diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/odt/input.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/odt/input.py
index c5bcc18378..46cb698829 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/odt/input.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/odt/input.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from odf.namespaces import TEXTNS as odTEXTNS
 
 from calibre import CurrentDir, walk
 from calibre.ebooks.oeb.base import _css_logger
-from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type, string_or_bytes, filter, getcwd
+from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type, string_or_bytes, filter, getcwd, as_bytes
 
 
 class Extract(ODF2XHTML):
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ class Extract(ODF2XHTML):
             except:
                 log.exception('Failed to filter CSS, conversion may be slow')
             with open('index.xhtml', 'wb') as f:
-                f.write(html.encode('utf-8'))
+                f.write(as_bytes(html))
             zf = ZipFile(stream, 'r')
             self.extract_pictures(zf)
             opf = OPFCreator(os.path.abspath(getcwd()), mi)
diff --git a/src/odf/__init__.py b/src/odf/__init__.py
index e69de29bb2..d61b93c279 100644
--- a/src/odf/__init__.py
+++ b/src/odf/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
diff --git a/src/odf/anim.py b/src/odf/anim.py
index 6c49eb836b..08b04e6650 100644
--- a/src/odf/anim.py
+++ b/src/odf/anim.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import ANIMNS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/attrconverters.py b/src/odf/attrconverters.py
index 78d309897c..6567bf2ae5 100644
--- a/src/odf/attrconverters.py
+++ b/src/odf/attrconverters.py
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@
 #
 # Contributor(s):
 #
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import re
-import types
 
 from .namespaces import (
     ANIMNS, CHARTNS, CONFIGNS, DR3DNS, DRAWNS, FONS, FORMNS, MANIFESTNS, METANS,
     NUMBERNS, OFFICENS, PRESENTATIONNS, SCRIPTNS, SMILNS, STYLENS, SVGNS, TABLENS,
     TEXTNS, XFORMSNS, XLINKNS
 )
+from polyglot.builtins import string_or_bytes, unicode_type
 
 pattern_color =  re.compile(r'#[0-9a-fA-F]{6}')
 pattern_vector3D = re.compile(r'\([ ]*-?([0-9]+(\.[0-9]*)?|\.[0-9]+)([ ]+-?([0-9]+(\.[0-9]*)?|\.[0-9]+)){2}[ ]*\)')
@@ -54,20 +55,20 @@ def cnv_color(attribute, arg, element):
     """ A RGB color in conformance with §5.9.11 of [XSL], that is a RGB color in notation “#rrggbb”, where
         rr, gg and bb are 8-bit hexadecimal digits.
     """
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_configtype(attribute, arg, element):
-    if str(arg) not in ("boolean", "short", "int", "long",
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("boolean", "short", "int", "long",
     "double", "string", "datetime", "base64Binary"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_data_source_has_labels(attribute, arg, element):
-    if str(arg) not in ("none","row","column","both"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("none","row","column","both"):
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 # Understand different date formats
 
@@ -76,30 +77,30 @@ def cnv_date(attribute, arg, element):
     """ A dateOrDateTime value is either an [xmlschema-2] date value or an [xmlschema-2] dateTime
         value.
     """
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_dateTime(attribute, arg, element):
     """ A dateOrDateTime value is either an [xmlschema-2] date value or an [xmlschema-2] dateTime
         value.
     """
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_double(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_duration(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_family(attribute, arg, element):
     """ A style family """
-    if str(arg) not in ("text", "paragraph", "section", "ruby", "table", "table-column", "table-row", "table-cell",
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("text", "paragraph", "section", "ruby", "table", "table-column", "table-row", "table-cell",
       "graphic", "presentation", "drawing-page", "chart"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def __save_prefix(attribute, arg, element):
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ def __save_prefix(attribute, arg, element):
         return type(u'')(arg)
     namespace = element.get_knownns(prefix)
     if namespace is None:
-        # raise ValueError, "'%s' is an unknown prefix" % str(prefix)
+        # raise ValueError, "'%s' is an unknown prefix" % unicode_type(prefix)
         return type(u'')(arg)
     return type(u'')(arg)
 
