diff --git a/applications/test/PackedList/PackedListTest.C b/applications/test/PackedList/PackedListTest.C
index ad5c7b3342..7d47532f1b 100644
--- a/applications/test/PackedList/PackedListTest.C
+++ b/applications/test/PackedList/PackedListTest.C
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
         if (args.optionFound("info"))
         {
-            packLst.print(Info);
+            packLst.printInfo(Info);
         }
 
         Info<< nl;
diff --git a/applications/test/PackedList1/PackedListTest1.C b/applications/test/PackedList1/PackedListTest1.C
index 461db54158..e26b08e804 100644
--- a/applications/test/PackedList1/PackedListTest1.C
+++ b/applications/test/PackedList1/PackedListTest1.C
@@ -42,42 +42,42 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     Info<< "\ntest allocation with value\n";
     PackedList<3> list1(5,1);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign uniform value\n";
     list1 = 3;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign uniform value (with overflow)\n";
     list1 = -1;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest zero\n";
     list1 = 0;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest set() with default argument (max_value)\n";
     list1.set(1);
     list1.set(3);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest unset() with in-range and out-of-range\n";
     list1.unset(3);
     list1.unset(100000);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign between references\n";
     list1[2] = 3;
     list1[4] = list1[2];
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign between references, with chaining\n";
     list1[0] = list1[4] = 1;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign between references, with chaining and auto-vivify\n";
     list1[1] = list1[8] = list1[10] = list1[14] = 2;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
 
     Info<< "\ntest operator== between references\n";
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     {
         const PackedList<3>& constLst = list1;
         Info<< "\ntest operator[] const with out-of-range index\n";
-        constLst.print(Info, true);
+        constLst.printInfo(Info, true);
         if (constLst[20])
         {
             Info<< "[20] is true (unexpected)\n";
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             Info<< "[20] is false (expected) list size should be unchanged "
                 << "(const)\n";
         }
-        constLst.print(Info, true);
+        constLst.printInfo(Info, true);
 
         Info<< "\ntest operator[] non-const with out-of-range index\n";
         if (list1[20])
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             Info<< "[20] is false (expected) but list was resized?? "
                 << "(non-const)\n";
         }
-        list1.print(Info, true);
+        list1.printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
 
@@ -157,85 +157,85 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     {
         Info<< "[20] is false, as expected\n";
     }
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest resize with value (without reallocation)\n";
     list1.resize(8, list1.max_value());
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest flip() function\n";
     list1.flip();
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\nre-flip()\n";
     list1.flip();
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest set() function\n";
     list1.set(1, 5);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign bool\n";
     list1 = false;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest assign bool\n";
     list1 = true;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest resize without value (with reallocation)\n";
     list1.resize(12);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest resize with value (with reallocation)\n";
     list1.resize(25, list1.max_value());
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest resize smaller (should not touch allocation)\n";
     list1.resize(8);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest append() operation\n";
     list1.append(2);
     list1.append(3);
     list1.append(4);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest reserve() operation\n";
     list1.reserve(32);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest shrink() operation\n";
     list1.shrink();
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest setCapacity() operation\n";
     list1.setCapacity(15);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest setCapacity() operation\n";
     list1.setCapacity(100);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest operator[] assignment\n";
     list1[16] = 5;
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest operator[] assignment with auto-vivify\n";
     list1[36] = list1.max_value();
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest setCapacity smaller\n";
     list1.setCapacity(24);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest resize much smaller\n";
     list1.resize(150);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest trim\n";
     list1.trim();
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     // add in some misc values
     list1[31] = 1;
@@ -245,40 +245,40 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     Info<< "\ntest iterator\n";
     PackedList<3>::iterator iter = list1.begin();
     Info<< "begin():";
-    iter.print(Info) << "\n";
+    iter.printInfo(Info) << "\n";
 
     Info<< "iterator:" << iter() << "\n";
     iter() = 5;
-    iter.print(Info);
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    iter.printInfo(Info);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     iter = list1[31];
     Info<< "iterator:" << iter() << "\n";
-    iter.print(Info);
+    iter.printInfo(Info);
 
 
     Info<< "\ntest get() method\n";
     Info<< "get(10):" << list1.get(10) << " and list[10]:" << list1[10] << "\n";
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest iterator indexing\n";
     Info<< "cend() ";
-    list1.cend().print(Info) << "\n";
+    list1.cend().printInfo(Info) << "\n";
 
     {
         Info<< "\ntest assignment of iterator\n";
-        list1.print(Info, true);
+        list1.printInfo(Info, true);
         Info<< "cend()\n";
-        list1.end().print(Info);
+        list1.end().printInfo(Info);
         PackedList<3>::iterator cit = list1[100];
         Info<< "out-of-range: ";
-        cit.print(Info);
+        cit.printInfo(Info);
         cit = list1[15];
         Info<< "in-range: ";
-        cit.print(Info);
+        cit.printInfo(Info);
         Info<< "out-of-range: ";
         cit = list1[1000];
-        cit.print(Info);
+        cit.printInfo(Info);
     }
 
 
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         ++cit
     )
     {
-        cit.print(Info);
+        cit.printInfo(Info);
     }
 
     Info<< "\ntest operator[] auto-vivify\n";
@@ -304,16 +304,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     Info<< "size after write:" << list1.size() << "\n";
     Info<< "list[45]:" << list1[45] << "\n";
     list1[49] = list1[100];
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
 
