diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/fgqcanvas/CMakeLists.txt
index fd8f0277c..85f38bd4c 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ set(SOURCES
   canvasdisplay.h
   canvaspainteddisplay.cpp
   canvaspainteddisplay.h
+  jsonutils.cpp
+  jsonutils.h
 )
 
 qt5_add_resources(qrc_sources fgqcanvas_resources.qrc)
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.cpp
index 798e4559f..37f84a9b4 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@
 #include <QFileInfo>
 #include <QRegularExpression>
 #include <QDataStream>
+#include <QWindow>
 
+#include "jsonutils.h"
 #include "canvasconnection.h"
 
 ApplicationController::ApplicationController(QObject *parent)
@@ -57,6 +59,26 @@ ApplicationController::~ApplicationController()
     delete m_netAccess;
 }
 
+void ApplicationController::setWindow(QWindow *window)
+{
+    m_window = window;
+}
+
+void ApplicationController::loadFromFile(QString path)
+{
+    if (!QFile::exists(path)) {
+        qWarning() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "no such file:" << path;
+    }
+
+    QFile f(path);
+    if (!f.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly)) {
+        qWarning() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "failed to open" << path;
+        return;
+    }
+
+    restoreState(f.readAll());
+}
+
 void ApplicationController::save(QString configName)
 {
     QDir d(QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation));
@@ -393,8 +415,12 @@ QByteArray ApplicationController::saveState(QString name) const
     }
 
     json["canvases"] = canvases;
+    if (m_window) {
+        json["window-rect"] = rectToJsonArray(m_window->geometry());
+        json["window-state"] = static_cast<int>(m_window->windowState());
+    }
+
     // background color?
-    // window geometry and state?
 
     QJsonDocument doc;
     doc.setObject(json);
@@ -408,7 +434,14 @@ void ApplicationController::restoreState(QByteArray bytes)
     QJsonDocument jsonDoc = QJsonDocument::fromJson(bytes);
     QJsonObject json = jsonDoc.object();
 
-    // window size
+    if (m_window) {
+        QRect r = jsonArrayToRect(json.value("window-rect").toArray());
+        if (r.isValid()) {
+            m_window->setGeometry(r);
+        }
+
+        m_window->setWindowState(static_cast<Qt::WindowState>(json.value("window-state").toInt()));
+    }
     // background color
 
     for (auto c : json.value("canvases").toArray()) {
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.h
index ed931630a..26e2494f2 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/applicationcontroller.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <QVariantList>
 
 class CanvasConnection;
+class QWindow;
 
 class ApplicationController : public QObject
 {
@@ -44,10 +45,15 @@ class ApplicationController : public QObject
     Q_ENUMS(Status)
 
     Q_PROPERTY(Status status READ status NOTIFY statusChanged)
+
 public:
     explicit ApplicationController(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~ApplicationController();
 
+    void setWindow(QWindow* window);
+
+    void loadFromFile(QString path);
+
     Q_INVOKABLE void query();
     Q_INVOKABLE void cancelQuery();
     Q_INVOKABLE void clearQuery();
@@ -140,6 +146,7 @@ private:
     QVariantList m_configs;
     QNetworkReply* m_query = nullptr;
     QVariantList m_snapshots;
+    QWindow* m_window = nullptr;
 };
 
 #endif // APPLICATIONCONTROLLER_H
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/canvasconnection.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/canvasconnection.cpp
index df88d58d2..8f34a398c 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/canvasconnection.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/canvasconnection.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "localprop.h"
 #include "fgqcanvasfontcache.h"
 #include "fgqcanvasimageloader.h"
+#include "jsonutils.h"
 
 CanvasConnection::CanvasConnection(QObject *parent) : QObject(parent)
 {
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ QJsonObject CanvasConnection::saveState() const
     QJsonObject json;
     json["url"] = m_webSocketUrl.toString();
     json["path"] = QString::fromUtf8(m_rootPropertyPath);
-    json["rect"] = QJsonArray{m_destRect.x(), m_destRect.y(), m_destRect.width(), m_destRect.height()};
+    json["rect"] = rectToJsonArray(m_destRect.toRect());
     return json;
 }
 
@@ -73,13 +74,7 @@ bool CanvasConnection::restoreState(QJsonObject state)
 {
     m_webSocketUrl = state.value("url").toString();
     m_rootPropertyPath = state.value("path").toString().toUtf8();
-    QJsonArray rect = state.value("rect").toArray();
-    if (rect.size() < 4) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    m_destRect = QRectF(rect[0].toDouble(), rect[1].toDouble(),
-            rect[2].toDouble(), rect[3].toDouble());
+    m_destRect = jsonArrayToRect(state.value("rect").toArray());
 
     emit geometryChanged();
     emit rootPathChanged();
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.cpp
index dd3203b27..0c01e657d 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ CanvasPaintedDisplay::CanvasPaintedDisplay(QQuickItem* parent) :
 
