diff --git a/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.cpp b/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.cpp
index 3991cb7a..2045a495 100644
--- a/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.cpp
+++ b/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.cpp
@@ -104,13 +104,14 @@ PIPropertyStorage PIVariantTypes::IODevice::get() const {
 }
 
 
-PIString PIVariantTypes::IODevice::toString() const {
+PIString PIVariantTypes::IODevice::toPICout() const {
 	PIString s;
-	s << "IODevice(" << prefix << ", ";
+	s << "IODevice(" << prefix << ", mode=";
 	int rwc = 0;
 	if (mode & 1) {s << "r"; ++rwc;}
 	if (mode & 2) {s << "w"; ++rwc;}
 	if (rwc == 1) s << "o";
+	s << ", flags=";
 	if (options != 0) {
 		if (((PIIODevice::DeviceOptions)options)[PIIODevice::BlockingRead])
 			s << " br";
diff --git a/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.h b/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.h
index b0a1b321..bb48c060 100644
--- a/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.h
+++ b/src_main/core/pivarianttypes.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ namespace PIVariantTypes {
 		IODevice();
 		void set(const PIPropertyStorage & ps);
 		PIPropertyStorage get() const;
-		PIString toString() const;
+		PIString toPICout() const;
 		PIString prefix;
 		int mode;	 // PIIODevice::DeviceMode
 		int options; // PIIODevice::DeviceOptions
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ inline PICout operator <<(PICout s, const PIVariantTypes::Color & v) {s.saveCont
 
 inline PIByteArray & operator <<(PIByteArray & s, const PIVariantTypes::IODevice & v) {s << v.prefix << v.mode << v.options << v.props; return s;}
 inline PIByteArray & operator >>(PIByteArray & s, PIVariantTypes::IODevice & v)		  {s >> v.prefix >> v.mode >> v.options >> v.props; return s;}
-inline PICout operator <<(PICout s, const PIVariantTypes::IODevice & v) {s << v.toString(); return s;}
+inline PICout operator <<(PICout s, const PIVariantTypes::IODevice & v) {s << v.toPICout(); return s;}
 
 
 #endif // PIVARIANTYPES_H
diff --git a/src_main/io_devices/pifile.cpp b/src_main/io_devices/pifile.cpp
index 1947b78d..e35f8983 100755
--- a/src_main/io_devices/pifile.cpp
+++ b/src_main/io_devices/pifile.cpp
@@ -313,6 +313,20 @@ void PIFile::configureFromFullPathDevice(const PIString & full_path) {
 }
 
 
+PIPropertyStorage PIFile::constructVariantDevice() const {
+	PIPropertyStorage ret;
+	PIVariantTypes::File f;
+	f.file = path();
+	ret.addProperty("path", f);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+
+void PIFile::configureFromVariantDevice(const PIPropertyStorage & d) {
+	setPath(d.propertyValueByName("path").toString());
+}
+
+
 PIString PIFile::strType(const PIIODevice::DeviceMode type) {
 	switch (type) {
 	case PIIODevice::ReadOnly: return "rb";
diff --git a/src_main/io_devices/pifile.h b/src_main/io_devices/pifile.h
index d7aaa87c..aba6e9b9 100755
--- a/src_main/io_devices/pifile.h
+++ b/src_main/io_devices/pifile.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #define PIFILE_H
 
 #include "piiodevice.h"
+#include "pipropertystorage.h"
 
 
 class PIP_EXPORT PIFile: public PIIODevice
@@ -289,6 +290,8 @@ protected:
 	PIString fullPathPrefix() const {return PIStringAscii("file");}
 	PIString constructFullPathDevice() const;
 	void configureFromFullPathDevice(const PIString & full_path);
+	PIPropertyStorage constructVariantDevice() const;
+	void configureFromVariantDevice(const PIPropertyStorage & d);
 	int readDevice(void * read_to, int max_size);
 	int writeDevice(const void * data, int max_size);
 	bool openDevice();
diff --git a/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.cpp b/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.cpp
index 307cae2f..8f143357 100755
--- a/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.cpp
+++ b/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.cpp
@@ -459,3 +459,4 @@ PIPropertyStorage PIIODevice::constructVariantDevice() const {
 void PIIODevice::configureFromVariantDevice(const PIPropertyStorage & d) {
 	setPath(d.propertyValueByName("path").toString());
 }
+
diff --git a/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.h b/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.h
index 4bb4b461..c1babc5d 100755
--- a/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.h
+++ b/src_main/io_devices/piiodevice.h
@@ -418,5 +418,4 @@ private:
 
 };
 
-
 #endif // PIIODEVICE_H