diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 1da4648b..73f4fc76 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+2018-12-06  Markus Gans  <guru.mail@muenster.de>
+	* Easier handling of fc::SpecialCharacter
+
 2018-12-01  Markus Gans  <guru.mail@muenster.de>
 	* Switched to the language standard C++11
 	* Use delegated constructors and in-class default member initializers
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index efba8168..2b67bafd 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
                  finalcut.spec
                  finalcut.pc])
 
+# Check for C++11 support
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([[-std=c++11]],,
+                      [AC_MSG_ERROR([compiler did not accept -std=c++11])])
+
 # use GPM (General Purpose Mouse)
 AC_ARG_WITH([gpm],
             [AS_HELP_STRING([--without-gpm], [Disable GPM mouse support])],
diff --git a/examples/calculator.cpp b/examples/calculator.cpp
index ca013cea..fd16874f 100644
--- a/examples/calculator.cpp
+++ b/examples/calculator.cpp
@@ -345,11 +345,11 @@ void Calc::drawDispay()
 
   if ( isNewFont() )
   {
-    wchar_t bottom_line     = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_bottom);
-    wchar_t top_bottom_line = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_up_and_down);
-    wchar_t top_line        = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_upper);
-    wchar_t right_line      = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_rev_border_line_right);
-    wchar_t left_line       = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_left);
+    wchar_t bottom_line     = finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_bottom;
+    wchar_t top_bottom_line = finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_up_and_down;
+    wchar_t top_line        = finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_upper;
+    wchar_t right_line      = finalcut::fc::NF_rev_border_line_right;
+    wchar_t left_line       = finalcut::fc::NF_border_line_left;
     setPrintPos (3, 2);
     print (finalcut::FString(33, bottom_line));
     setPrintPos (2, 3);
@@ -367,9 +367,9 @@ void Calc::drawDispay()
   }
   else
   {
-    wchar_t vertical_and_right  = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVerticalAndRight);
-    wchar_t horizontal          = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal);
-    wchar_t vertical_and_left   = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVerticalAndLeft);
+    wchar_t vertical_and_right  = finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVerticalAndRight;
+    wchar_t horizontal          = finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal;
+    wchar_t vertical_and_left   = finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVerticalAndLeft;
     finalcut::FString separator = finalcut::FString(vertical_and_right)
                                 + finalcut::FString(35, horizontal)
                                 + finalcut::FString(vertical_and_left);
diff --git a/examples/checklist.cpp b/examples/checklist.cpp
index f4b9f462..68a69bfe 100644
--- a/examples/checklist.cpp
+++ b/examples/checklist.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ CheckList::CheckList (finalcut::FWidget* parent)
 
   // Statusbar at the bottom
   finalcut::FString separator;
-  separator << ' ' << wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVertical) << ' ';
+  separator << ' ' << finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVertical << ' ';
   listView.setStatusbarMessage ( finalcut::FString()
                                  << "<Q> exit" << separator
                                  << "<Space> select an item" << separator
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ void CheckList::cb_showList (finalcut::FWidget*, data_ptr)
         static_cast<finalcut::FListViewItem*>(*iter);
 
     if ( item->isChecked() )
-      shopping_list << wchar_t(finalcut::fc::Bullet) << ' '
+      shopping_list << finalcut::fc::Bullet << ' '
                     << item->getText(1) << '\n';
 
     ++iter;
diff --git a/examples/dialog.cpp b/examples/dialog.cpp
index 545c9bec..6ead27e1 100644
--- a/examples/dialog.cpp
+++ b/examples/dialog.cpp
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[])
   finalcut::FLabel label_1(&dgl);
   finalcut::FLabel label_2(&dgl);
 
-  label_1 << wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BlackUpPointingTriangle)
+  label_1 << finalcut::fc::BlackUpPointingTriangle
           << std::wstring(L"\n")
-          << wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsUpAndRight)
-          << finalcut::FString(2, wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal))
+          << finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsUpAndRight
+          << finalcut::FString(2, finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal)
           << " Double click the title bar button,";
   label_2 << "press Q on the keyboard,\n"
           << "or push the button below to exit\n"
diff --git a/examples/menu.cpp b/examples/menu.cpp
index 186752a6..160e77a3 100644
--- a/examples/menu.cpp
+++ b/examples/menu.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class Menu : public finalcut::FDialog
     void cb_message (finalcut::FWidget*, data_ptr);
 
