diff --git a/src/pv/pvData.h b/src/pv/pvData.h
index 3f6e86d..f79f08b 100644
--- a/src/pv/pvData.h
+++ b/src/pv/pvData.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 #include <pv/pvIntrospect.h>
 #include <pv/typeCast.h>
+#include <pv/anyscalar.h>
 #include <pv/sharedVector.h>
 
 #include <shareLib.h>
@@ -339,6 +340,8 @@ protected:
     virtual void getAs(void *, ScalarType) const = 0;
 public:
 
+    virtual void getAs(AnyScalar& v) const =0;
+
     /**
      * Convert and assign the provided value.
      * The value type is determined from the function template argument
@@ -357,6 +360,10 @@ public:
     //! Convert and assign
     virtual void putFrom(const void *, ScalarType) = 0;
 
+    inline void putFrom(const AnyScalar& v) {
+        if(v)
+            putFrom(v.unsafe(), v.type());
+    }
 
     virtual void assign(const PVScalar&) = 0;
 
@@ -459,6 +466,11 @@ public:
         put(castUnsafe<T,T1>(val));
     }
 
+    FORCE_INLINE void putFrom(const AnyScalar& v) {
+        // the template form of putFrom() hides the base class AnyScalar overload
+        PVScalar::putFrom(v);
+    }
+
     virtual void assign(const PVScalar& scalar) OVERRIDE
     {
         if(isImmutable())
@@ -492,6 +504,10 @@ protected:
         castUnsafeV(1, rtype, result, typeCode, (const void*)&src);
     }
 public:
+    virtual void getAs(AnyScalar& v) const
+    {
+        v = get();
+    }
     virtual void putFrom(const void *src, ScalarType stype) OVERRIDE
     {
         T result;
diff --git a/testApp/pv/testPVData.cpp b/testApp/pv/testPVData.cpp
index b8f2410..49ef3c6 100644
--- a/testApp/pv/testPVData.cpp
+++ b/testApp/pv/testPVData.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <cstdio>
 
-#include <epicsUnitTest.h>
+#include <pv/pvUnitTest.h>
 #include <testMain.h>
 
 #include <pv/pvIntrospect.h>
@@ -626,6 +626,42 @@ static void testFieldAccess()
     }
 }
 
+static void testAnyScalar()
+{
+    PVStructurePtr value(getPVDataCreate()->createPVStructure(getFieldCreate()->createFieldBuilder()
+                                                              ->add("a", pvInt)
+                                                              ->add("b", pvDouble)
+                                                              ->add("c", pvString)
+                                                              ->createStructure()));
+
+    PVIntPtr a(value->getSubFieldT<PVInt>("a"));
+    PVDoublePtr b(value->getSubFieldT<PVDouble>("b"));
+    PVStringPtr c(value->getSubFieldT<PVString>("c"));
+
+    a->put(42);
+    testEqual(a->get(), 42);
+    testEqual(b->get(), 0.0);
+
+    {
+        AnyScalar temp;
+        a->getAs(temp);
+        b->putFrom(temp);
+    }
+
+    testEqual(a->get(), 42);
+    testEqual(b->get(), 42.0);
+    testEqual(c->get(), "");
+
+    {
+        AnyScalar temp;
+        a->getAs(temp);
+        c->putFrom(temp);
+    }
+
+    testEqual(a->get(), 42);
+    testEqual(c->get(), "42");
+}
+
 static void testSubField()
 {
     PVStructurePtr value(ValueBuilder()
@@ -678,7 +714,7 @@ static void testSubField()
 
 MAIN(testPVData)
 {
-    testPlan(251);
+    testPlan(258);
     try{
         fieldCreate = getFieldCreate();
         pvDataCreate = getPVDataCreate();
@@ -692,6 +728,7 @@ MAIN(testPVData)
         testRequest();
         testCopy();
         testFieldAccess();
+        testAnyScalar();
         testSubField();
     }catch(std::exception& e){
         PRINT_EXCEPTION(e);