diff --git a/Include/floatobject.h b/Include/floatobject.h
index 4491f59..d8fd376 100644
--- a/Include/floatobject.h
+++ b/Include/floatobject.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 
 #define PyFloat_Check(op) ((op)->ob_type == &PyFloat_Type)
 
+extern DL_IMPORT(PyObject *) PyFloat_FromString Py_PROTO((PyObject*, char**));
 extern DL_IMPORT(PyObject *) PyFloat_FromDouble Py_PROTO((double));
 extern DL_IMPORT(double) PyFloat_AsDouble Py_PROTO((PyObject *));
 
diff --git a/Include/intobject.h b/Include/intobject.h
index e6eb49d..35be0ef 100644
--- a/Include/intobject.h
+++ b/Include/intobject.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 
 #define PyInt_Check(op) ((op)->ob_type == &PyInt_Type)
 
+extern DL_IMPORT(PyObject *) PyInt_FromString Py_PROTO((char*, char**, int));
 extern DL_IMPORT(PyObject *) PyInt_FromLong Py_PROTO((long));
 extern DL_IMPORT(long) PyInt_AsLong Py_PROTO((PyObject *));
 extern DL_IMPORT(long) PyInt_GetMax Py_PROTO((void));
diff --git a/Lib/string.py b/Lib/string.py
index e449c20..2c3083e 100644
--- a/Lib/string.py
+++ b/Lib/string.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 # module 'string' -- A collection of string operations
 
-# Warning: most of the code you see here isn't normally used nowadays.
-# At the end of this file most functions are replaced by built-in
-# functions imported from built-in module "strop".
+# Warning: most of the code you see here isn't normally used nowadays.  With
+# Python 1.6, many of these functions are implemented as methods on the
+# standard string object. They used to be implemented by a built-in module
+# called strop, but strop is now obsolete itself.
 
 """Common string manipulations.
 
@@ -30,9 +31,6 @@
 # Case conversion helpers
 _idmap = ''
 for i in range(256): _idmap = _idmap + chr(i)
-_lower = _idmap[:ord('A')] + lowercase + _idmap[ord('Z')+1:]
-_upper = _idmap[:ord('a')] + uppercase + _idmap[ord('z')+1:]
-_swapcase = _upper[:ord('A')] + lowercase + _upper[ord('Z')+1:]
 del i
 
 # Backward compatible names for exceptions
@@ -43,544 +41,391 @@
 
 # convert UPPER CASE letters to lower case
 def lower(s):
-	"""lower(s) -> string
+    """lower(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s converted to lowercase.
+    Return a copy of the string s converted to lowercase.
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for c in s:
-		res = res + _lower[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.lower()
 
 # Convert lower case letters to UPPER CASE
 def upper(s):
-	"""upper(s) -> string
+    """upper(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s converted to uppercase.
+    Return a copy of the string s converted to uppercase.
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for c in s:
-		res = res + _upper[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.upper()
 
 # Swap lower case letters and UPPER CASE
 def swapcase(s):
-	"""swapcase(s) -> string
+    """swapcase(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with upper case characters
-	converted to lowercase and vice versa.
+    Return a copy of the string s with upper case characters
+    converted to lowercase and vice versa.
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for c in s:
-		res = res + _swapcase[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.swapcase()
 
 # Strip leading and trailing tabs and spaces
 def strip(s):
-	"""strip(s) -> string
+    """strip(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with leading and trailing
-	whitespace removed.
+    Return a copy of the string s with leading and trailing
+    whitespace removed.
 
-	"""
-	i, j = 0, len(s)
-	while i < j and s[i] in whitespace: i = i+1
-	while i < j and s[j-1] in whitespace: j = j-1
-	return s[i:j]
+    """
+    return s.strip()
 
 # Strip leading tabs and spaces
 def lstrip(s):
-	"""lstrip(s) -> string
+    """lstrip(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with leading whitespace removed.
+    Return a copy of the string s with leading whitespace removed.
 
-	"""
-	i, j = 0, len(s)
-	while i < j and s[i] in whitespace: i = i+1
-	return s[i:j]
+    """
+    return s.lstrip()
 
 # Strip trailing tabs and spaces
 def rstrip(s):
-	"""rstrip(s) -> string
+    """rstrip(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with trailing whitespace
-	removed.
+    Return a copy of the string s with trailing whitespace
+    removed.
 
-	"""
-	i, j = 0, len(s)
-	while i < j and s[j-1] in whitespace: j = j-1
-	return s[i:j]
+    """
+    return s.rstrip()
 
 
 # Split a string into a list of space/tab-separated words
 # NB: split(s) is NOT the same as splitfields(s, ' ')!
 def split(s, sep=None, maxsplit=0):
-	"""split(str [,sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings
+    """split(str [,sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings
 
-	Return a list of the words in the string s, using sep as the
-	delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most
-	maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string
-	is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.
+    Return a list of the words in the string s, using sep as the
+    delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most
+    maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string
+    is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.
 
-	(split and splitfields are synonymous)
+    (split and splitfields are synonymous)
 
-	"""
-	if sep is not None: return splitfields(s, sep, maxsplit)
-	res = []
-	i, n = 0, len(s)
-	if maxsplit <= 0: maxsplit = n
-	count = 0
-	while i < n:
-		while i < n and s[i] in whitespace: i = i+1
-		if i == n: break
-		if count >= maxsplit:
-		    res.append(s[i:])
-		    break
-		j = i
-		while j < n and s[j] not in whitespace: j = j+1
-		count = count + 1
-		res.append(s[i:j])
-		i = j
-	return res
-
-# Split a list into fields separated by a given string
-# NB: splitfields(s, ' ') is NOT the same as split(s)!
-# splitfields(s, '') returns [s] (in analogy with split() in nawk)
-def splitfields(s, sep=None, maxsplit=0):
-	"""splitfields(str [,sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings
-
-	Return a list of the words in the string s, using sep as the
-	delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most
-	maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string
-	is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.
-
-	(split and splitfields are synonymous)
-
-	"""
-	if sep is None: return split(s, None, maxsplit)
-	res = []
-	nsep = len(sep)
-	if nsep == 0:
-		return [s]
-	ns = len(s)
-	if maxsplit <= 0: maxsplit = ns
-	i = j = 0
-	count = 0
-	while j+nsep <= ns:
-		if s[j:j+nsep] == sep:
-			count = count + 1
-			res.append(s[i:j])
-			i = j = j + nsep
-			if count >= maxsplit: break
-		else:
-			j = j + 1
-	res.append(s[i:])
-	return res
-
-# Join words with spaces between them
-def join(words, sep = ' '):
-	"""join(list [,sep]) -> string
-
-	Return a string composed of the words in list, with
-	intervening occurences of sep.  Sep defaults to a single
-	space.
-
-	(joinfields and join are synonymous)
-
-	"""
-	return joinfields(words, sep)
+    """
+    return s.split(sep, maxsplit)
+splitfields = split
 
 # Join fields with optional separator
-def joinfields(words, sep = ' '):
-	"""joinfields(list [,sep]) -> string
+def join(words, sep = ' '):
+    """join(list [,sep]) -> string
 
-	Return a string composed of the words in list, with
-	intervening occurences of sep.  The default separator is a
-	single space.
+    Return a string composed of the words in list, with
+    intervening occurences of sep.  The default separator is a
+    single space.
 
-	(joinfields and join are synonymous)
+    (joinfields and join are synonymous)
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for w in words:
-		res = res + (sep + w)
-	return res[len(sep):]
+    """
+    return sep.join(words)
+joinfields = join
+
+# for a little bit of speed
+_apply = apply
 
 # Find substring, raise exception if not found
-def index(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""index(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
+def index(s, *args):
+    """index(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the lowest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Like find but raises ValueError when the substring is not found.
 
-	Raise ValueError if not found.
-
-	"""
-	if last is None: last = len(s)
-	res = find(s, sub, i, last)
-	if res < 0:
-		raise ValueError, 'substring not found in string.index'
-	return res
+    """
+    return _apply(s.index, args)
 
 # Find last substring, raise exception if not found
-def rindex(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""rindex(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
+def rindex(s, *args):
+    """rindex(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the highest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Like rfind but raises ValueError when the substring is not found.
 
-	Raise ValueError if not found.
-
-	"""
-	if last is None: last = len(s)
-	res = rfind(s, sub, i, last)
-	if res < 0:
-		raise ValueError, 'substring not found in string.index'
-	return res
+    """
+    return _apply(s.rindex, args)
 
 # Count non-overlapping occurrences of substring
-def count(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""count(s, sub[, start[,end]]) -> int
+def count(s, *args):
+    """count(s, sub[, start[,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the number of occurrences of substring sub in string
-	s[start:end].  Optional arguments start and end are
-	interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Return the number of occurrences of substring sub in string
+    s[start:end].  Optional arguments start and end are
+    interpreted as in slice notation.
 
-	"""
-	Slen = len(s)  # cache this value, for speed
-	if last is None:
-		last = Slen
-	elif last < 0:
-		last = max(0, last + Slen)
-	elif last > Slen:
-		last = Slen
-	if i < 0: i = max(0, i + Slen)
-	n = len(sub)
-	m = last + 1 - n
-	if n == 0: return m-i
-	r = 0
-	while i < m:
-		if sub == s[i:i+n]:
-			r = r+1
-			i = i+n
-		else:
-			i = i+1
-	return r
+    """
+    return _apply(s.count, args)
 
 # Find substring, return -1 if not found
-def find(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""find(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> in
+def find(s, *args):
+    """find(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> in
 
-	Return the lowest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Return the lowest index in s where substring sub is found,
+    such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
+    arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
 
-	Return -1 on failure.
+    Return -1 on failure.
 
-	"""
-	Slen = len(s)  # cache this value, for speed
-	if last is None:
-		last = Slen
-	elif last < 0:
-		last = max(0, last + Slen)
-	elif last > Slen:
-		last = Slen
-	if i < 0: i = max(0, i + Slen)
-	n = len(sub)
-	m = last + 1 - n
-	while i < m:
-		if sub == s[i:i+n]: return i
-		i = i+1
-	return -1
+    """
+    return _apply(s.find, args)
 
 # Find last substring, return -1 if not found
-def rfind(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""rfind(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
+def rfind(s, *args):
+    """rfind(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the highest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Return the highest index in s where substring sub is found,
+    such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
+    arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
 
-	Return -1 on failure.
+    Return -1 on failure.
 
