diff --git a/misc/qet-mcp/README.md b/misc/qet-mcp/README.md
index 6457106b7..e5136fb88 100644
--- a/misc/qet-mcp/README.md
+++ b/misc/qet-mcp/README.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ here read the model.
 | `qet_project_info` | title, format version, folios, element and conductor counts |
 | `qet_elements` | placed elements: uuid, type, position, label, information bag |
 | `qet_conductors` | conductors and their documentation fields; filter by attribute |
+| `qet_items` | free texts, shapes, pictures, tables and symbol text fields, each with its uuid |
 | `qet_diff` | **what an edit actually changed** — element moves, adds, removes, relabels; conductor changes; and folio fields, texts, shapes, images, symbol text fields and terminal strips |
 | `qet_scan` | sweep a directory of projects, counting nodes carrying an attribute |
 | `qet_element_info` | a `.elmt`: translated names, terminals, info fields, part counts |
diff --git a/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py b/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py
index 501b74839..13c4f9cd3 100755
--- a/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py
+++ b/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py
@@ -279,6 +279,36 @@ def tool_elements(path: str, folio: int | None = None,
             "elements": rows[:limit]}
 
 
+ITEM_KINDS = ["text", "shape", "image", "table", "element_text"]
+
+
+def tool_items(path: str, folio: int | None = None, kind: str | None = None,
+               limit: int = 500) -> dict:
+    """Every drawn item that is not a symbol or a wire, with its uuid.
+
+    Free texts, shapes, pictures, tables and the text fields of symbols --
+    the items a qet_edit op or a qet_diff entry names by uuid. Folios are
+    numbered from 1, as in qet_elements. An item saved before these items
+    carried a uuid has "" here; QElectroTech gives it one on the next save.
+    """
+    if kind is not None and kind not in ITEM_KINDS:
+        raise ValueError(f"kind must be one of {ITEM_KINDS}, not {kind!r}")
+    ex = _extras(_root(path))
+    rows = []
+    for name, records in (("text", ex["texts"]), ("shape", ex["shapes"]),
+                          ("image", ex["images"]), ("table", ex["tables"])):
+        for r in records:
+            rows.append({"kind": name, "uuid": r["uuid"], **r["label"], **r["value"]})
+    for k, v in ex["element_texts"].items():
+        rows.append({"kind": "element_text", "uuid": ex["element_text_uuids"][k],
+                     "folio": ex["element_text_folios"][k], "element": k[0],
+                     "source": k[1], "bound_to": k[2], "n": k[3], **v})
+    rows = [r for r in rows if (folio is None or r["folio"] == folio)
+            and (kind is None or r["kind"] == kind)]
+    rows.sort(key=lambda r: (r["folio"], ITEM_KINDS.index(r["kind"])))
+    return {"count": len(rows), "truncated": len(rows) > limit, "items": rows[:limit]}
+
+
 def tool_conductors(path: str, folio: int | None = None,
                     attribute: str | None = None,
                     non_empty: bool = False, limit: int = 200) -> dict:
@@ -343,7 +373,7 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
     Older files have only position to go on, and there a change reads as
     the old one removed and a new one added, with both shown.
     """
-    folios, texts, shapes, images = {}, [], [], []
+    folios, folio_uuids, texts, shapes, images, tables = {}, {}, [], [], [], []
 
     def record(el, label, value):
         return {"uuid": el.get("uuid", ""), "key": tuple(label.values()),
@@ -351,6 +381,12 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
 
     for n, d in _folios(root):
         folios[n] = {f: d.get(f, "") for f in _FOLIO_FIELDS}
+        folio_uuids[n] = d.get("uuid", "")
+        for tb in d.findall("tables/graphics_table"):
+            tables.append(record(
+                tb, {"folio": n, "name": tb.get("name", "")},
+                {"x": tb.get("x", ""), "y": tb.get("y", ""), "width": tb.get("width", ""),
+                 "height": tb.get("height", ""), "rows_shown": tb.get("display_n_row", "")}))
         for t in d.iter("input"):
             texts.append(record(
                 t, {"folio": n, "x": t.get("x", ""), "y": t.get("y", ""),
@@ -374,7 +410,7 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
                 im, {"folio": n, "x": im.get("x", ""), "y": im.get("y", "")},
                 {"scale": im.get("size", ""), "rotation": _angle(im.get("rotation", ""))}))
 
