fix: address bugs and feature requests from discussion #317

- Share link: display and copy now use the absolute URL built from the
  current origin instead of the relative path stored in events.share_link.
  Added a Copy Link button to the events list (inline + dropdown).
- Detect dev tools default: event creation now reads the global
  enable_devtools_protection app setting instead of always falling back to
  the column default; admins who disable it globally get new events with
  it disabled too.
- Require password default: added a global "Require password by default"
  setting (event_default_require_password, default true), exposed via
  Settings -> Events. Create-event form initialises from it.
- Filter bar: added gallery_show_filter_bar setting and hide the search/
  sort row in the public gallery when off, or when the gallery has zero
  photos (fixes the empty-state UX from the screenshot).
- Theme picker unclickable on Create Event: memoised availableEventTypes
  so its identity is stable. The "auto-apply event-type recommended
  preset" effect was firing on every render due to the unstable array
  reference and silently overwriting the user's preset selection ~1ms
  after each click.
- Branding logo disappearing on theme change: handlePresetChange and
  handleThemeChange no longer wipe the existing logoUrl when a preset
  config (which carries no logoUrl) is applied; handleSave falls back to
  brandingSettings.logo_url. themeMutation now invalidates the
  admin-settings and public-settings caches so saved theme changes appear
  immediately.

backend/src/routes/adminEvents.js

@@ -113,6 +113,31 @@ const getEventFieldRequirements = async () => {
   }
 };
 
+// Helper to read app_settings booleans by key, used to inherit per-setting
+// defaults onto new events. Returns `undefined` for missing/non-boolean rows
+// so callers can fall back to a legacy default.
+const readBooleanSetting = async (key) => {
+  try {
+    const setting = await db('app_settings').where('setting_key', key).first();
+    if (!setting) return undefined;
+    let value = setting.setting_value;
+    if (typeof value === 'string') {
+      try { value = JSON.parse(value); } catch { /* keep raw */ }
+    }
+    return typeof value === 'boolean' ? value : undefined;
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.error('Failed to read app setting', { key, error: error.message });
+    return undefined;
+  }
+};
+
+// Helper to read the global "enable_devtools_protection" admin setting so
+// new events inherit it instead of always falling back to the DB column default
+// (#317 — admin disabled it globally but new events still got it ON).
+const getDownloadProtectionDefaults = async () => {
+  return { enable_devtools_protection: await readBooleanSetting('enable_devtools_protection') };
+};
+
 // Helper to get branding defaults for new events (Feature 7: Branding Inheritance)
 const getBrandingDefaults = async () => {
   try {
@@ -246,6 +271,7 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.create'), [
   body('upload_category_id').optional({ nullable: true, checkFalsy: true }).isInt(),
   body('allow_downloads').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('disable_right_click').optional().isBoolean(),
+  body('enable_devtools_protection').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('watermark_downloads').optional().isBoolean(),
   body('watermark_text').optional().trim(),
   body('css_template_id').optional({ nullable: true, checkFalsy: true }).isInt(),
@@ -291,9 +317,10 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.create'), [
       upload_category_id = null,
       allow_downloads = true,
       disable_right_click = false,
+      enable_devtools_protection: enableDevtoolsProtectionInput,
       watermark_downloads = false,
       watermark_text = null,
-      require_password: requirePasswordInput = true,
+      require_password: requirePasswordInput,
       // Feedback settings
       feedback_enabled = false,
       allow_ratings = true,
@@ -349,7 +376,14 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.create'), [
       return res.status(400).json({ errors: validationErrors });
     }
 
-    const requirePassword = parseBooleanInput(requirePasswordInput, true);
+    // Default require_password from global "event_default_require_password"
+    // setting when the body omits it (#317 — admins want to flip the default).
+    let requirePasswordFallback = true;
+    if (requirePasswordInput === undefined) {
+      const setting = await readBooleanSetting('event_default_require_password');
+      if (setting !== undefined) requirePasswordFallback = setting;
+    }
+    const requirePassword = parseBooleanInput(requirePasswordInput, requirePasswordFallback);
 
