diff --git a/API/ComplexFieldInterface.php b/API/ComplexFieldInterface.php
index 06a52858..a8725bb7 100644
--- a/API/ComplexFieldInterface.php
+++ b/API/ComplexFieldInterface.php
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@
 interface ComplexFieldInterface
 {
     /**
-     * Return a non primitive field value
-     * @param array $fieldValueArray The definition of teh field value, structured in the yml file
+     * Return a non primitive field value - or a primitive field value after further transformation
+     *
+     * @param $fieldValueArray The definition of the field value, as used in the yml file
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return mixed
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array());
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array());
+}
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/ComplexFieldManager.php b/Core/ComplexField/ComplexFieldManager.php
index ebf21afa..47101347 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/ComplexFieldManager.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/ComplexFieldManager.php
@@ -18,30 +18,48 @@ public function __construct(FieldTypeService $fieldTypeService)
 
     /**
      * @param ComplexFieldInterface $complexField
+     * @param string $fieldTypeIdentifier
      * @param string $contentTypeIdentifier
      */
-    public function addComplexField(ComplexFieldInterface $complexField, $contentTypeIdentifier)
+    public function addComplexField(ComplexFieldInterface $complexField, $fieldTypeIdentifier, $contentTypeIdentifier=null)
     {
-        $this->fieldTypeMap[$contentTypeIdentifier] = $complexField;
+        if ($contentTypeIdentifier == null) {
+            $contentTypeIdentifier = '*';
+        }
+        $this->fieldTypeMap[$contentTypeIdentifier][$fieldTypeIdentifier] = $complexField;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param $fieldTypeIdentifier
+     * @param string $contentTypeIdentifier
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function managesField($fieldTypeIdentifier, $contentTypeIdentifier)
+    {
+        return (isset($this->fieldTypeMap[$contentTypeIdentifier][$fieldTypeIdentifier]) ||
+            isset($this->fieldTypeMap['*'][$fieldTypeIdentifier]));
     }
 
     /**
      * @param string $fieldTypeIdentifier
-     * @param array $fieldValueArray
+     * @param string $contentTypeIdentifier
+     * @param mixed $fieldValue
      * @param array $context
-     * @return ComplexFieldInterface
+     * @return mixed
      */
-    public function getComplexFieldValue($fieldTypeIdentifier, array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function getComplexFieldValue($fieldTypeIdentifier, $contentTypeIdentifier, $fieldValue, array $context = array())
     {
-        if (array_key_exists($fieldTypeIdentifier, $this->fieldTypeMap))
+        if (isset($this->fieldTypeMap[$contentTypeIdentifier][$fieldTypeIdentifier]) || isset($this->fieldTypeMap['*'][$fieldTypeIdentifier]))
         {
-            $fieldService = $this->fieldTypeMap[$fieldTypeIdentifier];
-            return $fieldService->createValue($fieldValueArray, $context);
+            $fieldService = isset($this->fieldTypeMap[$contentTypeIdentifier][$fieldTypeIdentifier]) ?
+                $this->fieldTypeMap[$contentTypeIdentifier][$fieldTypeIdentifier] :
+                $this->fieldTypeMap['*'][$fieldTypeIdentifier];
+            return $fieldService->createValue($fieldValue, $context);
         }
         else
         {
             $fieldType = $this->fieldTypeService->getFieldType($fieldTypeIdentifier);
-            return $fieldType->fromHash($fieldValueArray);
+            return $fieldType->fromHash($fieldValue);
             // was: error
             //throw new \InvalidArgumentException("Field of type '$fieldTypeIdentifier' can not be handled as it does not have a complex field class defined");
         }
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzAuthor.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzAuthor.php
index 031a0824..fb0e5669 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzAuthor.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzAuthor.php
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class EzAuthor extends AbstractComplexField implements ComplexFieldInterface
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return AuthorValue
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         $authors = array();
 
