Merge commit 'alpha/update_2_12_for_2_11_2_series_merge^2' into HEAD
[jalview.git] / src / jalview / gui / Desktop.java
index 1fed71e..f35a6a8 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.util.Locale;
 import java.awt.BorderLayout;
 import java.awt.Color;
 import java.awt.Dimension;
 import java.awt.FontMetrics;
 import java.awt.Graphics;
+import java.awt.Graphics2D;
 import java.awt.GridLayout;
 import java.awt.Point;
 import java.awt.Rectangle;
@@ -62,16 +36,6 @@ import java.awt.datatransfer.Clipboard;
 import java.awt.datatransfer.ClipboardOwner;
 import java.awt.datatransfer.DataFlavor;
 import java.awt.datatransfer.Transferable;
-import java.awt.desktop.QuitStrategy;
-/* not importing directly. Calling classes with full name in try block to allow Java 1.8 runtime
-import java.awt.desktop.AboutHandler;
-import java.awt.desktop.PreferencesEvent;
-import java.awt.desktop.PreferencesHandler;
-import java.awt.desktop.QuitEvent;
-import java.awt.desktop.QuitHandler;
-import java.awt.desktop.QuitResponse;
-import java.awt.desktop.QuitStrategy;
-*/
 import java.awt.dnd.DnDConstants;
 import java.awt.dnd.DropTargetDragEvent;
 import java.awt.dnd.DropTargetDropEvent;
@@ -85,23 +49,26 @@ import java.awt.event.MouseAdapter;
 import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
 import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
 import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
+import java.awt.geom.AffineTransform;
 import java.beans.PropertyChangeEvent;
 import java.beans.PropertyChangeListener;
-import java.io.BufferedInputStream;
 import java.io.File;
-import java.io.FileOutputStream;
 import java.io.FileWriter;
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
 import java.net.URL;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 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.ExecutionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
+import java.util.concurrent.FutureTask;
 import java.util.concurrent.Semaphore;
 
 import javax.swing.AbstractAction;
@@ -120,21 +87,56 @@ import javax.swing.JDesktopPane;
 import javax.swing.JInternalFrame;
 import javax.swing.JLabel;
 import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
-import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
 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;
 import javax.swing.event.HyperlinkEvent.EventType;
 import javax.swing.event.InternalFrameAdapter;
 import javax.swing.event.InternalFrameEvent;
-import javax.swing.event.MenuEvent;
-import javax.swing.event.MenuListener;
 
 import org.stackoverflowusers.file.WindowsShortcut;
 
+import jalview.api.AlignViewportI;
+import jalview.api.AlignmentViewPanel;
+import jalview.api.StructureSelectionManagerProvider;
+import jalview.bin.ApplicationSingletonProvider;
+import jalview.bin.ApplicationSingletonProvider.ApplicationSingletonI;
+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.GDesktop;
+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.ChannelProperties;
+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.WSDiscovererI;
+import jalview.ws.params.ParamManager;
+import jalview.ws.utils.UrlDownloadClient;
+
 /**
  * Jalview Desktop
  * 
@@ -142,10 +144,36 @@ import org.stackoverflowusers.file.WindowsShortcut;
  * @author $author$
  * @version $Revision: 1.155 $
  */
-public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
+@SuppressWarnings("serial")
+public class Desktop extends GDesktop
         implements DropTargetListener, ClipboardOwner, IProgressIndicator,
-        jalview.api.StructureSelectionManagerProvider
+        StructureSelectionManagerProvider, ApplicationSingletonI
+
 {
+  private static final String CITATION;
+  static {
+    URL bg_logo_url = ChannelProperties.getImageURL("bg_logo." + String.valueOf(SplashScreen.logoSize));
+    URL uod_logo_url = ChannelProperties.getImageURL("uod_banner." + String.valueOf(SplashScreen.logoSize));
+    boolean logo = (bg_logo_url != null || uod_logo_url != null);
+    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+    sb.append("<br><br>Development managed by The Barton Group, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.");
+    if (logo) {
+      sb.append("<br>");
+    }
+    sb.append(bg_logo_url == null ? "" : "<img alt=\"Barton Group logo\" src=\"" + bg_logo_url.toString() + "\">");
+    sb.append(uod_logo_url == null ? ""
+        : "&nbsp;<img alt=\"University of Dundee shield\" src=\"" + uod_logo_url.toString() + "\">");
+    sb.append(
+        "<br><br>For help, see the FAQ at <a href=\"https://www.jalview.org/faq\">www.jalview.org/faq</a> and/or join the jalview-discuss@jalview.org mailing list");
+    sb.append("<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");
+    CITATION = sb.toString();
+  }
+
+  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;
@@ -156,12 +184,14 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   private static final String EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES = "EXPERIMENTAL_FEATURES";
 
-  private static final String CONFIRM_KEYBOARD_QUIT = "CONFIRM_KEYBOARD_QUIT";
+  protected static final String CONFIRM_KEYBOARD_QUIT = "CONFIRM_KEYBOARD_QUIT";
 
-  public static HashMap<String, FileWriter> savingFiles = new HashMap<>();
+  public static HashMap<String, FileWriter> savingFiles = new HashMap<String, FileWriter>();
 
+  @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
   private JalviewChangeSupport changeSupport = new JalviewChangeSupport();
 
+  public static boolean nosplash = false;
   /**
    * news reader - null if it was never started.
    */
@@ -169,12 +199,11 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   private File projectFile;
 
-  private static boolean setAPQHandlers = false;
-
   /**
    * @param listener
    * @see jalview.gui.JalviewChangeSupport#addJalviewPropertyChangeListener(java.beans.PropertyChangeListener)
    */
+  @Deprecated
   public void addJalviewPropertyChangeListener(
           PropertyChangeListener listener)
   {
@@ -187,6 +216,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    * @see jalview.gui.JalviewChangeSupport#addJalviewPropertyChangeListener(java.lang.String,
    *      java.beans.PropertyChangeListener)
    */
+  @Deprecated
   public void addJalviewPropertyChangeListener(String propertyName,
           PropertyChangeListener listener)
   {
@@ -199,6 +229,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    * @see jalview.gui.JalviewChangeSupport#removeJalviewPropertyChangeListener(java.lang.String,
    *      java.beans.PropertyChangeListener)
    */
+  @Deprecated
   public void removeJalviewPropertyChangeListener(String propertyName,
           PropertyChangeListener listener)
   {
@@ -206,24 +237,47 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
             listener);
   }
 
-  /** Singleton Desktop instance */
-  public static Desktop instance;
+  private MyDesktopPane desktopPane;
 
-  public static MyDesktopPane desktop;
+  public static MyDesktopPane getDesktopPane()
+  {
+    Desktop desktop = getInstance();
+    return desktop == null ? null : desktop.desktopPane;
+  }
 
-  static int openFrameCount = 0;
+  /**
+   * Answers an 'application scope' singleton instance of this class. Separate
+   * SwingJS 'applets' running in the same browser page will each have a
+   * distinct instance of Desktop.
+   * 
+   * @return
+   */
+  public static Desktop getInstance()
+  {
+    return Jalview.isHeadlessMode() ? null
+            : (Desktop) ApplicationSingletonProvider
+                    .getInstance(Desktop.class);
+  }
+
+  public static StructureSelectionManager getStructureSelectionManager()
+  {
+    return StructureSelectionManager
+            .getStructureSelectionManager(getInstance());
+  }
+
+  int openFrameCount = 0;
 
-  static final int xOffset = 30;
+  final int xOffset = 30;
 
-  static final int yOffset = 30;
+  final int yOffset = 30;
 
-  public static jalview.ws.jws1.Discoverer discoverer;
+  public jalview.ws.jws1.Discoverer discoverer;
 
-  public static Object[] jalviewClipboard;
+  public Object[] jalviewClipboard;
 
-  public static boolean internalCopy = false;
+  public boolean internalCopy = false;
 
-  static int fileLoadingCount = 0;
+  int fileLoadingCount = 0;
 
   class MyDesktopManager implements DesktopManager
   {
@@ -244,7 +298,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       } catch (NullPointerException npe)
       {
         Point p = getMousePosition();
-        instance.showPasteMenu(p.x, p.y);
+        showPasteMenu(p.x, p.y);
       }
     }
 
@@ -292,14 +346,14 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     public void endDraggingFrame(JComponent f)
     {
       delegate.endDraggingFrame(f);
-      desktop.repaint();
+      desktopPane.repaint();
     }
 
