diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CirclesDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CirclesDialog.cpp
index 4eab0711b..9e73b882d 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CirclesDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CirclesDialog.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ void CirclesDialog::editExistingCircle()
 	}
 
 	QString coltext = item->text(CIRCLEGROUP_CIRCLE_COL_GROUPID);
-	std::string id = coltext.toStdString();
+    RsGxsGroupId id ( coltext.toStdString());
 
 	CreateCircleDialog dlg;
 	dlg.editExistingId(id);
@@ -140,11 +140,11 @@ void CirclesDialog::reloadAll()
 	requestGroupMeta();
 
 	/* grab all ids */
-	std::list<std::string> friend_pgpIds;
-	std::list<std::string> all_pgpIds;
-	std::list<std::string>::iterator it;
+    std::list<RsPgpId> friend_pgpIds;
+    std::list<RsPgpId> all_pgpIds;
+    std::list<RsPgpId>::iterator it;
 
-	std::set<std::string> friend_set;
+    std::set<RsPgpId> friend_set;
 
 	rsPeers->getGPGAcceptedList(friend_pgpIds);
 	rsPeers->getGPGAllList(all_pgpIds);
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ void CirclesDialog::reloadAll()
 			QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
 
 			item->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_NAME, QString::fromUtf8(details.name.c_str()));
-			item->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_ID, QString::fromStdString(*it));
+            item->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_ID, QString::fromStdString((*it).toStdString()));
 			friendsItem->addChild(item);
 		}
 	}
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void CirclesDialog::reloadAll()
 			QTreeWidgetItem *item = new QTreeWidgetItem();
 
 			item->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_NAME, QString::fromUtf8(details.name.c_str()));
-			item->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_ID, QString::fromStdString(*it));
+            item->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_ID, QString::fromStdString((*it).toStdString()));
 			fofItem->addChild(item);
 		}
 	}
@@ -251,10 +251,10 @@ void set_tree_background(QTreeWidget *tree, uint32_t type)
 	}
 }
 
-void check_mark_item(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &names, uint32_t col, uint32_t type)
+void check_mark_item(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<RsPgpId> &names, uint32_t col, uint32_t type)
 {
 	QString coltext = item->text(col);
-	std::string colstr = coltext.toStdString();
+    RsPgpId colstr ( coltext.toStdString());
 	if (names.end() != names.find(colstr))
 	{
 		set_item_background(item, type);
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ void check_mark_item(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &names,
 	}
 }
 
-void update_mark_children(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &names, uint32_t col, uint32_t type)
+void update_mark_children(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<RsPgpId> &names, uint32_t col, uint32_t type)
 {
 	int count = item->childCount();
 	for(int i = 0; i < count; i++)
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ void update_mark_children(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &na
 	}
 }
 
-void mark_matching_tree(QTreeWidget *tree, const std::set<std::string> &names, uint32_t col, uint32_t type)
+void mark_matching_tree(QTreeWidget *tree, const std::set<RsPgpId> &names, uint32_t col, uint32_t type)
 {
 	std::cerr << "CirclesDialog mark_matching_tree()";
 	std::cerr << std::endl;
@@ -296,16 +296,16 @@ void mark_matching_tree(QTreeWidget *tree, const std::set<std::string> &names, u
 
 /**** Circles checks - v expensive ***/
 
-void mark_circle_item(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &names)
+void mark_circle_item(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<RsPgpId> &names)
 {
-	std::string id = item->text(CIRCLEGROUP_CIRCLE_COL_GROUPID).toStdString();
+    RsGxsCircleId id ( item->text(CIRCLEGROUP_CIRCLE_COL_GROUPID).toStdString());
 	RsGxsCircleDetails details;
 	if (rsGxsCircles->getCircleDetails(id, details))
 	{
-		std::set<std::string>::iterator it;
+        std::set<RsPgpId>::iterator it;
 		for(it = names.begin(); it != names.end(); it++)
 		{
-			if (details.mAllowedPeers.end() != details.mAllowedPeers.find(*it))
+            if (details.mAllowedPeers.end() != details.mAllowedPeers.find(*it))
 			{
 				set_item_background(item, GREEN_BACKGROUND);
 				std::cerr << "CirclesDialog mark_circle_item: found match: " << id;
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ void mark_circle_item(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &names)
 	}
 }
 