-    element_texts = {}
+    element_texts, element_text_uuids, element_text_folios = {}, {}, {}
     for n, d in _folios(root):
         for el in d.iter("element"):
             uuid = el.get("uuid", "")
@@ -387,6 +423,8 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
                 base = (uuid, src, what)
                 seen[base] = seen.get(base, 0) + 1
                 fs = (t.get("font", "").split(",") + ["", ""])[1]
+                element_text_uuids[base + (seen[base],)] = t.get("uuid", "")
+                element_text_folios[base + (seen[base],)] = n
                 element_texts[base + (seen[base],)] = {
                     "x": t.get("x", ""), "y": t.get("y", ""), "size": fs,
                     "frame": t.get("frame", ""), "rotation": _angle(t.get("rotation", "")),
@@ -404,8 +442,18 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
             "location": info.get("location", ""),
             "name": info.get("name", ""),
             "terminals": sum(1 for _ in st.iter("real_terminal"))}
-    return {"folios": folios, "texts": texts, "shapes": shapes,
-            "images": images, "strips": strips, "element_texts": element_texts}
+    return {"folios": folios, "folio_uuids": folio_uuids, "texts": texts, "shapes": shapes,
+            "images": images, "tables": tables, "strips": strips,
+            "element_texts": element_texts, "element_text_uuids": element_text_uuids,
+            "element_text_folios": element_text_folios}
+
+
+def _usable_ids(*sides) -> bool:
+    """Whether uuids can identify items: present on every item, unique on each
+    side. Copying a symbol keeps its text fields' uuids, so a project can
+    hold the same field uuid twenty times; keying on it would merge them."""
+    return (any(sides) and all(all(s) for s in sides)
+            and all(len(set(s)) == len(s) for s in sides))
 
 
 def _diff_keyed(a: dict, b: dict, label) -> dict:
@@ -431,7 +479,7 @@ def _diff_items(a: list, b: list) -> dict:
     and re-added. On uuid, position is part of what is compared, so a move
     is a change to that item.
     """
-    by_uuid = all(r["uuid"] for r in a + b)
+    by_uuid = _usable_ids([r["uuid"] for r in a], [r["uuid"] for r in b])
 
     def key(r):
         return r["uuid"] if by_uuid else str(r["key"])
@@ -447,34 +495,87 @@ def _diff_items(a: list, b: list) -> dict:
     return out
 