     // Debug logging
     logger.debug('Download control values', {
@@ -457,6 +491,17 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.create'), [
     const effectiveHeroLogoSize = req.body.hero_logo_size || brandingDefaults.hero_logo_size;
     const effectiveHeroLogoPosition = req.body.hero_logo_position || brandingDefaults.hero_logo_position;
 
+    // Inherit "Detect dev tools" from the global Image Security setting unless
+    // the request explicitly overrides it (#317 — admin disabled it globally
+    // but new events still got it ON because the column default is true).
+    const protectionDefaults = await getDownloadProtectionDefaults();
+    const effectiveEnableDevtoolsProtection =
+      enableDevtoolsProtectionInput !== undefined
+        ? enableDevtoolsProtectionInput
+        : protectionDefaults.enable_devtools_protection !== undefined
+          ? protectionDefaults.enable_devtools_protection
+          : true;
+
     // Insert into database
     const insertResult = await db('events').insert({
       slug,
@@ -479,6 +524,7 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.create'), [
       upload_category_id,
       allow_downloads: formatBoolean(allow_downloads !== undefined ? allow_downloads : true),
       disable_right_click: formatBoolean(disable_right_click !== undefined ? disable_right_click : false),
+      enable_devtools_protection: formatBoolean(effectiveEnableDevtoolsProtection),
       watermark_downloads: formatBoolean(watermark_downloads !== undefined ? watermark_downloads : false),
       watermark_text,
       require_password: formatBoolean(requirePassword),

backend/src/routes/publicSettings.js

@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
           this.whereIn('setting_type', ['branding', 'theme', 'general', 'security', 'analytics', 'boolean'])
             .orWhere('setting_key', 'like', 'analytics_%')
             .orWhere('setting_key', 'like', 'event_require_%')
-            .orWhereIn('setting_key', ['seo_meta_noindex', 'seo_meta_nofollow', 'seo_meta_noai']);
+            .orWhereIn('setting_key', [
+              'seo_meta_noindex', 'seo_meta_nofollow', 'seo_meta_noai',
+              'event_default_require_password',
+              'gallery_show_filter_bar'
+            ]);
         })
         .select('setting_key', 'setting_value');
     });
@@ -78,6 +82,10 @@ router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
       event_require_admin_email: settingsObject.event_require_admin_email !== false,
       event_require_event_date: settingsObject.event_require_event_date !== false,
       event_require_expiration: settingsObject.event_require_expiration !== false,
+      // Default value for "Require password" toggle in event creation form
+      event_default_require_password: settingsObject.event_default_require_password !== false,
+      // Whether to show the search/sort filter bar in public galleries (default: true)
+      gallery_show_filter_bar: settingsObject.gallery_show_filter_bar !== false,
       // Upload settings (safe to expose - needed for client-side validation)
       allowed_file_types: settingsObject.general_allowed_file_types || 'jpg,jpeg,png,webp',
       // SEO meta tag flags (safe to expose - these are intended for crawlers)

frontend/src/components/gallery/GalleryView.tsx

@@ -847,8 +847,11 @@ export const GalleryView: React.FC<GalleryViewProps> = ({ slug, event }) => {
           </div>
         )}
 
-        {/* Search and Filters - Only for grid layout */}
-        {!showSidebar ? (
+        {/* Search and Filters - Only for grid layout, when admin enables the
+            filter bar globally, and when the gallery actually has photos
+            (avoids the empty "Search photos by filename" row in the screenshot
+            from discussion #317). */}
+        {!showSidebar && settingsData?.gallery_show_filter_bar !== false && (data?.photos?.length ?? 0) > 0 ? (
           <div className="mt-6">
             <PhotoFilterBar
               categories={data.categories}

frontend/src/features/settings/hooks/useSettingsState.ts

@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ export interface EventSettings {
   event_require_admin_email: boolean;
   event_require_event_date: boolean;
   event_require_expiration: boolean;
+  event_default_require_password: boolean;
+  gallery_show_filter_bar: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface SeoSettings {
@@ -123,7 +125,9 @@ export function useSettingsState() {
     event_require_customer_email: true,
     event_require_admin_email: true,
     event_require_event_date: true,
-    event_require_expiration: true
+    event_require_expiration: true,
+    event_default_require_password: true,
+    gallery_show_filter_bar: true
   });
 
