diff --git a/py25/bacpypes/primitivedata.py b/py25/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
index d00d9dd..d1c458a 100755
--- a/py25/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
+++ b/py25/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
@@ -69,10 +69,8 @@ class Tag(object):
 
     def set(self, tclass, tnum, tlvt=0, tdata=''):
         """set the values of the tag."""
-        if isinstance(tdata, bytearray):
-            tdata = bytes(tdata)
-        elif not isinstance(tdata, bytes):
-            raise TypeError("tag data must be bytes or bytearray")
+        if not isinstance(tdata, str):
+            raise TypeError("tag data must be str")
 
         self.tagClass = tclass
         self.tagNumber = tnum
@@ -81,10 +79,8 @@ class Tag(object):
 
     def set_app_data(self, tnum, tdata):
         """set the values of the tag."""
-        if isinstance(tdata, bytearray):
-            tdata = bytes(tdata)
-        elif not isinstance(tdata, bytes):
-            raise TypeError("tag data must be bytes or bytearray")
+        if not isinstance(tdata, str):
+            raise TypeError("tag data must be str")
 
         self.tagClass = Tag.applicationTagClass
         self.tagNumber = tnum
@@ -174,7 +170,7 @@ class Tag(object):
 
         # application tagged boolean now has data
         if (self.tagNumber == Tag.booleanAppTag):
-            return ContextTag(context, bytearray([self.tagLVT]))
+            return ContextTag(context, chr(self.tagLVT))
         else:
             return ContextTag(context, self.tagData)
 
@@ -563,11 +559,11 @@ class Unsigned(Atomic):
 
     def encode(self, tag):
         # rip apart the number
-        data = bytearray(struct.pack('>L', self.value))
+        data = struct.pack('>L', self.value)
 
         # reduce the value to the smallest number of octets
-        while (len(data) > 1) and (data[0] == 0):
-            del data[0]
+        while (len(data) > 1) and (data[0] == '\x00'):
+            data = data[1:]
 
         # encode the tag
         tag.set_app_data(Tag.unsignedAppTag, data)
@@ -613,24 +609,24 @@ class Integer(Atomic):
 
     def encode(self, tag):
         # rip apart the number
-        data = bytearray(struct.pack('>I', self.value & 0xFFFFFFFF))
+        data = struct.pack('>I', self.value & 0xFFFFFFFF)
 
         # reduce the value to the smallest number of bytes, be
         # careful about sign extension
         if self.value < 0:
             while (len(data) > 1):
-                if (data[0] != 255):
+                if (data[0] != '\xFF'):
                     break
-                if (data[1] < 128):
+                if (data[1] < '\x80'):
                     break
-                del data[0]
+                data = data[1:]
         else:
             while (len(data) > 1):
-                if (data[0] != 0):
+                if (data[0] != '\x00'):
                     break
-                if (data[1] >= 128):
+                if (data[1] >= '\x80'):
                     break
-                del data[0]
+                data = data[1:]
 
         # encode the tag
         tag.set_app_data(Tag.integerAppTag, data)
@@ -640,7 +636,7 @@ class Integer(Atomic):
             raise ValueError("integer application tag required")
 
         # byte array easier to deal with
-        tag_data = bytearray(tag.tagData)
+        tag_data = [ord(c) for c in tag.tagData]
 
         # get the data
         rslt = tag_data[0]
@@ -746,8 +742,8 @@ class OctetString(Atomic):
             pass
         elif isinstance(arg, Tag):
             self.decode(arg)
-        elif isinstance(arg, (bytes, bytearray)):
-            self.value = bytes(arg)
+        elif isinstance(arg, str):
+            self.value = arg
         elif isinstance(arg, OctetString):
             self.value = arg.value
         else:
@@ -800,11 +796,10 @@ class CharacterString(Atomic):
         if (tag.tagClass != Tag.applicationTagClass) or (tag.tagNumber != Tag.characterStringAppTag):
             raise ValueError("character string application tag required")
 
-        # byte array easier to deal with
-        tag_data = bytearray(tag.tagData)
+        tag_data = tag.tagData
 
         # extract the data
-        self.strEncoding = tag_data[0]
+        self.strEncoding = ord(tag_data[0])
         self.strValue = tag_data[1:]
 
         # normalize the value
@@ -870,7 +865,7 @@ class BitString(Atomic):
         unused = used and (8 - used) or 0
 
         # start with the number of unused bits
-        data = bytearray([unused])
+        data = [unused]
 
         # build and append each packed octet
         bits = self.value + [0] * unused
@@ -881,13 +876,13 @@ class BitString(Atomic):
             data.append(x)
 
         # encode the tag
-        tag.set_app_data(Tag.bitStringAppTag, data)
+        tag.set_app_data(Tag.bitStringAppTag, ''.join(chr(i) for i in data))
 
     def decode(self, tag):
         if (tag.tagClass != Tag.applicationTagClass) or (tag.tagNumber != Tag.bitStringAppTag):
             raise ValueError("bit string application tag required")
 
-        tag_data = bytearray(tag.tagData)
+        tag_data = [ord(c) for c in tag.tagData]
 
         # extract the number of unused bits
         unused = tag_data[0]
@@ -1055,11 +1050,11 @@ class Enumerated(Atomic):
             raise TypeError("%s is an invalid enumeration value datatype" % (type(self.value),))
 