     @Override
     public void endResizingFrame(JComponent f)
     {
       delegate.endResizingFrame(f);
-      desktop.repaint();
+      desktopPane.repaint();
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -349,301 +403,233 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   }
 
   /**
-   * Creates a new Desktop object.
+   * Private constructor enforces singleton pattern. It is called by reflection
+   * from ApplicationSingletonProvider.getInstance().
    */
-  public Desktop()
+  private Desktop()
   {
+    super();
+    Cache.initLogger();
+    try
+    {
+      /**
+       * A note to implementors. It is ESSENTIAL that any activities that might
+       * block are spawned off as threads rather than waited for during this
+       * constructor.
+       */
+
+      doConfigureStructurePrefs();
+    setTitle(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name") + " " + Cache.getProperty("VERSION"));
+
     /**
-     * A note to implementors. It is ESSENTIAL that any activities that might
-     * block are spawned off as threads rather than waited for during this
-     * constructor.
+     * Set taskbar "grouped windows" name for linux desktops (works in GNOME and
+     * KDE). This uses sun.awt.X11.XToolkit.awtAppClassName which is not officially
+     * documented or guaranteed to exist, so we access it via reflection. There
+     * appear to be unfathomable criteria about what this string can contain, and it
+     * if doesn't meet those criteria then "java" (KDE) or "jalview-bin-Jalview"
+     * (GNOME) is used. "Jalview", "Jalview Develop" and "Jalview Test" seem okay,
+     * but "Jalview non-release" does not. The reflection access may generate a
+     * warning: WARNING: An illegal reflective access operation has occurred
+     * WARNING: Illegal reflective access by jalview.gui.Desktop () to field
+     * sun.awt.X11.XToolkit.awtAppClassName which I don't think can be avoided.
      */
-    instance = this;
-    doVamsasClientCheck();
+    if (Platform.isLinux()) {
+      try {
+        Toolkit xToolkit = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit();
+        Field[] declaredFields = xToolkit.getClass().getDeclaredFields();
+        Field awtAppClassNameField = null;
+
+        if (Arrays.stream(declaredFields).anyMatch(f -> f.getName().equals("awtAppClassName"))) {
+          awtAppClassNameField = xToolkit.getClass().getDeclaredField("awtAppClassName");
+        }
 
-    doConfigureStructurePrefs();
-    setTitle("Jalview " + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION"));
-    /*
-    if (!Platform.isAMac())
-    {
-      // this.setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-     this.setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE);
+        String title = ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name");
+        if (awtAppClassNameField != null) {
+          awtAppClassNameField.setAccessible(true);
+          awtAppClassNameField.set(xToolkit, title);
+        } else {
+          Cache.log.debug("XToolkit: awtAppClassName not found");
+        }
+      } catch (Exception e) {
+        Cache.debug("Error setting awtAppClassName");
+        Cache.trace(Cache.getStackTraceString(e));
+      }
     }
-    */
 
-    // flagging this test to avoid unnecessary reflection
-    if (!setAPQHandlers)
-    {
-      // see if the Quit, About and Preferences handlers are available
-      Class desktopClass = java.awt.Desktop.class;
-      java.awt.Desktop hdesktop = java.awt.Desktop.getDesktop();
+    /**
+     * APQHandlers sets handlers for About, Preferences and Quit actions peculiar to
+     * macOS's application menu. APQHandlers will check to see if a handler is
+     * supported before setting it.
+     */
+    try {
+      APQHandlers.setAPQHandlers(this);
+    } catch (Exception e) {
+      System.out.println("Cannot set APQHandlers");
+      // e.printStackTrace();
+    } catch (Throwable t) {
+      Cache.warn("Error setting APQHandlers: " + t.toString());
+      Cache.trace(Cache.getStackTraceString(t));
+    }
+    setIconImages(ChannelProperties.getIconList());
 
-      try
-      {
-        Float specversion = Float.parseFloat(
-                System.getProperty("java.specification.version"));
+    addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
 
-        if (specversion >= 9)
-        {
-          if (Platform.isAMac())
-          {
-            if (desktopClass.getDeclaredMethod("setAboutHandler",
-                    new Class[]
-                    { java.awt.desktop.AboutHandler.class }) != null)
-            {
+      @Override
+      public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev) {
+        quit();
+      }
+    });
 
-              hdesktop.setAboutHandler(new java.awt.desktop.AboutHandler()
-              {
-                @Override
-                public void handleAbout(java.awt.desktop.AboutEvent e)
-                {
-                  aboutMenuItem_actionPerformed(null);
-                }
-              });
+      boolean selmemusage = Cache.getDefault("SHOW_MEMUSAGE", false);
 
-            }
+      boolean showjconsole = Cache.getDefault("SHOW_JAVA_CONSOLE", false);
+      desktopPane = new MyDesktopPane(selmemusage);
 
-            if (desktopClass.getDeclaredMethod("setPreferencesHandler",
-                    new Class[]
-                    { java.awt.desktop.PreferencesHandler.class }) != null)
-            {
+      showMemusage.setSelected(selmemusage);
+      desktopPane.setBackground(Color.white);
 
-              hdesktop.setPreferencesHandler(
-                      new java.awt.desktop.PreferencesHandler()
-              {
-                        @Override
-                        public void handlePreferences(
-                                java.awt.desktop.PreferencesEvent e)
-                        {
-                          preferences_actionPerformed(null);
-                        }
-                      });
+      getContentPane().setLayout(new BorderLayout());
+      // alternate config - have scrollbars - see notes in JAL-153
+      // 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");
+      }
 
-            if (desktopClass.getDeclaredMethod("setQuitHandler",
-                    new Class[]
-                    { java.awt.desktop.QuitHandler.class }) != null)
-            {
+      getContentPane().add(desktopPane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
+      desktopPane.setDragMode(JDesktopPane.OUTLINE_DRAG_MODE);
 
-              hdesktop.setQuitHandler(new java.awt.desktop.QuitHandler()
-              {
-                @Override
-                public void handleQuitRequestWith(
-                        java.awt.desktop.QuitEvent e,
-                        java.awt.desktop.QuitResponse r)
-                {
-                  boolean confirmQuit = jalview.bin.Cache
-                          .getDefault(CONFIRM_KEYBOARD_QUIT, true);
-                  int n;
-                  if (confirmQuit)
-                  {
-                    n = JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null,
-                            MessageManager.getString("label.quit_jalview"),
-                            MessageManager.getString("action.quit"),
-                            JOptionPane.OK_CANCEL_OPTION,
-                            JOptionPane.PLAIN_MESSAGE, null);
-                  }
-                  else
-                  {
-                    n = JOptionPane.OK_OPTION;
-                  }
-                  if (n == JOptionPane.OK_OPTION)
-                  {
-                    System.out.println("Shortcut Quit confirmed by user");
-                    quit();
-                    r.performQuit(); // probably won't reach this line, but just
-                                     // in
-                                     // case
-                  }
-                  else
-                  {
-                    r.cancelQuit();
-                    System.out.println("Shortcut Quit cancelled by user");
-                  }
-                }
-              });
-              hdesktop.setQuitStrategy(QuitStrategy.CLOSE_ALL_WINDOWS);
 
-            }
-          }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-          System.out.println(
-                  "Not going to try setting APQ Handlers as java.spec.version is "
-                          + specversion);
-        }
+      // This line prevents Windows Look&Feel resizing all new windows to
+      // maximum
+      // if previous window was maximised
+      desktopPane.setDesktopManager(new MyDesktopManager(
+              (Platform.isWindowsAndNotJS() ? new DefaultDesktopManager()
+                      : Platform.isAMacAndNotJS()
+                              ? new AquaInternalFrameManager(
+                                      desktopPane.getDesktopManager())
+                              : desktopPane.getDesktopManager())));
 
-      } catch (Exception e)
+      Rectangle dims = getLastKnownDimensions("");
+      if (dims != null)
       {
-        System.out.println(
-                "Exception when looking for About, Preferences, Quit Handlers");
-        e.printStackTrace();
-      } catch (Throwable t)
+        setBounds(dims);
+      }
+      else
       {
-        System.out.println(
-                "Throwable when looking for About, Preferences, Quit Handlers");
-        t.printStackTrace();
+        Dimension screenSize = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
+        int xPos = Math.max(5, (screenSize.width - 900) / 2);
+        int yPos = Math.max(5, (screenSize.height - 650) / 2);
+        setBounds(xPos, yPos, 900, 650);
       }
 
-      setAPQHandlers = true;
-    }
+      if (!Platform.isJS())
+      /**
+       * Java only
+       * 
+       * @j2sIgnore
+       */
+      {
+        jconsole = new Console(this, showjconsole);
+        jconsole.setHeader(Cache.getVersionDetailsForConsole());
+        showConsole(showjconsole);
 
-    addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
-    {
+        showNews.setVisible(false); // not sure if we should only do this for interactive session?
 
