diff --git a/pvDataApp/misc/byteBuffer.h b/pvDataApp/misc/byteBuffer.h
index 61e488c..8e48e5d 100644
--- a/pvDataApp/misc/byteBuffer.h
+++ b/pvDataApp/misc/byteBuffer.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #include <pvType.h>
 #include <epicsEndian.h>
 
+#include "epicsException.h"
+
 namespace epics {
     namespace pvData {
 
@@ -305,6 +307,21 @@ namespace epics {
                 return _buffer;
             }
 
+            /**
+             * Sets this buffer's position. If the new position is invalid in
+             * regards to the invariant then it is discarded.
+             *
+             * @param[in] newPosition The new position value; must be
+             * non-negative and no larger than the current limit.
+             * @throws EpicsException - If the preconditions on
+             * {@code newPosition} do not hold
+             */
+            inline void setPosition(int newPosition) {
+                if(newPosition<0||newPosition>_limit) throw EpicsException(
+                        "invalid limit");
+                _position = newPosition;
+            }
+            
             // TODO must define arrays
 
         private:
diff --git a/testApp/misc/testByteBuffer.cpp b/testApp/misc/testByteBuffer.cpp
index 7de8607..40c68b0 100644
--- a/testApp/misc/testByteBuffer.cpp
+++ b/testApp/misc/testByteBuffer.cpp
@@ -93,6 +93,21 @@ void testBasicOperations() {
     assert(buff->getLimit()==32);
     assert(buff->getRemaining()==32);
 
+    buff->setPosition(4);
+    assert(buff->getPosition()==4);
+    assert(buff->getLimit()==32);
+    assert(buff->getRemaining()==(32-4));
+
+    buff->setPosition(13);
+    assert(buff->getPosition()==13);
+    assert(buff->getLimit()==32);
+    assert(buff->getRemaining()==(32-13));
+
+    buff->clear();
+    assert(buff->getPosition()==0);
+    assert(buff->getLimit()==32);
+    assert(buff->getRemaining()==32);
+
     char src[] = { 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g', 'h', 'i', 'j', 'k', 'l',
             'm' };
     char dst[] = { ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ', ' ',