Why several ImageJ instances?

Posted by vischer on Feb 05, 2011; 8:53pm
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/Why-several-ImageJ-instances-tp3685782.html

I made some tests on Windows XP and found following:

Each time I double-click the ImageJ microscope icon, a new instance of ImageJ is opened, painting another ImageJ main window exactly on the top of the previous. This is also true if I check Edit>Options>Misc..>Run Single Instance Listener.

ImageJ seems to be an exception; I cannot reproduce this with other (Java)applications. ImageJ on the Mac behaves well.

I think that having the same application open more than once creates a lot of confusion (multiplied by the number of students in an image processing course).

I also wonder why the "Single Instance" checkbox is not on by default (so at least dragging an image onto the microscope icon would behave well).

Wouldn't it be better to avoid more than one instances at all?

Norbert Vischer
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
University of Amsterdam
Netherlands