diff --git a/juce_amalgamated.cpp b/juce_amalgamated.cpp
index 81de548f2a..dc4ce18dee 100644
--- a/juce_amalgamated.cpp
+++ b/juce_amalgamated.cpp
@@ -10433,7 +10433,7 @@ public:
 			return text;
 
 		juce_wchar* const newText = create (b->allocatedNumChars);
-		memcpy (newText, text, (b->allocatedNumChars + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+		copyChars (newText, text, b->allocatedNumChars);
 		release (b);
 
 		return newText;
@@ -10447,7 +10447,7 @@ public:
 			return text;
 
 		juce_wchar* const newText = create (jmax (b->allocatedNumChars, numChars));
-		memcpy (newText, text, (b->allocatedNumChars + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+		copyChars (newText, text, b->allocatedNumChars);
 		release (b);
 
 		return newText;
@@ -10458,6 +10458,12 @@ public:
 		return bufferFromText (text)->allocatedNumChars;
 	}
 
+	static void copyChars (juce_wchar* const dest, const juce_wchar* const src, const size_t numChars) throw()
+	{
+		memcpy (dest, src, numChars * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+		dest [numChars] = 0;
+	}
+
 	int refCount;
 	size_t allocatedNumChars;
 	juce_wchar text[1];
@@ -10479,7 +10485,7 @@ void String::createInternal (const juce_wchar* const t, const size_t numChars)
 	jassert (t[numChars] == 0); // must have a null terminator
 
 	text = StringHolder::create (numChars);
-	memcpy (text, t, (numChars + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+	StringHolder::copyChars (text, t, numChars);
 }
 
 void String::appendInternal (const juce_wchar* const newText, const int numExtraChars)
@@ -10490,16 +10496,10 @@ void String::appendInternal (const juce_wchar* const newText, const int numExtra
 		const int newTotalLen = oldLen + numExtraChars;
 
 		text = StringHolder::makeUniqueWithSize (text, newTotalLen);
-		memcpy (text + oldLen, newText, numExtraChars * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-		text [newTotalLen] = 0;
+		StringHolder::copyChars (text + oldLen, newText, numExtraChars);
 	}
 }
 
-void String::dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced()
-{
-	text = StringHolder::makeUnique (text);
-}
-
 void String::preallocateStorage (const size_t numChars)
 {
 	text = StringHolder::makeUniqueWithSize (text, numChars);
@@ -10539,6 +10539,13 @@ String::String (const size_t numChars, const int /*dummyVariable*/)
 {
 }
 
+String::String (const String& stringToCopy, const size_t charsToAllocate)
+{
+	const size_t otherSize = StringHolder::getAllocatedNumChars (stringToCopy.text);
+	text = StringHolder::create (jmax (charsToAllocate, otherSize));
+	StringHolder::copyChars (text, stringToCopy.text, otherSize);
+}
+
 String::String (const char* const t)
 {
 	if (t != 0 && *t != 0)
@@ -10559,7 +10566,7 @@ String::String (const juce_wchar* const t)
 	{
 		const int len = CharacterFunctions::length (t);
 		text = StringHolder::create (len);
-		memcpy (text, t, (len + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+		StringHolder::copyChars (text, t, len);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -10596,8 +10603,7 @@ String::String (const juce_wchar* const t, const size_t maxChars)
 	if (i > 0)
 	{
 		text = StringHolder::create (i);
-		memcpy (text, t, i * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-		text[i] = 0;
+		StringHolder::copyChars (text, t, i);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -11413,13 +11419,11 @@ const String String::repeatedString (const juce_wchar* const stringToRepeat, int
 {
 	const int len = CharacterFunctions::length (stringToRepeat);
 	String result ((size_t) (len * numberOfTimesToRepeat + 1), (int) 0);
-
 	juce_wchar* n = result.text;
-	n[0] = 0;
 
 	while (--numberOfTimesToRepeat >= 0)
 	{
-		CharacterFunctions::append (n, stringToRepeat);
+		StringHolder::copyChars (n, stringToRepeat, len);
 		n += len;
 	}
 
@@ -11431,21 +11435,17 @@ const String String::paddedLeft (const juce_wchar padCharacter, int minimumLengt
 	jassert (padCharacter != 0);
 
 	const int len = length();
-
 	if (len >= minimumLength || padCharacter == 0)
 		return *this;
 
