diff --git a/app/src/data/entities/Entity.ts b/app/src/data/entities/Entity.ts
index 3365190..69a8d4a 100644
--- a/app/src/data/entities/Entity.ts
+++ b/app/src/data/entities/Entity.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,13 @@ export class Entity<
       return this.getField(name);
    }
 
+   hasField(name: string): boolean;
+   hasField(field: Field): boolean;
+   hasField(nameOrField: string | Field): boolean {
+      const name = typeof nameOrField === "string" ? nameOrField : nameOrField.name;
+      return this.fields.findIndex((field) => field.name === name) !== -1;
+   }
+
    getFields(include_virtual: boolean = false): Field[] {
       if (include_virtual) return this.fields;
       return this.fields.filter((f) => !f.isVirtual());
diff --git a/app/src/data/entities/query/Repository.ts b/app/src/data/entities/query/Repository.ts
index 5234bc4..92e2f2a 100644
--- a/app/src/data/entities/query/Repository.ts
+++ b/app/src/data/entities/query/Repository.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ export class Repository<TBD extends object = DefaultDB, TB extends keyof TBD = a
          sort: entity.getDefaultSort(),
          select: entity.getSelect()
       };
-      //console.log("validated", validated);
 
       if (!options) return validated;
 
@@ -144,7 +143,9 @@ export class Repository<TBD extends object = DefaultDB, TB extends keyof TBD = a
          });
 
          if (invalid.length > 0) {
-            throw new InvalidSearchParamsException(`Invalid where field(s): ${invalid.join(", ")}`);
+            throw new InvalidSearchParamsException(
+               `Invalid where field(s): ${invalid.join(", ")}`
+            ).context({ aliases, entity: entity.name });
          }
 
          validated.where = options.where;
@@ -334,7 +335,6 @@ export class Repository<TBD extends object = DefaultDB, TB extends keyof TBD = a
 
    async findMany(_options?: Partial<RepoQuery>): Promise<RepositoryResponse<TBD[TB][]>> {
       const { qb, options } = this.buildQuery(_options);
-      //console.log("findMany:options", options);
 
       await this.emgr.emit(
          new Repository.Events.RepositoryFindManyBefore({ entity: this.entity, options })
@@ -386,7 +386,6 @@ export class Repository<TBD extends object = DefaultDB, TB extends keyof TBD = a
          }
       };
 
-      //console.log("findManyOptions", newEntity.name, findManyOptions);
       return this.cloneFor(newEntity).findMany(findManyOptions);
    }
 
diff --git a/app/src/data/fields/PrimaryField.ts b/app/src/data/fields/PrimaryField.ts
index 24e6302..c2d9436 100644
--- a/app/src/data/fields/PrimaryField.ts
+++ b/app/src/data/fields/PrimaryField.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export class PrimaryField<Required extends true | false = false> extends Field<
    }
 
    override async transformPersist(value: any): Promise<number> {
-      throw new Error("This function should not be called");
+      throw new Error("PrimaryField: This function should not be called");
    }
 
    override toJsonSchema() {
diff --git a/app/src/data/relations/ManyToManyRelation.ts b/app/src/data/relations/ManyToManyRelation.ts
index b4e89f1..f96ab74 100644
--- a/app/src/data/relations/ManyToManyRelation.ts
+++ b/app/src/data/relations/ManyToManyRelation.ts
@@ -105,13 +105,13 @@ export class ManyToManyRelation extends EntityRelation<typeof ManyToManyRelation
    }
 
    override getReferenceQuery(entity: Entity, id: number): Partial<RepoQuery> {
-      const conn = this.connectionEntity;
+      const { other, otherRef } = this.getQueryInfo(entity);
 
       return {
          where: {
-            [`${conn.name}.${entity.name}_${entity.getPrimaryField().name}`]: id
+            [otherRef]: id
          },
-         join: [this.target.reference]
+         join: [other.reference]
       };
    }
 
@@ -160,47 +160,27 @@ export class ManyToManyRelation extends EntityRelation<typeof ManyToManyRelation
             .whereRef(entityRef, "=", otherRef)
             .innerJoin(...join)
             .limit(limit);
-
-      /*return qb.select((eb) => {
-         const select: any[] = other.entity.getSelect(other.entity.name);
-         // @todo: also add to find by references
-         if (additionalFields.length > 0) {
-            const conn = this.connectionEntity.name;
-            select.push(
-               jsonBuildObject(
-                  Object.fromEntries(
-                     additionalFields.map((f) => [f.name, eb.ref(`${conn}.${f.name}`)])
-                  )
-               ).as(this.connectionTableMappedName)
-            );
-         }
-
-         return jsonFrom(
-            eb
-               .selectFrom(other.entity.name)
-               .select(select)
-               .whereRef(entityRef, "=", otherRef)
-               .innerJoin(...join)
-               .limit(limit)
-         ).as(other.reference);
-      });*/
    }
 
    initialize(em: EntityManager<any>) {
       this.em = em;
 