     Info<< "\ntest copy constructor + append\n";
     PackedList<3> list2(list1);
     list2.append(4);
     Info<< "source list:\n";
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
     Info<< "destination list:\n";
-    list2.print(Info, true);
+    list2.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\ntest pattern that fills all bits\n";
     PackedList<4> list3(8, 8);
@@ -323,10 +323,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     list3[pos--] = list3.max_value();
     list3[pos--] = 0;
     list3[pos--] = list3.max_value();
-    list3.print(Info, true);
+    list3.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "removed final value: " << list3.remove() << endl;
-    list3.print(Info, true);
+    list3.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<<"list: " << list3 << endl;
 
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     PackedBoolList listb(list4);
 
     Info<< "copied from bool list " << endl;
-    listb.print(Info, true);
+    listb.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     {
         labelList indices = listb.used();
diff --git a/applications/test/PackedList4/PackedListTest4.C b/applications/test/PackedList4/PackedListTest4.C
index d1e4e5b143..5095eac3b9 100644
--- a/applications/test/PackedList4/PackedListTest4.C
+++ b/applications/test/PackedList4/PackedListTest4.C
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     Info<< "\nalternating bit pattern\n";
-    list1.print(Info, true);
+    list1.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     PackedBoolList list2 = ~list1;
 
     Info<< "\ncomplementary bit pattern\n";
-    list2.print(Info, true);
+    list2.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     list2.resize(24, true);
     list2.resize(28, false);
@@ -62,74 +62,73 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     Info<< "\nresized with 4 true + 4 false, bottom 4 bits true\n";
-    list2.print(Info, true);
+    list2.printInfo(Info, true);
 
     labelList list2Labels = list2.used();
 
     Info<< "\noperator|\n";
-    (list1 | list2).print(Info, true);
+    (list1 | list2).printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\noperator& : does trim\n";
-    (list1 & list2).print(Info, true);
+    (list1 & list2).printInfo(Info, true);
 
     Info<< "\noperator^\n";
-    (list1 ^ list2).print(Info, true);
+    (list1 ^ list2).printInfo(Info, true);
 
 
     Info<< "\noperator|=\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 |= list2).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 |= list2).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
     Info<< "\noperator|= with UList<label>\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 |= list2Labels).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 |= list2Labels).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
     Info<< "\noperator&=\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 &= list2).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 &= list2).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
     Info<< "\noperator+=\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 += list2).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 += list2).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
     Info<< "\noperator+= with UList<label>\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 += list2Labels).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 += list2Labels).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
     Info<< "\noperator-=\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 -= list2).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 -= list2).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
     Info<< "\noperator-= with UList<label>\n";
     {
         PackedBoolList list3 = list1;
-        (list3 -= list2Labels).print(Info, true);
+        (list3 -= list2Labels).printInfo(Info, true);
     }
 
-
     PackedBoolList list4
     (
         IStringStream
         (
-            "(AB 05 10 0F F0)"
+            "(1 n 1 n 1 n 1 1 off 0 0 f f 0 y yes y true y false on t)"
         )()
     );
 
     Info<< "\ntest Istream constructor\n";
 
-    list4.print(Info, true);
+    list4.printInfo(Info, true);
     Info<< list4 << " indices: " << list4.used()() <<endl;
 
     Info<< "\nassign from labelList\n";
@@ -137,19 +136,55 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     (
         IStringStream
         (
-            "(0 1 2 3 12 13 14 15 17 19 20 21)"
+            "(0 1 2 3 12 13 14 19 20 21)"
         )()
     );
 
-    list4.print(Info, true);
+    list4.printInfo(Info, true);
     Info<< list4 << " indices: " << list4.used()() <<endl;
 
-    Info<< "\nread from Istream\n";
-    IStringStream("(0f 3a)")() >> list4;
+    Info<< "\nassign from indices\n";
+    list4.read
+    (
+        IStringStream
+        (
+            "{0 1 2 3 12 13 14 19 20 21}"
+        )()
+    );
 
-    list4.print(Info, true);
+
+    list4.printInfo(Info, true);
     Info<< list4 << " indices: " << list4.used()() <<endl;
 
+    List<bool> boolLst(list4.size());
+    forAll(list4, i)
+    {
+        boolLst[i] = list4[i];
+    }
+
+    Info<< "List<bool>: " << boolLst <<endl;
+
+
+    // check roundabout assignments
+    PackedList<2> pl2
+    (
+        IStringStream
+        (
+            "{(0 3)(1 3)(2 3)(3 3)(12 3)(13 3)(14 3)(19 3)(20 3)(21 3)}"
+        )()
+    );
+
+    Info<< "roundabout assignment: " << pl2 << endl;
+
+    list4.clear();
+    forAll(pl2, i)
+    {
+        list4[i] = pl2[i];
+    }
+
+    list4.write(Info, true) << endl;
+
+    list4.writeEntry("PackedBoolList", Info);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files b/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files
index 30289870e3..bbd6a2e242 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ primitives/random/Random.C
 containers/HashTables/HashTable/HashTableCore.C
 containers/HashTables/StaticHashTable/StaticHashTableCore.C
 containers/Lists/SortableList/ParSortableListName.C
-containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListName.C
+containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListCore.C
 containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.C
 containers/Lists/ListOps/ListOps.C
 containers/LinkedLists/linkTypes/SLListBase/SLListBase.C
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.C
index 548d21414d..c19d70b94e 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.C
@@ -25,44 +25,10 @@ License
 
