JAL-3280 Fixed the version checking URL formulation (getdown build_properties) for...
[jalview.git] / src / jalview / bin / Cache.java
index e2477d9..4a83b35 100755 (executable)
-/*\r
- * Jalview - A Sequence Alignment Editor and Viewer\r
- * Copyright (C) 2005 AM Waterhouse, J Procter, G Barton, M Clamp, S Searle\r
- *\r
- * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or\r
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License\r
- * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2\r
- * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.\r
- *\r
- * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,\r
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of\r
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the\r
- * GNU General Public License for more details.\r
- *\r
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License\r
- * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software\r
- * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA\r
- */\r
-package jalview.bin;\r
-\r
-import java.io.*;\r
-\r
-import java.util.*;\r
-\r
-import java.net.*;\r
-\r
-\r
-/**\r
- * Stores and retrieves Jalview Application Properties\r
- * <br><br>Current properties include:\r
- * <br>logs.Axis.Level - one of the stringified Levels for log4j controlling the logging level for axis (used for web services)\r
- * <br>logs.Castor.Level - one of the stringified Levels for log4j controlling the logging level for castor (used for serialization)\r
- * <br>jalview.browser - used in the jalview.utils.browserLauncher class if it doesn't know what else to do.\r
- * <br>SCREEN_WIDTH,SCREEN_HEIGHT,SCREEN_Y=285,SCREEN_X=371,SHOW_FULLSCREEN\r
- * FONT_NAME,FONT_SIZE,FONT_STYLE,GAP_SYMBOL,LAST_DIRECTORY,USER_DEFINED_COLOUR\r
- * SHOW_FULL_ID,SHOW_IDENTITY,SHOW_QUALITY,SHOW_ANNOTATIONS,SHOW_CONSERVATION,\r
- * DEFAULT_COLOUR,DEFAULT_FILE_FORMAT,STARTUP_FILE,SHOW_STARTUP_FILE\r
-\r
- * @author $author$\r
- * @version $Revision$\r
- */\r
-public class Cache\r
-{\r
-\r
-    /** Jalview Properties */\r
-    public static Properties applicationProperties;\r
-\r
-    /** Default file is  ~/.jalview_properties */\r
-    static String propertiesFile;\r
-\r
-    /** Called when Jalview is started */\r
-    public static void loadProperties(String propsFile)\r
-    {\r
-        applicationProperties = new Properties();\r
-        propertiesFile = propsFile;\r
-        if (propsFile == null)\r
-        {\r
-          propertiesFile = System.getProperty("user.home") + "/.jalview_properties";\r
-        }\r
-\r
-        try\r
-        {\r
-            FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(propertiesFile);\r
-            applicationProperties.load(fis);\r
-            applicationProperties.remove("LATEST_VERSION");\r
-            applicationProperties.remove("VERSION");\r
-            fis.close();\r
-        }\r
-        catch (Exception ex)\r
-        {\r
-          System.out.println("Error reading properties file: "+ex);\r
-        }\r
-\r
-        // FIND THE VERSION NUMBER AND BUILD DATE FROM jalview.jar\r
-        // MUST FOLLOW READING OF LOCAL PROPERTIES FILE AS THE\r
-        // VERSION MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST USING JALVIEW\r
-         try\r
-         {\r
-             String buildDetails = "jar:"\r
-                 .concat(\r
-                 Cache.class.getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().toString()\r
-                 .concat("!/.build_properties")\r
-                 );\r
-\r
-             java.net.URL localJarFileURL = new java.net.URL(buildDetails);\r
-\r
-            InputStream in = localJarFileURL.openStream();\r
-            applicationProperties.load(in);\r
-            in.close();\r
-         }\r
-         catch (Exception ex)\r
-         {\r
-           System.out.println("Error reading build details: "+ex);\r
-           applicationProperties.remove("VERSION");\r
-        }\r
-\r
-        String jnlpVersion = System.getProperty("jalview.version");\r
-        String codeVersion = getProperty("VERSION");\r
-\r
-\r
-        if(codeVersion==null)\r
-        {\r
-          // THIS SHOULD ONLY BE THE CASE WHEN TESTING!!\r
-          codeVersion = "Test";\r
-          jnlpVersion = "Test";\r
-        }\r
-\r
-        // jnlpVersion will be null if we're using InstallAnywhere\r
-        if(jnlpVersion==null)\r
-        {\r
-          try{\r
-            java.net.URL url = new java.net.URL("http://www.jalview.org/webstart/jalview.jnlp");\r
-            BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(url.openStream()));\r
-            String line = null;\r
-            while( (line = in.readLine()) !=null)\r
-            {\r
-              if(line.indexOf("jalview.version")==-1)\r
-                continue;\r
-\r
-              line = line.substring(line.indexOf("value=")+7);\r
-              line = line.substring(0, line.lastIndexOf("\""));\r
-              jnlpVersion = line;\r
-              break;\r
-            }\r
-          }catch(Exception ex)\r
-          {  jnlpVersion =  codeVersion; }\r
-        }\r
-\r
-        System.out.println("Version: "+codeVersion);\r
-        System.out.println("Latest : "+jnlpVersion);\r
-\r
-        setProperty("LATEST_VERSION", jnlpVersion);\r
-        setProperty("VERSION", codeVersion);\r
-    }\r
-\r
-    /**\r
-     * Gets Jalview application property of given key. Returns null\r
-     * if key not found\r
-     *\r
-     * @param key Name of property\r
-     *\r
-     * @return Property value\r
-     */\r
-    public static String getProperty(String key)\r
-    {\r
-        return applicationProperties.getProperty(key);\r
-    }\r
-\r
-    /**\r
-     * Stores property in the file "HOME_DIR/.jalview_properties"\r
-     *\r
-     * @param key Name of object\r
-     * @param obj String value of property\r
-     *\r
-     * @return String value of property\r
-     */\r
-    public static String setProperty(String key, String obj)\r
-    {\r
-        try\r
-        {\r
-            FileOutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(propertiesFile);\r
-\r
-            applicationProperties.setProperty(key, obj);\r
-\r
-            applicationProperties.store(out, "---JalviewX Properties File---");\r
-            out.close();\r
-        }\r
-        catch (Exception ex)\r
-        {\r
-        }\r
-\r
-        return obj;\r
-    }\r
-}\r
+/*
+ * Jalview - A Sequence Alignment Editor and Viewer ($$Version-Rel$$)
+ * Copyright (C) $$Year-Rel$$ The Jalview Authors
+ * 
+ * This file is part of Jalview.
+ * 
+ * Jalview is free software: you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License 
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *  
+ * Jalview is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but 
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty 
+ * of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR 
+ * PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ * 
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with Jalview.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ * The Jalview Authors are detailed in the 'AUTHORS' file.
