JAL-3541 selectively merged build.gradle and gradle.properties
[jalview.git] / src / jalview / gui / Desktop.java
index 7564dda..59541bb 100644 (file)
  */
 package jalview.gui;
 
-import jalview.api.AlignViewportI;
-import jalview.api.AlignmentViewPanel;
-import jalview.bin.Cache;
-import jalview.bin.Jalview;
-import jalview.io.BackupFiles;
-import jalview.io.DataSourceType;
-import jalview.io.FileFormat;
-import jalview.io.FileFormatException;
-import jalview.io.FileFormatI;
-import jalview.io.FileFormats;
-import jalview.io.FileLoader;
-import jalview.io.FormatAdapter;
-import jalview.io.IdentifyFile;
-import jalview.io.JalviewFileChooser;
-import jalview.io.JalviewFileView;
-import jalview.jbgui.GSplitFrame;
-import jalview.jbgui.GStructureViewer;
-import jalview.project.Jalview2XML;
-import jalview.structure.StructureSelectionManager;
-import jalview.urls.IdOrgSettings;
-import jalview.util.ImageMaker;
-import jalview.util.MessageManager;
-import jalview.util.Platform;
-import jalview.util.UrlConstants;
-import jalview.viewmodel.AlignmentViewport;
-import jalview.ws.params.ParamManager;
-import jalview.ws.utils.UrlDownloadClient;
-
 import java.awt.BorderLayout;
 import java.awt.Color;
 import java.awt.Dimension;
@@ -86,7 +58,6 @@ import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Hashtable;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.ListIterator;
-import java.util.StringTokenizer;
 import java.util.Vector;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
@@ -111,6 +82,7 @@ import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
 import javax.swing.JPanel;
 import javax.swing.JPopupMenu;
 import javax.swing.JProgressBar;
+import javax.swing.JTextField;
 import javax.swing.KeyStroke;
 import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
 import javax.swing.event.HyperlinkEvent;
@@ -120,6 +92,37 @@ import javax.swing.event.InternalFrameEvent;
 
 import org.stackoverflowusers.file.WindowsShortcut;
 
+import jalview.api.AlignViewportI;
+import jalview.api.AlignmentViewPanel;
+import jalview.bin.Cache;
+import jalview.bin.Jalview;
+import jalview.gui.ImageExporter.ImageWriterI;
+import jalview.io.BackupFiles;
+import jalview.io.DataSourceType;
+import jalview.io.FileFormat;
+import jalview.io.FileFormatException;
+import jalview.io.FileFormatI;
+import jalview.io.FileFormats;
+import jalview.io.FileLoader;
+import jalview.io.FormatAdapter;
+import jalview.io.IdentifyFile;
+import jalview.io.JalviewFileChooser;
+import jalview.io.JalviewFileView;
+import jalview.jbgui.GSplitFrame;
+import jalview.jbgui.GStructureViewer;
+import jalview.project.Jalview2XML;
+import jalview.structure.StructureSelectionManager;
+import jalview.urls.IdOrgSettings;
+import jalview.util.BrowserLauncher;
+import jalview.util.ImageMaker.TYPE;
+import jalview.util.MessageManager;
+import jalview.util.Platform;
+import jalview.util.ShortcutKeyMaskExWrapper;
+import jalview.util.UrlConstants;
+import jalview.viewmodel.AlignmentViewport;
+import jalview.ws.params.ParamManager;
+import jalview.ws.utils.UrlDownloadClient;
+
 /**
  * Jalview Desktop
  * 
@@ -131,6 +134,15 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         implements DropTargetListener, ClipboardOwner, IProgressIndicator,
         jalview.api.StructureSelectionManagerProvider
 {
+  private static final String CITATION = "<br><br>Development managed by The Barton Group, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.<br>"
+          + "<br><br>For help, see the FAQ at <a href=\"http://www.jalview.org/faq\">www.jalview.org/faq</a> and/or join the jalview-discuss@jalview.org mailing list"
+          + "<br><br>If  you use Jalview, please cite:"
+          + "<br>Waterhouse, A.M., Procter, J.B., Martin, D.M.A, Clamp, M. and Barton, G. J. (2009)"
+          + "<br>Jalview Version 2 - a multiple sequence alignment editor and analysis workbench"
+          + "<br>Bioinformatics doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btp033";
+
+  private static final String DEFAULT_AUTHORS = "The Jalview Authors (See AUTHORS file for current list)";
+
   private static int DEFAULT_MIN_WIDTH = 300;
 
   private static int DEFAULT_MIN_HEIGHT = 250;
@@ -194,6 +206,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   public static MyDesktopPane desktop;
 
+  public static MyDesktopPane getDesktop()
+  {
+    // BH 2018 could use currentThread() here as a reference to a
+    // Hashtable<Thread, MyDesktopPane> in JavaScript
+    return desktop;
+  }
+
   static int openFrameCount = 0;
 
   static final int xOffset = 30;
@@ -336,6 +355,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   public Desktop()
   {
+    super();
     /**
      * A note to implementors. It is ESSENTIAL that any activities that might
      * block are spawned off as threads rather than waited for during this
@@ -344,7 +364,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     instance = this;
 
     doConfigureStructurePrefs();
-    setTitle("Jalview " + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION"));
+    setTitle("Jalview " + Cache.getProperty("VERSION"));
     /*
     if (!Platform.isAMac())
     {
@@ -359,17 +379,12 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     try
     {
       APQHandlers.setAPQHandlers(this);
-    } catch (Exception e)
-    {
-      System.out.println("Cannot set APQHandlers");
-      // e.printStackTrace();
     } catch (Throwable t)
     {
-      System.out.println("Cannot set APQHandlers");
+      System.out.println("Error setting APQHandlers: " + t.toString());
       // t.printStackTrace();
     }
 
