diff --git a/python/CMakeLists.txt b/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 740c54add..93167953c 100755
--- a/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ set( PYTHON_FILES
     detector_property.py
     detector.py
     eiger.py
+    enums.py
     errors.py
     gotthard2.py
     ctb.py
diff --git a/python/examples/use_enum.py b/python/examples/use_enum.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..67c55394d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/examples/use_enum.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Most settings are represented as enums that can be 
+# explicitly imported
+
+from slsdet import Detector, fileFormat
+d = Detector()
+d.fformat = fileFormat.BINARY
+
+# Altough not recommended for convenience all enums 
+# and some other things can be impored using *
+
+from slsdet import *
+d.speed = speedLevel.FULL_SPEED 
+
+# To list the available enums, use dir()
+
+import slsdet.enums
+for enum in dir(slsdet.enums):
+    # filter out special memebers
+    if not enum.startswith('_'):
+        print(enum)
diff --git a/python/slsdet/__init__.py b/python/slsdet/__init__.py
index e3711564e..871b63173 100755
--- a/python/slsdet/__init__.py
+++ b/python/slsdet/__init__.py
@@ -12,26 +12,25 @@ from .gotthard2 import Gotthard2
 import _slsdet
 
 defs = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs
-runStatus = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.runStatus
-speedLevel = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.speedLevel
 
-
-detectorType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorType
-frameDiscardPolicy = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.frameDiscardPolicy
-fileFormat = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.fileFormat
-dimension = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.dimension
-externalSignalFlag = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.externalSignalFlag
-timingMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.timingMode
-dacIndex = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.dacIndex
-detectorSettings = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorSettings
-clockIndex = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.clockIndex
-readoutMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.readoutMode
-masterFlags = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.masterFlags
-
-frameModeType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.frameModeType
-detectorModeType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorModeType
-burstMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.burstMode
-timingSourceType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.timingSourceType
+from .enums import *
+# runStatus = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.runStatus
+# speedLevel = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.speedLevel
+# detectorType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorType
+# frameDiscardPolicy = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.frameDiscardPolicy
+# fileFormat = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.fileFormat
+# dimension = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.dimension
+# externalSignalFlag = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.externalSignalFlag
+# timingMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.timingMode
+# dacIndex = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.dacIndex
+# detectorSettings = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorSettings
+# clockIndex = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.clockIndex
+# readoutMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.readoutMode
+# masterFlags = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.masterFlags
+# frameModeType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.frameModeType
+# detectorModeType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorModeType
+# burstMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.burstMode
+# timingSourceType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.timingSourceType
 
 
 IpAddr = _slsdet.IpAddr
diff --git a/python/slsdet/enums.py b/python/slsdet/enums.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8fd05812b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/slsdet/enums.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+import _slsdet
+runStatus = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.runStatus
+speedLevel = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.speedLevel
+detectorType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorType
+frameDiscardPolicy = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.frameDiscardPolicy
+fileFormat = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.fileFormat
+dimension = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.dimension
+externalSignalFlag = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.externalSignalFlag
+timingMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.timingMode
+dacIndex = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.dacIndex
+detectorSettings = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorSettings
+clockIndex = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.clockIndex
+readoutMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.readoutMode
+masterFlags = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.masterFlags
+frameModeType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.frameModeType
+detectorModeType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.detectorModeType
+burstMode = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.burstMode
+timingSourceType = _slsdet.slsDetectorDefs.timingSourceType
\ No newline at end of file