diff --git a/DDCore/python/dd4hep.py b/DDCore/python/dd4hep.py
index 7528f711459fbc2f0c9644baa59cd80fe00acdaa..f476450d18e81b69ddcf149b79dc814c6769b92e 100644
--- a/DDCore/python/dd4hep.py
+++ b/DDCore/python/dd4hep.py
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@
 # For the list of contributors see $DD4hepINSTALL/doc/CREDITS.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from dd4hep_base import *
 import_units(__import__(__name__))
diff --git a/DDCore/python/dd4hepFactories.py b/DDCore/python/dd4hepFactories.py
index c999a6102432fb2f630ea874b9206d155f5650f6..59182e1e4c19c37b52026880ea83ddde7674954c 100755
--- a/DDCore/python/dd4hepFactories.py
+++ b/DDCore/python/dd4hepFactories.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 #==========================================================================
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, optparse, logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDCore/python/dd4hep_base.py b/DDCore/python/dd4hep_base.py
index 20c8ee077d97ff5167cf010f24744ef4d9c87ee7..36f81375dee0f9d6cdb30a462d08e2e9fd707a63 100644
--- a/DDCore/python/dd4hep_base.py
+++ b/DDCore/python/dd4hep_base.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # For the list of contributors see $DD4hepINSTALL/doc/CREDITS.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import imp, logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDCore/python/lcdd.py b/DDCore/python/lcdd.py
index 8a834d18907e8a9dfae02d155982c4d45ef2bc5c..0f62786d2d058a4cd21d3ce2b15c394ab2a47152 100644
--- a/DDCore/python/lcdd.py
+++ b/DDCore/python/lcdd.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # For the list of contributors see $DD4hepINSTALL/doc/CREDITS.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from math import cos, sin, pi, tan
 from os import path, listdir
diff --git a/DDDigi/python/DDDigi.py b/DDDigi/python/DDDigi.py
index 31950d8fd09e3655a1bc3f0c13426eca4d633cf5..e7da48f84913af38e18248cb5bd5824e9865867d 100644
--- a/DDDigi/python/DDDigi.py
+++ b/DDDigi/python/DDDigi.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # For the list of contributors see $DD4hepINSTALL/doc/CREDITS.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 from dd4hep_base import *
 
diff --git a/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuLCIO.py b/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuLCIO.py
index 637598ef374ae4a7ee6527d4f81420108a9ccb57..ad86e1e46f1558f978cd267b1b66b73b7cf8dad4 100644
--- a/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuLCIO.py
+++ b/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuLCIO.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuMarkus.py b/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuMarkus.py
index 9d4f0bffba98050eecac7ba37cffac4791d5f11b..7a30d0799b5c0d5c8638d6e300814773b5da5e28 100644
--- a/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuMarkus.py
+++ b/DDG4/examples/CLICSidSimuMarkus.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, logging, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/DDG4/examples/SiDSim.py b/DDG4/examples/SiDSim.py
index fe8aa5edcb481be016f10999c6b6e4d570576ab2..8d68f8a9c86fc81c0da4de849dd5d8e7e6fe6623 100644
--- a/DDG4/examples/SiDSim.py
+++ b/DDG4/examples/SiDSim.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, logging, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/DDG4/examples/SiDSim_MT.py b/DDG4/examples/SiDSim_MT.py
index a6899136f31b39fea86e4f9799cb662804cec54a..82d0222a761e1c1f67b12b44544d78b4952f7deb 100644
--- a/DDG4/examples/SiDSim_MT.py
+++ b/DDG4/examples/SiDSim_MT.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, logging, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/DDG4/examples/SiD_Markus.py b/DDG4/examples/SiD_Markus.py
index a85ab58d81bac4368fcef450ee7b2a5e8f6c1789..ae4c61acdc43f5230b69fb2c03a3b72ea92b1dda 100644
--- a/DDG4/examples/SiD_Markus.py
+++ b/DDG4/examples/SiD_Markus.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, logging, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/DDG4/examples/readHEPMC.py b/DDG4/examples/readHEPMC.py
index d563fb4b72c63942eb9c0a24797fabdc58f0cd61..3edf9f5ff468f74224c821e43628a80c7ff961b7 100644
--- a/DDG4/examples/readHEPMC.py
+++ b/DDG4/examples/readHEPMC.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ dd4hep simulation example setup using the python configuration
 @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDG4.py b/DDG4/python/DDG4.py
index 10216e3c4ad988d991beccc2ad99c3ac1d5dd010..4f1289325de344ed5369e77db32d744270e82758 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDG4.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDG4.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # For the list of contributors see $DD4hepINSTALL/doc/CREDITS.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 from dd4hep_base import *
 