@@ -123,21 +124,21 @@ def cnv_formula(attribute, arg, element):
 
 
 def cnv_ID(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_IDREF(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_integer(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_legend_position(attribute, arg, element):
-    if str(arg) not in ("start", "end", "top", "bottom", "top-start", "bottom-start", "top-end", "bottom-end"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("start", "end", "top", "bottom", "top-start", "bottom-start", "top-end", "bottom-end"):
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 pattern_length = re.compile(r'-?([0-9]+(\.[0-9]*)?|\.[0-9]+)((cm)|(mm)|(in)|(pt)|(pc)|(px))')
@@ -169,9 +170,9 @@ def cnv_lengthorpercent(attribute, arg, element):
 
 
 def cnv_metavaluetype(attribute, arg, element):
-    if str(arg) not in ("float", "date", "time", "boolean", "string"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("float", "date", "time", "boolean", "string"):
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_major_minor(attribute, arg, element):
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ def cnv_NCName(attribute, arg, element):
     """ NCName is defined in http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml-names/#NT-NCName
         Essentially an XML name minus ':'
     """
-    if type(arg) in types.StringTypes:
+    if isinstance(arg, string_or_bytes):
         return make_NCName(arg)
     else:
         return arg.getAttrNS(STYLENS, 'name')
@@ -231,7 +232,7 @@ def cnv_NCNames(attribute, arg, element):
 
 
 def cnv_nonNegativeInteger(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 pattern_percent = re.compile(r'-?([0-9]+(\.[0-9]*)?|\.[0-9]+)%')
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ pattern_points = re.compile(r'-?[0-9]+,-?[0-9]+([ ]+-?[0-9]+,-?[0-9]+)*')
 
 def cnv_points(attribute, arg, element):
     global pattern_points
-    if type(arg) in types.StringTypes:
+    if isinstance(arg, string_or_bytes):
         if not pattern_points.match(arg):
             raise ValueError("x,y are separated by a comma and the points are separated by white spaces")
         return arg
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ def cnv_points(attribute, arg, element):
 
 
 def cnv_positiveInteger(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_string(attribute, arg, element):
@@ -272,19 +273,19 @@ def cnv_string(attribute, arg, element):
 
 
 def cnv_textnoteclass(attribute, arg, element):
-    if str(arg) not in ("footnote", "endnote"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("footnote", "endnote"):
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 # Understand different time formats
 
 
 def cnv_time(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 def cnv_token(attribute, arg, element):
-    return str(arg)
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 pattern_viewbox = re.compile(r'-?[0-9]+([ ]+-?[0-9]+){3}$')
@@ -298,9 +299,9 @@ def cnv_viewbox(attribute, arg, element):
 
 
 def cnv_xlinkshow(attribute, arg, element):
-    if str(arg) not in ("new", "replace", "embed"):
-        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % str(arg))
-    return str(arg)
+    if unicode_type(arg) not in ("new", "replace", "embed"):
+        raise ValueError("'%s' not allowed" % unicode_type(arg))
+    return unicode_type(arg)
 
 
 attrconverters = {
diff --git a/src/odf/chart.py b/src/odf/chart.py
index fb768a74f0..28dc3ddc70 100644
--- a/src/odf/chart.py
+++ b/src/odf/chart.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import CHARTNS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/config.py b/src/odf/config.py
index 318322fb2f..be6f4f7837 100644
--- a/src/odf/config.py
+++ b/src/odf/config.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import CONFIGNS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/dc.py b/src/odf/dc.py
index a14d58ee4a..26b5bc8b66 100644
--- a/src/odf/dc.py
+++ b/src/odf/dc.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import DCNS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/dr3d.py b/src/odf/dr3d.py
index 51aab02df6..b59d6236a8 100644
--- a/src/odf/dr3d.py
+++ b/src/odf/dr3d.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import DR3DNS
 from .draw import StyleRefElement
 
diff --git a/src/odf/draw.py b/src/odf/draw.py
index f07d84b531..a194c76b59 100644
--- a/src/odf/draw.py
+++ b/src/odf/draw.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import DRAWNS, STYLENS, PRESENTATIONNS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/easyliststyle.py b/src/odf/easyliststyle.py
index 05cb8b6208..2f640e850e 100644
--- a/src/odf/easyliststyle.py
+++ b/src/odf/easyliststyle.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import re
 from .style import ListLevelProperties
 from .text import ListStyle,ListLevelStyleNumber,ListLevelStyleBullet
+from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type
 
