diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index aa3a8b7a..a5cea382 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   gates:
+    timeout-minutes: 60
     name: gates (${{ matrix.os }})
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index ce8c4a9f..8ea976e6 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ app's JSON control channel (`deckcraft --control PORT`).
 
 | Date | What landed |
 |---|---|
+| 2026-10-15 | PDF export and rendering: `anchorCtr` centres the drawn text block — right-aligned text no longer ran past the box edge (#736) |
+| 2026-10-14 | connected MCP rejects unrelated, malformed, incomplete and oversized replies without replay; buffered unsolicited bytes force a fresh connection before sending (#718) |
+| 2026-10-14 | Empty bulleted and numbered paragraphs show gray markers while editing, including on first click and after Enter. Markers use the list style and stay out of slide shows and exports. |
 | 2026-10-13 | Interface font fallback continues to eligible installed faces when the first covering face is colour or exceeds the 48 MiB limit; document fallback order and the CJK/IME rendering assertions are retained (#101) |
 | 2026-10-13 | PDFW2: adopt the shared writer with native unwind recovery and explicit font-embedding failures; preserve app-owned export behavior and keep reader dependencies out of production |
 | 2026-10-13 | Eyedropper: Shape Fill, Shape Outline, Font Color and every other colour menu end with an Eyedropper that takes the colour drawn at a point of the slide (hover shows it, a click applies it, Esc cancels); `slide.colorAt` gives the same from scripts and MCP (#367) |
@@ -223,6 +226,8 @@ app's JSON control channel (`deckcraft --control PORT`).
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-10-14 | trivial | remote MCP checks reply IDs, envelopes and bounded newline framing (#718) |
+| 2026-10-14 | minor | Gray list markers on empty paragraphs while editing; caret keeps the list indent before typing |
 | 2026-10-14 | minor | Community PR wave folded: headline breadth 84% over 191 features (P0 92%, P1 82%, P2 55%) and the feature-area breadths from `cargo xtask parity`; one row per area; Upcoming item 2 merged; per-PR count notes dropped from the progress log. Ready stays ~55%, stage alpha |
 | 2026-10-13 | trivial | Progress log: Eyedropper in the colour menus, slide.colorAt (#367) |
 | 2026-10-13 | trivial | Progress log: video seek frame-loss race and regression coverage |
diff --git a/apps/deckcraft/src/control_server.rs b/apps/deckcraft/src/control_server.rs
index 966657b0..0abac12a 100644
--- a/apps/deckcraft/src/control_server.rs
+++ b/apps/deckcraft/src/control_server.rs
@@ -151,10 +151,23 @@ fn serve(stream: TcpStream, tx: &SyncSender<ControlRequest>, ctx: &egui::Context
                 let method = msg.get("method").and_then(Value::as_str).unwrap_or("").to_string();
                 let params = msg.get("params").cloned().unwrap_or(json!({}));
                 let (req, rrx) = ControlRequest::new(method, params);
+                let state = Arc::clone(&req.state);
                 let mut r = match tx.try_send(req) {
                     Ok(()) => {
                         ctx.request_repaint();
-                        rrx.recv_timeout(limits.reply_timeout).unwrap_or_else(|_| json!({"ok": false, "error": "timeout"}))
+                        match rrx.recv_timeout(limits.reply_timeout) {
+                            Ok(v) => v,
+                            Err(_) => {
+                                // Give up on the request. While it was still queued this makes
+                                // sure it never runs late (#719); if the app had already taken
+                                // it, its outcome is unknown rather than a definite failure.
+                                if ControlRequest::abandon(&state) {
+                                    json!({"ok": false, "error": "timeout"})
+                                } else {
+                                    json!({"ok": false, "error": "timeout: the app had already started the request, so it may still run; its outcome is unknown"})
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                     Err(TrySendError::Full(_)) => json!({"ok": false, "error": "busy: too many queued requests"}),
                     Err(TrySendError::Disconnected(_)) => break,
@@ -296,4 +309,43 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(a["error"], "timeout");
         drop(rx);
     }
+
+    /// A request that timed out while it was still queued must not run when the window resumes (#719).
+    #[test]
+    fn timed_out_request_does_not_run_when_the_window_resumes() {
+        let (addr, rx) = server(Limits { max_line: 512, ..small() });
+        let (mut r, mut w) = client(addr);
+        writeln!(w, r#"{{"id":1,"method":"engine.execute","params":{{"command":"slide.new"}}}}"#).unwrap();
+        let t = reply(&mut r).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(t["error"], "timeout");
+        // The window resumes and drains the queue, exactly as `SlideApp::drain_control` does.
+        let mut app = deckcraft_ui_egui::SlideApp::new(deckcraft_engine::Session::with_new(), deckcraft_ui_egui::Services::default());
+        let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+        let before = app.session.active().unwrap().doc.slides.len();
+        let req = rx.try_recv().expect("the timed-out request is still queued");
+        if req.take() {
+            let _ = deckcraft_ui_egui::control::handle(&mut app, &ctx, &req);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(app.session.active().unwrap().doc.slides.len(), before, "a request that timed out must not run when the window resumes");
+        drop(rx);
+    }
+
+    /// A request the app had already started when the reply timed out reports an unknown outcome,
+    /// not a definite failure (#719).
+    #[test]
+    fn a_request_already_started_when_the_reply_times_out_reports_an_unknown_outcome() {
+        let (addr, rx) = server(small());
+        let ui = std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            let req = rx.recv().expect("the request is queued");
+            assert!(req.take(), "the app claims the request");
+            // Still running it when the sender's wait expires.
+            std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(450));
+            let _ = req.reply.send(json!({"ok": true, "result": "ran"}));
+        });
+        let (mut r, mut w) = client(addr);
+        writeln!(w, r#"{{"id":1,"method":"m"}}"#).unwrap();
+        let v = reply(&mut r).unwrap();
+        assert!(v["error"].as_str().unwrap().contains("outcome is unknown"), "{v}");
+        ui.join().unwrap();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs
index fd7a5232..36d54de9 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/format.rs
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ fn columns(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
 }
 fn autofit(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let m = match str_param(p, "mode").unwrap_or("none") {
-        "shrink" => AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 },
+        "shrink" => AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 },
         "resize" | "shape" => AutoFit::Shape,
         _ => AutoFit::None,
     };
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/slide.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/slide.rs
index 7b3384fb..4a82f2a7 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/slide.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/slide.rs
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ fn new(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             sh.text = Some(TextBody::from_text(t));
         }
         if let Some(b) = str_param(p, "body")
-            && let Some(sh) = slide.shapes.iter_mut().find(|x| x.ph_type().is_some_and(|k| !k.is_title()))
+            && let Some(sh) = body_placeholder(&mut slide.shapes)
         {
             let mut body = TextBody::from_text(b);
             // Leading tabs set the outline level, as in text.set.
@@ -158,6 +158,25 @@ fn new(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     })
 }
 
+/// The placeholder a new slide's `body` goes into: the layout's main content placeholder.
+/// Prefers `idx="1"` (the content slot PowerPoint fills), then a full-size text placeholder over
+/// a `half`/`quarter` one, then a text placeholder over a picture/chart/table one; ties keep
+/// shape order, so a layout with a single body placeholder behaves as before.
+fn body_placeholder(shapes: &mut [deckcraft_model::Shape]) -> Option<&mut deckcraft_model::Shape> {
+    use deckcraft_model::PhType;
+    let rank = |sh: &deckcraft_model::Shape| {
+        let ph = sh.ph.as_ref()?;
+        if ph.kind.is_title() {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let text = matches!(ph.kind, PhType::Body | PhType::Obj | PhType::SubTitle);
+        let small = matches!(ph.size.as_deref(), Some("half" | "quarter"));
+        Some((ph.idx != 1, small, !text))
+    };
+    let best = shapes.iter().enumerate().filter_map(|(i, sh)| rank(sh).map(|r| (r, i))).min()?.1;
+    shapes.get_mut(best)
+}
+
 fn index_of(s: &Session, p: &Value) -> Result<usize> {
     let st = s.doc()?;
     let i = usize_param(p, "index").unwrap_or(st.selection.slide);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/smartart.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/smartart.rs
index a483197c..c58d1830 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/smartart.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/smartart.rs
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ fn shadow(blur: f64, dist: f64) -> Shadow {
 /// `title` false every line is a bullet (the bullet boxes of the bullet lists).
 fn text_shape(preset: &str, x: Xfrm, lines: &[&DiagramNode], title: bool) -> Shape {
     let mut body = TextBody::default();
-    body.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 });
+    body.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 });
     let top = lines.first().map(|n| if title { n.level } else { n.level.saturating_sub(1) }).unwrap_or(0);
     for (k, n) in lines.iter().enumerate() {
         let mut para = Paragraph::new(&n.text);
@@ -1913,7 +1913,7 @@ fn to_text(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             body.paragraphs.push(Paragraph::new(""));
         }
         body.body.wrap = Some(true);
-        body.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 });
+        body.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 });
         let id = ShapeId(doc.alloc_id().ok_or_else(|| bad(CMD, NO_ID_SPACE))?);
         let tb =
             Shape { id, name: "Text".into(), xfrm: Some(area), text_box: true, text: Some(body), geom: Geom::preset("rect"), ..Default::default() };
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/text.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/text.rs
index 9c6d88e1..a0408eff 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/text.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/text.rs
@@ -119,9 +119,14 @@ pub(crate) fn edit_text<T>(s: &mut Session, f: impl FnOnce(&mut TextBody, &mut T
         let mut t = t0.clone();
         let body = body_mut(doc, sel, &t).ok_or_else(|| bad("text", "the text being edited is gone"))?;
         let r = f(body, &mut t);
-        // The saved shrink-on-overflow scale was for the old text: fit the new text afresh.
+        // The saved shrink-on-overflow scale was for the old text: fit the new text afresh. A
+        // body whose file carried no `fontScale` keeps none (100 %) here; `fit_shrink_scale`
+        // below fills in the computed scale when the new text overflows (#724).
         if let Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, line_reduction }) = &mut body.body.autofit {
-            (*font_scale, *line_reduction) = (1.0, 0.0);
+            if font_scale.is_some() {
+                *font_scale = Some(1.0);
+            }
+            *line_reduction = 0.0;
         }
         sel.text = Some(t);
         Ok(r)
@@ -132,8 +137,11 @@ pub(crate) fn edit_text<T>(s: &mut Session, f: impl FnOnce(&mut TextBody, &mut T
     Ok(r)
 }
 
