diff --git a/src/Errors.py b/src/Errors.py
index cb3307382..66139bed4 100644
--- a/src/Errors.py
+++ b/src/Errors.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 class ReportError(Exception):
     """Error used to report Report errors"""
     def __init__(self,value):
+        Exception.__init__(self)
         self.value = value
 
     def __str__(self):
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class ReportError(Exception):
 class GedcomError(Exception):
     """Error used to report GEDCOM errors"""
     def __init__(self,value):
+        Exception.__init__(self)
         self.value = value
 
     def __str__(self):
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ class GedcomError(Exception):
 class PluginError(Exception):
     """Error used to report plugin errors"""
     def __init__(self,value):
+        Exception.__init__(self)
         self.value = value
 
     def __str__(self):
diff --git a/src/GenericFilter.py b/src/GenericFilter.py
index 28453190c..52f79beda 100644
--- a/src/GenericFilter.py
+++ b/src/GenericFilter.py
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ class GenericFilterList:
         except:
             return
         
-        f.write("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"iso-8859-1\"?>\n")
+        f.write("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\"?>\n")
         f.write('<filters>\n')
         for i in self.filter_list:
             f.write('  <filter name="%s"' % self.fix(i.get_name()))
diff --git a/src/Report.py b/src/Report.py
index de6e6240b..024b7d617 100644
--- a/src/Report.py
+++ b/src/Report.py
@@ -52,8 +52,9 @@ import TextDoc
 import StyleEditor
 import GrampsCfg
 import PaperMenu
-from intl import gettext as _
+import Errors
 
+from intl import gettext as _
 from QuestionDialog import  ErrorDialog
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -78,20 +79,6 @@ _template_map = {
     _user_template : None
     }
 
-#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#
-# Exceptions
-#
-#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-class ReportError(Exception):
-    
-    def __init__(self,value):
-        self.value = value
-
-    def __str__(self):
-        return self.value
-
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Report
diff --git a/src/StyleEditor.py b/src/StyleEditor.py
index c5d9d4e03..c5b766f34 100644
--- a/src/StyleEditor.py
+++ b/src/StyleEditor.py
@@ -97,7 +97,14 @@ class StyleListDisplay:
         """Called with the OK button is clicked; Calls the callback task, then
         saves the stylesheet, and destroys the window."""
         self.callback()
-        self.sheetlist.save()
+        try:
+            self.sheetlist.save()
+        except IOError,msg:
+            from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
+            ErrorDialog(_("Error saving stylesheet") + "\n" + str(msg))
+        except:
+            import DisplayTrace
+            DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
         Utils.destroy_passed_object(obj)
 
     def on_button_press(self,obj,event):
diff --git a/src/TextDoc.py b/src/TextDoc.py
index 6e392baf5..92e37ae33 100644
--- a/src/TextDoc.py
+++ b/src/TextDoc.py
@@ -790,11 +790,9 @@ class StyleSheetList:
         Loads the StyleSheets from the associated file, if it exists.
         """
         try:
-            parser = make_parser()
-            parser.setContentHandler(SheetParser(self))
-            if self.file[0:7] != "file://":
-                self.file = "file://" + self.file
-            parser.parse(self.file)
+            p = make_parser()
+            p.setContentHandler(SheetParser(self))
+            p.parse('file://' + self.file)
         except (IOError,OSError,SAXParseException):
             pass
         
diff --git a/src/docgen/KwordDoc.py b/src/docgen/KwordDoc.py
index 2e200230f..ddc0c9e81 100644
--- a/src/docgen/KwordDoc.py
+++ b/src/docgen/KwordDoc.py
@@ -233,7 +233,16 @@ class KwordDoc(TextDoc.TextDoc):
         self.f.write('</PIXMAPS>\n')
         self.f.write('</DOC>\n')
 