 """
 Create a <text:list-style> element from a string or array.
@@ -92,8 +94,8 @@ def styleFromList(styleName, specArray, spacing, showAllLevels):
         else:
             lls = ListLevelStyleBullet(level=(i+1),bulletchar=bullet[0])
         llp = ListLevelProperties()
-        llp.setAttribute('spacebefore', str(cssLengthNum * (i+1)) + cssLengthUnits)
-        llp.setAttribute('minlabelwidth', str(cssLengthNum) + cssLengthUnits)
+        llp.setAttribute('spacebefore', unicode_type(cssLengthNum * (i+1)) + cssLengthUnits)
+        llp.setAttribute('minlabelwidth', unicode_type(cssLengthNum) + cssLengthUnits)
         lls.addElement(llp)
         listStyle.addElement(lls)
         i += 1
diff --git a/src/odf/element.py b/src/odf/element.py
index 2fe707d294..5ecd02a203 100644
--- a/src/odf/element.py
+++ b/src/odf/element.py
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@
 # Note: This script has copied a lot of text from xml.dom.minidom.
 # Whatever license applies to that file also applies to this file.
 #
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import xml.dom
 from xml.dom.minicompat import defproperty, EmptyNodeList
 from .namespaces import nsdict
 from . import grammar
 from .attrconverters import AttrConverters
 
+from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type
+
 # The following code is pasted form xml.sax.saxutils
 # Tt makes it possible to run the code without the xml sax package installed
 # To make it possible to have <rubbish> in your text elements, it is necessary to escape the texts
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@ def _nssplit(qualifiedName):
 
 
 def _nsassign(namespace):
-    return nsdict.setdefault(namespace,"ns" + str(len(nsdict)))
+    return nsdict.setdefault(namespace,"ns" + unicode_type(len(nsdict)))
 
 # Exceptions
 
@@ -183,17 +186,12 @@ class Node(xml.dom.Node):
         oldChild.parentNode = None
         return oldChild
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        val = []
-        for c in self.childNodes:
-            val.append(str(c))
-        return ''.join(val)
-
     def __unicode__(self):
         val = []
         for c in self.childNodes:
             val.append(type(u'')(c))
         return u''.join(val)
+    __str__ = __unicode__
 
 
 defproperty(Node, "firstChild", doc="First child node, or None.")
@@ -259,10 +257,8 @@ class Text(Childless, Node):
         self.data = data
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return self.data.encode()
-
-    def __unicode__(self):
         return self.data
+    __unicode__ = __str__
 
     def toXml(self,level,f):
         """ Write XML in UTF-8 """
@@ -477,10 +473,10 @@ class Element(Node):
         f.write('<'+self.tagName)
         if level == 0:
             for namespace, prefix in self.namespaces.items():
-                f.write(' xmlns:' + prefix + '="'+ _escape(str(namespace))+'"')
+                f.write(' xmlns:' + prefix + '="'+ _escape(unicode_type(namespace))+'"')
         for qname in self.attributes.keys():
             prefix = self.get_nsprefix(qname[0])
-            f.write(' '+_escape(str(prefix+':'+qname[1]))+'='+_quoteattr(type(u'')(self.attributes[qname]).encode('utf-8')))
+            f.write(' '+_escape(unicode_type(prefix+':'+qname[1]))+'='+_quoteattr(type(u'')(self.attributes[qname]).encode('utf-8')))
         f.write('>')
 
