fix: group selection drop-downs recreation and repopulation logic (#3424)

* fix: include in-memory templates in group participant character list

_getCharacterList() only fetched user templates from the /api/presets/templates
endpoint. When a character was just created in the Character tab, the async
auto-save to the templates API might not have completed by the time the Group
tab loaded its participant dropdown — causing newly created characters to be
missing.

Now also merges the in-memory userTemplates array from presets.js as a
fallback. These are updated as soon as the async save completes (via the
loadUserTemplates callback), so they bridge the gap between character creation
and API persistence.

Fixes #3207

* fix: optimistic userTemplates update on character save

Update the in-memory userTemplates array immediately when saveCustomPreset()
succeeds, before the fire-and-forget templates API POST completes. This
bridges the timing gap where _getCharacterList() calls getUserTemplates()
and gets stale data because loadUserTemplates() hasn't been triggered yet.

* test: verify group participant dropdown merges in-memory templates

Source-level guards for the #3207 fix:
- group.js imports and calls getUserTemplates() to merge in-memory templates
- presets.js exports getUserTemplates and does optimistic in-memory update on save

5 tests ensuring the fix can't be silently reverted.

* fix: generate client-side id for optimistic update, return shallow copy from getUserTemplates

1. New characters now get a 'user-<hex>' id immediately on save, matching
   the server's convention (uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]). Previously the id was ''
   which the merge guard in _getCharacterList filtered as falsy.

2. getUserTemplates() now returns [...userTemplates] so callers cannot
   accidentally mutate module state.

* fix(group.js): fix selection drop-downs behavior

- add an identifier to the selection drop-downs
  based on what type it is.
- fix behavior of continuously adding a row
  when a user clicks the "Group" tab button.
- fix behavior of not repopulating existing
  selection drop-downs whenever a user
  clicks the "Group" tab button.

* fix(#3207): remove duplicate of latest persona

- fix the duplication of the latest persona
  or character being shown in selection
  drop-downs.
- remove unnecessary blocks of code in
  `_getCharacterList()`
- add functionality to show error toast if saving
  a preset template/character fails.
- add functionality to revert optimistic update
  of preset template/character if saving fails.

* chore(group.js,preset.js): fix test & format errors

remove trailing whitespaces in lines 230 and 232
in /static/group.js

add back the expected syntax from
tests/test_group_character_dropdown.py

* fix(presets.js,group.js): fix runtime errors

as stated in a comment by @alteixeira20,
runtime errors exist for the applied fixes.

fixes:

- missing ending `]`
  querySelectorAll("select.preset-input[data-selection-type=character")
  in `group.js`
- spelling error in `modelSelection.vale` in `group.js`
- fix the ordering logic error in optimistic rollback where `Object.assign` is called first before the clone happens in `saveCustomPreset` in `presets.js`.
- add tests for the cloning logic bug with the same format as previous tests by checking the order of LOC in `tests/test_group_character_dropdown.py`.

---------

Co-authored-by: michaelxer <michaelxer@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Alexandre Teixeira <111787685+alteixeira20@users.noreply.github.com>

static/js/group.js

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import markdownModule from './markdown.js';
 import chatRenderer from './chatRenderer.js';
 import spinnerModule from './spinner.js';
 import { providerLogo } from './providers.js';
-import { PROMPT_TEMPLATES, getAllPresets } from './presets.js';
+import { PROMPT_TEMPLATES, getUserTemplates } from './presets.js';
 import { sortModelObjects } from './modelSort.js';
 import Storage from './storage.js';
 
@@ -89,12 +89,16 @@ function _initGroupTab() {
 
     const charSel = document.createElement('select');
     charSel.className = 'preset-input';
+    // add an identifier that this is a character selection
+    charSel.dataset.selectionType = "character"
     charSel.style.cssText = 'font-size:11px;flex:1;height:26px;';
     charSel.innerHTML = '<option value="">Empty...</option>' +
       characters.map(c => '<option value="' + c.id + '">' + uiModule.esc(c.name) + '</option>').join('');
 
     const modelSel = document.createElement('select');
     modelSel.className = 'preset-input';
+    // add an identifier that this is a model selection
+    modelSel.dataset.selectionType = "model"
     modelSel.style.cssText = 'font-size:11px;flex:1;height:26px;';
     modelSel.innerHTML = '<option value="">Model…</option>' +
       models.map(m => '<option value="' + m.mid + '">' + uiModule.esc(m.display) + '</option>').join('');
@@ -196,15 +200,67 @@ function _initGroupTab() {
   });
 
   const groupTab = document.querySelector('.preset-tab[data-chartab="group"]');
+  // whenever a user navigates to the Group tab
   if (groupTab) groupTab.addEventListener('click', () => {
     _modelsCache = null;
     if (startBtn) startBtn.textContent = 'Start Group';
     _loadGroupPresets();
-    if (_groupParticipants.length === 0) {
+
+    const isGroupTabUnInitialized =
+      _groupParticipants.length === 0 && participantsEl.children.length === 0;
+
+    if (isGroupTabUnInitialized) {
       setTimeout(() => addBtn.click(), 100);
+    } else {
+      // queue this asynchronously since repopulating the selection drop-downs
+      // do not need to be visible right away; it can be safely delayed before
+      // the next event loop
+      queueMicrotask(() => {
+        repopulateExistingSelections();
+      })
     }
   });
 
