diff --git a/.bumpversion.cfg b/.bumpversion.cfg
index ea978ab..7238623 100644
--- a/.bumpversion.cfg
+++ b/.bumpversion.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 0.1.9
+current_version = 0.1.10
 commit = True
 tag = True
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f834a61..329bf32 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "quickview"
-version = "0.1.9"
+version = "0.1.10"
 description = "An application to explore/analyze data for atmosphere component for E3SM"
 authors = [
     {name = "Kitware Inc."},
diff --git a/quickview/__init__.py b/quickview/__init__.py
index 9b9f9f9..14d8a4f 100644
--- a/quickview/__init__.py
+++ b/quickview/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """QuickView: Visual Analysis for E3SM Atmosphere Data."""
 
-__version__ = "0.1.9"
+__version__ = "0.1.10"
 __author__ = "Kitware Inc."
 __license__ = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/quickview/interface.py b/quickview/interface.py
index c3cd8a3..9f5ecc7 100644
--- a/quickview/interface.py
+++ b/quickview/interface.py
@@ -357,9 +357,11 @@ def load_state(self, state_file):
     def load_data(self):
         with self.state as state:
             # Update returns True/False for validity
+            # force_reload=True since user explicitly clicked Load Files button
             is_valid = self.source.Update(
                 data_file=self.state.data_file,
                 conn_file=self.state.conn_file,
+                force_reload=True,
             )
             state.pipeline_valid = is_valid
 
diff --git a/quickview/pipeline.py b/quickview/pipeline.py
index 2f6374e..d7ebece 100644
--- a/quickview/pipeline.py
+++ b/quickview/pipeline.py
@@ -180,8 +180,13 @@ def UpdatePipeline(self):
         self.views["continents"] = OutputPort(cont_proj, 0)
         self.views["grid_lines"] = OutputPort(grid_proj, 0)
 
-    def Update(self, data_file, conn_file, midpoint=0, interface=0):
-        if self.data_file == data_file and self.conn_file == conn_file:
+    def Update(self, data_file, conn_file, midpoint=0, interface=0, force_reload=False):
+        # Check if we need to reload
+        if (
+            not force_reload
+            and self.data_file == data_file
+            and self.conn_file == conn_file
+        ):
             return self.valid
 
         self.data_file = data_file
@@ -228,6 +233,7 @@ def Update(self, data_file, conn_file, midpoint=0, interface=0):
                 np.asarray(self.data.GetProperty("InterfaceVariablesInfo"))[::2]
             )
 
+
             tk = GetTimeKeeper()
             self.timestamps = np.array(tk.TimestepValues).tolist()
             tk.Time = tk.TimestepValues[0]
diff --git a/quickview/plugins/eam_reader.py b/quickview/plugins/eam_reader.py
index c2c13c8..2af7155 100644
--- a/quickview/plugins/eam_reader.py
+++ b/quickview/plugins/eam_reader.py
@@ -453,6 +453,12 @@ def _populate_variable_metadata(self):
         if self._DataFileName is None:
             return
         vardata = self._get_var_dataset()
+        
+        # Clear existing selection arrays BEFORE adding new ones
+        self._surface_selection.RemoveAllArrays()
+        self._midpoint_selection.RemoveAllArrays()
+        self._interface_selection.RemoveAllArrays()
+        
         for name, info in vardata.variables.items():
             dims = set(info.dimensions)
             if not (dims == dims1 or dims == dims2 or dims == dims3m or dims == dims3i):
@@ -471,15 +477,13 @@ def _populate_variable_metadata(self):
             elif varmeta.type == VarType._3Di:
                 self._interface_vars.append(varmeta)
                 self._interface_selection.AddArray(name)
-            try:
-                fillval = info.getncattr("_FillValue")
-                varmeta.fillval = fillval
-            except Exception:
-                pass
+        
         self._surface_selection.DisableAllArrays()
         self._interface_selection.DisableAllArrays()
         self._midpoint_selection.DisableAllArrays()
 
