diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 12bb4c5b..d40d0a86 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 Makefile.in
 Makefile
 Config.h
+Config.h.in
 config.log
 config.status
 .deps
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h b/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h
index 200b8ee3..60e3e3af 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/BaseIO.h
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ namespace Grid {
     typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
     write(const std::string& s, const U &output);
     template <typename U>
-    typename std::enable_if<!std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
+    typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<U>::value, void>::type
+    write(const std::string& s, const U &output);
+    template <typename U>
+    typename std::enable_if<
+      !(std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value or std::is_enum<U>::value),
+      void>::type
     write(const std::string& s, const U &output);
   private:
     T *upcast;
@@ -41,7 +46,12 @@ namespace Grid {
     typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
     read(const std::string& s, U &output);
     template <typename U>
-    typename std::enable_if<!std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
+    typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<U>::value, void>::type
+    read(const std::string& s, U &output);
+    template <typename U>
+    typename std::enable_if<
+      !(std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value or std::is_enum<U>::value),
+      void>::type
     read(const std::string& s, U &output);
   protected:
     template <typename U>
@@ -146,7 +156,17 @@ namespace Grid {
   
   template <typename T>
   template <typename U>
-  typename std::enable_if<!std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
+  typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<U>::value, void>::type
+  Writer<T>::write(const std::string &s, const U &output)
+  {
+    EnumIO<U>::write(*this, s, output);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U>
+  typename std::enable_if<
+    !(std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value or std::is_enum<U>::value),
+    void>::type
   Writer<T>::write(const std::string &s, const U &output)
   {
     upcast->writeDefault(s, output);
@@ -181,7 +201,17 @@ namespace Grid {
   
   template <typename T>
   template <typename U>
-  typename std::enable_if<!std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value, void>::type
+  typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<U>::value, void>::type
+  Reader<T>::read(const std::string &s, U &output)
+  {
+    EnumIO<U>::read(*this, s, output);
+  }
+  
+  template <typename T>
+  template <typename U>
+  typename std::enable_if<
+    !(std::is_base_of<Serializable, U>::value or std::is_enum<U>::value),
+    void>::type
   Reader<T>::read(const std::string &s, U &output)
   {
     upcast->readDefault(s, output);
@@ -205,7 +235,7 @@ namespace Grid {
       abort();
     }
   }
-  
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.cc b/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.cc
index f546ddb4..250285e5 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.cc
+++ b/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.cc
@@ -1,36 +1,43 @@
 #include <Grid.h>
 
+using namespace Grid;
+using namespace std;
 
-namespace Grid {
 // Writer implementation ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-BinaryWriter::BinaryWriter(const std::string &fileName)
-: file_(fileName, std::ios::binary|std::ios::out)
+BinaryWriter::BinaryWriter(const string &fileName)
+: file_(fileName, ios::binary|ios::out)
 {}
 
 template <>
-void BinaryWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::string &output)
+void BinaryWriter::writeDefault(const string &s, const string &x)
 {
-  uint64_t sz = output.size();
+    uint64_t sz = x.size();
+    
+    write("", sz);
+    for (uint64_t i = 0; i < sz; ++i)
+    {
+        write("", x[i]);
+    }
+}
+
+void BinaryWriter::writeDefault(const string &s, const char *x)
+{
+  string sx(x);
   
-  write("", sz);
-  for (uint64_t i = 0; i < sz; ++i)
-  {
-    write("", output[i]);
-  }
+  writeDefault(s, sx);
 }
 
 // Reader implementation ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-BinaryReader::BinaryReader(const std::string &fileName)
-: file_(fileName, std::ios::binary|std::ios::in)
+BinaryReader::BinaryReader(const string &fileName)
+: file_(fileName, ios::binary|ios::in)
 {}
 
 template <>
-void BinaryReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::string &output)
+void BinaryReader::readDefault(const string &s, string &output)
 {
-  uint64_t sz;
+    uint64_t sz;
   