-      //this.connectionEntity.addField(new RelationField(this.source.entity));
-      //this.connectionEntity.addField(new RelationField(this.target.entity));
-      this.connectionEntity.addField(RelationField.create(this, this.source));
-      this.connectionEntity.addField(RelationField.create(this, this.target));
+      const sourceField = RelationField.create(this, this.source);
+      const targetField = RelationField.create(this, this.target);
 
-      // @todo: check this
-      for (const field of this.additionalFields) {
-         this.source.entity.addField(new VirtualField(this.connectionTableMappedName));
-         this.target.entity.addField(new VirtualField(this.connectionTableMappedName));
+      if (em.hasEntity(this.connectionEntity)) {
+         // @todo: also check for correct signatures of field
+         if (!this.connectionEntity.hasField(sourceField)) {
+            this.connectionEntity.addField(sourceField);
+         }
+         if (!this.connectionEntity.hasField(targetField)) {
+            this.connectionEntity.addField(targetField);
+         }
+      } else {
+         this.connectionEntity.addField(sourceField);
+         this.connectionEntity.addField(targetField);
+         em.addEntity(this.connectionEntity);
       }
-
-      em.addEntity(this.connectionEntity);
    }
 
    override getName(): string {
diff --git a/app/src/data/relations/RelationField.ts b/app/src/data/relations/RelationField.ts
index f3d557f..0405ed5 100644
--- a/app/src/data/relations/RelationField.ts
+++ b/app/src/data/relations/RelationField.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export class RelationField extends Field<RelationFieldConfig> {
    }
 
    override async transformPersist(value: any, em: EntityManager<any>): Promise<any> {
-      throw new Error("This function should not be called");
+      throw new Error("RelationField: This function should not be called");
    }
 
    override toJsonSchema() {
diff --git a/app/src/data/relations/RelationMutator.ts b/app/src/data/relations/RelationMutator.ts
index 3aa85b0..2becd17 100644
--- a/app/src/data/relations/RelationMutator.ts
+++ b/app/src/data/relations/RelationMutator.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { PrimaryFieldType } from "core";
 import type { Entity, EntityManager } from "../entities";
 import {
    type EntityRelation,
+   ManyToManyRelation,
    type MutationOperation,
    MutationOperations,
    RelationField
@@ -26,11 +27,26 @@ export class RelationMutator {
     */
    getRelationalKeys(): string[] {
       const references: string[] = [];
+
+      // if persisting a manytomany connection table
+      // @todo: improve later
+      if (this.entity.type === "generated") {
+         const relation = this.em.relations.all.find(
+            (r) => r instanceof ManyToManyRelation && r.connectionEntity.name === this.entity.name
+         );
+         if (relation instanceof ManyToManyRelation) {
+            references.push(
+               ...this.entity.fields.filter((f) => f.type === "relation").map((f) => f.name)
+            );
+         }
+      }
+
       this.em.relationsOf(this.entity.name).map((r) => {
          const info = r.helper(this.entity.name).getMutationInfo();
          references.push(info.reference);
          info.local_field && references.push(info.local_field);
       });
+
       return references;
    }
 
diff --git a/app/src/ui/components/form/Formy/components.tsx b/app/src/ui/components/form/Formy/components.tsx
index 18cedf9..34ddcb9 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/components/form/Formy/components.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/components/form/Formy/components.tsx
@@ -72,8 +72,9 @@ export const FieldLabel: React.FC<React.ComponentProps<"label"> & { field: Field
 }) => {
    const desc = field.getDescription();
    return (
-      <Label {...props} title={desc} className="flex flex-row gap-2 items-center">
+      <Label {...props} title={desc} className="flex flex-row gap-1 items-center">
          {field.getLabel()}
+         {field.isRequired() && <span className="font-medium opacity-30">*</span>}
          {desc && <TbInfoCircle className="opacity-50" />}
       </Label>
    );
diff --git a/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/EntityTable.tsx b/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/EntityTable.tsx
index 900b392..1a19b42 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/EntityTable.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/EntityTable.tsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export const Check = () => {
    );
 };
 
-type TableProps = {
+export type EntityTableProps = {
    data: EntityData[];
    entity: Entity;
    select?: string[];
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ type TableProps = {
    };
 };
 
-export const EntityTable: React.FC<TableProps> = ({
+export const EntityTable: React.FC<EntityTableProps> = ({
    data = [],
    entity,
    select,
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ const SortIndicator = ({
    sort,
    field
 }: {
-   sort: Pick<TableProps, "sort">["sort"];
+   sort: Pick<EntityTableProps, "sort">["sort"];
    field: string;
 }) => {
    if (!sort || sort.by !== field) return <TbSelector size={18} className="mt-[1px]" />;
diff --git a/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/fields/EntityRelationalFormField.tsx b/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/fields/EntityRelationalFormField.tsx
index 1d3788c..b597fa2 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/fields/EntityRelationalFormField.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/modules/data/components/fields/EntityRelationalFormField.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ import { Popover } from "ui/components/overlay/Popover";
 import { Link } from "ui/components/wouter/Link";
 import { routes } from "ui/lib/routes";
 import { useLocation } from "wouter";
-import { EntityTable } from "../EntityTable";
+import { EntityTable, type EntityTableProps } from "../EntityTable";
+import type { ResponseObject } from "modules/ModuleApi";
 