   // SEO settings state
@@ -206,7 +210,9 @@ export function useSettingsState() {
         event_require_customer_email: toBoolean(settings.event_require_customer_email, true),
         event_require_admin_email: toBoolean(settings.event_require_admin_email, true),
         event_require_event_date: toBoolean(settings.event_require_event_date, true),
-        event_require_expiration: toBoolean(settings.event_require_expiration, true)
+        event_require_expiration: toBoolean(settings.event_require_expiration, true),
+        event_default_require_password: toBoolean(settings.event_default_require_password, true),
+        gallery_show_filter_bar: toBoolean(settings.gallery_show_filter_bar, true)
       });
 
       setSeoSettings({

frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/EventsTab.tsx

@@ -149,6 +149,44 @@ export const EventsTab: React.FC<EventsTabProps> = ({
               </div>
             </label>
           </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <label className="flex items-start gap-3">
+              <input
+                type="checkbox"
+                checked={eventSettings.event_default_require_password}
+                onChange={(e) => setEventSettings(prev => ({ ...prev, event_default_require_password: e.target.checked }))}
+                className="mt-1 w-4 h-4 text-primary-600 rounded focus:ring-primary-500"
+              />
+              <div>
+                <span className="text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300">
+                  {t('settings.events.defaultRequirePassword', 'Require password by default')}
+                </span>
+                <p className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400 mt-1">
+                  {t('settings.events.defaultRequirePasswordHelp', 'Pre-check "Require password" when creating new events. Disable for quicker creation of public galleries.')}
+                </p>
+              </div>
+            </label>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <label className="flex items-start gap-3">
+              <input
+                type="checkbox"
+                checked={eventSettings.gallery_show_filter_bar}
+                onChange={(e) => setEventSettings(prev => ({ ...prev, gallery_show_filter_bar: e.target.checked }))}
+                className="mt-1 w-4 h-4 text-primary-600 rounded focus:ring-primary-500"
+              />
+              <div>
+                <span className="text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300">
+                  {t('settings.events.showGalleryFilterBar', 'Show filter bar in galleries')}
+                </span>
+                <p className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400 mt-1">
+                  {t('settings.events.showGalleryFilterBarHelp', 'Display the search-by-filename and sort controls above grid-layout galleries. Disable for a cleaner layout.')}
+                </p>
+              </div>
+            </label>
+          </div>
         </div>
 
         <div className="mt-6">

frontend/src/pages/admin/BrandingPage.tsx

@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ export const BrandingPage: React.FC = () => {
     mutationFn: settingsService.updateTheme,
     onSuccess: () => {
       toast.success(t('toast.themeUpdated'));
+      // Refresh both the admin settings cache (which the page reads from) and
+      // the public-settings cache (which the gallery reads from) so the saved
+      // theme is reflected without a manual reload (#317).
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['admin-settings'] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['public-settings'] });
     },
     onError: () => {
       toast.error(t('toast.saveError'));
@@ -117,13 +122,19 @@ export const BrandingPage: React.FC = () => {
   };
 
   const handleThemeChange = (newTheme: ThemeConfig) => {
-    setCurrentTheme(newTheme);
-    // Also update logo URL in branding settings if it changed
-    if (newTheme.logoUrl !== currentTheme.logoUrl) {
+    // Preset configs don't carry a logoUrl, so a preset change inside the
+    // customizer arrives here with newTheme.logoUrl=undefined. Keep the
+    // existing logo instead of wiping branding_logo_url on save (#317).
+    const mergedTheme: ThemeConfig = {
+      ...newTheme,
+      logoUrl: newTheme.logoUrl ?? currentTheme.logoUrl
+    };
+    setCurrentTheme(mergedTheme);
+    if (newTheme.logoUrl !== undefined && newTheme.logoUrl !== currentTheme.logoUrl) {
       setBrandingSettings(prev => ({ ...prev, logo_url: newTheme.logoUrl || '' }));
     }
     if (isPreviewMode) {
-      setTheme(newTheme);
+      setTheme(mergedTheme);
     }
   };
 
