diff --git a/docs/JUCE changelist.txt b/docs/JUCE changelist.txt
index 4eda61451d..ff143a59a4 100644
--- a/docs/JUCE changelist.txt	
+++ b/docs/JUCE changelist.txt	
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ Changelist for version 1.44
 - added MultiDocumentPanel::createNewDocumentWindow() method to allow creation of custom document windows in a MultiDocumentPanel
 - added a Thread::getCurrentThread() method
 - added an option to MessageManagerLock that can check for thread termination, to avoid deadlocks.
+- new method: PropertySet::setFallbackPropertySet()
+- some simplifications to ApplicationProperties, because of problems it was causing when there were read-only common property files.
 
 ==============================================================================
 Changelist for version 1.43
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.cpp b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.cpp
index 61cc43761c..ec77b30c5c 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.cpp
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ ApplicationProperties::ApplicationProperties() throw()
     : userProps (0),
       commonProps (0),
       msBeforeSaving (3000),
-      options (PropertiesFile::storeAsBinary)
+      options (PropertiesFile::storeAsBinary),
+      commonSettingsAreReadOnly (0)
 {
 }
 
@@ -75,9 +76,8 @@ bool ApplicationProperties::testWriteAccess (const bool testUserSettings,
                                              const bool testCommonSettings,
                                              const bool showWarningDialogOnFailure)
 {
-    const bool userOk = (! testUserSettings) || getUserSettings()->save();
-    const bool commonOk = (! testCommonSettings)
-                            || (userProps != getCommonSettings() && getCommonSettings()->save());
+    const bool userOk    = (! testUserSettings)   || getUserSettings()->save();
+    const bool commonOk  = (! testCommonSettings) || getCommonSettings (false)->save();
 
     if (! (userOk && commonOk))
     {
@@ -85,26 +85,16 @@ bool ApplicationProperties::testWriteAccess (const bool testUserSettings,
         {
             String filenames;
 
-            if (! userOk)
-                filenames << "\n" << getUserSettings()->getFile().getFullPathName();
+            if (userProps != 0 && ! userOk)
+                filenames << '\n' << userProps->getFile().getFullPathName();
 
-            if (! commonOk)
-            {
-                PropertiesFile* const realCommonProps 
-                    = PropertiesFile::createDefaultAppPropertiesFile (appName, fileSuffix, folderName,
-                                                                      true, msBeforeSaving, options);
-
-                if (realCommonProps != 0)
-                {
-                    filenames << "\n" << realCommonProps->getFile().getFullPathName();
-                    delete realCommonProps;
-                }
-            }
+            if (commonProps != 0 && ! commonOk)
+                filenames << '\n' << commonProps->getFile().getFullPathName();
 
             AlertWindow::showMessageBox (AlertWindow::WarningIcon,
                                          appName + TRANS(" - Unable to save settings"),
                                          TRANS("An error occurred when trying to save the application's settings file...\n\nIn order to save and restore its settings, ")
-                                         + appName + TRANS(" needs to be able to write to the following files:\n")
+                                          + appName + TRANS(" needs to be able to write to the following files:\n")
                                           + filenames
                                           + TRANS("\n\nMake sure that these files aren't read-only, and that the disk isn't full."));
         }
@@ -116,45 +106,46 @@ bool ApplicationProperties::testWriteAccess (const bool testUserSettings,
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
-PropertiesFile* ApplicationProperties::getUserSettings() throw()
+void ApplicationProperties::openFiles() throw()
 {
-    if (userProps == 0)
-    {
-        // You need to call setStorageParameters() before trying to get hold of the
-        // properties!
-        jassert (appName.isNotEmpty());
+    // You need to call setStorageParameters() before trying to get hold of the
+    // properties!
+    jassert (appName.isNotEmpty());
 