-/// Grow/shrink an auto-sizing text box (Resize shape to fit text) to its text.
+/// Refit a shape after its text changed: remember the shrink-on-overflow scale the layout
+/// computes (#724), then grow/shrink an auto-sizing text box (Resize shape to fit text) to its
+/// text.
 pub fn fit_text_box(s: &mut Session, id: ShapeId) -> Result<()> {
+    fit_shrink_scale(s, id)?;
     let st = s.doc()?;
     let Some(sh) = st.shape(id).cloned() else { return Ok(()) };
     let Some(body) = sh.text.clone() else { return Ok(()) };
@@ -171,6 +179,53 @@ pub fn fit_text_box(s: &mut Session, id: ShapeId) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Store the shrink-on-overflow scale the layout computes for `id`, so a save keeps
+/// `fontScale`/`lnSpcReduction` in step with what DeckCraft draws (#724). Runs after a text
+/// change: a body with no meaningful saved scale — a file's bare `<a:normAutofit/>` (`None`) or
+/// the reset an edit leaves (`1.0`, no reduction) — is fitted afresh; a scale the file saved is
+/// left as it is, as PowerPoint draws it.
+fn fit_shrink_scale(s: &mut Session, id: ShapeId) -> Result<()> {
+    let st = s.doc()?;
+    let Some(sh) = st.shape(id).cloned() else { return Ok(()) };
+    let Some(body) = sh.text.clone() else { return Ok(()) };
+    let Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, line_reduction }) = body.body.autofit else { return Ok(()) };
+    if !(font_scale.is_none() || (font_scale == Some(1.0) && line_reduction == 0.0)) {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+    let doc = st.doc.clone();
+    let sel = st.selection.clone();
+    let Some(ctx) = ctx_for(&doc, &sel) else { return Ok(()) };
+    let x = xfrm_of(&doc, &sel, &sh);
+    let tr = deckcraft_render::shape_geometry(&sh, x.w, x.h).text_rect;
+    // Lay out as if the scale had just been reset, so the fit is computed even for `None` (which
+    // is drawn at 100 % and only fitted again when its text changes).
+    let mut probe = body.clone();
+    probe.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 });
+    let opts = deckcraft_text::Opts { rect: tr, fields: &deckcraft_text::NoFields, prompt_color: None, no_shrink: false };
+    let l = deckcraft_text::layout(&ctx, &sh, &probe, &opts);
+    if l.font_scale >= 1.0 && l.line_reduction <= 0.0 {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+    // Change the body in place without an extra undo step (it is part of the edit).
+    let st = s.doc_mut()?;
+    let mut d = (*st.doc).clone();
+    let stored = if let Some(list) = crate::shapes_mut(&mut d, &st.selection)
+        && let Some(target) = deckcraft_model::find_shape_mut(list, id)
+        && let Some(t) = target.text.as_mut()
+        && let Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, line_reduction }) = &mut t.body.autofit
+    {
+        (*font_scale, *line_reduction) = (Some(l.font_scale), l.line_reduction);
+        true
+    } else {
+        false
+    };
+    if stored {
+        st.doc = Arc::new(d);
+        st.revision += 1;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 pub(crate) fn ctx_for<'a>(doc: &'a Presentation, sel: &Selection) -> Option<Ctx<'a>> {
     match sel.target {
         Target::Slides => doc.slides.get(sel.slide).and_then(|s| Ctx::for_slide(doc, s)),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
index 19da6b09..cc872e66 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
@@ -105,13 +105,45 @@ fn editing_text_refits_a_saved_shrink() {
     s.edit(|doc, sel| {
         let shapes = crate::shapes_mut(doc, sel).unwrap();
         let sh = deckcraft_model::find_shape_mut(shapes, title).unwrap();
-        sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.5, line_reduction: 0.2 });
+        sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.5), line_reduction: 0.2 });
         Ok(())
     })
     .unwrap();
     s.execute("text.insert", &json!({"text": "!"})).unwrap();
     let sh = s.doc().unwrap().shape(title).cloned().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(sh.text.unwrap().body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 }));
+    assert_eq!(sh.text.unwrap().body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 }));
+}
+
+/// After an edit, the shrink-on-overflow scale the layout computes is stored, so the saved file
+/// carries the scale DeckCraft draws instead of a bare normAutofit (#724).
+#[test]
+fn editing_shrink_text_stores_the_layout_scale() {
+    use deckcraft_model::text::AutoFit;
+    let mut s = session();
+    let r = s.execute("shape.insert", &json!({"preset": "rect", "rect": [80.0, 80.0, 200.0, 40.0]})).unwrap();
+    let id = deckcraft_model::ShapeId(r["id"].as_u64().unwrap() as u32);
+    s.execute("format.autofit", &json!({"mode": "shrink"})).unwrap();
+    let text = (0..12).map(|i| format!("Line {i}")).collect::<Vec<_>>().join("\n");
+    s.execute("text.set", &json!({"id": id.0, "text": text})).unwrap();
+    let sh = s.doc().unwrap().shape(id).cloned().unwrap();
+    let Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, line_reduction }) = sh.text.unwrap().body.autofit else { panic!("shrink") };
+    assert!(font_scale.is_some_and(|s| s < 1.0), "the computed fit is stored: {font_scale:?} / {line_reduction}");
+    // The saved file must carry the scale DeckCraft draws, so PowerPoint opens it the same way.
+    let bytes = deckcraft_pptx::export(&s.doc().unwrap().doc).unwrap();
+    let mut z = zip::ZipArchive::new(std::io::Cursor::new(bytes)).unwrap();
+    let mut xml = String::new();
+    std::io::Read::read_to_string(&mut z.by_name("ppt/slides/slide1.xml").unwrap(), &mut xml).unwrap();
+    let scales: Vec<i64> = xml.split("fontScale=\"").skip(1).filter_map(|s| s.split('"').next()?.parse().ok()).collect();
+    assert!(scales.iter().any(|v| *v < 100_000), "the fitted scale is saved: {scales:?}");
+    // Undo restores the state before the edit, and redo brings the stored fit back.
+    s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let sh = s.doc().unwrap().shape(id).cloned().unwrap();
+    let Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, .. }) = sh.text.unwrap().body.autofit else { panic!("shrink") };
+    assert_eq!(font_scale, Some(1.0), "undo restores the scale the edit started from");
+    s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let sh = s.doc().unwrap().shape(id).cloned().unwrap();
+    let Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, .. }) = sh.text.unwrap().body.autofit else { panic!("shrink") };
+    assert!(font_scale.is_some_and(|v| v < 1.0), "redo brings the stored fit back: {font_scale:?}");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -1425,6 +1457,41 @@ fn slide_ranges_parse_like_powerpoints_print_box() {
     assert_eq!(opts.slides, Some(vec![0, 1]), "indices past the end are dropped");
 }
 
+/// #725: a layout with a small body placeholder ahead of its content placeholder (as Keynote
+/// exports "Title & Bullets") still gets the body in the content placeholder (`idx="1"`).
+#[test]
+fn new_slide_body_goes_to_the_content_placeholder() {
+    for before in [true, false] {
+        let mut s = session();
+        let doc = std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut s.doc_mut().unwrap().doc);
+        let id = deckcraft_model::ShapeId(doc.alloc_id().expect("id"));
+        let lay = std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut doc.masters[0])
+            .layouts
+            .iter_mut()
+            .find(|l| l.kind == deckcraft_model::LayoutType::TitleAndContent)
+            .unwrap();
+        let at = lay.shapes.iter().position(|x| x.ph.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| p.idx == 1)).unwrap();
+        let mut small = lay.shapes[at].clone();
+        small.id = id;
+        small.name = "Subtitle 21".into();
+        let ph = small.ph.as_mut().unwrap();
+        ph.kind = deckcraft_model::PhType::Body;
+        ph.idx = 21;
+        ph.size = Some("quarter".into());
+        lay.shapes.insert(if before { at } else { at + 1 }, small);
+
+        s.execute("slide.new", &json!({"layout": "titleAndContent", "title": "T", "body": "Line one\nLine two"})).unwrap();
+        let doc = &s.doc().unwrap().doc;
+        let slide = &doc.slides[doc.slides.len() - 1];
+        let text = |idx: u32| {
+            let sh = slide.shapes.iter().find(|x| x.ph.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| p.idx == idx)).unwrap();
+            sh.text.as_ref().map(|t| t.text()).unwrap_or_default()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(text(1), "Line one\nLine two", "before = {before}");
+        assert_eq!(text(21), "", "before = {before}");
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn cell_fill_walks_only_the_cells_a_huge_selection_covers() {
     // A selection may reach far past the table; filling it touches the real cells and nothing more.
diff --git a/crates/fonts/src/fallback.rs b/crates/fonts/src/fallback.rs
index 563e0337..de4b2b0a 100644
--- a/crates/fonts/src/fallback.rs
+++ b/crates/fonts/src/fallback.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,12 @@ impl FontDb {
             // A letter with marks the run's font lacks (stacked combining marks): a loaded plain
             // face that draws the whole cluster, as PowerPoint draws the marks, before the run's
             // font with missing-glyph boxes.
-            _ => self.read_faces().iter().find(|f| !f.is_color() && covers_cluster(f, cluster)).cloned().unwrap_or_else(first),
+            _ => {
+                // Searched before `first` runs: it may load the default family, which needs the
+                // faces' write lock, so the read lock must not be held across it.
+                let found = self.read_faces().iter().find(|f| !f.is_color() && covers_cluster(f, cluster)).cloned();
+                found.unwrap_or_else(first)
+            }
         };
         // A pictograph that defaults to text presentation (⚠ ♥ ⬆ ▶) whose first fallback is the
         // colour emoji font: PowerPoint draws it from a plain symbol font.
@@ -277,6 +282,22 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    #[test]
+    fn falling_back_to_the_default_face_does_not_deadlock() {
+        // An empty chain and a character no loaded face draws: the loaded faces are searched,
+        // then the default family is looked up, which loads it (taking the faces' write lock).
+        // Holding the search's read lock across that lookup hung the thread.
+        let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
+        std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            let db = FontDb::with_font_dirs(Vec::new());
+            db.set_system_fallback(false);
+            let _ = tx.send(db.cascade(&['\u{10FFFD}'], &[], "Regular").family.clone());
+        });
+        let family = rx.recv_timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(30)).expect("cascade did not return");
+        assert!(!family.is_empty());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn ligature_carets_never_fail() {
         let face = FontDb::global().face(crate::DEFAULT_FAMILY, "Regular");
diff --git a/crates/format/src/lib.rs b/crates/format/src/lib.rs
index 679dfc7f..f1d0dc83 100644
--- a/crates/format/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/format/src/lib.rs
@@ -690,6 +690,29 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// A body whose file had no `fontScale` (`<a:normAutofit/>`) keeps that state through the
+    /// native format: it is drawn at 100 % and only fitted when its text changes (#724).
+    #[test]
+    fn a_bare_normautofit_body_round_trips() {
+        use deckcraft_model::text::{AutoFit, TextBody};
+        let mut p = Presentation::default();
+        let mut body = TextBody::from_text("Overflowing");
+        body.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: None, line_reduction: 0.0 });
+        let sh = deckcraft_model::Shape { text: Some(body), ..Default::default() };
+        Arc::make_mut(&mut p.slides[0]).shapes.push(sh);
+        let back = load(&save(&p).unwrap()).unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("{e}"));
+        let body = back.slides[0].shapes.last().unwrap().text.clone().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(body.body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: None, line_reduction: 0.0 }));
+        // A scale the file saved round-trips as itself.
+        let mut body = TextBody::from_text("Overflowing");
+        body.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.62), line_reduction: 0.2 });
+        let sh = deckcraft_model::Shape { text: Some(body), ..Default::default() };
+        Arc::make_mut(&mut p.slides[0]).shapes.push(sh);
+        let back = load(&save(&p).unwrap()).unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("{e}"));
+        let body = back.slides[0].shapes.last().unwrap().text.clone().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(body.body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.62), line_reduction: 0.2 }));
+    }
+
     /// Only `null`s where numbers belong are patched: other damage still fails.
     #[test]
     fn other_damage_is_still_reported() {
diff --git a/crates/mcp/src/backend.rs b/crates/mcp/src/backend.rs
index cc43b4ee..fb809c09 100644
--- a/crates/mcp/src/backend.rs
+++ b/crates/mcp/src/backend.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 //! Where MCP tool calls end up: a control-channel method call.
 
-use std::io::{BufRead, BufReader, Write};
+use std::io::{BufRead, BufReader, Read, Write};
 use std::net::{TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
 
+// Includes the newline, matching the control server's request budget. In particular a peer
+// must not be able to grow a reply indefinitely by withholding its newline.
+const MAX_REPLY_BYTES: u64 = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+
 /// Something that answers control-channel methods (`engine.execute`, `document.inspect`,
 /// `ui.pointer`, `ui.render`, …). See `deckcraft_ui_egui::control` for the full list.
 pub trait Backend {
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ impl Remote {
     /// Write one request line. A failure here means the app never got a complete line, so retrying is safe.
     /// A connection the app has already closed (it restarted since the last call) is replaced before writing.
     fn send(&mut self, line: &str) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        if self.conn.as_ref().is_none_or(|(_, writer)| is_closed(writer)) {
+        if self.conn.as_ref().is_none_or(|(reader, writer)| !reader.buffer().is_empty() || is_closed(writer)) {
             self.reconnect()?;
         }
         let Some((_, writer)) = self.conn.as_mut() else {
@@ -69,15 +73,34 @@ impl Remote {
     }
 
     /// Read the reply to a request that was already sent.
-    fn receive(&mut self) -> std::io::Result<String> {
+    fn receive(&mut self, id: u64) -> std::io::Result<Result<Value, String>> {
         let Some((reader, _)) = self.conn.as_mut() else {
             return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::NotConnected, "not connected"));
         };
-        let mut reply = String::new();
-        if reader.read_line(&mut reply)? == 0 {
-            return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof, "control channel closed"));
+        let mut reply = Vec::new();
+        reader.take(MAX_REPLY_BYTES + 1).read_until(b'\n', &mut reply)?;
+        if reply.len() as u64 > MAX_REPLY_BYTES {
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "control reply exceeds 16 MiB"));
+        }
+        if reply.last() != Some(&b'\n') {
+            return Err(std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof, "control reply has no terminating newline"));
+        }
+        let invalid = |message| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, message);
+        let v: Value = serde_json::from_slice(&reply).map_err(|e| invalid(format!("bad reply from app: {e}")))?;
+        if v.get("id").and_then(Value::as_u64) != Some(id) {
+            return Err(invalid("control reply has an unexpected request id".to_string()));
+        }
+        match v.get("ok").and_then(Value::as_bool) {
+            Some(true) if v.get("error").is_none() => {
+                v.get("result").cloned().map(Ok).ok_or_else(|| invalid("successful control reply has no result".to_string()))
+            }
+            Some(false) if v.get("result").is_none() => v
+                .get("error")
+                .and_then(Value::as_str)
+                .map(|error| Err(error.to_string()))
+                .ok_or_else(|| invalid("failed control reply has no error string".to_string())),
+            _ => Err(invalid("control reply has an invalid envelope".to_string())),
         }
-        Ok(reply)
     }
 }
 