@@ -132,9 +143,10 @@ export const BrandingPage: React.FC = () => {
     // Get the preset theme config
     const preset = GALLERY_THEME_PRESETS[presetName];
     if (preset) {
-      setCurrentTheme(preset.config);
+      // Preserve the existing logo when switching presets (#317).
+      setCurrentTheme(prev => ({ ...preset.config, logoUrl: prev.logoUrl }));
       if (isPreviewMode) {
-        setTheme(preset.config);
+        setTheme({ ...preset.config, logoUrl: currentTheme.logoUrl });
       }
     }
   };
@@ -201,10 +213,12 @@ export const BrandingPage: React.FC = () => {
 
   const handleSave = async () => {
     try {
-      // Sync logo URL from theme to branding settings
+      // Sync logo URL from theme to branding settings, but never let an
+      // undefined/empty theme.logoUrl wipe a logo that is still configured in
+      // branding settings (#317 — preset selection does not imply logo removal).
       const updatedBrandingSettings = {
         ...brandingSettings,
-        logo_url: currentTheme.logoUrl || ''
+        logo_url: currentTheme.logoUrl || brandingSettings.logo_url || ''
       };
       
       // Save branding settings to database

frontend/src/pages/admin/CreateEventPage.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useState, useRef, useEffect } from 'react';
+import React, { useState, useRef, useEffect, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { 
   Calendar,
@@ -146,15 +146,21 @@ export const CreateEventPage: React.FC = () => {
     queryFn: () => eventTypesService.getActiveEventTypes()
   });
 
-  // Compute event types to use (API data or fallback)
-  const availableEventTypes = eventTypes?.length
-    ? eventTypes.map(et => ({
-        value: et.slug_prefix,
-        name: et.name,
-        emoji: et.emoji,
-        theme_preset: et.theme_preset
-      }))
-    : FALLBACK_EVENT_TYPES;
+  // Compute event types to use (API data or fallback). Memoised so its
+  // identity is stable across renders — otherwise the "Update theme when
+  // event type changes" effect below re-runs on every render and silently
+  // overwrites the user's Theme Preset selection (#317).
+  const availableEventTypes = useMemo(
+    () => (eventTypes?.length
+      ? eventTypes.map(et => ({
+          value: et.slug_prefix,
+          name: et.name,
+          emoji: et.emoji,
+          theme_preset: et.theme_preset
+        }))
+      : FALLBACK_EVENT_TYPES),
+    [eventTypes]
+  );
 
   // Fetch default settings
   const { data: settings } = useQuery({
@@ -185,6 +191,19 @@ export const CreateEventPage: React.FC = () => {
     }
   }, [settings]);
 
+  // Honour the global "Require password by default" admin setting (#317).
+  // Apply once when public settings first load, before the user has interacted.
+  const requirePasswordDefaultApplied = useRef(false);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (requirePasswordDefaultApplied.current) return;
+    if (publicSettings?.event_default_require_password === undefined) return;
+    requirePasswordDefaultApplied.current = true;
+    setFormData(prev => ({
+      ...prev,
+      require_password: publicSettings.event_default_require_password !== false
+    }));
+  }, [publicSettings]);
+
   // Update theme when event type changes
   useEffect(() => {
     // Find the selected event type's theme preset

frontend/src/pages/admin/EventDetailsPage.tsx

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ import { useQuery, useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { eventsService } from '../../services/events.service';
 import { publicSettingsService } from '../../services/publicSettings.service';
 import { api } from '../../config/api';
-import { buildResourceUrl } from '../../utils/url';
+import { buildResourceUrl, buildShareLinkUrl } from '../../utils/url';
 import { isGalleryPublic, normalizeRequirePassword } from '../../utils/accessControl';
 import { archiveService } from '../../services/archive.service';
 import { externalMediaService } from '../../services/externalMedia.service';
@@ -67,13 +67,6 @@ import { feedbackService, FeedbackSettings as FeedbackSettingsType } from '../..
 import { cssTemplatesService, type EnabledTemplate } from '../../services/cssTemplates.service';
 import { ThemeConfig, GALLERY_THEME_PRESETS } from '../../types/theme.types';
 