-        if (appName.isNotEmpty())
+    if (appName.isNotEmpty())
+    {
+        if (userProps == 0)
             userProps = PropertiesFile::createDefaultAppPropertiesFile (appName, fileSuffix, folderName,
                                                                         false, msBeforeSaving, options);
 
-        if (userProps == 0)
-        {
-            // create an emergency properties object to avoid returning a null pointer..
-            userProps = new PropertiesFile (File::nonexistent, msBeforeSaving, options);
-        }
+        if (commonProps == 0)
+            commonProps = PropertiesFile::createDefaultAppPropertiesFile (appName, fileSuffix, folderName,
+                                                                          true, msBeforeSaving, options);
+
+        userProps->setFallbackPropertySet (commonProps);
     }
+}
+
+PropertiesFile* ApplicationProperties::getUserSettings() throw()
+{
+    if (userProps == 0)
+        openFiles();
 
     return userProps;
 }
 
-PropertiesFile* ApplicationProperties::getCommonSettings() throw()
+PropertiesFile* ApplicationProperties::getCommonSettings (const bool returnUserPropsIfReadOnly) throw()
 {
     if (commonProps == 0)
-    {
-        // You need to call setStorageParameters() before trying to get hold of the
-        // properties!
-        jassert (appName.isNotEmpty());
+        openFiles();
 
-        if (appName.isNotEmpty())
-            commonProps = PropertiesFile::createDefaultAppPropertiesFile (appName, fileSuffix, folderName,
-                                                                          true, msBeforeSaving, options);
-
-        if (commonProps == 0 || ! commonProps->save())
-        {
-            delete commonProps;
-            commonProps = getUserSettings();
-        }
+    if (returnUserPropsIfReadOnly)
+    {
+        if (commonSettingsAreReadOnly == 0)
+            commonSettingsAreReadOnly = commonProps->save() ? -1 : 1;
+        
+        if (commonSettingsAreReadOnly > 0)
+            return userProps;
     }
 
     return commonProps;
@@ -163,17 +154,13 @@ PropertiesFile* ApplicationProperties::getCommonSettings() throw()
 bool ApplicationProperties::saveIfNeeded()
 {
     return (userProps == 0 || userProps->saveIfNeeded())
-         && (commonProps == 0 || commonProps == userProps || commonProps->saveIfNeeded());
+         && (commonProps == 0 || commonProps->saveIfNeeded());
 }
 
 void ApplicationProperties::closeFiles()
 {
-    delete userProps;
-
-    if (commonProps != userProps)
-        delete commonProps;
-
-    userProps = commonProps = 0;
+    deleteAndZero (userProps);
+    deleteAndZero (commonProps);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.h b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.h
index 362bf818f7..5e21ab33fa 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.h
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_ApplicationProperties.h
@@ -106,7 +106,12 @@ public:
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the user settings file.
 
-        The first time this is called, it will create and load the file.
+        The first time this is called, it will create and load the properties file.
+
+        Note that when you search the user PropertiesFile for a value that it doesn't contain,
+        the common settings are used as a second-chance place to look. This is done via the
+        PropertySet::setFallbackPropertySet() method - by default the common settings are set 
+        to the fallback for the user settings.
 
         @see getCommonSettings
     */
@@ -114,14 +119,19 @@ public:
 
     /** Returns the common settings file.
 
-        The first time this is called, it will create and load the file.
-
-        If the common settings file doesn't have write access but the user one does,
-        then this may return the same PropertiesFile object as getUserSettings().
+        The first time this is called, it will create and load the properties file.
 
