diff --git a/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.html b/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.html
index 70a2f0f..a4d6997 100644
--- a/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.html
+++ b/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.html
@@ -1,4 +1,45 @@
-<h1>Release 4.0 IN DEVELOPMENT</h1>
+<h1>Release 4.1 IN DEVELOPMENT</h1>
+<p>The main changes since release 4.0 are:</p>
+<ul>
+<li>Convert::copyUnion now always copies between subfields.</li>
+<li>CreateRequest prevents a possible SEGFAULT.</li>
+<li>New stream operators for Field and PVField are provided.</li>
+</ul>
+<h2>Convert::copyUnion</h2>
+<p>Before this method, depending on types for to and from,
+sometimes did a shallow cppy, i. e. just made to shared_ptr for to 
+share the same data as from.
+Now it always copies between the subfield of to and from.</p>
+<h2>CreateRequest change</h2>
+<p>createRequest could cause a SEGFAULT if passed a bad argument.
+This has been changed so the it returns a null pvStructure
+and provies an error.</p>
+<h2>New stream operators</h2>
+<p>New steam operators are available for Field and PVField.
+Before to print a Field (or any extension) or a PVField (or any extension)
+it was necessary to have code like:</p>
+<pre><code> void print(StructureConstPtr struct, PVStructurePtr pv)
+ {
+     if(struct) {
+         cout &lt;&lt; *struct &lt;&lt; endl;
+     } else {
+         cout &lt;&lt; "nullptr\n"
+     }
+     if(pv) {
+         cout &lt;&lt; *.struct &lt;&lt; endl;
+     } else {
+         cout &lt;&lt; "nullptr\n"
+     }
+ }
+</code></pre>
+<p>Now it can be done as follows:</p>
+<pre><code> void print(StructureConstPtr struct, PVStructurePtr pv)
+ {
+     cout &lt;&lt; struct &lt;&lt; endl;
+     cout &lt;&lt; pv &lt;&lt; endl;
+ }
+</code></pre>
+<h1>Release 4.0</h1>
 <p>The main changes since release 3.0.2 are:</p>
 <ul>
 <li>array semantics now enforce Copy On Write.</li>
@@ -55,4 +96,4 @@ only on pvData, i. e. it no longer has any knowledge of PVRecord.</p>
 <p>This is for is for use by code that implements pvAccess monitors.
 This is prototype and is subject to debate.</p>
 <h1>Release 3.0.2</h1>
-<p>This was the starting point for RELEASE_NOTES</p>
+<p>This was the starting point for RELEASE_NOTES</p>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 760892c..d1caa32 100644
--- a/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/documentation/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -1,4 +1,58 @@
-Release 4.0 IN DEVELOPMENT
+Release 4.1 IN DEVELOPMENT
+===========
+
+The main changes since release 4.0 are:
+
+* Convert::copyUnion now always copies between subfields.
+* CreateRequest prevents a possible SEGFAULT.
+* New stream operators for Field and PVField are provided.
+
+Convert::copyUnion
+-----------------
+
+Before this method, depending on types for to and from,
+sometimes did a shallow cppy, i. e. just made to shared_ptr for to 
+share the same data as from.
+Now it always copies between the subfield of to and from.
+
+CreateRequest change
+--------------------
+
+createRequest could cause a SEGFAULT if passed a bad argument.
+This has been changed so the it returns a null pvStructure
+and provies an error.
+
+New stream operators
+--------------------
+
+New steam operators are available for Field and PVField.
+Before to print a Field (or any extension) or a PVField (or any extension)
+it was necessary to have code like:
+
+     void print(StructureConstPtr struct, PVStructurePtr pv)
+     {
+         if(struct) {
+             cout << *struct << endl;
+         } else {
+             cout << "nullptr\n"
+         }
+         if(pv) {
+             cout << *.struct << endl;
+         } else {
+             cout << "nullptr\n"
+         }
+     }
+
+Now it can be done as follows:
+
+     void print(StructureConstPtr struct, PVStructurePtr pv)
+     {
+         cout << struct << endl;
+         cout << pv << endl;
+     }
+
+
+Release 4.0
 ===========
 
 The main changes since release 3.0.2 are:
diff --git a/src/copy/createRequest.cpp b/src/copy/createRequest.cpp
index 6260162..80e4f63 100644
--- a/src/copy/createRequest.cpp
+++ b/src/copy/createRequest.cpp
@@ -454,12 +454,14 @@ public:
                 }
             }
             StructureConstPtr structure = fieldCreate->createStructure(names, fields);
+            if(!structure) throw std::invalid_argument("bad request " + crequest);
             PVStructurePtr pvStructure = pvDataCreate->createPVStructure(structure);
             for(size_t i=0; i<optionList.size(); ++i) {
                 OptionPair pair = optionList[i];
                 string name = pair.name;
                 string value = pair.value;
                 PVStringPtr pvField = pvStructure->getSubField<PVString>(name);
+                if(!pvField) throw std::invalid_argument("bad request " + crequest);
                 pvField->put(value);
             }
             optionList.clear();
diff --git a/src/factory/FieldCreateFactory.cpp b/src/factory/FieldCreateFactory.cpp
index daaeaff..3f4c250 100644
--- a/src/factory/FieldCreateFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/factory/FieldCreateFactory.cpp
@@ -1230,3 +1230,12 @@ FieldCreatePtr getFieldCreate() {
 }
 