         # rip apart the number
-        data = bytearray(struct.pack('>L', value))
+        data = struct.pack('>L', value)
 
         # reduce the value to the smallest number of octets
-        while (len(data) > 1) and (data[0] == 0):
-            del data[0]
+        while (len(data) > 1) and (data[0] == '\x00'):
+            data = data[1:]
 
         # encode the tag
         tag.set_app_data(Tag.enumeratedAppTag, data)
@@ -1108,87 +1103,177 @@ def expand_enumerations(klass):
 #   Date
 #
 
+_mm = r'(?P<month>0?[1-9]|1[0-4]|odd|even|255|[*])'
+_dd = r'(?P<day>[0-3]?\d|last|odd|even|255|[*])'
+_yy = r'(?P<year>\d{2}|255|[*])'
+_yyyy = r'(?P<year>\d{4}|255|[*])'
+_dow = r'(?P<dow>[1-7]|mon|tue|wed|thu|fri|sat|sun|255|[*])'
+
+_special_mon = {'*': 255, 'odd': 13, 'even': 14, None: 255}
+_special_mon_inv = {255: '*', 13: 'odd', 14: 'even'}
+
+_special_day = {'*': 255, 'last': 32, 'odd': 33, 'even': 34, None: 255}
+_special_day_inv = {255: '*', 32: 'last', 33: 'odd', 34: 'even'}
+
+_special_dow = {'*': 255, 'mon': 1, 'tue': 2, 'wed': 3, 'thu': 4, 'fri': 5, 'sat': 6, 'sun': 7}
+_special_dow_inv = {255: '*', 1: 'mon', 2: 'tue', 3: 'wed', 4: 'thu', 5: 'fri', 6: 'sat', 7: 'sun'}
+
+
+def _merge(*args):
+    """Create a composite pattern and compile it."""
+    return re.compile(r'^' + r'[/-]'.join(args) + r'(?:\s+' + _dow + ')?$')
+
+
+# make a list of compiled patterns
+_date_patterns = [
+    _merge(_yyyy, _mm, _dd),
+    _merge(_mm, _dd, _yyyy),
+    _merge(_dd, _mm, _yyyy),
+    _merge(_yy, _mm, _dd),
+    _merge(_mm, _dd, _yy),
+    _merge(_dd, _mm, _yy),
+    ]
+
+
 class Date(Atomic):
 
-    _app_tag = Tag.dateAppTag
-    _date_regex = re.compile(r"^([*]|\d+)[/]([*]|\d+)[/]([*]|\d+)(?:\s([*]|\w+))?$")
-    _day_names = ['', 'Mon', 'Tue', 'Wed', 'Thu', 'Fri', 'Sat', 'Sun']
-
-    DONT_CARE = 255
-
-    def __init__(self, arg=None, year=255, month=255, day=255, dayOfWeek=255):
-        self.value = (year, month, day, dayOfWeek)
-
+    def __init__(self, arg=None, year=255, month=255, day=255, day_of_week=255):
+        self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+        
         if arg is None:
             pass
-        elif isinstance(arg,Tag):
+        elif isinstance(arg, Tag):
             self.decode(arg)
         elif isinstance(arg, tuple):
             self.value = arg
         elif isinstance(arg, str):
-            date_match = Date._date_regex.match(arg)
-            if not date_match:
-                raise ValueError("invalid date pattern")
-            date_groups = date_match.groups()
+            # lower case everything
+            arg = arg.lower()
 
-            # day/month/year
-            tup_list = []
-            for s in date_groups[:3]:
-                if s == '*':
-                    tup_list.append(255)
-                elif s in None:
-                    tup_list.append(0)
-                else:
-                    tup_list.append(int(s))
+            # make a list of the contents from matching patterns
+            matches = []
+            for p in _date_patterns:
+                m = p.match(arg)
+                if m:
+                    matches.append(m.groupdict())
 
-            # clean up the year
-            if (tup_list[2] < 100):
-                tup_list[2] += 2000
-            tup_list[2] -= 1900
+            # try to find a good one
+            match = None
+            if not matches:
+                raise ValueError("unmatched")
 
-            # day-of-week madness
-            dow = date_groups[3]
-            if dow is None:
-                tup_list.append(0)
-            elif (dow == '*'):
-                tup_list.append(255)
-            elif dow.isdigit():
-                tup_list.append(int(dow))
+            # if there is only one, success
+            if len(matches) == 1:
+                match = matches[0]
             else:
-                dow = dow.title()
-                if dow not in Date._day_names:
-                    raise ValueError("invalid day name")
-                tup_list.append(Date._day_names.index(dow))
+                # check to see if they really are the same
+                for a, b in zip(matches[:-1],matches[1:]):
+                    if a != b:
+                        raise ValueError("ambiguous")
+                        break
+                else:
+                    match = matches[0]
+
+            # extract the year and normalize
+            year = match['year']
+            if (year == '*') or (not year):
+                year = 255
+            else:
+                year = int(year)
+                if (year == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif year < 35:
+                    year += 2000
+                elif year < 100:
+                    year += 1900
+                elif year < 1900:
+                    raise ValueError("invalid year")
+
+            # extract the month and normalize
+            month = match['month']
+            if month in _special_mon:
+                month = _special_mon[month]
+            else:
+                month = int(month)
+                if (month == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (month == 0) or (month > 14):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid month")
+
+            # extract the day and normalize
+            day = match['day']
+            if day in _special_day:
+                day = _special_day[day]
+            else:
+                day = int(day)
+                if (day == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (day == 0) or (day > 34):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid day")
+
+            # extract the day-of-week and normalize
+            day_of_week = match['dow']
+            if day_of_week in _special_dow:
+                day_of_week = _special_dow[day_of_week]
+            elif not day_of_week:
+                pass
+            else:
+                day_of_week = int(day_of_week)
+                if (day_of_week == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (day_of_week == 0) or (day_of_week > 7):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid day of week")
+
+            # year becomes the correct octet
+            if year != 255:
+                year -= 1900
+
+            # save the value
+            self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+
+            # calculate the day of the week
+            if not day_of_week:
+                self.CalcDayOfWeek()
 
