diff --git a/objects/o_main/Step_1.gml b/objects/o_main/Step_1.gml
index 1c462f6ca..50dcc5abe 100644
--- a/objects/o_main/Step_1.gml
+++ b/objects/o_main/Step_1.gml
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ _HOVERING_ELEMENT = noone;
 					
 				else if(UPDATE & RENDER_TYPE.partial)
 					Render(true);
-					
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/scripts/file_functions/file_functions.gml b/scripts/file_functions/file_functions.gml
index d82ca6b1f..2f04a91ca 100644
--- a/scripts/file_functions/file_functions.gml
+++ b/scripts/file_functions/file_functions.gml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function get_open_filenames_compat(ext, sel) { #region
 function file_get_modify_s(path) { #region
 	INLINE
 	
-	if(!file_exists(path)) return 0;
+	if(!file_exists_empty(path)) return 0;
 	
 	var _y = file_datetime_modified_year(path);
 	var _m = file_datetime_modified_month(path);
diff --git a/scripts/node_data/node_data.gml b/scripts/node_data/node_data.gml
index 77d0db58f..4fe66c2dc 100644
--- a/scripts/node_data/node_data.gml
+++ b/scripts/node_data/node_data.gml
@@ -659,8 +659,6 @@ function Node(_x, _y, _group = noone) : __Node_Base(_x, _y) constructor {
 		if(cached_manual || (use_cache == CACHE_USE.auto && recoverCache())) {
 			render_cached = true;
 			
-			// if(_updateRender) setRenderStatus(true);
-				
 		} else {
 			render_cached = false;
 			getInputs(frame);
@@ -668,8 +666,6 @@ function Node(_x, _y, _group = noone) : __Node_Base(_x, _y) constructor {
 			LOG_BLOCK_START();
 			LOG_IF(global.FLAG.render == 1, $">>>>>>>>>> DoUpdate called from {INAME} <<<<<<<<<<");
 			
-			// if(_updateRender) setRenderStatus(true);
-			
 			var sBase = surface_get_target();	
 			
 			try {
diff --git a/scripts/node_image/node_image.gml b/scripts/node_image/node_image.gml
index 71cac01b5..abe1ed85f 100644
--- a/scripts/node_image/node_image.gml
+++ b/scripts/node_image/node_image.gml
@@ -38,11 +38,10 @@ function Node_Image(_x, _y, _group = noone) : Node(_x, _y, _group) constructor {
 	
 	attribute_surface_depth();
 	
-	first_update = false;
-	spr          = [];
-	path_current = [];
-	edit_time    = 0;
+	spr       = noone;
+	edit_time = 0;
 	
+	attributes.check_splice = true;
 	attributes.file_checker = true;
 	array_push(attributeEditors, [ "File Watcher", function() { return attributes.file_checker; }, 
 		new checkBox(function() { attributes.file_checker = !attributes.file_checker; }) ]);
@@ -59,7 +58,8 @@ function Node_Image(_x, _y, _group = noone) : Node(_x, _y, _group) constructor {
 	} #endregion
 	
 	function createSprite(path) { #region
-		if(path == -1) return noone;
+		if(!file_exists(path)) 
+			return noone;
 		
 		var ext   = string_lower(filename_ext(path));
 		var _name = filename_name_only(path);
@@ -70,35 +70,26 @@ function Node_Image(_x, _y, _group = noone) : Node(_x, _y, _group) constructor {
 			case ".jpeg":
 			case ".gif":
 				setDisplayName(_name);
-				var spr = sprite_add(path, 1, false, false, 0, 0);
+				var _spr = sprite_add(path, 1, false, false, 0, 0);
 				
-				if(spr == -1) {
+				if(_spr == -1) {
 					noti_warning($"Image node: File not a valid image.");
 					break;
 				}
 				