-      @Override
-      public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev)
-      {
-        quit();
-      }
-    });
+        experimentalFeatures.setSelected(showExperimental());
 
-    boolean selmemusage = jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("SHOW_MEMUSAGE",
-            false);
-
-    boolean showjconsole = jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("SHOW_JAVA_CONSOLE",
-            false);
-    desktop = new MyDesktopPane(selmemusage);
-    showMemusage.setSelected(selmemusage);
-    desktop.setBackground(Color.white);
-
-    getContentPane().setLayout(new BorderLayout());
-    // alternate config - have scrollbars - see notes in JAL-153
-    // JScrollPane sp = new JScrollPane();
-    // sp.getViewport().setView(desktop);
-    // getContentPane().add(sp, BorderLayout.CENTER);
-    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()
-                            ? new AquaInternalFrameManager(
-                                    desktop.getDesktopManager())
-                            : desktop.getDesktopManager())));
-
-    Rectangle dims = getLastKnownDimensions("");
-    if (dims != null)
-    {
-      setBounds(dims);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      Dimension screenSize = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
-      setBounds((screenSize.width - 900) / 2, (screenSize.height - 650) / 2,
-              900, 650);
-    }
-    jconsole = new Console(this, showjconsole);
-    // add essential build information
-    jconsole.setHeader(
-            "Jalview Version: " + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")
-                    + "\n" + "Jalview Installation: "
-                    + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("INSTALLATION",
-                            "unknown")
-                    + "\n" + "Build Date: "
-                    + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown")
-                    + "\n" + "Java version: "
-                    + System.getProperty("java.version") + "\n"
-                    + System.getProperty("os.arch") + " "
-                    + System.getProperty("os.name") + " "
-                    + System.getProperty("os.version")
-                    + (jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION").equals("DEVELOPMENT")
-                                    ? "\nJava path:"
-                                            + System.getProperty(
-                                                    "java.home")
-                                            + File.separator + "bin"
-                                            + File.separator + "java"
-                                    : "")
-            );
-
-    showConsole(showjconsole);
-
-    showNews.setVisible(false);
-
-    experimentalFeatures.setSelected(showExperimental());
-
-    getIdentifiersOrgData();
-
-    checkURLLinks();
-
-    this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
-    {
-      @Override
-      public void windowClosing(WindowEvent evt)
-      {
-        quit();
-      }
-    });
+        getIdentifiersOrgData();
 
-    MouseAdapter ma;
-    this.addMouseListener(ma = new MouseAdapter()
-    {
-      @Override
-      public void mousePressed(MouseEvent evt)
-      {
-        if (evt.isPopupTrigger()) // Mac
+        if (Jalview.isInteractive())
         {
-          showPasteMenu(evt.getX(), evt.getY());
+          // disabled for SeqCanvasTest
+          checkURLLinks();
+
+          // Spawn a thread that shows the splashscreen
+          if (!nosplash) {
+          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);
+                    }
+                  });
         }
       }
 
-      @Override
-      public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent evt)
+      this.setDropTarget(new java.awt.dnd.DropTarget(desktopPane, this));
+
+      this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
       {
-        if (evt.isPopupTrigger()) // Windows
+        @Override
+        public void windowClosing(WindowEvent evt)
         {
-          showPasteMenu(evt.getX(), evt.getY());
+          quit();
         }
-      }
-    });
-    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()
+      MouseAdapter ma;
+      this.addMouseListener(ma = new MouseAdapter()
       {
-        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 mousePressed(MouseEvent evt)
+        {
+          if (evt.isPopupTrigger()) // Mac
+          {
+            showPasteMenu(evt.getX(), evt.getY());
+          }
+        }
+        @Override
+        public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent evt)
+        {
+          if (evt.isPopupTrigger()) // Windows
+          {
+            showPasteMenu(evt.getX(), evt.getY());
+          }
+        }
+      });
+      desktopPane.addMouseListener(ma);
+    } catch (Throwable t)
     {
-      @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);
-              }
+      t.printStackTrace();
+    }
 
-            });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -662,36 +648,26 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   public void doConfigureStructurePrefs()
   {
     // configure services
-    StructureSelectionManager ssm = StructureSelectionManager
-            .getStructureSelectionManager(this);
-    if (jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault(Preferences.ADD_SS_ANN, true))
-    {
-      ssm.setAddTempFacAnnot(jalview.bin.Cache
-              .getDefault(Preferences.ADD_TEMPFACT_ANN, true));
-      ssm.setProcessSecondaryStructure(jalview.bin.Cache
-              .getDefault(Preferences.STRUCT_FROM_PDB, true));
-      ssm.setSecStructServices(
-              jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault(Preferences.USE_RNAVIEW, true));
-    }
-    else
-    {
+    StructureSelectionManager ssm = StructureSelectionManager.getStructureSelectionManager(this);
+    if (Cache.getDefault(Preferences.ADD_SS_ANN, true)) {
+      ssm.setAddTempFacAnnot(Cache.getDefault(Preferences.ADD_TEMPFACT_ANN, true));
+      ssm.setProcessSecondaryStructure(Cache.getDefault(Preferences.STRUCT_FROM_PDB, true));
+      // JAL-3915 - RNAView is no longer an option so this has no effect
+      ssm.setSecStructServices(Cache.getDefault(Preferences.USE_RNAVIEW, false));
+    } else {
       ssm.setAddTempFacAnnot(false);
       ssm.setProcessSecondaryStructure(false);
       ssm.setSecStructServices(false);
     }
   }
 
-  public void checkForNews()
-  {
+  public void checkForNews() {
     final Desktop me = this;
     // Thread off the news reader, in case there are connection problems.
-    new Thread(new Runnable()
-    {
+    new Thread(new Runnable() {
       @Override
-      public void run()
-      {
+      public void run() {
         Cache.log.debug("Starting news thread.");
-
         jvnews = new BlogReader(me);
         showNews.setVisible(true);
         Cache.log.debug("Completed news thread.");
@@ -699,58 +675,47 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     }).start();
   }
 
-  public void getIdentifiersOrgData()
-  {
-    // Thread off the identifiers fetcher
-    new Thread(new Runnable()
-    {
-      @Override
-      public void run()
-      {
-        Cache.log.debug("Downloading data from identifiers.org");
-        UrlDownloadClient client = new UrlDownloadClient();
-        try
-        {
-          client.download(IdOrgSettings.getUrl(),
-                  IdOrgSettings.getDownloadLocation());
-        } catch (IOException e)
-        {
-          Cache.log.debug("Exception downloading identifiers.org data"
-                  + e.getMessage());
+  public void getIdentifiersOrgData() {
+    if (Cache.getProperty("NOIDENTIFIERSSERVICE") == null) {
+      // Thread off the identifiers fetcher
+      new Thread(new Runnable() {
+        @Override
+        public void run() {
+          Cache.log.debug("Downloading data from identifiers.org");
+          try {
+            UrlDownloadClient.download(IdOrgSettings.getUrl(), IdOrgSettings.getDownloadLocation());
+          } catch (IOException e) {
+            Cache.log.debug("Exception downloading identifiers.org data" + e.getMessage());
+          }
         }
-      }
-    }).start();
-    ;
+      }).start();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
-  protected void showNews_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
+  protected void showNews_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
     showNews(showNews.isSelected());
   }
 
   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();
+          setProgressBar(MessageManager.getString("status.refreshing_news"),
+                  now);
+          jvnews.refreshNews();
+          setProgressBar(null, now);
+          jvnews.showNews();
+        }
+      }).start();
     }
   }
 
