v3.68.0

changelog.md

@@ -1,5 +1,52 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-04-08 - 3.68.0 - feat(dees-simple-appdash)
+add nested sidebar subviews and preserve submit labels from slotted text
+
+- support grouped navigation items with expandable subviews and parent-to-first-subview fallback in the app dashboard
+- allow dees-form-submit to derive its button text from light DOM content when no explicit text property is set
+
+## 2026-04-07 - 3.67.1 - fix(repo)
+no changes to commit
+
+
+## 2026-04-07 - 3.67.0 - feat(dees-table)
+improve inline cell editors with integrated input styling and auto-open dropdowns
+
+- add a visually integrated mode to dees-input-text and dees-input-dropdown for table cell editing
+- auto-open dropdown editors when a table cell enters edit mode
+- refine table editing cell outline and dropdown value matching for inline editors
+
+## 2026-04-07 - 3.66.0 - feat(dees-table)
+add virtualized row rendering for large tables and optimize table rendering performance
+
+- add a virtualized mode with configurable overscan to render only visible rows while preserving scroll height
+- improve table render performance with memoized column and view-data computation plus deferred floating header rendering
+- update the dees-table demo to showcase virtualized scrolling in the fixed-height example
+
+## 2026-04-07 - 3.65.0 - feat(dees-table)
+add schema-based in-cell editing with keyboard navigation and cell edit events
+
+- replace editableFields with per-column editor configuration for text, number, checkbox, dropdown, date, and tags inputs
+- add focused/editing cell state with arrow key navigation plus Enter, Tab, Shift+Tab, F2, and Escape editing controls
+- dispatch cellEdit and cellEditError events with typed payloads and support column-level format, parse, validate, and editorOptions hooks
+- update table styles and demos to reflect editable cell behavior and rename sticky header usage to fixedHeight
+
+## 2026-04-07 - 3.64.0 - feat(dees-table)
+add file-manager style row selection and JSON copy support
+
+- adds optional selection checkbox rendering via the show-selection-checkbox property
+- supports plain, ctrl/cmd, and shift-click row selection with range selection behavior
+- adds Ctrl/Cmd+C and context menu actions to copy selected rows as formatted JSON
+- updates row selection styling to prevent native text selection during range selection
+
+## 2026-04-07 - 3.63.0 - feat(dees-table)
+add floating header support with fixed-height table mode
+
+- replace the sticky-header option with a fixed-height mode for internal scrolling
+- add a JS-managed floating header so column headers remain visible when tables scroll inside ancestor containers
+- sync floating header column widths and filter rows with the rendered table
+
 ## 2026-04-07 - 3.62.0 - feat(dees-table)
 add multi-column sorting with header menu controls and priority indicators
 

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@design.estate/dees-catalog",
-  "version": "3.62.0",
+  "version": "3.68.0",
   "private": false,
   "description": "A comprehensive library that provides dynamic web components for building sophisticated and modern web applications using JavaScript and TypeScript.",
   "main": "dist_ts_web/index.js",

ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@design.estate/dees-catalog',
-  version: '3.62.0',
+  version: '3.68.0',
   description: 'A comprehensive library that provides dynamic web components for building sophisticated and modern web applications using JavaScript and TypeScript.'
 }

