encoded_url = null;
         field_3_sheet_names = null;
-      
+
         short nextShort = in.readShort();
         if(nextShort == TAG_INTERNAL_REFERENCES) {
             // 5.38.2 'Internal References'
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
                      + field_1_number_of_sheets + ")");
             }
         } else {
-            throw new RuntimeException("invalid EXTERNALBOOK code (" 
+            throw new RuntimeException("invalid EXTERNALBOOK code ("
                      + Integer.toHexString(nextShort) + ")");
         }
      }
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
     public String toString() {
         StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
         sb.append(getClass().getName()).append(" [SUPBOOK ");
-        
+
         if(isExternalReferences()) {
             sb.append("External References");
             sb.append(" nSheets=").append(field_1_number_of_sheets);
@@ -143,18 +144,14 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
             return SMALL_RECORD_SIZE;
         }
         int sum = 2; // u16 number of sheets
-        UnicodeRecordStats urs = new UnicodeRecordStats();
-        field_2_encoded_url.getRecordSize(urs);
-        sum += urs.recordSize;
-        
+
+        sum += StringUtil.getEncodedSize(field_2_encoded_url);
+
         for(int i=0; i<field_3_sheet_names.length; i++) {
-            urs = new UnicodeRecordStats();
-            field_3_sheet_names[i].getRecordSize(urs);
-            sum += urs.recordSize;
+            sum += StringUtil.getEncodedSize(field_3_sheet_names[i]);
         }
         return sum;
     }
-
     /**
      * called by the class that is responsible for writing this sucker.
      * Subclasses should implement this so that their data is passed back in a
@@ -165,29 +162,26 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
      * @return number of bytes written
      */
     public int serialize(int offset, byte [] data) {
-        LittleEndian.putShort(data, 0 + offset, sid);
         int dataSize = getDataSize();
-        LittleEndian.putShort(data, 2 + offset, (short) dataSize);
-        LittleEndian.putShort(data, 4 + offset, field_1_number_of_sheets);
-               
+        int recordSize = 4 + dataSize;
+        LittleEndianOutput out = new LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream(data, offset, recordSize);
+
+        out.writeShort(sid);
+        out.writeShort(dataSize);
+        out.writeShort(field_1_number_of_sheets);
+
         if(isExternalReferences()) {
-            
-            int currentOffset = 6 + offset;
-            UnicodeRecordStats urs = new UnicodeRecordStats();
-            field_2_encoded_url.serialize(urs, currentOffset, data);
-            currentOffset += urs.recordSize;
-            
+            StringUtil.writeUnicodeString(out, field_2_encoded_url);
+
             for(int i=0; i<field_3_sheet_names.length; i++) {
-                urs = new UnicodeRecordStats();
-                field_3_sheet_names[i].serialize(urs, currentOffset, data);
-                currentOffset += urs.recordSize;
+                StringUtil.writeUnicodeString(out, field_3_sheet_names[i]);
             }
         } else {
-            short field2val = _isAddInFunctions ? TAG_ADD_IN_FUNCTIONS : TAG_INTERNAL_REFERENCES;
-            
-            LittleEndian.putShort(data, 6 + offset, field2val);
+            int field2val = _isAddInFunctions ? TAG_ADD_IN_FUNCTIONS : TAG_INTERNAL_REFERENCES;
+
+            out.writeShort(field2val);
         }
-        return dataSize + 4;
+        return recordSize;
     }
 
     public void setNumberOfSheets(short number){
@@ -203,7 +197,7 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
         return sid;
     }
     public String getURL() {
-        String encodedUrl = field_2_encoded_url.getString();
+        String encodedUrl = field_2_encoded_url;
         switch(encodedUrl.charAt(0)) {
             case 0: // Reference to an empty workbook name
                 return encodedUrl.substring(1); // will this just be empty string?
@@ -211,7 +205,7 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
                 return decodeFileName(encodedUrl);
             case 2: // Self-referential external reference
                 return encodedUrl.substring(1);
-                
+
         }
         return encodedUrl;
     }
@@ -219,18 +213,18 @@ public final class SupBookRecord extends Record {
         return encodedUrl.substring(1);
         // TODO the following special characters may appear in the rest of the string, and need to get interpreted
         /* see "MICROSOFT OFFICE EXCEL 97-2007  BINARY FILE FORMAT SPECIFICATION"
-        chVolume  1 
-        chSameVolume  2 
+        chVolume  1
+        chSameVolume  2
         chDownDir  3
-        chUpDir  4 
+        chUpDir  4
         chLongVolume  5
         chStartupDir  6
         chAltStartupDir 7
         chLibDir  8
-        
+
         */
     }
-    public UnicodeString[] getSheetNames() {
-        return (UnicodeString[]) field_3_sheet_names.clone();
+    public String[] getSheetNames() {
+        return (String[]) field_3_sheet_names.clone();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/TextObjectRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/TextObjectRecord.java
index 0a50e181b2..019aab09e8 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/TextObjectRecord.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/TextObjectRecord.java
@@ -17,16 +17,13 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
-import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
-
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecord;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecordOutput;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.formula.Ptg;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.HSSFRichTextString;
 import org.apache.poi.util.BitField;
 import org.apache.poi.util.BitFieldFactory;
 import org.apache.poi.util.HexDump;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;
 
 /**
  * The TXO record (0x01B6) is used to define the properties of a text box. It is
@@ -36,7 +33,7 @@ import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;
  * 
  * @author Glen Stampoultzis (glens at apache.org)
  */
-public final class TextObjectRecord extends Record {
+public final class TextObjectRecord extends ContinuableRecord {
 	public final static short sid = 0x01B6;
 
 	private static final int FORMAT_RUN_ENCODED_SIZE = 8; // 2 shorts and 4 bytes reserved
@@ -163,30 +160,7 @@ public final class TextObjectRecord extends Record {
 		return sid;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Only for the current record. does not include any subsequent Continue
-	 * records
-	 */
-	private int getCurrentRecordDataSize() {
-		int result = 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 4;
-		if (_linkRefPtg != null) {
-			result += 2 // formula size
-				+ 4  // unknownInt
-				+_linkRefPtg.getSize();
-			if (_unknownPostFormulaByte != null) {
-				result += 1;
-			}
-		}
-		return result;
-	}
-
-	private int serializeTXORecord(int offset, byte[] data) {
-		int dataSize = getCurrentRecordDataSize();
-		int recSize = dataSize+4;
-		LittleEndianOutput out = new LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream(data, offset, recSize);
-		
-		out.writeShort(TextObjectRecord.sid);
-		out.writeShort(dataSize);
+	private void serializeTXORecord(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
 		
 		out.writeShort(field_1_options);
 		out.writeShort(field_2_textOrientation);
@@ -206,79 +180,23 @@ public final class TextObjectRecord extends Record {
 				out.writeByte(_unknownPostFormulaByte.byteValue());
 			}
 		}
-		return recSize;
 	}
 