@@ -766,45 +731,34 @@ 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
-            .getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_WIDTH");
-    String height = jalview.bin.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)
-      {
+    String x = Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_X");
+    String y = Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_Y");
+    String width = Cache.getProperty(windowName + "SCREEN_WIDTH");
+    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 (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"))));
-        double sh = ((1f * screenSize.height) / (1f * Integer.parseInt(
-                jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT"))));
+        double sw = ((1f * screenSize.width) / (1f * Integer.parseInt(Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH"))));
+        double sh = ((1f * screenSize.height) / (1f * Integer.parseInt(Cache.getProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT"))));
         // rescale the bounds depending upon the current screen geometry.
         ix = (int) (ix * sw);
         iw = (int) (iw * sw);
         iy = (int) (iy * sh);
         ih = (int) (ih * sh);
-        while (ix >= screenSize.width)
-        {
-          jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
-                  "Window geometry location recall error: shifting horizontal to within screenbounds.");
+        while (ix >= screenSize.width) {
+          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(
-                  "Window geometry location recall error: shifting vertical to within screenbounds.");
+        while (iy >= screenSize.height) {
+          Cache.log.debug("Window geometry location recall error: shifting vertical to within screenbounds.");
           iy -= screenSize.height;
         }
-        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
-                "Got last known dimensions for " + windowName + ": x:" + ix
-                        + " y:" + iy + " width:" + iw + " height:" + ih);
+        Cache.log.debug("Got last known dimensions for " + windowName + ": x:" + ix + " y:" + iy + " width:" + iw
+            + " height:" + ih);
       }
       // return dimensions for new instance
       return new Rectangle(ix, iy, iw, ih);
@@ -812,46 +766,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     return null;
   }
 
-  private void doVamsasClientCheck()
-  {
-    if (jalview.bin.Cache.vamsasJarsPresent())
-    {
-      setupVamsasDisconnectedGui();
-      VamsasMenu.setVisible(true);
-      final Desktop us = this;
-      VamsasMenu.addMenuListener(new MenuListener()
-      {
-        // this listener remembers when the menu was first selected, and
-        // doesn't rebuild the session list until it has been cleared and
-        // reselected again.
-        boolean refresh = true;
-
-        @Override
-        public void menuCanceled(MenuEvent e)
-        {
-          refresh = true;
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public void menuDeselected(MenuEvent e)
-        {
-          refresh = true;
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        public void menuSelected(MenuEvent e)
-        {
-          if (refresh)
-          {
-            us.buildVamsasStMenu();
-            refresh = false;
-          }
-        }
-      });
-      vamsasStart.setVisible(true);
-    }
-  }
-
   void showPasteMenu(int x, int y)
   {
     JPopupMenu popup = new JPopupMenu();
@@ -895,48 +809,11 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Adds and opens the given frame to the desktop
-   * 
-   * @param frame
-   *          Frame to show
-   * @param title
-   *          Visible Title
-   * @param w
-   *          width
-   * @param h
-   *          height
-   */
-  public static synchronized void addInternalFrame(
-          final JInternalFrame frame, String title, int w, int h)
-  {
-    addInternalFrame(frame, title, true, w, h, true, false);
-  }
 
-  /**
-   * Add an internal frame to the Jalview desktop
-   * 
-   * @param frame
-   *          Frame to show
-   * @param title
-   *          Visible Title
-   * @param makeVisible
-   *          When true, display frame immediately, otherwise, caller must call
-   *          setVisible themselves.
-   * @param w
-   *          width
-   * @param h
-   *          height
-   */
-  public static synchronized void addInternalFrame(
-          final JInternalFrame frame, String title, boolean makeVisible,
-          int w, int h)
-  {
-    addInternalFrame(frame, title, makeVisible, w, h, true, false);
-  }
 
   /**
-   * Add an internal frame to the Jalview desktop and make it visible
+   * Adds and opens the given frame to the desktop that is visible, allowed to
+   * resize, and has a 300px minimum width.
    * 
    * @param frame
    *          Frame to show
@@ -946,18 +823,19 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    *          width
    * @param h
    *          height
-   * @param resizable
-   *          Allow resize
    */
   public static synchronized void addInternalFrame(
-          final JInternalFrame frame, String title, int w, int h,
-          boolean resizable)
+          final JInternalFrame frame, String title, int w, int h)
   {
-    addInternalFrame(frame, title, true, w, h, resizable, false);
+    // 58 classes
+    
+    addInternalFrame(frame, title, Desktop.FRAME_MAKE_VISIBLE, w, h, 
+            FRAME_ALLOW_RESIZE, FRAME_SET_MIN_SIZE_300);
   }
 
   /**
-   * Add an internal frame to the Jalview desktop
+   * Add an internal frame to the Jalview desktop that may optionally be
+   * visible, resizable, and allowed to be any size
    * 
    * @param frame
    *          Frame to show
@@ -979,6 +857,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           final JInternalFrame frame, String title, boolean makeVisible,
           int w, int h, boolean resizable, boolean ignoreMinSize)
   {
+    // 15 classes call this method directly.
+    
 
     // TODO: allow callers to determine X and Y position of frame (eg. via
     // bounds object).
@@ -990,22 +870,40 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     {
       frame.setSize(w, h);
     }
-    // THIS IS A PUBLIC STATIC METHOD, SO IT MAY BE CALLED EVEN IN
-    // A HEADLESS STATE WHEN NO DESKTOP EXISTS. MUST RETURN
-    // IF JALVIEW IS RUNNING HEADLESS
-    // ///////////////////////////////////////////////
-    if (instance == null || (System.getProperty("java.awt.headless") != null
-            && System.getProperty("java.awt.headless").equals("true")))
-    {
-      return;
-    }
+    if (getInstance() != null)
+      getInstance().addFrame(frame, makeVisible, resizable,
+            ignoreMinSize);
+  }
+
+  // These can now by put into a single int flag, if desired:
+  
+  public final static boolean FRAME_MAKE_VISIBLE = true;
+
+  public final static boolean FRAME_NOT_VISIBLE = false;
+
+  public final static boolean FRAME_ALLOW_RESIZE = true;
+
+  public final static boolean FRAME_NOT_RESIZABLE = false;
+
+  public final static boolean FRAME_ALLOW_ANY_SIZE = true;
+
+  public final static boolean FRAME_SET_MIN_SIZE_300 = false;
+  
+  private void addFrame(JInternalFrame frame,
+          boolean makeVisible, boolean resizable,
+          boolean ignoreMinSize)
+  {
 
     openFrameCount++;
 
+    
+    boolean isEmbedded = (Platform.getEmbeddedAttribute(frame, "id") != null);
+    boolean hasEmbeddedSize = (Platform.getDimIfEmbedded(frame, -1, -1) != null);
+    // Web page embedding allows us to ignore minimum size
+    ignoreMinSize |= hasEmbeddedSize;
+    
     if (!ignoreMinSize)
     {
-      frame.setMinimumSize(
-              new Dimension(DEFAULT_MIN_WIDTH, DEFAULT_MIN_HEIGHT));
 
       // Set default dimension for Alignment Frame window.
       // The Alignment Frame window could be added from a number of places,
@@ -1015,6 +913,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       {
         frame.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(ALIGN_FRAME_DEFAULT_MIN_WIDTH,
                 ALIGN_FRAME_DEFAULT_MIN_HEIGHT));
+      } else {
+        frame.setMinimumSize(
+                new Dimension(DEFAULT_MIN_WIDTH, DEFAULT_MIN_HEIGHT));
+        
       }
     }
 
@@ -1023,9 +925,9 @@ 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)
+    if (!isEmbedded && frame.getX() < 1 && frame.getY() < 1)
     {
       frame.setLocation(xOffset * openFrameCount,
               yOffset * ((openFrameCount - 1) % 10) + yOffset);
@@ -1035,13 +937,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
      * add an entry for the new frame in the Window menu 
      * (and remove it when the frame is closed)
      */
-    final JMenuItem menuItem = new JMenuItem(title);
+    final JMenuItem menuItem = new JMenuItem(frame.getTitle());
     frame.addInternalFrameListener(new InternalFrameAdapter()
     {
       @Override
       public void internalFrameActivated(InternalFrameEvent evt)
       {
-        JInternalFrame itf = desktop.getSelectedFrame();
+        JInternalFrame itf = getDesktopPane().getSelectedFrame();
         if (itf != null)
         {
           if (itf instanceof AlignFrame)
@@ -1073,8 +975,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         {
           menuItem.removeActionListener(menuItem.getActionListeners()[0]);
         }
-        windowMenu.remove(menuItem);
-      };
+        getInstance().windowMenu.remove(menuItem);
+      }
     });
 
     menuItem.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
@@ -1088,16 +990,16 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           frame.setIcon(false);
         } catch (java.beans.PropertyVetoException ex)
         {
-
+          // System.err.println(ex.toString());
         }
       }
     });
 
     setKeyBindings(frame);
 