-
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
     {
 
@@ -380,12 +395,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       }
     });
 
-    boolean selmemusage = jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("SHOW_MEMUSAGE",
+    boolean selmemusage = Cache.getDefault("SHOW_MEMUSAGE",
             false);
 
-    boolean showjconsole = jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("SHOW_JAVA_CONSOLE",
+    boolean showjconsole = Cache.getDefault("SHOW_JAVA_CONSOLE",
             false);
     desktop = new MyDesktopPane(selmemusage);
+
     showMemusage.setSelected(selmemusage);
     desktop.setBackground(Color.white);
 
@@ -394,14 +410,21 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     // JScrollPane sp = new JScrollPane();
     // sp.getViewport().setView(desktop);
     // getContentPane().add(sp, BorderLayout.CENTER);
+
+    // BH 2018 - just an experiment to try unclipped JInternalFrames.
+    if (Platform.isJS())
+    {
+      getRootPane().putClientProperty("swingjs.overflow.hidden", "false");
+    }
+
     getContentPane().add(desktop, BorderLayout.CENTER);
     desktop.setDragMode(JDesktopPane.OUTLINE_DRAG_MODE);
 
     // This line prevents Windows Look&Feel resizing all new windows to maximum
     // if previous window was maximised
     desktop.setDesktopManager(new MyDesktopManager(
-            (Platform.isWindows() ? new DefaultDesktopManager()
-                    : Platform.isAMac()
+            (Platform.isWindowsAndNotJS() ? new DefaultDesktopManager()
+                    : Platform.isAMacAndNotJS()
                             ? new AquaInternalFrameManager(
                                     desktop.getDesktopManager())
                             : desktop.getDesktopManager())));
@@ -414,22 +437,72 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     else
     {
       Dimension screenSize = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
-      setBounds((screenSize.width - 900) / 2, (screenSize.height - 650) / 2,
-              900, 650);
+      int xPos = Math.max(5, (screenSize.width - 900) / 2);
+      int yPos = Math.max(5, (screenSize.height - 650) / 2);
+      setBounds(xPos, yPos, 900, 650);
     }
-    jconsole = new Console(this, showjconsole);
-    // add essential build information
-    jconsole.setHeader(jalview.bin.Cache.getVersionDetailsForConsole());
 
-    showConsole(showjconsole);
+    if (!Platform.isJS())
+    /**
+     * Java only
+     * 
+     * @j2sIgnore
+     */
+    {
+      jconsole = new Console(this, showjconsole);
+      jconsole.setHeader(Cache.getVersionDetailsForConsole());
+      showConsole(showjconsole);
+
+      showNews.setVisible(false);
 
-    showNews.setVisible(false);
+      experimentalFeatures.setSelected(showExperimental());
 
-    experimentalFeatures.setSelected(showExperimental());
+      getIdentifiersOrgData();
 
-    getIdentifiersOrgData();
+      checkURLLinks();
 
-    checkURLLinks();
+      // Spawn a thread that shows the splashscreen
+
+      SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable()
+      {
+        @Override
+        public void run()
+        {
+          new SplashScreen(true);
+        }
+      });
+
+      // Thread off a new instance of the file chooser - this reduces the time
+      // it
+      // takes to open it later on.
+      new Thread(new Runnable()
+      {
+        @Override
+        public void run()
+        {
+          Cache.log.debug("Filechooser init thread started.");
+          String fileFormat = Cache.getProperty("DEFAULT_FILE_FORMAT");
+          JalviewFileChooser.forRead(Cache.getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"),
+                  fileFormat);
+          Cache.log.debug("Filechooser init thread finished.");
+        }
+      }).start();
+      // Add the service change listener
+      changeSupport.addJalviewPropertyChangeListener("services",
+              new PropertyChangeListener()
+              {
+
+                @Override
+                public void propertyChange(PropertyChangeEvent evt)
+                {
+                  Cache.log.debug("Firing service changed event for "
+                          + evt.getNewValue());
+                  JalviewServicesChanged(evt);
+                }
+              });
+    }
+
+    this.setDropTarget(new java.awt.dnd.DropTarget(desktop, this));
 
     this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
     {
@@ -463,45 +536,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     });
     desktop.addMouseListener(ma);
 
