Let the top level be chosen as the library root

Confirming "/" in the folder picker set an empty root, which the launch
model read as no root at all: "Open library" stayed disabled after the
question had plainly been answered, and a folder library — whose folder
is the whole library — could never be opened without first descending
into a subfolder of it. The empty string was carrying two meanings.

Record the choice as its own fact on the account (`root_chosen`, defaulted
so existing configuration loads unchanged), treat a folder endpoint as
chosen by definition, and let the launch screen say so: a folder is shown
as a LIBRARY rather than an ACCOUNT, the second question becomes an
optional "scan only a subfolder", and the library header names the folder
instead of calling it "· whole account".

ui/dr-ui/src/launch.rs

@@ -218,6 +218,43 @@ impl LaunchModel {
         self.session().map(|s| s.root.clone()).unwrap_or_default()
     }
 
+    /// Whether a root has been settled on, including the top level itself.
+    ///
+    /// Three ways to have one: a subfolder is named; the picker confirmed
+    /// the top level, which `Account::root_chosen` records because the
+    /// empty string cannot; or the endpoint is a folder, whose top level is
+    /// the library by definition.
+    pub fn root_is_chosen(&self) -> bool {
+        self.session()
+            .is_some_and(|s| !s.root.is_empty() || s.root_chosen)
+            || self.endpoint_is_library()
+    }
+
+    /// What the signed-in section shows for the root: empty when nothing is
+    /// chosen, `/` for the top level, else the path.
+    pub fn library_root_label(&self) -> String {
+        let root = self.library_root();
+        if root.is_empty() && self.root_is_chosen() {
+            "/".to_string()
+        } else {
+            root
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Whether the endpoint itself is the library.
+    ///
+    /// A folder account has no sub-root to choose: the directory the user
+    /// typed is the whole library, and asking them to pick a "library
+    /// folder" inside it a second time reads as though the first answer was
+    /// not taken. A cloud account is the opposite — its endpoint is an
+    /// entire server-side tree, and a root inside it is required (see
+    /// [`can_open_library`](Self::can_open_library)). Keyed on the absence
+    /// of a login, the same fact [`prefill`] keys on, rather than on the
+    /// connector's id.
+    pub fn endpoint_is_library(&self) -> bool {
+        self.session().is_some_and(|s| s.login.is_empty())
+    }
+
     /// The login URL while approval is pending.
     pub fn login_url(&self) -> String {
         match &self.state {
@@ -228,11 +265,13 @@ impl LaunchModel {
 
     /// Whether "Open library" should be clickable.
     ///
-    /// Requires a signed-in account *and* a chosen folder: opening without one
-    /// would scan the whole account, which on a real library is thousands of
-    /// directories the user did not ask for.
+    /// A cloud account requires a signed-in session *and* a chosen folder:
+    /// opening without one would scan the whole account, which on a real
+    /// library is thousands of directories the user did not ask for. Chosen
+    /// is the operative word, not non-empty — the top level is a legitimate
+    /// choice, and a folder library is the whole folder by definition.
     pub fn can_open_library(&self) -> bool {
-        self.is_signed_in() && !self.library_root().is_empty()
+        self.is_signed_in() && self.root_is_chosen()
     }
 