-	private int serializeTrailingRecords(int offset, byte[] data) {
-		byte[] textBytes;
-		try {
-			textBytes = _text.getString().getBytes("UTF-16LE");
-		} catch (UnsupportedEncodingException e) {
-			throw new RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
-		}
-		int remainingLength = textBytes.length;
-
-		int countTextBytesWritten = 0;
-		int pos = offset;
-		// (regardless what was read, we always serialize double-byte
-		// unicode characters (UTF-16LE).
-		Byte unicodeFlag = new Byte((byte)1);
-		while (remainingLength > 0) {
-			int chunkSize = Math.min(RecordInputStream.MAX_RECORD_DATA_SIZE - 2, remainingLength);
-			remainingLength -= chunkSize;
-			pos += ContinueRecord.write(data, pos, unicodeFlag, textBytes, countTextBytesWritten, chunkSize);
-			countTextBytesWritten += chunkSize;
-		}
-
-		byte[] formatData = createFormatData(_text);
-		pos += ContinueRecord.write(data, pos, null, formatData);
-		return pos - offset;
+	private void serializeTrailingRecords(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
+		out.writeContinue();
+		out.writeStringData(_text.getString());
+		out.writeContinue();
+		writeFormatData(out, _text);
 	}
 
-	private int getTrailingRecordsSize() {
-		if (_text.length() < 1) {
-			return 0;
-		}
-		int encodedTextSize = 0;
-		int textBytesLength = _text.length() * LittleEndian.SHORT_SIZE;
-		while (textBytesLength > 0) {
-			int chunkSize = Math.min(RecordInputStream.MAX_RECORD_DATA_SIZE - 2, textBytesLength);
-			textBytesLength -= chunkSize;
-
-			encodedTextSize += 4;           // +4 for ContinueRecord sid+size
-			encodedTextSize += 1+chunkSize; // +1 for compressed unicode flag, 
-		}
-
-		int encodedFormatSize = (_text.numFormattingRuns() + 1) * FORMAT_RUN_ENCODED_SIZE
-			+ 4;  // +4 for ContinueRecord sid+size
-		return encodedTextSize + encodedFormatSize;
-	}
+	protected void serialize(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
 
-
-	public int serialize(int offset, byte[] data) {
-
-		int expectedTotalSize = getRecordSize();
-		int totalSize = serializeTXORecord(offset, data);
-		
+		serializeTXORecord(out);
 		if (_text.getString().length() > 0) {
-			totalSize += serializeTrailingRecords(offset+totalSize, data);
+			serializeTrailingRecords(out);
 		} 
-		
-		if (totalSize != expectedTotalSize)
-			throw new RecordFormatException(totalSize
-					+ " bytes written but getRecordSize() reports " + expectedTotalSize);
-		return totalSize;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Note - this total size includes all potential {@link ContinueRecord}s written
-	 * but it is not the "ushort size" value to be written at the start of the first BIFF record 
-	 */
-	protected int getDataSize() {
-		return getCurrentRecordDataSize() + getTrailingRecordsSize();
-	}
-
-	
 	private int getFormattingDataLength() {
 		if (_text.length() < 1) {
 			// important - no formatting data if text is empty 
@@ -287,25 +205,17 @@ public final class TextObjectRecord extends Record {
 		return (_text.numFormattingRuns() + 1) * FORMAT_RUN_ENCODED_SIZE;
 	}
 
-	private static byte[] createFormatData(HSSFRichTextString str) {
+	private static void writeFormatData(ContinuableRecordOutput out , HSSFRichTextString str) {
 		int nRuns = str.numFormattingRuns();
-		byte[] result = new byte[(nRuns + 1) * FORMAT_RUN_ENCODED_SIZE];
-		int pos = 0;
 		for (int i = 0; i < nRuns; i++) {
-			LittleEndian.putUShort(result, pos, str.getIndexOfFormattingRun(i));
-			pos += 2;
+			out.writeShort(str.getIndexOfFormattingRun(i));
 			int fontIndex = str.getFontOfFormattingRun(i);
-			LittleEndian.putUShort(result, pos, fontIndex == str.NO_FONT ? 0 : fontIndex);
-			pos += 2;
-			pos += 4; // skip reserved
+			out.writeShort(fontIndex == str.NO_FONT ? 0 : fontIndex);
+			out.writeInt(0); // skip reserved
 		}
-		LittleEndian.putUShort(result, pos, str.length());
-		pos += 2;
-		LittleEndian.putUShort(result, pos, 0);
-		pos += 2;
-		pos += 4; // skip reserved
-
-		return result;
+		out.writeShort(str.length());
+		out.writeShort(0);
+		out.writeInt(0); // skip reserved
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/UnicodeString.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/UnicodeString.java
index 0494aa98ab..fc493d4348 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/UnicodeString.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/UnicodeString.java
@@ -17,75 +17,84 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont.ContinuableRecordOutput;
 import org.apache.poi.util.BitField;
 import org.apache.poi.util.BitFieldFactory;
-import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndian;
 import org.apache.poi.util.HexDump;
-
-import java.util.Iterator;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Collections;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianInput;
+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;
 
 /**
- * Title: Unicode String<P>
- * Description:  Unicode String record.  We implement these as a record, although
- *               they are really just standard fields that are in several records.
- *               It is considered more desirable then repeating it in all of them.<P>
- * REFERENCE:  PG 264 Microsoft Excel 97 Developer's Kit (ISBN: 1-57231-498-2)<P>
+ * Title: Unicode String<p/>
+ * Description:  Unicode String - just standard fields that are in several records.
+ *               It is considered more desirable then repeating it in all of them.<p/>
+ * REFERENCE:  PG 264 Microsoft Excel 97 Developer's Kit (ISBN: 1-57231-498-2)<p/>
  * @author  Andrew C. Oliver
  * @author Marc Johnson (mjohnson at apache dot org)
  * @author Glen Stampoultzis (glens at apache.org)
  */
 public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
-    private short             field_1_charCount;     // = 0;
-    private byte              field_2_optionflags;   // = 0;
-    private String            field_3_string;        // = null;
+    private short             field_1_charCount;
+    private byte              field_2_optionflags;
+    private String            field_3_string;
     private List field_4_format_runs;
     private byte[] field_5_ext_rst;
-    private  static final BitField   highByte  = BitFieldFactory.getInstance(0x1);
-    private  static final BitField   extBit    = BitFieldFactory.getInstance(0x4);
-    private  static final BitField   richText  = BitFieldFactory.getInstance(0x8);
+    private static final BitField   highByte  = BitFieldFactory.getInstance(0x1);
+    private static final BitField   extBit    = BitFieldFactory.getInstance(0x4);
+    private static final BitField   richText  = BitFieldFactory.getInstance(0x8);
 
     public static class FormatRun implements Comparable {
-      short character;
-      short fontIndex;
+        short character;
+        short fontIndex;
 
-      public FormatRun(short character, short fontIndex) {
-        this.character = character;
-        this.fontIndex = fontIndex;
-      }
+        public FormatRun(short character, short fontIndex) {
+            this.character = character;
+            this.fontIndex = fontIndex;
+        }
 
-      public short getCharacterPos() {
-        return character;
-      }
+        public FormatRun(LittleEndianInput in) {
+            this(in.readShort(), in.readShort());
+        }
 
-      public short getFontIndex() {
-        return fontIndex;
-      }
+        public short getCharacterPos() {
+            return character;
+        }
 