-    this.setDropTarget(new java.awt.dnd.DropTarget(desktop, this));
-    // Spawn a thread that shows the splashscreen
-    SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable()
-    {
-      @Override
-      public void run()
-      {
-        new SplashScreen();
-      }
-    });
-
-    // Thread off a new instance of the file chooser - this reduces the time it
-    // takes to open it later on.
-    new Thread(new Runnable()
-    {
-      @Override
-      public void run()
-      {
-        Cache.log.debug("Filechooser init thread started.");
-        String fileFormat = Cache.getProperty("DEFAULT_FILE_FORMAT");
-        JalviewFileChooser.forRead(Cache.getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"),
-                fileFormat);
-        Cache.log.debug("Filechooser init thread finished.");
-      }
-    }).start();
-    // Add the service change listener
-    changeSupport.addJalviewPropertyChangeListener("services",
-            new PropertyChangeListener()
-            {
-
-              @Override
-              public void propertyChange(PropertyChangeEvent evt)
-              {
-                Cache.log.debug("Firing service changed event for "
-                        + evt.getNewValue());
-                JalviewServicesChanged(evt);
-              }
-
-            });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -522,14 +556,14 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     // configure services
     StructureSelectionManager ssm = StructureSelectionManager
             .getStructureSelectionManager(this);
-    if (jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault(Preferences.ADD_SS_ANN, true))
+    if (Cache.getDefault(Preferences.ADD_SS_ANN, true))
     {
-      ssm.setAddTempFacAnnot(jalview.bin.Cache
+      ssm.setAddTempFacAnnot(Cache
               .getDefault(Preferences.ADD_TEMPFACT_ANN, true));
-      ssm.setProcessSecondaryStructure(jalview.bin.Cache
+      ssm.setProcessSecondaryStructure(Cache
               .getDefault(Preferences.STRUCT_FROM_PDB, true));
       ssm.setSecStructServices(
-              jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault(Preferences.USE_RNAVIEW, true));
+              Cache.getDefault(Preferences.USE_RNAVIEW, true));
     }
     else
     {
@@ -549,7 +583,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       public void run()
       {
         Cache.log.debug("Starting news thread.");
-
         jvnews = new BlogReader(me);
         showNews.setVisible(true);
         Cache.log.debug("Completed news thread.");
@@ -566,10 +599,9 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       public void run()
       {
         Cache.log.debug("Downloading data from identifiers.org");
-        UrlDownloadClient client = new UrlDownloadClient();
         try
         {
-          client.download(IdOrgSettings.getUrl(),
+          UrlDownloadClient.download(IdOrgSettings.getUrl(),
                   IdOrgSettings.getDownloadLocation());
         } catch (IOException e)
         {
@@ -578,7 +610,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         }
       }
     }).start();
-    ;
+    
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -589,26 +621,23 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   void showNews(boolean visible)
   {
+    Cache.log.debug((visible ? "Showing" : "Hiding") + " news.");
+    showNews.setSelected(visible);
+    if (visible && !jvnews.isVisible())
     {
-      Cache.log.debug((visible ? "Showing" : "Hiding") + " news.");
-      showNews.setSelected(visible);
-      if (visible && !jvnews.isVisible())
+      new Thread(new Runnable()
       {
-        new Thread(new Runnable()
+        @Override
+        public void run()
         {
-          @Override
-          public void run()
-          {
-            long now = System.currentTimeMillis();
-            Desktop.instance.setProgressBar(
-                    MessageManager.getString("status.refreshing_news"),
-                    now);
-            jvnews.refreshNews();
-            Desktop.instance.setProgressBar(null, now);
-            jvnews.showNews();
-          }
-        }).start();
-      }
+          long now = System.currentTimeMillis();
+          Desktop.instance.setProgressBar(
+                  MessageManager.getString("status.refreshing_news"), now);
+          jvnews.refreshNews();
+          Desktop.instance.setProgressBar(null, now);
+          jvnews.showNews();
+        }
+      }).start();
     }
   }
 
@@ -624,25 +653,25 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   {
     // TODO: lock aspect ratio for scaling desktop Bug #0058199
     Dimension screenSize = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
-    String x = jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_X");
-    String y = jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_Y");
-    String width = jalview.bin.Cache
+    String x = Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_X");
+    String y = Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_Y");
+    String width = Cache
             .getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_WIDTH");
-    String height = jalview.bin.Cache
+    String height = Cache
             .getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_HEIGHT");
     if ((x != null) && (y != null) && (width != null) && (height != null))
     {
       int ix = Integer.parseInt(x), iy = Integer.parseInt(y),
               iw = Integer.parseInt(width), ih = Integer.parseInt(height);
-      if (jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH") != null)
+      if (Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH") != null)
       {
         // attempt #1 - try to cope with change in screen geometry - this
         // version doesn't preserve original jv aspect ratio.
         // take ratio of current screen size vs original screen size.
         double sw = ((1f * screenSize.width) / (1f * Integer.parseInt(
-                jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH"))));
+                Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH"))));
         double sh = ((1f * screenSize.height) / (1f * Integer.parseInt(
-                jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT"))));
+                Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT"))));
         // rescale the bounds depending upon the current screen geometry.
         ix = (int) (ix * sw);
         iw = (int) (iw * sw);
@@ -650,17 +679,17 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         ih = (int) (ih * sh);
         while (ix >= screenSize.width)
         {
-          jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
+          Cache.log.debug(
                   "Window geometry location recall error: shifting horizontal to within screenbounds.");
           ix -= screenSize.width;
         }
         while (iy >= screenSize.height)
         {
-          jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
+          Cache.log.debug(
                   "Window geometry location recall error: shifting vertical to within screenbounds.");
           iy -= screenSize.height;
         }
-        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
+        Cache.log.debug(
                 "Got last known dimensions for " + windowName + ": x:" + ix
                         + " y:" + iy + " width:" + iw + " height:" + ih);
       }
@@ -841,7 +870,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     frame.setResizable(resizable);
     frame.setMaximizable(resizable);
     frame.setIconifiable(resizable);
-    frame.setOpaque(false);
+    frame.setOpaque(Platform.isJS());
 
     if (frame.getX() < 1 && frame.getY() < 1)
     {
@@ -892,7 +921,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           menuItem.removeActionListener(menuItem.getActionListeners()[0]);
         }
         windowMenu.remove(menuItem);
-      };
+      }
     });
 
     menuItem.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
@@ -906,7 +935,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           frame.setIcon(false);
         } catch (java.beans.PropertyVetoException ex)
         {
-
+          // System.err.println(ex.toString());
         }
       }
     });
@@ -933,8 +962,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   }
 
