diff --git a/components/bio-formats/src/loci/formats/in/CellomicsReader.java b/components/bio-formats/src/loci/formats/in/CellomicsReader.java
index c251d30..deb98b5 100644
--- a/components/bio-formats/src/loci/formats/in/CellomicsReader.java
+++ b/components/bio-formats/src/loci/formats/in/CellomicsReader.java
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ public class CellomicsReader extends FormatReader {
 
   private String[] files;
 
+  private static boolean noHiddenFiles = true;
+
+  public static void setNoHiddenFiles(boolean v)
+  {
+     noHiddenFiles = v;
+  }
+
   // -- Constructor --
 
   /** Constructs a new Cellomics reader. */
@@ -137,7 +144,7 @@ public class CellomicsReader extends FormatReader {
     String plateName = getPlateName(baseFile.getName());
 
     if (plateName != null && isGroupFiles()) {
-      String[] list = parent.list(true);
+      String[] list = parent.list(noHiddenFiles);
       for (String f : list) {
         if (plateName.equals(getPlateName(f)) &&
           (checkSuffix(f, "c01") || checkSuffix(f, "dib")))
@@ -326,15 +333,15 @@ public class CellomicsReader extends FormatReader {
           store.setPixelsPhysicalSizeX(new PositiveFloat(width), 0);
         }
         else {
-          LOGGER.warn("Expected positive value for PhysicalSizeX; got {}",
-            width);
+          // LOGGER.warn("Expected positive value for PhysicalSizeX; got {}",
+          //  width);
         }
         if (height > 0) {
           store.setPixelsPhysicalSizeY(new PositiveFloat(height), 0);
         }
         else {
-          LOGGER.warn("Expected positive value for PhysicalSizeY; got {}",
-            height);
+          // LOGGER.warn("Expected positive value for PhysicalSizeY; got {}",
+          //  height);
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/components/common/src/loci/common/Location.java b/components/common/src/loci/common/Location.java
index 5c13302..5ca70e9 100644
--- a/components/common/src/loci/common/Location.java
+++ b/components/common/src/loci/common/Location.java
@@ -102,11 +102,17 @@ public class Location {
 
   public Location(String pathname) {
     LOGGER.trace("Location({})", pathname);
-    try {
-      url = new URL(getMappedId(pathname));
-    }
-    catch (MalformedURLException e) {
-      LOGGER.trace("Location is not a URL", e);
+    
+    if (pathname.contains("://")) { //very quick check to avoid expensive exception throwing in obvious case
+      try {
+        url = new URL(getMappedId(pathname));
+      }
+      catch (MalformedURLException e) {
+        LOGGER.trace("Location is not a URL", e);
+        isURL = false;
+      }
+    } else {
+      LOGGER.trace("Location is not a URL");
       isURL = false;
     }
     if (!isURL) file = new File(getMappedId(pathname));