     /// What the app should do on startup.
@@ -386,6 +425,9 @@ impl LaunchModel {
         let path = self.browser.as_ref()?.path.clone();
         let mut session = self.session()?.clone();
         session.root = path;
+        // Even when `path` is the top level: that is a choice, and the
+        // empty string alone would read as none having been made.
+        session.root_chosen = true;
         self.browser = None;
         self.state = LaunchState::SignedIn {
             session: session.clone(),
@@ -547,17 +589,32 @@ mod tests {
         // Everything past sign-in is backend-neutral, and this is the check
         // that keeps it so: no branch on the account's connector below here.
         let mut m = LaunchModel::default();
-        m.signed_in(folder_with_root(""));
-        assert!(m.is_signed_in());
-        assert!(!m.can_open_library(), "no root chosen yet");
-        assert_eq!(m.startup_action(false), Startup::ShowLaunchScreen);
-
         m.signed_in(folder_with_root("2026"));
+        assert!(m.is_signed_in());
         assert!(m.can_open_library());
         assert_eq!(m.startup_action(false), Startup::OpenLibrary);
         assert_eq!(m.account_label(), "/mnt/photos/2026");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn a_folder_is_the_whole_library_without_choosing_a_root() {
+        // The directory typed on the launch screen is the answer to "which
+        // folder"; a second question with the same name is what confused
+        // the first person to open one. A server account still needs a
+        // root, because its endpoint is the entire tree.
+        let mut m = LaunchModel::default();
+        m.signed_in(folder_with_root(""));
+        assert!(m.endpoint_is_library());
+        assert!(m.can_open_library(), "the folder itself is the library");
+        assert_eq!(m.library_root_label(), "/");
+        assert_eq!(m.startup_action(false), Startup::OpenLibrary);
+
+        m.signed_in(session_with_root(""));
+        assert!(!m.endpoint_is_library());
+        assert!(!m.can_open_library(), "a server account needs a root");
+        assert_eq!(m.startup_action(false), Startup::ShowLaunchScreen);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn format_toggles_apply_and_out_of_range_is_ignored() {
         let mut m = LaunchModel::default();
@@ -665,13 +722,25 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn confirming_at_the_root_selects_the_whole_account() {
-        // Legitimate: a user may keep everything at the top level.
+        // Legitimate: a user may keep everything at the top level — and it
+        // must then open. It used to be recorded as an empty root, which
+        // is indistinguishable from no root, so "Open library" stayed
+        // disabled after the picker had plainly been answered.
         let mut m = LaunchModel::default();
         m.signed_in(session_with_root(""));
+        assert!(!m.can_open_library(), "nothing chosen yet");
+        assert_eq!(m.library_root_label(), "");
         m.open_browser();
 
         let session = m.choose_current_folder().expect("a session");
         assert_eq!(session.root, "");
+        assert!(
+            session.root_chosen,
+            "the choice survives to the config file"
+        );
+        assert!(m.can_open_library());
+        assert_eq!(m.library_root_label(), "/");
+        assert_eq!(m.startup_action(false), Startup::OpenLibrary);
     }
 
     #[test]

ui/dr-ui/src/launch_ui.rs

@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ pub fn render(window: &AppWindow, controller: &LaunchController) {
 
     window.set_launch_signed_in(m.is_signed_in());
     window.set_launch_account(m.account_label().into());
-    window.set_launch_root(m.library_root().into());
+    window.set_launch_root(m.library_root_label().into());
+    window.set_launch_endpoint_is_library(m.endpoint_is_library());
     window.set_launch_server(m.server_url.clone().into());
     window.set_launch_folder(m.folder_path.clone().into());
     window.set_launch_busy(m.is_busy());

ui/dr-ui/src/library_ui.rs

@@ -984,14 +984,7 @@ pub fn open(
     window.set_library_status("Starting…".into());
     // Always visible: two folders one letter apart are easy to confuse, and a
     // scan of the wrong one is indistinguishable from a broken scan.
-    window.set_library_root_label(
-        if conn.account.root.is_empty() {
-            format!("{} · whole account", conn.account.user_id)
-        } else {
-            format!("{}/{}", conn.account.user_id, conn.account.root)
-        }
-        .into(),
-    );
+    window.set_library_root_label(library_root_label(&conn.account).into());
 
     // An empty filter would walk the whole tree and match nothing, which looks
     // exactly like a broken scan. Say so instead.
@@ -7158,10 +7151,49 @@ fn stop(slot: &RefCell<Option<slint::Timer>>) {
     }
 }
 
+/// The line in the library header that says what is being catalogued.
+///
+/// For an account with a user, the user and the chosen subtree, or the
+/// whole account when none was chosen. For a folder there is no user and
+/// the endpoint is the library, so the folder's own name: `library`, or
+/// `library/2026` when narrowed — never " · whole account", which is a
+/// sentence about a server said of a directory.
+fn library_root_label(account: &Account) -> String {
+    if account.login.is_empty() {
+        let folder = std::path::Path::new(&account.endpoint)
+            .file_name()
+            .map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned())
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| account.endpoint.clone());
+        if account.root.is_empty() {
+            folder
+        } else {
+            format!("{folder}/{}", account.root)
+        }
+    } else if account.root.is_empty() {
+        format!("{} · whole account", account.user_id)
+    } else {
+        format!("{}/{}", account.user_id, account.root)
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn the_header_names_a_folder_library_by_its_folder() {
+        let mut folder = Account::new("folder", "/var/tmp/dr-demo/library");
+        assert_eq!(library_root_label(&folder), "library");
+        folder.root = "2026".into();
+        assert_eq!(library_root_label(&folder), "library/2026");
+
+        let mut cloud =
+            Account::new("nextcloud", "https://cloud.example").with_login("duncan", "duncan");
+        assert_eq!(library_root_label(&cloud), "duncan · whole account");
+        cloud.root = "PhotosRaw".into();
+        assert_eq!(library_root_label(&cloud), "duncan/PhotosRaw");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn a_scrub_fraction_interpolates_within_the_span() {
         // The point of going fractional: a slow drag must advance