@@ -107,19 +130,13 @@ impl Backend for Remote {
                 format!("DeckCraft app at {} is not reachable: {e}", self.addr)
             })?;
         }
-        let reply = self.receive().map_err(|e| {
+        self.receive(id).map_err(|e| {
             self.conn = None;
             format!(
                 "lost the reply from the DeckCraft app at {} ({e}); the command may or may not have run, check the document before retrying",
                 self.addr
             )
-        })?;
-        let v: Value = serde_json::from_str(reply.trim()).map_err(|e| format!("bad reply from app: {e}"))?;
-        if v.get("ok").and_then(Value::as_bool) == Some(true) {
-            Ok(v.get("result").cloned().unwrap_or(Value::Null))
-        } else {
-            Err(v.get("error").and_then(Value::as_str).unwrap_or("unknown error").to_string())
-        }
+        })?
     }
 
     fn has_ui(&self) -> bool {
@@ -138,6 +155,138 @@ mod tests {
     use std::sync::Arc;
     use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 
+    fn reply_once(reply: Vec<u8>) -> (Remote, std::thread::JoinHandle<()>) {
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").expect("bind");
+        let addr = listener.local_addr().expect("addr").to_string();
+        let peer = std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            let (mut stream, _) = listener.accept().expect("accept");
+            stream.set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(5))).expect("timeout");
+            stream.set_write_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(5))).expect("write timeout");
+            let mut line = String::new();
+            BufReader::new(&stream).read_line(&mut line).expect("request");
+            assert_eq!(serde_json::from_str::<Value>(&line).expect("JSON")["id"], 1);
+            // An oversized reply may be rejected before the peer finishes writing it.
+            let _ = stream.write_all(&reply);
+        });
+        (Remote::connect(&addr).expect("connect"), peer)
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn wrong_reply_id_is_not_command_success() {
+        let (mut remote, peer) = reply_once(b"{\"id\":999,\"ok\":true,\"result\":\"unrelated\"}\n".to_vec());
+        let result = remote.call("engine.execute", json!({"command":"slide.new"}));
+        peer.join().expect("peer");
+        let error = result.expect_err("an unrelated reply cannot confirm a mutation");
+        assert!(error.contains("may or may not have run"), "{error}");
+        assert!(remote.conn.is_none(), "discard the invalid connection without replaying");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn matching_success_and_error_replies_keep_their_meaning() {
+        for (reply, expected) in [
+            ("{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":null}\r\n", Ok(Value::Null)),
+            ("{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":{\"slides\":2}}\n", Ok(json!({"slides":2}))),
+            ("{\"id\":1,\"ok\":false,\"error\":\"disabled\"}\n", Err("disabled".into())),
+        ] {
+            let (mut remote, peer) = reply_once(reply.as_bytes().to_vec());
+            assert_eq!(remote.call("engine.execute", json!({})), expected);
+            assert!(remote.conn.is_some(), "valid responses do not invalidate the connection");
+            peer.join().expect("peer");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn malformed_reply_envelopes_leave_the_outcome_unknown() {
+        for reply in [
+            "not JSON\n",
+            "[]\n",
+            "{\"ok\":true,\"result\":null}\n",
+            "{\"id\":\"1\",\"ok\":true,\"result\":null}\n",
+            "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":1,\"result\":null}\n",
+            "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true}\n",
+            "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":false}\n",
+            "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":false,\"error\":42}\n",
+            "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":null,\"error\":\"failed\"}\n",
+            "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":false,\"result\":null,\"error\":\"failed\"}\n",
+        ] {
+            let (mut remote, peer) = reply_once(reply.as_bytes().to_vec());
+            let result = remote.call("engine.execute", json!({}));
+            peer.join().expect("peer");
+            let error = result.expect_err(reply);
+            assert!(error.contains("may or may not have run"), "{reply}: {error}");
+            assert!(remote.conn.is_none(), "{reply}: discard the invalid connection");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn eof_without_a_newline_is_not_a_complete_reply() {
+        let (mut remote, peer) = reply_once(b"{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":null}".to_vec());
+        let result = remote.call("engine.execute", json!({}));
+        peer.join().expect("peer");
+        assert!(result.is_err(), "a truncated frame cannot confirm a mutation");
+        assert!(remote.conn.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn oversized_reply_is_rejected() {
+        let reply = format!("{{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":\"{}\"}}\n", "x".repeat(16 * 1024 * 1024));
+        let (mut remote, peer) = reply_once(reply.into_bytes());
+        let result = remote.call("engine.execute", json!({}));
+        let invalidated = remote.conn.is_none();
+        // Close the socket before joining: the bounded reader need not drain the peer's reply.
+        remote.conn = None;
+        peer.join().expect("peer");
+        assert!(result.is_err(), "a reply is limited to 16 MiB");
+        let error = result.expect_err("checked above");
+        assert!(error.contains("may or may not have run"), "{error}");
+        assert!(invalidated, "discard the oversized reply's connection");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reply_at_the_size_limit_is_accepted() {
+        let prefix = "{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":\"";
+        let suffix = "\"}\n";
+        let payload_len = 16 * 1024 * 1024 - prefix.len() - suffix.len();
+        let reply = format!("{prefix}{}{suffix}", "x".repeat(payload_len));
+        let (mut remote, peer) = reply_once(reply.into_bytes());
+        let result = remote.call("document.inspect", json!({})).expect("reply at the limit");
+        assert_eq!(result.as_str().map(str::len), Some(payload_len));
+        peer.join().expect("peer");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn buffered_unsolicited_reply_is_discarded_before_sending() {
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").expect("bind");
+        let addr = listener.local_addr().expect("addr").to_string();
+        let peer = std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            let (mut first, _) = listener.accept().expect("first connection");
+            first.set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(5))).expect("timeout");
+            let mut line = String::new();
+            BufReader::new(&first).read_line(&mut line).expect("initial request");
+            // Even a stale frame whose ID happens to match must not answer a new request.
+            first
+                .write_all(b"{\"id\":1,\"ok\":true,\"result\":\"first\"}\n{\"id\":2,\"ok\":true,\"result\":\"stale\"}\n")
+                .expect("two replies together");
+            line.clear();
+            let sent_on_stale = BufReader::new(&first).read_line(&mut line).expect("first request") != 0;
+            if !sent_on_stale {
+                let (mut fresh, _) = listener.accept().expect("fresh connection");
+                fresh.set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(5))).expect("timeout");
+                BufReader::new(&fresh).read_line(&mut line).expect("fresh request");
+                fresh.write_all(b"{\"id\":2,\"ok\":false,\"error\":\"rejected\"}\n").expect("actual reply");
+            }
+            sent_on_stale
+        });
+        let mut remote = Remote::connect(&addr).expect("connect");
+        assert_eq!(remote.call("document.inspect", json!({})), Ok(json!("first")));
+        // Force the stale frame into BufReader, where a socket-only peek cannot see it.
+        assert!(!remote.conn.as_mut().expect("connection").0.fill_buf().expect("buffer").is_empty());
+        let result = remote.call("engine.execute", json!({"command":"slide.new"}));
+        let sent_on_stale = peer.join().expect("peer");
+        assert_eq!(result, Err("rejected".into()), "only the fresh peer's response counts");
+        assert!(!sent_on_stale, "replace a connection with buffered unsolicited bytes before sending");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn lost_reply_is_not_resent() {
         let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").expect("bind");
diff --git a/crates/media/src/lib.rs b/crates/media/src/lib.rs
index 95150868..dc1a892b 100644
--- a/crates/media/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/media/src/lib.rs
@@ -92,9 +92,15 @@ impl Container {
         } else if at(0, &ASF_HEADER) {
             Container::Asf
         } else if at(0, b"ID3") {
-            // ID3v2 is followed by MP3 frames (or, rarely, ADTS).
-            let size = b.get(6..10).map(|s| s.iter().fold(0usize, |a, &x| (a << 7) | (x & 0x7f) as usize)).unwrap_or(0);
-            match Container::sniff(b.get(10 + size..).unwrap_or(&[])) {
+            // ID3v2 is followed by MP3 frames (or, rarely, ADTS). The chain of tags is walked
+            // iteratively — a crafted file can carry thousands of empty tags — and only the
+            // bytes after the last one are sniffed.
+            let mut rest = b;
+            while rest.starts_with(b"ID3") {
+                let size = rest.get(6..10).map(|s| s.iter().fold(0usize, |a, &x| (a << 7) | (x & 0x7f) as usize)).unwrap_or(0);
+                rest = rest.get(10 + size..).unwrap_or(&[]);
+            }
+            match Container::sniff(rest) {
                 Container::Adts => Container::Adts,
                 _ => Container::Mp3,
             }
@@ -126,3 +132,20 @@ impl Container {
 
 /// Worker threads are available (not on wasm32).
 pub(crate) const THREADS: bool = !cfg!(target_arch = "wasm32");
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn id3_tag_chains_do_not_recurse_the_stack() {
+        // 2 MB of empty ID3v2 tags (10 bytes each) chained ahead of the MP3 frames: walking
+        // the chain must not cost one stack frame per tag.
+        let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(200_000 * 10 + 2);
+        for _ in 0..200_000 {
+            b.extend_from_slice(&[b'I', b'D', b'3', 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]);
+        }
+        b.extend_from_slice(&[0xFF, 0xFB]); // an MP3 frame sync
+        assert_eq!(Container::sniff(&b), Container::Mp3);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/media/src/probe.rs b/crates/media/src/probe.rs
index cf5de96a..2453317a 100644
--- a/crates/media/src/probe.rs
+++ b/crates/media/src/probe.rs
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ fn probe_asf(b: &[u8]) -> Result<MediaInfo> {
     }
     let header_end = (u64le(16) as usize).min(b.len());
     let mut info = MediaInfo { container: "asf", ..Default::default() };
-    let mut pos = 30;
-    while pos + 24 <= header_end {
+    let mut pos: usize = 30;
+    while pos.checked_add(24).is_some_and(|end| end <= header_end) {
         let guid = &b[pos..pos + 16];
         let size = u64le(pos + 16) as usize;
         if size < 24 {
@@ -230,7 +230,24 @@ fn probe_asf(b: &[u8]) -> Result<MediaInfo> {
                 info.video = Some(VideoInfo { codec: "WMV".into(), width: u32le(td), height: u32le(td + 4), decodable: false, ..Default::default() });
             }
         }
-        pos += size;
+        // A hostile size must not wrap the walk (or walk off the end): an object that
+        // overruns the header ends it, which is also the correct ASF semantics.
+        let Some(next) = pos.checked_add(size).filter(|&p| p <= header_end) else { break };
+        pos = next;
     }
     Ok(info)
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hostile_asf_object_sizes_end_the_walk() {
+        // The header object GUID followed by 48 × 0xFF: the walk reads usize::MAX back as
+        // every object size and must end instead of wrapping `pos` (and panicking).
+        let mut b = crate::ASF_HEADER.to_vec();
+        b.extend_from_slice(&[0xFF; 48]);
+        assert!(matches!(probe_asf(&b), Ok(info) if info.container == "asf"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/model/src/defaults.rs b/crates/model/src/defaults.rs
index 19adc7bb..af6948ea 100644
--- a/crates/model/src/defaults.rs
+++ b/crates/model/src/defaults.rs
@@ -203,13 +203,13 @@ pub fn build_master(size: Size, theme: Theme, first_id: u32) -> (Master, u32) {
     let title_box = |b: &mut B| {
         let (x, y, ww, hh) = r(60.0, 29.0, 840.0, 104.0);
         let mut s = b.shape("Title 1", PhType::Title, 0, x, y, ww, hh);
-        s.text = Some(body_with(Some(Anchor::Middle), Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 })));
+        s.text = Some(body_with(Some(Anchor::Middle), Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 })));
         s
     };
     let body_box = |b: &mut B, name: &str, idx: u32, x: f64, y: f64, ww: f64, hh: f64| {
         let (x, y, ww, hh) = r(x, y, ww, hh);
         let mut s = b.shape(name, PhType::Body, idx, x, y, ww, hh);
-        s.text = Some(body_with(Some(Anchor::Top), Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 })));
+        s.text = Some(body_with(Some(Anchor::Top), Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 })));
         s
     };
 