 // @todo: allow clear if not required
 export function EntityRelationalFormField({
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ export function EntityRelationalFormField({
    field,
    data,
    disabled,
-   tabIndex
+   tabIndex,
 }: {
    fieldApi: FieldApi<any, any>;
    field: RelationField;
@@ -30,12 +31,18 @@ export function EntityRelationalFormField({
 }) {
    const { app } = useBknd();
    const entity = app.entity(field.target())!;
-   const [query, setQuery] = useState<any>({ limit: 10, page: 1, perPage: 10 });
+   const [query, setQuery] = useState<any>({
+      limit: 10,
+      page: 1,
+      perPage: 10,
+      select: entity.getSelect(undefined, "table"),
+   });
    const [, navigate] = useLocation();
    const ref = useRef<any>(null);
    const $q = useEntityQuery(field.target(), undefined, {
+      select: query.select,
       limit: query.limit,
-      offset: (query.page - 1) * query.limit
+      offset: (query.page - 1) * query.limit,
    });
    const [_value, _setValue] = useState<{ id: number | undefined; [key: string]: any }>();
 
@@ -120,8 +127,8 @@ export function EntityRelationalFormField({
                         "Enter",
                         () => {
                            ref.current?.click();
-                        }
-                     ]
+                        },
+                     ],
                   ])}
                >
                   {_value ? (
@@ -179,31 +186,37 @@ export function EntityRelationalFormField({
    );
 }
 
-const PopoverTable = ({ container, entity, query, toggle, onClickRow, onClickPage }) => {
+type PropoverTableProps = Omit<EntityTableProps, "data"> & {
+   container: ResponseObject;
+   query: any;
+   toggle: () => void;
+}
+const PopoverTable = ({ container, entity, query, toggle, onClickRow, onClickPage }: PropoverTableProps) => {
    function handleNext() {
       if (query.limit * query.page < container.meta?.count) {
-         onClickPage(query.page + 1);
+         onClickPage?.(query.page + 1);
       }
    }
 
    function handlePrev() {
       if (query.page > 1) {
-         onClickPage(query.page - 1);
+         onClickPage?.(query.page - 1);
       }
    }
 
    useHotkeys([
       ["ArrowRight", handleNext],
       ["ArrowLeft", handlePrev],
-      ["Escape", toggle]
+      ["Escape", toggle],
    ]);
 
    return (
       <div>
          <EntityTable
             classNames={{ value: "line-clamp-1 truncate max-w-52 text-nowrap" }}
-            data={container.data ?? []}
+            data={container ?? []}
             entity={entity}
+            select={query.select}
             total={container.meta?.count}
             page={query.page}
             onClickRow={onClickRow}
diff --git a/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.$id.tsx b/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.$id.tsx
index a914c3d..2a17c43 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.$id.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.$id.tsx
@@ -262,18 +262,18 @@ function EntityDetailInner({
       navigate(routes.data.entity.edit(other.entity.name, row.id));
    }
 
-   function handleClickNew() {
-      try {
+   let handleClickNew: any;
+   try {
+      if (other.entity.type !== "system") {
          const ref = relation.getReferenceQuery(other.entity, id, other.reference);
-
-         navigate(routes.data.entity.create(other.entity.name), {
-            query: ref.where
-         });
-         //navigate(routes.data.entity.create(other.entity.name) + `?${query}`);
-      } catch (e) {
-         console.error("handleClickNew", e);
+         handleClickNew = () => {
+            navigate(routes.data.entity.create(other.entity.name), {
+               query: ref.where
+            });
+            //navigate(routes.data.entity.create(other.entity.name) + `?${query}`);
+         };
       }
-   }
+   } catch (e) {}
 
    if (!$q.data) {
       return null;
diff --git a/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.create.tsx b/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.create.tsx
index be37370..6569037 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.create.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.create.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export function DataEntityCreate({ params }) {
    const entity = $data.entity(params.entity as string);
    if (!entity) {
       return <Message.NotFound description={`Entity "${params.entity}" doesn't exist.`} />;
-   } else if (entity.type !== "regular") {
+   } else if (entity.type === "system") {
       return <Message.NotAllowed description={`Entity "${params.entity}" cannot be created.`} />;
    }
 
diff --git a/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.index.tsx b/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.index.tsx
index 7837785..96cdfee 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.index.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/routes/data/data.$entity.index.tsx
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ function EntityCreateButton({ entity }: { entity: Entity }) {
 
    const [navigate] = useNavigate();
    if (!entity) return null;
-   if (entity.type !== "regular") {
+   if (entity.type === "system") {
       const system = {
          users: b.app.config.auth.entity_name,
          media: b.app.config.media.entity_name