diff --git a/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx b/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx
index 2fcf69c..977912e 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx
+++ b/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def test_col_alias(config, infos):
     if col_name in SPECIAL_COLUMNS :
         print_test(config, "-")
         return
-    infos['view'].change_column_alias(col_name, random_unique_name(infos))
+    infos['view'][col_name].alias = random_unique_name(infos)
     print_test(config, ">>> Changing column alias test OK")
         
 
diff --git a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd
index 507d2cd..75eb272 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd
+++ b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@ from ._obitaxo          cimport OBI_Taxonomy
 
 cdef class OBIDMS_column:
 
+    cdef  str                column_name
+    cdef  str                column_alias
     cdef  OBIDMS_column_p*   pointer
     cdef  OBIDMS             dms
     cdef  OBIView            view
     cdef  str                data_type
     cdef  str                dms_name
-    cdef  str                column_name
     cdef  index_t            nb_elements_per_line
     cdef  list               elements_names
         
diff --git a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx
index b7201a6..cc3d1b9 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx
+++ b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@ from cpython.pycapsule cimport PyCapsule_New, PyCapsule_GetPointer
 cdef class OBIDMS_column :
 
     # Should only be initialized through a subclass
-    def __init__(self, OBIView view, str column_name):
+    def __init__(self, OBIView view, str column_alias):
         
         cdef OBIDMS_column_p  column_p
         cdef OBIDMS_column_p* column_pp
         
-        column_pp = obi_view_get_pointer_on_column_in_view(view.pointer, str2bytes(column_name))
+        column_pp = obi_view_get_pointer_on_column_in_view(view.pointer, str2bytes(column_alias))
         column_p = column_pp[0]     # TODO ugly cython dereferencing but can't find better
         
         # Fill structure
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ cdef class OBIDMS_column :
         self.view = view
         self.data_type = bytes2str(name_data_type((column_p.header).returned_data_type))
         self.column_name = bytes2str((column_p.header).name)
+        self.column_alias = column_alias
         self.nb_elements_per_line = (column_p.header).nb_elements_per_line
         self.elements_names = (bytes2str((column_p.header).elements_names)).split(';')
 
@@ -159,6 +160,13 @@ cdef class OBIDMS_column :
         if obi_close_column((self.pointer)[0]) < 0 :
             raise Exception("Problem closing a column")
 
+    # Column alias property getter and setter
+    @property
+    def alias(self):
+        return self.column_alias
+    @alias.setter
+    def alias(self, new_alias):
+        self.view.change_column_alias(self.column_alias, new_alias)
 
     @staticmethod
     cdef object get_subclass_type(OBIDMS_column_p column_p) :
@@ -392,10 +400,13 @@ cdef class OBIView :
         
         
     cpdef change_column_alias(self, str current_alias, str new_alias):
+        cdef OBIDMS_column column
         if (obi_view_create_column_alias(self.pointer, str2bytes(current_alias), str2bytes(new_alias)) < 0) :
             raise Exception("Problem changing a column alias")
-        # Update the dictionaries of column column objects
+        # Update the dictionaries of column objects
         self.columns[new_alias] = self.columns[current_alias]
+        column = self.columns[new_alias]
+        column.column_alias = new_alias
         (self.columns).pop(current_alias)