-    desktop.add(frame);
+    getDesktopPane().add(frame);
 
-    windowMenu.add(menuItem);
+    getInstance().windowMenu.add(menuItem);
 
     frame.toFront();
     try
@@ -1122,7 +1024,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   private static void setKeyBindings(JInternalFrame frame)
   {
-    @SuppressWarnings("serial")
     final Action closeAction = new AbstractAction()
     {
       @Override
@@ -1135,10 +1036,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     /*
      * set up key bindings for Ctrl-W and Cmd-W, with the same (Close) action
      */
-    KeyStroke ctrlWKey = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_W,
-            InputEvent.CTRL_DOWN_MASK);
-    KeyStroke cmdWKey = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_W,
-            Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getMenuShortcutKeyMaskEx());
+    KeyStroke ctrlWKey = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_W, InputEvent.CTRL_DOWN_MASK);
+    KeyStroke cmdWKey = KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_W, ShortcutKeyMaskExWrapper.getMenuShortcutKeyMaskEx());
 
     InputMap inputMap = frame
             .getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW);
@@ -1155,7 +1054,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   {
     if (!internalCopy)
     {
-      Desktop.jalviewClipboard = null;
+      jalviewClipboard = null;
     }
 
     internalCopy = false;
@@ -1195,12 +1094,12 @@ 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
     {
-      Desktop.transferFromDropTarget(files, protocols, evt, t);
+      transferFromDropTarget(files, protocols, evt, t);
     } catch (Exception e)
     {
       e.printStackTrace();
@@ -1213,13 +1112,15 @@ 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;
 
@@ -1228,8 +1129,11 @@ 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)
@@ -1251,57 +1155,53 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   public void inputLocalFileMenuItem_actionPerformed(AlignViewport viewport)
   {
     String fileFormat = Cache.getProperty("DEFAULT_FILE_FORMAT");
-    JalviewFileChooser chooser = JalviewFileChooser
-            .forRead(Cache.getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"), fileFormat, true);
+    JalviewFileChooser chooser = JalviewFileChooser.forRead(
+            Cache.getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"), fileFormat,
+            BackupFiles.getEnabled());
 
     chooser.setFileView(new JalviewFileView());
     chooser.setDialogTitle(
             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)
@@ -1310,87 +1210,102 @@ 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).getEditor().getItem().toString().trim());
 
-      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(Locale.ROOT).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(getDesktopPane(), 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(desktopPane).setResponseHandler(0, action)
+            .showInternalDialog(panel, dialogOption,
+                    JvOptionPane.YES_NO_CANCEL_OPTION,
+                    JvOptionPane.PLAIN_MESSAGE, null, options,
+                    MessageManager.getString("action.ok"));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1406,9 +1321,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   {
     CutAndPasteTransfer cap = new CutAndPasteTransfer();
     cap.setForInput(viewPanel);
-    Desktop.addInternalFrame(cap,
-            MessageManager.getString("label.cut_paste_alignmen_file"), true,
-            600, 500);
+    addInternalFrame(cap,
+            MessageManager.getString("label.cut_paste_alignmen_file"),
+            FRAME_MAKE_VISIBLE, 600, 500, FRAME_ALLOW_RESIZE,
+            FRAME_SET_MIN_SIZE_300);
   }
 
   /*
@@ -1417,13 +1333,9 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   @Override
   public void quit()
   {
-    //System.out.println("********** Desktop.quit()");
-    //System.out.println(savingFiles.toString());
     Dimension screen = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH",
-            screen.width + "");
-    jalview.bin.Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT",
-            screen.height + "");
+    Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_WIDTH", screen.width + "");
+    Cache.setProperty("SCREENGEOMETRY_HEIGHT", screen.height + "");
     storeLastKnownDimensions("", new Rectangle(getBounds().x, getBounds().y,
             getWidth(), getHeight()));
 
@@ -1454,14 +1366,14 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   private void storeLastKnownDimensions(String string, Rectangle jc)
   {
-    jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Storing last known dimensions for "
-            + string + ": x:" + jc.x + " y:" + jc.y + " width:" + jc.width
-            + " height:" + jc.height);
+    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 + "");
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1473,100 +1385,78 @@ 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)
-  {
-    StringBuffer message = new StringBuffer();
-    message.append("<html>");
-    if (shortv)
-    {
-      message.append("<h1><strong>Version: "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")
-              + "</strong></h1>");
-      message.append("<strong>Last Updated: <em>"
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown")
-              + "</em></strong>");
-
-    }
-    else
-    {
-
-      message.append("<strong>Version "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")
-              + "; last updated: "
-              + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown"));
-    }
-
-    if (jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "Checking")
-            .equals("Checking"))
-    {
-      message.append("<br>...Checking latest version...</br>");
-    }
-    else if (!jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "Checking")
-            .equals(jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION")))
-    {
+
+  /**
+   * 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()
+  {
+    StringBuilder message = new StringBuilder(1024);
+    message.append("<div style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\">").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>");
+
+    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 (!latestVersion.equals(Cache.getProperty("VERSION"))) {
       boolean red = false;
-      if (jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION").toLowerCase()
-              .indexOf("automated build") == -1)
-      {
+      if (Cache.getProperty("VERSION").toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT).indexOf("automated build") == -1) {
         red = true;
         // Displayed when code version and jnlp version do not match and code
         // version is not a development build
         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")
-              + " !!");
-      if (red)
-      {
+      message.append("<br>!! Version ").append(Cache.getDefault("LATEST_VERSION", "..Checking.."))
+          .append(" is available for download from ")
+          .append(Cache.getDefault("www.jalview.org", "https://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);
+
+    message.append("</div>");
+    return message.toString();
   }
 
   /**
-   * DOCUMENT ME!
-   * 
-   * @param e
-   *          DOCUMENT ME!
+   * Action on requesting Help documentation
    */
   @Override
-  public void documentationMenuItem_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
-    try
-    {
-      Help.showHelpWindow();
-    } catch (Exception ex)
-    {
+  public void documentationMenuItem_actionPerformed() {
+    try {
+      if (Platform.isJS()) {
+        BrowserLauncher.openURL("https://www.jalview.org/help.html");
+      } else
+      /**
+       * Java only
+       * 
+       * @j2sIgnore
+       */
+      {
+        Help.showHelpWindow();
+      }
+    } catch (Exception ex) {
+      System.err.println("Error opening help: " + ex.getMessage());
     }
   }
 
@@ -1574,7 +1464,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   public void closeAll_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
   {
     // TODO show a progress bar while closing?
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktop.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktopPane.getAllFrames();
     for (int i = 0; i < frames.length; i++)
     {
       try
@@ -1586,10 +1476,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     }
     Jalview.setCurrentAlignFrame(null);
     System.out.println("ALL CLOSED");
-    if (v_client != null)
-    {
-      // TODO clear binding to vamsas document objects on close_all
-    }
 
     /*
      * reset state of singleton objects as appropriate (clear down session state
@@ -1630,9 +1516,9 @@ 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.");
   }
 
   /*
@@ -1645,7 +1531,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   @Override
   protected void showMemusage_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
   {
-    desktop.showMemoryUsage(showMemusage.isSelected());
+    desktopPane.showMemoryUsage(showMemusage.isSelected());
   }
 
   /*
@@ -1670,22 +1556,26 @@ 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)
   {
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktop.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktopPane.getAllFrames();
     if (frames == null || frames.length < 1)
     {
       return;
     }
 
-    AlignmentViewport source = null, target = null;
+    AlignViewportI source = null;
+    AlignViewportI target = null;
     if (frames[0] instanceof AlignFrame)
     {
       source = ((AlignFrame) frames[0]).getCurrentView();
@@ -1761,14 +1651,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    *          DOCUMENT ME!
    */
   @Override
-  protected void preferences_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
-    new Preferences();
+  protected void preferences_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
+    Preferences.openPreferences();
   }
 