     def write_close_tag(self, level, f):
@@ -491,10 +487,10 @@ class Element(Node):
         f.write('<'+self.tagName)
         if level == 0:
             for namespace, prefix in self.namespaces.items():
-                f.write(' xmlns:' + prefix + '="'+ _escape(str(namespace))+'"')
+                f.write(' xmlns:' + prefix + '="'+ _escape(unicode_type(namespace))+'"')
         for qname in self.attributes.keys():
             prefix = self.get_nsprefix(qname[0])
-            f.write(' '+_escape(str(prefix+':'+qname[1]))+'='+_quoteattr(type(u'')(self.attributes[qname]).encode('utf-8')))
+            f.write(' '+_escape(unicode_type(prefix+':'+qname[1]))+'='+_quoteattr(type(u'')(self.attributes[qname]).encode('utf-8')))
         if self.childNodes:
             f.write('>')
             for element in self.childNodes:
diff --git a/src/odf/elementtypes.py b/src/odf/elementtypes.py
index af8d4055a9..221bdaf7dc 100644
--- a/src/odf/elementtypes.py
+++ b/src/odf/elementtypes.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import (
     ANIMNS, CHARTNS, DR3DNS, DRAWNS, FORMNS, MANIFESTNS, METANS, NUMBERNS, OFFICENS,
     PRESENTATIONNS, SCRIPTNS, STYLENS, SVGNS, TABLENS, TEXTNS
diff --git a/src/odf/form.py b/src/odf/form.py
index 47141c2fbd..98aada38f9 100644
--- a/src/odf/form.py
+++ b/src/odf/form.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import FORMNS
 from .element import Element
 
@@ -141,4 +142,3 @@ def Time(**args):
 
 def ValueRange(**args):
     return Element(qname=(FORMNS,'value-range'), **args)
-
diff --git a/src/odf/grammar.py b/src/odf/grammar.py
index 759cc1e0e0..4548c529d2 100644
--- a/src/odf/grammar.py
+++ b/src/odf/grammar.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 __doc__=""" In principle the OpenDocument schema converted to python structures.
 Currently it contains the legal child elements of a given element.
 To be used for validation check in the API
diff --git a/src/odf/load.py b/src/odf/load.py
index 8bcc019b49..cfa91f89b8 100644
--- a/src/odf/load.py
+++ b/src/odf/load.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 # in memory. The user should then be able to make operations and then save
 # the structure again.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from xml.sax import handler
 from .element import Element
 from .namespaces import OFFICENS
diff --git a/src/odf/manifest.py b/src/odf/manifest.py
index cdf47a3edf..3ad29064df 100644
--- a/src/odf/manifest.py
+++ b/src/odf/manifest.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import MANIFESTNS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/math.py b/src/odf/math.py
index fa51c539b3..7f337633e7 100644
--- a/src/odf/math.py
+++ b/src/odf/math.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import MATHNS
 from .element import Element
 
@@ -29,4 +30,3 @@ from .element import Element
 
 def Math(**args):
     return Element(qname=(MATHNS,'math'), **args)
-
diff --git a/src/odf/meta.py b/src/odf/meta.py
index 19df5fe2d5..785055c782 100644
--- a/src/odf/meta.py
+++ b/src/odf/meta.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import METANS
 from .element import Element
 
@@ -78,4 +79,3 @@ def Template(**args):
 
 def UserDefined(**args):
     return Element(qname=(METANS,'user-defined'), **args)
-
diff --git a/src/odf/namespaces.py b/src/odf/namespaces.py
index be7be4c4b1..0a2f003684 100644
--- a/src/odf/namespaces.py
+++ b/src/odf/namespaces.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #
 # Contributor(s):
 #
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 TOOLSVERSION = u"ODFPY/0.9.4dev"
 
 ANIMNS         = u"urn:oasis:names:tc:opendocument:xmlns:animation:1.0"
diff --git a/src/odf/number.py b/src/odf/number.py
index d5f16bc4c1..238ba64385 100644
--- a/src/odf/number.py
+++ b/src/odf/number.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import NUMBERNS
 from .element import Element
 from .style import StyleElement
diff --git a/src/odf/odf2moinmoin.py b/src/odf/odf2moinmoin.py
index 6dcede7104..26e430eb76 100644
--- a/src/odf/odf2moinmoin.py
+++ b/src/odf/odf2moinmoin.py
@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import zipfile, xml.dom.minidom
 from .namespaces import nsdict
 from .elementtypes import empty_elements, inline_elements
+from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type
 
 IGNORED_TAGS = [
     'draw:a'
@@ -94,11 +96,12 @@ class TextProps:
                 self.superscript = True
                 self.subscript = False
 
-    def __str__(self):
+    def __unicode__(self):
 
