diff --git a/src/factory/PVField.cpp b/src/factory/PVField.cpp
index bd9a491..8553eec 100644
--- a/src/factory/PVField.cpp
+++ b/src/factory/PVField.cpp
@@ -187,55 +187,7 @@ void PVField::copy(const PVField& from)
     if (getField()->getType() != from.getField()->getType())
         throw std::invalid_argument("field types do not match");
 
-    switch(getField()->getType())
-    {
-    case scalar:
-        {
-             const PVScalar* fromS = static_cast<const PVScalar*>(&from);
-             PVScalar* toS = static_cast<PVScalar*>(this);
-             toS->copy(*fromS);
-             break;
-        }
-    case scalarArray:
-        {
-             const PVScalarArray* fromS = static_cast<const PVScalarArray*>(&from);
-             PVScalarArray* toS = static_cast<PVScalarArray*>(this);
-             toS->copy(*fromS);
-             break;
-        }
-    case structure:
-        {
-             const PVStructure* fromS = static_cast<const PVStructure*>(&from);
-             PVStructure* toS = static_cast<PVStructure*>(this);
-             toS->copy(*fromS);
-             break;
-        }
-    case structureArray:
-        {
-             const PVStructureArray* fromS = static_cast<const PVStructureArray*>(&from);
-             PVStructureArray* toS = static_cast<PVStructureArray*>(this);
-             toS->copy(*fromS);
-             break;
-        }
-    case union_:
-        {
-             const PVUnion* fromS = static_cast<const PVUnion*>(&from);
-             PVUnion* toS = static_cast<PVUnion*>(this);
-             toS->copy(*fromS);
-             break;
-        }
-    case unionArray:
-        {
-             const PVUnionArray* fromS = static_cast<const PVUnionArray*>(&from);
-             PVUnionArray* toS = static_cast<PVUnionArray*>(this);
-             toS->copy(*fromS);
-             break;
-        }
-    default:
-        {
-            throw std::logic_error("PVField::copy unknown type");
-        }
-    }
+    copyUnchecked(from);
 }
 
 void PVField::copyUnchecked(const PVField& from)