diff --git a/examples/dokk/protein.py b/examples/dokk/protein.py
index 6e338e90aab058ac34b7dff92c653d0be1a12cff..a73fbcffd8636b3e748857634a51135802d403f2 100644
--- a/examples/dokk/protein.py
+++ b/examples/dokk/protein.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ class Protein:
   def __init__(self, prot):
     self.handle=prot
     for a in self.handle.atoms:
-      a.SetGenericFloatProperty('clash', 0.0)    
+      a.SetFloatProp('clash', 0.0)    
     self.prot_go_=gfx.Entity("Prot", self.handle)
     gfx.Scene().Add(self.prot_go_)
     
diff --git a/examples/dokk/score_updater.py b/examples/dokk/score_updater.py
index a1522ce9a5d3497db7f9d66905ee032ee50ffd74..f98eb9eb982b0cb331c4fb73ce5b337b25e6aa59 100644
--- a/examples/dokk/score_updater.py
+++ b/examples/dokk/score_updater.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class ScoreUpdater(QtCore.QObject):
 
   def UpdateScores(self):
     for atom in self.old_atoms:
-      atom.SetGenericFloatProperty('clash', 0)
+      atom.SetFloatProp('clash', 0)
     
     ligand = self.level.ligand
     prot_within = set()
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ class ScoreUpdater(QtCore.QObject):
     lig_view=ligand.handle.CreateFullView()
     for a in prot_within:
       score=qa.ClashScore(a, lig_view)
-      a.SetGenericFloatProperty('clash', score)
+      a.SetFloatProp('clash', score)
     self.level.surface.go.ReapplyColorOps()
     self.old_atoms = prot_within
diff --git a/examples/misc/the_hammer.py b/examples/misc/the_hammer.py
index 6b4d7f25e944a1c84c6f5014a9a1175984ce24b6..11689000889b8c7289b9bad18e338784ef03f400 100644
--- a/examples/misc/the_hammer.py
+++ b/examples/misc/the_hammer.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class Anim(QtCore.QTimer):
         self.edi.UpdateICS()
         for a in self.b.view.atoms:
           score=qa.ClashScore(a.handle, self.a.view)
-          a.SetGenericFloatProperty('clash', score)
+          a.SetFloatProp('clash', score)
         self.a.UpdatePositions()
         self.b.ReapplyColorOps()
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ b=TheWall()
 a_go=gfx.Entity("a", gfx.CUSTOM, a)
 b_go=gfx.Entity("b", gfx.CUSTOM, b)
 for a in a.atoms:
-  a.SetGenericFloatProperty('clash', 0.0)
+  a.SetFloatProp('clash', 0.0)
 
 scene.Add(a_go)
 scene.Add(b_go)
diff --git a/modules/base/doc/generic_properties.dox b/modules/base/doc/generic_properties.dox
index 2737a18aa05cafd82a27ebebac1a559378f192bf..2ce57b2ae29980b0007968a18c9e77bf0223082b 100644
--- a/modules/base/doc/generic_properties.dox
+++ b/modules/base/doc/generic_properties.dox
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ namespace ost {
 /*!
 \page generic_properties generic properties
 
-Most building blocks are a GenericPropertyContainer, meaning that arbitrary 
+Most building blocks are a GenericPropContainer, meaning that arbitrary 
 key-value pairs can be stored in them, namely:
 
 \li EntityHandle and EntityView
@@ -15,6 +15,6 @@ The view variants will reflect the generic properties of the handle variants.
 A generic property key is always a String, and a value can be one of String, 
 Real, int or bool. For each of these data types, methods to retrieve and store
 values are available both in Python and C++. For more details see the 
-documentation of GenericPropertyContainer.
+documentation of GenericPropContainer.
 */
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/base/pymod/export_generic_property.cc b/modules/base/pymod/export_generic_property.cc
index 9f2761dc216839092092302802f727030aa9aaf4..881865849997c88d6d0c39c115c8933f38e56255 100644
--- a/modules/base/pymod/export_generic_property.cc
+++ b/modules/base/pymod/export_generic_property.cc
@@ -24,32 +24,32 @@ using namespace boost::python;
 
 using namespace ost;
 
-void export_GenericProperty()
+void export_GenericProp()
 {
-  String (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_string1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericStringProperty;
-  String (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_string2)(const String&, const String&) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericStringProperty;
-  Real (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_float1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericFloatProperty;
-  Real (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_float2)(const String&, Real) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericFloatProperty;
-  int (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_int1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericIntProperty;
-  int (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_int2)(const String&, int) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericIntProperty;
-  bool (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_bool1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericBoolProperty;
-  bool (GenericPropertyContainer::* get_bool2)(const String&, bool) const = &GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericBoolProperty;
+  String (GenericPropContainer::* get_string1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetStringProp;
+  String (GenericPropContainer::* get_string2)(const String&, const String&) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetStringProp;
+  Real (GenericPropContainer::* get_float1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetFloatProp;
+  Real (GenericPropContainer::* get_float2)(const String&, Real) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetFloatProp;
+  int (GenericPropContainer::* get_int1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetIntProp;
+  int (GenericPropContainer::* get_int2)(const String&, int) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetIntProp;
+  bool (GenericPropContainer::* get_bool1)(const String&) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetBoolProp;
+  bool (GenericPropContainer::* get_bool2)(const String&, bool) const = &GenericPropContainer::GetBoolProp;
 
-  class_<GenericPropertyContainer, boost::noncopyable>("GenericPropertyContainer",no_init)
-    .def("HasGenericProperty",&GenericPropertyContainer::HasGenericProperty)
-    .def("SetGenericStringProperty",&GenericPropertyContainer::SetGenericStringProperty)
-    .def("GetGenericStringProperty",get_string1)
-    .def("GetGenericStringProperty",get_string2)
-    .def("SetGenericFloatProperty",&GenericPropertyContainer::SetGenericFloatProperty)
-    .def("GetGenericFloatProperty",get_float1)
-    .def("GetGenericFloatProperty",get_float2)
-    .def("SetGenericIntProperty",&GenericPropertyContainer::SetGenericIntProperty)
-    .def("GetGenericIntProperty",get_int1)
-    .def("GetGenericIntProperty",get_int2)
-    .def("SetGenericBoolProperty",&GenericPropertyContainer::SetGenericBoolProperty)
-    .def("GetGenericBoolProperty",get_bool1)
-    .def("GetGenericBoolProperty",get_bool2)
-    .def("ClearGenericProperties",&GenericPropertyContainer::ClearGenericProperties)
-    .def("GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation",&GenericPropertyContainer::GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation)
+  class_<GenericPropContainer, boost::noncopyable>("GenericPropContainer",no_init)
+    .def("HasProp",&GenericPropContainer::HasProp)
+    .def("SetStringProp",&GenericPropContainer::SetStringProp)
+    .def("GetStringProp",get_string1)
+    .def("GetStringProp",get_string2)
+    .def("SetFloatProp",&GenericPropContainer::SetFloatProp)
+    .def("GetFloatProp",get_float1)
+    .def("GetFloatProp",get_float2)
+    .def("SetIntProp",&GenericPropContainer::SetIntProp)
+    .def("GetIntProp",get_int1)
+    .def("GetIntProp",get_int2)
+    .def("SetBoolProp",&GenericPropContainer::SetBoolProp)
+    .def("GetBoolProp",get_bool1)
+    .def("GetBoolProp",get_bool2)
+    .def("ClearProps",&GenericPropContainer::ClearProps)
+    .def("GetPropAsString",&GenericPropContainer::GetPropAsString)
     ;
 }
diff --git a/modules/base/pymod/wrap_base.cc b/modules/base/pymod/wrap_base.cc
index d28c889ac2cd489b8cea178529af97f45576dcba..c3dd609ecfcaca8ba873cf6d83a49f30c27c12cc 100644
--- a/modules/base/pymod/wrap_base.cc
+++ b/modules/base/pymod/wrap_base.cc
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 using namespace boost::python;
 
