diff --git a/documentation/pvDataCPP.html b/documentation/pvDataCPP.html
index 8618d59..89541be 100644
--- a/documentation/pvDataCPP.html
+++ b/documentation/pvDataCPP.html
@@ -2309,8 +2309,15 @@ public:
     template<typename PVT>
     std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT> getSubField(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
 
+    PVField& getSubFieldT(std::string const &fieldName) const;
+
     template<typename PVT>
-    PVT& getSubFieldT(std::string const &fieldName) const;
+    PVT& getSubFieldT(std::string const &fieldName) const
+
+    PVField& getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const;
+
+    template<typename PVT>
+    PVT& getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
 
     virtual void serialize(
         ByteBuffer *pbuffer,SerializableControl *pflusher) const ;
@@ -2332,7 +2339,7 @@ public:
   <dt>getPVFields</dt>
     <dd>Returns the array of subfields. The set of subfields must all have
       different field names.</dd>
-  <dt>getSubField(std::string fieldName)</dt>
+  <dt>getSubField(std::string const &amp;fieldName)</dt>
     <dd>
       Get a subField of a field.d
       A non-null result is
@@ -2347,12 +2354,13 @@ public:
     <dd>Get the field located a fieldOffset, where fieldOffset is relative to
       the top level structure. This returns null if the specified field is not
       located within this PVStructure.
-      <br />
-      <b>Note</b> The template version replaces getBooleanField, etc.<br/>
     </dd>
   <dt>getSubFieldT(std::string const &amp;fieldName)</dt>
      <dd>Like getSubField except that it throws std::runtime_error if
        the field does not exists or has the wrong type.</dd>
+  <dt>getSubFieldT(int fieldOffset)</dt>
+    <dd>Like getSubField except that it throws std::runtime_error if
+       the field does not exists or has the wrong type.</dd>
   <dt>dumpValue</dt>
      <dd>Method for streams I/O.</dd>
 </dl>
diff --git a/documentation/pvDataCPP_20150623.html b/documentation/pvDataCPP_20150623.html
index 8618d59..89541be 100644
--- a/documentation/pvDataCPP_20150623.html
+++ b/documentation/pvDataCPP_20150623.html
@@ -2309,8 +2309,15 @@ public:
     template&lt;typename PVT&gt;
     std::tr1::shared_ptr&lt;PVT&gt; getSubField(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
 
+    PVField&amp; getSubFieldT(std::string const &amp;fieldName) const;
+
     template&lt;typename PVT&gt;
-    PVT&amp; getSubFieldT(std::string const &amp;fieldName) const;
+    PVT&amp; getSubFieldT(std::string const &amp;fieldName) const
+
+    PVField&amp; getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const;
+
+    template&lt;typename PVT&gt;
+    PVT&amp; getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
 
     virtual void serialize(
         ByteBuffer *pbuffer,SerializableControl *pflusher) const ;
@@ -2332,7 +2339,7 @@ public:
   <dt>getPVFields</dt>
     <dd>Returns the array of subfields. The set of subfields must all have
       different field names.</dd>
-  <dt>getSubField(std::string fieldName)</dt>
+  <dt>getSubField(std::string const &amp;fieldName)</dt>
     <dd>
       Get a subField of a field.d
       A non-null result is
@@ -2347,12 +2354,13 @@ public:
     <dd>Get the field located a fieldOffset, where fieldOffset is relative to
       the top level structure. This returns null if the specified field is not
       located within this PVStructure.
-      <br />
-      <b>Note</b> The template version replaces getBooleanField, etc.<br/>
     </dd>
   <dt>getSubFieldT(std::string const &amp;fieldName)</dt>
      <dd>Like getSubField except that it throws std::runtime_error if
        the field does not exists or has the wrong type.</dd>
+  <dt>getSubFieldT(int fieldOffset)</dt>
+    <dd>Like getSubField except that it throws std::runtime_error if
+       the field does not exists or has the wrong type.</dd>
   <dt>dumpValue</dt>
      <dd>Method for streams I/O.</dd>
 </dl>
diff --git a/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp b/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp
index 5319369..b4ecf6b 100644
--- a/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp
+++ b/src/factory/PVStructure.cpp
@@ -134,6 +134,20 @@ PVFieldPtr  PVStructure::getSubField(size_t fieldOffset) const
     throw std::logic_error("PVStructure.getSubField: Logic error");
 }
 
+PVField& PVStructure::getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
+{
+    PVField * raw = getSubField(fieldOffset).get();
+    if (raw)
+        return *raw;
+    else
+    {
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss << "Failed to get field with offset "
+           << fieldOffset << "(Invalid offset)" ;
+        throw std::runtime_error(ss.str());
+    }
+}
+
 PVField* PVStructure::getSubFieldImpl(const char *name, bool throws) const
 {
     const PVStructure *parent = this;
diff --git a/src/pv/pvData.h b/src/pv/pvData.h
index 0e0e6b2..1e305b9 100644
--- a/src/pv/pvData.h
+++ b/src/pv/pvData.h
@@ -684,23 +684,42 @@ public:
      */
     PVFieldPtr getSubField(std::string const &fieldName) const;
 
