diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/account_analysis.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/account_analysis.py
index 135d2e60ef..fe24a2e219 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/account_analysis.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/account_analysis.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from math import log10
 import csv
 
 # gnucash imports
-from gnucash import Session, GncNumeric, Split
+from gnucash import Session, GncNumeric, Split, SessionOpenMode
 
 # Invoke this script like the following example
 # $ python3 account_analysis.py gnucash_file.gnucash \
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def main():
 
         account_path = argv[8:]
 
-        gnucash_session = Session(gnucash_file, is_new=False)
+        gnucash_session = Session(gnucash_file, SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NORMAL_OPEN)
         root_account = gnucash_session.book.get_root_account()
         account_of_interest = account_from_path(root_account, account_path)
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/gncinvoice_jinja.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/gncinvoice_jinja.py
index f44f308ab2..bfa7c09a58 100755
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/gncinvoice_jinja.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/gncinvoice_jinja.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ try:
     import str_methods
     import jinja2
     from gncinvoicefkt import *
+    from gnucash import SessionOpenMode
 except ImportError as import_error:
     print("Problem importing modules.")
     print(import_error)
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ def main(argv=None):
         print("or file://filename")
         print("or mysql://user:password@host/databasename")
         print()
-        print("-f             force open = ignore lock")
+        print("-f             force open = ignore lock (read only)")
         print("-l             list all invoices")
         print("-h or --help   for this help")
         print("-I ID          use invoice ID")
@@ -150,8 +151,15 @@ def main(argv=None):
 
     # Try to open the given input
     try:
-        print("Opening", input_url, ".")
-        session = gnucash.Session(input_url, ignore_lock=ignore_lock)
+        print(
+            "Opening", input_url, " (ignore-lock = read-only)." if ignore_lock else "."
+        )
+        session = gnucash.Session(
+            input_url,
+            SessionOpenMode.SESSION_READ_ONLY
+            if ignore_lock
+            else SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NORMAL_OPEN,
+        )
     except Exception as exception:
         print("Problem opening input.")
         print(exception)
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/latex_invoices.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/latex_invoices.py
index 2937c980a1..c29922e05d 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/latex_invoices.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/latex_invoices.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ try:
     from gnucash.gnucash_business import Customer, Employee, Vendor, Job, \
         Address, Invoice, Entry, TaxTable, TaxTableEntry, GNC_AMT_TYPE_PERCENT, \
             GNC_DISC_PRETAX
+    from gnucash import SessionOpenMode
     import locale
 except ImportError as import_error:
     print("Problem importing modules.")
@@ -236,7 +237,12 @@ def main(argv=None):
 
     # Try to open the given input
     try:
-        session = gnucash.Session(input_url,ignore_lock=ignore_lock)
+        session = gnucash.Session(
+            input_url,
+            SessionOpenMode.SESSION_READ_ONLY
+            if ignore_lock
+            else SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NORMAL_OPEN,
+        )
     except Exception as exception:
         print("Problem opening input.")
         print(exception)
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/new_book_with_opening_balances.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/new_book_with_opening_balances.py
index df2d29ae7a..3a2d04e7bb 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/new_book_with_opening_balances.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/new_book_with_opening_balances.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 #   @author Mark Jenkins, ParIT Worker Co-operative <mark@parit.ca>
 #   @ingroup python_bindings_examples
 
-from gnucash import Session, Account, Transaction, Split, GncNumeric
+from gnucash import (
+        Session, Account, Transaction, Split, GncNumeric, SessionOpenMode)
 from gnucash.gnucash_core_c import \
     GNC_DENOM_AUTO, GNC_HOW_DENOM_EXACT, \
     ACCT_TYPE_ASSET, ACCT_TYPE_BANK, ACCT_TYPE_CASH, ACCT_TYPE_CHECKING, \
@@ -299,8 +300,8 @@ def main():
 
     #have everything in a try block to unable us to release our hold on stuff to the extent possible
     try:
-        original_book_session = Session(argv[1], is_new=False)
-        new_book_session = Session(argv[2], is_new=True)
+        original_book_session = Session(argv[1], SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NORMAL_OPEN)
+        new_book_session = Session(argv[2], SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE)
         new_book = new_book_session.get_book()
         new_book_root = new_book.get_root_account()
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/rest-api/gnucash_rest.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/rest-api/gnucash_rest.py
index 51c75eb096..5334471396 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/rest-api/gnucash_rest.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/rest-api/gnucash_rest.py
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ from gnucash import \
 from gnucash import \
     INVOICE_IS_PAID
 
+from gnucash import SessionOpenMode
+
 app = Flask(__name__)
 app.debug = True
 
@@ -1884,7 +1886,7 @@ for option, value in options:
 
 #start gnucash session base on connection string argument
 if is_new:
-    session = gnucash.Session(arguments[0], is_new=True)
+    session = gnucash.Session(arguments[0], SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE)
 
     # seem to get errors if we use the session directly, so save it and
     #destroy it so it's no longer new
@@ -1893,7 +1895,8 @@ if is_new:
     session.end()
     session.destroy()
 