-void mark_circle_children(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &names)
+void mark_circle_children(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<RsPgpId> &names)
 {
 	int count = item->childCount();
 	for(int i = 0; i < count; i++)
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ void mark_circle_children(QTreeWidgetItem *item, const std::set<std::string> &na
 	}
 }
 
-void mark_circle_tree(QTreeWidget *tree, const std::set<std::string> &names)
+void mark_circle_tree(QTreeWidget *tree, const std::set<RsPgpId> &names)
 {
 	std::cerr << "CirclesDialog mark_circle_tree()";
 	std::cerr << std::endl;
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ void CirclesDialog::circle_selected()
 	if (rsGxsCircles->getCircleDetails(id, details))
 	{
 		/* now mark all the members */
-		std::set<std::string> members;
+        std::set<RsPgpId> members;
 		std::map<RsPgpId, std::list<RsGxsId> >::iterator it;
 		for(it = details.mAllowedPeers.begin(); it != details.mAllowedPeers.end(); it++)
 		{
@@ -411,10 +411,10 @@ void CirclesDialog::friend_selected()
 
 	set_item_background(item, BLUE_BACKGROUND);
 
-	std::string id = item->text(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_ID).toStdString();
+    RsPgpId id ( item->text(CIRCLEGROUP_FRIEND_COL_ID).toStdString());
 
 	/* update permission lists */
-	std::set<std::string> names;
+    std::set<RsPgpId> names;
 	names.insert(id);
 	mark_circle_tree(ui.treeWidget_membership, names);
 }
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ void CirclesDialog::loadGroupMeta(const uint32_t &token)
 
 		QTreeWidgetItem *groupItem = new QTreeWidgetItem();
 		groupItem->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_CIRCLE_COL_GROUPNAME, QString::fromUtf8(vit->mGroupName.c_str()));
-		groupItem->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_CIRCLE_COL_GROUPID, QString::fromStdString(vit->mGroupId));
+        groupItem->setText(CIRCLEGROUP_CIRCLE_COL_GROUPID, QString::fromStdString(vit->mGroupId.toStdString()));
 
 		if (vit->mCircleType == GXS_CIRCLE_TYPE_LOCAL)
 		{
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp
index c30b83123..8d89e4d03 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ CreateCircleDialog::CreateCircleDialog()
 	mIsExistingCircle = false;
 	mIsExternalCircle = true;
 
-	ui.idChooser->loadIds(0,"");
-	ui.circleComboBox->loadCircles(GXS_CIRCLE_CHOOSER_EXTERNAL, "");
+    ui.idChooser->loadIds(0,RsGxsId());
+    ui.circleComboBox->loadCircles(GXS_CIRCLE_CHOOSER_EXTERNAL, RsGxsCircleId());
 }
 
 CreateCircleDialog::~CreateCircleDialog()
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::createCircle()
 		/* insert into circle */
 		if (mIsExternalCircle)
 		{
-			circle.mInvitedMembers.push_back(keyId.toStdString());	
+            circle.mInvitedMembers.push_back(RsGxsId(keyId.toStdString()));
 			std::cerr << "CreateCircleDialog::createCircle() Inserting Member: " << keyId.toStdString();
 			std::cerr << std::endl;
 		}
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::loadIdentities(uint32_t token)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		QString  keyId = QString::fromStdString(data.mMeta.mGroupId);
+        QString  keyId = QString::fromStdString(data.mMeta.mGroupId.toStdString());
 		QString  nickname = QString::fromUtf8(data.mMeta.mGroupName.c_str());
 		QString  idtype = tr("Anon Id");
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdDialog.cpp
index 2f8cf7275..529d801c9 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdDialog.cpp
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ void IdDialog::insertRepList(uint32_t token)
 		/* insert 4 columns */
 
 		/* friend name */
-		item->setId(op.mMeta.mGroupId.toStdString(), RSIDREP_COL_NAME);
+        item->setId(op.mMeta.mAuthorId, RSIDREP_COL_NAME);
 