-  read("", sz);
-  output.reserve(sz);
-  file_.read((char *)output.data(), sz);
-}
+    read("", sz);
+    output.resize(sz);
+    file_.read((char *)output.data(), sz);
 }
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.h b/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.h
index 004ab9a8..f0cfb941 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/BinaryIO.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ namespace Grid {
     void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const U &x);
     template <typename U>
     void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::vector<U> &x);
+    void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const char *x);
   private:
     std::ofstream file_;
   };
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ namespace Grid {
     file_.write((char *)&x, sizeof(U));
   }
   
+  template <>
+  void BinaryWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::string &x);
+  
   template <typename U>
   void BinaryWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::vector<U> &x)
   {
@@ -67,6 +71,9 @@ namespace Grid {
     file_.read((char *)&output, sizeof(U));
   }
   
+  template <>
+  void BinaryReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::string &output);
+  
   template <typename U>
   void BinaryReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::vector<U> &output)
   {
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/MacroMagic.h b/lib/serialisation/MacroMagic.h
index ee497ce4..34fd893f 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/MacroMagic.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/MacroMagic.h
@@ -109,12 +109,11 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 #define GRID_MACRO_MEMBER(A,B)        A B;
-
 #define GRID_MACRO_OS_WRITE_MEMBER(A,B) os<< #A <<" "#B <<" = "<< obj. B <<" ; " <<std::endl;
 #define GRID_MACRO_READ_MEMBER(A,B) Grid::read(RD,#B,obj. B);
 #define GRID_MACRO_WRITE_MEMBER(A,B) Grid::write(WR,#B,obj. B);
 
-#define GRID_DECL_CLASS_MEMBERS(cname,...)		\
+#define GRID_SERIALIZABLE_CLASS_MEMBERS(cname,...)		\
   \
   \
   GRID_MACRO_EVAL(GRID_MACRO_MAP(GRID_MACRO_MEMBER,__VA_ARGS__))		\
@@ -144,4 +143,51 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
   };  
 
 
+
+#define GRID_ENUM_TYPE(obj) std::remove_reference<decltype(obj)>::type
+#define GRID_MACRO_ENUMVAL(A,B) A = B,
+#define GRID_MACRO_ENUMCASE(A,B) case GRID_ENUM_TYPE(obj)::A: Grid::write(WR,s,#A); break;
+#define GRID_MACRO_ENUMTEST(A,B) else if (buf == #A) {obj = GRID_ENUM_TYPE(obj)::A;}
+#define GRID_MACRO_ENUMCASEIO(A,B) case GRID_ENUM_TYPE(obj)::A: os << #A; break;
+
+namespace Grid {
+  template <typename U>
+  class EnumIO {};
+}
+
+#define GRID_SERIALIZABLE_ENUM(name,undefname,...)\
+  enum class name {\
+      GRID_MACRO_EVAL(GRID_MACRO_MAP(GRID_MACRO_ENUMVAL,__VA_ARGS__))\
+      undefname = -1\
+  };\
+  \
+  template<>\
+  class EnumIO<name> {\
+    public:\
+      template <typename T>\
+      static void write(Writer<T> &WR,const std::string &s, const name &obj){ \
+        switch (obj) {\
+          GRID_MACRO_EVAL(GRID_MACRO_MAP(GRID_MACRO_ENUMCASE,__VA_ARGS__))\
+          default: Grid::write(WR,s,#undefname); break;\
+        }\
+      }\
+      \
+      template <typename T>\
+      static void read(Reader<T> &RD,const std::string &s, name &obj){ \
+        std::string buf;\
+        Grid::read(RD, s, buf);\
+        if (buf == #undefname) {obj = name::undefname;}\
+        GRID_MACRO_EVAL(GRID_MACRO_MAP(GRID_MACRO_ENUMTEST,__VA_ARGS__))\
+        else {obj = name::undefname;}\
+      }\
+  };\
+  \
+  std::ostream & operator << (std::ostream &os, const name &obj ) { \
+    switch (obj) {\
+        GRID_MACRO_EVAL(GRID_MACRO_MAP(GRID_MACRO_ENUMCASEIO,__VA_ARGS__))\
+        default: os << #undefname; break;\
+    }\
+    return os;\
+  };
+
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/TextIO.cc b/lib/serialisation/TextIO.cc
index 8b9c4f01..a1caa8db 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/TextIO.cc
+++ b/lib/serialisation/TextIO.cc
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 #include <Grid.h>
 