-	"""
-	Slen = len(s)  # cache this value, for speed
-	if last is None:
-		last = Slen
-	elif last < 0:
-		last = max(0, last + Slen)
-	elif last > Slen:
-		last = Slen
-	if i < 0: i = max(0, i + Slen)
-	n = len(sub)
-	m = last + 1 - n
-	r = -1
-	while i < m:
-		if sub == s[i:i+n]: r = i
-		i = i+1
-	return r
+    """
+    return _apply(s.rfind, args)
 
-# "Safe" environment for eval()
-_safe_env = {"__builtins__": {}}
+# for a bit of speed
+_float = float
+_int = int
+_long = long
+_StringType = type('')
 
 # Convert string to float
-_re = None
-def atof(str):
-	"""atof(s) -> float
+def atof(s):
+    """atof(s) -> float
 
-	Return the floating point number represented by the string s.
+    Return the floating point number represented by the string s.
 
-	"""
-	global _re
-	if _re is None:
-		# Don't fail if re doesn't exist -- just skip the syntax check
-		try:
-			import re
-		except ImportError:
-			_re = 0
-		else:
-			_re = re
-	sign = ''
-	s = strip(str)
-	if s and s[0] in '+-':
-		sign = s[0]
-		s = s[1:]
-	if not s:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-float argument to string.atof'
-	while s[0] == '0' and len(s) > 1 and s[1] in digits: s = s[1:]
-	if _re and not _re.match('[0-9]*(\.[0-9]*)?([eE][-+]?[0-9]+)?$', s):
-		raise ValueError, 'non-float argument to string.atof'
-	try:
-		return float(eval(sign + s, _safe_env))
-	except SyntaxError:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-float argument to string.atof'
+    """
+    if type(s) == _StringType:
+	return _float(s)
+    else:
+	raise TypeError('argument 1: expected string, %s found' %
+			type(s).__name__)
 
 # Convert string to integer
-def atoi(str, base=10):
-	"""atoi(s [,base]) -> int
+def atoi(*args):
+    """atoi(s [,base]) -> int
 
-	Return the integer represented by the string s in the given
-	base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist of one
-	or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base is 0, it
-	is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for octal, 0x or
-	0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding 0x or 0X is
-	accepted.
+    Return the integer represented by the string s in the given
+    base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist of one
+    or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base is 0, it
+    is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for octal, 0x or
+    0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding 0x or 0X is
+    accepted.
 
-	"""
-	if base != 10:
-		# We only get here if strop doesn't define atoi()
-		raise ValueError, "this string.atoi doesn't support base != 10"
-	sign = ''
-	s = strip(str)
-	if s and s[0] in '+-':
-		sign = s[0]
-		s = s[1:]
-	if not s:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atoi'
-	while s[0] == '0' and len(s) > 1: s = s[1:]
-	for c in s:
-		if c not in digits:
-			raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atoi'
-	return eval(sign + s, _safe_env)
+    """
+    try:
+	s = args[0]
+    except IndexError:
+	raise TypeError('function requires at least 1 argument: %d given' %
+			len(args))
+    # Don't catch type error resulting from too many arguments to int().  The
+    # error message isn't compatible but the error type is, and this function
+    # is complicated enough already.
+    if type(s) == _StringType:
+	return _apply(_int, args)
+    else:
+	raise TypeError('argument 1: expected string, %s found' %
+			type(s).__name__)
+
 
 # Convert string to long integer
-def atol(str, base=10):
-	"""atol(s [,base]) -> long
+def atol(*args):
+    """atol(s [,base]) -> long
 
-	Return the long integer represented by the string s in the
-	given base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist
-	of one or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base
-	is 0, it is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for
-	octal, 0x or 0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding
-	0x or 0X is accepted.  A trailing L or l is not accepted,
-	unless base is 0.
+    Return the long integer represented by the string s in the
+    given base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist
+    of one or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base
+    is 0, it is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for
+    octal, 0x or 0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding
+    0x or 0X is accepted.  A trailing L or l is not accepted,
+    unless base is 0.
 
-	"""
-	if base != 10:
-		# We only get here if strop doesn't define atol()
-		raise ValueError, "this string.atol doesn't support base != 10"
-	sign = ''
-	s = strip(str)
-	if s and s[0] in '+-':
-		sign = s[0]
-		s = s[1:]
-	if not s:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atol'
-	while s[0] == '0' and len(s) > 1: s = s[1:]
-	for c in s:
-		if c not in digits:
-			raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atol'
-	return eval(sign + s + 'L', _safe_env)
+    """
+    try:
+	s = args[0]
+    except IndexError:
+	raise TypeError('function requires at least 1 argument: %d given' %
+			len(args))
+    # Don't catch type error resulting from too many arguments to long().  The
+    # error message isn't compatible but the error type is, and this function
+    # is complicated enough already.
+    if type(s) == _StringType:
+	return _apply(_long, args)
+    else:
+	raise TypeError('argument 1: expected string, %s found' %
+			type(s).__name__)
+
 
 # Left-justify a string
 def ljust(s, width):
-	"""ljust(s, width) -> string
+    """ljust(s, width) -> string
 
-	Return a left-justified version of s, in a field of the
-	specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
-	never truncated.
+    Return a left-justified version of s, in a field of the
+    specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
+    never truncated.
 
-	"""
-	n = width - len(s)
-	if n <= 0: return s
-	return s + ' '*n
+    """
+    n = width - len(s)
+    if n <= 0: return s
+    return s + ' '*n
 
 # Right-justify a string
 def rjust(s, width):
-	"""rjust(s, width) -> string
+    """rjust(s, width) -> string
 
-	Return a right-justified version of s, in a field of the
-	specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
-	never truncated.
+    Return a right-justified version of s, in a field of the
+    specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
+    never truncated.
 
-	"""
-	n = width - len(s)
-	if n <= 0: return s
-	return ' '*n + s
+    """
+    n = width - len(s)
+    if n <= 0: return s
+    return ' '*n + s
 
 # Center a string
 def center(s, width):
-	"""center(s, width) -> string
+    """center(s, width) -> string
 
-	Return a center version of s, in a field of the specified
-	width. padded with spaces as needed.  The string is never
-	truncated.
+    Return a center version of s, in a field of the specified
+    width. padded with spaces as needed.  The string is never
+    truncated.
 
-	"""
-	n = width - len(s)
-	if n <= 0: return s
-	half = n/2
-	if n%2 and width%2:
-		# This ensures that center(center(s, i), j) = center(s, j)
-		half = half+1
-	return ' '*half +  s + ' '*(n-half)
+    """
+    n = width - len(s)
+    if n <= 0: return s
+    half = n/2
+    if n%2 and width%2:
+	# This ensures that center(center(s, i), j) = center(s, j)
+	half = half+1
+    return ' '*half +  s + ' '*(n-half)
 
 # Zero-fill a number, e.g., (12, 3) --> '012' and (-3, 3) --> '-03'
 # Decadent feature: the argument may be a string or a number
 # (Use of this is deprecated; it should be a string as with ljust c.s.)
 def zfill(x, width):
-	"""zfill(x, width) -> string
+    """zfill(x, width) -> string
 
-	Pad a numeric string x with zeros on the left, to fill a field
-	of the specified width.  The string x is never truncated.
+    Pad a numeric string x with zeros on the left, to fill a field
+    of the specified width.  The string x is never truncated.
 
-	"""
-	if type(x) == type(''): s = x
-	else: s = `x`
-	n = len(s)
-	if n >= width: return s
-	sign = ''
-	if s[:1] in ('-', '+'):
-		sign, s = s[0], s[1:]
-	return sign + '0'*(width-n) + s
+    """
+    if type(x) == type(''): s = x
+    else: s = `x`
+    n = len(s)
+    if n >= width: return s
+    sign = ''
+    if s[0] in ('-', '+'):
+	sign, s = s[0], s[1:]
+    return sign + '0'*(width-n) + s
 
 # Expand tabs in a string.
 # Doesn't take non-printing chars into account, but does understand \n.
 def expandtabs(s, tabsize=8):
-	"""expandtabs(s [,tabsize]) -> string
+    """expandtabs(s [,tabsize]) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with all tab characters replaced
-	by the appropriate number of spaces, depending on the current
-	column, and the tabsize (default 8).
+    Return a copy of the string s with all tab characters replaced
+    by the appropriate number of spaces, depending on the current
+    column, and the tabsize (default 8).
 
-	"""
-	res = line = ''
-	for c in s:
-		if c == '\t':
-			c = ' '*(tabsize - len(line)%tabsize)
-		line = line + c
-		if c == '\n':
-			res = res + line
-			line = ''
-	return res + line
+    """
+    res = line = ''
+    for c in s:
+	if c == '\t':
+	    c = ' '*(tabsize - len(line) % tabsize)
+	line = line + c
+	if c == '\n':
+	    res = res + line
+	    line = ''
+    return res + line
 
 # Character translation through look-up table.
 def translate(s, table, deletions=""):
-	"""translate(s,table [,deletechars]) -> string
+    """translate(s,table [,deletechars]) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s, where all characters occurring
-	in the optional argument deletechars are removed, and the
-	remaining characters have been mapped through the given
-	translation table, which must be a string of length 256.
+    Return a copy of the string s, where all characters occurring
+    in the optional argument deletechars are removed, and the
+    remaining characters have been mapped through the given
+    translation table, which must be a string of length 256.
 
-	"""
-	if type(table) != type('') or len(table) != 256:
-		raise TypeError, \
-		      "translation table must be 256 characters long"
-	res = ""
-	for c in s:
-		if c not in deletions:
-			res = res + table[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.translate(table, deletions)
 
 # Capitalize a string, e.g. "aBc  dEf" -> "Abc  def".
 def capitalize(s):
-	"""capitalize(s) -> string
+    """capitalize(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with only its first character
-	capitalized.
+    Return a copy of the string s with only its first character
+    capitalized.
 
-	"""
-	return upper(s[:1]) + lower(s[1:])
+    """
+    return s.capitalize()
 
 # Capitalize the words in a string, e.g. " aBc  dEf " -> "Abc Def".
 # See also regsub.capwords().
 def capwords(s, sep=None):
-	"""capwords(s, [sep]) -> string
+    """capwords(s, [sep]) -> string
 
-	Split the argument into words using split, capitalize each
-	word using capitalize, and join the capitalized words using
-	join. Note that this replaces runs of whitespace characters by
-	a single space.
+    Split the argument into words using split, capitalize each
+    word using capitalize, and join the capitalized words using
+    join. Note that this replaces runs of whitespace characters by
+    a single space.
 
-	"""
-	return join(map(capitalize, split(s, sep)), sep or ' ')
+    """
+    return join(map(capitalize, s.split(sep)), sep or ' ')
 
 # Construct a translation string
 _idmapL = None
 def maketrans(fromstr, tostr):
-	"""maketrans(frm, to) -> string
+    """maketrans(frm, to) -> string
 
-	Return a translation table (a string of 256 bytes long)
-	suitable for use in string.translate.  The strings frm and to
-	must be of the same length.
+    Return a translation table (a string of 256 bytes long)
+    suitable for use in string.translate.  The strings frm and to
+    must be of the same length.
 
