diff --git a/matlab/TCV/gdat_tcv.m b/matlab/TCV/gdat_tcv.m
index b177db5366a348253725e2c84e30d00a73774ef1..e7ab04f1c2cc6789950a62dce34bfc3af88dbd9c 100644
--- a/matlab/TCV/gdat_tcv.m
+++ b/matlab/TCV/gdat_tcv.m
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ varargout{1}=cell(1,1);
 error_status=1;
 
 % construct main default parameters structure
+% parameters and defaults related to a specific request should be defined in the relevant switch case section
 gdat_params.data_request = '';
 default_machine = 'tcv';
 
@@ -1511,7 +1512,7 @@ elseif strcmp(mapping_for_tcv.method,'switchcase')
     if ~isempty(gdat_data.gdat_params.trialindx) && gdat_data.gdat_params.trialindx < 0
       gdat_data.gdat_params.trialindx = [];
     end
-
+    % specific parameters check and default settings
     if ~isfield(gdat_data.gdat_params,'source') || isempty(gdat_data.gdat_params.source)
       switch data_request_eff
        case 'ec_data'
@@ -1548,6 +1549,10 @@ elseif strcmp(mapping_for_tcv.method,'switchcase')
         end
       end
     end
+    if ~isfield(gdat_data.gdat_params,'ec_inputs') || isempty(gdat_data.gdat_params.ec_inputs) || ~isnumeric(gdat_data.gdat_params.ec_inputs)
+      gdat_data.gdat_params.ec_inputs = 0;
+    end
+    gdat_params.ec_inputs = gdat_data.gdat_params.ec_inputs;
 
     % create structure for icd sources from params and complete with defaults
     source_icd.ec = 'toray';
@@ -1572,32 +1577,41 @@ elseif strcmp(mapping_for_tcv.method,'switchcase')
       ec_help = '';
       % EC
 
-      % fill ec_inputs from write_pgyro
-      [~,time,pgyro,pgyro_ecrh,gyro2launcher,freq2launcher,~,~] = write_pgyro(shot,'doplots',0);
-
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.data = pgyro;
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.t = time;
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.units = 'W';
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.label = 'Power injected per launcher ; last index is total';
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.x = 1:numel(pgyro(1,:));
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.dim = {ec_inputs.pgyro.x, ec_inputs.pgyro.t};
-      launchers_label = cellfun(@num2str, num2cell(1:size(pgyro,2)-1),'UniformOutput',false);
-      launchers_label{end+1} = 'tot';
-      ec_inputs.pgyro.dimunits = {launchers_label, 's'};
-
-      ec_inputs.launchers_active.data = zeros(numel(pgyro_ecrh),1);
-      for ii =1:numel(pgyro_ecrh)
-        if ~isempty(pgyro_ecrh{ii}.data); ec_inputs.launchers_active.data(ii) = 1; end
-      end
-      ec_inputs.launchers_active.label = 'Active launchers in the shot (1:active, 0:inactive)';
+      if gdat_data.gdat_params.ec_inputs
+        % fill ec_inputs from write_pgyro
+        [~,time,pgyro,pgyro_ecrh,gyro2launcher,freq2launcher,~,~] = write_pgyro(shot,'doplots',0);
+
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.data = pgyro;
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.t = time;
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.units = 'W';
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.label = 'Power injected per launcher ; last index is total';
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.x = 1:numel(pgyro(1,:));
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.dim = {ec_inputs.pgyro.x, ec_inputs.pgyro.t};
+        launchers_label = cellfun(@num2str, num2cell(1:size(pgyro,2)-1),'UniformOutput',false);
+        launchers_label{end+1} = 'tot';
+        ec_inputs.pgyro.dimunits = {launchers_label, 's'};
+
+        ec_inputs.launchers_active.data = zeros(numel(pgyro_ecrh),1);
+        for ii =1:numel(pgyro_ecrh)
+          if ~isempty(pgyro_ecrh{ii}.data); ec_inputs.launchers_active.data(ii) = 1; end
+        end
+        ec_inputs.launchers_active.label = 'Active launchers in the shot (1:active, 0:inactive)';
 