ts_web/elements/00group-dataview/dees-table/dees-table.demo.ts

@@ -55,36 +55,66 @@ export const demoFunc = () => html`
     <div class="demo-container">
       <div class="demo-section">
         <h2 class="demo-title">Basic Table with Actions</h2>
-        <p class="demo-description">A standard table with row actions, editable fields, and context menu support. Double-click on descriptions to edit. Grid lines are enabled by default.</p>
+        <p class="demo-description">A standard table with row actions, editable cells, and context menu support. Double-click any cell to edit. Tab moves to the next editable cell, Enter to the row below, Esc cancels.</p>
         <dees-table
           heading1="Current Account Statement"
           heading2="Bunq - Payment Account 2 - April 2021"
-          .editableFields="${['description']}"
+          .columns=${[
+            { key: 'date', header: 'Date', sortable: true, editable: true, editor: 'date' },
+            { key: 'amount', header: 'Amount', editable: true, editor: 'text' },
+            {
+              key: 'category',
+              header: 'Category',
+              editable: true,
+              editor: 'dropdown',
+              editorOptions: {
+                options: [
+                  { option: 'Office Supplies', key: 'office' },
+                  { option: 'Hardware', key: 'hardware' },
+                  { option: 'Software', key: 'software' },
+                  { option: 'Travel', key: 'travel' },
+                ],
+              },
+            },
+            { key: 'description', header: 'Description', editable: true },
+            { key: 'reconciled', header: 'OK', editable: true, editor: 'checkbox' },
+          ]}
+          @cellEdit=${(e: CustomEvent) => console.log('cellEdit', e.detail)}
           .data=${[
             {
               date: '2021-04-01',
               amount: '2464.65 €',
-              description: 'Printing Paper (Office Supplies) - STAPLES BREMEN',
+              category: 'office',
+              description: 'Printing Paper - STAPLES BREMEN',
+              reconciled: true,
             },
             {
               date: '2021-04-02',
               amount: '165.65 €',
-              description: 'Logitech Mouse (Hardware) - logi.com OnlineShop',
+              category: 'hardware',
+              description: 'Logitech Mouse - logi.com OnlineShop',
+              reconciled: false,
             },
             {
               date: '2021-04-03',
               amount: '2999,00 €',
-              description: 'Macbook Pro 16inch (Hardware) - Apple.de OnlineShop',
+              category: 'hardware',
+              description: 'Macbook Pro 16inch - Apple.de OnlineShop',
+              reconciled: false,
             },
             {
               date: '2021-04-01',
               amount: '2464.65 €',
+              category: 'office',
               description: 'Office-Supplies - STAPLES BREMEN',
+              reconciled: true,
             },
             {
               date: '2021-04-01',
               amount: '2464.65 €',
+              category: 'office',
               description: 'Office-Supplies - STAPLES BREMEN',
+              reconciled: true,
             },
           ]}
           dataName="transactions"
@@ -510,13 +540,13 @@ export const demoFunc = () => html`
         <h2 class="demo-title">Column Filters + Sticky Header (New)</h2>
         <p class="demo-description">Per-column quick filters and sticky header with internal scroll. Try filtering the Name column. Uses --table-max-height var.</p>
         <style>
-          dees-table[sticky-header] { --table-max-height: 220px; }
+          dees-table[fixed-height] { --table-max-height: 220px; }
         </style>
         <dees-table
           heading1="Employees"
           heading2="Quick filter per column + sticky header"
           .showColumnFilters=${true}
-          .stickyHeader=${true}
+          .fixedHeight=${true}
           .columns=${[
             { key: 'name', header: 'Name', sortable: true },
             { key: 'email', header: 'Email', sortable: true },
@@ -669,8 +699,9 @@ export const demoFunc = () => html`
         </style>
         <dees-table
           id="scrollSmallHeight"
-          .stickyHeader=${true}
-          heading1="People Directory (Scrollable)"
+          .fixedHeight=${true}
+          .virtualized=${true}
+          heading1="People Directory (Scrollable, Virtualized)"
           heading2="Forced scrolling with many items"
           .columns=${[
             { key: 'id', header: 'ID', sortable: true },

ts_web/elements/00group-dataview/dees-table/styles.ts

@@ -114,29 +114,48 @@ export const tableStyles: CSSResult[] = [
         border-bottom-width: 0px;
       }
 