     // Data Members
-    finalcut::FString        line{13, wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal)};
+    finalcut::FString        line{13, finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal};
     finalcut::FMenuBar       Menubar{this};
     finalcut::FMenu          File{"&File", &Menubar};
     finalcut::FMenu          Edit{"&Edit", &Menubar};
diff --git a/examples/mouse.cpp b/examples/mouse.cpp
index 0e93a60b..4d9dedb6 100644
--- a/examples/mouse.cpp
+++ b/examples/mouse.cpp
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ void Brushes::draw()
   setColor (fg_color, bg_color);
   setPrintPos (2, 3);
   print("   ");
-  print(finalcut::FString(3, wchar_t(finalcut::fc::MediumShade)));
+  print(finalcut::FString(3, finalcut::fc::MediumShade));
 
   if ( brush == L' ' )
     pos = 0;
@@ -251,9 +251,9 @@ void Brushes::draw()
 
   setColor();
   setPrintPos (3 + pos, 2);
-  print(wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle));
+  print(finalcut::fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle);
   setPrintPos (3 + pos, 4);
-  print(wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BlackUpPointingTriangle));
+  print(finalcut::fc::BlackUpPointingTriangle);
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ void Brushes::onMouseDown (finalcut::FMouseEvent* ev)
   }
   else if ( mouse_x >= 5 && mouse_x <= 7 && mouse_y == 3 )
   {
-    brush = wchar_t(finalcut::fc::MediumShade);
+    brush = finalcut::fc::MediumShade;
     redraw();
   }
 }
@@ -416,25 +416,25 @@ void MouseDraw::draw()
     for (int y = 2; y < y_max; y++)
     {
       setPrintPos (10, y);
-      print (wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_rev_border_line_right));
+      print (finalcut::fc::NF_rev_border_line_right);
     }
 
     setPrintPos (10, y_max);
-    print (wchar_t(finalcut::fc::NF_rev_border_corner_lower_right));
+    print (finalcut::fc::NF_rev_border_corner_lower_right);
   }
   else
   {
     setPrintPos (10, 2);
-    print (wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsDownAndHorizontal));
+    print (finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsDownAndHorizontal);
 
     for (int y = 3; y < y_max; y++)
     {
       setPrintPos (10, y);
-      print (wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVertical));
+      print (finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsVertical);
     }
 
     setPrintPos (10, y_max);
-    print (wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsUpAndHorizontal));
+    print (finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsUpAndHorizontal);
   }
 
   drawCanvas();
diff --git a/examples/transparent.cpp b/examples/transparent.cpp
index 5ee6ab4b..ebac757b 100644
--- a/examples/transparent.cpp
+++ b/examples/transparent.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void Transparent::draw()
   else
     setTransparent();
 
-  finalcut::FString line(getClientWidth(), wchar_t('.'));
+  finalcut::FString line(getClientWidth(), '.');
 
   for (int n = 1; n <= int(getClientHeight()); n++)
   {
diff --git a/examples/ui.cpp b/examples/ui.cpp
index 2ca0b22c..7a945024 100644
--- a/examples/ui.cpp
+++ b/examples/ui.cpp
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ void MyDialog::cb_noFunctionMsg (finalcut::FWidget* widget, data_ptr)
 void MyDialog::cb_about (finalcut::FWidget*, data_ptr)
 {
   const char libver[] = F_VERSION;
-  finalcut::FString line(2, wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal));
+  finalcut::FString line(2, finalcut::fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal);
 
   finalcut::FMessageBox info ( "About"
                              , line + L" The Final Cut " + line + "\n\n"
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ void MyDialog::cb_terminfo (finalcut::FWidget*, data_ptr)
       << "  Type: " << getTermType() << "\n"
       << "  Name: " << getTermFileName() << "\n"
       << "  Mode: " << getEncodingString() << "\n"
-      << "  Size: " << x << wchar_t(finalcut::fc::Times)
+      << "  Size: " << x << finalcut::fc::Times
                     << y << "\n"
       << "Colors: " << getMaxColor()
     , finalcut::FMessageBox::Ok, 0, 0, this
diff --git a/examples/windows.cpp b/examples/windows.cpp
index 1813d78c..83570c03 100644
--- a/examples/windows.cpp
+++ b/examples/windows.cpp
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ class Window : public finalcut::FDialog
 
     // Data Members
     std::vector<win_data*>    windows{};
-    finalcut::FString         drop_down_symbol{wchar_t(finalcut::fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle)};
+    finalcut::FString         drop_down_symbol{finalcut::fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle};
     finalcut::FMenuBar        Menubar{this};
     finalcut::FMenu           File{"&File", &Menubar};
     finalcut::FDialogListMenu DglList{drop_down_symbol, &Menubar};
diff --git a/src/flabel.cpp b/src/flabel.cpp
index d8499dbf..31bc95af 100644
--- a/src/flabel.cpp
+++ b/src/flabel.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,13 @@ FLabel& FLabel::operator << (const FString& s)
   return *this;
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+FLabel& FLabel::operator << (fc::SpecialCharacter c)
+{
+  setText(text + static_cast<wchar_t>(c));
+  return *this;
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FLabel& FLabel::operator << (const wchar_t c)
 {
diff --git a/src/flineedit.cpp b/src/flineedit.cpp
index 82e0e63a..8a93ded9 100644
--- a/src/flineedit.cpp
+++ b/src/flineedit.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,13 @@ FLineEdit& FLineEdit::operator << (const FString& s)
   return *this;
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+FLineEdit& FLineEdit::operator << (fc::SpecialCharacter c)
+{
+  setText(text + static_cast<wchar_t>(c));
+  return *this;
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FLineEdit& FLineEdit::operator << (const wchar_t c)
 {
diff --git a/src/flistview.cpp b/src/flistview.cpp
index 78e783db..ca697cf2 100644
--- a/src/flistview.cpp
+++ b/src/flistview.cpp
@@ -1768,7 +1768,7 @@ inline FString FListView::getCheckBox (const FListViewItem* item)
     checkbox = L"[ ] ";
 
     if ( item->isChecked() )
-      checkbox[1] = wchar_t(fc::Times);  // Times ×
+      checkbox[1] = fc::Times;  // Times ×
   }
 
   return checkbox;
@@ -1789,12 +1789,12 @@ inline FString FListView::getLinePrefix ( const FListViewItem* item
     {
       if ( item->isExpand() )
       {
-        line += wchar_t(fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle);  // ▼
+        line += fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle;  // ▼
         line += L' ';
       }
       else
       {
-        line += wchar_t(fc::BlackRightPointingPointer);  // ►
+        line += fc::BlackRightPointingPointer;  // ►
         line += L' ';
       }
     }
@@ -1821,9 +1821,9 @@ inline void FListView::drawSortIndicator ( std::size_t& length
   length++;
 
   if ( sort_order == fc::ascending )
-    headerline << wchar_t(fc::BlackUpPointingTriangle);    // ▲
+    headerline << fc::BlackUpPointingTriangle;    // ▲
   else if ( sort_order == fc::descending )
-    headerline << wchar_t(fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle);  // ▼
+    headerline << fc::BlackDownPointingTriangle;  // ▼
 
   if ( length < column_width  )
   {
@@ -1836,7 +1836,7 @@ inline void FListView::drawSortIndicator ( std::size_t& length
 inline void FListView::drawHeaderBorder (std::size_t length)
 {
   setColor();
-  const FString line (length, wchar_t(fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal));
+  const FString line (length, fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal);
   headerline << line;  // horizontal line
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fmenu.cpp b/src/fmenu.cpp
index be61ea3a..1982f89d 100644
--- a/src/fmenu.cpp
+++ b/src/fmenu.cpp
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@ inline void FMenu::drawSeparator (int y)
   {
     print (fc::NF_border_line_vertical_right);
     FString line ( std::size_t(getWidth()) - 2
-                 , wchar_t(fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal) );
+                 , fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal );
     print (line);
     print (fc::NF_rev_border_line_vertical_left);
   }
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ inline void FMenu::drawSeparator (int y)
   {
     print (fc::BoxDrawingsVerticalAndRight);
     FString line ( std::size_t(getWidth()) - 2
-                 , wchar_t(fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal));
+                 , fc::BoxDrawingsHorizontal);
     print (line);
     print (fc::BoxDrawingsVerticalAndLeft);
   }
@@ -1447,9 +1447,9 @@ inline void FMenu::drawSubMenuIndicator (std::size_t& startpos)
   if ( len > 0 )
   {
     // Print filling blank spaces
-    print (FString(len, wchar_t(' ')));
+    print (FString(len, L' '));
     // Print BlackRightPointingPointer ►
-    print (wchar_t(fc::BlackRightPointingPointer));
+    print (fc::BlackRightPointingPointer);
     startpos = max_item_width - (c + 2);
   }
 }
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ inline void FMenu::drawAcceleratorKey (std::size_t& startpos, FKey accel_key)
   if ( len > 0 )
   {
     // Print filling blank spaces + accelerator key name
-    FString spaces (len, wchar_t(' '));
+    FString spaces (len, L' ');
     print (spaces + accel_name);
     startpos = max_item_width - (c + 2);
   }
diff --git a/src/fstring.cpp b/src/fstring.cpp
index 69b5c3d0..443f1078 100644
--- a/src/fstring.cpp
+++ b/src/fstring.cpp
@@ -62,20 +62,6 @@ FString::FString (std::size_t len, wchar_t c)
     *--pe = c;
 }
 
-//----------------------------------------------------------------------
-FString::FString (std::size_t len, char c)
-{
-  wchar_t* ps;
-  wchar_t* pe;
-
-  initLength(len);
-  ps = string;
-  pe = string + len;
-
-  while ( pe != ps )
-    *--pe = wchar_t(c);
-}
-
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FString::FString (const FString& s)  // copy constructor
 {
@@ -119,6 +105,18 @@ FString::FString (const char s[])
   }
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+FString::FString (fc::SpecialCharacter c)
+{
+  if ( c )
+  {
+    wchar_t s[2];
+    s[0] = static_cast<wchar_t>(c);
+    s[1] = L'\0';
+    _assign (s);
+  }
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FString::FString (const wchar_t c)
 {
@@ -207,6 +205,14 @@ FString& FString::operator << (const FString& s)
   return *this;
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+FString& FString::operator << (fc::SpecialCharacter c)
+{
+  FString s(static_cast<wchar_t>(c));
+  _insert (length, s.length, s.string);
+  return *this;
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
 FString& FString::operator << (const wchar_t c)
 {
diff --git a/src/fvterm.cpp b/src/fvterm.cpp
index 5dad757e..143ba15f 100644
--- a/src/fvterm.cpp
+++ b/src/fvterm.cpp
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ int FVTerm::print (term_area* area, const std::vector<charData>& term_string)
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
-int FVTerm::print (int c)
+int FVTerm::print (wchar_t c)
 {
   term_area* area = getPrintArea();
 
@@ -467,14 +467,14 @@ int FVTerm::print (int c)
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------
-int FVTerm::print (term_area* area, int c)
+int FVTerm::print (term_area* area, wchar_t c)
 {
   charData nc;  // next character
 
   if ( ! area )
     return -1;
 
-  nc.code         = c;
+  nc.code         = wchar_t(c);
   nc.fg_color     = next_attribute.fg_color;
   nc.bg_color     = next_attribute.bg_color;
   nc.attr.byte[0] = next_attribute.attr.byte[0];
diff --git a/src/include/final/flabel.h b/src/include/final/flabel.h
index db2dedab..7ebf9f23 100644
--- a/src/include/final/flabel.h
+++ b/src/include/final/flabel.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ class FLabel : public FWidget
     // Overloaded operators
     FLabel& operator = (const FString&);
     FLabel& operator << (const FString&);
+    FLabel& operator << (fc::SpecialCharacter);
     FLabel& operator << (const wchar_t);
     FLabel& operator << (const uInt);
     FLabel& operator << (const int);
diff --git a/src/include/final/flineedit.h b/src/include/final/flineedit.h
index d8d1d179..8cf580f7 100644
--- a/src/include/final/flineedit.h
+++ b/src/include/final/flineedit.h
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class FLineEdit : public FWidget
     // Overloaded operators
     FLineEdit& operator = (const FString&);
     FLineEdit& operator << (const FString&);
+    FLineEdit& operator << (fc::SpecialCharacter);
     FLineEdit& operator << (const wchar_t);
     FLineEdit& operator << (const uInt);
     FLineEdit& operator << (const int);
diff --git a/src/include/final/foptiattr.h b/src/include/final/foptiattr.h
index e3c9f01d..15c8c5d4 100644
--- a/src/include/final/foptiattr.h
+++ b/src/include/final/foptiattr.h
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ class FOptiAttr
     // Typedefs
     typedef struct
     {
-      int    code;      // character code
-      FColor fg_color;  // foreground color
-      FColor bg_color;  // background color
+      wchar_t code;      // character code
+      FColor  fg_color;  // foreground color
+      FColor  bg_color;  // background color
 
       union attribute
       {
diff --git a/src/include/final/fstring.h b/src/include/final/fstring.h
index dce8d430..93fbdb84 100644
--- a/src/include/final/fstring.h
+++ b/src/include/final/fstring.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "final/fc.h"
 #include "final/ftypes.h"
 
 namespace finalcut
@@ -86,14 +87,14 @@ class FString
     explicit FString (int);
     explicit FString (std::size_t);
     FString (std::size_t, wchar_t);
-    FString (std::size_t, char);
-    FString (const FString&);       // implicit conversion copy constructor
-    FString (const std::wstring&);  // implicit conversion constructor
-    FString (const wchar_t[]);      // implicit conversion constructor
-    FString (const std::string&);   // implicit conversion constructor
-    FString (const char[]);         // implicit conversion constructor
-    FString (const wchar_t);        // implicit conversion constructor
-    FString (const char);           // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (const FString&);        // implicit conversion copy constructor
+    FString (const std::wstring&);   // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (const wchar_t[]);       // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (const std::string&);    // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (const char[]);          // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (fc::SpecialCharacter);  // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (const wchar_t);         // implicit conversion constructor
+    FString (const char);            // implicit conversion constructor
 
     // Destructor
     virtual ~FString ();
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ class FString
     const FString operator + (const char);
 
     FString& operator << (const FString&);
+    FString& operator << (fc::SpecialCharacter);
     FString& operator << (const wchar_t);
     FString& operator << (const char);
     FString& operator << (const sInt16);
diff --git a/src/include/final/fterm.h b/src/include/final/fterm.h
index 4d023480..16d5ef57 100644
--- a/src/include/final/fterm.h
+++ b/src/include/final/fterm.h
@@ -579,4 +579,24 @@ inline void FTerm::changeTermSizeFinished()
 
 }  // namespace finalcut
 
+
+namespace
+{
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+inline std::ostream& operator << ( std::ostream& os
+                                 , finalcut::fc::SpecialCharacter c )
+{
+  return os << static_cast<char>(c);
+}
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+inline std::wostream& operator << ( std::wostream& os
+                                  , finalcut::fc::SpecialCharacter c )
+{
+  return os << static_cast<wchar_t>(c);
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
 #endif  // FTERM_H
diff --git a/src/include/final/fvterm.h b/src/include/final/fvterm.h
index 674e9aeb..e3f027d2 100644
--- a/src/include/final/fvterm.h
+++ b/src/include/final/fvterm.h
@@ -287,8 +287,8 @@ class FVTerm
     int                   print (term_area*, const FString&);
     int                   print (const std::vector<charData>&);
     int                   print (term_area*, const std::vector<charData>&);
-    int                   print (int);
-    int                   print (term_area*, int);
+    int                   print (wchar_t);
+    int                   print (term_area*, wchar_t);
     int                   print (charData&);
     int                   print (term_area*, charData&);
     FVTerm&               print();
diff --git a/test/fstring-test.cpp b/test/fstring-test.cpp
index bbcf7d7b..1b66e94c 100644
--- a/test/fstring-test.cpp
+++ b/test/fstring-test.cpp
@@ -823,6 +823,10 @@ void FStringTest::streamInsertionTest()
   out << const_cast<char*>("ABC");
   CPPUNIT_ASSERT ( out == L"ABC" );
 
+  out.clear();
+  out << finalcut::fc::Euro;
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT ( out == L"€" );
+
   out.clear();
   out << wchar_t(L'A');
   CPPUNIT_ASSERT ( out == L"A" );