 
+def _diff_folios(a: dict, b: dict) -> dict:
+    """Folio fields, keyed by the folio's uuid when every folio has one.
+
+    By uuid, a folio moved to another position is reported once, under
+    "reordered", instead of as every folio after it changing its fields.
+    Without uuids (older files) folios are keyed by position, and a
+    removal or reorder in the middle shifts every later index -- the note
+    says so when the count changed.
+    """
+    ua, ub = a["folio_uuids"], b["folio_uuids"]
+    by_uuid = _usable_ids(list(ua.values()), list(ub.values()))
+    changed, reordered, added, removed = [], [], [], []
+    if by_uuid:
+        pos_a = {u: n for n, u in ua.items()}
+        pos_b = {u: n for n, u in ub.items()}
+        for u in sorted(set(pos_a) & set(pos_b), key=lambda u: pos_b[u]):
+            fa, fb = a["folios"][pos_a[u]], b["folios"][pos_b[u]]
+            delta = {f: [fa[f], fb[f]] for f in _FOLIO_FIELDS if fa[f] != fb[f]}
+            if delta:
+                changed.append({"folio": pos_b[u], "uuid": u, "changed": delta})
+            if pos_a[u] != pos_b[u]:
+                reordered.append({"uuid": u, "title": fb["title"],
+                                  "from": pos_a[u], "to": pos_b[u]})
+        added = [{"folio": pos_b[u], "uuid": u, "title": b["folios"][pos_b[u]]["title"]}
+                 for u in sorted(set(pos_b) - set(pos_a), key=lambda u: pos_b[u])]
+        removed = [{"folio": pos_a[u], "uuid": u, "title": a["folios"][pos_a[u]]["title"]}
+                   for u in sorted(set(pos_a) - set(pos_b), key=lambda u: pos_a[u])]
+    else:
+        for n in sorted(set(a["folios"]) & set(b["folios"])):
+            delta = {f: [a["folios"][n][f], b["folios"][n][f]] for f in _FOLIO_FIELDS
+                     if a["folios"][n][f] != b["folios"][n][f]}
+            if delta:
+                changed.append({"folio": n, "changed": delta})
+    out = {"before": len(a["folios"]), "after": len(b["folios"]),
+           "keyed_by": "uuid" if by_uuid else "position", "changed": changed[:50]}
+    if by_uuid:
+        out.update(added=added[:50], removed=removed[:50], reordered=reordered[:50])
+    elif len(a["folios"]) != len(b["folios"]) and changed:
+        out["note"] = ("the folio count changed, so changes listed here may be "
+                       "later folios shifting position rather than edits")
+    return out
+
+
+def _diff_element_texts(a: dict, b: dict) -> dict:
+    """Element text fields, keyed by their own uuid when every field has one.
+
+    Otherwise by element, what the field is bound to, and the nth such field
+    -- which cannot tell a field that was removed from one that moved down
+    the list. A field's own text is also compared ("shows"), so relabelling
+    an element shows up here as well as in the element's information.
+    """
+    # A field's uuid is unique only within its symbol (copies keep them), so
+    # a field is identified by its symbol's uuid and its own.
+    ka = {k: (k[0], u) if k[0] and u else "" for k, u in a["element_text_uuids"].items()}
+    kb = {k: (k[0], u) if k[0] and u else "" for k, u in b["element_text_uuids"].items()}
+    by_uuid = _usable_ids(list(ka.values()), list(kb.values()))
+    def label(k):
+        return {"element": k[0], "source": k[1], "bound_to": k[2], "n": k[3]}
+    if not by_uuid:
+        out = _diff_keyed(a["element_texts"], b["element_texts"], label)
+        out["keyed_by"] = "position"
+        return out
+    labels = {u: {**label(k), "uuid": u[1]} for side in (ka, kb) for k, u in side.items()}
+    out = _diff_keyed({ka[k]: v for k, v in a["element_texts"].items()},
+                      {kb[k]: v for k, v in b["element_texts"].items()},
+                      lambda u: labels[u])
+    out["keyed_by"] = "uuid"
+    return out
+
+
 def _diff_extras(before: ET.Element, after: ET.Element) -> dict:
     a, b = _extras(before), _extras(after)
     out = {}
     ta, tb = before.get("title", ""), after.get("title", "")
     out["project"] = {"changed": {"title": [ta, tb]} if ta != tb else {}}
-    # Folios are keyed by position. A reorder or a removal in the middle
-    # shifts every later index, so a folio "changing" its title alongside a
-    # folio count change can just be the shift -- the count says which.
-    folio_changes = []
-    for n in sorted(set(a["folios"]) & set(b["folios"])):
-        delta = {f: [a["folios"][n][f], b["folios"][n][f]] for f in _FOLIO_FIELDS
-                 if a["folios"][n][f] != b["folios"][n][f]}
-        if delta:
-            folio_changes.append({"folio": n, "changed": delta})
-    out["folios"] = {"before": len(a["folios"]), "after": len(b["folios"]),
-                     "changed": folio_changes[:50]}
-    if len(a["folios"]) != len(b["folios"]) and folio_changes:
-        out["folios"]["note"] = ("the folio count changed, so changes listed here may be "
-                                 "later folios shifting position rather than edits")
+    out["folios"] = _diff_folios(a, b)
     out["texts"] = _diff_items(a["texts"], b["texts"])
     out["shapes"] = _diff_items(a["shapes"], b["shapes"])
     out["images"] = _diff_items(a["images"], b["images"])
-    # Keyed by element, what the field is bound to, and the nth such field.
-    # A field's own text is also compared ("shows"), so relabelling an
-    # element shows up here as well as in the element's information.
-    out["element_texts"] = _diff_keyed(
-        a["element_texts"], b["element_texts"],
-        lambda k: {"element": k[0], "source": k[1], "bound_to": k[2], "n": k[3]})
+    out["tables"] = _diff_items(a["tables"], b["tables"])
+    out["element_texts"] = _diff_element_texts(a, b)
     out["terminal_strips"] = _diff_keyed(
         a["strips"], b["strips"],
         lambda k: (lambda v: f"{v['installation']} {v['location']} {v['name']}".strip())(
@@ -531,15 +632,21 @@ def tool_diff(before: str, after: str) -> dict:
             changed_info.append({"uuid": k, "name": a["name"],
                                  "from": a_info, "to": b_info})
 