 void export_Logger();
-void export_GenericProperty();
+void export_GenericProp();
 void export_Range();
 void export_Units();
 
diff --git a/modules/base/src/export_helper/generic_property_def.hh b/modules/base/src/export_helper/generic_property_def.hh
index 4b8241be7ee0804eb107c941248dd91f38651040..3203bc19876f70e349032f78581d34843756aaa0 100644
--- a/modules/base/src/export_helper/generic_property_def.hh
+++ b/modules/base/src/export_helper/generic_property_def.hh
@@ -20,36 +20,152 @@
 #ifndef GENERIC_PROPERTY_DEF_HH
 #define GENERIC_PROPERTY_DEF_HH
 
+#include <ost/log.hh>
 /*
   Author: Marco Biasini
  */
  
+template <typename C>
+String depr_get_string_a(C& c, const String& k, const String& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericStringProperty is deprecated. Use GetStringProp");
+  return c.GetStringProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+String depr_get_string_b(C& c, const String& k)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericStringProperty is deprecated. Use GetStringProp");
+  return c.GetStringProp(k);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+void depr_set_string(C& c, const String& k, const String& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("SetGenericStringProperty is deprecated. Use SetStringProp");
+  return c.SetStringProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+int depr_get_int_a(C& c, const String& k, const int& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericIntProperty is deprecated. Use GetIntProp");
+  return c.GetIntProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+int depr_get_int_b(C& c, const String& k)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericIntProperty is deprecated. Use GetIntProp");
+  return c.GetIntProp(k);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+void depr_set_int(C& c, const String& k, const int& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("SetGenericIntProperty is deprecated. Use SetIntProp");
+  return c.SetIntProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+bool depr_get_bool_a(C& c, const String& k, const bool& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericBoolProperty is deprecated. Use GetBoolProp");
+  return c.GetBoolProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+bool depr_get_bool_b(C& c, const String& k)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericBoolProperty is deprecated. Use GetBoolProp");
+  return c.GetBoolProp(k);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+void depr_set_bool(C& c, const String& k, const bool& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("SetGenericBoolProperty is deprecated. Use SetBoolProp");
+  return c.SetBoolProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+Real depr_get_float_a(C& c, const String& k, const float& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericFloatProperty is deprecated. Use GetFloatProp");
+  return c.GetFloatProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+Real depr_get_float_b(C& c, const String& k)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericFloatProperty is deprecated. Use GetFloatProp");
+  return c.GetFloatProp(k);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+void depr_set_float(C& c, const String& k, const Real& v)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("SetGenericFloatProperty is deprecated. Use SetFloatProp");
+  return c.SetFloatProp(k, v);
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+void depr_clear_props(C& c)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("ClearGenericProperties is deprecated. Use ClearProps");
+  c.ClearProps();  
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+bool depr_has_prop(C& c, const String& k)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("HasGenericProperty is deprecated. Use HasProp");
+  return c.HasProp(k);  
+}
+
+template <typename C>
+String depr_prop_as_string(C& c, const String& k)
+{
+  LOGN_MESSAGE("GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation is deprecated. Use GetPropAsString");
+  return c.GetPropAsString(k);  
+}
+
 template <typename C, typename O>
 void const_generic_prop_def(O& bp_class)
 {
-  bool (C::*get_bool1)(const String&, bool) const=&C::GetGenericBoolProperty;
-  bool (C::*get_bool2)(const String&)  const=&C::GetGenericBoolProperty;
+  bool (C::*get_bool1)(const String&, bool) const=&C::GetBoolProp;
+  bool (C::*get_bool2)(const String&)  const=&C::GetBoolProp;
     
-  int (C::*get_int1)(const String&, int) const=&C::GetGenericIntProperty;
-  int (C::*get_int2)(const String&) const=&C::GetGenericIntProperty;
+  int (C::*get_int1)(const String&, int) const=&C::GetIntProp;
+  int (C::*get_int2)(const String&) const=&C::GetIntProp;
     
-  Real (C::*get_float1)(const String&, Real) const=&C::GetGenericFloatProperty;
-  Real (C::*get_float2)(const String&) const=&C::GetGenericFloatProperty;
+  Real (C::*get_float1)(const String&, Real) const=&C::GetFloatProp;
+  Real (C::*get_float2)(const String&) const=&C::GetFloatProp;
     
-  String (C::*get_str1)(const String&, const String&) const=&C::GetGenericStringProperty;
-  String (C::*get_str2)(const String&) const=&C::GetGenericStringProperty;  
+  String (C::*get_str1)(const String&, const String&) const=&C::GetStringProp;
+  String (C::*get_str2)(const String&) const=&C::GetStringProp;  
   bp_class
-    .def("HasGenericProperty", &C::HasGenericProperty)
-    .def("GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation",
-         &C::GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation)          
-    .def("GetGenericBoolProperty", get_bool1)
-    .def("GetGenericBoolProperty", get_bool2)        
-    .def("GetGenericFloatProperty", get_float1)
-    .def("GetGenericFloatProperty", get_float2)    
-    .def("GetGenericIntProperty", get_int1)
-    .def("GetGenericIntProperty", get_int2)    
-    .def("GetGenericStringProperty", get_str1)
-    .def("GetGenericStringProperty", get_str2)    
+    .def("HasProp", &C::HasProp)
+    .def("GetPropAsString",
+         &C::GetPropAsString)          
+    .def("GetBoolProp", get_bool1)
+    .def("GetBoolProp", get_bool2)        
+    .def("GetFloatProp", get_float1)
+    .def("GetFloatProp", get_float2)    
+    .def("GetIntProp", get_int1)
+    .def("GetIntProp", get_int2)    
+    .def("GetStringProp", get_str1)
+    .def("GetStringProp", get_str2)    
+    .def("GetGenericBoolProperty", &depr_get_bool_a<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericBoolProperty", &depr_get_bool_b<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericFloatProperty", &depr_get_float_a<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericFloatProperty", &depr_get_float_b<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericIntProperty", &depr_get_int_a<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericIntProperty", &depr_get_int_b<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericStringProperty", &depr_get_string_a<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericStringProperty", &depr_get_string_b<C>)
+    .def("HasGenericProperty", &depr_has_prop<C>)
+    .def("GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation", &depr_prop_as_string<C>)
   ;
 }
 