-namespace Grid {
+using namespace Grid;
+using namespace std;
+
 // Writer implementation ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-TextWriter::TextWriter(const std::string &fileName)
-: file_(fileName, std::ios::out)
+TextWriter::TextWriter(const string &fileName)
+: file_(fileName, ios::out)
 {}
 
-void TextWriter::push(const std::string &s)
+void TextWriter::push(const string &s)
 {
   level_++;
 };
@@ -25,11 +27,11 @@ void TextWriter::indent(void)
 };
 
 // Reader implementation ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-TextReader::TextReader(const std::string &fileName)
-: file_(fileName, std::ios::in)
+TextReader::TextReader(const string &fileName)
+: file_(fileName, ios::in)
 {}
 
-void TextReader::push(const std::string &s)
+void TextReader::push(const string &s)
 {
   level_++;
 };
@@ -48,9 +50,9 @@ void TextReader::checkIndent(void)
     file_.get(c);
     if (c != '\t')
     {
-      std::cerr << "mismatch on tab " << c << " level " << level_;
-      std::cerr << " i "<< i <<std::endl;
-      std::abort();
+      cerr << "mismatch on tab " << c << " level " << level_;
+      cerr << " i "<< i << endl;
+      abort();
     }
   }
 }
@@ -58,8 +60,7 @@ void TextReader::checkIndent(void)
 template <>
 void TextReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::string &output)
 {
-  checkIndent();
-  output.clear();
-  getline(file_, output);
-}
+    checkIndent();
+    output.clear();
+    getline(file_, output);
 }
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/TextIO.h b/lib/serialisation/TextIO.h
index 9b69b188..a60931d1 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/TextIO.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/TextIO.h
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ namespace Grid
     void push(const std::string &s);
     void pop(void);
     template <typename U>
-    void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const U &output);
+    void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const U &x);
     template <typename U>
-    void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::vector<U> &output);
+    void writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::vector<U> &x);
   private:
     void indent(void);
   private:
@@ -50,21 +50,21 @@ namespace Grid
   
   // Writer template implementation ////////////////////////////////////////////
   template <typename U>
-  void TextWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const U &output)
+  void TextWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const U &x)
   {
     indent();
-    file_ << std::boolalpha << output << std::endl;
+    file_ << std::boolalpha << x << std::endl;
   }
   
   template <typename U>
-  void TextWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::vector<U> &output)
+  void TextWriter::writeDefault(const std::string &s, const std::vector<U> &x)
   {
-    uint64_t sz = output.size();
+    uint64_t sz = x.size();
     
     write(s, sz);
     for (uint64_t i = 0; i < sz; ++i)
     {
-      write(s, output[i]);
+      write(s, x[i]);
     }
   }
   
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ namespace Grid
     fromString(output, buf);
   }
   
+  template <>
+  void TextReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::string &output);
+  
   template <typename U>
   void TextReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::vector<U> &output)
   {
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.cc b/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.cc
index b5c6e5bd..8dd93de7 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.cc
+++ b/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.cc
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 #include <Grid.h>
 
-namespace Grid {
+using namespace Grid;
+using namespace std;
+
 // Writer implementation ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-XmlWriter::XmlWriter(const std::string &fileName)
+XmlWriter::XmlWriter(const string &fileName)
 : fileName_(fileName)
 {
   node_ = doc_.append_child();
@@ -14,7 +16,7 @@ XmlWriter::~XmlWriter(void)
   doc_.save_file(fileName_.c_str(), "  ");
 }
 
-void XmlWriter::push(const std::string &s)
+void XmlWriter::push(const string &s)
 {
   node_ = node_.append_child(s.c_str());
 }
@@ -25,22 +27,22 @@ void XmlWriter::pop(void)
 }
 