 	String result ((size_t) minimumLength + 1, (int) 0);
-
 	juce_wchar* n = result.text;
 
 	minimumLength -= len;
 	while (--minimumLength >= 0)
 		*n++ = padCharacter;
 
-	*n = 0;
-	CharacterFunctions::append (n, text);
-
+	StringHolder::copyChars (n, text, len);
 	return result;
 }
 
@@ -11453,11 +11453,19 @@ const String String::paddedRight (const juce_wchar padCharacter, int minimumLeng
 {
 	jassert (padCharacter != 0);
 
-	const int paddingNeeded = minimumLength - length();
-	if (paddingNeeded <= 0 || padCharacter == 0)
+	const int len = length();
+	if (len >= minimumLength || padCharacter == 0)
 		return *this;
 
-	return *this + String::empty.paddedLeft (padCharacter, paddingNeeded);
+	String result (*this, (size_t) minimumLength);
+	juce_wchar* n = result.text + len;
+
+	minimumLength -= len;
+	while (--minimumLength >= 0)
+		*n++ = padCharacter;
+
+	*n = 0;
+	return result;
 }
 
 const String String::replaceSection (int index, int numCharsToReplace,
@@ -11499,21 +11507,17 @@ const String String::replaceSection (int index, int numCharsToReplace,
 
 	String result ((size_t) newTotalLen, (int) 0);
 
-	memcpy (result.text, text, index * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+	StringHolder::copyChars (result.text, text, index);
 
 	if (newStringLen > 0)
-		memcpy (result.text + index,
-				stringToInsert,
-				newStringLen * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+		StringHolder::copyChars (result.text + index, stringToInsert, newStringLen);
 
 	const int endStringLen = newTotalLen - (index + newStringLen);
 
 	if (endStringLen > 0)
-		memcpy (result.text + (index + newStringLen),
-				text + (index + numCharsToReplace),
-				endStringLen * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-
-	result.text [newTotalLen] = 0;
+		StringHolder::copyChars (result.text + (index + newStringLen),
+								 text + (index + numCharsToReplace),
+								 endStringLen);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -11545,9 +11549,7 @@ const String String::replaceCharacter (const juce_wchar charToReplace, const juc
 	if (index < 0)
 		return *this;
 
-	String result (*this);
-	result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
-
+	String result (*this, size_t());
 	juce_wchar* t = result.text + index;
 
 	while (*t != 0)
@@ -11564,9 +11566,7 @@ const String String::replaceCharacter (const juce_wchar charToReplace, const juc
 const String String::replaceCharacters (const String& charactersToReplace,
 										const juce_wchar* const charactersToInsertInstead) const
 {
-	String result (*this);
-	result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
-
+	String result (*this, size_t());
 	juce_wchar* t = result.text;
 	const int len2 = CharacterFunctions::length (charactersToInsertInstead);
 
@@ -11639,16 +11639,14 @@ bool String::endsWithIgnoreCase (const juce_wchar* const other) const throw()
 
 const String String::toUpperCase() const
 {
-	String result (*this);
-	result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
+	String result (*this, size_t());
 	CharacterFunctions::toUpperCase (result.text);
 	return result;
 }
 
 const String String::toLowerCase() const
 {
-	String result (*this);
-	result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
+	String result (*this, size_t());
 	CharacterFunctions::toLowerCase (result.text);
 	return result;
 }
@@ -11656,9 +11654,7 @@ const String String::toLowerCase() const
 juce_wchar& String::operator[] (const int index)
 {
 	jassert (((unsigned int) index) <= (unsigned int) length());
-
-	dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
-
+	text = StringHolder::makeUnique (text);
 	return text [index];
 }
 
@@ -11777,7 +11773,7 @@ const String String::unquoted() const
 {
 	String s (*this);
 
-	if (s[0] == T('"') || s[0] == T('\''))
+	if (s.text[0] == T('"') || s.text[0] == T('\''))
 		s = s.substring (1);
 
 	const int lastCharIndex = s.length() - 1;
@@ -12440,9 +12436,7 @@ int String::copyToCString (char* destBuffer, const int maxBufferSizeBytes) const
 
 void String::copyToUnicode (juce_wchar* const destBuffer, const int maxCharsToCopy) const throw()
 {
-	const int len = jmin (maxCharsToCopy, length());
-	memcpy (destBuffer, text, len * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-	destBuffer [len] = 0;
+	StringHolder::copyChars (destBuffer, text, jmin (maxCharsToCopy, length()));
 }
 
