diff --git a/documentation/PROJECT__AE_Obj_Field_Editor_New.md b/documentation/PROJECT__AE_Obj_Field_Editor_New.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7b99ee2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/documentation/PROJECT__AE_Obj_Field_Editor_New.md
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+# Project: AE Obj Field Editor — `_new` Rewrite
+
+**Status:** 🟡 Planning
+**Priority:** Medium — quality-of-life primitive, no event deadline attached
+**Created:** 2026-06-16
+**Last Updated:** 2026-06-16
+**Related:** `BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md`, `AE__Naming_Conventions.md`
+
+---
+
+## Background
+
+`src/lib/elements/element_ae_obj_field_editor.svelte` is the generic inline
+field editor: given `object_type` + `object_id` + `field_name` + `current_value`,
+it renders a "click pencil → edit one field → Save" UI and PATCHes just that
+field via `api.update_ae_obj()`. It's used in 8 call sites today (session_view,
+presenter_view, location_view, person_view, device list, presentation list,
+location list, leads manage tab).
+
+This component already went through one rename cycle — it was originally built
+as `element_ae_obj_field_editor_v3.svelte` (replacing an older CRUD v1/v2
+pattern), then renamed to drop the `_v3` suffix once it became canonical. That
+migration (build new → migrate callers one at a time → delete old → drop
+suffix) worked well and is the template for this project.
+
+**Review findings (2026-06-16)** — see `REFERENCE__Common_Agent_Mistakes.md`
+context and the chat log for full detail:
+
+1. **Built entirely on Skeleton UI classes** (`btn-icon`, `variant-soft-*`,
+   `variant-filled-*`, `.input`/`.select`/`.textarea`/`.checkbox`, `badge`).
+   Conflicts with the stated Tailwind v4 + Flowbite/ShadCN direction. This is
+   the highest-leverage place to do that swap — fix once in `elements/`,
+   every call site benefits.
+2. **`object_reload` prop is dead.** Declared, defaults to `true`, commented
+   "SWR pattern" — never read in the script. Every call site compensates by
+   hand-rolling identical `on_success={() => events_func.load_ae_obj_id__*(...)}`
+   boilerplate. Either implement it for real or remove it and document
+   `on_success` as the actual refresh mechanism.
+3. **Datetime fields need manual format conversion at every call site, only
+   on the way in, never on the way out.** Confirmed in `session_view.svelte`:
+   callers must pre-convert with `to_datetime_local(...)` before passing
+   `current_value` because the component does no normalization between the
+   stored datetime string and `<input type="datetime-local">`'s expected
+   format. On save, the native datetime-local string goes straight to the
+   PATCH body with no reverse conversion. Works today because the backend is
+   forgiving, but the contract is leaky.
+4. **Select-binding type mismatch is a latent landmine.** `Object.entries()`
+   always yields string `val`s for `<option value>`. Today's usages
+   (`event_location_id`, `poc_person_id`) are string IDs already, so it's
+   invisible — but a true numeric/boolean enum field would break the
+   optimistic-clear check (`current_value === draft_value`, strict equality),
+   leaving the field stuck on the optimistic value.
+5. **Missing field types**: no `email` (no native keyboard/validation), no
+   `url`/`tel`. Original design intent explicitly wanted email support.
+6. **`current_value`/`draft_value` typed `any`** — no compile-time safety.
+   Svelte 5 supports generics (`<script generics="T">`); this primitive
+   should use them.
+7. **Minor a11y/polish gaps**: invisible edit-trigger button stays
+   tab-focusable when `$ae_loc.edit_mode` is off; icon-only Save/Cancel
+   buttons lack `aria-label`; error message is tooltip-only (`title` attr,
+   not visible/announced); no Escape-to-cancel; no autofocus on entering
+   edit mode.
+8. **Coarse-store cost (not a bug, just a known tradeoff)**: reads
+   `$ae_loc.edit_mode` directly in the template. Fine in isolation, but this
+   component is instantiated per-row in list tables, so any unrelated
+   `$ae_loc` write re-renders every instance on the page. Not chasing this
+   now — noting it in case a list ever feels janky.
