# EXALCO project — persistent rules

## Never lose user-uploaded images
The user drops their own photos into `<x-import ... image-slot>` placeholders. These drops are saved by the slot's `id`. When editing ANY page:
- NEVER change or remove an existing `image-slot` `id` — keep each slot's `id` byte-for-byte identical across edits, or the user's dropped photo is lost.
- Do NOT replace a filled/existing `image-slot` with a static graphic or another element unless the user explicitly asks for that specific slot.
- When adding new imagery, add a NEW slot with a new unique `id`; leave all other slots untouched.
- Prefer targeted `dc_html_str_replace` / `dc_js_str_replace` over full `dc_write` rewrites so slot ids and surrounding markup stay stable.