diff --git a/src/any2many.cpp b/src/any2many.cpp
index 7aedf3ea..852c2253 100644
--- a/src/any2many.cpp
+++ b/src/any2many.cpp
@@ -418,9 +418,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   }
 
   // read startup file
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
   char startup_path_name[128];
   TSAXParser *saxParser = new TSAXParser();
   PStartupHandler *startupHandler = new PStartupHandler();
@@ -440,22 +437,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     strcpy(startup_path_name, startupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("PStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PStartupHandler.cpp for the definition)
+    status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << ">> any2many **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";
diff --git a/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp b/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
index 0afae35e..24a8fd8e 100644
--- a/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
+++ b/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
@@ -415,35 +415,19 @@ int PMsr2Data::SetRunNumbers(const string &runListFile)
  *
  * <p><b>return:</b>
  * - 0 if everything went fine
- * - return value of the ParseFile-method otherwise
+ * - return value of the parseXmlFile function otherwise
  */
 int PMsr2Data::ParseXmlStartupFile()
 {
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
   int status;
   fSaxParser = new TSAXParser();
   fStartupHandler = new PStartupHandler();
   string startup_path_name(fStartupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
   fSaxParser->ConnectToHandler("PStartupHandler", fStartupHandler);
   //status = fSaxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str());
-  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-    xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-  }
-  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-    status = 1;
-  } else {
-    status = fSaxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-    xmlBuffer = 0;
-  }
+  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+  // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PStartupHandler.cpp for the definition)
+  status = parseXmlFile(fSaxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
     cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed." << endl;
diff --git a/src/classes/PStartupHandler.cpp b/src/classes/PStartupHandler.cpp
index 76b49ae6..160facd7 100644
--- a/src/classes/PStartupHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/classes/PStartupHandler.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,47 @@ using namespace std;
 
 ClassImpQ(PStartupHandler)
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// This function is a replacement for the ParseFile method of TSAXParser.
+// It is needed because in certain environments ParseFile does not work but ParseBuffer does.
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/**
+ * <p> Replacement for the ParseFile method of TSAXParser.
+ *
+ * <p><b>return:</b>
+ * - 1 if file cannot be read
+ * - 0 if the file has been parsed successfully
+ * - parse error code otherwise
+ *
+ * \param saxParser pointer to a TSAXParser object
+ * \param startup_path_name full path to the XML file to be read
+ */
+int parseXmlFile(TSAXParser *saxParser, const char *startup_path_name)
+{
+  int status;
+  fstream xmlFile;
+  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
+  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
+
+  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
+  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
+    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
+    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
+    xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
+    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
+    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
+  }
+  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
+    status = 1;
+  } else {
+    status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
+    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
+    xmlBuffer = 0;
+  }
+
+  return status;
+}
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Constructor
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/classes/PUserFcnBase.cpp b/src/classes/PUserFcnBase.cpp
index 3f40af50..34817cb9 100644
--- a/src/classes/PUserFcnBase.cpp
+++ b/src/classes/PUserFcnBase.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
  ***************************************************************************/
 
 #include <vector>
+#include <fstream>
 using namespace std;
 
 #include "PUserFcnBase.h"
@@ -56,5 +57,47 @@ PUserFcnBase::~PUserFcnBase()
 {
 }
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// This function is a replacement for the ParseFile method of TSAXParser.
+// It is needed because in certain environments ParseFile does not work but ParseBuffer does.
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/**
+ * <p> Replacement for the ParseFile method of TSAXParser
+ *     that can be used in user functions.
+ *
+ * <p><b>return:</b>
+ * - 1 if file cannot be read
+ * - 0 if the file has been parsed successfully
+ * - parse error code otherwise
+ *
+ * \param saxParser pointer to a TSAXParser object
+ * \param startup_path_name full path to the XML file to be read
+ */
+Int_t parseXmlFile(TSAXParser *saxParser, const char *startup_path_name)
+{
+  Int_t status;
+  fstream xmlFile;
+  UInt_t xmlSize = 0;
+  Char_t *xmlBuffer = 0;
+
+  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
+  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
+    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
+    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
+    xmlBuffer = new Char_t[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
+    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
+    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
+  }
+  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
+    status = 1;
+  } else {
+    status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
+    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
+    xmlBuffer = 0;
+  }
+
+  return status;
+}
+
 // place a void pointer vector for global user function objects which might be needed
 vector<void *> gGlobalUserFcn;
diff --git a/src/external/MagProximity/PMagProximityFitter.cpp b/src/external/MagProximity/PMagProximityFitter.cpp
index bc64b1c0..b720101c 100644
--- a/src/external/MagProximity/PMagProximityFitter.cpp
+++ b/src/external/MagProximity/PMagProximityFitter.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <cmath>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 using namespace std;
 
