diff --git a/e2e/creatingASimpleGraph.spec.ts b/e2e/creatingASimpleGraph.spec.ts
index f3402a3d..47fb0b56 100644
--- a/e2e/creatingASimpleGraph.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/creatingASimpleGraph.spec.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ test('Creating a Simple Graph', async ({ page }) => {
 
   //click on the input port of the file to open the parameter table modal and highlight the port
   await page.locator('#hello .inputPort').click();
+  
+  // set 'changeable' on the port to true
+  await page.locator('.highlighted .column_Flags button.changeableFlag').click();
+
   //rename the port
   await page.locator('.highlighted .tableFieldDisplayName').fill('testInput');
 
diff --git a/src/Daliuge.ts b/src/Daliuge.ts
index 030a3884..467e1ec1 100644
--- a/src/Daliuge.ts
+++ b/src/Daliuge.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export namespace Daliuge {
         EXECUTION_TIME = "execution_time",
         GROUP_START = "group_start",
         GROUP_END = "group_end",
+        FILE_PATH = "filepath",
     
         INPUT_ERROR_RATE = "input_error_threshold",
         NUM_OF_COPIES = "num_of_copies",
@@ -171,8 +172,8 @@ export namespace Daliuge {
     export const groupStartField = new Field(null, FieldName.GROUP_START, "true", "true", "Is this node the start of a group?", false, DataType.Boolean, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.NoPort);
     export const groupEndField = new Field(null, FieldName.GROUP_END, "true", "true", "Is this node the end of a group?", false, DataType.Boolean, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.NoPort);
 
-    export const branchYesField = new Field(null, FieldName.TRUE, "", "", "The affirmative output from a branch node", false, DataType.Object, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.OutputPort);
-    export const branchNoField  = new Field(null, FieldName.FALSE,  "", "", "he negative output from a branch node", false, DataType.Object, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.OutputPort);
+    export const branchTrueField = new Field(null, FieldName.TRUE, "", "", "The affirmative output from a branch node", false, DataType.Object, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.OutputPort);
+    export const branchFalseField  = new Field(null, FieldName.FALSE,  "", "", "The negative output from a branch node", false, DataType.Object, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.OutputPort);
 
     export const dropClassField = new Field(null, FieldName.DROP_CLASS, "", "", "", false, DataType.String, false, [], false, FieldType.Component, FieldUsage.NoPort);
 
@@ -264,8 +265,8 @@ export namespace Daliuge {
                 Category.Branch
             ],
             fields: [
-                Daliuge.branchYesField,
-                Daliuge.branchNoField,
+                Daliuge.branchTrueField,
+                Daliuge.branchFalseField,
                 Daliuge.dropClassField
             ]
         },
diff --git a/src/Eagle.ts b/src/Eagle.ts
index 470478d2..b2d50408 100644
--- a/src/Eagle.ts
+++ b/src/Eagle.ts
@@ -3824,7 +3824,9 @@ export class Eagle {
         const realSourceNode: Node = RightClick.edgeDropSrcNode;
         const realSourcePort: Field = RightClick.edgeDropSrcPort;
         const realDestNode: Node = nodes[0];
-        let realDestPort = realDestNode.findPortByMatchingType(realSourcePort.getType(), !RightClick.edgeDropSrcIsInput);
+
+        const usages: Daliuge.FieldUsage[] = [RightClick.edgeDropSrcIsInput ? Daliuge.FieldUsage.OutputPort : Daliuge.FieldUsage.InputPort, Daliuge.FieldUsage.InputOutput];
+        let realDestPort = realDestNode.findPortByMatchingType(realSourcePort.getType(), usages);
 
         // if no dest port was found, just use first input port on dest node
         if (realDestPort === null){
@@ -4571,7 +4573,8 @@ export class Eagle {
             if (typeof intermediaryComponent === 'undefined'){
                 intermediaryComponent = new Node("Data", "Data Component", "", Category.Data);
             } else {
-                intermediaryComponent = Utils.duplicateNode(intermediaryComponent);
+                //intermediaryComponent = Utils.duplicateNode(intermediaryComponent);
+                intermediaryComponent = intermediaryComponent.clone().setId(Utils.generateNodeId());
             }
 
             // if edge DOES NOT connect two applications, process normally
@@ -4588,14 +4591,20 @@ export class Eagle {
                         const newName = srcPort.getDisplayText();
                         const newDescription = srcPort.getDescription();
                         destNode.setName(newName);
-                        destPort.setDisplayText(newName);
-                        destPort.setDescription(newDescription);
+
+                        if (destPort.isChangeable()){
+                            destPort.setDisplayText(newName);
+                            destPort.setDescription(newDescription);
+                        }
                     } else {
                         const newName = destPort.getDisplayText();
                         const newDescription = destPort.getDescription();
                         srcNode.setName(newName);
-                        srcPort.setDisplayText(newName);
-                        srcPort.setDescription(newDescription);
+
+                        if (srcPort.isChangeable()){
+                            srcPort.setDisplayText(newName);
+                            srcPort.setDescription(newDescription);
+                        }
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -4629,18 +4638,29 @@ export class Eagle {
             };
 
