feat: use .kc extension for new files, find both .kc and .FCStd

- get_cad_file_path() now generates .kc paths instead of .FCStd
- find_file_by_part_number() searches .kc first, falls back to .FCStd
- search_local_files() lists both .kc and .FCStd files

freecad/InitGui.py

@@ -35,9 +35,20 @@ class SiloWorkbench(FreeCADGui.Workbench):
         except Exception as e:
             FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"Could not register Silo origin: {e}\n")
 
+        # Silo origin toolbar — shown as an overlay on any context when the
+        # active document is Silo-tracked.  Registered as Unavailable so
+        # EditingContextResolver controls visibility via the overlay system.
+        self.silo_toolbar_commands = [
+            "Silo_Commit",
+            "Silo_Pull",
+            "Silo_Push",
+            "Separator",
+            "Silo_Info",
+            "Silo_BOM",
+        ]
+        self.appendToolbar("Silo Origin", self.silo_toolbar_commands, "Unavailable")
+
         # Silo menu provides admin/management commands.
-        # File operations (New/Open/Save) are handled by the standard File
-        # toolbar via the origin system -- no separate Silo toolbar needed.
         self.menu_commands = [
             "Silo_Info",
             "Silo_BOM",
@@ -68,6 +79,44 @@ class SiloWorkbench(FreeCADGui.Workbench):
 FreeCADGui.addWorkbench(SiloWorkbench())
 FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage("Silo workbench registered\n")
 
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Silo overlay context — adds "Silo Origin" toolbar to any active context
+# when the current document is Silo-tracked.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _register_silo_overlay():
+    """Register the Silo overlay after the Silo workbench has initialised."""
+
+    def _silo_overlay_match():
+        """Return True if the active document is Silo-tracked."""
+        try:
+            doc = FreeCAD.ActiveDocument
+            if not doc:
+                return False
+            from silo_origin import get_silo_origin
+
+            origin = get_silo_origin()
+            return origin.ownsDocument(doc)
+        except Exception:
+            return False
+
+    try:
+        FreeCADGui.registerEditingOverlay(
+            "silo",  # overlay id
+            ["Silo Origin"],  # toolbar names to append
+            _silo_overlay_match,  # match function
+        )
+    except Exception as e:
+        FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"Silo overlay registration failed: {e}\n")
+
+
+from PySide import QtCore as _QtCore
+
+_QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(2500, _register_silo_overlay)
+
+
 # Override the Start page with Silo-aware version (must happen before
 # the C++ StartLauncher fires at ~100ms after GUI init)
 try:
@@ -92,6 +141,4 @@ def _handle_startup_urls():
             handle_kindred_url(arg)
 
 
-from PySide import QtCore
-
-QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(500, _handle_startup_urls)
+_QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(500, _handle_startup_urls)

