diff --git a/build.properties b/build.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1cc4dbc968673a06dadcc2ca6b314974a52565c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Created 23 AUG 2024
+product.shortname=viskit
+viskit.dir=${basedir}/${product.shortname}
+
+#assy.file=${basedir}/examples/src/ViskitOpenDis7Examples/Assemblies/dis7/ArrivalProcessOpenDis7Assembly.xml
+#assy.file=${basedir}/examples/src/ViskitOpenDis7Examples/Assemblies/dis7/SimpleServerDis7Assembly.xml
+
+# Viskit run arguments
+common.run.args=-Xmx256m \
+    -Dswing.aatext=true
+
+win.run.args=${common.run.args}
+
+run.arg1=-Dawt.useSystemAAFontSettings=gasp
+unix.run.args=${common.run.args} ${run.arg1}
+
+run.arg2=-Dapple.awt.graphics.UseQuartz=true \
+    -Dapple.laf.useScreenMenuBar=true \
+    -Dapple.awt.brushMetalLook=true \
+    -Xdock:name=${product.shortname} \
+    --add-exports java.desktop/com.apple.eawt=ALL-UNNAMED
+mac.run.args=${common.run.args} ${run.arg2}
+
+# property used to identify .viskit/*.xml files
+dot.viskit.dir=${user.home}/.${product.shortname}
diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index 084deb26f593e20293133993e55eb8d4195cc092..6e994c3925be34622ce5585be2d7f41263604c7d 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
     
     <property name="specificationsDirectory" location="specifications"/>
     <import   file="specifications/build.xml"/> -->
+    <property file="build.properties"/>
 
     <target name="versions" description="show tool versions and environment values">
         <echo>ant -version</echo>
@@ -253,27 +254,6 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
             </not>
         </and>
     </condition>
-    <property name="product.shortname" value="viskit"/>
-    <property name="viskit.dir" value="${basedir}/${product.shortname}"/>
-    
-    <property name="run.arg0" value="-Xmx256m"/>
-    <property name="run.arg1" value="-Dswing.aatext=true"/>
-    <property name="common.run.args" value="${run.arg0} ${run.arg1}"/>
-    
-    <property name="win.run.args" value="${common.run.args}"/>
-    
-    <property name="run.arg2" value="-Dawt.useSystemAAFontSettings=gasp"/>
-    <property name="unix.run.args" value="${common.run.args} ${run.arg2}"/>
-
-    <property name="run.arg3" value="-Dapple.awt.graphics.UseQuartz=true"/>
-    <property name="run.arg4" value="-Dapple.laf.useScreenMenuBar=true"/>
-    <property name="run.arg5" value="-Dapple.awt.brushMetalLook=true"/>
-    <property name="run.arg6" value="-Xdock:name=${product.shortname}"/>
-    <property name="run.arg7" value="--add-exports java.desktop/com.apple.eawt=ALL-UNNAMED"/>
-    <property name="mac.run.args" value="${common.run.args} ${run.arg3} ${run.arg4} ${run.arg5} ${run.arg6} ${run.arg7}"/> 
-    
-    <!--<property name="assy.file" value="${basedir}/examples/src/ViskitOpenDis7Examples/Assemblies/dis7/ArrivalProcessOpenDis7Assembly.xml"/>-->
-    <property name="assy.file" value="${basedir}/examples/src/ViskitOpenDis7Examples/Assemblies/dis7/SimpleServerDis7Assembly.xml"/>
     
     <target name="run.viskit" depends="run.viskit.win,run.viskit.mac,run.viskit.unix" description="Start the Visual Simikit (viskit) DES Authoring Tool on any O/S"/>
     <target name="run.viskit.win" if="isWin">
@@ -301,7 +281,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
     </target>
     
     <target name="nuke.dot.viskit" description="Abolish an out of synch configuration and metadata directory">
-        <delete includeemptydirs="yes" dir="${user.home}/.${product.shortname}"/>
+        <delete includeemptydirs="yes" dir="${dot.viskit.dir}"/>
     </target>
     
 </project>
\ No newline at end of file