-    a_co = {r["key"]: r for i, c, ix in _conductors(_root(before))
-            for r in [_conductor_row(i, c, ix)]}
-    b_co = {r["key"]: r for i, c, ix in _conductors(_root(after))
-            for r in [_conductor_row(i, c, ix)]}
+    a_rows = [_conductor_row(i, c, ix) for i, c, ix in _conductors(_root(before))]
+    b_rows = [_conductor_row(i, c, ix) for i, c, ix in _conductors(_root(after))]
+    # Keyed by the conductor's own uuid when every conductor on both sides
+    # has one, so a rewired conductor is that conductor, changed ("ends").
+    # QElectroTech keeps a uuid only on conductors that were loaded with one
+    # or created since, so an older file keys on its two ends instead.
+    co_by_uuid = _usable_ids([r["uuid"] for r in a_rows], [r["uuid"] for r in b_rows])
+    co_id = (lambda r: r["uuid"]) if co_by_uuid else (lambda r: r["key"])
+    a_co = {co_id(r): r for r in a_rows}
+    b_co = {co_id(r): r for r in b_rows}
     # An end that could not be resolved to an element is keyed on the
     # folio-scoped integer id, which QElectroTech reassigns on every write.
     # Say so rather than presenting the result as if it were comparable:
     # in such a file an untouched conductor can read as removed and re-added.
-    shaky = sum(1 for k in set(a_co) | set(b_co) if "#" in k)
+    shaky = 0 if co_by_uuid else sum(1 for k in set(a_co) | set(b_co) if "#" in k)
     unstable = {} if not shaky else {
         "unstable_keys": shaky,
         "warning": "some conductors sit on elements with no persisted uuid, so "
@@ -556,8 +663,11 @@ def tool_diff(before: str, after: str) -> dict:
                   ("num", "formula", "cable", "bus", "color", "section",
                    "function", "type")
                   if a[f] != b[f]}
+        if a["key"] != b["key"]:
+            fields["ends"] = [a["key"], b["key"]]
         if fields:
-            conductor_changes.append({"key": k, "changed": fields})
+            conductor_changes.append({"key": b["key"], **({"uuid": k} if co_by_uuid else {}),
+                                      "changed": fields})
 
     deltas = sorted({tuple(m["delta"]) for m in moved})
     return {
@@ -574,8 +684,9 @@ def tool_diff(before: str, after: str) -> dict:
         },
         "conductors": {
             "before": len(a_co), "after": len(b_co),
-            "added": sorted(set(b_co) - set(a_co))[:50],
-            "removed": sorted(set(a_co) - set(b_co))[:50],
+            "keyed_by": "uuid" if co_by_uuid else "ends",
+            "added": sorted(b_co[k]["key"] for k in set(b_co) - set(a_co))[:50],
+            "removed": sorted(a_co[k]["key"] for k in set(a_co) - set(b_co))[:50],
             "changed": conductor_changes[:100],
             "changed_count": len(conductor_changes),
             **unstable,
@@ -2203,6 +2314,26 @@ TOOLS = [
         },
         "handler": lambda a: tool_project_info(a["path"]),
     },
+    {
+        "name": "qet_items",
+        "description": "List the drawn items that are not symbols or wires -- free texts, "
+                       "shapes, pictures, tables and the text fields of symbols -- with "
+                       "each one's uuid, folio (counted from 1) and main fields. Use the "
+                       "uuid to address an item in qet_edit or to find it in qet_diff. "
+                       "Reads the file directly; does not launch QElectroTech.",
+        "inputSchema": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "path": {"type": "string"},
+                "folio": {"type": "integer", "description": "folio number counted from 1"},
+                "kind": {"type": "string", "enum": ITEM_KINDS},
+                "limit": {"type": "integer", "default": 500},
+            },
+            "required": ["path"],
+        },
+        "handler": lambda a: tool_items(a["path"], a.get("folio"), a.get("kind"),
+                                        a.get("limit", 500)),
+    },
     {
         "name": "qet_elements",
         "description": "List placed elements with uuid, type, position, label and "
@@ -2251,8 +2382,12 @@ TOOLS = [
         "description": "Structurally diff two .qet files: which elements moved and "
                        "by what delta, which were rotated (orientation in quarter "
                        "turns, 0-3), which were added, removed or relabelled, and "
-                       "which conductor fields changed. Use this to verify what an "
-                       "edit actually did, rather than reading a screenshot.",
+                       "which conductor fields changed; also folio fields, texts, shapes, "
+                       "pictures, tables, symbol text fields and terminal strips. Items are "
+                       "matched by their uuid when every one of a kind has one (each "
+                       "section says so in \"keyed_by\"), otherwise by position or ends. "
+                       "Use this to verify what an edit actually did, rather than reading "
+                       "a screenshot.",
         "inputSchema": {
             "type": "object",
             "properties": {
@@ -2783,6 +2918,7 @@ _BY_NAME = {t["name"]: t for t in TOOLS}
 _DATA_PATHS = {
     "qet_project_info":   {"read": ("path",)},
     "qet_elements":       {"read": ("path",)},
+    "qet_items":          {"read": ("path",)},
     "qet_conductors":     {"read": ("path",)},
     "qet_diff":           {"read": ("before", "after")},
     "qet_scan":           {"read": ("directory",)},
diff --git a/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py b/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py
index 3b3973791..bf5db9505 100644
--- a/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py
+++ b/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class ToolRegistry(unittest.TestCase):
             "qet_project_info", "qet_elements", "qet_conductors", "qet_diff",
             "qet_scan", "qet_element_info", "qet_export", "qet_edit", "qet_query",
             "qet_project_new", "qet_element_search", "qet_check", "qet_element_build",
-            "qet_continuity"})
+            "qet_continuity", "qet_items"})
 
 
 class EditValidation(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -865,6 +865,69 @@ class ReadToolContracts(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(m._plain_text(None), "")
 