-      public boolean equals(Object o) {
-        if ((o == null) || (o.getClass() != this.getClass()))
-    {
-            return false;
+        public short getFontIndex() {
+            return fontIndex;
         }
-        FormatRun other = ( FormatRun ) o;
 
-        return ((character == other.character) && (fontIndex == other.fontIndex));
-      }
+        public boolean equals(Object o) {
+            if (!(o instanceof FormatRun)) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            FormatRun other = ( FormatRun ) o;
 
-      public int compareTo(Object obj) {
-        FormatRun r = (FormatRun)obj;
-        if ((character == r.character) && (fontIndex == r.fontIndex))
-          return 0;
-        if (character == r.character)
-          return fontIndex - r.fontIndex;
-        else return character - r.character;
-      }
+            return character == other.character && fontIndex == other.fontIndex;
+        }
 
-      public String toString() {
-        return "character="+character+",fontIndex="+fontIndex;
-      }
+        public int compareTo(Object obj) {
+            FormatRun r = (FormatRun)obj;
+            if ((character == r.character) && (fontIndex == r.fontIndex))
+                return 0;
+            if (character == r.character)
+                return fontIndex - r.fontIndex;
+            else return character - r.character;
+        }
+
+        public String toString() {
+            return "character="+character+",fontIndex="+fontIndex;
+        }
+
+        public void serialize(LittleEndianOutput out) {
+            out.writeShort(character);
+            out.writeShort(fontIndex);
+        }
     }
 
     private UnicodeString() {
@@ -116,13 +125,12 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
      */
     public boolean equals(Object o)
     {
-        if ((o == null) || (o.getClass() != this.getClass()))
-        {
+        if (!(o instanceof UnicodeString)) {
             return false;
         }
-        UnicodeString other = ( UnicodeString ) o;
+        UnicodeString other = (UnicodeString) o;
 
-        //Ok lets do this in stages to return a quickly, first check the actual string
+        //OK lets do this in stages to return a quickly, first check the actual string
         boolean eq = ((field_1_charCount == other.field_1_charCount)
                 && (field_2_optionflags == other.field_2_optionflags)
                 && field_3_string.equals(other.field_3_string));
@@ -148,7 +156,7 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
 
           if (!run1.equals(run2))
             return false;
-    }
+        }
 
         //Well the format runs are equal as well!, better check the ExtRst data
         //Which by the way we dont know how to decode!
@@ -194,19 +202,17 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
 
         boolean isCompressed = ((field_2_optionflags & 1) == 0);
         if (isCompressed) {
-        	field_3_string = in.readCompressedUnicode(field_1_charCount);
+            field_3_string = in.readCompressedUnicode(field_1_charCount);
         } else {
-        	field_3_string = in.readUnicodeLEString(field_1_charCount);
+            field_3_string = in.readUnicodeLEString(field_1_charCount);
         }
  
 
         if (isRichText() && (runCount > 0)) {
           field_4_format_runs = new ArrayList(runCount);
           for (int i=0;i<runCount;i++) {
-            field_4_format_runs.add(new FormatRun(in.readShort(), in.readShort()));
-            //read reserved
-            //in.readInt();
-            }
+            field_4_format_runs.add(new FormatRun(in));
+          }
         }
 
         if (isExtendedText() && (extensionLength > 0)) {
@@ -372,11 +378,8 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
       field_2_optionflags = richText.clearByte(field_2_optionflags);
     }
 
-    public byte[] getExtendedRst() {
-       return this.field_5_ext_rst;
-    }
 
-    public void setExtendedRst(byte[] ext_rst) {
+    void setExtendedRst(byte[] ext_rst) {
       if (ext_rst != null)
         field_2_optionflags = extBit.setByte(field_2_optionflags);
       else field_2_optionflags = extBit.clearByte(field_2_optionflags);
@@ -391,13 +394,13 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
      *  removed / re-ordered
      */
     public void swapFontUse(short oldFontIndex, short newFontIndex) {
-    	Iterator i = field_4_format_runs.iterator();
-    	while(i.hasNext()) {
-    		FormatRun run = (FormatRun)i.next();
-    		if(run.fontIndex == oldFontIndex) {
-    			run.fontIndex = newFontIndex;
-    		}
-    	}
+        Iterator i = field_4_format_runs.iterator();
+        while(i.hasNext()) {
+            FormatRun run = (FormatRun)i.next();
+            if(run.fontIndex == oldFontIndex) {
+                run.fontIndex = newFontIndex;
+            }
+        }
     }
     
     /**
@@ -442,353 +445,45 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
         return buffer.toString();
     }
 
