Piecewise generalized polynomials of different kinds of order n (ECT-splines of order n) are constructed from different ECT systems of order n via connection matrices which are nonsingular and totally positive. A well-known zero count for polynomial splines is extended to ECT splines. It is used to construct ECT B-splines and to show under which conditions ECT splines will solve modified Hermite-type interpolation problems. Also conditions are specified such that piecewise generalized polynomials form rECT-systems and the interpolation problems associated with may be solved recursively. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.