-	"""
-	if len(fromstr) != len(tostr):
-		raise ValueError, "maketrans arguments must have same length"
-	global _idmapL
-	if not _idmapL:
-		_idmapL = map(None, _idmap)
-	L = _idmapL[:]
-	fromstr = map(ord, fromstr)
-	for i in range(len(fromstr)):
-		L[fromstr[i]] = tostr[i]
-	return joinfields(L, "")
+    """
+    if len(fromstr) != len(tostr):
+	raise ValueError, "maketrans arguments must have same length"
+    global _idmapL
+    if not _idmapL:
+	_idmapL = map(None, _idmap)
+    L = _idmapL[:]
+    fromstr = map(ord, fromstr)
+    for i in range(len(fromstr)):
+	L[fromstr[i]] = tostr[i]
+    return joinfields(L, "")
 
 # Substring replacement (global)
-def replace(str, old, new, maxsplit=0):
-	"""replace (str, old, new[, maxsplit]) -> string
+def replace(s, old, new, maxsplit=0):
+    """replace (str, old, new[, maxsplit]) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of string str with all occurrences of substring
-	old replaced by new. If the optional argument maxsplit is
-	given, only the first maxsplit occurrences are replaced.
+    Return a copy of string str with all occurrences of substring
+    old replaced by new. If the optional argument maxsplit is
+    given, only the first maxsplit occurrences are replaced.
 
-	"""
-	return joinfields(splitfields(str, old, maxsplit), new)
+    """
+    return s.replace(old, new, maxsplit)
 
 
+# XXX: transitional
+#
+# If string objects do not have methods, then we need to use the old string.py
+# library, which uses strop for many more things than just the few outlined
+# below.
+try:
+    ''.upper
+except AttributeError:
+    from stringold import *
+
 # Try importing optional built-in module "strop" -- if it exists,
 # it redefines some string operations that are 100-1000 times faster.
 # It also defines values for whitespace, lowercase and uppercase
 # that match <ctype.h>'s definitions.
 
 try:
-	from strop import *
-	letters = lowercase + uppercase
+    from strop import maketrans, lowercase, uppercase, whitespace
+    letters = lowercase + uppercase
 except ImportError:
-	pass # Use the original, slow versions
+    pass					  # Use the original versions
diff --git a/Lib/stringold.py b/Lib/stringold.py
index 92158ee..2c3083e 100644
--- a/Lib/stringold.py
+++ b/Lib/stringold.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 # module 'string' -- A collection of string operations
 
-# Warning: most of the code you see here isn't normally used nowadays.
-# At the end of this file most functions are replaced by built-in
-# functions imported from built-in module "strop".
+# Warning: most of the code you see here isn't normally used nowadays.  With
+# Python 1.6, many of these functions are implemented as methods on the
+# standard string object. They used to be implemented by a built-in module
+# called strop, but strop is now obsolete itself.
 
 """Common string manipulations.
 
@@ -30,9 +31,6 @@
 # Case conversion helpers
 _idmap = ''
 for i in range(256): _idmap = _idmap + chr(i)
-_lower = _idmap[:ord('A')] + lowercase + _idmap[ord('Z')+1:]
-_upper = _idmap[:ord('a')] + uppercase + _idmap[ord('z')+1:]
-_swapcase = _upper[:ord('A')] + lowercase + _upper[ord('Z')+1:]
 del i
 
 # Backward compatible names for exceptions
@@ -43,544 +41,391 @@
 
 # convert UPPER CASE letters to lower case
 def lower(s):
-	"""lower(s) -> string
+    """lower(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s converted to lowercase.
+    Return a copy of the string s converted to lowercase.
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for c in s:
-		res = res + _lower[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.lower()
 
 # Convert lower case letters to UPPER CASE
 def upper(s):
-	"""upper(s) -> string
+    """upper(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s converted to uppercase.
+    Return a copy of the string s converted to uppercase.
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for c in s:
-		res = res + _upper[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.upper()
 
 # Swap lower case letters and UPPER CASE
 def swapcase(s):
-	"""swapcase(s) -> string
+    """swapcase(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with upper case characters
-	converted to lowercase and vice versa.
+    Return a copy of the string s with upper case characters
+    converted to lowercase and vice versa.
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for c in s:
-		res = res + _swapcase[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.swapcase()
 
 # Strip leading and trailing tabs and spaces
 def strip(s):
-	"""strip(s) -> string
+    """strip(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with leading and trailing
-	whitespace removed.
+    Return a copy of the string s with leading and trailing
+    whitespace removed.
 
-	"""
-	i, j = 0, len(s)
-	while i < j and s[i] in whitespace: i = i+1
-	while i < j and s[j-1] in whitespace: j = j-1
-	return s[i:j]
+    """
+    return s.strip()
 
 # Strip leading tabs and spaces
 def lstrip(s):
-	"""lstrip(s) -> string
+    """lstrip(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with leading whitespace removed.
+    Return a copy of the string s with leading whitespace removed.
 
-	"""
-	i, j = 0, len(s)
-	while i < j and s[i] in whitespace: i = i+1
-	return s[i:j]
+    """
+    return s.lstrip()
 
 # Strip trailing tabs and spaces
 def rstrip(s):
-	"""rstrip(s) -> string
+    """rstrip(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with trailing whitespace
-	removed.
+    Return a copy of the string s with trailing whitespace
+    removed.
 
-	"""
-	i, j = 0, len(s)
-	while i < j and s[j-1] in whitespace: j = j-1
-	return s[i:j]
+    """
+    return s.rstrip()
 
 
 # Split a string into a list of space/tab-separated words
 # NB: split(s) is NOT the same as splitfields(s, ' ')!
 def split(s, sep=None, maxsplit=0):
-	"""split(str [,sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings
+    """split(str [,sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings
 
-	Return a list of the words in the string s, using sep as the
-	delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most
-	maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string
-	is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.
+    Return a list of the words in the string s, using sep as the
+    delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most
+    maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string
+    is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.
 
-	(split and splitfields are synonymous)
+    (split and splitfields are synonymous)
 
-	"""
-	if sep is not None: return splitfields(s, sep, maxsplit)
-	res = []
-	i, n = 0, len(s)
-	if maxsplit <= 0: maxsplit = n
-	count = 0
-	while i < n:
-		while i < n and s[i] in whitespace: i = i+1
-		if i == n: break
-		if count >= maxsplit:
-		    res.append(s[i:])
-		    break
-		j = i
-		while j < n and s[j] not in whitespace: j = j+1
-		count = count + 1
-		res.append(s[i:j])
-		i = j
-	return res
-
-# Split a list into fields separated by a given string
-# NB: splitfields(s, ' ') is NOT the same as split(s)!
-# splitfields(s, '') returns [s] (in analogy with split() in nawk)
-def splitfields(s, sep=None, maxsplit=0):
-	"""splitfields(str [,sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings
-
-	Return a list of the words in the string s, using sep as the
-	delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most
-	maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string
-	is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.
-
-	(split and splitfields are synonymous)
-
-	"""
-	if sep is None: return split(s, None, maxsplit)
-	res = []
-	nsep = len(sep)
-	if nsep == 0:
-		return [s]
-	ns = len(s)
-	if maxsplit <= 0: maxsplit = ns
-	i = j = 0
-	count = 0
-	while j+nsep <= ns:
-		if s[j:j+nsep] == sep:
-			count = count + 1
-			res.append(s[i:j])
-			i = j = j + nsep
-			if count >= maxsplit: break
-		else:
-			j = j + 1
-	res.append(s[i:])
-	return res
-
-# Join words with spaces between them
-def join(words, sep = ' '):
-	"""join(list [,sep]) -> string
-
-	Return a string composed of the words in list, with
-	intervening occurences of sep.  Sep defaults to a single
-	space.
-
-	(joinfields and join are synonymous)
-
-	"""
-	return joinfields(words, sep)
+    """
+    return s.split(sep, maxsplit)
+splitfields = split
 
 # Join fields with optional separator
-def joinfields(words, sep = ' '):
-	"""joinfields(list [,sep]) -> string
+def join(words, sep = ' '):
+    """join(list [,sep]) -> string
 
-	Return a string composed of the words in list, with
-	intervening occurences of sep.  The default separator is a
-	single space.
+    Return a string composed of the words in list, with
+    intervening occurences of sep.  The default separator is a
+    single space.
 
-	(joinfields and join are synonymous)
+    (joinfields and join are synonymous)
 
-	"""
-	res = ''
-	for w in words:
-		res = res + (sep + w)
-	return res[len(sep):]
+    """
+    return sep.join(words)
+joinfields = join
+
+# for a little bit of speed
+_apply = apply
 
 # Find substring, raise exception if not found
-def index(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""index(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
+def index(s, *args):
+    """index(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the lowest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Like find but raises ValueError when the substring is not found.
 
-	Raise ValueError if not found.
-
-	"""
-	if last is None: last = len(s)
-	res = find(s, sub, i, last)
-	if res < 0:
-		raise ValueError, 'substring not found in string.index'
-	return res
+    """
+    return _apply(s.index, args)
 
 # Find last substring, raise exception if not found
-def rindex(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""rindex(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
+def rindex(s, *args):
+    """rindex(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the highest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Like rfind but raises ValueError when the substring is not found.
 
-	Raise ValueError if not found.
-
-	"""
-	if last is None: last = len(s)
-	res = rfind(s, sub, i, last)
-	if res < 0:
-		raise ValueError, 'substring not found in string.index'
-	return res
+    """
+    return _apply(s.rindex, args)
 
 # Count non-overlapping occurrences of substring
-def count(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""count(s, sub[, start[,end]]) -> int
+def count(s, *args):
+    """count(s, sub[, start[,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the number of occurrences of substring sub in string
-	s[start:end].  Optional arguments start and end are
-	interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Return the number of occurrences of substring sub in string
+    s[start:end].  Optional arguments start and end are
+    interpreted as in slice notation.
 
-	"""
-	Slen = len(s)  # cache this value, for speed
-	if last is None:
-		last = Slen
-	elif last < 0:
-		last = max(0, last + Slen)
-	elif last > Slen:
-		last = Slen
-	if i < 0: i = max(0, i + Slen)
-	n = len(sub)
-	m = last + 1 - n
-	if n == 0: return m-i
-	r = 0
-	while i < m:
-		if sub == s[i:i+n]:
-			r = r+1
-			i = i+n
-		else:
-			i = i+1
-	return r
+    """
+    return _apply(s.count, args)
 
 # Find substring, return -1 if not found
-def find(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""find(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> in
+def find(s, *args):
+    """find(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> in
 
-	Return the lowest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Return the lowest index in s where substring sub is found,
+    such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
+    arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
 
-	Return -1 on failure.
+    Return -1 on failure.
 
