diff --git a/pkg/R/hbase.r b/pkg/R/hbase.r
index 05ecd8b..0b9dffc 100644
--- a/pkg/R/hbase.r
+++ b/pkg/R/hbase.r
@@ -269,3 +269,52 @@ hb.get.data.frame <- function(tablename, start,end=NULL,columns=NULL){
   }
 }
 
+.hb.as.data.frame <- function( scan, colspec )
+{
+  raw_result <- scan$get()
+  # interpret column specification
+  if( length( colspec ) == 1 ) {
+    cols <- raw_result[[ 1 ]][[ 2 ]]
+  } else {
+    cols <- colspec
+  }
+  # define column vectors
+  get_column_index_values <- function( column_index )
+  {
+    get_value <- function( row, column_name )
+    {
+      indices <- which( row[[ 2 ]] == column_name )
+      index <- ifelse( length( indices ) == 1, indices[[ 1 ]], 0 )
+      ifelse( index == 0, NA, row[[ 3 ]][[ index ]] )
+    }
+    column_name <- cols[[ column_index ]]
+    unlist( lapply( raw_result, get_value, column_name ) )
+  }
+  # define resulting data frame
+  df <- as.data.frame( lapply( 1:length( cols ), get_column_index_values ) )
+  rownames( df ) <- unlist( lapply( raw_result, "[[", 1 ) )
+  colnames( df ) <- cols
+  df
+}
+
+hb.scan.data.frame <- function( tablename, startrow, end=NULL, colspec,
+                                sz=hb.defaults("sz"),
+                                usz=hb.defaults("usz"),
+                                hbc=hb.defaults("hbc") )
+{
+  scn <- hb.scan( tablename, startrow, end, colspec, sz, usz, hbc )
+  .hb.as.data.frame( scn, colspec )
+}
+
+hb.scan.ex.data.frame <- function( tablename, startrow='', end='',
+                                   colspec, timestamp=0, caching=0,
+                                   filterstring=character(0),
+                                   sz=hb.defaults("sz"),
+                                   usz=hb.defaults("usz"),
+                                   hbc=hb.defaults("hbc") )
+{
+  scn <-
+    hb.scan.ex( tablename, startrow, end, colspec, timestamp, caching,
+                filterstring, sz, usz, hbc )
+  .hb.as.data.frame( scn, colspec )
+}