diff --git a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.cpp b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.cpp
index 36c550195..a7cc1c312 100644
--- a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.cpp
+++ b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ RichParameter::RichParameter(const RichParameter& rp) :
 	val(rp.value().clone()),
 	fieldDesc(rp.fieldDesc),
 	tooltip(rp.tooltip),
-	hidden(rp.hidden),
+	advanced(rp.advanced),
 	pCategory(rp.pCategory)
 {
 }
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ RichParameter::RichParameter(RichParameter&& rp) :
 {
 	val = rp.val;
 	rp.val = nullptr;
-	hidden = rp.hidden;
+	advanced = rp.advanced;
 }
 
 RichParameter::RichParameter(
@@ -53,13 +53,13 @@ RichParameter::RichParameter(
 		const Value& v,
 		const QString& desc,
 		const QString& tltip,
-		bool hidden,
+		bool isAdvanced,
 		const QString& category) :
 	pName(nm),
 	val(v.clone()),
 	fieldDesc(desc),
 	tooltip(tltip),
-	hidden(hidden),
+	advanced(isAdvanced),
 	pCategory(category)
 {
 }
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ const QString& RichParameter::toolTip() const
 	return tooltip;
 }
 
-bool RichParameter::isHidden() const
+bool RichParameter::isAdvanced() const
 {
-	return hidden;
+	return advanced;
 }
 
 const QString& RichParameter::category() const
diff --git a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.h b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.h
index 28661bc87..1a8c7b29f 100644
--- a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.h
+++ b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
 			const Value& v,
 			const QString& desc = QString(),
 			const QString& tltip = QString(),
-			bool hidden = false,
+			bool isAdvanced = false,
 			const QString& category = QString());
 	virtual ~RichParameter();
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public:
 	const Value& value() const;
 	const QString& fieldDescription() const;
 	const QString& toolTip() const;
-	bool isHidden() const;
+	bool isAdvanced() const;
 	const QString& category() const;
 
 	template <class RichParam>
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ protected:
 	Value* val;
 	QString fieldDesc;
 	QString tooltip;
-	bool hidden;
+	bool advanced;
 	QString pCategory;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.cpp b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.cpp
index 56afe185f..faa185c12 100644
--- a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.cpp
+++ b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.cpp
@@ -316,6 +316,16 @@ const RichParameter& RichParameterList::at(unsigned int i) const
 	return **it;
 }
 
+unsigned int RichParameterList::numberAdvancedParameters() const
+{
+	unsigned int n = 0;
+	for (const RichParameter& rp : *this){
+		if (rp.isAdvanced())
+			++n;
+	}
+	return n;
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief sets the value of the RichParameter having the given name.
  * @throws an MLException if the name is not found in the list
diff --git a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.h b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.h
index 7b49f21d3..13bb2af3f 100644
--- a/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.h
+++ b/src/common/parameters/rich_parameter_list.h
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ public:
 	const_iterator findParameter(const QString& name) const;
 	RichParameter& at(unsigned int i);
 	const RichParameter& at(unsigned int i) const;
+	unsigned int numberAdvancedParameters() const;
 
 	void setValue(const QString& name, const Value& val);
 	RichParameter& addParam(const RichParameter& pd);
diff --git a/src/meshlab/rich_parameter_gui/richparameterlistframe.cpp b/src/meshlab/rich_parameter_gui/richparameterlistframe.cpp
index ab9c7b37f..9105f4bed 100644
--- a/src/meshlab/rich_parameter_gui/richparameterlistframe.cpp
+++ b/src/meshlab/rich_parameter_gui/richparameterlistframe.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ void RichParameterListFrame::loadFrameContent(
 	std::map<QString, std::vector<const RichParameter*>> hiddenParameters;
 
 	for(const RichParameter& fpi : curParSet) {
-		if (!fpi.isHidden()){
+		if (!fpi.isAdvanced()){
 			visibleParameters[fpi.category()].push_back(&fpi);
 		}
 		else {