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
index 5c86e9234895be64f2eda1ede23ad9367e05275d..a937b3a7762976ee5ffc75dfeb4405d05122064b 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Based on M. Frank and F. Gaede runSim.py
    @version 0.1
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 __RCSID__ = "$Id$"
 from g4units import *
 import logging
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Action.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Action.py
index e8b471e8f3f74adb95656b2eb6961a365f9e998f..c4348f099a95e01c3a5bd58b64f9d5b58a16c913 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Action.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Action.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """Helper object for SD Actions
 """
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
 
 class Action( ConfigHelper ):
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ConfigHelper.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ConfigHelper.py
index 172ec52d5ac48bdc72529133212eb51bd59f4d4a..d3bf50bdcbe65b035272334a690361ea2f9247d4 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ConfigHelper.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ConfigHelper.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ call for the parser object create an additional member::
 
 """
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from pprint import pprint
 
 class ConfigHelper( object ):
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Filter.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Filter.py
index e3c94b2ed1b04644c16d9a5c8593ee1883494699..51de3c1ecb25d0e71d8decc5321385f5f01d96c9 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Filter.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Filter.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ The default filters are a GeantinoRejector and a 1keV minimum energy cut
 
 """
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
 from g4units import keV
 import logging
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/GuineaPig.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/GuineaPig.py
index 146ebec21dc5e34e2db679cc61f7f560618930d3..e4d2ded06661d59bf4acb897cd2456ff26a6d0cd 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/GuineaPig.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/GuineaPig.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Helper object for GuineaPig InputFile Parameters"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.Input import Input
 
 class GuineaPig( Input ):
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Gun.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Gun.py
index 755c3228a43e214beadf013a2e3a3e41ff09618a..05616c7a39e4370c1da46b3323a431d6fac0e327 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Gun.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Gun.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Helper object for particle gun properties"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
 from g4units import GeV
 import logging
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Input.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Input.py
index 68f8351a5cda154e693f6db2dd87957a0bb3d1ad..372d2788efbda12eae0445829d4767265c5aed44 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Input.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Input.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Base class for inputfile parameters"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
 
 class Input( ConfigHelper ):
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/LCIO.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/LCIO.py
index 3cfc4b2f8adfa110e7b68e8d6cf21d4a9d95a057..2f793eae73182ebdf135a082c6ef378726dbdbcd 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/LCIO.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/LCIO.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Helper object for files containing one or more MCParticle collections"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.Input import Input
 
 class LCIO( Input ):
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/MagneticField.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/MagneticField.py
index 9c6f13a78ed582724853b070e2a3a68490a51ef0..36263d2581f7223bd4b031352aa45ff344b52969 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/MagneticField.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/MagneticField.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """Helper object for Magnetic Field properties"""
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from g4units import mm, m
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
 
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Meta.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Meta.py
index 5a8254cbad90e18174ac6dfd0df0c2286df391b5..b8b9d96f26e76e08ffddc1095d1e3a89eb1813ab 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Meta.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Meta.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Helper object for configuring the LCIO output file (meta)"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import datetime
 import os
 import logging
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Output.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Output.py
index 58b4222213db134b4a6d937dbc2e1ae2b488cf9d..09e4c6afd3e130ae06136657282663c080b76dfb 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Output.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Output.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Dummy helper object for particle gun properties"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
 from DDSim.DD4hepSimulation import outputLevel
 