+  async function repopulateExistingSelections() {
+    const EMPTY = "";
+
+    const characterSelections = participantsEl.querySelectorAll("select.preset-input[data-selection-type=character]");
+    const modelSelections = participantsEl.querySelectorAll("select.preset-input[data-selection-type=model]");
+
+    if (characterSelections.length !== 0) {
+      const characters = await _getCharacterList();
+
+      characterSelections.forEach((characterSelection) => {
+
+        const chosenCharacter = characterSelection.value;
+        const isChosenCharacterExisting = chosenCharacter !== EMPTY
+          && characters.findIndex((char) => char.id === chosenCharacter) !== -1;
+
+        characterSelection.innerHTML = '<option value="">Empty...</option>' +
+          characters.map(c => '<option value="' + c.id + '">' + uiModule.esc(c.name) + '</option>').join('');
+        if (isChosenCharacterExisting) {
+          characterSelection.value = chosenCharacter;
+        }
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (modelSelections.length !== 0) {
+      const models = await _getModels();
+
+      modelSelections.forEach((modelSelection) => {
+        const chosenModel = modelSelection.value;
+        const isChosenModelExisting = chosenModel !== EMPTY
+          && models.findIndex((model) => model.mid === chosenModel) !== -1;
+
+        modelSelection.innerHTML = '<option value="">Model…</option>' +
+          models.map(m => '<option value="' + m.mid + '">' + uiModule.esc(m.display) + '</option>').join('');
+        if (isChosenModelExisting) {
+          modelSelection.value = chosenModel;
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
   // Load and render saved group presets
   async function _loadGroupPresets() {
     try {
@@ -288,17 +344,6 @@ async function _getCharacterList() {
   const chars = PROMPT_TEMPLATES.filter(t => t.isCharacter).map(t => ({
     id: t.id, name: t.name, prompt: t.prompt,
   }));
-  // User-created characters from presets
-  try {
-    const allPresets = getAllPresets();
-    if (allPresets && allPresets.custom && allPresets.custom.character_name) {
-      chars.push({
-        id: 'custom',
-        name: allPresets.custom.character_name,
-        prompt: allPresets.custom.system_prompt || allPresets.custom.prompt || '',
-      });
-    }
-  } catch (e) {}
   // Load user templates and wait for them before returning.
   // The endpoint returns a JSON array directly (not {templates:[...]}).
   // All user templates are personas by definition — no isCharacter filter needed.
@@ -306,12 +351,26 @@ async function _getCharacterList() {
     const r = await fetch(API_BASE + '/api/presets/templates', { credentials: 'same-origin' });
     const data = await r.json();
     const templates = Array.isArray(data) ? data : (data.templates || []);
+
     templates.forEach(t => {
       if (t.id && t.name && !chars.find(c => c.id === t.id)) {
         chars.push({ id: t.id, name: t.name, prompt: t.system_prompt || t.prompt || '' });
       }
     });
   } catch (e) {}
+
+  // Also merge in-memory templates from presets.js — these may include
+  // newly created characters whose async save-to-API hasn't completed yet.
+  const memTemplates = getUserTemplates();
+
+  if (Array.isArray(memTemplates)) {
+    memTemplates.forEach(t => {
+      if (t.id && t.name && !chars.find(c => c.id === t.id)) {
+        chars.push({ id: t.id, name: t.name, prompt: t.system_prompt || t.prompt || '' });
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
   return chars;
 }
 

static/js/presets.js

@@ -830,15 +830,48 @@ export async function saveCustomPreset(showToast, showError) {
       const _selVal = document.getElementById('char-template-select')?.value || '';
       const isBuiltinPreset = PROMPT_TEMPLATES.some(t => t.isPreset && (t.name === name || t.name === _selVal));
       const saveName = isBuiltinPreset ? null : (name || null);
+
       if (saveName) {
-        fetch(`${API_BASE}/api/presets/templates`, {
+        const _existing = userTemplates.find(t => t.name === saveName);
-          method: 'POST',
+        let clone;
+        const _entry = {
+          id: _existing && _existing.id
+            || 'user-' + Math.random().toString(16).slice(2, 10),
+          name: saveName,
+          // use ?? since it's more semantic for null-coalescing
+          system_prompt: system_prompt ?? '',
+          temperature: config.temperature,
+          max_tokens: config.max_tokens,
+        }
+        const ENDPOINT = `${API_BASE}/api/presets/templates`;
+
+        // Optimistically update the in-memory templates list by @michaelxer
+        if (_existing) {
+          // slow but works for now
+          clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(_existing));
+
+          Object.assign(_existing, _entry);
+        } else {
+          userTemplates.push(_entry);
+        }
+
+        fetch(ENDPOINT, {
+          method: "POST",
           headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-          body: JSON.stringify({
+          body: JSON.stringify(_entry)
-            id: (userTemplates.find(t => t.name === saveName) || {}).id || '',
+        }).then((r) => {
-            name: saveName, system_prompt, temperature: config.temperature, max_tokens: config.max_tokens,
+          if (r.ok) {
-          }),
+            loadUserTemplates();
-        }).then(r => { if (r.ok) loadUserTemplates(); }).catch(() => {});
+          }
+        }).catch(() => {
+          if (clone) {
+            Object.assign(_existing, clone);
+          }
+
+          if (showError) {
+            showError(_isInjectStart ? "Something went wrong. Saved prompt has been undone." : "Something went wrong. Saved persona has been undone.");
+          }
+        });
       }
 
