diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index acfceb8..0d0fc89 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/), 
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## Version 1.1.7 - 2026-11-01
+### Fixed
+- handling of german umlauts (and other unicode characters)
+- updated libraries and bumped version for all incarnations of WoW (Classic Era, Forever, Classic, Retail)
+- 
 ## Version 1.1.6 - 2023-01-18
 ### Changed
 - bumped version for latest WotLK Classic patch
diff --git a/Grichelde.lua b/Grichelde.lua
index 356eba3..f0f3af0 100644
--- a/Grichelde.lua
+++ b/Grichelde.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
   Grichelde - Text Replacer
 
-  Copyright 2020 Teilzeit-Jedi <tj@teilzeit-jedi.de>
+  Copyright 2020 - 2026 Teilzeit-Jedi <tj@teilzeit-jedi.de>
 
   This addon is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
diff --git a/Grichelde.toc b/Grichelde.toc
index c825cc5..32e33dc 100644
--- a/Grichelde.toc
+++ b/Grichelde.toc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-## Interface: 100002
+## Interface: 100007
 
 ## Title: Grichelde
 ## Notes: Replaces characters of your chat input line before sending.
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 ## X-Build: Retail
 ## X-Compatible: 11403
-## X-Compatible: 30401
+## X-Compatible: 30403
 
 ## X-Curse-Project-ID: 385480
 ## X-License: GPLv3
diff --git a/GricheldeChat.lua b/GricheldeChat.lua
index 2ce9ccb..46bb793 100644
--- a/GricheldeChat.lua
+++ b/GricheldeChat.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 -- import addon read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
-local IsAddOnLoaded, assert, nilOrEmpty, pairs, ipairs, spairs, tContains, tFilter, tInsert, tIsEmpty, find, sub, gsub, getNextCharUtf8, isUtf8MultiByte, getUtf8Sequence, isUpper, isLower, toUpper, toLower, bytes2Char, trim, length, lengthUtf8
-    = Grichelde.F.IsAddOnLoaded, Grichelde.F.assert, Grichelde.F.nilOrEmpty, Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.ipairs, Grichelde.F.spairs, Grichelde.F.tContains, Grichelde.F.tFilter, Grichelde.F.tInsert, Grichelde.F.tIsEmpty,
+local IsAddOnLoaded, assert, nilOrEmpty, pairs, ipairs, spairs, tContains, tFilter, tInsert, tIsEmpty, tSize, find, sub, gsub, getNextCharUtf8, isUtf8MultiByte, getUtf8Sequence, isUpper, isLower, toUpper, toLower, bytes2Char, trim, length, lengthUtf8
+    = Grichelde.F.IsAddOnLoaded, Grichelde.F.assert, Grichelde.F.nilOrEmpty, Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.ipairs, Grichelde.F.spairs, Grichelde.F.tContains, Grichelde.F.tFilter, Grichelde.F.tInsert, Grichelde.F.tIsEmpty, Grichelde.F.tSize,
       Grichelde.F.find, Grichelde.F.sub, Grichelde.F.gsub, Grichelde.F.getNextCharUtf8, Grichelde.F.isUtf8MultiByte, Grichelde.F.getUtf8Sequence, Grichelde.F.isUpper, Grichelde.F.isLower, Grichelde.F.toUpper, Grichelde.F.toLower, Grichelde.F.bytes2Char, Grichelde.F.trim, Grichelde.F.length, Grichelde.F.lengthUtf8
 
 --- Splits a long text in longest possible chunks of <= 255 length, split at last available space
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ end
 function Grichelde:SendChunkifiedChatMessage(message, ...)
     if (length(message) > 255) then
         local chunks = self:SplitText(message)
-        self:DebugPrint("SendChunkifiedChatMessage : #chunks:", #chunks)
+        self:DebugPrint("SendChunkifiedChatMessage : #chunks:", tSize(chunks))
 
         for _, chunk in ipairs(chunks) do
             self.hooks["SendChatMessage"](chunk, ...);
@@ -218,9 +218,10 @@ function Grichelde:ReplaceCharacters(text, replName, replTable, consolidate, rep
 
     local function replaceCaptures(txt, replaceText, captures)
         local replText = replaceText
-        self:TracePrint("replaceCaptures : txt: %s, #captures: %d", txt, #captures)
+        local n = tSize(captures)
+        self:TracePrint("replaceCaptures : txt: %s, #captures: %d", txt, n)
 
