diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
index 7d2f1f729d..209ece54d6 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
@@ -321,9 +321,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::LoadPCB( const wxString& filename ) throw( IOError )
 
     if( !fp )
     {
-        wxString msg;
-        msg.Printf( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), filename.GetData() );
-        ThrowIOError( msg );
+        ThrowIOError( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
     }
 
     file.Attach( fp );      // "exception safe" way to close the file.
@@ -353,9 +351,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::LoadSESSION( const wxString& filename ) throw( IOError )
 
     if( !fp )
     {
-        wxString msg;
-        msg.Printf( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), filename.GetData() );
-        ThrowIOError( msg );
+        ThrowIOError( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
     }
 
     file.Attach( fp );      // "exception safe" way to close the file.
@@ -3470,9 +3466,7 @@ int SPECCTRA_DB::Print( int nestLevel, const char* fmt, ... ) throw( IOError )
 
     if( result<0 || (result=vfprintf( fp, fmt, args ))<0 )
     {
-        wxString msg;
-        msg.Printf( _("System file error writing to file \"%s\""), filename.GetData() );
-        ThrowIOError( msg );
+        ThrowIOError( _("System file error writing to file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
     }
 
     va_end( args );
@@ -3529,9 +3523,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::ExportPCB( wxString filename, bool aNameChange ) throw( IOErro
 
     if( !fp )
     {
-        wxString msg;
-        msg.Printf( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), filename.GetData() );
-        ThrowIOError( msg );
+        ThrowIOError( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
     }
 
     if( pcb )
@@ -3556,9 +3548,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::ExportSESSION( wxString filename )
 
     if( !fp )
     {
-        wxString msg;
-        msg.Printf( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), filename.GetData() );
-        ThrowIOError( msg );
+        ThrowIOError( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
     }
 
     if( session )
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
index 0677b4cfe0..9a9aeeddb1 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra_export.cpp
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::FromBOARD( BOARD* aBoard ) throw( IOError )
             if( module->GetReference() == wxEmptyString )
             {
                 ThrowIOError( _("Component with value of \"%s\" has empty reference id."),
-                                module->GetValue().GetData() );
+                                GetChars( module->GetValue() ) );
             }
 
             // if we cannot insert OK, that means the reference has been seen before.
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::FromBOARD( BOARD* aBoard ) throw( IOError )
             if( !refpair.second )      // insert failed
             {
                 ThrowIOError( _("Multiple components have identical reference IDs of \"%s\"."),
-                      module->GetReference().GetData() );
+                      GetChars( module->GetReference() ) );
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
index d3b10b4741..72d7f8fe72 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra_import.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void WinEDA_PcbFrame::ImportSpecctraSession( wxCommandEvent& event )
 
     GetScreen()->SetModify();
     GetBoard()->m_Status_Pcb = 0;
-    
+
     /* At this point we should call Compile_Ratsnest()
      * but this could be time consumming.
      * So if incorrect number of Connecred and No connected pads is accepted
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ TRACK* SPECCTRA_DB::makeTRACK( PATH* aPath, int aPointIndex, int aNetcode ) thro
     {
         wxString layerName = CONV_FROM_UTF8( aPath->layer_id.c_str() );
         ThrowIOError( _("Session file uses invalid layer id \"%s\""),
-                        layerName.GetData() );
+                        GetChars(layerName) );
     }
 
     TRACK* track = new TRACK( sessionBoard );
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
         DSN_T type = shape->shape->Type();
         if( type != T_circle )
             ThrowIOError( _( "Unsupported via shape: \"%s\""),
-                     LEXER::GetTokenString( type ).GetData() );
+                     GetChars( LEXER::GetTokenString( type ) ) );
 
         CIRCLE* circle = (CIRCLE*) shape->shape;
         int viaDiam = scale( circle->diameter, routeResolution );
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
         DSN_T type = shape->shape->Type();
         if( type != T_circle )
             ThrowIOError( _( "Unsupported via shape: \"%s\""),
-                     LEXER::GetTokenString( type ).GetData() );
+                     GetChars( LEXER::GetTokenString( type ) ) );
 
         CIRCLE* circle = (CIRCLE*) shape->shape;
         int viaDiam = scale( circle->diameter, routeResolution );
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
             DSN_T type = shape->shape->Type();
             if( type != T_circle )
                 ThrowIOError( _( "Unsupported via shape: \"%s\""),
-                         LEXER::GetTokenString( type ).GetData() );
+                         GetChars( LEXER::GetTokenString( type ) ) );
 
             CIRCLE* circle = (CIRCLE*) shape->shape;
 
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ SEGVIA* SPECCTRA_DB::makeVIA( PADSTACK* aPadstack, const POINT& aPoint, int aNet
             {
                 wxString layerName = CONV_FROM_UTF8( circle->layer_id.c_str() );
                 ThrowIOError( _("Session file uses invalid layer id \"%s\""),
-                                layerName.GetData() );
+                                GetChars( layerName ) );
             }
 
             if( layerNdx > topLayerNdx )
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::FromSESSION( BOARD* aBoard ) throw( IOError )
             {
                 ThrowIOError(
                    _("Session file has 'reference' to non-existent component \"%s\""),
-                   reference.GetData() );
+                   GetChars( reference ) );
             }
 
             if( !place->hasVertex )
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::FromSESSION( BOARD* aBoard ) throw( IOError )
                 wxString psid( CONV_FROM_UTF8( wire_via->GetPadstackId().c_str() ) );
 
                 ThrowIOError( _("A wire_via references a missing padstack \"%s\""),
-                             psid.GetData() );
+                             GetChars( psid ) );
             }
 
             for( unsigned v=0;  v<wire_via->vertexes.size();  ++v )