diff --git a/tests/test_admin_pages.py b/tests/test_admin_pages.py
index 9df1014e7..0cc16a4b1 100644
--- a/tests/test_admin_pages.py
+++ b/tests/test_admin_pages.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 import StringIO
+import time
 
 try:
     import lasso
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ def test_form_workflow_role():
     resp = resp.click('change', href='role/_receiver')
     resp.forms[0]['role_id'] = 'foobar'
     resp = resp.forms[0].submit('submit')
-    assert FormDef.get(1).workflow_roles == {'_receiver': 1}
+    assert FormDef.get(1).workflow_roles == {'_receiver': '1'}
 
 def test_form_workflow_options():
     create_superuser()
@@ -721,6 +722,57 @@ def test_form_edit_field_advanced():
     assert resp.body.index('<legend>Additional parameters</legend>') > \
             resp.body.index('<label for="form_data_source">External Data Source</label>')
 
+def test_form_legacy_int_id():
+    create_superuser()
+    create_role()
+
+    Category.wipe()
+    cat = Category(name='Foo')
+    cat.store()
+
+    Workflow.wipe()
+    workflow = Workflow(name='Workflow One')
+    # create it with a single status
+    workflow.possible_status = [Workflow.get_default_workflow().possible_status[-1]]
+    workflow.store()
+
+    FormDef.wipe()
+    formdef = FormDef()
+    formdef.name = 'form title'
+    formdef.fields = []
+
+    role = Role(name='ZAB') # Z to get sorted last
+    role.store()
+
+    # set attributes using integers
+    formdef.category_id = int(cat.id)
+    formdef.workflow_id = int(workflow.id)
+    formdef.workflow_roles = {'_receiver': int(role.id)}
+    formdef.roles = ['logged-users', int(role.id)]
+
+    formdef.store()
+
+    formdef = FormDef.get(formdef.id) # will run migrate
+
+    app = login(get_app(pub))
+    resp = app.get('/backoffice/forms/1/')
+
+    resp = resp.click(href='category')
+    assert resp.forms[0]['category_id'].value
+
+    resp = app.get('/backoffice/forms/1/')
+    resp = resp.click('change', href='workflow')
+    assert resp.forms[0]['workflow_id'].value
+
+    resp = app.get('/backoffice/forms/1/')
+    resp = resp.click('change', href='roles')
+    assert resp.forms[0]['roles$element0'].value == 'Logged Users'
+    assert resp.forms[0]['roles$element1'].value == 'ZAB'
+
+    resp = app.get('/backoffice/forms/1/')
+    resp = resp.click('change', href='role/_receiver')
+    assert resp.forms[0]['role_id'].value == 'ZAB'
+
 def test_workflows():
     app = login(get_app(pub))
     app.get('/backoffice/workflows/')
@@ -978,7 +1030,7 @@ def test_users_edit():
     create_superuser()
     user = pub.user_class(name='foo bar')
     user.store()
-    assert user.id == 2
+    assert user.id == '2'
 
     app = login(get_app(pub))
     resp = app.get('/backoffice/users/2/')
@@ -994,7 +1046,7 @@ def test_users_edit_new_account():
     create_superuser()
     user = pub.user_class(name='foo bar')
     user.store()
-    assert user.id == 2
+    assert user.id == '2'
     account_count = PasswordAccount.count()
 
     app = login(get_app(pub))
@@ -1385,12 +1437,12 @@ def test_categories_reorder():
     resp = app.get('/backoffice/categories/update_order?order=1;2;3;')
     categories = Category.select()
     Category.sort_by_position(categories)
-    assert [x.id for x in categories] == [1, 2, 3]
+    assert [x.id for x in categories] == ['1', '2', '3']
 
     resp = app.get('/backoffice/categories/update_order?order=3;1;2;')
     categories = Category.select()
     Category.sort_by_position(categories)
-    assert [x.id for x in categories] == [3, 1, 2]
+    assert [x.id for x in categories] == ['3', '1', '2']
 