@@ -58,18 +174,17 @@ void generic_prop_def(O& bp_class)
 {
   const_generic_prop_def<C, O>(bp_class);
   bp_class
-    .def("SetGenericBoolProperty",
-         &C::SetGenericBoolProperty)
-    .def("ClearGenericProperties",  
-         &C::ClearGenericProperties)
-    .def("GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation",
-         &C::GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation)
-    .def("SetGenericFloatProperty",
-        &C::SetGenericFloatProperty)
-    .def("SetGenericIntProperty",
-        &C::SetGenericIntProperty)
-    .def("SetGenericStringProperty",
-        &C::SetGenericStringProperty)          
+    .def("SetBoolProp",&C::SetBoolProp)
+    .def("ClearProps",  &C::ClearProps)
+    .def("GetPropAsString", &C::GetPropAsString)
+    .def("SetFloatProp", &C::SetFloatProp)
+    .def("SetIntProp", &C::SetIntProp)
+    .def("SetStringProp", &C::SetStringProp)
+    .def("ClearGenericProperties", &depr_clear_props<C>)
+    .def("SetGenericIntProperty", &depr_set_int<C>)
+    .def("SetGenericFloatProperty", &depr_set_float<C>)
+    .def("SetGenericBoolProperty", &depr_set_bool<C>)
+    .def("SetGenericStringProperty", &depr_set_string<C>)
   ;
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/base/src/generic_property.hh b/modules/base/src/generic_property.hh
index 3fe6f037a70ee16c7b318a013579dd67a9359ad7..4ea8d3253cf16236f69e47c84e91d5732f48c987 100644
--- a/modules/base/src/generic_property.hh
+++ b/modules/base/src/generic_property.hh
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 /*
   usage:
 
-  the impl is derived from GenericPropertyContainerImpl
+  the impl is derived from GenericPropContainerImpl
 
-  the handle is derived from GenericPropertyContainer, and then has the
+  the handle is derived from GenericPropContainer, and then has the
   setter and getter methods for String, Real, int and bool mapping
 */
 
@@ -37,44 +37,44 @@
 
 namespace ost {
 
-struct  TEMPLATE_EXPORT GenericPropertyError: public std::exception
+struct  TEMPLATE_EXPORT GenericPropError: public std::exception
 {
-  GenericPropertyError(const String& m):
+  GenericPropError(const String& m):
     m_(m)
   {}
-  virtual ~GenericPropertyError() throw() {}
+  virtual ~GenericPropError() throw() {}
   virtual const char* what() const throw() {
     return m_.c_str();
   }
   String m_;
 };
   
-typedef boost::variant<String, Real, int, bool> GenericPropertyValue;
+typedef boost::variant<String, Real, int, bool> GenericPropValue;
 
 ///  \brief base class for the implementation
-class  TEMPLATE_EXPORT GenericPropertyContainerImpl
+class  TEMPLATE_EXPORT GenericPropContainerImpl
 {
-  typedef std::map<String,GenericPropertyValue> PropertyMap;
+  typedef std::map<String,GenericPropValue> PropertyMap;
   
 public:
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl(): map_(NULL) {}
-  ~GenericPropertyContainerImpl()
+  GenericPropContainerImpl(): map_(NULL) {}
+  ~GenericPropContainerImpl()
   {
     if (map_) {
       delete map_;
     }
   }
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl(const GenericPropertyContainerImpl& rhs):
+  GenericPropContainerImpl(const GenericPropContainerImpl& rhs):
     map_(rhs.map_ ? new PropertyMap(*rhs.map_) : NULL)
   { }
   
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl& operator=(const GenericPropertyContainerImpl& r)   
+  GenericPropContainerImpl& operator=(const GenericPropContainerImpl& r)   
   {
     this->Assign(r);
     return *this;
   }
   
-  GenericPropertyValue& GenericProperty(const String& key) 
+  GenericPropValue& GenericProp(const String& key) 
   {
     if (!map_) {
       map_=new PropertyMap;
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public:
     return (*map_)[key];
   }
   
-  const GenericPropertyValue& GenericProperty(const String& key) const
+  const GenericPropValue& GenericProp(const String& key) const
   {
     if (!map_) {
       map_=new PropertyMap;
@@ -90,19 +90,19 @@ public:
     return (*map_)[key];
   }
   
-  bool HasGenericProperty(const String& key) const
+  bool HasProp(const String& key) const
   {
     return map_ && map_->find(key) != map_->end();
   }
   
-  void ClearGenericProperties()
+  void ClearProps()
   {
     if (map_) {
       map_->clear();      
     }
   }
   
-  void Assign(const GenericPropertyContainerImpl& impl)
+  void Assign(const GenericPropContainerImpl& impl)
   {
     if (impl.map_) {
       if (!map_) {
@@ -111,11 +111,11 @@ public:
         *map_=*impl.map_;
       }
     } else {
-      this->ClearGenericProperties();
+      this->ClearProps();
     }
   }
   
-  PropertyMap GetGenericPropertyMap() const
+  PropertyMap GetPropMap() const
   {
     if (!map_) {
       map_=new PropertyMap;
@@ -129,40 +129,40 @@ private:
 };  
 
 template <typename H>
-class TEMPLATE_EXPORT ConstGenericPropertyContainer {
+class TEMPLATE_EXPORT ConstGenericPropContainer {
 protected:
   
   template<typename T>
   T gp_get(const String& key) const {
-    if(HasGenericProperty(key)) {
-      return boost::get<T>(GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key));
+    if(HasProp(key)) {
+      return boost::get<T>(GetImpl()->GenericProp(key));
     } else {
       std::ostringstream m("");
       m << "unknown property " << key;
-      throw GenericPropertyError(m.str());
+      throw GenericPropError(m.str());
     }
   }
 
   template<typename T>
   T gp_get(const String& key, const T& def) const {
-    if(HasGenericProperty(key)) {
-      return boost::get<T>(GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key));
+    if(HasProp(key)) {
+      return boost::get<T>(GetImpl()->GenericProp(key));
     }
     return def;
   }
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GetImpl() 
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GetImpl() 
   {
     return static_cast<H*>(this)->GpImpl();
   }
 
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GetImpl() const
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GetImpl() const
   {
     return static_cast<const H*>(this)->GpImpl();
   }  
 public:
   /// \brief checks existence of property
-  bool HasGenericProperty(const String& key) const {
-    return this->GetImpl()->HasGenericProperty(key);
+  bool HasProp(const String& key) const {
+    return this->GetImpl()->HasProp(key);
   }
     
   /// \brief returns a String representation of stored value
@@ -172,129 +172,129 @@ public:
   /// same as trying to get a generic float/int/bool property as a String type; 
   /// the latter will result in a boost:get exception. Use this method to obtain 
   /// a representation suitable for output.
-  String GetGenericPropertyStringRepresentation(const String& key) const
+  String GetPropAsString(const String& key) const
   {
-    if(!HasGenericProperty(key)) return "";
+    if(!HasProp(key)) return "";
     std::ostringstream rep("");
-    rep << this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key);
+    rep << this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key);
     return rep.str();
   }  
     /// \brief returns String property, raises an exception if it does not exist
-    String GetGenericStringProperty(const String& key) const
+    String GetStringProp(const String& key) const
     {
       return this->gp_get<String>(key);
     }
 
   /// \brief returns floating point property, raises an exception if it does 
   ///     not exist
-  Real GetGenericFloatProperty(const String& key) const
+  Real GetFloatProp(const String& key) const
   {
-    if(HasGenericProperty(key)) {
-      GenericPropertyValue value=this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key);
+    if(HasProp(key)) {
+      GenericPropValue value=this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key);
       if (value.which()==1) {
-        return boost::get<Real>(this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key));
+        return boost::get<Real>(this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key));
       } else if (value.which()==2) {
-        return boost::get<int>(this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key));
+        return boost::get<int>(this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key));
       }
       std::ostringstream m("");
       m << "property '" << key << "' is not numeric";
-      throw GenericPropertyError(m.str());
+      throw GenericPropError(m.str());
     } else {
       std::ostringstream m("");
       m << "unknown property " << key;
-      throw GenericPropertyError(m.str());
+      throw GenericPropError(m.str());
     }
   }
 