-	"""
-	Slen = len(s)  # cache this value, for speed
-	if last is None:
-		last = Slen
-	elif last < 0:
-		last = max(0, last + Slen)
-	elif last > Slen:
-		last = Slen
-	if i < 0: i = max(0, i + Slen)
-	n = len(sub)
-	m = last + 1 - n
-	while i < m:
-		if sub == s[i:i+n]: return i
-		i = i+1
-	return -1
+    """
+    return _apply(s.find, args)
 
 # Find last substring, return -1 if not found
-def rfind(s, sub, i = 0, last=None):
-	"""rfind(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
+def rfind(s, *args):
+    """rfind(s, sub [,start [,end]]) -> int
 
-	Return the highest index in s where substring sub is found,
-	such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
-	arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
+    Return the highest index in s where substring sub is found,
+    such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional
+    arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.
 
-	Return -1 on failure.
+    Return -1 on failure.
 
-	"""
-	Slen = len(s)  # cache this value, for speed
-	if last is None:
-		last = Slen
-	elif last < 0:
-		last = max(0, last + Slen)
-	elif last > Slen:
-		last = Slen
-	if i < 0: i = max(0, i + Slen)
-	n = len(sub)
-	m = last + 1 - n
-	r = -1
-	while i < m:
-		if sub == s[i:i+n]: r = i
-		i = i+1
-	return r
+    """
+    return _apply(s.rfind, args)
 
-# "Safe" environment for eval()
-_safe_env = {"__builtins__": {}}
+# for a bit of speed
+_float = float
+_int = int
+_long = long
+_StringType = type('')
 
 # Convert string to float
-_re = None
-def atof(str):
-	"""atof(s) -> float
+def atof(s):
+    """atof(s) -> float
 
-	Return the floating point number represented by the string s.
+    Return the floating point number represented by the string s.
 
-	"""
-	global _re
-	if _re is None:
-		# Don't fail if re doesn't exist -- just skip the syntax check
-		try:
-			import re
-		except ImportError:
-			_re = 0
-		else:
-			_re = re
-	sign = ''
-	s = strip(str)
-	if s and s[0] in '+-':
-		sign = s[0]
-		s = s[1:]
-	if not s:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-float argument to string.atof'
-	while s[0] == '0' and len(s) > 1 and s[1] in digits: s = s[1:]
-	if _re and not _re.match('[0-9]*(\.[0-9]*)?([eE][-+]?[0-9]+)?$', s):
-		raise ValueError, 'non-float argument to string.atof'
-	try:
-		return float(eval(sign + s, _safe_env))
-	except SyntaxError:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-float argument to string.atof'
+    """
+    if type(s) == _StringType:
+	return _float(s)
+    else:
+	raise TypeError('argument 1: expected string, %s found' %
+			type(s).__name__)
 
 # Convert string to integer
-def atoi(str, base=10):
-	"""atoi(s [,base]) -> int
+def atoi(*args):
+    """atoi(s [,base]) -> int
 
-	Return the integer represented by the string s in the given
-	base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist of one
-	or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base is 0, it
-	is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for octal, 0x or
-	0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding 0x or 0X is
-	accepted.
+    Return the integer represented by the string s in the given
+    base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist of one
+    or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base is 0, it
+    is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for octal, 0x or
+    0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding 0x or 0X is
+    accepted.
 
-	"""
-	if base != 10:
-		# We only get here if strop doesn't define atoi()
-		raise ValueError, "this string.atoi doesn't support base != 10"
-	sign = ''
-	s = strip(str)
-	if s and s[0] in '+-':
-		sign = s[0]
-		s = s[1:]
-	if not s:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atoi'
-	while s[0] == '0' and len(s) > 1: s = s[1:]
-	for c in s:
-		if c not in digits:
-			raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atoi'
-	return eval(sign + s, _safe_env)
+    """
+    try:
+	s = args[0]
+    except IndexError:
+	raise TypeError('function requires at least 1 argument: %d given' %
+			len(args))
+    # Don't catch type error resulting from too many arguments to int().  The
+    # error message isn't compatible but the error type is, and this function
+    # is complicated enough already.
+    if type(s) == _StringType:
+	return _apply(_int, args)
+    else:
+	raise TypeError('argument 1: expected string, %s found' %
+			type(s).__name__)
+
 
 # Convert string to long integer
-def atol(str, base=10):
-	"""atol(s [,base]) -> long
+def atol(*args):
+    """atol(s [,base]) -> long
 
-	Return the long integer represented by the string s in the
-	given base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist
-	of one or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base
-	is 0, it is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for
-	octal, 0x or 0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding
-	0x or 0X is accepted.  A trailing L or l is not accepted,
-	unless base is 0.
+    Return the long integer represented by the string s in the
+    given base, which defaults to 10.  The string s must consist
+    of one or more digits, possibly preceded by a sign.  If base
+    is 0, it is chosen from the leading characters of s, 0 for
+    octal, 0x or 0X for hexadecimal.  If base is 16, a preceding
+    0x or 0X is accepted.  A trailing L or l is not accepted,
+    unless base is 0.
 
-	"""
-	if base != 10:
-		# We only get here if strop doesn't define atol()
-		raise ValueError, "this string.atol doesn't support base != 10"
-	sign = ''
-	s = strip(str)
-	if s and s[0] in '+-':
-		sign = s[0]
-		s = s[1:]
-	if not s:
-		raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atol'
-	while s[0] == '0' and len(s) > 1: s = s[1:]
-	for c in s:
-		if c not in digits:
-			raise ValueError, 'non-integer argument to string.atol'
-	return eval(sign + s + 'L', _safe_env)
+    """
+    try:
+	s = args[0]
+    except IndexError:
+	raise TypeError('function requires at least 1 argument: %d given' %
+			len(args))
+    # Don't catch type error resulting from too many arguments to long().  The
+    # error message isn't compatible but the error type is, and this function
+    # is complicated enough already.
+    if type(s) == _StringType:
+	return _apply(_long, args)
+    else:
+	raise TypeError('argument 1: expected string, %s found' %
+			type(s).__name__)
+
 
 # Left-justify a string
 def ljust(s, width):
-	"""ljust(s, width) -> string
+    """ljust(s, width) -> string
 
-	Return a left-justified version of s, in a field of the
-	specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
-	never truncated.
+    Return a left-justified version of s, in a field of the
+    specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
+    never truncated.
 
-	"""
-	n = width - len(s)
-	if n <= 0: return s
-	return s + ' '*n
+    """
+    n = width - len(s)
+    if n <= 0: return s
+    return s + ' '*n
 
 # Right-justify a string
 def rjust(s, width):
-	"""rjust(s, width) -> string
+    """rjust(s, width) -> string
 
-	Return a right-justified version of s, in a field of the
-	specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
-	never truncated.
+    Return a right-justified version of s, in a field of the
+    specified width, padded with spaces as needed.  The string is
+    never truncated.
 
-	"""
-	n = width - len(s)
-	if n <= 0: return s
-	return ' '*n + s
+    """
+    n = width - len(s)
+    if n <= 0: return s
+    return ' '*n + s
 
 # Center a string
 def center(s, width):
-	"""center(s, width) -> string
+    """center(s, width) -> string
 
-	Return a center version of s, in a field of the specified
-	width. padded with spaces as needed.  The string is never
-	truncated.
+    Return a center version of s, in a field of the specified
+    width. padded with spaces as needed.  The string is never
+    truncated.
 
-	"""
-	n = width - len(s)
-	if n <= 0: return s
-	half = n/2
-	if n%2 and width%2:
-		# This ensures that center(center(s, i), j) = center(s, j)
-		half = half+1
-	return ' '*half +  s + ' '*(n-half)
+    """
+    n = width - len(s)
+    if n <= 0: return s
+    half = n/2
+    if n%2 and width%2:
+	# This ensures that center(center(s, i), j) = center(s, j)
+	half = half+1
+    return ' '*half +  s + ' '*(n-half)
 
 # Zero-fill a number, e.g., (12, 3) --> '012' and (-3, 3) --> '-03'
 # Decadent feature: the argument may be a string or a number
 # (Use of this is deprecated; it should be a string as with ljust c.s.)
 def zfill(x, width):
-	"""zfill(x, width) -> string
+    """zfill(x, width) -> string
 
-	Pad a numeric string x with zeros on the left, to fill a field
-	of the specified width.  The string x is never truncated.
+    Pad a numeric string x with zeros on the left, to fill a field
+    of the specified width.  The string x is never truncated.
 
-	"""
-	if type(x) == type(''): s = x
-	else: s = `x`
-	n = len(s)
-	if n >= width: return s
-	sign = ''
-	if s[0] in ('-', '+'):
-		sign, s = s[0], s[1:]
-	return sign + '0'*(width-n) + s
+    """
+    if type(x) == type(''): s = x
+    else: s = `x`
+    n = len(s)
+    if n >= width: return s
+    sign = ''
+    if s[0] in ('-', '+'):
+	sign, s = s[0], s[1:]
+    return sign + '0'*(width-n) + s
 
 # Expand tabs in a string.
 # Doesn't take non-printing chars into account, but does understand \n.
 def expandtabs(s, tabsize=8):
-	"""expandtabs(s [,tabsize]) -> string
+    """expandtabs(s [,tabsize]) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with all tab characters replaced
-	by the appropriate number of spaces, depending on the current
-	column, and the tabsize (default 8).
+    Return a copy of the string s with all tab characters replaced
+    by the appropriate number of spaces, depending on the current
+    column, and the tabsize (default 8).
 
-	"""
-	res = line = ''
-	for c in s:
-		if c == '\t':
-			c = ' '*(tabsize - len(line)%tabsize)
-		line = line + c
-		if c == '\n':
-			res = res + line
-			line = ''
-	return res + line
+    """
+    res = line = ''
+    for c in s:
+	if c == '\t':
+	    c = ' '*(tabsize - len(line) % tabsize)
+	line = line + c
+	if c == '\n':
+	    res = res + line
+	    line = ''
+    return res + line
 
 # Character translation through look-up table.
 def translate(s, table, deletions=""):
-	"""translate(s,table [,deletechars]) -> string
+    """translate(s,table [,deletechars]) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s, where all characters occurring
-	in the optional argument deletechars are removed, and the
-	remaining characters have been mapped through the given
-	translation table, which must be a string of length 256.
+    Return a copy of the string s, where all characters occurring
+    in the optional argument deletechars are removed, and the
+    remaining characters have been mapped through the given
+    translation table, which must be a string of length 256.
 