+ */
+package jalview.bin;
+
+import java.awt.Color;
+import java.io.BufferedReader;
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileInputStream;
+import java.io.FileOutputStream;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.InputStreamReader;
+import java.io.PrintWriter;
+import java.io.StringWriter;
+import java.net.Authenticator;
+import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
+import java.net.URL;
+import java.text.DateFormat;
+import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Date;
+import java.util.Enumeration;
+import java.util.Locale;
+import java.util.Properties;
+import java.util.StringTokenizer;
+import java.util.TreeSet;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import javax.swing.LookAndFeel;
+import javax.swing.UIManager;
+
+import org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender;
+import org.apache.log4j.Level;
+import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+import org.apache.log4j.SimpleLayout;
+
+import jalview.datamodel.PDBEntry;
+import jalview.gui.Preferences;
+import jalview.gui.UserDefinedColours;
+import jalview.schemes.ColourSchemeLoader;
+import jalview.schemes.ColourSchemes;
+import jalview.schemes.UserColourScheme;
+import jalview.structure.StructureImportSettings;
+import jalview.urls.IdOrgSettings;
+import jalview.util.ChannelProperties;
+import jalview.util.ColorUtils;
+import jalview.util.MessageManager;
+import jalview.util.Platform;
+import jalview.ws.sifts.SiftsSettings;
+
+/**
+ * Stores and retrieves Jalview Application Properties Lists and fields within
+ * list entries are separated by '|' symbols unless otherwise stated (|) clauses
+ * are alternative values for a tag. <br>
+ * <br>
+ * Current properties include:
+ * <ul>
+ * <br>
+ * logs.Axis.Level - one of the stringified Levels for log4j controlling the
+ * logging level for axis (used for web services) <br>
+ * </li>
+ * <li>logs.Castor.Level - one of the stringified Levels for log4j controlling
+ * the logging level for castor (used for serialization) <br>
+ * </li>
+ * <li>logs.Jalview.Level - Cache.log stringified level. <br>
+ * </li>
+ * <li>SCREEN_WIDTH</li>
+ * <li>SCREEN_HEIGHT</li>
+ * <li>SCREEN_Y=285</li>
+ * <li>SCREEN_X=371</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_FULLSCREEN boolean</li>
+ * <li>FONT_NAME java font name for alignment text display</li>
+ * <li>FONT_SIZE size of displayed alignment text</li>
+ * <li>FONT_STYLE style of font displayed (sequence labels are always
+ * italic)</li>
+ * <li>GAP_SYMBOL character to treat as gap symbol (usually -,.,' ')</li>
+ * <li>LAST_DIRECTORY last directory for browsing alignment</li>
+ * <li>USER_DEFINED_COLOURS list of user defined colour scheme files</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_FULL_ID show id with '/start-end' numbers appended</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_IDENTITY show percentage identity annotation</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_QUALITY show alignment quality annotation</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_ANNOTATIONS show alignment annotation rows</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_CONSERVATION show alignment conservation annotation</li>
+ * <li>SORT_ANNOTATIONS currently either SEQUENCE_AND_LABEL or
+ * LABEL_AND_SEQUENCE</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_AUTOCALC_ABOVE true to show autocalculated annotations above
+ * sequence annotations</li>
+ * <li>CENTRE_COLUMN_LABELS centre the labels at each column in a displayed
+ * annotation row</li>
+ * <li>DEFAULT_COLOUR default colour scheme to apply for a new alignment</li>
+ * <li>DEFAULT_FILE_FORMAT file format used to save</li>
+ * <li>STARTUP_FILE file loaded on startup (may be a fully qualified url)</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_STARTUP_FILE flag to control loading of startup file</li>
+ * <li>VERSION the version of the jalview build</li>
+ * <li>BUILD_DATE date of this build</li>
+ * <li>LATEST_VERSION the latest jalview version advertised on the
+ * www.jalview.org</li>
+ * <li>PIR_MODELLER boolean indicating if PIR files are written with MODELLER
+ * descriptions</li>
+ * <li>(FASTA,MSF,PILEUP,CLUSTAL,BLC,PIR,PFAM)_JVSUFFIX boolean for adding jv
+ * suffix to file</li>
+ * <li>RECENT_URL list of recently retrieved URLs</li>
+ * <li>RECENT_FILE list of recently opened files</li>
+ * <li>USE_PROXY flag for whether a http proxy is to be used</li>
+ * <li>PROXY_SERVER the proxy</li>
+ * <li>PROXY_PORT</li>
+ * <li>NOQUESTIONNAIRES true to prevent jalview from checking the questionnaire
+ * service</li>
+ * <li>QUESTIONNAIRE last questionnaire:responder id string from questionnaire
+ * service</li>
+ * <li>USAGESTATS (false - user prompted) Enable google analytics tracker for
+ * collecting usage statistics</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_OVERVIEW boolean for overview window display</li>
+ * <li>ANTI_ALIAS boolean for smooth fonts</li>
+ * <li>RIGHT_ALIGN_IDS boolean</li>
+ * <li>AUTO_CALC_CONSENSUS boolean for automatic recalculation of consensus</li>
+ * <li>PAD_GAPS boolean</li>
+ * <li>ID_ITALICS boolean</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_JV_SUFFIX</li>
+ * <li>WRAP_ALIGNMENT</li>
+ * <li>EPS_RENDERING (Prompt each time|Lineart|Text) default for EPS rendering
+ * style check</li>
+ * <li>SORT_ALIGNMENT (No sort|Id|Pairwise Identity)</li>
+ * <li>SEQUENCE_LINKS list of name|URL pairs for opening a url with
+ * $SEQUENCE_ID$</li>
+ * <li>STORED_LINKS list of name|url pairs which user has entered but are not
+ * currently used
+ * <li>DEFAULT_LINK name of single url to be used when user double clicks a
+ * sequence id (must be in SEQUENCE_LINKS or STORED_LINKS)
+ * <li>GROUP_LINKS list of name|URL[|&lt;separator&gt;] tuples - see
+ * jalview.utils.GroupURLLink for more info</li>
+ * <li>DEFAULT_BROWSER for unix</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_MEMUSAGE boolean show memory usage and warning indicator on desktop
+ * (false)</li>
+ * <li>VERSION_CHECK (true) check for the latest release version from
+ * www.jalview.org (or the alias given by the www.jalview.org property)</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_NPFEATS_TOOLTIP (true) show non-positional features in the Sequence
+ * ID tooltip</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_DBREFS_TOOLTIP (true) show Database Cross References in the Sequence
+ * ID tooltip</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_UNCONSERVED (false) only render unconserved residues - conserved
+ * displayed as '.'</li>
+ * <li>SORT_BY_TREE (false) sort the current alignment view according to the
+ * order of a newly displayed tree</li>
+ * <li>DBFETCH_USEPICR (false) use PICR to recover valid DB references from
+ * sequence ID strings before attempting retrieval from any datasource</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_GROUP_CONSENSUS (false) Show consensus annotation for groups in the
+ * alignment.</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_GROUP_CONSERVATION (false) Show conservation annotation for groups
+ * in the alignment.</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_CONSENSUS_HISTOGRAM (false) Show consensus annotation row's
+ * histogram.</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_CONSENSUS_LOGO (false) Show consensus annotation row's sequence
+ * logo.</li>
+ * <li>NORMALISE_CONSENSUS_LOGO (false) Show consensus annotation row's sequence
+ * logo normalised to row height rather than histogram height.</li>
+ * <li>FOLLOW_SELECTIONS (true) Controls whether a new alignment view should
+ * respond to selections made in other alignments containing the same sequences.
+ * </li>
+ * <li>JWS2HOSTURLS comma-separated list of URLs to try for JABAWS services</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_WSDISCOVERY_ERRORS (true) Controls if the web service URL discovery
+ * warning dialog box is displayed.</li>
+ * <li>ANNOTATIONCOLOUR_MIN (orange) Shade used for minimum value of annotation
+ * when shading by annotation</li>
+ * <li>ANNOTATIONCOLOUR_MAX (red) Shade used for maximum value of annotation
+ * when shading by annotation</li>
+ * <li>www.jalview.org (http://www.jalview.org) a property enabling all HTTP
+ * requests to be redirected to a mirror of http://www.jalview.org</li>
+ * <li>FIGURE_AUTOIDWIDTH (false) Expand the left hand column of an exported
+ * alignment figure to accommodate even the longest sequence ID or annotation
+ * label.</li>
+ * <li>FIGURE_FIXEDIDWIDTH Specifies the width to use for the left-hand column
+ * when exporting an alignment as a figure (setting FIGURE_AUTOIDWIDTH to true
+ * will override this).</li>
+ * <li>STRUCT_FROM_PDB (false) derive secondary structure annotation from PDB
+ * record</li>
+ * <li>USE_RNAVIEW (false) use RNAViewer to derive secondary structure</li>
+ * <li>ADD_SS_ANN (false) add secondary structure annotation to alignment
+ * display</li>
+ * <li>ADD_TEMPFACT_ANN (false) add Temperature Factor annotation to alignment
+ * display</li>
+ * <li>STRUCTURE_DISPLAY choose from JMOL (default) or CHIMERA for 3D structure
+ * display</li>
+ * <li>CHIMERA_PATH specify full path to Chimera program (if non-standard)</li>
+ * <li>ID_ORG_HOSTURL location of jalview service providing identifiers.org urls
+ * </li>
+ * 
+ * </ul>
+ * Deprecated settings:
+ * <ul>
+ * *
+ * <li>DISCOVERY_START - Boolean - controls if discovery services are queried on
+ * startup (JWS1 services only)</li>
+ * <li>DISCOVERY_URLS - comma separated list of Discovery Service endpoints.