   /**
-   * 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()
@@ -1805,9 +1694,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         approveSave = true;
       }
     }
-
-    if (approveSave || autoSave)
-    {
+    if (approveSave || autoSave) {
       final Desktop me = this;
       final java.io.File chosenFile = projectFile;
       new Thread(new Runnable()
@@ -1819,18 +1706,23 @@ 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",
-                  chosenFile.getParent());
+          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 "
@@ -1881,49 +1773,50 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
         "Jalview Project (old)" };
     JalviewFileChooser chooser = new JalviewFileChooser(
             Cache.getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"), suffix, desc,
-            "Jalview Project", true, true); // last two booleans: allFiles,
-                                            // allowBackupFiles
+            "Jalview Project", true, BackupFiles.getEnabled()); // last two
+                                                                // booleans:
+                                                                // allFiles,
+    // 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(getDesktopPane(),
+                      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();
-    }
+        }, "Project Loader").start();
+      }
+    });
+    chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -1936,7 +1829,7 @@ 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)
     {
@@ -1953,7 +1846,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     {
       progressPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 1));
       totalProgressCount = 0;
-      instance.getContentPane().add(progressPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
+      getContentPane().add(progressPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
     }
     JPanel thisprogress = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(10, 5));
     JProgressBar progressBar = new JProgressBar();
@@ -1966,7 +1859,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     ((GridLayout) progressPanel.getLayout()).setRows(
             ((GridLayout) progressPanel.getLayout()).getRows() + 1);
     ++totalProgressCount;
-    instance.validate();
+    validate();
     return thisprogress;
   }
 
@@ -2020,7 +1913,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   public static AlignmentPanel[] getAlignmentPanels(String alignmentId)
   {
-    if (Desktop.desktop == null)
+    if (getDesktopPane() == null)
     {
       // no frames created and in headless mode
       // TODO: verify that frames are recoverable when in headless mode
@@ -2062,9 +1955,9 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   public static AlignmentViewport[] getViewports(String sequenceSetId)
   {
     List<AlignmentViewport> viewp = new ArrayList<>();
-    if (desktop != null)
+    if (getDesktopPane() != null)
     {
-      AlignFrame[] frames = Desktop.getAlignFrames();
+      AlignFrame[] frames = getAlignFrames();
 
       for (AlignFrame afr : frames)
       {
@@ -2109,11 +2002,26 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       return;
     }
 
+    // FIXME: ideally should use UI interface API
+    FeatureSettings viewFeatureSettings = (af.featureSettings != null
+            && af.featureSettings.isOpen()) ? af.featureSettings : null;
+    Rectangle fsBounds = af.getFeatureSettingsGeometry();
     for (int i = 0; i < size; i++)
     {
       AlignmentPanel ap = af.alignPanels.get(i);
+
       AlignFrame newaf = new AlignFrame(ap);
 
+      // transfer reference for existing feature settings to new alignFrame
+      if (ap == af.alignPanel)
+      {
+        if (viewFeatureSettings != null && viewFeatureSettings.fr.ap == ap)
+        {
+          newaf.featureSettings = viewFeatureSettings;
+        }
+        newaf.setFeatureSettingsGeometry(fsBounds);
+      }
+
       /*
        * Restore the view's last exploded frame geometry if known. Multiple
        * views from one exploded frame share and restore the same (frame)
@@ -2129,8 +2037,18 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
       addInternalFrame(newaf, af.getTitle(), AlignFrame.DEFAULT_WIDTH,
               AlignFrame.DEFAULT_HEIGHT);
+      // and materialise a new feature settings dialog instance for the new
+      // alignframe
+      // (closes the old as if 'OK' was pressed)
+      if (ap == af.alignPanel && newaf.featureSettings != null
+              && newaf.featureSettings.isOpen()
+              && af.alignPanel.getAlignViewport().isShowSequenceFeatures())
+      {
+        newaf.showFeatureSettingsUI();
+      }
     }
 
+    af.featureSettings = null;
     af.alignPanels.clear();
     af.closeMenuItem_actionPerformed(true);
 