-            self.value = tuple(tup_list)
         elif isinstance(arg, Date):
             self.value = arg.value
+
         else:
             raise TypeError("invalid constructor datatype")
 
-    def now(self):
-        tup = time.localtime()
-
-        self.value = (tup[0]-1900, tup[1], tup[2], tup[6] + 1)
-
-        return self
-
     def CalcDayOfWeek(self):
         """Calculate the correct day of the week."""
         # rip apart the value
-        year, month, day, dayOfWeek = self.value
+        year, month, day, day_of_week = self.value
 
-        # make sure all the components are defined
-        if (year != 255) and (month != 255) and (day != 255):
-            today = time.mktime( (year + 1900, month, day, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1) )
-            dayOfWeek = time.gmtime(today)[6] + 1
+        # assume the worst
+        day_of_week = 255
+
+        # check for special values
+        if year == 255:
+            pass
+        elif month in _special_mon_inv:
+            pass
+        elif day in _special_day_inv:
+            pass
+        else:
+            try:            
+                today = time.mktime( (year + 1900, month, day, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1) )
+                day_of_week = time.gmtime(today)[6] + 1
+            except OverflowError:
+                pass
 
         # put it back together
-        self.value = (year, month, day, dayOfWeek)
+        self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+
+    def now(self):
+        tup = time.localtime()
+        self.value = (tup[0]-1900, tup[1], tup[2], tup[6] + 1)
+        return self
 
     def encode(self, tag):
         # encode the tag
-        tag.set_app_data(Tag.dateAppTag, bytearray(self.value))
+        tag.set_app_data(Tag.dateAppTag, ''.join(chr(i) for i in self.value))
 
     def decode(self, tag):
         if (tag.tagClass != Tag.applicationTagClass) or (tag.tagNumber != Tag.dateAppTag):
@@ -1198,28 +1283,21 @@ class Date(Atomic):
         self.value = tuple(ord(c) for c in tag.tagData)
 
     def __str__(self):
+        """String representation of the date."""
         # rip it apart
-        year, month, day, dayOfWeek = self.value
+        year, month, day, day_of_week = self.value
 
-        rslt = "Date("
-        if month == 255:
-            rslt += "*/"
-        else:
-            rslt += "%d/" % (month,)
-        if day == 255:
-            rslt += "*/"
-        else:
-            rslt += "%d/" % (day,)
         if year == 255:
-            rslt += "* "
+            year = "*"
         else:
-            rslt += "%d " % (year + 1900,)
-        if dayOfWeek == 255:
-            rslt += "*)"
-        else:
-            rslt += Date._day_names[dayOfWeek] + ")"
+            year = str(year + 1900)
+
+        month = _special_mon_inv.get(month, str(month))
+        day = _special_day_inv.get(day, str(day))
+        day_of_week = _special_dow_inv.get(day_of_week, str(day_of_week))
+
+        return "%s(%s-%s-%s %s)" % (self.__class__.__name__, year, month, day, day_of_week)
 
-        return rslt
 
 #
 #   Time
@@ -1280,7 +1358,7 @@ class Time(Atomic):
 
     def encode(self, tag):
         # encode the tag
-        tag.set_app_data(Tag.timeAppTag, bytearray(self.value))
+        tag.set_app_data(Tag.timeAppTag, ''.join(chr(c) for c in self.value))
 
     def decode(self, tag):
         if (tag.tagClass != Tag.applicationTagClass) or (tag.tagNumber != Tag.timeAppTag):
diff --git a/py27/bacpypes/primitivedata.py b/py27/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
index d99fc69..7ef4057 100755
--- a/py27/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
+++ b/py27/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ class CharacterString(Atomic):
             self.value = '### unknown encoding: %d ###' % (self.strEncoding,)
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return "CharacterString(%d," % (self.strEncoding,) + repr(self.strValue) + ")"
+        return "CharacterString(%d,X'%s')" % (self.strEncoding, btox(self.strValue))
 
 #
 #   BitString
@@ -1104,87 +1104,178 @@ def expand_enumerations(klass):
     # save the dictionary in the class
     setattr(klass, '_xlate_table', xlateTable)
 
