diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/FileViewer.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/FileViewer.java
index c66f06c37a56750c9e44492d7c9d2264b5f78a53..5a63b525ffcae68995516d1d284ad4247efcf565 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/FileViewer.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/FileViewer.java
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ public class FileViewer extends JFrame
     appendString(read_string, level);
   }
   
-  protected void appendString(final String read_string, final Level level) 
+  public void appendString(final String read_string, final Level level) 
   {
     final Document doc = textPane.getStyledDocument();
     try