diff --git a/gramps/gen/plug/docgen/stylesheet.py b/gramps/gen/plug/docgen/stylesheet.py
index df9f204bf..bc4a2ecc9 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/plug/docgen/stylesheet.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/plug/docgen/stylesheet.py
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ def escxml(string):
 # GRAMPS modules
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from ..utils import gformat, gfloat
 from .paragraphstyle import ParagraphStyle
 from .fontstyle import FontStyle
 from .tablestyle import TableStyle, TableCellStyle
 from .graphicstyle import GraphicsStyle
+from gramps.gen.const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -182,12 +182,12 @@ class StyleSheetList(object):
                         '<para ' +
                             'description="%s" ' % 
                                            escxml(para.get_description()) +
-                            'rmargin="%s" ' % gformat(rmargin) +
-                            'lmargin="%s" ' % gformat(lmargin) +
-                            'first="%s" ' % gformat(findent) +
-                            'tmargin="%s" ' % gformat(tmargin) +
-                            'bmargin="%s" ' % gformat(bmargin) +
-                            'pad="%s" ' % gformat(padding) +
+                            'rmargin="%.3f" ' % rmargin +
+                            'lmargin="%.3f" ' % lmargin +
+                            'first="%.3f" ' % findent +
+                            'tmargin="%.3f" ' % tmargin +
+                            'bmargin="%.3f" ' % bmargin +
+                            'pad="%.3f" ' % padding +
             
                             'bgcolor="#%02x%02x%02x" ' % bg_color +
                             'level="%d" ' % para.get_header_level() +
@@ -408,18 +408,18 @@ class SheetParser(handler.ContentHandler):
         elif tag == "para":
             if 'description' in attrs:
                 self.p.set_description(attrs['description'])
-            self.p.set_right_margin(gfloat(attrs['rmargin']))
-            self.p.set_right_margin(gfloat(attrs['rmargin']))
-            self.p.set_left_margin(gfloat(attrs['lmargin']))
-            self.p.set_first_indent(gfloat(attrs['first']))
+            self.p.set_right_margin(glocale.float(attrs['rmargin']))
+            self.p.set_right_margin(glocale.float(attrs['rmargin']))
+            self.p.set_left_margin(glocale.float(attrs['lmargin']))
+            self.p.set_first_indent(glocale.float(attrs['first']))
             try:
                 # This is needed to read older style files
                 # lacking tmargin and bmargin
-                self.p.set_top_margin(gfloat(attrs['tmargin']))
-                self.p.set_bottom_margin(gfloat(attrs['bmargin']))
+                self.p.set_top_margin(glocale.float(attrs['tmargin']))
+                self.p.set_bottom_margin(glocale.float(attrs['bmargin']))
             except KeyError:
                 pass
-            self.p.set_padding(gfloat(attrs['pad']))
+            self.p.set_padding(glocale.float(attrs['pad']))
             self.p.set_alignment(int(attrs['align']))
             self.p.set_right_border(int(attrs['rborder']))
             self.p.set_header_level(int(attrs['level']))
diff --git a/gramps/gen/plug/report/_paper.py b/gramps/gen/plug/report/_paper.py
index 8297c1da7..8d56fdbfc 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/plug/report/_paper.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/plug/report/_paper.py
@@ -26,15 +26,14 @@
 # Python modules
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from ...const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
-_ = glocale.translation.sgettext
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # GRAMPS modules
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from ..utils import gfloat
+from ...const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
+_ = glocale.translation.sgettext
 from ..docgen import PaperSize
 from ...const import PAPERSIZE
 
@@ -74,8 +73,8 @@ class PageSizeParser(handler.ContentHandler):
     def startElement(self, tag, attrs):
         if tag == "page":
             name = attrs['name']
-            height = gfloat(attrs['height'])
-            width = gfloat(attrs['width'])
+            height = glocale.float(attrs['height'])
+            width = glocale.float(attrs['width'])
             self.paper_list.append(PaperSize(name, height, width))
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/gramps/gen/plug/utils.py b/gramps/gen/plug/utils.py
index 6972b08f3..c9521f356 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/plug/utils.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/plug/utils.py
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ General utility functions useful for the generic plugin system
 # Standard Python modules
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-import locale
 import sys
 import os
 if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
@@ -54,33 +53,6 @@ _ = glocale.translation.gettext
 # Local utility functions for gen.plug
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-def gfloat(val):
-    """Convert to floating number, taking care of possible locale differences.
-    
-    Useful for reading float values from text entry fields 
-    while under non-English locale.
-    """
-
-    try:
-        return float(val)
-    except:
-        try:
-            return float(val.replace('.', ', '))
-        except:
-            return float(val.replace(', ', '.'))
-    return 0.0
-
-def gformat(val):
-    """Performs ('%.3f' % val) formatting with the resulting string always 
-    using dot ('.') as a decimal point.
-    
-    Useful for writing float values into XML when under non-English locale.
-    """
-
-    decimal_point = locale.localeconv()['decimal_point']
-    return_val = "%.3f" % val
-    return return_val.replace(decimal_point, '.')
-
 def version_str_to_tup(sversion, positions):
     """
     Given a string version and positions count, returns a tuple of
diff --git a/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py b/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
index 1a7107e62..4e1b7bad5 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
@@ -932,6 +932,26 @@ class GrampsLocale(object):
         """
         return locale.format_string(format, val, grouping)
 
