diff --git a/Desktop/Converters/CollapsedIfNull.cs b/Desktop/Converters/CollapsedIfNull.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e146399d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Desktop/Converters/CollapsedIfNull.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Windows;
+using System.Windows.Data;
+
+namespace Carmen.Desktop.Converters
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Convert an object value to a Visibility based on whether or not it is null.
+    /// If ConverterParameter is set to a type, then the value must be this type to be considered not null.
+    /// </summary>
+    public class CollapsedIfNull : IValueConverter
+    {
+        public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
+        {
+            if (value == null)
+                return Visibility.Collapsed;
+            if (parameter is Type type && !(value.GetType() == type || value.GetType().IsSubclassOf(type)))
+                return Visibility.Collapsed;
+            return Visibility.Visible;
+        }
+
+        public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
+            => throw new NotImplementedException();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Desktop/Converters/HideIfNull.cs b/Desktop/Converters/HideIfNull.cs
index 014b3435..ae27aa47 100644
--- a/Desktop/Converters/HideIfNull.cs
+++ b/Desktop/Converters/HideIfNull.cs
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ public class HideIfNull : IValueConverter
         public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
         {
             if (value == null)
-                return Visibility.Hidden;
+                return Visibility.Collapsed;
             if (parameter is Type type && !(value.GetType() == type || value.GetType().IsSubclassOf(type)))
-                return Visibility.Hidden;
+                return Visibility.Collapsed;
             return Visibility.Visible;
         }
 
diff --git a/Desktop/Pages/SelectCast.xaml.cs b/Desktop/Pages/SelectCast.xaml.cs
index 57e5d167..be5b9cf2 100644
--- a/Desktop/Pages/SelectCast.xaml.cs
+++ b/Desktop/Pages/SelectCast.xaml.cs
@@ -441,38 +441,16 @@ private async Task RemoveFromList(IList list, Applicant[] applicants)
 
         private void List_MouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
         {
-            //TODO changing the selection status via >/>>/</<< doesn't update details window
             var list_box = (ListBox)sender;
-            if (list_box.SelectedItem is not Applicant applicant)
-                return;
-            if (selectionList.SelectedItem is CastGroup cg)
-            {
-                ShowDetailsWindow(new ApplicantForCastGroup(applicant, criterias, cg));
-                e.Handled = true;
-            }
-            else if (selectionList.SelectedItem is AlternativeCast ac)
+            if (list_box.SelectedItem is Applicant applicant)
             {
-                ShowDetailsWindow(new ApplicantForAlternativeCast(applicant, criterias, ac));
-                e.Handled = true;
-            }
-            else if (selectionList.SelectedItem is Tag tag)
-            {
-                ShowDetailsWindow(new ApplicantForTag(applicant, criterias, tag));
+                ShowDetailsWindow(new ApplicantForSelection(applicant, criterias));
                 e.Handled = true;
             }
         }
 
         Dictionary<Applicant, ApplicantDetailsWindow> detailsWindows = new();
 
-        void CloseDetailsWindows()
-        {
-            foreach (var window in detailsWindows.Values)
-            {
-                window.Close();
-            }
-            detailsWindows.Clear();
-        }
-
         void ShowDetailsWindow(ApplicantForSelection afs)
         {
             if (!detailsWindows.TryGetValue(afs.Applicant, out var window) || window.IsClosed)
@@ -491,7 +469,11 @@ void ShowDetailsWindow(ApplicantForSelection afs)
 
         protected override void DisposeInternal()
         {
-            CloseDetailsWindows();
+            foreach (var window in detailsWindows.Values)
+            {
+                window.Close();
+            }
+            detailsWindows.Clear();
             base.DisposeInternal();
         }
 
@@ -549,7 +531,6 @@ private void selectionList_SelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEvent
         {
             if (suitabilityComparer != null)
                 suitabilityComparer.SelectedCastGroupOrTag = selectionList.SelectedItem;
-            CloseDetailsWindows();
             RefreshMainPanel();
         }
 
diff --git a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForAlternativeCast.cs b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForAlternativeCast.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index 88035fc1..00000000
--- a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForAlternativeCast.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Applicants;
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Criterias;
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Structure;
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Linq;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
-
-namespace Carmen.Desktop.ViewModels
-{
-    internal class ApplicantForAlternativeCast : ApplicantForSelection
-    {
-        readonly AlternativeCast alternativeCast;
-
-        public override string SelectionText => $"Assign {FirstName} to {alternativeCast.Name}";
-
-        public override bool IsSelected
-        {
-            get => alternativeCast.Members.Contains(Applicant);
-            set
-            {
-                if (value)
-                {
-                    if (!alternativeCast.Members.Contains(Applicant))
-                    {
-                        Applicant.AlternativeCast = alternativeCast;
-                        alternativeCast.Members.Add(Applicant);
-                    }
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    if (alternativeCast.Members.Contains(Applicant))
-                    {
-                        Applicant.AlternativeCast = null;
-                        alternativeCast.Members.Remove(Applicant);
-                    }
-                }
-                OnPropertyChanged();
-            }
-        }
-
-        public ApplicantForAlternativeCast(Applicant applicant, Criteria[] criterias, AlternativeCast alternative_cast)
-            : base(applicant, criterias)
-        {
-            alternativeCast = alternative_cast;
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForCastGroup.cs b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForCastGroup.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index cb346ec2..00000000
--- a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForCastGroup.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Applicants;
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Criterias;
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Structure;
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Linq;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
-
-namespace Carmen.Desktop.ViewModels
-{
-    internal class ApplicantForCastGroup : ApplicantForSelection
-    {
-        readonly CastGroup castGroup;
-
-        public override string SelectionText => $"Select {FirstName} into {castGroup.Name}";
-
-        public override bool IsSelected
-        {
-            get => castGroup.Members.Contains(Applicant);
-            set
-            {
-                if (value)
-                {
-                    if (!castGroup.Members.Contains(Applicant))
-                    {
-                        Applicant.CastGroup = castGroup;
-                        castGroup.Members.Add(Applicant);
-                    }
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    if (castGroup.Members.Contains(Applicant))
-                    {
-                        Applicant.CastGroup = null;
-                        castGroup.Members.Remove(Applicant);
-                    }   
-                }
-                OnPropertyChanged();
-            }
-        }
-
-        public ApplicantForCastGroup(Applicant applicant, Criteria[] criterias, CastGroup cast_group)
-            : base(applicant, criterias)
-        {
-            castGroup = cast_group;
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForRole.cs b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForRole.cs
index 406eecd1..4b4eed93 100644
--- a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForRole.cs
+++ b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForRole.cs
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public IEnumerable<string> UnavailabilityReasons
 