+        @param returnUserPropsIfReadOnly  if this is true, and the common properties file is
+                            read-only (e.g. because the user doesn't have permission to write 
+                            to shared files), then this will return the user settings instead, 
+                            (like getUserSettings() would do). This is handy if you'd like to 
+                            write a value to the common settings, but if that's no possible,
+                            then you'd rather write to the user settings than none at all. 
+                            If returnUserPropsIfReadOnly is false, this method will always return 
+                            the common settings, even if any changes to them can't be saved.
         @see getUserSettings
     */
-    PropertiesFile* getCommonSettings() throw();
+    PropertiesFile* getCommonSettings (const bool returnUserPropsIfReadOnly) throw();
 
     //==============================================================================
     /** Saves both files if they need to be saved.
@@ -138,6 +148,7 @@ public:
     */
     void closeFiles();
 
+
     //==============================================================================
     juce_UseDebuggingNewOperator
 
@@ -148,9 +159,12 @@ private:
 
     String appName, fileSuffix, folderName;
     int msBeforeSaving, options;
+    int commonSettingsAreReadOnly;
 
     ApplicationProperties (const ApplicationProperties&);
     const ApplicationProperties& operator= (const ApplicationProperties&);
+
+    void openFiles() throw();
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.cpp b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.cpp
index 827621effb..c1db2d0d7b 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.cpp
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.cpp
@@ -144,13 +144,23 @@ bool PropertiesFile::saveIfNeeded()
     return (! needsWriting) || save();
 }
 
+bool PropertiesFile::needsToBeSaved() const throw()
+{
+    const ScopedLock sl (getLock());
+
+    return needsWriting;
+}
+
+
 bool PropertiesFile::save()
 {
     const ScopedLock sl (getLock());
 
     stopTimer();
 
-    if (file == File::nonexistent || file.isDirectory())
+    if (file == File::nonexistent 
+         || file.isDirectory() 
+         || ! file.getParentDirectory().createDirectory())
         return false;
 
     if ((options & storeAsXML) != 0)
@@ -292,7 +302,9 @@ PropertiesFile* PropertiesFile::createDefaultAppPropertiesFile (const String& ap
                                                 folderName,
                                                 commonToAllUsers));
 
-    if (file == File::nonexistent || ! file.getParentDirectory().createDirectory())
+    jassert (file != File::nonexistent);
+
+    if (file == File::nonexistent)
         return 0;
 
     return new PropertiesFile (file, millisecondsBeforeSaving, propertiesFileOptions);
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.h b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.h
index 9c7835352e..b12da6f1df 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.h
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/application/juce_PropertiesFile.h
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ public:
     */
     bool save();
 
+    /** Returns true if the properties have been altered since the last time they were
+        saved.
+    */
+    bool needsToBeSaved() const throw();
+
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the file that's being used. */
     const File getFile() const throw();
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/buttons/juce_Button.h b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/buttons/juce_Button.h
index 876140cf39..ed710c33fb 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/buttons/juce_Button.h
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/buttons/juce_Button.h
@@ -225,12 +225,16 @@ public:
         If generateTooltip is true, then the button's tooltip will be automatically
         generated based on the name of this command and its current shortcut key.
 
-        @see addShortcut
+        @see addShortcut, getCommandID
     */
     void setCommandToTrigger (ApplicationCommandManager* commandManagerToUse,
                               const int commandID,
                               const bool generateTooltip);
 
+    /** Returns the command ID that was set by setCommandToTrigger().
+    */
+    int getCommandID() const throw()                { return commandID; }
+
     //==============================================================================
     /** Assigns a shortcut key to trigger the button.
 
diff --git a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp
index 43bdf6448f..297765343e 100644
--- a/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/juce_appframework/gui/components/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp
@@ -45,24 +45,6 @@ static const int titleH = 24;
 static const int iconWidth = 80;
 