 
   /// \brief returns integer property, raises an exception if it does not exist
-  int GetGenericIntProperty(const String& key) const
+  int GetIntProp(const String& key) const
   {
     return this->gp_get<int>(key);
   }
 
   /// \brief returns boolean property, raises an exception if it does not exist
-  bool GetGenericBoolProperty(const String& key) const
+  bool GetBoolProp(const String& key) const
   {
     return this->gp_get<bool>(key);
   }
 
   /// \brief returns String property, or the given default if it does not exist
-  String GetGenericStringProperty(const String& key, const String& def) const
+  String GetStringProp(const String& key, const String& def) const
   {
     return this->gp_get<String>(key,def);
   }
 
   /// \brief returns floating point property, or the given default if it does
   ///     not exist
-  Real GetGenericFloatProperty(const String& key, Real def) const
+  Real GetFloatProp(const String& key, Real def) const
   {
-    if(this->HasGenericProperty(key)) {
-      GenericPropertyValue value=GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key);
+    if(this->HasProp(key)) {
+      GenericPropValue value=GetImpl()->GenericProp(key);
       if (value.which()==1) {
-        return boost::get<Real>(GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key));
+        return boost::get<Real>(GetImpl()->GenericProp(key));
       } else if (value.which()==2) {
-        return boost::get<int>(GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key));
+        return boost::get<int>(GetImpl()->GenericProp(key));
       }
       std::ostringstream m("");
       m << "property '" << key << "' is not numeric";
-      throw GenericPropertyError(m.str());
+      throw GenericPropError(m.str());
     } else {
       return def;
     }
   }
 
   /// \brief returns integer property, or the given default if it does not exist
-  int GetGenericIntProperty(const String& key, int def) const
+  int GetIntProp(const String& key, int def) const
   {
     return this->gp_get<int>(key, def);
   }
 
   /// \brief returns boolean property, or the given default if it does not exist
-  bool GetGenericBoolProperty(const String& key, bool def) const
+  bool GetBoolProp(const String& key, bool def) const
   {
     return this->gp_get<bool>(key, def);
   }
 
-  std::map<String,GenericPropertyValue> GetGenericPropertyMap() const
+  std::map<String,GenericPropValue> GetPropMap() const
   {
-    return this->GetImpl()->GetGenericPropertyMap();
+    return this->GetImpl()->GetPropMap();
   }  
 };
 
 /// \brief base class for the handler classes
 template <typename H>
-class  TEMPLATE_EXPORT GenericPropertyContainer : 
-   public ConstGenericPropertyContainer<H>
+class  TEMPLATE_EXPORT GenericPropContainer : 
+   public ConstGenericPropContainer<H>
 {
 public:
-  void ClearGenericProperties()
+  void ClearProps()
   {
-    this->GetImpl()->ClearGenericProperties();
+    this->GetImpl()->ClearProps();
   }
   
   /// \brief sets String property
-  void SetGenericStringProperty(const String& key, const String& value)
+  void SetStringProp(const String& key, const String& value)
   {
-    this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key)=value;
+    this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key)=value;
   }
 
   /// \brief sets floating point property
-  void SetGenericFloatProperty(const String& key, Real value)
+  void SetFloatProp(const String& key, Real value)
   {
-    this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key)=value;
+    this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key)=value;
   }
 
   /// \brief sets integer property
-  void SetGenericIntProperty(const String& key, int value)
+  void SetIntProp(const String& key, int value)
   {
-    this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key)=value;
+    this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key)=value;
   }
 
   /// \ brief sets boolean property
-  void SetGenericBoolProperty(const String& key, bool value)
+  void SetBoolProp(const String& key, bool value)
   {
-    this->GetImpl()->GenericProperty(key)=value;
+    this->GetImpl()->GenericProp(key)=value;
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/modules/base/tests/test_generic_property.cc b/modules/base/tests/test_generic_property.cc
index 8b8f2a8b7f1ab4e0ce9689221029f37eb2db6bac..9fad50c49e5e876868e995518cf8419975987120 100644
--- a/modules/base/tests/test_generic_property.cc
+++ b/modules/base/tests/test_generic_property.cc
@@ -36,30 +36,30 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( test_generic_property )
   AtomHandle atom2 = editor.InsertAtom(res, "Y",geom::Vec3());
   BondHandle bond = editor.Connect(atom, atom2);
 
-  eh.SetGenericStringProperty("a","123");
-  ch.SetGenericFloatProperty("b",1.5);
-  res.SetGenericIntProperty("c",123);
-  atom.SetGenericBoolProperty("d",true);
-  bond.SetGenericIntProperty("e", 12);
+  eh.SetStringProp("a","123");
+  ch.SetFloatProp("b",1.5);
+  res.SetIntProp("c",123);
+  atom.SetBoolProp("d",true);
+  bond.SetIntProp("e", 12);
 
-  BOOST_CHECK(eh.HasGenericProperty("x")==false);
-  BOOST_CHECK(eh.HasGenericProperty("a")==true);
+  BOOST_CHECK(eh.HasProp("x")==false);
+  BOOST_CHECK(eh.HasProp("a")==true);
 
-  BOOST_CHECK(eh.GetGenericStringProperty("a")=="123");
-  BOOST_CHECK(ch.GetGenericFloatProperty("b")==1.5);
-  BOOST_CHECK(res.GetGenericIntProperty("c")==123);
-  BOOST_CHECK(atom.GetGenericBoolProperty("d")==true);
-  BOOST_CHECK(bond.GetGenericIntProperty("e")==12);
+  BOOST_CHECK(eh.GetStringProp("a")=="123");
+  BOOST_CHECK(ch.GetFloatProp("b")==1.5);
+  BOOST_CHECK(res.GetIntProp("c")==123);
+  BOOST_CHECK(atom.GetBoolProp("d")==true);
+  BOOST_CHECK(bond.GetIntProp("e")==12);
 
   EntityView ev = eh.CreateFullView();
   ChainView chv = ev.FindChain("A");
   ResidueView resv = ev.FindResidue(res);
   AtomView atomv = ev.FindAtom(atom);
 
-  BOOST_CHECK(ev.GetGenericStringProperty("a")=="123");
-  BOOST_CHECK(chv.GetGenericFloatProperty("b")==1.5);
-  BOOST_CHECK(resv.GetGenericIntProperty("c")==123);
-  BOOST_CHECK(atomv.GetGenericBoolProperty("d")==true);
+  BOOST_CHECK(ev.GetStringProp("a")=="123");
+  BOOST_CHECK(chv.GetFloatProp("b")==1.5);
+  BOOST_CHECK(resv.GetIntProp("c")==123);
+  BOOST_CHECK(atomv.GetBoolProp("d")==true);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
diff --git a/modules/bindings/pymod/dssp.py b/modules/bindings/pymod/dssp.py
index af1790c794bc2e4a24f6f106d1fc7bd7acf56328..8cb0eff7f4c2a0bf1c9679950c39af6cf9504c64 100644
--- a/modules/bindings/pymod/dssp.py
+++ b/modules/bindings/pymod/dssp.py
@@ -134,22 +134,22 @@ def LoadDSSP(file_name, model, extract_burial_status_flag=0,
         # set property "burial status:
         if extract_burial_status_flag == 1:
          #set default (dummy) burial status for incomplete residues:
-         residue.SetGenericStringProperty("burial_status", 'X')
+         residue.SetStringProp("burial_status", 'X')
 