freecad/open_search.py

@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+"""Search-and-open widget for Kindred Create.
+
+Provides :class:`OpenItemWidget`, a plain ``QWidget`` that can be
+embedded in an MDI sub-window.  Searches both the Silo database and
+local CAD files, presenting results in a unified table.  Emits
+``item_selected`` when the user picks an item and ``cancelled`` when
+the user clicks Cancel.
+"""
+
+import FreeCAD
+from PySide import QtCore, QtWidgets
+
+
+class OpenItemWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
+    """Search-and-open widget for embedding in an MDI subwindow.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    client : SiloClient
+        Authenticated Silo API client instance.
+    search_local_fn : callable
+        Function that accepts a search term string and returns an
+        iterable of dicts with keys ``part_number``, ``description``,
+        ``path``, ``modified``.
+    parent : QWidget, optional
+        Parent widget.
+
+    Signals
+    -------
+    item_selected(dict)
+        Emitted when the user selects an item.  The dict contains
+        keys: *part_number*, *description*, *item_type*, *source*
+        (``"database"``, ``"local"``, or ``"both"``), *modified*,
+        and *path* (str or ``None``).
+    cancelled()
+        Emitted when the user clicks Cancel.
+    """
+
+    item_selected = QtCore.Signal(dict)
+    cancelled = QtCore.Signal()
+
+    def __init__(self, client, search_local_fn, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self._client = client
+        self._search_local = search_local_fn
+        self._results_data = []
+
+        self.setMinimumWidth(700)
+        self.setMinimumHeight(500)
+
+        self._build_ui()
+
+        # Debounced search timer (500 ms)
+        self._search_timer = QtCore.QTimer(self)
+        self._search_timer.setSingleShot(True)
+        self._search_timer.setInterval(500)
+        self._search_timer.timeout.connect(self._do_search)
+
+        # Populate on first display
+        QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(0, self._do_search)
+
+    # ---- UI construction ---------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _build_ui(self):
+        layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(self)
+        layout.setSpacing(8)
+
+        # Search row
+        self._search_input = QtWidgets.QLineEdit()
+        self._search_input.setPlaceholderText("Search by part number or description...")
+        self._search_input.textChanged.connect(self._on_search_changed)
+        layout.addWidget(self._search_input)
+
+        # Filter checkboxes
+        filter_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        self._db_checkbox = QtWidgets.QCheckBox("Database")
+        self._db_checkbox.setChecked(True)
+        self._local_checkbox = QtWidgets.QCheckBox("Local Files")
+        self._local_checkbox.setChecked(True)
+        self._db_checkbox.toggled.connect(self._on_filter_changed)
+        self._local_checkbox.toggled.connect(self._on_filter_changed)
+        filter_layout.addWidget(self._db_checkbox)
+        filter_layout.addWidget(self._local_checkbox)
+        filter_layout.addStretch()
+        layout.addLayout(filter_layout)
+
+        # Results table
+        self._results_table = QtWidgets.QTableWidget()
+        self._results_table.setColumnCount(5)
+        self._results_table.setHorizontalHeaderLabels(
+            ["Part Number", "Description", "Type", "Source", "Modified"]
+        )
+        self._results_table.setSelectionBehavior(QtWidgets.QAbstractItemView.SelectRows)
+        self._results_table.setSelectionMode(QtWidgets.QAbstractItemView.SingleSelection)
+        self._results_table.horizontalHeader().setStretchLastSection(True)
+        self._results_table.setEditTriggers(QtWidgets.QAbstractItemView.NoEditTriggers)
+        self._results_table.doubleClicked.connect(self._open_selected)
+        layout.addWidget(self._results_table, 1)
+
+        # Buttons
+        btn_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        btn_layout.addStretch()
+        open_btn = QtWidgets.QPushButton("Open")
+        open_btn.clicked.connect(self._open_selected)
+        cancel_btn = QtWidgets.QPushButton("Cancel")
+        cancel_btn.clicked.connect(self.cancelled.emit)
+        btn_layout.addWidget(open_btn)
+        btn_layout.addWidget(cancel_btn)
+        layout.addLayout(btn_layout)
+
+    # ---- Search logic ------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _on_search_changed(self, _text):
+        """Restart debounce timer on each keystroke."""
+        self._search_timer.start()
+
+    def _on_filter_changed(self, _checked):
+        """Re-run search immediately when filter checkboxes change."""
+        self._do_search()
+
+    def _do_search(self):
+        """Execute search against database and/or local files."""
+        search_term = self._search_input.text().strip()
+        self._results_data = []
+
+        if self._db_checkbox.isChecked():
+            try:
+                for item in self._client.list_items(search=search_term):
+                    self._results_data.append(
+                        {
+                            "part_number": item.get("part_number", ""),
+                            "description": item.get("description", ""),
+                            "item_type": item.get("item_type", ""),
+                            "source": "database",
+                            "modified": item.get("updated_at", "")[:10]
+                            if item.get("updated_at")
+                            else "",
+                            "path": None,
+                        }
+                    )
+            except Exception as e:
+                FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"DB search failed: {e}\n")
+
+        if self._local_checkbox.isChecked():
+            try:
+                for item in self._search_local(search_term):
+                    existing = next(
+                        (r for r in self._results_data if r["part_number"] == item["part_number"]),
+                        None,
+                    )
+                    if existing:
+                        existing["source"] = "both"
+                        existing["path"] = item.get("path")
+                    else:
+                        self._results_data.append(
+                            {
+                                "part_number": item.get("part_number", ""),
+                                "description": item.get("description", ""),
+                                "item_type": "",
+                                "source": "local",
+                                "modified": item.get("modified", "")[:10]
+                                if item.get("modified")
+                                else "",
+                                "path": item.get("path"),
+                            }
+                        )
+            except Exception as e:
+                FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"Local search failed: {e}\n")
+
+        self._populate_table()
+
+    def _populate_table(self):
+        """Refresh the results table from ``_results_data``."""
+        self._results_table.setRowCount(len(self._results_data))
+        for row, data in enumerate(self._results_data):
+            self._results_table.setItem(row, 0, QtWidgets.QTableWidgetItem(data["part_number"]))
+            self._results_table.setItem(row, 1, QtWidgets.QTableWidgetItem(data["description"]))
+            self._results_table.setItem(row, 2, QtWidgets.QTableWidgetItem(data["item_type"]))
+            self._results_table.setItem(row, 3, QtWidgets.QTableWidgetItem(data["source"]))
+            self._results_table.setItem(row, 4, QtWidgets.QTableWidgetItem(data["modified"]))
+        self._results_table.resizeColumnsToContents()
+
+    # ---- Selection ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _open_selected(self):
+        """Emit ``item_selected`` with the data from the selected row."""
+        selected = self._results_table.selectedItems()
+        if not selected:
+            return
+        row = selected[0].row()
+        self.item_selected.emit(dict(self._results_data[row]))