+      /* Default mode (Mode B, page sticky): horizontal scroll lives on
+         .tableScroll (so wide tables don't get clipped by an ancestor
+         overflow:hidden such as dees-tile). Vertical sticky is handled by
+         a JS-managed floating header (.floatingHeader, position:fixed),
+         which is unaffected by ancestor overflow. */
       .tableScroll {
-        /* enable horizontal scroll only when content exceeds width */
+        position: relative;
         overflow-x: auto;
-        /* prevent vertical scroll inside the table container */
-        overflow-y: hidden;
-        /* avoid reserving extra space for classic scrollbars where possible */
-        scrollbar-gutter: stable both-edges;
+        overflow-y: visible;
+        scrollbar-gutter: stable;
       }
-      /* Hide horizontal scrollbar entirely when not using sticky header */
-      :host(:not([sticky-header])) .tableScroll {
-        -ms-overflow-style: none; /* IE/Edge */
-        scrollbar-width: none;   /* Firefox (hides both axes) */
-      }
-      :host(:not([sticky-header])) .tableScroll::-webkit-scrollbar {
-        display: none; /* Chrome/Safari */
-      }
-      /* In sticky-header mode, hide only the horizontal scrollbar in WebKit/Blink */
-      :host([sticky-header]) .tableScroll::-webkit-scrollbar:horizontal {
-        height: 0px;
-      }
-      :host([sticky-header]) .tableScroll {
+      /* Mode A, internal scroll: opt-in via fixed-height attribute.
+         The table scrolls inside its own box and the header sticks via plain CSS sticky. */
+      :host([fixed-height]) .tableScroll {
         max-height: var(--table-max-height, 360px);
         overflow: auto;
+        scrollbar-gutter: stable both-edges;
+      }
+      :host([fixed-height]) .tableScroll::-webkit-scrollbar:horizontal {
+        height: 0px;
+      }
+
+      /* Floating header overlay (Mode B). Position is managed by JS so it
+         escapes any ancestor overflow:hidden (position:fixed is not clipped
+         by overflow ancestors). */
+      .floatingHeader {
+        position: fixed;
+        top: 0;
+        left: 0;
+        z-index: 100;
+        visibility: hidden;
+        overflow: hidden;
+        pointer-events: none;
+      }
+      .floatingHeader.active {
+        visibility: visible;
+      }
+      .floatingHeader table {
+        margin: 0;
+      }
+      .floatingHeader th {
+        pointer-events: auto;
       }
 
       table {
@@ -159,15 +178,25 @@ export const tableStyles: CSSResult[] = [
         background: ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(210 40% 96.1%)', 'hsl(0 0% 9%)')};
         border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dees-color-border-strong);
       }
-      :host([sticky-header]) thead th {
+      /* th needs its own background so sticky cells paint over scrolled rows
+         (browsers don't paint the <thead> box behind a sticky <th>). */
+      th {
+        background: ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(210 40% 96.1%)', 'hsl(0 0% 9%)')};
+      }
+      /* Mode A — internal scroll sticky */
+      :host([fixed-height]) thead th {
         position: sticky;
         top: 0;
         z-index: 2;
       }
+      :host([fixed-height]) thead tr.filtersRow th {
+        top: 36px; /* matches th { height: 36px } below */
+      }
       
       tbody tr {
         transition: background-color 0.15s ease;
         position: relative;
+        user-select: none;
       }
       
       /* Default horizontal lines (bottom border only) */
@@ -343,32 +372,37 @@ export const tableStyles: CSSResult[] = [
         min-height: 24px;
         line-height: 24px;
       }
-      td input {
-        position: absolute;
-        top: 4px;
-        bottom: 4px;
-        left: 20px;
-        right: 20px;
-        width: calc(100% - 40px);
-        height: calc(100% - 8px);
-        padding: 0 12px;
-        outline: none;
-        border: 1px solid var(--dees-color-border-default);
-        border-radius: 6px;
-        background: ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(0 0% 100%)', 'hsl(0 0% 9%)')};
-        color: var(--dees-color-text-primary);
-        font-family: inherit;
-        font-size: inherit;
-        font-weight: inherit;
-        transition: all 0.15s ease;
-        box-shadow: 0 1px 2px 0 rgb(0 0 0 / 0.05);
+
+      /* Editable cell affordances */
+      td.editable {
+        cursor: text;
       }
-      
-      td input:focus {
-        border-color: ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(222.2 47.4% 51.2%)', 'hsl(217.2 91.2% 59.8%)')};
-        outline: 2px solid transparent;
-        outline-offset: 2px;
-        box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(222.2 47.4% 51.2% / 0.2)', 'hsl(217.2 91.2% 59.8% / 0.2)')};
+      td.focused {
+        outline: 2px solid ${cssManager.bdTheme(
+          'hsl(222.2 47.4% 51.2% / 0.6)',
+          'hsl(217.2 91.2% 59.8% / 0.6)'
+        )};
+        outline-offset: -2px;
+      }
+      td.editingCell {
+        padding: 0;
+        outline: 2px solid ${cssManager.bdTheme(
+          'hsl(222.2 47.4% 51.2% / 0.6)',
+          'hsl(217.2 91.2% 59.8% / 0.6)'
+        )};
+        outline-offset: -2px;
+      }
+      td.editingCell .innerCellContainer {
+        padding: 0;
+        line-height: normal;
+      }
+      td.editingCell dees-input-text,
+      td.editingCell dees-input-checkbox,
+      td.editingCell dees-input-dropdown,
+      td.editingCell dees-input-datepicker,
+      td.editingCell dees-input-tags {
+        display: block;
+        width: 100%;
       }
 