             // Add the intermediary component to the graph
-            const newNode : Node = this.logicalGraph().addDataComponentToGraph(intermediaryComponent, dataComponentPosition);
+            //const newNode : Node = this.logicalGraph().addDataComponentToGraph(intermediaryComponent, dataComponentPosition);              // DOESN't WORK!! io port is not rendered
+            const newNode = (await this.addNodeToLogicalGraph(intermediaryComponent, Utils.generateNodeId(), Eagle.AddNodeMode.Default))[0]; // WORKS!! (just location is not used)
+
+            newNode.setPosition(dataComponentPosition.x, dataComponentPosition.y);
 
             // set name of new node (use user-facing name)
             newNode.setName(srcPort.getDisplayText());
 
-            // remove existing ports from the memory node
-            newNode.removeAllInputPorts();
-            newNode.removeAllOutputPorts();
 
-            // add InputOutput port for dataType
-            const newInputOutputPort = new Field(Utils.generateFieldId(), srcPort.getDisplayText(), "", "", srcPort.getDescription(), false, srcPort.getType(), false, [], false, Daliuge.FieldType.Application, Daliuge.FieldUsage.InputOutput);
-            newNode.addField(newInputOutputPort);
+
+            // find InputOutput port on node, which matches the source port dataType
+            const inputOutputPort = newNode.findPortByMatchingType(srcPort.getType(), [Daliuge.FieldUsage.InputOutput]);
+            if (inputOutputPort === null){
+                Utils.showNotification("Add Edge Error", "Unable to find suitable port on intermediary component", "danger");
+                reject("Unable to find suitable port on intermediary component");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // if the port is changeable, set its display text and description to match the source port
+            if (inputOutputPort.isChangeable()){
+                inputOutputPort.setDisplayText(srcPort.getDisplayText());
+                inputOutputPort.setDescription(srcPort.getDescription());
+            }
 
             // set the parent of the new node
             // by default, set parent to parent of dest node,
@@ -4657,8 +4677,8 @@ export class Eagle {
             }
 
             // create TWO edges, one from src to data component, one from data component to dest
-            const firstEdge : Edge = new Edge('', srcNode, srcPort, newNode, newInputOutputPort, loopAware, closesLoop, false);
-            const secondEdge : Edge = new Edge('', newNode, newInputOutputPort, destNode, destPort, loopAware, closesLoop, false);
+            const firstEdge : Edge = new Edge('', srcNode, srcPort, newNode, inputOutputPort, loopAware, closesLoop, false);
+            const secondEdge : Edge = new Edge('', newNode, inputOutputPort, destNode, destPort, loopAware, closesLoop, false);
 
             this.logicalGraph().addEdgeComplete(firstEdge);
             this.logicalGraph().addEdgeComplete(secondEdge);
diff --git a/src/Field.ts b/src/Field.ts
index acdd4e59..1d9eece5 100644
--- a/src/Field.ts
+++ b/src/Field.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export class Field {
     private node : ko.Observable<Node>;
     private edges: ko.Observable<Map<EdgeId, Edge>>;
 
+    // run-time only attributes
+    private changeable : ko.Observable<boolean>;
+
     // graph related attributes
     private inputX : ko.Observable<number>;
     private inputY : ko.Observable<number>;
@@ -65,6 +68,9 @@ export class Field {
         this.node = ko.observable(null);
         this.edges = ko.observable(new Map<EdgeId, Edge>());
 
+        // run-time only attributes
+        this.changeable = ko.observable(true); // whether the field can be renamed or not
+
         //graph related things
         this.inputX = ko.observable(0);
         this.inputY = ko.observable(0);
@@ -240,6 +246,15 @@ export class Field {
         return this.precious();
     }
 
+    isChangeable = () : boolean => {
+        return this.changeable();
+    }
+
+    toggleChangeable = () : Field => {
+        this.changeable(!this.changeable());
+        return this;
+    }
+
     updateEdgeId(oldId: EdgeId, newId: EdgeId): void {
         const edge = this.edges().get(oldId);
 
@@ -465,6 +480,7 @@ export class Field {
         this.isEvent(false);
         this.node(null);
         this.edges().clear();
+        this.changeable(true);
 
         return this;
     }
@@ -478,6 +494,7 @@ export class Field {
         const f = new Field(this.id(), this.displayText(), this.value(), this.defaultValue(), this.description(), this.readonly(), this.type(), this.precious(), options, this.positional(), this.parameterType(), this.usage());
         f.encoding(this.encoding());
         f.isEvent(this.isEvent());
+        f.changeable(this.changeable());
         f.node(this.node());
         f.edges(new Map<EdgeId, Edge>());
         for (const edge of this.edges().values()) {
@@ -506,6 +523,7 @@ export class Field {
         f.isEvent = this.isEvent;
         f.node = this.node;
         f.edges = this.edges;
+        f.changeable = this.changeable;
 
         return f;
     }
@@ -544,6 +562,7 @@ export class Field {
         this.usage(src.usage());
         this.encoding(src.encoding());
         this.isEvent(src.isEvent());
+        this.changeable(src.changeable());
 