-    private int writeContinueIfRequired(UnicodeRecordStats stats, final int requiredSize, int offset, byte[] data) {
-      //Basic string overhead
-      if (stats.remainingSize < requiredSize) {
-        //Check if be are already in a continue record, if so make sure that
-        //we go back and write out our length
-        if (stats.lastLengthPos != -1) {
-          short lastRecordLength = (short)(offset - stats.lastLengthPos - 2);
-          if (lastRecordLength > 8224)
-            throw new InternalError();
-          LittleEndian.putShort(data, stats.lastLengthPos, lastRecordLength);
-        }
-
-        LittleEndian.putShort(data, offset, ContinueRecord.sid);
-        offset+=2;
-        //Record the location of the last continue length position, but don't write
-        //anything there yet (since we don't know what it will be!)
-        stats.lastLengthPos = offset;
-        offset += 2;
-
-        stats.recordSize += 4;
-        stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-      }
-      return offset;
-    }
-
-    public int serialize(UnicodeRecordStats stats, final int offset, byte [] data)
-    {
-      int pos = offset;
-
-      //Basic string overhead
-      pos = writeContinueIfRequired(stats, 3, pos, data);
-      LittleEndian.putShort(data, pos, getCharCount());
-      pos += 2;
-      data[ pos ] = getOptionFlags();
-      pos += 1;
-      stats.recordSize += 3;
-      stats.remainingSize-= 3;
-
-      if (isRichText()) {
-        if (field_4_format_runs != null) {
-          pos = writeContinueIfRequired(stats, 2, pos, data);
-
-          LittleEndian.putShort(data, pos, (short) field_4_format_runs.size());
-          pos += 2;
-          stats.recordSize += 2;
-          stats.remainingSize -= 2;
-        }
-      }
-      if ( isExtendedText() )
-      {
-        if (this.field_5_ext_rst != null) {
-          pos = writeContinueIfRequired(stats, 4, pos, data);
-
-          LittleEndian.putInt(data, pos, field_5_ext_rst.length);
-          pos += 4;
-          stats.recordSize += 4;
-          stats.remainingSize -= 4;
-        }
-      }
-
-      int charsize = isUncompressedUnicode() ? 2 : 1;
-      int strSize = (getString().length() * charsize);
-
-      byte[] strBytes = null;
-        try {
-            String unicodeString = getString();
-              if (!isUncompressedUnicode())
-            {
-                strBytes = unicodeString.getBytes("ISO-8859-1");
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                  strBytes = unicodeString.getBytes("UTF-16LE");
-            }
-        }
-        catch (Exception e) {
-              throw new InternalError();
-        }
-          if (strSize != strBytes.length)
-            throw new InternalError("That shouldnt have happened!");
-
-      //Check to see if the offset occurs mid string, if so then we need to add
-      //the byte to start with that represents the first byte of the continue record.
-      if (strSize > stats.remainingSize) {
-        //OK the offset occurs half way through the string, that means that
-        //we need an extra byte after the continue record ie we didnt finish
-        //writing out the string the 1st time through
-
-        //But hang on, how many continue records did we span? What if this is
-        //a REALLY long string. We need to work this all out.
-        int amountThatCantFit = strSize;
-        int strPos = 0;
-        while (amountThatCantFit > 0) {
-          int amountWritten = Math.min(stats.remainingSize, amountThatCantFit);
-          //Make sure that the amount that can't fit takes into account
-          //whether we are writing double byte unicode
-          if (isUncompressedUnicode()) {
-            //We have the '-1' here because whether this is the first record or
-            //subsequent continue records, there is always the case that the
-            //number of bytes in a string on double byte boundaries is actually odd.
-            if ( ( (amountWritten ) % 2) == 1)
-              amountWritten--;
-          }
-          System.arraycopy(strBytes, strPos, data, pos, amountWritten);
-          pos += amountWritten;
-          strPos += amountWritten;
-          stats.recordSize += amountWritten;
-          stats.remainingSize -= amountWritten;
-
-          //Ok lets subtract what we can write
-          amountThatCantFit -= amountWritten;
-
-          //Each iteration of this while loop is another continue record, unless
-          //everything  now fits.
-          if (amountThatCantFit > 0) {
-            //We know that a continue WILL be requied, but use this common method
-            pos = writeContinueIfRequired(stats, amountThatCantFit, pos, data);
-
-            //The first byte after a continue mid string is the extra byte to
-            //indicate if this run is compressed or not.
-            data[pos] = (byte) (isUncompressedUnicode() ? 0x1 : 0x0);
-            pos++;
-            stats.recordSize++;
-            stats.remainingSize --;
-          }
-        }
-      } else {
-        if (strSize > (data.length-pos))
-          System.out.println("Hmm shouldnt happen");
-        //Ok the string fits nicely in the remaining size
-        System.arraycopy(strBytes, 0, data, pos, strSize);
-        pos += strSize;
-        stats.recordSize += strSize;
-        stats.remainingSize -= strSize;
-      }
-
-
-      if (isRichText() && (field_4_format_runs != null)) {
-        int count = field_4_format_runs.size();
-
-        //This will ensure that a run does not split a continue
-        for (int i=0;i<count;i++) {
-          pos = writeContinueIfRequired(stats, 4, pos, data);
-          FormatRun r = (FormatRun)field_4_format_runs.get(i);
-          LittleEndian.putShort(data, pos, r.character);
-          pos += 2;
-          LittleEndian.putShort(data, pos, r.fontIndex);
-          pos += 2;
-
-          //Each run count is four bytes
-          stats.recordSize += 4;
-          stats.remainingSize -=4;
+    public void serialize(ContinuableRecordOutput out) {
+        int numberOfRichTextRuns = 0;
+        int extendedDataSize = 0;
+        if (isRichText() && field_4_format_runs != null) {
+            numberOfRichTextRuns = field_4_format_runs.size();
         }
-      }
-
-      if (isExtendedText() && (field_5_ext_rst != null)) {
-        //Ok ExtRst is actually not documented, so i am going to hope
-        //that we can actually continue on byte boundaries
-        int ammountThatCantFit = field_5_ext_rst.length - stats.remainingSize;
-        int extPos = 0;
-        if (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-          while (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-            //So for this record we have already written
-            int ammountWritten = Math.min(stats.remainingSize, ammountThatCantFit);
-            System.arraycopy(field_5_ext_rst, extPos, data, pos, ammountWritten);
-            pos += ammountWritten;
-            extPos += ammountWritten;
-            stats.recordSize += ammountWritten;
-            stats.remainingSize -= ammountWritten;
-
-            //Ok lets subtract what we can write
-            ammountThatCantFit -= ammountWritten;
-            if (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-              pos = writeContinueIfRequired(stats, 1, pos, data);
-            }
-          }
-        } else {
-          //We can fit wholey in what remains.
-          System.arraycopy(field_5_ext_rst, 0, data, pos, field_5_ext_rst.length);
-          pos +=  field_5_ext_rst.length;
-          stats.remainingSize -= field_5_ext_rst.length;
-          stats.recordSize += field_5_ext_rst.length;
+        if (isExtendedText() && field_5_ext_rst != null) {
+            extendedDataSize = field_5_ext_rst.length;
         }
-      }
-
-        return pos - offset;
-    }
-
-
-    public void setCompressedUnicode() {
-      field_2_optionflags = highByte.setByte(field_2_optionflags);
-    }
-
-    public void setUncompressedUnicode() {
-      field_2_optionflags = highByte.clearByte(field_2_optionflags);
-    }
-
-    private boolean isUncompressedUnicode()
-    {
-        return highByte.isSet(getOptionFlags());
-    }
-
-    /** Returns the size of this record, given the amount of record space
-     * remaining, it will also include the size of writing a continue record.
-     */
-
-    public static class UnicodeRecordStats {
-      public int recordSize;
-      public int remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE;
-      public int lastLengthPos = -1;
-    }
-    public void getRecordSize(UnicodeRecordStats stats) {
-      //Basic string overhead
-      if (stats.remainingSize < 3) {
-        //Needs a continue
-         stats.recordSize += 4;
-         stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-      }
-      stats.recordSize += 3;
-      stats.remainingSize-= 3;
-
-      //Read the number of rich runs if rich text.
-      if ( isRichText() )
-    {
-          //Run count
-          if (stats.remainingSize < 2) {
-            //Needs a continue
-            //Reset the available space.
-            stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-            //continue record overhead
-            stats.recordSize+=4;
-    }
-
-          stats.recordSize += 2;
-          stats.remainingSize -=2;
-      }
-      //Read the size of extended data if present.
-      if ( isExtendedText() )
-    {
-        //Needs a continue
-          //extension length
-          if (stats.remainingSize < 4) {
-            //Reset the available space.
-            stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-            //continue record overhead
-            stats.recordSize+=4;
-          }
-
-          stats.recordSize += 4;
-          stats.remainingSize -=4;
-      }
-
-      int charsize = isUncompressedUnicode() ? 2 : 1;
-      int strSize = (getString().length() * charsize);
-      //Check to see if the offset occurs mid string, if so then we need to add
-      //the byte to start with that represents the first byte of the continue record.
-      if (strSize > stats.remainingSize) {
-        //Ok the offset occurs half way through the string, that means that
-        //we need an extra byte after the continue record ie we didnt finish
-        //writing out the string the 1st time through
-
-        //But hang on, how many continue records did we span? What if this is
-        //a REALLY long string. We need to work this all out.
-        int ammountThatCantFit = strSize;
-        while (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-          int ammountWritten = Math.min(stats.remainingSize, ammountThatCantFit);
-          //Make sure that the ammount that cant fit takes into account
-          //whether we are writing double byte unicode
-          if (isUncompressedUnicode()) {
-            //We have the '-1' here because whether this is the first record or
-            //subsequent continue records, there is always the case that the
-            //number of bytes in a string on doube byte boundaries is actually odd.
-            if ( ( (ammountWritten) % 2) == 1)
-              ammountWritten--;
-          }
-          stats.recordSize += ammountWritten;
-          stats.remainingSize -= ammountWritten;
-
-          //Ok lets subtract what we can write
-          ammountThatCantFit -= ammountWritten;
-
-          //Each iteration of this while loop is another continue record, unless
-          //everything  now fits.
-          if (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-            //Reset the available space.
-            stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-            //continue record overhead
-            stats.recordSize+=4;
-
-            //The first byte after a continue mid string is the extra byte to
-            //indicate if this run is compressed or not.
-            stats.recordSize++;
-            stats.remainingSize --;
-          }
-        }
-      } else {
-        //Ok the string fits nicely in the remaining size
-        stats.recordSize += strSize;
-        stats.remainingSize -= strSize;
-      }
+    
+        out.writeString(field_3_string, numberOfRichTextRuns, extendedDataSize);
 
