My class contains an array of bits, currently expressed as boost::array<bool, 512>. Will archives compact representations to multiple bits per serialized atom, or will they potentially waste a lot of space? Regardless of the answer, I was thinking of compacting the data myself. One way would be to compact the array into boost::array<unsigned char, CEIL(512 / CHAR_BIT)> and serialize that. But I've wondered what happens between systems with differing CHAR_BIT values. The solution I'm leaning towards is to create a text string like base-64 (pack every 6 bits together) and serialize that. By the way, a bit stream may not use all 512 bits and I'm also tracking (and serializing) a length attribute. I guess I should make sure that the length is serialized first. How do I serialize an arbitrary text string? How do I write the serialization routines knowing that one member (the bit array) is indirectly expressed (i.e. translate to/from the text string)? I guess I need separate save & load methods at least. -- Daryle Walker Mac, Internet, and Video Game Junkie darylew AT hotmail DOT com