 #include <TSAXParser.h>
@@ -66,26 +65,9 @@ PMagProximityFitterGlobal::PMagProximityFitterGlobal()
   strcpy(startup_path_name, fStartupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
   saxParser->ConnectToHandler("PMPStartupHandler", fStartupHandler);
   //Int_t status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
-  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-    xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-  }
-  Int_t status;
-  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-    status = 1;
-  } else {
-    status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-    xmlBuffer = 0;
-  }
+  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+  // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+  Int_t status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name);
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
     cout << endl << ">> PMagProximityFitterGlobal::PMagProximityFitterGlobal: **WARNING** Reading/parsing mag_proximity_startup.xml failed.";
diff --git a/src/external/Nonlocal/PNL_PippardFitter.cpp b/src/external/Nonlocal/PNL_PippardFitter.cpp
index 335a631b..317934c5 100644
--- a/src/external/Nonlocal/PNL_PippardFitter.cpp
+++ b/src/external/Nonlocal/PNL_PippardFitter.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <cmath>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 using namespace std;
 
 #include <TSAXParser.h>
@@ -65,26 +64,9 @@ PNL_PippardFitterGlobal::PNL_PippardFitterGlobal()
   strcpy(startup_path_name, fStartupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
   saxParser->ConnectToHandler("PNL_StartupHandler", fStartupHandler);
   //Int_t status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
-  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-    xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-  }
-  Int_t status;
-  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-    status = 1;
-  } else {
-    status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-    xmlBuffer = 0;
-  }
+  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+  // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+  Int_t status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name);
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
     cout << endl << ">> PNL_PippardFitterGlobal::PNL_PippardFitterGlobal: **WARNING** Reading/parsing nonlocal_startup.xml failed.";
diff --git a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp
index 46c6d05c..e569e318 100644
--- a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp
+++ b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 
 #include "TLondon1D.h"
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cmath>
 using namespace std;
@@ -155,26 +154,9 @@ TLondon1DHS::TLondon1DHS() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -323,26 +305,9 @@ TLondon1D1L::TLondon1D1L() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -526,26 +491,9 @@ TLondon1D2L::TLondon1D2L() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -716,26 +664,9 @@ TProximity1D1LHS::TProximity1D1LHS() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -883,26 +814,9 @@ TLondon1D3L::TLondon1D3L() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -1072,26 +986,9 @@ TLondon1D3LS::TLondon1D3LS() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -1261,26 +1158,9 @@ double TLondon1D3LS::operator()(double t, const vector<double> &par) const {
 //     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
 //     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
 //     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-//     // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-//     fstream xmlFile;
-//     unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-//     char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-//     xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-//     if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-//       xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-//       xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-//       xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-//       xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-//       xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-//     }
-//     int status;
-//     if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-//       status = 1;
-//     } else {
-//       status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-//       delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-//       xmlBuffer = 0;
-//     }
+//     // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+//     // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+//     int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
 //     // check for parse errors
 //     if (status) { // error
 //       cout << endl << "**WARNING** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." << endl;
diff --git a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp
index 494df3a4..6ba5f572 100644
--- a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp
+++ b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 
 #include "TVortex.h"
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cmath>
 using namespace std;
@@ -167,26 +166,9 @@ TBulkTriVortexLondon::TBulkTriVortexLondon() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(tru
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -244,26 +226,9 @@ TBulkSqVortexLondon::TBulkSqVortexLondon() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true)
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -491,26 +456,9 @@ TBulkTriVortexML::TBulkTriVortexML() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -647,26 +595,9 @@ TBulkTriVortexAGL::TBulkTriVortexAGL() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -802,26 +733,9 @@ TBulkTriVortexAGLII::TBulkTriVortexAGLII() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true)
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -970,26 +884,9 @@ TBulkTriVortexNGL::TBulkTriVortexNGL() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -1142,26 +1039,9 @@ TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexLondonGlobal::TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexLondonGlobal() :
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -1401,26 +1281,9 @@ TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexMLGlobal::TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexMLGlobal() : fCalcNe
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -1660,26 +1523,9 @@ TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexAGLGlobal::TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexAGLGlobal() : fCalc
     BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    fstream xmlFile;
-    unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-    char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    int status;
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+    int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
diff --git a/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp b/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp
index df13d06d..c4f1fbad 100644
--- a/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp
+++ b/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 #include <cassert>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 #include <cmath>
 