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzBinaryFile.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzBinaryFile.php
index 825aa88a..d1d1b490 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzBinaryFile.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzBinaryFile.php
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class EzBinaryFile extends AbstractComplexField implements ComplexFieldInterface
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return BinaryFileValue
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         $filePath = dirname($context['path']) .  '/files/' . $fieldValueArray['path'];
 
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzImage.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzImage.php
index aa7acb97..e0e3494e 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzImage.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzImage.php
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class EzImage extends AbstractComplexField implements ComplexFieldInterface
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return ImageValue
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         $filePath = dirname($context['path']) . '/images/' . $fieldValueArray['path'];
         $altText = array_key_exists('alt_text', $fieldValueArray) ? $fieldValueArray['alt_text'] : '';
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzPage.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzPage.php
index 61e1f881..8355833c 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzPage.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzPage.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public function __construct(PageService $pageService)
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return PageValue
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         $layout = $fieldValueArray['layout'];
 
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzRelation.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzRelation.php
index 56e3438b..078f31b4 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzRelation.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzRelation.php
@@ -22,14 +22,18 @@ public function __construct(ContentMatcher $contentMatcher)
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return Value
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
-        $id = $fieldValueArray['destinationContentId'];
+        if (count($fieldValueArray) == 1 && isset($fieldValueArray['destinationContentId'])) {
+            // fromHash format
+            $id = $fieldValueArray['destinationContentId'];
+        } else {
+            // simplified format
+            $id = $fieldValueArray;
+        }
 
         // 1. resolve relations
-        if ($this->referenceResolver->isReference($id)) {
-            $id = $this->referenceResolver->getReferenceValue($id);
-        }
+        $id = $this->referenceResolver->resolveReference($id);
         // 2. resolve remote ids
         $id = $this->contentMatcher->matchOneByKey($id)->id;
 
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzRelationList.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzRelationList.php
index 0b8b9cfb..df6426cb 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzRelationList.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzRelationList.php
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ public function __construct(ContentMatcher $contentMatcher)
      * @param array $context The context for execution of the current migrations. Contains f.e. the path to the migration
      * @return Value
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         if (count($fieldValueArray) == 1 && isset($fieldValueArray['destinationContentIds'])) {
             // fromHash format
@@ -32,9 +32,7 @@ public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
 
         foreach ($ids as $key => $id) {
             // 1. resolve relations
-            if ($this->referenceResolver->isReference($id)) {
-                $ids[$key] = $this->referenceResolver->getReferenceValue($id);
-            }
+            $ids[$key] = $this->referenceResolver->getReferenceValue($id);
             // 2. resolve remote ids
             $ids[$key] = $this->contentMatcher->matchOneByKey($ids[$key])->id;
         }
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzRichText.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzRichText.php
index e6d7d772..bdd11564 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzRichText.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzRichText.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public function __construct(ContentMatcher $contentMatcher, LocationMatcher $loc
      *
      * @todo replace objects and location refs in ezcontent:// and ezlocation:// links
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         $xmlText = $fieldValueArray['content'];
 
diff --git a/Core/ComplexField/EzXmlText.php b/Core/ComplexField/EzXmlText.php
index 856c4869..778c373a 100644
--- a/Core/ComplexField/EzXmlText.php
+++ b/Core/ComplexField/EzXmlText.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public function __construct(ContentMatcher $contentMatcher, LocationMatcher $loc
      *
      * @todo replace objects and location refs in eznode and ezobject links
      */
-    public function createValue(array $fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
+    public function createValue($fieldValueArray, array $context = array())
     {
         $xmlText = $fieldValueArray['content'];
 
diff --git a/Core/Executor/ContentManager.php b/Core/Executor/ContentManager.php
index 5274eb63..7e20d3b8 100644
--- a/Core/Executor/ContentManager.php
+++ b/Core/Executor/ContentManager.php
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ protected function create()
 
         $contentTypeIdentifier = $this->dsl['content_type'];
         $contentTypeIdentifier = $this->referenceResolver->resolveReference($contentTypeIdentifier);
+        /// @todo use a contenttypematcher
         $contentType = $contentTypeService->loadContentTypeByIdentifier($contentTypeIdentifier);
 