-      ec_inputs.gyro2launcher.data = gyro2launcher;
-      ec_inputs.gyro2launcher.label = 'Gyrotron connected to launcher';
+        ec_inputs.gyro2launcher.data = gyro2launcher;
+        ec_inputs.gyro2launcher.label = 'Gyrotron connected to launcher';
 
-      ec_inputs.freq2launcher.data = freq2launcher;
-      ec_inputs.freq2launcher.label = 'Frequency in launcher';
-      ec_inputs.freq2launcher.units = 'Hz';
+        ec_inputs.freq2launcher.data = freq2launcher;
+        ec_inputs.freq2launcher.label = 'Frequency in launcher';
+        ec_inputs.freq2launcher.units = 'Hz';
 
+        ec_inputs.comment = 'ec_inputs loaded from write_pyro(shot)';
+      else
+        ec_inputs.pgyro = [];
+        ec_inputs.launchers_active = [];
+        ec_inputs.gyro2launcher = [];
+        ec_inputs.freq2launcher = [];
+        ec_inputs.comment = 'Run gdat with name-value pair (''ec_inputs'',1) for ec_input information from write_pgyro';
+      end
       gdat_data.ec.ec_inputs = ec_inputs;
 
       % introduce flag to check whether ec_data could be retrieved successfully
@@ -1744,10 +1758,12 @@ elseif strcmp(mapping_for_tcv.method,'switchcase')
           getReport(ME) % without ; to get output
           % try to identify cause of the error
           if ~check_nodes_filled(shot,'toray')
-            if ~any(ec_inputs.launchers_active.data,1)
-              msg = 'write_pyro(shot) found NO active launchers, maybe there was no EC in this shot?';
-            else
-              msg = 'write_pyro(shot) found active launchers, but TORAY nodes are no filled, check hldsi(shot), and (ask to) relaunch TORAY.';
+            if ~isempty(ec_inputs.launchers_active)
+              if ~any(ec_inputs.launchers_active.data,1)
+                msg = 'write_pyro(shot) found NO active launchers, maybe there was no EC in this shot?';
+              else
+                msg = 'write_pyro(shot) found active launchers, but TORAY nodes are not filled, check hldsi(shot), and (ask to) relaunch TORAY.';
+              end
             end
           elseif ~isempty(gdat_data.gdat_params.trialindx)
             msg = 'Is the trial index filled? Check TORAY nodes with hdlsi(shot).';
@@ -3328,19 +3344,25 @@ elseif strcmp(mapping_for_tcv.method,'switchcase')
       end
       return
     end
+    % time_out: times at which to provide output data, if 2 values provided, return all values within that time interval
+    % for xtomo, can only provide a time interval, for radcam, can provide a time_out array on which interpos is computed
     time_interval = [];
     if isfield(gdat_data.gdat_params,'time_out') && ~isempty(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out)
-      if length(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out) == 2
+      if numel(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out) == 2
         time_interval = gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out;
       else
-        if length(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out) == 1
+        if numel(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out) == 1
           % 200ms includes all characteristic time constants
           time_interval = [gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out-0.1 gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out+0.1];
         else
-          time_interval = [min(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out)-0.1 max(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out)+0.1];
+          if strcmp(gdat_data.gdat_params.source,'radcam')
+            time_interval = gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out; % for radcam provide time array on which to do interpos
+          else
