diff --git a/frappy/datatypes.py b/frappy/datatypes.py
index 1bac6ee..0c47506 100644
--- a/frappy/datatypes.py
+++ b/frappy/datatypes.py
@@ -1238,6 +1238,16 @@ class OrType(DataType):
         raise WrongTypeError(f"Invalid Value, must conform to one of {', '.join(str(t) for t in self.types)}")
 
 
+LEGACY_VISIBILITY = {'user': 'www', 1: 'www', 'advanced': 'ww-', 2: 'ww-', 'expert': 'w--', 3: 'w--'}
+
+
+def visibility_validator(value):
+    value = LEGACY_VISIBILITY.get(value, value)
+    if len(value) == 3 and set(value) <= set('wr-'):
+        return value
+    raise RangeError(f'{value!r} is not a valid visibility')
+
+
 Int8   = IntRange(-(1 << 7),  (1 << 7) - 1)
 Int16  = IntRange(-(1 << 15), (1 << 15) - 1)
 Int32  = IntRange(-(1 << 31), (1 << 31) - 1)
diff --git a/frappy/modulebase.py b/frappy/modulebase.py
index 9a034f0..4263438 100644
--- a/frappy/modulebase.py
+++ b/frappy/modulebase.py
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ import time
 import threading
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
-from frappy.datatypes import ArrayOf, BoolType, EnumType, FloatRange, \
-    IntRange, StringType, TextType, TupleOf, \
-    NoneOr
+from frappy.datatypes import ArrayOf, BoolType, FloatRange, IntRange, NoneOr, \
+    StringType, TextType, TupleOf, ValueType, visibility_validator
+
 from frappy.errors import BadValueError, CommunicationFailedError, ConfigError, \
     ProgrammingError, SECoPError, secop_error, RangeError
 from frappy.lib import formatException, mkthread, UniqueObject
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ class Module(HasAccessibles):
     description = Property('description of the module', TextType(), extname='description', mandatory=True)
     meaning = Property('optional meaning indicator', TupleOf(StringType(), IntRange(0, 50)),
                        default=('', 0), extname='meaning')
-    visibility = Property('optional visibility hint', EnumType('visibility', user=1, advanced=2, expert=3),
-                          default='user', extname='visibility')
+    visibility = Property('optional visibility hint', ValueType(visibility_validator),
+                          default='www', extname='visibility')
     implementation = Property('internal name of the implementation class of the module', StringType(),
                               extname='implementation')
     interface_classes = Property('offical highest interface-class of the module', ArrayOf(StringType()),
diff --git a/frappy/params.py b/frappy/params.py
index c649ab9..8e27e6d 100644
--- a/frappy/params.py
+++ b/frappy/params.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import inspect
 
 from frappy.datatypes import ArrayOf, BoolType, CommandType, DataType, \
     DataTypeType, EnumType, FloatRange, NoneOr, OrType, StringType, StructOf, \
-    TextType, TupleOf, ValueType
+    TextType, TupleOf, ValueType, visibility_validator
 from frappy.errors import BadValueError, ProgrammingError, WrongTypeError
 from frappy.lib import generalConfig
 from frappy.properties import HasProperties, Property
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ class Parameter(Accessible):
         'optional parameter group this parameter belongs to', StringType(),
         extname='group', default='')
     visibility = Property(
-        'optional visibility hint', EnumType('visibility', user=1, advanced=2, expert=3),
-        extname='visibility', default=1)
+        'optional visibility hint', ValueType(visibility_validator),
+        extname='visibility', default='www')
     constant = Property(
         'optional constant value for constant parameters', ValueType(),
         extname='constant', default=None)
@@ -367,8 +367,8 @@ class Command(Accessible):
         'optional command group of the command.', StringType(),
         extname='group', export=True, default='')
     visibility = Property(
-        'optional visibility hint', EnumType('visibility', user=1, advanced=2, expert=3),
-        extname='visibility', export=True, default=1)
+        'optional visibility hint', ValueType(visibility_validator),
+        extname='visibility', export=True, default='www')
     export = Property(
         '''[internal] export settings
 
diff --git a/test/test_modules.py b/test/test_modules.py
index cf788ac..c37f0a7 100644
--- a/test/test_modules.py
+++ b/test/test_modules.py
@@ -318,17 +318,17 @@ def test_command_inheritance():
             """third"""
 
     assert Sub1.accessibles['cmd'].for_export() == {
-        'description': 'first', 'group': 'grp', 'visibility': 2,
+        'description': 'first', 'group': 'grp', 'visibility': 'ww-',
         'datainfo': {'type': 'command', 'argument': {'type': 'bool'}}
     }
 
     assert Sub2.accessibles['cmd'].for_export() == {
-        'description': 'second', 'group': 'grp', 'visibility': 2,
+        'description': 'second', 'group': 'grp', 'visibility': 'ww-',
         'datainfo': {'type': 'command', 'result': {'type': 'bool'}}
     }
 
     assert Sub3.accessibles['cmd'].for_export() == {
-        'description': 'third', 'visibility': 2,
+        'description': 'third', 'visibility': 'ww-',
         'datainfo': {'type': 'command', 'result': {'type': 'double'}}
     }
 
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ def test_command_check():
             'cmd': {'argument': {'type': 'double', 'min': 1, 'max': 0}},
         }, srv)
 
-    with pytest.raises(ProgrammingError):
+    with pytest.raises(ConfigError):
         BadDatatype('o', logger, {
             'description': '',
             'cmd': {'visibility': 'invalid'},