-        tar = TarFile(self.filename)
+        try:
+            tar = TarFile(self.filename)
+        except IOError, msg:
+            text = _("Could not open %s") % self.filename
+            Errors.ReportError(text + "\n" + str(msg))
+            return
+        except:
+            Errors.ReportError(_("Could not open %s") % self.filename)
+            return
+            
         tar.add_file("documentinfo.xml",self.mtime,self.m)
         tar.add_file("maindoc.xml",self.mtime,self.f)
         for file in self.photo_list:
diff --git a/src/docgen/OpenOfficeDoc.py b/src/docgen/OpenOfficeDoc.py
index 5d3938ec0..b8a03fc45 100644
--- a/src/docgen/OpenOfficeDoc.py
+++ b/src/docgen/OpenOfficeDoc.py
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ class OpenOfficeDoc(TextDoc.TextDoc):
             self.filename = filename + ".sxw"
         else:
             self.filename = filename
+
+        self.filename = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(filename))
             
         try:
             self.content_xml = tempfile.mktemp()
diff --git a/src/plugins/AncestorChart.py b/src/plugins/AncestorChart.py
index 8326fefd7..60aba1ee7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/AncestorChart.py
+++ b/src/plugins/AncestorChart.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import TextDoc
 import Report
 import Errors
 import FontScale
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 from SubstKeywords import SubstKeywords
 from intl import gettext as _
 
@@ -255,6 +256,8 @@ class AncestorChartDialog(Report.DrawReportDialog):
             MyReport = AncestorChart(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
                                      self.max_gen, self.doc, self.report_text)
             MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
         except:
             import DisplayTrace
             DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
diff --git a/src/plugins/AncestorReport.py b/src/plugins/AncestorReport.py
index 7ad5e900b..45a756bda 100644
--- a/src/plugins/AncestorReport.py
+++ b/src/plugins/AncestorReport.py
@@ -28,14 +28,6 @@
 import os
 import string
 
-#------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#
-# GNOME/GTK
-#
-#------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import gtk
-import gnome.ui
-
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # gramps modules
@@ -44,6 +36,8 @@ import gnome.ui
 import Report
 import TextDoc
 import RelLib
+import Errors
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 from intl import gettext as _
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -60,11 +54,7 @@ class AncestorReport(Report.Report):
         self.max_generations = max
         self.pgbrk = pgbrk
         self.doc = doc
-
-        try:
-            self.doc.open(output)
-        except IOError,msg:
-            gnome.ui.GnomeErrorDialog(_("Could not open %s") % output + "\n" + msg)
+        self.doc.open(output)
         
     def filter(self,person,index):
         if person == None or index >= (1 << 30):
@@ -277,11 +267,12 @@ class AncestorReportDialog(Report.TextReportDialog):
             MyReport = AncestorReport(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
                                       self.max_gen, self.doc, self.pg_brk)
             MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
         except:
             import DisplayTrace
             DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
 
-
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # 
diff --git a/src/plugins/DesGraph.py b/src/plugins/DesGraph.py
index 6f00e14b4..fe1cee9e1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/DesGraph.py
+++ b/src/plugins/DesGraph.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import Errors
 
 from SubstKeywords import SubstKeywords
 from intl import gettext as _
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -341,6 +342,8 @@ class DescendantReportDialog(Report.DrawReportDialog):
             MyReport = DescendantReport(self.db,self.report_text,
                                         self.person, self.target_path, self.doc)
             MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
         except:
             import DisplayTrace
             DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
diff --git a/src/plugins/DescendReport.py b/src/plugins/DescendReport.py
index a19cdff9d..86f9cbe35 100644
--- a/src/plugins/DescendReport.py
+++ b/src/plugins/DescendReport.py
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ import string
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 import Report
 import TextDoc
+import Errors
+
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 from intl import gettext as _
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -161,6 +164,8 @@ class DescendantReportDialog(Report.TextReportDialog):
             MyReport.setup()
             MyReport.report()
             MyReport.end()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
         except:
             import DisplayTrace
             DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
diff --git a/src/plugins/DetAncestralReport.py b/src/plugins/DetAncestralReport.py
index 823481d6a..dc684acce 100644
--- a/src/plugins/DetAncestralReport.py
+++ b/src/plugins/DetAncestralReport.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 #
 # Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program
 #
@@ -24,7 +23,10 @@
 import RelLib
 import os
 import sort
+import Errors
+
 from intl import gettext as _
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 
 from Report import *
 from TextDoc import *
@@ -733,10 +735,15 @@ class DetAncestorReportDialog(TextReportDialog):
         """Create the object that will produce the Detailed Ancestral
         Report.  All user dialog has already been handled and the
         output file opened."""
-        MyReport = DetAncestorReport(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
-                                     self.max_gen, self.pg_brk, self.doc)
-        MyReport.write_report()
-
+        try:
+            MyReport = DetAncestorReport(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
+                                         self.max_gen, self.pg_brk, self.doc)
+            MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
+        except:
+            import DisplayTrace
+            DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
diff --git a/src/plugins/DetDescendantReport.py b/src/plugins/DetDescendantReport.py
index 7e42f2146..80e6582e5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/DetDescendantReport.py
+++ b/src/plugins/DetDescendantReport.py
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ import os
 import sort
 from intl import gettext as _
 