-      if (isRichText() && (field_4_format_runs != null)) {
-        int count = field_4_format_runs.size();
+        if (numberOfRichTextRuns > 0) {
 
-        //This will ensure that a run does not split a continue
-        for (int i=0;i<count;i++) {
-          if (stats.remainingSize < 4) {
-            //Reset the available space.
-            stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-            //continue record overhead
-            stats.recordSize+=4;
+          //This will ensure that a run does not split a continue
+          for (int i=0;i<numberOfRichTextRuns;i++) {
+              if (out.getAvailableSpace() < 4) {
+                  out.writeContinue();
+              }
+                FormatRun r = (FormatRun)field_4_format_runs.get(i);
+                r.serialize(out);
           }
-
-          //Each run count is four bytes
-          stats.recordSize += 4;
-          stats.remainingSize -=4;
         }
-      }
 
-      if (isExtendedText() && (field_5_ext_rst != null)) {
-        //Ok ExtRst is actually not documented, so i am going to hope
-        //that we can actually continue on byte boundaries
-        int ammountThatCantFit = field_5_ext_rst.length - stats.remainingSize;
-        if (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-          while (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-            //So for this record we have already written
-            int ammountWritten = Math.min(stats.remainingSize, ammountThatCantFit);
-            stats.recordSize += ammountWritten;
-            stats.remainingSize -= ammountWritten;
-
-            //Ok lets subtract what we can write
-            ammountThatCantFit -= ammountWritten;
-            if (ammountThatCantFit > 0) {
-              //Each iteration of this while loop is another continue record.
-
-              //Reset the available space.
-              stats.remainingSize = SSTRecord.MAX_RECORD_SIZE-4;
-              //continue record overhead
-              stats.recordSize += 4;
+        if (extendedDataSize > 0) {
+            // OK ExtRst is actually not documented, so i am going to hope
+            // that we can actually continue on byte boundaries
+
+            int extPos = 0;
+            while (true) {
+                int nBytesToWrite = Math.min(extendedDataSize - extPos, out.getAvailableSpace());
+                out.write(field_5_ext_rst, extPos, nBytesToWrite);
+                extPos += nBytesToWrite;
+                if (extPos >= extendedDataSize) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                out.writeContinue();
             }
-          }
-        } else {
-          //We can fit wholey in what remains.
-          stats.remainingSize -= field_5_ext_rst.length;
-          stats.recordSize += field_5_ext_rst.length;
         }
-      }
     }
 
     public int compareTo(Object obj)
@@ -801,9 +496,9 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
         if (result != 0)
           return result;
 
-        //Ok string appears to be equal but now lets compare formatting runs
+        //OK string appears to be equal but now lets compare formatting runs
         if ((field_4_format_runs == null) && (str.field_4_format_runs == null))
-          //Strings are equal, and there are no formtting runs.
+          //Strings are equal, and there are no formatting runs.
           return 0;
 
         if ((field_4_format_runs == null) && (str.field_4_format_runs != null))
@@ -850,12 +545,12 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
         return 0;
     }
 
-    public boolean isRichText()
+    private boolean isRichText()
     {
       return richText.isSet(getOptionFlags());
     }
 
-    public boolean isExtendedText()
+    private boolean isExtendedText()
         {
         return extBit.isSet(getOptionFlags());
     }
@@ -877,10 +572,8 @@ public final class UnicodeString implements Comparable {
           str.field_5_ext_rst = new byte[field_5_ext_rst.length];
           System.arraycopy(field_5_ext_rst, 0, str.field_5_ext_rst, 0,
                            field_5_ext_rst.length);
-    }
+        }
 
         return str;
     }
-
-
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/constant/ConstantValueParser.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/constant/ConstantValueParser.java
index 8304eb0ee3..3fbbee12ac 100755
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/constant/ConstantValueParser.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/constant/ConstantValueParser.java
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.record.constant;
 
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.UnicodeString;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.UnicodeString.UnicodeRecordStats;
 import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianInput;
 import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;
 import org.apache.poi.util.StringUtil;
@@ -65,7 +63,7 @@ public final class ConstantValueParser {
 			case TYPE_NUMBER:
 				return new Double(in.readDouble());
 			case TYPE_STRING:
-				return new UnicodeString(StringUtil.readUnicodeString(in));
+				return StringUtil.readUnicodeString(in);
 			case TYPE_BOOLEAN:
 				return readBoolean(in);
 			case TYPE_ERROR_CODE:
@@ -111,10 +109,8 @@ public final class ConstantValueParser {
 		if(cls == Boolean.class || cls == Double.class || cls == ErrorConstant.class) {
 			return 8;
 		}
-		UnicodeString strVal = (UnicodeString)object;
-		UnicodeRecordStats urs = new UnicodeRecordStats();
-		strVal.getRecordSize(urs);
-		return urs.recordSize;
+		String strVal = (String)object;
+		return StringUtil.getEncodedSize(strVal);
 	}
 
 	public static void encode(LittleEndianOutput out, Object[] values) {
@@ -142,10 +138,10 @@ public final class ConstantValueParser {
 			out.writeDouble(dVal.doubleValue());
 			return;
 		}
-		if (value instanceof UnicodeString) {
-			UnicodeString usVal = (UnicodeString) value;
+		if (value instanceof String) {
+			String val = (String) value;
 			out.writeByte(TYPE_STRING);
-			StringUtil.writeUnicodeString(out, usVal.getString());
+			StringUtil.writeUnicodeString(out, val);
 			return;
 		}
 		if (value instanceof ErrorConstant) {
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/ContinuableRecord.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/ContinuableRecord.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..135b93ff44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/ContinuableRecord.java
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/* ====================================================================

+   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more

+   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with

+   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.

+   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0

+   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with

+   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at

+

+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

+

+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software

+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,

+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.

+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and

+   limitations under the License.

+==================================================================== */

+

+package org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont;

+

+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.ContinueRecord;

+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.Record;

+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream;

+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;

+

+/**

+ * Common superclass of all records that can produce {@link ContinueRecord}s while being serialized.

