diff --git a/demos/python_scripts_examples/action_menu_text_by_date.py b/demos/python_scripts_examples/action_menu_text_by_date.py
index 6e96530211..cc9630d682 100644
--- a/demos/python_scripts_examples/action_menu_text_by_date.py
+++ b/demos/python_scripts_examples/action_menu_text_by_date.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class text_by_date( pcbnew.ActionPlugin ):
 
     def Run( self ):
         pcb = pcbnew.GetBoard()
-        for draw in pcb.m_Drawings:
+        for draw in pcb.GetDrawings():
             if draw.GetClass() == 'PTEXT':
                 txt = re.sub( "\$date\$ [0-9]{4}-[0-9]{2}-[0-9]{2}",
                                  "$date$", draw.GetText() )
diff --git a/include/wxPcbStruct.h b/include/wxPcbStruct.h
index d1e23193ee..84788ef517 100644
--- a/include/wxPcbStruct.h
+++ b/include/wxPcbStruct.h
@@ -269,6 +269,12 @@ public:
      */
     void PythonPluginsReload();
 
+    /**
+     * Update the layer manager and other widgets from the board setup
+     * (layer and items visibility, colors ...)
+     */
+    void UpdateUserInterface();
+
     /**
      * Function GetAutoSaveFilePrefix
      *
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp b/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp
index 8572b02a31..6463a76cd6 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcbframe.cpp
@@ -724,8 +724,7 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::UseGalCanvas( bool aEnable )
     }
 
     // Re-create the layer manager to allow arbitrary colors when GAL is enabled
-    ReFillLayerWidget();
-    m_Layers->ReFillRender();
+    UpdateUserInterface();
 }
 
 
@@ -1048,6 +1047,32 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::UpdateTitle()
 }
 
 
+void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::UpdateUserInterface()
+{
+    // Update the layer manager and other widgets from the board setup
+    // (layer and items visibility, colors ...)
+
+    // Rebuild list of nets (full ratsnest rebuild)
+    Compile_Ratsnest( NULL, true );
+    GetBoard()->BuildConnectivity();
+
+    // Update info shown by the horizontal toolbars
+    ReCreateLayerBox();
+
+    // Update the layer manager
+    m_Layers->Freeze();
+    ReFillLayerWidget();
+    m_Layers->ReFillRender();
+
+    // upate the layer widget to match board visibility states, both layers and render columns.
+    syncLayerVisibilities();
+    syncLayerWidgetLayer();
+    syncRenderStates();
+
+    m_Layers->Thaw();
+}
+
+
 #if defined( KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON )
 
 void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::ScriptingConsoleEnableDisable( wxCommandEvent& aEvent )
diff --git a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_action_plugins.cpp b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_action_plugins.cpp
index 6a854b658a..ef18cde09e 100644
--- a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_action_plugins.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_action_plugins.cpp
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::OnActionPlugin( wxCommandEvent& aEvent )
         }
         else
         {
+            UpdateUserInterface();
             GetScreen()->SetModify();
             Refresh();
         }
diff --git a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp
index 0447c4c993..b1dc10267a 100644
--- a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.cpp
@@ -40,20 +40,20 @@
 #include <macros.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
-static PCB_EDIT_FRAME* PcbEditFrame = NULL;
+static PCB_EDIT_FRAME* s_PcbEditFrame = NULL;
 
 BOARD* GetBoard()
 {
-    if( PcbEditFrame )
-        return PcbEditFrame->GetBoard();
+    if( s_PcbEditFrame )
+        return s_PcbEditFrame->GetBoard();
     else
         return NULL;
 }
 
 
-void ScriptingSetPcbEditFrame( PCB_EDIT_FRAME* aPCBEdaFrame )
+void ScriptingSetPcbEditFrame( PCB_EDIT_FRAME* aPcbEditFrame )
 {
-    PcbEditFrame = aPCBEdaFrame;
+    s_PcbEditFrame = aPcbEditFrame;
 }
 
 
@@ -101,13 +101,29 @@ bool SaveBoard( wxString& aFileName, BOARD* aBoard )
 
 void Refresh()
 {
-    // first argument is erase background, second is a wxRect
-    PcbEditFrame->GetCanvas()->Refresh( true, NULL );
+    if( s_PcbEditFrame )
+    {
+        if( s_PcbEditFrame->IsGalCanvasActive() )
+            s_PcbEditFrame->GetGalCanvas()->Refresh();
+        else
+            // first argument is erase background, second is a wxRect that
+            // defines a reftresh area (all canvas if null)
+            s_PcbEditFrame->GetCanvas()->Refresh( true, NULL );
+    }
 }
 
 
 void WindowZoom( int xl, int yl, int width, int height )
 {
     EDA_RECT Rect( wxPoint( xl, yl ), wxSize( width, height )) ;
-    PcbEditFrame->Window_Zoom( Rect );
+
+    if( s_PcbEditFrame )
+        s_PcbEditFrame->Window_Zoom( Rect );
+}
+
+
+void UpdateUserInterface()
+{
+    if( s_PcbEditFrame )
+        s_PcbEditFrame->UpdateUserInterface();
 }
diff --git a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h
index 8b3570bc35..f200f4e6c6 100644
--- a/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h
+++ b/pcbnew/swig/pcbnew_scripting_helpers.h
@@ -49,7 +49,24 @@ BOARD*  LoadBoard( wxString& aFileName );
 // so no option to choose the file format.
 bool    SaveBoard( wxString& aFileName, BOARD* aBoard );
 
+/**
+ * Update the board display after modifying it bu a python script
+ * (note: it is automatically called by action plugins, after running the plugin,
+ * so call this function is usually not needed inside action plugins
+ *
+ * Could be deprecated because modifying a board (especially deleting items) outside
+ * a action plugin can crash Pcbnew.
+ */
 void    Refresh();
+
 void    WindowZoom( int xl, int yl, int width, int height );
 
-#endif
+/**
+ * Update the layer manager and other widgets from the board setup
+ * (layer and items visibility, colors ...)
+ * (note: it is automatically called by action plugins, after running the plugin,
+ * so call this function is usually not needed inside action plugins
+ */
+void UpdateUserInterface();
+
+#endif      // __PCBNEW_SCRIPTING_HELPERS_H