-	"""
-	if type(table) != type('') or len(table) != 256:
-		raise TypeError, \
-		      "translation table must be 256 characters long"
-	res = ""
-	for c in s:
-		if c not in deletions:
-			res = res + table[ord(c)]
-	return res
+    """
+    return s.translate(table, deletions)
 
 # Capitalize a string, e.g. "aBc  dEf" -> "Abc  def".
 def capitalize(s):
-	"""capitalize(s) -> string
+    """capitalize(s) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of the string s with only its first character
-	capitalized.
+    Return a copy of the string s with only its first character
+    capitalized.
 
-	"""
-	return upper(s[:1]) + lower(s[1:])
+    """
+    return s.capitalize()
 
 # Capitalize the words in a string, e.g. " aBc  dEf " -> "Abc Def".
 # See also regsub.capwords().
 def capwords(s, sep=None):
-	"""capwords(s, [sep]) -> string
+    """capwords(s, [sep]) -> string
 
-	Split the argument into words using split, capitalize each
-	word using capitalize, and join the capitalized words using
-	join. Note that this replaces runs of whitespace characters by
-	a single space.
+    Split the argument into words using split, capitalize each
+    word using capitalize, and join the capitalized words using
+    join. Note that this replaces runs of whitespace characters by
+    a single space.
 
-	"""
-	return join(map(capitalize, split(s, sep)), sep or ' ')
+    """
+    return join(map(capitalize, s.split(sep)), sep or ' ')
 
 # Construct a translation string
 _idmapL = None
 def maketrans(fromstr, tostr):
-	"""maketrans(frm, to) -> string
+    """maketrans(frm, to) -> string
 
-	Return a translation table (a string of 256 bytes long)
-	suitable for use in string.translate.  The strings frm and to
-	must be of the same length.
+    Return a translation table (a string of 256 bytes long)
+    suitable for use in string.translate.  The strings frm and to
+    must be of the same length.
 
-	"""
-	if len(fromstr) != len(tostr):
-		raise ValueError, "maketrans arguments must have same length"
-	global _idmapL
-	if not _idmapL:
-		_idmapL = map(None, _idmap)
-	L = _idmapL[:]
-	fromstr = map(ord, fromstr)
-	for i in range(len(fromstr)):
-		L[fromstr[i]] = tostr[i]
-	return joinfields(L, "")
+    """
+    if len(fromstr) != len(tostr):
+	raise ValueError, "maketrans arguments must have same length"
+    global _idmapL
+    if not _idmapL:
+	_idmapL = map(None, _idmap)
+    L = _idmapL[:]
+    fromstr = map(ord, fromstr)
+    for i in range(len(fromstr)):
+	L[fromstr[i]] = tostr[i]
+    return joinfields(L, "")
 
 # Substring replacement (global)
-def replace(str, old, new, maxsplit=0):
-	"""replace (str, old, new[, maxsplit]) -> string
+def replace(s, old, new, maxsplit=0):
+    """replace (str, old, new[, maxsplit]) -> string
 
-	Return a copy of string str with all occurrences of substring
-	old replaced by new. If the optional argument maxsplit is
-	given, only the first maxsplit occurrences are replaced.
+    Return a copy of string str with all occurrences of substring
+    old replaced by new. If the optional argument maxsplit is
+    given, only the first maxsplit occurrences are replaced.
 
-	"""
-	return joinfields(splitfields(str, old, maxsplit), new)
+    """
+    return s.replace(old, new, maxsplit)
 
 
+# XXX: transitional
+#
+# If string objects do not have methods, then we need to use the old string.py
+# library, which uses strop for many more things than just the few outlined
+# below.
+try:
+    ''.upper
+except AttributeError:
+    from stringold import *
+
 # Try importing optional built-in module "strop" -- if it exists,
 # it redefines some string operations that are 100-1000 times faster.
 # It also defines values for whitespace, lowercase and uppercase
 # that match <ctype.h>'s definitions.
 
 try:
-	from strop import *
-	letters = lowercase + uppercase
+    from strop import maketrans, lowercase, uppercase, whitespace
+    letters = lowercase + uppercase
 except ImportError:
-	pass # Use the original, slow versions
+    pass					  # Use the original versions
diff --git a/Objects/abstract.c b/Objects/abstract.c
index be986f5..c120769 100644
--- a/Objects/abstract.c
+++ b/Objects/abstract.c
@@ -53,123 +53,6 @@
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-/* Copied with modifications from stropmodule.c: atoi, atof, atol */
-
-static PyObject *
-int_from_string(v)
-	PyObject *v;
-{
-	char *s, *end;
-	long x;
-	char buffer[256]; /* For errors */
-
-	s = PyString_AS_STRING(v);
-	while (*s && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*s)))
-		s++;
-	errno = 0;
-	x = PyOS_strtol(s, &end, 10);
-	if (end == s || !isdigit(end[-1]))
-		goto bad;
-	while (*end && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*end)))
-		end++;
-	if (*end != '\0') {
-  bad:
-		sprintf(buffer, "invalid literal for int(): %.200s", s);
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	else if (end != PyString_AS_STRING(v) + PyString_GET_SIZE(v)) {
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
-				"null byte in argument for int()");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	else if (errno != 0) {
-		sprintf(buffer, "int() literal too large: %.200s", s);
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	return PyInt_FromLong(x);
-}
-
-static PyObject *
-long_from_string(v)
-	PyObject *v;
-{
-	char *s, *end;
-	PyObject *x;
-	char buffer[256]; /* For errors */
-
-	s = PyString_AS_STRING(v);
-	while (*s && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*s)))
-		s++;
-	x = PyLong_FromString(s, &end, 10);
-	if (x == NULL) {
-		if (PyErr_ExceptionMatches(PyExc_ValueError))
-			goto bad;
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	while (*end && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*end)))
-		end++;
-	if (*end != '\0') {
-  bad:
-		sprintf(buffer, "invalid literal for long(): %.200s", s);
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
-		Py_XDECREF(x);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	else if (end != PyString_AS_STRING(v) + PyString_GET_SIZE(v)) {
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
-				"null byte in argument for long()");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	return x;
-}
-
-static PyObject *
-float_from_string(v)
-	PyObject *v;
-{
-	extern double strtod Py_PROTO((const char *, char **));
-	char *s, *last, *end;
-	double x;
-	char buffer[256]; /* For errors */
-
-	s = PyString_AS_STRING(v);
-	last = s + PyString_GET_SIZE(v);
-	while (*s && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*s)))
-		s++;
-	if (s[0] == '\0') {
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "empty string for float()");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	errno = 0;
-	PyFPE_START_PROTECT("float_from_string", return 0)
-	x = strtod(s, &end);
-	PyFPE_END_PROTECT(x)
-	/* Believe it or not, Solaris 2.6 can move end *beyond* the null
-	   byte at the end of the string, when the input is inf(inity) */
-	if (end > last)
-		end = last;
-	while (*end && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*end)))
-		end++;
-	if (*end != '\0') {
-		sprintf(buffer, "invalid literal for float(): %.200s", s);
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	else if (end != PyString_AS_STRING(v) + PyString_GET_SIZE(v)) {
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
-				"null byte in argument for float()");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	else if (errno != 0) {
-		sprintf(buffer, "float() literal too large: %.200s", s);
-		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	return PyFloat_FromDouble(x);
-}
-
 /* Operations on any object */
 
 int
@@ -713,7 +596,7 @@
 	if (o == NULL)
 		return null_error();
 	if (PyString_Check(o))
-		return int_from_string(o);
+		return PyInt_FromString(PyString_AS_STRING(o), NULL, 10);
 	m = o->ob_type->tp_as_number;
 	if (m && m->nb_int)
 		return m->nb_int(o);
@@ -721,6 +604,61 @@
 	return type_error("object can't be converted to int");
 }
 
+/* There are two C API functions for converting a string to a long,
+ * PyNumber_Long() and PyLong_FromString().  Both are used in builtin_long, 
+ * reachable from Python with the built-in function long().
+ *
+ * The difference is this: PyNumber_Long will raise an exception when the
+ * string cannot be converted to a long.  The most common situation is
+ * where a float string is passed in; this raises a ValueError.
+ * PyLong_FromString does not raise an exception; it silently truncates the 
+ * float to an integer.
+ *
+ * You can see the different behavior from Python with the following:
+ *
+ * long('9.5')
+ * => ValueError: invalid literal for long(): 9.5
+ *
+ * long('9.5', 10)
+ * => 9L
+ *
+ * The first example ends up calling PyNumber_Long(), while the second one
+ * calls PyLong_FromString().
+ */
+static PyObject *
+long_from_string(v)
+	PyObject *v;
+{
+	char *s, *end;
+	PyObject *x;
+	char buffer[256]; /* For errors */
+
+	s = PyString_AS_STRING(v);
+	while (*s && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*s)))
+		s++;
+	x = PyLong_FromString(s, &end, 10);
+	if (x == NULL) {
+		if (PyErr_ExceptionMatches(PyExc_ValueError))
+			goto bad;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	while (*end && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*end)))
+		end++;
+	if (*end != '\0') {
+  bad:
+		sprintf(buffer, "invalid literal for long(): %.200s", s);
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
+		Py_XDECREF(x);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	else if (end != PyString_AS_STRING(v) + PyString_GET_SIZE(v)) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+				"null byte in argument for long()");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return x;
+}
+
 PyObject *
 PyNumber_Long(o)
 	PyObject *o;
@@ -730,6 +668,10 @@
 	if (o == NULL)
 		return null_error();
 	if (PyString_Check(o))
+		/* need to do extra error checking that PyLong_FromString() 
+		 * doesn't do.  In particular long('9.5') must raise an
+		 * exception, not truncate the float.
+		 */
 		return long_from_string(o);
 	m = o->ob_type->tp_as_number;
 	if (m && m->nb_long)
@@ -747,7 +689,7 @@
 	if (o == NULL)
 		return null_error();
 	if (PyString_Check(o))
-		return float_from_string(o);
+		return PyFloat_FromString(o, NULL);
 	m = o->ob_type->tp_as_number;
 	if (m && m->nb_float)
 		return m->nb_float(o);
diff --git a/Objects/floatobject.c b/Objects/floatobject.c
index ba37309..cb5d9e3 100644
--- a/Objects/floatobject.c
+++ b/Objects/floatobject.c
@@ -149,6 +149,57 @@
 	return (PyObject *) op;
 }
 