+ * 

+ * @author Josh Micich

+ */

+public abstract class ContinuableRecord extends Record {

+

+	protected ContinuableRecord() {

+		// no fields to initialise 

+	}

+	/**

+	 * Serializes this record's content to the supplied data output.<br/>

+	 * The standard BIFF header (ushort sid, ushort size) has been handled by the superclass, so 

+	 * only BIFF data should be written by this method.  Simple data types can be written with the

+	 * standard {@link LittleEndianOutput} methods.  Methods from {@link ContinuableRecordOutput} 

+	 * can be used to serialize strings (with {@link ContinueRecord}s being written as required).

+	 * If necessary, implementors can explicitly start {@link ContinueRecord}s (regardless of the

+	 * amount of remaining space).

+	 * 

+	 * @param out a data output stream

+	 */

+	protected abstract void serialize(ContinuableRecordOutput out);

+

+

+	/**

+	 * @return four less than the total length of the encoded record(s) 

+	 * (in the case when no {@link ContinueRecord} is needed, this is the 

+	 *  same ushort value that gets encoded after the record sid

+	 */

+	protected final int getDataSize() {

+		ContinuableRecordOutput out = ContinuableRecordOutput.createForCountingOnly();

+		serialize(out);

+		out.terminate();

+		return out.getTotalSize() - 4;

+	}

+

+	public final int serialize(int offset, byte[] data) {

+

+		LittleEndianOutput leo = new LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream(data, offset);

+		ContinuableRecordOutput out = new ContinuableRecordOutput(leo, getSid());

+		serialize(out);

+		out.terminate();

+		return out.getTotalSize();

+	}

+}

diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/ContinuableRecordOutput.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/ContinuableRecordOutput.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d540365b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/ContinuableRecordOutput.java
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+/* ====================================================================

+   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more

+   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with

+   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.

+   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0

+   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with

+   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at

+

+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

+

+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software

+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,

+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.

+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and

+   limitations under the License.

+==================================================================== */

+

+package org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont;

+

+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.ContinueRecord;

+import org.apache.poi.util.DelayableLittleEndianOutput;

+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;

+import org.apache.poi.util.StringUtil;

+

+/**

+ * An augmented {@link LittleEndianOutput} used for serialization of {@link ContinuableRecord}s.

+ * This class keeps track of how much remaining space is available in the current BIFF record and

+ * can start new {@link ContinueRecord}s as required. 

+ * 

+ * @author Josh Micich

+ */

+public final class ContinuableRecordOutput implements LittleEndianOutput {

+	

+	private final LittleEndianOutput _out;

+	private UnknownLengthRecordOutput _ulrOutput;

+	private int _totalPreviousRecordsSize;

+

+	ContinuableRecordOutput(LittleEndianOutput out, int sid) {

+		_ulrOutput = new UnknownLengthRecordOutput(out, sid);

+		_out = out;

+		_totalPreviousRecordsSize = 0;

+	}

+	

+	public static ContinuableRecordOutput createForCountingOnly() {

+		return new ContinuableRecordOutput(NOPOutput, -777); // fake sid

+	}

+

+	/**

+	 * @return total number of bytes written so far (including all BIFF headers) 

+	 */

+	public int getTotalSize() {

+		return _totalPreviousRecordsSize + _ulrOutput.getTotalSize();

+	}

+	/**

+	 * Terminates the last record (also updates its 'ushort size' field)

+	 */

+	void terminate() {

+		_ulrOutput.terminate();

+	}

+	/**

+	 * @return number of remaining bytes of space in current record

+	 */

+	public int getAvailableSpace() {

+		return _ulrOutput.getAvailableSpace();

+	}

+	

+	/**

+	 * Terminates the current record and starts a new {@link ContinueRecord} (regardless

+	 * of how much space is still available in the current record).

+	 */

+	public void writeContinue() {

+		_ulrOutput.terminate();

+		_totalPreviousRecordsSize += _ulrOutput.getTotalSize();

+		_ulrOutput = new UnknownLengthRecordOutput(_out, ContinueRecord.sid);

+	}

+	public void writeContinueIfRequired(int requiredContinuousSize) {

+		if (_ulrOutput.getAvailableSpace() < requiredContinuousSize) {

+			writeContinue();

+		}

+	}

+

+	/**

+	 * Writes the 'optionFlags' byte and encoded character data of a unicode string.  This includes:

+	 * <ul>

+	 * <li>byte optionFlags</li>

+	 * <li>encoded character data (in "ISO-8859-1" or "UTF-16LE" encoding)</li>

+	 * </ul>

+	 * 

+	 * Notes:

+	 * <ul>

+	 * <li>The value of the 'is16bitEncoded' flag is determined by the actual character data 

+	 * of <tt>text</tt></li>

+	 * <li>The string options flag is never separated (by a {@link ContinueRecord}) from the

+	 * first chunk of character data it refers to.</li>

+	 * <li>The 'ushort length' field is assumed to have been explicitly written earlier.  Hence, 

+	 * there may be an intervening {@link ContinueRecord}</li>

+	 * </ul>

+	 */

+	public void writeStringData(String text) {

+		boolean is16bitEncoded = StringUtil.hasMultibyte(text);

+		// calculate total size of the header and first encoded char

+		int keepTogetherSize = 1 + 1; // ushort len, at least one character byte

+		int optionFlags = 0x00;

+		if (is16bitEncoded) {

+			optionFlags |= 0x01;

+			keepTogetherSize += 1; // one extra byte for first char

+		}

+		writeContinueIfRequired(keepTogetherSize);

+		writeByte(optionFlags);

+		writeCharacterData(text, is16bitEncoded);

+	}

+	/**

+	 * Writes a unicode string complete with header and character data.  This includes:

+	 * <ul>

+	 * <li>ushort length</li>

+	 * <li>byte optionFlags</li>

+	 * <li>ushort numberOfRichTextRuns (optional)</li>

+	 * <li>ushort extendedDataSize (optional)</li>

+	 * <li>encoded character data (in "ISO-8859-1" or "UTF-16LE" encoding)</li>

+	 * </ul>

+	 * 

+	 * The following bits of the 'optionFlags' byte will be set as appropriate:

+	 * <table border='1'>

+	 * <tr><th>Mask</th><th>Description</th></tr>

+	 * <tr><td>0x01</td><td>is16bitEncoded</td></tr>

+	 * <tr><td>0x04</td><td>hasExtendedData</td></tr>

+	 * <tr><td>0x08</td><td>isRichText</td></tr>

+	 * </table>

+	 * Notes:

+	 * <ul> 

+	 * <li>The value of the 'is16bitEncoded' flag is determined by the actual character data 

+	 * of <tt>text</tt></li>

+	 * <li>The string header fields are never separated (by a {@link ContinueRecord}) from the

+	 * first chunk of character data (i.e. the first character is always encoded in the same

+	 * record as the string header).</li>

+	 * </ul>

+	 */

+	public void writeString(String text, int numberOfRichTextRuns, int extendedDataSize) {

+		boolean is16bitEncoded = StringUtil.hasMultibyte(text);

+		// calculate total size of the header and first encoded char

+		int keepTogetherSize = 2 + 1 + 1; // ushort len, byte optionFlags, at least one character byte