freecad/schema_form.py

@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-"""Schema-driven new-item dialog for Kindred Create.
+"""Schema-driven new-item form for Kindred Create.
 
 Fetches schema data from the Silo REST API and builds a dynamic Qt form
 that mirrors the React ``CreateItemPane`` — category picker, property
 fields grouped by domain, live part number preview, and project tagging.
+
+The primary widget is :class:`SchemaFormWidget` (a plain ``QWidget``)
+which can be embedded in an MDI tab, dock panel, or wrapped in the
+backward-compatible :class:`SchemaFormDialog` modal.
 """
 
 import json
@@ -211,30 +215,29 @@ def _read_field(widget: QtWidgets.QWidget, prop_def: dict):
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Main form dialog
+# Embeddable form widget
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
-    """Schema-driven new-item dialog.
+class SchemaFormWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget):
+    """Schema-driven new-item form widget.
 
-    Fetches schema and property data from the Silo API, builds the form
-    dynamically, and returns the creation result on accept.
+    A plain ``QWidget`` that can be embedded in an MDI subwindow, dock
+    panel, or dialog.  Emits :pyqt:`item_created` on successful creation
+    and :pyqt:`cancelled` when the user clicks Cancel.
     """
 
+    item_created = QtCore.Signal(dict)
+    cancelled = QtCore.Signal()
+
     def __init__(self, client, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
         self._client = client
-        self._result = None
         self._prop_widgets = {}  # {key: (widget, prop_def)}
         self._prop_groups = []  # list of _CollapsibleGroup to clear on category change
         self._categories = {}
         self._projects = []
 
-        self.setWindowTitle("New Item")
-        self.setMinimumSize(600, 500)
-        self.resize(680, 700)
-
         self._load_schema_data()
         self._build_ui()
 
@@ -307,8 +310,18 @@ class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         root = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(self)
         root.setSpacing(8)
 
+        # Inline error label (hidden by default)
+        self._error_label = QtWidgets.QLabel()
+        self._error_label.setStyleSheet(
+            "background-color: #f38ba8; color: #1e1e2e; "
+            "padding: 8px; border-radius: 4px; font-weight: bold;"
+        )
+        self._error_label.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignCenter)
+        self._error_label.hide()
+        root.addWidget(self._error_label)
+
         # Part number preview banner
-        self._pn_label = QtWidgets.QLabel("Part Number: —")
+        self._pn_label = QtWidgets.QLabel("Part Number: \u2014")
         self._pn_label.setStyleSheet("font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; padding: 8px;")
         self._pn_label.setAlignment(QtCore.Qt.AlignCenter)
         root.addWidget(self._pn_label)
@@ -401,7 +414,7 @@ class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         btn_layout.addStretch()
 
         self._cancel_btn = QtWidgets.QPushButton("Cancel")
-        self._cancel_btn.clicked.connect(self.reject)
+        self._cancel_btn.clicked.connect(self.cancelled.emit)
         btn_layout.addWidget(self._cancel_btn)
 
         self._create_btn = QtWidgets.QPushButton("Create")
@@ -506,8 +519,10 @@ class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         pn = self._generate_pn_preview(category)
         if pn:
             self._pn_label.setText(f"Part Number: {pn}")
+            self.setWindowTitle(f"New: {pn}")
         else:
             self._pn_label.setText(f"Part Number: {category}-????")
+            self.setWindowTitle(f"New: {category}-????")
 