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ParticleHandler.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ParticleHandler.py
index 46f201e5759939ea0b1f1998d5c99e9d8802b191..80bb7926c23a781aed08d643410eb5407a4346e9 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ParticleHandler.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/ParticleHandler.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """Configuration Helper for ParticleHandler"""
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from g4units import MeV, mm
 import logging
 
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Physics.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Physics.py
index 11cd2e84499b12cb066fcabe0c618fb986bf4117..897c9e38261ac76a417bce23db30e59badcf158e 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Physics.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Physics.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Helper object for physicslist properties"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os
 
 from DDSim.Helper.ConfigHelper import ConfigHelper
diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Random.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Random.py
index 625b87a00e453cd234b955bf773a90d3291408b7..af69edf8ae6fc5345c935c8db3d7dd31c9d9f4c8 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Random.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/Helper/Random.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Helper object for random number generator objects"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import random
 import logging
 
diff --git a/DDG4/python/SystemOfUnits.py b/DDG4/python/SystemOfUnits.py
index 513e3f05ba58d4d29d688055c483c37e16b1c22f..d7a049a71eceecd96a1626e901bf19d195543693 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/SystemOfUnits.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/SystemOfUnits.py
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@
 #  The namespace "DD4hep" is deprecated. Please use "dd4hep" instead.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals, print_function
 from g4units import *
 print('DEPRECATION WARNING  The namespace "SystemOfUnits" is deprecated. Please use "g4units" instead.')
diff --git a/DDG4/python/checkGeometry.py b/DDG4/python/checkGeometry.py
index 83f4f031d66fb950bcf35e432624633e1e13507b..813ce657aadc1908901c0d7ad47d67d3db84b1a9 100755
--- a/DDG4/python/checkGeometry.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/checkGeometry.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 #==========================================================================
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys, errno, optparse, logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDG4/python/checkOverlaps.py b/DDG4/python/checkOverlaps.py
index a648951534361b57802a288c91e3968447b99297..2ea26a344c0fa3d2c4174bc1ed27b08334f3031c 100755
--- a/DDG4/python/checkOverlaps.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/checkOverlaps.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 #==========================================================================
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys, errno, optparse, logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDG4/python/g4MaterialScan.py b/DDG4/python/g4MaterialScan.py
index acf8742bf877d2859f875b5e677b5aa181a3c458..988e3b65fbddad626ceb0f48a2857e60a415477e 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/g4MaterialScan.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/g4MaterialScan.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 #==========================================================================
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, errno, optparse, logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDRec/python/DDRec.py b/DDRec/python/DDRec.py
index 71ff5d1237ccbb3a19eeb8d010ef89695437eb4c..b6521971e339aec5eb3cf36d5449c15fae16c33d 100644
--- a/DDRec/python/DDRec.py
+++ b/DDRec/python/DDRec.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # For the list of contributors see $DD4hepINSTALL/doc/CREDITS.
 #
 #==========================================================================
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/DDRec/python/dumpDetectorData.py b/DDRec/python/dumpDetectorData.py
index af01788c663b89858b95325293d7089a50072132..f317a4f742007f2a097887d5e635953ecc7a6c74 100644
--- a/DDRec/python/dumpDetectorData.py
+++ b/DDRec/python/dumpDetectorData.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 #==========================================================================
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys, errno, optparse, logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/GaudiPluginService/python/GaudiPluginService/cpluginsvc.py b/GaudiPluginService/python/GaudiPluginService/cpluginsvc.py
index bd15fae5bc53cf087069f2e5f5cfc77999b37ba0..9728147bf6a11417073e64c40e4fcbbc5bccac08 100644
--- a/GaudiPluginService/python/GaudiPluginService/cpluginsvc.py
+++ b/GaudiPluginService/python/GaudiPluginService/cpluginsvc.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # cpluginsvc is a ctypes-based wrapper for the C-exposed API of GaudiPluginService
-from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals, print_function
 __doc__ = '''
 cpluginsvc is a ctypes-based wrapper for the C-API of the GaudiPluginService.
 