 }}
+
+namespace std{
+    std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const epics::pvData::Field *ptr)
+    {
+        if(ptr) return o << *ptr;
+        return o << "nullptr";
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/src/factory/PVDataCreateFactory.cpp b/src/factory/PVDataCreateFactory.cpp
index 3a5c714..e8eb148 100644
--- a/src/factory/PVDataCreateFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/factory/PVDataCreateFactory.cpp
@@ -741,3 +741,12 @@ PVDataCreatePtr getPVDataCreate() {
 }
 
 }}
+
+namespace std{
+    std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const epics::pvData::PVField *ptr)
+    {
+        if(ptr) return o << *ptr;
+        return o << "nullptr";
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/src/pv/pvData.h b/src/pv/pvData.h
index ad7de7c..7798aec 100644
--- a/src/pv/pvData.h
+++ b/src/pv/pvData.h
@@ -1565,6 +1565,14 @@ private:
 epicsShareExtern PVDataCreatePtr getPVDataCreate();
 
 }}
+
+/**
+ * stream support for pvField
+ */
+namespace std{
+    std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const epics::pvData::PVField *ptr);
+}
+
 #endif  /* PVDATA_H */
 
 /** @page Overview Documentation
diff --git a/src/pv/pvIntrospect.h b/src/pv/pvIntrospect.h
index 1c67db2..53d236f 100644
--- a/src/pv/pvIntrospect.h
+++ b/src/pv/pvIntrospect.h
@@ -1220,4 +1220,12 @@ struct StructureArrayHashFunction {
 };
 
 }}
+
+/**
+ * stream support for Field
+ */
+namespace std{
+    std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const epics::pvData::Field *ptr);
+}
+
 #endif  /* PVINTROSPECT_H */
diff --git a/testApp/copy/testCreateRequest.cpp b/testApp/copy/testCreateRequest.cpp
index 4df1b89..d183bb1 100644
--- a/testApp/copy/testCreateRequest.cpp
+++ b/testApp/copy/testCreateRequest.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     PVStructurePtr pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getStructure()->getNumberFields()==0);
     testPass("request %s",request.c_str());
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field").get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("putField").get()!=NULL);
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("record._options.a");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("field.a.b._options.x");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field.a.b.c.d").get()!=NULL);
     testPass("request %s",request.c_str());
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("field.a.b._options.x");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("field.a.b._options.x");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("field.a.a._options.a");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field.alarm").get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field.timeStamp").get()!=NULL);
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("record._options.process");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("record._options.process");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     pvString = pvRequest->getSubField<PVString>("record._options.int");
     sval = pvString->get();
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("putField.power.value").get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("getField.alarm").get()!=NULL);
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field.alarm").get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field.timeStamp").get()!=NULL);
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("putField.power.value").get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("getField.alarm").get()!=NULL);
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
     pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
     if(!pvRequest) { cout<< createRequest->getMessage() << endl;}
-    if(debug) { cout << *pvRequest << endl;}
+    if(debug) { cout << pvRequest << endl;}
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()!=NULL);
     testOk1(pvRequest->getSubField("field.a.b.c.d").get()!=NULL);
     testPass("request %s",request.c_str());
@@ -310,11 +310,19 @@ static void testCreateRequestInternal() {
     cout << "reason " << createRequest->getMessage() << endl;
     testOk1(pvRequest.get()==NULL);
     testPass("request %s",request.c_str());
+
+    request = ":field(record[process=false]power.value)";
+    if(debug) { cout  << "request " << request <<endl;}
+    cout << endl << "Error Expected for next call!!" << endl;
+    pvRequest = createRequest->createRequest(request);
+    cout << "reason " << createRequest->getMessage() << endl;
+    testOk1(pvRequest.get()==NULL);
+    testPass("request %s",request.c_str());
 }
 
 MAIN(testCreateRequest)
 {
-    testPlan(119);
+    testPlan(121);
     testCreateRequestInternal();
     return testDone();
 }
diff --git a/testApp/pv/testStandardField.cpp b/testApp/pv/testStandardField.cpp
index 3d5e434..de3f1cd 100644
--- a/testApp/pv/testStandardField.cpp
+++ b/testApp/pv/testStandardField.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ static StandardFieldPtr standardField = getStandardField();
 static void print(const string& name, FieldConstPtr const & f)
 {
     if(debug) {
-        std::cout << std::endl << name << std::endl << *f << std::endl;
+        std::cout << std::endl << name << std::endl << f << std::endl;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/testApp/pv/testStandardPVField.cpp b/testApp/pv/testStandardPVField.cpp
index a22f9d1..28efc6d 100644
--- a/testApp/pv/testStandardPVField.cpp
+++ b/testApp/pv/testStandardPVField.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static StandardPVFieldPtr standardPVField = getStandardPVField();
 static void print(const string& name, PVFieldPtr const & f)
 {
     if(debug) {
-        std::cout << std::endl << name << std::endl << *f << std::endl;
+        std::cout << std::endl << name << std::endl << f << std::endl;
     }
 }