 def test_settings():
     app = login(get_app(pub))
diff --git a/tests/test_categories.py b/tests/test_categories.py
index ec98770eb..9c55945fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_categories.py
+++ b/tests/test_categories.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ def teardown_module(module):
 def test_store():
     Category.wipe()
     test = Category()
-    test.id = 1
     test.name = 'Test'
     test.description = 'Hello world'
     test.store()
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ def test_store():
 def test_urlname():
     Category.wipe()
     test = Category()
-    test.id = 1
     test.name = 'Test'
     test.description = 'Hello world'
     test.store()
@@ -53,7 +51,6 @@ def test_sort_positions():
     categories = []
     for i in range(10):
         test = Category()
-        test.id = i+1
         test.name = 'Test %s' % i
         test.position = 10-i
         categories.append(test)
@@ -84,7 +81,6 @@ def test_xml_export():
 def test_xml_import():
     Category.wipe()
     test = Category()
-    test.id = 1
     test.name = 'Test'
     test.description = 'Hello world'
     test.store()
@@ -101,7 +97,7 @@ def test_load_old_pickle():
     Category.wipe()
 
     test = Category()
-    test.id = 1
+    test.id = '1'
     test.name = 'Test'
     test.description = 'Hello world'
 
diff --git a/tests/test_form_pages.py b/tests/test_form_pages.py
index 3adc6c5b0..bd8961edf 100644
--- a/tests/test_form_pages.py
+++ b/tests/test_form_pages.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def test_home(pub):
 
 def test_home_category(pub):
     formdef = create_formdef()
-    formdef.category_id = 1
+    formdef.category_id = '1'
     formdef.store()
     home = get_app(pub).get('/')
     assert 'category-foobar' in home.body
diff --git a/tests/test_saml_auth.py b/tests/test_saml_auth.py
index 01cf71c51..058430ab2 100644
--- a/tests/test_saml_auth.py
+++ b/tests/test_saml_auth.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def test_assertion_consumer_existing_federation():
     saml2 = Saml2Directory()
     assert req.session.user is None
     body = saml2.assertionConsumerPost()
-    assert req.session.user == 17
+    assert req.session.user == '17'
 
 def test_assertion_consumer_redirect_after_url():
     setup_environment(pub)
diff --git a/tests/test_storage.py b/tests/test_storage.py
index f6f7ea47b..f2363a523 100644
--- a/tests/test_storage.py
+++ b/tests/test_storage.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def test_store():
     test.value = 'value'
     test.unique_value = 'unique-value'
     test.store()
-    assert test.id == 1
+    assert test.id == '1'
 
 def test_get():
     test = Foobar.get(1)
@@ -209,6 +209,18 @@ def test_select():
     assert len(Foobar.select([st.Contains('unique_value', [24, 25, 86])])) == 2
     assert len(Foobar.select([st.NotContains('unique_value', [24, 25, 86])])) == 48
 
+def test_select_order_by():
+    Foobar.wipe()
+
+    for x in range(1, 51):
+        test = Foobar()
+        test.unique_value = 51-x
+        test.store()
+
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id')] == range(1, 51)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='-id')] == range(50, 0, -1)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='unique_value')] == range(50, 0, -1)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='-unique_value')] == range(1, 51)
 
 def test_select_datetime():
     Foobar.wipe()
@@ -237,10 +249,10 @@ def test_select_limit_offset():
         test.store()
 
     assert len(Foobar.select()) == 50
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', limit=10)] == range(1, 11)
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', limit=10, offset=10)] == range(11, 21)
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', limit=20, offset=20)] == range(21, 41)
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', offset=10)] == range(11, 51)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', limit=10)] == range(1, 11)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', limit=10, offset=10)] == range(11, 21)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', limit=20, offset=20)] == range(21, 41)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='id', offset=10)] == range(11, 51)
 
 
 def test_select_criteria_overlaps():
@@ -267,12 +279,13 @@ def test_select_criteria_overlaps():
 def test_count():
     Foobar.wipe()
 
