Sun (now Oracle) issued an update on January 13th to the Java Runtime Environment. "JDK/JRE" 6 Update 18 contains a new bug which is causing problems with Specify and with other Java applications. Specify runs fine with the earlier Java JDK/JRE 6 Update 17. As a temporary measure if Specify or the Specify Wizard freezes, determine if Java JRE 6 Update 18 is installed. You can check this within Specify from the 'About' menu. In Windows, you can determine the installed Java JRE version using Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs. If you do find Java 6 Update 18 installed, un-install it (in Windows using Add or Remove Programs). Then download JDK/JRE 6 Update 17 at: http://java.sun.com/products/archive and install it. We will monitor the arrival of the next Java 6 JRE update and put out a notice when the Java Runtime Environment bug has been fixed.