-        if (#captures > 0) then
+        if (n > 0) then
             for i, cap in ipairs(captures) do
                 --self:TracePrint("replaceCaptures : i: %d, cap: %s", i, cap)
                 if (cap == nil) then
@@ -875,7 +876,7 @@ function Grichelde:CheckAndExtractMessageTypeTarget(message)
         local type = tFilter(self.SUPPORTED_CHAT_COMMANDS,
             function(_, k, _) return chatCmd == k end
         )
-        assert(#type < 2)
+        assert(tSize(type) < 2)
 
         if (not tIsEmpty(type)) then
             self:DebugPrint("CheckAndExtractMessageTypeTarget : determined type: %s", type[1])
diff --git a/GricheldeConstants.lua b/GricheldeConstants.lua
index e1074d5..b7870de 100644
--- a/GricheldeConstants.lua
+++ b/GricheldeConstants.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
 -- constants and upvalues
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ Grichelde.IGNORE_PATTERNS = {
 }
 
 local function nilOrEmpty(s)
-    return s == nil or s:trim() == ""
+    return s == nil or Grichelde.F.trim(s) == ""
 end
 
 local function spairs(tbl, orderFunc)
@@ -287,6 +287,97 @@ local function getNextCharUtf8(word)
     end
 end
 
+local function isUtf8MultiByte(word)
+    return Grichelde.F.length(word) ~= Grichelde.F.lengthUtf8(word)
+end
+
+local function getUtf8Sequence(word)
+    if ((word == nil) or (Grichelde.F.type(word) ~= "string") or (Grichelde.F.lengthUtf8(word) ~= 1)) then
+        return nil
+    end
+
+    --[[
+     You could use the following code snippet to iterate over UTF-8 sequences
+     (this will simply skip over most invalid codes):
+
+        for uchar in string.gmatch(ustring, "([%z\1-\127\194-\244][\128-\191]*)") do
+          ...
+        end
+    ]]--
+
+    local sequence = "%z"
+    local c1 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 1)
+    sequence = sequence .. "\\" .. c1
+
+    if (c1 > 0) and (c1 <= 127) then
+        -- UTF8-1
+        return sequence
+    end
+
+    local c2 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 2)
+    sequence = sequence .. "\\" .. c2
+    if (c1 >= 194) and (c1 <= 223) then
+        -- UTF8-2
+        return sequence
+    end
+
+    local c3 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 3)
+    sequence = sequence .. "\\" .. c3
+    if (c1 >= 224) and (c1 <= 239) then
+        -- UTF8-3
+        return sequence
+    end
+
+    local c4 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 4)
+    sequence = sequence .. "\\" .. c4
+    if (c1 >= 240) and (c1 <= 244) then
+        -- UTF8-4
+        return sequence
+    end
+
+    return nil
+end
+
+local function getUtf8Table(word)
+    if ((word == nil) or (Grichelde.F.type(word) ~= "string") or (Grichelde.F.lengthUtf8(word) ~= 1)) then
+        return nil
+    end
+
+    --[[
+     You could use the following code snippet to iterate over UTF-8 sequences
+     (this will simply skip over most invalid codes):
+
+        for uchar in string.gmatch(ustring, "([%z\1-\127\194-\244][\128-\191]*)") do
+          ...
+        end
+    ]]--
+
+    local tbl = {}
+
+    local c1 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 1)
+    Grichelde.F.tInsert(tbl, "%z\\" .. c1)
+
+    local c2 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 2)
+    if (c1 >= 194) and (c1 <= 223) then
+        -- UTF8-2
+        Grichelde.F.tInsert(tbl, "\\" .. c2)
+    end
+
+    local c3 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 3)
+    if (c1 >= 224) and (c1 <= 239) then
+        -- UTF8-3
+        Grichelde.F.tInsert(tbl, "\\" .. c3)
+    end
+
+    local c4 = Grichelde.F.toByte(word, 4)
+    if (c1 >= 240) and (c1 <= 244) then
+        -- UTF8-4
+        Grichelde.F.tInsert(tbl, "\\" .. c4)
+    end
+
+    return tbl
+end
+
 local function isLetter(word)
     local char = Grichelde.F.getNextCharUtf8(word)
     return (char ~= nil) and (Grichelde.F.toUpper(char) ~= Grichelde.F.toLower(char))
@@ -348,6 +439,15 @@ local function capitalize(word)
     end
 end
 