-session = gnucash.Session(arguments[0], ignore_lock=True)
+# unsure about SESSION_BREAK_LOCK - it used to be ignore_lock=True 
+session = gnucash.Session(arguments[0], SessionOpenMode.SESSION_BREAK_LOCK)
 
 # register method to close gnucash connection gracefully
 atexit.register(shutdown)
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_book.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_book.py
index 19ebb01865..0059ff64e8 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_book.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_book.py
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 #   @ingroup python_bindings_examples
 
 import sys
-from gnucash import Session
+from gnucash import Session, SessionOpenMode
 
 # We need to tell GnuCash the data format to create the new file as (xml://)
 uri = "xml:///tmp/simple_book.gnucash"
 
 print("uri:", uri)
-with Session(uri, is_new=True) as ses:
+with Session(uri, SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE) as ses:
     book = ses.get_book()
 
     #Call some methods that produce output to show that Book works
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_business_create.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_business_create.py
index bb00846df9..e0df30bb80 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_business_create.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_business_create.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ from os.path import abspath
 from sys import argv, exit
 import datetime
 from datetime import timedelta
-from gnucash import Session, Account, GncNumeric
+from gnucash import Session, Account, GncNumeric, SessionOpenMode
 from gnucash.gnucash_business import Customer, Employee, Vendor, Job, \
     Address, Invoice, Entry, TaxTable, TaxTableEntry, GNC_AMT_TYPE_PERCENT, \
     GNC_DISC_PRETAX    
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ if len(argv) < 2:
     
 
 try:
-    s = Session(argv[1], is_new=True)
+    s = Session(argv[1], SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE)
 
     book = s.book
     root = book.get_root_account()
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_invoice_insert.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_invoice_insert.py
index eef4c03baa..ee1bbfb063 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_invoice_insert.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_invoice_insert.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 #   @author Mark Jenkins, ParIT Worker Co-operative <mark@parit.ca>
 #   @ingroup python_bindings_examples
 
-from gnucash import Session, GUID, GncNumeric
+from gnucash import Session, GUID, GncNumeric, SessionOpenMode
 from gnucash.gnucash_business import Customer, Invoice, Entry
 from gnucash.gnucash_core_c import string_to_guid
 from os.path import abspath
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def gnc_numeric_from_decimal(decimal_value):
     return GncNumeric(numerator, denominator)
 
 
-s = Session(argv[1], is_new=False)
+s = Session(argv[1], SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NORMAL_OPEN)
 
 book = s.book
 root = book.get_root_account()
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_session.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_session.py
index 05da9487ba..daebfdf649 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_session.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_session.py
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 #   @brief Example Script simple session
 #   @ingroup python_bindings_examples
 
-from gnucash import \
-     Session, GnuCashBackendException, \
+from gnucash import (
+     Session, GnuCashBackendException,
+     SessionOpenMode,
      ERR_BACKEND_LOCKED, ERR_FILEIO_FILE_NOT_FOUND
+)
 
 FILE_1 = "/tmp/not_there.xac"
 FILE_2 = "/tmp/example_file.xac"
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ except GnuCashBackendException as backend_exception:
 
 
 # create a new file, this requires a file type specification
-with Session("xml://%s" % FILE_2, is_new=True) as session:
+with Session("xml://%s" % FILE_2, SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE) as session:
     book = session.book
     root = book.get_root_account()
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_sqlite_create.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_sqlite_create.py
index 7900c9534d..61675be089 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_sqlite_create.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_sqlite_create.py
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 #   @brief Example Script simple sqlite create 
 #   @ingroup python_bindings_examples
 
-from gnucash import Session, Account
+from gnucash import Session, Account, SessionOpenMode
 from os.path import abspath
 from gnucash.gnucash_core_c import ACCT_TYPE_ASSET
 
-s = Session('sqlite3://%s' % abspath('test.blob'), is_new=True)
+s = Session('sqlite3://%s' % abspath('test.blob'), SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE)
 # this seems to make a difference in more complex cases
 s.save()
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_test.py b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_test.py
index b8a1bed02e..7101823dfa 100644
--- a/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_test.py
+++ b/bindings/python/example_scripts/simple_test.py
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 # @brief Creates a basic set of accounts and a couple of transactions
 # @ingroup python_bindings_examples
 
-from gnucash import Session, Account, Transaction, Split, GncNumeric
+from gnucash import (
+        Session, Account, Transaction, Split, GncNumeric, SessionOpenMode)
 
 FILE_1 = "/tmp/example.gnucash"
 
-with Session("xml://%s" % FILE_1, is_new=True) as session:
+with Session("xml://%s" % FILE_1, SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NEW_STORE) as session:
 
     book = session.book
     root_acct = Account(book)
@@ -80,4 +81,4 @@ with Session("xml://%s" % FILE_1, is_new=True) as session:
 
 
     trans1.CommitEdit()
-    trans2.CommitEdit()
\ No newline at end of file
+    trans2.CommitEdit()