-    for x in range(1, 51):
+    for x in range(50):
         test = Foobar()
+        test.value = x + 1
         test.store()
 
     assert Foobar.count() == 50
-    assert Foobar.count([st.Less('id', 26)]) == 25
+    assert Foobar.count([st.Less('value', 26)]) == 25
 
 
 def test_select_criteria_or_and():
@@ -280,15 +293,16 @@ def test_select_criteria_or_and():
 
     for x in range(50):
         test = Foobar()
+        test.value = x+1
         test.store()
 
     assert len(Foobar.select()) == 50
 
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select([st.Or([st.Less('id', 10)])], order_by='id')] == range(1, 10)
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select([st.Or([
-        st.Less('id', 10), st.Equal('id', 15)])], order_by='id')] == range(1, 10) + [15]
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select([st.And([st.Less('id', 10),
-        st.Greater('id', 5)])], order_by='id')] == range(6, 10)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select([st.Or([st.Less('value', 10)])], order_by='id')] == range(1, 10)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select([st.Or([
+        st.Less('value', 10), st.Equal('value', 15)])], order_by='value')] == range(1, 10) + [15]
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select([st.And([st.Less('value', 10),
+        st.Greater('value', 5)])], order_by='id')] == range(6, 10)
 
 
 def test_select_criteria_ilike():
@@ -307,8 +321,8 @@ def test_select_criteria_ilike():
 
     assert len(Foobar.select()) == 50
 
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select([st.ILike('foo', 'bar')], order_by='id')] == range(21, 50)
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select([st.ILike('foo', 'BAR')], order_by='id')] == range(21, 50)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select([st.ILike('foo', 'bar')], order_by='id')] == range(21, 50)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select([st.ILike('foo', 'BAR')], order_by='id')] == range(21, 50)
 
 def test_store_async():
     Foobar.wipe()
@@ -317,7 +331,7 @@ def test_store_async():
     test.value = 'value'
     test.unique_value = 'unique-value'
     test.store(async=True)
-    assert test.id == 1
+    assert test.id == '1'
     t0 = time.time()
     while not Foobar.keys():
         time.sleep(0.1)
@@ -343,7 +357,7 @@ def test_reversed_order():
         test.store()
 
     assert len(Foobar.select()) == 50
-    assert [x.id for x in Foobar.select(order_by='-id', limit=10)] == range(50, 40, -1)
+    assert [int(x.id) for x in Foobar.select(order_by='-id', limit=10)] == range(50, 40, -1)
 
 def test_destroy_rebuild_index():
     test_get_with_indexed_value()
diff --git a/tests/test_workflow_import.py b/tests/test_workflow_import.py
index 32dceef3c..0a74ad993 100644
--- a/tests/test_workflow_import.py
+++ b/tests/test_workflow_import.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_action_dispatch():
     st1 = wf.add_status('Status1', 'st1')
 
     role = Role()
-    role.id = 5
+    role.id = '5'
     role.name = 'Test Role'
     role.store()
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def test_action_dispatch():
     wf2 = assert_import_export_works(wf)
 
     # checks role id is imported as integer
-    assert(wf2.possible_status[0].items[0].role_id == 5)
+    assert(wf2.possible_status[0].items[0].role_id == '5')
 
 
 def test_status_actions_named_role():
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def test_status_actions_named_role():
 
 def test_status_actions_named_existing_role():
     role = Role()
-    role.id = 2
+    role.id = '2'
     role.name = 'Test Role named existing role'
     role.store()
 
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def test_status_actions_named_existing_role():
 
     wf2 = assert_import_export_works(wf)
     assert '<item role_id="2">Test Role named existing role</item>' in ET.tostring(indent(wf.export_to_xml()))
-    assert wf2.possible_status[0].items[0].by == [2]
+    assert wf2.possible_status[0].items[0].by == ['2']
 
     # check that it works even if the role_id is not set
     xml_export_orig = ET.tostring(export_to_indented_xml(wf))
@@ -127,17 +127,17 @@ def test_status_actions_named_existing_role():
             '<item role_id="2">Test Role named existing role</item>',
             '<item>Test Role named existing role</item>')
     wf3 = Workflow.import_from_xml_tree(ET.parse(StringIO.StringIO(xml_export)))
-    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by == [2]
+    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by == ['2']
 
 
 def test_status_actions_named_missing_role():
     role = Role()
-    role.id = 3
+    role.id = '3'
     role.name = 'Test Role A'
     role.store()
 
     role = Role()
-    role.id = 4
+    role.id = '4'
     role.name = 'Test Role B'
     role.store()
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def test_status_actions_named_missing_role():
     xml_export = xml_export_orig.replace('<item role_id="3">Test Role A</item>',
             '<item role_id="4">Test Role A</item>')
     wf3 = Workflow.import_from_xml_tree(ET.parse(StringIO.StringIO(xml_export)))
-    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by == [3]
+    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by == ['3']
 
