diff --git a/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx b/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx
index 977912e..6a9d05d 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx
+++ b/python/obitools3/commands/test.pyx
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def test_set_and_get(config, infos):
     print_test(config, ">>> Set and get test")
     col_name = random_column(infos)
     col = infos['view'][col_name]
-    element_names = col.get_elements_names()
+    element_names = col.elements_names
     data_type = col.get_data_type()
     if data_type == "OBI_QUAL" :
         print_test(config, "-")
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def random_col_type():
 
 def fill_column(config, infos, col) :
     data_type = col.get_data_type()
-    element_names = col.get_elements_names()
+    element_names = col.elements_names
     
     if len(element_names) > 1 :
         for i in range(random_int(config)) :
diff --git a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd
index 75eb272..01dce97 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd
+++ b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pxd
@@ -10,16 +10,15 @@ from ._obitaxo          cimport OBI_Taxonomy
 cdef class OBIDMS_column:
 
     cdef  str                column_name
-    cdef  str                column_alias
+    cdef  str                column_alias              # associated property: alias
     cdef  OBIDMS_column_p*   pointer
     cdef  OBIDMS             dms
     cdef  OBIView            view
     cdef  str                data_type
     cdef  str                dms_name
     cdef  index_t            nb_elements_per_line
-    cdef  list               elements_names
+    cdef  list               elements_names            # associated property: elements_names
         
-    cpdef list    get_elements_names(self)
     cpdef str     get_data_type(self)
     cpdef index_t get_nb_lines_used(self)
     cpdef str     get_creation_date(self)
diff --git a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx
index cc3d1b9..19fb0af 100644
--- a/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx
+++ b/python/obitools3/obidms/_obidms.pyx
@@ -124,10 +124,7 @@ cdef class OBIDMS_column :
         lines_used = (self.pointer)[0].header.lines_used
         for line_nb in range(lines_used):
             yield self.get_line(line_nb)
-    
-    cpdef list get_elements_names(self):
-        return self.elements_names
-         
+             
     cpdef str get_data_type(self):
         return self.data_type
     
@@ -168,6 +165,11 @@ cdef class OBIDMS_column :
     def alias(self, new_alias):
         self.view.change_column_alias(self.column_alias, new_alias)
 
+    # Element names property getter
+    @property
+    def elements_names(self):
+        return self.elements_names
+
     @staticmethod
     cdef object get_subclass_type(OBIDMS_column_p column_p) :