diff --git a/python/obitools3/dms/column/column.pyx b/python/obitools3/dms/column/column.pyx
index 9d64b22..65f37a3 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/dms/column/column.pyx
+++ b/python/obitools3/dms/column/column.pyx
@@ -371,8 +371,18 @@ cdef class Column_line :
         self._column.set_item(self._index, elt_id, value)
 
 
-    def __contains__(self, object element_name):
-        return (tobytes(element_name) in self._column.elements_names)
+    def get(self, object elt_id, object default=None):      # TODO returns default if None???
+        if elt_id in self:
+            return self._column.get_item(self._index, elt_id)
+        else:
+            return default
+        
+        
+    def __contains__(self, object elt_id):
+        if type(elt_id) == int:
+            return elt_id < self._column.nb_elements_per_line
+        else:
+            return (tobytes(elt_id) in self._column.elements_names)
  
  
     def __repr__(self) :