          #handle seleno-methionine appearing as amino acid 'X' in DSSP:
          if residue.name=="MSE" and amino_acid=='X':
            amino_acid='M'
 
-         residue.SetGenericFloatProperty("solvent_accessibility", 
+         residue.SetFloatProp("solvent_accessibility", 
                                          solvent_accessibility)
          if calculate_relative_sa:
            relative_sa=_CalcRelativeSA(amino_acid,solvent_accessibility)
-           residue.SetGenericFloatProperty("relative_solvent_accessibility", 
+           residue.SetFloatProp("relative_solvent_accessibility", 
                                            relative_sa)
            if relative_sa < 0.25:
-             residue.SetGenericStringProperty("burial_status", 'b')
+             residue.SetStringProp("burial_status", 'b')
            else:
-             residue.SetGenericStringProperty("burial_status", 'e')
+             residue.SetStringProp("burial_status", 'e')
       except Exception, e:
         print "ERROR:",e
         continue
diff --git a/modules/bindings/pymod/msms.py b/modules/bindings/pymod/msms.py
index 9ae73f78a627e4bd97572fe626925d58ab6172d9..6f36ab9fdf10a3ee70d86127e4c656ca48189ee5 100644
--- a/modules/bindings/pymod/msms.py
+++ b/modules/bindings/pymod/msms.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def _ParseAreaFile(entity,file, property):
     for l in area_lines:
         atom_no, sesa, sasa = l.split()
         a = entity.atoms[int(atom_no)] 
-        a.SetGenericFloatProperty(property, float(sasa))
+        a.SetFloatProp(property, float(sasa))
     
     
 ## \brief Method which recursively deletes a directory
diff --git a/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.cc b/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.cc
index c3f9082285a71f0ed5b2fdce1b99ab107f718b3d..cbb9a6fb94729eb981dbba2a165cfcd0094ba55f 100755
--- a/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.cc
+++ b/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.cc
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace ost { namespace conop {
     mol::AtomHandleList ahl=ent_.GetAtomList();
     for (mol::AtomHandleList::iterator i=ahl.begin();i!=ahl.end();++i) {
       if (i->IsValid()) {
-        if (! i->HasGenericProperty("RFvisited")) {
+        if (! i->HasProp("RFvisited")) {
           // start ring search from each unvisited atom (e.g. if there are
           // multiple unconnected fragments)
           std::map<long int,bool> ring_closings;
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ namespace ost { namespace conop {
       mol::EntityView view=ent_.CreateEmptyView();
       mol::AtomHandleList ahl=ent_.GetAtomList();
       for (mol::AtomHandleList::iterator i=ahl.begin();i!=ahl.end();++i) {
-        if (i->HasGenericProperty("RFinring")) {
+        if (i->HasProp("RFinring")) {
           view.AddAtom(*i);
         }
       }
       mol::BondHandleList bhl=ent_.GetBondList();
       for (mol::BondHandeList::const_iterator j=bhl.begin();j!=bhl.end();++j) {
-        if (j->HasGenericProperty("RFinring")) {
+        if (j->HasProp("RFinring")) {
           view.AddBond(*j);
         }
       }
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ namespace ost { namespace conop {
                             std::map<long int,bool> &ring_closings)
   {
     int num_rings_start=ring_closings.size();
-    curr.SetGenericBoolProperty("RFvisited",true);
+    curr.SetBoolProp("RFvisited",true);
     mol::AtomHandleList bp=curr.GetBondPartners();
     for (mol::AtomHandleList::iterator i=bp.begin(); i!=bp.end(); ++i) {
       if ((*i)==prev) {
@@ -96,27 +96,27 @@ namespace ost { namespace conop {
         continue;
       }
       mol::BondHandle b=curr.FindBondToAtom(*i);
-      if (b.HasGenericProperty("RFvisited")) {
+      if (b.HasProp("RFvisited")) {
         // do not go along previously visited bonds
         continue;
       }
-      b.SetGenericBoolProperty("RFvisited", true);
-      if (i->HasGenericProperty("RFvisited")) {
+      b.SetBoolProp("RFvisited", true);
+      if (i->HasProp("RFvisited")) {
         // we have found a ring
         ring_closings[i->GetHashCode()]=true;
-        b.SetGenericBoolProperty("RFinring", true);
+        b.SetBoolProp("RFinring", true);
       } else {
         // no ring yet - continue to next atom
         int num_found=VisitNext((*i),curr,ring_closings);
         // back from the recursion
         if (num_found>0) {
-          b.SetGenericBoolProperty("RFinring", true);
+          b.SetBoolProp("RFinring", true);
         }
       }
     }
     if (ring_closings.size()-num_rings_start>0) {
       // if current atom is in the ring closing list, remove it
-      curr.SetGenericBoolProperty("RFinring", true);
+      curr.SetBoolProp("RFinring", true);
       ring_closings.erase(curr.GetHashCode());
     }
     return ring_closings.size()-num_rings_start;
diff --git a/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.hh b/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.hh
index fe59e111b781c2d82b6efc155c72bade038ad991..b5dfd9f3bf0818666a99287051be4531dbf7bf61 100755
--- a/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.hh
+++ b/modules/conop/src/ring_finder.hh
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public:
   /// \brief Walk along the path of the entity in a depth first search and
   ///        identify atoms and bonds which are in rings
   ///
-  /// For all atoms and bonds, belonging to a ring, the GenericBoolProperty
+  /// For all atoms and bonds, belonging to a ring, the BoolProp
   /// RFinring is set to true. The search for rings is only carried out once.
   /// This method does not need to be called explicitly, it will be
   /// automatically called if the rings have not yet been identified.
diff --git a/modules/io/src/mol/entity_io_sdf_handler.cc b/modules/io/src/mol/entity_io_sdf_handler.cc
index 9ec62a2e6adf1596d6f3b155aa05761c84283089..bbd703bc1dd262cf49d98a9fca72aae1fd61bbb9 100644
--- a/modules/io/src/mol/entity_io_sdf_handler.cc
+++ b/modules/io/src/mol/entity_io_sdf_handler.cc
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void EntityIOSDFHandler::Import(mol::EntityHandle& ent, std::istream& instream)
       while(std::getline(instream,line) && !boost::iequals(line, "")) {
         data_value.append(line);
       }
-      curr_chain_.SetGenericStringProperty(data_header, data_value);
+      curr_chain_.SetStringProp(data_header, data_value);
     } else if (boost::iequals(line, "$$$$")) {
       LOGN_MESSAGE("MOLECULE " << curr_chain_.GetName() << " (" << chain_count_ << ") added.")
       NextMolecule();
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@ namespace {
       ostr_ << "M  END" << std::endl;
       