   /**
-   * Add key bindings to a JInternalFrame so that Ctrl-W and Cmd-W will close
-   * the window
+   * Add key bindings to a JInternalFrame so that Ctrl-W and Cmd-W will close the
+   * window
    * 
    * @param frame
    */
@@ -956,7 +985,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     KeyStroke ctrlWKey = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_W,
             InputEvent.CTRL_DOWN_MASK);
     KeyStroke cmdWKey = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_W,
-            jalview.util.ShortcutKeyMaskExWrapper.getMenuShortcutKeyMaskEx());
+            ShortcutKeyMaskExWrapper.getMenuShortcutKeyMaskEx());
 
     InputMap inputMap = frame
             .getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW);
@@ -1013,7 +1042,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     // Java's Transferable for native dnd
     evt.acceptDrop(DnDConstants.ACTION_COPY_OR_MOVE);
     Transferable t = evt.getTransferable();
-    List<String> files = new ArrayList<>();
+    List<Object> files = new ArrayList<>();
     List<DataSourceType> protocols = new ArrayList<>();
 
     try
@@ -1031,13 +1060,15 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       {
         for (int i = 0; i < files.size(); i++)
         {
-          String file = files.get(i).toString();
+          // BH 2018 File or String
+          Object file = files.get(i);
+          String fileName = file.toString();
           DataSourceType protocol = (protocols == null)
                   ? DataSourceType.FILE
                   : protocols.get(i);
           FileFormatI format = null;
 
-          if (file.endsWith(".jar"))
+          if (fileName.endsWith(".jar"))
           {
             format = FileFormat.Jalview;
 
@@ -1046,8 +1077,11 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           {
             format = new IdentifyFile().identify(file, protocol);
           }
-
-          new FileLoader().LoadFile(file, protocol, format);
+          if (file instanceof File)
+          {
+            Platform.cacheFileData((File) file);
+          }
+          new FileLoader().LoadFile(null, file, protocol, format);
 
         }
       } catch (Exception ex)
@@ -1077,49 +1111,44 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
             MessageManager.getString("label.open_local_file"));
     chooser.setToolTipText(MessageManager.getString("action.open"));
 
-    int value = chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
-
-    if (value == JalviewFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION)
+    chooser.setResponseHandler(0, new Runnable()
     {
-      String choice = chooser.getSelectedFile().getPath();
-      Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY",
-              chooser.getSelectedFile().getParent());
+      @Override
+      public void run()
+      {
+        File selectedFile = chooser.getSelectedFile();
+        Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY", selectedFile.getParent());
 
-      FileFormatI format = chooser.getSelectedFormat();
+        FileFormatI format = chooser.getSelectedFormat();
 
-      /*
-       * Call IdentifyFile to verify the file contains what its extension implies.
-       * Skip this step for dynamically added file formats, because
-       * IdentifyFile does not know how to recognise them.
-       */
-      if (FileFormats.getInstance().isIdentifiable(format))
-      {
-        try
-        {
-          format = new IdentifyFile().identify(choice, DataSourceType.FILE);
-        } catch (FileFormatException e)
+        /*
+         * Call IdentifyFile to verify the file contains what its extension implies.
+         * Skip this step for dynamically added file formats, because
+         * IdentifyFile does not know how to recognise them.
+         */
+        if (FileFormats.getInstance().isIdentifiable(format))
         {
-          // format = null; //??
+          try
+          {
+            format = new IdentifyFile().identify(selectedFile,
+                    DataSourceType.FILE);
+          } catch (FileFormatException e)
+          {
+            // format = null; //??
+          }
         }
-      }
 
-      if (viewport != null)
-      {
-        new FileLoader().LoadFile(viewport, choice, DataSourceType.FILE,
-                format);
+        new FileLoader().LoadFile(viewport, selectedFile,
+                DataSourceType.FILE, format);
       }
-      else
-      {
-        new FileLoader().LoadFile(choice, DataSourceType.FILE, format);
-      }
-    }
+    });
+    chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
   }
 
   /**
-   * DOCUMENT ME!
+   * Shows a dialog for input of a URL at which to retrieve alignment data
    * 
-   * @param e
-   *          DOCUMENT ME!
+   * @param viewport
    */
   @Override
   public void inputURLMenuItem_actionPerformed(AlignViewport viewport)
@@ -1128,87 +1157,112 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     // for viewing
     JLabel label = new JLabel(
             MessageManager.getString("label.input_file_url"));
-    final JComboBox history = new JComboBox();
 
     JPanel panel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2, 1));
     panel.add(label);
-    panel.add(history);
-    history.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 20));
-    history.setEditable(true);
-    history.addItem("http://www.");
-
-    String historyItems = jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("RECENT_URL");
 
