diff --git a/src/App/Property.h b/src/App/Property.h
index cd3908357983..89ad23216baa 100644
--- a/src/App/Property.h
+++ b/src/App/Property.h
@@ -52,6 +52,18 @@ class AppExport Property : public Base::Persistence
     TYPESYSTEM_HEADER();
 
 public:
+    enum Status
+    {
+        Touched = 0, // touched property
+        Immutable = 1, // can't modify property
+        ReadOnly = 2, // for property editor
+        Hidden = 3, // for property editor
+        User1 = 28, // user-defined status
+        User2 = 29, // user-defined status
+        User3 = 30, // user-defined status
+        User4 = 31  // user-defined status
+    };
+
     Property();
     virtual ~Property();
 
@@ -99,12 +111,30 @@ class AppExport Property : public Base::Persistence
     /// Get valid paths for this property; used by auto completer
     virtual void getPaths(std::vector<App::ObjectIdentifier> & paths) const;
 
+    /** Property status handling
+     */
+    //@{
     /// Set the property touched
     void touch();
     /// Test if this property is touched 
-    bool isTouched(void) const {return StatusBits.test(0);}
+    inline bool isTouched(void) const {
+        return StatusBits.test(0);
+    }
     /// Reset this property touched 
-    void purgeTouched(void){StatusBits.reset(0);}
+    inline void purgeTouched(void) {
+        StatusBits.reset(0);
+    }
+    /// return the status bits
+    inline unsigned long getStatus() const {
+        return StatusBits.to_ulong();
+    }
+    inline bool testStatus(Status pos) const {
+        return StatusBits.test(static_cast<size_t>(pos));
+    }
+    inline void setStatus(Status pos, bool on) {
+        StatusBits.set(static_cast<size_t>(pos), on);
+    }
+    //@}
 
     /// Returns a new copy of the property (mainly for Undo/Redo and transactions)
     virtual Property *Copy(void) const = 0;
@@ -116,18 +146,18 @@ class AppExport Property : public Base::Persistence
 
     friend class PropertyContainer;
 
+protected:
     /** Status bits of the property
      * The first 8 bits are used for the base system the rest can be used in
      * descendent classes to to mark special stati on the objects.
      * The bits and their meaning are listed below:
      * 0 - object is marked as 'touched'
      * 1 - object is marked as 'immutable'
-     * 2 - object is marked as 'read-ony' (for property editor)
+     * 2 - object is marked as 'read-only' (for property editor)
      * 3 - object is marked as 'hidden' (for property editor)
      */
     std::bitset<32> StatusBits;
 
-
 protected:
     /// Gets called by all setValue() methods after the value has changed
     void hasSetValue(void);
diff --git a/src/App/PropertyContainerPyImp.cpp b/src/App/PropertyContainerPyImp.cpp
index 879873970859..3ab96b856ef1 100644
--- a/src/App/PropertyContainerPyImp.cpp
+++ b/src/App/PropertyContainerPyImp.cpp
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ PyObject*  PropertyContainerPy::setEditorMode(PyObject *args)
             return 0;
         }
 
-        prop->StatusBits.set(2,(type & 1) > 0);
-        prop->StatusBits.set(3,(type & 2) > 0);
+        prop->setStatus(Property::ReadOnly,(type & 1) > 0);
+        prop->setStatus(Property::Hidden,(type & 2) > 0);
 
         Py_Return;
     }
@@ -128,15 +128,15 @@ PyObject*  PropertyContainerPy::setEditorMode(PyObject *args)
             }
 
             // reset all bits first
-            prop->StatusBits.reset(2);
-            prop->StatusBits.reset(3);
+            prop->setStatus(Property::ReadOnly, false);
+            prop->setStatus(Property::Hidden, false);
 
             for (Py::Sequence::iterator it = seq.begin();it!=seq.end();++it) {
                 std::string str = (std::string)Py::String(*it);
                 if (str == "ReadOnly")
-                    prop->StatusBits.set(2);
+                    prop->setStatus(Property::ReadOnly, true);
                 else if (str == "Hidden")
-                    prop->StatusBits.set(3);
+                    prop->setStatus(Property::Hidden, true);
             }
 