+
 #
 #   Date
 #
 
+_mm = r'(?P<month>0?[1-9]|1[0-4]|odd|even|255|[*])'
+_dd = r'(?P<day>[0-3]?\d|last|odd|even|255|[*])'
+_yy = r'(?P<year>\d{2}|255|[*])'
+_yyyy = r'(?P<year>\d{4}|255|[*])'
+_dow = r'(?P<dow>[1-7]|mon|tue|wed|thu|fri|sat|sun|255|[*])'
+
+_special_mon = {'*': 255, 'odd': 13, 'even': 14, None: 255}
+_special_mon_inv = {255: '*', 13: 'odd', 14: 'even'}
+
+_special_day = {'*': 255, 'last': 32, 'odd': 33, 'even': 34, None: 255}
+_special_day_inv = {255: '*', 32: 'last', 33: 'odd', 34: 'even'}
+
+_special_dow = {'*': 255, 'mon': 1, 'tue': 2, 'wed': 3, 'thu': 4, 'fri': 5, 'sat': 6, 'sun': 7}
+_special_dow_inv = {255: '*', 1: 'mon', 2: 'tue', 3: 'wed', 4: 'thu', 5: 'fri', 6: 'sat', 7: 'sun'}
+
+
+def _merge(*args):
+    """Create a composite pattern and compile it."""
+    return re.compile(r'^' + r'[/-]'.join(args) + r'(?:\s+' + _dow + ')?$')
+
+
+# make a list of compiled patterns
+_date_patterns = [
+    _merge(_yyyy, _mm, _dd),
+    _merge(_mm, _dd, _yyyy),
+    _merge(_dd, _mm, _yyyy),
+    _merge(_yy, _mm, _dd),
+    _merge(_mm, _dd, _yy),
+    _merge(_dd, _mm, _yy),
+    ]
+
+
 class Date(Atomic):
 
-    _app_tag = Tag.dateAppTag
-    _date_regex = re.compile(r"^([*]|\d+)[/]([*]|\d+)[/]([*]|\d+)(?:\s([*]|\w+))?$")
-    _day_names = ['', 'Mon', 'Tue', 'Wed', 'Thu', 'Fri', 'Sat', 'Sun']
-
-    DONT_CARE = 255
-
-    def __init__(self, arg=None, year=255, month=255, day=255, dayOfWeek=255):
-        self.value = (year, month, day, dayOfWeek)
-
+    def __init__(self, arg=None, year=255, month=255, day=255, day_of_week=255):
+        self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+        
         if arg is None:
             pass
-        elif isinstance(arg,Tag):
+        elif isinstance(arg, Tag):
             self.decode(arg)
         elif isinstance(arg, tuple):
             self.value = arg
         elif isinstance(arg, str):
-            date_match = Date._date_regex.match(arg)
-            if not date_match:
-                raise ValueError("invalid date pattern")
-            date_groups = date_match.groups()
+            # lower case everything
+            arg = arg.lower()
 
-            # day/month/year
-            tup_list = []
-            for s in date_groups[:3]:
-                if s == '*':
-                    tup_list.append(255)
-                elif s in None:
-                    tup_list.append(0)
-                else:
-                    tup_list.append(int(s))
+            # make a list of the contents from matching patterns
+            matches = []
+            for p in _date_patterns:
+                m = p.match(arg)
+                if m:
+                    matches.append(m.groupdict())
 
-            # clean up the year
-            if (tup_list[2] < 100):
-                tup_list[2] += 2000
-            tup_list[2] -= 1900
+            # try to find a good one
+            match = None
+            if not matches:
+                raise ValueError("unmatched")
 
-            # day-of-week madness
-            dow = date_groups[3]
-            if dow is None:
-                tup_list.append(0)
-            elif (dow == '*'):
-                tup_list.append(255)
-            elif dow.isdigit():
-                tup_list.append(int(dow))
+            # if there is only one, success
+            if len(matches) == 1:
+                match = matches[0]
             else:
-                dow = dow.title()
-                if dow not in Date._day_names:
-                    raise ValueError("invalid day name")
-                tup_list.append(Date._day_names.index(dow))
+                # check to see if they really are the same
+                for a, b in zip(matches[:-1],matches[1:]):
+                    if a != b:
+                        raise ValueError("ambiguous")
+                        break
+                else:
+                    match = matches[0]
+
+            # extract the year and normalize
+            year = match['year']
+            if (year == '*') or (not year):
+                year = 255
+            else:
+                year = int(year)
+                if (year == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif year < 35:
+                    year += 2000
+                elif year < 100:
+                    year += 1900
+                elif year < 1900:
+                    raise ValueError("invalid year")
+
+            # extract the month and normalize
+            month = match['month']
+            if month in _special_mon:
+                month = _special_mon[month]
+            else:
+                month = int(month)
+                if (month == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (month == 0) or (month > 14):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid month")
+
+            # extract the day and normalize
+            day = match['day']
+            if day in _special_day:
+                day = _special_day[day]
+            else:
+                day = int(day)
+                if (day == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (day == 0) or (day > 34):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid day")
+
+            # extract the day-of-week and normalize
+            day_of_week = match['dow']
+            if day_of_week in _special_dow:
+                day_of_week = _special_dow[day_of_week]
+            elif not day_of_week:
+                pass
+            else:
+                day_of_week = int(day_of_week)
+                if (day_of_week == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif day_of_week > 7:
+                    raise ValueError("invalid day of week")
+
+            # year becomes the correct octet
+            if year != 255:
+                year -= 1900
+
+            # save the value
+            self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+
+            # calculate the day of the week
+            if not day_of_week:
+                self.CalcDayOfWeek()
 
