diff --git a/libsrc/general/archive_base.hpp b/libsrc/general/archive_base.hpp
index 798f6501..7b48d9a0 100644
--- a/libsrc/general/archive_base.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/general/archive_base.hpp
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ namespace ngstd
     int cnt = 0;
     std::map<void*,int> ptr2nr;
     std::vector<void*> nr2ptr;
+
+    // necessary for msvc ??? 
+    Archive & operator& (string* & ps)
+    {
+      return operator&<string> (ps);
+    }
     
     template <typename T>
     Archive & operator& (T *& p)