             Py_Return;
@@ -157,9 +157,9 @@ PyObject*  PropertyContainerPy::getEditorMode(PyObject *args)
     Py::List ret;
     if (prop) {
         short Type =  prop->getType();
-        if ((prop->StatusBits.test(2)) || (Type & Prop_ReadOnly))
+        if ((prop->testStatus(Property::ReadOnly)) || (Type & Prop_ReadOnly))
             ret.append(Py::String("ReadOnly"));
-        if ((prop->StatusBits.test(3)) || (Type & Prop_Hidden))
+        if ((prop->testStatus(Property::Hidden)) || (Type & Prop_Hidden))
             ret.append(Py::String("Hidden"));
     }
     return Py::new_reference_to(ret);
diff --git a/src/Gui/Placement.cpp b/src/Gui/Placement.cpp
index 5b6d35929834..0902f0dbaf58 100644
--- a/src/Gui/Placement.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/Placement.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class find_placement
     {
         if (elem.first == propertyname) {
             //  flag set that property is read-only or hidden
-            if (elem.second->StatusBits.test(2) || elem.second->StatusBits.test(3))
+            if (elem.second->testStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly) || elem.second->testStatus(App::Property::Hidden))
                 return false;
             App::PropertyContainer* parent = elem.second->getContainer();
             if (parent) {
diff --git a/src/Gui/PropertyView.cpp b/src/Gui/PropertyView.cpp
index 8161e20ae447..e2253a1b7fd8 100644
--- a/src/Gui/PropertyView.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/PropertyView.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ void PropertyView::slotChangePropertyView(const Gui::ViewProvider&, const App::P
 void PropertyView::slotAppendDynamicProperty(const App::Property& prop)
 {
     App::PropertyContainer* parent = prop.getContainer();
-    if (parent->isHidden(&prop) || prop.StatusBits.test(3))
+    if (parent->isHidden(&prop) || prop.testStatus(App::Property::Hidden))
         return;
 
     if (parent && parent->isDerivedFrom(App::DocumentObject::getClassTypeId())) {
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ void PropertyView::onSelectionChanged(const SelectionChanges& msg)
                 nameType.propName = ob->getPropertyName(*pt);
                 nameType.propId = (*pt)->getTypeId().getKey();
 
-                if (!ob->isHidden(*pt) && !(*pt)->StatusBits.test(3)) {
+                if (!ob->isHidden(*pt) && !(*pt)->testStatus(App::Property::Hidden)) {
                     std::vector<PropInfo>::iterator pi = std::find_if(propDataMap.begin(), propDataMap.end(), PropFind(nameType));
                     if (pi != propDataMap.end()) {
                         pi->propList.push_back(*pt);
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ void PropertyView::onSelectionChanged(const SelectionChanges& msg)
                 nameType.propName = pt->first;
                 nameType.propId = pt->second->getTypeId().getKey();
 
-                if (!vp->isHidden(pt->second) && !pt->second->StatusBits.test(3)) {
+                if (!vp->isHidden(pt->second) && !pt->second->testStatus(App::Property::Hidden)) {
                     std::vector<PropInfo>::iterator pi = std::find_if(propViewMap.begin(), propViewMap.end(), PropFind(nameType));
                     if (pi != propViewMap.end()) {
                         pi->propList.push_back(pt->second);
diff --git a/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObject.cpp b/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObject.cpp
index d1f81ee66918..a3a650e02bcd 100644
--- a/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObject.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObject.cpp
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ void ViewProviderDocumentObject::onChanged(const App::Property* prop)
     }
     else if (prop == &Visibility) {
         // use this bit to check whether show() or hide() must be called
-        if (Visibility.StatusBits.test(8) == false) {
-            Visibility.StatusBits.set(8);
+        if (Visibility.testStatus(App::Property::User2) == false) {
+            Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User2, true);
             Visibility.getValue() ? show() : hide();
-            Visibility.StatusBits.reset(8);
+            Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User2, false);
         }
     }
 
