diff --git a/pyzebra/app/panel_hdf_viewer.py b/pyzebra/app/panel_hdf_viewer.py
index cec30cb..1f8549f 100644
--- a/pyzebra/app/panel_hdf_viewer.py
+++ b/pyzebra/app/panel_hdf_viewer.py
@@ -144,10 +144,11 @@ def create():
             overview_plot_y_image_source.data.update(y=[0], dh=[n_im])
 
         elif frame_button_group.active == 1:  # Variable angle
-            overview_plot_x.axis[1].axis_label = det_data["variable_name"]
-            overview_plot_y.axis[1].axis_label = det_data["variable_name"]
+            scan_motor = det_data["scan_motor"]
+            overview_plot_x.axis[1].axis_label = scan_motor
+            overview_plot_y.axis[1].axis_label = scan_motor
 
-            var = det_data["variable"]
+            var = det_data[scan_motor]
             var_start = var[0]
             var_end = (var[-1] - var[0]) * n_im / (n_im - 1)
             overview_plot_x_image_source.data.update(y=[var_start], dh=[var_end])
diff --git a/pyzebra/app/panel_spind.py b/pyzebra/app/panel_spind.py
index 27b8021..5e27897 100644
--- a/pyzebra/app/panel_spind.py
+++ b/pyzebra/app/panel_spind.py
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ def prepare_event_file(export_filename, roi_dict, path_prefix=""):
             chi = dat["chi"][0]
             phi = dat["phi"][0]
 
-            var_angle = dat["variable"]
-            var_angle_name = dat["variable_name"]
+            scan_motor = dat["scan_motor"]
+            var_angle = dat[scan_motor]
 
             for roi in rois:
                 x0, xN, y0, yN, fr0, frN = roi
@@ -210,15 +210,15 @@ def prepare_event_file(export_filename, roi_dict, path_prefix=""):
                 var_step = var_C - var_F
                 var_p = var_F + var_step * frStep
 
-                if var_angle_name == "gamma":
+                if scan_motor == "gamma":
                     gamma = var_p
-                elif var_angle_name == "omega":
+                elif scan_motor == "omega":
                     omega = var_p
-                elif var_angle_name == "nu":
+                elif scan_motor == "nu":
                     nu = var_p
-                elif var_angle_name == "chi":
+                elif scan_motor == "chi":
                     chi = var_p
-                elif var_angle_name == "phi":
+                elif scan_motor == "phi":
                     phi = var_p
 
                 intensity = coeff[1] * abs(coeff[2] * var_step) * math.sqrt(2) * math.sqrt(np.pi)
diff --git a/pyzebra/ccl_io.py b/pyzebra/ccl_io.py
index ac08e1c..b42289c 100644
--- a/pyzebra/ccl_io.py
+++ b/pyzebra/ccl_io.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ CCL_SECOND_LINE = (
     ("mf", float),
     ("date", str),
     ("time", str),
-    ("variable_name", str),
+    ("scan_motor", str),
 )
 
 AREA_METHODS = ("fit_area", "int_area")
@@ -154,18 +154,17 @@ def parse_1D(fileobj, data_type):
             for param, (param_name, param_type) in zip(next_line.split(), ccl_second_line):
                 s[param_name] = param_type(param)
 
-            if s["variable_name"] != "om":
+            if s["scan_motor"] != "om":
                 raise Exception("Unsupported variable name in ccl file.")
 
             # "om" -> "omega"
-            s["variable_name"] = "omega"
-            s["variable"] = np.linspace(
+            s["scan_motor"] = "omega"
+            # overwrite metadata, because it only refers to the scan center
+            s["omega"] = np.linspace(
                 s["omega"] - (s["n_points"] / 2) * s["angle_step"],
                 s["omega"] + (s["n_points"] / 2) * s["angle_step"],
                 s["n_points"],
             )
-            # overwrite metadata, because it only refers to the scan center
-            s["omega"] = s["variable"]
 
             # subsequent lines with counts
             counts = []
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@ def parse_1D(fileobj, data_type):
         s = defaultdict(list)
 
         match = re.search("Scanning Variables: (.*), Steps: (.*)", next(fileobj))
-        s["variable_name"] = match.group(1)
+        s["scan_motor"] = match.group(1)
 
         match = re.search("(.*) Points, Mode: (.*), Preset (.*)", next(fileobj))
         if match.group(2) != "Monitor":
@@ -204,13 +203,10 @@ def parse_1D(fileobj, data_type):
             s[name] = np.array(s[name])
 
         # "om" -> "omega"
-        if s["variable_name"] == "om":
-            s["variable_name"] = "omega"
-            s["variable"] = s["om"]
+        if s["scan_motor"] == "om":
+            s["scan_motor"] = "omega"
             s["omega"] = s["om"]
             del s["om"]
-        else:
-            s["variable"] = s[s["variable_name"]]
 
         s["h"] = s["k"] = s["l"] = float("nan")
 
@@ -274,7 +270,7 @@ def export_1D(data, path, area_method=AREA_METHODS[0], lorentz=False, hkl_precis
 
         ang_str = ""
         for angle, _ in CCL_ANGLES[zebra_mode]:
-            if angle == scan["variable_name"]:
+            if angle == scan["scan_motor"]:
                 angle_center = (np.min(scan[angle]) + np.max(scan[angle])) / 2
             else:
                 angle_center = scan[angle]
diff --git a/pyzebra/ccl_process.py b/pyzebra/ccl_process.py
index c92be2d..c6c4ea8 100644
--- a/pyzebra/ccl_process.py
+++ b/pyzebra/ccl_process.py
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ def _parameters_match(scan1, scan2):
             # ignore skip parameters, like the last angle in 'nb' zebra mode
             continue
 
-        if param == scan1["variable_name"] == scan2["variable_name"]:
+        if param == scan1["scan_motor"] == scan2["scan_motor"]:
             # check if ranges of variable parameter overlap
-            range1 = scan1["variable"]
-            range2 = scan2["variable"]
+            range1 = scan1[param]
+            range2 = scan2[param]
             # maximum gap between ranges of the scanning parameter (default 0)
             max_range_gap = MAX_RANGE_GAP.get(param, 0)
             if max(range1[0] - range2[-1], range2[0] - range1[-1]) > max_range_gap:
diff --git a/pyzebra/h5.py b/pyzebra/h5.py
index 821f152..23d2cff 100644
--- a/pyzebra/h5.py
+++ b/pyzebra/h5.py
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ def read_detector_data(filepath):
 
         for var in ("omega", "gamma", "nu", "chi", "phi"):
             if abs(det_data[var][0] - det_data[var][-1]) > 0.1:
-                det_data["variable"] = det_data[var]
-                det_data["variable_name"] = var
+                det_data["scan_motor"] = var
                 break
         else:
             raise ValueError("No angles that vary")