     # -- submission ---------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -550,10 +565,12 @@ class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
 
     def _on_create(self):
         """Validate and submit the form."""
+        self._error_label.hide()
         data = self._collect_form_data()
 
         if not data["category"]:
-            QtWidgets.QMessageBox.warning(self, "Validation", "Category is required.")
+            self._error_label.setText("Category is required.")
+            self._error_label.show()
             return
 
         try:
@@ -563,11 +580,47 @@ class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
                 data["description"],
                 projects=data["projects"],
             )
-            self._result = result
-            self._result["_form_data"] = data
-            self.accept()
+            result["_form_data"] = data
+            self.item_created.emit(result)
         except Exception as e:
-            QtWidgets.QMessageBox.critical(self, "Error", f"Failed to create item:\n{e}")
+            self._error_label.setText(f"Failed to create item: {e}")
+            self._error_label.show()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Modal dialog wrapper (backward compatibility)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class SchemaFormDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
+    """Modal dialog wrapper around :class:`SchemaFormWidget`.
+
+    Provides the same ``exec_and_create()`` API as the original
+    implementation for callers that still need blocking modal behavior.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, client, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self.setWindowTitle("New Item")
+        self.setMinimumSize(600, 500)
+        self.resize(680, 700)
+        self._result = None
+
+        layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(self)
+        layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self._form = SchemaFormWidget(client, parent=self)
+        self._form.item_created.connect(self._on_created)
+        self._form.cancelled.connect(self.reject)
+        layout.addWidget(self._form)
+
+    @property
+    def _desc_edit(self):
+        """Expose description field for pre-fill by callers."""
+        return self._form._desc_edit
+
+    def _on_created(self, result):
+        self._result = result
+        self.accept()
 
     def exec_and_create(self):
         """Show dialog and return the creation result, or None if cancelled."""

freecad/silo_commands.py

@@ -206,41 +206,45 @@ def get_projects_dir() -> Path:
 def get_cad_file_path(part_number: str, description: str = "") -> Path:
     """Generate canonical file path for a CAD file.
 
-    Path format: ~/projects/cad/{category_code}_{category_name}/{part_number}_{description}.FCStd
+    Path format: ~/projects/cad/{category_code}_{category_name}/{part_number}_{description}.kc
     """
     category, _ = parse_part_number(part_number)
     folder_name = get_category_folder_name(category)
 
     if description:
-        filename = f"{part_number}_{sanitize_filename(description)}.FCStd"
+        filename = f"{part_number}_{sanitize_filename(description)}.kc"
     else:
-        filename = f"{part_number}.FCStd"
+        filename = f"{part_number}.kc"
 
     return get_projects_dir() / "cad" / folder_name / filename
 
 
 def find_file_by_part_number(part_number: str) -> Optional[Path]:
-    """Find existing CAD file for a part number."""
+    """Find existing CAD file for a part number. Prefers .kc over .FCStd."""
     category, _ = parse_part_number(part_number)
     folder_name = get_category_folder_name(category)
     cad_dir = get_projects_dir() / "cad" / folder_name
 
-    if cad_dir.exists():
-        matches = list(cad_dir.glob(f"{part_number}*.FCStd"))
-        if matches:
-            return matches[0]
-
-    base_cad_dir = get_projects_dir() / "cad"
-    if base_cad_dir.exists():
-        for subdir in base_cad_dir.iterdir():
-            if subdir.is_dir():
-                matches = list(subdir.glob(f"{part_number}*.FCStd"))
-                if matches:
-                    return matches[0]
+    for search_dir in _search_dirs(cad_dir):
+        for ext in ("*.kc", "*.FCStd"):
+            matches = list(search_dir.glob(f"{part_number}{ext[1:]}"))
+            if matches:
+                return matches[0]
 
     return None
 
 
+def _search_dirs(category_dir: Path):
+    """Yield the category dir, then all sibling dirs under cad/."""
+    if category_dir.exists():
+        yield category_dir
+    base_cad_dir = category_dir.parent
+    if base_cad_dir.exists():
+        for subdir in base_cad_dir.iterdir():
+            if subdir.is_dir() and subdir != category_dir:
+                yield subdir
+
+
 def search_local_files(search_term: str = "", category_filter: str = "") -> list:
     """Search for CAD files in local cad directory."""
     results = []
@@ -260,7 +264,9 @@ def search_local_files(search_term: str = "", category_filter: str = "") -> list
         if category_filter and category_code.upper() != category_filter.upper():
             continue
 
