diff --git a/devsupApp/src/dbfield.c b/devsupApp/src/dbfield.c
index 7fe0af5..30568a7 100644
--- a/devsupApp/src/dbfield.c
+++ b/devsupApp/src/dbfield.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static int pyField_Init(pyField *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kws)
     }
 
     if(self->addr.field_type >= DBF_ENUM) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "Access to this field type is not supported");
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Access to this field type is not supported");
         return -1;
     }
     return 0;
diff --git a/python/devsup/_nullapi.py b/python/devsup/_nullapi.py
index 052d451..1b2c645 100644
--- a/python/devsup/_nullapi.py
+++ b/python/devsup/_nullapi.py
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ def verinfo():
     """
     return (0,0,0,0.'invalid')
 
-class Record(object):
+class _Record(object):
     """Handle for record operations
     
-    r = Record("rec:name")
+    r = _Record("rec:name")
     """
 
     def __init__(self, rec):
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class Record(object):
     def asyncFinish(self, reason=None):
         pass
 
-def Field(object):
+def _Field(object):
     """Handle for field operations
     
     f = Field("rec:name.HOPR")
diff --git a/python/devsup/db.py b/python/devsup/db.py
index 5821421..d644021 100644
--- a/python/devsup/db.py
+++ b/python/devsup/db.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ except ImportError:
 from _dbapi import _Field, _Record
 
 _rec_cache = {}
+_no_such_field = object()
 
 __all__ = [
     'Record',
@@ -22,18 +23,43 @@ def getRecord(name):
 class Record(_Record):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kws):
         super(Record, self).__init__(*args, **kws)
-        self._fld_cache = {}
+        super(Record, self).__setattr__('_fld_cache', {})
+
     def field(self, name):
         """Lookup field in this record
         
         fld = rec.field('HOPR')
         """
         try:
-            return self._fld_cache[name]
+            F = self._fld_cache[name]
+            if F is _no_such_field:
+                raise ValueError()
+            return F
         except KeyError:
-            fld = Field("%s.%s"%(self.name(), name))
-            self._fld_cache[name] = fld
-            return fld
+            try:
+                fld = Field("%s.%s"%(self.name(), name))
+            except ValueError:
+                self._fld_cache[name] = _no_such_field
+            else:
+                self._fld_cache[name] = fld
+                return fld
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        try:
+            F = self.field(name)
+        except ValueError:
+            raise AttributeError('No such field')
+        else:
+            return F.getval()
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, val):
+        try:
+            F=self.field(name)
+        except ValueError:
+            super(Record, self).__setattr__(name, val)
+        else:
+            F.putval(val)
+
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return 'Record("%s")'%self.name()
@@ -50,6 +76,18 @@ class Field(_Field):
             self._record = getRecord(rec)
             return self._record
 
+    def __cmp__(self, B):
+        if isinstance(B, Field):
+            B=B.getval()
+        return cmp(self.getval(), B)
+
+    def __int__(self):
+        return int(self.getval())
+    def __long__(self):
+        return long(self.getval())
+    def __float__(self):
+        return float(self.getval())
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return 'Field("%s.%s")'%self.name()