+PyObject *
+PyFloat_FromString(v, pend)
+	PyObject *v;
+	char **pend;
+{
+	extern double strtod Py_PROTO((const char *, char **));
+	char *s, *last, *end;
+	double x;
+	char buffer[256]; /* For errors */
+
+	if (!PyString_Check(v))
+		return NULL;
+	s = PyString_AS_STRING(v);
+
+	last = s + PyString_GET_SIZE(v);
+	while (*s && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*s)))
+		s++;
+	if (s[0] == '\0') {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "empty string for float()");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	errno = 0;
+	PyFPE_START_PROTECT("PyFloat_FromString", return 0)
+	x = strtod(s, &end);
+	PyFPE_END_PROTECT(x)
+	/* Believe it or not, Solaris 2.6 can move end *beyond* the null
+	   byte at the end of the string, when the input is inf(inity) */
+	if (end > last)
+		end = last;
+	while (*end && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*end)))
+		end++;
+	if (*end != '\0') {
+		sprintf(buffer, "invalid literal for float(): %.200s", s);
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	else if (end != PyString_AS_STRING(v) + PyString_GET_SIZE(v)) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+				"null byte in argument for float()");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	else if (errno != 0) {
+		sprintf(buffer, "float() literal too large: %.200s", s);
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	if (pend)
+		*pend = end;
+	return PyFloat_FromDouble(x);
+}
+
 static void
 float_dealloc(op)
 	PyFloatObject *op;
diff --git a/Objects/intobject.c b/Objects/intobject.c
index f2d77e1..45c2186 100644
--- a/Objects/intobject.c
+++ b/Objects/intobject.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 /* Integer object implementation */
 
 #include "Python.h"
+#include <ctype.h>
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIMITS_H
 #include <limits.h>
@@ -218,6 +219,48 @@
 	return val;
 }
 
+PyObject *
+PyInt_FromString(s, pend, base)
+	char *s;
+	char **pend;
+	int base;
+{
+	char *end;
+	long x;
+	char buffer[256]; /* For errors */
+
+	if ((base != 0 && base < 2) || base > 36) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "invalid base for int()");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	while (*s && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*s)))
+		s++;
+	errno = 0;
+	if (base == 0 && s[0] == '0')
+		x = (long) PyOS_strtoul(s, &end, base);
+	else
+		x = PyOS_strtol(s, &end, base);
+	if (end == s || !isalnum(end[-1]))
+		goto bad;
+	while (*end && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(*end)))
+		end++;
+	if (*end != '\0') {
+  bad:
+		sprintf(buffer, "invalid literal for int(): %.200s", s);
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	else if (errno != 0) {
+		sprintf(buffer, "int() literal too large: %.200s", s);
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, buffer);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	if (pend)
+		*pend = end;
+	return PyInt_FromLong(x);
+}
+
 /* Methods */
 
 /* ARGSUSED */
diff --git a/Objects/stringobject.c b/Objects/stringobject.c
index eecb006..264ed9a 100644
--- a/Objects/stringobject.c
+++ b/Objects/stringobject.c
@@ -525,6 +525,1049 @@
 	(getcharbufferproc)string_buffer_getcharbuf,
 };
 