-        for fcstd_file in category_dir.glob("*.FCStd"):
+        for fcstd_file in sorted(
+            list(category_dir.glob("*.kc")) + list(category_dir.glob("*.FCStd"))
+        ):
             filename = fcstd_file.stem
             parts = filename.split("_", 1)
             part_number = parts[0]
@@ -594,149 +600,45 @@ class Silo_Open:
         }
 
     def Activated(self):
-        from PySide import QtCore, QtGui
+        from PySide import QtGui, QtWidgets
 
-        dialog = QtGui.QDialog()
-        dialog.setWindowTitle("Silo - Open Item")
-        dialog.setMinimumWidth(700)
-        dialog.setMinimumHeight(500)
+        from open_search import OpenItemWidget
 
-        layout = QtGui.QVBoxLayout(dialog)
+        mw = FreeCADGui.getMainWindow()
+        mdi = mw.findChild(QtWidgets.QMdiArea)
+        if not mdi:
+            return
 
-        # Search row
-        search_layout = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
-        search_input = QtGui.QLineEdit()
-        search_input.setPlaceholderText("Search by part number or description...")
-        search_layout.addWidget(search_input)
-        layout.addLayout(search_layout)
+        widget = OpenItemWidget(_client, search_local_files)
 
-        # Filters
-        filter_layout = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
-        db_checkbox = QtGui.QCheckBox("Database")
-        db_checkbox.setChecked(True)
-        local_checkbox = QtGui.QCheckBox("Local Files")
-        local_checkbox.setChecked(True)
-        filter_layout.addWidget(db_checkbox)
-        filter_layout.addWidget(local_checkbox)
-        filter_layout.addStretch()
-        layout.addLayout(filter_layout)
+        sw = mdi.addSubWindow(widget)
+        sw.setWindowTitle("Open Item")
+        sw.setWindowIcon(QtGui.QIcon(_icon("open")))
+        sw.show()
+        mdi.setActiveSubWindow(sw)
 
-        # Results table
-        results_table = QtGui.QTableWidget()
-        results_table.setColumnCount(5)
-        results_table.setHorizontalHeaderLabels(
-            ["Part Number", "Description", "Type", "Source", "Modified"]
-        )
-        results_table.setSelectionBehavior(QtGui.QAbstractItemView.SelectRows)
-        results_table.setSelectionMode(QtGui.QAbstractItemView.SingleSelection)
-        results_table.horizontalHeader().setStretchLastSection(True)
-        results_table.setEditTriggers(QtGui.QAbstractItemView.NoEditTriggers)
-        layout.addWidget(results_table)
-
-        results_data = []
-
-        def do_search():
-            nonlocal results_data
-            search_term = search_input.text().strip()
-            results_data = []
-            results_table.setRowCount(0)
-
-            if db_checkbox.isChecked():
-                try:
-                    for item in _client.list_items(search=search_term):
-                        results_data.append(
-                            {
-                                "part_number": item.get("part_number", ""),
-                                "description": item.get("description", ""),
-                                "item_type": item.get("item_type", ""),
-                                "source": "database",
-                                "modified": item.get("updated_at", "")[:10]
-                                if item.get("updated_at")
-                                else "",
-                                "path": None,
-                            }
-                        )
-                except Exception as e:
-                    FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"DB search failed: {e}\n")
-
-            if local_checkbox.isChecked():
-                try:
-                    for item in search_local_files(search_term):
-                        existing = next(
-                            (r for r in results_data if r["part_number"] == item["part_number"]),
-                            None,
-                        )
-                        if existing:
-                            existing["source"] = "both"
-                            existing["path"] = item.get("path")
-                        else:
-                            results_data.append(
-                                {
-                                    "part_number": item.get("part_number", ""),
-                                    "description": item.get("description", ""),
-                                    "item_type": "",
-                                    "source": "local",
-                                    "modified": item.get("modified", "")[:10]
-                                    if item.get("modified")
-                                    else "",
-                                    "path": item.get("path"),
-                                }
-                            )
-                except Exception as e:
-                    FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"Local search failed: {e}\n")
-
-            results_table.setRowCount(len(results_data))
-            for row, data in enumerate(results_data):
-                results_table.setItem(row, 0, QtGui.QTableWidgetItem(data["part_number"]))
-                results_table.setItem(row, 1, QtGui.QTableWidgetItem(data["description"]))
-                results_table.setItem(row, 2, QtGui.QTableWidgetItem(data["item_type"]))
-                results_table.setItem(row, 3, QtGui.QTableWidgetItem(data["source"]))
-                results_table.setItem(row, 4, QtGui.QTableWidgetItem(data["modified"]))
-            results_table.resizeColumnsToContents()
-
-        _open_after_close = [None]
-
-        def open_selected():
-            selected = results_table.selectedItems()
-            if not selected:
-                return
-            row = selected[0].row()
-            _open_after_close[0] = dict(results_data[row])
-            dialog.accept()
-
-        search_input.textChanged.connect(lambda: do_search())
-        results_table.doubleClicked.connect(open_selected)
-
-        # Buttons
-        btn_layout = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
-        open_btn = QtGui.QPushButton("Open")
-        open_btn.clicked.connect(open_selected)
-        cancel_btn = QtGui.QPushButton("Cancel")
-        cancel_btn.clicked.connect(dialog.reject)
-        btn_layout.addStretch()
-        btn_layout.addWidget(open_btn)
-        btn_layout.addWidget(cancel_btn)
-        layout.addLayout(btn_layout)
-
-        do_search()
-        dialog.exec_()
-
-        # Open the document AFTER the dialog has fully closed so that
-        # heavy document loads (especially Assembly files) don't run
-        # inside the dialog's nested event loop, which can cause crashes.
-        data = _open_after_close[0]
-        if data is not None:
+        def _on_selected(data):
+            sw.close()
             if data.get("path"):
                 FreeCAD.openDocument(data["path"])
             else:
                 _sync.open_item(data["part_number"])
 