     # check that it creates a new role if there's no match on id and name
     xml_export = xml_export_orig.replace('<item role_id="3">Test Role A</item>',
@@ -174,13 +174,13 @@ def test_status_actions_named_missing_role():
     xml_export = xml_export_orig.replace('<item role_id="3">Test Role A</item>',
             '<item role_id="3">Test Role C</item>')
     wf3 = Workflow.import_from_xml_tree(ET.parse(StringIO.StringIO(xml_export)))
-    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by != [3]
+    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by != ['3']
     assert Role.count() == nb_roles+1
 
     # on the other hand, check that it uses the id when included_id is True
     wf3 = Workflow.import_from_xml_tree(ET.parse(StringIO.StringIO(xml_export)),
             include_id=True)
-    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by == [3]
+    assert wf3.possible_status[0].items[0].by == ['3']
 
 
 def test_display_form_action():
diff --git a/wcs/admin/users.py b/wcs/admin/users.py
index 3666c5942..a11447bdb 100644
--- a/wcs/admin/users.py
+++ b/wcs/admin/users.py
@@ -341,18 +341,9 @@ class UsersDirectory(Directory):
             if 'none' in checked_roles:
                 criterias.append(st.And([
                     st.Equal('is_admin', False), st.Equal('roles', [])]))
-            other_roles = [str(x) for x in checked_roles if x not in ('admin', 'none')]
+            other_roles = [x for x in checked_roles if x not in ('admin', 'none')]
             if other_roles:
-                other_roles_set = set(other_roles)
-                if not get_publisher().is_using_postgresql():
-                    # with pickle storage we have to duplicate all roles as
-                    # they may have been stored as integers
-                    for other_role in other_roles:
-                        try:
-                            other_roles_set.add(int(other_role))
-                        except ValueError:
-                            continue
-                criterias.append(st.Intersects('roles', other_roles_set))
+                criterias.append(st.Intersects('roles', other_roles))
             criterias = [st.Or(criterias)]
 
         query = get_request().form.get('q')
diff --git a/wcs/formdef.py b/wcs/formdef.py
index 051a679d9..3d1852f33 100644
--- a/wcs/formdef.py
+++ b/wcs/formdef.py
@@ -161,6 +161,33 @@ class FormDef(StorableObject):
             self.max_field_id = max([lax_int(x.id) for x in self.fields])
             changed = True
 
+        if type(self.category_id) is int:
+            self.category_id = str(self.category_id)
+            changed = True
+
+        if type(self.workflow_id) is int:
+            self.workflow_id = str(self.workflow_id)
+            changed = True
+
+        if self.roles:
+            for role in self.roles:
+                if type(role) is int:
+                    self.roles = [str(x) for x in self.roles]
+                    changed = True
+                    break
+
+        if type(self.last_modification_user_id) is int:
+            self.last_modification_user_id = str(self.last_modification_user_id)
+            changed = True
+
+        if self.workflow_roles:
+            workflow_roles_list = self.workflow_roles.items()
+            for role_key, role_id in self.workflow_roles.items():
+                if type(role_id) is int:
+                    self.workflow_roles = dict([(x, str(y)) for x, y in workflow_roles_list])
+                    changed = True
+                    break
+
         if changed:
             self.store()
 
@@ -688,7 +715,7 @@ class FormDef(StorableObject):
         if tree.find('category') is not None:
             category_node = tree.find('category')
             if include_id and category_node.attrib.get('category_id'):
-                formdef.category_id = int(category_node.attrib.get('category_id'))
+                formdef.category_id = str(category_node.attrib.get('category_id'))
             else:
                 category = category_node.text.encode(charset)
                 for c in Category.select():
diff --git a/wcs/forms/backoffice.py b/wcs/forms/backoffice.py
index 35d453099..077fc3581 100644
--- a/wcs/forms/backoffice.py
+++ b/wcs/forms/backoffice.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class FormDefUI(object):
             limit=None, query=None, order_by=None, user=None, criterias=None):
         formdata_class = self.formdef.data_class()
         if selected_filter == 'all':
-            item_ids = [int(x) for x in formdata_class.keys()]
+            item_ids = formdata_class.keys()
         else:
             applied_filters = []
             if selected_filter == 'pending':
diff --git a/wcs/forms/root.py b/wcs/forms/root.py
index aa7634cbb..2addf4223 100644
--- a/wcs/forms/root.py
+++ b/wcs/forms/root.py
@@ -1035,7 +1035,8 @@ class RootDirectory(AccessControlled, Directory):
                 r += htmltext('</div>')
 
