diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_pipeline.yml b/.github/workflows/release_pipeline.yml
index 92766fd..3cd044e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release_pipeline.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_pipeline.yml
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ defaults:
   run:
     shell: bash
 
-# Default permissions are minimized; jobs elevate as needed.
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       contents: read
       actions: read
-      # Required for permissions check via REST API
       pull-requests: read
 
     steps:
@@ -203,28 +201,28 @@ jobs:
           {
             echo "### Guard report"
             echo "```json"
-            echo "{"
-            echo "  \"repository\": \"${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}\","
-            echo "  \"workflow\": \"${GITHUB_WORKFLOW}\","
-            echo "  \"job\": \"${GITHUB_JOB}\","
-            echo "  \"run_id\": ${GITHUB_RUN_ID},"
-            echo "  \"run_number\": ${GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER},"
-            echo "  \"run_attempt\": ${GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT},"
-            echo "  \"run_url\": \"${GITHUB_SERVER_URL}/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/actions/runs/${GITHUB_RUN_ID}\","
-            echo "  \"actor\": \"${GITHUB_ACTOR}\","
-            echo "  \"actor_permission\": \"${{ steps.auth.outputs.permission }}\","
-            echo "  \"sha\": \"${GITHUB_SHA}\","
-            echo "  \"event\": \"${EVENT_NAME}\","
-            echo "  \"ref\": \"${REF_NAME}\","
-            echo "  \"version\": \"${VERSION}\","
-            echo "  \"source_branch\": \"${SOURCE_BRANCH}\","
-            echo "  \"target_branch\": \"${TARGET_BRANCH}\","
-            echo "  \"promoted_branch\": \"${PROMOTED_BRANCH}\","
-            echo "  \"channel\": \"${CHANNEL}\","
-            echo "  \"release_mode\": \"${RELEASE_MODE}\","
-            echo "  \"override\": \"${OVERRIDE}\","
-            echo "  \"today_utc\": \"${TODAY_UTC}\""
-            echo "}"
+            echo "{" 
+            echo "  \"repository\": \"${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}\"," 
+            echo "  \"workflow\": \"${GITHUB_WORKFLOW}\"," 
+            echo "  \"job\": \"${GITHUB_JOB}\"," 
+            echo "  \"run_id\": ${GITHUB_RUN_ID}," 
+            echo "  \"run_number\": ${GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER}," 
+            echo "  \"run_attempt\": ${GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT}," 
+            echo "  \"run_url\": \"${GITHUB_SERVER_URL}/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/actions/runs/${GITHUB_RUN_ID}\"," 
+            echo "  \"actor\": \"${GITHUB_ACTOR}\"," 
+            echo "  \"actor_permission\": \"${{ steps.auth.outputs.permission }}\"," 
+            echo "  \"sha\": \"${GITHUB_SHA}\"," 
+            echo "  \"event\": \"${EVENT_NAME}\"," 
+            echo "  \"ref\": \"${REF_NAME}\"," 
+            echo "  \"version\": \"${VERSION}\"," 
+            echo "  \"source_branch\": \"${SOURCE_BRANCH}\"," 
+            echo "  \"target_branch\": \"${TARGET_BRANCH}\"," 
+            echo "  \"promoted_branch\": \"${PROMOTED_BRANCH}\"," 
+            echo "  \"channel\": \"${CHANNEL}\"," 
+            echo "  \"release_mode\": \"${RELEASE_MODE}\"," 
+            echo "  \"override\": \"${OVERRIDE}\"," 
+            echo "  \"today_utc\": \"${TODAY_UTC}\"" 
+            echo "}" 
             echo "```"
           } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
 
@@ -250,7 +248,8 @@ jobs:
             printf '"sha":"%s",' "${GITHUB_SHA}"
             printf '"runner_os":"%s",' "${RUNNER_OS}"
             printf '"runner_name":"%s"' "${RUNNER_NAME}"
-            printf '}\n'
+            printf '}
+'
             echo "```"
           } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
 
@@ -348,7 +347,8 @@ jobs:
             printf '"event":"%s",' "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}"
             printf '"ref_name":"%s",' "${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
             printf '"sha":"%s"' "${GITHUB_SHA}"
-            printf '}\n'
+            printf '}
+'
             echo "```"
           } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
 