+		int optionFlags = 0x00;

+		if (is16bitEncoded) {

+			optionFlags |= 0x01;

+			keepTogetherSize += 1; // one extra byte for first char

+		}

+		if (numberOfRichTextRuns > 0) {

+			optionFlags |= 0x08;

+			keepTogetherSize += 2;

+		}

+		if (extendedDataSize > 0) {

+			optionFlags |= 0x04;

+			keepTogetherSize += 4;

+		}

+		writeContinueIfRequired(keepTogetherSize);

+		writeShort(text.length());

+		writeByte(optionFlags);

+		if (numberOfRichTextRuns > 0) {

+			writeShort(numberOfRichTextRuns);

+		}

+		if (extendedDataSize > 0) {

+			writeInt(extendedDataSize);

+		}

+		writeCharacterData(text, is16bitEncoded);

+	}

+

+

+	private void writeCharacterData(String text, boolean is16bitEncoded) {

+		int nChars = text.length();

+		int i=0;

+		if (is16bitEncoded) {

+			while(true) {

+				int nWritableChars = Math.min(nChars-i, _ulrOutput.getAvailableSpace() / 2);

+				for ( ; nWritableChars > 0; nWritableChars--) {

+					_ulrOutput.writeShort(text.charAt(i++));

+				}

+				if (i >= nChars) {

+					break;

+				}

+				writeContinue();

+				writeByte(0x01); 

+			}

+		} else {

+			while(true) {

+				int nWritableChars = Math.min(nChars-i, _ulrOutput.getAvailableSpace() / 1);

+				for ( ; nWritableChars > 0; nWritableChars--) {

+					_ulrOutput.writeByte(text.charAt(i++));

+				}

+				if (i >= nChars) {

+					break;

+				}

+				writeContinue();

+				writeByte(0x00); 

+			}

+		}

+	}

+

+	public void write(byte[] b) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(b.length);

+		_ulrOutput.write(b);

+	}

+	public void write(byte[] b, int offset, int len) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(len);

+		_ulrOutput.write(b, offset, len);

+	}

+	public void writeByte(int v) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(1);

+		_ulrOutput.writeByte(v);

+	}

+	public void writeDouble(double v) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(8);

+		_ulrOutput.writeDouble(v);

+	}

+	public void writeInt(int v) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(4);

+		_ulrOutput.writeInt(v);

+	}

+	public void writeLong(long v) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(8);

+		_ulrOutput.writeLong(v);

+	}

+	public void writeShort(int v) {

+		writeContinueIfRequired(2);

+		_ulrOutput.writeShort(v);

+	}

+	

+	/**

+	 * Allows optimised usage of {@link ContinuableRecordOutput} for sizing purposes only.

+	 */

+    private static final LittleEndianOutput NOPOutput = new DelayableLittleEndianOutput() {

+

+		public LittleEndianOutput createDelayedOutput(int size) {

+			return this;

+		}

+		public void write(byte[] b) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+		public void write(byte[] b, int offset, int len) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+		public void writeByte(int v) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+		public void writeDouble(double v) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+		public void writeInt(int v) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+		public void writeLong(long v) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+		public void writeShort(int v) {

+			// does nothing

+		}

+    };

+}

diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/UnknownLengthRecordOutput.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/UnknownLengthRecordOutput.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9209566c23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/cont/UnknownLengthRecordOutput.java
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+/* ====================================================================

+   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more

+   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with

+   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.

+   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0

+   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with

+   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at

+

+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

+

+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software

+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,

+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.

+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and

+   limitations under the License.

+==================================================================== */

+

+package org.apache.poi.hssf.record.cont;

+

+import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.RecordInputStream;

+import org.apache.poi.util.DelayableLittleEndianOutput;

+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream;

+import org.apache.poi.util.LittleEndianOutput;

+/**

+ * Allows the writing of BIFF records when the 'ushort size' header field is not known in advance.

+ * When the client is finished writing data, it calls {@link #terminate()}, at which point this 

+ * class updates the 'ushort size' with its final value. 

+ * 

+ * @author Josh Micich

+ */

+final class UnknownLengthRecordOutput implements LittleEndianOutput {

+	private static final int MAX_DATA_SIZE = RecordInputStream.MAX_RECORD_DATA_SIZE;

+

+	private final LittleEndianOutput _originalOut;

+	/** for writing the 'ushort size'  field once its value is known */

+	private final LittleEndianOutput _dataSizeOutput;

+	private final byte[] _byteBuffer;

+	private LittleEndianOutput _out;

+	private int _size;

+	

+	public UnknownLengthRecordOutput(LittleEndianOutput out, int sid) {

+		_originalOut = out;

+		out.writeShort(sid);

+		if (out instanceof DelayableLittleEndianOutput) {

+			// optimisation

+			DelayableLittleEndianOutput dleo = (DelayableLittleEndianOutput) out;

+			_dataSizeOutput = dleo.createDelayedOutput(2);

+			_byteBuffer = null;

+			_out = out;

+		} else {

+			// otherwise temporarily write all subsequent data to a buffer

+			_dataSizeOutput = out;

+			_byteBuffer = new byte[RecordInputStream.MAX_RECORD_DATA_SIZE];

+			_out = new LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream(_byteBuffer, 0);

+		}

+	}

+	/**

+	 * includes 4 byte header

+	 */

+	public int getTotalSize() {

+		return 4 + _size;

+	}

+	public int getAvailableSpace() {

+		if (_out == null) {

+			throw new IllegalStateException("Record already terminated");

+		}

+		return MAX_DATA_SIZE - _size;

+	}

+	/**

+	 * Finishes writing the current record and updates 'ushort size' field.<br/>

+	 * After this method is called, only {@link #getTotalSize()} may be called.

+	 */

+	public void terminate() {

+		if (_out == null) {

+			throw new IllegalStateException("Record already terminated");

+		}

+		_dataSizeOutput.writeShort(_size);

+		if (_byteBuffer != null) {

+			_originalOut.write(_byteBuffer, 0, _size);

+			_out = null;

+			return;

+		}

+		_out = null;

+	}

+	

+	public void write(byte[] b) {

+		_out.write(b);

+		_size += b.length;

+	}

+	public void write(byte[] b, int offset, int len) {

+		_out.write(b, offset, len);

+		_size += len;

+	}

+	public void writeByte(int v) {

+		_out.writeByte(v);

+		_size += 1;

+	}

+	public void writeDouble(double v) {

+		_out.writeDouble(v);

+		_size += 8;

+	}

+	public void writeInt(int v) {

+		_out.writeInt(v);

+		_size += 4;

+	}

+	public void writeLong(long v) {

+		_out.writeLong(v);

+		_size += 8;

+	}

+	public void writeShort(int v) {

+		_out.writeShort(v);

+		_size += 2;