 		/* score */
 		item->setText(RSIDREP_COL_OPINION, QString::number(op.getOpinion()));
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.cpp
index a87c196f5..73c671a2d 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.cpp
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ void IdEditDialog::loadExistingId(uint32_t token)
 void IdEditDialog::checkNewTag()
 {
 	std::string tag = ui.plainTextEdit_Tag->toPlainText().toStdString();
-	std::string id = ui.lineEdit_KeyId->text().toStdString();
+    RsGxsId id ( ui.lineEdit_KeyId->text().toStdString());
 	std::string name = ui.lineEdit_Nickname->text().toUtf8().data();
 
 	QString desc;
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ void IdEditDialog::rmTag(int idx)
 	loadRecognTags();
 }
 
-bool IdEditDialog::tagDetails(const std::string &id, const std::string &name, const std::string &tag, QString &desc)
+bool IdEditDialog::tagDetails(const RsGxsId &id, const std::string &name, const std::string &tag, QString &desc)
 {
 	if (tag.empty())
 	{
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ void IdEditDialog::loadRecognTags()
 	for(it = mEditGroup.mRecognTags.begin(); it != mEditGroup.mRecognTags.end(); it++, i++)
 	{
 		QString recognTag;
-		tagDetails(mEditGroup.mMeta.mGroupId.toStdString(), mEditGroup.mMeta.mGroupName, *it, recognTag);
+        tagDetails(mEditGroup.mMeta.mGroupId, mEditGroup.mMeta.mGroupName, *it, recognTag);
 
 		switch(i)
 		{
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.h
index 1703073dc..9df1a7f71 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Identity/IdEditDialog.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include "util/TokenQueue.h"
 #include <retroshare/rsidentity.h>
+#include <retroshare/rsgxsifacetypes.h>
 
 class UIStateHelper;
 
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ private:
 
 	void loadRecognTags();
 	// extract details.
-	bool tagDetails(const std::string &id, const std::string &name, const std::string &tag, QString &desc);
+    bool tagDetails(const RsGxsId &id, const std::string &name, const std::string &tag, QString &desc);
 	void rmTag(int idx);
 	
 protected:
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/RetroShareLink.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/RetroShareLink.cpp
index 9e1a62520..e724d6c30 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/RetroShareLink.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/RetroShareLink.cpp
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ bool RetroShareLink::createForum(const std::string& id, const std::string& msgId
 	return valid();
 }
 
-bool RetroShareLink::createChannel(const std::string& id, const std::string& msgId)
+bool RetroShareLink::createChannel(const std::string &id, const std::string &msgId)
 {
 	clear();
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentDialog.cpp
index f0bde4470..624cad51b 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentDialog.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ GxsCommentDialog::GxsCommentDialog(QWidget *parent, RsTokenService *token_servic
 	ui.treeWidget->setup(token_service, comment_service);
 
 	/* fill in the available OwnIds for signing */
-	ui.idChooser->loadIds(IDCHOOSER_ID_REQUIRED, "");
+    ui.idChooser->loadIds(IDCHOOSER_ID_REQUIRED, RsGxsId());
 
 	connect(ui.refreshButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(refresh()));
 	connect(ui.idChooser, SIGNAL(currentIndexChanged( int )), this, SLOT(voterSelectionChanged( int )));
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentTreeWidget.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentTreeWidget.cpp
index 53ae421b6..209bfa14e 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentTreeWidget.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCommentTreeWidget.cpp
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ void GxsCommentTreeWidget::customPopUpMenu(const QPoint& point)
 	contextMnu.addSeparator();
 
 	action = contextMnu.addAction(QIcon(IMAGE_VOTEUP), tr("Vote Up"), this, SLOT(voteUp()));
-	action->setDisabled(mVoterId.empty());
+	action->setDisabled(mVoterId.isNull());
 	action = contextMnu.addAction(QIcon(IMAGE_VOTEDOWN), tr("Vote Down"), this, SLOT(voteDown()));
-	action->setDisabled(mVoterId.empty());
+	action->setDisabled(mVoterId.isNull());
 
 
 	if (!mCurrentMsgId.isNull())
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCreateCommentDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCreateCommentDialog.cpp
index 2713f28dc..b9a115f61 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCreateCommentDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsCreateCommentDialog.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ GxsCreateCommentDialog::GxsCreateCommentDialog(TokenQueue *tokQ, RsGxsCommentSer
 	connect(ui->buttonBox, SIGNAL(accepted()), this, SLOT(createComment()));
 