+ * (JWS1 services only)</li>
+ * <li>SHOW_JWS1_SERVICES (true) enable or disable the original Jalview 2
+ * services in the desktop GUI</li>
+ * <li>ENABLE_RSBS_EDITOR (false for 2.7 release) enable or disable RSBS editing
+ * panel in web service preferences</li>
+ * </ul>
+ * 
+ * @author $author$
+ * @version $Revision$
+ */
+public class Cache
+{
+  /**
+   * property giving log4j level for CASTOR loggers
+   */
+  public static final String CASTORLOGLEVEL = "logs.Castor.level";
+
+  /**
+   * property giving log4j level for AXIS loggers
+   */
+  public static final String AXISLOGLEVEL = "logs.Axis.level";
+
+  /**
+   * property giving log4j level for Jalview Log
+   */
+  public static final String JALVIEWLOGLEVEL = "logs.Jalview.level";
+
+  /**
+   * Sifts settings
+   */
+  public static final String DEFAULT_SIFTS_DOWNLOAD_DIR = System
+          .getProperty("user.home") + File.separatorChar
+          + ".sifts_downloads" + File.separatorChar;
+
+  private final static String DEFAULT_CACHE_THRESHOLD_IN_DAYS = "2";
+
+  private final static String DEFAULT_FAIL_SAFE_PID_THRESHOLD = "30";
+
+  /**
+   * Identifiers.org download settings
+   */
+  private static final String ID_ORG_FILE = System.getProperty("user.home")
+          + File.separatorChar + ".identifiers.org.ids.json";
+
+  /**
+   * Allowed values are PDB or mmCIF
+   */
+  private final static String PDB_DOWNLOAD_FORMAT = PDBEntry.Type.MMCIF
+          .toString();
+
+  private final static String DEFAULT_PDB_FILE_PARSER = StructureImportSettings.StructureParser.JMOL_PARSER
+          .toString();
+
+  /*
+   * a date formatter using a fixed (rather than the user's) locale; 
+   * this ensures that date properties can be written and re-read successfully
+   * even if the user changes their locale setting
+   */
+  private static final DateFormat date_format = SimpleDateFormat
+          .getDateTimeInstance(SimpleDateFormat.MEDIUM,
+                  SimpleDateFormat.MEDIUM, Locale.UK);
+
+  /**
+   * Initialises the Jalview Application Log
+   */
+  public static Logger log;
+
+  // save the proxy properties set at startup
+  public final static String[] startupProxyProperties = {
+      System.getProperty("http.proxyHost"),
+      System.getProperty("http.proxyPort"),
+      System.getProperty("https.proxyHost"),
+      System.getProperty("https.proxyPort"),
+      System.getProperty("http.proxyUser"),
+      System.getProperty("http.proxyPassword"),
+      System.getProperty("https.proxyUser"),
+      System.getProperty("https.proxyPassword"),
+      System.getProperty("http.nonProxyHosts") };
+
+  public final static String PROXYTYPE_NONE = "none";
+
+  // "false" and "true" for backward compatibility
+  public final static String PROXYTYPE_SYSTEM = "false";
+
+  public final static String PROXYTYPE_CUSTOM = "true";
+
+  // in-memory only storage of proxy password, safer to use char array
+  public static char[] proxyAuthPassword = null;
+
+  /** Jalview Properties */
+  public static Properties applicationProperties = new Properties()
+  {
+    // override results in properties output in alphabetical order
+    @Override
+    public synchronized Enumeration<Object> keys()
+    {
+      return Collections.enumeration(new TreeSet<>(super.keySet()));
+    }
+  };
+
+  /* build Properties (not all saved to .jalview_properties) */
+  public static Properties buildProperties = new Properties();
+
+  /** Default file is ~/.jalview_properties */
+  static String propertiesFile;
+
+  private static boolean propsAreReadOnly = Platform.isJS();
+
+  private final static String JS_PROPERTY_PREFIX = "jalview_";
+
+  public static void initLogger()
+  {
+    if (log != null)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+    try
+    {
+      // TODO: redirect stdout and stderr here in order to grab the output of
+      // the log
+
+      ConsoleAppender ap = new ConsoleAppender(new SimpleLayout(),
+              "System.err");
+      ap.setName("JalviewLogger");
+      org.apache.log4j.Logger.getRootLogger().addAppender(ap); // catch all for
+      // log output
+      Logger laxis = Logger.getLogger("org.apache.axis");
+      Logger lcastor = Logger.getLogger("org.exolab.castor");
+      jalview.bin.Cache.log = Logger.getLogger("jalview.bin.Jalview");
+
+      laxis.setLevel(Level.toLevel(
+              Cache.getDefault("logs.Axis.Level", Level.INFO.toString())));
+      lcastor.setLevel(Level.toLevel(Cache.getDefault("logs.Castor.Level",
+              Level.INFO.toString())));
+      lcastor = Logger.getLogger("org.exolab.castor.xml");
+      lcastor.setLevel(Level.toLevel(Cache.getDefault("logs.Castor.Level",
+              Level.INFO.toString())));
+      // lcastor = Logger.getLogger("org.exolab.castor.xml.Marshaller");
+      // lcastor.setLevel(Level.toLevel(Cache.getDefault("logs.Castor.Level",
+      // Level.INFO.toString())));
+      // we shouldn't need to do this
+      org.apache.log4j.Logger.getRootLogger()
+              .setLevel(org.apache.log4j.Level.INFO);
+
+      jalview.bin.Cache.log.setLevel(Level.toLevel(Cache
+              .getDefault("logs.Jalview.level", Level.INFO.toString())));
+      // laxis.addAppender(ap);
+      // lcastor.addAppender(ap);
+      // jalview.bin.Cache.log.addAppender(ap);
+      // Tell the user that debug is enabled
+      jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name")
+              + " Debugging Output Follows.");
+    } catch (Exception ex)
+    {
+      System.err.println("Problems initializing the log4j system\n");
+      ex.printStackTrace(System.err);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Loads properties from the given properties file. Any existing properties
+   * are first cleared.
+   */
+  public static void loadProperties(String propsFile)
+  {
+    propertiesFile = propsFile;
+    if (propsFile == null && !propsAreReadOnly)
+    {
+      propertiesFile = System.getProperty("user.home") + File.separatorChar
+              + ".jalview_properties";
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      // don't corrupt the file we've been given.