 String::Concatenator::Concatenator (String& stringToAppendTo)
@@ -14125,7 +14119,7 @@ namespace XmlOutputFunctions
 		}
 	}
 
-	static void writeSpaces (OutputStream& out, int numSpaces) throw()
+	static void writeSpaces (OutputStream& out, int numSpaces)
 	{
 		if (numSpaces > 0)
 		{
@@ -14145,7 +14139,7 @@ namespace XmlOutputFunctions
 
 void XmlElement::writeElementAsText (OutputStream& outputStream,
 									 const int indentationLevel,
-									 const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+									 const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
 	using namespace XmlOutputFunctions;
 	writeSpaces (outputStream, indentationLevel);
@@ -14265,7 +14259,7 @@ const String XmlElement::createDocument (const String& dtdToUse,
 										 const bool allOnOneLine,
 										 const bool includeXmlHeader,
 										 const String& encodingType,
-										 const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+										 const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
 	MemoryOutputStream mem (2048, 4096);
 	writeToStream (mem, dtdToUse, allOnOneLine, includeXmlHeader, encodingType, lineWrapLength);
@@ -14278,7 +14272,7 @@ void XmlElement::writeToStream (OutputStream& output,
 								const bool allOnOneLine,
 								const bool includeXmlHeader,
 								const String& encodingType,
-								const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+								const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
 	if (includeXmlHeader)
 	{
@@ -14306,7 +14300,7 @@ void XmlElement::writeToStream (OutputStream& output,
 bool XmlElement::writeToFile (const File& file,
 							  const String& dtdToUse,
 							  const String& encodingType,
-							  const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+							  const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
 	if (file.hasWriteAccess())
 	{
@@ -14418,8 +14412,22 @@ bool XmlElement::hasAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw()
 	return false;
 }
 
-const String XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-											 const String& defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+const String& XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw()
+{
+	const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
+
+	while (att != 0)
+	{
+		if (att->name.equalsIgnoreCase (attributeName))
+			return att->value;
+
+		att = att->next;
+	}
+
+	return String::empty;
+}
+
+const String XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName, const String& defaultReturnValue) const
 {
 	const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -14434,8 +14442,7 @@ const String XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 	return defaultReturnValue;
 }
 
-int XmlElement::getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-								 const int defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+int XmlElement::getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName, const int defaultReturnValue) const
 {
 	const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -14450,8 +14457,7 @@ int XmlElement::getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 	return defaultReturnValue;
 }
 
-double XmlElement::getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-									   const double defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+double XmlElement::getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName, const double defaultReturnValue) const
 {
 	const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -14466,8 +14472,7 @@ double XmlElement::getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 	return defaultReturnValue;
 }
 
-bool XmlElement::getBoolAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-								   const bool defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+bool XmlElement::getBoolAttribute (const String& attributeName, const bool defaultReturnValue) const
 {
 	const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -14515,8 +14520,7 @@ bool XmlElement::compareAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 	return false;
 }
 
-void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-							   const String& value) throw()
+void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName, const String& value)
 {
 #ifdef JUCE_DEBUG
 	// check the identifier being passed in is legal..
@@ -14557,14 +14561,12 @@ void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 	}
 }
 
-void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-							   const int number) throw()
+void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName, const int number)
 {
 	setAttribute (attributeName, String (number));
 }
 
-void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-							   const double number) throw()
+void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName, const double number)
 {
 	setAttribute (attributeName, String (number));
 }
@@ -70202,18 +70204,9 @@ public:
 