 
+class ItemsTool(unittest.TestCase):
+    """qet_items: every drawn item that is not a symbol or a wire, with its uuid."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.tmp = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.qet = str(Path(self.tmp.name) / "p.qet")
+        Path(self.qet).write_text(
+            '<project><diagram><elements>'
+            '<element uuid="{el}" type="x.elmt" x="0" y="0"><dynamic_texts>'
+            '<dynamic_elmt_text uuid="{et}" x="5" y="6" rotation="0" text_width="-1" frame="false"'
+            ' font="Sans,9,-1" text_from="ElementInfo"><text>K1</text><info_name>label</info_name>'
+            '</dynamic_elmt_text></dynamic_texts></element></elements><conductors/>'
+            '<inputs><input uuid="{tx}" x="1" y="2" rotation="0" font="f" color="c"'
+            ' text="&lt;html&gt;&lt;body&gt;note&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;"/></inputs>'
+            '<shapes><shape uuid="{sh}" type="Line" x1="0" y1="0" x2="9" y2="9" rotation="0">'
+            '<pen color="c" style="s" widthF="1"/></shape></shapes>'
+            '</diagram><diagram><elements/><conductors/>'
+            '<images><image x="3" y="4" size="1" rotation="0"/></images>'
+            '<tables><graphics_table uuid="{tb}" name="Parts" x="0" y="0" width="100" height="50"'
+            ' display_n_row="10"/></tables>'
+            '</diagram></project>')
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self.tmp.cleanup()
+
+    def test_every_kind_with_its_uuid(self):
+        r = m.tool_items(self.qet)
+        self.assertEqual((r["count"], r["truncated"]), (5, False))
+        self.assertEqual(r["items"], [
+            {"kind": "text", "uuid": "{tx}", "folio": 1, "x": "1", "y": "2", "text": "note",
+             "rotation": "0", "font": "f", "color": "c"},
+            {"kind": "shape", "uuid": "{sh}", "folio": 1, "type": "Line", "from": ["0", "0"],
+             "to": ["9", "9"], "line_color": "c", "line_style": "s", "line_width": "1",
+             "fill": "none", "rotation": "0"},
+            {"kind": "element_text", "uuid": "{et}", "folio": 1, "element": "{el}",
+             "source": "ElementInfo", "bound_to": "label", "n": 1, "x": "5", "y": "6",
+             "size": "9", "frame": "false", "rotation": "0", "width": "-1", "shows": "K1"},
+            # saved before pictures carried a uuid: "" until the next save
+            {"kind": "image", "uuid": "", "folio": 2, "x": "3", "y": "4", "scale": "1",
+             "rotation": "0"},
+            {"kind": "table", "uuid": "{tb}", "folio": 2, "name": "Parts", "x": "0", "y": "0",
+             "width": "100", "height": "50", "rows_shown": "10"}])
+
+    def test_filters_and_limit(self):
+        kinds = lambda r: [i["kind"] for i in r["items"]]
+        self.assertEqual(kinds(m.tool_items(self.qet, folio=2)), ["image", "table"])
+        self.assertEqual(kinds(m.tool_items(self.qet, kind="shape")), ["shape"])
+        self.assertEqual(kinds(m.tool_items(self.qet, folio=2, kind="shape")), [])
+        r = m.tool_items(self.qet, limit=2)
+        self.assertEqual((r["count"], r["truncated"], len(r["items"])), (5, True, 2))
+        r = m.tool_items(self.qet, limit=5)
+        self.assertEqual((r["count"], r["truncated"]), (5, False))
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "kind must be one of"):
+            m.tool_items(self.qet, kind="wire")
+
+    def test_default_limit_is_500(self):
+        many = "".join(f'<input uuid="{{{i}}}" x="{i}" y="0" text="t"/>' for i in range(501))
+        big = Path(self.tmp.name) / "big.qet"
+        big.write_text(f'<project><diagram><inputs>{many}</inputs></diagram></project>')
+        r = m.tool_items(str(big))
+        self.assertEqual((r["count"], r["truncated"], len(r["items"])), (501, True, 500))
+
+
 class DiffContracts(unittest.TestCase):
     """Exact qet_diff output, section by section, on hand-made pairs.
 