 // Reader implementation ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-XmlReader::XmlReader(const std::string &fileName)
+XmlReader::XmlReader(const string &fileName)
 : fileName_(fileName)
 {
   pugi::xml_parse_result result = doc_.load_file(fileName_.c_str());
   
   if ( !result )
   {
-    std::cerr << "XML error description: " << result.description() << "\n";
-    std::cerr << "XML error offset     : " << result.offset        << "\n";
-    std::abort();
+    cerr << "XML error description: " << result.description() << "\n";
+    cerr << "XML error offset     : " << result.offset        << "\n";
+    abort();
   }
   
   node_ = doc_.child("grid");
 }
 
-void XmlReader::push(const std::string &s)
+void XmlReader::push(const string &s)
 {
   node_ = node_.child(s.c_str());
 }
@@ -51,8 +53,7 @@ void XmlReader::pop(void)
 }
 
 template <>
-void XmlReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::string &output)
+void XmlReader::readDefault(const string &s, string &output)
 {
   output = node_.child(s.c_str()).first_child().value();
 }
-}
diff --git a/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.h b/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.h
index 45fc6fac..15bb0206 100644
--- a/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.h
+++ b/lib/serialisation/XmlIO.h
@@ -81,10 +81,12 @@ namespace Grid
     fromString(output, buf);
   }
   
+  template <>
+  void XmlReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::string &output);
+  
   template <typename U>
   void XmlReader::readDefault(const std::string &s, std::vector<U> &output)
   {
-    pugi::xml_node nodeCpy;
     std::string    buf;
     unsigned int   i = 0;
     
@@ -96,7 +98,6 @@ namespace Grid
       node_.child("elem").set_name("elem-done");
       i++;
     }
-    //    assert( is.tellg()==-1);
     pop();
   }
   
diff --git a/tests/Test_dwf_hdcr.cc b/tests/Test_dwf_hdcr.cc
index 006d0e5e..469e6cc4 100644
--- a/tests/Test_dwf_hdcr.cc
+++ b/tests/Test_dwf_hdcr.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ using namespace Grid::QCD;
 class myclass: Serializable {
 public:
 
-  GRID_DECL_CLASS_MEMBERS(myclass,
+  GRID_SERIALIZABLE_CLASS_MEMBERS(myclass,
 			  int, domaindecompose,
 			  int, domainsize,
 			  int, order,
diff --git a/tests/Test_serialisation.cc b/tests/Test_serialisation.cc
index cfb4b8e7..5ab85181 100644
--- a/tests/Test_serialisation.cc
+++ b/tests/Test_serialisation.cc
@@ -1,30 +1,39 @@
 #include <Grid.h>
 
 namespace Grid {
+  
+  GRID_SERIALIZABLE_ENUM(myenum, undef, red, 1, blue, 2, green, 3);
+    
   class myclass: Serializable {
   public:
     
-    GRID_DECL_CLASS_MEMBERS(myclass,
+    GRID_SERIALIZABLE_CLASS_MEMBERS(myclass,
+                            myenum, e,
+                            std::vector<myenum>, ve,
+                            std::string, name,
                             int, x,
                             double, y,
                             bool , b,
-                            std::string, name,
                             std::vector<double>, array,
                             std::vector<std::vector<double>>, twodimarray,
                             );
     
     myclass() {}
     myclass(int i)
-    : array(4,5.1), twodimarray(3,std::vector<double>(2,1.23456))
+    : array(4,5.1), twodimarray(3,std::vector<double>(2,1.23456)), ve(2, myenum::blue)
     {
+      e=myenum::red;
       x=i;
       y=2*i;
       b=true;
       name="bother said pooh";
     }
   };
+  
 }
 
+using namespace Grid;
+
 int16_t i16 = 1;
 uint16_t u16 = 2;
 int32_t i32 = 3;
@@ -35,8 +44,6 @@ float    f = M_PI;
 double   d = 2*M_PI;
 bool     b = false;
 
-using namespace Grid;
-
 int main(int argc,char **argv)
 {
   {
@@ -59,6 +66,7 @@ int main(int argc,char **argv)
     myclass obj(1234); // non-trivial constructor
     write(WR,"obj",obj);
     WR.write("obj2", obj);
+    std::cout << obj << std::endl;
     
     std::vector<myclass> vec;
     vec.push_back(myclass(1234));