+            time_interval = [min(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out)-0.1 max(gdat_data.gdat_params.time_out)+0.1];
+            warning(['Expects a time interval [t1 t2] for ' data_request_eff ' in param time_out, uses [' ...
+                     num2str(time_interval(1)) ',' num2str(time_interval(2)) ']' char(10)])
+          end
         end
-        warning(['Expects a time interval [t1 t2] for ' data_request_eff ' in param time_out, uses [' ...
-                 num2str(time_interval(1)) ',' num2str(time_interval(2)) ']' char(10)])
       end
     end
     % at this stage 2 option for freq, raw data (fast, default), 10kHz or similar (slow)
@@ -3428,11 +3450,41 @@ elseif strcmp(mapping_for_tcv.method,'switchcase')
         gdat_data.x(end+1:end+numel(gdat_data.(gdat_data.gdat_params.camera{i}).x)) = gdat_data.(gdat_data.gdat_params.camera{i}).x;
       end
       sxr = rc_load_diodes(shot,'diag_name',"sxr",'channels',gdat_data.x); % since all cameras with different channel number
+      % for "heavy" signals, can trim it to specified time_interval and/or reduce it to smaller nb points
       if freq_opt == 1
-        gdat_data.data = sxr.data';
-        gdat_data.t = sxr.time;
+        % default, fast/raw time array
+        if ~isempty(time_interval)
+          if numel(time_interval) == 2
+            % extract data within [time_interval(1:2)]
+            ij = find(sxr.time>=time_interval(1) & sxr.time<=time_interval(end));
+            gdat_data.data = sxr.data(ij,:)';
+            gdat_data.t = sxr.time(ij);
+          else
+            % time_out array provided to obtain data, use closest points (since raw data on fast frequency)
+            ij = iround_os(sxr.time,time_interval);
+            gdat_data.data = sxr.data(ij,:)';
+            gdat_data.t = sxr.time(ij);
+          end
+        else
+          % raw data requested (default), no time_out provided
+          gdat_data.data = sxr.data';
+          gdat_data.t = sxr.time;
+        end
       else
-        gdat_data.t = linspace(sxr.time(1),sxr.time(end),round((sxr.time(end)-sxr.time(1))/1e-4));
+        % slower frequency requested (or smoothed interpolation using interpos)
+        if ~isempty(time_interval)
+          if numel(time_interval) == 2
+            % construct a default 40kHz time base within time_interval(1:2)
+            gdat_data.t = linspace(time_interval(1),time_interval(2),round((time_interval(2)-time_interval(1))/0.25e-4));
+          else
+            % time array provided
+            gdat_data.t = time_interval;
+          end
+        else
+          % construct a default 40kHz time base within full raw time interval
+          gdat_data.t = linspace(sxr.time(1),sxr.time(end),round((sxr.time(end)-sxr.time(1))/0.25e-4));
+        end
+        % compute interpolation with tension provided
         for i=1:size(sxr.data,2)
           gdat_data.data(i,:) = interpos(sxr.time,sxr.data(:,i),gdat_data.t,gdat_data.gdat_params.fit_tension);
         end
diff --git a/matlab/TCV/tcv_help_parameters.m b/matlab/TCV/tcv_help_parameters.m
index 15de8984169996ffdd2c5f1ea0e1b99a310aaa33..f864a08468e84d120646871535122a4e2c54b2e4 100644
--- a/matlab/TCV/tcv_help_parameters.m
+++ b/matlab/TCV/tcv_help_parameters.m
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ help_struct_all.cocos = ['cocos value desired in output, uses eqdsk_cocos_transf
                     'is wanted. See O. Sauter et al Comput. Phys. Commun. 184 (2013) 293'];
 help_struct_all.nrz_out = 'Nb of radial and vertical points in output eqdsk, default is [129,129], set to [-1,-1] to get original meshes';
 help_struct_all.edge = '0 (default), 1 to get edge Thomson values';