@@ -969,7 +1032,7 @@ class DiffContracts(unittest.TestCase):
                                     + self.wire(A, C, num="W3")))
         k = lambda x, y: f"1:{x}/{{t1}}--{y}/{{t2}}"
         self.assertEqual(m.tool_diff(before, after)["conductors"], {
-            "before": 2, "after": 2, "added": [k(A, C)], "removed": [k(B, C)],
+            "before": 2, "after": 2, "keyed_by": "ends", "added": [k(A, C)], "removed": [k(B, C)],
             "changed": [{"key": k(A, B), "changed": {"num": ["W1", "W9"], "color": ["", "red"]}}],
             "changed_count": 1})
 
@@ -1046,7 +1109,7 @@ class DiffContracts(unittest.TestCase):
         d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(self.folio(title="A", cols="10"), title="P"),
                         self.qet(self.folio(title="B", cols="10"), title="Q"))
         self.assertEqual(d["project"], {"changed": {"title": ["P", "Q"]}})
-        self.assertEqual(d["folios"], {"before": 1, "after": 1,
+        self.assertEqual(d["folios"], {"before": 1, "after": 1, "keyed_by": "position",
                                        "changed": [{"folio": 1, "changed": {"title": ["A", "B"]}}]})
         d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(self.folio(title="A")),
                         self.qet(self.folio(title="B") + self.folio(title="C")))
@@ -1144,6 +1207,162 @@ class DiffContracts(unittest.TestCase):
         t = m.tool_diff(self.qet(self.folio()), self.qet(self.folio(extra=texts(51, 0))))["texts"]
         self.assertEqual(len(t["added"]), 50)
 
