diff --git a/src/db/dbAccess.c b/src/db/dbAccess.c
index 2e6c9a38f..6be674407 100644
--- a/src/db/dbAccess.c
+++ b/src/db/dbAccess.c
@@ -1220,3 +1220,135 @@ long epicsShareAPI dbPut(DBADDR *paddr,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nR
 
 	return(status);
 }
+
+/* various utility routines */
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetControlLimits(
+    struct link *plink,double *low, double *high)
+{
+    struct buffer {
+        DBRctrlDouble
+        double value;
+    } buffer;
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+    long options = DBR_CTRL_DOUBLE;
+    long number_elements = 0;
+    long status;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK) return(dbCaGetControlLimits(plink,low,high));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    status = dbGet(paddr,DBR_DOUBLE,&buffer,&options,&number_elements,0);
+    if(status) return(status);
+    *low = buffer.lower_ctrl_limit;
+    *high = buffer.upper_ctrl_limit;
+    return(0);
+}
+
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetGraphicLimits(
+    struct link *plink,double *low, double *high)
+{
+    struct buffer {
+        DBRgrDouble
+        double value;
+    } buffer;
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+    long options = DBR_GR_DOUBLE;
+    long number_elements = 0;
+    long status;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK) return(dbCaGetGraphicLimits(plink,low,high));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    status = dbGet(paddr,DBR_DOUBLE,&buffer,&options,&number_elements,0);
+    if(status) return(status);
+    *low = buffer.lower_disp_limit;
+    *high = buffer.upper_disp_limit;
+    return(0);
+}
+
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetAlarmLimits(struct link *plink,
+	double *lolo, double *low, double *high, double *hihi)
+{
+    struct buffer {
+        DBRalDouble
+        double value;
+    } buffer;
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+    long options = DBR_AL_DOUBLE;
+    long number_elements = 0;
+    long status;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK)
+        return(dbCaGetAlarmLimits(plink,lolo,low,high,hihi));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    status = dbGet(paddr,DBR_DOUBLE,&buffer,&options,&number_elements,0);
+    if(status) return(status);
+    *lolo = buffer.lower_alarm_limit;
+    *low = buffer.lower_warning_limit;
+    *high = buffer.upper_warning_limit;
+    *hihi = buffer.upper_alarm_limit;
+    return(0);
+}
+
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetPrecision(struct link *plink,short *precision)
+{
+    struct buffer {
+        DBRprecision
+        double value;
+    } buffer;
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+    long options = DBR_PRECISION;
+    long number_elements = 0;
+    long status;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK) return(dbCaGetPrecision(plink,precision));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    status = dbGet(paddr,DBR_DOUBLE,&buffer,&options,&number_elements,0);
+    if(status) return(status);
+    *precision = buffer.precision;
+    return(0);
+}
+
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetUnits(struct link *plink,char *units,int unitsSize)
+{
+    struct buffer {
+        DBRunits
+        double value;
+    } buffer;
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+    long options = DBR_UNITS;
+    long number_elements = 0;
+    long status;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK) return(dbCaGetUnits(plink,units,unitsSize));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    status = dbGet(paddr,DBR_DOUBLE,&buffer,&options,&number_elements,0);
+    if(status) return(status);
+    strncpy(units,buffer.units,unitsSize);
+    return(0);
+}
+
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetSevr(struct link *plink,short *severity)
+{
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK) return(dbCaGetSevr(plink,severity));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    *severity = paddr->precord->sevr;
+    return(0);
+}
+
+long epicsShareAPI dbGetTimeStamp(struct link *plink,TS_STAMP *pstamp)
+{
+    DBADDR *paddr;
+
+    if(plink->type == CA_LINK) return(dbCaGetTimeStamp(plink,pstamp));
+    if(plink->type !=DB_LINK) return(S_db_notFound);
+    paddr = (DBADDR *)plink->value.pv_link.pvt;
+    *pstamp = paddr->precord->time;
+    return(0);
+}
diff --git a/src/db/dbAccessDefs.h b/src/db/dbAccessDefs.h
index 1ac087117..abaa4963f 100644
--- a/src/db/dbAccessDefs.h
+++ b/src/db/dbAccessDefs.h
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ of this distribution.
 #define INCdbAccessDefsh
 
 #include "shareLib.h"
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
 
 epicsShareExtern struct dbBase *pdbbase;
 epicsShareExtern volatile int interruptAccept;
@@ -243,6 +247,25 @@ epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbPutField(
     struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nRequest);
 epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbPut(
     struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nRequest);
+
+/* various utility routines */
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetControlLimits(
+    struct link *plink,double *low, double *high);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetGraphicLimits(
+    struct link *plink,double *low, double *high);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetAlarmLimits(
+    struct link *plink,double *lolo, double *low, double *high, double *hihi);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetPrecision(
+    struct link *plink,short *precision);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetUnits(
+    struct link *plink,char *units,int unitsSize);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetNelements(
+    struct link *plink,long *nelements);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetSevr(
+    struct link *plink,short *severity);
+epicsShareFunc long epicsShareAPI dbGetTimeStamp(
+    struct link *plink,TS_STAMP *pstamp);
+
 typedef void(*SPC_ASCALLBACK)(struct dbCommon *);
 /*dbSpcAsRegisterCallback called by access security */
 epicsShareFunc void epicsShareAPI dbSpcAsRegisterCallback(SPC_ASCALLBACK func);
@@ -256,5 +279,10 @@ epicsShareFunc int epicsShareAPI  dbLoadDatabase(
 epicsShareFunc int epicsShareAPI dbLoadRecords(
     char* pfilename, char* substitutions);
 
+epicsShareFunc int epicsShareAPI iocInit(void);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
 
 #endif /*INCdbAccessDefsh*/