-            self.value = tuple(tup_list)
         elif isinstance(arg, Date):
             self.value = arg.value
+
         else:
             raise TypeError("invalid constructor datatype")
 
-    def now(self):
-        tup = time.localtime()
-
-        self.value = (tup[0]-1900, tup[1], tup[2], tup[6] + 1)
-
-        return self
-
     def CalcDayOfWeek(self):
         """Calculate the correct day of the week."""
         # rip apart the value
-        year, month, day, dayOfWeek = self.value
+        year, month, day, day_of_week = self.value
 
-        # make sure all the components are defined
-        if (year != 255) and (month != 255) and (day != 255):
-            today = time.mktime( (year + 1900, month, day, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1) )
-            dayOfWeek = time.gmtime(today)[6] + 1
+        # assume the worst
+        day_of_week = 255
+
+        # check for special values
+        if year == 255:
+            pass
+        elif month in _special_mon_inv:
+            pass
+        elif day in _special_day_inv:
+            pass
+        else:
+            try:            
+                today = time.mktime( (year + 1900, month, day, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1) )
+                day_of_week = time.gmtime(today)[6] + 1
+            except OverflowError:
+                pass
 
         # put it back together
-        self.value = (year, month, day, dayOfWeek)
+        self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+
+    def now(self):
+        tup = time.localtime()
+        self.value = (tup[0]-1900, tup[1], tup[2], tup[6] + 1)
+        return self
 
     def encode(self, tag):
         # encode the tag
@@ -1198,28 +1289,21 @@ class Date(Atomic):
         self.value = tuple(ord(c) for c in tag.tagData)
 
     def __str__(self):
+        """String representation of the date."""
         # rip it apart
-        year, month, day, dayOfWeek = self.value
+        year, month, day, day_of_week = self.value
 
-        rslt = "Date("
-        if month == 255:
-            rslt += "*/"
-        else:
-            rslt += "%d/" % (month,)
-        if day == 255:
-            rslt += "*/"
-        else:
-            rslt += "%d/" % (day,)
         if year == 255:
-            rslt += "* "
+            year = "*"
         else:
-            rslt += "%d " % (year + 1900,)
-        if dayOfWeek == 255:
-            rslt += "*)"
-        else:
-            rslt += Date._day_names[dayOfWeek] + ")"
+            year = str(year + 1900)
+
+        month = _special_mon_inv.get(month, str(month))
+        day = _special_day_inv.get(day, str(day))
+        day_of_week = _special_dow_inv.get(day_of_week, str(day_of_week))
+
+        return "%s(%s-%s-%s %s)" % (self.__class__.__name__, year, month, day, day_of_week)
 
-        return rslt
 
 #
 #   Time
diff --git a/py34/bacpypes/primitivedata.py b/py34/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
index 1208cb3..b352ab9 100755
--- a/py34/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
+++ b/py34/bacpypes/primitivedata.py
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ class Atomic(object):
         return (self.value < other.value)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        sys.stderr.write("__eq__ %r %r\n" % (self, other))
+        # sys.stderr.write("__eq__ %r %r\n" % (self, other))
 
         # hoop jump it
         if not isinstance(other, self.__class__):
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ class CharacterString(Atomic):
             self.value = '### unknown encoding: %d ###' % (self.strEncoding,)
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return "CharacterString(%d," % (self.strEncoding,) + repr(self.value) + ")"
+        return "CharacterString(%d,X'%s')" % (self.strEncoding, btox(self.strValue))
 
 #
 #   BitString
@@ -1026,7 +1026,7 @@ class Enumerated(Atomic):
     def keylist(self):
         """Return a list of names in order by value."""
         items = self.enumerations.items()
-        items.sort(lambda a, b: cmp(a[1], b[1]))
+        items.sort(lambda a, b: self.cmp(a[1], b[1]))
 
         # last item has highest value
         rslt = [None] * (items[-1][1] + 1)
@@ -1119,83 +1119,171 @@ def expand_enumerations(klass):
 #   Date
 #
 
+_mm = r'(?P<month>0?[1-9]|1[0-4]|odd|even|255|[*])'
+_dd = r'(?P<day>[0-3]?\d|last|odd|even|255|[*])'
+_yy = r'(?P<year>\d{2}|255|[*])'
+_yyyy = r'(?P<year>\d{4}|255|[*])'
+_dow = r'(?P<dow>[1-7]|mon|tue|wed|thu|fri|sat|sun|255|[*])'
+
+_special_mon = {'*': 255, 'odd': 13, 'even': 14, None: 255}
+_special_mon_inv = {255: '*', 13: 'odd', 14: 'even'}
+
+_special_day = {'*': 255, 'last': 32, 'odd': 33, 'even': 34, None: 255}
+_special_day_inv = {255: '*', 32: 'last', 33: 'odd', 34: 'even'}
+
+_special_dow = {'*': 255, 'mon': 1, 'tue': 2, 'wed': 3, 'thu': 4, 'fri': 5, 'sat': 6, 'sun': 7}
+_special_dow_inv = {255: '*', 1: 'mon', 2: 'tue', 3: 'wed', 4: 'thu', 5: 'fri', 6: 'sat', 7: 'sun'}
+
+def _merge(*args):
+    """Create a composite pattern and compile it."""
+    return re.compile(r'^' + r'[/-]'.join(args) + r'(?:\s+' + _dow + ')?$')
+
+# make a list of compiled patterns
+_date_patterns = [
+    _merge(_yyyy, _mm, _dd),
+    _merge(_mm, _dd, _yyyy),
+    _merge(_dd, _mm, _yyyy),
+    _merge(_yy, _mm, _dd),
+    _merge(_mm, _dd, _yy),
+    _merge(_dd, _mm, _yy),
+    ]
+
+
 class Date(Atomic):
 