 
-//==============================================================================
-class AlertWindowTextButton  : public TextButton
-{
-public:
-    AlertWindowTextButton (const String& text)
-        : TextButton (text, String::empty)
-    {
-        setWantsKeyboardFocus (true);
-        setMouseClickGrabsKeyboardFocus (false);
-    }
-
-    int returnValue;
-
-private:
-    AlertWindowTextButton (const AlertWindowTextButton&);
-    const AlertWindowTextButton& operator= (const AlertWindowTextButton&);
-};
-
 //==============================================================================
 class AlertWindowTextEditor  : public TextEditor
 {
@@ -89,13 +71,13 @@ public:
     void returnPressed()
     {
         // pass these up the component hierarchy to be trigger the buttons
-        Component::keyPressed (KeyPress (KeyPress::returnKey, 0, T('\n')));
+        getParentComponent()->keyPressed (KeyPress (KeyPress::returnKey, 0, T('\n')));
     }
 
     void escapePressed()
     {
         // pass these up the component hierarchy to be trigger the buttons
-        Component::keyPressed (KeyPress (KeyPress::escapeKey, 0, 0));
+        getParentComponent()->keyPressed (KeyPress (KeyPress::escapeKey, 0, 0));
     }
 
 private:
@@ -134,8 +116,6 @@ AlertWindow::AlertWindow (const String& title,
     lookAndFeelChanged();
 
     constrainer.setMinimumOnscreenAmounts (0x10000, 0x10000, 0x10000, 0x10000);
-
-    setWantsKeyboardFocus (getNumChildComponents() == 0);
 }
 
 AlertWindow::~AlertWindow()
@@ -172,12 +152,12 @@ void AlertWindow::buttonClicked (Button* button)
 {
     for (int i = 0; i < buttons.size(); i++)
     {
-        AlertWindowTextButton* const c = (AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons[i];
+        TextButton* const c = (TextButton*) buttons[i];
 
         if (button->getName() == c->getName())
         {
             if (c->getParentComponent() != 0)
-                c->getParentComponent()->exitModalState (c->returnValue);
+                c->getParentComponent()->exitModalState (c->getCommandID());
 
             break;
         }
@@ -190,9 +170,11 @@ void AlertWindow::addButton (const String& name,
                              const KeyPress& shortcutKey1,
                              const KeyPress& shortcutKey2)
 {
-    AlertWindowTextButton* const b = new AlertWindowTextButton (name);
+    TextButton* const b = new TextButton (name, String::empty);
 
-    b->returnValue = returnValue;
+    b->setWantsKeyboardFocus (true);
+    b->setMouseClickGrabsKeyboardFocus (false);
+    b->setCommandToTrigger (0, returnValue, false);
     b->addShortcut (shortcutKey1);
     b->addShortcut (shortcutKey2);
     b->addButtonListener (this);
@@ -286,6 +268,7 @@ public:
         setCaretVisible (false);
         setScrollbarsShown (true);
         lookAndFeelChanged();
+        setWantsKeyboardFocus (false);
 
         setFont (font);
         setText (message, false);
@@ -441,14 +424,14 @@ void AlertWindow::updateLayout (const bool onlyIncreaseSize)
     int buttonW = 40;
     int i;
     for (i = 0; i < buttons.size(); ++i)
-        buttonW += 16 + ((const AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons[i])->getWidth();
+        buttonW += 16 + ((const TextButton*) buttons[i])->getWidth();
 
     w = jmax (buttonW, w);
 
     h += (textBoxes.size() + comboBoxes.size() + progressBars.size()) * 50;
 
     if (buttons.size() > 0)
-        h += 20 + ((AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons[0])->getHeight();
+        h += 20 + ((TextButton*) buttons[0])->getHeight();
 
     for (i = customComps.size(); --i >= 0;)
     {
@@ -499,14 +482,14 @@ void AlertWindow::updateLayout (const bool onlyIncreaseSize)
     int totalWidth = -spacer;
 
     for (i = buttons.size(); --i >= 0;)
-        totalWidth += ((AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons[i])->getWidth() + spacer;
+        totalWidth += ((TextButton*) buttons[i])->getWidth() + spacer;
 
     int x = (w - totalWidth) / 2;
     int y = (int) (getHeight() * 0.95f);
 