+
+What's *not* broken and should be preserved as-is: the optimistic-display
+state machine (`has_optimistic` / `draft_value` / clearing once `current_value`
+catches up) is already hardened — it went through a real bug-fix round
+(layout shift, bindable crash, optimistic display) and works correctly for
+every field type in production use today.
+
+---
+
+## Goals
+
+1. **Near drop-in replacement.** Same prop contract (names, types, defaults)
+   wherever possible, so migrating a call site is an import swap plus maybe
+   one or two new optional props — not a rewrite of the call site.
+2. **Don't let "drop-in" block real fixes.** Where the old contract is part
+   of the problem (e.g. `object_reload` doing nothing, datetime conversion
+   being the caller's job), change it — call sites get updated during
+   migration anyway, so this is the moment to fix it properly rather than
+   carry the leak forward.
+3. **Run both versions in parallel during migration.** The old file stays in
+   place and fully working until every call site has migrated and been
+   verified. No "migrate and pray" — verify each call site, then move to the
+   next.
+4. **One canonical "_new" rewrite.** Per project naming convention going
+   forward: when rewriting an existing thing, the in-progress replacement is
+   named `_new` (not `_v2`/`_v4`/etc.) regardless of how many older
+   versioned files may have existed historically for other components. There
+   should only ever be one "new version of whatever we're working on" at a
+   time. Once migration is complete, drop the `_new` suffix and delete the
+   old file — exactly as was done for the previous `_v3` → (no suffix) rename.
+
+---
+
+## Non-Goals
+
+- Multi-field / batch editing in one widget — out of scope, this stays a
+  single-field editor by design.
+- JSON sub-field editing (`cfg_json.some_key`) — not a supported field_type
+  today, not adding it here either.
+- Changing the underlying `api.update_ae_obj()` PATCH semantics.
+
+---
+
+## New Component: `element_ae_obj_field_editor_new.svelte`
+
+### Prop contract changes from the original
+
+| Prop | Change | Why |
+|---|---|---|
+| `object_reload` | **Removed.** | Never implemented; `on_success` is and remains the real refresh hook. Removing rather than silently leaving a dead, misleading prop. |
+| `field_type` | **Add** `'email'` \| `'url'` \| `'tel'`. | Explicitly wanted in the original design, never added. |
+| `current_value` / `draft_value` | **Typed via generic** (`<script generics="T">`) instead of `any`. | Compile-time safety for callers; this is meant to be used consistently project-wide. |
+| Datetime conversion | **Owned by the component**, both directions (stored format ↔ `datetime-local`/`date` input format). | Removes the `to_datetime_local(...)` boilerplate currently required at every datetime call site, and fixes the missing reverse conversion on save. |
+| Select value coercion | **Coerce `draft_value` back to `typeof current_value`** after a select change (or compare via `String()` in the optimistic-clear check). | Prevents the stuck-optimistic-state landmine for any future numeric/boolean enum field. |
+| Everything else (`object_type`, `object_id`, `field_name`, `allow_null`, `select_options`, `edit_label`, `display_block`, `display_absolute_edit`, `placeholder`, `class_li`, `textarea_rows`, `log_lvl`, `on_success`, `on_error`, `children`) | **Unchanged.** | Drop-in for every call site that doesn't use `object_reload`. |
+
+### Styling
+
+Rebuilt on Tailwind v4 utility classes + Flowbite, matching whatever the
+current non-Skeleton convention is elsewhere in the app (check a recently
+touched component, e.g. the Pres Mgmt Config page, for the current baseline
+look). No Skeleton classes (`btn-icon`, `variant-*`, `.input`/`.select`/etc.)
+in the new file.
+
+### Polish fixed opportunistically while rewriting
+
+- `aria-label` on icon-only Save/Cancel/edit-trigger buttons.
+- `tabindex="-1"` on the edit-trigger button when invisible (`$ae_loc.edit_mode`
+  off), so it's not in the tab order while non-interactive.
+- Visible inline error text (not just a `title` tooltip) when `patch_status === 'error'`.
+- Escape key cancels edit mode (mirrors existing Enter-to-save on text/number).