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ pub fn build_master(size: Size, theme: Theme, first_id: u32) -> (Master, u32) {
         t.text = Some(TextBody {
             body: BodyProps {
                 anchor: Some(Anchor::Bottom),
-                autofit: Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 }),
+                autofit: Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 }),
                 ..Default::default()
             },
             list_style: ls,
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ pub fn build_master(size: Size, theme: Theme, first_id: u32) -> (Master, u32) {
         st.text = Some(TextBody {
             body: BodyProps {
                 anchor: Some(Anchor::Top),
-                autofit: Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 }),
+                autofit: Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 }),
                 ..Default::default()
             },
             list_style: ls,
diff --git a/crates/model/src/table.rs b/crates/model/src/table.rs
index 1abd1177..0705d1a0 100644
--- a/crates/model/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/model/src/table.rs
@@ -227,6 +227,29 @@ impl Table {
         if r1 >= self.rows.len() || c1 >= self.cols.len() || (r0 == r1 && c0 == c1) {
             return false;
         }
+        // Grow the rectangle until no existing merge sticks out of it.
+        let (mut r0, mut c0, mut r1, mut c1) = (r0, c0, r1, c1);
+        loop {
+            let before = (r0, c0, r1, c1);
+            for (r, row) in self.rows.iter().enumerate() {
+                for (c, cell) in row.cells.iter().enumerate().take(self.cols.len()) {
+                    if cell.is_covered() {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    let ar1 = r.saturating_add((cell.row_span.max(1) as usize).saturating_sub(1)).min(self.rows.len() - 1);
+                    let ac1 = c.saturating_add((cell.grid_span.max(1) as usize).saturating_sub(1)).min(self.cols.len() - 1);
+                    if r <= r1 && ar1 >= r0 && c <= c1 && ac1 >= c0 {
+                        r0 = r0.min(r);
+                        c0 = c0.min(c);
+                        r1 = r1.max(ar1);
+                        c1 = c1.max(ac1);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            if (r0, c0, r1, c1) == before {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
         let mut text = vec![];
         for r in r0..=r1 {
             for c in c0..=c1 {
@@ -505,6 +528,20 @@ mod tests {
         t.cell(r, c).unwrap().text.text()
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn merging_over_an_existing_merge_takes_it_in() {
+        let mut t = Table::new(3, 3, 300.0, 30.0);
+        if let Some(c) = t.cell_mut(1, 2) {
+            c.text = TextBody::from_text("X");
+        }
+        assert!(t.merge(1, 1, 1, 2));
+        assert!(t.merge(0, 0, 1, 1));
+        assert_topology(&t);
+        let a = t.cell(0, 0).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!((a.row_span, a.grid_span), (2, 3));
+        assert_eq!(anchor_text(&t, 0, 0), "X");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn row_and_column_edits_keep_merges_consistent() {
         for at in 0..=4 {
diff --git a/crates/model/src/text.rs b/crates/model/src/text.rs
index 1d862b15..b317d3d9 100644
--- a/crates/model/src/text.rs
+++ b/crates/model/src/text.rs
@@ -41,8 +41,14 @@ impl Anchor {
 pub enum AutoFit {
     /// Do not autofit.
     None,
-    /// Shrink text on overflow: font scale and line-spacing reduction (0–1).
-    Shrink { font_scale: f64, line_reduction: f64 },
+    /// Shrink text on overflow: font scale and line-spacing reduction (0–1). `font_scale` is
+    /// `None` for a file's `<a:normAutofit/>` with no `fontScale`: the schema default 100 %,
+    /// which PowerPoint draws as it is and only fits again when the text changes (#724).
+    Shrink {
+        #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+        font_scale: Option<f64>,
+        line_reduction: f64,
+    },
     /// Resize shape to fit text.
     Shape,
 }
diff --git a/crates/pptx/src/read/dml.rs b/crates/pptx/src/read/dml.rs
index 912a8547..c88bd1a9 100644
--- a/crates/pptx/src/read/dml.rs
+++ b/crates/pptx/src/read/dml.rs
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ pub fn body_pr(b: &El) -> BodyProps {
         match e.local() {
             "normAutofit" => {
                 p.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink {
-                    font_scale: pct(e, "fontScale").unwrap_or(1.0).clamp(0.01, 1.0),
+                    font_scale: pct(e, "fontScale").map(|v| v.clamp(0.01, 1.0)),
                     line_reduction: pct(e, "lnSpcReduction").unwrap_or(0.0).clamp(0.0, 1.0),
                 })
             }
@@ -645,8 +645,14 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(b.wrap, Some(false));
         assert_eq!(b.vert, Some(TextDir::Vertical270));
         assert_eq!(b.columns, Some(2));
-        assert_eq!(b.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.625, line_reduction: 0.2 }));
+        assert_eq!(b.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.625), line_reduction: 0.2 }));
         assert_eq!(b.space_first_last, None);
+        // A bare `<a:normAutofit/>` keeps no scale: the schema default 100 % is drawn as it is,
+        // not the same as a saved 100 % (`fontScale="100000"`) (#724).
+        let d = parse(br#"<a:bodyPr><a:normAutofit/></a:bodyPr>"#).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(body_pr(&d.root).autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: None, line_reduction: 0.0 }));
+        let d = parse(br#"<a:bodyPr><a:normAutofit fontScale="100000"/></a:bodyPr>"#).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(body_pr(&d.root).autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 }));
         let d = parse(br#"<a:bodyPr spcFirstLastPara="1"/>"#).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(body_pr(&d.root).space_first_last, Some(true));
         // mongolianVert is its own direction (PowerPoint runs its lines left to right) and is
diff --git a/crates/pptx/src/write/dml.rs b/crates/pptx/src/write/dml.rs
index 371bad7e..09b298f8 100644
--- a/crates/pptx/src/write/dml.rs
+++ b/crates/pptx/src/write/dml.rs
@@ -489,9 +489,11 @@ pub fn body_pr(w: &mut W, b: &BodyProps) {
         Some(AutoFit::None) => w.empty0("a:noAutofit"),
         Some(AutoFit::Shape) => w.empty0("a:spAutoFit"),
         Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, line_reduction }) => {
-            let fs = pct(font_scale.clamp(0.01, 1.0));
+            // A scale the model holds is written, 100 % included: reopening then keeps the same
+            // "draw the saved scale" state instead of becoming a bare `<a:normAutofit/>` (#724).
+            let fs = font_scale.map(|s| pct(s.clamp(0.01, 1.0)));
             let lr = pct(line_reduction.clamp(0.0, 1.0));
-            w.empty("a:normAutofit", A::new().o("fontScale", (fs != 100_000).then_some(fs)).o("lnSpcReduction", (lr != 0).then_some(lr)));
+            w.empty("a:normAutofit", A::new().o("fontScale", fs).o("lnSpcReduction", (lr != 0).then_some(lr)));
         }
         None => {}
     }
diff --git a/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_charts.rs b/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_charts.rs
index ee3faffd..ff1e6424 100644
--- a/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_charts.rs
+++ b/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_charts.rs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ fn corpus() -> Presentation {
     let mut columns = TextBody::from_text("Two columns\nof vertical text");
     columns.body.columns = Some(3);
     columns.body.col_spacing = Some(18.0);
-    columns.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.85, line_reduction: 0.2 });
+    columns.body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.85), line_reduction: 0.2 });
     columns.body.vert = Some(TextDir::Vertical270);
     let mut col = shape(&mut p, "Columns", 480.0, 40.0, 200.0, 160.0);
     col.text = Some(columns);
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ fn chart_table_and_text_corpus_round_trips() {
     assert_eq!(plain(cols), "Two columns\nof vertical text");
     assert_eq!(cols.body.columns, Some(3));
     assert_eq!(cols.body.col_spacing, Some(18.0));
-    assert_eq!(cols.body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.85, line_reduction: 0.2 }));
+    assert_eq!(cols.body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.85), line_reduction: 0.2 }));
     assert_eq!(cols.body.vert, Some(TextDir::Vertical270));
 
     let warp = by_name(slide, "Warp").text.as_ref().expect("warp");
diff --git a/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_style.rs b/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_style.rs
index 65c3631c..d552002f 100644
--- a/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_style.rs
+++ b/crates/pptx/tests/corpus_style.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ fn style_deck() -> Presentation {
     let mut word = shape(&mut p, "Styled text", 40.0, 40.0, 400.0, 180.0);
     word.text = Some(TextBody {
         body: BodyProps {
-            autofit: Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.8, line_reduction: 0.2 }),
+            autofit: Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.8), line_reduction: 0.2 }),
             columns: Some(2),
             col_spacing: Some(12.0),
             vert: Some(TextDir::Vertical270),
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ fn style_kinds_round_trip() {
     let twice = round(&once);
 
     let body = &by_name(&once, "Styled text").text.as_ref().expect("text").body;
-    assert_eq!(body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.8, line_reduction: 0.2 }));
+    assert_eq!(body.autofit, Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.8), line_reduction: 0.2 }));
     assert_eq!(body.columns, Some(2));
     assert_eq!(body.col_spacing, Some(12.0));
     assert_eq!(body.vert, Some(TextDir::Vertical270));
diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index 926bb762..93b0dc95 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ pub struct RenderOpts<'a> {
     pub skip: &'a [ShapeId],
     /// Hide the text of this shape (the UI draws it while editing).
     pub skip_text: Option<ShapeId>,
+    /// Text being edited: replace its prompt with gray markers on empty list paragraphs.
+    /// Ignored outside editor rendering.
+    pub editing_text: Option<ShapeId>,
     /// Animated GIF pictures and how far into their play they are (seconds); others show frame 1.
     pub gif_times: &'a [(ShapeId, f64)],
     /// Worker threads (0 = this thread; required when effects use filters).
@@ -246,6 +249,7 @@ impl Default for RenderOpts<'_> {
             state: None,
             skip: &[],
             skip_text: None,
+            editing_text: None,
             gif_times: &[],
             threads: 0,
             offset: (0.0, 0.0),
@@ -921,7 +925,7 @@ impl Renderer {
             }
             ShapeKind::Table(t) => {
                 // Rows grow with their text: what the cells cover, borders included.
-                let cells = table::draw(ctx, f.pres, rctx, t, m, x.w, x.h, &f.fields);
+                let cells = table::draw(ctx, f.pres, rctx, t, m, x.w, x.h, &f.fields, f.opts.edit && f.opts.editing_text == Some(s.id));
                 self.track(m, cells.unwrap_or(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, x.w, x.h)).inflate(2.0, 2.0));
             }
             ShapeKind::Chart(c) => {
@@ -1300,8 +1304,21 @@ impl Renderer {
                 &text_geo
             };
             let tr = geo.text_rect;
-            if !body.is_empty() {
-                let l = deckcraft_text::layout(rctx, s, body, &Opts { rect: tr, fields: &f.fields, prompt_color: None, no_shrink: false });
+            let editing = f.opts.edit && f.opts.editing_text == Some(s.id);
+            if !body.is_empty() || editing {
+                // Imported placeholders can have no paragraph until the first keystroke.
+                let mut empty;
+                let body = if editing && body.paragraphs.is_empty() {
+                    empty = body.clone();
+                    empty.paragraphs.push(Default::default());
+                    &empty
+                } else {
+                    body
+                };
+                let mut l = deckcraft_text::layout(rctx, s, body, &Opts { rect: tr, fields: &f.fields, prompt_color: None, no_shrink: false });
+                if editing {
+                    preview_empty_bullets(&mut l);
+                }
                 let tm = text_transform(m, tr, l.rotation);
                 for b in l.lines.iter().filter_map(line_bounds) {
                     // Glyphs reach a little past their carets and line box (italics, swashes).
@@ -2034,6 +2051,15 @@ pub fn draw_text(ctx: &mut RenderContext, rctx: &Ctx, s: &Shape, body: &TextBody
     draw_layout(ctx, &l, tr, m);
 }
 