 	/* fill in the available OwnIds for signing */
-	ui->idChooser->loadIds(IDCHOOSER_ID_REQUIRED, "");
+    ui->idChooser->loadIds(IDCHOOSER_ID_REQUIRED, RsGxsId());
 }
 
 void GxsCreateCommentDialog::createComment()
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsGroupDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsGroupDialog.cpp
index 4c5045983..134acec7c 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsGroupDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsGroupDialog.cpp
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ void GxsGroupDialog::init()
 
 	/* Setup Reasonable Defaults */
 
-	ui.idChooser->loadIds(0,"");
-	ui.circleComboBox->loadCircles(GXS_CIRCLE_CHOOSER_EXTERNAL,"");
-	ui.localComboBox->loadCircles(GXS_CIRCLE_CHOOSER_PERSONAL,"");
+    ui.idChooser->loadIds(0,RsGxsId());
+    ui.circleComboBox->loadCircles(GXS_CIRCLE_CHOOSER_EXTERNAL,RsGxsCircleId());
+    ui.localComboBox->loadCircles(GXS_CIRCLE_CHOOSER_PERSONAL,RsGxsCircleId());
 
 	initMode();
 }
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdChooser.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdChooser.cpp
index 11d318699..4d85c217e 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdChooser.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdChooser.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ bool GxsIdChooser::MakeIdDesc(const RsGxsId &id, QString &desc)
 		if (mTimerCount > MAX_TRY) 
 		{
 			desc = QString("%1 ... [").arg(tr("Not found"));
-			desc += QString::fromStdString(id.substr(0,5));
+            desc += QString::fromStdString(id.toStdString().substr(0,5));
 			desc += "...]";
 		}
 		return false;
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void GxsIdChooser::addPrivateId(const RsGxsId &gxsId, bool replace)
 		}
 	}
 
-	QString id = QString::fromStdString(gxsId);
+    QString id = QString::fromStdString(gxsId.toStdString());
 
 	if (replace) {
 		/* Find and replace text of exisiting item */
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdDetails.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdDetails.cpp
index 0ebbd9d15..bc9991467 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdDetails.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdDetails.cpp
@@ -69,20 +69,19 @@ static bool findTagIcon(int tag_class, int tag_type, QIcon &icon)
 }
 
 
-static bool CreateIdIcon(const std::string &id, QIcon &idIcon)
+static bool CreateIdIcon(const RsGxsId &id, QIcon &idIcon)
 {
 	QPixmap image(IconSize, IconSize);
 	QPainter painter(&image);
 
 	painter.fillRect(0, 0, IconSize, IconSize, Qt::black);
 
-	int len = id.length();
-	for(int i = 0; i + 1 < len; i += 2)
+    int len = id.SIZE_IN_BYTES;
+    for(int i = 0; i<len; ++i)
 	{
-		char hex1 = id[i];
-		char hex2 = id[i+1];
-		int x = (hex1 >= 'a') ? (hex1 - 'a' + 10) : (hex1 - '0');
-		int y = (hex2 >= 'a') ? (hex2 - 'a' + 10) : (hex2 - '0');
+        unsigned char hex = id.toByteArray()[i];
+        int x = hex & 0xf ;
+        int y = (hex & 0xf0) >> 4 ;
 		painter.fillRect(x, y, x+1, y+1, Qt::green);
 	}
 	idIcon = QIcon(image);
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ bool GxsIdDetails::MakeIdDesc(const RsGxsId &id, bool doIcons, QString &str, std
 		std::cerr << "GxsIdTreeWidget::MakeIdDesc() FAILED TO GET ID";
 		std::cerr << std::endl;
 