-    _app_tag = Tag.dateAppTag
-    _date_regex = re.compile(r"^([*]|\d+)[/]([*]|\d+)[/]([*]|\d+)(?:\s([*]|\w+))?$")
-    _day_names = ['', 'Mon', 'Tue', 'Wed', 'Thu', 'Fri', 'Sat', 'Sun']
-
-    DONT_CARE = 255
-
-    def __init__(self, arg=None, year=255, month=255, day=255, dayOfWeek=255):
-        self.value = (year, month, day, dayOfWeek)
-
+    def __init__(self, arg=None, year=255, month=255, day=255, day_of_week=255):
+        self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+        
         if arg is None:
             pass
-        elif isinstance(arg,Tag):
+        elif isinstance(arg, Tag):
             self.decode(arg)
         elif isinstance(arg, tuple):
             self.value = arg
         elif isinstance(arg, str):
-            date_match = Date._date_regex.match(arg)
-            if not date_match:
-                raise ValueError("invalid date pattern")
-            date_groups = date_match.groups()
+            # lower case everything
+            arg = arg.lower()
 
-            # day/month/year
-            tup_list = []
-            for s in date_groups[:3]:
-                if s == '*':
-                    tup_list.append(255)
-                elif s in None:
-                    tup_list.append(0)
-                else:
-                    tup_list.append(int(s))
+            # make a list of the contents from matching patterns
+            matches = []
+            for p in _date_patterns:
+                m = p.match(arg)
+                if m:
+                    matches.append(m.groupdict())
 
-            # clean up the year
-            if (tup_list[2] < 100):
-                tup_list[2] += 2000
-            tup_list[2] -= 1900
+            # try to find a good one
+            match = None
+            if not matches:
+                raise ValueError("unmatched")
 
-            # day-of-week madness
-            dow = date_groups[3]
-            if dow is None:
-                tup_list.append(0)
-            elif (dow == '*'):
-                tup_list.append(255)
-            elif dow.isdigit():
-                tup_list.append(int(dow))
+            # if there is only one, success
+            if len(matches) == 1:
+                match = matches[0]
             else:
-                dow = dow.title()
-                if dow not in Date._day_names:
-                    raise ValueError("invalid day name")
-                tup_list.append(Date._day_names.index(dow))
+                # check to see if they really are the same
+                for a, b in zip(matches[:-1],matches[1:]):
+                    if a != b:
+                        raise ValueError("ambiguous")
+                        break
+                else:
+                    match = matches[0]
+
+            # extract the year and normalize
+            year = match['year']
+            if (year == '*') or (not year):
+                year = 255
+            else:
+                year = int(year)
+                if (year == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif year < 35:
+                    year += 2000
+                elif year < 100:
+                    year += 1900
+                elif year < 1900:
+                    raise ValueError("invalid year")
+
+            # extract the month and normalize
+            month = match['month']
+            if month in _special_mon:
+                month = _special_mon[month]
+            else:
+                month = int(month)
+                if (month == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (month == 0) or (month > 14):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid month")
+
+            # extract the day and normalize
+            day = match['day']
+            if day in _special_day:
+                day = _special_day[day]
+            else:
+                day = int(day)
+                if (day == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif (day == 0) or (day > 34):
+                    raise ValueError("invalid day")
+
+            # extract the day-of-week and normalize
+            day_of_week = match['dow']
+            if day_of_week in _special_dow:
+                day_of_week = _special_dow[day_of_week]
+            elif not day_of_week:
+                pass
+            else:
+                day_of_week = int(day_of_week)
+                if (day_of_week == 255):
+                    pass
+                elif day_of_week > 7:
+                    raise ValueError("invalid day of week")
+
+            # year becomes the correct octet
+            if year != 255:
+                year -= 1900
+
+            # save the value
+            self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+
+            # calculate the day of the week
+            if not day_of_week:
+                self.CalcDayOfWeek()
 
-            self.value = tuple(tup_list)
         elif isinstance(arg, Date):
             self.value = arg.value
+
         else:
             raise TypeError("invalid constructor datatype")
 
-    def now(self):
-        tup = time.localtime()
-
-        self.value = (tup[0]-1900, tup[1], tup[2], tup[6] + 1)
-
-        return self
-
     def CalcDayOfWeek(self):
         """Calculate the correct day of the week."""
         # rip apart the value
-        year, month, day, dayOfWeek = self.value
+        year, month, day, day_of_week = self.value
 
