diff --git a/piker/data/feed.py b/piker/data/feed.py
index 2f5313e1..e51b5f6d 100644
--- a/piker/data/feed.py
+++ b/piker/data/feed.py
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ from ..brokers._util import (
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .marketstore import Storage
+    from pyqtgraph import PlotItem
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -1037,6 +1038,113 @@ class Flume(Struct):
             **msg,
         )
 
+    def get_index(
+        self,
+        time_s: float,
+
+    ) -> int:
+        '''
+        Return array shm-buffer index for for epoch time.
+
+        '''
+        array = self.rt_shm.array
+        times = array['time']
+        mask = (times >= time_s)
+
+        if any(mask):
+            return array['index'][mask][0]
+
+        # just the latest index
+        array['index'][-1]
+
+    def slice_from_time(
+        self,
+        array: np.ndarray,
+        start_t: float,
+        stop_t: float,
+        timeframe_s: int = 1,
+        return_data: bool = False,
+
+    ) -> np.ndarray:
+        '''
+        Slice an input struct array providing only datums
+        "in view" of this chart.
+
+        '''
+        arr = {
+            1: self.rt_shm.array,
+            60: self.hist_shm.arry,
+        }[timeframe_s]
+
+        times = arr['time']
+        index = array['index']
+
+        # use advanced indexing to map the
+        # time range to the index range.
+        mask = (
+            (times >= start_t)
+            &
+            (times < stop_t)
+        )
+
+        # TODO: if we can ensure each time field has a uniform
+        # step we can instead do some arithmetic to determine
+        # the equivalent index like we used to?
+        # return array[
+        #     lbar - ifirst:
+        #     (rbar - ifirst) + 1
+        # ]
+
+        i_by_t = index[mask]
+        i_0 = i_by_t[0]
+
+        abs_slc = slice(
+            i_0,
+            i_by_t[-1],
+        )
+        # slice data by offset from the first index
+        # available in the passed datum set.
+        read_slc = slice(
+            0,
+            i_by_t[-1] - i_0,
+        )
+        if not return_data:
+            return (
+                abs_slc,
+                read_slc,
+            )
+
+        # also return the readable data from the timerange
+        return (
+            abs_slc,
+            read_slc,
+            arr[mask],
+        )
+
+    def view_data(
+        self,
+        plot: PlotItem,
+        timeframe_s: int = 1,
+
+    ) -> np.ndarray:
+
+        # get far-side x-indices plot view
+        vr = plot.viewRect()
+        l = vr.left()
+        r = vr.right()
+
+        (
+            abs_slc,
+            buf_slc,
+            iv_arr,
+        ) = self.slice_from_time(
+            start_t=l,
+            stop_t=r,
+            timeframe_s=timeframe_s,
+            return_data=True,
+        )
+        return iv_arr
+
 
 async def allocate_persistent_feed(
     bus: _FeedsBus,