@@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ void ViewProviderDocumentObject::onChanged(const App::Property* prop)
 void ViewProviderDocumentObject::hide(void)
 {
     // use this bit to check whether 'Visibility' must be adjusted
-    if (Visibility.StatusBits.test(8) == false) {
-        Visibility.StatusBits.set(8);
+    if (Visibility.testStatus(App::Property::User2) == false) {
+        Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User2, true);
         Visibility.setValue(false);
-        Visibility.StatusBits.reset(8);
+        Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User2, false);
     }
     ViewProvider::hide();
 }
@@ -110,10 +110,10 @@ void ViewProviderDocumentObject::hide(void)
 void ViewProviderDocumentObject::show(void)
 {
     // use this bit to check whether 'Visibility' must be adjusted
-    if (Visibility.StatusBits.test(8) == false) {
-        Visibility.StatusBits.set(8);
+    if (Visibility.testStatus(App::Property::User2) == false) {
+        Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User2, true);
         Visibility.setValue(true);
-        Visibility.StatusBits.reset(8);
+        Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User2, false);
     }
     ViewProvider::show();
 }
diff --git a/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup.cpp b/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup.cpp
index b9055a112145..bec1cb7e6ed9 100644
--- a/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup::hide(void)
 {
     // when reading the Visibility property from file then do not hide the
     // objects of this group because they have stored their visibility status, too
-    if (!Visibility.StatusBits.test(9) && this->visible) {
+    if (!Visibility.testStatus(App::Property::User1) && this->visible) {
         App::DocumentObject * group = getObject();
         if (group && group->getTypeId().isDerivedFrom(App::DocumentObjectGroup::getClassTypeId())) {
             const std::vector<App::DocumentObject*> & links = static_cast<App::DocumentObjectGroup*>
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ void ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup::show(void)
 {
     // when reading the Visibility property from file then do not hide the
     // objects of this group because they have stored their visibility status, too
-    if (!Visibility.StatusBits.test(9) && !this->visible) {
+    if (!Visibility.testStatus(App::Property::User1) && !this->visible) {
         App::DocumentObject * group = getObject();
         if (group && group->getTypeId().isDerivedFrom(App::DocumentObjectGroup::getClassTypeId())) {
             const std::vector<App::DocumentObject*> & links = static_cast<App::DocumentObjectGroup*>
@@ -207,9 +207,9 @@ bool ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup::isShow(void) const
 
 void ViewProviderDocumentObjectGroup::Restore(Base::XMLReader &reader)
 {
-    Visibility.StatusBits.set(9); // tmp. set
+    Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User1, true); // tmp. set
     ViewProviderDocumentObject::Restore(reader);
-    Visibility.StatusBits.reset(9); // unset
+    Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::User1, false); // unset
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/Gui/propertyeditor/PropertyItem.cpp b/src/Gui/propertyeditor/PropertyItem.cpp
index 5ed167461fc9..8897c2ea9dec 100644
--- a/src/Gui/propertyeditor/PropertyItem.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/propertyeditor/PropertyItem.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ void PropertyItem::updateData()
         it != propertyItems.end(); ++it) {
         App::PropertyContainer* parent = (*it)->getContainer();
         if (parent)
-            ro &= (parent->isReadOnly(*it) || (*it)->StatusBits.test(2));
+            ro &= (parent->isReadOnly(*it) || (*it)->testStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly));
     }
     this->setReadOnly(ro);
 }
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ void PropertyItem::setPropertyValue(const QString& value)
     for (std::vector<App::Property*>::const_iterator it = propertyItems.begin();
         it != propertyItems.end(); ++it) {
         App::PropertyContainer* parent = (*it)->getContainer();
-        if (parent && !parent->isReadOnly(*it) && !(*it)->StatusBits.test(2)) {
+        if (parent && !parent->isReadOnly(*it) && !(*it)->testStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly)) {
             QString cmd = QString::fromAscii("%1 = %2").arg(pythonIdentifier(*it)).arg(value);
             Gui::Application::Instance->runPythonCode((const char*)cmd.toUtf8());
         }
diff --git a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderPage.cpp b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderPage.cpp
index c0f088137d96..e9836f51ccd6 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderPage.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderPage.cpp
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ ViewProviderDrawingPage::ViewProviderDrawingPage()
     ADD_PROPERTY(HintOffsetY,(10.0));
 
     // do not show this in the property editor
-    Visibility.StatusBits.set(3, true);
-    DisplayMode.StatusBits.set(3, true);
+    Visibility.setStatus(App::Property::Hidden, true);
+    DisplayMode.setStatus(App::Property::Hidden, true);
 }
 
 ViewProviderDrawingPage::~ViewProviderDrawingPage()
diff --git a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderView.cpp b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderView.cpp
index 60f91a702ffa..f8858d7e11ee 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderView.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/ViewProviderView.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ ViewProviderDrawingView::ViewProviderDrawingView()
     sPixmap = "Page";
 
     // Do not show in property editor
-    DisplayMode.StatusBits.set(3, true);
+    DisplayMode.setStatus(App::Property::Hidden, true);
 }
 
 ViewProviderDrawingView::~ViewProviderDrawingView()
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ ViewProviderDrawingClip::ViewProviderDrawingClip()
     sPixmap = "Page";
 
     // Do not show in property editor
-    DisplayMode.StatusBits.set(3, true);
+    DisplayMode.setStatus(App::Property::Hidden, true);
 }
 
 ViewProviderDrawingClip::~ViewProviderDrawingClip()
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemResultObject.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemResultObject.cpp
index 50c4a844bfc0..18bcf9fd49d8 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemResultObject.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemResultObject.cpp
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@ FemResultObject::FemResultObject()
     ADD_PROPERTY_TYPE(EigenmodeFrequency,(0), "Fem",Prop_None,"Frequency of the eigenmode");
 
