diff --git a/.specstory/history/2025-11-06_17-01Z-integrate-new-elements-and-update-sequences.md b/.specstory/history/2025-11-06_17-01Z-integrate-new-elements-and-update-sequences.md
index e0b66bf..cd94dfc 100644
--- a/.specstory/history/2025-11-06_17-01Z-integrate-new-elements-and-update-sequences.md
+++ b/.specstory/history/2025-11-06_17-01Z-integrate-new-elements-and-update-sequences.md
@@ -1380,3 +1380,221 @@ So whether you launch the script from its original folder, `A:\1 Amazon_Active_P
---
+_**User (2025-11-06 17:01Z)**_
+
+ZipSeqArchv and UnzipSeqArchv instantly close without doing anything.
+
+---
+
+_**Agent (model gpt-5-codex, mode Agent)**_
+
+
+Tool use: **command** • Run command: "A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat"
+
+```bash
+"A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat"
+```
+
+```
+A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat
+
+```
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Analyzing silent script execution**
+
+---
+
+
+Tool use: **read_file** • Read file: zip_sequences.py
+
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Adding informative messages for no work items**
+
+---
+
+
+
+Tool use: **code_edit** • Edit file: zip_sequences.py
+
+**Chunk 1**
+Lines added: 4, lines removed: undefined
+
+```diff
+@@ -179,4 +179,8 @@
+
+ if not work_items:
++ if not RENDER_ROOT.exists():
++ log("zip", "Render root '\"Renders\"' not found; nothing to zip.")
++ else:
++ log("zip", "Archives already up to date; no sequences needed zipping.")
+ return 0
+
+```
+
+**Chunk 2**
+Lines added: 1, lines removed: undefined
+
+```diff
+@@ -218,4 +222,5 @@
+ def run_expand(worker_count: int, *, verbose: bool) -> int:
+ if not ARCHIVE_ROOT.exists():
++ log("expand", "No archives to expand (missing 'Renders/_zipped').")
+ return 0
+
+```
+
+**Chunk 3**
+Lines added: 1, lines removed: undefined
+
+```diff
+@@ -236,4 +241,5 @@
+
+ if not work_items:
++ log("expand", "Working folders already match archives; nothing to expand.")
+ return 0
+
+```
+
+
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Verifying string quoting**
+
+---
+
+
+Tool use: **read_file** • Read file: zip_sequences.py
+
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Fixing string quotation marks**
+
+---
+
+
+
+Tool use: **code_edit** • Edit file: zip_sequences.py
+
+**Chunk 1**
+Lines added: 1, lines removed: 1
+
+```diff
+@@ -180,5 +180,5 @@
+ if not work_items:
+ if not RENDER_ROOT.exists():
+- log("zip", "Render root '\"Renders\"' not found; nothing to zip.")
++ log("zip", "Render root 'Renders' not found; nothing to zip.")
+ else:
+ log("zip", "Archives already up to date; no sequences needed zipping.")
+```
+
+
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Preparing to run test batch**
+
+---
+
+
+Tool use: **command** • Run command: "A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat"
+
+```bash
+"A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat"
+```
+
+```
+A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat
+
+```
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Diagnosing missing script output**
+
+---
+
+
+Tool use: **command** • Run command: cmd /c ""A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat" && pause"
+
+```bash
+cmd /c ""A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat" && pause"
+```
+
+```
+'A:\1' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
+operable program or batch file.
+
+```
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Adjusting command syntax for paths with spaces**
+
+---
+
+
+Tool use: **command** • Run command: cmd /c ""A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat" & pause"
+
+```bash
+cmd /c ""A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\ZipSeqArchv.bat" & pause"
+```
+
+```
+'A:\1' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
+operable program or batch file.
+
+```
+
+
+
+---
+
+Thought Process
+**Testing command quoting syntax**
+
+---
+
+Cancelled
+
+---
+
+_**User (2025-11-06 17:01Z)**_
+
+@powershell (1-3)ah. let's design it to be ran from the Renders location it's copied to.
+
+---
+
+_**Agent (model gpt-5-codex, mode Agent)**_
+
+
+
+---
+
diff --git a/UnzipSeqArchv.bat b/UnzipSeqArchv.bat
index 5f6205d..c80f35d 100644
--- a/UnzipSeqArchv.bat
+++ b/UnzipSeqArchv.bat
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
@echo off
setlocal
-set "REPO_ROOT=%~dp0"
+set "REN_DIR=%~dp0"
+for %%I in ("%REN_DIR%..") do set "PROJ_ROOT=%%~fI"
set "PY_SCRIPT=A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\zip_sequences.py"
-pushd "%REPO_ROOT%" >nul 2>&1
-
if not exist "%PY_SCRIPT%" (
echo Missing %PY_SCRIPT%
- popd >nul 2>&1
exit /b 1
)
+pushd "%PROJ_ROOT%" >nul 2>&1
+
python "%PY_SCRIPT%" --mode expand --verbose %*
set "ERR=%ERRORLEVEL%"
diff --git a/ZipSeqArchv.bat b/ZipSeqArchv.bat
index f9e77a8..71f8342 100644
--- a/ZipSeqArchv.bat
+++ b/ZipSeqArchv.bat
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
@echo off
setlocal
-set "REPO_ROOT=%~dp0"
+set "REN_DIR=%~dp0"
+for %%I in ("%REN_DIR%..") do set "PROJ_ROOT=%%~fI"
set "PY_SCRIPT=A:\1 Amazon_Active_Projects\3 ProjectStructure\zip_sequences.py"
-pushd "%REPO_ROOT%" >nul 2>&1
-
if not exist "%PY_SCRIPT%" (
echo Missing %PY_SCRIPT%
- popd >nul 2>&1
exit /b 1
)
+pushd "%PROJ_ROOT%" >nul 2>&1
+
python "%PY_SCRIPT%" --verbose %*
set "ERR=%ERRORLEVEL%"
diff --git a/zip_sequences.py b/zip_sequences.py
index 602ff1f..dbd8213 100644
--- a/zip_sequences.py
+++ b/zip_sequences.py
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ def run_zip(worker_count: int, *, verbose: bool) -> int:
work_items.append((seq_dir, zip_path, state_path, seq_state))
if not work_items:
+ if not RENDER_ROOT.exists():
+ log("zip", "Render root 'Renders' not found; nothing to zip.")
+ else:
+ log("zip", "Archives already up to date; no sequences needed zipping.")
return 0
updated_paths: list[Path] = []
@@ -217,6 +221,7 @@ def run_zip(worker_count: int, *, verbose: bool) -> int:
def run_expand(worker_count: int, *, verbose: bool) -> int:
if not ARCHIVE_ROOT.exists():
+ log("expand", "No archives to expand (missing 'Renders/_zipped').")
return 0
work_items: list[tuple[Path, dict]] = []
@@ -235,6 +240,7 @@ def run_expand(worker_count: int, *, verbose: bool) -> int:
work_items.append((zip_path, seq_state))
if not work_items:
+ log("expand", "Working folders already match archives; nothing to expand.")
return 0
total = len(work_items)