@@ -2148,9 +2066,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   {
     source.viewport.setGatherViewsHere(true);
     source.viewport.setExplodedGeometry(source.getBounds());
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktop.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktopPane.getAllFrames();
     String viewId = source.viewport.getSequenceSetId();
-
     for (int t = 0; t < frames.length; t++)
     {
       if (frames[t] instanceof AlignFrame && frames[t] != source)
@@ -2171,375 +2088,37 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
         if (gatherThis)
         {
-          af.alignPanels.clear();
-          af.closeMenuItem_actionPerformed(true);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-  }
-
-  jalview.gui.VamsasApplication v_client = null;
-
-  @Override
-  public void vamsasImport_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
-    if (v_client == null)
-    {
-      // Load and try to start a session.
-      JalviewFileChooser chooser = new JalviewFileChooser(
-              jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"));
-
-      chooser.setFileView(new JalviewFileView());
-      chooser.setDialogTitle(
-              MessageManager.getString("label.open_saved_vamsas_session"));
-      chooser.setToolTipText(MessageManager.getString(
-              "label.select_vamsas_session_opened_as_new_vamsas_session"));
-
-      int value = chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
-
-      if (value == JalviewFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION)
-      {
-        String fle = chooser.getSelectedFile().toString();
-        if (!vamsasImport(chooser.getSelectedFile()))
-        {
-          JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
-                  MessageManager.formatMessage(
-                          "label.couldnt_import_as_vamsas_session",
-                          new Object[]
-                          { fle }),
-                  MessageManager
-                          .getString("label.vamsas_document_import_failed"),
-                  JvOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error(
-              "Implementation error - load session from a running session is not supported.");
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * import file into a new vamsas session (uses jalview.gui.VamsasApplication)
-   * 
-   * @param file
-   * @return true if import was a success and a session was started.
-   */
-  public boolean vamsasImport(URL url)
-  {
-    // TODO: create progress bar
-    if (v_client != null)
-    {
-
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error(
-              "Implementation error - load session from a running session is not supported.");
-      return false;
-    }
-
-    try
-    {
-      // copy the URL content to a temporary local file
-      // TODO: be a bit cleverer here with nio (?!)
-      File file = File.createTempFile("vdocfromurl", ".vdj");
-      FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(file);
-      BufferedInputStream bis = new BufferedInputStream(url.openStream());
-      byte[] buffer = new byte[2048];
-      int ln;
-      while ((ln = bis.read(buffer)) > -1)
-      {
-        fos.write(buffer, 0, ln);
-      }
-      bis.close();
-      fos.close();
-      v_client = new jalview.gui.VamsasApplication(this, file,
-              url.toExternalForm());
-    } catch (Exception ex)
-    {
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error(
-              "Failed to create new vamsas session from contents of URL "
-                      + url,
-              ex);
-      return false;
-    }
-    setupVamsasConnectedGui();
-    v_client.initial_update(); // TODO: thread ?
-    return v_client.inSession();
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * import file into a new vamsas session (uses jalview.gui.VamsasApplication)
-   * 
-   * @param file
-   * @return true if import was a success and a session was started.
-   */
-  public boolean vamsasImport(File file)
-  {
-    if (v_client != null)
-    {
-
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error(
-              "Implementation error - load session from a running session is not supported.");
-      return false;
-    }
-
-    setProgressBar(MessageManager.formatMessage(
-            "status.importing_vamsas_session_from", new Object[]
-            { file.getName() }), file.hashCode());
-    try
-    {
-      v_client = new jalview.gui.VamsasApplication(this, file, null);
-    } catch (Exception ex)
-    {
-      setProgressBar(MessageManager.formatMessage(
-              "status.importing_vamsas_session_from", new Object[]
-              { file.getName() }), file.hashCode());
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error(
-              "New vamsas session from existing session file failed:", ex);
-      return false;
-    }
-    setupVamsasConnectedGui();
-    v_client.initial_update(); // TODO: thread ?
-    setProgressBar(MessageManager.formatMessage(
-            "status.importing_vamsas_session_from", new Object[]
-            { file.getName() }), file.hashCode());
-    return v_client.inSession();
-  }
-
-  public boolean joinVamsasSession(String mysesid)
-  {
-    if (v_client != null)
-    {
-      throw new Error(MessageManager
-              .getString("error.try_join_vamsas_session_another"));
-    }
-    if (mysesid == null)
-    {
-      throw new Error(
-              MessageManager.getString("error.invalid_vamsas_session_id"));
-    }
-    v_client = new VamsasApplication(this, mysesid);
-    setupVamsasConnectedGui();
-    v_client.initial_update();
-    return (v_client.inSession());
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public void vamsasStart_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
-    if (v_client == null)
-    {
-      // Start a session.
-      // we just start a default session for moment.
-      /*
-       * JalviewFileChooser chooser = new JalviewFileChooser(jalview.bin.Cache.
-       * getProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY"));
-       * 
-       * chooser.setFileView(new JalviewFileView());
-       * chooser.setDialogTitle("Load Vamsas file");
-       * chooser.setToolTipText("Import");
-       * 
-       * int value = chooser.showOpenDialog(this);
-       * 
-       * if (value == JalviewFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION) { v_client = new
-       * jalview.gui.VamsasApplication(this, chooser.getSelectedFile());
-       */
-      v_client = new VamsasApplication(this);
-      setupVamsasConnectedGui();
-      v_client.initial_update(); // TODO: thread ?
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      // store current data in session.
-      v_client.push_update(); // TODO: thread
-    }
-  }
-
-  protected void setupVamsasConnectedGui()
-  {
-    vamsasStart.setText(MessageManager.getString("label.session_update"));
-    vamsasSave.setVisible(true);
-    vamsasStop.setVisible(true);
-    vamsasImport.setVisible(false); // Document import to existing session is
-    // not possible for vamsas-client-1.0.
-  }
-
-  protected void setupVamsasDisconnectedGui()
-  {
-    vamsasSave.setVisible(false);
-    vamsasStop.setVisible(false);
-    vamsasImport.setVisible(true);
-    vamsasStart
-            .setText(MessageManager.getString("label.new_vamsas_session"));
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public void vamsasStop_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
-    if (v_client != null)
-    {
-      v_client.end_session();
-      v_client = null;
-      setupVamsasDisconnectedGui();
-    }
-  }
-
-  protected void buildVamsasStMenu()
-  {
-    if (v_client == null)
-    {
-      String[] sess = null;
-      try
-      {
-        sess = VamsasApplication.getSessionList();
-      } catch (Exception e)
-      {
-        jalview.bin.Cache.log.warn("Problem getting current sessions list.",
-                e);
-        sess = null;
-      }
-      if (sess != null)
-      {
-        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
-                "Got current sessions list: " + sess.length + " entries.");
-        VamsasStMenu.removeAll();
-        for (int i = 0; i < sess.length; i++)
-        {
-          JMenuItem sessit = new JMenuItem();
-          sessit.setText(sess[i]);
-          sessit.setToolTipText(MessageManager
-                  .formatMessage("label.connect_to_session", new Object[]
-                  { sess[i] }));
-          final Desktop dsktp = this;
-          final String mysesid = sess[i];
-          sessit.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
+          if (af.featureSettings != null && af.featureSettings.isOpen())
           {
-
-            @Override
-            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
+            if (source.featureSettings == null)
             {
-              if (dsktp.v_client == null)
-              {
-                Thread rthr = new Thread(new Runnable()
-                {
-
-                  @Override
-                  public void run()
-                  {
-                    dsktp.v_client = new VamsasApplication(dsktp, mysesid);
-                    dsktp.setupVamsasConnectedGui();
-                    dsktp.v_client.initial_update();
-                  }
-
-                });
-                rthr.start();
-              }
-            };
-          });
-          VamsasStMenu.add(sessit);
-        }
-        // don't show an empty menu.
-        VamsasStMenu.setVisible(sess.length > 0);
-
-      }
-      else
-      {
-        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("No current vamsas sessions.");
-        VamsasStMenu.removeAll();
-        VamsasStMenu.setVisible(false);
-      }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      // Not interested in the content. Just hide ourselves.
-      VamsasStMenu.setVisible(false);
-    }
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public void vamsasSave_actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
-  {
-    if (v_client != null)
-    {
-      // TODO: VAMSAS DOCUMENT EXTENSION is VDJ
-      JalviewFileChooser chooser = new JalviewFileChooser("vdj",
-              "Vamsas Document");
-
-      chooser.setFileView(new JalviewFileView());
-      chooser.setDialogTitle(MessageManager
-              .getString("label.save_vamsas_document_archive"));
-
-      int value = chooser.showSaveDialog(this);
-
-      if (value == JalviewFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION)
-      {
-        java.io.File choice = chooser.getSelectedFile();
-        JPanel progpanel = addProgressPanel(MessageManager
-                .formatMessage("label.saving_vamsas_doc", new Object[]
-                { choice.getName() }));
-        Cache.setProperty("LAST_DIRECTORY", choice.getParent());
-        String warnmsg = null;
-        String warnttl = null;
-        try
-        {
-          v_client.vclient.storeDocument(choice);
-        } catch (Error ex)
-        {
-          warnttl = "Serious Problem saving Vamsas Document";
-          warnmsg = ex.toString();
-          jalview.bin.Cache.log
-                  .error("Error Whilst saving document to " + choice, ex);
-
-        } catch (Exception ex)
-        {
-          warnttl = "Problem saving Vamsas Document.";
-          warnmsg = ex.toString();
-          jalview.bin.Cache.log.warn(
-                  "Exception Whilst saving document to " + choice, ex);
-
-        }
-        removeProgressPanel(progpanel);
-        if (warnmsg != null)
-        {
-          JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
-
-                  warnmsg, warnttl, JvOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
+              // preserve the feature settings geometry for this frame
+              source.featureSettings = af.featureSettings;
+              source.setFeatureSettingsGeometry(
+                      af.getFeatureSettingsGeometry());
+            }
+            else
+            {
+              // close it and forget
+              af.featureSettings.close();
+            }
+          }
+          af.alignPanels.clear();
+          af.closeMenuItem_actionPerformed(true);
         }
       }
     }
-  }
-
-  JPanel vamUpdate = null;
-
-  /**
-   * hide vamsas user gui bits when a vamsas document event is being handled.
-   * 
-   * @param b
-   *          true to hide gui, false to reveal gui
-   */
-  public void setVamsasUpdate(boolean b)
-  {
-    Cache.log.debug("Setting gui for Vamsas update "
-            + (b ? "in progress" : "finished"));
 
-    if (vamUpdate != null)
-    {
-      this.removeProgressPanel(vamUpdate);
-    }
-    if (b)
+    // refresh the feature setting UI for the source frame if it exists
+    if (source.featureSettings != null && source.featureSettings.isOpen())
     {
-      vamUpdate = this.addProgressPanel(
-              MessageManager.getString("label.updating_vamsas_session"));
+      source.showFeatureSettingsUI();
     }
-    vamsasStart.setVisible(!b);
-    vamsasStop.setVisible(!b);
-    vamsasSave.setVisible(!b);
   }
 
   public JInternalFrame[] getAllFrames()
   {
-    return desktop.getAllFrames();
+    return desktopPane.getAllFrames();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -2625,7 +2204,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           });
           msgPanel.add(jcb);
 
-          JvOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop, msgPanel,
+          JvOptionPane.showMessageDialog(desktopPane, msgPanel,
                   MessageManager
                           .getString("label.SEQUENCE_ID_no_longer_used"),
                   JvOptionPane.WARNING_MESSAGE);
@@ -2643,7 +2222,6 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   public class MyDesktopPane extends JDesktopPane implements Runnable
   {
-
     private static final float ONE_MB = 1048576f;
 
     boolean showMemoryUsage = false;
@@ -2729,6 +2307,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
                   10, getHeight() - fm.getHeight());
         }
       }
+      // output debug scale message. Important for jalview.bin.HiDPISettingTest2
+      Desktop.debugScaleMessage(Desktop.getDesktop().getGraphics());
     }
   }
 
@@ -2741,11 +2321,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   {
     if (Jalview.isHeadlessMode())
     {
-      // Desktop.desktop is null in headless mode
-      return new AlignFrame[] { Jalview.currentAlignFrame };
+      return new AlignFrame[] { Jalview.getInstance().currentAlignFrame };
     }
 
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = Desktop.desktop.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = getDesktopPane().getAllFrames();
 
     if (frames == null)
     {
@@ -2790,7 +2369,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   public GStructureViewer[] getJmols()
   {
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = Desktop.desktop.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktopPane.getAllFrames();
 
     if (frames == null)
     {
@@ -2825,8 +2404,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       openGroovyConsole();
     } catch (Exception ex)
     {
-      jalview.bin.Cache.log.error("Groovy Shell Creation failed.", ex);
-      JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
+      Cache.log.error("Groovy Shell Creation failed.", ex);
+      JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(desktopPane,
 
