--- a/liboctave/chMatrix.h
+++ b/liboctave/chMatrix.h
@@ -41,15 +41,27 @@
 public:
 
   charMatrix (void) : Array<char> () { }
-  charMatrix (octave_idx_type r, octave_idx_type c) : Array<char> (r, c) { }
-  charMatrix (octave_idx_type r, octave_idx_type c, char val) : Array<char> (r, c, val) { }
+
+  charMatrix (octave_idx_type r, octave_idx_type c)
+    : Array<char> (dim_vector (r, c)) { }
+
+  charMatrix (octave_idx_type r, octave_idx_type c, char val)
+    : Array<char> (dim_vector (r, c), val) { }
+
   charMatrix (const dim_vector& dv) : Array<char> (dv) { }
+
   charMatrix (const dim_vector& dv, char val) : Array<char> (dv, val) { }
+
   charMatrix (const Array<char>& a) : Array<char> (a.as_matrix ()) { }
+
   charMatrix (const charMatrix& a) : Array<char> (a) { }
+
   charMatrix (char c);
+
   charMatrix (const char *s);
+
   charMatrix (const std::string& s);
+
   charMatrix (const string_vector& s);
 
   charMatrix& operator = (const charMatrix& a)