       if (showToast) {
@@ -883,6 +916,13 @@ export function getAllPresets() {
   return presets;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Get the in-memory user templates list (may be stale; call loadUserTemplates first if freshness matters).
+ */
+export function getUserTemplates() {
+  return [...userTemplates];
+}
+
 /**
  * Get the character name (if set)
  */
@@ -1099,6 +1139,7 @@ const presetsModule = {
   getSelectedPreset,
   getPreset,
   getAllPresets,
+  getUserTemplates,
   getCharacterName,
   onSessionSwitch,
   isPersistentChat,

tests/test_group_character_dropdown.py

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+"""Issue #3207 — newly created characters missing from Group participant dropdown.
+
+The fix has two parts:
+1. group.js _getCharacterList() merges in-memory userTemplates from presets.js
+   as a fallback (covers the gap while the async templates API save is in-flight).
+2. presets.js saveCustomPreset() does an optimistic in-memory update of
+   userTemplates immediately on success (bridges the timing race where
+   loadUserTemplates hasn't been triggered yet).
+
+These tests assert the source patterns exist so they can't be silently removed.
+"""
+from pathlib import Path
+
+GROUP_JS = Path("static/js/group.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+PRESETS_JS = Path("static/js/presets.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+# --- group.js: in-memory template merge in _getCharacterList ---
+
+def test_group_imports_getUserTemplates():
+    """group.js must import getUserTemplates from presets.js."""
+    assert "getUserTemplates" in GROUP_JS
+    assert "from './presets.js'" in GROUP_JS or 'from "./presets.js"' in GROUP_JS
+
+
+def test_group_merges_in_memory_templates():
+    """_getCharacterList must call getUserTemplates() and merge results."""
+    assert "getUserTemplates()" in GROUP_JS
+    # The merge loop should check for duplicates by id
+    assert "!chars.find(c => c.id === t.id)" in GROUP_JS
+
+
+# --- presets.js: optimistic in-memory update on save ---
+
+def test_presets_exports_getUserTemplates():
+    """getUserTemplates must be exported from presets.js."""
+    assert "export function getUserTemplates()" in PRESETS_JS
+
+
+def test_presets_optimistic_update_on_save():
+    """saveCustomPreset must update userTemplates in-memory before the async POST."""
+    # Find the optimistic update block
+    assert "Optimistically update the in-memory templates list" in PRESETS_JS
+    # Must push to userTemplates for new entries
+    assert "userTemplates.push(_entry)" in PRESETS_JS
+    # Must Object.assign for existing entries
+    assert "Object.assign(_existing, _entry)" in PRESETS_JS
+
+
+def test_presets_getUserTemplates_returns_array():
+    """getUserTemplates should return a shallow copy of userTemplates."""
+    assert "return [...userTemplates]" in PRESETS_JS
+
+
+def test_presets_optimistic_id_not_empty():
+    """Optimistic update must generate a client-side id for new characters (not empty string)."""
+    # The id generation uses 'user-' prefix matching server's uuid convention
+    assert "user-' + Math.random" in PRESETS_JS
+    # Must NOT use empty string as fallback (that was the bug)
+    assert "(_existing && _existing.id) || ''" not in PRESETS_JS
+
+def test_presets_clone_happens_before_mutation():
+    """Rollback snapshot must be taken before Object.assign mutates _existing."""
+    clone_idx = PRESETS_JS.find("clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(_existing))")
+    assign_idx = PRESETS_JS.find("Object.assign(_existing, _entry)")
+
+    assert clone_idx != -1
+    assert assign_idx != -1
+    assert clone_idx < assign_idx
+
+def test_presets_rollbak_restores_from_clone():
+    """Failed save must restore the original object from the pre-mutation clone."""
+    assert "if (clone)" in PRESETS_JS
+    assert "Object.assign(_existing, clone)" in PRESETS_JS
+
+def test_presets_clone_is_deep_copy():
+    """Rollback snapshot must be a deep clone, not an alias."""
+    assert "clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(_existing))" in PRESETS_JS
+
+def test_presets_no_alias_clone():
+    """Prevent accidental rollback breakage via reference assignment."""
+    assert "clone = _existing" not in PRESETS_JS
+    assert "const clone = _existing" not in PRESETS_JS
+    assert "let clone = _existing" not in PRESETS_JS