-    StringTokenizer st;
-
-    if (historyItems != null)
-    {
-      st = new StringTokenizer(historyItems, "\t");
-
-      while (st.hasMoreTokens())
-      {
-        history.addItem(st.nextElement());
-      }
-    }
-
-    int reply = JvOptionPane.showInternalConfirmDialog(desktop, panel,
-            MessageManager.getString("label.input_alignment_from_url"),
-            JvOptionPane.OK_CANCEL_OPTION);
-
-    if (reply != JvOptionPane.OK_OPTION)
+    /*
+     * the URL to fetch is
+     * Java: an editable combobox with history
+     * JS: (pending JAL-3038) a plain text field
+     */
+    JComponent history;
+    String urlBase = "http://www.";
+    if (Platform.isJS())
     {
-      return;
+      history = new JTextField(urlBase, 35);
     }
-
-    String url = history.getSelectedItem().toString();
-
-    if (url.toLowerCase().endsWith(".jar"))
+    else
+    /**
+     * Java only
+     * 
+     * @j2sIgnore
+     */
     {
-      if (viewport != null)
-      {
-        new FileLoader().LoadFile(viewport, url, DataSourceType.URL,
-                FileFormat.Jalview);
-      }
-      else
+      JComboBox<String> asCombo = new JComboBox<>();
+      asCombo.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 20));
+      asCombo.setEditable(true);
+      asCombo.addItem(urlBase);
+      String historyItems = Cache.getProperty("RECENT_URL");
+      if (historyItems != null)
       {
-        new FileLoader().LoadFile(url, DataSourceType.URL,
-                FileFormat.Jalview);
+        for (String token : historyItems.split("\\t"))
+        {
+          asCombo.addItem(token);
+        }
       }
+      history = asCombo;
     }
-    else
+    panel.add(history);
+
+    Object[] options = new Object[] { MessageManager.getString("action.ok"),
+        MessageManager.getString("action.cancel") };
+    Runnable action = new Runnable()
     {
-      FileFormatI format = null;
-      try
-      {
-        format = new IdentifyFile().identify(url, DataSourceType.URL);
-      } catch (FileFormatException e)
+      @Override
+      public void run()
       {
-        // TODO revise error handling, distinguish between
-        // URL not found and response not valid
-      }
+        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+        String url = (history instanceof JTextField
+                ? ((JTextField) history).getText()
+                : ((JComboBox<String>) history).getSelectedItem()
+                        .toString());
 
-      if (format == null)
-      {
-        JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
-                MessageManager.formatMessage("label.couldnt_locate",
-                        new Object[]
-                        { url }),
-                MessageManager.getString("label.url_not_found"),
-                JvOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
+        if (url.toLowerCase().endsWith(".jar"))
+        {
+          if (viewport != null)
+          {
+            new FileLoader().LoadFile(viewport, url, DataSourceType.URL,
+                    FileFormat.Jalview);
+          }
+          else
+          {
+            new FileLoader().LoadFile(url, DataSourceType.URL,
+                    FileFormat.Jalview);
+          }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+          FileFormatI format = null;
+          try
+          {
+            format = new IdentifyFile().identify(url, DataSourceType.URL);
+          } catch (FileFormatException e)
+          {
+            // TODO revise error handling, distinguish between
+            // URL not found and response not valid
+          }
 
-        return;
-      }
+          if (format == null)
+          {
+            String msg = MessageManager
+                    .formatMessage("label.couldnt_locate", url);
+            JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop, msg,
+                    MessageManager.getString("label.url_not_found"),
+                    JvOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
 
-      if (viewport != null)
-      {
-        new FileLoader().LoadFile(viewport, url, DataSourceType.URL,
-                format);
-      }
-      else
-      {
-        new FileLoader().LoadFile(url, DataSourceType.URL, format);
+            return;
+          }
+
+          if (viewport != null)
+          {
+            new FileLoader().LoadFile(viewport, url, DataSourceType.URL,
+                    format);
+          }
+          else
+          {
+            new FileLoader().LoadFile(url, DataSourceType.URL, format);
+          }
+        }
       }
-    }
+    };
+    String dialogOption = MessageManager
+            .getString("label.input_alignment_from_url");
+    JvOptionPane.newOptionDialog(desktop).setResponseHandler(0, action)
+            .showInternalDialog(panel, dialogOption,
+                    JvOptionPane.YES_NO_CANCEL_OPTION,
+                    JvOptionPane.PLAIN_MESSAGE, null, options,
+                    MessageManager.getString("action.ok"));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1236,9 +1290,9 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   public void quit()
   {
     Dimension screen = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH",
+    Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH",
             screen.width + "");
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT",
+    Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT",
             screen.height + "");
     storeLastKnownDimensions("", new Rectangle(getBounds().x, getBounds().y,
             getWidth(), getHeight()));
@@ -1270,14 +1324,14 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   private void storeLastKnownDimensions(String string, Rectangle jc)
   {
-    jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Storing last known dimensions for "
+    Cache.log.debug("Storing last known dimensions for "
             + string + ": x:" + jc.x + " y:" + jc.y + " width:" + jc.width
             + " height:" + jc.height);
 
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_X", jc.x + "");
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_Y", jc.y + "");
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_WIDTH", jc.width + "");
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_HEIGHT", jc.height + "");
+    Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_X", jc.x + "");
+    Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_Y", jc.y + "");
+    Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_WIDTH", jc.width + "");
+    Cache.setProperty(string + "SCREEN_HEIGHT", jc.height + "");
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1289,55 +1343,43 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   @Override
   public void aboutMenuItem_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
   {
-    // StringBuffer message = getAboutMessage(false);
-    // JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
-    //
-    // message.toString(), "About Jalview", JvOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
     new Thread(new Runnable()
     {
       @Override
       public void run()
       {
-        new SplashScreen(true);
+        new SplashScreen(false);
       }
     }).start();
   }
 
-  public StringBuffer getAboutMessage(boolean shortv)
+  /**
+   * Returns the html text for the About screen, including any available version
+   * number, build details, author details and citation reference, but without
+   * the enclosing {@code html} tags
+   * 
+   * @return
+   */
+  public String getAboutMessage()
   {
-    StringBuffer message = new StringBuffer();
-    message.append("<html>");
-    if (shortv)
-    {
-      message.append("<h1><strong>Version: "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")
-              + "</strong></h1>");
-      message.append("<strong>Built: <em>"
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown")
-              + "</em> from " + jalview.bin.Cache.getBuildDetailsForSplash()
-              + "</strong>");
-
-    }
-    else
-    {
-
-      message.append("<strong>Version "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")
-              + "; last updated: "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown"));
-    }
+    StringBuilder message = new StringBuilder(1024);
+    message.append("<h1><strong>Version: ")
+            .append(Cache.getProperty("VERSION")).append("</strong></h1>")
+            .append("<strong>Built: <em>")
+            .append(Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown"))
+            .append("</em> from ").append(Cache.getBuildDetailsForSplash())
+            .append("</strong>");
 