+
+
+#define LEFTSTRIP 0
+#define RIGHTSTRIP 1
+#define BOTHSTRIP 2
+
+
+static PyObject *
+split_whitespace(s, len, maxsplit)
+	char *s;
+	int len;
+	int maxsplit;
+{
+	int i = 0, j, err;
+	int countsplit = 0;
+	PyObject* item;
+	PyObject *list = PyList_New(0);
+
+	if (list == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
+	while (i < len) {
+		while (i < len && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(s[i]))) {
+			i = i+1;
+		}
+		j = i;
+		while (i < len && !isspace(Py_CHARMASK(s[i]))) {
+			i = i+1;
+		}
+		if (j < i) {
+			item = PyString_FromStringAndSize(s+j, (int)(i-j));
+			if (item == NULL)
+				goto finally;
+
+			err = PyList_Append(list, item);
+			Py_DECREF(item);
+			if (err < 0)
+				goto finally;
+
+			countsplit++;
+			while (i < len && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(s[i]))) {
+				i = i+1;
+			}
+			if (maxsplit && (countsplit >= maxsplit) && i < len) {
+				item = PyString_FromStringAndSize(
+                                        s+i, (int)(len - i));
+				if (item == NULL)
+					goto finally;
+
+				err = PyList_Append(list, item);
+				Py_DECREF(item);
+				if (err < 0)
+					goto finally;
+
+				i = len;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return list;
+  finally:
+	Py_DECREF(list);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static char split__doc__[] =
+"S.split([sep [,maxsplit]]) -> list of strings\n\
+\n\
+Return a list of the words in the string S, using sep as the\n\
+delimiter string.  If maxsplit is nonzero, splits into at most\n\
+maxsplit words If sep is not specified, any whitespace string\n\
+is a separator.  Maxsplit defaults to 0.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_split(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self), n, i, j, err;
+	int splitcount, maxsplit;
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *sub;
+	PyObject *list, *item;
+
+	sub = NULL;
+	n = 0;
+	splitcount = 0;
+	maxsplit = 0;
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "|z#i", &sub, &n, &maxsplit))
+		return NULL;
+	if (sub == NULL)
+		return split_whitespace(s, len, maxsplit);
+	if (n == 0) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "empty separator");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	list = PyList_New(0);
+	if (list == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
+	i = j = 0;
+	while (i+n <= len) {
+		if (s[i] == sub[0] && (n == 1 || memcmp(s+i, sub, n) == 0)) {
+			item = PyString_FromStringAndSize(s+j, (int)(i-j));
+			if (item == NULL)
+				goto fail;
+			err = PyList_Append(list, item);
+			Py_DECREF(item);
+			if (err < 0)
+				goto fail;
+			i = j = i + n;
+			splitcount++;
+			if (maxsplit && (splitcount >= maxsplit))
+				break;
+		}
+		else
+			i++;
+	}
+	item = PyString_FromStringAndSize(s+j, (int)(len-j));
+	if (item == NULL)
+		goto fail;
+	err = PyList_Append(list, item);
+	Py_DECREF(item);
+	if (err < 0)
+		goto fail;
+
+	return list;
+
+ fail:
+	Py_DECREF(list);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static char join__doc__[] =
+"S.join(sequence) -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a string which is the concatenation of the string representation\n\
+of every element in the sequence.  The separator between elements is S.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_join(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *sep = PyString_AS_STRING(self);
+	int seplen = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	PyObject *res = NULL;
+	int reslen = 0;
+	char *p;
+	int seqlen = 0;
+	int sz = 100;
+	int i, slen;
+	PyObject *seq;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O", &seq))
+		return NULL;
+
+	seqlen = PySequence_Length(seq);
+	if (seqlen < 0 && PyErr_Occurred())
+		return NULL;
+
+	if (seqlen == 1) {
+		/* Optimization if there's only one item */
+		PyObject *item = PySequence_GetItem(seq, 0);
+		PyObject *stritem = PyObject_Str(item);
+		Py_DECREF(item);
+		return stritem;
+	}
+	if (!(res = PyString_FromStringAndSize((char*)NULL, sz)))
+		return NULL;
+	p = PyString_AsString(res);
+
+	/* optimize for lists.  all others (tuples and arbitrary sequences)
+	 * just use the abstract interface.
+	 */
+	if (PyList_Check(seq)) {
+		for (i = 0; i < seqlen; i++) {
+			PyObject *item = PyList_GET_ITEM(seq, i);
+			PyObject *sitem = PyObject_Str(item);
+			if (!sitem)
+				goto finally;
+			slen = PyString_GET_SIZE(sitem);
+			while (reslen + slen + seplen >= sz) {
+				if (_PyString_Resize(&res, sz*2))
+					goto finally;
+				sz *= 2;
+				p = PyString_AsString(res) + reslen;
+			}
+			if (i > 0) {
+				memcpy(p, sep, seplen);
+				p += seplen;
+				reslen += seplen;
+			}
+			memcpy(p, PyString_AS_STRING(sitem), slen);
+			p += slen;
+			reslen += slen;
+		}
+	}
+	else {
+		for (i = 0; i < seqlen; i++) {
+			PyObject *item = PySequence_GetItem(seq, i);
+			PyObject *sitem;
+			if (!item || !(sitem = PyObject_Str(item))) {
+				Py_XDECREF(item);
+				goto finally;
+			}
+			slen = PyString_GET_SIZE(sitem);
+			while (reslen + slen + seplen >= sz) {
+				if (_PyString_Resize(&res, sz*2))
+					goto finally;
+				sz *= 2;
+				p = PyString_AsString(res) + reslen;
+			}
+			if (i > 0) {
+				memcpy(p, sep, seplen);
+				p += seplen;
+				reslen += seplen;
+			}
+			memcpy(p, PyString_AS_STRING(sitem), slen);
+			p += slen;
+			reslen += slen;
+		}
+	}
+	if (_PyString_Resize(&res, reslen))
+		goto finally;
+	return res;
+
+  finally:
+	Py_DECREF(res);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+
+static long
+string_find_internal(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *sub;
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	int n, i = 0, last = INT_MAX;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#|ii", &sub, &n, &i, &last))
+		return -2;
+
+	if (last > len)
+		last = len;
+	if (last < 0)
+		last += len;
+	if (last < 0)
+		last = 0;
+	if (i < 0)
+		i += len;
+	if (i < 0)
+		i = 0;
+
+	if (n == 0 && i <= last)
+		return (long)i;
+
+	last -= n;
+	for (; i <= last; ++i)
+		if (s[i] == sub[0] &&
+		    (n == 1 || memcmp(&s[i+1], &sub[1], n-1) == 0))
+			return (long)i;
+
+	return -1;
+}
+
+
+static char find__doc__[] =
+"S.find(sub [,start [,end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Return the lowest index in S where substring sub is found,\n\
+such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional\n\
+arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.\n\
+\n\
+Return -1 on failure.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_find(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	long result = string_find_internal(self, args);
+	if (result == -2)
+		return NULL;
+	return PyInt_FromLong(result);
+}
+
+
+static char index__doc__[] =
+"S.index(sub [,start [,end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Like S.find() but raise ValueError when the substring is not found.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_index(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	long result = string_find_internal(self, args);
+	if (result == -2)
+		return NULL;
+	if (result == -1) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+				"substring not found in string.index");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return PyInt_FromLong(result);
+}
+
+
+static long
+string_rfind_internal(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *sub;
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self), n, j;
+	int i = 0, last = INT_MAX;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#|ii", &sub, &n, &i, &last))
+		return -2;
+
+	if (last > len)
+		last = len;
+	if (last < 0)
+		last += len;
+	if (last < 0)
+		last = 0;
+	if (i < 0)
+		i += len;
+	if (i < 0)
+		i = 0;
+
+	if (n == 0 && i <= last)
+		return (long)last;
+
+	for (j = last-n; j >= i; --j)
+		if (s[j] == sub[0] &&
+		    (n == 1 || memcmp(&s[j+1], &sub[1], n-1) == 0))
+			return (long)j;
+
+	return -1;
+}
+
+
+static char rfind__doc__[] =
+"S.rfind(sub [,start [,end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Return the highest index in S where substring sub is found,\n\
+such that sub is contained within s[start,end].  Optional\n\
+arguments start and end are interpreted as in slice notation.\n\
+\n\
+Return -1 on failure.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_rfind(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	long result = string_rfind_internal(self, args);
+	if (result == -2)
+		return NULL;
+	return PyInt_FromLong(result);
+}
+
+
+static char rindex__doc__[] =
+"S.rindex(sub [,start [,end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Like S.rfind() but raise ValueError when the substring is not found.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_rindex(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	long result = string_rfind_internal(self, args);
+	if (result == -2)
+		return NULL;
+	if (result == -1) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+				"substring not found in string.rindex");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return PyInt_FromLong(result);
+}
+
+
+static PyObject *
+do_strip(self, args, striptype)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+	int striptype;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self);
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self), i, j;
+	PyObject *scobj = NULL;
+	int count = -1;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "|Oi", scobj, count))
+		return NULL;
+
+	i = 0;
+	if (striptype != RIGHTSTRIP) {
+		while (i < len && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(s[i]))) {
+			i++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	j = len;
+	if (striptype != LEFTSTRIP) {
+		do {
+			j--;
+		} while (j >= i && isspace(Py_CHARMASK(s[j])));
+		j++;
+	}
+
+	if (i == 0 && j == len) {
+		Py_INCREF(self);
+		return (PyObject*)self;
+	}
+	else
+		return PyString_FromStringAndSize(s+i, j-i);
+}
+
+
+static char strip__doc__[] =
+"S.strip() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S with leading and trailing\n\
+whitespace removed.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_strip(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	return do_strip(self, args, BOTHSTRIP);
+}
+
+
+static char lstrip__doc__[] =
+"S.lstrip() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S with leading whitespace removed.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_lstrip(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	return do_strip(self, args, LEFTSTRIP);
+}
+
+
+static char rstrip__doc__[] =
+"S.rstrip() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S with trailing whitespace removed.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_rstrip(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	return do_strip(self, args, RIGHTSTRIP);
+}
+
+
+static char lower__doc__[] =
+"S.lower() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S converted to lowercase.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_lower(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *s_new;
+	int i, n = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	PyObject *new;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ""))
+		return NULL;
+	new = PyString_FromStringAndSize(NULL, n);
+	if (new == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+	s_new = PyString_AsString(new);
+	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+		int c = Py_CHARMASK(*s++);
+		if (isupper(c)) {
+			*s_new = tolower(c);
+		} else
+			*s_new = c;
+		s_new++;
+	}
+	return new;
+}
+
+
+static char upper__doc__[] =
+"S.upper() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S converted to uppercase.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_upper(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *s_new;
+	int i, n = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	PyObject *new;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ""))
+		return NULL;
+	new = PyString_FromStringAndSize(NULL, n);
+	if (new == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+	s_new = PyString_AsString(new);
+	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+		int c = Py_CHARMASK(*s++);
+		if (islower(c)) {
+			*s_new = toupper(c);
+		} else
+			*s_new = c;
+		s_new++;
+	}
+	return new;
+}
+
+
+static char capitalize__doc__[] =
+"S.capitalize() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S with only its first character\n\
+capitalized.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_capitalize(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *s_new;
+	int i, n = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	PyObject *new;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ""))
+		return NULL;
+	new = PyString_FromStringAndSize(NULL, n);
+	if (new == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+	s_new = PyString_AsString(new);
+	if (0 < n) {
+		int c = Py_CHARMASK(*s++);
+		if (islower(c))
+			*s_new = toupper(c);
+		else
+			*s_new = c;
+		s_new++;
+	}
+	for (i = 1; i < n; i++) {
+		int c = Py_CHARMASK(*s++);
+		if (isupper(c))
+			*s_new = tolower(c);
+		else
+			*s_new = c;
+		s_new++;
+	}
+	return new;
+}
+
+
+static char count__doc__[] =
+"S.count(sub[, start[, end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Return the number of occurrences of substring sub in string\n\
+S[start:end].  Optional arguments start and end are\n\
+interpreted as in slice notation.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_count(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *sub;
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self), n;
+	int i = 0, last = INT_MAX;
+	int m, r;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#|ii", &sub, &n, &i, &last))
+		return NULL;
+	if (last > len)
+		last = len;
+	if (last < 0)
+		last += len;
+	if (last < 0)
+		last = 0;
+	if (i < 0)
+		i += len;
+	if (i < 0)
+		i = 0;
+	m = last + 1 - n;
+	if (n == 0)
+		return PyInt_FromLong((long) (m-i));
+
+	r = 0;
+	while (i < m) {
+		if (!memcmp(s+i, sub, n)) {
+			r++;
+			i += n;
+		} else {
+			i++;
+		}
+	}
+	return PyInt_FromLong((long) r);
+}
+
+
+static char swapcase__doc__[] =
+"S.swapcase() -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S with upper case characters\n\
+converted to lowercase and vice versa.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_swapcase(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *s = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *s_new;
+	int i, n = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	PyObject *new;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ""))
+		return NULL;
+	new = PyString_FromStringAndSize(NULL, n);
+	if (new == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+	s_new = PyString_AsString(new);
+	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+		int c = Py_CHARMASK(*s++);
+		if (islower(c)) {
+			*s_new = toupper(c);
+		}
+		else if (isupper(c)) {
+			*s_new = tolower(c);
+		}
+		else
+			*s_new = c;
+		s_new++;
+	}
+	return new;
+}
+
+
+static char translate__doc__[] =
+"S.translate(table [,deletechars]) -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of the string S, where all characters occurring\n\
+in the optional argument deletechars are removed, and the\n\
+remaining characters have been mapped through the given\n\
+translation table, which must be a string of length 256.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_translate(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	register char *input, *table, *output;
+	register int i, c, changed = 0;
+	PyObject *input_obj = (PyObject*)self;
+	char *table1, *output_start, *del_table=NULL;
+	int inlen, tablen, dellen = 0;
+	PyObject *result;
+	int trans_table[256];
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#|t#",
+			      &table1, &tablen, &del_table, &dellen))
+		return NULL;
+	if (tablen != 256) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+			      "translation table must be 256 characters long");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	table = table1;
+	inlen = PyString_Size(input_obj);
+	result = PyString_FromStringAndSize((char *)NULL, inlen);
+	if (result == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+	output_start = output = PyString_AsString(result);
+	input = PyString_AsString(input_obj);
+
+	if (dellen == 0) {
+		/* If no deletions are required, use faster code */
+		for (i = inlen; --i >= 0; ) {
+			c = Py_CHARMASK(*input++);
+			if (Py_CHARMASK((*output++ = table[c])) != c)
+				changed = 1;
+		}
+		if (changed)
+			return result;
+		Py_DECREF(result);
+		Py_INCREF(input_obj);
+		return input_obj;
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < 256; i++)
+		trans_table[i] = Py_CHARMASK(table[i]);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < dellen; i++)
+		trans_table[(int) Py_CHARMASK(del_table[i])] = -1;
+
+	for (i = inlen; --i >= 0; ) {
+		c = Py_CHARMASK(*input++);
+		if (trans_table[c] != -1)
+			if (Py_CHARMASK(*output++ = (char)trans_table[c]) == c)
+				continue;
+		changed = 1;
+	}
+	if (!changed) {
+		Py_DECREF(result);
+		Py_INCREF(input_obj);
+		return input_obj;
+	}
+	/* Fix the size of the resulting string */
+	if (inlen > 0 &&_PyString_Resize(&result, output-output_start))
+		return NULL;
+	return result;
+}
+
+
+/* What follows is used for implementing replace().  Perry Stoll. */
+
+/*
+  mymemfind
+
+  strstr replacement for arbitrary blocks of memory.
+
+  Locates the first occurance in the memory pointed to by MEM of the
+  contents of memory pointed to by PAT.  Returns the index into MEM if
+  found, or -1 if not found.  If len of PAT is greater than length of
+  MEM, the function returns -1.
+*/
+static int 
+mymemfind(mem, len, pat, pat_len)
+	char *mem;
+	int len;
+	char *pat;
+	int pat_len;
+{
+	register int ii;
+
+	/* pattern can not occur in the last pat_len-1 chars */
+	len -= pat_len;
+
+	for (ii = 0; ii <= len; ii++) {
+		if (mem[ii] == pat[0] &&
+		    (pat_len == 1 ||
+		     memcmp(&mem[ii+1], &pat[1], pat_len-1) == 0)) {
+			return ii;
+		}
+	}
+	return -1;
+}
+
+/*
+  mymemcnt
+
+   Return the number of distinct times PAT is found in MEM.
+   meaning mem=1111 and pat==11 returns 2.
+           mem=11111 and pat==11 also return 2.
+ */
+static int 
+mymemcnt(mem, len, pat, pat_len)
+	char *mem;
+	int len;
+	char *pat;
+	int pat_len;
+{
+	register int offset = 0;
+	int nfound = 0;
+
+	while (len >= 0) {
+		offset = mymemfind(mem, len, pat, pat_len);
+		if (offset == -1)
+			break;
+		mem += offset + pat_len;
+		len -= offset + pat_len;
+		nfound++;
+	}
+	return nfound;
+}
+
+/*
+   mymemreplace
+
+   Return a string in which all occurences of PAT in memory STR are
+   replaced with SUB.
+
+   If length of PAT is less than length of STR or there are no occurences
+   of PAT in STR, then the original string is returned. Otherwise, a new
+   string is allocated here and returned.
+
+   on return, out_len is:
+       the length of output string, or
+       -1 if the input string is returned, or
+       unchanged if an error occurs (no memory).
+
+   return value is:
+       the new string allocated locally, or
+       NULL if an error occurred.
+*/
+static char *
+mymemreplace(str, len, pat, pat_len, sub, sub_len, count, out_len)
+	char *str;
+	int len;     /* input string  */
+	char *pat;
+	int pat_len; /* pattern string to find */
+	char *sub;
+	int sub_len; /* substitution string */
+	int count;   /* number of replacements, 0 == all */
+	int *out_len;
+
+{
+	char *out_s;
+	char *new_s;
+	int nfound, offset, new_len;
+
+	if (len == 0 || pat_len > len)
+		goto return_same;
+
+	/* find length of output string */
+	nfound = mymemcnt(str, len, pat, pat_len);
+	if (count > 0)
+		nfound = nfound > count ? count : nfound;
+	if (nfound == 0)
+		goto return_same;
+	new_len = len + nfound*(sub_len - pat_len);
+
+	new_s = (char *)malloc(new_len);
+	if (new_s == NULL) return NULL;
+
+	*out_len = new_len;
+	out_s = new_s;
+
+	while (len > 0) {
+		/* find index of next instance of pattern */
+		offset = mymemfind(str, len, pat, pat_len);
+		/* if not found,  break out of loop */
+		if (offset == -1) break;
+
+		/* copy non matching part of input string */
+		memcpy(new_s, str, offset); /* copy part of str before pat */
+		str += offset + pat_len; /* move str past pattern */
+		len -= offset + pat_len; /* reduce length of str remaining */
+
+		/* copy substitute into the output string */
+		new_s += offset; /* move new_s to dest for sub string */
+		memcpy(new_s, sub, sub_len); /* copy substring into new_s */
+		new_s += sub_len; /* offset new_s past sub string */
+
+		/* break when we've done count replacements */
+		if (--count == 0) break;
+	}
+	/* copy any remaining values into output string */
+	if (len > 0)
+		memcpy(new_s, str, len);
+	return out_s;
+
+  return_same:
+	*out_len = -1;
+	return str;
+}
+
+
+static char replace__doc__[] =
+"S.replace (old, new[, maxsplit]) -> string\n\
+\n\
+Return a copy of string S with all occurrences of substring\n\
+old replaced by new.  If the optional argument maxsplit is\n\
+given, only the first maxsplit occurrences are replaced.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_replace(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char *str = PyString_AS_STRING(self), *pat,*sub,*new_s;
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self), pat_len,sub_len,out_len;
+	int count = 0;
+	PyObject *new;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#t#|i",
+			      &pat, &pat_len, &sub, &sub_len, &count))
+		return NULL;
+	if (pat_len <= 0) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "empty pattern string");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	new_s = mymemreplace(str,len,pat,pat_len,sub,sub_len,count,&out_len);
+	if (new_s == NULL) {
+		PyErr_NoMemory();
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	if (out_len == -1) {
+		/* we're returning another reference to self */
+		new = (PyObject*)self;
+		Py_INCREF(new);
+	}
+	else {
+		new = PyString_FromStringAndSize(new_s, out_len);
+		free(new_s);
+	}
+	return new;
+}
+
+
+static char startswith__doc__[] =
+"S.startswith(prefix[, start[, end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Return 1 if S starts with the specified prefix, otherwise return 0.  With\n\
+optional start, test S beginning at that position.  With optional end, stop\n\
+comparing S at that position.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_startswith(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char* str = PyString_AS_STRING(self);
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	char* prefix;
+	int plen;
+	int start = 0;
+	int end = -1;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#|ii", &prefix, &plen, &start, &end))
+		return NULL;
+
+	/* adopt Java semantics for index out of range.  it is legal for
+	 * offset to be == plen, but this only returns true if prefix is
+	 * the empty string.
+	 */
+	if (start < 0 || start+plen > len)
+		return PyInt_FromLong(0);
+
+	if (!memcmp(str+start, prefix, plen)) {
+		/* did the match end after the specified end? */
+		if (end < 0)
+			return PyInt_FromLong(1);
+		else if (end - start < plen)
+			return PyInt_FromLong(0);
+		else
+			return PyInt_FromLong(1);
+	}
+	else return PyInt_FromLong(0);
+}
+
+
+static char endswith__doc__[] =
+"S.endswith(suffix[, start[, end]]) -> int\n\
+\n\
+Return 1 if S ends with the specified suffix, otherwise return 0.  With\n\
+optional start, test S beginning at that position.  With optional end, stop\n\
+comparing S at that position.";
+
+static PyObject *
+string_endswith(self, args)
+	PyStringObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	char* str = PyString_AS_STRING(self);
+	int len = PyString_GET_SIZE(self);
+	char* suffix;
+	int plen;
+	int start = 0;
+	int end = -1;
+	int lower, upper;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "t#|ii", &suffix, &plen, &start, &end))
+		return NULL;
+
+	if (start < 0 || start > len || plen > len)
+		return PyInt_FromLong(0);
+
+	upper = (end >= 0 && end <= len) ? end : len;
+	lower = (upper - plen) > start ? (upper - plen) : start;
+
+	if (upper-lower >= plen && !memcmp(str+lower, suffix, plen))
+		return PyInt_FromLong(1);
+	else return PyInt_FromLong(0);
+}
+
+
+
+static PyMethodDef 
+string_methods[] = {
+	/* counterparts of the obsolete stropmodule functions */
+	{"capitalize", (PyCFunction)string_capitalize, 1, capitalize__doc__},
+	{"count",      (PyCFunction)string_count,      1, count__doc__},
+	{"endswith",   (PyCFunction)string_endswith,   1, endswith__doc__},
+	{"find",       (PyCFunction)string_find,       1, find__doc__},
+	{"index",      (PyCFunction)string_index,      1, index__doc__},
+	{"join",       (PyCFunction)string_join,       1, join__doc__},
+	{"lstrip",     (PyCFunction)string_lstrip,     1, lstrip__doc__},
+	{"lower",      (PyCFunction)string_lower,      1, lower__doc__},
+	/* maketrans */
+	{"replace",     (PyCFunction)string_replace,     1, replace__doc__},
+	{"rfind",       (PyCFunction)string_rfind,       1, rfind__doc__},
+	{"rindex",      (PyCFunction)string_rindex,      1, rindex__doc__},
+	{"rstrip",      (PyCFunction)string_rstrip,      1, rstrip__doc__},
+	{"split",       (PyCFunction)string_split,       1, split__doc__},
+	{"startswith",  (PyCFunction)string_startswith,  1, startswith__doc__},
+	{"strip",       (PyCFunction)string_strip,       1, strip__doc__},
+	{"swapcase",    (PyCFunction)string_swapcase,    1, swapcase__doc__},
+	{"translate",   (PyCFunction)string_translate,   1, strip__doc__},
+	{"upper",       (PyCFunction)string_upper,       1, upper__doc__},
+	/* TBD */
+/* 	{"ljust"        (PyCFunction)string_ljust,       1, ljust__doc__}, */
+/* 	{"rjust"        (PyCFunction)string_rjust,       1, rjust__doc__}, */
+/* 	{"center"       (PyCFunction)string_center,      1, center__doc__}, */
+/* 	{"zfill"        (PyCFunction)string_zfill,       1, zfill__doc__}, */
+/* 	{"expandtabs"   (PyCFunction)string_expandtabs,  1, ljust__doc__}, */
+/* 	{"capwords"     (PyCFunction)string_capwords,    1, capwords__doc__}, */
+	{NULL,     NULL}		     /* sentinel */
+};
+
+static PyObject *
+string_getattr(s, name)
+	PyStringObject *s;
+	char *name;
+{
+	return Py_FindMethod(string_methods, (PyObject*)s, name);
+}
+
+
 PyTypeObject PyString_Type = {
 	PyObject_HEAD_INIT(&PyType_Type)
 	0,
@@ -533,7 +1576,7 @@
 	sizeof(char),
 	(destructor)string_dealloc, /*tp_dealloc*/
 	(printfunc)string_print, /*tp_print*/
-	0,		/*tp_getattr*/
+	(getattrfunc)string_getattr,		/*tp_getattr*/
 	0,		/*tp_setattr*/
 	(cmpfunc)string_compare, /*tp_compare*/
 	(reprfunc)string_repr, /*tp_repr*/
diff --git a/Python/bltinmodule.c b/Python/bltinmodule.c
index 9bb8784..c220d841 100644
--- a/Python/bltinmodule.c
+++ b/Python/bltinmodule.c
@@ -812,24 +812,6 @@
 