 #include "PackedBoolList.H"
 #include "IOstreams.H"
-#include <cctype>
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-// table-lookup instead of printf("%02x", char)
-//! @cond localScope
-static const char hexLookup[] =
-{
-    "000102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f"
-    "101112131415161718191a1b1c1d1e1f"
-    "202122232425262728292a2b2c2d2e2f"
-    "303132333435363738393a3b3c3d3e3f"
-    "404142434445464748494a4b4c4d4e4f"
-    "505152535455565758595a5b5c5d5e5f"
-    "606162636465666768696a6b6c6d6e6f"
-    "707172737475767778797a7b7c7d7e7f"
-    "808182838485868788898a8b8c8d8e8f"
-    "909192939495969798999a9b9c9d9e9f"
-    "a0a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9aaabacadaeaf"
-    "b0b1b2b3b4b5b6b7b8b9babbbcbdbebf"
-    "c0c1c2c3c4c5c6c7c8c9cacbcccdcecf"
-    "d0d1d2d3d4d5d6d7d8d9dadbdcdddedf"
-    "e0e1e2e3e4e5e6e7e8e9eaebecedeeef"
-    "f0f1f2f3f4f5f6f7f8f9fafbfcfdfeff"
-};
-
-
-// number of bytes required to pack nElem
-static inline unsigned int packedBytes(const Foam::label nElem)
-{
-    return (nElem + CHAR_BIT - 1) / CHAR_BIT;
-}
-//! @endcond
-
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-Foam::PackedBoolList::PackedBoolList(Istream &is)
+Foam::PackedBoolList::PackedBoolList(Istream& is)
 :
     PackedList<1>()
 {
@@ -160,7 +126,7 @@ void Foam::PackedBoolList::modulo(const PackedList<1>& lst)
     StorageList& lhs = this->storage();
     const StorageList& rhs = lst.storage();
 
-    const label len = min(rhs.size(), lhs.size());
+    const label len = min(lhs.size(), rhs.size());
 
     for (label i=0; i < len; ++i)
     {
@@ -274,286 +240,6 @@ Foam::PackedBoolList::operator^=(const PackedList<1>& lst)
     return *this;
 }
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Friend Operators * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>
-(
-    Istream& istr,
-    PackedBoolList& lst
-)
-{
-    // Takes into account that 'a' (or 'A') is 10
-    static const label alphaOffset = toupper('A') - 10;
-    // Takes into account that '0' is 0
-    static const label zeroOffset = int('0');
-
-    ISstream& is = dynamicCast<ISstream>(istr);
-
-    lst.clear();
-    is.fatalCheck("operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&)");
-
-    token firstTok(is);
-    is.fatalCheck
-    (
-        "operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&) : reading first token"
-    );
-
-    if (firstTok.isLabel())
-    {
-        const label sz = firstTok.labelToken();
-
-        // Set list length to that read
-        lst.resize(sz);
-
-        // Read list contents as ASCII
-
-        // Read beginning of contents
-        const char delimiter = is.readBeginList("PackedBoolList");
-
-        if (sz)
-        {
-            if (delimiter == token::BEGIN_LIST)
-            {
-                // number of bytes when packed:
-                unsigned int nBytes = packedBytes(lst.size());
-
-                for (label i=0, storeI=0; i < sz; ++storeI)
-                {
-                    PackedList<1>::StorageType& stored = lst.storage()[storeI];
-
-                    // byte-wise read
-                    for
-                    (
-                        unsigned byte=0;
-                        byte < sizeof(PackedList<1>::StorageType);
-                        ++byte
-                    )
-                    {
-                        PackedList<1>::StorageType result = 0;
-                        char c = 0;
-
-                        // Get next non-whitespace character
-                        while (is.get(c) && isspace(c))
-                        {}
-
-                        for (label nibble=0; nibble < 2; ++nibble)
-                        {
-                            if (!isxdigit(c))
-                            {
-                                FatalIOErrorIn
-                                (
-                                    "operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&) : "
-                                    "reading first token",
-                                    is
-                                )
-                                    << "Illegal hex digit: '" << c << "'"
-                                    << exit(FatalIOError);
-                            }
-
-                            result <<= 4;
-
-                            if (isdigit(c))
-                            {
-                                result += int(c) - zeroOffset;
-                            }
-                            else
-                            {
-                                result += toupper(c) - alphaOffset;
-                            }
-
-                            // Get character for the lower part of the byte
-                            if (!nibble)
-                            {
-                                is.get(c);
-                            }
-                        }
-
-                        stored |= result << (byte*CHAR_BIT);
-
-                        if (!--nBytes)
-                        {
-                            break;
-                        }
-                    }
-                    i += PackedList<1>::packing();
-                }
-
-                // trim possible trailing junk
-                // mask off the final partial segment
-                {
-                    const unsigned int off = sz % PackedList<1>::packing();
-                    if (off)
-                    {
-                        const unsigned int seg = sz / PackedList<1>::packing();
-
-                        lst.storage()[seg] &= PackedList<1>::maskLower(off);
-                    }
-                }
-
-
-                // skip over all trailing whitespace and zeroes
-                char c = 0;
-                while (is.get(c) && (isspace(c) || c == '0'))
-                {}
-
-                // put back for later readEndList() to deal with
-                is.putback(c);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                const label val = readLabel(is);
-
-                is.fatalCheck
-                (
-                    "operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&) : "
-                    "reading the single entry"
-                );
-
-                lst = val;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Read end of contents
-        is.readEndList("PackedList");
-    }
-    else if (firstTok.isPunctuation())
-    {
-        if (firstTok.pToken() != token::BEGIN_LIST)
-        {
-            FatalIOErrorIn
-            (
-                "operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&)",
-                is
-            )
-                << "incorrect first token, expected '(', found "
-                << firstTok.info()
-                << exit(FatalIOError);
-        }
-
-        char c = '(';
-
-        for (label storeI=0; c && c != ')'; ++storeI)
-        {
-            lst.resize((storeI+1)*PackedList<1>::packing());
-
-            PackedList<1>::StorageType& stored = lst.storage()[storeI];
-
-            // byte-wise read
-            for
-            (
-                unsigned byte=0;
-                byte < sizeof(PackedList<1>::StorageType);
-                ++byte
-            )
-            {
-                PackedList<1>::StorageType result = 0;
-                c = 0;
-
-                // Get next non-whitespace character
-                while (is.get(c) && isspace(c))
-                {}
-
-                if (!c || c == ')')
-                {
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                for (label nibble=0; nibble < 2; ++nibble)
-                {
-                    if (!isxdigit(c))
-                    {
-                        FatalIOErrorIn
-                        (
-                            "operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&)",
-                            is
-                        )
-                            << "Illegal hex digit: '" << c << "'"
-                            << exit(FatalIOError);
-                    }
-
-                    result *= 16;
-
-                    if (isdigit(c))
-                    {
-                        result += int(c) - zeroOffset;
-                    }
-                    else
-                    {
-                        result += toupper(c) - alphaOffset;
-                    }
-
-                    // Get character for the lower part of the byte
-                    if (!nibble)
-                    {
-                        is.get(c);
-                    }
-                }
-
-                stored |= result << (byte*CHAR_BIT);
-            }
-        }
-
-        // put back for later readEndList() to deal with
-        is.putback(c);
-
-        // Read end of contents
-        is.readEndList("PackedList");
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        FatalIOErrorIn
-        (
-            "operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&)",
-            is
-        )
-            << "incorrect first token, expected <int> or '(', found "
-            << firstTok.info()
-            << exit(FatalIOError);
-    }
-
-    return is;
-}
-
-
-Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<
-(
-    Ostream& os,
-    const PackedBoolList& lst
-)
-{
-    const label sz = lst.size();
-
-    unsigned int nBytes = packedBytes(sz);
-
-    os  << sz << token::BEGIN_LIST;
-
-    for (label storeI=0; nBytes; ++storeI)
-    {
-        PackedList<1>::StorageType stored = lst.storage()[storeI];
-
-        for
-        (
-            unsigned byte=0;
-            byte < sizeof(PackedList<1>::StorageType);
-            ++byte
-        )
-        {
-            os  << hexLookup[((stored & 0xFF) << 1)]
-                << hexLookup[((stored & 0xFF) << 1) + 1];
-
-            if (!--nBytes)
-            {
-                break;
-            }
-            stored >>= 8;
-        }
-    }
-
-    os  << token::END_LIST;
-
-    return os;
-}
-
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Global Operators * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.H
index cf0ba7d6a5..06f69bf388 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedBoolList.H
@@ -25,32 +25,11 @@ Class
     Foam::PackedBoolList
 