+- Autofocus the input when entering edit mode.
+
+---
+
+## Migration Plan
+
+1. **Build `element_ae_obj_field_editor_new.svelte`** in `src/lib/elements/`,
+   alongside the existing file. Keep the old file completely untouched and
+   working during this phase.
+2. **Smoke-test in isolation** — add it to `src/routes/testing/ae_obj_field_editor/+page.svelte`
+   (the existing test playground for the old component) alongside the old
+   one, covering every `field_type` including the new `email`/`url`/`tel`.
+3. **Migrate call sites one at a time**, in this order (simplest/lowest-risk
+   first, datetime-heavy ones last since they exercise the riskiest contract
+   change):
+   - `src/routes/core/person_view.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/device/device/ae_comp__event_device_obj_li.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/locations/ae_comp__event_location_obj_li.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/location/[event_location_id]/location_view.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_presentation_obj_li.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_tab__manage.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/presenter/[presenter_id]/presenter_view.svelte`
+   - `src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/session/[session_id]/session_view.svelte`
+     (has the datetime fields — migrate last, drop the `to_datetime_local(...)`
+     wrapper at the call site once the component owns that conversion)
+4. **Per call site:** swap the import, remove any now-unnecessary
+   `object_reload` usage (there is none today — confirmed dead) and any
+   manual datetime pre-conversion, run `npx svelte-check`, visually verify
+   the field in the running app (view mode, edit mode, save, optimistic
+   display, error path).
+5. **Once all 8 call sites + the test playground are migrated and verified**:
+   delete `element_ae_obj_field_editor.svelte` (move to `~/tmp/agents_trash`,
+   never `rm`), rename `element_ae_obj_field_editor_new.svelte` →
+   `element_ae_obj_field_editor.svelte`, update the now-stale import paths
+   left by the rename, run `npx svelte-check` one final time.
+6. **Update docs**: `AE__Naming_Conventions.md` if a "_new" rewrite
+   convention note belongs there, `BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md` /
+   `REFERENCE__Common_Agent_Mistakes.md` if anything generalizable came out
+   of the datetime/select-coercion fixes, and mark this doc complete.
+
+Both files coexist for the full duration of steps 1–4. Nothing is deleted
+until every consumer is migrated and verified.
+
+---
+
+## Open Questions
+
+- None blocking the start of step 1. Revisit field-by-field styling choices
+  (e.g. exact Tailwind/Flowbite input classes) against whatever the most
+  recently styled form in the app is using, since Skeleton phase-out is
+  ongoing and conventions may still be settling.
+
+---
+
+## Naming Convention Note (for future rewrites like this)
+
+Going forward, an in-progress full rewrite of an existing component/module
+is named `_new` regardless of how many historically-versioned files
+(`_v1`/`_v2`/`_v3`/etc.) may exist elsewhere in the codebase for unrelated
+components. There should be at most one "new version of the thing we're
+currently rewriting" in flight at a time. Once migration completes, the
+suffix is dropped and the old file is deleted — there is no permanent `_new`
+file left behind, just like there's no permanent `_v3` file left behind from
+the previous round of this same component.
diff --git a/documentation/README__Docs_Index.md b/documentation/README__Docs_Index.md
index 9e8359a6..a37b9c8f 100644
--- a/documentation/README__Docs_Index.md
+++ b/documentation/README__Docs_Index.md
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ Use this file as the routing map for project documentation.
 - `documentation/PROJECT__IDAA_Stores_Svelte5_Migration_2026.md`
 - `documentation/PROJECT__AE_Events_PressMgmt_Config_Cleanup.md`
 - `documentation/PROJECT__AE_Site_Passcode_Security.md`
+- `documentation/PROJECT__AE_Obj_Field_Editor_New.md`
 
 ## 6) Active Proposals
 
diff --git a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
index 02d0d61c..a923d5cd 100644
--- a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
+++ b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ Axonius DC (June 9) is done — the show happened and the badge layout work that
 
 ---
 
+## 🚧 AE Obj Field Editor — `_new` Rewrite (planning, 2026-06-16)
+
+`element_ae_obj_field_editor.svelte` is getting a parallel-run rewrite: Skeleton UI → Tailwind/Flowbite, removes the dead `object_reload` prop, fixes datetime format conversion (currently the caller's job, one-directional), fixes a latent select-binding type-coercion landmine, adds `email`/`url`/`tel` field types, adds generics for `current_value`/`draft_value`. Both versions run side by side until all 8 call sites are migrated and verified; see `PROJECT__AE_Obj_Field_Editor_New.md` for the full plan and migration order. Not started yet — no code written.