+	}

+}

diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/formula/ArrayPtg.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/formula/ArrayPtg.java
index 3fcc23eda0..7d4f65acd9 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/formula/ArrayPtg.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/record/formula/ArrayPtg.java
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ public final class ArrayPtg extends Ptg {
 		if (o == null) {
 			throw new RuntimeException("Array item cannot be null");
 		}
-		if (o instanceof UnicodeString) {
-			return "\"" + ((UnicodeString)o).getString() + "\"";
+		if (o instanceof String) {
+			return "\"" + (String)o + "\"";
 		}
 		if (o instanceof Double) {
 			return ((Double)o).toString();
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFCell.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFCell.java
index 5707356221..6f327b21c3 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFCell.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFCell.java
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.NumberRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.ObjRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.Record;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.RecordBase;
-import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.StringRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.SubRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.TextObjectRecord;
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.UnicodeString;
@@ -257,7 +256,7 @@ public class HSSFCell implements Cell {
     }
     
     public int getColumnIndex() {
-    	return record.getColumn() & 0xFFFF;
+        return record.getColumn() & 0xFFFF;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -336,38 +335,23 @@ public class HSSFCell implements Cell {
                 break;
 
             case CELL_TYPE_STRING :
-                LabelSSTRecord lrec = null;
+                LabelSSTRecord lrec;
 
-                if (cellType != this.cellType)
-                {
+                if (cellType == this.cellType) {
+                    lrec = (LabelSSTRecord) record;
+                } else {
                     lrec = new LabelSSTRecord();
+                    lrec.setColumn(col);
+                    lrec.setRow(row);
+                    lrec.setXFIndex(styleIndex);
                 }
-                else
-                {
-                    lrec = ( LabelSSTRecord ) record;
-                }
-                lrec.setColumn(col);
-                lrec.setRow(row);
-                lrec.setXFIndex(styleIndex);
-                if (setValue)
-                {
-                    if ((getStringCellValue() != null)
-                            && (!getStringCellValue().equals("")))
-                    {
-                        int sst = 0;
-
-                        UnicodeString str = getRichStringCellValue().getUnicodeString();
-//jmh                        if (encoding == ENCODING_COMPRESSED_UNICODE)
-//jmh                        {
-//                      jmh                            str.setCompressedUnicode();
-//                      jmh                        } else if (encoding == ENCODING_UTF_16)
-//                      jmh                        {
-//                      jmh                            str.setUncompressedUnicode();
-//                      jmh                        }
-                        sst = book.getWorkbook().addSSTString(str);
-                        lrec.setSSTIndex(sst);
-                        getRichStringCellValue().setUnicodeString(book.getWorkbook().getSSTString(sst));
-                    }
+                if (setValue) {
+                    String str = convertCellValueToString();
+                    int sstIndex = book.getWorkbook().addSSTString(new UnicodeString(str));
+                    lrec.setSSTIndex(sstIndex);
+                    UnicodeString us = book.getWorkbook().getSSTString(sstIndex);
+                    stringValue = new HSSFRichTextString();
+                    stringValue.setUnicodeString(us);
                 }
                 record = lrec;
                 break;
@@ -782,7 +766,9 @@ public class HSSFCell implements Cell {
             case CELL_TYPE_BOOLEAN:
                 return (( BoolErrRecord ) record).getBooleanValue();
             case CELL_TYPE_STRING:
-                return Boolean.valueOf(((StringRecord)record).getString()).booleanValue();
+                int sstIndex = ((LabelSSTRecord)record).getSSTIndex();
+                String text = book.getWorkbook().getSSTString(sstIndex).getString();
+                return Boolean.valueOf(text).booleanValue();
             case CELL_TYPE_NUMERIC:
                 return ((NumberRecord)record).getValue() != 0;
 
@@ -796,6 +782,26 @@ public class HSSFCell implements Cell {
         }
         throw new RuntimeException("Unexpected cell type (" + cellType + ")");
     }
+    private String convertCellValueToString() {
+
+        switch (cellType) {
+            case CELL_TYPE_BLANK:
+                return "";
+            case CELL_TYPE_BOOLEAN:
+                return ((BoolErrRecord) record).getBooleanValue() ? "TRUE" : "FALSE";
+            case CELL_TYPE_STRING:
+                int sstIndex = ((LabelSSTRecord)record).getSSTIndex();
+                return book.getWorkbook().getSSTString(sstIndex).getString();
+            case CELL_TYPE_NUMERIC:
+                return String.valueOf(((NumberRecord)record).getValue());
+            case CELL_TYPE_ERROR:
+                   return HSSFErrorConstants.getText(((BoolErrRecord) record).getErrorValue());
+            case CELL_TYPE_FORMULA:
+                // should really evaluate, but HSSFCell can't call HSSFFormulaEvaluator
+                return "";
+        }
+        throw new RuntimeException("Unexpected cell type (" + cellType + ")");
+    }
 
     /**
      * get the value of the cell as a boolean.  For strings, numbers, and errors, we throw an exception.
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/DelayableLittleEndianOutput.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/DelayableLittleEndianOutput.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d8e4395e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/DelayableLittleEndianOutput.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/* ====================================================================

+   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more

+   contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with

+   this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.

+   The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0

+   (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with

+   the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at

+

+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

+

+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software

+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,

+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.

+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and

+   limitations under the License.

+==================================================================== */

+

+package org.apache.poi.util;

+/**

+ * Implementors of this interface allow client code to 'delay' writing to a certain section of a 

+ * data output stream.<br/>

+ * A typical application is for writing BIFF records when the size is not known until well after

+ * the header has been written.  The client code can call {@link #createDelayedOutput(int)}

+ * to reserve two bytes of the output for the 'ushort size' header field.  The delayed output can

+ * be written at any stage. 

+ * 

+ * @author Josh Micich

+ */

+public interface DelayableLittleEndianOutput extends LittleEndianOutput {

+	/**

+	 * Creates an output stream intended for outputting a sequence of <tt>size</tt> bytes.

+	 */

+	LittleEndianOutput createDelayedOutput(int size);

+}

diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream.java
index 1b68a348be..b3ded97687 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package org.apache.poi.util;
  * 
  * @author Josh Micich
  */
-public final class LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream implements LittleEndianOutput {
+public final class LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream implements LittleEndianOutput, DelayableLittleEndianOutput {
 	private final byte[] _buf;
 	private final int _endIndex;
 	private int _writeIndex;
@@ -89,4 +89,10 @@ public final class LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream implements LittleEndianOutp
 	public int getWriteIndex() {
 		return _writeIndex;
 	}
+	public LittleEndianOutput createDelayedOutput(int size) {
+		checkPosition(size);
+		LittleEndianOutput result = new LittleEndianByteArrayOutputStream(_buf, _writeIndex, _writeIndex+size);
+		_writeIndex += size;
+		return result;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/StringUtil.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/StringUtil.java
index 8a57d2340b..263f45e1e5 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/StringUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/util/StringUtil.java
@@ -163,6 +163,15 @@ public class StringUtil {
 	}
 
 	/**
+	 * @return the number of bytes that would be written by {@link #writeUnicodeString(LittleEndianOutput, String)}
+	 */
+	public static int getEncodedSize(String value) {
+		int result = 2 + 1;
+		result += value.length() * (StringUtil.hasMultibyte(value) ? 2 : 1);
+		return result;
+	}
+
+	/**
 	 * Takes a unicode (java) string, and returns it as 8 bit data (in ISO-8859-1
 	 * codepage).
 	 * (In Excel terms, write compressed 8 bit unicode)