       // write data block
-      std::map<String,GenericPropertyValue> prop_map = non_const_chain.GetGenericPropertyMap();
-      std::map<String,GenericPropertyValue>::iterator iter;
+      std::map<String,GenericPropValue> prop_map = non_const_chain.GetPropMap();
+      std::map<String,GenericPropValue>::iterator iter;
       for(iter = prop_map.begin(); iter != prop_map.end(); ++iter) {
         ostr_ << "> <" << (*iter).first << ">" << std::endl;
         ostr_ << (*iter).second << std::endl;
diff --git a/modules/io/tests/test_io_sdf.cc b/modules/io/tests/test_io_sdf.cc
index 4fcad509eedc32f6ac30b644ff562b51c98cdeb5..71c773f39a55b9b615589d18ca8bf9eb80daf5e5 100644
--- a/modules/io/tests/test_io_sdf.cc
+++ b/modules/io/tests/test_io_sdf.cc
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_io_sdf)
   BOOST_CHECK(ch.IsValid());
 
   // check properties
-  BOOST_CHECK(ch.HasGenericProperty("r_i_glide_rmsd"));
+  BOOST_CHECK(ch.HasProp("r_i_glide_rmsd"));
   BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(boost::lexical_cast<Real>(boost::trim_copy
-                     (ch.GetGenericStringProperty("r_i_glide_rmsd"))),
+                     (ch.GetStringProp("r_i_glide_rmsd"))),
                      0.543804f);
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/doc/query.dox b/modules/mol/base/doc/query.dox
index 7c3b7f3d577baf068f08f9523b418d8e0595cef6..0e4f57ce840acab8b3157c1491aa126c95d66acb 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/doc/query.dox
+++ b/modules/mol/base/doc/query.dox
@@ -65,16 +65,16 @@ syntax: instead of  rnum>=10 and rnum<=20` one can write \c rnum=10:20`
 \section gen_prop GenericProperties
 
 The query language can also be used for numeric generic properties (i.e.
-GenericFloatProperty and GenericIntProperty), but the syntax is slightly
+FloatProp and IntProp), but the syntax is slightly
 different. To access any generic properties, it needs to be specified that
 they are generic and at which level they are defined. Therefore, all generic
 properties start with a \c g, followed by an \c a, \c r or \c c for atom,
 residue or chain level respectively. 
 \code
 # set generic properties for atom, residue, chain
-atom_handle.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropatom", 5.2)
-resid_handle.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropres", 1.1)
-chain_handle.SetGenericIntProperty("testpropchain", 10)
+atom_handle.SetFloatProp("testpropatom", 5.2)
+resid_handle.SetFloatProp("testpropres", 1.1)
+chain_handle.SetIntProp("testpropchain", 10)
 
 # query statements
 sel_a=e.Select("gatestpropatom<=10.0")
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/doc/query.rst b/modules/mol/base/doc/query.rst
index 8b5d26c3257e6f4a40d9b52c6fda73711c477733..20c4b711a2a0e9c190efce278af82df16ac84ee1 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/doc/query.rst
+++ b/modules/mol/base/doc/query.rst
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ they are defined. Therefore, all generic properties start with a ``g``, followed
 .. code-block:: python
    
    # set generic properties for atom, residue, chain
-   atom_handle.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropatom", 5.2)
-   resid_handle.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropres", 1.1)
-   chain_handle.SetGenericIntProperty("testpropchain", 10)
+   atom_handle.SetFloatProp("testpropatom", 5.2)
+   resid_handle.SetFloatProp("testpropres", 1.1)
+   chain_handle.SetIntProp("testpropchain", 10)
    
    # query statements
    sel_a=e.Select("gatestpropatom<=10.0")
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.cc b/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.cc
index 9a8cfb1fc0ce1438612555e2909c7be900fc7558..ac0a63e731e88d33e355e1669f03c4469d5a2f6d 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.cc
@@ -29,12 +29,12 @@ AtomBase::AtomBase()
 AtomBase::AtomBase(const impl::AtomImplPtr& impl):
   impl_(impl) 
 {}
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* AtomBase::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* AtomBase::GpImpl()
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* AtomBase::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* AtomBase::GpImpl() const
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.hh
index 71ec8dbe88fe3b46e0f9c65570071c9c16d3b5c8..9744f00f8b06f87ab192c4ac9a293369b4d789a6 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/atom_base.hh
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {
 /// that the position of an atom is undefined when there are pending changes
 /// of an ICSEditor in buffered edit mode. Before calling #GetPos(),
 /// ICSEditor::UpdateXCS() should be called explicitly.
-class DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL AtomBase: public GenericPropertyContainer<AtomBase> {
+class DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL AtomBase: public GenericPropContainer<AtomBase> {
 public:
   AtomBase();
   AtomBase(const impl::AtomImplPtr& impl);
 public:  
-  friend class ConstGenericPropertyContainer<AtomBase>;  
+  friend class ConstGenericPropContainer<AtomBase>;  
   ///\brief Get atom name. 
   ///
   /// In Python the atom name may also be accesssed over the property \c Name
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ public:
   long GetHashCode() const;  
 protected:
   
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
   
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
   
   void CheckValidity() const;
   impl::AtomImplPtr   impl_;
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.cc b/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.cc
index 995f4d1431bdaae238943689660fc802cb4ceba8..2441e5273d0e817192e82a20391576b82e41a157 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.cc
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ BondHandle::BondHandle():
 BondHandle::BondHandle(const impl::ConnectorImplP& im):
   impl_(im)
 {}
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* BondHandle::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* BondHandle::GpImpl()
 {
   return impl_.get();
 }
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* BondHandle::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* BondHandle::GpImpl() const
 {
   return impl_.get();
 }
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.hh
index 114e033a65ba16436c2c2f601a25aab053506393..9d6bea4c6fdf76c4b9d94d81aa75046d7f6a8bac 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/bond_handle.hh
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {
 /// Represents a chemical bond between two atoms (#GetFirst(), #GetSecond()).
 /// New bonds are created with EditorBase::Connect().
 class DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL BondHandle: 
-    public GenericPropertyContainer<BondHandle> {
+    public GenericPropContainer<BondHandle> {
 public:
-  friend class ConstGenericPropertyContainer<BondHandle>;  
+  friend class ConstGenericPropContainer<BondHandle>;  
   /// necessary dummy ctor, creates invalid handle
   BondHandle();
   /// ctor for internal use, in public interface for convenience purposes
@@ -113,9 +113,9 @@ public:
   
 protected:
   
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
   
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;  
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;  
   void CheckValidity() const;
 private:
   impl::ConnectorImplP impl_;
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.cc b/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.cc
index 29a40f3a2b1801309432c409a546b79c40b9e0df..aef8bc19a61c5aef1edbbbe0801bedfa138be472 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.cc
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ ChainBase::ChainBase()
 ChainBase::ChainBase(const impl::ChainImplPtr& impl): 
   impl_(impl) 
 {}
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* ChainBase::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* ChainBase::GpImpl()
 {
   return impl_.get();
 }
 
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* ChainBase::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* ChainBase::GpImpl() const
 {
   return impl_.get();
 }
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.hh
index c8de6551ba637115f10816ff0aa45fb136c994e3..68e0d4bf84bcaa96046a4bb11de5c4b2d72e97a4 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/chain_base.hh
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {
 /// Chains are linear chains of \ref ResidueHandle "residues". Peptide chains are
 /// ordered from N- to C-terminus. 
 class DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL ChainBase: 
-  public GenericPropertyContainer<ChainBase> {
+  public GenericPropContainer<ChainBase> {
 
 public: // constructors
   ChainBase();
   ChainBase(const impl::ChainImplPtr& impl);
 public:
-  friend class ConstGenericPropertyContainer<ChainBase>;
+  friend class ConstGenericPropContainer<ChainBase>;
   String GetName() const;
   /// \name Handle validity
   //@{
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ public:
     return impl_;
   }
 protected:
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
   