 Description
-    A bit-packed bool list
+    A bit-packed bool list.
 
-Note
-    The input/output format differs from that of Foam::PackedBoolList in
-    that it is also packed. The input/output is always byte-wise, with
-    the lowest bytes first.
-
-    Thus this label sequence
-    @code
-        0 1 2 3 12 13 14 15 17 19 20 21
-    @endcode
-    which has this bit representation:
-    @code
-        ..........111-1-1111--------1111
-    @endcode
-    and this internal representation
-    @code
-        0x003AF00F
-    @endcode
-    would be read/written in one of these formats:
-    @code
-        22(0f f0 3a)
-        22(0ff03a)
-    @endcode
-    Whitespace can be used to separate byte values, but must not appear
-    within a byte itself.
+    In addition to the obvious memory advantage over using a
+    List\<bool\>, this class also provides a number of bit-like
+    operations.
 
 SourceFiles
     PackedBoolListI.H
@@ -72,16 +51,6 @@ SeeAlso
 namespace Foam
 {
 
-// Forward declaration of classes
-class Istream;
-class Ostream;
-
-// Forward declaration of friend functions and operators
-class PackedBoolList;
-Istream& operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&);
-Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const PackedBoolList&);
-
-
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                        Class PackedBoolList Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -235,13 +204,13 @@ public:
             PackedBoolList& operator^=(const PackedList<1>&);
 
 
-            //- Synonymous with the or operator
+            //- Add entries to this list, synonymous with the or operator
             inline PackedBoolList& operator+=(const PackedList<1>&);
 
-            //- Synonymous with the or operator
+            //- Add entries to this list, synonymous with the or operator
             inline PackedBoolList& operator+=(const UList<label>& indices);
 
-            //- Synonymous with the or operator
+            //- Add entries to this list, synonymous with the or operator
             inline PackedBoolList& operator+=(const UIndirectList<label>&);
 
             //- Remove entries from this list
@@ -253,10 +222,6 @@ public:
             //- Remove entries from this list
             inline PackedBoolList& operator-=(const UIndirectList<label>&);
 
-    // IOstream Operators
-
-        friend Istream& operator>>(Istream&, PackedBoolList&);
-        friend Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const PackedBoolList&);
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C
index cb80e6db02..8d4b9e9d98 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C
@@ -27,46 +27,14 @@ License
 #include "IOstreams.H"
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const label size, const unsigned int val)
-:
-    StorageList(packedLength(size), 0u),
-    size_(size)
-{
-    if (val)
-    {
-        operator=(val);
-    }
-}
-
-
-template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(Istream& is)
-:
-    StorageList(),
-    size_(0)
-{
-    is  >> *this;
-}
-
-
-template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const UList<label>& lst)
-:
-    StorageList(packedLength(lst.size()), 0u),
-    size_(lst.size())
-{
-    forAll(lst, i)
-    {
-        set(i, lst[i]);
-    }
-}
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline Foam::label Foam::PackedList<nBits>::byteSize() const
+{
+    return packedLength(this->size()) * sizeof(StorageType);
+}
+
 