       /* filter row */

ts_web/elements/00group-dataview/dees-table/types.ts

@@ -15,15 +15,56 @@ export interface ITableAction<T = any> {
   actionFunc: (actionDataArg: ITableActionDataArg<T>) => Promise<any>;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Available cell editor types. Each maps to a dees-input-* component.
+ * Use `editor` on `Column<T>` to opt a column into in-cell editing.
+ */
+export type TCellEditorType =
+  | 'text'
+  | 'number'
+  | 'checkbox'
+  | 'dropdown'
+  | 'date'
+  | 'tags';
+
+/** Detail payload for the `cellEdit` CustomEvent dispatched on commit. */
+export interface ICellEditDetail<T = any> {
+  row: T;
+  key: string;
+  oldValue: any;
+  newValue: any;
+}
+
+/** Detail payload for the `cellEditError` CustomEvent dispatched on validation failure. */
+export interface ICellEditErrorDetail<T = any> {
+  row: T;
+  key: string;
+  value: any;
+  message: string;
+}
+
 export interface Column<T = any> {
   key: keyof T | string;
   header?: string | TemplateResult;
   value?: (row: T) => any;
   renderer?: (value: any, row: T, ctx: { rowIndex: number; colIndex: number; column: Column<T> }) => TemplateResult | string;
+  /** Whether this column can be sorted by clicking its header. Defaults to `true`; set to `false` to disable. */
   sortable?: boolean;
   /** whether this column participates in per-column quick filtering (default: true) */
   filterable?: boolean;
   hidden?: boolean;
+  /** Marks the column as editable. Shorthand for `editor: 'text'` if no editor is specified. */
+  editable?: boolean;
+  /** Editor type — picks the dees-input-* component used for in-cell editing. */
+  editor?: TCellEditorType;
+  /** Editor-specific options forwarded to the editor (e.g. `{ options: [...] }` for dropdowns). */
+  editorOptions?: Record<string, any>;
+  /** Convert raw row value -> editor value. Defaults to identity. */
+  format?: (raw: any, row: T) => any;
+  /** Convert editor value -> raw row value. Defaults to identity. */
+  parse?: (editorValue: any, row: T) => any;
+  /** Validate the parsed value before commit. Return string for error, true/void for ok. */
+  validate?: (value: any, row: T) => true | string | void;
 }
 
 /**

ts_web/elements/00group-form/dees-form-submit/dees-form-submit.ts

@@ -75,12 +75,23 @@ export class DeesFormSubmit extends DeesElement {
         .text=${this.text}
         ?disabled=${this.disabled}
         @clicked=${this.submit}
-      >
-        <slot></slot>
-      </dees-button>
+      ></dees-button>
     `;
   }
 
+  public async firstUpdated() {
+    // Capture light DOM text content as the button label. dees-button wipes
+    // its own light DOM during extractLightDom(), so we cannot simply forward
+    // a <slot> into it — we have to hoist the text onto the .text property
+    // ourselves before handing it to dees-button.
+    if (!this.text) {
+      const slotText = this.textContent?.trim();
+      if (slotText) {
+        this.text = slotText;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   public async submit() {
     if (this.disabled) {
       return;

ts_web/elements/00group-input/dees-input-dropdown/dees-input-dropdown.ts

@@ -46,6 +46,12 @@ export class DeesInputDropdown extends DeesInputBase<DeesInputDropdown> {
   })
   accessor enableSearch: boolean = true;
 
+  @property({
+    type: Boolean,
+    reflect: true,
+  })
+  accessor vintegrated: boolean = false;
+
   @state()
   accessor isOpened = false;
 