+local function trim(s)
+    if ((s == nil) or (Grichelde.F.type(s) ~= "string")) then
+        return nil
+    end
+
+    local n = Grichelde.F.find(s, "%S")
+    return n and Grichelde.F.match(s, ".*%S", n) or ""
+end
+
 local function color(colour, text)
     return colour .. text .. Grichelde.COLOR_CODES.CLOSE
 end
@@ -418,6 +518,9 @@ Grichelde.F = {
     toUpper         = _G.strupper,
     toLower         = _G.strlower,
     getNextCharUtf8 = getNextCharUtf8,
+    isUtf8MultiByte = isUtf8MultiByte,
+    getUtf8Sequence = getUtf8Sequence,
+    getUtf8Table    = getUtf8Table,
     isLetter        = isLetter,
     isNumber        = isNumber,
     isUpper         = isUpper,
@@ -437,7 +540,8 @@ Grichelde.F = {
     bytes2Char      = _G.string.char,
     format          = _G.string.format,
     rep             = _G.string.rep,
-    trim            = _G.strtrim,
+    -- trim            = _G.strtrim,
+    trim            = trim,
     length          = _G.string.len,
     lengthUtf8      = _G.strlenutf8,
     toString        = _G.tostring,
diff --git a/GricheldeDatabase.lua b/GricheldeDatabase.lua
index d0e8fb8..8fc9c45 100644
--- a/GricheldeDatabase.lua
+++ b/GricheldeDatabase.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 -- read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
-local pairs, tInsert, tClone, unpack, join, toString
-    = Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.tInsert, Grichelde.F.tClone, Grichelde.F.unpack, Grichelde.F.join, Grichelde.F.toString
+local pairs, tInsert, tClone, tSize, unpack, join, toString
+    = Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.tInsert, Grichelde.F.tClone, Grichelde.F.tSize, Grichelde.F.unpack, Grichelde.F.join, Grichelde.F.toString
 
 function Grichelde.getDefaultConfig()
     return {
@@ -84,38 +84,40 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:SyncToDatabase(info, val)
     self:TracePrint("SyncToDatabase : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
     local option = self.db.profile
     local path = 1
-    while (path < #info) do
+    while (path < n) do
         if (info[path] ~= "mappings") then
             option = option[info[path]]
         end
         path = path + 1
     end
-    local optionPath = join(".", unpack(info, 1, #info))
+    local optionPath = join(".", unpack(info, 1, n))
     self:DebugPrint("change option \"%s\" from %s to %s", optionPath, toString(option[info[path]]), toString(val))
     option[info[path]] = val
 end
 
 function Grichelde:ReadFromDatabase(info)
     self:TracePrint("ReadFromDatabase : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
     local option = self.db.profile
     local path = 1
-    while (path <= #info) do
+    while (path <= n) do
         if (info[path] ~= "mappings") then
             option = option[info[path]]
         end
         path = path + 1
     end
-    local optionPath = join(".", unpack(info, 1, #info))
+    local optionPath = join(".", unpack(info, 1, n))
     self:DebugPrint("read option \"%s\": %s", optionPath, toString(option))
     return option
 end
diff --git a/GricheldeMinimap.lua b/GricheldeMinimap.lua
index a588d96..12f1fae 100644
--- a/GricheldeMinimap.lua
+++ b/GricheldeMinimap.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 -- read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
-local cGreen, cRed
-    = Grichelde.F.cGreen, Grichelde.F.cRed
+local cGreen, cRed = Grichelde.F.cGreen, Grichelde.F.cRed
 