+    /**
+     * Get a subfield with the specified name.
+     * @param fieldName a '.' separated list of child field names (no whitespace allowed)
+     * @returns A pointer to the sub-field or null if field does not exist or has a different type
+     * @code
+     *   PVIntPtr ptr = pvStruct->getSubField<PVInt>("substruct.leaffield");
+     * @endcode
+     */
     template<typename PVT>
-    std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT> getSubField(std::string const &fieldName) const
+    FORCE_INLINE std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT> getSubField(std::string const &fieldName) const
     {
-        PVFieldPtr pvField = getSubField(fieldName);
-        if (pvField.get())
-            return std::tr1::dynamic_pointer_cast<PVT>(pvField);
+        return this->getSubField<PVT>(fieldName.c_str());
+    }
+
+    template<typename PVT>
+    std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT> getSubField(const char *name) const
+    {
+        PVField *raw = getSubFieldImpl(name, false);
+        if (raw)
+            return std::tr1::dynamic_pointer_cast<PVT>(raw->shared_from_this());
         else
             return std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT>();
     }
-    
+
     /**
      * Get the subfield with the specified offset.
      * @param fieldOffset The offset.
      * @return Pointer to the field or null if field does not exist.
      */
     PVFieldPtr getSubField(std::size_t fieldOffset) const;
-    
+
+    /**
+     * Get the subfield with the specified offset.
+     * @param fieldOffset The offset.
+     * @return Pointer to the field or null if field does not exist.
+     */
     template<typename PVT>
     std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT> getSubField(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
     {
@@ -711,19 +730,32 @@ public:
             return std::tr1::shared_ptr<PVT>();
     }
 
-private:
-    PVField *getSubFieldImpl(const char *name, bool throws = true) const;
-public:
+    /**
+     * Get a subfield with the specified name.
+     * @param fieldName a '.' separated list of child field names (no whitespace allowed)
+     * @returns A reference to the sub-field (never NULL)
+     * @throws std::runtime_error if the requested sub-field doesn't exist, or has a different type
+     */
+    FORCE_INLINE PVField& getSubFieldT(std::string const &fieldName) const
+    {
+        return *getSubFieldImpl(fieldName.c_str());
+    }
 
     /**
      * Get a subfield with the specified name.
-     * @param name a '.' separated list of child field names (no whitespace allowed)
+     * @param fieldName a '.' separated list of child field names (no whitespace allowed)
      * @returns A reference to the sub-field (never NULL)
      * @throws std::runtime_error if the requested sub-field doesn't exist, or has a different type
      * @code
      *   PVInt& ref = pvStruct->getSubFieldT<PVInt>("substruct.leaffield");
      * @endcode
      */
+    template<typename PVT>
+    FORCE_INLINE PVT& getSubFieldT(std::string const &fieldName) const
+    {
+        return this->getSubFieldT<PVT>(fieldName.c_str());
+    }
+
     template<typename PVT>
     PVT& getSubFieldT(const char *name) const
     {
@@ -737,10 +769,33 @@ public:
         return *raw;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get the subfield with the specified offset.
+     * @param fieldOffset The offset.
+     * @returns A reference to the sub-field (never NULL)
+     * @throws std::runtime_error if the requested sub-field doesn't exist
+     */
+    PVField& getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Get the subfield with the specified offset.
+     * @param fieldOffset The offset.
+     * @returns A reference to the sub-field (never NULL)
+     * @throws std::runtime_error if the requested sub-field doesn't exist, or has a different type 
+     */
     template<typename PVT>
-    FORCE_INLINE PVT& getSubFieldT(std::string const &fieldName) const
+    PVT& getSubFieldT(std::size_t fieldOffset) const
     {
-        return this->getSubFieldT<PVT>(fieldName.c_str());
+        PVT* raw = dynamic_cast<PVT*>(&getSubFieldT(fieldOffset));
+        if (raw)
+            return *raw;
+        else
+        {
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "Failed to get field with offset "
+               << fieldOffset << " (Field has wrong type)";
+            throw std::runtime_error(ss.str());
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -915,6 +970,8 @@ public:
     void copyUnchecked(const PVStructure& from, const BitSet& maskBitSet, bool inverse = false);
 
 private:
+    PVField *getSubFieldImpl(const char *name, bool throws = true) const;
+
     static PVFieldPtr nullPVField;
     static PVBooleanPtr nullPVBoolean;
     static PVBytePtr nullPVByte;