 #if (UINT_MAX == 0xFFFFFFFF)
 // 32-bit counting, Hamming weight method
@@ -186,7 +154,10 @@ Foam::Xfer<Foam::labelList> Foam::PackedList<nBits>::values() const
 
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::iteratorBase::print(Ostream& os) const
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::iteratorBase::printInfo
+(
+    Ostream& os
+) const
 {
     os  << "iterator<"  << label(nBits) << "> ["
         << this->index_ << "]"
@@ -200,7 +171,7 @@ Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::iteratorBase::print(Ostream& os) const
 
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::print
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::printInfo
 (
     Ostream& os,
     const bool fullOutput
@@ -275,6 +246,278 @@ Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::print
 }
 
 
+template<unsigned nBits>
+Foam::Istream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream& is)
+{
+    PackedList<nBits>& lst = *this;
+
+    lst.clear();
+    is.fatalCheck("PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)");
+
+    token firstTok(is);
+    is.fatalCheck
+    (
+        "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&) : "
+        "reading first token"
+    );
+
+    if (firstTok.isLabel())
+    {
+        const label sz = firstTok.labelToken();
+
+        // Set list length to that read
+        lst.resize(sz);
+
+        // Read list contents depending on data format
+        if (is.format() == IOstream::ASCII)
+        {
+            // Read beginning of contents
+            const char delimiter = is.readBeginList("PackedList<nBits>");
+
+            if (sz)
+            {
+                if (delimiter == token::BEGIN_LIST)
+                {
+                    for (register label i=0; i<sz; ++i)
+                    {
+                        lst[i] = lst.readValue(is);
+
+                        is.fatalCheck
+                        (
+                            "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&) : "
+                            "reading entry"
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
+                else if (delimiter == token::BEGIN_BLOCK)
+                {
+                    // assign for all entries
+                    lst = lst.readValue(is);
+
+                    is.fatalCheck
+                    (
+                        "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&) : "
+                        "reading the single entry"
+                    );
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    FatalIOErrorIn
+                    (
+                        "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)",
+                        is
+                    )
+                        << "incorrect list token, expected '(' or '{', found "
+                        << firstTok.info()
+                        << exit(FatalIOError);
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Read end of contents
+            is.readEndList("PackedList<nBits>");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (sz)
+            {
+                is.read
+                (
+                    reinterpret_cast<char*>(lst.storage().data()),
+                    lst.byteSize()
+                );
+
+                is.fatalCheck
+                (
+                    "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&) : "
+                    "reading the binary block"
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else if (firstTok.isPunctuation())
+    {
+        if (firstTok.pToken() == token::BEGIN_LIST)
+        {
+            token nextTok(is);
+            is.fatalCheck("PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)");
+
+            while
+            (
+                !(   nextTok.isPunctuation()
+                  && nextTok.pToken() == token::END_LIST
+                 )
+            )
+            {
+                is.putBack(nextTok);
+                lst.append(lst.readValue(is));
+
+                is  >> nextTok;
+                is.fatalCheck("PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)");
+            }
+        }
+        else if (firstTok.pToken() == token::BEGIN_BLOCK)
+        {
+            token nextTok(is);
+            is.fatalCheck("PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)");
+
+            while
+            (
+                !(   nextTok.isPunctuation()
+                  && nextTok.pToken() == token::END_BLOCK
+                 )
+            )
+            {
+                is.putBack(nextTok);
+                lst.setPair(is);
+
+                is  >> nextTok;
+                is.fatalCheck("PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)");
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            FatalIOErrorIn
+            (
+                "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)",
+                is
+            )
+                << "incorrect first token, expected '(', found "
+                << firstTok.info()
+                << exit(FatalIOError);
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        FatalIOErrorIn
+        (
+            "PackedList<nBits>::read(Istream&)",
+            is
+        )
+            << "incorrect first token, expected <int>, '(' or '{', found "
+            << firstTok.info()
+            << exit(FatalIOError);
+    }
+
+    return is;
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::PackedList<nBits>::write
+(
+    Ostream& os,
+    const bool indexedOutput
+) const
+{
+    const PackedList<nBits>& lst = *this;
+    const label sz = lst.size();
+
+    // Write list contents depending on data format
+    if (os.format() == IOstream::ASCII)
+    {
+        bool uniform = false;
+
+        if (sz > 1 && !indexedOutput)
+        {
+            uniform = true;
+
+            forAll(lst, i)
+            {
+                if (lst[i] != lst[0])
+                {
+                    uniform = false;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (uniform)
+        {
+            // uniform values:
+            os  << sz << token::BEGIN_BLOCK << lst[0] << token::END_BLOCK;
+        }
+        else if (indexedOutput)
+        {
+            // indexed output
+            os  << nl << token::BEGIN_BLOCK << nl;
+
+            for
+            (
+                typename PackedList<nBits>::const_iterator iter = lst.cbegin();
+                iter != lst.cend();
+                ++iter
+            )
+            {
+                if (iter.writeIfSet(os))
+                {
+                    os  << nl;
+                }
+            }
+
+            os  << token::END_BLOCK << nl;
+        }
+        else if (sz < 11)
+        {
+            // short list:
+            os  << sz << token::BEGIN_LIST;
+            forAll(lst, i)
+            {
+                if (i)
+                {
+                    os  << token::SPACE;
+                }
+                os  << lst[i];
+            }
+            os  << token::END_LIST;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // longer list:
+            os  << nl << sz << nl << token::BEGIN_LIST;
+            forAll(lst, i)
+            {
+                os  << nl << lst[i];
+            }
+            os  << nl << token::END_LIST << nl;
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        os  << nl << sz << nl;
+        if (sz)
+        {
+            os.write
+            (
+                reinterpret_cast<const char*>(lst.storage().cdata()),
+                lst.byteSize()
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    return os;
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+void Foam::PackedList<nBits>::writeEntry(Ostream& os) const
+{
+    os << *this;
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+void Foam::PackedList<nBits>::writeEntry
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    Ostream& os
+) const
+{
+    os.writeKeyword(keyword);
+    writeEntry(os);
+    os << token::END_STATEMENT << endl;
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
@@ -305,193 +548,16 @@ Foam::PackedList<nBits>::operator=(const UList<label>& lst)
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Friend Operators * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>
-(
-    Istream& is,
-    PackedList<nBits>& lst
-)
+Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>(Istream& is, PackedList<nBits>& lst)
 {
-    lst.clear();
-    is.fatalCheck("operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)");
-
-    token firstTok(is);
-    is.fatalCheck
-    (
-        "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&) : reading first token"
-    );
-
-    if (firstTok.isLabel())
-    {
-        const label sz = firstTok.labelToken();
-
-        // Set list length to that read
-        lst.setSize(sz);
-
-        {
-            // Read beginning of contents
-            const char delimiter = is.readBeginList("List");
-
-            if (sz)
-            {
-                unsigned int val;
-
-                if (delimiter == token::BEGIN_LIST)
-                {
-                    for (register label i=0; i<sz; ++i)
-                    {
-                        is  >> val;
-
-                        if (val > lst.max_value())
-                        {
-                            FatalIOErrorIn
-                            (
-                                "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)",
-                                is
-                            )
-                                << "out-of-range value: "
-                                << val << " > " << lst.max_value()
-                                << exit(FatalIOError);
-                        }
-
-                        is.fatalCheck
-                        (
-                            "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&) : "
-                            "reading entry"
-                        );
-                    }
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    is  >> val;
-
-                    is.fatalCheck
-                    (
-                        "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&) : "
-                        "reading the single entry"
-                    );
-
-                    if (val > lst.max_value())
-                    {
-                        FatalIOErrorIn
-                        (
-                            "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)",
-                            is
-                        )
-                            << "out-of-range value: "
-                            << val << " > " << lst.max_value()
-                            << exit(FatalIOError);
-                    }
-
-                    // assign for all entries
-                    lst = val;
-                }
-            }
-
-            // Read end of contents
-            is.readEndList("PackedList<nBits>");
-        }
-    }
-    else if (firstTok.isPunctuation())
-    {
-        if (firstTok.pToken() != token::BEGIN_LIST)
-        {
-            FatalIOErrorIn
-            (
-                "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)",
-                is
-            )
-                << "incorrect first token, expected '(', found "
-                << firstTok.info()
-                << exit(FatalIOError);
-        }
-
-        token nextTok(is);
-        is.fatalCheck("operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)");
-
-        unsigned int val;
-
-        while
-        (
-            !(nextTok.isPunctuation() && nextTok.pToken() == token::END_LIST)
-        )
-        {
-            is.putBack(nextTok);
-            is  >> val;
-            lst.append(val);
-
-            if (val > lst.max_value())
-            {
-                FatalIOErrorIn
-                (
-                    "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)",
-                    is
-                )
-                    << "out-of-range value: "
-                    << val << " > " << lst.max_value()
-                    << exit(FatalIOError);
-            }
-
-            is  >> nextTok;
-            is.fatalCheck("operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)");
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        FatalIOErrorIn
-        (
-            "operator>>(Istream&, PackedList<nBits>&)",
-            is
-        )
-            << "incorrect first token, expected <int> or '(', found "
-            << firstTok.info()
-            << exit(FatalIOError);
-    }
-
-    return is;
+    return lst.read(is);
 }
 