         if self.category:
-            formdefs = FormDef.select(lambda x: x.category_id == self.category.id,
+            formdefs = FormDef.select(
+                    lambda x: str(x.category_id) == str(self.category.id),
                     order_by='name', ignore_errors=True)
         else:
             formdefs = FormDef.select(order_by='name', ignore_errors=True)
@@ -1076,8 +1077,8 @@ class RootDirectory(AccessControlled, Directory):
             Category.sort_by_position(cats)
             one = False
             for c in cats:
-                l2 = [x for x in list_forms if x.category_id == c.id]
-                l2_advertise = [x for x in advertised_forms if x.category_id == c.id]
+                l2 = [x for x in list_forms if str(x.category_id) == str(c.id)]
+                l2_advertise = [x for x in advertised_forms if str(x.category_id) == str(c.id)]
                 if l2 or l2_advertise:
                     r += self.form_list(l2, category = c,
                             session = session, user_forms = user_forms,
@@ -1218,7 +1219,8 @@ class RootDirectory(AccessControlled, Directory):
 
         if self.category:
             formdefs = FormDef.select(lambda x: (
-                        x.category_id == self.category.id and (not x.is_disabled() or x.disabled_redirection)),
+                        str(x.category_id) == str(self.category.id) and (
+                            not x.is_disabled() or x.disabled_redirection)),
                         order_by = 'name')
         else:
             formdefs = FormDef.select(lambda x: not x.is_disabled() or x.disabled_redirection,
@@ -1280,7 +1282,7 @@ class RootDirectory(AccessControlled, Directory):
         cats = Category.select()
         Category.sort_by_position(cats)
         for c in cats:
-            if [x for x in list_forms if x.category_id == c.id]:
+            if [x for x in list_forms if str(x.category_id) == str(c.id)]:
                 result.append(c)
         return result
 
diff --git a/wcs/qommon/storage.py b/wcs/qommon/storage.py
index 2e125d01a..970a44f2e 100644
--- a/wcs/qommon/storage.py
+++ b/wcs/qommon/storage.py
@@ -230,7 +230,11 @@ class StorableObject(object):
                 reverse = False
             # only list can be sorted
             objects = list(objects)
-            objects.sort(lambda x,y: cmp(getattr(x, order_by), getattr(y, order_by)))
+            if order_by == 'id':
+                cmp_function = lambda x, y: cmp(lax_int(x.id), lax_int(y.id))
+            else:
+                cmp_function = lambda x, y: cmp(getattr(x, order_by), getattr(y, order_by))
+            objects.sort(cmp_function)
             if reverse:
                 objects.reverse()
         if limit or offset:
@@ -259,7 +263,7 @@ class StorableObject(object):
             except OSError:
                 return cls.get_new_id(create=True)
             os.close(fd)
-        return id
+        return str(id)
     get_new_id = classmethod(get_new_id)
 
     def get(cls, id, ignore_errors=False, ignore_migration=False):
@@ -336,8 +340,10 @@ class StorableObject(object):
                 return None
             raise KeyError()
         o.__class__ = cls
-        if not ignore_migration and hasattr(cls, 'migrate'):
-            o.migrate()
+        if not ignore_migration:
+            o.id = str(o.id) # makes sure 'id' is a string
+            if hasattr(cls, 'migrate'):
+                o.migrate()
         return o
     get_filename = classmethod(get_filename)
 
diff --git a/wcs/qommon/xml_storage.py b/wcs/qommon/xml_storage.py
index 12d5a0c3b..94627bb10 100644
--- a/wcs/qommon/xml_storage.py
+++ b/wcs/qommon/xml_storage.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class XmlStorableObject(StorableObject):
             tree = tree.getroot()
 
         if include_id and tree.attrib.get('id'):
-            obj.id = int(tree.attrib.get('id'))
+            obj.id = tree.attrib.get('id')
 
         for attribute in cls.XML_NODES:
             attribute_name, attribute_type = attribute
diff --git a/wcs/users.py b/wcs/users.py
index 8cddd1900..ccc6dc199 100644
--- a/wcs/users.py
+++ b/wcs/users.py
@@ -65,6 +65,13 @@ class User(StorableObject):
             self.roles = [x for x in self.roles if x != 'site-admin']
             changed = True
 