 
 --- add Minimap button
diff --git a/GricheldeOptions.lua b/GricheldeOptions.lua
index f5873b8..252df78 100644
--- a/GricheldeOptions.lua
+++ b/GricheldeOptions.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 -- read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
-local assert, nilOrEmpty, pairs, ipairs, spairs, tContains, tInsert, tClone, tWipe, find, match, cPrefix, cGray, cGreen, cOrange, cRed, format, toString, toNumber
-    = Grichelde.F.assert, Grichelde.F.nilOrEmpty, Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.ipairs, Grichelde.F.spairs, Grichelde.F.tContains, Grichelde.F.tInsert, Grichelde.F.tClone, Grichelde.F.tWipe, Grichelde.F.find, Grichelde.F.match, Grichelde.F.cPrefix, Grichelde.F.cGray, Grichelde.F.cGreen, Grichelde.F.cOrange, Grichelde.F.cRed, Grichelde.F.format, Grichelde.F.toString, Grichelde.F.toNumber
+local assert, nilOrEmpty, pairs, ipairs, spairs, tContains, tInsert, tClone, tSize, tWipe, find, match, cPrefix, cGray, cGreen, cOrange, cRed, format, toString, toNumber
+    = Grichelde.F.assert, Grichelde.F.nilOrEmpty, Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.ipairs, Grichelde.F.spairs, Grichelde.F.tContains, Grichelde.F.tInsert, Grichelde.F.tClone, Grichelde.F.tSize, Grichelde.F.tWipe, Grichelde.F.find, Grichelde.F.match, Grichelde.F.cPrefix, Grichelde.F.cGray, Grichelde.F.cGreen, Grichelde.F.cOrange, Grichelde.F.cRed, Grichelde.F.format, Grichelde.F.toString, Grichelde.F.toNumber
 
 local selectedExample = 1
 
@@ -415,8 +415,9 @@ function Grichelde:SetupOptions()
     -- Adding options to blizzard frame
     LibStub("AceConfig-3.0"):RegisterOptionsTable(self.name, options)
     local dialog = LibStub("AceConfigDialog-3.0")
-    dialog:AddToBlizOptions(self.name, self.L.AddonName)
-
+    local _, categoryID = dialog:AddToBlizOptions(self.name, self.L.AddonName)
+    
+    self.optionsCategoryID = categoryID
     return options, dialog
 end
 
@@ -507,7 +508,8 @@ end
 -- @return (boolean)
 function Grichelde:IsMappingActive(info)
     self:TracePrint("IsMappingActive : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("IsMappingActive : info[%d] = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
@@ -559,7 +561,7 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:ExtractExampleCodes(num)
     self:TracePrint("ExtractExampleCodes : number is: %d", num)
-    if (self.L.Options_Help_Examples[num] == nil) or (#self.L.Options_Help_Examples < num) then
+    if (self.L.Options_Help_Examples[num] == nil) or (tSize(self.L.Options_Help_Examples) < num) then
         self:DebugPrint("ExtractExampleCodes : invalid number: %d", num)
         return self.L.Options_Help_Examples_Text
     end
@@ -581,7 +583,7 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:ImportExample(num)
     self:TracePrint("ImportExample : number is: %d", num)
-    if (self.L.Options_Help_Examples[num] == nil) or (#self.L.Options_Help_Examples < num) then
+    if (self.L.Options_Help_Examples[num] == nil) or (tSize(self.L.Options_Help_Examples) < num) then
         self:DebugPrint("ImportExample : invalid number: %d", num)
     end
 
@@ -670,7 +672,8 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:MoveUp(info)
     self:TracePrint("MoveUp : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
@@ -704,7 +707,8 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:MoveDown(info)
     self:TracePrint("MoveDown : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
@@ -747,7 +751,8 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:GetMoveUpImage(info)
     self:TracePrint("GetMoveUpImage : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
@@ -766,7 +771,8 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:GetMoveDownImage(info)
     self:TracePrint("GetMoveDownImage : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
@@ -794,7 +800,8 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:GetDeleteImage(info)
     self:TracePrint("GetDeleteImage : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
@@ -807,7 +814,8 @@ end
 
 function Grichelde:DeleteMapping(info)
     self:TracePrint("DeleteMapping : info")
-    for i = 0, #info do
+    local n = tSize(info)
+    for i = 0, n do
         self:TracePrint("%d = %s", i, info[i])
     end
 
diff --git a/GricheldeTest.lua b/GricheldeTest.lua
index 46f8f18..80700a2 100644
--- a/GricheldeTest.lua
+++ b/GricheldeTest.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- import addon read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
 local find, pairs, tSize, cRed, cGreen = Grichelde.F.find, Grichelde.F.pairs, Grichelde.F.tSize, Grichelde.F.cRed, Grichelde.F.cGreen
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function Grichelde:RunTests()
             ["OSSO"] = "OCHO",
             ["ooSS"] = "ooCH",
             ["schmeissen"] = "chmeichen",
-            ["Schön"] = "Chön",
+            ["Sch&#246;n"] = "Chön",
         }
     )
     ok = ok + o
@@ -776,6 +776,56 @@ function Grichelde:RunTests()
     ok = ok + o
     all = all + a
 