-    if (jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "Checking")
-            .equals("Checking"))
+    String latestVersion = Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "Checking");
+    if (latestVersion.equals("Checking"))
     {
       // JBP removed this message for 2.11: May be reinstated in future version
       // message.append("<br>...Checking latest version...</br>");
     }
-    else if (!jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "Checking")
-            .equals(jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")))
+    else if (!latestVersion.equals(Cache.getProperty("VERSION")))
     {
       boolean red = false;
-      if (jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION").toLowerCase()
+      if (Cache.getProperty("VERSION").toLowerCase()
               .indexOf("automated build") == -1)
       {
         red = true;
@@ -1346,45 +1388,48 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         message.append("<div style=\"color: #FF0000;font-style: bold;\">");
       }
 
-      message.append("<br>!! Version "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION",
-                      "..Checking..")
-              + " is available for download from "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("www.jalview.org",
-                      "http://www.jalview.org")
-              + " !!");
+      message.append("<br>!! Version ")
+              .append(Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "..Checking.."))
+              .append(" is available for download from ")
+              .append(Cache.getDefault("www.jalview.org",
+                      "http://www.jalview.org"))
+              .append(" !!");
       if (red)
       {
         message.append("</div>");
       }
     }
-    message.append("<br>Authors:  " + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault(
-            "AUTHORFNAMES",
-            "The Jalview Authors (See AUTHORS file for current list)")
-            + "<br><br>Development managed by The Barton Group, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.<br>"
-            + "<br><br>For help, see the FAQ at <a href=\"http://www.jalview.org/faq\">www.jalview.org/faq</a> and/or join the jalview-discuss@jalview.org mailing list"
-            + "<br><br>If  you use Jalview, please cite:"
-            + "<br>Waterhouse, A.M., Procter, J.B., Martin, D.M.A, Clamp, M. and Barton, G. J. (2009)"
-            + "<br>Jalview Version 2 - a multiple sequence alignment editor and analysis workbench"
-            + "<br>Bioinformatics doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btp033"
-            + "</html>");
-    return message;
+    message.append("<br>Authors:  ");
+    message.append(Cache.getDefault("AUTHORFNAMES", DEFAULT_AUTHORS));
+    message.append(CITATION);
+
+    return message.toString();
   }
 
   /**
-   * DOCUMENT ME!
-   * 
-   * @param e
-   *          DOCUMENT ME!
+   * Action on requesting Help documentation
    */
   @Override
-  public void documentationMenuItem_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
+  public void documentationMenuItem_actionPerformed()
   {
     try
     {
-      Help.showHelpWindow();
+      if (Platform.isJS())
+      {
+        BrowserLauncher.openURL("http://www.jalview.org/help.html");
+      }
+      else
+      /**
+       * Java only
+       * 
+       * @j2sIgnore
+       */
+      {
+        Help.showHelpWindow();
+      }
     } catch (Exception ex)
     {
+      System.err.println("Error opening help: " + ex.getMessage());
     }
   }
 
@@ -1444,9 +1489,9 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   protected void garbageCollect_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
   {
     // We simply collect the garbage
-    jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Collecting garbage...");
+    Cache.log.debug("Collecting garbage...");
     System.gc();
-    jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Finished garbage collection.");
+    Cache.log.debug("Finished garbage collection.");
   }
 
   /*
@@ -1484,11 +1529,14 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   void showConsole(boolean selected)
   {
-    showConsole.setSelected(selected);
     // TODO: decide if we should update properties file
-    Cache.setProperty("SHOW_JAVA_CONSOLE",
-            Boolean.valueOf(selected).toString());
-    jconsole.setVisible(selected);
+    if (jconsole != null) // BH 2018
+    {
+      showConsole.setSelected(selected);
+      Cache.setProperty("SHOW_JAVA_CONSOLE",
+              Boolean.valueOf(selected).toString());
+      jconsole.setVisible(selected);
+    }
   }
 
   void reorderAssociatedWindows(boolean minimize, boolean close)
@@ -1581,8 +1629,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   }
 
   /**
-   * Shows a file chooser dialog and writes out the current session as a Jalview
-   * project file
+   * Prompts the user to choose a file and then saves the Jalview state as a
+   * Jalview project file
    */
   @Override
   public void saveState_actionPerformed()
@@ -1633,18 +1681,22 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           setProgressBar(MessageManager.formatMessage(
                   "label.saving_jalview_project", new Object[]
                   { chosenFile.getName() }), chosenFile.hashCode());
-          jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY",
+          Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY",
                   chosenFile.getParent());
           // TODO catch and handle errors for savestate
           // TODO prevent user from messing with the Desktop whilst we're saving
           try
           {
-            BackupFiles backupfiles = new BackupFiles(chosenFile);
+               boolean doBackup = BackupFiles.getEnabled();
+            BackupFiles backupfiles = doBackup ? new BackupFiles(chosenFile) : null;
 
-            new Jalview2XML().saveState(backupfiles.getTempFile());
+            new Jalview2XML().saveState(doBackup ? backupfiles.getTempFile() : chosenFile);
 