 CanvasPaintedDisplay::~CanvasPaintedDisplay()
 {
+    qDebug() << "did destory canvas painted";
 }
 
 void CanvasPaintedDisplay::paint(QPainter *painter)
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ void CanvasPaintedDisplay::paint(QPainter *painter)
 
     FGCanvasPaintContext context(painter);
     m_rootElement->paint(&context);
+
 }
 
 void CanvasPaintedDisplay::geometryChanged(const QRectF &newGeometry, const QRectF &)
@@ -78,7 +80,6 @@ void CanvasPaintedDisplay::setCanvas(CanvasConnection *canvas)
 
         onConnectionStatusChanged();
     }
-
 }
 
 void CanvasPaintedDisplay::onConnectionDestroyed()
@@ -94,24 +95,27 @@ void CanvasPaintedDisplay::onConnectionStatusChanged()
     if ((m_connection->status() == CanvasConnection::Connected) ||
             (m_connection->status() == CanvasConnection::Snapshot))
     {
-        m_rootElement.reset(new FGCanvasGroup(nullptr, m_connection->propertyRoot()));
-        // this is important to elements can discover their connection
-        // by walking their parent chain
-        m_rootElement->setParent(m_connection);
-
-        connect(m_rootElement.get(), &FGCanvasGroup::canvasSizeChanged,
-                this, &CanvasPaintedDisplay::onCanvasSizeChanged);
-
-        onCanvasSizeChanged();
-
-        if (m_connection->status() == CanvasConnection::Snapshot) {
-            m_connection->propertyRoot()->recursiveNotifyRestored();
-            m_rootElement->polish();
-            update();
-        }
+        buildElements();
     }
 }
 
+void CanvasPaintedDisplay::buildElements()
+{
+    m_rootElement.reset(new FGCanvasGroup(nullptr, m_connection->propertyRoot()));
+    // this is important to elements can discover their connection
+    // by walking their parent chain
+    m_rootElement->setParent(m_connection);
+
+    connect(m_rootElement.get(), &FGCanvasGroup::canvasSizeChanged,
+            this, &CanvasPaintedDisplay::onCanvasSizeChanged);
+
+    onCanvasSizeChanged();
+
+    m_connection->propertyRoot()->recursiveNotifyRestored();
+    m_rootElement->polish();
+    update();
+}
+
 void CanvasPaintedDisplay::onConnectionUpdated()
 {
     if (m_rootElement) {
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.h
index feea4ff97..31bdff856 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/canvaspainteddisplay.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ private slots:
 
 private:
     void recomputeScaling();
+    void buildElements();
 
     CanvasConnection* m_connection = nullptr;
     std::unique_ptr<FGCanvasGroup> m_rootElement;
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.cpp
index 133af82cd..0a23521c3 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,11 @@ void FGCanvasElement::polish()
     _polishRequired = false;
 }
 
+void FGCanvasElement::dumpElement()
+{
+
+}
+
 void FGCanvasElement::paint(FGCanvasPaintContext *context) const
 {
     if (!isVisible()) {
@@ -297,7 +302,7 @@ bool FGCanvasElement::onChildAdded(LocalProp *prop)
         // ignore for now, we do geo projection server-side
         return true;
     } else if (nm == "id") {
-        connect(prop, &LocalProp::valueChanged, [this](QVariant value) { _svgElementId = value.toByteArray(); });
+        connect(prop, &LocalProp::valueChanged, this, &FGCanvasElement::markSVGIDDirty);
         return true;
     } else if (prop->name() == "update") {
         // disable updates optionally?
@@ -483,6 +488,11 @@ void FGCanvasElement::markZIndexDirty(QVariant value)
     _parent->markChildZIndicesDirty();
 }
 
+void FGCanvasElement::markSVGIDDirty(QVariant value)
+{
+    _svgElementId = value.toByteArray();
+}
+
 void FGCanvasElement::onVisibleChanged(QVariant value)
 {
     _visible = value.toBool();
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.h
index 963c5dafb..ce9cf5d41 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaselement.h
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ public:
 
     void polish();
 
+    virtual void dumpElement() = 0;
 protected:
 
     virtual void doPaint(FGCanvasPaintContext* context) const;
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ private:
     void onVisibleChanged(QVariant value);
 
     void markClipDirty();
+    void markSVGIDDirty(QVariant value);
 
 private:
     friend class FGCanvasGroup;
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.cpp
index 4ceac22bd..27f71f6fb 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.cpp
@@ -200,6 +200,15 @@ void FGCanvasGroup::removeChild(FGCanvasElement *child)
     }
 }
 
+void FGCanvasGroup::dumpElement()
+{
+    qDebug() << "Group at" << _propertyRoot->path();
+    for (auto c : _children) {
+        c->dumpElement();
+    }
+    qDebug() << "End-group at" << _propertyRoot->path();
+}
+
 int FGCanvasGroup::indexOfChildWithProp(LocalProp* prop) const
 {
     auto it = std::find_if(_children.begin(), _children.end(), [prop](FGCanvasElement* child)
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.h
index 985eacba9..acccd2959 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvasgroup.h
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ public:
     { return _quick; }
 
     void removeChild(FGCanvasElement* child);
+
+    void dumpElement() override;
 signals:
     void childAdded();
     void childRemoved(int index);
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.cpp
index 8f0ee82b0..41bc88dd1 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.cpp
@@ -386,6 +386,11 @@ FGCanvasPath::FGCanvasPath(FGCanvasGroup* pr, LocalProp* prop) :
 {
 }
 