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
     
   void CheckValidity() const;
 private:
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.cc b/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.cc
index df3fc636ebcec737de5f4f0d28ff73a323da3806..16ea851d9344aa560dd64fc8d65b2cd7366a77b1 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.cc
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ impl::EntityImplPtr& EntityBase::Impl() {
 const impl::EntityImplPtr& EntityBase::Impl() const {
   return impl_;
 }
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* EntityBase::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* EntityBase::GpImpl()
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* EntityBase::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* EntityBase::GpImpl() const
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.hh
index 05228c56febf0ed3a3b94490553d6288948e0361..9c4fe8922e0da646364a8c71053acfc5522ac904 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/entity_base.hh
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {
 
 /// \brief definition of EntityBase
 class DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL EntityBase: 
-  public GenericPropertyContainer<EntityBase> {
+  public GenericPropContainer<EntityBase> {
 public:
-  friend class ConstGenericPropertyContainer<EntityBase>;
+  friend class ConstGenericPropContainer<EntityBase>;
   EntityBase(const impl::EntityImplPtr& impl);
   EntityBase();
   
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ public:
   const impl::EntityImplPtr& Impl() const;
 protected:
   
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
   
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
   
   void CheckValidity() const;  
 private:
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/entity_property_mapper.cc b/modules/mol/base/src/entity_property_mapper.cc
index 0e74f6ab8c481d0ac3522dd9c5f547c9ae32c33c..c6cd606b37d71672afea4002a67250033a66edad 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/entity_property_mapper.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/entity_property_mapper.cc
@@ -52,17 +52,17 @@ Real EntityPropertyMapper::get_property(const T& atom, Real def_value) const
   switch(prop_.level) {
     case Prop::ATOM:
       if (B) {
-        return atom.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_, def_value);
+        return atom.GetFloatProp(prop_name_, def_value);
       } else {
-        return atom.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_);          
+        return atom.GetFloatProp(prop_name_);          
       }
     case Prop::RESIDUE:
       if (B) {
-        Real value=atom.GetResidue().GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_, 
+        Real value=atom.GetResidue().GetFloatProp(prop_name_, 
                                                              def_value);
         return value; 
       } else {
-        return atom.GetResidue().GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_);
+        return atom.GetResidue().GetFloatProp(prop_name_);
       }
     default:
      return def_value;
@@ -98,12 +98,12 @@ Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const AtomView& atom,
 
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ResidueView& res) const
 {
-  return res.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_);
+  return res.GetFloatProp(prop_name_);
 }
 
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ResidueHandle& res) const
 {
-  return res.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_);
+  return res.GetFloatProp(prop_name_);
 }
 
 
@@ -111,13 +111,13 @@ Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ResidueHandle& res) const
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ResidueHandle& res,
                                  Real def_value) const
 {
-  return res.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_, def_value);
+  return res.GetFloatProp(prop_name_, def_value);
 }
 
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ResidueView& res,
                                  Real def_value) const
 {
-  return res.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_, def_value);
+  return res.GetFloatProp(prop_name_, def_value);
 }
 
 
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@ Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ResidueView& res,
 
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ChainView& chain) const
 {
-  return chain.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_);
+  return chain.GetFloatProp(prop_name_);
 }
 
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ChainHandle& chain) const
 {
-  return chain.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_);
+  return chain.GetFloatProp(prop_name_);
 }
 
 
@@ -140,13 +140,13 @@ Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ChainHandle& chain) const
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ChainHandle& chain,
                                  Real def_value) const
 {
-  return chain.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_, def_value);
+  return chain.GetFloatProp(prop_name_, def_value);
 }
 
 Real EntityPropertyMapper::Get(const ChainView& chain,
                                  Real def_value) const
 {
-  return chain.GetGenericFloatProperty(prop_name_, def_value);
+  return chain.GetFloatProp(prop_name_, def_value);
 }
 
 }} //ns
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/atom_impl.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/atom_impl.hh
index f3c2cc1c03db42b317b49606c326979e5b473d46..b24abc85c7d55e9f5eed8bca31cb1d3ee785ac94 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/atom_impl.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/atom_impl.hh
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol { namespace impl {
 /// coordinates. the secondary connectors connect this atom with the atoms that
 /// themselves depend on the coordinate system of this atom.
 /// \internal
-class AtomImpl: public GenericPropertyContainerImpl,
+class AtomImpl: public GenericPropContainerImpl,
                 public boost::enable_shared_from_this<AtomImpl> {
 public:
    AtomImpl(const EntityImplPtr& ent, const ResidueImplPtr& res,
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/chain_impl.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/chain_impl.hh
index 24d5b40092305fbf98541047b13d7fc2d10c11c5..644bed1e734d8594620164051c80060eb1a33295 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/chain_impl.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/chain_impl.hh
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 namespace ost { namespace mol {namespace impl {
 
 /// \internal
-class ChainImpl: public GenericPropertyContainerImpl,
+class ChainImpl: public GenericPropContainerImpl,
                  public boost::enable_shared_from_this<ChainImpl>
 {
 public:
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/connector_impl.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/connector_impl.hh
index e0e0c0528ae571dfacda9c03fd26679d9cbe9109..2898a237d5b18e73205078c95161c27907f478ac 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/connector_impl.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/connector_impl.hh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 
 namespace ost { namespace mol { namespace impl {
 
-class ConnectorImpl: public GenericPropertyContainerImpl,
+class ConnectorImpl: public GenericPropContainerImpl,
                      public boost::enable_shared_from_this<ConnectorImpl> {
 public:
   ConnectorImpl(const EntityImplPtr& e, const AtomImplPtr& first, 
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/entity_impl.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/entity_impl.hh
index ebe32704b8309441f87898b52d37bbbaf7fbbe43..63504c74987765914620394ab72515b64031090c 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/entity_impl.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/entity_impl.hh
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ typedef enum {
 
 
 /// \internal
-class EntityImpl: public GenericPropertyContainerImpl,
+class EntityImpl: public GenericPropContainerImpl,
                   public boost::enable_shared_from_this<EntityImpl>                  
 {
 public:
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/residue_impl.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/residue_impl.hh
index 6a36a75bca157d45b1a9bbacc080ad30481cdd88..22e816b6e851d79f2c4f56dedaddf23ae7cd4fef 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/impl/residue_impl.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/impl/residue_impl.hh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {  namespace impl {
 
 /// \internal
 /// \brief Residue implementation
-class ResidueImpl: public GenericPropertyContainerImpl,
+class ResidueImpl: public GenericPropContainerImpl,
                    public boost::enable_shared_from_this<ResidueImpl>
                    