+
+---
+
 ## 🚧 V3 CRUD Migration (Surgical Cleanup)
 Finalizing the 100% adoption of V3 Standard endpoints and retirement of legacy wrappers.
 
diff --git a/src/lib/elements/element_ae_obj_field_editor_new.svelte b/src/lib/elements/element_ae_obj_field_editor_new.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45a042c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/elements/element_ae_obj_field_editor_new.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,534 @@
+<!--
+    ELEMENT: AE Obj Field Editor — NEW VERSION (scaffold, not yet wired up)
+    ========================================================================
+    Full plan / rationale: documentation/PROJECT__AE_Obj_Field_Editor_New.md
+    Original (still the live, working version — do not touch it yet):
+    src/lib/elements/element_ae_obj_field_editor.svelte
+
+    This file starts from the original's logic. The optimistic-update state
+    machine (is_editing / draft_value / has_optimistic / display_value) is
+    already hardened in production (see commit c3ec0f88e) — copy it forward
+    as-is. Do not redesign it unless you find an actual bug; it is NOT part
+    of this rewrite's scope.
+
+    MINI HOW-TO — work the TODOs below top to bottom. Each one maps to the
+    matching numbered item in the project doc's "New Component" section,
+    which has the full "why". Check them off here as you go so the next
+    person picking this up can see progress at a glance.
+
+    [ ] 1. Generics — `current_value`/`draft_value` are typed `T` already
+           below via the `generics="T"` script attribute. Confirm nothing
+           inside the script still needs an `any` cast once you fill in #4/#5.
+    [ ] 2. field_type — 'email' | 'url' | 'tel' are added to the union below.
+           Edit-mode branches for them are stubbed in the markup — they're
+           currently copy-pasted from the 'text' branch with the right
+           `type=` attribute, which is all they strictly need. Confirm that's
+           still true once you've picked real input styling (#6).
+    [ ] 3. object_reload — already removed from Props. If you copy any more
+           logic over from the original, double check it doesn't reference
+           object_reload anywhere (it was dead code — on_success is and
+           remains the real cache-refresh hook for every caller).
+    [ ] 4. Datetime conversion — THE BIG ONE. The original makes every caller
+           pre-convert current_value with a `to_datetime_local()` helper
+           before passing it in, and never converts anything back on save.
+           This component should own both directions instead. Fill in
+           `to_input_value()` / `from_input_value()` below — they're called
+           at the two right spots already (computing draft_value, and right
+           before the PATCH body is built in handle_patch). Once this works,
+           the `to_datetime_local(...)` call at each date/datetime call site
+           goes away during migration (see project doc migration plan).
+    [ ] 5. Select value coercion — fill in `coerce_select_value()` below and
+           wire it into the <select> onchange. Today `Object.entries()`
+           always produces string option values, so a select bound to a
+           non-string field (number/boolean enum) would get draft_value
+           stuck out of sync with current_value forever (strict `===` in the
+           optimistic-clear $effect never resolves). No real-world field hits
+           this today (current select usages are all string IDs), but fix it
+           here since it's a one-line landmine waiting for the next one.
+    [ ] 6. Styling — replace every Skeleton UI class in this file (search for
+           "btn-icon", "variant-", ".input"/".select"/".textarea"/".checkbox",
+           "badge") with Tailwind v4 + Flowbite equivalents. Check a recently
+           styled form (e.g. the Pres Mgmt Config page,
+           src/routes/events/[event_id]/(pres_mgmt)/pres_mgmt/config/+page.svelte)
+           for the current house style before inventing new classes.