-        # make sure all the components are defined
-        if (year != 255) and (month != 255) and (day != 255):
-            today = time.mktime( (year + 1900, month, day, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1) )
-            dayOfWeek = time.gmtime(today)[6] + 1
+        # assume the worst
+        day_of_week = 255
+
+        # check for special values
+        if year == 255:
+            pass
+        elif month in _special_mon_inv:
+            pass
+        elif day in _special_day_inv:
+            pass
+        else:
+            try:            
+                today = time.mktime( (year + 1900, month, day, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1) )
+                day_of_week = time.gmtime(today)[6] + 1
+            except OverflowError:
+                pass
 
         # put it back together
-        self.value = (year, month, day, dayOfWeek)
+        self.value = (year, month, day, day_of_week)
+
+    def now(self):
+        tup = time.localtime()
+        self.value = (tup[0]-1900, tup[1], tup[2], tup[6] + 1)
+        return self
 
     def encode(self, tag):
         # encode the tag
@@ -1209,28 +1297,21 @@ class Date(Atomic):
         self.value = tuple(tag.tagData)
 
     def __str__(self):
+        """String representation of the date."""
         # rip it apart
-        year, month, day, dayOfWeek = self.value
+        year, month, day, day_of_week = self.value
 
-        rslt = "Date("
-        if month == 255:
-            rslt += "*/"
-        else:
-            rslt += "%d/" % (month,)
-        if day == 255:
-            rslt += "*/"
-        else:
-            rslt += "%d/" % (day,)
         if year == 255:
-            rslt += "* "
+            year = "*"
         else:
-            rslt += "%d " % (year + 1900,)
-        if dayOfWeek == 255:
-            rslt += "*)"
-        else:
-            rslt += Date._day_names[dayOfWeek] + ")"
+            year = str(year + 1900)
+
+        month = _special_mon_inv.get(month, str(month))
+        day = _special_day_inv.get(day, str(day))
+        day_of_week = _special_dow_inv.get(day_of_week, str(day_of_week))
+
+        return "%s(%s-%s-%s %s)" % (self.__class__.__name__, year, month, day, day_of_week)
 
-        return rslt
 
 #
 #   Time
diff --git a/samples/date_string_patterns.py b/samples/date_string_patterns.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdaf928
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/date_string_patterns.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+from bacpypes.primitivedata import Date
+
+year_group = ('04', '75', '1929', '255', '*')
+month_group = ('1', '12', 'odd', 'even', '255', '*')
+day_group = ('1', '22', 'last', 'odd', 'even', '255', '*')
+dow_group = ('1', 'mon', '255', '*')
+
+patterns = [
+    "%(year)s-%(month)s-%(day)s %(day_of_week)s",
+    "%(month)s/%(day)s/%(year)s %(day_of_week)s",
+    "%(day)s/%(month)s/%(year)s %(day_of_week)s",
+    ]
+
+def permutation(**kwargs):
+    for pattern in patterns:
+        test_string = pattern % kwargs
+        try:
+            test_date = Date(test_string)
+            test_value = test_date.value
+        except Exception as why:
+            test_value = str(why)
+        print(test_string + '\t' + str(test_value))
+    print()
+
+for year in year_group:
+    for month in month_group:
+        for day in day_group:
+            for day_of_week in dow_group:
+                permutation(
+                    year=year, month=month, day=day, day_of_week=day_of_week,
+                    )
diff --git a/tests/test_primitive_data/test_character_string.py b/tests/test_primitive_data/test_character_string.py
index bfede20..9445f65 100644
--- a/tests/test_primitive_data/test_character_string.py
+++ b/tests/test_primitive_data/test_character_string.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class TestCharacterString(unittest.TestCase):
 
         obj = CharacterString("hello")
         assert obj.value == "hello"
-        assert str(obj) == "CharacterString(0,'hello')"
+        assert str(obj) == "CharacterString(0,X'68656c6c6f')"
 
     def test_character_string_tag(self):
         if _debug: TestCharacterString._debug("test_character_string_tag")
diff --git a/tests/test_primitive_data/test_date.py b/tests/test_primitive_data/test_date.py
index e704ed4..00c851a 100644
--- a/tests/test_primitive_data/test_date.py
+++ b/tests/test_primitive_data/test_date.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Test Primitive Data Date
 import unittest
 
 from bacpypes.debugging import bacpypes_debugging, ModuleLogger, xtob
-from bacpypes.primitivedata import Date, Tag, DecodingError
+from bacpypes.primitivedata import Date, Tag
 
 # some debugging
 _debug = 0
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ _log = ModuleLogger(globals())
 
 @bacpypes_debugging
 def date_tag(x):
-    """Convert a hex string to an date application tag."""
+    """Convert a hex string to a date application tag."""
     if _debug: date_tag._debug("date_tag %r", x)
 
     b = xtob(x)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def date_encode(obj):
 
 @bacpypes_debugging
 def date_decode(tag):
-    """Decode an date application tag into an date."""
+    """Decode a date application tag into a date."""
     if _debug: date_decode._debug("date_decode %r", tag)
 
     obj = Date(tag)
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def date_endec(v, x):
 class TestDate(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_date(self):
-        if _debug: TestDate._debug("test_date")
+        if _debug: TestInteger._debug("test_date")
 
