Merge ~bfrk/epics-base:address-modifiers into epics-base:7.0

[Ben Franksen]

As discussed on core-talk, this enables interpretation of "array address modifiers" a la "PV[s:i:e]" when using dbChannelPut or dbChannelPutField. This means the feature works for all PV links (I changed DB links to call dbChannelPut) as well as for caput.

The work is based on Dirk's dbChannelForDBLink branch (merged into 7.0) and some of my previous work (see branch address-modifiers-prerequisites).

The current implementation is /very/ liberal in that it never fails if the address modifier is out-of-bounds wrt the (target) record field. In this case the put operation is truncated to the overlap between the modifier and the target array, which may be empty (i.e. no change in the target). Similarly, if the source array has too few elements or excess elements, relative to the modifier, the request gets truncated to the smaller of these numbers.

Another design decision was that a put operation with a modifier never changes the current number of elements of the target. So you cannot currently "extend" an array using a modifier by writing beyond its current size.

All of these particular behaviors are, of course, open for debate. I can easily change any aspect as the implementation is quite simple.

[Andrew Johnson (anj)]

Hi Ben, this looks very interesting; could you take it a little further? See my diff comments, in particular the one in dbAddrModifier.h where I speculate about enabling future modifiers. I don't have any arguments with your design decisions as described, and the code generally looks nice.

[Ben Franksen (bfrk)]

Hi Andrew, thanks for your comments.

>> +long dbPutModifier(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
>> + const void *pbuffer, long nRequest, dbAddrModifier *pmod)
>> {
>> dbCommon *precord = paddr->precord;
>> short field_type = paddr->field_type;
>> + short field_size = paddr->field_size;
>> long no_elements = paddr->no_elements;
>> long special = paddr->special;
>> void *pfieldsave = paddr->pfield;
>> rset *prset = dbGetRset(paddr);
>> long status = 0;
>> + long available_no_elements = no_elements;
>
> s/available_no_elements/capacity/ maybe? It's a lot shorter...

Ah, but it's used with the opposite meaning: while initialized with the
capacity, it gets overwritten with the /current/ number of elements by
get_array_info which was previously ignored (passing &dummy).

> Please add the license header to all new source files; the Copyright lines aren't essential, but the 2 lines starting "EPICS BASE is distributed..." should be included.

Will do.

> I could see us wanting to add more kinds of modifiers in the future, although I'm not looking to make them pluggable at run-time. (NB: I'm speculating here).

Should that allow to combine multiple address modifiers, like for
filters? This would be very hard to get right. For the moment I will
assume that only one address modifier can be given per channel.

(Run-time pluggability indeed seems excessive, given that we have to
restart IOCs anyway whenever the database gets re-configured i.e.
records added or removed).

> Could you extract the array-specific operations and data and make dbAddrModifier polymorphic, with the implementation collected into a separate source file maybe, so other modifiers could be added too?

Separating out the code I added to dbPut was already on my TODO list.
Especially after adding ad-hoc index lists as another form of modifier
as you had suggested previously, it became clear that this doesn't
scale. So I will start with this move and then see if/how I can make
address modifiers polymorphic.

> I still want to be able to create a put filter that could accept a JSON string as the value, but this implementation currently hard-codes the dbAddrModifier to only support array filters. My filter doesn't have to use JSON in the PV name modifier, but it does need to do different things when the value comes in and I don't want to have to add that processing code to the dbAccess.c file. Maybe you could even extract the code for the '$' modifier into a separate parse-time routine too?
>
> I'm trying to increase modularity here.

I understand your point. Be warned though that this will increase the
overall complexity, not sure yet how much. Also, and unfortunately,
polymorphism in C is always kind of hazardous and an invitation for
stupid mistakes that should be type errors but can't because the type
checker is too dumb (see the error I recently made with &prec->val
versus prec->val).

>> +/** @brief The address modifier that modifies nothing. */
>> +#define defaultAddrModifier (struct dbAddrModifier){0,1,-1}
>
> Not sure that all our supported C compilers can accept this syntax, but this macro isn't actually being used anywhere in you...

[Ben Franksen (bfrk)]

@Andrew I have addressed most of the issues you raised and made the address modifier API polymorphic.

The parsing is not yet encapsulated. There is a trade-off here: we use the same syntax as a short-cut for filters. Not sure what to do here; perhaps create a separate module just for this parser. I'll have to experiment to see if that results in a better structure.

[Ben Franksen (bfrk)]

Resubmitted this MR to drop obsolete prerequisites.

Unmerged commits

8ca85b3... by Ben Franksen on 2021-04-01

fix (justified) warnings in dbUnitTest.c

aaf6163... by Ben Franksen on 2020-04-17

move array range parsing to arrayRangeModifier module

6aaf531... by Ben Franksen on 2020-04-17

fix API docs in arrayRangeModifier.h

a30969c... by Ben Franksen on 2020-04-16

address modifier API is now polymorphic

There is still only one implementation, the array range modifier, but
alternative ones could be added now. The concrete behavior of the array
range modifier is unchanged and merely hidden in a module. However parsing
is still part of the dbChannel module. Disentangling this part from
dbChannel will require a bit more restructuring.

Since the generic dbAddrModifier now has a small constant size (two
pointers), it makes more sense to embed it fully inside dbChannel.