+    [ ] 7. Accessibility polish:
+           - aria-label on the icon-only edit-trigger / Save / Cancel buttons
+           - tabindex="-1" on the edit-trigger button when it's invisible
+             (mirrors the existing class:invisible logic)
+           - visible inline error text when patch_status === 'error', not
+             just the title="" tooltip it has today
+           - Escape key cancels edit mode (mirrors the existing Enter-to-save
+             on text/number/email/url/tel)
+           - autofocus the input element when entering edit mode
+
+    When every box above is checked:
+    1. Add this component to the test playground
+       (src/routes/testing/ae_obj_field_editor/+page.svelte) alongside the
+       old one and exercise every field_type, including the 3 new ones.
+    2. Start the migration plan in the project doc — call sites, in order,
+       one at a time, verifying with `npx svelte-check` + a visual check
+       after each one.
+    3. Once everything is migrated: delete the old file (to
+       ~/tmp/agents_trash, never rm), rename this file to drop "_new", fix
+       any leftover import paths, run `npx svelte-check` one last time, mark
+       the project doc complete.
+-->
+<script lang="ts" generics="T">
+// import { browser } from '$app/environment';
+import { untrack } from 'svelte';
+import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
+import {
+    Check,
+    CircleAlert,
+    LoaderCircle,
+    Save,
+    SquarePen,
+    Trash2,
+    X
+} from '@lucide/svelte';
+import type { key_val } from '$lib/stores/ae_stores';
+import { ae_api, ae_loc } from '$lib/stores/ae_stores';
+import { api } from '$lib/api/api';
+import AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap from '$lib/elements/element_editor_tiptap.svelte';
+
+interface Props {
+    // Core Identifiers
+    id?: string;
+    object_type: string;
+    object_id: string;
+    field_name: string;
+
+    // Value Handling
+    current_value: T;
+    field_type?:
+        | 'text'
+        | 'textarea'
+        | 'select'
+        | 'tiptap'
+        | 'checkbox'
+        | 'date'
+        | 'datetime'
+        | 'number'
+        | 'email' // TODO #2 — new
+        | 'url' // TODO #2 — new
+        | 'tel'; // TODO #2 — new
+    allow_null?: boolean;
+
+    // Select Options
+    select_options?: key_val; // { value: label }
+
+    // UI Configuration
+    edit_label?: string;
+    display_block?: boolean;
+    display_absolute_edit?: boolean;
+    placeholder?: string;
+    class_li?: string;
+    textarea_rows?: number;
+
+    // NOTE: object_reload was intentionally removed (TODO #3) — it was
+    // declared in the original component but never read anywhere. Every
+    // caller already does its own cache refresh via on_success; that stays
+    // the real mechanism here too.
+
+    // Behavior
+    log_lvl?: number;
+
+    // Callbacks
+    on_success?: (data: any) => void;
+    on_error?: (error: any) => void;
+
+    // Snippets
+    children?: Snippet;
+}
+
+let {
+    id,
+    object_type,
+    object_id,
+    field_name,
+    current_value = $bindable(),
+    field_type = 'text',
+    allow_null = false,
+    select_options = {},
+    edit_label = 'Edit Field',
+    display_block = false,
+    display_absolute_edit = false,
+    placeholder = 'Enter value...',
+    class_li = '',
+    textarea_rows = 4,
+    log_lvl = 0,
+    on_success,
+    on_error,
+    children
+}: Props = $props();
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+// TODO #4 — Datetime conversion (and any other future format-mismatch
+// field types). Both directions live here so the component owns the
+// contract instead of every call site re-implementing it.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+// to_input_value: stored value (T, e.g. whatever ae_obj.start_datetime
+// looks like coming back from the API) -> what the native <input> wants
+// (e.g. "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm" for type="datetime-local", "YYYY-MM-DD" for
+// type="date"). Called wherever draft_value is set from current_value.
+function to_input_value(value: T, type: typeof field_type): any {
+    // PLACEHOLDER — passes through unchanged. This is the same gap the
+    // original component has today (callers currently do this conversion
+    // themselves before passing current_value in — see
+    // session_view.svelte's to_datetime_local() calls). Implement real
+    // date/datetime conversion here; leave everything else passed through.