@@ -424,7 +424,8 @@ jobs:
             {
               echo "ERROR: Date normalization script not found in approved locations."
               echo "Approved locations:"
-              printf '%s\n' "${CANDIDATES[@]}"
+              printf '%s
+' "${CANDIDATES[@]}"
               echo "Discovered candidates (first 5):"
               echo "${FOUND:-<none>}"
               echo "Required action: add scripts/release/update_dates.sh (preferred) to the repo."
@@ -506,6 +507,7 @@ jobs:
           FTP_PORT: ${{ secrets.FTP_PORT }}
           FTP_PATH_SUFFIX: ${{ vars.FTP_PATH_SUFFIX }}
           CHANNEL: ${{ needs.guard.outputs.channel }}
+          DEPLOY_DRY_RUN: ${{ vars.DEPLOY_DRY_RUN }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -513,7 +515,6 @@ jobs:
 
           [ -n "${FTP_HOST:-}" ] || missing+=("FTP_HOST")
           [ -n "${FTP_USER:-}" ] || missing+=("FTP_USER")
-          [ -n "${FTP_KEY:-}" ] || missing+=("FTP_KEY")
           [ -n "${FTP_PATH:-}" ] || missing+=("FTP_PATH")
 
           proto="${FTP_PROTOCOL:-sftp}"
@@ -521,18 +522,23 @@ jobs:
             missing+=("FTP_PROTOCOL_INVALID")
           fi
 
-          first_line="$(printf '%s' "${FTP_KEY:-}" | head -n 1 || true)"
+          key_present=false
           if [ -n "${FTP_KEY:-}" ]; then
-            if printf '%s' "${first_line}" | grep -q '^PuTTY-User-Key-File-'; then
-              key_format="ppk"
-            elif printf '%s' "${first_line}" | grep -q '^-----BEGIN '; then
-              key_format="openssh"
-            else
-              key_format="unknown"
-              missing+=("FTP_KEY_FORMAT")
-            fi
-          else
-            key_format="missing"
+            key_present=true
+          fi
+
+          pw_present=false
+          if [ -n "${FTP_PASSWORD:-}" ]; then
+            pw_present=true
+          fi
+
+          auth_mode="password"
+          if [ "${key_present}" = "true" ]; then
+            auth_mode="key"
+          fi
+
+          if [ "${auth_mode}" = "password" ] && [ "${pw_present}" != "true" ]; then
+            missing+=("FTP_PASSWORD_REQUIRED")
           fi
 
           {
@@ -542,9 +548,13 @@ jobs:
             sep=""
             for m in "${missing[@]}"; do
               printf '%s"%s"' "${sep}" "${m}"
-              sep=","
+              sep=",";
             done
-            printf '],"key_format":"%s","channel":"%s"}\n' "${key_format}" "${CHANNEL}"
+            printf '],"channel":"%s","deploy_dry_run":"%s","credential_presence":{"FTP_KEY":"%s","FTP_PASSWORD":"%s"}}
+' \
+              "${CHANNEL}" "${DEPLOY_DRY_RUN:-false}" \
+              "$( [ "${key_present}" = "true" ] && echo present || echo missing )" \
+              "$( [ "${pw_present}" = "true" ] && echo present || echo missing )"
             echo "```"
           } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
 
@@ -587,9 +597,10 @@ jobs:
               sep=""
               for m in "${missing[@]}"; do
                 printf '%s"%s"' "${sep}" "${m}"
-                sep=","
+                sep=",";
               done
-              printf ']}\n'
+              printf ']}
+'
               echo "```"
             } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
             exit 1
@@ -621,31 +632,32 @@ jobs:
             sep=""
             for s in "${required_scripts[@]}"; do
               printf '%s"%s"' "${sep}" "${s}"
-              sep=","
+              sep=",";
             done
 
             printf '],"optional":['
             sep=""
             for s in "${optional_scripts[@]}"; do
               printf '%s"%s"' "${sep}" "${s}"
-              sep=","
+              sep=",";
             done
 
             printf '],"ran":['
             sep=""
             for s in "${ran[@]}"; do
               printf '%s"%s"' "${sep}" "${s}"
-              sep=","
+              sep=",";
             done
 
             printf '],"skipped_optional":['
             sep=""
             for s in "${skipped[@]}"; do
               printf '%s"%s"' "${sep}" "${s}"
-              sep=","
+              sep=",";
             done
 
-            printf ']}\n'
+            printf ']}
+'
             echo "```"
           } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
 
@@ -663,7 +675,6 @@ jobs:
           DIST_DIR="${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/dist"
           mkdir -p "${DIST_DIR}"
 
-          # Detect manifest inside src for type naming only.
           MANIFEST=""
           if [ -f "src/templateDetails.xml" ]; then
             MANIFEST="src/templateDetails.xml"
@@ -691,7 +702,6 @@ jobs:
             EXT_TYPE="unknown"
           fi
 