 {
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/property_id.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/property_id.hh
index 6c06e7ef3cfedbca010cec71688728003ae793f6..dfc984bc2b465fa70c502fdd8c6653efd82bba14 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/property_id.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/property_id.hh
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
   /// it is used as an index to determine in which order the generic properties
   /// where specified in the query string.
   /// GenericProperties are defined with gapropname, grpropname, gcpropname for
-  /// the GenericProperty 'propname' at the atom, residue and chain level
+  /// the GenericProp 'propname' at the atom, residue and chain level
   /// respectively.
   typedef enum {
     RNAME, ANAME, CNAME, ELE, RNUM, ANUM, AX, AY, AZ, OCC, RTYPE, ISHETATM,
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/query.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/query.hh
index b67978511e6cd6bfbcf9fe0b9b48f8a66656fd7e..a064629cbd001f98b89b8df4ce55f9d514a3a1ef 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/query.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/query.hh
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {
 /// resulting view.
 ///
 /// For matching GenericProperties, use gapropname, grpropname, gcpropname for
-/// the GenericProperty 'propname' at the atom, residue and chain level
+/// the GenericProp 'propname' at the atom, residue and chain level
 /// respectively. The g marks the property as generic.
 struct DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL QueryFlag {
   typedef enum {
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.cc b/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.cc
index 60e684806ef8b5cb34ac5a1b89a39d111977eefd..f4ce54ee5aafc307e7f31efff4f05ef6975ed7d7 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.cc
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ ResidueBase::ResidueBase(const impl::ResidueImplPtr& impl):
   impl_(impl) 
 {}
 
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* ResidueBase::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* ResidueBase::GpImpl()
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* ResidueBase::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* ResidueBase::GpImpl() const
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.hh b/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.hh
index 0aabe77a38e08bb0c8c17144148102223e68b50d..69749ed492dbc566ad1d3eb72eabb3ad23999257 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.hh
+++ b/modules/mol/base/src/residue_base.hh
@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@ namespace ost { namespace mol {
 /// When loading an entity from file, the one-letter and chemical class of a
 /// residue are assigned by the \ref conop::Builder "default builder".
 class DLLEXPORT_OST_MOL ResidueBase: 
-   public GenericPropertyContainer<ResidueBase> {
+   public GenericPropContainer<ResidueBase> {
 public:
   ResidueBase();
   ResidueBase(const impl::ResidueImplPtr& impl);
   ResidueBase(const ResidueBase& rhs);
 public:
-  friend class ConstGenericPropertyContainer<ResidueBase>;
+  friend class ConstGenericPropContainer<ResidueBase>;
   /// \brief return residue number
   const ResNum& GetNumber() const;
 
@@ -145,9 +145,9 @@ public:
 
   const impl::ResidueImplPtr& Impl() const;
 protected:
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
   
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;  
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;  
   void CheckValidity() const;
 private:
   impl::ResidueImplPtr impl_;
diff --git a/modules/mol/base/tests/test_query.cc b/modules/mol/base/tests/test_query.cc
index 1b50744443dccb11c9f70eb63174769e4e030ed6..3dd125e4412447d148d216e7b7686fcb801b4406 100644
--- a/modules/mol/base/tests/test_query.cc
+++ b/modules/mol/base/tests/test_query.cc
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ EntityHandle make_query_test_entity()
   EntityHandle eh = CreateEntity();
   XCSEditor e=eh.RequestXCSEditor();
   ChainHandle chain = e.InsertChain("A");
-  chain.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropc", 1.0);
+  chain.SetFloatProp("testpropc", 1.0);
   ResidueHandle res = e.AppendResidue(chain, "MET");
-  res.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropr", 1.0);
+  res.SetFloatProp("testpropr", 1.0);
   AtomProp c_atom;
   c_atom.element="C";
   c_atom.radius=1.0;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ EntityHandle make_query_test_entity()
   s_atom.element="S";
   s_atom.radius=1.0;
   AtomHandle ah=e.InsertAtom(res, "N",geom::Vec3(21.609,35.384,56.705), n_atom);
-  ah.SetGenericFloatProperty("testpropa", 1.0);
+  ah.SetFloatProp("testpropa", 1.0);
   e.InsertAtom(res, "CA",geom::Vec3(20.601,35.494,57.793), c_atom);
   e.InsertAtom(res, "C",geom::Vec3(19.654,34.300,57.789), c_atom);
   e.InsertAtom(res, "O",geom::Vec3(18.447,34.456,57.595), o_atom);
diff --git a/modules/seq/base/src/impl/sequence_impl.hh b/modules/seq/base/src/impl/sequence_impl.hh
index 6ac241970d7836f6de76ac61ac90602761b3d12d..d6159402b7c8505c25078bb0ee7208f6ea03f8a6 100644
--- a/modules/seq/base/src/impl/sequence_impl.hh
+++ b/modules/seq/base/src/impl/sequence_impl.hh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class SequenceImpl;
 typedef boost::shared_ptr<SequenceImpl> SequenceImplPtr;
 
 /// \internal
-class DLLEXPORT_OST_SEQ SequenceImpl : public GenericPropertyContainerImpl {
+class DLLEXPORT_OST_SEQ SequenceImpl : public GenericPropContainerImpl {
 public:
   /// \brief       Construct new sequence object from sequence_string.
   static SequenceImplPtr FromString(const String& seq_name,
diff --git a/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.cc b/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.cc
index 60216f9ae1cd72ba584a8d036613e219d9f33326..eeb3d1acb8f363c750c3327e7e4a648d36f88a9c 100644
--- a/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.cc
+++ b/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.cc
@@ -349,22 +349,22 @@ const String& SequenceHandle::GetString() const
   return Impl()->GetString(); 
 }
 
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* ConstSequenceHandle::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* ConstSequenceHandle::GpImpl()
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* ConstSequenceHandle::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* ConstSequenceHandle::GpImpl() const
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
 
-GenericPropertyContainerImpl* SequenceHandle::GpImpl()
+GenericPropContainerImpl* SequenceHandle::GpImpl()
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
 
-const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* SequenceHandle::GpImpl() const
+const GenericPropContainerImpl* SequenceHandle::GpImpl() const
 {
   return Impl().get();
 }
diff --git a/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.hh b/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.hh
index c76c3298c7420734e70713320ec3fde480fb037d..ad4d294e33f518cc6575ff1aed82df63db3397c3 100644
--- a/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.hh
+++ b/modules/seq/base/src/sequence_handle.hh
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ class AlignmentHandle;
 /// The ConstSequenceHandle provides all read-only methods of the 
 /// \ref SequenceHandle "sequence handle".
 class DLLEXPORT_OST_SEQ ConstSequenceHandle : 
-  public ConstGenericPropertyContainer<ConstSequenceHandle> {
+  public ConstGenericPropContainer<ConstSequenceHandle> {
 public:
-  friend class ConstGenericPropertyContainer<ConstSequenceHandle>;
+  friend class ConstGenericPropContainer<ConstSequenceHandle>;
   friend class AlignmentHandle;
   friend class ConstSequenceList;
   friend class SequenceList;
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ public:
   bool IsValid() const;
   /// \internal
 protected:
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
 
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
 public:
   ConstSequenceHandle(const impl::SequenceImplPtr& impl);
   impl::SequenceImplPtr& Impl() const;  
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ private:
 /// Sequences IO is dealt with in the sequence module. For more information, 
 /// consult \ref module_seq "this page".
 class DLLEXPORT_OST_SEQ SequenceHandle : 
-  public GenericPropertyContainer<SequenceHandle> {
+  public GenericPropContainer<SequenceHandle> {
 public:
-  friend class GenericPropertyContainer<SequenceHandle>;  
+  friend class GenericPropContainer<SequenceHandle>;  
   friend class SequenceList;
 
   friend class AlignmentHandle;
@@ -261,9 +261,9 @@ public:
   
   impl::SequenceImplPtr& Impl() const;  
 
-  GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl();
+  GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl();
 
-  const GenericPropertyContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
+  const GenericPropContainerImpl* GpImpl() const;
 private:
   void CheckValidity() const;  
   mutable impl::SequenceImplPtr impl_;