+      propsAreReadOnly = true;
+    }
+
+    if (propertiesFile == null)
+    { // BH 2019
+      Platform.readInfoProperties(JS_PROPERTY_PREFIX,
+              applicationProperties);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        InputStream fis;
+        try
+        {
+          fis = new URL(propertiesFile).openStream();
+          System.out.println(
+                  "Loading jalview properties from : " + propertiesFile);
+          System.out.println(
+                  "Disabling Jalview writing to user's local properties file.");
+          propsAreReadOnly = true;
+
+        } catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+          fis = null;
+        }
+        if (fis == null)
+        {
+          fis = new FileInputStream(propertiesFile);
+        }
+        applicationProperties.clear();
+        applicationProperties.load(fis);
+
+        // remove any old build properties
+
+        deleteBuildProperties();
+        fis.close();
+      } catch (Exception ex)
+      {
+        System.out.println("Error reading properties file: " + ex);
+      }
+    }
+
+    /* TO BE REPLACED WITH PROXY_TYPE SETTINGS 
+    if (getDefault("USE_PROXY", false))
+    {
+      String proxyServer = getDefault("PROXY_SERVER", ""),
+              proxyPort = getDefault("PROXY_PORT", "8080");
+    }
+    */
+
+    // PROXY TYPE settings (now three options "none", "false", "true", but using
+    // backward compatible strings)
+    String proxyType = getDefault("USE_PROXY", PROXYTYPE_SYSTEM);
+    // default to upgrading old settings
+    switch (proxyType)
+    {
+    case PROXYTYPE_NONE:
+      clearProxyProperties();
+      break;
+    case PROXYTYPE_SYSTEM: // use system settings
+      resetProxyProperties();
+      break;
+    case PROXYTYPE_CUSTOM: // use specified proxy settings
+      String httpHost = getDefault("PROXY_SERVER", "");
+      String httpPort = getDefault("PROXY_PORT", "8080");
+      String httpsHost = getDefault("PROXY_SERVER_HTTPS", httpHost);
+      String httpsPort = getDefault("PROXY_PORT_HTTPS", httpPort);
+      String httpUser = getDefault("PROXY_AUTH_USER", null);
+      // https.proxyUser and https.proxyPassword are not able to be
+      // independently set in Preferences yet (or http.nonProxyHosts)
+      String httpsUser = getDefault("PROXY_AUTH_USER_HTTPS", httpUser);
+      setProxyProperties(httpHost, httpPort, httpsHost, httpsPort, httpUser,
+              proxyAuthPassword, httpsUser, proxyAuthPassword, "localhost");
+      break;
+    default:
+      String message = "Incorrect PROXY_TYPE - should be 'none' (clear proxy properties), 'false' (system settings), 'true' (custom settings): "
+              + proxyType;
+      Cache.warn(message);
+    }
+
+    // LOAD THE AUTHORS FROM THE authors.props file
+    String authorDetails = resolveResourceURLFor("/authors.props");
+
+    try
+    {
+      if (authorDetails != null)
+      {
+        URL localJarFileURL = new URL(authorDetails);
+        InputStream in = localJarFileURL.openStream();
+        applicationProperties.load(in);
+        in.close();
+      }
+    } catch (Exception ex)
+    {
+      System.out.println("Error reading author details: " + ex);
+      authorDetails = null;
+    }
+    if (authorDetails == null)
+    {
+      applicationProperties.remove("AUTHORS");
+      applicationProperties.remove("AUTHORFNAMES");
+      applicationProperties.remove("YEAR");
+    }
+
+    loadBuildProperties(false);
+
+    SiftsSettings
+            .setMapWithSifts(Cache.getDefault("MAP_WITH_SIFTS", false));
+
+    SiftsSettings.setSiftDownloadDirectory(jalview.bin.Cache
+            .getDefault("sifts_download_dir", DEFAULT_SIFTS_DOWNLOAD_DIR));
+
+    SiftsSettings.setFailSafePIDThreshold(
+            jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("sifts_fail_safe_pid_threshold",
+                    DEFAULT_FAIL_SAFE_PID_THRESHOLD));
+
+    SiftsSettings.setCacheThresholdInDays(
+            jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("sifts_cache_threshold_in_days",
+                    DEFAULT_CACHE_THRESHOLD_IN_DAYS));
+
+    IdOrgSettings.setUrl(getDefault("ID_ORG_HOSTURL",
+            "http://www.jalview.org/services/identifiers"));
+    IdOrgSettings.setDownloadLocation(ID_ORG_FILE);
+
+    StructureImportSettings.setDefaultStructureFileFormat(jalview.bin.Cache
+            .getDefault("PDB_DOWNLOAD_FORMAT", PDB_DOWNLOAD_FORMAT));
+    StructureImportSettings
+            .setDefaultPDBFileParser(DEFAULT_PDB_FILE_PARSER);
+    // StructureImportSettings
+    // .setDefaultPDBFileParser(jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault(
+    // "DEFAULT_PDB_FILE_PARSER", DEFAULT_PDB_FILE_PARSER));
+
+    String jnlpVersion = System.getProperty("jalview.version");
+
+    // jnlpVersion will be null if a latest version check for the channel needs
+    // to be done
+    // Dont do this check if running in headless mode
+
+    if (jnlpVersion == null && getDefault("VERSION_CHECK", true)
+            && (System.getProperty("java.awt.headless") == null || System
+                    .getProperty("java.awt.headless").equals("false")))
+    {
+
+      class VersionChecker extends Thread
+      {
+
+        @Override
+        public void run()
+        {
+          String remoteBuildPropertiesUrl = Cache
+                  .getAppbaseBuildProperties();
+
+          String orgtimeout = System
+                  .getProperty("sun.net.client.defaultConnectTimeout");
+          if (orgtimeout == null)
+          {
+            orgtimeout = "30";
+            System.out.println("# INFO: Setting default net timeout to "
+                    + orgtimeout + " seconds.");
+          }
+          String remoteVersion = null;
+          try
+          {
+            System.setProperty("sun.net.client.defaultConnectTimeout",
+                    "5000");
+            java.net.URL url = new java.net.URL(remoteBuildPropertiesUrl);
+
+            BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(
+                    new InputStreamReader(url.openStream()));
+
+            Properties remoteBuildProperties = new Properties();
+            remoteBuildProperties.load(in);
+            remoteVersion = remoteBuildProperties.getProperty("VERSION");
+          } catch (Exception ex)
+          {
+            System.out
+                    .println("Non-fatal exception when checking version at "
+                            + remoteBuildPropertiesUrl + ":");
+            System.out.println(ex);
+            remoteVersion = getProperty("VERSION");
+          }
+          System.setProperty("sun.net.client.defaultConnectTimeout",
+                  orgtimeout);
+
+          setProperty("LATEST_VERSION", remoteVersion);
+        }
+      }
+
+      VersionChecker vc = new VersionChecker();
+      vc.start();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      if (jnlpVersion != null)
+      {
+        setProperty("LATEST_VERSION", jnlpVersion);
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        applicationProperties.remove("LATEST_VERSION");
+      }
+    }
+
+    // LOAD USERDEFINED COLOURS
+    Cache.initUserColourSchemes(getProperty("USER_DEFINED_COLOURS"));
+    jalview.io.PIRFile.useModellerOutput = Cache.getDefault("PIR_MODELLER",
+            false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * construct a resource URL for the given absolute resource pathname
+   * 
+   * @param resourcePath
+   * @return
+   */
+  private static String resolveResourceURLFor(String resourcePath)
+  {
+    String url = null;
+    if (Platform.isJS() || !Cache.class.getProtectionDomain()
+            .getCodeSource().getLocation().toString().endsWith(".jar"))
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        url = Cache.class.getResource(resourcePath).toString();
+      } catch (Exception ex)
+      {
+        System.err.println("Failed to resolve resource " + resourcePath
+                + ": " + ex.getMessage());
+      }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      url = "jar:".concat(Cache.class.getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource()
+              .getLocation().toString().concat("!" + resourcePath));
+    }
+    return url;
+  }
+
+  public static void loadBuildProperties(boolean reportVersion)
+  {
+    String codeInstallation = getProperty("INSTALLATION");
+    boolean printVersion = codeInstallation == null;
+
+    /*
+     * read build properties - from the Jalview jar for a Java distribution,
+     * or from codebase file in test or JalviewJS context
+     */
+    try
+    {
+      String buildDetails = resolveResourceURLFor("/.build_properties");
+      URL localJarFileURL = new URL(buildDetails);
+      InputStream in = localJarFileURL.openStream();
+      buildProperties.load(in);
+      in.close();
+      if (buildProperties.getProperty("BUILD_DATE", null) != null)
+      {
+        applicationProperties.put("BUILD_DATE",
+                buildProperties.getProperty("BUILD_DATE"));
+      }
+      if (buildProperties.getProperty("INSTALLATION", null) != null)
+      {
+        applicationProperties.put("INSTALLATION",
+                buildProperties.getProperty("INSTALLATION"));
+      }
+      if (buildProperties.getProperty("VERSION", null) != null)
+      {
+        applicationProperties.put("VERSION",
+                buildProperties.getProperty("VERSION"));
+      }
+    } catch (Exception ex)
+    {
+      System.out.println("Error reading build details: " + ex);
+      applicationProperties.remove("VERSION");
+    }
+    String codeVersion = getProperty("VERSION");
+    codeInstallation = getProperty("INSTALLATION");
+
+    if (codeVersion == null)
+    {
+      // THIS SHOULD ONLY BE THE CASE WHEN TESTING!!
+      codeVersion = "Test";
+      codeInstallation = "";
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      codeInstallation = " (" + codeInstallation + ")";
+    }
+    setProperty("VERSION", codeVersion);
+    new BuildDetails(codeVersion, null, codeInstallation);
+    if (printVersion && reportVersion)
+    {
+      System.out.println(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name")
+              + " Version: " + codeVersion + codeInstallation);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static void deleteBuildProperties()
+  {
+    applicationProperties.remove("LATEST_VERSION");
+    applicationProperties.remove("VERSION");
+    applicationProperties.remove("AUTHORS");
+    applicationProperties.remove("AUTHORFNAMES");
+    applicationProperties.remove("YEAR");
+    applicationProperties.remove("BUILD_DATE");
+    applicationProperties.remove("INSTALLATION");
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets Jalview application property of given key. Returns null if key not
+   * found
+   * 
+   * @param key
+   *          Name of property
+   * 
+   * @return Property value
+   */
+  public static String getProperty(String key)
+  {
+    String prop = applicationProperties.getProperty(key);
+    if (prop == null && Platform.isJS())
+    {
+      prop = applicationProperties.getProperty(Platform.getUniqueAppletID()
+              + "_" + JS_PROPERTY_PREFIX + key);
+    }
+    return prop;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * These methods are used when checking if the saved preference is different
+   * to the default setting
+   */
+
+  public static boolean getDefault(String property, boolean def)
+  {
+    String string = getProperty(property);
+    if (string != null)
+    {
+      def = Boolean.valueOf(string).booleanValue();
+    }
+
+    return def;
+  }
+
+  public static int getDefault(String property, int def)
+  {
+    String string = getProperty(property);
+    if (string != null)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        def = Integer.parseInt(string);
+      } catch (NumberFormatException e)
+      {
+        System.out.println("Error parsing int property '" + property
+                + "' with value '" + string + "'");
+      }
+    }
+
+    return def;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Answers the value of the given property, or the supplied default value if
+   * the property is not set
+   */
+  public static String getDefault(String property, String def)
+  {
+    String value = getProperty(property);
+    return value == null ? def : value;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Stores property in the file "HOME_DIR/.jalview_properties"
+   * 
+   * @param key
+   *          Name of object
+   * @param obj
+   *          String value of property
+   * 
+   * @return previous value of property (or null)
+   */
+  public static Object setProperty(String key, String obj)
+  {
+    Object oldValue = null;
+    try
+    {
+      oldValue = applicationProperties.setProperty(key, obj);
+      if (propertiesFile != null && !propsAreReadOnly)
+      {
+        FileOutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(propertiesFile);
+        applicationProperties.store(out, "---JalviewX Properties File---");
+        out.close();
+      }
+    } catch (Exception ex)
+    {
+      System.out.println(
+              "Error setting property: " + key + " " + obj + "\n" + ex);
+    }
+    return oldValue;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * remove the specified property from the jalview properties file
+   * 
+   * @param string
+   */
+  public static void removeProperty(String string)
+  {
+    applicationProperties.remove(string);
+    saveProperties();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * save the properties to the jalview properties path
+   */
+  public static void saveProperties()
+  {
+    if (!propsAreReadOnly)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        FileOutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(propertiesFile);
+        applicationProperties.store(out, "---JalviewX Properties File---");
+        out.close();
+      } catch (Exception ex)
+      {
+        System.out.println("Error saving properties: " + ex);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * internal vamsas class discovery state
+   */
+  private static int vamsasJarsArePresent = -1;
+
+  /**
+   * Searches for vamsas client classes on class path.
+   * 
+   * @return true if vamsas client is present on classpath
+   */
+  public static boolean vamsasJarsPresent()
+  {
+    if (vamsasJarsArePresent == -1)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        if (jalview.jbgui.GDesktop.class.getClassLoader()
+                .loadClass("uk.ac.vamsas.client.VorbaId") != null)
+        {
+          jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
+                  "Found Vamsas Classes (uk.ac..vamsas.client.VorbaId can be loaded)");
+          vamsasJarsArePresent = 1;
+          Logger lvclient = Logger.getLogger("uk.ac.vamsas");
+          lvclient.setLevel(Level.toLevel(Cache
+                  .getDefault("logs.Vamsas.Level", Level.INFO.toString())));
+
+          lvclient.addAppender(log.getAppender("JalviewLogger"));
+          // Tell the user that debug is enabled
+          lvclient.debug(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name")
+                  + " Vamsas Client Debugging Output Follows.");
+        }
+      } catch (Exception e)
+      {
+        vamsasJarsArePresent = 0;
+        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Vamsas Classes are not present");
+      }
+    }
+    return (vamsasJarsArePresent > 0);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * internal vamsas class discovery state
+   */
+  private static int groovyJarsArePresent = -1;
+
+  /**
+   * Searches for vamsas client classes on class path.
+   * 
+   * @return true if vamsas client is present on classpath
+   */
+  public static boolean groovyJarsPresent()
+  {
+    if (groovyJarsArePresent == -1)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        if (Cache.class.getClassLoader()
+                .loadClass("groovy.lang.GroovyObject") != null)
+        {
+          jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug(
+                  "Found Groovy (groovy.lang.GroovyObject can be loaded)");
+          groovyJarsArePresent = 1;
+          Logger lgclient = Logger.getLogger("groovy");
+          lgclient.setLevel(Level.toLevel(Cache
+                  .getDefault("logs.Groovy.Level", Level.INFO.toString())));
+
+          lgclient.addAppender(log.getAppender("JalviewLogger"));
+          // Tell the user that debug is enabled
+          lgclient.debug(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name")
+                  + " Groovy Client Debugging Output Follows.");
+        }
+      } catch (Error e)
+      {
+        groovyJarsArePresent = 0;
+        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Groovy Classes are not present", e);
+      } catch (Exception e)
+      {
+        groovyJarsArePresent = 0;
+        jalview.bin.Cache.log.debug("Groovy Classes are not present");
+      }
+    }
+    return (groovyJarsArePresent > 0);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * GA tracker object - actually JGoogleAnalyticsTracker null if tracking not
+   * enabled.
+   */
+  protected static Object tracker = null;
+
+  protected static Class trackerfocus = null;
+
+  protected static Class jgoogleanalyticstracker = null;
+
+  /**
+   * Initialise the google tracker if it is not done already.
+   */
+  public static void initGoogleTracker()
+  {
+    if (tracker == null)
+    {
+      if (jgoogleanalyticstracker == null)
+      {
+        // try to get the tracker class
+        try
+        {
+          jgoogleanalyticstracker = Cache.class.getClassLoader().loadClass(
+                  "com.boxysystems.jgoogleanalytics.JGoogleAnalyticsTracker");
+          trackerfocus = Cache.class.getClassLoader()
+                  .loadClass("com.boxysystems.jgoogleanalytics.FocusPoint");
+        } catch (Exception e)
+        {
+          log.debug(
+                  "com.boxysystems.jgoogleanalytics package is not present - tracking not enabled.");
+          tracker = null;
+          jgoogleanalyticstracker = null;
+          trackerfocus = null;
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+      // now initialise tracker
+      Exception re = null, ex = null;
+      Error err = null;
+      String vrs = "No Version Accessible";
+      try
+      {
+        // Google analytics tracking code for Library Finder
+        tracker = jgoogleanalyticstracker
+                .getConstructor(new Class[]
+                { String.class, String.class, String.class })
+                .newInstance(new Object[]
+                { ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name") + " Desktop",
+                    (vrs = jalview.bin.Cache.getProperty("VERSION") + "_"
+                            + jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE",
+                                    "unknown")),
+                    "UA-9060947-1" });
+        jgoogleanalyticstracker
+                .getMethod("trackAsynchronously", new Class[]
+                { trackerfocus })
+                .invoke(tracker, new Object[]
+                { trackerfocus.getConstructor(new Class[] { String.class })
+                        .newInstance(new Object[]
+                        { "Application Started." }) });
+      } catch (RuntimeException e)
+      {
+        re = e;
+      } catch (Exception e)
+      {
+        ex = e;
+      } catch (Error e)
+      {
+        err = e;
+      }
+      if (re != null || ex != null || err != null)
+      {
+        if (log != null)
+        {
+          if (re != null)
+          {
+            log.debug("Caught runtime exception in googletracker init:",
+                    re);
+          }
+          if (ex != null)
+          {
+            log.warn(
+                    "Failed to initialise GoogleTracker for Jalview Desktop with version "
+                            + vrs,
+                    ex);
+          }
+          if (err != null)
+          {
+            log.error(
+                    "Whilst initing GoogleTracker for Jalview Desktop version "
+                            + vrs,
+                    err);
+          }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+          if (re != null)
+          {
+            System.err.println(
+                    "Debug: Caught runtime exception in googletracker init:"
+                            + vrs);
+            re.printStackTrace();
+          }
+          if (ex != null)
+          {
+            System.err.println(
+                    "Warning:  Failed to initialise GoogleTracker for Jalview Desktop with version "
+                            + vrs);
+            ex.printStackTrace();
+          }
+
+          if (err != null)
+          {
+            System.err.println(
+                    "ERROR: Whilst initing GoogleTracker for Jalview Desktop version "
+                            + vrs);
+            err.printStackTrace();
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        log.debug("Successfully initialised tracker.");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * get the user's default colour if available
+   * 
+   * @param property
+   * @param defcolour
+   * @return
+   */
+  public static Color getDefaultColour(String property, Color defcolour)
+  {
+    String colprop = getProperty(property);
+    if (colprop == null)
+    {
+      return defcolour;
+    }
+    Color col = ColorUtils.parseColourString(colprop);
+    if (col == null)
+    {
+      log.warn("Couldn't parse '" + colprop + "' as a colour for "
+              + property);
+    }
+    return (col == null) ? defcolour : col;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * store a colour as a Jalview user default property
+   * 
+   * @param property
+   * @param colour
+   */
+  public static void setColourProperty(String property, Color colour)
+  {
+    setProperty(property, jalview.util.Format.getHexString(colour));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Stores a formatted date in a jalview property, using a fixed locale.
+   * 
+   * @param propertyName
+   * @param date
+   * @return the formatted date string
+   */
+  public static String setDateProperty(String propertyName, Date date)
+  {
+    String formatted = date_format.format(date);
+    setProperty(propertyName, formatted);
+    return formatted;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Reads a date stored in a Jalview property, parses it (using a fixed locale
+   * format) and returns as a Date, or null if parsing fails
+   * 
+   * @param propertyName
+   * @return
+   * 
+   */
+  public static Date getDateProperty(String propertyName)
+  {
+    String val = getProperty(propertyName);
+    if (val != null)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        return date_format.parse(val);
+      } catch (Exception ex)
+      {
+        System.err.println("Invalid or corrupt date in property '"
+                + propertyName + "' : value was '" + val + "'");
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * get and parse a property as an integer. send any parsing problems to
+   * System.err
+   * 
+   * @param property
+   * @return null or Integer
+   */
+  public static Integer getIntegerProperty(String property)
+  {
+    String val = getProperty(property);
+    if (val != null && (val = val.trim()).length() > 0)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        return Integer.valueOf(val);
+      } catch (NumberFormatException x)
+      {
+        System.err.println("Invalid integer in property '" + property
+                + "' (value was '" + val + "')");
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the specified value, or remove it if null or empty. Does not save the
+   * properties file.
+   * 
+   * @param propName
+   * @param value
+   */
+  public static void setOrRemove(String propName, String value)
+  {
+    if (propName == null)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (value == null || value.trim().length() < 1)
+    {
+      Cache.applicationProperties.remove(propName);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      Cache.applicationProperties.setProperty(propName, value);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Loads in user colour schemes from files.
+   * 
+   * @param files
+   *          a '|'-delimited list of file paths
+   */
+  public static void initUserColourSchemes(String files)
+  {
+    if (files == null || files.length() == 0)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // In case colours can't be loaded, we'll remove them
+    // from the default list here.
+    StringBuffer coloursFound = new StringBuffer();
+    StringTokenizer st = new StringTokenizer(files, "|");
+    while (st.hasMoreElements())
+    {
+      String file = st.nextToken();
+      try
+      {
+        UserColourScheme ucs = ColourSchemeLoader.loadColourScheme(file);
+        if (ucs != null)
+        {
+          if (coloursFound.length() > 0)
+          {
+            coloursFound.append("|");
+          }
+          coloursFound.append(file);
+          ColourSchemes.getInstance().registerColourScheme(ucs);
+        }
+      } catch (Exception ex)
+      {
+        System.out.println("Error loading User ColourFile\n" + ex);
+      }
+    }
+    if (!files.equals(coloursFound.toString()))
+    {
+      if (coloursFound.toString().length() > 1)
+      {
+        setProperty(UserDefinedColours.USER_DEFINED_COLOURS,
+                coloursFound.toString());
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        applicationProperties
+                .remove(UserDefinedColours.USER_DEFINED_COLOURS);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Initial logging information helper for various versions output
+   * 
+   * @param prefix
+   * @param value
+   * @param defaultValue
+   */
+  private static void appendIfNotNull(StringBuilder sb, String prefix,
+          String value, String suffix, String defaultValue)
+  {
+    if (value == null && defaultValue == null)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+    String line = prefix + (value != null ? value : defaultValue) + suffix;
+    sb.append(line);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * 
+   * @return Jalview version, build details and JVM platform version for console
+   */
+  public static String getVersionDetailsForConsole()
+  {
+    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+    sb.append(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name"))
+            .append(" Version: ");
+    sb.append(jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("VERSION", "TEST"));
+    sb.append("\n");
+    sb.append(ChannelProperties.getProperty("app_name"))
+            .append(" Installation: ");
+    sb.append(jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("INSTALLATION", "unknown"));
+    sb.append("\n");
+    sb.append("Build Date: ");
+    sb.append(jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("BUILD_DATE", "unknown"));
+    sb.append("\n");
+    sb.append("Java version: ");
+    sb.append(System.getProperty("java.version"));
+    sb.append("\n");
+    sb.append(System.getProperty("os.arch"));
+    sb.append(" ");
+    sb.append(System.getProperty("os.name"));
+    sb.append(" ");
+    sb.append(System.getProperty("os.version"));
+    sb.append("\n");
+    appendIfNotNull(sb, "Install4j version: ",
+            System.getProperty("sys.install4jVersion"), "\n", null);
+    appendIfNotNull(sb, "Install4j template version: ",
+            System.getProperty("installer_template_version"), "\n", null);
+    appendIfNotNull(sb, "Launcher version: ",
+            System.getProperty("launcher_version"), "\n", null);
+    LookAndFeel laf = UIManager.getLookAndFeel();
+    String lafName = laf == null ? "Not obtained" : laf.getName();
+    String lafClass = laf == null ? "unknown" : laf.getClass().getName();
+    sb.append("LookAndFeel: ");
+    sb.append(lafName);
+    sb.append(" (");
+    sb.append(lafClass);
+    sb.append(")\n");
+    // Not displayed in release version ( determined by possible version number
+    // regex 9[9.]*9[.-_a9]* )
+    if (Pattern.matches("^\\d[\\d\\.]*\\d[\\.\\-\\w]*$",
+            jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("VERSION", "TEST")))
+    {
+      appendIfNotNull(sb, "Getdown appdir: ",
+              System.getProperty("getdownappdir"), "\n", null);
+      appendIfNotNull(sb, "Getdown appbase: ",
+              System.getProperty("getdownappbase"), "\n", null);
+      appendIfNotNull(sb, "Java home: ", System.getProperty("java.home"),
+              "\n", "unknown");
+    }
+    return sb.toString();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * 
+   * @return build details as reported in splashscreen
+   */
+  public static String getBuildDetailsForSplash()
+  {
+    // consider returning more human friendly info
+    // eg 'built from Source' or update channel
+    return jalview.bin.Cache.getDefault("INSTALLATION", "unknown");
+  }
+
+  public static String getStackTraceString(Throwable t)
+  {
+    StringWriter sw = new StringWriter();
+    PrintWriter pw = new PrintWriter(sw);
+    t.printStackTrace(pw);
+    return sw.toString();
+  }
+
+  // proxy properties methods
+  public static void clearProxyProperties()
+  {
+    setProxyProperties(null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null,
+            null);
+  }
+
+  public static void resetProxyProperties()
+  {
+    setProxyProperties(startupProxyProperties[0], startupProxyProperties[1],
+            startupProxyProperties[2], startupProxyProperties[3],
+            startupProxyProperties[4],
+            startupProxyProperties[5] == null ? null
+                    : startupProxyProperties[5].toCharArray(),
+            startupProxyProperties[6],
+            startupProxyProperties[7] == null ? null
+                    : startupProxyProperties[7].toCharArray(),
+            startupProxyProperties[8]);
+    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+    sb.append("Setting proxy properties to: http.proxyHost=")
+            .append(startupProxyProperties[0]).append(", http.proxyPort=")
+            .append(startupProxyProperties[1])
+            .append(startupProxyProperties[4] != null
+                    && !startupProxyProperties[4].isEmpty()
+                            ? " [" + startupProxyProperties[4] + "]"
+                            : "")
+            .append(", https.proxyHost=").append(startupProxyProperties[2])
+            .append(", https.proxyPort=").append(startupProxyProperties[3])
+            .append(startupProxyProperties[6] != null
+                    && !startupProxyProperties[6].isEmpty()
+                            ? " [" + startupProxyProperties[6] + "]"
+                            : "");
+
+    Cache.debug(sb.toString());
+  }
+
+  public static void setProxyPropertiesFromPreferences()
+  {
+    setProxyPropertiesFromPreferences(Cache.PROXYTYPE_SYSTEM);
+  }
+
+  public static void setProxyPropertiesFromPreferences(
+          String previousProxyType)
+  {
+    String proxyType = Cache.getDefault("USE_PROXY",
+            Cache.PROXYTYPE_SYSTEM);
+    if (previousProxyType != null
+            && !proxyType.equals(Cache.PROXYTYPE_CUSTOM) // always apply
+                                                         // customProxy
+            && proxyType.equals(previousProxyType))
+    {
+      // no change
+      return;
+    }
+    switch (proxyType)
+    {
+    case Cache.PROXYTYPE_NONE:
+      if (!previousProxyType.equals(proxyType))
+      {
+        Cache.log.info("Setting no proxy settings");
+        Cache.setProxyProperties(null, null, null, null, null, null, null,
+                null, null);
+      }
+      break;
+    case Cache.PROXYTYPE_CUSTOM:
+      // always re-set a custom proxy -- it might have changed, particularly
+      // password
+      Cache.log.info("Setting custom proxy settings");
+      boolean proxyAuthSet = Cache.getDefault("PROXY_AUTH", false);
+      Cache.setProxyProperties(Cache.getDefault("PROXY_SERVER", null),
+              Cache.getDefault("PROXY_PORT", null),
+              Cache.getDefault("PROXY_SERVER_HTTPS", null),
+              Cache.getDefault("PROXY_PORT_HTTPS", null),
+              proxyAuthSet ? Cache.getDefault("PROXY_AUTH_USERNAME", "")
+                      : null,
+              proxyAuthSet ? Cache.proxyAuthPassword : null,
+              proxyAuthSet ? Cache.getDefault("PROXY_AUTH_USERNAME", "")
+                      : null,
+              proxyAuthSet ? Cache.proxyAuthPassword : null, "localhost");
+      break;
+    default: // system proxy settings by default
+      Cache.log.info("Setting system proxy settings");
+      Cache.resetProxyProperties();
+    }
+  }
+
+  public static void setProxyProperties(String httpHost, String httpPort,
+          String httpsHost, String httpsPort, String httpUser,
+          char[] httpPassword, String httpsUser, char[] httpsPassword,
+          String nonProxyHosts)
+  {
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("http.proxyHost", httpHost);
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("http.proxyPort", httpPort);
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("https.proxyHost", httpsHost);
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("https.proxyPort", httpsPort);
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("http.proxyUser", httpUser);
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("https.proxyUser", httpsUser);
+    // note: passwords for http.proxyPassword and https.proxyPassword are sent
+    // via the Authenticator, properties do not need to be set
+
+    // are we using a custom proxy (password prompt might be required)?
+    boolean customProxySet = getDefault("USE_PROXY", PROXYTYPE_SYSTEM)
+            .equals(PROXYTYPE_CUSTOM);
+
+    /*
+     * A bug in Java means the AuthCache does not get reset, so once it has working credentials,
+     * it never asks for more, so changing the Authenticator has no effect (as getPasswordAuthentication()
+     * is not re-called).
+     * This could lead to password leak to a hostile proxy server, so I'm putting in a hack to clear
+     * the AuthCache.
+     * see https://www.generacodice.com/en/articolo/154918/Reset-the-Authenticator-credentials
+     * ...