 
 static PyObject *
-builtin_float(self, args)
-	PyObject *self;
-	PyObject *args;
-{
-	PyObject *v;
-
-	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O:float", &v))
-		return NULL;
-	return PyNumber_Float(v);
-}
-
-static char float_doc[] =
-"float(x) -> floating point number\n\
-\n\
-Convert a string or number to a floating point number, if possible.";
-
-
-static PyObject *
 builtin_getattr(self, args)
 	PyObject *self;
 	PyObject *args;
@@ -1251,17 +1233,79 @@
 	PyObject *args;
 {
 	PyObject *v;
+	int base = -909;		     /* unlikely! */
 
-	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O:int", &v))
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O|i:int", &v, &base))
 		return NULL;
-	return PyNumber_Int(v);
+	if (base == -909)
+		return PyNumber_Int(v);
+	else if (!PyString_Check(v)) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
+				"can't convert non-string with explicit base");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return PyInt_FromString(PyString_AS_STRING(v), NULL, base);
 }
 
 static char int_doc[] =
-"int(x) -> integer\n\
+"int(x[, base]) -> integer\n\
 \n\
-Convert a string or number to an integer, if possible.\n\
-A floating point argument will be truncated towards zero.";
+Convert a string or number to an integer, if possible.  A floating point\n\
+argument will be truncated towards zero (this does not include a string\n\
+representation of a floating point number!)  When converting a string, use\n\
+the optional base.  It is an error to supply a base when converting a\n\
+non-string.";
+
+
+static PyObject *
+builtin_long(self, args)
+	PyObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	PyObject *v;
+	int base = -909;		     /* unlikely! */
+	
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O|i:long", &v, &base))
+		return NULL;
+	if (base == -909)
+		return PyNumber_Long(v);
+	else if (!PyString_Check(v)) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
+				"can't convert non-string with explicit base");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return PyLong_FromString(PyString_AS_STRING(v), NULL, base);
+}
+
+static char long_doc[] =
+"long(x) -> long integer\n\
+long(x, base) -> long integer\n\
+\n\
+Convert a string or number to a long integer, if possible.  A floating\n\
+point argument will be truncated towards zero (this does not include a\n\
+string representation of a floating point number!)  When converting a\n\
+string, use the given base.  It is an error to supply a base when\n\
+converting a non-string.";
+
+
+static PyObject *
+builtin_float(self, args)
+	PyObject *self;
+	PyObject *args;
+{
+	PyObject *v;
+
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O:float", &v))
+		return NULL;
+	if (PyString_Check(v))
+		return PyFloat_FromString(v, NULL);
+	return PyNumber_Float(v);
+}
+
+static char float_doc[] =
+"float(x) -> floating point number\n\
+\n\
+Convert a string or number to a floating point number, if possible.";
 
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -1352,25 +1396,6 @@
 
 
 static PyObject *
-builtin_long(self, args)
-	PyObject *self;
-	PyObject *args;
-{
-	PyObject *v;
-	
-	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O:long", &v))
-		return NULL;
-	return PyNumber_Long(v);
-}
-
-static char long_doc[] =
-"long(x) -> long integer\n\
-\n\
-Convert a string or number to a long integer, if possible.\n\
-A floating point argument will be truncated towards zero.";
-
-
-static PyObject *
 min_max(args, sign)
 	PyObject *args;
 	int sign;