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
-Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<
-(
-    Ostream& os,
-    PackedList<nBits>& lst
-)
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<(Ostream& os, const PackedList<nBits>& lst)
 {
-    if (lst.size() < 11)
-    {
-        // Write size and start delimiter
-        os  << lst.size() << token::BEGIN_LIST;
-
-        // Write contents
-        forAll(lst, i)
-        {
-            if (i)
-            {
-                os  << token::SPACE;
-            }
-            os  << lst[i];
-        }
-
-        // Write end delimiter
-        os  << token::END_LIST;
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // Write size and start delimiter
-        os  << nl << lst.size() << nl << token::BEGIN_LIST;
-
-        // Write contents
-        forAll(lst, i)
-        {
-            os  << nl << lst[i];
-        }
-
-        // Write end delimiter
-        os  << nl << token::END_LIST << nl;
-    }
-
-    return os;
+    return lst.write(os, false);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.H
index 897544eb4d..8245e6b344 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.H
@@ -76,6 +76,19 @@ Note
     always be bit-wise zero. This property must not be violated by any
     inheriting classes.
 
+    In addition to the normal output format, PackedList also supports a
+    compact ASCII format that may be convenient for user input in some
+    situations. The general format is a group of index/value pairs:
+    @verbatim
+        { (index1 value1) (index2 value2) (index3 value3) }
+    @endverbatim
+    The bool specialization just uses the indices corresponding to
+    non-zero entries instead of a index/value pair:
+    @verbatim
+        { index1 index2 index3 }
+    @endverbatim
+    In both cases, the supplied indices can be randomly ordered.
+
 SeeAlso
     Foam::DynamicList
 
@@ -110,10 +123,20 @@ Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const PackedList<nBits>&);
 
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
-                      Class PackedListName Declaration
+                       Class PackedListCore Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-TemplateName(PackedList);
+//- Template-invariant bits for PackedList
+struct PackedListCore
+{
+    //- Construct null
+    PackedListCore()
+    {}
+
+    //- Define template name and debug
+    ClassName("PackedList");
+};
+
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                          Class PackedList Declaration
@@ -122,6 +145,7 @@ TemplateName(PackedList);
 template<unsigned nBits=1>
 class PackedList
 :
+    public PackedListCore,
     private List<unsigned int>
 {
 protected:
@@ -129,6 +153,18 @@ protected:
     typedef unsigned int      StorageType;
     typedef List<StorageType> StorageList;
 
+    // Protected Member Functions
+
+        //- Calculate the list length when packed
+        inline static label packedLength(const label);
+
+        //- Read a list entry (allows for specialization)
+        inline static unsigned int readValue(Istream&);
+
+        //- Read an index/value pair and set accordingly.
+        //  For bool specialization, read a single index value
+        inline void setPair(Istream&);
+
 private:
 
     //- nBits must be positive (non-zero) and fit within the storage.
@@ -143,12 +179,6 @@ private:
         //- Number of nBits entries
         label size_;
 
-    // Private Member Functions
-
-        //- Calculate the list length when packed
-        inline static label packedLength(const label);
-
-
 public:
 
     // Public data
@@ -184,10 +214,10 @@ public:
         explicit inline PackedList(const label size);
 
         //- Construct with given size and value for all elements
-        PackedList(const label size, const unsigned val);
+        inline PackedList(const label size, const unsigned val);
 
         //- Construct from Istream
-        PackedList(Istream&);
+        inline PackedList(Istream&);
 
         //- Copy constructor
         inline PackedList(const PackedList<nBits>&);
@@ -235,6 +265,10 @@ public:
             //- Return the underlying packed storage
             inline const List<unsigned int>& storage() const;
 
+            //- Return the binary size in number of characters
+            //  used in the underlying storage
+            label byteSize() const;
+
             //- Count number of bits set, O(log(n))
             //  Uses the Hamming weight (population count) method
             //  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamming_weight
@@ -243,7 +277,7 @@ public:
             //- Return the values as a list of labels
             Xfer<labelList> values() const;
 
-            //- Print values and information, optionally output unused elements
+            //- Print information and values, optionally output unused elements
             //
             // addressable bits:
             //   on: '1', off: '-'
@@ -251,7 +285,8 @@ public:
             // non-addressable bits:
             //   on: '!', off: '.'
             //
-            Ostream& print(Ostream&, const bool fullOutput=false) const;
+            Ostream& printInfo(Ostream&, const bool fullOutput=false) const;
+
 
         // Edit
 
@@ -300,10 +335,43 @@ public:
             inline Xfer<PackedList<nBits> > xfer();
 
 
+        // IO
+
+            //- Clear list and read from stream
+            Istream& read(Istream&);
+
+            //- Write, optionally with indexedOutput
+            //
+            // The indexed output may be convenient in some situations.
+            // The general format is a group of index/value pairs:
+            //  @verbatim
+            //      { (index1 value1) (index2 value2) (index3 value3) }
+            // @endverbatim
+            // The bool specialization just uses the indices corresponding to
+            // non-zero entries instead of a index/value pair:
+            // @verbatim
+            //     { index1 index2 index3 }
+            // @endverbatim
+            //
+            // Note the indexed output is only supported for ASCII streams.
+            Ostream& write
+            (
+                Ostream&,
+                const bool indexedOutput=false
+            ) const;
+
+
+            //- Write as a dictionary entry
+            void writeEntry(Ostream&) const;
+
+            //- Write as a dictionary entry with keyword
+            void writeEntry(const word& keyword, Ostream&) const;
+
+
     // Member operators
 
             //- Append a value at the end of the list
-            inline void append(const unsigned int val);
+            inline PackedList<nBits>& append(const unsigned int val);
 
             //- Remove and return the last element
             inline unsigned int remove();
@@ -373,6 +441,9 @@ public:
                 //- Return the element index corresponding to the iterator
                 inline label key() const;
 
+                //- Write index/value for a non-zero entry
+                //  The bool specialization writes the index only
+                inline bool writeIfSet(Ostream&) const;
 
             // Member Operators
 
@@ -392,8 +463,8 @@ public:
                 //  Never auto-vivify entries.
                 inline operator unsigned int () const;
 
-            //- Print value and information
-            Ostream& print(Ostream&) const;
+            //- Print information and values
+            Ostream& printInfo(Ostream&) const;
         };
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListName.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListCore.C
similarity index 96%
rename from src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListName.C
rename to src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListCore.C
index 11b38eef54..f596ab3957 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListName.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListCore.C
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ License
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-defineTypeNameAndDebug(Foam::PackedListName, 0);
+defineTypeNameAndDebug(Foam::PackedListCore, 0);
+
 
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H
index 4b42056cc3..310211f0aa 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H
@@ -67,11 +67,117 @@ inline Foam::label Foam::PackedList<nBits>::packedLength(const label nElem)
 }
 