+    return value;
+}
+
+// from_input_value: reverse of the above — native <input> value -> the
+// format the backend expects in the PATCH body. Called in handle_patch()
+// right before building the `fields` payload.
+function from_input_value(value: any, type: typeof field_type): any {
+    // PLACEHOLDER — see to_input_value() above.
+    return value;
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+// TODO #5 — Select value coercion. Native <select> values are always
+// strings. Coerce back to the real type (based on the shape of
+// current_value) so equality checks against current_value still work
+// once liveQuery/Dexie returns the saved (typed) value.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+function coerce_select_value(raw: string, reference: T): any {
+    // PLACEHOLDER — naive starting point, refine against real field types
+    // as they come up:
+    if (typeof reference === 'number') return Number(raw);
+    if (typeof reference === 'boolean') return raw === 'true';
+    return raw;
+}
+
+// Internal State
+let is_editing = $state(false);
+let patch_status = $state<'idle' | 'processing' | 'success' | 'error'>('idle');
+let error_message = $state('');
+// svelte-check warns "state_referenced_locally" here because field_type is
+// only captured at mount time — that's intentional (field_type isn't meant
+// to change on a live instance; the $effect below re-derives draft_value
+// from current_value on every relevant change anyway). Benign, not a TODO.
+let draft_value = $state(to_input_value(current_value, field_type));
+
+// WHY: Optimistic display. After a successful PATCH, liveQuery may not fire
+// immediately (or at all if on_success doesn't trigger a Dexie refresh). We
+// show draft_value as the display until current_value catches up from
+// liveQuery.
+// KEEP — hardened in production (commit c3ec0f88e). Don't modify casually.
+let has_optimistic = $state(false);
+let display_value = $derived(has_optimistic ? draft_value : current_value);
+
+// Sync draft with display_value when not editing.
+// Suppress reset if optimistic is active — we already have the right value.
+// KEEP — same note as above.
+$effect(() => {
+    if (!is_editing) {
+        untrack(() => {
+            if (!has_optimistic) {
+                draft_value = to_input_value(current_value, field_type);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+});
+
+// Clear optimistic once liveQuery catches up (current_value matches what we
+// saved). NOTE: with TODO #4 done, current_value and draft_value may be in
+// different formats (stored vs. input format) for date/datetime — this
+// comparison will need to go through from_input_value(draft_value) or
+// to_input_value(current_value) to compare like-for-like. Revisit once #4
+// is implemented; this is currently a straight copy of the original logic.
+$effect(() => {
+    if (has_optimistic && current_value === draft_value) {
+        has_optimistic = false;
+    }
+});
+
+async function handle_patch() {
+    if (log_lvl)
+        console.log(
+            `AE Field Editor (new): Patching ${object_type}.${field_name}...`
+        );
+
+    patch_status = 'processing';
+    error_message = '';
+
+    try {
+        const result = await api.update_ae_obj({
+            api_cfg: $ae_api,
+            obj_type: object_type,
+            obj_id: object_id,
+            fields: {
+                // TODO #4 — should be from_input_value(draft_value, field_type)
+                // once that's implemented, so date/datetime values get
+                // converted back to the backend's expected format.
+                [field_name]: draft_value
+            },
+            log_lvl
+        });
+
+        if (result) {
+            patch_status = 'success';
+            has_optimistic = true; // show draft_value immediately; cleared when liveQuery catches up
+            if (on_success) on_success(result);
+
+            // Close edit mode after a brief success indicator
+            setTimeout(() => {
+                if (patch_status === 'success') {
+                    patch_status = 'idle';
+                    is_editing = false;
+                }
+            }, 1000);
+        } else {
+            throw new Error('No data returned from update.');
+        }
+    } catch (error: any) {
+        console.error('AE Field Editor (new): Patch failed.', error);
+        patch_status = 'error';
+        error_message = error?.message || 'Update failed.';
+        if (on_error) on_error(error);
+    }
+}
+
+function cancel_edit() {
+    has_optimistic = false;
+    draft_value = to_input_value(current_value, field_type);
+    is_editing = false;
+    patch_status = 'idle';
+    error_message = '';
+}
+
+function toggle_edit() {
+    if (is_editing) cancel_edit();
+    else {
+        has_optimistic = false; // clear optimistic so draft syncs from current prop
+        draft_value = to_input_value(current_value, field_type);
+        is_editing = true;
+        // TODO #7 — autofocus the input once it's mounted. Easiest path is
+        // probably a small `use:` action or an `$effect` that calls
+        // .focus() on a bound element reference once is_editing flips true.
