diff --git a/doc/gf-history.html b/doc/gf-history.html
index 6c3282846..98a40bba3 100644
--- a/doc/gf-history.html
+++ b/doc/gf-history.html
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ Changes in functionality since May 17, 2005, release of GF Version 2.2
 
 <p>
 
+4/6 (AR) Sequence of commands in the Java editor GUI now possible.
+The commands are separated by <tt> ;; </tt> (notice the space on
+both sides of the two semicolons). Such a sequence can be sent
+from the "GF Command"  pop-up field, but is mostly intended
+for external processes that communicate with GF.
+
+<p>
+
 3/6 (AR) The format <tt>.gfe</tt> defined to support
 <b>grammar writing by examples</b>. Files of this format are first
 converted to <tt>.gf</tt> files by the command
diff --git a/src/GF/Shell/CommandL.hs b/src/GF/Shell/CommandL.hs
index 889af5b6f..62d3f9e87 100644
--- a/src/GF/Shell/CommandL.hs
+++ b/src/GF/Shell/CommandL.hs
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 -- Stability   : (stable)
 -- Portability : (portable)
 --
--- > CVS $Date: 2005/04/21 16:23:19 $ 
--- > CVS $Author: bringert $
--- > CVS $Revision: 1.16 $
+-- > CVS $Date: 2005/06/03 22:44:36 $ 
+-- > CVS $Author: aarne $
+-- > CVS $Revision: 1.17 $
 --
 -- (Description of the module)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import GF.Compile.ShellState
 import GF.Infra.Option
 import GF.UseGrammar.Session
 import GF.Shell.Commands
+import GF.Shell.PShell (wordsLits)
 
 import Data.Char
 import Data.List (intersperse)
@@ -77,14 +78,18 @@ getCommand = do
 
 -- | decodes UTF8 if u==False, i.e. if the grammar does not use UTF8;
 -- used in the Java GUI, which always uses UTF8
-getCommandUTF :: Bool -> IO (String,Command)
+getCommandUTF :: Bool -> IO [(String,Command)]
 getCommandUTF u = do
   s <- getLine
-  return $ pCommandMsg $ if u then s else decodeUTF8 s 
+  return $ pCommandMsgs $ if u then s else decodeUTF8 s 
+
+pCommandMsgs :: String -> [(String,Command)]
+pCommandMsgs = map (pCommandMsg . unwords) . concatMap (chunks ";;" . words) . lines
 
 pCommand :: String -> Command
 pCommand = snd . pCommandMsg
 
+
 pCommandMsg :: String -> (String,Command)
 pCommandMsg s = (m,pCommandWords $ words c) where
   (m,c) = case s of
diff --git a/src/GF/Shell/JGF.hs b/src/GF/Shell/JGF.hs
index 58be7bfbf..0ff678809 100644
--- a/src/GF/Shell/JGF.hs
+++ b/src/GF/Shell/JGF.hs
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 -- Stability   : (stable)
 -- Portability : (portable)
 --
--- > CVS $Date: 2005/04/21 16:23:21 $ 
--- > CVS $Author: bringert $
--- > CVS $Revision: 1.12 $
+-- > CVS $Date: 2005/06/03 22:44:36 $ 
+-- > CVS $Author: aarne $
+-- > CVS $Revision: 1.13 $
 --
 -- GF editing session controlled by e.g. a Java program. AR 16\/11\/2001
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -24,10 +24,12 @@ import GF.Compile.ShellState
 import GF.UseGrammar.Session
 import GF.Shell.Commands
 import GF.Shell.CommandL
-
-import System
 import GF.Text.UTF8
 
+import Control.Monad (foldM)
+import System
+
+
 
 -- GF editing session controlled by e.g. a Java program. AR 16/11/2001
 
@@ -43,22 +45,30 @@ sessionLineJ isNew env = do
 -- the Boolean is a temporary hack to have two parallel GUIs
 editLoopJnewX :: Bool -> CEnv -> SState -> IO ()
 editLoopJnewX isNew env state = do
-  (m,c) <- getCommandUTF (isCEnvUTF8 env state) ----
-  case c of
-    CQuit -> return ()
-
-    c -> do
-      (env',state') <- execCommand env c state
-      let inits = initAndEditMsgJavaX isNew env' state' m
-      let package = case c of
-            CCEnvImport _         -> inits
-            CCEnvEmptyAndImport _ -> inits
-            CCEnvOpenTerm _       -> inits
-            CCEnvOpenString _     -> inits
-            CCEnvEmpty            -> initEditMsgJavaX env'
-            _ -> displaySStateJavaX isNew env' state' m
-      putStrLnFlush package
-      editLoopJnewX isNew env' state'
+  mscs <- getCommandUTF (isCEnvUTF8 env state) ----
+  let (ms,cs) = unzip mscs
+      m = unlines ms --- ?
+  if null cs 
+    then editLoopJnewX isNew env state
+    else
+      case cs of
+        [CQuit] -> return ()
+        _ -> do
+          (env',state') <- foldM exec (env,state) cs
+          let inits = initAndEditMsgJavaX isNew env' state' m
+          let 
+            package = case last cs of
+              CCEnvImport _         -> inits
+              CCEnvEmptyAndImport _ -> inits
+              CCEnvOpenTerm _       -> inits
+              CCEnvOpenString _     -> inits
+              CCEnvEmpty            -> initEditMsgJavaX env'
+              _ -> displaySStateJavaX isNew env' state' m
+          putStrLnFlush package
+          editLoopJnewX isNew env' state'
+ where
+  exec (env,state) c = do
+    execCommand env c state
 
 welcome :: String
 welcome =