@@ -126,6 +132,36 @@ export class DeesInputDropdown extends DeesInputBase<DeesInputDropdown> {
       .selectedBox.open::after {
         transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(180deg);
       }
+
+      /* Visually integrated mode: shed chrome to blend into a host component
+         (e.g. a dees-table cell in edit mode). */
+      :host([vintegrated]) dees-label {
+        display: none;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) .maincontainer {
+        height: 40px;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) .selectedBox {
+        height: 40px;
+        line-height: 40px;
+        padding: 0 32px 0 16px;
+        font-size: 13px;
+        border: none;
+        border-radius: 0;
+        background: transparent;
+        box-shadow: none;
+        transition: none;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) .selectedBox:hover:not(.disabled),
+      :host([vintegrated]) .selectedBox:focus-visible {
+        border: none;
+        box-shadow: none;
+        background: transparent;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) .selectedBox::after {
+        right: 12px;
+        opacity: 0.6;
+      }
     `,
   ];
 

ts_web/elements/00group-input/dees-input-text/dees-input-text.ts

@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ export class DeesInputText extends DeesInputBase {
   @property({})
   accessor validationFunction!: (value: string) => boolean;
 
+  @property({
+    type: Boolean,
+    reflect: true,
+  })
+  accessor vintegrated: boolean = false;
+
   public static styles = [
     themeDefaultStyles,
     ...DeesInputBase.baseStyles,
@@ -194,6 +200,36 @@ export class DeesInputText extends DeesInputBase {
         border-color: ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(142.1 76.2% 36.3%)', 'hsl(142.1 70.6% 45.3%)')};
         box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(142.1 76.2% 36.3% / 0.05)', 'hsl(142.1 70.6% 45.3% / 0.05)')};
       }
+
+      /* Visually integrated mode: shed chrome to blend into a host component
+         (e.g. a dees-table cell in edit mode). */
+      :host([vintegrated]) dees-label,
+      :host([vintegrated]) .validationContainer {
+        display: none;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) .maincontainer {
+        height: 40px;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) input {
+        height: 40px;
+        line-height: 24px;
+        padding: 0 16px;
+        font-size: 13px;
+        border: none;
+        border-radius: 0;
+        background: transparent;
+        box-shadow: none;
+        transition: none;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) input:hover:not(:disabled):not(:focus),
+      :host([vintegrated]) input:focus {
+        border: none;
+        box-shadow: none;
+        background: transparent;
+      }
+      :host([vintegrated]) .showPassword {
+        display: none;
+      }
     `,
   ];
 

ts_web/elements/00group-simple/dees-simple-appdash/dees-simple-appdash.demo.ts

@@ -353,12 +353,35 @@ export const demoFunc = () => html`
           name: 'Analytics',
           iconName: 'lucide:lineChart',
           element: DemoViewAnalytics,
+          subViews: [
+            {
+              name: 'Overview',
+              iconName: 'lucide:activity',
+              element: DemoViewAnalytics,
+            },
+            {
+              name: 'Reports',
+              iconName: 'lucide:fileText',
+              element: DemoViewDashboard,
+            },
+          ],
         },
         {
           name: 'Settings',
           iconName: 'lucide:settings',
-          element: DemoViewSettings,
-        }
+          subViews: [
+            {
+              name: 'Profile',
+              iconName: 'lucide:user',
+              element: DemoViewSettings,
+            },
+            {
+              name: 'Billing',
+              iconName: 'lucide:creditCard',
+              element: DemoViewSettings,
+            },
+          ],
+        },
       ] as IView[]}
       @logout=${() => {
         console.log('Logout event triggered');

ts_web/elements/00group-simple/dees-simple-appdash/dees-simple-appdash.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ declare global {
 export interface IView {
   name: string;
   iconName?: string;
-  element: DeesElement['constructor']['prototype'];
+  element?: DeesElement['constructor']['prototype'];
+  subViews?: IView[];
 }
 
 export type TGlobalMessageType = 'info' | 'success' | 'warning' | 'error';
@@ -250,6 +251,55 @@ export class DeesSimpleAppDash extends DeesElement {
         white-space: nowrap;
       }
 