8f4ed7d... by Ben Franksen on 2020-04-15

factor out dbHandleModifier from dbPutModifier

This is the first step in changing address modifiers to be polymorphic.

f0dbd54... by Ben Franksen on 2020-04-02

add tests for address modifiers in output links

2ca474f... by Ben Franksen on 2020-04-01

add support for array address modifiers on put

This is independent from server-side filters. It only works with the bracket
notation "PV[s:i:e]", and not with the JSON filter syntax. However, we
re-use the function wrapArrayIndices from the array filters, moving it to
the ioc/db layer.

diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/Makefile b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/Makefile
index ebb78e2..e590cc6 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/Makefile
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/Makefile
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@
 
 SRC_DIRS += $(IOCDIR)/db
 
+INC += arrayRangeModifier.h
 INC += callback.h
 INC += dbAccess.h
 INC += dbAccessDefs.h
 INC += dbAddr.h
+INC += dbAddrModifier.h
 INC += dbBkpt.h
 INC += dbCa.h
 INC += dbChannel.h
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ HTMLS += dbCommonRecord.html
 HTMLS += dbCommonInput.html
 HTMLS += dbCommonOutput.html
 
+dbCore_SRCS += arrayRangeModifier.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbLock.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbAccess.c
 dbCore_SRCS += dbBkpt.c
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/arrayRangeModifier.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/arrayRangeModifier.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1feb7bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/arrayRangeModifier.c
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+\*************************************************************************/
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include "arrayRangeModifier.h"
+#include "dbAccessDefs.h"
+#include "dbConvertFast.h"
+#include "dbConvert.h"
+
+typedef struct {
+    long start;
+    long incr;
+    long end;
+} arrayRangeModifier;
+
+long wrapArrayIndices(long *start, const long increment,
+    long *end, const long no_elements)
+{
+    if (*start < 0) *start = no_elements + *start;
+    if (*start < 0) *start = 0;
+    if (*start > no_elements) *start = no_elements;
+
+    if (*end < 0) *end = no_elements + *end;
+    if (*end < 0) *end = 0;
+    if (*end >= no_elements) *end = no_elements - 1;
+
+    if (*end - *start >= 0)
+        return 1 + (*end - *start) / increment;
+    else
+        return 0;
+}
+
+static long handleArrayRangeModifier(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType, const void
+    *pbuffer, long nRequest, void *pvt, long offset, long available)
+{
+    arrayRangeModifier *pmod = (arrayRangeModifier *)pvt;
+    long status = 0;
+    long start = pmod->start;
+    long end = pmod->end;
+    /* Note that this limits the return value to be <= available */
+    long n = wrapArrayIndices(&start, pmod->incr, &end, available);
+
+    assert(pmod->incr > 0);
+    if (pmod->incr > 1) {
+        long i, j;
+        long (*putCvt) (const void *from, void *to, const dbAddr * paddr) =
+            dbFastPutConvertRoutine[dbrType][paddr->field_type];
+        short dbr_size = dbValueSize(dbrType);
+        if (nRequest > n)
+            nRequest = n;
+        for (i = 0, j = (offset + start) % paddr->no_elements; i < nRequest;
+            i++, j = (j + pmod->incr) % paddr->no_elements) {
+            status = putCvt(pbuffer + (i * dbr_size),
+                paddr->pfield + (j * paddr->field_size), paddr);
+        }
+    } else {
+        offset = (offset + start) % paddr->no_elements;
+        if (nRequest > n)
+            nRequest = n;
+        if (paddr->no_elements <= 1) {
+            status = dbFastPutConvertRoutine[dbrType][paddr->field_type] (pbuffer,
+                paddr->pfield, paddr);
+        } else {
+            if (paddr->no_elements < nRequest)
+                nRequest = paddr->no_elements;
+            status = dbPutConvertRoutine[dbrType][paddr->field_type] (paddr,
+                pbuffer, nRequest, paddr->no_elements, offset);
+        }
+    }
+    return status;
+}
+
+long createArrayRangeModifier(dbAddrModifier *pmod, long start, long incr, long end)
+{
+    arrayRangeModifier *pvt =
+        (arrayRangeModifier *) malloc(sizeof(arrayRangeModifier));
+    if (incr <= 0) {
+        return S_db_errArg;
+    }
+    if (!pvt) {
+        return S_db_noMemory;
+    }
+    pvt->start = start;
+    pvt->incr = incr;
+    pvt->end = end;
+    pmod->pvt = pvt;
+    pmod->handle = handleArrayRangeModifier;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void deleteArrayRangeModifier(dbAddrModifier *pmod)
+{
+    if (pmod->pvt)
+        free(pmod->pvt);
+}
+
+long parseArrayRange(dbAddrModifier *pmod, const char **pstring)
+{
+    long start = 0;
+    long end = -1;
+    long incr = 1;
+    long tmp;
+    const char *pcurrent = *pstring;
+    char *pnext;
+    ptrdiff_t advance;
+    long status = 0;
+
+    if (*pcurrent != '[') {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    pcurrent++;
+    /* If no number is present, strtol() returns 0 and sets pnext=pcurrent,
+       else pnext points to the first char after the number */
+    tmp = strtol(pcurrent, &pnext, 0);
+    advance = pnext - pcurrent;
+    if (advance) start = tmp;
+    pcurrent = pnext;
+    if (*pcurrent == ']' && advance) {
+        end = start;
+        goto done;
+    }
+    if (*pcurrent != ':') {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    pcurrent++;
+    tmp = strtol(pcurrent, &pnext, 0);
+    advance = pnext - pcurrent;
+    pcurrent = pnext;
+    if (*pcurrent == ']') {
+        if (advance) end = tmp;
+        goto done;
+    }
+    if (advance) incr = tmp;
+    if (*pcurrent != ':') {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    pcurrent++;
+    tmp = strtol(pcurrent, &pnext, 0);
+    advance = pnext - pcurrent;
+    if (advance) end = tmp;
+    pcurrent = pnext;
+    if (*pcurrent != ']') {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+done:
+    status = createArrayRangeModifier(pmod, start, incr, end);
+    if (status) {
+        return status;
+    }
+    pcurrent++;
+    *pstring = pcurrent;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void getArrayRange(dbAddrModifier *pmod, long *pstart, long *pincr, long *pend)
+{
+    arrayRangeModifier *pvt = (arrayRangeModifier *)pmod->pvt;
+    *pstart = pvt->start;
+    *pincr = pvt->incr;
+    *pend = pvt->end;
+}
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/arrayRangeModifier.h b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/arrayRangeModifier.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e0cd2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/arrayRangeModifier.h
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+\*************************************************************************/
+#ifndef ARRAYRANGEMODIFIER_H
+#define ARRAYRANGEMODIFIER_H
+
+#include "dbAddrModifier.h"
+#include "shareLib.h"
+
+/** @brief The array range address modifier. */
+
+/** @brief Given a number of elements, convert negative start and end indices
+ *         to non-negative ones by counting from the end of the array.
+ *
+ * @param start         Pointer to possibly negative start index
+ * @param increment     Increment
+ * @param end           Pointer to possibly negative end index
+ * @param no_elements   Number of array elements
+ * @return              Final number of elements
+ */
+epicsShareFunc
+long wrapArrayIndices(long *start, long increment, long *end, long no_elements);
+
+/** @brief Create an array range modifier from start index, increment, and end index
+ *
+ * @param pmod          Pointer to address modifier (user allocated)
+ * @param start         Start index (possibly negative)
+ * @param incr          Increment (must be positive)
+ * @param end           End index (possibly negative)
+ * @return              Status
+ */
+epicsShareFunc
+long createArrayRangeModifier(dbAddrModifier *pmod, long start, long incr, long end);
+
+/** @brief Alternative creation function that parses the data from a string.
+ *
+ * If successful, advances 'pstring' to point after the recognized address modifier.
+ *
+ * @param pmod          Pointer to uninitialized address modifier (user allocated)
+ * @param pstring       Pointer to string to parse (in/out)
+ * @return              0 (success) or -1 (failure)
+ */
+epicsShareFunc
+long parseArrayRange(dbAddrModifier *pmod, const char **pstring);
+
+/** @brief Extract the private data
+ *
+ * The 'pmod' argument must point to a valid array range address modifier.
+ * The other aruments must point to appropriately sized storage.
+ *
+ * @param pmod          Pointer to uninitialized address modifier (user allocated)
+ * @param pstart        Start index (out)
+ * @param pincr         Increment (out)
+ * @param pend          End index (out)
+ */
+epicsShareFunc
+void getArrayRange(dbAddrModifier *pmod, long *pstart, long *pincr, long *pend);
+
+/** @brief Free private memory associated with an array range modifier
+ *
+ * Note this does not free 'pmod' which is always user allocated.
+ *
+ * @param pmod          Pointer to address modifier (user allocated)
+ */
+epicsShareFunc
+void deleteArrayRangeModifier(dbAddrModifier *pmod);
+
+#endif /* ARRAYRANGEMODIFIER_H */
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
index bac208f..52169c0 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "callback.h"
 #include "dbAccessDefs.h"
 #include "dbAddr.h"
+#include "dbAddrModifier.h"
 #include "dbBase.h"
 #include "dbBkpt.h"
 #include "dbCommonPvt.h"
@@ -1225,6 +1226,12 @@ cleanup:
 long dbPutField(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
     const void *pbuffer, long nRequest)
 {
+    return dbPutFieldModifier(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest, NULL);
+}
+
+long dbPutFieldModifier(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
+    const void *pbuffer, long nRequest, dbAddrModifier *pmod)
+{
     long        status = 0;
     long        special  = paddr->special;
     dbFldDes    *pfldDes = paddr->pfldDes;
@@ -1242,7 +1249,7 @@ long dbPutField(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
         return dbPutFieldLink(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest);
 