 #ifdef HAVE_GOMP
@@ -203,26 +202,9 @@ TLFDynGssKT::TLFDynGssKT() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true), fCounter(0) {
   BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
   saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
   //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-    xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-  }
-  int status;
-  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-    status = 1;
-  } else {
-    status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-    xmlBuffer = 0;
-  }
+  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+  // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+  int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
     cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
@@ -545,26 +527,9 @@ TLFDynExpKT::TLFDynExpKT() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true), fCounter(0), f
   BMWStartupHandler *startupHandler = new BMWStartupHandler();
   saxParser->ConnectToHandler("BMWStartupHandler", startupHandler);
   //int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
-  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
-  xmlFile.open(startup_path_name.c_str(), ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-  if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-    xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-    xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-    xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-    xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-    xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-  }
-  int status;
-  if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-    status = 1;
-  } else {
-    status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-    delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-    xmlBuffer = 0;
-  }
+  // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+  // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PUserFcnBase.cpp for the definition)
+  int status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name.c_str());
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
     cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
diff --git a/src/include/PStartupHandler.h b/src/include/PStartupHandler.h
index f49b82ad..3854c303 100644
--- a/src/include/PStartupHandler.h
+++ b/src/include/PStartupHandler.h
@@ -36,9 +36,15 @@
 #include <TQObject.h>
 #include <TList.h>
 #include <TString.h>
+#include <TSAXParser.h>
 
 #include "PMusr.h"
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// This function is a replacement for the ParseFile method of TSAXParser.
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+int parseXmlFile(TSAXParser*, const char*);
+
 /**
  * <p>Handles the XML musrfit startup file (musrfit_startup.xml) in which default settings
  * are stored:
diff --git a/src/include/PUserFcnBase.h b/src/include/PUserFcnBase.h
index cd10cd8b..20afc39e 100644
--- a/src/include/PUserFcnBase.h
+++ b/src/include/PUserFcnBase.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 using namespace std;
 
 #include "TObject.h"
+#include "TSAXParser.h"
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /**
@@ -56,4 +57,9 @@ class PUserFcnBase : public TObject
   ClassDef(PUserFcnBase, 1)
 };
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// This function is a replacement for the ParseFile method of TSAXParser.
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Int_t parseXmlFile(TSAXParser*, const Char_t*);
+
 #endif // _PUSERFCNBASE_H_
diff --git a/src/musredit/musredit_startup.xml b/src/musredit/musredit_startup.xml
index 847a1c41..a33ec36f 100644
--- a/src/musredit/musredit_startup.xml
+++ b/src/musredit/musredit_startup.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     <default_save_path>./</default_save_path>
     <msr_default_file_path>$HOME/analysis/musrfit/src/musredit</msr_default_file_path>
     <title_from_data_file>y</title_from_data_file>
-    <enable_musrt0>n</enable_musrt0>
+    <enable_musrt0>y</enable_musrt0>
   </general>
   <help_section>
     <musr_web_main>http://lmu.web.psi.ch/facilities/software/musrfit/user/MUSR/MusrFit.html</musr_web_main>
diff --git a/src/musrfit.cpp b/src/musrfit.cpp
index 71025a6f..9e9a58ef 100644
--- a/src/musrfit.cpp
+++ b/src/musrfit.cpp
@@ -424,9 +424,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   }
 