     for (i = 0; i < buttons.size(); ++i)
     {
-        AlertWindowTextButton* const c = (AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons[i];
+        TextButton* const c = (TextButton*) buttons[i];
         int ny = proportionOfHeight (0.95f) - c->getHeight();
         c->setTopLeftPosition (x, ny);
         if (ny < y)
@@ -544,6 +527,8 @@ void AlertWindow::updateLayout (const bool onlyIncreaseSize)
             y += h + 10;
         }
     }
+
+    setWantsKeyboardFocus (getNumChildComponents() == 0);
 }
 
 bool AlertWindow::containsAnyExtraComponents() const
@@ -569,7 +554,7 @@ bool AlertWindow::keyPressed (const KeyPress& key)
 {
     for (int i = buttons.size(); --i >= 0;)
     {
-        AlertWindowTextButton* const b = (AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons[i];
+        TextButton* const b = (TextButton*) buttons[i];
 
         if (b->isRegisteredForShortcut (key))
         {
@@ -585,7 +570,7 @@ bool AlertWindow::keyPressed (const KeyPress& key)
     }
     else if (key.isKeyCode (KeyPress::returnKey) && buttons.size() == 1)
     {
-        ((AlertWindowTextButton*) buttons.getFirst())->triggerClick();
+        ((TextButton*) buttons.getFirst())->triggerClick();
         return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.cpp b/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.cpp
index 6bac254d7c..f3914f0d9c 100644
--- a/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.cpp
+++ b/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ BEGIN_JUCE_NAMESPACE
 //==============================================================================
 PropertySet::PropertySet (const bool ignoreCaseOfKeyNames) throw()
     : properties (ignoreCaseOfKeyNames),
+      fallbackProperties (0),
       ignoreCaseOfKeys (ignoreCaseOfKeyNames)
 {
 }
@@ -51,11 +52,17 @@ PropertySet::~PropertySet()
 }
 
 const String PropertySet::getValue (const String& keyName,
-                                    const String& defaultReturnValue) const throw()
+                                    const String& defaultValue) const throw()
 {
     const ScopedLock sl (lock);
 
-    return properties.getValue (keyName, defaultReturnValue);
+    const int index = properties.getAllKeys().indexOf (keyName, ignoreCaseOfKeys);
+
+    if (index >= 0)
+        return properties.getAllValues() [index];
+
+    return fallbackProperties != 0 ? fallbackProperties->getValue (keyName, defaultValue)
+                                   : defaultValue;
 }
 
 int PropertySet::getIntValue (const String& keyName,
@@ -67,7 +74,8 @@ int PropertySet::getIntValue (const String& keyName,
     if (index >= 0)
         return properties.getAllValues() [index].getIntValue();
 
-    return defaultValue;
+    return fallbackProperties != 0 ? fallbackProperties->getIntValue (keyName, defaultValue)
+                                   : defaultValue;
 }
 
 double PropertySet::getDoubleValue (const String& keyName,
@@ -79,7 +87,8 @@ double PropertySet::getDoubleValue (const String& keyName,
     if (index >= 0)
         return properties.getAllValues()[index].getDoubleValue();
 
-    return defaultValue;
+    return fallbackProperties != 0 ? fallbackProperties->getDoubleValue (keyName, defaultValue)
+                                   : defaultValue;
 }
 
 bool PropertySet::getBoolValue (const String& keyName,
@@ -91,7 +100,8 @@ bool PropertySet::getBoolValue (const String& keyName,
     if (index >= 0)
         return properties.getAllValues() [index].getIntValue() != 0;
 
-    return defaultValue;
+    return fallbackProperties != 0 ? fallbackProperties->getBoolValue (keyName, defaultValue)
+                                   : defaultValue;
 }
 
 XmlElement* PropertySet::getXmlValue (const String& keyName) const
@@ -162,6 +172,12 @@ bool PropertySet::containsKey (const String& keyName) const throw()
     return properties.getAllKeys().contains (keyName, ignoreCaseOfKeys);
 }
 
+void PropertySet::setFallbackPropertySet (PropertySet* fallbackProperties_) throw()
+{
+    const ScopedLock sl (lock);
+    fallbackProperties = fallbackProperties_;
+}
+
 void PropertySet::propertyChanged()
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.h b/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.h
index a3ef4da45d..d83c75d556 100644
--- a/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.h
+++ b/src/juce_core/containers/juce_PropertySet.h
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ public:
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns one of the properties as a string.
 