         $contentCreateStruct = $contentService->newContentCreateStruct($contentType, $this->getLanguageCode());
@@ -284,13 +285,7 @@ protected function setFields($createOrUpdateStruct, array $fields, ContentType $
                 throw new \Exception("Field '$fieldIdentifier' is not present in field type '{$contentType->identifier}'");
             }
 
-            if (is_array($field[$fieldIdentifier])) {
-                // Complex field might need special handling eg.: ezimage, ezbinaryfile
-                $fieldValue = $this->getComplexFieldValue($field[$fieldIdentifier], $fieldType, $this->context);
-            } else {
-                // Primitive field eg.: ezstring, ezxml etc.
-                $fieldValue = $this->getSingleFieldValue($field[$fieldIdentifier], $fieldType, $this->context);
-            }
+            $fieldValue = $this->getFieldValue($field[$fieldIdentifier], $fieldType, $contentType->identifier, $this->context);
 
             $createOrUpdateStruct->setField($fieldIdentifier, $fieldValue, $this->getLanguageCode());
         }
@@ -317,19 +312,41 @@ protected function setObjectStates(Content $content, array $stateKeys)
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Create the field value for either a primitive or complex field
+     *
+     * @param mixed $value
+     * @param FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition
+     * @param string $contentTypeIdentifier
+     * @param array $context
+     * @throws \InvalidArgumentException
+     * @return mixed
+     */
+    protected function getFieldValue($value, FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition, $contentTypeIdentifier, array $context = array())
+    {
+        $fieldTypeIdentifier = $fieldDefinition->fieldTypeIdentifier;
+        if (is_array($value) || $this->complexFieldManager->managesField($fieldTypeIdentifier, $contentTypeIdentifier)) {
+            return $this->complexFieldManager->getComplexFieldValue($fieldTypeIdentifier, $contentTypeIdentifier, $value, $context);
+        }
+
+        return $this->getSingleFieldValue($value, $fieldDefinition, $contentTypeIdentifier, $context);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Create the field value for a primitive field
      * This function is needed to get past validation on Checkbox fieldtype (eZP bug)
      *
      * @param mixed $value
      * @param FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition
+     * @param string $contentTypeIdentifier
      * @param array $context
      * @throws \InvalidArgumentException
-     * @return object
+     * @return mixed
      */
-    protected function getSingleFieldValue($value, FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition, array $context = array())
+    protected function getSingleFieldValue($value, FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition, $contentTypeIdentifier, array $context = array())
     {
-        switch ($fieldDefinition->fieldTypeIdentifier) {
+        $fieldTypeIdentifier = $fieldDefinition->fieldTypeIdentifier;
+        switch ($fieldTypeIdentifier) {
             case 'ezboolean':
                 $value = new CheckboxValue(($value == 1) ? true : false);
                 break;
@@ -337,25 +354,12 @@ protected function getSingleFieldValue($value, FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition,
                 // do nothing
         }
 
-        // q: do we really want this ?
-        $value = $this->referenceResolver->resolveReference($value);
+        // We do not really want this to happen by default on all scalar field values. If you want this to happen, register a complex field for it
+        //$value = $this->referenceResolver->resolveReference($value);
 
