diff --git a/include/nc_productive_ws.inc.php b/include/nc_productive_ws.inc.php
index 8c7a88f..a4cab35 100644
--- a/include/nc_productive_ws.inc.php
+++ b/include/nc_productive_ws.inc.php
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ function bratonien_tools_register_nc_productive_ws_methods($arr)
         'info' => 'Piwigo storage site to synchronize. Default: 1.',
       ),
     ),
-    'Synchronizes the NC Connector into the existing Piwigo album hierarchy.',
+    'Runs the approved direct Bratonien filesystem synchronization for the NC Connector.',
     null,
     array(
       'admin_only' => true,
@@ -35,105 +35,6 @@ function bratonien_tools_nc_productive_error(&$errors, $path, $type)
   );
 }
 
-function bratonien_tools_nc_relative_path($basedir, $path)
-{
-  $basedir = rtrim(str_replace('\\', '/', (string)$basedir), '/');
-  $path = str_replace('\\', '/', (string)$path);
-  if ($path === $basedir) return '';
-  if (strpos($path, $basedir.'/') !== 0)
-  {
-    throw new RuntimeException('WebDAV-Pfad liegt ausserhalb der Connector-Wurzel: '.$path);
-  }
-  return trim(substr($path, strlen($basedir)), '/');
-}
-
-function bratonien_tools_nc_find_album($parent_id, $dir, $name, $excluded_site_id)
-{
-  $where_parent = $parent_id === null ? 'id_uppercat IS NULL' : 'id_uppercat='.(int)$parent_id;
-  $dir_sql = pwg_db_real_escape_string((string)$dir);
-  $name_sql = pwg_db_real_escape_string((string)$name);
-  $query = '
-SELECT id, dir, name
-  FROM '.CATEGORIES_TABLE.'
-  WHERE '.$where_parent.'
-    AND (site_id IS NULL OR site_id <> '.(int)$excluded_site_id.')
-    AND (
-      dir = \''.$dir_sql.'\'
-      OR LOWER(name) = LOWER(\''.$name_sql.'\')
-    )
-  ORDER BY CASE WHEN dir = \''.$dir_sql.'\' THEN 0 ELSE 1 END, id
-;';
-  $result = pwg_query($query);
-  $ids = array();
-  while ($row = pwg_db_fetch_assoc($result))
-  {
-    $ids[] = (int)$row['id'];
-  }
-  if (count($ids) > 1)
-  {
-    throw new RuntimeException('Albumzuordnung ist mehrdeutig fuer "'.$name.'".');
-  }
-  return count($ids) === 1 ? $ids[0] : null;
-}
-
-function bratonien_tools_nc_ensure_album_path($relative_dir, $excluded_site_id, array &$cache, array &$created_ids)
-{
-  $relative_dir = trim((string)$relative_dir, '/');
-  if ($relative_dir === '') return null;
-  if (isset($cache[$relative_dir])) return $cache[$relative_dir];
-
-  $parts = explode('/', $relative_dir);
-  $parent_id = null;
-  $path = '';
-  foreach ($parts as $part)
-  {
-    if ($part === '') continue;
-    $path = $path === '' ? $part : $path.'/'.$part;
-    if (isset($cache[$path]))
-    {
-      $parent_id = $cache[$path];
-      continue;
-    }
-
-    $display_name = str_replace('_', ' ', $part);
-    $album_id = bratonien_tools_nc_find_album($parent_id, $part, $display_name, $excluded_site_id);
-    if ($album_id === null)
-    {
-      $created = create_virtual_category($display_name, $parent_id);
-      if (!is_array($created) || empty($created['id']))
-      {
-        $detail = is_array($created) && !empty($created['error']) ? (string)$created['error'] : 'unbekannter Fehler';
-        throw new RuntimeException('Album "'.$display_name.'" konnte nicht angelegt werden: '.$detail);
-      }
-      $album_id = (int)$created['id'];
-      pwg_query('UPDATE '.CATEGORIES_TABLE." SET status='private' WHERE id=".$album_id.' LIMIT 1');
-      add_permission_on_category(array($album_id), get_admins());
-      $created_ids[] = $album_id;
-    }
-
-    $cache[$path] = $album_id;
-    $parent_id = $album_id;
-  }
-
-  return $parent_id;
-}
-
-function bratonien_tools_nc_managed_images($basedir)
-{
-  $prefix = rtrim((string)$basedir, '/').'/';
-  $escaped = pwg_db_real_escape_string(addcslashes($prefix, '_%\\'));
-  $query = "SELECT id, path FROM ".IMAGES_TABLE." WHERE path LIKE '".$escaped."%' ESCAPE '\\\\'";
-  return simple_hash_from_query($query, 'id', 'path');
-}
-
-function bratonien_tools_nc_remove_storage_categories($site_id)
-{
-  $ids = query2array('SELECT id FROM '.CATEGORIES_TABLE.' WHERE site_id='.(int)$site_id.' AND dir IS NOT NULL', null, 'id');
-  if (!$ids) return 0;
-  delete_categories(array_map('intval', $ids));
-  return count($ids);
-}
-
 function bratonien_tools_ws_nc_sync_productive($params, &$service)
 {
   global $conf, $user;
@@ -141,114 +42,181 @@ function bratonien_tools_ws_nc_sync_productive($params, &$service)
   $piwigo_version = defined('PHPWG_VERSION') ? (string)PHPWG_VERSION : '';
   if ($piwigo_version !== '16.4.0')
   {
-    return new PwgError(409, 'Bratonien API synchronization is not approved for Piwigo '.$piwigo_version.'.');
+    return new PwgError(
+      409,
+      'Bratonien API synchronization is not approved for Piwigo '.$piwigo_version.'. Use the administrator fallback until this Piwigo version has been verified.'
+    );
   }
+
   if (empty($conf['enable_synchronization']))
   {
     return new PwgError(403, 'Piwigo filesystem synchronization is disabled.');
   }
 
   $site_id = isset($params['site_id']) ? (int)$params['site_id'] : 1;
-  if ($site_id < 1) return new PwgError(400, 'Invalid site_id.');
+  if ($site_id < 1)
+  {
+    return new PwgError(400, 'Invalid site_id.');
+  }
 
   include_once(PHPWG_ROOT_PATH.'admin/include/functions.php');
   include_once(PHPWG_ROOT_PATH.'admin/site_reader_local.php');
 
-  $result = pwg_query('SELECT galleries_url FROM '.SITES_TABLE.' WHERE id='.$site_id.' LIMIT 1');
-  if (!pwg_db_num_rows($result)) return new PwgError(404, 'Piwigo site does not exist.');
+  $query = 'SELECT galleries_url FROM '.SITES_TABLE.' WHERE id = '.$site_id.' LIMIT 1';
+  $result = pwg_query($query);
+  if (!pwg_db_num_rows($result))
+  {
+    return new PwgError(404, 'Piwigo site does not exist.');
+  }
+
   list($site_url) = pwg_db_fetch_row($result);
-  if (url_is_remote($site_url)) return new PwgError(400, 'Remote Piwigo sites are not supported.');
+  if (url_is_remote($site_url))
+  {
+    return new PwgError(400, 'Remote Piwigo sites are not supported by this synchronization method.');
+  }
 
   $site_reader = new LocalSiteReader($site_url);
-  if (!$site_reader->open()) return new PwgError(500, 'Piwigo could not open the configured local site.');
+  if (!$site_reader->open())
+  {
+    return new PwgError(500, 'Piwigo could not open the configured local site.');
+  }
 
-  $basedir = preg_replace('#/*$#', '', (string)$site_url);
+  list($dbnow) = pwg_db_fetch_row(pwg_query('SELECT NOW()'));
   $errors = array();
   $counts = array(
-    'reused_categories'=>0,
-    'new_categories'=>0,
-    'removed_duplicate_categories'=>0,
-    'new_elements'=>0,
-    'del_elements'=>0,
-    'upd_elements'=>0,
+    'new_categories' => 0,
+    'del_categories' => 0,
+    'new_elements' => 0,
+    'del_elements' => 0,
+    'upd_elements' => 0,
+    'new_formats' => 0,
+    'del_formats' => 0,
+    'metadata_candidates' => 0,
+    'metadata_updated' => 0,
   );
 
   try
   {
-    // Older WebDAV builds created a complete physical album tree for their own
-    // Piwigo site. Remove that technical duplicate first. The WebDAV files are
-    // placeholders and are rebuilt independently, therefore database deletion
-    // must not remove the actual Nextcloud originals.
-    $counts['removed_duplicate_categories'] = bratonien_tools_nc_remove_storage_categories($site_id);
+    $query = 'SELECT id, id_uppercat, uppercats, global_rank, status, visible FROM '.CATEGORIES_TABLE.' WHERE dir IS NOT NULL AND site_id = '.$site_id;
+    $db_categories = hash_from_query($query, 'id');
+    $db_fulldirs = get_fulldirs(array_keys($db_categories));
+    $basedir = preg_replace('#/*$#', '', $site_url);
+    $db_fulldirs = array_flip($db_fulldirs);
+    $fs_fulldirs = $site_reader->get_full_directories($basedir);
 