+    def float(self, val):
+        """
+        Parse a string to a floating point number. Uses locale.atof(),
+        in future with ICU present will use icu.NumberFormat.parse().
+        """
+        try:
+            return locale.atof(val)
+        except ValueError:
+            point = locale.localeconv()['decimal_point']
+            sep = locale.localeconv()['thousands_sep']
+            try:
+                if point == ',':
+                    return locale.atof(val.replace(' ', sep).replace('.', sep))
+                elif point == '.':
+                    return locale.atof(val.replace(' ', sep).replace(',', sep))
+                else:
+                    return None
+            except ValueError:
+                return None
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Translations Classes
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/docgen/psdrawdoc.py b/gramps/plugins/docgen/psdrawdoc.py
index 62ef9c092..051b39da3 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/docgen/psdrawdoc.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/docgen/psdrawdoc.py
@@ -40,16 +40,14 @@ from gramps.gen.const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
 _ = glocale.translation.gettext
 from gramps.gen.plug.report import utils as ReportUtils
 from gramps.gen.plug.docgen import BaseDoc, DrawDoc, FONT_SERIF, PAPER_PORTRAIT, SOLID
-from gramps.gen.plug.utils import gformat
 from gramps.gen.errors import ReportError
 from gramps.gen.constfunc import cuni
 
 def lrgb(grp):
-    grp = ReportUtils.rgb_color(grp)
-    return (gformat(grp[0]), gformat(grp[1]), gformat(grp[2]))
+    return ['%.3f' % x for x in ReportUtils.rgb_color(grp)]
 
 def coords(grp):
-    return (gformat(grp[0]), gformat(grp[1]))
+    return ['%.3f' % x for x in grp]
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -160,8 +158,8 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
             "%d %d\n" % (self.page, self.page)
             )
         if self.paper.get_orientation() != PAPER_PORTRAIT:
-            self.file.write('90 rotate %s cm %s cm translate\n' % (
-                gformat(0),gformat(-1*self.paper.get_size().get_height())))
+            self.file.write('90 rotate %.3f cm %.3f cm translate\n' %
+                            (0, -1*self.paper.get_size().get_height()))
 
     def end_page(self):
         self.file.write(
@@ -196,10 +194,10 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
 
         self.file.write(
             'gsave\n'
-            '%s %s %s setrgbcolor\n' % lrgb(stype.get_color()) +
+            '%.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor\n' % stype.get_color() +
             fdef +
             '(%s) dup stringwidth pop -2 div ' % text +
-            '%s cm add %s cm moveto ' % coords(self.translate(x, y)) +
+            '%.3f cm add %.3f cm moveto ' % self.translate(x, y) +
             'show\n'
             'grestore\n'
             )
@@ -218,7 +216,7 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
 
         self.file.write(
             'gsave\n'
-            '%s cm %s cm moveto\n' % coords(self.translate(x1, y1)) +
+            '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n' % self.translate(x1, y1) +
             fdef +
             '(%s) show grestore\n' % text
             )
@@ -239,14 +237,12 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
 
         (new_text, fdef) = self.encode_text(p, text[0])
 
-        coords = self.translate(x, y)
         self.file.write(
             'gsave\n' +
             fdef +
-            '%s cm %s cm translate\n' % (
-                gformat(coords[0]), gformat(coords[1])) +
-            '%s rotate\n' % gformat(-angle) +
-            '%s %s %s setrgbcolor\n' % lrgb(stype.get_color())
+            '%.3f cm %.3f cm translate\n' % self.translate(x, y) +
+            '%.3f rotate\n' % -angle +
+            '%.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor\n' % stype.get_color()
             )
 
         y = ((size * len(text)) / 2.0) - size
@@ -255,7 +251,7 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
             self.file.write(
                 '(%s) dup stringwidth pop -2 div  '
                     % self.encode(line) +
-                "%s moveto show\n" % gformat(y)
+                "%.3f moveto show\n" % y
                 )
             y -= size
  