diff --git a/etc/CreateParsers.py b/etc/CreateParsers.py
index 52ce9656157ff226f378ba5ee1d9d0b2d58110bc..62af7aa3c4f9b06b36e270a6f5abad363661223b 100644
--- a/etc/CreateParsers.py
+++ b/etc/CreateParsers.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ python CreateParsers.py
 
 """
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os
 
 LICENSE ="""// $Id$
diff --git a/examples/AlignDet/drivers/BoxSegment.py b/examples/AlignDet/drivers/BoxSegment.py
index dd50804ceba6eb54986b72083e579ece6129ce33..eb8f016cca64c5872f66829f3d7ea16f57c18d8e 100644
--- a/examples/AlignDet/drivers/BoxSegment.py
+++ b/examples/AlignDet/drivers/BoxSegment.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
+
 def detector_BoxSegment(description, det):
   box    = det.find('box')
   mat    = det.find('material')
diff --git a/examples/AlignDet/drivers/Shelf.py b/examples/AlignDet/drivers/Shelf.py
index 9b00fbe1d4b3ee8b7f5c0e4c60a0ae88ae98154a..1a28f53a90ca0ce62c045af12fa4895c8f996832 100644
--- a/examples/AlignDet/drivers/Shelf.py
+++ b/examples/AlignDet/drivers/Shelf.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
+
 def detector_Shelf(description, det):
 
   plane  = det.find('planes')
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICMagField.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICMagField.py
index 3d1f221e576e75ea80b1a860ef4bb31b38853383..9ecbb664fc28a51c9e5398772d5b6b70967dc13d 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICMagField.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICMagField.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   import CLICSid
   sid = CLICSid.CLICSid().loadGeometry()
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICPhysics.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICPhysics.py
index 87d4d891074d6454db63a1a21e550733dcfe2091..19bc03b35d8347370e57880476c76e097caf03cb 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICPhysics.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICPhysics.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   import CLICSid
   sid = CLICSid.CLICSid().loadGeometry()
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICRandom.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICRandom.py
index c10af43f47a0f058aa6da75a62ceb8f8548fb171..9676ddef82d733c8c7259cf7dd4ac6b93bce8296 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICRandom.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICRandom.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from ROOT import TRandom
 from ROOT import gRandom
 
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiDScan.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiDScan.py
index e3f487d947ed18a7afa9a0b82f529394f25fb7e9..811d146cae6d3bed456825b0d8216630417b5fa9 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiDScan.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiDScan.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiD_LoadROOTGeo.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiD_LoadROOTGeo.py
index e66a16711b31bdd7aded7975572fd43a688a48d4..1a91628272632f1bf6cae96d11d512592ac56819 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiD_LoadROOTGeo.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSiD_LoadROOTGeo.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSid.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSid.py
index 67686730ae3542db7dc2b6e4022bf1d909ab75b4..79ab3ca01c7a7aed80c9e22a1d60cb52ed49e2d3 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSid.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLICSid.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys, logging, DDG4
 from g4units import *
 
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_G4Gun.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_G4Gun.py
index 31bc191be0b8c017a1f009dcb5c7a2673db6c70c..9c2fe24de72e3f04c2b747a67963f1e911f9188d 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_G4Gun.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_G4Gun.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import logging
 
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_GDML.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_GDML.py
index 81327ae91cc8c9e097c8a3044cf5eb4a3a11f0a4..ceefc6546eec72daad6a4fa0422493e5272c0034 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_GDML.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/CLIC_GDML.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from g4units import *
 
 def run():
diff --git a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/testDDPython.py b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/testDDPython.py
index b4ed56600488be6289af3e9d4d8708d37f8932b8..5a3e86c097616d0bccfa72bd48de67ff0f9cc575 100644
--- a/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/testDDPython.py
+++ b/examples/CLICSiD/scripts/testDDPython.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from ROOT import gSystem
 