-const resolveShareLink = (link: string): string => {
-  if (!link) return '#';
-  if (link.startsWith('http')) return link;
-  if (link.startsWith('/')) return link;
-  return `/gallery/${link}`;
-};
-
 const ExternalFolderPicker: React.FC<{ value: string; onChange: (p: string) => void }> = ({ value, onChange }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const [entries, setEntries] = useState<{ path: string; entries: any[]; canNavigateUp: boolean } | null>(null);
@@ -657,13 +650,15 @@ export const EventDetailsPage: React.FC = () => {
         return;
       }
 
+      const shareUrl = buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link);
+
       // Try modern clipboard API first
       if (navigator.clipboard && window.isSecureContext) {
-        await navigator.clipboard.writeText(event.share_link);
+        await navigator.clipboard.writeText(shareUrl);
       } else {
         // Fallback for non-HTTPS contexts or older browsers
         const textArea = document.createElement('textarea');
-        textArea.value = event.share_link;
+        textArea.value = shareUrl;
         textArea.style.position = 'fixed';
         textArea.style.left = '-999999px';
         textArea.style.top = '-999999px';
@@ -793,8 +788,8 @@ export const EventDetailsPage: React.FC = () => {
             {event.share_link && !isEditing && (
               <a
                 href={event.is_draft
-                  ? `${resolveShareLink(event.share_link)}${resolveShareLink(event.share_link).includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}preview=${eventsService.getPreviewToken() || ''}`
-                  : resolveShareLink(event.share_link)
+                  ? `${buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)}${buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link).includes('?') ? '&' : '?'}preview=${eventsService.getPreviewToken() || ''}`
+                  : buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)
                 }
                 target="_blank"
                 rel="noopener noreferrer"
@@ -1604,7 +1599,7 @@ export const EventDetailsPage: React.FC = () => {
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
               <input
                 type="text"
-                value={event.share_link}
+                value={buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)}
                 readOnly
                 className="flex-1 px-3 py-2 bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-700 border border-neutral-300 dark:border-neutral-600 text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100 rounded-lg text-sm"
               />

frontend/src/pages/admin/EventsListPage.tsx

@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ import {
   Trash2,
   Calendar,
   Image,
-  Activity
+  Activity,
+  Copy,
+  CheckCircle
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { parseISO, differenceInDays } from 'date-fns';
 import { toast } from 'react-toastify';
@@ -23,16 +25,10 @@ import { BulkArchiveModal } from '../../components/admin';
 import { useQuery, useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { eventsService } from '../../services/events.service';
 import { isGalleryPublic } from '../../utils/accessControl';
+import { buildShareLinkUrl } from '../../utils/url';
 import type { Event } from '../../types';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 
-const resolveShareLink = (link: string): string => {
-  if (!link) return '#';
-  if (link.startsWith('http')) return link;
-  if (link.startsWith('/')) return link;
-  return `/gallery/${link}`;
-};
-
 export const EventsListPage: React.FC = () => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const { format } = useLocalizedDate();
@@ -46,6 +42,35 @@ export const EventsListPage: React.FC = () => {
   const [activeDropdown, setActiveDropdown] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [dropdownPosition, setDropdownPosition] = useState<{ top: number; left: number } | null>(null);
   const [showBulkArchiveModal, setShowBulkArchiveModal] = useState(false);
+  const [copiedEventId, setCopiedEventId] = useState<number | null>(null);
+
+  const copyShareLink = async (event: Event) => {
+    const url = buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link);
+    if (!url || url === '#') {
+      toast.error(t('errors.noShareLink', 'No share link available'));
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      if (navigator.clipboard && window.isSecureContext) {
+        await navigator.clipboard.writeText(url);
+      } else {
+        const textArea = document.createElement('textarea');
+        textArea.value = url;
+        textArea.style.position = 'fixed';
+        textArea.style.left = '-999999px';
+        document.body.appendChild(textArea);
+        textArea.select();
+        const ok = document.execCommand('copy');
+        document.body.removeChild(textArea);
+        if (!ok) throw new Error('Copy failed');
+      }
+      setCopiedEventId(event.id);
+      toast.success(t('events.linkCopied', 'Gallery link copied'));
+      setTimeout(() => setCopiedEventId((current) => (current === event.id ? null : current)), 2000);
+    } catch {
+      toast.error(t('errors.copyFailed', 'Failed to copy link'));
+    }
+  };
 
