diff --git a/ptypy/cli/default_params.py b/ptypy/cli/default_params.py
index 3da2f62e8..91c2fe378 100755
--- a/ptypy/cli/default_params.py
+++ b/ptypy/cli/default_params.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
-from ptypy import utils as u
+from ptypy import defaults_tree
 import textwrap
 import argparse
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def parse():
     return pars
 
 def convert_and_print(pars):
-    root = u.validator.pdroot
+    root = defaults_tree
     if pars.path:
         for node in pars.path.split('.'):
             root = root.children[node]
@@ -38,16 +38,16 @@ def print_param(entry, parent=None, depth=50):
             entry_name = '%s.%s' % (parent, entry.name)
         write('[%s]' % entry_name)
         write('default = %s' % entry.default)
-        write('help = ' + wrapdoc(entry.shortdoc))
-        write('doc = ' + wrapdoc(entry.longdoc))
+        write('help = ' + wrapdoc(entry.help))
+        write('doc = ' + wrapdoc(entry.doc))
         write('type = ' + ', '.join(entry.type))
         write('userlevel = %s' % entry.userlevel)
         if entry.choices: 
             write('choices = ' + ', '.join([str(x) for x in entry.choices]))
-        if entry.lowlim: 
-            write('lowlim = %s' % entry.lowlim)
-        if entry.uplim: 
-            write('uplim = %s' % entry.uplim)
+        if entry.limits: 
+            write('lowlim = %s' % entry.limits[0])
+        if entry.limits: 
+            write('uplim = %s' % entry.limits[1])
         write('')
     else:
         entry_name = ''
diff --git a/ptypy/utils/descriptor.py b/ptypy/utils/descriptor.py
index 714a581dd..7cf8474fc 100644
--- a/ptypy/utils/descriptor.py
+++ b/ptypy/utils/descriptor.py
@@ -1194,9 +1194,13 @@ def create_template(self, filename=None, start_at_root=True, user_level=0, doc_l
             for ret in self._walk(depth=99, ignore_wildcards=False):
                 d = ret['d']
                 # user level
-                if d.userlevel > user_level: continue
+                if d.userlevel is None:
+                    continue
+                if d.userlevel > user_level: 
+                    continue
                 # skip the root, handled above
-                if d.root is d: continue
+                if d.root is d: 
+                    continue
                 # handle line breaks already in the help/doc strings
                 hlp = '# ' + d.help.replace('\n', '\n# ')
                 doc = '# ' + d.doc.replace('\n', '\n# ')
@@ -1215,7 +1219,7 @@ def create_template(self, filename=None, start_at_root=True, user_level=0, doc_l
                 # not Param: actual default value
                 else:
                     val = str(d.default)
-                    if 'str' in d.type and not d.default is None:
+                    if 'str' in d.type and d.default is not None:
                         val = "'" + val + "'"
                     line = base + '.' + ret['path'] + ' = ' + val
                     fp.write(line)