     dbScanLock(precord);
-    status = dbPut(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest);
+    status = dbPutModifier(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest, pmod);
     if (status == 0) {
         if (paddr->pfield == &precord->proc ||
             (pfldDes->process_passive &&
@@ -1296,8 +1303,13 @@ static long putAcks(DBADDR *paddr, const void *pbuffer, long nRequest,
     return 0;
 }
 
-long dbPut(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
-    const void *pbuffer, long nRequest)
+long dbPut(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType, const void *pbuffer, long nRequest)
+{
+    return dbPutModifier(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest, NULL);
+}
+
+long dbPutModifier(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
+    const void *pbuffer, long nRequest, dbAddrModifier *pmod)
 {
     dbCommon *precord = paddr->precord;
     short field_type  = paddr->field_type;
@@ -1306,6 +1318,7 @@ long dbPut(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
     void *pfieldsave  = paddr->pfield;
     rset *prset = dbGetRset(paddr);
     long status = 0;
+    long available_no_elements = no_elements;
     long offset;
     dbFldDes *pfldDes;
     int isValueField;
@@ -1332,25 +1345,33 @@ long dbPut(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
 
     if (paddr->pfldDes->special == SPC_DBADDR &&
         prset && prset->get_array_info) {
-        long dummy;
 
-        status = prset->get_array_info(paddr, &dummy, &offset);
+        status = prset->get_array_info(paddr, &available_no_elements, &offset);
         /* paddr->pfield may be modified */
         if (status) goto done;
-        if (no_elements < nRequest)
-            nRequest = no_elements;
-        status = dbPutConvertRoutine[dbrType][field_type](paddr, pbuffer,
-            nRequest, no_elements, offset);
-        /* update array info */
-        if (!status && prset->put_array_info)
-            status = prset->put_array_info(paddr, nRequest);
+    } else
+        offset = 0;
+
+    if (pmod && pmod->handle && pmod->pvt) {
+        status = pmod->handle(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest,
+            pmod->pvt, offset, available_no_elements);
     } else {
-        if (nRequest < 1) {
-            recGblSetSevr(precord, LINK_ALARM, INVALID_ALARM);
-        } else {
+        if (no_elements <= 1) {
             status = dbFastPutConvertRoutine[dbrType][field_type](pbuffer,
                 paddr->pfield, paddr);
             nRequest = 1;
+        } else {
+            if (no_elements < nRequest)
+                nRequest = no_elements;
+            status = dbPutConvertRoutine[dbrType][field_type](paddr, pbuffer,
+                nRequest, no_elements, offset);
+        }
+
+        /* update array info unless writing failed */
+        if (!status &&
+            paddr->pfldDes->special == SPC_DBADDR &&
+            prset && prset->put_array_info) {
+            status = prset->put_array_info(paddr, nRequest);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
index f2cf091..45e9f6e 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@
 
 #include "dbBase.h"
 #include "dbAddr.h"
+#include "dbAddrModifier.h"
 #include "recSup.h"
+#include "db_field_log.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -247,11 +249,19 @@ epicsShareFunc long dbGetField(
 epicsShareFunc long dbGet(
     struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,void *pbuffer,long *options,
     long *nRequest,void *pfl);
+
 epicsShareFunc long dbPutField(
     struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nRequest);
 epicsShareFunc long dbPut(
     struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nRequest);
 
+epicsShareFunc long dbPutFieldModifier(
+    struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nRequest,
+    dbAddrModifier *pmod);
+epicsShareFunc long dbPutModifier(
+    struct dbAddr *,short dbrType,const void *pbuffer,long nRequest,
+    dbAddrModifier *pmod);
+
 typedef void(*SPC_ASCALLBACK)(struct dbCommon *);
 /*dbSpcAsRegisterCallback called by access security */
 epicsShareFunc void dbSpcAsRegisterCallback(SPC_ASCALLBACK func);
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAddrModifier.h b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAddrModifier.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dcc3c86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAddrModifier.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+\*************************************************************************/
+#ifndef DBADDRMODIFIER_H
+#define DBADDRMODIFIER_H
+
+#include "dbAddr.h"
+
+/** @brief Generic API for address modifiers. */
+
+/** @brief Type of functions that handle an address modifier.
+ *
+ * This function should write the value in 'pbuffer' to the target 'pAddr',
+ * according to the number of requested elements 'nRequest', the requested type
+ * 'dbrType', and the address modifier private data 'pvt'. It may also take
+ * into account the actual number of elements 'available' in the target, and
+ * the 'offset', both of which usually result from a previous call to
+ * 'get_array_info'.
+ * The targeted record must be locked. Furthermore, the lock must not be given
+ * up between the call to 'get_array_info' and call to this function, otherwise
+ * 'offset' and 'available' may be out of sync.
+ *
+ * @param paddr         Target (field) address
+ * @param dbrType       Requested (element) type
+ * @param pbuffer       Data requested to be written
+ * @param nRequest      Number of elements in pbuffer
+ * @param pvt           Private modifier data
+ * @param offset        Current offset in the target field
+ * @param available     Current number of elements in the target field
+ * @return              Status
+ */
+typedef long dbHandleAddrModifier(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
+    const void *pbuffer, long nRequest, void *pvt, long offset,
+    long available);
+
+/** @brief Structure of an address modifier.
+ *
+ * This will normally be allocated by user code. An address modifier
+ * implementation should supply a function to create the private data 'pvt'
+ * and initialize 'handle' with a function to handle the modifier.
+ */
+typedef struct {
+    void *pvt;                      /** @brief Private modifier data */
+    dbHandleAddrModifier *handle;   /** @brief Function to handle the modifier */
+} dbAddrModifier;
+
+#endif /* DBADDRMODIFIER_H */
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c
index c71d842..a9eb4e2 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "yajl_parse.h"
 
 #define epicsExportSharedSymbols
+#include "arrayRangeModifier.h"
 #include "dbAccessDefs.h"
 #include "dbBase.h"
 #include "dbChannel.h"
@@ -349,75 +350,27 @@ if (Func) { \
     if (result != parse_continue) goto failure; \
 }
 
-static long parseArrayRange(dbChannel* chan, const char *pname, const char **ppnext) {
-    epicsInt32 start = 0;
-    epicsInt32 end = -1;
-    epicsInt32 incr = 1;
-    epicsInt32 l;
-    char *pnext;
-    ptrdiff_t exist;
+static long createArrayRangeFilter(dbChannel* chan) {
+    long start, incr, end;
     chFilter *filter;
     const chFilterPlugin *plug;
     parse_result result;
-    long status = 0;
-
-    /* If no number is present, strtol() returns 0 and sets pnext=pname,
-       else pnext points to the first char after the number */
-    pname++;
-    l = strtol(pname, &pnext, 0);
-    exist = pnext - pname;
-    if (exist) start = l;
-    pname = pnext;
-    if (*pname == ']' && exist) {
-        end = start;
-        goto insertplug;
-    }
-    if (*pname != ':') {
-        status = S_dbLib_fieldNotFound;
-        goto finish;
-    }
-    pname++;
-    l = strtol(pname, &pnext, 0);
-    exist = pnext - pname;
-    pname = pnext;
-    if (*pname == ']') {
-        if (exist) end = l;
-        goto insertplug;
-    }
-    if (exist) incr = l;
-    if (*pname != ':') {
-        status = S_dbLib_fieldNotFound;
-        goto finish;
-    }
-    pname++;
-    l = strtol(pname, &pnext, 0);
-    exist = pnext - pname;
-    if (exist) end = l;
-    pname = pnext;
-    if (*pname != ']') {
-        status = S_dbLib_fieldNotFound;
-        goto finish;
-    }
-
-    insertplug:
-    pname++;
-    *ppnext = pname;
 
     plug = dbFindFilter("arr", 3);
     if (!plug) {
-        status = S_dbLib_fieldNotFound;
-        goto finish;
+        /* "arr" plugin not found, this is not an error! */
+        return 0;
     }
 
     filter = freeListCalloc(chFilterFreeList);
     if (!filter) {
-        status = S_db_noMemory;
-        goto finish;
+        return S_db_noMemory;
     }
     filter->chan = chan;
     filter->plug = plug;
     filter->puser = NULL;
 
+    getArrayRange(&chan->addrModifier, &start, &incr, &end);
     TRY(filter->plug->fif->parse_start, (filter));
     TRY(filter->plug->fif->parse_start_map, (filter));
     if (start != 0) {
@@ -438,12 +391,9 @@ static long parseArrayRange(dbChannel* chan, const char *pname, const char **ppn
     ellAdd(&chan->filters, &filter->list_node);
     return 0;
 
-    failure:
+failure:
     freeListFree(chFilterFreeList, filter);
-    status = S_dbLib_fieldNotFound;
-
-    finish:
-    return status;
+    return S_dbLib_fieldNotFound;
 }
 
 dbChannel * dbChannelCreate(const char *name)
@@ -481,6 +431,8 @@ dbChannel * dbChannelCreate(const char *name)
         goto finish;
 
     /* Handle field modifiers */
+    chan->addrModifier.pvt = NULL;
+    chan->addrModifier.handle = NULL;
     if (*pname) {
         short dbfType = paddr->field_type;
 
@@ -505,12 +457,15 @@ dbChannel * dbChannelCreate(const char *name)
             pname++;
         }
 
-        if (*pname == '[') {
-            status = parseArrayRange(chan, pname, &pname);
+        /* Try to recognize an array range expression */
+        if (parseArrayRange(&chan->addrModifier, &pname)==0) {
+            status = createArrayRangeFilter(chan);
             if (status) goto finish;
         }
 
         /* JSON may follow */
+        /* Note that chf_parse issues error messages if it fails,
+        which is why we have to check for the opening brace here. */
         if (*pname == '{') {
             status = chf_parse(chan, &pname);
             if (status) goto finish;
@@ -655,13 +610,15 @@ long dbChannelGetField(dbChannel *chan, short dbrType, void *pbuffer,
 long dbChannelPut(dbChannel *chan, short type, const void *pbuffer,
         long nRequest)
 {
-    return dbPut(&chan->addr, type, pbuffer, nRequest);
+    return dbPutModifier(&chan->addr, type, pbuffer, nRequest,
+        &chan->addrModifier);
 }
 
 long dbChannelPutField(dbChannel *chan, short type, const void *pbuffer,
         long nRequest)
 {
-    return dbPutField(&chan->addr, type, pbuffer, nRequest);
+    return dbPutFieldModifier(&chan->addr, type, pbuffer, nRequest,
+        &chan->addrModifier);
 }
 
 void dbChannelShow(dbChannel *chan, int level, const unsigned short indent)
@@ -715,6 +672,7 @@ void dbChannelDelete(dbChannel *chan)
         freeListFree(chFilterFreeList, filter);
     }
     free((char *) chan->name);
+    deleteArrayRangeModifier(&chan->addrModifier);
     freeListFree(dbChannelFreeList, chan);
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h
index ec86e9e..60fbb9d 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbChannel.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "epicsTypes.h"
 #include "errMdef.h"
 #include "db_field_log.h"
+#include "dbAddrModifier.h"
 #include "dbEvent.h"
 #include "dbCoreAPI.h"
 
@@ -54,6 +55,8 @@ typedef struct chFilter chFilter;
 typedef struct dbChannel {
     const char *name;
     dbAddr addr;              /* address structure for record/field */
+    dbAddrModifier addrModifier;
+                              /* optional: which indices are targeted */
     long  final_no_elements;  /* final number of elements (arrays) */
     short final_field_size;   /* final size of element */
     short final_type;         /* final type of database field */
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c
index b281314..fe7c372 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c
@@ -364,9 +364,8 @@ static long dbDbPutValue(struct link *plink, short dbrType,
     struct pv_link *ppv_link = &plink->value.pv_link;
     dbChannel *chan = linkChannel(plink);
     struct dbCommon *psrce = plink->precord;
-    DBADDR *paddr = &chan->addr;
     dbCommon *pdest = dbChannelRecord(chan);
-    long status = dbPut(paddr, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest);
+    long status = dbChannelPut(chan, dbrType, pbuffer, nRequest);
 
     recGblInheritSevr(ppv_link->pvlMask & pvlOptMsMode, pdest, psrce->nsta,
         psrce->nsev);
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbUnitTest.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbUnitTest.c
index 0b40d92..1dd4909 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbUnitTest.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbUnitTest.c
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ done:
 void testdbPutArrFieldOk(const char* pv, short dbrType, unsigned long count, const void *pbuf)
 {
     dbChannel *chan = dbChannelCreate(pv);
-    long status;
+    long status = 0;
 
     if(!chan || (status=dbChannelOpen(chan))) {
         testFail("Channel error (%p, %ld) : %s", chan, status, pv);
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ void testdbGetArrFieldEqual(const char* pv, short dbfType, long nRequest, unsign
     const long vSize = dbValueSize(dbfType);
     const long nStore = vSize * nRequest;
     long status = S_dbLib_recNotFound;
-    char *gbuf, *gstore;
+    char *gbuf, *gstore = NULL;
     const char *pbuf = pbufraw;
 
     if(!chan || (status=dbChannelOpen(chan))) {
diff --git a/modules/database/src/std/filters/arr.c b/modules/database/src/std/filters/arr.c
index ffe3fce..ed42c67 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/std/filters/arr.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/std/filters/arr.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
+#include "arrayRangeModifier.h"
 #include "chfPlugin.h"
 #include "dbAccessDefs.h"
 #include "dbExtractArray.h"
@@ -74,23 +75,6 @@ static void freeArray(db_field_log *pfl)
     }
 }
 
-static long wrapArrayIndices(long *start, const long increment, long *end,
-    const long no_elements)
-{
-    if (*start < 0) *start = no_elements + *start;
-    if (*start < 0) *start = 0;
-    if (*start > no_elements) *start = no_elements;
-
-    if (*end < 0) *end = no_elements + *end;
-    if (*end < 0) *end = 0;
-    if (*end >= no_elements) *end = no_elements - 1;
-
-    if (*end - *start >= 0)
-        return 1 + (*end - *start) / increment;
-    else
-        return 0;
-}
-
 static db_field_log* filter(void* pvt, dbChannel *chan, db_field_log *pfl)
 {
     myStruct *my = (myStruct*) pvt;
diff --git a/modules/database/test/std/rec/Makefile b/modules/database/test/std/rec/Makefile
index e8c5464..71884b4 100644
--- a/modules/database/test/std/rec/Makefile
+++ b/modules/database/test/std/rec/Makefile
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ USR_CPPFLAGS += -DUSE_TYPED_DSET
 
 TESTLIBRARY = dbRecStdTest
 
+dbRecStdTest_SRCS += arroutRecord.c
 dbRecStdTest_SRCS += asTestLib.c
 dbRecStdTest_LIBS += dbRecStd dbCore ca Com
 
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ PROD_LIBS = dbRecStdTest dbRecStd dbCore ca Com
 TARGETS += $(COMMON_DIR)/recTestIoc.dbd
 DBDDEPENDS_FILES += recTestIoc.dbd$(DEP)
 recTestIoc_DBD = base.dbd
+recTestIoc_DBD += arroutRecord.dbd
 TESTFILES += $(COMMON_DIR)/recTestIoc.dbd
 
 testHarness_SRCS += recTestIoc_registerRecordDeviceDriver.cpp
@@ -166,6 +168,13 @@ testHarness_SRCS += linkFilterTest.c
 TESTFILES += ../linkFilterTest.db
 TESTS += linkFilterTest
 
+TESTPROD_HOST += addrModifierTest
+addrModifierTest_SRCS += addrModifierTest.c
+addrModifierTest_SRCS += recTestIoc_registerRecordDeviceDriver.cpp
+testHarness_SRCS += addrModifierTest.c
+TESTFILES += ../addrModifierTest.db
+TESTS += addrModifierTest
+
 # dbHeader* is only a compile test
 # no need to actually run
 TESTPROD += dbHeaderTest
@@ -199,5 +208,7 @@ endif
 