         public string CommaSeparatedIneligibilityReason => string.Join(", ", IneligibilityReasons);
 
-        public string SelectionText => $"Allocate {RoleName} to {FirstName}";
+        public string? SelectionText => $"Allocate {RoleName} to {FirstName}";
 
         public ApplicantForRole(IAllocationEngine engine, Applicant applicant, Role role, Criteria[] primary_criterias)
         {
diff --git a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForSelection.cs b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForSelection.cs
index cb6c8e5c..793b6c72 100644
--- a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForSelection.cs
+++ b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForSelection.cs
@@ -13,23 +13,27 @@
 
 namespace Carmen.Desktop.ViewModels
 {
-    public abstract class ApplicantForSelection : ISelectableApplicant, INotifyPropertyChanged
+    public class ApplicantForSelection : ISelectableApplicant, INotifyPropertyChanged
     {
         public Applicant Applicant { get; init; }
         public Criteria[] PrimaryCriterias { get; init; }
 
         public event PropertyChangedEventHandler? PropertyChanged;
 
-        public abstract bool IsSelected { get; set; }
+        public bool IsSelected
+        {
+            get => true; // so that colour images are shown
+            set => throw new InvalidOperationException();
+        }
 
         public string FirstName => Applicant.FirstName;
         public string LastName => Applicant.LastName;
 
         public IEnumerable<string> ExistingRoles => Enumerable.Empty<string>();
         public IEnumerable<string> UnavailabilityReasons => Enumerable.Empty<string>();
-        public IEnumerable<string> IneligibilityReasons => Enumerable.Empty<string>(); //TODO populate ineligability
+        public IEnumerable<string> IneligibilityReasons => Enumerable.Empty<string>();
 
-        public abstract string SelectionText { get; }
+        public string? SelectionText => null; // this hides the checkbox completely
 
         public ApplicantForSelection(Applicant applicant, Criteria[] criterias)
         {
diff --git a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForTag.cs b/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForTag.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index df556f73..00000000
--- a/Desktop/ViewModels/ApplicantForTag.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Applicants;
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Criterias;
-using Carmen.ShowModel.Structure;
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Linq;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
-
-namespace Carmen.Desktop.ViewModels
-{
-    internal class ApplicantForTag : ApplicantForSelection
-    {
-        readonly Tag tag;
-
-        public override string SelectionText => $"Apply {tag.Name} to {FirstName}";
-
-        public override bool IsSelected
-        {
-            get => tag.Members.Contains(Applicant);
-            set
-            {
-                if (value)
-                {
-                    if (!tag.Members.Contains(Applicant))
-                    {
-                        tag.Members.Add(Applicant);
-                    }
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    if (tag.Members.Contains(Applicant))
-                    {
-                        tag.Members.Remove(Applicant);
-                    }
-                }
-                OnPropertyChanged();
-            }
-        }
-
-        public ApplicantForTag(Applicant applicant, Criteria[] criterias, Tag tag)
-            : base(applicant, criterias)
-        {
-            this.tag = tag;
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/Desktop/ViewModels/ISelectableApplicant.cs b/Desktop/ViewModels/ISelectableApplicant.cs
index 096657f7..3f836236 100644
--- a/Desktop/ViewModels/ISelectableApplicant.cs
+++ b/Desktop/ViewModels/ISelectableApplicant.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public interface ISelectableApplicant
         bool IsSelected { get; set; }
         string FirstName { get; }
         string LastName { get; }
-        string SelectionText { get; }
+        string? SelectionText { get; }
         IEnumerable<string> ExistingRoles { get; }
         IEnumerable<string> UnavailabilityReasons { get; }
         IEnumerable<string> IneligibilityReasons { get; }
diff --git a/Desktop/Windows/ApplicantDetailsWindow.xaml b/Desktop/Windows/ApplicantDetailsWindow.xaml
index a1c86395..f9a6cdf7 100644
--- a/Desktop/Windows/ApplicantDetailsWindow.xaml
+++ b/Desktop/Windows/ApplicantDetailsWindow.xaml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
             <BooleanToVisibilityConverter/>
         </cv:MultiConverter>
         <BooleanToVisibilityConverter x:Key="showIfTrue"/>
+        <cv:CollapsedIfNull x:Key="collapsedIfNull"/>
     </Window.Resources>
     <Grid>
         <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@
             </StackPanel>
         </ScrollViewer>
         <Grid Grid.Row="2" Margin="5">
-            <CheckBox IsChecked="{Binding IsSelected}">
+            <CheckBox IsChecked="{Binding IsSelected}" Visibility="{Binding SelectionText, Converter={StaticResource collapsedIfNull}}">
                 <TextBlock>
                     <Run Text="{Binding SelectionText, Mode=OneWay}"/>
                 </TextBlock>