+    def test_conductors_by_uuid(self):
+        """Every conductor has a uuid: a rewire is that conductor with new ends,
+        not one removed and another added."""
+        A, B, C = self.A, self.B, self.C
+        els = self.el(A, 0, 0) + self.el(B, 0, 0) + self.el(C, 0, 0)
+        before = self.qet(self.folio(els, self.wire(A, B, uuid="{w1}", num="W1")
+                                     + self.wire(B, C, uuid="{w2}")))
+        after = self.qet(self.folio(els, self.wire(A, C, uuid="{w1}", num="W1")
+                                    + self.wire(A, B, uuid="{w3}")))
+        k = lambda x, y: f"1:{x}/{{t1}}--{y}/{{t2}}"
+        c = m.tool_diff(before, after)["conductors"]
+        self.assertEqual(c["keyed_by"], "uuid")
+        self.assertEqual(c["changed"], [{"key": k(A, C), "uuid": "{w1}",
+                                         "changed": {"ends": [k(A, B), k(A, C)]}}])
+        # added/removed are still named by their ends, as in the ends mode
+        self.assertEqual((c["added"], c["removed"]), ([k(A, B)], [k(B, C)]))
+        # one conductor without a uuid puts the whole comparison back on ends
+        mixed = self.qet(self.folio(els, self.wire(A, B, uuid="{w1}", num="W1") + self.wire(B, C)))
+        self.assertEqual(m.tool_diff(before, mixed)["conductors"]["keyed_by"], "ends")
+
+    def test_folios_by_uuid(self):
+        """With folio uuids a reorder is one 'reordered' entry, not every later
+        folio changing title."""
+        f = lambda u, t: self.folio(title=t, uuid=u)
+        before = self.qet(f("{f1}", "One") + f("{f2}", "Two") + f("{f3}", "Three"))
+        after = self.qet(f("{f2}", "Two") + f("{f1}", "One") + f("{f4}", "Four"))
+        d = m.tool_diff(before, after)["folios"]
+        self.assertEqual(d["keyed_by"], "uuid")
+        self.assertEqual(d["changed"], [])
+        self.assertEqual(d["reordered"], [{"uuid": "{f2}", "title": "Two", "from": 2, "to": 1},
+                                          {"uuid": "{f1}", "title": "One", "from": 1, "to": 2}])
+        self.assertEqual(d["added"], [{"folio": 3, "uuid": "{f4}", "title": "Four"}])
+        self.assertEqual(d["removed"], [{"folio": 3, "uuid": "{f3}", "title": "Three"}])
+        self.assertNotIn("note", d)
+        renamed = self.qet(f("{f1}", "Uno") + f("{f2}", "Two") + f("{f3}", "Three"))
+        self.assertEqual(m.tool_diff(before, renamed)["folios"]["changed"],
+                         [{"folio": 1, "uuid": "{f1}", "changed": {"title": ["One", "Uno"]}}])
+
+    def test_element_text_fields_by_uuid(self):
+        """By their own uuid, deleting the first of two label fields is that
+        field removed -- by position it read as the second one changing."""
+        def fields(*items):
+            return self.el(self.A, 0, 0, texts="".join(
+                f'<dynamic_elmt_text uuid="{u}" x="{x}" y="0" text_from="UserText"><text>{t}</text>'
+                '</dynamic_elmt_text>' for u, x, t in items))
+        before = self.qet(self.folio(fields(("{e1}", 1, "a"), ("{e2}", 2, "b"))))
+        after = self.qet(self.folio(fields(("{e2}", 2, "b"))))
+        d = m.tool_diff(before, after)["element_texts"]
+        self.assertEqual(d["keyed_by"], "uuid")
+        self.assertEqual((d["changed"], [r["uuid"] for r in d["removed"]]), ([], ["{e1}"]))
+        # the same pair without uuids: the position-based reading, flagged as such
+        plain = lambda *items: self.qet(self.folio(self.el(self.A, 0, 0, texts="".join(
+            f'<dynamic_elmt_text x="{x}" y="0" text_from="UserText"><text>{t}</text></dynamic_elmt_text>'
+            for x, t in items))))
+        d = m.tool_diff(plain((1, "a"), (2, "b")), plain((2, "b")))["element_texts"]
+        self.assertEqual(d["keyed_by"], "position")
+
+    def test_copied_symbols_keep_their_text_field_uuids(self):
+        """Copying a symbol keeps its text fields' uuids (20 copies of one in
+        2612_ats_singlephase.qet), so a field is its symbol's uuid plus its own:
+        editing one copy's field must not be read as another copy's."""
+        field = lambda x: ('<dynamic_elmt_text uuid="{same}" x="' + str(x) + '" y="0" '
+                           'text_from="UserText"><text>t</text></dynamic_elmt_text>')
+        pair = lambda xa, xb: self.qet(self.folio(self.el(self.A, 0, 0, texts=field(xa))
+                                                  + self.el(self.B, 0, 0, texts=field(xb))))
+        for before, after, which in ((pair(1, 1), pair(5, 1), self.A), (pair(1, 1), pair(1, 5), self.B)):
+            with self.subTest(edited=which):
+                d = m.tool_diff(before, after)["element_texts"]
+                self.assertEqual(d["keyed_by"], "uuid")
+                self.assertEqual([(c["item"]["element"], c["item"]["uuid"], c["changed"])
+                                  for c in d["changed"]], [(which, "{same}", {"x": ["1", "5"]})])
+
+    def test_a_field_on_a_symbol_without_a_uuid_is_matched_by_position(self):
+        """The field has a uuid but its symbol has none (an older file): with no
+        symbol to pair it with, the whole kind falls back to position."""
+        field = lambda x: ('<dynamic_elmt_text uuid="{e1}" x="' + str(x) + '" y="0" '
+                           'text_from="UserText"><text>t</text></dynamic_elmt_text>')
+        on = lambda sym, x: self.qet(self.folio(self.el(sym, 0, 0, texts=field(x))))
+        d = m.tool_diff(on("", 1), on("", 2))["element_texts"]
+        self.assertEqual(d["keyed_by"], "position")
+        self.assertEqual([c["changed"] for c in d["changed"]], [{"x": ["1", "2"]}])
+        # the symbol has a uuid on one side only: each side is checked on its own
+        for before, after in ((on("", 1), on(self.A, 1)), (on(self.A, 1), on("", 1))):
+            with self.subTest(before=before, after=after):
+                self.assertEqual(m.tool_diff(before, after)["element_texts"]["keyed_by"], "position")
+
+    def test_repeated_uuids_fall_back_rather_than_merge(self):