+        if self.roles:
+            for role in self.roles:
+                if type(role) is int:
+                    self.roles = [str(x) for x in self.roles]
+                    changed = True
+                    break
+
         if changed:
             self.store()
 
@@ -129,7 +136,7 @@ class User(StorableObject):
     def get_users_with_role(cls, role_id):
         # this will be slow with the pickle backend as there is no index
         # suitable for Intersects()
-        return cls.select([st.Intersects('roles', [role_id])])
+        return cls.select([st.Intersects('roles', [str(role_id)])])
     get_users_with_role = classmethod(get_users_with_role)
 
     def get_users_with_name_identifier(cls, name_identifier):
diff --git a/wcs/wf/dispatch.py b/wcs/wf/dispatch.py
index 1e3717aea..560aef9b8 100644
--- a/wcs/wf/dispatch.py
+++ b/wcs/wf/dispatch.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class DispatchWorkflowStatusItem(WorkflowStatusItem):
                      options=[(None, '----')] + self.parent.parent.roles.items())
         if 'role_id' in parameters:
             form.add(SingleSelectWidget, '%srole_id' % prefix,
-                     title=_('Value for role'), value=self.role_id,
+                     title=_('Value for role'), value=str(self.role_id),
                      options=[(None, '----')] + get_user_roles())
 
     def perform(self, formdata):
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class DispatchWorkflowStatusItem(WorkflowStatusItem):
             return
         if not formdata.workflow_roles:
             formdata.workflow_roles = {}
-        formdata.workflow_roles[self.role_key] = self.role_id
+        formdata.workflow_roles[self.role_key] = str(self.role_id)
         formdata.store()
 
 register_item_class(DispatchWorkflowStatusItem)
diff --git a/wcs/wf/roles.py b/wcs/wf/roles.py
index 064d72831..4c079c5d7 100644
--- a/wcs/wf/roles.py
+++ b/wcs/wf/roles.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class AddRoleWorkflowStatusItem(WorkflowStatusItem):
     def add_parameters_widgets(self, form, parameters, prefix='', formdef=None):
         if 'role_id' in parameters:
             form.add(SingleSelectWidget, '%srole_id' % prefix,
-                     title=_('Role to Add'), value=self.role_id,
+                     title=_('Role to Add'), value=str(self.role_id),
                      options=[(None, '----')] + get_user_roles())
 
     def role_id_export_to_xml(self, item, charset, include_id=False):
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class AddRoleWorkflowStatusItem(WorkflowStatusItem):
     def perform(self, formdata):
         if not self.role_id:
             return
+        self.role_id = str(self.role_id)
         if not formdata.user_id:
             # we can't work on anonymous or user_hash'ed forms
             return
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ class RemoveRoleWorkflowStatusItem(WorkflowStatusItem):
     def perform(self, formdata):
         if not self.role_id:
             return
+        self.role_id = str(self.role_id)
         if not formdata.user_id:
             # we can't work on anonymous or user_hash'ed forms
             return
diff --git a/wcs/workflows.py b/wcs/workflows.py
index b7d17e62b..b5cf4b489 100644
--- a/wcs/workflows.py
+++ b/wcs/workflows.py
@@ -942,10 +942,7 @@ class WorkflowStatusItem(object):
                 return None
             role_id = str(elem.attrib['role_id'])
             if Role.has_key(role_id):
-                try:
-                    return int(role_id)
-                except ValueError:
-                    return str(role_id)
+                return role_id
             else:
                 return None
 
@@ -1021,9 +1018,9 @@ def get_role_translation(formdata, role_name):
             role_id = formdata.workflow_roles.get(role_name)
         if not role_id and formdata.formdef.workflow_roles:
             role_id = formdata.formdef.workflow_roles.get(role_name)
-        return role_id
+        return str(role_id)
     else:
-        return role_name
+        return str(role_name)
 
 def get_role_translation_label(workflow, role_id):
     if role_id == logged_users_role().id: