diff --git a/Source/CPack/WiX/cmCPackWIXGenerator.cxx b/Source/CPack/WiX/cmCPackWIXGenerator.cxx
index f522ce2..045d93d 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/WiX/cmCPackWIXGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/WiX/cmCPackWIXGenerator.cxx
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@
 
   std::string mainSourceFilePath = this->CPackTopLevel + "/main.wxs";
 
-  if (!ConfigureFile(wixTemplate.c_str(), mainSourceFilePath.c_str())) {
+  if (!ConfigureFile(wixTemplate, mainSourceFilePath)) {
     cmCPackLogger(cmCPackLog::LOG_ERROR,
                   "Failed creating '" << mainSourceFilePath
                                       << "'' from template." << std::endl);
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx
index fc34ef8..575254e 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.cxx
@@ -1245,7 +1245,8 @@
   return true;
 }
 
-bool cmCPackGenerator::ConfigureFile(const char* inName, const char* outName,
+bool cmCPackGenerator::ConfigureFile(const std::string& inName,
+                                     const std::string& outName,
                                      bool copyOnly /* = false */)
 {
   return this->MakefileMap->ConfigureFile(inName, outName, copyOnly, true,
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h
index 9e4bf43..3c06d41 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackGenerator.h
@@ -169,7 +169,8 @@
   virtual const char* GetPackagingInstallPrefix();
 
   virtual std::string FindTemplate(const char* name);
-  virtual bool ConfigureFile(const char* inName, const char* outName,
+  virtual bool ConfigureFile(const std::string& inName,
+                             const std::string& outName,
                              bool copyOnly = false);
   virtual bool ConfigureString(const std::string& input, std::string& output);
   virtual int InitializeInternal();
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackNSISGenerator.cxx b/Source/CPack/cmCPackNSISGenerator.cxx
index c77eebc..6afd7d5 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackNSISGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackNSISGenerator.cxx
@@ -292,9 +292,8 @@
     this->SetOption("CPACK_NSIS_DEFINES", defines.c_str());
   }
 
-  this->ConfigureFile(nsisInInstallOptions.c_str(),
-                      nsisInstallOptions.c_str());
-  this->ConfigureFile(nsisInFileName.c_str(), nsisFileName.c_str());
+  this->ConfigureFile(nsisInInstallOptions, nsisInstallOptions);
+  this->ConfigureFile(nsisInFileName, nsisFileName);
   std::string nsisCmd = "\"";
   nsisCmd += this->GetOption("CPACK_INSTALLER_PROGRAM");
   nsisCmd += "\" \"" + nsisFileName + "\"";
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackOSXX11Generator.cxx b/Source/CPack/cmCPackOSXX11Generator.cxx
index 85248c6..90e0afe 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackOSXX11Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackOSXX11Generator.cxx
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
       return 0;
     }
     std::string destFileName = resourcesDirectory + "/" + iconFileName;
-    this->ConfigureFile(iconFile, destFileName.c_str(), true);
+    this->ConfigureFile(iconFile, destFileName, true);
     this->SetOptionIfNotSet("CPACK_APPLE_GUI_ICON", iconFileName.c_str());
   }
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@
   cmCPackLogger(cmCPackLog::LOG_VERBOSE, "Configure file: "
                 << (inFileName ? inFileName : "(NULL)")
                 << " to " << destFileName << std::endl);
-  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName, destFileName.c_str());
+  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName, destFileName);
   return true;
 }
 */
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
   cmCPackLogger(cmCPackLog::LOG_VERBOSE,
                 "Configure file: " << inFileName << " to " << destFileName
                                    << std::endl);
-  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName.c_str(), destFileName.c_str(), copyOnly);
+  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName, destFileName, copyOnly);
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/CPack/cmCPackPKGGenerator.cxx b/Source/CPack/cmCPackPKGGenerator.cxx
index d54ab56..8c22c65 100644
--- a/Source/CPack/cmCPackPKGGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/CPack/cmCPackPKGGenerator.cxx
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 
   // Create the distribution.dist file in the metapackage to turn it
   // into a distribution package.
-  this->ConfigureFile(distributionTemplate.c_str(), distributionFile.c_str());
+  this->ConfigureFile(distributionTemplate, distributionFile);
 }
 
 void cmCPackPKGGenerator::CreateChoiceOutline(
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@
   cmCPackLogger(cmCPackLog::LOG_VERBOSE,
                 "Configure file: " << (inFileName ? inFileName : "(NULL)")
                                    << " to " << destFileName << std::endl);
-  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName, destFileName.c_str());
+  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName, destFileName);
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@
   cmCPackLogger(cmCPackLog::LOG_VERBOSE,
                 "Configure file: " << inFileName << " to " << destFileName
                                    << std::endl);
-  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName.c_str(), destFileName.c_str());
+  this->ConfigureFile(inFileName, destFileName);
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmConfigureFileCommand.cxx b/Source/cmConfigureFileCommand.cxx
index 8224a0f..0917d11 100644
--- a/Source/cmConfigureFileCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmConfigureFileCommand.cxx
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
 