+        # the same field uuid twice inside one symbol
+        twice = lambda x: self.qet(self.folio(self.el(self.A, 0, 0, texts="".join(
+            f'<dynamic_elmt_text uuid="{{dup}}" x="{v}" y="0" text_from="UserText"><text>{v}</text>'
+            '</dynamic_elmt_text>' for v in (x, 9)))))
+        self.assertEqual(m.tool_diff(twice(1), twice(2))["element_texts"]["keyed_by"], "position")
+        # two shapes sharing a uuid: both must still be counted
+        shapes = self.qet(self.folio(extra='<shapes>' + ''.join(
+            f'<shape uuid="{{s}}" type="Line" x1="{i}" y1="0" x2="1" y2="1"/>' for i in (0, 5)) + '</shapes>'))
+        d = m.tool_diff(shapes, shapes)["shapes"]
+        self.assertEqual((d["keyed_by"], d["before"]), ("position", 2))
+        # two conductors sharing a uuid
+        els = self.el(self.A, 0, 0) + self.el(self.B, 0, 0) + self.el(self.C, 0, 0)
+        wires = self.qet(self.folio(els, self.wire(self.A, self.B, uuid="{w}")
+                                    + self.wire(self.B, self.C, uuid="{w}")))
+        c = m.tool_diff(wires, wires)["conductors"]
+        self.assertEqual((c["keyed_by"], c["before"]), ("ends", 2))
+
+    def test_uuid_matching_when_one_side_has_none_of_a_kind(self):
+        """No folios, fields or wires on one side is not a reason to fall back
+        to position: the other side's uuids are all there is to match."""
+        empty = self.qet("")
+        full = self.qet(self.folio(
+            self.el(self.A, 0, 0, texts='<dynamic_elmt_text uuid="{e1}" x="0" y="0" '
+                    'text_from="UserText"><text>t</text></dynamic_elmt_text>')
+            + self.el(self.B, 0, 0), self.wire(self.A, self.B, uuid="{w1}"), uuid="{f1}"))
+        d = m.tool_diff(empty, full)
+        self.assertEqual((d["folios"]["keyed_by"], d["element_texts"]["keyed_by"],
+                          d["conductors"]["keyed_by"]), ("uuid", "uuid", "uuid"))
+        self.assertEqual(d["folios"]["added"], [{"folio": 1, "uuid": "{f1}", "title": ""}])
+        # matched by uuid, a conductor is never on the renumbered-id footing
+        self.assertNotIn("unstable_keys", d["conductors"])
+
+    def test_a_folio_that_kept_its_place_is_not_reordered(self):
+        f = lambda u, t: self.folio(title=t, uuid=u)
+        before = self.qet(f("{f1}", "One") + f("{f2}", "Two") + f("{f3}", "Three"))
+        after = self.qet(f("{f1}", "One") + f("{f3}", "Three") + f("{f2}", "Two"))
+        self.assertEqual([r["uuid"] for r in m.tool_diff(before, after)["folios"]["reordered"]],
+                         ["{f3}", "{f2}"])
+
+    def test_folio_lists_are_capped(self):
+        f = lambda i, t: self.folio(title=t, uuid=f"{{{i:04d}}}")
+        many = lambda rng, t: "".join(f(i, t) for i in rng)
+        d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(""), self.qet(many(range(51), "x")))["folios"]
+        self.assertEqual(len(d["added"]), 50)
+        d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(many(range(51), "x")), self.qet(""))["folios"]
+        self.assertEqual(len(d["removed"]), 50)
+        d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(many(range(52), "x")), self.qet(many(reversed(range(52)), "x")))["folios"]
+        self.assertEqual(len(d["reordered"]), 50)
+
+    def test_table_fields(self):
+        def table(**v):
+            a = {"x": "0", "y": "0", "width": "100", "height": "50", "display_n_row": "10", **v}
+            return ('<tables><graphics_table uuid="{tb}" name="P" '
+                    + " ".join(f'{k}="{w}"' for k, w in a.items()) + '/></tables>')
+        for attr, reported in (("y", "y"), ("width", "width"), ("height", "height")):
+            with self.subTest(attr=attr):
+                d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(self.folio(extra=table())),
+                                self.qet(self.folio(extra=table(**{attr: "7"}))))["tables"]
+                self.assertEqual([list(c["changed"]) for c in d["changed"]], [[reported]])
+
+    def test_tables(self):
+        table = lambda x, rows: ('<tables><graphics_table uuid="{tb}" name="Parts" x="' + str(x)
+                                 + f'" y="0" width="100" height="50" display_n_row="{rows}"/></tables>')
+        d = m.tool_diff(self.qet(self.folio(extra=table(0, 10))),
+                        self.qet(self.folio(extra=table(20, 12))))["tables"]
+        self.assertEqual((d["keyed_by"], d["before"], d["after"]), ("uuid", 1, 1))
+        self.assertEqual(d["changed"], [{"item": {"folio": 1, "name": "Parts", "uuid": "{tb}"},
+                                         "changed": {"x": ["0", "20"], "rows_shown": ["10", "12"]}}])
+
     def test_terminal_strips(self):
         def strip(name, n):
             terms = "".join(f'<real_terminal/>' for _ in range(n))
@@ -1533,6 +1752,20 @@ class PathPolicy(unittest.TestCase):
                       if "overwrite" in t["inputSchema"].get("properties", {})}
         self.assertEqual(guarded, advertised)
 
+    def test_every_data_path_argument_is_guarded(self):
+        """The other direction: a tool whose schema takes a data path must be
+        in the policy, or that path is read or written with no workspace
+        check at all -- and nothing fails. binary and elements_dir are
+        configuration, deliberately not confined (see the README)."""
+        pathish = {"path", "project", "before", "after", "output", "directory"}
+        for t in m.TOOLS:
+            with self.subTest(tool=t["name"]):
+                props = t["inputSchema"].get("properties", {})
+                spec = m._DATA_PATHS.get(t["name"], {})
+                guarded = set(spec.get("read", ())) | set(spec.get("write", ()))
+                self.assertEqual(pathish & set(props), guarded & pathish,
+                                 f"{t['name']}: data path arguments not in _DATA_PATHS")
+
     def test_the_policy_names_only_real_tools_and_arguments(self):
         by_name = {t["name"]: t for t in m.TOOLS}
         for name, spec in m._DATA_PATHS.items():