               MessageManager.getString("label.couldnt_create_groovy_shell"),
               MessageManager.getString("label.groovy_support_failed"),
@@ -2884,9 +2463,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   protected void addQuitHandler()
   {
+
     getRootPane().getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW)
             .put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_Q,
-                    Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getMenuShortcutKeyMaskEx()),
+                    Platform.SHORTCUT_KEY_MASK),
                     "Quit");
     getRootPane().getActionMap().put("Quit", new AbstractAction()
     {
@@ -2937,6 +2517,8 @@ 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<>();
@@ -2957,6 +2539,13 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       progressBars.put(Long.valueOf(id), addProgressPanel(message));
     }
   }
+  
+  @Override
+  public void removeProgressBar(long id)
+  {
+    //TODO
+    throw new UnsupportedOperationException("not implemented");
+  }
 
   /*
    * (non-Javadoc)
@@ -3022,7 +2611,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   public static AlignFrame getAlignFrameFor(AlignViewportI viewport)
   {
-    if (desktop != null)
+    if (getDesktopPane() != null)
     {
       AlignmentPanel[] aps = getAlignmentPanels(
               viewport.getSequenceSetId());
@@ -3039,7 +2628,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   public VamsasApplication getVamsasApplication()
   {
-    return v_client;
+    // TODO: JAL-3311 remove remaining code from Jalview relating to VAMSAS
+    return null;
 
   }
 
@@ -3075,45 +2665,47 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
 
   public void startServiceDiscovery(boolean blocking)
   {
-    boolean alive = true;
-    Thread t0 = null, t1 = null, t2 = null;
+    System.out.println("Starting service discovery");
+    var tasks = new ArrayList<Future<?>>();
     // JAL-940 - JALVIEW 1 services are now being EOLed as of JABA 2.1 release
-    if (true)
+
+    System.out.println("loading services");
+    
+    /** @j2sIgnore */
     {
       // todo: changesupport handlers need to be transferred
       if (discoverer == null)
       {
-        discoverer = new jalview.ws.jws1.Discoverer();
+        discoverer = jalview.ws.jws1.Discoverer.getInstance();
         // register PCS handler for desktop.
         discoverer.addPropertyChangeListener(changeSupport);
       }
       // JAL-940 - disabled JWS1 service configuration - always start discoverer
       // until we phase out completely
-      (t0 = new Thread(discoverer)).start();
+      var f = new FutureTask<Void>(discoverer, null);
+      new Thread(f).start();
+      tasks.add(f);
     }
 
     if (Cache.getDefault("SHOW_JWS2_SERVICES", true))
     {
-      t2 = jalview.ws.jws2.Jws2Discoverer.getDiscoverer()
-              .startDiscoverer(changeSupport);
+      tasks.add(jalview.ws.jws2.Jws2Discoverer.getInstance().startDiscoverer());
     }
-    Thread t3 = null;
+    if (Cache.getDefault("SHOW_SLIVKA_SERVICES", true))
     {
-      // TODO: do rest service discovery
+      tasks.add(jalview.ws.slivkaws.SlivkaWSDiscoverer.getInstance().startDiscoverer());
     }
     if (blocking)
     {
-      while (alive)
-      {
+      for (Future<?> task : tasks) {
         try
         {
-          Thread.sleep(15);
+          // block until all discovery tasks are done
+          task.get();
         } catch (Exception e)
         {
+          e.printStackTrace();
         }
-        alive = (t1 != null && t1.isAlive()) || (t2 != null && t2.isAlive())
-                || (t3 != null && t3.isAlive())
-                || (t0 != null && t0.isAlive());
       }
     }
   }
@@ -3127,8 +2719,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
   {
     if (evt.getNewValue() == null || evt.getNewValue() instanceof Vector)
     {
-      final String ermsg = jalview.ws.jws2.Jws2Discoverer.getDiscoverer()
-              .getErrorMessages();
+      final WSDiscovererI discoverer = jalview.ws.jws2.Jws2Discoverer
+          .getInstance();
+      final String ermsg = discoverer.getErrorMessages();
+      // CONFLICT:ALT:?     final String ermsg = jalview.ws.jws2.Jws2Discoverer.getInstance()
       if (ermsg != null)
       {
         if (Cache.getDefault("SHOW_WSDISCOVERY_ERRORS", true))
@@ -3166,7 +2760,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
                  * 
                  * jd.waitForInput();
                  */
-                JvOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(Desktop.desktop,
+                JvOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(desktopPane,
                         new JLabel("<html><table width=\"450\"><tr><td>"
                                 + ermsg + "</td></tr></table>"
                                 + "<p>It may be that you have invalid JABA URLs<br/>in your web service preferences,"
@@ -3203,7 +2797,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    */
   public static void showUrl(final String url)
   {
-    showUrl(url, Desktop.instance);
+    showUrl(url, getInstance());
   }
 
   /**
@@ -3232,7 +2826,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           jalview.util.BrowserLauncher.openURL(url);
         } catch (Exception ex)
         {
-          JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(Desktop.desktop,
+          JvOptionPane.showInternalMessageDialog(getDesktopPane(),
                   MessageManager
                           .getString("label.web_browser_not_found_unix"),
                   MessageManager.getString("label.web_browser_not_found"),
@@ -3272,7 +2866,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       try
       {
         url = e.getURL().toString();
-        Desktop.showUrl(url);
+        showUrl(url);
       } catch (Exception x)
       {
         if (url != null)
@@ -3330,9 +2924,8 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           } catch (InterruptedException x)
           {
           }
-          ;
         }
-        if (instance == null)
+        if (Jalview.isHeadlessMode())
         {
           return;
         }
@@ -3355,28 +2948,39 @@ 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);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -3447,7 +3051,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
       {
         splitFrame.setLocation(geometry.getLocation());
       }
-      Desktop.addInternalFrame(splitFrame, sf.getTitle(), -1, -1);
+      addInternalFrame(splitFrame, sf.getTitle(), -1, -1);
     }
 
     /*
@@ -3485,7 +3089,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     String topViewId = myTopFrame.viewport.getSequenceSetId();
     String bottomViewId = myBottomFrame.viewport.getSequenceSetId();
 
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktop.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = desktopPane.getAllFrames();
     for (JInternalFrame frame : frames)
     {
       if (frame instanceof SplitFrame && frame != source)
@@ -3548,11 +3152,34 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
    *          - the payload from the drop event
    * @throws Exception
    */
-  public static void transferFromDropTarget(List<String> files,
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+  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
@@ -3582,12 +3209,11 @@ 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)
       {
@@ -3598,10 +3224,10 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     {
       // Works on Windows and MacOSX
       Cache.log.debug("Drop handled as javaFileListFlavor");
-      for (Object file : (List) t
+      for (File file : (List<File>) t
               .getTransferData(DataFlavor.javaFileListFlavor))
       {
-        files.add(((File) file).toString());
+        files.add(file);
         protocols.add(DataSourceType.FILE);
       }
     }
@@ -3699,22 +3325,23 @@ 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);
@@ -3761,7 +3388,7 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
           Class<? extends StructureViewerBase> structureViewerClass)
   {
     List<StructureViewerBase> result = new ArrayList<>();
-    JInternalFrame[] frames = Desktop.instance.getAllFrames();
+    JInternalFrame[] frames = getAllFrames();
 
     for (JInternalFrame frame : frames)
     {
@@ -3780,4 +3407,30 @@ public class Desktop extends jalview.jbgui.GDesktop
     }
     return result;
   }
+
+  public static final String debugScaleMessage = "Desktop graphics transform scale=";
+
+  private static boolean debugScaleMessageDone = false;
+
+  public static void debugScaleMessage(Graphics g) {
+    if (debugScaleMessageDone) {
+      return;
+    }
+    // output used by tests to check HiDPI scaling settings in action
+    try {
+      Graphics2D gg = (Graphics2D) g;
+      if (gg != null) {
+        AffineTransform t = gg.getTransform();
+        double scaleX = t.getScaleX();
+        double scaleY = t.getScaleY();
+        Cache.debug(debugScaleMessage + scaleX + " (X)");
+        Cache.debug(debugScaleMessage + scaleY + " (Y)");
+        debugScaleMessageDone = true;
+      } else {
+        Cache.debug("Desktop graphics null");
+      }
+    } catch (Exception e) {
+      Cache.debug(Cache.getStackTraceString(e));
+    }
+  }
 }