-        return "[italic=%s, bold=i%s, fixed=%s]" % (str(self.italic),
-                                          str(self.bold),
-                                          str(self.fixed))
+        return "[italic=%s, bold=i%s, fixed=%s]" % (unicode_type(self.italic),
+                                          unicode_type(self.bold),
+                                          unicode_type(self.fixed))
+    __str__ = __unicode__
 
 
 class ParagraphProps:
@@ -124,11 +127,12 @@ class ParagraphProps:
     def setCode(self, value):
         self.code = value
 
-    def __str__(self):
+    def __unicode__(self):
 
-        return "[bq=%s, h=%d, code=%s]" % (str(self.blockquote),
+        return "[bq=%s, h=%d, code=%s]" % (unicode_type(self.blockquote),
                                            self.headingLevel,
-                                           str(self.code))
+                                           unicode_type(self.code))
+    __str__ = __unicode__
 
 
 class ListProperties:
@@ -398,7 +402,7 @@ class ODF2MoinMoin(object):
             buffer.append(" "*indent)
             i += 1
             if props.ordered:
-                number = str(i)
+                number = unicode_type(i)
                 number = " " + number + ". "
                 buffer.append(" 1. ")
             else:
diff --git a/src/odf/odf2xhtml.py b/src/odf/odf2xhtml.py
index f4f3ade70e..ca53453c1c 100644
--- a/src/odf/odf2xhtml.py
+++ b/src/odf/odf2xhtml.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #
 # import pdb
 # pdb.set_trace()
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from collections import defaultdict
 from xml.sax import handler
 from xml.sax.saxutils import escape, quoteattr
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ from .opendocument import load
 from .namespaces import ANIMNS, CHARTNS, CONFIGNS, DCNS, DR3DNS, DRAWNS, FONS, \
   FORMNS, MATHNS, METANS, NUMBERNS, OFFICENS, PRESENTATIONNS, SCRIPTNS, \
   SMILNS, STYLENS, SVGNS, TABLENS, TEXTNS, XLINKNS
+from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type
 
 if False:  # Added by Kovid
     DR3DNS, MATHNS, CHARTNS, CONFIGNS, ANIMNS, FORMNS, SMILNS, SCRIPTNS
@@ -1331,7 +1333,7 @@ dl.notes dd:last-of-type { page-break-after: avoid }
         self.list_class_stack.append(number_class)
         attrs = {}
         if tag_name == 'ol' and self.list_number_map[number_class] != 1:
-            attrs = {'start': str(self.list_number_map[number_class])}
+            attrs = {'start': unicode_type(self.list_number_map[number_class])}
         if self.generate_css:
             attrs['class'] = list_class
         self.opentag('%s' % tag_name, attrs)
diff --git a/src/odf/odfmanifest.py b/src/odf/odfmanifest.py
index c40ba0e816..0eab47baa6 100644
--- a/src/odf/odfmanifest.py
+++ b/src/odf/odfmanifest.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 #
 
 # This script lists the content of the manifest.xml file
-from __future__ import print_function
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import zipfile
 from xml.sax import make_parser,handler
 from xml.sax.xmlreader import InputSource
diff --git a/src/odf/office.py b/src/odf/office.py
index 16061ade70..763da10fe5 100644
--- a/src/odf/office.py
+++ b/src/odf/office.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import OFFICENS
 from .element import Element
 from .draw import StyleRefElement
diff --git a/src/odf/opendocument.py b/src/odf/opendocument.py
index 3b8bd1f817..d2704b69af 100644
--- a/src/odf/opendocument.py
+++ b/src/odf/opendocument.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 __doc__="""Use OpenDocument to generate your documents."""
 
 import mimetypes
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ from io import BytesIO
 from xml.sax.xmlreader import InputSource
 
 from polyglot.io import PolyglotBytesIO, PolyglotStringIO
+from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type
 
 from . import element, manifest, meta
 from .attrconverters import make_NCName
@@ -383,7 +385,7 @@ class OpenDocument:
             if what_it_is == IS_FILENAME:
                 self._z.write(fileobj, arcname, zipfile.ZIP_STORED)
             else:
-                zi = zipfile.ZipInfo(str(arcname), self._now)
+                zi = zipfile.ZipInfo(unicode_type(arcname), self._now)
                 zi.compress_type = zipfile.ZIP_STORED
                 zi.external_attr = UNIXPERMS
                 self._z.writestr(zi, fileobj)
diff --git a/src/odf/presentation.py b/src/odf/presentation.py
index e289ae5c26..de0bcc8ae5 100644
--- a/src/odf/presentation.py
+++ b/src/odf/presentation.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import PRESENTATIONNS
 from .element import Element
 
@@ -103,4 +104,3 @@ def ShowText(**args):
 
 def Sound(**args):
     return Element(qname=(PRESENTATIONNS,'sound'), **args)
-
diff --git a/src/odf/script.py b/src/odf/script.py
index 2f800ae56a..3ac585cbee 100644
--- a/src/odf/script.py
+++ b/src/odf/script.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import SCRIPTNS
 from .element import Element
 
@@ -29,4 +30,3 @@ from .element import Element
 
 def EventListener(**args):
     return Element(qname=(SCRIPTNS,'event-listener'), **args)
-
diff --git a/src/odf/style.py b/src/odf/style.py
index 3a311c30e5..626a716483 100644
--- a/src/odf/style.py
+++ b/src/odf/style.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import STYLENS
 from .element import Element
 
diff --git a/src/odf/svg.py b/src/odf/svg.py
index 9ace75eb80..ba9b81ccc7 100644
--- a/src/odf/svg.py
+++ b/src/odf/svg.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import SVGNS
 from .element import Element
 from .draw import DrawElement
diff --git a/src/odf/table.py b/src/odf/table.py
index 6dbe8640e1..579e9556af 100644
--- a/src/odf/table.py
+++ b/src/odf/table.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import TABLENS
 from .element import Element
 
@@ -397,4 +398,3 @@ def TargetRangeAddress(**args):
 
 def TrackedChanges(**args):
     return Element(qname=(TABLENS,'tracked-changes'), **args)
-
diff --git a/src/odf/teletype.py b/src/odf/teletype.py
index 957647b9fe..e4ed44d120 100644
--- a/src/odf/teletype.py
+++ b/src/odf/teletype.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ the appropriate <text:s>, <text:tab>, or <text:line-break>
 elements.  This module takes care of that problem.
 """
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .element import Node
 from .text import S,LineBreak,Tab
 
diff --git a/src/odf/text.py b/src/odf/text.py
index 4dd80ca18d..e31e3b0a74 100644
--- a/src/odf/text.py
+++ b/src/odf/text.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import TEXTNS
 from .element import Element
 from .style import StyleElement
diff --git a/src/odf/thumbnail.py b/src/odf/thumbnail.py
index afb290d95a..1f7e9d2119 100644
--- a/src/odf/thumbnail.py
+++ b/src/odf/thumbnail.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 # Taken from http://www.zwahlendesign.ch/en/node/20
 # openoffice_icons/openoffice_icons_linux/openoffice11.png
 # License: Freeware
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import base64
 
-iconstr = """\
+iconstr = b"""\
 iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAIAAAACACAYAAAG0OVFdAAAABGdBTUEAANbY1E9YMgAAABl0RVh0
 U29mdHdhcmUAQWRvYmUgSW1hZ2VSZWFkeXHJZTwAAFoHSURBVHjaYvz//z8DJQAggFhu3LiBU1JI
 SOiPmJgYM7IYUD0jMh8ggFhAhKamJuOHDx/+8fPz4zQsMTGRYf78+RjiAAHEBCJOnTr1HZvmN2/e
diff --git a/src/odf/userfield.py b/src/odf/userfield.py
index f8c775afb6..581252adc5 100644
--- a/src/odf/userfield.py
+++ b/src/odf/userfield.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 """Class to show and manipulate user fields in odf documents."""
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 import sys
 import zipfile
 
diff --git a/src/odf/xforms.py b/src/odf/xforms.py
index c9018e0609..2e091be8f4 100644
--- a/src/odf/xforms.py
+++ b/src/odf/xforms.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Contributor(s):
 #
 
+from __future__ import print_function, unicode_literals, absolute_import, division
 from .namespaces import XFORMSNS
 from .element import Element