   // read startup file
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
   char startup_path_name[128];
   TSAXParser *saxParser = new TSAXParser();
   PStartupHandler *startupHandler = new PStartupHandler();
@@ -446,22 +443,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     strcpy(startup_path_name, startupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("PStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PStartupHandler.cpp for the definition)
+    status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << ">> musrfit **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";
diff --git a/src/musrgui/musrgui_startup.xml b/src/musrgui/musrgui_startup.xml
index 7ecd6010..300a833c 100644
--- a/src/musrgui/musrgui_startup.xml
+++ b/src/musrgui/musrgui_startup.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     <default_save_path>./</default_save_path>
     <msr_default_file_path>$HOME/analysis/musrfit/src/musrgui</msr_default_file_path>
     <title_from_data_file>n</title_from_data_file>
-    <enable_musrt0>n</enable_musrt0>
+    <enable_musrt0>y</enable_musrt0>
   </general>
   <font_settings>
     <font_name>Courier</font_name>
diff --git a/src/musrt0.cpp b/src/musrt0.cpp
index 49474da9..3d0f85b5 100644
--- a/src/musrt0.cpp
+++ b/src/musrt0.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 using namespace std;
 
 #include <TApplication.h>
@@ -276,9 +275,6 @@ Int_t main(Int_t argc, Char_t *argv[])
   }
 
   // read startup file
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
   Char_t startup_path_name[128];
   TSAXParser *saxParser = new TSAXParser();
   PStartupHandler *startupHandler = new PStartupHandler();
@@ -298,22 +294,9 @@ Int_t main(Int_t argc, Char_t *argv[])
     strcpy(startup_path_name, startupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("PStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PStartupHandler.cpp for the definition)
+    status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << ">> musrt0 **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";
diff --git a/src/musrview.cpp b/src/musrview.cpp
index 40f61ee9..0541168a 100644
--- a/src/musrview.cpp
+++ b/src/musrview.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
 using namespace std;
 
 #include <TApplication.h>
@@ -159,9 +158,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   }
 
   // read startup file
-  fstream xmlFile;
-  unsigned int xmlSize = 0;
-  char *xmlBuffer = 0;
   char startup_path_name[128];
   TSAXParser *saxParser = new TSAXParser();
   PStartupHandler *startupHandler = new PStartupHandler();
@@ -181,22 +177,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     strcpy(startup_path_name, startupHandler->GetStartupFilePath().Data());
     saxParser->ConnectToHandler("PStartupHandler", startupHandler);
     //status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
-    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments; try working around through a buffer as follows
-    xmlFile.open(startup_path_name, ios::in | ios::ate); // open file for reading and go to the end of the file
-    if (xmlFile.is_open()) { // check if file has been opened successfully
-      xmlSize = xmlFile.tellg(); // get the position within the stream == size of the file (since we are at the end)
-      xmlFile.seekg(0, ios::beg); // go back to the beginning of the stream
-      xmlBuffer = new char[xmlSize]; // allocate buffer memory for the whole XML file
-      xmlFile.read(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // read in the whole XML file into the buffer
-      xmlFile.close(); // close the XML file
-    }
-    if (!xmlBuffer) { // file has not been read into the buffer
-      status = 1;
-    } else {
-      status = saxParser->ParseBuffer(xmlBuffer, xmlSize); // parse buffer
-      delete[] xmlBuffer; // free the buffer memory
-      xmlBuffer = 0;
-    }
+    // parsing the file as above seems to lead to problems in certain environments;
+    // use the parseXmlFile function instead (see PStartupHandler.cpp for the definition)
+    status = parseXmlFile(saxParser, startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
       cerr << endl << ">> musrview **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";