+void FGCanvasPath::dumpElement()
+{
+    qDebug() << "Path: at " << _propertyRoot->path();
+}
+
 void FGCanvasPath::doPaint(FGCanvasPaintContext *context) const
 {
     context->painter()->setPen(_stroke);
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.h
index 973697278..34f0dc227 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvaspath.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class FGCanvasPath : public FGCanvasElement
 public:
     FGCanvasPath(FGCanvasGroup* pr, LocalProp* prop);
 
+    void dumpElement() override;
 protected:
     virtual void doPaint(FGCanvasPaintContext* context) const override;
 
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.cpp
index e32e91968..5fa1bd5d5 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.cpp
@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ CanvasItem *FGCanvasText::quickItem() const
     return _quickItem;
 }
 
+void FGCanvasText::dumpElement()
+{
+    qDebug() << "Text:" << _text << " at " << _propertyRoot->path();
+}
+
 void FGCanvasText::doPaint(FGCanvasPaintContext *context) const
 {
     context->painter()->setFont(_font);
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.h
index 51c1f5833..7d0195b72 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgcanvastext.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ public:
     CanvasItem* createQuickItem(QQuickItem *parent) override;
     CanvasItem* quickItem() const override;
 
+    void dumpElement() override;
 protected:
     virtual void doPaint(FGCanvasPaintContext* context) const override;
     void doPolish() override;
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.cpp
index 7750af5f5..c8102547a 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.cpp
@@ -256,4 +256,9 @@ CanvasItem *FGQCanvasImage::quickItem() const
     return _quickItem;
 }
 
+void FGQCanvasImage::dumpElement()
+{
+    qDebug() << "Image: " << _source << " at " << _propertyRoot->path();
+}
+
 #include "fgqcanvasimage.moc"
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.h
index ae7f3cffd..9e4d02857 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.h
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/fgqcanvasimage.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ public:
 
     CanvasItem* createQuickItem(QQuickItem *parent) override;
     CanvasItem* quickItem() const override;
+
+    void dumpElement() override;
 protected:
     virtual void doPaint(FGCanvasPaintContext* context) const override;
 
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/jsonutils.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/jsonutils.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c7e8637d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/jsonutils.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+//
+// Copyright (C) 2018 James Turner  <james@flightgear.org>
+//
+// This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+// modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+// published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+// License, or (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+// WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
+
+#include "jsonutils.h"
+
+QJsonArray rectToJsonArray(const QRect& r)
+{
+    return QJsonArray{r.x(), r.y(), r.width(), r.height()};
+}
+
+
+QRect jsonArrayToRect(QJsonArray a)
+{
+    if (a.size() < 4) {
+        return {};
+    }
+
+    return QRect(a[0].toInt(), a[1].toInt(),
+            a[2].toInt(), a[3].toInt());
+}
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/jsonutils.h b/utils/fgqcanvas/jsonutils.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6166bce4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/jsonutils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+//
+// Copyright (C) 2018 James Turner  <james@flightgear.org>
+//
+// This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+// modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+// published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+// License, or (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+// WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
+
+#ifndef JSONUTILS_H
+#define JSONUTILS_H
+
+#include <QRect>
+#include <QJsonArray>
+
+QJsonArray rectToJsonArray(const QRect& r);
+
+QRect jsonArrayToRect(QJsonArray a);
+
+#endif // JSONUTILS_H
diff --git a/utils/fgqcanvas/main.cpp b/utils/fgqcanvas/main.cpp
index 041ffa93b..a33e6fd38 100644
--- a/utils/fgqcanvas/main.cpp
+++ b/utils/fgqcanvas/main.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     a.setOrganizationName("FlightGear");
 
     ApplicationController appController;
-    // load saved history on the app controller?
 
     qmlRegisterType<CanvasItem>("FlightGear", 1, 0, "CanvasItem");
     qmlRegisterType<CanvasDisplay>("FlightGear", 1, 0, "CanvasDisplay");
@@ -45,10 +44,17 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     qmlRegisterUncreatableType<ApplicationController>("FlightGear", 1, 0, "Application", "Can't create");
 
     QQuickView quickView;
-    quickView.resize(1024, 768);
+    appController.setWindow(&quickView);
 
     quickView.rootContext()->setContextProperty("_application", &appController);
 
+    if (argc > 1) {
+        appController.loadFromFile(QString::fromLocal8Bit(argv[1]));
+    } else {
+        quickView.setWidth(1024);
+        quickView.setHeight(768);
+    }
+
     quickView.setSource(QUrl("qrc:///qml/mainMenu.qml"));
     quickView.setResizeMode(QQuickView::SizeRootObjectToView);
     quickView.show();