     // make read-only for property editor
-    NodeNumbers.StatusBits.set(2, true);
-    DisplacementVectors.StatusBits.set(2, true);
-    DisplacementLengths.StatusBits.set(2, true);
-    StressValues.StatusBits.set(2, true);
-    Eigenmode.StatusBits.set(2, true);
-    EigenmodeFrequency.StatusBits.set(2, true);
+    NodeNumbers.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
+    DisplacementVectors.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
+    DisplacementLengths.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
+    StressValues.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
+    Eigenmode.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
+    EigenmodeFrequency.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
 }
 
 FemResultObject::~FemResultObject()
diff --git a/src/Mod/Part/App/FeaturePartBox.cpp b/src/Mod/Part/App/FeaturePartBox.cpp
index 8d56a698bd65..64152a745295 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Part/App/FeaturePartBox.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Part/App/FeaturePartBox.cpp
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ void Box::Restore(Base::XMLReader &reader)
     if (location_xyz) {
         plm.setPosition(Base::Vector3d(x.getValue(),y.getValue(),z.getValue()));
         this->Placement.setValue(this->Placement.getValue() * plm);
-        this->Shape.StatusBits.set(10); // override the shape's location later on
+        this->Shape.setStatus(App::Property::User1, true); // override the shape's location later on
     }
     // for 0.8 releases
     else if (location_axis) {
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void Box::Restore(Base::XMLReader &reader)
         plm.setRotation(rot);
         plm.setPosition(Base::Vector3d(p.x,p.y,p.z));
         this->Placement.setValue(this->Placement.getValue() * plm);
-        this->Shape.StatusBits.set(10); // override the shape's location later on
+        this->Shape.setStatus(App::Property::User1, true); // override the shape's location later on
     }
 
     reader.readEndElement("Properties");
@@ -205,8 +205,8 @@ void Box::onChanged(const App::Property* prop)
     }
     else if (prop == &this->Shape) {
         // see Box::Restore
-        if (this->Shape.StatusBits.test(10)) {
-            this->Shape.StatusBits.reset(10);
+        if (this->Shape.testStatus(App::Property::User1)) {
+            this->Shape.setStatus(App::Property::User1, false);
             App::DocumentObjectExecReturn *ret = recompute();
             delete ret;
             return;
diff --git a/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureDressUp.cpp b/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureDressUp.cpp
index b957fedfc480..4abaedf53d5d 100644
--- a/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureDressUp.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureDressUp.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void DressUp::onChanged(const App::Property* prop)
 {
     if (prop == &Base) {
         // if attached to a sketch then mark it as read-only
-        this->Placement.StatusBits.set(2, Base.getValue() != 0);
+        this->Placement.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, Base.getValue() != 0);
     }
 
     Feature::onChanged(prop);
diff --git a/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureSketchBased.cpp b/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureSketchBased.cpp
index 32f20c2b594c..147e8fb20db6 100644
--- a/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureSketchBased.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureSketchBased.cpp
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ void SketchBased::onChanged(const App::Property* prop)
 {
     if (prop == &Sketch) {
         // if attached to a sketch then mark it as read-only
-        this->Placement.StatusBits.set(2, Sketch.getValue() != 0);
+        this->Placement.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, Sketch.getValue() != 0);
     }
 
     Feature::onChanged(prop);
diff --git a/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureTransformed.cpp b/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureTransformed.cpp
index 01ef3ecc1eb1..1d3534b048e8 100644
--- a/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureTransformed.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/PartDesign/App/FeatureTransformed.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Transformed::Transformed() : rejected(0)
 {
     ADD_PROPERTY(Originals,(0));
     Originals.setSize(0);
-    Placement.StatusBits.set(2, true);
+    Placement.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
 }
 
 void Transformed::positionBySupport(void)
diff --git a/src/Mod/Points/App/ViewFeature.cpp b/src/Mod/Points/App/ViewFeature.cpp
index 5f902e0d8bd6..4004e5013b6e 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Points/App/ViewFeature.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Points/App/ViewFeature.cpp
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ ViewFeature::ViewFeature()
     ADD_PROPERTY_TYPE(Height,(0), "View", type, "The height of the point view");
     ADD_PROPERTY_TYPE(Direction ,(Base::Vector3d(0,0,1)), "View", type, "The direction of the point view");
 
-    Width.StatusBits.set(2, true);
-    Height.StatusBits.set(2, true);
+    Width.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
+    Height.setStatus(App::Property::ReadOnly, true);
 }
 
 ViewFeature::~ViewFeature()