-    list($dbnow) = pwg_db_fetch_row(pwg_query('SELECT NOW()'));
-    $fs_dirs = $site_reader->get_full_directories($basedir);
-    usort($fs_dirs, function($a, $b)
+    $next_rank = array('NULL'=>1);
+    $result = pwg_query('SELECT id FROM '.CATEGORIES_TABLE);
+    while ($row = pwg_db_fetch_assoc($result))
     {
-      return substr_count((string)$a, '/') <=> substr_count((string)$b, '/');
-    });
-
-    $album_cache = array();
-    $created_ids = array();
-    $dir_to_album = array();
-    foreach ($fs_dirs as $full_dir)
-    {
-      $relative = bratonien_tools_nc_relative_path($basedir, $full_dir);
-      if ($relative === '') continue;
-      $before = count($created_ids);
-      $album_id = bratonien_tools_nc_ensure_album_path($relative, $site_id, $album_cache, $created_ids);
-      if ($album_id !== null)
-      {
-        $dir_to_album[$full_dir] = $album_id;
-        if (count($created_ids) === $before) $counts['reused_categories']++;
-      }
+      $next_rank[$row['id']] = 1;
+    }
+    $result = pwg_query('SELECT id_uppercat, MAX(`rank`)+1 AS next_rank FROM '.CATEGORIES_TABLE.' GROUP BY id_uppercat');
+    while ($row = pwg_db_fetch_assoc($result))
+    {
+      $key = empty($row['id_uppercat']) ? 'NULL' : $row['id_uppercat'];
+      $next_rank[$key] = (int)$row['next_rank'];
+    }
+
+    $next_id = pwg_db_nextval('id', CATEGORIES_TABLE);
+    $category_inserts = array();
+
+    foreach (array_diff($fs_fulldirs, array_keys($db_fulldirs)) as $fulldir)
+    {
+      $dir = basename($fulldir);
+      if (!preg_match($conf['sync_chars_regex'], $dir))
+      {
+        bratonien_tools_nc_productive_error($errors, $fulldir, 'PWG-UPDATE-1');
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      $insert = array(
+        'id' => $next_id++,
+        'dir' => $dir,
+        'name' => str_replace('_', ' ', $dir),
+        'site_id' => $site_id,
+        'commentable' => boolean_to_string($conf['newcat_default_commentable']),
+        'status' => 'private',
+        'visible' => boolean_to_string($conf['newcat_default_visible']),
+      );
+
+      $parent_path = dirname($fulldir);
+      if (isset($db_fulldirs[$parent_path]))
+      {
+        $parent = $db_fulldirs[$parent_path];
+        $insert['id_uppercat'] = $parent;
+        $insert['uppercats'] = $db_categories[$parent]['uppercats'].','.$insert['id'];
+        $insert['rank'] = $next_rank[$parent]++;
+        $insert['global_rank'] = $db_categories[$parent]['global_rank'].'.'.$insert['rank'];
+        if ((string)$db_categories[$parent]['visible'] === 'false')
+        {
+          $insert['visible'] = 'false';
+        }
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        $insert['uppercats'] = (string)$insert['id'];
+        $insert['rank'] = $next_rank['NULL']++;
+        $insert['global_rank'] = (string)$insert['rank'];
+      }
+
+      $category_inserts[] = $insert;
+      $db_categories[$insert['id']] = array(
+        'id' => $insert['id'],
+        'id_uppercat' => $insert['id_uppercat'] ?? null,
+        'uppercats' => $insert['uppercats'],
+        'global_rank' => $insert['global_rank'],
+        'status' => 'private',
+        'visible' => $insert['visible'],
+      );
+      $db_fulldirs[$fulldir] = $insert['id'];
+      $next_rank[$insert['id']] = 1;
+    }
+
+    if ($category_inserts)
+    {
+      mass_inserts(
+        CATEGORIES_TABLE,
+        array('id','dir','name','site_id','id_uppercat','uppercats','commentable','visible','status','rank','global_rank'),
+        $category_inserts
+      );
+      $category_ids = array_map(function ($row) { return (int)$row['id']; }, $category_inserts);
+      pwg_activity('album', $category_ids, 'add', array('sync'=>true));
+      add_permission_on_category($category_ids, get_admins());
+      $counts['new_categories'] = count($category_ids);
+    }
+
+    $to_delete_categories = array();
+    foreach (array_diff(array_keys($db_fulldirs), $fs_fulldirs) as $fulldir)
+    {
+      $to_delete_categories[] = (int)$db_fulldirs[$fulldir];
+      unset($db_fulldirs[$fulldir]);
+    }
+    if ($to_delete_categories)
+    {
+      delete_categories($to_delete_categories);
+      $counts['del_categories'] = count($to_delete_categories);
     }
-    $counts['new_categories'] = count($created_ids);
 
     $fs = $site_reader->get_elements($basedir);
-    $db_elements = bratonien_tools_nc_managed_images($basedir);
-    $db_by_path = array_flip($db_elements);
-
-    $to_delete = array();
-    foreach ($db_elements as $id=>$path)
+    $cat_ids = array_diff(array_keys($db_categories), $to_delete_categories);
+    $db_elements = array();
+    if ($cat_ids)
     {
-      if (!array_key_exists($path, $fs)) $to_delete[] = (int)$id;
-    }
-    if ($to_delete)
-    {
-      delete_elements($to_delete, false);
-      $counts['del_elements'] = count($to_delete);
-      foreach ($to_delete as $id)
-      {
-        if (isset($db_elements[$id])) unset($db_by_path[$db_elements[$id]], $db_elements[$id]);
-      }
+      $query = 'SELECT id, path FROM '.IMAGES_TABLE.' WHERE storage_category_id IN ('.implode(',', array_map('intval', $cat_ids)).')';
+      $db_elements = simple_hash_from_query($query, 'id', 'path');
     }
 
     $next_element_id = pwg_db_nextval('id', IMAGES_TABLE);
     $image_inserts = array();
     $image_links = array();
-    $new_ids = array();
-    $all_ids = array();
+    $format_inserts = array();
+    $new_image_ids = array();
 
-    foreach ($fs as $path=>$file_info)
+    foreach (array_diff(array_keys($fs), $db_elements) as $path)
     {
       $dirname = dirname($path);
-      $relative_dir = bratonien_tools_nc_relative_path($basedir, $dirname);
-      $category_id = null;
-      if ($relative_dir !== '')
+      if (!isset($db_fulldirs[$dirname]))
       {
-        $category_id = $dir_to_album[$dirname] ?? bratonien_tools_nc_ensure_album_path($relative_dir, $site_id, $album_cache, $created_ids);
-      }
-
-      if (isset($db_by_path[$path]))
-      {
-        $id = (int)$db_by_path[$path];
-        $all_ids[] = $id;
-        pwg_query('DELETE FROM '.IMAGE_CATEGORY_TABLE.' WHERE image_id='.$id);
-        if ($category_id !== null)
-        {
-          single_insert(IMAGE_CATEGORY_TABLE, array('image_id'=>$id, 'category_id'=>$category_id));
-        }
         continue;
       }
 
@@ -261,41 +229,116 @@ function bratonien_tools_ws_nc_sync_productive($params, &$service)
 
       $id = $next_element_id++;
       $image_inserts[] = array(
-        'id'=>$id,
-        'file'=>$filename,
-        'name'=>get_name_from_file($filename),
-        'date_available'=>$dbnow,
-        'path'=>$path,
-        'representative_ext'=>$file_info['representative_ext'],
-        'storage_category_id'=>null,
-        'added_by'=>(int)$user['id'],
+        'id' => $id,
+        'file' => $filename,
+        'name' => get_name_from_file($filename),
+        'date_available' => $dbnow,
+        'path' => $path,
+        'representative_ext' => $fs[$path]['representative_ext'],
+        'storage_category_id' => $db_fulldirs[$dirname],
+        'added_by' => (int)$user['id'],
       );
-      if ($category_id !== null)
+      $image_links[] = array('image_id'=>$id, 'category_id'=>$db_fulldirs[$dirname]);
+      $new_image_ids[] = $id;
+
+      if (!empty($conf['enable_formats']) && !empty($fs[$path]['formats']))
       {
-        $image_links[] = array('image_id'=>$id, 'category_id'=>$category_id);
+        foreach ($fs[$path]['formats'] as $ext => $filesize)
+        {
+          $format_inserts[] = array('image_id'=>$id, 'ext'=>$ext, 'filesize'=>$filesize);
+        }
       }
-      $new_ids[] = $id;
-      $all_ids[] = $id;
     }
 