ui/dr-ui/ui/app.slint

@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ export component AppWindow inherits Window {
     in property <bool> launch-signed-in: false;
     in property <string> launch-account: "";
     in property <string> launch-root: "";
+    in property <bool> launch-endpoint-is-library: false;
     in property <string> launch-server: "";
     in property <string> launch-folder: "";
     in property <bool> launch-busy: false;
@@ -1546,6 +1547,7 @@ in property <bool> panel-visible: true;
             signed-in: root.launch-signed-in;
             account: root.launch-account;
             library-root: root.launch-root;
+            endpoint-is-library: root.launch-endpoint-is-library;
             server-url: root.launch-server;
             folder-path: root.launch-folder;
             busy: root.launch-busy;

ui/dr-ui/ui/launch.slint

@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ export component LaunchScreen inherits Rectangle {
     in property <bool> signed-in: false;
     in property <string> account: "";
     in property <string> library-root: "";
+    /// The endpoint is the whole library — a folder — so there is no root
+    /// to choose inside it, only, optionally, a subfolder to narrow to. A
+    /// server account's endpoint is the entire tree and a root is required.
+    in property <bool> endpoint-is-library: false;
     in property <string> server-url: "";
     // Two endpoints, shown together. Someone deciding between a server and a
     // folder should not have to clear one field to try the other.
@@ -349,7 +353,9 @@ export component LaunchScreen inherits Rectangle {
                 if root.signed-in && root.browsing: VerticalLayout {
                     spacing: Theme.gap;
 
-                    PanelHeading { text: @tr("CHOOSE LIBRARY FOLDER"); }
+                    PanelHeading {
+                        text: root.endpoint-is-library ? @tr("SCAN ONLY A SUBFOLDER") : @tr("CHOOSE LIBRARY FOLDER");
+                    }
 
                     // Current location, so it is always clear what
                     // "Use this folder" would select.
@@ -428,22 +434,31 @@ export component LaunchScreen inherits Rectangle {
                 if root.signed-in && !root.browsing: VerticalLayout {
                     spacing: Theme.gap;
 
-                    PanelHeading { text: @tr("ACCOUNT"); }
+                    // A folder *is* the library, and saying "account" of a
+                    // directory, then asking for a "library folder" a second
+                    // time, reads as though the path just typed was not
+                    // taken. A server account genuinely has both: who it is,
+                    // and which subtree of it to catalogue.
+                    PanelHeading { text: root.endpoint-is-library ? @tr("LIBRARY") : @tr("ACCOUNT"); }
                     Value { text: root.account; }
 
                     Rectangle { height: Theme.gap-sm; }
 
-                    PanelHeading { text: @tr("LIBRARY FOLDER"); }
+                    PanelHeading {
+                        text: root.endpoint-is-library ? @tr("SCAN") : @tr("LIBRARY FOLDER");
+                    }
                     HorizontalLayout {
                         spacing: Theme.gap;
                         Value {
-                            text: root.library-root == "" ? @tr("(not chosen)") : root.library-root;
+                            text: root.library-root == "" ? @tr("(not chosen)")
+                                : root.library-root == "/" && root.endpoint-is-library ? @tr("The whole folder")
+                                : root.library-root;
                             placeholder: root.library-root == "";
                             horizontal-stretch: 1;
                             overflow: elide;
                         }
                         FormButton {
-                            text: @tr("Choose…");
+                            text: root.endpoint-is-library ? @tr("Subfolder…") : @tr("Choose…");
                             width: 110px;
                             clicked => { root.choose-folder(); }
                         }