-				edit_time = max(edit_time, file_get_modify_s(path));
-				return spr;
+				edit_time = file_get_modify_s(path);
+				return _spr;
 		}
 		
 		return noone;
 	} #endregion
 	
-	function updatePaths(path = path_current) { #region
-		if(array_empty(path_current)) first_update = true;
+	function updatePaths(path) { #region
 		
-		for( var i = 0, n = array_length(spr); i < n; i++ )
-			sprite_delete(spr[i]);
-		spr = [];
+		if(sprite_exists(spr))
+			sprite_delete(spr);
 		
-		if(!is_array(path)) path = [ path ];
-		
-		for( var i = 0, n = array_length(path); i < n; i++ ) {
-			path_current[i] = path_get(path[i]);
-			
-			var s = createSprite(path[i]);
-			if(s) array_push(spr, s);
-		}
+		spr = createSprite(path);
 	} #endregion
 	
 	insp1UpdateTooltip  = __txt("Refresh");
@@ -110,54 +101,42 @@ function Node_Image(_x, _y, _group = noone) : Node(_x, _y, _group) constructor {
 	} #endregion
 	
 	static step = function() { #region
-		if(attributes.file_checker)
-		for( var i = 0, n = array_length(path_current); i < n; i++ ) {
-			if(file_get_modify_s(path_current[i]) > edit_time) {
-				updatePaths();
-				triggerRender();
-				break;
-			}
+		var path = path_get(getInputData(0));
+		
+		if(!file_exists_empty(path)) return;
+		
+		if(attributes.file_checker && file_get_modify_s(path) > edit_time) {
+			updatePaths(path);
+			triggerRender();
 		}
 	} #endregion
 	
 	static update = function(frame = CURRENT_FRAME) { #region
+		
 		var path = path_get(getInputData(0));
 		var pad  = getInputData(1);
 		
 		outputs[| 1].setValue(path);
-		if(!array_equals(path_current, path))
-			updatePaths(path);
+		updatePaths(path);
 		
-		if(array_empty(spr)) return;
+		if(!sprite_exists(spr)) return;
 		
-		var _arr     = array_length(spr) > 1;
 		var _outsurf = outputs[| 0].getValue();
 		
-		if(!is_array(_outsurf)) _outsurf = [ _outsurf ];
+		var ww = sprite_get_width(spr)  + pad[0] + pad[2];
+		var hh = sprite_get_height(spr) + pad[1] + pad[3];
 		
-		for( var i = 0, n = array_length(spr); i < n; i++ ) {
-			var _spr = spr[i];
-			
-			if(!sprite_exists(_spr)) continue;
-			
-			var ww = sprite_get_width(_spr)  + pad[0] + pad[2];
-			var hh = sprite_get_height(_spr) + pad[1] + pad[3];
-			
-			var _surf = array_safe_get_fast(_outsurf, i);
-			    _surf = surface_verify(_surf, ww, hh, attrDepth());
-			
-			surface_set_shader(_surf, noone);
-				draw_sprite(_spr, 0, pad[2], pad[1]);
-			surface_reset_shader();
-			
-			_outsurf[i] = _surf;
-		}
+	    _outsurf = surface_verify(_outsurf, ww, hh, attrDepth());
 		
-		outputs[| 0].setValue(_arr? _outsurf : _outsurf[0]);
+		surface_set_shader(_outsurf, noone);
+			draw_sprite(spr, 0, pad[2], pad[1]);
+		surface_reset_shader();
+		
+		outputs[| 0].setValue(_outsurf);
 		
 		#region splice
-			if(!first_update) return;
-			first_update = false;
+			if(!attributes.check_splice) return;
+			attributes.check_splice = false;
 		
 			if(LOADING || APPENDING) return;
 			if(string_pos("strip", display_name) == 0) return;
@@ -168,8 +147,8 @@ function Node_Image(_x, _y, _group = noone) : Node(_x, _y, _group) constructor {
 		
 			if(amo == 0) return;
 			