+        widget.item_selected.connect(_on_selected)
+        widget.cancelled.connect(sw.close)
+
     def IsActive(self):
         return True
 
 
 class Silo_New:
-    """Create new item with part number."""
+    """Create new item with part number.
+
+    Opens a pre-document MDI tab containing the schema-driven creation
+    form.  Each invocation opens a new tab so multiple items can be
+    prepared in parallel.  On successful creation the tab closes and
+    the real document opens in its place.
+    """
 
     def GetResources(self):
         return {
@@ -746,53 +648,60 @@ class Silo_New:
         }
 
     def Activated(self):
-        from PySide import QtGui
+        from PySide import QtGui, QtWidgets
 
-        from schema_form import SchemaFormDialog
+        from schema_form import SchemaFormWidget
 
-        sel = FreeCADGui.Selection.getSelection()
-
-        dlg = SchemaFormDialog(_client, parent=FreeCADGui.getMainWindow())
-
-        # Pre-fill description from selected object
-        if sel:
-            dlg._desc_edit.setText(sel[0].Label)
-
-        result = dlg.exec_and_create()
-        if result is None:
+        mw = FreeCADGui.getMainWindow()
+        mdi = mw.findChild(QtWidgets.QMdiArea)
+        if not mdi:
             return
 
-        part_number = result["part_number"]
-        form_data = result.get("_form_data", {})
-        selected_projects = form_data.get("projects") or []
+        # Each invocation creates a new pre-document tab
+        form = SchemaFormWidget(_client)
 
-        try:
-            if sel:
-                # Tag selected object
-                obj = sel[0]
-                set_silo_properties(
-                    obj,
-                    {
-                        "SiloItemId": result.get("id", ""),
-                        "SiloPartNumber": part_number,
-                        "SiloRevision": 1,
-                    },
-                )
-                obj.Label = part_number
-                _sync.save_to_canonical_path(FreeCAD.ActiveDocument, force_rename=True)
-            else:
-                # Create new document
-                _sync.create_document_for_item(result, save=True)
+        # Pre-fill description from current selection
+        sel = FreeCADGui.Selection.getSelection()
+        if sel:
+            form._desc_edit.setText(sel[0].Label)
 
-            msg = f"Part number: {part_number}"
-            if selected_projects:
-                msg += f"\nTagged with projects: {', '.join(selected_projects)}"
+        # Add as MDI subwindow (appears as a tab alongside documents)
+        sw = mdi.addSubWindow(form)
+        sw.setWindowTitle("New Item")
+        sw.setWindowIcon(QtGui.QIcon(_icon("new")))
+        sw.show()
+        mdi.setActiveSubWindow(sw)
 
-            FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"Created: {part_number}\n")
-            QtGui.QMessageBox.information(None, "Item Created", msg)
+        # On creation: process result, close tab, open real document
+        def _on_created(result):
+            part_number = result["part_number"]
 
-        except Exception as e:
-            QtGui.QMessageBox.critical(None, "Error", str(e))
+            try:
+                sel_now = FreeCADGui.Selection.getSelection()
+                if sel_now:
+                    obj = sel_now[0]
+                    set_silo_properties(
+                        obj,
+                        {
+                            "SiloItemId": result.get("id", ""),
+                            "SiloPartNumber": part_number,
+                            "SiloRevision": 1,
+                        },
+                    )
+                    obj.Label = part_number
+                    _sync.save_to_canonical_path(FreeCAD.ActiveDocument, force_rename=True)
+                else:
+                    _sync.create_document_for_item(result, save=True)
+
+                FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"Created: {part_number}\n")
+            except Exception as e:
+                FreeCAD.Console.PrintError(f"Failed to process created item: {e}\n")
+
+            # Close the pre-document tab
+            sw.close()
+
+        form.item_created.connect(_on_created)
+        form.cancelled.connect(sw.close)
 
     def IsActive(self):
         return _server_mode == "normal"
@@ -1062,6 +971,65 @@ class SiloPullDialog:
         return None
 
 
+def _pull_dependencies(part_number, progress_callback=None):
+    """Recursively pull all BOM children that have files on the server.
+
+    Returns list of (part_number, dest_path) tuples for successfully pulled files.
+    Skips children that already exist locally.
+    """
+    pulled = []
+    try:
+        bom = _client.get_bom(part_number)
+    except Exception as e:
+        FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"Could not fetch BOM for {part_number}: {e}\n")
+        return pulled
+
+    for entry in bom:
+        child_pn = entry.get("child_part_number")
+        if not child_pn:
+            continue
+
+        # Skip if already exists locally
+        existing = find_file_by_part_number(child_pn)
+        if existing and existing.exists():
+            FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"  {child_pn}: already exists at {existing}\n")
+            # Still recurse — this child may itself be an assembly with missing deps
+            _pull_dependencies(child_pn, progress_callback)
+            continue
+
+        # Check if this child has a file on the server
+        try:
+            latest = _client.latest_file_revision(child_pn)
+        except Exception:
+            latest = None
+
+        if not latest or not latest.get("file_key"):
+            FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"  {child_pn}: no file on server, skipping\n")
+            continue
+
+        # Determine destination path
+        child_desc = entry.get("child_description", "")
+        dest_path = get_cad_file_path(child_pn, child_desc)
+        dest_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        rev_num = latest["revision_number"]
+        FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"  Pulling {child_pn} rev {rev_num}...\n")
+
+        try:
+            ok = _client._download_file(
+                child_pn, rev_num, str(dest_path), progress_callback=progress_callback
+            )
+            if ok:
+                pulled.append((child_pn, dest_path))
+        except Exception as e:
+            FreeCAD.Console.PrintWarning(f"  Failed to pull {child_pn}: {e}\n")
+
+        # Recurse into child (it may be a sub-assembly)
+        _pull_dependencies(child_pn, progress_callback)
+
+    return pulled
+
+
 class Silo_Pull:
     """Download from MinIO / sync from database."""
 
@@ -1189,6 +1157,17 @@ class Silo_Pull:
 
         FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"Pulled revision {rev_num} of {part_number}\n")
 
+        # Pull assembly dependencies before opening so links resolve
+        if item.get("item_type") == "assembly":
+            progress.setLabelText(f"Pulling dependencies for {part_number}...")
+            progress.setValue(0)
+            progress.show()
+            dep_pulled = _pull_dependencies(part_number, progress_callback=on_progress)
+            progress.setValue(100)
+            progress.close()
+            if dep_pulled:
+                FreeCAD.Console.PrintMessage(f"Pulled {len(dep_pulled)} dependency file(s)\n")
+
         # Close existing document if open, then reopen
         if doc and doc.FileName == str(dest_path):
             FreeCAD.closeDocument(doc.Name)