+        # Clear old timestamps before adding new ones
+        self._timeSteps.clear()
         timesteps = vardata["time"][:].data.flatten()
         self._timeSteps.extend(timesteps)
 
diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index f53c1f7..3a94b68 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "app"
-version = "0.1.9"
+version = "0.1.10"
 description = "QuickView: Visual Analyis for E3SM Atmosphere Data"
 authors = ["Kitware"]
 license = ""
diff --git a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 2728d74..74611ac 100644
--- a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   },
   "package": {
     "productName": "QuickView",
-    "version": "0.1.9"
+    "version": "0.1.10"
   },
   "tauri": {
     "allowlist": {
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
         "exceptionDomain": "",
         "frameworks": [],
         "providerShortName": null,
-        "signingIdentity": null
+        "signingIdentity": "-"
       },
       "resources": ["server"],
       "shortDescription": "",
diff --git a/src-tauri/www/splashscreen.html b/src-tauri/www/splashscreen.html
index 7333a8a..829aaae 100644
--- a/src-tauri/www/splashscreen.html
+++ b/src-tauri/www/splashscreen.html
@@ -5,22 +5,143 @@
     <style>
       body {
         margin: 0;
+        background-color: #444;
+      }
+
+      .splashscreen-container {
+        width: 100vw;
+        height: 100vh;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        justify-content: space-between;
+        align-items: center;
+        padding: 40px 20px;
+        box-sizing: border-box;
       }
 
       .splashscreen-image {
-        background-color: #444;
         background-image: url("splashscreen.png");
         background-position: center;
         background-repeat: no-repeat;
-        background-size: 90%;
-        width: 100vw !important;
-        height: 100vh !important;
+        background-size: contain;
+        width: 90%;
+        max-width: 600px;
+        flex: 1 1 auto;
+        min-height: 200px;
+      }
+
+      .loading-container {
+        width: 50%;
+        max-width: 400px;
+        min-width: 250px;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: 20px;
+        margin-top: 40px;
+        flex-shrink: 0;
+      }
+
+      .loading-text {
+        color: #fff;
+        font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif;
+        font-size: 16px;
+        letter-spacing: 1px;
+        animation: pulse 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+      }
+
+      .loading-bar {
+        width: 100%;
+        height: 4px;
+        background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
+        border-radius: 2px;
         overflow: hidden;
+        position: relative;
+      }
+
+      .loading-progress {
+        height: 100%;
+        background: linear-gradient(90deg, #0084ff, #00c4ff);
+        border-radius: 2px;
+        position: absolute;
+        animation: shimmer 2s ease-in-out infinite;
+      }
+
+      @keyframes shimmer {
+        0% {
+          width: 0%;
+          left: 0;
+        }
+        50% {
+          width: 60%;
+          left: 40%;
+        }
+        100% {
+          width: 0%;
+          left: 100%;
+        }
+      }
+
+      @keyframes pulse {
+        0%, 100% {
+          opacity: 1;
+        }
+        50% {
+          opacity: 0.6;
+        }
+      }
+
+      .loading-dots {
+        display: inline-block;
+        width: 80px;
+        text-align: left;
+      }
+
+      .loading-dots::after {
+        content: '';
+        animation: dots 1.5s steps(4, end) infinite;
+      }
+
+      @keyframes dots {
+        0% { content: ''; }
+        25% { content: '.'; }
+        50% { content: '..'; }
+        75% { content: '...'; }
+      }
+
+      /* Responsive adjustments for small windows */
+      @media (max-height: 400px) {
+        .splashscreen-container {
+          padding: 20px 10px;
+        }
+        
+        .splashscreen-image {
+          min-height: 100px;
+        }
+        
+        .loading-container {
+          margin-top: 20px;
+          gap: 10px;
+        }
+        
+        .loading-text {
+          font-size: 14px;
+        }
       }
     </style>
   </head>
 
   <body>
-    <div class="splashscreen-image"></div>
+    <div class="splashscreen-container">
+      <div class="splashscreen-image"></div>
+      <div class="loading-container">
+        <div class="loading-text">
+          Loading QuickView<span class="loading-dots"></span>
+        </div>
+        <div class="loading-bar">
+          <div class="loading-progress"></div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
   </body>
 </html>