 
+namespace Foam
+{
+    // Template specialization for bool entries
+    template<>
+    inline unsigned int Foam::PackedList<1>::readValue(Istream& is)
+    {
+        return readBool(is);
+    }
+
+    // Template specialization for bool entries
+    template<>
+    inline void Foam::PackedList<1>::setPair(Istream& is)
+    {
+        set(readLabel(is), true);
+    }
+
+    // Template specialization for bool entries
+    template<>
+    inline bool Foam::PackedList<1>::iteratorBase::writeIfSet(Ostream& os) const
+    {
+        if (this->get())
+        {
+            os  << index_;
+
+            return true;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline unsigned int Foam::PackedList<nBits>::readValue(Istream& is)
+{
+    const unsigned int val = readLabel(is);
+
+    if (val > max_value())
+    {
+        FatalIOErrorIn
+        (
+            "PackedList<nBits>::readValue(Istream&)",
+            is
+        )
+            << "Out-of-range value " << val << " for PackedList<" << nBits
+            << ">. Maximum permitted value is " << max_value() << "."
+            << exit(FatalIOError);
+    }
+
+    return val;
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline void Foam::PackedList<nBits>::setPair(Istream& is)
+{
+    is.readBegin("Tuple2<label, unsigned int>");
+
+    const label ind = readLabel(is);
+    const unsigned int val = readLabel(is);
+
+    is.readEnd("Tuple2<label, unsigned int>");
+
+    if (val > max_value())
+    {
+        FatalIOErrorIn
+        (
+            "PackedList<nBits>::setPair(Istream&)",
+            is
+        )
+            << "Out-of-range value " << val << " for PackedList<" << nBits
+            << "> at index " << ind
+            << ". Maximum permitted value is " << max_value() << "."
+            << exit(FatalIOError);
+    }
+
+    set(ind, val);
+
+    // Check state of Istream
+    is.check("PackedList<nBits>::setPair(Istream&)");
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline bool Foam::PackedList<nBits>::iteratorBase::writeIfSet(Ostream& os) const
+{
+    const label val = this->get();
+
+    if (val)
+    {
+        os  << token::BEGIN_LIST
+            << index_ << token::SPACE << val
+            << token::END_LIST;
+
+        return true;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
 inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList()
 :
+    PackedListCore(),
     StorageList(),
     size_(0)
 {}
@@ -80,14 +186,45 @@ inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList()
 template<unsigned nBits>
 inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const label size)
 :
+    PackedListCore(),
     StorageList(packedLength(size), 0u),
     size_(size)
 {}
 
 
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList
+(
+    const label size,
+    const unsigned int val
+)
+:
+    PackedListCore(),
+    StorageList(packedLength(size), 0u),
+    size_(size)
+{
+    if (val)
+    {
+        operator=(val);
+    }
+}
+
+
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(Istream& is)
+:
+    PackedListCore(),
+    StorageList(),
+    size_(0)
+{
+    read(is);
+}
+
+
 template<unsigned nBits>
 inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const PackedList<nBits>& lst)
 :
+    PackedListCore(),
     StorageList(lst),
     size_(lst.size_)
 {}
@@ -100,6 +237,20 @@ inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const Xfer<PackedList<nBits> >& lst)
 }
 
 
+template<unsigned nBits>
+inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const UList<label>& lst)
+:
+    PackedListCore(),
+    StorageList(packedLength(lst.size()), 0u),
+    size_(lst.size())
+{
+    forAll(lst, i)
+    {
+        set(i, lst[i]);
+    }
+}
+
+
 template<unsigned nBits>
 inline Foam::autoPtr<Foam::PackedList<nBits> >
 Foam::PackedList<nBits>::clone() const
@@ -797,23 +948,14 @@ inline Foam::Xfer<Foam::PackedList<nBits> > Foam::PackedList<nBits>::xfer()
 template<unsigned nBits>
 inline unsigned int Foam::PackedList<nBits>::get(const label i) const
 {
-#   ifdef FULLDEBUG
-    if (i < 0)
-    {
-        FatalErrorIn("PackedList<nBits>::get(const label)")
-            << "negative index " << i << " max=" << size_-1
-            << abort(FatalError);
-    }
-#   endif
-
     // lazy evaluation - return 0 for out-of-range
-    if (i < size_)
+    if (i < 0 || i >= size_)
     {
-        return iteratorBase(this, i).get();
+        return 0;
     }
     else
     {
-        return 0;
+        return iteratorBase(this, i).get();
     }
 }
 
@@ -822,13 +964,13 @@ template<unsigned nBits>
 inline unsigned int Foam::PackedList<nBits>::operator[](const label i) const
 {
     // lazy evaluation - return 0 for out-of-range
-    if (i < size_)
+    if (i < 0 || i >= size_)
     {
-        return iteratorBase(this, i).get();
+        return 0;
     }
     else
     {
-        return 0;
+        return iteratorBase(this, i).get();
     }
 }
 
@@ -840,18 +982,14 @@ inline bool Foam::PackedList<nBits>::set
     const unsigned int val
 )
 {
-#   ifdef FULLDEBUG
     if (i < 0)
     {
-        FatalErrorIn("PackedList<nBits>::set(const label)")
-            << "negative index " << i << " max=" << size_-1
-            << abort(FatalError);
+        // lazy evaluation - ignore out-of-bounds
+        return false;
     }
-#   endif
-
-    // lazy evaluation - increase size on assigment
-    if (i >= size_)
+    else if (i >= size_)
     {
+        // lazy evaluation - increase size on assigment
         resize(i + 1);
     }
 
@@ -862,24 +1000,28 @@ inline bool Foam::PackedList<nBits>::set
 template<unsigned nBits>
 inline bool Foam::PackedList<nBits>::unset(const label i)
 {
-    // lazy - ignore out-of-bounds
+    // lazy evaluation - ignore out-of-bounds
     if (i < 0 || i >= size_)
     {
         return false;
     }
-
-    return iteratorBase(this, i).set(0u);
+    else
+    {
+        return iteratorBase(this, i).set(0u);
+    }
 }
 
 
 template<unsigned nBits>
-inline void Foam::PackedList<nBits>::append(const unsigned int val)
+inline Foam::PackedList<nBits>&
+Foam::PackedList<nBits>::append(const unsigned int val)
 {
     const label elemI = size_;
     reserve(elemI + 1);
     size_++;
 
     iteratorBase(this, elemI).set(val);
+    return *this;
 }