@@ -267,7 +263,7 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
         self.file.write(
             'gsave\n'
             'newpath\n'
-            '%s setlinewidth\n' % gformat(stype.get_line_width())
+            '%.3f setlinewidth\n' % stype.get_line_width()
             )
         if stype.get_line_style() == SOLID:
             self.file.write('[] 0 setdash\n')
@@ -281,21 +277,21 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
         x1 = point[0] + self.paper.get_left_margin()
         y1 = point[1] + self.paper.get_top_margin()
         self.file.write(
-            '%s cm %s cm moveto\n' % coords(self.translate(x1, y1))
+            '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n' % self.translate(x1, y1)
             )
 
         for point in path[1:]:
             x1 = point[0] + self.paper.get_left_margin()
             y1 = point[1] + self.paper.get_top_margin()
             self.file.write(
-                '%s cm %s cm lineto\n' % coords(self.translate(x1, y1))
+                '%.3f cm %.3f cm lineto\n' % self.translate(x1, y1)
                 )
         self.file.write('closepath\n')
 
         color = stype.get_fill_color()
         self.file.write(
-            'gsave %s %s %s setrgbcolor fill grestore\n' % lrgb(color) +
-            '%s %s %s setrgbcolor stroke\n' % lrgb(stype.get_color()) +
+            'gsave %.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor fill grestore\n' % color +
+            '%.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor stroke\n' % stype.get_color() +
             'grestore\n'
             )
 
@@ -308,9 +304,9 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
         stype = style_sheet.get_draw_style(style)
         self.file.write(
             'gsave newpath\n'
-            '%s cm %s cm moveto\n' % coords(self.translate(x1, y1)) +
-            '%s cm %s cm lineto\n' % coords(self.translate(x2, y2)) +
-            '%s setlinewidth\n' % gformat(stype.get_line_width())
+            '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n' % self.translate(x1, y1) +
+            '%.3f cm %.3f cm lineto\n' % self.translate(x2, y2) +
+            '%.3f setlinewidth\n' % stype.get_line_width()
             )
         if stype.get_line_style() == SOLID:
             self.file.write('[] 0 setdash\n')
@@ -322,7 +318,7 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
             
         self.file.write(
             '2 setlinecap\n' +
-            '%s %s %s setrgbcolor stroke\n' % lrgb(stype.get_color()) +
+            '%.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor stroke\n' % stype.get_color() +
             'grestore\n'
             )
 
@@ -340,41 +336,41 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
         if box_style.get_shadow():
             self.file.write(
                 'newpath\n'
-                '%s cm %s cm moveto\n'
-                    % coords(self.translate(x+shadsize, y+shadsize)) +
-                '0 -%s cm rlineto\n' % gformat(h) +
-                '%s cm 0 rlineto\n' % gformat(w) +
-                '0 %s cm rlineto\n' % gformat(h) +
+                '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n'
+                    % self.translate(x+shadsize, y+shadsize) +
+                '0 -%.3f cm rlineto\n' % h +
+                '%.3f cm 0 rlineto\n' % w +
+                '0 %.3f cm rlineto\n' % h +
                 'closepath\n'
                 '.5 setgray\n'
                 'fill\n'
                 )
         self.file.write(
             'newpath\n' 
-            '%s cm %s cm moveto\n' % coords(self.translate(x, y)) +
-            '0 -%s cm rlineto\n' % gformat(h) +
-            '%s cm 0 rlineto\n' % gformat(w) +
-            '0 %s cm rlineto\n' % gformat(h) +
+            '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n' % self.translate(x, y) +
+            '0 -%.3f cm rlineto\n' % h +
+            '%.3f cm 0 rlineto\n' % w +
+            '0 %.3f cm rlineto\n' % h +
             'closepath\n'
             )
         
         fill_color = box_style.get_fill_color()
         color = box_style.get_color()
         self.file.write(
-            'gsave %s %s %s setrgbcolor fill grestore\n' % lrgb(fill_color) +
-            '%s %s %s setrgbcolor stroke\n' % lrgb(color)
+            'gsave %.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor fill grestore\n' % fill_color +
+            '%.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor stroke\n' % color
             )
 
         self.file.write('newpath\n')
         if box_style.get_line_width():
             self.file.write(
-                '%s cm %s cm moveto\n' % coords(self.translate(x, y)) +
-                '0 -%s cm rlineto\n' % gformat(h) +
-                '%s cm 0 rlineto\n' % gformat(w) +
-                '0 %s cm rlineto\n' % gformat(h) +
+                '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n' % self.translate(x, y) +
+                '0 -%.3f cm rlineto\n' % h +
+                '%.3f cm 0 rlineto\n' % w +
+                '0 %.3f cm rlineto\n' % h +
                 'closepath\n' +
-                '%s setlinewidth\n' % gformat(box_style.get_line_width()) +
-                '%s %s %s setrgbcolor stroke\n' % lrgb(box_style.get_color())
+                '%.3f setlinewidth\n' % box_style.get_line_width() +
+                '%.3f %.3f %.3f setrgbcolor stroke\n' % box_style.get_color()
                 )
         if text:
             para_name = box_style.get_paragraph_style()
@@ -392,8 +388,8 @@ class PSDrawDoc(BaseDoc, DrawDoc):
             for i, line in enumerate(lines):
                 ypos = ystart + (i * fs)
                 self.file.write(
-                    '%s cm %s cm moveto\n'
-                        % coords(self.translate(x+mar, ypos)) +
+                    '%.3f cm %.3f cm moveto\n'
+                        % self.translate(x+mar, ypos) +
                     "(%s) show\n" % lines[i]
                     )
         self.file.write('grestore\n')