 		if (! screenArea.contains (lastScreenPos))
 		{
-			const Point<int> compPos (current->getScreenPosition());
-			int deltaX = 0, deltaY = 0;
-
-			if (lastScreenPos.getX() <= screenArea.getX() || lastScreenPos.getX() >= screenArea.getRight())
-				deltaX = compPos.getX() + current->getWidth() / 2 - lastScreenPos.getX();
-
-			if (lastScreenPos.getY() <= screenArea.getY() || lastScreenPos.getY() >= screenArea.getBottom())
-				deltaY = compPos.getY() + current->getHeight() / 2 - lastScreenPos.getY();
-
-			const Point<int> delta (deltaX, deltaY);
-			unboundedMouseOffset -= delta;
-			Desktop::setMousePosition (lastScreenPos + delta);
+			const Point<int> componentCentre (current->getScreenBounds().getCentre());
+			unboundedMouseOffset += (lastScreenPos - componentCentre);
+			Desktop::setMousePosition (componentCentre);
 		}
 		else if (isCursorVisibleUntilOffscreen
 				  && (! unboundedMouseOffset.isOrigin())
diff --git a/juce_amalgamated.h b/juce_amalgamated.h
index 895165ce78..03f775c9e9 100644
--- a/juce_amalgamated.h
+++ b/juce_amalgamated.h
@@ -1365,10 +1365,10 @@ private:
 
 	// internal constructor that preallocates a certain amount of memory
 	String (size_t numChars, int dummyVariable);
+	String (const String& stringToCopy, size_t charsToAllocate);
 
 	void createInternal (const juce_wchar* text, size_t numChars);
 	void appendInternal (const juce_wchar* text, int numExtraChars);
-	void dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
 };
 
 const String JUCE_CALLTYPE operator+  (const char* string1,	   const String& string2);
@@ -4456,19 +4456,19 @@ public:
 								 const bool allOnOneLine = false,
 								 const bool includeXmlHeader = true,
 								 const String& encodingType = JUCE_T("UTF-8"),
-								 const int lineWrapLength = 60) const throw();
+								 const int lineWrapLength = 60) const;
 
 	void writeToStream (OutputStream& output,
 						const String& dtdToUse,
 						const bool allOnOneLine = false,
 						const bool includeXmlHeader = true,
 						const String& encodingType = JUCE_T("UTF-8"),
-						const int lineWrapLength = 60) const throw();
+						const int lineWrapLength = 60) const;
 
 	bool writeToFile (const File& destinationFile,
 					  const String& dtdToUse,
 					  const String& encodingType = JUCE_T("UTF-8"),
-					  const int lineWrapLength = 60) const throw();
+					  const int lineWrapLength = 60) const;
 
 	inline const String& getTagName() const throw()  { return tagName; }
 
@@ -4484,30 +4484,32 @@ public:
 
 	bool hasAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw();
 
+	const String& getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw();
+
 	const String getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-									 const String& defaultReturnValue = String::empty) const throw();
+									 const String& defaultReturnValue) const;
 
 	bool compareAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 						   const String& stringToCompareAgainst,
 						   const bool ignoreCase = false) const throw();
 
 	int getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-						 const int defaultReturnValue = 0) const throw();
+						 const int defaultReturnValue = 0) const;
 
 	double getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-							   const double defaultReturnValue = 0.0) const throw();
+							   const double defaultReturnValue = 0.0) const;
 
 	bool getBoolAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-						   const bool defaultReturnValue = false) const throw();
+						   const bool defaultReturnValue = false) const;
 
 	void setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-					   const String& newValue) throw();
+					   const String& newValue);
 
 	void setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-					   const int newValue) throw();
+					   const int newValue);
 
 	void setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-					   const double newValue) throw();
+					   const double newValue);
 
 	void removeAttribute (const String& attributeName) throw();
 
@@ -4609,7 +4611,7 @@ private:
 
 	void writeElementAsText (OutputStream& out,
 							 const int indentationLevel,
-							 const int lineWrapLength) const throw();
+							 const int lineWrapLength) const;
 
 	void getChildElementsAsArray (XmlElement**) const throw();
 	void reorderChildElements (XmlElement** const, const int) throw();
diff --git a/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_MouseInputSource.cpp b/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_MouseInputSource.cpp
index f919643c38..9cc7512282 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_MouseInputSource.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_MouseInputSource.cpp
@@ -382,18 +382,9 @@ public:
 
         if (! screenArea.contains (lastScreenPos))
         {
-            const Point<int> compPos (current->getScreenPosition());
-            int deltaX = 0, deltaY = 0;
-
-            if (lastScreenPos.getX() <= screenArea.getX() || lastScreenPos.getX() >= screenArea.getRight())
-                deltaX = compPos.getX() + current->getWidth() / 2 - lastScreenPos.getX();
-
-            if (lastScreenPos.getY() <= screenArea.getY() || lastScreenPos.getY() >= screenArea.getBottom())
-                deltaY = compPos.getY() + current->getHeight() / 2 - lastScreenPos.getY();
-
-            const Point<int> delta (deltaX, deltaY);
-            unboundedMouseOffset -= delta;
-            Desktop::setMousePosition (lastScreenPos + delta);
+            const Point<int> componentCentre (current->getScreenBounds().getCentre());
+            unboundedMouseOffset += (lastScreenPos - componentCentre);
+            Desktop::setMousePosition (componentCentre);
         }
         else if (isCursorVisibleUntilOffscreen
                   && (! unboundedMouseOffset.isOrigin())
diff --git a/src/text/juce_String.cpp b/src/text/juce_String.cpp
index bb058f33f2..3b0cb57a9a 100644
--- a/src/text/juce_String.cpp
+++ b/src/text/juce_String.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public:
             return text;
 
         juce_wchar* const newText = create (b->allocatedNumChars);
-        memcpy (newText, text, (b->allocatedNumChars + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+        copyChars (newText, text, b->allocatedNumChars);
         release (b);
 
         return newText;
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public:
             return text;
 
         juce_wchar* const newText = create (jmax (b->allocatedNumChars, numChars));
-        memcpy (newText, text, (b->allocatedNumChars + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+        copyChars (newText, text, b->allocatedNumChars);
         release (b);
 
         return newText;
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ public:
         return bufferFromText (text)->allocatedNumChars;
     }
 
+    static void copyChars (juce_wchar* const dest, const juce_wchar* const src, const size_t numChars) throw()
+    {
+        memcpy (dest, src, numChars * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+        dest [numChars] = 0;
+    }
+
     //==============================================================================
     int refCount;
     size_t allocatedNumChars;
@@ -141,7 +147,7 @@ void String::createInternal (const juce_wchar* const t, const size_t numChars)
     jassert (t[numChars] == 0); // must have a null terminator
 
     text = StringHolder::create (numChars);
-    memcpy (text, t, (numChars + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+    StringHolder::copyChars (text, t, numChars);
 }
 
 void String::appendInternal (const juce_wchar* const newText, const int numExtraChars)
@@ -152,16 +158,10 @@ void String::appendInternal (const juce_wchar* const newText, const int numExtra
         const int newTotalLen = oldLen + numExtraChars;
 
         text = StringHolder::makeUniqueWithSize (text, newTotalLen);
-        memcpy (text + oldLen, newText, numExtraChars * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-        text [newTotalLen] = 0;
+        StringHolder::copyChars (text + oldLen, newText, numExtraChars);
     }
 }
 
-void String::dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced()
-{
-    text = StringHolder::makeUnique (text);
-}
-
 void String::preallocateStorage (const size_t numChars)
 {
     text = StringHolder::makeUniqueWithSize (text, numChars);
@@ -202,6 +202,13 @@ String::String (const size_t numChars, const int /*dummyVariable*/)
 {
 }
 
+String::String (const String& stringToCopy, const size_t charsToAllocate)
+{
+    const size_t otherSize = StringHolder::getAllocatedNumChars (stringToCopy.text);
+    text = StringHolder::create (jmax (charsToAllocate, otherSize));
+    StringHolder::copyChars (text, stringToCopy.text, otherSize);
+}
+
 String::String (const char* const t)
 {
     if (t != 0 && *t != 0)
@@ -222,7 +229,7 @@ String::String (const juce_wchar* const t)
     {
         const int len = CharacterFunctions::length (t);
         text = StringHolder::create (len);
-        memcpy (text, t, (len + 1) * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+        StringHolder::copyChars (text, t, len);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -259,8 +266,7 @@ String::String (const juce_wchar* const t, const size_t maxChars)
     if (i > 0)
     {
         text = StringHolder::create (i);
-        memcpy (text, t, i * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-        text[i] = 0;
+        StringHolder::copyChars (text, t, i);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -1085,13 +1091,11 @@ const String String::repeatedString (const juce_wchar* const stringToRepeat, int
 {
     const int len = CharacterFunctions::length (stringToRepeat);
     String result ((size_t) (len * numberOfTimesToRepeat + 1), (int) 0);
-
     juce_wchar* n = result.text;
-    n[0] = 0;
 
     while (--numberOfTimesToRepeat >= 0)
     {
-        CharacterFunctions::append (n, stringToRepeat);
+        StringHolder::copyChars (n, stringToRepeat, len);
         n += len;
     }
 
@@ -1103,21 +1107,17 @@ const String String::paddedLeft (const juce_wchar padCharacter, int minimumLengt
     jassert (padCharacter != 0);
 
     const int len = length();
-
     if (len >= minimumLength || padCharacter == 0)
         return *this;
 
     String result ((size_t) minimumLength + 1, (int) 0);
-
     juce_wchar* n = result.text;
 
     minimumLength -= len;
     while (--minimumLength >= 0)
         *n++ = padCharacter;
 
-    *n = 0;
-    CharacterFunctions::append (n, text);
-
+    StringHolder::copyChars (n, text, len);
     return result;
 }
 
@@ -1125,11 +1125,19 @@ const String String::paddedRight (const juce_wchar padCharacter, int minimumLeng
 {
     jassert (padCharacter != 0);
 
-    const int paddingNeeded = minimumLength - length();
-    if (paddingNeeded <= 0 || padCharacter == 0)
+    const int len = length();
+    if (len >= minimumLength || padCharacter == 0)
         return *this;
 
-    return *this + String::empty.paddedLeft (padCharacter, paddingNeeded);
+    String result (*this, (size_t) minimumLength);
+    juce_wchar* n = result.text + len;
+
+    minimumLength -= len;
+    while (--minimumLength >= 0)
+        *n++ = padCharacter;
+
+    *n = 0;
+    return result;
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
@@ -1172,21 +1180,17 @@ const String String::replaceSection (int index, int numCharsToReplace,
 
     String result ((size_t) newTotalLen, (int) 0);
 
-    memcpy (result.text, text, index * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+    StringHolder::copyChars (result.text, text, index);
 
     if (newStringLen > 0)
-        memcpy (result.text + index,
-                stringToInsert,
-                newStringLen * sizeof (juce_wchar));
+        StringHolder::copyChars (result.text + index, stringToInsert, newStringLen);
 
     const int endStringLen = newTotalLen - (index + newStringLen);
 
     if (endStringLen > 0)
-        memcpy (result.text + (index + newStringLen),
-                text + (index + numCharsToReplace),
-                endStringLen * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-
-    result.text [newTotalLen] = 0;
+        StringHolder::copyChars (result.text + (index + newStringLen),
+                                 text + (index + numCharsToReplace),
+                                 endStringLen);
 
     return result;
 }
@@ -1218,9 +1222,7 @@ const String String::replaceCharacter (const juce_wchar charToReplace, const juc
     if (index < 0)
         return *this;
 
-    String result (*this);
-    result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
-
+    String result (*this, size_t());
     juce_wchar* t = result.text + index;
 
     while (*t != 0)
@@ -1237,9 +1239,7 @@ const String String::replaceCharacter (const juce_wchar charToReplace, const juc
 const String String::replaceCharacters (const String& charactersToReplace,
                                         const juce_wchar* const charactersToInsertInstead) const
 {
-    String result (*this);
-    result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
-
+    String result (*this, size_t());
     juce_wchar* t = result.text;
     const int len2 = CharacterFunctions::length (charactersToInsertInstead);
 
@@ -1314,16 +1314,14 @@ bool String::endsWithIgnoreCase (const juce_wchar* const other) const throw()
 //==============================================================================
 const String String::toUpperCase() const
 {
-    String result (*this);
-    result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
+    String result (*this, size_t());
     CharacterFunctions::toUpperCase (result.text);
     return result;
 }
 
 const String String::toLowerCase() const
 {
-    String result (*this);
-    result.dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
+    String result (*this, size_t());
     CharacterFunctions::toLowerCase (result.text);
     return result;
 }
@@ -1332,9 +1330,7 @@ const String String::toLowerCase() const
 juce_wchar& String::operator[] (const int index)
 {
     jassert (((unsigned int) index) <= (unsigned int) length());
-
-    dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
-
+    text = StringHolder::makeUnique (text);
     return text [index];
 }
 
@@ -1453,7 +1449,7 @@ const String String::unquoted() const
 {
     String s (*this);
 