 import os, logging, platform
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/Assemblies.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/Assemblies.py
index a916590d7ccb5e9abbfd5d51b0acd36419d7bcf3..76ce5c3679c738692d2ab5118f7fd45823499b26 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/Assemblies.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/Assemblies.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from SystemOfUnits import *
 #
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/DDG4TestSetup.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/DDG4TestSetup.py
index 4243bc5d60cfb878d7c76ec6b0fbdc5b133b4fd6..b21db2b5b4ba39b49ac6f7e4f8d24ca34235d01e 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/DDG4TestSetup.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/DDG4TestSetup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, logging, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/FCC_Hcal.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/FCC_Hcal.py
index 886467bb75a1de06c5fd028a92452d13ad53bd40..9ef697adafdfea8e6e1e3c6a88c6d85c1dece522 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/FCC_Hcal.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/FCC_Hcal.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/LheD_tracker.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/LheD_tracker.py
index ece390b56ed696991d705a48ecb0b613dc057474..2e8f561dc61ad7cfc1b4ac17a9262b2a79e99f17 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/LheD_tracker.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/LheD_tracker.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTel.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTel.py
index 48b45399d5a2dac7ba9aa458d40318a4e257fb01..6137ac1fdfb9b050f3d18c68c1005a6151d67305 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTel.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTel.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, DDG4
 #
 """
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelEnergyDeposits.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelEnergyDeposits.py
index cbe975d2e5958c6e33e9b5f84a7943aa9fcd36f4..00025d0ecb71f44e6570447c7306b54802da4911 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelEnergyDeposits.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelEnergyDeposits.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys, time, DDG4, MiniTelSetup
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 #
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelRegions.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelRegions.py
index f6d05bdd0fc7f8cb7c0173149f1eec58743e426a..c66fd28c0611f5c01beb8b275ea72f07952571fc 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelRegions.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelRegions.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelSetup.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelSetup.py
index b986563de6f512d315adfb129027b48e9d4f5068..066f0f975a0445fa365fdf4a2ace16ae992bb93f 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelSetup.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MiniTelSetup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, time, DDG4TestSetup
 """
 
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiCollections.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiCollections.py
index 732317e25ee8a93c9ae7696483f37a5e3f7b81eb..20ef1d7f42a4c3538d95bcaf3e2237e52427680e 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiCollections.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiCollections.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiSegmentCollections.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiSegmentCollections.py
index 3b5c1a79885b7c888b8ca933557690738027fb65..167c44cc4db0bcc2906dc0b4b8a5befad8371799 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiSegmentCollections.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/MultiSegmentCollections.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/NestedDetectors.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/NestedDetectors.py
index 234a4dd7d5c987891eb11c4f3a082d376f0761ee..dc5627cf19f157aa3c94cd78338158ab04202da0 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/NestedDetectors.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/NestedDetectors.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/SiliconBlock.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/SiliconBlock.py
index 96269fdd4be795281d78b62c8a713967ad335025..358d9928d14491fb3dde440062cc4d6efeba876a 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/SiliconBlock.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/SiliconBlock.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/TrackingRegion.py b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/TrackingRegion.py
index 8b4c808e5cab8df7ad45162dac362dbe85c8305a..f1954a7f5d56c27aa3fe91480f5ba59a699a3375 100644
--- a/examples/ClientTests/scripts/TrackingRegion.py
+++ b/examples/ClientTests/scripts/TrackingRegion.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 #
 """
diff --git a/examples/DDCMS/scripts/CMSTrackerSim.py b/examples/DDCMS/scripts/CMSTrackerSim.py
index cdd17addb603515db5e0b1edc41f46b3374f727c..40d6be5635dba5e376bd8b9092b25a7b19305a6c 100644
--- a/examples/DDCMS/scripts/CMSTrackerSim.py
+++ b/examples/DDCMS/scripts/CMSTrackerSim.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/DDCodex/python/CODEX-b-alone.py b/examples/DDCodex/python/CODEX-b-alone.py
index 7c8b824a1b7ead61b33e778d55b2700a9068660c..e6941fc5723ebf9872cf7dbdc72e36146a979f99 100755
--- a/examples/DDCodex/python/CODEX-b-alone.py
+++ b/examples/DDCodex/python/CODEX-b-alone.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/DDCodex/python/GeoExtract.py b/examples/DDCodex/python/GeoExtract.py
index 675cdf5a142855eb6213690fa71b65cc01d4d600..d4885d9865461750aa6532ea473dccbeca50f119 100755
--- a/examples/DDCodex/python/GeoExtract.py
+++ b/examples/DDCodex/python/GeoExtract.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Syntax is:
 #   gaudirun.py Brunel-Default.py <someDataFiles>.py
 ###############################################################################
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from Gaudi.Configuration  import *
 from Configurables import LHCbConfigurableUser, LHCbApp, CondDB, ToolSvc, EventSelector
 from Configurables import LoadDD4hepDet, LbDD4hepExample
diff --git a/examples/DDDigi/scripts/TestFramework.py b/examples/DDDigi/scripts/TestFramework.py
index 411a590d003f8d88b0038c78003ecf583eec4574..f0a0c61dffb15070c726763bcdbc80a1d23eb4e0 100644
--- a/examples/DDDigi/scripts/TestFramework.py
+++ b/examples/DDDigi/scripts/TestFramework.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, DDDigi
 