+help_struct_all.ec_inputs = '0 (default), 1 to get characterics of gyrotrons connected to each launcher: active, freq, power';
 help_struct_all.fit = '0, no fit profiles, 1 (default) if fit profiles desired as well, relevant for _rho profiles. See also fit_type';
 help_struct_all.fit_type = 'provenance of fitted profiles ''conf'' (default) from conf nodes, ''avg'' or ''local'' for resp. proffit: nodes';
 help_struct_all.trialindx = 'value of trialindx desired to get a specific one when relevant, otherwise gets ok_trialindx, that is 1 usually';
diff --git a/matlab/gdat.m b/matlab/gdat.m
index 942b0dd5bc26b87db8cc082a9f597c36ef92aa35..0271c503d62497604cfe6a619d21584398e777ab 100644
--- a/matlab/gdat.m
+++ b/matlab/gdat.m
@@ -190,14 +190,18 @@ try
   % treat multiple shot numbers
   if nargin > 0 && isnumeric(shot) && ~isempty(shot)
     args_in = args;
-    for i=1:numel(shot)
-      args{1} = shot(i);
-      [gdat_data_i,gdat_params,error_status(i),varargout] = feval(['gdat_' lower(machine_eff)],args{:});
-      gdat_data_i.gdat_params.machine = lower(gdat_data_i.gdat_params.machine);
-      gdat_data(i) = gdat_data_i;
+    if ~isempty(shot)
+      for i=1:numel(shot)
+        args{1} = shot(i);
+        [gdat_data_i,gdat_params,error_status(i),varargout_gdat] = feval(['gdat_' lower(machine_eff)],args{:});
+        gdat_data_i.gdat_params.machine = lower(gdat_data_i.gdat_params.machine);
+        gdat_data(i) = gdat_data_i;
+      end
+    else
+      [gdat_data,gdat_params,error_status,varargout_gdat] = feval(['gdat_' lower(machine_eff)],args{:});
     end
   else
-    [gdat_data,gdat_params,error_status,varargout] = feval(['gdat_' lower(machine_eff)],args{:});
+    [gdat_data,gdat_params,error_status,varargout_gdat] = feval(['gdat_' lower(machine_eff)],args{:});
     % because data request can be an actual detailed tree related signal, upper and lower case need to be kept, but other places remain with lower case when case insensitive
     % needed since some substructure have machine name like mapping_for
     gdat_data.gdat_params.machine = lower(gdat_data.gdat_params.machine);
diff --git a/matlab/subcall_all2str.m b/matlab/subcall_all2str.m
index 8966d184da44bc48e0c6973f93e9f0c7e8742ab0..bc88c279e055876b2631564b2e0e0862c75d3f58 100644
--- a/matlab/subcall_all2str.m
+++ b/matlab/subcall_all2str.m
@@ -33,9 +33,13 @@ for i_in=1:length(varargin)
         if prod(size(aa_values))~= length(aa_values)
           % multi-D input, do not treat it yet
           subcall = [subcall ',''multi-D input'''];
-        elseif length(aa_values) > 1
+        elseif numel(aa_values) > 1
           % array
-          subcall = [subcall ',[' num2str(reshape(aa_values,1,length(aa_values))) ']'];
+          if numel(aa_values) <=30
+            subcall = [subcall ',[' num2str(reshape(aa_values,1,numel(aa_values))) ']'];
+          else
+            subcall = [subcall ',[' num2str(reshape(aa_values(1:4),1,4)) ' ... ' num2str(reshape(aa_values(end-3:end),1,4)) ']'];
+          end
         else
           subcall = [subcall ',' num2str(aa_values) ''];
         end
@@ -47,9 +51,13 @@ for i_in=1:length(varargin)
     if prod(size(var_to_treat))~= length(var_to_treat)
       % multi-D input, do not treat it yet
       subcall = [subcall ',''multi-D input'''];
-    elseif length(var_to_treat) > 1
+    elseif numel(var_to_treat) > 1
       % array
-      subcall = [subcall ',[' num2str(var_to_treat) ']'];
+      if numel(var_to_treat) <=30
+        subcall = [subcall ',[' num2str(reshape(var_to_treat,1,numel(var_to_treat))) ']'];
+      else
+        subcall = [subcall ',[' num2str(reshape(var_to_treat(1:4),1,4)) ' ... ' num2str(reshape(var_to_treat(end-3:end),1,4)) ']'];
+      end
     else
       subcall = [subcall ',' num2str(var_to_treat) ''];
     end