-    if (s[0] == T('"') || s[0] == T('\''))
+    if (s.text[0] == T('"') || s.text[0] == T('\''))
         s = s.substring (1);
 
     const int lastCharIndex = s.length() - 1;
@@ -2124,9 +2120,7 @@ int String::copyToCString (char* destBuffer, const int maxBufferSizeBytes) const
 //==============================================================================
 void String::copyToUnicode (juce_wchar* const destBuffer, const int maxCharsToCopy) const throw()
 {
-    const int len = jmin (maxCharsToCopy, length());
-    memcpy (destBuffer, text, len * sizeof (juce_wchar));
-    destBuffer [len] = 0;
+    StringHolder::copyChars (destBuffer, text, jmin (maxCharsToCopy, length()));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/text/juce_String.h b/src/text/juce_String.h
index 73a21c5fbe..7c1ce520be 100644
--- a/src/text/juce_String.h
+++ b/src/text/juce_String.h
@@ -1026,10 +1026,10 @@ private:
     //==============================================================================
     // internal constructor that preallocates a certain amount of memory
     String (size_t numChars, int dummyVariable);
+    String (const String& stringToCopy, size_t charsToAllocate);
 
     void createInternal (const juce_wchar* text, size_t numChars);
     void appendInternal (const juce_wchar* text, int numExtraChars);
-    void dupeInternalIfMultiplyReferenced();
 };
 
 //==============================================================================
diff --git a/src/text/juce_XmlElement.cpp b/src/text/juce_XmlElement.cpp
index 517fff1c89..dddb9b8ce5 100644
--- a/src/text/juce_XmlElement.cpp
+++ b/src/text/juce_XmlElement.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ namespace XmlOutputFunctions
         }
     }
 
-    static void writeSpaces (OutputStream& out, int numSpaces) throw()
+    static void writeSpaces (OutputStream& out, int numSpaces)
     {
         if (numSpaces > 0)
         {
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ namespace XmlOutputFunctions
 
 void XmlElement::writeElementAsText (OutputStream& outputStream,
                                      const int indentationLevel,
-                                     const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+                                     const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
     using namespace XmlOutputFunctions;
     writeSpaces (outputStream, indentationLevel);
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ const String XmlElement::createDocument (const String& dtdToUse,
                                          const bool allOnOneLine,
                                          const bool includeXmlHeader,
                                          const String& encodingType,
-                                         const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+                                         const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
     MemoryOutputStream mem (2048, 4096);
     writeToStream (mem, dtdToUse, allOnOneLine, includeXmlHeader, encodingType, lineWrapLength);
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ void XmlElement::writeToStream (OutputStream& output,
                                 const bool allOnOneLine,
                                 const bool includeXmlHeader,
                                 const String& encodingType,
-                                const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+                                const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
     if (includeXmlHeader)
     {
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ void XmlElement::writeToStream (OutputStream& output,
 bool XmlElement::writeToFile (const File& file,
                               const String& dtdToUse,
                               const String& encodingType,
-                              const int lineWrapLength) const throw()
+                              const int lineWrapLength) const
 {
     if (file.hasWriteAccess())
     {
@@ -542,8 +542,22 @@ bool XmlElement::hasAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw()
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
-const String XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                                             const String& defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+const String& XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw()
+{
+    const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
+
+    while (att != 0)
+    {
+        if (att->name.equalsIgnoreCase (attributeName))
+            return att->value;
+
+        att = att->next;
+    }
+
+    return String::empty;
+}
+
+const String XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName, const String& defaultReturnValue) const
 {
     const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -558,8 +572,7 @@ const String XmlElement::getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName,
     return defaultReturnValue;
 }
 
-int XmlElement::getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                                 const int defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+int XmlElement::getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName, const int defaultReturnValue) const
 {
     const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -574,8 +587,7 @@ int XmlElement::getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName,
     return defaultReturnValue;
 }
 
-double XmlElement::getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                                       const double defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+double XmlElement::getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName, const double defaultReturnValue) const
 {
     const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -590,8 +602,7 @@ double XmlElement::getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName,
     return defaultReturnValue;
 }
 
-bool XmlElement::getBoolAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                                   const bool defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+bool XmlElement::getBoolAttribute (const String& attributeName, const bool defaultReturnValue) const
 {
     const XmlAttributeNode* att = attributes;
 