-			var ww = sprite_get_width(spr[0]) / amo;
-			var hh = sprite_get_height(spr[0]);
+			var ww = sprite_get_width(spr) / amo;
+			var hh = sprite_get_height(spr);
 					
 			var _splice = nodeBuild("Node_Image_Sheet", x + w + 64, y);
 			_splice.inputs[| 0].setFrom(outputs[| 0], false);
diff --git a/scripts/panel_file_explorer/panel_file_explorer.gml b/scripts/panel_file_explorer/panel_file_explorer.gml
index 7e5635c28..73dfbe49f 100644
--- a/scripts/panel_file_explorer/panel_file_explorer.gml
+++ b/scripts/panel_file_explorer/panel_file_explorer.gml
@@ -185,14 +185,13 @@ function Panel_File_Explorer() : PanelContent() constructor {
 	contentPane = new scrollPane(w - padding - padding - cntPad * 2, h - padding - top_bar - cntPad * 2, function(_y, _m, _r) {
 		draw_clear_alpha(COLORS.panel_bg_clear, 0);
 		
-		if(frame_dragging) {
-			draw_sprite_stretched_points_clamp(THEME.ui_selection, 0, frame_drag_mx, frame_drag_my, _m[0], _m[1], COLORS._main_accent);
-			file_selectings = [];
-		}
+		if(frame_dragging) file_selectings = [];
 		
 		file_hovering   = noone;
 		var _h = drawDir(rootFile, 0, _y, contentPane.surface_w, _m);
 		
+		if(frame_dragging) draw_sprite_stretched_points_clamp(THEME.ui_selection, 0, frame_drag_mx, frame_drag_my, _m[0], _m[1], COLORS._main_accent);
+			
 		if(mouse_press(mb_left, pFOCUS)) {
 			if(file_hovering == noone) {
 				file_selectings = [];
@@ -221,11 +220,10 @@ function Panel_File_Explorer() : PanelContent() constructor {
 			}
 			
 			if(mouse_release(mb_left)) {
-				file_dragging = false;
-				
-				if(path_dragging != -1)
+				if(path_dragging != -1 && !pHOVER)
 					o_main.load_file_path(path_dragging);
-					
+				
+				file_dragging = false;	
 				path_dragging = -1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -260,6 +258,13 @@ function Panel_File_Explorer() : PanelContent() constructor {
 			var _ind = 0;
 			var _ppw = _pw;
 			
+			if(point_in_rectangle(_m[0], _m[1], _px, _py, _px + _pw, _py + _ph)) {
+				if(buttonInstant(THEME.button_hide, _px + _ppw - _ph, _py, _ph, _ph, _m, pFOCUS, pHOVER, "", THEME.path_open_20) == 2) {
+					setRoot(_dir.path);
+				}
+				_ppw -= _ph + ui(4);
+			}
+			
 			if(contentPane.hover && point_in_rectangle(_m[0], _m[1], _px, _py, _px + _ppw, _py + _ph)) {
 				file_hovering = _dir;
 				_ind = 3;
@@ -271,7 +276,7 @@ function Panel_File_Explorer() : PanelContent() constructor {
 				}
 			}
 			
-			draw_sprite_stretched(THEME.ui_panel_bg, _ind, _px, _py, _pw, _ph);
+			draw_sprite_stretched(THEME.ui_panel_bg, _ind, _px, _py, _ppw, _ph);
 			
 			var _tx = _px + ui(2);
 			var _ty = _py + ui(2);
diff --git a/scripts/path_parser/path_parser.gml b/scripts/path_parser/path_parser.gml
index 1b6123eb2..aaaf0bba5 100644
--- a/scripts/path_parser/path_parser.gml
+++ b/scripts/path_parser/path_parser.gml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ function __path_get(path) {
 	if(file_exists_empty(local_path))
 		return local_path;
 	
-	return -1;
+	return "";
 }
 
 function path_get(path) {