     if ($image_inserts)
     {
       mass_inserts(IMAGES_TABLE, array_keys($image_inserts[0]), $image_inserts);
-      if ($image_links) mass_inserts(IMAGE_CATEGORY_TABLE, array_keys($image_links[0]), $image_links);
-      pwg_activity('photo', $new_ids, 'add', array('sync'=>true));
-      $counts['new_elements'] = count($new_ids);
+      mass_inserts(IMAGE_CATEGORY_TABLE, array_keys($image_links[0]), $image_links);
+      pwg_activity('photo', $new_image_ids, 'add', array('sync'=>true));
+      $counts['new_elements'] = count($image_inserts);
+    }
+    if ($format_inserts)
+    {
+      mass_inserts(IMAGE_FORMAT_TABLE, array_keys($format_inserts[0]), $format_inserts);
+      $counts['new_formats'] += count($format_inserts);
     }
 
-    // Refresh the normal file attributes for connector-managed images only.
-    $updates = array();
-    foreach ($all_ids as $id)
+    if (!empty($conf['enable_formats']) && $db_elements)
     {
-      $path_result = pwg_query('SELECT path FROM '.IMAGES_TABLE.' WHERE id='.(int)$id.' LIMIT 1');
-      if (!pwg_db_num_rows($path_result)) continue;
-      list($path) = pwg_db_fetch_row($path_result);
-      $data = $site_reader->get_element_update_attributes($path);
-      if (!is_array($data)) continue;
-      $data['id'] = (int)$id;
+      $db_elements_flip = array_flip($db_elements);
+      $existing_ids = array();
+      foreach (array_intersect_key($fs, $db_elements_flip) as $path => $unused)
+      {
+        $existing_ids[] = (int)$db_elements_flip[$path];
+      }
+
+      if ($existing_ids)
+      {
+        $db_formats = array();
+        $result = pwg_query('SELECT * FROM '.IMAGE_FORMAT_TABLE.' WHERE image_id IN ('.implode(',', $existing_ids).')');
+        while ($row = pwg_db_fetch_assoc($result))
+        {
+          $db_formats[$row['image_id']][$row['ext']] = $row['format_id'];
+        }
+
+        $formats_to_delete = array();
+        $formats_to_insert = array();
+        foreach ($existing_ids as $image_id)
+        {
+          $path = $db_elements[$image_id];
+          $known = $db_formats[$image_id] ?? array();
+          $present = $fs[$path]['formats'] ?? array();
+          foreach (array_diff_key($known, $present) as $format_id)
+          {
+            $formats_to_delete[] = (int)$format_id;
+          }
+          foreach (array_diff_key($present, $known) as $ext => $filesize)
+          {
+            $formats_to_insert[] = array('image_id'=>$image_id, 'ext'=>$ext, 'filesize'=>$filesize);
+          }
+        }
+
+        if ($formats_to_delete)
+        {
+          pwg_query('DELETE FROM '.IMAGE_FORMAT_TABLE.' WHERE format_id IN ('.implode(',', $formats_to_delete).')');
+          $counts['del_formats'] = count($formats_to_delete);
+        }
+        if ($formats_to_insert)
+        {
+          mass_inserts(IMAGE_FORMAT_TABLE, array_keys($formats_to_insert[0]), $formats_to_insert);
+          $counts['new_formats'] += count($formats_to_insert);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    $to_delete_elements = array();
+    foreach (array_diff($db_elements, array_keys($fs)) as $path)
+    {
+      $id = array_search($path, $db_elements, true);
+      if ($id !== false)
+      {
+        $to_delete_elements[] = (int)$id;
+      }
+    }
+    if ($to_delete_elements)
+    {
+      delete_elements($to_delete_elements);
+      $counts['del_elements'] = count($to_delete_elements);
+    }
+
+    update_category('all');
+    update_global_rank();
+
+    $files = get_filelist('', $site_id, true, false);
+    $updates = array();
+    foreach ($files as $id => $file)
+    {
+      $data = $site_reader->get_element_update_attributes($file['path']);
+      if (!is_array($data))
+      {
+        continue;
+      }
+      $data['id'] = $id;
       $updates[] = $data;
     }
     if ($updates)
@@ -308,25 +351,94 @@ function bratonien_tools_ws_nc_sync_productive($params, &$service)
     }
     $counts['upd_elements'] = count($updates);
 
+    $metadata_files = get_filelist('', $site_id, true, true);
+    $counts['metadata_candidates'] = count($metadata_files);
+    $metadata_updates = array();
+    $tags_of = array();
+
+    foreach ($metadata_files as $id => $element_infos)
+    {
+      $data = $site_reader->get_element_metadata($element_infos);
+      if (!is_array($data))
+      {
+        bratonien_tools_nc_productive_error($errors, $element_infos['path'], 'PWG-ERROR-NO-FS');
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      $data['date_metadata_update'] = $dbnow;
+      $data['id'] = $id;
+      $metadata_updates[] = $data;
+
+      foreach (array('keywords','tags') as $key)
+      {
+        if (!isset($data[$key]))
+        {
+          continue;
+        }
+        $tags_of[$id] = $tags_of[$id] ?? array();
+        foreach (explode(',', $data[$key]) as $tag_name)
+        {
+          $tags_of[$id][] = tag_id_from_tag_name($tag_name);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    if ($metadata_updates)
+    {
+      mass_updates(
+        IMAGES_TABLE,
+        array(
+          'primary'=>array('id'),
+          'update'=>array_unique(array_merge(
+            array_diff($site_reader->get_metadata_attributes(), array('keywords','tags')),
+            array('date_metadata_update')
+          )),
+        ),
+        $metadata_updates,
+        MASS_UPDATES_SKIP_EMPTY
+      );
+    }
+    if ($tags_of)
+    {
+      set_tags_of($tags_of);
+    }
+    $counts['metadata_updated'] = count($metadata_updates);
+
+    // Mirror Piwigo 16.4.0 Maintenance -> "Update albums informations".
+    // This repairs the derived album hierarchy and counters that the direct
+    // API sync otherwise bypasses when no admin maintenance page is invoked.
     images_integrity();
     categories_integrity();
     update_uppercats();
     update_category('all');
     update_global_rank();
-    invalidate_user_cache();
+    invalidate_user_cache(true);
 
-    return array(
-      'mode'=>'productive',
-      'piwigo_version'=>$piwigo_version,
-      'site_id'=>$site_id,
-      'site_url'=>$site_url,
-      'counts'=>$counts,
-      'errors'=>$errors,
-      'database_writes'=>array_sum($counts) > 0,
-    );
+    // Mirror Piwigo 16.4.0 Maintenance -> "Update photos information".
+    // This finalizes physical paths, ratings and derived photo information.
+    images_integrity();
+    update_path();
+    include_once(PHPWG_ROOT_PATH.'include/functions_rate.inc.php');
+    update_rating_score();
+    invalidate_user_cache();
   }
-  catch (Throwable $error)
+  catch (Throwable $e)
   {
-    return new PwgError(500, 'Bratonien NC synchronization failed: '.$error->getMessage());
+    return new PwgError(500, 'Bratonien direct synchronization failed: '.$e->getMessage());
   }
+
+  return array(
+    'mode' => 'productive',
+    'engine' => 'bratonien-direct',
+    'approved_piwigo_version' => '16.4.0',
+    'piwigo_version' => $piwigo_version,
+    'site_id' => $site_id,
+    'site_url' => $site_url,
+    'counts' => $counts,
+    'errors' => $errors,
+    'error_count' => count($errors),
+    'database_writes' => true,
+    'username' => isset($user['username']) ? (string)$user['username'] : '',
+    'status' => isset($user['status']) ? (string)$user['status'] : '',
+  );
 }
diff --git a/main.inc.php b/main.inc.php
index 27e26e3..3b19d9e 100644
--- a/main.inc.php
+++ b/main.inc.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 /*
 Plugin Name: Bratonien Tools
-Version: 0.9.6.28
+Version: 0.9.6.29
 Description: Erweiterbare Administrationswerkzeuge fuer die Bratonien-Piwigo-Installation.
 Plugin URI: https://github.com/Terranom674/Piwigo_Bratonien_Tools
 Author: Bratonien
diff --git a/runtime/lib/build_webdav_placeholder_source.py b/runtime/lib/build_webdav_placeholder_source.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index c84aa63..8d64487
--- a/runtime/lib/build_webdav_placeholder_source.py
+++ b/runtime/lib/build_webdav_placeholder_source.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 """Build a placeholder-backed local source tree from Nextcloud WebDAV.
 
-This creates only tiny placeholder files plus a metadata mapping; no Nextcloud
-original media is downloaded. The authenticated Nextcloud user is never used as
-an album name. Selecting the user's WebDAV root mirrors its children directly.
+This is intentionally additive: it does not replace the existing local-storage
+connector path. It creates only tiny placeholder files plus a metadata mapping;
+no Nextcloud original media is downloaded.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ from pathlib import Path, PurePosixPath
 DAV = "DAV:"
 OC = "http://owncloud.org/ns"
 SUPPORTED_IMAGE_EXTENSIONS = {".jpg", ".jpeg", ".png", ".gif", ".webp"}
+# 1x1 transparent GIF, 34 bytes. The filename keeps the remote extension;
+# the placeholder exists only so Piwigo can discover the logical image entry.
 PLACEHOLDER = base64.b64decode("R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==")
 
 
@@ -146,7 +148,13 @@ def link_placeholder(seed: Path, target: Path) -> None:
         target.write_bytes(PLACEHOLDER)
 
 
-def build_root(client: WebDavClient, remote_root: str, local_root: Path, seed: Path, mapping: dict[str, dict[str, object]]) -> tuple[int, int, int]:
+def build_root(
+    client: WebDavClient,
+    remote_root: str,
+    local_root: Path,
+    seed: Path,
+    mapping: dict[str, dict[str, object]],
+) -> tuple[int, int, int]:
     files = 0
     folders = 0
     skipped = 0
@@ -245,19 +253,17 @@ def main() -> int:
         mapping: dict[str, dict[str, object]] = {}
         manifest: list[str] = []
         total_files = total_folders = total_skipped = 0
-        used_fileids: set[int] = set()
+        used_names: set[str] = set()
 
         for remote_root_raw in args.root:
             remote_root = validate_relative(remote_root_raw)
             current, _ = client.list_collection(remote_root)
             fileid = int(current["fileid"])
-            if fileid in used_fileids:
-                fail(f"duplicate selected Nextcloud root fileid: {fileid}")
-            used_fileids.add(fileid)
-            # An explicitly selected folder keeps its own name. The authenticated
-            # user's WebDAV root is transparent and must never become an album.
-            display = "" if remote_root == "" else (str(current.get("display_name", "")).strip() or PurePosixPath(remote_root).name)
+            display = str(current.get("display_name", "")).strip() or (PurePosixPath(remote_root).name if remote_root else args.user)
             local_name = f"root-{fileid}"
+            if local_name in used_names:
+                fail(f"duplicate selected Nextcloud root fileid: {fileid}")
+            used_names.add(local_name)
             local_root = staging / local_name
             files, folders, skipped = build_root(client, remote_root, local_root, seed, mapping)
             total_files += files
diff --git a/runtime/lib/piwigo-sync.php b/runtime/lib/piwigo-sync.php
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 827ec70..3e1650d
--- a/runtime/lib/piwigo-sync.php
+++ b/runtime/lib/piwigo-sync.php
@@ -252,6 +252,8 @@ try
       );
       decode_ws(http_request($base_url.'/ws.php?format=json', array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncProductive', 'site_id'=>$site_id), $headers));
       $orphan = decode_ws(http_request($base_url.'/ws.php?format=json', array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncOrphans', 'site_id'=>$site_id, 'simulate'=>0), $headers));
+      // Entfernt alte technische bratonien-webdav-N Wrapper aus Site 1,
+      // nachdem deren generierte Verzeichnisse beim Reconcile entfernt wurden.
       if ($site_id !== 1)
       {
         decode_ws(http_request($base_url.'/ws.php?format=json', array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncOrphans', 'site_id'=>1, 'simulate'=>0), $headers));
@@ -282,31 +284,16 @@ try
   try
   {
     decode_ws(http_request($base_url.'/ws.php?format=json', array('method'=>'pwg.session.login', 'username'=>$fallback_user, 'password'=>$fallback_password), array(), $cookie_file));
-
-    // Der Fallback darf keinen zweiten Strukturpfad benutzen. Auch mit
-    // Benutzer/Passwort wird exakt derselbe Bratonien-Sync wie mit API-Key
-    // ausgefuehrt. Dadurch werden alte technische WebDAV-Kategorien entfernt
-    // und vorhandene Piwigo-Alben wiederverwendet.
-    decode_ws(http_request(
-      $base_url.'/ws.php?format=json',
-      array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncProductive', 'site_id'=>$site_id),
+    http_request(
+      $base_url.'/admin.php?page=site_update&site='.$site_id,
+      array('sync'=>'files','display_info'=>1,'privacy_level'=>0,'sync_meta'=>1,'simulate'=>0,'subcats-included'=>1,'bratonien_connector'=>1,'submit'=>1),
       array(),
       $cookie_file
-    ));
-    $orphan = decode_ws(http_request(
-      $base_url.'/ws.php?format=json',
-      array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncOrphans', 'site_id'=>$site_id, 'simulate'=>0),
-      array(),
-      $cookie_file
-    ));
+    );
+    $orphan = decode_ws(http_request($base_url.'/ws.php?format=json', array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncOrphans', 'site_id'=>$site_id, 'simulate'=>0), array(), $cookie_file));
     if ($site_id !== 1)
     {
-      decode_ws(http_request(
-        $base_url.'/ws.php?format=json',
-        array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncOrphans', 'site_id'=>1, 'simulate'=>0),
-        array(),
-        $cookie_file
-      ));
+      decode_ws(http_request($base_url.'/ws.php?format=json', array('method'=>'bratonien.nc.syncOrphans', 'site_id'=>1, 'simulate'=>0), array(), $cookie_file));
     }
     $added = (int)($orphan['added_orphans'] ?? 0);
     $deleted = (int)($orphan['deleted_orphans'] ?? 0);
diff --git a/runtime/lib/shadow_tree.py b/runtime/lib/shadow_tree.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 7d19238..c1b1477
--- a/runtime/lib/shadow_tree.py
+++ b/runtime/lib/shadow_tree.py
@@ -79,23 +79,15 @@ def preferred_target(source_key: str, raw_name: str, parent_target: Path, old_ma
     return safe_name(raw_name)
 
