diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/io/ReadAndWriteEntry.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/io/ReadAndWriteEntry.java
index 3c8f42b87e785df1f77e24f033d03b9b621c7ecf..f08396894a39133c7cf5a4ef6de42eaba7fb91ba 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/io/ReadAndWriteEntry.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/io/ReadAndWriteEntry.java
@@ -212,7 +212,10 @@ public class ReadAndWriteEntry
       //
       //
       
-      final String names[] = {
+      final String names[];
+      
+      if(args == null || args.length < 1)
+        names = new String[]{
           "bin.fas", 
           "chab01.fas",
           "chab02.fas",
@@ -229,6 +232,8 @@ public class ReadAndWriteEntry
           "chab13.fas",
           "chab14.fas",
           "chab99.fas" };
+      else
+        names = args;
       
       for(int i=0;i < names.length; i++)
       {