+/// Add transient list markers to an editor layout, using the document's own bullet glyphs.
+fn preview_empty_bullets(l: &mut deckcraft_text::TextLayout) {
+    for mut run in l.empty_bullets.drain(..) {
+        run.color = Rgba::rgb(0xB3, 0xB3, 0xB3);
+        run.alpha = 1.0;
+        l.runs.push(run);
+    }
+}
+
 /// Where text laid out in text rect `tr` is drawn, for a shape drawn with `m` (shape-local →
 /// output): `m`, without mirroring, then the layout's `rotation` about the rect's centre.
 ///
diff --git a/crates/render/src/paint.rs b/crates/render/src/paint.rs
index 8011f1bb..ee572fd9 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/paint.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/paint.rs
@@ -188,16 +188,6 @@ pub fn picture(ctx: &mut RenderContext, pres: &Presentation, pf: &PictureFill, b
         return;
     };
     let px_scale = crate::scale_of(m);
-    let want = (bounds.width().max(bounds.height()) * px_scale).max(1.0);
-    let frame = gif_time.and_then(|t| images::gif_pixmap(&item.data, &pf.adjust, t));
-    let Some(pm) = frame.or_else(|| images::decode_for(&item.data, want, &pf.adjust)) else {
-        missing(ctx, bounds);
-        return;
-    };
-    let (iw, ih) = (pm.width() as f64, pm.height() as f64);
-    if iw < 1.0 || ih < 1.0 {
-        return;
-    }
     let dest = match &pf.mode {
         PictureMode::Stretch { fill_rect } => {
             let [l, t, r, b] = *fill_rect;
@@ -211,6 +201,18 @@ pub fn picture(ctx: &mut RenderContext, pres: &Presentation, pf: &PictureFill, b
         }
         PictureMode::Tile { .. } => bounds,
     };
+    // Decode for the whole image's size on screen, not the box's: a cropped picture shows only part
+    // of it, magnified (#762).
+    let want = (dest.width().abs().max(dest.height().abs()) * px_scale).max(1.0);
+    let frame = gif_time.and_then(|t| images::gif_pixmap(&item.data, &pf.adjust, t));
+    let Some(pm) = frame.or_else(|| images::decode_for(&item.data, want, &pf.adjust)) else {
+        missing(ctx, bounds);
+        return;
+    };
+    let (iw, ih) = (pm.width() as f64, pm.height() as f64);
+    if iw < 1.0 || ih < 1.0 {
+        return;
+    }
     let alpha = pf.alpha.unwrap_or(1.0).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
     let image = vello_cpu::Image {
         image: vello_cpu::ImageSource::Pixmap(pm.clone()),
diff --git a/crates/render/src/table.rs b/crates/render/src/table.rs
index 545d060e..498daf91 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/table.rs
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ pub fn draw(
     _w: f64,
     _h: f64,
     fields: &dyn deckcraft_text::Fields,
+    editing: bool,
 ) -> Option<kurbo::Rect> {
     let _ = pres;
     let rects = cell_rects(t, &row_heights(rctx, t, fields));
@@ -418,14 +419,18 @@ pub fn draw(
     // Text.
     for (r, c, rect) in &rects {
         let Some(cell) = t.cell(*r, *c) else { continue };
-        if cell.text.is_empty() || text_off_target(cell, *rect, m, (ctx.width(), ctx.height())) {
+        if (cell.text.is_empty() && !editing) || text_off_target(cell, *rect, m, (ctx.width(), ctx.height())) {
             continue;
         }
         let body = cell_body(rctx, t, *r, *c, cell);
         let tmp = Shape { text: Some(body.clone()), ..Default::default() };
         #[cfg(test)]
         TEXT_CELLS_DRAWN.with(|n| n.set(n.get() + 1));
-        crate::draw_text(ctx, rctx, &tmp, &body, *rect, m, fields, None);
+        let mut l = deckcraft_text::layout(rctx, &tmp, &body, &deckcraft_text::Opts { rect: *rect, fields, prompt_color: None, no_shrink: false });
+        if editing {
+            crate::preview_empty_bullets(&mut l);
+        }
+        crate::draw_layout(ctx, &l, *rect, m);
         let _ = peniko::Fill::NonZero;
     }
     covered
diff --git a/crates/render/src/tests.rs b/crates/render/src/tests.rs
index c85a1e29..05d7c91a 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/tests.rs
@@ -2509,3 +2509,62 @@ fn single_series_column_chart_varies_colours_by_point() {
     };
     assert_ne!(render(true), render(false));
 }
+
+/// A 1024×1024 PNG of 2 px wide black and white vertical stripes.
+fn fine_stripes_png() -> Vec<u8> {
+    let img =
+        image::RgbaImage::from_fn(1024, 1024, |x, _| if (x / 2) % 2 == 0 { image::Rgba([0, 0, 0, 255]) } else { image::Rgba([255, 255, 255, 255]) });
+    let mut out = std::io::Cursor::new(Vec::new());
+    image::DynamicImage::ImageRgba8(img).write_to(&mut out, image::ImageFormat::Png).expect("png");
+    out.into_inner()
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_cropped_picture_is_decoded_at_the_resolution_of_the_whole_image() {
+    // The top-left sixteenth of the image in a 64 pt box: 64 image pixels over 64 output pixels.
+    // Decoding at the box's size instead of the whole image's blurs the stripes to grey (#762).
+    let mut p = Presentation::default();
+    let media = p.add_media("stripes.png", "image/png", fine_stripes_png()).expect("media");
+    let fill = deckcraft_model::style::PictureFill { media, crop: [0.0, 0.0, 15.0 / 16.0, 15.0 / 16.0], ..Default::default() };
+    let sh = Shape { id: ShapeId(600), xfrm: Some(Xfrm::new(100.0, 100.0, 64.0, 64.0)), kind: ShapeKind::Picture { fill }, ..Default::default() };
+    std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut p.slides[0]).shapes = vec![sh];
+    let img = render_slide(&p, 0, &RenderOpts { scale: 1.0, ..Default::default() });
+    let (mut sharp, mut total) = (0, 0);
+    for y in 110..154 {
+        for x in 110..154 {
+            let v = img.pixel(x, y)[0];
+            total += 1;
+            if !(48..=208).contains(&v) {
+                sharp += 1;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    assert!(sharp * 10 >= total * 9, "the stripes stay sharp: {sharp} of {total} pixels black or white");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn empty_bullet_is_gray_only_while_editing_and_never_in_exports() {
+    use deckcraft_model::text::{Bullet, Paragraph};
+    let mut para = Paragraph::default();
+    para.props.bullet = Some(Bullet::Char { char: "•".into() });
+    para.props.margin_left = Some(24.0);
+    para.props.indent = Some(-24.0);
+    para.end_props.size = Some(32.0);
+    let sh = Shape {
+        id: ShapeId(901),
+        xfrm: Some(Xfrm::new(100.0, 100.0, 400.0, 120.0)),
+        text: Some(TextBody { paragraphs: vec![para], ..Default::default() }),
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let p = deck_with(vec![sh]);
+    let render = |edit, editing_text| render_slide(&p, 0, &RenderOpts { edit, editing_text, ..Default::default() });
+    let plain = render(false, None);
+    assert_eq!(plain.pixels, render(true, None).pixels);
+    assert_eq!(plain.pixels, render(false, Some(ShapeId(901))).pixels, "export ignores editor markers");
+    assert_eq!(plain.pixels, render(true, Some(ShapeId(902))).pixels, "other shapes stay empty");
+    let editing = render(true, Some(ShapeId(901)));
+    let changed: Vec<_> = editing.pixels.as_chunks::<4>().0.iter().zip(plain.pixels.as_chunks::<4>().0).filter(|(a, b)| a != b).collect();
+    assert!(!changed.is_empty(), "an empty bullet must be visible");
+    assert!(changed.iter().any(|(px, _)| px[0] == 179 && px[1] == 179 && px[2] == 179));
+    assert!(changed.iter().all(|(px, _)| px[0] >= 179 && px[0] == px[1] && px[1] == px[2]));
+}
diff --git a/crates/render/src/transition.rs b/crates/render/src/transition.rs
index 05851448..bd6e3317 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/transition.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/transition.rs
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ fn copy_opts<'a>(o: &RenderOpts<'a>) -> RenderOpts<'a> {
         state: o.state,
         skip: o.skip,
         skip_text: o.skip_text,
+        editing_text: o.editing_text,
         gif_times: o.gif_times,
         threads: o.threads,
         offset: o.offset,
diff --git a/crates/text/src/lib.rs b/crates/text/src/lib.rs
index 840b7834..9acc26c0 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/lib.rs
@@ -292,6 +292,9 @@ pub struct LineInfo {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct TextLayout {
     pub runs: Vec<GlyphRun>,
+    /// Empty list markers for the editor only; ordinary rendering and export omit them.
+    /// Their space is still reserved so the caret starts where the first character will.
+    pub empty_bullets: Vec<GlyphRun>,
     pub decos: Vec<Deco>,
     pub lines: Vec<LineInfo>,
     /// Inner text box (insets applied), shape-local.
@@ -739,56 +742,52 @@ fn shape_para(ctx: &Ctx, shape: &Shape, body: &TextBody, pi: usize, scale: f64,
     let lead_size = lead_style.size;
     let lead_face = lead_style.face.clone();
     // Bullet.
-    let bullet = if para.is_empty() && opts.prompt_color.is_none() {
-        None
-    } else {
-        match &props.bullet {
-            Some(Bullet::Char { char }) => {
-                let mut rp = lead.clone();
-                if let Some(f) = &props.bullet_font {
-                    rp.font = Some(f.clone());
-                }
-                rp.bold = Some(false);
-                rp.italic = Some(false);
-                if let Some(c) = &props.bullet_color {
-                    rp.fill = Some(Fill::solid(c.clone()));
-                }
-                rp.size = Some(lead.size.unwrap_or(18.0) * props.bullet_size.unwrap_or(1.0));
-                rp.underline = None;
-                rp.strike = None;
-                rp.highlight = None;
-                let mut st = make_style(ctx, &rp, scale, opts.prompt_color);
-                st.baseline = 0.0;
-                // Symbol fonts (Wingdings) aren't available: map common private-use bullets.
-                let ch = map_symbol_bullet(char, props.bullet_font.as_deref());
-                bullet_face(db, &mut st, &ch);
+    let bullet = match &props.bullet {
+        Some(Bullet::Char { char }) => {
+            let mut rp = lead.clone();
+            if let Some(f) = &props.bullet_font {
+                rp.font = Some(f.clone());
+            }
+            rp.bold = Some(false);
+            rp.italic = Some(false);
+            if let Some(c) = &props.bullet_color {
+                rp.fill = Some(Fill::solid(c.clone()));
+            }
+            rp.size = Some(lead.size.unwrap_or(18.0) * props.bullet_size.unwrap_or(1.0));
+            rp.underline = None;
+            rp.strike = None;
+            rp.highlight = None;
+            let mut st = make_style(ctx, &rp, scale, opts.prompt_color);
+            st.baseline = 0.0;
+            // Symbol fonts (Wingdings) aren't available: map common private-use bullets.
+            let ch = map_symbol_bullet(char, props.bullet_font.as_deref());
+            bullet_face(db, &mut st, &ch);
 
-                // A symbol font (Wingdings, Symbol…) that is installed draws its own glyph, found
-                // at U+F000 + the character code as such fonts map them; otherwise common symbol
-                // bullets are mapped to Unicode look-alikes.
-                let ch = match symbol_font_char(&st.face, char, props.bullet_font.as_deref()) {
-                    Some(c) => c.to_string(),
-                    None => map_symbol_bullet(char, props.bullet_font.as_deref()),
-                };
-                if !st.face.covers(ch.chars().next().unwrap_or('•')) {
-                    st.face = db.face("Inter", "Regular");
-                }
-                Some((ch, st))
+            // A symbol font (Wingdings, Symbol…) that is installed draws its own glyph, found
+            // at U+F000 + the character code as such fonts map them; otherwise common symbol
+            // bullets are mapped to Unicode look-alikes.
+            let ch = match symbol_font_char(&st.face, char, props.bullet_font.as_deref()) {
+                Some(c) => c.to_string(),
+                None => map_symbol_bullet(char, props.bullet_font.as_deref()),
+            };
+            if !st.face.covers(ch.chars().next().unwrap_or('•')) {
+                st.face = db.face("Inter", "Regular");
             }
-            Some(Bullet::AutoNum { scheme, start_at }) => {
-                let mut rp = lead.clone();
-                if let Some(c) = &props.bullet_color {
-                    rp.fill = Some(Fill::solid(c.clone()));
-                }
-                rp.size = Some(lead.size.unwrap_or(18.0) * props.bullet_size.unwrap_or(1.0));
-                rp.underline = None;
-                let mut st = make_style(ctx, &rp, scale, opts.prompt_color);
-                let label = autonum(scheme, start_at.saturating_sub(1).saturating_add(number.unwrap_or(1)));
-                bullet_face(db, &mut st, &label);
-                Some((label, st))
-            }
-            _ => None,
+            Some((ch, st))
         }
+        Some(Bullet::AutoNum { scheme, start_at }) => {
+            let mut rp = lead.clone();
+            if let Some(c) = &props.bullet_color {
+                rp.fill = Some(Fill::solid(c.clone()));
+            }
+            rp.size = Some(lead.size.unwrap_or(18.0) * props.bullet_size.unwrap_or(1.0));
+            rp.underline = None;
+            let mut st = make_style(ctx, &rp, scale, opts.prompt_color);
+            let label = autonum(scheme, start_at.saturating_sub(1).saturating_add(number.unwrap_or(1)));
+            bullet_face(db, &mut st, &label);
+            Some((label, st))
+        }
+        _ => None,
     };
     ParaShaped { cells, styles, faces, props, lead_size, lead_face, bullet, level: para.level, rtl }
 }
@@ -1549,18 +1548,21 @@ pub fn layout(ctx: &Ctx, shape: &Shape, body: &TextBody, opts: &Opts) -> TextLay
     let autofit = bp.autofit.unwrap_or(AutoFit::None);
     // Shrink on overflow starts from the scale the file was saved with (`fontScale`,
     // `lnSpcReduction`), which is what PowerPoint draws; editing the text resets it.
-    let (scale0, reduce0) = match (autofit, opts.no_shrink) {
+    let (scale0, reduce0, no_saved_scale) = match (autofit, opts.no_shrink) {
         (AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale, line_reduction }, false) => (
-            if font_scale.is_finite() { font_scale.clamp(0.1, 1.0) } else { 1.0 },
+            font_scale.filter(|s| s.is_finite()).map(|s| s.clamp(0.1, 1.0)).unwrap_or(1.0),
             if line_reduction.is_finite() { line_reduction.clamp(0.0, 0.2) } else { 0.0 },
+            font_scale.is_none(),
         ),
-        _ => (1.0, 0.0),
+        _ => (1.0, 0.0, false),
     };
     let mut l = layout_scaled(ctx, shape, body, &bp, opts, scale0, reduce0);
     // A scale PowerPoint saved is drawn as it is: PowerPoint fits the text again only when it
     // changes (and editing resets the saved scale), not when a file opens, even where our
     // metrics would call it overflowing (trailing empty paragraphs, substituted fonts).
-    let saved = scale0 < 1.0 || reduce0 > 0.0;
+    // A body whose file has no `fontScale` at all (`<a:normAutofit/>`) is the schema default
+    // 100 % and is drawn as it is too, not refitted on open (#724).
+    let saved = no_saved_scale || scale0 < 1.0 || reduce0 > 0.0;
     if let (AutoFit::Shrink { .. }, false) = (autofit, opts.no_shrink)
         && l.overflow
         && !saved
@@ -1654,6 +1656,10 @@ fn layout_scaled(ctx: &Ctx, shape: &Shape, body: &TextBody, bp: &BodyProps, opts
                 *deeper = 0;
             }
             numbering.get(lvl).copied()
+        } else if matches!(pp.bullet, Some(Bullet::AutoNum { .. })) {
+            // Preview the next number without consuming it: empty paragraphs do not advance
+            // numbering in the saved document or affect later populated paragraphs.
+            numbering.get(lvl).map(|n| n.saturating_add(1))
         } else {
             if !para.is_empty() {
                 for n in numbering.iter_mut().skip(lvl) {
@@ -1908,9 +1914,20 @@ fn layout_scaled(ctx: &Ctx, shape: &Shape, body: &TextBody, bp: &BodyProps, opts
         // PowerPoint draws justified and distributed anchoring at the bottom.
         Anchor::Bottom | Anchor::Justified | Anchor::Distributed => inner.height() - used_h,
     };
-    // anchorCtr: centre the block horizontally.
-    let dx = if bp.anchor_ctr.unwrap_or(false) { ((inner.width() - out.content_width) / 2.0).max(0.0) } else { 0.0 };
-    let ox = inner.x0 + dx;
+    // anchorCtr: centre the drawn text block on the box. Lines sit where their alignment put
+    // them, so the origin is set so the block's centre lands on the box's centre — a left-edge
+    // offset alone pushed right-aligned lines out of the box (#736). Empty lines carry no ink
+    // and stay out of the block. Overflowing content centres symmetrically past both edges.
+    // Not applied to vertical text (there the offset would run along the wrong axis) or
+    // multi-column bodies (centring unimplemented for them).
+    let centre_block = bp.anchor_ctr.unwrap_or(false) && ncols == 1 && matches!(vert, TextDir::Horizontal);
+    let ox = if centre_block && !all_lines.is_empty() {
+        let ink = all_lines.iter().filter(|(li, ..)| li.end > li.start);
+        let (bmin, bmax) = ink.fold((f64::INFINITY, f64::NEG_INFINITY), |(a, b), (li, ..)| (a.min(li.extent.0), b.max(li.extent.1)));
+        if bmax >= bmin { inner.x0 + inner.width() / 2.0 - (bmin + bmax) / 2.0 } else { inner.x0 }
+    } else {
+        inner.x0
+    };
     let oy = inner.y0 + dy;
     // Emit runs, in visual order.
     for (line, place, _, bullet) in all_lines.iter_mut() {
@@ -1930,7 +1947,7 @@ fn layout_scaled(ctx: &Ctx, shape: &Shape, body: &TextBody, bp: &BodyProps, opts
             && let Some((_, st)) = p.bullet.as_ref()
         {
             let (_, g) = measure_str(&st.face, st.size, &s);
-            out.runs.push(GlyphRun {
+            let run = GlyphRun {
                 face: st.face.clone(),
                 size: st.size,
                 color: st.color,
@@ -1946,7 +1963,12 @@ fn layout_scaled(ctx: &Ctx, shape: &Shape, body: &TextBody, bp: &BodyProps, opts
                 gradient: None,
                 effects: None,
                 upright: false,
-            });
+            };
+            if body.paragraphs.get(line.para).is_some_and(|p| p.is_empty()) && opts.prompt_color.is_none() {
+                out.empty_bullets.push(run);
+            } else {
+                out.runs.push(run);
+            }
         }
         // Group visually consecutive cells by (style, face).
         let mut cur: Option<GlyphRun> = None;
diff --git a/crates/text/src/tests.rs b/crates/text/src/tests.rs
index 9eb20142..a9d936cd 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/tests.rs
@@ -186,26 +186,38 @@ fn saved_shrink_scale_is_drawn() {
     // A file saved with fontScale 62.5% and lnSpcReduction 20% draws at that scale even though
     // the text would fit at full size, as PowerPoint draws it.
     let (p, mut sh) = setup("Short", 600.0, 300.0);
-    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.625, line_reduction: 0.2 });
+    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.625), line_reduction: 0.2 });
     let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0);
     assert_eq!((l.font_scale, l.line_reduction), (0.625, 0.2));
     // Text our metrics find overflowing at the saved scale is still drawn at it, as PowerPoint
     // draws it until the text changes; with no saved scale it shrinks to fit.
     let text = (0..30).map(|i| format!("Line number {i}")).collect::<Vec<_>>().join("\n");
     let (p, mut sh) = setup(&text, 600.0, 200.0);
-    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 0.9, line_reduction: 0.1 });
+    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(0.9), line_reduction: 0.1 });
     let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 200.0);
     assert_eq!((l.font_scale, l.line_reduction), (0.9, 0.1));
-    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: 1.0, line_reduction: 0.0 });
+    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(1.0), line_reduction: 0.0 });
     let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 200.0);
     assert!(l.font_scale < 0.9, "{}", l.font_scale);
     // Nonsense saved values are ignored.
     let (p, mut sh) = setup("Short", 600.0, 300.0);
-    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: f64::NAN, line_reduction: 5.0 });
+    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: Some(f64::NAN), line_reduction: 5.0 });
     let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0);
     assert_eq!((l.font_scale, l.line_reduction), (1.0, 0.2));
 }
 