 
-def mirror_directory(
-    source: Path,
-    target: Path,
-    source_key: str,
-    target_key: Path,
-    old_map: dict[str, str],
-    new_map: dict[str, str],
-    used: set[str] | None = None,
-) -> None:
+def mirror_directory(source: Path, target: Path, source_key: str, target_key: Path, old_map: dict[str, str], new_map: dict[str, str]) -> None:
     target.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    used_names = used if used is not None else set()
+    used: set[str] = set()
     for child in sorted(source.iterdir(), key=lambda item: (item.name.casefold(), item.name)):
         if child.is_symlink():
             continue
         child_source_key = f"{source_key}/{child.name}"
         preferred = preferred_target(child_source_key, child.name, target_key, old_map)
-        child_name = unique_name(preferred, used_names, child.is_file())
+        child_name = unique_name(preferred, used, child.is_file())
         child_target = target / child_name
         child_target_key = target_key / child_name
         new_map[child_source_key] = child_target_key.as_posix()
@@ -128,26 +120,11 @@ def build(manifest: Path, destination: Path, state_file: Path) -> None:
 
     try:
         used_roots: set[str] = set()
-        transparent_roots = 0
         for entry in sorted(entries, key=lambda item: (item["display_name"].casefold(), item["share_id"])):
             source = Path(entry["source_path"])
             source_key = f"share:{entry['share_id']}"
-            is_file_share = entry["item_type"] == "file"
-
-            # Empty display_name is intentional: it represents the authenticated
-            # user's WebDAV root. Its children belong directly at destination;
-            # the Nextcloud username must never become an album wrapper.
-            if not is_file_share and entry["display_name"] == "":
-                transparent_roots += 1
-                if transparent_roots > 1:
-                    raise ValueError("only one transparent WebDAV root is allowed")
-                if not source.is_dir():
-                    raise FileNotFoundError(f"source is not a readable directory: {source}")
-                new_map[source_key] = "."
-                mirror_directory(source, staging, source_key, Path("."), old_map, new_map, used_roots)
-                continue
-
             preferred = preferred_target(source_key, entry["display_name"], Path("."), old_map)
+            is_file_share = entry["item_type"] == "file"
             root_name = unique_name(preferred, used_roots, is_file_share)
             root_key = Path(root_name)
             new_map[source_key] = root_key.as_posix()