+        If the value isn't found in this set, then this will look for it in a fallback
+        property set (if you've specified one with the setFallbackPropertySet() method),
+        and if it can't find one there, it'll return the default value passed-in.
+
         @param keyName              the name of the property to retrieve
         @param defaultReturnValue   a value to return if the named property doesn't actually exist
     */
@@ -71,6 +75,10 @@ public:
 
     /** Returns one of the properties as an integer.
 
+        If the value isn't found in this set, then this will look for it in a fallback
+        property set (if you've specified one with the setFallbackPropertySet() method),
+        and if it can't find one there, it'll return the default value passed-in.
+
         @param keyName              the name of the property to retrieve
         @param defaultReturnValue   a value to return if the named property doesn't actually exist
     */
@@ -79,6 +87,10 @@ public:
 
     /** Returns one of the properties as an double.
 
+        If the value isn't found in this set, then this will look for it in a fallback
+        property set (if you've specified one with the setFallbackPropertySet() method),
+        and if it can't find one there, it'll return the default value passed-in.
+
         @param keyName              the name of the property to retrieve
         @param defaultReturnValue   a value to return if the named property doesn't actually exist
     */
@@ -90,6 +102,10 @@ public:
         The result will be true if the string found for this key name can be parsed as a non-zero
         integer.
 
+        If the value isn't found in this set, then this will look for it in a fallback
+        property set (if you've specified one with the setFallbackPropertySet() method),
+        and if it can't find one there, it'll return the default value passed-in.
+
         @param keyName              the name of the property to retrieve
         @param defaultReturnValue   a value to return if the named property doesn't actually exist
     */
@@ -101,6 +117,10 @@ public:
         The result will a new XMLElement object that the caller must delete. If may return 0 if the
         key isn't found, or if the entry contains an string that isn't valid XML.
 
+        If the value isn't found in this set, then this will look for it in a fallback
+        property set (if you've specified one with the setFallbackPropertySet() method),
+        and if it can't find one there, it'll return the default value passed-in.
+
         @param keyName              the name of the property to retrieve
     */
     XmlElement* getXmlValue (const String& keyName) const;
@@ -167,6 +187,25 @@ public:
     /** Returns the lock used when reading or writing to this set */
     const CriticalSection& getLock() const throw()                      { return lock; }
 
+    //==============================================================================
+    /** Sets up a second PopertySet that will be used to look up any values that aren't
+        set in this one.
+
+        If you set this up to be a pointer to a second property set, then whenever one 
+        of the getValue() methods fails to find an entry in this set, it will look up that
+        value in the fallback set, and if it finds it, it will return that.
+
+        Make sure that you don't delete the fallback set while it's still being used by
+        another set! To remove the fallback set, just call this method with a null pointer.
+
+        @see getFallbackPropertySet
+    */
+    void setFallbackPropertySet (PropertySet* fallbackProperties) throw();
+
+    /** Returns the fallback property set.
+        @see setFallbackPropertySet
+    */
+    PropertySet* getFallbackPropertySet() const throw()                 { return fallbackProperties; }
 
     //==============================================================================
     juce_UseDebuggingNewOperator
@@ -182,8 +221,9 @@ protected:
 private:
     //==============================================================================
     StringPairArray properties;
-    bool ignoreCaseOfKeys;
+    PropertySet* fallbackProperties;
     CriticalSection lock;
+    bool ignoreCaseOfKeys;
 
     PropertySet (const PropertySet&);
     const PropertySet& operator= (const PropertySet&);