-            backupfiles.setWriteSuccess(true);
-            backupfiles.rollBackupsAndRenameTempFile();
+            if (doBackup)
+            {
+              backupfiles.setWriteSuccess(true);
+              backupfiles.rollBackupsAndRenameTempFile();
+            }
           } catch (OutOfMemoryError oom)
           {
             new OOMWarning("Whilst saving current state to "
@@ -1664,7 +1716,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           setProgressBar(null, chosenFile.hashCode());
         }
       }).start();
-    }
+      }
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -1699,45 +1751,44 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
                                             // allowBackupFiles
     chooser.setFileView(new JalviewFileView());
     chooser.setDialogTitle(MessageManager.getString("label.restore_state"));
-
-    int value = chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
-
-    if (value == JalviewFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION)
+    chooser.setResponseHandler(0, new Runnable()
     {
-      final File selectedFile = chooser.getSelectedFile();
-      setProjectFile(selectedFile);
-      final String choice = selectedFile.getAbsolutePath();
-      Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY", selectedFile.getParent());
-      new Thread(new Runnable()
+      @Override
+      public void run()
       {
-        @Override
-        public void run()
+        File selectedFile = chooser.getSelectedFile();
+        setProjectFile(selectedFile);
+        String choice = selectedFile.getAbsolutePath();
+        Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY", selectedFile.getParent());
+        new Thread(new Runnable()
         {
-          setProgressBar(MessageManager.formatMessage(
-                  "label.loading_jalview_project", new Object[]
-                  { choice }), choice.hashCode());
-          try
-          {
-            new Jalview2XML().loadJalviewAlign(choice);
-          } catch (OutOfMemoryError oom)
-          {
-            new OOMWarning("Whilst loading project from " + choice, oom);
-          } catch (Exception ex)
+          @Override
+          public void run()
           {
-            Cache.log.error(
-                    "Problems whilst loading project from " + choice, ex);
-            JvOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
-                    MessageManager.formatMessage(
-                            "label.error_whilst_loading_project_from",
-                            new Object[]
-                            { choice }),
-                    MessageManager.getString("label.couldnt_load_project"),
-                    JvOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
+               try 
+            {
+              new Jalview2XML().loadJalviewAlign(selectedFile);
+            } catch (OutOfMemoryError oom)
+               {
+                 new OOMWarning("Whilst loading project from " + choice, oom);
+               } catch (Exception ex)
+               {
+                 Cache.log.error(
+                         "Problems whilst loading project from " + choice, ex);
+                 JvOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
+                         MessageManager.formatMessage(
+                                 "label.error_whilst_loading_project_from",
+                               new Object[]
+                                   { choice }),
+                         MessageManager.getString("label.couldnt_load_project"),
+                         JvOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
+               }
           }
-          setProgressBar(null, choice.hashCode());
-        }
-      }).start();
-    }
+        }).start();
+      }
+    });
+    
+    chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -1750,7 +1801,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   ArrayList<JPanel> fileLoadingPanels = new ArrayList<>();
 
-  public void startLoading(final String fileName)
+  public void startLoading(final Object fileName)
   {
     if (fileLoadingCount == 0)
     {
@@ -1978,9 +2029,9 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   /**
    * Gather expanded views (separate AlignFrame's) with the same sequence set
-   * identifier back in to this frame as additional views, and close the
-   * expanded views. Note the expanded frames may themselves have multiple
-   * views. We take the lot.
+   * identifier back in to this frame as additional views, and close the expanded
+   * views. Note the expanded frames may themselves have multiple views. We take
+   * the lot.
    * 
    * @param source
    */
@@ -2030,13 +2081,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         }
       }
     }
+
     // refresh the feature setting UI for the source frame if it exists
     if (source.featureSettings != null
             && source.featureSettings.isOpen())
     {
       source.showFeatureSettingsUI();
     }
-
   }
 
   public JInternalFrame[] getAllFrames()
@@ -2138,14 +2189,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   /**
    * Proxy class for JDesktopPane which optionally displays the current memory
-   * usage and highlights the desktop area with a red bar if free memory runs
-   * low.
+   * usage and highlights the desktop area with a red bar if free memory runs low.
    * 
    * @author AMW
    */
-  public class MyDesktopPane extends JDesktopPane implements Runnable
+  public class MyDesktopPane extends JDesktopPane
+          implements Runnable
   {
-
     private static final float ONE_MB = 1048576f;
 
     boolean showMemoryUsage = false;
@@ -2327,7 +2377,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       openGroovyConsole();
     } catch (Exception ex)
     {
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error("Groovy Shell Creation failed.", ex);
+      Cache.log.error("Groovy Shell Creation failed.", ex);
       JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
 
               MessageManager.getString("label.couldnt_create_groovy_shell"),
@@ -2381,8 +2431,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   }
 
   /**
-   * Bind Ctrl/Cmd-Q to Quit - for reset as Groovy Console takes over this
-   * binding when opened
+   * Bind Ctrl/Cmd-Q to Quit - for reset as Groovy Console takes over this binding
+   * when opened
    */
   protected void addQuitHandler()
   {
@@ -2439,6 +2489,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   @Override
   public void setProgressBar(String message, long id)
   {
+    // Platform.timeCheck("Desktop " + message, Platform.TIME_MARK);
+
     if (progressBars == null)
     {
       progressBars = new Hashtable<>();
@@ -2515,9 +2567,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   }
 