+/// A body whose file has `<a:normAutofit/>` with no `fontScale` is the schema default 100 %:
+/// PowerPoint draws it as it is, even overflowing. DeckCraft draws it the same (#724).
+#[test]
+fn bare_normautofit_draws_at_full_size() {
+    let text = (0..30).map(|i| format!("Line number {i}")).collect::<Vec<_>>().join("\n");
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup(&text, 600.0, 200.0);
+    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().body.autofit = Some(AutoFit::Shrink { font_scale: None, line_reduction: 0.0 });
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 200.0);
+    assert_eq!(l.font_scale, 1.0, "a body with no saved fontScale draws at 100%");
+    assert!(l.overflow, "it overflows, as PowerPoint draws it");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn exact_line_spacing_ends_at_the_last_descent() {
     // 12 pt text at exactly 26.59 pt per line (a table cell PowerPoint sizes to 24.3 pt of text):
@@ -1333,3 +1345,125 @@ fn stacked_combining_marks_take_a_face_that_draws_them() {
     }
     let _ = f;
 }
+
+/// #736: `anchorCtr` centres the text block horizontally, whatever the paragraphs' own
+/// alignment, and overflowing content centres symmetrically past both edges.
+#[test]
+fn anchorctr_centres_the_text_block() {
+    let text = "The shape is top - center - overriding paragraph right alignment.";
+    // The block's centre: (min left + max right) over the laid-out lines, in box coordinates.
+    let block_centre = |l: &TextLayout| -> f64 {
+        // Empty lines carry no ink and sit where their alignment left them: not part of the block.
+        let ink = l.lines.iter().filter(|li| li.end > li.start);
+        let (min, max) = ink.fold((f64::INFINITY, f64::NEG_INFINITY), |(a, b), li| (a.min(li.extent.0), b.max(li.extent.1)));
+        (min + max) / 2.0
+    };
+    let para = |align: Option<Align>, text: &str| Paragraph {
+        props: ParaProps { align, ..Default::default() },
+        runs: vec![Run::new(text)],
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let anchored =
+        |paragraphs: Vec<Paragraph>| TextBody { body: BodyProps { anchor_ctr: Some(true), ..Default::default() }, paragraphs, ..Default::default() };
+    // One right-aligned line in a wide box: the block is centred, not pushed past the right edge.
+    let body_right = anchored(vec![para(Some(Align::Right), text)]);
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("", 828.0, 104.0);
+    sh.text = Some(body_right);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 828.0, 104.0);
+    assert!((block_centre(&l) - 414.0).abs() <= 1.0, "right-aligned: centre {}, want 414", block_centre(&l));
+    // Left-aligned text centres the same way.
+    let body_left = anchored(vec![para(None, text)]);
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("", 828.0, 104.0);
+    sh.text = Some(body_left);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 828.0, 104.0);
+    assert!((block_centre(&l) - 414.0).abs() <= 1.0, "left-aligned: centre {}, want 414", block_centre(&l));
+    // A trailing empty paragraph carries no ink and must not skew the block.
+    let body_empty = anchored(vec![para(Some(Align::Right), text), para(None, "")]);
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("", 828.0, 104.0);
+    sh.text = Some(body_empty);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 828.0, 104.0);
+    assert!((block_centre(&l) - 414.0).abs() <= 1.0, "trailing empty paragraph: centre {}, want 414", block_centre(&l));
+    // Mixed alignments: the drawn block (not either alignment edge) is what centres.
+    let body_mixed = anchored(vec![para(Some(Align::Right), text), para(None, "short")]);
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("", 828.0, 104.0);
+    sh.text = Some(body_mixed);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 828.0, 104.0);
+    assert!((block_centre(&l) - 414.0).abs() <= 1.0, "mixed: centre {}, want 414", block_centre(&l));
+    // Content wider than the box overflows symmetrically past both edges (no wrap).
+    let body_wide = TextBody {
+        body: BodyProps { anchor_ctr: Some(true), wrap: Some(false), ..Default::default() },
+        paragraphs: vec![para(Some(Align::Right), text)],
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("", 300.0, 104.0);
+    sh.text = Some(body_wide);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 300.0, 104.0);
+    assert!((block_centre(&l) - 150.0).abs() <= 2.0, "overflowing: centre {}, want 150", block_centre(&l));
+    // Control: without anchorCtr a right-aligned line still ends at the box's right edge.
+    let body_control = TextBody { body: BodyProps::default(), paragraphs: vec![para(Some(Align::Right), text)], ..Default::default() };
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup(text, 828.0, 104.0);
+    sh.text = Some(body_control);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 828.0, 104.0);
+    assert!(
+        l.lines.iter().all(|li| li.extent.1 > 810.0),
+        "control: right-aligned at the box edge, got {:?}",
+        l.lines.iter().map(|li| li.extent).collect::<Vec<_>>()
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn empty_bullets_reserve_the_typed_indent_without_becoming_content() {
+    for rtl in [false, true] {
+        for level in [0, 1, 2] {
+            let (p, mut sh) = setup("First\n", 600.0, 300.0);
+            for para in &mut sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().paragraphs {
+                para.level = level;
+                para.props.rtl = Some(rtl);
+                para.props.align = Some(if rtl { Align::Right } else { Align::Left });
+            }
+            let empty = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0);
+            assert_eq!(empty.empty_bullets.len(), 1);
+            assert_eq!(empty.empty_bullets[0].para, 1);
+            assert!(empty.runs.iter().all(|r| r.para == 0), "empty bullet must not be exported");
+            let caret = empty.caret(Pos { para: 1, ch: 0 }).unwrap();
+            let bx = empty.empty_bullets[0].glyphs[0].1;
+            assert!(if rtl { bx >= caret.0 } else { bx < caret.0 });
+            deckcraft_model::edit::insert(sh.text.as_mut().unwrap(), (1, 0), if rtl { "אבג" } else { "Next" }, None);
+            let typed = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0);
+            assert!(typed.empty_bullets.is_empty());
+            let after = typed.caret(Pos { para: 1, ch: 0 }).unwrap();
+            assert!(
+                (caret.0 - after.0).abs() < 1e-6 && (caret.1 - after.1).abs() < 1e-6 && (caret.2 - after.2).abs() < 1e-6,
+                "typing must not move the line's start: {caret:?} vs {after:?}"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn empty_numbered_paragraph_previews_the_next_number_without_consuming_it() {
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("One\n\nTwo", 600.0, 300.0);
+    for para in &mut sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().paragraphs {
+        para.props.bullet = Some(Bullet::AutoNum { scheme: "arabicPeriod".into(), start_at: 4 });
+    }
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0);
+    let preview = &l.empty_bullets[0];
+    let next = l.runs.iter().find(|r| r.para == 2 && r.cells.is_empty()).unwrap();
+    let ids = |r: &GlyphRun| r.glyphs.iter().map(|g| g.0).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    assert_eq!(preview.para, 1);
+    assert_eq!(ids(preview), ids(next), "both should use 5.");
+    let expected = measure_str(&preview.face, preview.size, "5.").1;
+    assert_eq!(ids(preview), expected.iter().map(|g| g.0).collect::<Vec<_>>());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn empty_plain_paragraphs_and_soft_breaks_have_no_bullet_preview() {
+    let (p, mut sh) = setup("", 600.0, 300.0);
+    sh.text.as_mut().unwrap().paragraphs[0].props.bullet = Some(Bullet::None);
+    assert!(lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0).empty_bullets.is_empty());
+    sh.text = Some(TextBody::from_text("First"));
+    deckcraft_model::edit::insert(sh.text.as_mut().unwrap(), (0, 5), "\u{b}", None);
+    let l = lay(&p, &sh, 600.0, 300.0);
+    assert_eq!(l.lines.len(), 2);
+    assert!(l.empty_bullets.is_empty(), "a soft line break is not a new list item");
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
index bc4e080e..ba66aad8 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
@@ -181,20 +181,18 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     // One texture pixel in screen points, and the canvas in pixels from the slide's corner.
     let pixel = vec2(slide_rect.width() / px.0 as f32, slide_rect.height() / px.1 as f32);
     let visible = visible_region(avail, slide_rect, pixel);
+    let typing_into = st.and_then(|d| d.selection.text.as_ref()).filter(|t| !t.notes).map(|t| t.shape);
     let tex = match st.map(|d| (d.selection.target, d)) {
         Some((Target::Slides, d)) => {
             let idx = d.selection.slide;
             let doc = d.doc.clone();
             let frame = anim.as_ref().map(|(tl, t)| (tl, *t));
-            // A placeholder's prompt makes way for the caret once it is being typed into.
-            let typing_into = d.selection.text.as_ref().filter(|t| !t.notes && t.cell.is_none()).map(|t| t.shape);
-            let no_prompt = typing_into.filter(|id| d.shape(*id).and_then(|sh| sh.text.as_ref()).is_none_or(|body| body.is_empty()));
-            app.textures.slide(ui.ctx(), &doc, idx, px, visible, true, crate::media::gif_key(&gifs), app.ui.grayscale, &times, no_prompt, frame)
+            app.textures.slide(ui.ctx(), &doc, idx, px, visible, true, crate::media::gif_key(&gifs), app.ui.grayscale, &times, typing_into, frame)
         }
-        Some((Target::Master { master }, d)) => master_tex(ui.ctx(), &d.doc, master, None, px, visible),
-        Some((Target::Layout { master, layout }, d)) => master_tex(ui.ctx(), &d.doc, master, Some(layout), px, visible),
+        Some((Target::Master { master }, d)) => master_tex(ui.ctx(), &d.doc, master, None, px, visible, typing_into),
+        Some((Target::Layout { master, layout }, d)) => master_tex(ui.ctx(), &d.doc, master, Some(layout), px, visible, typing_into),
         Some((t @ (Target::Handout | Target::NotesMaster), d)) => {
-            deckcraft_engine::master_page(&d.doc, t).and_then(|p| master_tex(ui.ctx(), &p, 0, None, px, visible))
+            deckcraft_engine::master_page(&d.doc, t).and_then(|p| master_tex(ui.ctx(), &p, 0, None, px, visible, typing_into))
         }
         None => None,
     };
@@ -418,6 +416,7 @@ fn master_tex(
     layout: Option<usize>,
     px: (u32, u32),
     visible: deckcraft_render::Region,
+    editing_text: Option<deckcraft_model::ShapeId>,
 ) -> Option<(egui::TextureHandle, deckcraft_render::Region)> {
     let scale = px.0 as f64 / doc.slide_size.width.max(1.0);
     let region = crate::textures::fit_texture(
@@ -429,7 +428,7 @@ fn master_tex(
         doc,
         master,
         layout,
-        &deckcraft_render::RenderOpts { scale, edit: true, offset: region.offset(), size: Some(region.size()), ..Default::default() },
+        &deckcraft_render::RenderOpts { scale, edit: true, editing_text, offset: region.offset(), size: Some(region.size()), ..Default::default() },
     );
     Some((crate::textures::upload_editor(ctx, "master-canvas", crate::textures::to_color_image(&img, false)), region))
 }
@@ -1476,6 +1475,61 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// The first empty placeholder and the paragraph after Enter keep a list marker and indent.
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_bullet_preview_follows_click_type_enter_and_toggle() {
+        let mut h = harness();
+        h.state_mut().run("slide.new", json!({"layout": "titleAndContent"})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let st = h.state().session.active().unwrap();
+        let sh = st
+            .shapes()
+            .iter()
+            .find(|s| s.ph_type() == Some(deckcraft_model::PhType::Body) || s.ph_type() == Some(deckcraft_model::PhType::Obj))
+            .unwrap();
+        let id = sh.id;
+        let x = deckcraft_engine::cmd::xfrm_of(&st.doc, &st.selection, sh);
+        let p = screen(h.state(), x.x + 40.0, x.y + 20.0);
+        click(&mut h, p);
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let caret = |h: &Harness<'_, SlideApp>| {
+            let st = h.state().session.active().unwrap();
+            let ts = st.selection.text.as_ref().expect("click starts typing");
+            assert_eq!(ts.shape, id);
+            deckcraft_engine::cmd::text::caret_line(st, ts).unwrap().0
+        };
+        let first = caret(&h);
+        h.event(Event::Text("First point".into()));
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        h.key_press(egui::Key::Enter);
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let second = caret(&h);
+        assert!((first.x - second.x).abs() < 0.01, "empty lines retain the bullet indent");
+        assert!(second.y > first.y);
+        let st = h.state().session.active().unwrap();
+        let l = deckcraft_engine::cmd::text::layout_for(st, st.selection.text.as_ref().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(l.empty_bullets.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.empty_bullets[0].para, 1);
+        let renders = h.state().textures.canvas_renders;
+        h.state_mut().run("text.exit", json!({})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        assert!(h.state().textures.canvas_renders > renders, "leaving text editing refreshes the marker texture");
+        h.state_mut().run("text.edit", json!({"id": id, "at": [1, 0]})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        h.event(Event::Text("Second point".into()));
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let st = h.state().session.active().unwrap();
+        let ts = st.selection.text.as_ref().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(deckcraft_engine::cmd::text::body_of(st, ts).unwrap().text(), "First point\nSecond point");
+        assert!(deckcraft_engine::cmd::text::layout_for(st, ts).unwrap().empty_bullets.is_empty());
+        h.key_press(egui::Key::Enter);
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        h.state_mut().run("format.bullets", json!({})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let st = h.state().session.active().unwrap();
+        assert!(deckcraft_engine::cmd::text::layout_for(st, st.selection.text.as_ref().unwrap()).unwrap().empty_bullets.is_empty());
+    }
+
     /// Double-clicking a table cell edits it with the caret drawn in that cell, where clicked.
     #[test]
     fn double_click_in_a_table_cell_shows_the_caret_there() {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs
index 8f474485..8292321c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs
@@ -28,12 +28,34 @@ pub struct ControlRequest {
     pub method: String,
     pub params: Value,
     pub reply: Sender<ControlResponse>,
+    /// Who has the request: [`PENDING`], [`TAKEN`] (the app runs it) or [`ABANDONED`] (the
+    /// sender gave up on it, so the app must not run it late: issue #719).
+    pub state: std::sync::Arc<std::sync::atomic::AtomicU8>,
 }
 