-		str = QObject::tr("Loading... ") + QString::fromStdString(id.substr(0,5));
+        str = QObject::tr("Loading... ") + QString::fromStdString(id.toStdString().substr(0,5));
 
 		if (!doIcons)
 		{
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@ bool GxsIdDetails::MakeIdDesc(const RsGxsId &id, bool doIcons, QString &str, std
 
 	if (addCode)
 	{
-		str += QString::fromStdString(id.substr(0,5));
+        str += QString::fromStdString(id.toStdString().substr(0,5));
 		str += "...]";
 	}
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdLabel.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdLabel.cpp
index dc0eded55..f2946dcb7 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdLabel.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdLabel.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ GxsIdLabel::GxsIdLabel(QWidget *parent)
 void GxsIdLabel::setId(const RsGxsId &id)
 {
 	mId = id;
-	if (mId == "")
+    if (mId.isNull())
 	{
 		setText("No Signature");
 	}
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidget.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidget.cpp
index d75c8820f..2e95c96b1 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidget.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidget.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void GxsIdItemDelegate::paint( QPainter * painter,
 	std::cerr << "GxsIdItemDelegate::paint()";
 	std::cerr << std::endl;
 		
-	RsGxsId id = mTree->ItemTextFromIndex(index, mGxsIdColumn).toStdString();
+    RsGxsId id ( mTree->ItemTextFromIndex(index, mGxsIdColumn).toStdString());
 	paintGxsId(painter, option, id);
 }
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void GxsIdRSItemDelegate::paint( QPainter * painter,
 	std::cerr << "GxsIdRSItemDelegate::paint()";
 	std::cerr << std::endl;
 		
-	RsGxsId id = mTree->ItemTextFromIndex(index, mGxsIdColumn).toStdString();
+    RsGxsId id ( mTree->ItemTextFromIndex(index, mGxsIdColumn).toStdString());
 	paintGxsId(painter, option, id);
 }
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidgetItem.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidgetItem.cpp
index f53fa5c08..91ed2b934 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidgetItem.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxs/GxsIdTreeWidgetItem.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void GxsIdRSTreeWidgetItem::setId(const RsGxsId &id, int column)
 
 	mId = id;
 	mColumn = column;
-	if (mId == "")
+    if (mId.isNull())
 	{
 		setText(mColumn, "No Signature");
 	}
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ void GxsIdTreeWidgetItem::setId(const RsGxsId &id, int column)
 
 	mId = id;
 	mColumn = column;
-	if (mId == "")
+    if (mId.isNull())
 	{
 		setText(mColumn, "No Signature");
 	}
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/CreateGxsForumMsg.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/CreateGxsForumMsg.cpp
index 4b0d25172..50f437d32 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/CreateGxsForumMsg.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/CreateGxsForumMsg.cpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ void  CreateGxsForumMsg::newMsg()
 	mForumMetaLoaded = false;
 
 	/* fill in the available OwnIds for signing */
-	ui.idChooser->loadIds(IDCHOOSER_ID_REQUIRED, "");
+    ui.idChooser->loadIds(IDCHOOSER_ID_REQUIRED, RsGxsId());
 
         if (mForumId.isNull()) {
 		mStateHelper->setActive(CREATEGXSFORUMMSG_FORUMINFO, false);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/GxsForumThreadWidget.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/GxsForumThreadWidget.cpp
index 4a4f60dda..79cff6560 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/GxsForumThreadWidget.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/gxsforums/GxsForumThreadWidget.cpp
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ QTreeWidgetItem *GxsForumThreadWidget::convertMsgToThreadWidget(const RsGxsForum
 	item->setText(COLUMN_THREAD_DATE, text);
 	item->setData(COLUMN_THREAD_DATE, ROLE_THREAD_SORT, sort);
 
-	item->setText(COLUMN_THREAD_AUTHOR, QString::fromStdString(msg.mMeta.mAuthorId));
+    item->setText(COLUMN_THREAD_AUTHOR, QString::fromStdString(msg.mMeta.mAuthorId.toStdString()));
 	//item->setId(msg.mMeta.mAuthorId, COLUMN_THREAD_AUTHOR);
 //#TODO
 #if 0
@@ -1588,7 +1588,7 @@ void GxsForumThreadWidget::replyMessageData(const RsGxsForumMsg &msg)
 	}
 
 	// NB: TODO REMOVE rsPeers references.
-	if (rsPeers->getPeerName(RsPeerId(msg.mMeta.mAuthorId)) !="")
+    if (rsPeers->getPeerName(RsPeerId(msg.mMeta.mAuthorId)) !="")
 	{
 		MessageComposer *msgDialog = MessageComposer::newMsg();
 		msgDialog->setTitleText(QString::fromUtf8(msg.mMeta.mMsgName.c_str()), MessageComposer::REPLY);