diff -abBruN orocos-toolchain-2.2.0.orig/rtt/rtt/TaskContext.hpp orocos-toolchain-2.2.0.mod/rtt/rtt/TaskContext.hpp
--- orocos-toolchain-2.2.0.orig/rtt/rtt/TaskContext.hpp	2010-12-08 22:45:32.000000000 +0100
+++ orocos-toolchain-2.2.0.mod/rtt/rtt/TaskContext.hpp	2011-01-26 09:29:22.138152106 +0100
@@ -365,13 +365,27 @@
         }
 
         /**
+         * Ask if we can get a previously added operation for
+         * use in a C++ OperationCaller object.
+         *
+         * @param name The name of the operation to retrieve.
+         *
+         * @return true if it could be found, false otherwise.
+         */
+        bool hasOperation(const std::string& name)
+        {
+          return (tcservice->getOperation(name) != 0);
+        }
+
+        /**
          * Get a previously added operation for
          * use in a C++ OperationCaller object. Store the result of this
          * function in a OperationCaller<\a Signature> object.
          *
          * @param name The name of the operation to retrieve.
          *
-         * @return true if it could be found, false otherwise.
+         * @return the OperationCaller<\a Signature> object if it could 
+         *             be found, 0 otherwise.
          */
         OperationInterfacePart* getOperation( std::string name )
         {
@@ -433,6 +447,21 @@
         }
 
         /**
+         * Ask if the attribute exist.
+         *
+         * @param name The name of the attribute to search for.
+         *
+         * @return true if the attribute exists, false if not.
+         *
+         * @see addAttribute to add an Attribute.
+         * @see getAttribute to get an Attribute.
+         */
+        bool hasAttribute(const std::string& name) const
+        {
+            return tcservice->hasAttribute(name);
+        }
+
+        /**
          * Retrieve a Attribute by name. Returns zero if
          * no Attribute by that name exists.
          * @example
@@ -482,6 +511,21 @@
         }
 
         /**
+         * Ask if the property exist.
+         *
+         * @param  name The name of the property to search for.
+         *
+         * @return true if the property exists, false if not.
+         *
+         * @see addProperty to add a Property.
+         * @see getProperty to get a Property.
+         */
+        bool hasProperty(const std::string& name) const
+        {
+            return tcservice->hasProperty(name);
+        }
+
+        /**
          * Get a Property with name \a name.
          *
          * @param  name The name of the property to search for.
@@ -554,6 +598,20 @@
         }
 
         /**
+         * Ask if the port exist.
+         *
+         * @param name The port name.
+         *
+         * @return true if the port exists, false if not.
+         *
+         * @see addPort to add a Port.
+         * @see getPort to get a Port.
+         */
+        bool hasPort(const std::string& name) const {
+            return (ports()->getPort(name) != 0);
+        }
+
+        /**
          * Get a port of this Component.
          * @param name The port name
          * @return a pointer to a port or null if it does not exist.