+/// Queued, not yet run.
+pub const PENDING: u8 = 0;
+/// The app has started it: it will answer.
+pub const TAKEN: u8 = 1;
+/// Its sender gave up waiting (the reply timeout expired): it is dropped unrun.
+pub const ABANDONED: u8 = 2;
+
 impl ControlRequest {
     pub fn new(method: impl Into<String>, params: Value) -> (Self, std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<ControlResponse>) {
         let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
-        (Self { method: method.into(), params, reply: tx }, rx)
+        (Self { method: method.into(), params, reply: tx, state: Default::default() }, rx)
+    }
+
+    /// Claim the request for running; false when its sender already gave up on it.
+    pub fn take(&self) -> bool {
+        use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
+        self.state.compare_exchange(PENDING, TAKEN, Ordering::SeqCst, Ordering::SeqCst).is_ok() || self.state.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == TAKEN
+    }
+
+    /// Give up on the request; false when the app has already started it (it will answer).
+    pub fn abandon(state: &std::sync::atomic::AtomicU8) -> bool {
+        use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
+        state.compare_exchange(PENDING, ABANDONED, Ordering::SeqCst, Ordering::SeqCst).is_ok() || state.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == ABANDONED
     }
 }
 
@@ -402,3 +424,24 @@ pub fn save_screenshot(app: &mut SlideApp, image: &egui::ColorImage, path: Optio
         None => json!({"ok": false, "error": "no writer configured"}),
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    #![allow(clippy::unwrap_used, clippy::expect_used)]
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    /// `take` and `abandon` are exclusive: whoever wins, the request runs at most once (#719).
+    #[test]
+    fn take_and_abandon_are_exclusive() {
+        let (req, _rx) = ControlRequest::new("m", json!({}));
+        assert!(req.take(), "a pending request is taken");
+        assert!(!ControlRequest::abandon(&req.state), "a taken request is not abandoned");
+        assert!(req.take(), "a taken request stays taken");
+
+        let (req, _rx) = ControlRequest::new("m", json!({}));
+        assert!(ControlRequest::abandon(&req.state), "a pending request is abandoned");
+        assert!(!req.take(), "an abandoned request is never taken");
+        assert!(ControlRequest::abandon(&req.state), "abandoning twice stays abandoned");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
index 18d112c8..576a2297 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SlideApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     let escape = ctx.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::Escape));
     if open && !close && !escape {
         app.dialog = Some(d);
+    } else if !close && d.id == "preferences" {
+        // Esc or the window's close button: the same as Cancel.
+        restore_preferences(app, &d);
     } else if app.dialog.is_none()
         && let Some(ret) = d.params.get("returnParams").filter(|v| v.is_object()).cloned()
     {
@@ -137,6 +140,31 @@ fn buttons(ui: &mut Ui, ok_label: &str) -> (bool, bool) {
     (ok, cancel)
 }
 
+/// What the Preferences dialog can change, as it was when the dialog opened.
+fn preferences_snapshot(app: &SlideApp) -> Value {
+    json!({
+        "dark": app.ui.brightness == theme::Brightness::Dark,
+        "uiScale": app.ui.ui_scale,
+        "prefs": serde_json::to_value(&app.session.prefs).unwrap_or(Value::Null),
+    })
+}
+
+/// Puts back the settings the Preferences dialog opened with (Cancel, Esc, the close button).
+fn restore_preferences(app: &mut SlideApp, d: &Dialog) {
+    let Some(before) = d.params.get("before") else { return };
+    if let Some(dark) = before.get("dark").and_then(Value::as_bool)
+        && dark != (app.ui.brightness == theme::Brightness::Dark)
+    {
+        let _ = app.run("view.dark", json!({ "on": dark }));
+    }
+    if let Some(scale) = before.get("uiScale").and_then(Value::as_f64) {
+        app.ui.ui_scale = scale as f32;
+    }
+    if let Some(prefs) = before.get("prefs").and_then(|p| serde_json::from_value(p.clone()).ok()) {
+        app.session.prefs = prefs;
+    }
+}
+
 fn field(ui: &mut Ui, d: &mut Dialog, label: &str, key: &str, default: &str) {
     let mut v = d.get(key, default);
     ui.horizontal(|ui| {
@@ -2104,14 +2132,31 @@ fn body(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui, d: &mut Dialog) -> bool {
         }
         "gridOptions" => grid_options(app, ui, d),
         "preferences" => {
+            // The controls apply as they change, so the dialog remembers what it opened with and
+            // Cancel (or Esc, or the close button: see `show`) puts that back.
+            if d.params.get("before").is_none() {
+                d.params = json!({ "before": preferences_snapshot(app) });
+            }
             ui.label(egui::RichText::new("General").font(theme::bold(13.0)));
             let mut dark = app.ui.brightness == theme::Brightness::Dark;
             if ui.checkbox(&mut dark, "Dark appearance").changed() {
                 let _ = app.run("view.dark", json!({"on": dark}));
             }
-            let mut scale = app.ui.ui_scale;
-            if ui.add(egui::Slider::new(&mut scale, 0.75..=1.75).text("Interface size")).changed() {
-                app.ui.ui_scale = scale;
+            // While the pointer holds the slider its value only waits in the dialog: applying it
+            // would rescale the slider under the pointer and run it to an end (#767). It applies
+            // on release, and at once from the keyboard.
+            let pending = d.fields.get("uiScale").and_then(|v| v.parse::<f32>().ok());
+            let mut scale = pending.unwrap_or(app.ui.ui_scale);
+            let r = ui.add(egui::Slider::new(&mut scale, 0.75..=1.75).text("Interface size"));
+            if r.is_pointer_button_down_on() {
+                if r.changed() || pending.is_some() {
+                    d.fields.insert("uiScale".into(), scale.to_string());
+                }
+            } else {
+                if r.changed() || pending.is_some() {
+                    app.ui.ui_scale = scale;
+                }
+                d.fields.remove("uiScale");
             }
             ui.label(egui::RichText::new("Editing").font(theme::bold(13.0)));
             ui.checkbox(&mut app.session.prefs.smart_guides, "Show smart guides");
@@ -2130,8 +2175,11 @@ fn body(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui, d: &mut Dialog) -> bool {
                 ui.label("Your name (comments):");
                 ui.text_edit_singleline(&mut app.session.prefs.author);
             });
-            let (ok, _) = buttons(ui, "Done");
-            ok
+            let (ok, cancel) = buttons(ui, "Done");
+            if cancel {
+                restore_preferences(app, d);
+            }
+            ok || cancel
         }
         "photoAlbum" => photo_album_dialog(app, ui, d),
         "themeColors" => theme_colors_dialog(app, ui, d),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index f020f5f5..88674070 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -1879,6 +1879,10 @@ impl SlideApp {
     fn drain_control(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) {
         let Some(rx) = self.control_rx.take() else { return };
         while let Ok(req) = rx.try_recv() {
+            // A request whose sender gave up waiting (reply timeout) must not run late (#719).
+            if !req.take() {
+                continue;
+            }
             let reply = req.reply.clone();
             match control::handle(self, ctx, &req) {
                 control::Outcome::Done(v) => {
@@ -2573,6 +2577,71 @@ mod tests {
         assert!((harness.state().session.prefs.grid_spacing - 6.0).abs() < 1e-9);
     }
 
+    /// Preferences (#752): Cancel, Esc and the window's close button put back what the dialog
+    /// changed while it was open; Done keeps it.
+    #[test]
+    fn preferences_cancel_restores_the_settings_done_keeps_them() {
+        use egui_kittest::kittest::Queryable;
+        let mut harness = egui_kittest::Harness::builder().with_size(egui::vec2(1200.0, 800.0)).build_ui_state(
+            |ui, app: &mut SlideApp| {
+                app.logic(ui.ctx());
+                app.ui(ui);
+            },
+            SlideApp::new(Session::with_new(), Services::default()),
+        );
+        harness.run_steps(2);
+        let before = harness.state().session.prefs.clone();
+        let dark_before = harness.state().ui.brightness;
+        let change = |harness: &mut egui_kittest::Harness<'static, SlideApp>| {
+            harness.state_mut().run("app.preferences", json!({})).unwrap();
+            harness.run_steps(2);
+            for label in ["Dark appearance", "Show smart guides", "Snap objects to grid"] {
+                harness
+                    .query_all_by_role_and_label(egui::accesskit::Role::CheckBox, label)
+                    .next()
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("no {label} checkbox"))
+                    .click_accesskit();
+                harness.run_steps(2);
+            }
+            assert_ne!(harness.state().ui.brightness, dark_before, "the dialog previews the appearance");
+            assert_ne!(harness.state().session.prefs.smart_guides, before.smart_guides);
+        };
+        let unchanged = |harness: &egui_kittest::Harness<'static, SlideApp>, how: &str| {
+            let s = harness.state();
+            assert!(s.dialog.is_none(), "{how} closes Preferences");
+            assert_eq!(s.ui.brightness, dark_before, "{how} restores the appearance");
+            assert_eq!(s.session.prefs.smart_guides, before.smart_guides, "{how} restores smart guides");
+            assert_eq!(s.session.prefs.snap_to_grid, before.snap_to_grid, "{how} restores snap to grid");
+        };
+
+        change(&mut harness);
+        harness
+            .query_all_by_role_and_label(egui::accesskit::Role::Button, "Cancel")
+            .next()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("no Cancel button"))
+            .click_accesskit();
+        harness.run_steps(2);
+        unchanged(&harness, "Cancel");
+
+        change(&mut harness);
+        harness.key_press(egui::Key::Escape);
+        harness.run_steps(2);
+        unchanged(&harness, "Esc");
+
+        change(&mut harness);
+        harness
+            .query_all_by_role_and_label(egui::accesskit::Role::Button, "Done")
+            .next()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("no Done button"))
+            .click_accesskit();
+        harness.run_steps(2);
+        let s = harness.state();
+        assert!(s.dialog.is_none(), "Done closes Preferences");
+        assert_ne!(s.ui.brightness, dark_before, "Done keeps the appearance");
+        assert_ne!(s.session.prefs.smart_guides, before.smart_guides, "Done keeps smart guides");
+        assert_ne!(s.session.prefs.snap_to_grid, before.snap_to_grid, "Done keeps snap to grid");
+    }
+
     fn canvas_harness() -> egui_kittest::Harness<'static, SlideApp> {
         let mut harness = egui_kittest::Harness::builder().with_size(egui::vec2(1200.0, 800.0)).build_ui_state(
             |ui, app: &mut SlideApp| {
@@ -3253,4 +3322,38 @@ mod tests {
         flick(&mut harness, egui::vec2(-24.0, 0.0));
         assert_eq!(harness.state().show.as_ref().map(|s| s.state.slide), Some(0));
     }
+
+    /// Preferences › Interface size (#767): dragging the slider leaves the interface size alone
+    /// until the pointer lets go, so the slider doesn't grow under the pointer mid-drag.
+    #[test]
+    fn interface_size_applies_when_the_slider_is_let_go() {
+        let mut harness = egui_kittest::Harness::builder().with_size(egui::vec2(1200.0, 800.0)).build_ui_state(
+            |ui, app: &mut SlideApp| {
+                app.logic(ui.ctx());
+                app.ui(ui);
+            },
+            SlideApp::new(Session::with_new(), Services::default()),
+        );
+        harness.run_steps(2);
+        harness.state_mut().run("app.preferences", json!({})).unwrap();
+        harness.run_steps(4);
+        let before = harness.state().ui.ui_scale;
+        let rect =
+            harness.query_all_by_role_and_label(egui::accesskit::Role::Slider, "Interface size").next().expect("the Interface size slider").rect();
+        let (from, to) = (rect.left_center() + egui::vec2(4.0, 0.0), rect.right_center() - egui::vec2(4.0, 0.0));
+        harness.hover_at(from);
+        harness.run_steps(1);
+        harness.drag_at(from);
+        harness.run_steps(1);
+        for k in 1..=8 {
+            harness.hover_at(from.lerp(to, k as f32 / 8.0));
+            harness.run_steps(1);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(harness.state().ui.ui_scale, before, "nothing rescales while the slider is held");
+        harness.drop_at(to);
+        harness.run_steps(2);
+        let after = harness.state().ui.ui_scale;
+        assert!(after > before + 0.3, "letting go applies the size dragged to: {before} -> {after}");
+        assert!(harness.state().dialog.is_some(), "Preferences stays open");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/textures.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/textures.rs
index 9730f4d6..49df4144 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/textures.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/textures.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ struct Key {
     extra: u64,
     /// The pasteboard region the slide's drawing calls for (canvas only).
     want: Region,
-    skip_text: Option<ShapeId>,
+    editing_text: Option<ShapeId>,
 }
 