 DDDigi.setPrintFormat('%-32s %5s %s')
diff --git a/examples/DDG4_MySensDet/scripts/MyTrackerSD_sim.py b/examples/DDG4_MySensDet/scripts/MyTrackerSD_sim.py
index c83f35691a7bf0b7e0718a1ca0c18348ba7e331b..d09278108f93fd2ea68ea655ca87cb6b7c9a8aa2 100644
--- a/examples/DDG4_MySensDet/scripts/MyTrackerSD_sim.py
+++ b/examples/DDG4_MySensDet/scripts/MyTrackerSD_sim.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4, dd4hep
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD.py
index 69774a7a1d4b6d8331c08268afb93b02eab8e820..eac078b9cd29c824302cc014212c8862c5c6f5c7 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys, logging, DDG4
 from SystemOfUnits import *
 
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDMagField.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDMagField.py
index e8aec740571308abc6b74f3f769a485e63fdf979..83c048b2bf6743a4bce019361ad7d722810f6242 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDMagField.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDMagField.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   import LHeD
   lhed = LHeD.LHeD().loadGeometry()
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDPhysics.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDPhysics.py
index d568ef0ca93c7a33ac3df720167297d0b6b55edc..97e9e644b3541f69d93df3aa1e75adb7c6dd4948 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDPhysics.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDPhysics.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   import LHeD
   lhed = LHeD.LHeD().loadGeometry()
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDRandom.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDRandom.py
index 3def4ca8039d65d3aa01337e4d6a7ba2e25278ef..d0f28248771609a2f792b4241ae2c66a90bdf320 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDRandom.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDRandom.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from ROOT import TRandom
 from ROOT import gRandom
 import logging
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDScan.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDScan.py
index c5f5d8dba8e1dcab599b49879bf1f8e3d2f9236f..6f824c639038c5624d40572fbdb73cb2d820460b 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDScan.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeDScan.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD_G4Gun.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD_G4Gun.py
index 4c704d9872182d27f8e65951f7a4de75d8cbfc38..8b769d2b88ff5212e42cebbaf14886ca396a57ba 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD_G4Gun.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LHeD_G4Gun.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
    @version 1.0
 
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LheSimu.py b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LheSimu.py
index 5838f0baec4e484caf88993694511dd39e1e54e4..6238f3b25b1d3422feaccf88001117fb98d72cd4 100644
--- a/examples/LHeD/scripts/LheSimu.py
+++ b/examples/LHeD/scripts/LheSimu.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
    modified for LHeC
    
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 logging.basicConfig(format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
diff --git a/examples/OpticalSurfaces/scripts/OpNovice.py b/examples/OpticalSurfaces/scripts/OpNovice.py
index 0928f2d1e9e9fedc6eee12623f068ef275b00c1c..5b8eafd0a1aacc9031f3e506260b24b1fa2fdb72 100644
--- a/examples/OpticalSurfaces/scripts/OpNovice.py
+++ b/examples/OpticalSurfaces/scripts/OpNovice.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #
 #
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os, sys, time, DDG4
 from DDG4 import OutputLevel as Output
 from SystemOfUnits import *