+    }
+}
+
+// TODO #7 — Escape-to-cancel. Add an onkeydown handler (probably on the
+// edit_wrapper div, capturing) that calls cancel_edit() on `Escape`,
+// alongside the existing per-input Enter-to-save handlers below.
+</script>
+
+<!--
+    TODO #6 — every Skeleton UI class below (btn-icon, variant-*, badge,
+    .input/.select/.textarea/.checkbox) needs replacing with Tailwind v4 +
+    Flowbite equivalents. Markup structure/logic otherwise carried forward
+    from the original as-is.
+-->
+<div
+    class="ae_field_editor group relative {class_li}"
+    class:block={display_block}
+    class:inline-block={!display_block}>
+    <!-- VIEW MODE -->
+    <div class="view_wrapper flex items-center gap-2" class:hidden={is_editing}>
+        <div class="content_render grow">
+            {#if children}
+                {@render children()}
+            {:else if field_type === 'checkbox'}
+                <span
+                    class="badge {display_value
+                        ? 'variant-filled-success'
+                        : 'variant-soft-surface'}">
+                    {display_value ? 'True' : 'False'}
+                </span>
+            {:else if field_type === 'tiptap'}
+                <div class="prose dark:prose-invert max-w-none">
+                    <!-- eslint-disable-next-line svelte/no-at-html-tags -->
+                    {@html display_value ||
+                        '<span class="opacity-50 italic">Empty</span>'}
+                </div>
+            {:else}
+                <span class:opacity-50={!display_value}>
+                    {display_value || 'Not set'}
+                </span>
+            {/if}
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- Edit Trigger (Visible on Hover or Edit Mode) -->
+        <!-- WHY: Always render to avoid layout shift when edit_mode toggles.
+             Use invisible (visibility:hidden, preserves space) when edit_mode is off. -->
+        <!-- TODO #7 — add aria-label, and tabindex="-1" when invisible. -->
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            class="btn-icon btn-icon-sm variant-soft-warning opacity-20 transition-opacity hover:opacity-100"
+            class:invisible={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+            class:pointer-events-none={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+            onclick={toggle_edit}
+            title="Edit {field_name}">
+            <SquarePen size="14" />
+        </button>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- EDIT MODE -->
+    {#if is_editing}
+        <div
+            class="edit_wrapper border-warning-500/50 bg-surface-50-950 z-50 rounded-lg border-2 border-dashed p-3 shadow-xl"
+            class:absolute={display_absolute_edit}
+            class:top-0={display_absolute_edit}
+            class:left-0={display_absolute_edit}
+            class:w-full={display_absolute_edit}>
+            <header class="mb-2 flex items-center justify-between">
+                <span
+                    class="text-xs font-bold tracking-wider uppercase opacity-60"
+                    >{edit_label || field_name}</span>
+                <div class="flex gap-1">
+                    <!-- TODO #7 — aria-label="Cancel" -->
+                    <button
+                        type="button"
+                        class="btn-icon btn-icon-sm variant-soft-surface"
+                        onclick={cancel_edit}
+                        disabled={patch_status === 'processing'}>
+                        <X size="14" />
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </header>
+
+            <div class="input_container mb-3">
+                {#if field_type === 'textarea'}
+                    <textarea
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        rows={textarea_rows}
+                        class="textarea"
+                        {placeholder}></textarea>
+                {:else if field_type === 'select'}
+                    <!-- TODO #5 — wire coerce_select_value() into an onchange
+                         handler here instead of relying on bind:value alone. -->
+                    <select bind:value={draft_value} class="select">
+                        {#if allow_null}
+                            <option value={null}>-- None --</option>
+                        {/if}
+                        {#each Object.entries(select_options) as [val, label] (val)}
+                            <option value={val}>{label}</option>
+                        {/each}
+                    </select>
+                {:else if field_type === 'checkbox'}
+                    <label class="flex items-center space-x-2">
+                        <input
+                            type="checkbox"
+                            bind:checked={draft_value}
+                            class="checkbox" />
+                        <span>{draft_value ? 'True' : 'False'}</span>
+                    </label>
+                {:else if field_type === 'tiptap'}
+                    <AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap
+                        bind:content={draft_value}
+                        {placeholder} />
+                {:else if field_type === 'date'}
+                    <!-- TODO #4 — value here should already be in
+                         "YYYY-MM-DD" form via to_input_value(). -->
+                    <input type="date" bind:value={draft_value} class="input" />
+                {:else if field_type === 'datetime'}
+                    <!-- TODO #4 — value here should already be in
+                         "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm" form via to_input_value(). -->
+                    <input
+                        type="datetime-local"
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        class="input" />
+                {:else if field_type === 'number'}
+                    <input
+                        type="number"
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        class="input"
+                        {placeholder}
+                        onkeydown={(e) =>
+                            e.key === 'Enter' && handle_patch()} />
+                {:else if field_type === 'email'}
+                    <!-- TODO #2 — confirm this needs nothing more than the
+                         type= swap once styling (#6) is done. -->
+                    <input
+                        type="email"
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        class="input"
+                        {placeholder}
+                        onkeydown={(e) =>
+                            e.key === 'Enter' && handle_patch()} />
+                {:else if field_type === 'url'}
+                    <input
+                        type="url"
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        class="input"
+                        {placeholder}
+                        onkeydown={(e) =>
+                            e.key === 'Enter' && handle_patch()} />
+                {:else if field_type === 'tel'}
+                    <input
+                        type="tel"
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        class="input"
+                        {placeholder}
+                        onkeydown={(e) =>
+                            e.key === 'Enter' && handle_patch()} />
+                {:else}
+                    <input
+                        type="text"
+                        bind:value={draft_value}
+                        class="input"
+                        {placeholder}
+                        onkeydown={(e) =>
+                            e.key === 'Enter' && handle_patch()} />
+                {/if}
+            </div>
+
+            <footer class="flex items-center justify-between">
+                <div class="status_indicator text-xs">
+                    {#if patch_status === 'processing'}
+                        <span class="text-primary-500 flex items-center gap-1">
+                            <LoaderCircle size="12" class="animate-spin" /> Saving...
+                        </span>
+                    {:else if patch_status === 'success'}
+                        <span class="text-success-500 flex items-center gap-1">
+                            <Check size="12" /> Saved
+                        </span>
+                    {:else if patch_status === 'error'}
+                        <!-- TODO #7 — show error_message visibly here too,
+                             not just via the title="" tooltip below. -->
+                        <span
+                            class="text-error-500 flex items-center gap-1"
+                            title={error_message}>
+                            <CircleAlert size="12" /> Error
+                        </span>
+                    {/if}
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="actions flex gap-2">
+                    {#if allow_null && draft_value !== null}
+                        <button
+                            type="button"
+                            class="btn btn-sm variant-soft-error"
+                            onclick={() => (draft_value = null)}>
+                            Set Null
+                        </button>
+                    {/if}
+                    <button
+                        type="button"
+                        class="btn btn-sm variant-filled-primary"
+                        onclick={handle_patch}
+                        disabled={patch_status === 'processing' ||
+                            draft_value === display_value}>
+                        {#if patch_status === 'processing'}
+                            <LoaderCircle size="14" class="mr-1 animate-spin" />
+                        {:else}
+                            <Save size="14" class="mr-1" />
+                        {/if}
+                        Save
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </footer>
+        </div>
+    {/if}
+</div>
+
+<style>
+/* Add any specialized transitions if needed */
+.ae_field_editor :global(.btn-icon-sm) {
+    width: 24px;
+    height: 24px;
+}
+</style>