+import Errors
 from Report import *
 from TextDoc import *
 
 import gtk
 import gnome.ui
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -761,10 +763,15 @@ class DetDescendantReportDialog(TextReportDialog):
         """Create the object that will produce the Detailed Ancestral
         Report.  All user dialog has already been handled and the
         output file opened."""
-        MyReport = DetDescendantReport(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
-                                     self.max_gen, self.pg_brk, self.doc)
-        MyReport.write_report()
-
+        try:
+            MyReport = DetDescendantReport(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
+                                           self.max_gen, self.pg_brk, self.doc)
+            MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
+        except:
+            import DisplayTrace
+            DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
 
     def add_user_options(self):
         
diff --git a/src/plugins/FamilyGroup.py b/src/plugins/FamilyGroup.py
index 31f106153..b85e9bc26 100644
--- a/src/plugins/FamilyGroup.py
+++ b/src/plugins/FamilyGroup.py
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ import os
 import RelLib
 import Report
 import TextDoc
+import Errors
 from intl import gettext as _
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -438,9 +440,15 @@ class FamilyGroupDialog(Report.TextReportDialog):
         """Create the object that will produce the Ancestor Chart.
         All user dialog has already been handled and the output file
         opened."""
-        MyReport = FamilyGroup(self.db, self.report_menu, self.target_path, self.doc)
-        MyReport.setup()
-        MyReport.write_report()
+        try:
+            MyReport = FamilyGroup(self.db, self.report_menu, self.target_path, self.doc)
+            MyReport.setup()
+            MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
+        except:
+            import DisplayTrace
+            DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
diff --git a/src/plugins/IndivComplete.py b/src/plugins/IndivComplete.py
index a5f1cede9..cd4f959cf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/IndivComplete.py
+++ b/src/plugins/IndivComplete.py
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ import TextDoc
 import StyleEditor
 import Report
 import GenericFilter
+import Errors
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 from intl import gettext as _
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -532,10 +534,17 @@ class IndivSummaryDialog(Report.TextReportDialog):
         opened."""
 
         act = self.use_srcs.get_active()
-        MyReport = IndivComplete(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
-                                 self.doc, self.filter, act)
-        MyReport.setup()
-        MyReport.write_report()
+        try:
+            MyReport = IndivComplete(self.db, self.person, self.target_path,
+                                     self.doc, self.filter, act)
+            MyReport.setup()
+            MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
+        except:
+            import DisplayTrace
+            DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
+        
 
     def get_report_generations(self):
         """Return the default number of generations to start the
diff --git a/src/plugins/IndivSummary.py b/src/plugins/IndivSummary.py
index 39085fc2b..4cca6bfa3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/IndivSummary.py
+++ b/src/plugins/IndivSummary.py
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ import const
 import TextDoc
 import StyleEditor
 import Report
+import Errors
+from QuestionDialog import ErrorDialog
 from intl import gettext as _
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -373,9 +375,15 @@ class IndivSummaryDialog(Report.TextReportDialog):
         """Create the object that will produce the Ancestor Chart.
         All user dialog has already been handled and the output file
         opened."""
-        MyReport = IndivSummary(self.db, self.person, self.target_path, self.doc)
-        MyReport.setup()
-        MyReport.write_report()
+        try:
+            MyReport = IndivSummary(self.db, self.person, self.target_path, self.doc)
+            MyReport.setup()
+            MyReport.write_report()
+        except Errors.ReportError, msg:
+            ErrorDialog(str(msg))
+        except:
+            import DisplayTrace
+            DisplayTrace.DisplayTrace()
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #