diff --git a/src/lib/time/display.hpp b/src/lib/time/display.hpp
index 2c829d9fc..27c202da5 100644
--- a/src/lib/time/display.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/time/display.hpp
@@ -34,14 +34,12 @@
 namespace lib {
 namespace time {
   
-
-  /** writes time value, formatted as HH:MM:SS:mmm
-   *  @see lumiera_tmpbuf_print_time  */
-  inline std::ostream&
-  operator<< (std::ostream& os, Time const& t)
-    {
-      return os << std::string(t);
-    }
+  
+   /* === shortcuts for diagnostic output === */
+    
+  /** writes time value, formatted as HH:MM:SS:mmm */
+  inline std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream& os, Time const& t)  { return os << string(t); }
+  inline std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream& os, TCode const& t) { return os << string(t); }
   
   
   
diff --git a/src/lib/time/timecode.hpp b/src/lib/time/timecode.hpp
index f536dac2e..6cc526d79 100644
--- a/src/lib/time/timecode.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/time/timecode.hpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "lib/time/timevalue.hpp"
 #include "lib/time/formats.hpp"
 
+//#include <iostream>
 //#include <boost/operators.hpp>
 #include <string>
 
@@ -48,9 +49,14 @@ namespace time {
     public:
       virtual ~TCode();
       
-      virtual string show()      const   =0;
-      virtual string describe()  const   =0;
-      virtual Time   getTime()   const   =0;
+      operator string()  const { return show(); }
+      string describe()  const { return tcID(); }
+      Time   getTime()   const { return Time(calc()); }
+      
+    protected:
+      virtual string show()     const   =0;
+      virtual string tcID()     const   =0;
+      virtual TimeValue calc()  const   =0;
     };
   
   
@@ -66,6 +72,10 @@ namespace time {
   class FrameNr
     : public TCode
     {
+        
+      virtual string show()     const ;
+      virtual string tcID()     const ;
+      virtual TimeValue calc()  const ;
       
     public:
       FrameNr (QuTime const& quantisedTime);
@@ -82,6 +92,10 @@ namespace time {
     : public TCode
     {
       
+      virtual string show()     const ;
+      virtual string tcID()     const ;
+      virtual TimeValue calc()  const ;
+      
     public:
       SmpteTC (QuTime const& quantisedTime);
       
@@ -100,6 +114,10 @@ namespace time {
     : public TCode
     {
       
+      virtual string show()     const ;
+      virtual string tcID()     const ;
+      virtual TimeValue calc()  const ;
+      
     public:
       HmsTC (QuTime const& quantisedTime);
       
@@ -118,13 +136,20 @@ namespace time {
     : public TCode
     {
       
+      virtual string show()     const ;
+      virtual string tcID()     const ;
+      virtual TimeValue calc()  const ;
+      
     public:
       Secs (QuTime const& quantisedTime);
       
       operator FSecs()  const;
     };
   
+    
+  /** writes time value, formatted as HH:MM:SS:mmm */
   
+
   
 }} // lib::time
 #endif
diff --git a/tests/lib/time/time-quantisation-test.cpp b/tests/lib/time/time-quantisation-test.cpp
index 8ef868412..50d9d9127 100644
--- a/tests/lib/time/time-quantisation-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/lib/time/time-quantisation-test.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
 
 #include "lib/test/run.hpp"
 #include "lib/test/test-helper.hpp"
-#include "lib/time/timequant.hpp"
 #include "proc/asset/meta/time-grid.hpp"
+#include "lib/time/timequant.hpp"
+#include "lib/time/display.hpp"
 #include "lib/util.hpp"
 
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ namespace test{
         {
           cout << timecodeValue.describe() 
                << " time = "<< timecodeValue.getTime() 
-               << " code = "<< timecodeValue.show()
+               << " code = "<< timecodeValue
                << endl;
         }