   // Get filter from URL
   const statusFilter = searchParams.get('filter') as 'active' | 'archived' | 'draft' | null;
@@ -489,12 +514,26 @@ export const EventsListPage: React.FC = () => {
                               <Button
                                 variant="ghost"
                                 size="sm"
-                                onClick={() => window.open(resolveShareLink(event.share_link), '_blank')}
+                                onClick={() => window.open(buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link), '_blank')}
                                 title={t('events.viewGallery')}
                               >
                                 <ExternalLink className="w-4 h-4" />
                               </Button>
                             )}
+                            {event.share_link && (
+                              <Button
+                                variant="ghost"
+                                size="sm"
+                                onClick={() => copyShareLink(event)}
+                                title={t('events.copyLink', 'Copy Link')}
+                              >
+                                {copiedEventId === event.id ? (
+                                  <CheckCircle className="w-4 h-4 text-green-600" />
+                                ) : (
+                                  <Copy className="w-4 h-4" />
+                                )}
+                              </Button>
+                            )}
                           </div>
 
                           {/* Context menu for additional actions */}
@@ -539,7 +578,7 @@ export const EventsListPage: React.FC = () => {
                                   </button>
                                   {event.share_link ? (
                                     <a
-                                      href={resolveShareLink(event.share_link)}
+                                      href={buildShareLinkUrl(event.share_link)}
                                       target="_blank"
                                       rel="noopener noreferrer"
                                       className="md:hidden w-full text-left px-4 py-2 text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700 flex items-center gap-2"
@@ -552,6 +591,19 @@ export const EventsListPage: React.FC = () => {
                                       {t('events.viewGallery')}
                                     </a>
                                   ) : null}
+                                  {event.share_link ? (
+                                    <button
+                                      onClick={() => {
+                                        copyShareLink(event);
+                                        setActiveDropdown(null);
+                                        setDropdownPosition(null);
+                                      }}
+                                      className="md:hidden w-full text-left px-4 py-2 text-sm text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300 hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700 flex items-center gap-2"
+                                    >
+                                      <Copy className="w-4 h-4" />
+                                      {t('events.copyLink', 'Copy Link')}
+                                    </button>
+                                  ) : null}
                                   {!event.is_archived ? (
                                     <button
                                       onClick={() => {

frontend/src/services/publicSettings.service.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ export interface PublicSettings {
   event_require_admin_email?: boolean;
   event_require_event_date?: boolean;
   event_require_expiration?: boolean;
+  event_default_require_password?: boolean;
+  gallery_show_filter_bar?: boolean;
 }
 
 export const publicSettingsService = {

frontend/src/utils/url.ts

@@ -132,3 +132,30 @@ export const isProductionMode = (): boolean => {
   const apiBase = getApiBaseUrl();
   return !ABSOLUTE_URL_REGEX.test(apiBase);
 };
+
+/**
+ * Build a fully-qualified gallery share URL from the value stored in
+ * `events.share_link`. The DB stores the relative path (e.g.
+ * `/gallery/<slug>/<token>`); for display and clipboard copy we need an
+ * absolute URL the recipient can paste into a browser. Absolute inputs are
+ * passed through (with the same localhost-fallback rule used elsewhere).
+ *
+ * @param link - The relative or absolute share link
+ * @returns A fully-qualified URL, or `'#'` if input is empty
+ */
+export const buildShareLinkUrl = (link: string | null | undefined): string => {
+  if (!link) return '#';
+
+  if (ABSOLUTE_URL_REGEX.test(link)) {
+    if (!shouldFallbackToRelative(link)) return link;
+    try {
+      const parsed = new URL(link);
+      return buildFromOrigin(`${parsed.pathname}${parsed.search}${parsed.hash}`);
+    } catch {
+      return link;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const path = link.startsWith('/') ? link : `/gallery/${link}`;
+  return buildFromOrigin(path);
+};