 include $(TOP)/configure/RULES
 
+arroutRecord$(DEP): $(COMMON_DIR)/arroutRecord.h
+
 rtemsTestData.c : $(TESTFILES) $(TOOLS)/epicsMakeMemFs.pl
 	$(PERL) $(TOOLS)/epicsMakeMemFs.pl $@ epicsRtemsFSImage $(TESTFILES)
diff --git a/modules/database/test/std/rec/addrModifierTest.c b/modules/database/test/std/rec/addrModifierTest.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d555b91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/test/std/rec/addrModifierTest.c
@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* Copyright (c) 2020 Dirk Zimoch
+* EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+\*************************************************************************/
+
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "dbAccess.h"
+#include "devSup.h"
+#include "alarm.h"
+#include "dbUnitTest.h"
+#include "errlog.h"
+#include "epicsThread.h"
+
+#include "longinRecord.h"
+
+#include "testMain.h"
+
+void recTestIoc_registerRecordDeviceDriver(struct dbBase *);
+
+static void startTestIoc(const char *dbfile)
+{
+    testdbPrepare();
+    testdbReadDatabase("recTestIoc.dbd", NULL, NULL);
+    recTestIoc_registerRecordDeviceDriver(pdbbase);
+    testdbReadDatabase(dbfile, NULL, NULL);
+
+    eltc(0);
+    testIocInitOk();
+    eltc(1);
+}
+
+struct pv {
+    const char *name;
+    long count;
+    double values[4];
+};
+
+static void expectProcSuccess(struct pv *pv)
+{
+    char fieldname[20];
+    testdbPutFieldOk("reset.PROC", DBF_LONG, 1);
+    testDiag("expecting success from %s", pv->name);
+    sprintf(fieldname, "%s.PROC", pv->name);
+    testdbPutFieldOk(fieldname, DBF_LONG, 1);
+    sprintf(fieldname, "%s.SEVR", pv->name);
+    testdbGetFieldEqual(fieldname, DBF_LONG, NO_ALARM);
+    sprintf(fieldname, "%s.STAT", pv->name);
+    testdbGetFieldEqual(fieldname, DBF_LONG, NO_ALARM);
+}
+
+#if 0
+static void expectProcFailure(struct pv *pv)
+{
+    char fieldname[20];
+    testdbPutFieldOk("reset.PROC", DBF_LONG, 1);
+    testDiag("expecting failure S_db_badField %#x from %s", S_db_badField, pv->name);
+    sprintf(fieldname, "%s.PROC", pv->name);
+    testdbPutFieldFail(S_db_badField, fieldname, DBF_LONG, 1);
+    sprintf(fieldname, "%s.SEVR", pv->name);
+    testdbGetFieldEqual(fieldname, DBF_LONG, INVALID_ALARM);
+    sprintf(fieldname, "%s.STAT", pv->name);
+    testdbGetFieldEqual(fieldname, DBF_LONG, LINK_ALARM);
+}
+#endif
+
+static double initial[] = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9};
+static double buf[10];
+
+static void changeRange(struct pv *pv, long start, long incr, long end)
+{
+    char linkstring[60];
+    char pvstring[10];
+
+    if (incr)
+        sprintf(linkstring, "tgt.[%ld:%ld:%ld]", start, incr, end);
+    else if (end)
+        sprintf(linkstring, "tgt.[%ld:%ld]", start, end);
+    else
+        sprintf(linkstring, "tgt.[%ld]", start);
+    testDiag("modifying %s.OUT link: %s", pv->name, linkstring);
+    sprintf(pvstring, "%s.OUT", pv->name);
+    testdbPutFieldOk(pvstring, DBF_STRING, linkstring);
+}
+
+static void expectRange(double *values, long start, long incr, long end)
+{
+    int i,j;
+    if (!incr)
+        incr = 1;
+    for (i=0; i<10; i++)
+        buf[i] = initial[i];
+    for (i=0, j=start; j<=end; i++, j+=incr)
+        buf[j] = values[i];
+    testdbGetFieldEqual("tgt.NORD", DBF_LONG, 8);
+    testdbGetFieldEqual("tgt.SEVR", DBF_LONG, NO_ALARM);
+    testdbGetFieldEqual("tgt.STAT", DBF_LONG, NO_ALARM);
+    testdbGetArrFieldEqual("tgt.VAL", DBF_DOUBLE, 10, 8, buf);
+}
+
+#if 0
+static void expectEmptyArray(void)
+{
+    /* empty arrays are now allowed at the moment */
+    testDiag("expecting empty array");
+    testdbGetFieldEqual("tgt.NORD", DBF_LONG, 0);
+}
+#endif
+
+struct pv ao_pv = {"ao",1,{20,0,0,0}};
+struct pv src_pv = {"src",4,{30,40,50,60}};
+struct pv *ao = &ao_pv;
+struct pv *src = &src_pv;
+
+static double pini_values[] = {20,30,40,50};
+
+#define expectEmptyRange() expectRange(0,0,0,-1)
+
+MAIN(addrModifierTest)
+{
+    testPlan(205);
+    startTestIoc("addrModifierTest.db");
+
+    testdbGetFieldEqual("src.NORD", DBF_LONG, 4);
+    testDiag("PINI");
+    expectRange(pini_values,2,1,5);
+
+    testDiag("after processing");
+    testdbPutFieldOk("ao.PROC", DBF_LONG, 1);
+    testdbPutFieldOk("src.PROC", DBF_LONG, 1);
+    expectRange(pini_values,2,1,5);
+
+    testDiag("after processing target record");
+    testdbPutFieldOk("tgt.PROC", DBF_LONG, 1);
+    expectRange(pini_values,2,1,5);
+
+    testDiag("modify range");
+
+    changeRange(ao,3,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectRange(ao->values,3,1,3);
+
+    changeRange(src,4,0,7);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectRange(src->values,4,1,7);
+
+    testDiag("put more than available");
+
+    changeRange(ao,3,0,6);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectRange(ao->values,3,1,3); /* clipped range */
+
+    changeRange(src,3,0,9);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectRange(src->values,3,1,6); /* clipped range */
+
+    testDiag("backward range");
+
+    changeRange(ao,5,0,3);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    changeRange(src,5,0,3);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    testDiag("step 2");
+
+    changeRange(ao,1,2,6);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectRange(ao->values,1,1,1); /* clipped range */
+
+    changeRange(src,1,2,6);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectRange(src->values,1,2,5);
+
+    testDiag("range start beyond tgt.NORD");
+
+    changeRange(ao,8,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    changeRange(src,8,0,9);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    testDiag("range end beyond tgt.NORD");
+
+    changeRange(ao,3,0,9);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectRange(ao->values,3,1,3); /* clipped range */
+
+    changeRange(src,3,0,9);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectRange(src->values,3,1,6); /* clipped range */
+
+    testDiag("range start beyond tgt.NELM");
+
+    changeRange(ao,11,0,12);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    changeRange(src,11,0,12);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    testDiag("range end beyond tgt.NELM");
+
+    changeRange(src,4,0,12);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectRange(src->values,4,1,7); /* clipped range */
+
+    testDiag("single value beyond tgt.NORD");
+
+    changeRange(ao,8,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    changeRange(src,8,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    testDiag("single value");
+
+    changeRange(ao,5,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectRange(ao->values,5,1,5);
+
+    changeRange(src,5,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectRange(src->values,5,1,5);
+
+    testDiag("single values beyond tgt.NELM");
+
+    changeRange(ao,12,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(ao);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    changeRange(src,12,0,0);
+    expectProcSuccess(src);
+    expectEmptyRange();
+
+    testIocShutdownOk();
+    testdbCleanup();
+    return testDone();
+}