+     * Turns out this is only accessible in Java 8, and not in Java 9 onwards, so commenting out
+     */
+    /*
+    try
+    {
+      sun.net.www.protocol.http.AuthCacheValue
+              .setAuthCache(new sun.net.www.protocol.http.AuthCacheImpl());
+    } catch (Throwable t)
+    {
+      Cache.error(t.getMessage());
+      Cache.debug(getStackTraceString(t));
+    }
+    */
+
+    if (httpUser != null || httpsUser != null)
+    {
+      try
+      {
+        char[] displayHttpPw = new char[httpPassword == null ? 0
+                : httpPassword.length];
+        Arrays.fill(displayHttpPw, '*');
+        Cache.debug("CACHE Proxy: setting new Authenticator with httpUser='"
+                + httpUser + "' httpPassword='" + displayHttpPw + "'");
+        if (!Platform.isJS())
+        /* *
+         * java.net.Authenticator not implemented in SwingJS yet
+         * 
+         * @j2sIgnore
+         * 
+         */
+        {
+          Authenticator.setDefault(new Authenticator()
+          {
+            @Override
+            protected PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication()
+            {
+              if (getRequestorType() == RequestorType.PROXY)
+              {
+                String protocol = getRequestingProtocol();
+                boolean needProxyPasswordSet = false;
+                if (customProxySet &&
+                // we have a username but no password for the scheme being
+                // requested
+                (protocol.equalsIgnoreCase("http")
+                        && (httpUser != null && httpUser.length() > 0
+                                && (httpPassword == null
+                                        || httpPassword.length == 0)))
+                        || (protocol.equalsIgnoreCase("https")
+                                && (httpsUser != null
+                                        && httpsUser.length() > 0
+                                        && (httpsPassword == null
+                                                || httpsPassword.length == 0))))
+                {
+                  // open Preferences -> Connections
+                  String message = MessageManager
+                          .getString("label.proxy_password_required");
+                  Preferences.openPreferences(Preferences.CONNECTIONS_TAB,
+                          message);
+                  Preferences.getInstance()
+                          .proxyAuthPasswordCheckHighlight(true, true);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                  try
+                  {
+                    if (protocol.equalsIgnoreCase("http")
+                            && getRequestingHost()
+                                    .equalsIgnoreCase(httpHost)
+                            && getRequestingPort() == Integer
+                                    .valueOf(httpPort))
+                    {
+                      Cache.debug(
+                              "AUTHENTICATOR returning PasswordAuthentication(\""
+                                      + httpUser + "\", '"
+                                      + new String(displayHttpPw) + "')");
+                      return new PasswordAuthentication(httpUser,
+                              httpPassword);
+                    }
+                    if (protocol.equalsIgnoreCase("https")
+                            && getRequestingHost()
+                                    .equalsIgnoreCase(httpsHost)
+                            && getRequestingPort() == Integer
+                                    .valueOf(httpsPort))
+                    {
+                      char[] displayHttpsPw = new char[httpPassword.length];
+                      Arrays.fill(displayHttpsPw, '*');
+                      Cache.debug(
+                              "AUTHENTICATOR returning PasswordAuthentication(\""
+                                      + httpsUser + "\", '" + displayHttpsPw
+                                      + "'");
+                      return new PasswordAuthentication(httpsUser,
+                              httpsPassword);
+                    }
+                  } catch (NumberFormatException e)
+                  {
+                    Cache.error("Problem with proxy port values [http:"
+                            + httpPort + ", https:" + httpsPort + "]");
+                  }
+                  Cache.debug(
+                          "AUTHENTICATOR after trying to get PasswordAuthentication");
+                }
+              }
+              // non proxy request
+              Cache.debug("AUTHENTICATOR returning null");
+              return null;
+            }
+          });
+        } // end of j2sIgnore for java.net.Authenticator
+
+        // required to re-enable basic authentication (should be okay for a
+        // local proxy)
+        Cache.debug(
+                "AUTHENTICATOR setting property 'jdk.http.auth.tunneling.disabledSchemes' to \"\"");
+        System.setProperty("jdk.http.auth.tunneling.disabledSchemes", "");
+      } catch (SecurityException e)
+      {
+        Cache.error("Could not set default Authenticator");
+        Cache.debug(getStackTraceString(e));
+      }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      // reset the Authenticator to protect http.proxyUser and
+      // http.proxyPassword Just In Case
+      /* as noted above, due to bug in java this doesn't work if the sun.net.www.protocol.http.AuthCache
+       * has working credentials. No workaround for Java 11.
+       */
+      if (!Platform.isJS())
+      /* *
+       * java.net.Authenticator not implemented in SwingJS yet
+       * 
+       * @j2sIgnore
+       * 
+       */
+      {
+        Cache.debug("AUTHENTICATOR setting default Authenticator to null");
+        Authenticator.setDefault(null);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // nonProxyHosts not currently configurable in Preferences
+    Cache.debug("AUTHENTICATOR setting property 'http.nonProxyHosts' to \""
+            + nonProxyHosts + "\"");
+    setOrClearSystemProperty("http.nonProxyHosts", nonProxyHosts);
+  }
+
+  public static void setOrClearSystemProperty(String key, char[] value)
+  {
+    setOrClearSystemProperty(key,
+            (value == null) ? null : new String(value));
+  }
+
+  public static void setOrClearSystemProperty(String key, String value)
+  {
+    if (key == null)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (value == null)
+    {
+      System.clearProperty(key);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      System.setProperty(key, value);
+    }
+  }
+
+  public final static int TRACE = 10;
+
+  public final static int DEBUG = 20;
+
+  public final static int INFO = 30;
+
+  public final static int WARN = 40;
+
+  public final static int ERROR = 50;
+
+  public static boolean println(int level, String message)
+  {
+    if (Cache.log == null)
+    {
+      if (level >= WARN)
+        System.err.println(message);
+      else if (level >= INFO)
+        System.out.println(message);
+      // not printing debug or trace messages
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (level >= ERROR)
+    {
+      Cache.log.error(message);
+    }
+    else if (level >= WARN)
+    {
+      Cache.log.warn(message);
+    }
+    else if (level >= INFO)
+    {
+      Cache.log.info(message);
+    }
+    else if (level >= DEBUG)
+    {
+      Cache.log.debug(message);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      Cache.log.trace(message);
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  public static void trace(String message)
+  {
+    println(TRACE, message);
+  }
+
+  public static void debug(String message)
+  {
+    println(DEBUG, message);
+  }
+
+  public static void info(String message)
+  {
+    println(INFO, message);
+  }
+
+  public static void warn(String message)
+  {
+    println(WARN, message);
+  }
+
+  public static void error(String message)
+  {
+    println(ERROR, message);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Getdown appbase methods
+   */
+
+  private static final String releaseAppbase;
+
+  private static String getdownAppbase;
+
+  private static String getdownDistDir;
+
+  static
+  {
+    if (!Platform.isJS())
+    {
+      Float specversion = Float
+              .parseFloat(System.getProperty("java.specification.version"));
+      releaseAppbase = (specversion < 9)
+              ? "https://www.jalview.org/getdown/release/1.8"
+              : "https://www.jalview.org/getdown/release/11";
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      // this value currenly made up, can be changed to URL that will be
+      // "https://www.jalview.org/jalview-js/swingjs/j2s/build_properties"
+      releaseAppbase = "https://www.jalview.org/jalview-js";
+      getdownAppbase = releaseAppbase;
+      getdownDistDir = "/swingjs/j2s";
+    }
+  }
+
+  // look for properties (passed in by getdown) otherwise default to release
+  private static void setGetdownAppbase()
+  {
+    if (getdownAppbase != null)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+    String appbase = System.getProperty("getdownappbase");
+    String distDir = System.getProperty("getdowndistdir");
+    if (appbase == null)
+    {
+      appbase = buildProperties.getProperty("GETDOWNAPPBASE");
+      distDir = buildProperties.getProperty("GETDOWNAPPDISTDIR");
+    }
+    if (appbase == null)
+    {
+      appbase = releaseAppbase;
+      distDir = "release";
+    }
+    if (appbase.endsWith("/"))
+    {
+      appbase = appbase.substring(0, appbase.length() - 1);
+    }
+    if (distDir == null)
+    {
+      distDir = appbase.equals(releaseAppbase) ? "release" : "alt";
+    }
+    getdownAppbase = appbase;
+    getdownDistDir = distDir;
+  }
+
+  public static String getGetdownAppbase()
+  {
+    setGetdownAppbase();
+    return getdownAppbase;
+  }
+
+  public static String getAppbaseBuildProperties()
+  {
+    String appbase = getGetdownAppbase();
+    return appbase + "/" + getdownDistDir + "/build_properties";
+  }
+}