         return $value;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Create the field value for a complex field eg.: ezimage, ezfile
-     *
-     * @param FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition
-     * @param array $fieldValueArray
-     * @param array $context
-     * @return object
-     */
-    protected function getComplexFieldValue(array $fieldValueArray, FieldDefinition $fieldDefinition, array $context = array())
-    {
-        return $this->complexFieldManager->getComplexFieldValue($fieldDefinition->fieldTypeIdentifier, $fieldValueArray, $context);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Load user using either login, email, id - resolving eventual references
      * @param int|string $userKey
diff --git a/DependencyInjection/CompilerPass/TaggedServicesCompilerPass.php b/DependencyInjection/CompilerPass/TaggedServicesCompilerPass.php
index 83e1c7f2..8a9939ab 100644
--- a/DependencyInjection/CompilerPass/TaggedServicesCompilerPass.php
+++ b/DependencyInjection/CompilerPass/TaggedServicesCompilerPass.php
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ public function process(ContainerBuilder $container)
                 foreach ($tags as $attributes) {
                     $migrationService->addMethodCall('addComplexField', array(
                         new Reference($id),
-                        $attributes['fieldtype']
+                        $attributes['fieldtype'],
+                        isset($attributes['contenttype']) ? $attributes['contenttype'] : null
                     ));
                 }
             }
diff --git a/Resources/config/services.yml b/Resources/config/services.yml
index 4577c6d1..f0c697b0 100644
--- a/Resources/config/services.yml
+++ b/Resources/config/services.yml
@@ -271,14 +271,15 @@ services:
         class: '%ez_migration_bundle.complex_field_manager.class%'
         arguments:
              - '@ezpublish.api.service.field_type'
-        #    - '@ezpublish.api.repository'
-        #    - '@service_container'
 
     ez_migration_bundle.complex_field:
         abstract: true
         calls:
             - ['setReferenceResolver', ['@ez_migration_bundle.reference_resolver.customreference']]
 
+    # NB: you can register handlers for either a field type, using the  'fieldtype' attribute, or for the
+    #     field type of a specific content type by using both 'fieldtype' and 'contenttype' in the tag definition
+
     ez_migration_bundle.complex_field.ezauthor:
         parent: ez_migration_bundle.complex_field
         class: '%ez_migration_bundle.complex_field.ezauthor.class%'
diff --git a/WHATSNEW.md b/WHATSNEW.md
index b775ad4d..faf3da9d 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW.md
+++ b/WHATSNEW.md
@@ -34,11 +34,18 @@ Version 3.0.0
     For an example, see the test UnitTestOK010_customrefs.yml and class 
     Kaliop\eZMigrationBundle\Tests\helper\CustomReferenceResolver
 
+*  New: it is now possible to inject field type handlers for scalar field types, as well as for field type handlers
+     that only affect the field type of a single content type.
+     This gives greater flexibility in deciding which types of references are resolved for each field when creating 
+     or updating contents
+
 * Changed: removed unused Behat and Phpunit tests as well as one leftover Interface 
 
 * Changed: removed from the YML documentation the description of keys which had been deprecated in version 2.
     The keys are still accepted, but support for them will be dropped in a future version
 
+* Changed: the service ez_migration_bundle.reference_resolver.content is now deprecated and will be removed in a future version
+
 * Changes to the YML definition language:
 
     * Updating and deleting of Users, User Groups, Roles and Content Types: usage of a `match` key is allowed; previous
@@ -64,9 +71,21 @@ Version 3.0.0
     * when adding locations without defining sort field and sort order, the defaults from the content type definition
         are used, instead of publication-date/asc
 
-    * changes for developers who extended the bundle: the MatcherInterface has a new method; many Executor services
-        now have a different constructor signature; one Trait has been removed from the public API; the service
-        ez_migration_bundle.helper.role_handler has been renamed to ez_migration_bundle.helper.limitation_converter
+    * references to 'tag:' and 'location:' will not be resolved any more in fields of type Object Relation and 
+        Object Relation List. On the other hand non-integer strings will be resolved as remote-content-ids
+
+    * custom references are not resolved any more in the values for scalar fields when creating/updating content.
+        The old behaviour was inconsistent, as references were resolved by default for scalar values but not for
+        array values.
+        If you need to have reference resolution in your content field values, you will have to register a custom field
+        type handler using a tagged service (see services.yml for how the current handlers do it) and do it yourself 
+
+    * changes for developers who extended the bundle: the MatcherInterface and ReferenceResolverInterface have a new
+        method each; many Executor services now have a different constructor signature; one Trait has been removed from
+        the public API; the service ez_migration_bundle.helper.role_handler has been renamed
+        to ez_migration_bundle.helper.limitation_converter; the chainResolver will now apply reference transformation
+        from all matching sub-resolvers, not only from the 1st one
+
 
 Version 2.1.0
 =============