diff --git a/modules/database/test/std/rec/addrModifierTest.db b/modules/database/test/std/rec/addrModifierTest.db
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed28a80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/test/std/rec/addrModifierTest.db
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+record(arrout, "tgt") {
+    field(NELM, "10")
+    field(FTVL, "SHORT")
+    field(DOL, [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
+    field(PINI, "YES")
+}
+record(ao, "ao") {
+    field(OUT, "tgt.[2]")
+    field(DOL, 20)
+    field(PINI, "YES")
+}
+record(arrout, "src") {
+    field(NELM, "5")
+    field(FTVL, "DOUBLE")
+    field(DOL, [30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0])
+    field(OUT, "tgt.[3:5]")
+    field(PINI, "YES")
+}
+record(arrout, "reset") {
+    field(NELM, "10")
+    field(FTVL, "SHORT")
+    field(DOL, [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7])
+    field(OUT, "tgt PP")
+}
diff --git a/modules/database/test/std/rec/arroutRecord.c b/modules/database/test/std/rec/arroutRecord.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61c7680
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/test/std/rec/arroutRecord.c
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+/*************************************************************************\
+* Copyright (c) 2010 Brookhaven National Laboratory.
+* Copyright (c) 2010 Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin
+*     fuer Materialien und Energie GmbH.
+* Copyright (c) 2008 UChicago Argonne LLC, as Operator of Argonne
+*     National Laboratory.
+* Copyright (c) 2002 The Regents of the University of California, as
+*     Operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
+* EPICS BASE is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+* in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+\*************************************************************************/
+
+/* arroutRecord.c - minimal array output record for test purposes: no processing */
+
+/* adapted from: arrRecord.c
+ *
+ *  Author: Ralph Lange <[e-mail]>
+ *
+ * vaguely implemented like parts of recWaveform.c by Bob Dalesio
+ *
+ */
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include "alarm.h"
+#include "epicsPrint.h"
+#include "dbAccess.h"
+#include "dbEvent.h"
+#include "dbFldTypes.h"
+#include "recSup.h"
+#include "recGbl.h"
+#include "cantProceed.h"
+#define GEN_SIZE_OFFSET
+#include "arroutRecord.h"
+#undef  GEN_SIZE_OFFSET
+#include "epicsExport.h"
+
+/* Create RSET - Record Support Entry Table*/
+#define report NULL
+#define initialize NULL
+static long init_record(struct dbCommon *, int);
+static long process(struct dbCommon *);
+#define special NULL
+#define get_value NULL
+static long cvt_dbaddr(DBADDR *);
+static long get_array_info(DBADDR *, long *, long *);
+static long put_array_info(DBADDR *, long);
+#define get_units NULL
+#define get_precision NULL
+#define get_enum_str NULL
+#define get_enum_strs NULL
+#define put_enum_str NULL
+#define get_graphic_double NULL
+#define get_control_double NULL
+#define get_alarm_double NULL
+
+rset arroutRSET = {
+        RSETNUMBER,
+        report,
+        initialize,
+        init_record,
+        process,
+        special,
+        get_value,
+        cvt_dbaddr,
+        get_array_info,
+        put_array_info,
+        get_units,
+        get_precision,
+        get_enum_str,
+        get_enum_strs,
+        put_enum_str,
+        get_graphic_double,
+        get_control_double,
+        get_alarm_double
+};
+epicsExportAddress(rset, arroutRSET);
+
+static long init_record(struct dbCommon *pcommon, int pass)
+{
+    struct arroutRecord *prec = (struct arroutRecord *)pcommon;
+
+    if (pass == 0) {
+        if (prec->nelm <= 0)
+            prec->nelm = 1;
+        if (prec->ftvl > DBF_ENUM)
+            prec->ftvl = DBF_UCHAR;
+        prec->val = callocMustSucceed(prec->nelm, dbValueSize(prec->ftvl),
+            "arr calloc failed");
+        return 0;
+    } else {
+        /* copied from devWfSoft.c */
+        long nelm = prec->nelm;
+        long status = dbLoadLinkArray(&prec->dol, prec->ftvl, prec->val, &nelm);
+
+        if (!status && nelm > 0) {
+            prec->nord = nelm;
+            prec->udf = FALSE;
+        }
+        else
+            prec->nord = 0;
+        return status;
+    }
+}
+
+static long process(struct dbCommon *pcommon)
+{
+    struct arroutRecord *prec = (struct arroutRecord *)pcommon;
+    long status = 0;
+
+    prec->pact = TRUE;
+    /* read DOL */
+    if (!dbLinkIsConstant(&prec->dol)) {
+        long nReq = prec->nelm;
+
+        status = dbGetLink(&prec->dol, prec->ftvl, prec->val, 0, &nReq);
+        if (status) {
+            recGblSetSevr(prec, LINK_ALARM, INVALID_ALARM);
+        } else {
+            prec->nord = nReq;
+        }
+    }
+    /* soft "device support": write OUT */
+    status = dbPutLink(&prec->out, prec->ftvl, prec->val, prec->nord);
+    if (status) {
+        recGblSetSevr(prec, LINK_ALARM, INVALID_ALARM);
+    }
+    recGblGetTimeStamp(prec);
+    recGblResetAlarms(prec);
+    recGblFwdLink(prec);
+    prec->pact = FALSE;
+    return status;
+}
+
+static long cvt_dbaddr(DBADDR *paddr)
+{
+    arroutRecord *prec = (arroutRecord *) paddr->precord;
+    int fieldIndex = dbGetFieldIndex(paddr);
+
+    if (fieldIndex == arroutRecordVAL) {
+        paddr->pfield = prec->val;
+        paddr->no_elements = prec->nelm;
+        paddr->field_type = prec->ftvl;
+        paddr->field_size = dbValueSize(prec->ftvl);
+        paddr->dbr_field_type = prec->ftvl;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static long get_array_info(DBADDR *paddr, long *no_elements, long *offset)
+{
+    arroutRecord *prec = (arroutRecord *) paddr->precord;
+
+    *no_elements = prec->nord;
+    *offset = prec->off;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static long put_array_info(DBADDR *paddr, long nNew)
+{
+    arroutRecord *prec = (arroutRecord *) paddr->precord;
+
+    prec->nord = nNew;
+    if (prec->nord > prec->nelm)
+        prec->nord = prec->nelm;
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/modules/database/test/std/rec/arroutRecord.dbd b/modules/database/test/std/rec/arroutRecord.dbd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c99e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/database/test/std/rec/arroutRecord.dbd
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+include "menuGlobal.dbd"
+include "menuConvert.dbd"
+include "menuScan.dbd"
+recordtype(arrout) {
+  include "dbCommon.dbd"
+  field(VAL, DBF_NOACCESS) {
+    prompt("Value")
+    special(SPC_DBADDR)
+    pp(TRUE)
+    extra("void *val")
+  }
+  field(OUT, DBF_OUTLINK) {
+    prompt("Output Link")
+  }
+  field(NELM, DBF_ULONG) {
+    prompt("Number of Elements")
+    special(SPC_NOMOD)
+    initial("1")
+  }
+  field(FTVL, DBF_MENU) {
+    prompt("Field Type of Value")
+    special(SPC_NOMOD)
+    menu(menuFtype)
+  }
+  field(NORD, DBF_ULONG) {
+    prompt("Number elements read")
+    special(SPC_NOMOD)
+  }
+  field(OFF, DBF_ULONG) {
+    prompt("Offset into array")
+  }
+  field(DOL, DBF_INLINK) {
+    prompt("Desired Output Link")
+  }
+}