diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.cpp
index 7a81ad193..70fc376b9 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ DataOutputStream::DataOutputStream(std::ostream * ostream)
     if(!_ostream)
         throw Exception("DataOutputStream::DataOutputStream(): null pointer exception in argument.");
     writeUInt(ENDIAN_TYPE) ;
-    writeUInt(VERSION);
+    writeUInt(getVersion());
 }
 
 DataOutputStream::~DataOutputStream(){}
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.h b/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.h
index 6585993d0..54b364360 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.h
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/ive/DataOutputStream.h
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ class DataOutputStream{
 public:
 	DataOutputStream(std::ostream* ostream);
 	~DataOutputStream();
+        
+	unsigned int getVersion() { return VERSION; }
+        
 	void writeBool(bool b);
 	void writeChar(char c);
 	void writeUChar(unsigned char c);
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/ive/IveVersion.h b/src/osgPlugins/ive/IveVersion.h
index c98d9f76a..ca3d3f648 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/ive/IveVersion.h
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/ive/IveVersion.h
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
    stored in the 2nd 4 bytes of the file */
 
 #define VERSION_0002 0x00000002
-#define VERSION 0x00000003
+#define VERSION_0003 0x00000003
+#define VERSION_0004 0x00000004
+#define VERSION      VERSION_0004
 
 
 /* The BYTE_SEX tag is used to check the endian
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/ive/LightModel.h b/src/osgPlugins/ive/LightModel.h
index 9e1f3d5b7..6e92a09de 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/ive/LightModel.h
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/ive/LightModel.h
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ namespace ive{
   };
 }
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/ive/ShapeDrawable.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/ive/ShapeDrawable.cpp
index 6f11fcb86..0b113a7b2 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/ive/ShapeDrawable.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/ive/ShapeDrawable.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
  *    Copyright 2003 VR-C
  **********************************************************************/
 
+#include "Drawable.h"
 #include "Exception.h"
 #include "ShapeDrawable.h"
 #include "Object.h"
@@ -22,14 +23,27 @@ void ShapeDrawable::write(DataOutputStream* out)
 {
     // Write CullFace's identification.
     out->writeInt(IVESHAPEDRAWABLE);
-    // If the osg class is inherited by any other class we should also write this to file.
-    osg::Object*  obj = dynamic_cast<osg::Object*>(this);
-    if(obj)
+
+    if ( out->getVersion() >= VERSION_0004 )
     {
-        ((ive::Object*)(obj))->write(out);
+        // If the osg class is inherited by any other class we should also write this to file.
+        osg::Drawable*  drawable = dynamic_cast<osg::Drawable*>(this);
+        if(drawable){
+            ((ive::Drawable*)(drawable))->write(out);
+        }
+        else
+            throw Exception("ShapeDrawable::write(): Could not cast this osg::ShapeDrawable to an osg::Object.");
+
     }
     else
-        throw Exception("ShapeDrawable::write(): Could not cast this osg::ShapeDrawable to an osg::Object.");
+    {
+        osg::Object* obj = dynamic_cast<osg::Object*>(this);
+        if(obj){
+            ((ive::Object*)(obj))->write(out);
+        }
+        else
+            throw Exception("ShapeDrawable::write(): Could not cast this osg::ShapeDrawable to an osg::Object.");
+    }
 
     // Write ShapeDrawable's properties.
     out->writeVec4(getColor());
@@ -53,15 +67,28 @@ void ShapeDrawable::read(DataInputStream* in)
     {
         // Read ShapeDrawable's identification.
         id = in->readInt();
-        // If the osg class is inherited by any other class we should also read this from file.
-        osg::Object*  obj = dynamic_cast<osg::Object*>(this);
-        if(obj)
+
+        if ( in->getVersion() >= VERSION_0004 )
         {
-            ((ive::Object*)(obj))->read(in);
+            // If the osg class is inherited by any other class we should also read this from file.
+            osg::Drawable*  drawable = dynamic_cast<osg::Drawable*>(this);
+            if(drawable){
+                ((ive::Drawable*)(drawable))->read(in);
+            }
+            else
+                throw Exception("ShapeDrawable::read(): Could not cast this osg::ShapeDrawable to an osg::Object.");
         }
         else
-            throw Exception("ShapeDrawable::read(): Could not cast this osg::ShapeDrawable to an osg::Object.");
-
+        {
+            // If the osg class is inherited by any other class we should also read this from file.
+            osg::Object*  obj = dynamic_cast<osg::Object*>(this);
+            if(obj){
+                ((ive::Object*)(obj))->read(in);
+            }
+            else
+                throw Exception("ShapeDrawable::read(): Could not cast this osg::ShapeDrawable to an osg::Object.");
+        }
+    
         // Read ShapeDrawable's properties
         setColor(in->readVec4());