 int cmConfigureFileCommand::ConfigureFile()
 {
-  return this->Makefile->ConfigureFile(
-    this->InputFile.c_str(), this->OutputFile.c_str(), this->CopyOnly,
-    this->AtOnly, this->EscapeQuotes, this->NewLineStyle);
+  return this->Makefile->ConfigureFile(this->InputFile, this->OutputFile,
+                                       this->CopyOnly, this->AtOnly,
+                                       this->EscapeQuotes, this->NewLineStyle);
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmCreateTestSourceList.cxx b/Source/cmCreateTestSourceList.cxx
index 69532e6..b78493f 100644
--- a/Source/cmCreateTestSourceList.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCreateTestSourceList.cxx
@@ -136,8 +136,7 @@
   this->Makefile->AddDefinition("CMAKE_FUNCTION_TABLE_ENTIRES",
                                 functionMapCode.c_str());
   bool res = true;
-  if (!this->Makefile->ConfigureFile(configFile.c_str(), driver.c_str(), false,
-                                     true, false)) {
+  if (!this->Makefile->ConfigureFile(configFile, driver, false, true, false)) {
     res = false;
   }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx
index 51c001e..68de8ae 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalXCodeGenerator.cxx
@@ -2002,7 +2002,7 @@
         // so let it replace the framework name. This avoids creating
         // a per-configuration Info.plist file.
         this->CurrentLocalGenerator->GenerateFrameworkInfoPList(
-          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist.c_str());
+          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist);
         buildSettings->AddAttribute("INFOPLIST_FILE",
                                     this->CreateString(plist));
         buildSettings->AddAttribute("MACH_O_TYPE",
@@ -2043,7 +2043,7 @@
         // a per-configuration Info.plist file. The cfbundle plist
         // is very similar to the application bundle plist
         this->CurrentLocalGenerator->GenerateAppleInfoPList(
-          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist.c_str());
+          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist);
         buildSettings->AddAttribute("INFOPLIST_FILE",
                                     this->CreateString(plist));
       } else {
@@ -2077,7 +2077,7 @@
         // so let it replace the framework name. This avoids creating
         // a per-configuration Info.plist file.
         this->CurrentLocalGenerator->GenerateFrameworkInfoPList(
-          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist.c_str());
+          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist);
         buildSettings->AddAttribute("INFOPLIST_FILE",
                                     this->CreateString(plist));
       } else {
@@ -2115,7 +2115,7 @@
         // so let it replace the executable name.  This avoids creating
         // a per-configuration Info.plist file.
         this->CurrentLocalGenerator->GenerateAppleInfoPList(
-          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist.c_str());
+          gtgt, "$(EXECUTABLE_NAME)", plist);
         buildSettings->AddAttribute("INFOPLIST_FILE",
                                     this->CreateString(plist));
       }
diff --git a/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx
index a2d0efe..fad1741 100644
--- a/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmLocalGenerator.cxx
@@ -2822,7 +2822,7 @@
 
 void cmLocalGenerator::GenerateAppleInfoPList(cmGeneratorTarget* target,
                                               const std::string& targetName,
-                                              const char* fname)
+                                              const std::string& fname)
 {
   // Find the Info.plist template.
   const char* in = target->GetProperty("MACOSX_BUNDLE_INFO_PLIST");
@@ -2856,11 +2856,12 @@
   cmLGInfoProp(mf, target, "MACOSX_BUNDLE_SHORT_VERSION_STRING");
   cmLGInfoProp(mf, target, "MACOSX_BUNDLE_BUNDLE_VERSION");
   cmLGInfoProp(mf, target, "MACOSX_BUNDLE_COPYRIGHT");
-  mf->ConfigureFile(inFile.c_str(), fname, false, false, false);
+  mf->ConfigureFile(inFile, fname, false, false, false);
 }
 
 void cmLocalGenerator::GenerateFrameworkInfoPList(
-  cmGeneratorTarget* target, const std::string& targetName, const char* fname)
+  cmGeneratorTarget* target, const std::string& targetName,
+  const std::string& fname)
 {
   // Find the Info.plist template.
   const char* in = target->GetProperty("MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_INFO_PLIST");
@@ -2890,5 +2891,5 @@
   cmLGInfoProp(mf, target, "MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_IDENTIFIER");
   cmLGInfoProp(mf, target, "MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_SHORT_VERSION_STRING");
   cmLGInfoProp(mf, target, "MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_BUNDLE_VERSION");
-  mf->ConfigureFile(inFile.c_str(), fname, false, false, false);
+  mf->ConfigureFile(inFile, fname, false, false, false);
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmLocalGenerator.h b/Source/cmLocalGenerator.h
index f9839f6..de12190 100644
--- a/Source/cmLocalGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmLocalGenerator.h
@@ -340,14 +340,14 @@
    */
   void GenerateAppleInfoPList(cmGeneratorTarget* target,
                               const std::string& targetName,
-                              const char* fname);
+                              const std::string& fname);
 
