diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index bc222ad4..855faaed 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ elif platform == "win32":
 		include_paths=[path.join(vcpkg_installed, 'include')] + vcpkg_other_includes
 		env.Append(
 			LINKFLAGS=['/SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS','/ENTRY:mainCRTStartup',f'/MACHINE:X{arch_short}'],
-			CXXFLAGS=['/EHsc','/MD','/FIglobal.hpp'],
+			CXXFLAGS=['/EHsc','/MD','/FIglobal.hpp','/utf-8'],
 			CPPPATH=include_paths,
 			LIBPATH=[path.join(vcpkg_installed, 'lib')] + vcpkg_other_libs + vcpkg_other_bins,
 			LIBS=Split("""
diff --git a/proj/vs2013/Common/Common.vcxproj b/proj/vs2013/Common/Common.vcxproj
index 17e7ef01..0737b037 100644
--- a/proj/vs2013/Common/Common.vcxproj
+++ b/proj/vs2013/Common/Common.vcxproj
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);_DEBUG</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\cppcodec;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <DisableLanguageExtensions>false</DisableLanguageExtensions>
-      <AdditionalOptions>/FS %(AdditionalOptions)</AdditionalOptions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/FS %(AdditionalOptions) /utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4800;4290;4244;4996;4018</DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
@@ -462,6 +462,7 @@
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\cppcodec;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4800;4290;4244;4996;4018</DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
     </ClCompile>
diff --git a/proj/vs2013/Game/Blades of Exile.vcxproj b/proj/vs2013/Game/Blades of Exile.vcxproj
index 724e4e80..6780d193 100644
--- a/proj/vs2013/Game/Blades of Exile.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2013/Game/Blades of Exile.vcxproj	
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);_DEBUG</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4800;4290;4244;4996;4018</DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);NDEBUG</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
diff --git a/proj/vs2013/OBoE Tests/OBoE Tests.vcxproj b/proj/vs2013/OBoE Tests/OBoE Tests.vcxproj
index ead8eebf..e663378f 100644
--- a/proj/vs2013/OBoE Tests/OBoE Tests.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2013/OBoE Tests/OBoE Tests.vcxproj	
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     <ClCompile>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
@@ -97,6 +99,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
@@ -107,6 +110,7 @@
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
       <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
       <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalDependencies>opengl32.lib;sfml-system.lib;sfml-window.lib;sfml-graphics.lib;sfml-audio.lib;libboost_filesystem-vc120-mt-*.lib;libboost_system-vc120-mt-*.lib;libboost_thread-vc120-mt-*.lib;zlib.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
     </Link>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
diff --git a/proj/vs2013/PcEdit/Char Editor.vcxproj b/proj/vs2013/PcEdit/Char Editor.vcxproj
index 2e043221..af26fb84 100644
--- a/proj/vs2013/PcEdit/Char Editor.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2013/PcEdit/Char Editor.vcxproj	
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4800;4290;4244;4996;4018</DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
diff --git a/proj/vs2013/ScenEdit/Scen Editor.vcxproj b/proj/vs2013/ScenEdit/Scen Editor.vcxproj
index edbd6003..43196e24 100644
--- a/proj/vs2013/ScenEdit/Scen Editor.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2013/ScenEdit/Scen Editor.vcxproj	
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4800;4290;4244;4996;4018</DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
diff --git a/proj/vs2017/Blades of Exile.vcxproj b/proj/vs2017/Blades of Exile.vcxproj
index 5a8a50e0..a76ac68d 100644
--- a/proj/vs2017/Blades of Exile.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2017/Blades of Exile.vcxproj	
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
       <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile />
     </ClCompile>
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@
       <DebugInformationFormat>ProgramDatabase</DebugInformationFormat>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <TargetMachine>MachineX86</TargetMachine>
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;BOOST_CONFIG_SUPPRESS_OUTDATED_MESSAGE;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <OmitFramePointers>false</OmitFramePointers>
@@ -136,6 +139,7 @@
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <OmitFramePointers>false</OmitFramePointers>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;BOOST_CONFIG_SUPPRESS_OUTDATED_MESSAGE;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
diff --git a/proj/vs2017/Character Editor/Character Editor.vcxproj b/proj/vs2017/Character Editor/Character Editor.vcxproj
index bd8b6afa..fc0f2e53 100644
--- a/proj/vs2017/Character Editor/Character Editor.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2017/Character Editor/Character Editor.vcxproj	
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
     </ClCompile>
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
@@ -118,6 +120,7 @@
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
     </ClCompile>
@@ -139,6 +142,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
diff --git a/proj/vs2017/Common/Common.vcxproj b/proj/vs2017/Common/Common.vcxproj
index 6df9881a..1e490b34 100644
--- a/proj/vs2017/Common/Common.vcxproj
+++ b/proj/vs2017/Common/Common.vcxproj
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>
       </DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;BOOST_CONFIG_SUPPRESS_OUTDATED_MESSAGE;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);NOMINMAX</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalUsingDirectories>
       </AdditionalUsingDirectories>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\cppcodec;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;BOOST_CONFIG_SUPPRESS_OUTDATED_MESSAGE;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);NOMINMAX</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\cppcodec;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
     </ClCompile>
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>
       </DisableSpecificWarnings>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;BOOST_CONFIG_SUPPRESS_OUTDATED_MESSAGE;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);NOMINMAX</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalUsingDirectories>
       </AdditionalUsingDirectories>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\cppcodec;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
@@ -149,6 +152,7 @@
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>MSBUILD_GITREV;WIN32;_WINDOWS;BOOST_CONFIG_SUPPRESS_OUTDATED_MESSAGE;TIXML_USE_TICPP;%(PreprocessorDefinitions);NOMINMAX</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\cppcodec;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
     </ClCompile>
diff --git a/proj/vs2017/Scenario Editor/Scenario Editor.vcxproj b/proj/vs2017/Scenario Editor/Scenario Editor.vcxproj
index 50fb0cd3..e12562c7 100644
--- a/proj/vs2017/Scenario Editor/Scenario Editor.vcxproj	
+++ b/proj/vs2017/Scenario Editor/Scenario Editor.vcxproj	
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4996</DisableSpecificWarnings>
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
@@ -118,6 +120,7 @@
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <DisableSpecificWarnings>4996</DisableSpecificWarnings>
@@ -140,6 +143,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\include\external;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src;$(SolutionDir)..\..\rsrc\menus</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\global.hpp</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <ConformanceMode>true</ConformanceMode>
diff --git a/proj/vs2017/Tests/Tests.vcxproj b/proj/vs2017/Tests/Tests.vcxproj
index 01b92e67..2d6ac77d 100644
--- a/proj/vs2017/Tests/Tests.vcxproj
+++ b/proj/vs2017/Tests/Tests.vcxproj
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\single_include\catch2;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <UseFullPaths>true</UseFullPaths>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile>stdafx.h</PrecompiledHeaderFile>
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebugDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\single_include\catch2;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <UseFullPaths>true</UseFullPaths>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile />
@@ -139,6 +141,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\single_include\catch2;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <UseFullPaths>true</UseFullPaths>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile>stdafx.h</PrecompiledHeaderFile>
@@ -164,6 +167,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalOptions>/utf-8</AdditionalOptions>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\Catch2\single_include\catch2;$(SolutionDir)..\..\deps\fmtlib\include;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\gzstream;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\xml-parser;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio\resmgr;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\widgets;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml\dialogs;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\tools;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\scenario;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\universe;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\fileio;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\dialogxml;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src\gfx;$(SolutionDir)..\..\src</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <UseFullPaths>true</UseFullPaths>