         # default values is all dont care
         obj = Date()
@@ -82,32 +82,16 @@ class TestDate(unittest.TestCase):
             Date(1.0)
 
     def test_date_tuple(self):
-        if _debug: TestDate._debug("test_date_tuple")
+        if _debug: TestInteger._debug("test_date_tuple")
 
         obj = Date((1,2,3,4))
-        assert obj.value == (1, 2, 3, 4)
-        assert str(obj) == "Date(2/3/1901 Thu)"
-
-        ### issue-48
-        # obj = Date("1/2/3")
-        # assert obj.value == (1, 2, x, y)
-
-        # obj = Date("*/2/3")
-        # assert obj.value == (255, 2, x, 255)
-
-        # obj = Date("1/*/3")
-        # assert obj.value == (1, 255, x, 255)
-
-        # obj = Date("1/2/*")
-        # assert obj.value == (1, 2, 255, 255)
-
-        # obj = Date("1/2/3 *")
-        # assert obj.value == (1, 2, 3, 255)
+        assert obj.value == (1,2,3,4)
+        assert str(obj) == "Date(1901-2-3 thu)"
 
     def test_date_tag(self):
-        if _debug: TestDate._debug("test_date_tag")
+        if _debug: TestInteger._debug("test_date_tag")
 
-        tag = Tag(Tag.applicationTagClass, Tag.dateAppTag, 1, xtob('01020304'))
+        tag = Tag(Tag.applicationTagClass, Tag.dateAppTag, 4, xtob('01020304'))
         obj = Date(tag)
         assert obj.value == (1, 2, 3, 4)
 
@@ -124,27 +108,68 @@ class TestDate(unittest.TestCase):
             Date(tag)
 
     def test_date_copy(self):
-        if _debug: TestDate._debug("test_date_copy")
+        if _debug: TestInteger._debug("test_date_copy")
 
-        date_value = (2, 3, 4, 5)
-        obj1 = Date(date_value)
+        value = (1, 2, 3, 4)
+        obj1 = Date(value)
         obj2 = Date(obj1)
-        assert obj2.value == date_value
-
-    def test_date_now(self):
-        if _debug: TestDate._debug("test_date_now")
-
-        # obj = Date().now()
-        ### how to test?
+        assert obj2.value == value
 
     def test_date_endec(self):
-        if _debug: TestDate._debug("test_date_endec")
+        if _debug: TestInteger._debug("test_date_endec")
 
-#       with self.assertRaises(DecodingError):
+#       with self.assertRaises(IndexError):
 #           obj = Date(date_tag(''))
 
-        date_endec((0, 0, 0, 0), '00000000')
-        date_endec((1, 0, 0, 0), '01000000')
-        date_endec((0, 2, 0, 0), '00020000')
-        date_endec((0, 0, 3, 0), '00000300')
-        date_endec((0, 0, 0, 4), '00000004')
+    def old_tests(self):
+        self.test_values = [
+            #('1/2/3', 1903, 2, 1, 0),
+            #('1/2/3', 1903, 2, 1, 0),
+            ("1/2/2003", 2003, 2, 1, 6),
+            ("1/20/2003", 2003, 1, 20, 1),
+            ("01/20/2004", 2004, 1, 20, 2),
+            ("11/12/2005", 2005, 12, 11, 7),
+            ("30/1/2006", 2006, 1, 30, 1),
+            ("30/1/1230", 1230, 1, 30, 255),
+            ("30/1/98", 1998, 1, 30, 5),
+            ("2015/8/31", 2015, 8, 31, 1),
+            ("2015/08/30", 2015, 8, 30, 7),
+            ("2015/*/30", 2015,255,30,255),
+            ("2015/1/*",2015,1,255,255),
+            ("*/1/*", 255,1,255,255),
+            ("*/*/*",255,255,255,255),
+            ("1-2-2003", 2003, 2, 1, 6),
+            ("1-20-2003", 2003, 1, 20, 1),
+            ("01-20-2004", 2004, 1, 20, 2),
+            ("11-12-2005", 2005, 12, 11, 7),
+            ("30-1-2006", 2006, 1, 30, 1),
+            ("30-1-1230", 1230, 1, 30, 255),
+            ("30-1-98", 1998, 1, 30, 5),
+            ("2015-8-31", 2015, 8, 31, 1),
+            ("2015-08-30", 2015, 8, 30, 7),
+            ("2015-*-30", 2015,255,30,255),
+            ("2015-1-*",2015,1,255,255),
+            ("*-1-*", 255,1,255,255),
+            ("*-*-*",255,255,255,255)
+        ]
+
+        self.notEnoughPreciseOrWrong = [
+            ('1/31/1'),
+            ('0/1/4'),
+            ('99/13/41'),
+            ("2015/30/*")        
+        ]
+
+        def test_Date_from_str(self):
+            for each in self.test_values:
+                new_date = Date(each[0])
+                y, m, d, dow = new_date.value
+                self.assertEqual(y,each[1])
+                self.assertEqual(m,each[2])
+                self.assertEqual(d,each[3])
+                self.assertEqual(dow,each[4])
+            
+        def test_Wrong(self):
+            with self.assertRaises(ValueError):        
+                for each in self.notEnoughPreciseOrWrong:
+                    new_date = Date(each[0])