   /**
    * Generate a macOS framework Info.plist file.
    */
   void GenerateFrameworkInfoPList(cmGeneratorTarget* target,
                                   const std::string& targetName,
-                                  const char* fname);
+                                  const std::string& fname);
   /** Construct a comment for a custom command.  */
   std::string ConstructComment(cmCustomCommandGenerator const& ccg,
                                const char* default_comment = "");
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index 560181f..0a0501b 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -3729,22 +3729,23 @@
                                 lineNumber, true, true);
 }
 
-int cmMakefile::ConfigureFile(const char* infile, const char* outfile,
-                              bool copyonly, bool atOnly, bool escapeQuotes,
+int cmMakefile::ConfigureFile(const std::string& infile,
+                              const std::string& outfile, bool copyonly,
+                              bool atOnly, bool escapeQuotes,
                               cmNewLineStyle newLine)
 {
   int res = 1;
   if (!this->CanIWriteThisFile(outfile)) {
-    cmSystemTools::Error("Attempt to write file: ", outfile,
+    cmSystemTools::Error("Attempt to write file: " + outfile +
                          " into a source directory.");
     return 0;
   }
   if (!cmSystemTools::FileExists(infile)) {
-    cmSystemTools::Error("File ", infile, " does not exist.");
+    cmSystemTools::Error("File " + infile + " does not exist.");
     return 0;
   }
   std::string soutfile = outfile;
-  std::string sinfile = infile;
+  const std::string& sinfile = infile;
   this->AddCMakeDependFile(sinfile);
   cmSystemTools::ConvertToUnixSlashes(soutfile);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.h b/Source/cmMakefile.h
index 0800ce4..88b4c2f 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.h
@@ -610,8 +610,8 @@
   /**
    * Copy file but change lines according to ConfigureString
    */
-  int ConfigureFile(const char* infile, const char* outfile, bool copyonly,
-                    bool atOnly, bool escapeQuotes,
+  int ConfigureFile(const std::string& infile, const std::string& outfile,
+                    bool copyonly, bool atOnly, bool escapeQuotes,
                     cmNewLineStyle = cmNewLineStyle());
 
   /**
diff --git a/Source/cmOSXBundleGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmOSXBundleGenerator.cxx
index 6857d5a..47a8df4 100644
--- a/Source/cmOSXBundleGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmOSXBundleGenerator.cxx
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@
   plist += this->GT->GetAppBundleDirectory(this->ConfigName,
                                            cmGeneratorTarget::ContentLevel);
   plist += "/Info.plist";
-  this->LocalGenerator->GenerateAppleInfoPList(this->GT, targetName,
-                                               plist.c_str());
+  this->LocalGenerator->GenerateAppleInfoPList(this->GT, targetName, plist);
   this->Makefile->AddCMakeOutputFile(plist);
   outpath = out;
 }
@@ -90,8 +89,7 @@
   }
   plist += "/Info.plist";
   std::string name = cmSystemTools::GetFilenameName(targetName);
-  this->LocalGenerator->GenerateFrameworkInfoPList(this->GT, name,
-                                                   plist.c_str());
+  this->LocalGenerator->GenerateFrameworkInfoPList(this->GT, name, plist);
 
   // Generate Versions directory only for MacOSX frameworks
   if (this->Makefile->PlatformIsAppleEmbedded()) {
@@ -184,7 +182,7 @@
                                    cmGeneratorTarget::ContentLevel);
   plist += "/Info.plist";
   std::string name = cmSystemTools::GetFilenameName(targetName);
-  this->LocalGenerator->GenerateAppleInfoPList(this->GT, name, plist.c_str());
+  this->LocalGenerator->GenerateAppleInfoPList(this->GT, name, plist);
   this->Makefile->AddCMakeOutputFile(plist);
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx
index 00a2d74..6ee82f4 100644
--- a/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmVisualStudio10TargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -622,8 +622,8 @@
         propsLocal += this->DefaultArtifactDir;
         propsLocal += "\\nasm.props";
         ConvertToWindowsSlash(propsLocal);
-        this->Makefile->ConfigureFile(propsTemplate.c_str(),
-                                      propsLocal.c_str(), false, true, true);
+        this->Makefile->ConfigureFile(propsTemplate, propsLocal, false, true,
+                                      true);
         Elem(e1, "Import").Attribute("Project", propsLocal);
       }
     }