+    o, a = test(
+        "umlauts",
+        {
+            replacement_10 = {
+                order = 10,
+                searchText = "ä",
+                replaceText = "ae",
+                exactCase = false,
+                consolidate = false,
+                matchWhen = 2,
+                stopOnMatch = false,
+            },
+            replacement_11 = {
+                order = 11,
+                searchText = "ö",
+                replaceText = "oe",
+                exactCase = false,
+                consolidate = false,
+                matchWhen = 2,
+                stopOnMatch = false,
+            },
+            replacement_12 = {
+                order = 12,
+                searchText = "ü",
+                replaceText = "ue",
+                exactCase = false,
+                consolidate = false,
+                matchWhen = 2,
+                stopOnMatch = false,
+            },
+            replacement_13 = {
+                order = 13,
+                searchText = "ß",
+                replaceText = "ss",
+                exactCase = false,
+                consolidate = false,
+                matchWhen = 2,
+                stopOnMatch = false,
+            },
+        },
+        {
+            ["Hallä"] = "Hallae",
+            ["Ätsch"] = "Aetsch",
+            ["Hällöleü"] = "Haelloeleue",
+            ["ÜöÄ"] = "UeoeAe",
+        }
+    )
+    ok = ok + o
+    all = all + a
+
     if (ok == all) then
         self:PrefixedPrint("All %d tests %s", all, cGreen("passed"))
     else
diff --git a/GricheldeUpgrade.lua b/GricheldeUpgrade.lua
index a10a3b5..5773425 100644
--- a/GricheldeUpgrade.lua
+++ b/GricheldeUpgrade.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
 local pairs, tClone, find, sub, cGreen, cOrange, cRed, toNumber
diff --git a/GricheldeUtils.lua b/GricheldeUtils.lua
index e9ee072..c05174e 100644
--- a/GricheldeUtils.lua
+++ b/GricheldeUtils.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- import addon read namespace from global env
-local _G = _G
+local _G = _G or getfenv()
 local Grichelde = _G.Grichelde or {}
 
 local type, print, pairs, tSize, select, unpack, find, cGray, cDarkgray, cRed, cPrefix, format, rep, toString
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ function Grichelde:Format(message, ...)
             --print("...: ", ...)
             return message, ...
         else
-            local l = select("#", ...)
+            local l = tSize(...)
             if (l > 0) then
                 -- sanitize nil values in vararg
                 local packed = { ... }
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ function Grichelde:LogPrint(printFunc, obj, ...)
         printF("<nil>")
     else
         if type(obj) == "string" then
-            local l = select("#", ...)
+            local l = tSize(...)
             if (l == 0) or (find(obj, "%%") == nil) then
                 printF(obj, ...)
             else
diff --git a/Grichelde_Vanilla.toc b/Grichelde_Vanilla.toc
index 5ff1ef8..627b8b5 100644
--- a/Grichelde_Vanilla.toc
+++ b/Grichelde_Vanilla.toc
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 ## eMail: tj@teilzeit-jedi.de
 
 ## X-Build: Classic
-## X-Compatible: 30401
-## X-Compatible: 100002
+## X-Compatible: 30403
+## X-Compatible: 100007
 
 ## X-Curse-Project-ID: 385480
 ## X-License: GPLv3
diff --git a/Grichelde_Wrath.toc b/Grichelde_Wrath.toc
index 9635022..412f3a6 100644
--- a/Grichelde_Wrath.toc
+++ b/Grichelde_Wrath.toc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-## Interface: 30401
+## Interface: 30403
 
 ## Title: Grichelde
 ## Notes: Replaces characters of your chat input line before sending.
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 ## X-Build: WotLK
 ## X-Compatible: 11403
-## X-Compatible: 100002
+## X-Compatible: 100007
 
 ## X-Curse-Project-ID: 385480
 ## X-License: GPLv3