 struct Entry {
@@ -248,8 +248,7 @@ impl Textures {
     /// The canvas texture for slide `index`, the slide being `size` pixels, and the region it
     /// covers: the slide, grown over the pasteboard to show what reaches off the slide within
     /// `visible` (the canvas, in pixels from the slide's top-left corner). `extra` changes with the
-    /// GIF frames. `skip_text` leaves out one shape's text (the prompt of a placeholder being typed
-    /// into).
+    /// GIF frames. `editing_text` replaces its placeholder prompt with gray empty list markers.
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     pub fn slide(
         &mut self,
@@ -262,7 +261,7 @@ impl Textures {
         extra: u64,
         grayscale: bool,
         gif_times: &[(ShapeId, f64)],
-        skip_text: Option<ShapeId>,
+        editing_text: Option<ShapeId>,
         anim: Option<(&deckcraft_anim::Timeline, f64)>,
     ) -> Option<(TextureHandle, Region)> {
         let slide = p.slides.get(index)?.clone();
@@ -290,7 +289,7 @@ impl Textures {
             edit,
             extra: extra ^ grayscale as u64 ^ anim_key(anim),
             want,
-            skip_text,
+            editing_text,
         };
         if let Some(e) = &self.canvas
             && e.key == key
@@ -309,7 +308,7 @@ impl Textures {
                 offset: region.offset(),
                 size: Some(region.size()),
                 state,
-                skip_text,
+                editing_text,
                 ..Default::default()
             };
             deckcraft_render::render_slide_drawn(p, index, &opts)
@@ -367,7 +366,7 @@ impl Textures {
             edit: false,
             extra: 0,
             want: Region::slide(width_px, h),
-            skip_text: None,
+            editing_text: None,
         };
         self.clock += 1;
         let clock = self.clock;
diff --git a/docs/control-protocol.md b/docs/control-protocol.md
index b7b6f013..e715d1c7 100644
--- a/docs/control-protocol.md
+++ b/docs/control-protocol.md
@@ -3,10 +3,18 @@
 Start the app with `--control <port>`. The server listens on `127.0.0.1` only and speaks JSON
 lines: one request object per line, one reply per line.
 
+The connected MCP client requires the reply's numeric `id` to match its request, `ok` to be a
+boolean, and exactly one of `result` (success) or a string `error` (failure). It caps each reply at
+16 MiB including its terminating newline, accepts CRLF, and rejects EOF inside a frame. Invalid
+replies invalidate the connection and leave the command's outcome unknown; the client does not
+replay it. Unsolicited bytes already buffered between calls force a reconnect before sending.
+
 The server bounds what a client can hold: 16 connections at once (more get `{"ok":false,"error":"busy: …"}`
 and are closed), 16 MiB per request line (longer closes the connection), 64 queued requests (more are
 answered `busy`), 10 minutes idle and 30 seconds per blocked reply write before the socket is closed, and
-60 seconds waiting for the UI (`"error":"timeout"`).
+60 seconds waiting for the UI (`"error":"timeout"`). A request still queued when that wait expires is
+abandoned: the UI skips it, so a retry cannot run it twice. If the UI had already started it, the reply
+says the outcome is unknown instead of `timeout`.
 
 ```json
 {"id": 1, "method": "engine.execute", "params": {"command": "shape.insert", "params": {"preset": "roundRect", "rect": [100, 100, 240, 120], "text": "Hello"}}}
diff --git a/docs/gaps.md b/docs/gaps.md
index 4adfda40..4e564951 100644
--- a/docs/gaps.md
+++ b/docs/gaps.md
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ Detail in [localization-parity.md](localization-parity.md).
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-10-14 | trivial | Fixed #718: remote MCP no longer accepts unrelated or buffered stale success; loopback regressions cover invalid envelopes, incomplete and oversized frames |
 | 2026-10-14 | minor | Community PR wave folded: one entry each for the soak tests (engine and UI), the PPTX corpus (seven owned corpus files), edit points / text warp / 3-D, proofing (Hunspell spelling, thesaurus, AutoCorrect), the smaller missing rows, dialogs (41 vs ~60; Print and Insert Object left) and pen/trackpad input; ranked rows 3, 4 and 10 de-duplicated (comment threads #70 and the pane timeline are done); the fixed command-palette entry (#79) removed |
 | 2026-10-13 | minor | EMF/WMF rectangle clip regions (`INTERSECTCLIPRECT`, `EXCLUDECLIPRECT`, `EXTSELECTCLIPRGN`) limit later drawing. EMF+ records remain |
 | 2026-10-13 | minor | Embedded fonts are read, written and drawn (TrueType, OpenType, Embedded OpenType). The gap is now MicroType Express subsets, which are kept but not drawn |
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index b2f879b3..a65fcda3 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -5,6 +5,18 @@ headless engine (no window); with `--connect PORT` it drives a running DeckCraft
 `--control PORT`, so an agent and a person can work on the same deck. `--sample` opens the sample
 deck.
 
+Connected mode accepts only newline-terminated replies of at most 16 MiB (including the newline),
+with the current request's numeric `id`, a boolean `ok`, and either `result` on success or a string
+`error` on failure. CRLF is accepted. Invalid replies close the connection and report that the
+command may or may not have run; they never cause a replay. Check the document before retrying a
+mutation. Before sending another request, unsolicited bytes in the reader's buffer or on the
+socket cause a fresh connection to be opened. Large image replies must fit this budget; render
+to a file or use a smaller scale when necessary.
+
+Regression coverage for #718 lives in `crates/mcp/src/backend.rs`: synthetic loopback peers test
+reply correlation, envelopes, framing, the size cap and buffered unsolicited bytes, alongside the
+lost-reply and reconnect tests.
+
 ```json
 {
   "mcpServers": {
diff --git a/docs/parity-checklist.md b/docs/parity-checklist.md
index 9843d75e..94928d8c 100644
--- a/docs/parity-checklist.md
+++ b/docs/parity-checklist.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # PowerPoint feature checklist
 
-> **Generated:** 2026-10-14 (summary by `cargo xtask parity`; rows re-scored by the 2026-10-14 community PR wave, duplicate Thesaurus, AutoCorrect, Artistic effects and Corrections rows folded; Preview in editor re-scored 2026-10-13; earlier rows re-scored 2026-10-10 against PowerPoint for Mac 16.113.4; video/animated GIF row re-scored 2026-10-11, #171) · **Target:** Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac 16.113 (Microsoft 365)
+> **Generated:** 2026-10-14 (bullets/numbering remain D after empty-line marker review; summary by `cargo xtask parity`; rows re-scored by the 2026-10-14 community PR wave, duplicate Thesaurus, AutoCorrect, Artistic effects and Corrections rows folded; Preview in editor re-scored 2026-10-13; earlier rows re-scored 2026-10-10 against PowerPoint for Mac 16.113.4; video/animated GIF row re-scored 2026-10-11, #171) · **Target:** Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac 16.113 (Microsoft 365)
 
 The summary between `<!-- SUMMARY -->
 **Weighted breadth parity: 84%** over 191 features.
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ Open P0 items: Contextual tabs (Shape Format, Picture Format, Table Design/Layou
 | Text | Change case, grow/shrink font, clear formatting | P1 | D |
 | Text | Text outline and text effects | P2 | P |
 | Text | Paragraph alignment, indents, spacing, line spacing | P0 | D |
-| Text | Bullets and numbering | P0 | D |
+| Text | Bullets and numbering (including gray empty-line markers while editing) | P0 | D |
 | Text | Picture bullets, custom bullet symbols | P2 | P |
 | Text | List levels (Tab / Shift+Tab) | P0 | D |
 | Text | Tab stops | P2 | D |
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ Open P0 items: Contextual tabs (Shape Format, Picture Format, Table Design/Layou
 | Undo & clipboard | Unlimited undo/redo | P0 | D |
 | Undo & clipboard | Cut, copy, paste shapes and slides | P0 | D |
 | Undo & clipboard | Paste special (keep formatting, picture, text only) | P1 | D |
-| Automation (✱) | Every command scriptable (CLI, control channel, MCP) | P0 | D |
+| Automation (✱) | Every command scriptable (CLI, control channel, MCP; remote reply IDs, envelopes and framing validated, #718) | P0 | D |
 | Automation (✱) | Headless rendering and conversion | P0 | D |
 | Platforms (✱) | macOS, Windows, Linux builds | P0 | P |
 | Platforms (✱) | Web (WASM) build | P1 | D |
diff --git a/docs/roadmap.md b/docs/roadmap.md
index 1a6c3910..caf868de 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap.md
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ plan above.
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-10-14 | trivial | M13 reliability: remote MCP validates IDs and envelopes, caps replies and rejects incomplete frames; #718 |
 | 2026-10-14 | minor | Community PR wave folded: one Review gate row, one Current focus item 2, one beta row each for items 9 and 10 (timeline and timer controls are in), one after-beta paragraph, one M9 and M10 row, one corpus row in the 2026-10-07 history |
 | 2026-10-13 | trivial | Beta item 3: embedded fonts are in, except MicroType Express subsets |
 | 2026-10-13 | minor | M9: the WordArt Transform gallery applies a text warp; adjust handles stay open |
diff --git a/docs/ui-parity.md b/docs/ui-parity.md
index cc7801d7..cc97dae4 100644
--- a/docs/ui-parity.md
+++ b/docs/ui-parity.md
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ direct manipulation, keyboard and precision. Observations of PowerPoint are kept
 `plan/powerpoint/01-observed-ui.md` and `menu-tree.txt` (gitignored, clean-room rules in
 AGENTS.md §2). Dimension score: **~60% ready** (estimated), **30–50 h** to parity.
 
+## Empty list paragraphs
+
+While editing slide text, empty bulleted and numbered paragraphs show gray markers at the list's
+indent, including the first click into a content placeholder and the paragraph after Enter.
+Typing gives the marker its normal text color. These temporary markers are hidden when editing
+ends and are omitted from thumbnails, slide shows and exports.
+
 ## Shell
 
 | Element | PowerPoint for Mac | DeckCraft | Gap |
@@ -158,6 +165,7 @@ consistency is open (#73, #56).
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-10-14 | minor | Gray list markers on empty paragraphs while editing; caret keeps the list indent before typing |
 | 2026-10-14 | minor | Community PR wave folded: one row each for Format Shape, Dialogs (41, listed from `dialogs.rs`), Animation Pane (timeline is in), window, Quick Access Toolbar, Format Background, rulers, image paste, context menus, exact size and edit points; estimates re-totalled (~26–46 h) |
 | 2026-10-13 | trivial | Eyedropper in the colour menus (#367) |
 | 2026-10-12 | minor | Title bar: an Export button next to Save opens the Export dialog, a quick-access shortcut beside File › Export |
diff --git a/packaging/linux/ai.storyteller.deckcraft.metainfo.xml.in b/packaging/linux/ai.storyteller.deckcraft.metainfo.xml.in
index 4e6f0ae5..bb475efd 100644
--- a/packaging/linux/ai.storyteller.deckcraft.metainfo.xml.in
+++ b/packaging/linux/ai.storyteller.deckcraft.metainfo.xml.in
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@
     <keyword>slide show</keyword>
     <keyword>pptx</keyword>
   </keywords>
+  <screenshots>
+    <screenshot type="default">
+      <caption>Slide editor with thumbnails, a process diagram and notes</caption>
+      <image type="source" width="1600" height="1000">https://raw.githubusercontent.com/storytold/deckcraft/main/docs/images/editor.png</image>
+    </screenshot>
+  </screenshots>
   <branding>
     <color type="primary" scheme_preference="light">#ffc9a8</color>
     <color type="primary" scheme_preference="dark">#b8471f</color>