   /**
-   * This will return the first AlignFrame holding the given viewport instance.
-   * It will break if there are more than one AlignFrames viewing a particular
-   * av.
+   * This will return the first AlignFrame holding the given viewport instance. It
+   * will break if there are more than one AlignFrames viewing a particular av.
    * 
    * @param viewport
    * @return alignFrame for viewport
@@ -2833,7 +2884,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           } catch (InterruptedException x)
           {
           }
-          ;
         }
         if (instance == null)
         {
@@ -2858,34 +2908,45 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     block.release();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Outputs an image of the desktop to file in EPS format, after prompting the
+   * user for choice of Text or Lineart character rendering (unless a preference
+   * has been set). The file name is generated as
+   * 
+   * <pre>
+   * Jalview_snapshot_nnnnn.eps where nnnnn is the current timestamp in milliseconds
+   * </pre>
+   */
   @Override
   protected void snapShotWindow_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
   {
+    // currently the menu option to do this is not shown
     invalidate();
-    File of;
-    ImageMaker im = new jalview.util.ImageMaker(
-            this, ImageMaker.TYPE.EPS, "View of Desktop", getWidth(),
-            getHeight(), of = new File("Jalview_snapshot"
-                    + System.currentTimeMillis() + ".eps"),
-            "View of desktop", null, 0, false);
-    try
-    {
-      paintAll(im.getGraphics());
-      im.writeImage();
-    } catch (Exception q)
+
+    int width = getWidth();
+    int height = getHeight();
+    File of = new File(
+            "Jalview_snapshot_" + System.currentTimeMillis() + ".eps");
+    ImageWriterI writer = new ImageWriterI()
     {
-      Cache.log.error("Couldn't write snapshot to " + of.getAbsolutePath(),
-              q);
-      return;
-    }
-    Cache.log.info("Successfully written snapshot to file "
-            + of.getAbsolutePath());
+      @Override
+      public void exportImage(Graphics g) throws Exception
+      {
+        paintAll(g);
+        Cache.log.info("Successfully written snapshot to file "
+                + of.getAbsolutePath());
+      }
+    };
+    String title = "View of desktop";
+    ImageExporter exporter = new ImageExporter(writer, null, TYPE.EPS,
+            title);
+    exporter.doExport(of, this, width, height, title);
   }
 
   /**
    * Explode the views in the given SplitFrame into separate SplitFrame windows.
-   * This respects (remembers) any previous 'exploded geometry' i.e. the size
-   * and location last time the view was expanded (if any). However it does not
+   * This respects (remembers) any previous 'exploded geometry' i.e. the size and
+   * location last time the view was expanded (if any). However it does not
    * remember the split pane divider location - this is set to match the
    * 'exploding' frame.
    * 
@@ -3051,11 +3112,31 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    *          - the payload from the drop event
    * @throws Exception
    */
-  public static void transferFromDropTarget(List<String> files,
+  public static void transferFromDropTarget(List<Object> files,
           List<DataSourceType> protocols, DropTargetDropEvent evt,
           Transferable t) throws Exception
   {
 
+    // BH 2018 changed List<String> to List<Object> to allow for File from SwingJS
+
+    // DataFlavor[] flavors = t.getTransferDataFlavors();
+    // for (int i = 0; i < flavors.length; i++) {
+    // if (flavors[i].isFlavorJavaFileListType()) {
+    // evt.acceptDrop(DnDConstants.ACTION_COPY_OR_MOVE);
+    // List<File> list = (List<File>) t.getTransferData(flavors[i]);
+    // for (int j = 0; j < list.size(); j++) {
+    // File file = (File) list.get(j);
+    // byte[] data = getDroppedFileBytes(file);
+    // fileName.setText(file.getName() + " - " + data.length + " " +
+    // evt.getLocation());
+    // JTextArea target = (JTextArea) ((DropTarget) evt.getSource()).getComponent();
+    // target.setText(new String(data));
+    // }
+    // dtde.dropComplete(true);
+    // return;
+    // }
+    //
+
     DataFlavor uriListFlavor = new DataFlavor(
             "text/uri-list;class=java.lang.String"), urlFlavour = null;
     try
@@ -3085,12 +3166,11 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         }
         else
         {
-          if (Platform.isAMac())
+          if (Platform.isAMacAndNotJS())
           {
             System.err.println(
                     "Please ignore plist error - occurs due to problem with java 8 on OSX");
           }
-          ;
         }
       } catch (Throwable ex)
       {
@@ -3104,7 +3184,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       for (Object file : (List) t
               .getTransferData(DataFlavor.javaFileListFlavor))
       {
-        files.add(((File) file).toString());
+        files.add(file);
         protocols.add(DataSourceType.FILE);
       }
     }
@@ -3202,22 +3282,23 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         }
       }
     }
-    if (Platform.isWindows())
-
+    if (Platform.isWindowsAndNotJS())
     {
       Cache.log.debug("Scanning dropped content for Windows Link Files");
 
       // resolve any .lnk files in the file drop
       for (int f = 0; f < files.size(); f++)
       {
-        String source = files.get(f).toLowerCase();
+        String source = files.get(f).toString().toLowerCase();
         if (protocols.get(f).equals(DataSourceType.FILE)
                 && (source.endsWith(".lnk") || source.endsWith(".url")
                         || source.endsWith(".site")))
         {
           try
           {
-            File lf = new File(files.get(f));
+            Object obj = files.get(f);
+            File lf = (obj instanceof File ? (File) obj
+                    : new File((String) obj));
             // process link file to get a URL
             Cache.log.debug("Found potential link file: " + lf);
             WindowsShortcut wscfile = new WindowsShortcut(lf);
@@ -3248,10 +3329,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   }
 
   /**
-   * Answers a (possibly empty) list of any structure viewer frames (currently
-   * for either Jmol or Chimera) which are currently open. This may optionally
-   * be restricted to viewers of a specified class, or viewers linked to a
-   * specified alignment panel.
+   * Answers a (possibly empty) list of any structure viewer frames (currently for
+   * either Jmol or Chimera) which are currently open. This may optionally be
+   * restricted to viewers of a specified class, or viewers linked to a specified
+   * alignment panel.
    * 
    * @param apanel
    *          if not null, only return viewers linked to this panel