+      .viewTab .chevron {
+        flex: 0 0 auto;
+        font-size: 14px;
+        opacity: 0.5;
+        transform: rotate(-90deg);
+        transition: transform 0.2s ease, opacity 0.15s ease;
+      }
+
+      .viewTab.hasSubs:hover .chevron {
+        opacity: 0.75;
+      }
+
+      .viewTab.hasSubs.groupActive .chevron {
+        transform: rotate(0deg);
+        opacity: 0.9;
+      }
+
+      .subViews {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: 2px;
+        margin: 2px 0 4px 12px;
+        padding-left: 12px;
+        position: relative;
+      }
+
+      .subViews::before {
+        content: '';
+        position: absolute;
+        left: 0;
+        top: 4px;
+        bottom: 4px;
+        width: 1px;
+        background: var(--dees-color-border-default);
+      }
+
+      .viewTab.sub {
+        padding: 8px 12px;
+        font-size: 12px;
+      }
+
+      .viewTab.sub dees-icon {
+        font-size: 14px;
+      }
+
+      .viewTab.sub.selected::before {
+        left: -12px;
+      }
+
       .appActions {
         padding: 12px 8px;
         border-top: 1px solid var(--dees-color-border-default);
@@ -563,10 +613,12 @@ export class DeesSimpleAppDash extends DeesElement {
           <div class="viewTabs-container">
             <div class="section-label">Navigation</div>
             <div class="viewTabs">
-              ${this.viewTabs.map(
-                (view) => html`
+              ${this.viewTabs.map((view) => {
+                const hasSubs = !!view.subViews?.length;
+                const groupActive = hasSubs && this.isGroupActive(view);
+                return html`
                   <div
-                    class="viewTab ${this.selectedView === view ? 'selected' : ''}"
+                    class="viewTab ${this.selectedView === view ? 'selected' : ''} ${hasSubs ? 'hasSubs' : ''} ${groupActive ? 'groupActive' : ''}"
                     @click=${() => this.loadView(view)}
                   >
                     ${view.iconName ? html`
@@ -575,9 +627,34 @@ export class DeesSimpleAppDash extends DeesElement {
                       <dees-icon .icon="${'lucide:file'}"></dees-icon>
                     `}
                     <span>${view.name}</span>
+                    ${hasSubs ? html`
+                      <dees-icon class="chevron" .icon="${'lucide:chevronDown'}"></dees-icon>
+                    ` : ''}
                   </div>
-                `
-              )}
+                  ${hasSubs && groupActive ? html`
+                    <div class="subViews">
+                      ${view.subViews!.map(
+                        (sub) => html`
+                          <div
+                            class="viewTab sub ${this.selectedView === sub ? 'selected' : ''}"
+                            @click=${(e: Event) => {
+                              e.stopPropagation();
+                              this.loadView(sub);
+                            }}
+                          >
+                            ${sub.iconName ? html`
+                              <dees-icon .icon="${sub.iconName.includes(':') ? sub.iconName : `lucide:${sub.iconName}`}"></dees-icon>
+                            ` : html`
+                              <dees-icon .icon="${'lucide:dot'}"></dees-icon>
+                            `}
+                            <span>${sub.name}</span>
+                          </div>
+                        `
+                      )}
+                    </div>
+                  ` : ''}
+                `;
+              })}
             </div>
           </div>
           <div class="appActions">
@@ -771,8 +848,23 @@ export class DeesSimpleAppDash extends DeesElement {
   }
 
 
+  private isGroupActive(view: IView): boolean {
+    if (this.selectedView === view) return true;
+    return view.subViews?.some((sv) => sv === this.selectedView) ?? false;
+  }
+
   private currentView!: DeesElement;
   public async loadView(viewArg: IView) {
+    // Group-only parent: resolve to first sub view with an element
+    if (!viewArg.element && viewArg.subViews?.length) {
+      const firstNavigable = viewArg.subViews.find((sv) => sv.element);
+      if (firstNavigable) {
+        return this.loadView(firstNavigable);
+      }
+      return; // nothing navigable — ignore click
+    }
+    if (!viewArg.element) return; // safety: no element and no subs → no-op
+
     const appcontent = this.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.appcontent')!;
     const view = new viewArg.element();
     if (this.currentView) {
@@ -781,7 +873,7 @@ export class DeesSimpleAppDash extends DeesElement {
     appcontent.appendChild(view);
     this.currentView = view;
     this.selectedView = viewArg;
-    
+
     // Emit view-select event
     this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('view-select', {
       detail: { view: viewArg },