-          # Policy: archive must include ONLY the src directory tree (no repo root files).
           ZIP="${REPO_NAME}-${VERSION}-${CHANNEL}-${EXT_TYPE}.zip"
 
           zip -r -X "${DIST_DIR}/${ZIP}" src \
@@ -775,7 +785,6 @@ jobs:
             REMOTE_PATH="${FTP_PATH%/}/${CHANNEL}"
           fi
 
-          # Guardrails: remote path safety.
           if [ -z "${REMOTE_PATH}" ] || [ "${REMOTE_PATH}" = "/" ]; then
             echo "ERROR: Unsafe REMOTE_PATH resolved (${REMOTE_PATH:-<empty>})" >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
             exit 1
@@ -785,18 +794,15 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
-          AUTH_MODE=""
+          AUTH_MODE="password"
           if [ -n "${FTP_KEY:-}" ]; then
             AUTH_MODE="key"
-          else
-            AUTH_MODE="password"
           fi
 
-          # Credential precedence: key wins when both are present.
           PASSWORD_PRESENT="$( [ -n "${FTP_PASSWORD:-}" ] && echo true || echo false )"
           KEY_PRESENT="$( [ -n "${FTP_KEY:-}" ] && echo true || echo false )"
 
-          if [ "${AUTH_MODE}" = "password" ] && [ -z "${FTP_PASSWORD:-}" ]; then
+          if [ "${AUTH_MODE}" = "password" ] && [ "${PASSWORD_PRESENT}" != "true" ]; then
             echo "ERROR: FTP_PASSWORD required when FTP_KEY is not provided" >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
             exit 1
           fi
@@ -879,7 +885,6 @@ jobs:
 
           ZIP_BYTES_LOCAL="$(stat -c%s "${DIST_DIR}/${ZIP}")"
 
-          # Preflight: remote collision detection and directory validation.
           set +e
           preflight_log="$(mktemp)"
           lftp -d -e "\
@@ -898,7 +903,12 @@ jobs:
           set -e
 
           if [ "${preflight_rc}" -ne 0 ]; then
-            cat "${preflight_log}" >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}" || true
+            {
+              echo "### SFTP preflight log"
+              echo "```"
+              tail -n 400 "${preflight_log}" || true
+              echo "```"
+            } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}" || true
             exit "${preflight_rc}"
           fi
 
@@ -920,7 +930,6 @@ jobs:
             exit 0
           fi
 
-          # Upload + verify with failure classification.
           set +e
           upload_log="$(mktemp)"
           lftp -d -e "\
@@ -955,7 +964,6 @@ jobs:
             fi
           fi
 
-          # Always attach upload log to summary (bounded by job log limits, but critical for audit).
           {
             echo "### SFTP session log"
             echo "```"
@@ -973,14 +981,12 @@ jobs:
             exit "${rc}"
           fi
 
-          # Verification: ensure ZIP appears in directory listing.
           if ! grep -F " ${ZIP}" "${upload_log}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             echo "ERROR: Upload completed but verification failed. ZIP not visible in remote listing." >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
             exit 1
           fi
 
           ZIP_BYTES_REMOTE="unknown"
-          # Best-effort size extraction from ls -l output (platform dependent).
           ZIP_BYTES_REMOTE="$(awk -v z="${ZIP}" '$NF==z {print $(NF-4)}' "${upload_log}" | tail -n 1 || true)"
           if [ -z "${ZIP_BYTES_REMOTE}" ]; then
             ZIP_BYTES_REMOTE="unknown"
@@ -1171,15 +1177,15 @@ jobs:
           {
             echo "### Release event telemetry"
             echo "```json"
-            echo "{"
-            echo "  \"repository\": \"${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}\","
-            echo "  \"event\": \"${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}\","
-            echo "  \"ref_name\": \"${GITHUB_REF_NAME}\","
-            echo "  \"sha\": \"${GITHUB_SHA}\","
-            echo "  \"channel\": \"${{ needs.guard.outputs.channel }}\","
-            echo "  \"release_mode\": \"${{ needs.guard.outputs.release_mode }}\","
-            echo "  \"version\": \"${{ needs.guard.outputs.version }}\""
-            echo "}"
+            echo "{" 
+            echo "  \"repository\": \"${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}\"," 
+            echo "  \"event\": \"${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}\"," 
+            echo "  \"ref_name\": \"${GITHUB_REF_NAME}\"," 
+            echo "  \"sha\": \"${GITHUB_SHA}\"," 
+            echo "  \"channel\": \"${{ needs.guard.outputs.channel }}\"," 
+            echo "  \"release_mode\": \"${{ needs.guard.outputs.release_mode }}\"," 
+            echo "  \"version\": \"${{ needs.guard.outputs.version }}\"" 
+            echo "}" 
             echo "```"
           } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"