diff --git a/src/mathed/ChangeLog b/src/mathed/ChangeLog
index a7108e3366..7115697cc5 100644
--- a/src/mathed/ChangeLog
+++ b/src/mathed/ChangeLog
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 	* math_parser.C: new "lexxer"
 
+	* array.C: write sequences of chars with same code as a unit
+
 2001-08-13  André Pönitz  <poenitz@gmx.net>
 
 	* math_factory.[Ch]: new files for the creation of math insets
diff --git a/src/mathed/array.C b/src/mathed/array.C
index 31de4bae0e..593b6fe8d4 100644
--- a/src/mathed/array.C
+++ b/src/mathed/array.C
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #include "math_inset.h"
+#include "math_charinset.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "array.h"
 #include "mathed/support.h"
@@ -173,11 +174,40 @@ std::ostream & operator<<(std::ostream & os, MathArray const & ar)
 	return os;
 }
 
+// returns sequence of char with same code starting at it up to end
+// it might be less, though...
+string charSequence(MathArray::const_iterator it, MathArray::const_iterator end)
+{
+	string s;
+	MathCharInset const * p = (*it)->asCharInset();
+	if (!p)
+		return s;
+
+	MathTextCodes c = p->code();
+	while (it != end && (p = (*it)->asCharInset()) && p->code() == c) { 
+		s += p->getChar();
+		++it;
+	}
+	return s;
+}
+
 
 void MathArray::write(ostream & os, bool fragile) const
 {
-	for (const_iterator it = begin(); it != end(); ++it)
-		(*it)->write(os, fragile);
+	for (const_iterator it = begin(); it != end(); ) {
+		MathCharInset const * p = (*it)->asCharInset();
+		if (p) {
+			// special handling for character sequences with the same code
+			string s = charSequence(it, end());
+			p->writeHeader(os);
+			os << s;
+			p->writeTrailer(os);
+			it += s.size();
+		} else {
+			(*it)->write(os, fragile);
+			++it;
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_charinset.C b/src/mathed/math_charinset.C
index bee9ec01bd..94a7bf8b48 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_charinset.C
+++ b/src/mathed/math_charinset.C
@@ -72,21 +72,34 @@ void MathCharInset::draw(Painter & pain, int x, int y) const
 }
 
 
-void MathCharInset::write(std::ostream & os, bool) const
+void MathCharInset::writeHeader(std::ostream & os) const
 {
 	if (code_ >= LM_TC_RM && code_ <= LM_TC_TEXTRM) 
 		os << '\\' << math_font_name[code_ - LM_TC_RM] << '{';
+}
 
-	if (code_ == LM_TC_TEX || code_ == LM_TC_SPECIAL)
-		os << '\\';
-
-	os << char_;
 
+void MathCharInset::writeTrailer(std::ostream & os) const
+{
 	if (code_ >= LM_TC_RM && code_ <= LM_TC_TEXTRM)
 		os << '}';
 }
 
 
+void MathCharInset::writeRaw(std::ostream & os) const
+{
+	os << char_;
+}
+
+
+void MathCharInset::write(std::ostream & os, bool) const
+{
+	writeHeader(os);
+	writeRaw(os);
+	writeTrailer(os);
+}
+
+
 void MathCharInset::writeNormal(std::ostream & os) const
 {
 	os << char_;
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_charinset.h b/src/mathed/math_charinset.h
index 629e93e463..9925d0e350 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_charinset.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_charinset.h
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ public:
 	///
 	void write(std::ostream &, bool fragile) const;
 	///
+	void writeHeader(std::ostream &) const;
+	///
+	void writeTrailer(std::ostream &) const;
+	///
+	void writeRaw(std::ostream &) const;
+	///
 	void writeNormal(std::ostream &) const;
 	/// 
 	int ascent() const;
@@ -37,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 	///
 	int width() const;
 	/// identifies Charinsets
-	bool isCharInset() const { return true; }
+	MathCharInset const * asCharInset() const { return this; }
 	///
 	char getChar() const { return char_; }
 	///
diff --git a/src/mathed/math_inset.h b/src/mathed/math_inset.h
index d5d5774254..ca8a5638c8 100644
--- a/src/mathed/math_inset.h
+++ b/src/mathed/math_inset.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 
 
 class LaTeXFeatures;
+class MathCharInset;
 
 class MathInset {
 public: 
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ public:
 	/// identifies ArrayInsets
 	virtual bool isArray() const { return false; }
 	/// identifies Charinsets
-	virtual bool isCharInset() const { return false; }
+	virtual MathCharInset const * asCharInset() const { return 0; }
 	///
 	virtual bool isActive() const { return nargs() > 0; }
 	///