@@ -640,8 +651,7 @@ bool XmlElement::compareAttribute (const String& attributeName,
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
-void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                               const String& value) throw()
+void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName, const String& value)
 {
 #ifdef JUCE_DEBUG
     // check the identifier being passed in is legal..
@@ -682,14 +692,12 @@ void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
     }
 }
 
-void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                               const int number) throw()
+void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName, const int number)
 {
     setAttribute (attributeName, String (number));
 }
 
-void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                               const double number) throw()
+void XmlElement::setAttribute (const String& attributeName, const double number)
 {
     setAttribute (attributeName, String (number));
 }
diff --git a/src/text/juce_XmlElement.h b/src/text/juce_XmlElement.h
index 5a9512adce..fbaefa4fc6 100644
--- a/src/text/juce_XmlElement.h
+++ b/src/text/juce_XmlElement.h
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ public:
                                  const bool allOnOneLine = false,
                                  const bool includeXmlHeader = true,
                                  const String& encodingType = JUCE_T("UTF-8"),
-                                 const int lineWrapLength = 60) const throw();
+                                 const int lineWrapLength = 60) const;
 
     /** Writes the document to a stream as UTF-8.
 
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ public:
                         const bool allOnOneLine = false,
                         const bool includeXmlHeader = true,
                         const String& encodingType = JUCE_T("UTF-8"),
-                        const int lineWrapLength = 60) const throw();
+                        const int lineWrapLength = 60) const;
 
     /** Writes the element to a file as an XML document.
 
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ public:
     bool writeToFile (const File& destinationFile,
                       const String& dtdToUse,
                       const String& encodingType = JUCE_T("UTF-8"),
-                      const int lineWrapLength = 60) const throw();
+                      const int lineWrapLength = 60) const;
 
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns this element's tag type name.
@@ -291,6 +291,14 @@ public:
     /** Checks whether the element contains an attribute with a certain name. */
     bool hasAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw();
 
+    /** Returns the value of a named attribute.
+
+        @param attributeName        the name of the attribute to look up
+        @param defaultReturnValue   a value to return if the element doesn't have an attribute
+                                    with this name
+    */
+    const String& getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName) const throw();
+
     /** Returns the value of a named attribute.
 
         @param attributeName        the name of the attribute to look up
@@ -298,7 +306,7 @@ public:
                                     with this name
     */
     const String getStringAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                                     const String& defaultReturnValue = String::empty) const throw();
+                                     const String& defaultReturnValue) const;
 
     /** Compares the value of a named attribute with a value passed-in.
 
@@ -323,7 +331,7 @@ public:
         @see setAttribute
     */
     int getIntAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                         const int defaultReturnValue = 0) const throw();
+                         const int defaultReturnValue = 0) const;
 
     /** Returns the value of a named attribute as floating-point.
 
@@ -336,7 +344,7 @@ public:
         @see setAttribute
     */
     double getDoubleAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                               const double defaultReturnValue = 0.0) const throw();
+                               const double defaultReturnValue = 0.0) const;
 
     /** Returns the value of a named attribute as a boolean.
 
@@ -349,7 +357,7 @@ public:
                                     with this name
     */
     bool getBoolAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                           const bool defaultReturnValue = false) const throw();
+                           const bool defaultReturnValue = false) const;
 
     /** Adds a named attribute to the element.
 
@@ -365,7 +373,7 @@ public:
         @see removeAttribute
     */
     void setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                       const String& newValue) throw();
+                       const String& newValue);
 
     /** Adds a named attribute to the element, setting it to an integer value.
 
@@ -380,7 +388,7 @@ public:
         @param newValue             the value to set it to
     */
     void setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                       const int newValue) throw();
+                       const int newValue);
 
     /** Adds a named attribute to the element, setting it to a floating-point value.
 
@@ -395,7 +403,7 @@ public:
         @param newValue             the value to set it to
     */
     void setAttribute (const String& attributeName,
-                       const double newValue) throw();
+                       const double newValue);
 
     /** Removes a named attribute from the element.
 
@@ -704,7 +712,7 @@ private:
 
     void writeElementAsText (OutputStream& out,
                              const int indentationLevel,
-                             const int lineWrapLength) const throw();
+                             const int lineWrapLength) const;
 
     void getChildElementsAsArray (XmlElement**) const throw();
     void reorderChildElements (XmlElement** const, const int) throw();