         // NOTE: these two are not copied from the src, but come from the function's parameters
         this.id(id);
@@ -791,7 +810,7 @@ export class Field {
         };
     }
 
-    static fromOJSJson(data : any) : Field {
+    static fromOJSJson(data : any, changeable: boolean) : Field {
         let id: FieldId = Utils.generateFieldId();
         let name: string = "";
         let description: string = "";
@@ -879,10 +898,11 @@ export class Field {
         const result = new Field(id, name, value, defaultValue, description, readonly, type, precious, options, positional, parameterType, usage);
         result.isEvent(isEvent);
         result.encoding(encoding);
+        result.changeable(changeable);
         return result;
     }
 
-    static fromOJSJsonPort(data : any) : Field {
+    static fromOJSJsonPort(data : any, changeable: boolean) : Field {
         let name: string = "";
         let event: boolean = false;
         let type: Daliuge.DataType = Daliuge.DataType.Unknown;
@@ -908,10 +928,11 @@ export class Field {
         const f = new Field(data.Id, name, "", "", description, false, type, false, [], false, Daliuge.FieldType.Unknown, Daliuge.FieldUsage.NoPort);
         f.isEvent(event);
         f.encoding(encoding);
+        f.changeable(changeable);
         return f;
     }
 
-    static fromV4Json(data: any): Field {
+    static fromV4Json(data: any, changeable: boolean): Field {
         let id: FieldId;
         let name: string;
         let value: string;
@@ -961,6 +982,7 @@ export class Field {
         const f = new Field(id, name, value, defaultValue, description, readonly, type, precious, options, positional, parameterType, usage);
         f.isEvent(event);
         f.encoding(encoding);
+        f.changeable(changeable);
         return f;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Node.ts b/src/Node.ts
index 81bb2d10..13b8926e 100644
--- a/src/Node.ts
+++ b/src/Node.ts
@@ -933,21 +933,10 @@ export class Node {
         return null;
     }
 
-
-    findPortByMatchingType = (type: string, input: boolean) : Field | null => {
-        if (input){
-            // check input ports
-            for (const inputPort of this.getInputPorts()){
-                if (Utils.typesMatch(inputPort.getType(), type)){
-                    return inputPort;
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            // check output ports
-            for (const outputPort of this.getOutputPorts()){
-                if (Utils.typesMatch(outputPort.getType(), type)){
-                    return outputPort;
-                }
+    findPortByMatchingType = (type: string, usages: Daliuge.FieldUsage[]) : Field | null => {
+        for (const port of this.getFields()){
+            if (usages.includes(port.getUsage()) && Utils.typesMatch(port.getType(), type)){
+                return port;
             }
         }
         return null;
@@ -1596,7 +1585,7 @@ export class Node {
         // add fields
         if (typeof nodeData.fields !== 'undefined'){
             for (const fieldData of nodeData.fields){
-                const field = Field.fromOJSJson(fieldData);
+                const field = Field.fromOJSJson(fieldData, !isPaletteNode);
 
                 // if the parameter type is not specified, assume it is a ComponentParameter
                 if (field.getParameterType() === Daliuge.FieldType.Unknown){
@@ -1610,7 +1599,7 @@ export class Node {
         // add application params
         if (typeof nodeData.applicationArgs !== 'undefined'){
             for (const paramData of nodeData.applicationArgs){
-                const field = Field.fromOJSJson(paramData);
+                const field = Field.fromOJSJson(paramData, !isPaletteNode);
                 field.setParameterType(Daliuge.FieldType.Application);
                 node.addField(field);
             }
@@ -1620,7 +1609,7 @@ export class Node {
         if (typeof nodeData.inputAppFields !== 'undefined'){
             for (const fieldData of nodeData.inputAppFields){
                 if (node.hasInputApplication()){
-                    const field = Field.fromOJSJson(fieldData);
+                    const field = Field.fromOJSJson(fieldData, !isPaletteNode);
                     node.inputApplication().addField(field);
                 } else {
                     errorsWarnings.errors.push(Errors.Message("Can't add input app field " + fieldData.text + " to node " + node.getName() + ". No input application."));
@@ -1632,7 +1621,7 @@ export class Node {
         if (typeof nodeData.outputAppFields !== 'undefined'){
             for (const fieldData of nodeData.outputAppFields){
                 if (node.hasOutputApplication()){
-                    const field = Field.fromOJSJson(fieldData);
+                    const field = Field.fromOJSJson(fieldData, !isPaletteNode);
                     node.outputApplication().addField(field);
                 } else {
                     errorsWarnings.errors.push(Errors.Message("Can't add output app field " + fieldData.text + " to node " + node.getName() + ". No output application."));
@@ -1643,7 +1632,7 @@ export class Node {
         // add input ports
         if (typeof nodeData.inputPorts !== 'undefined'){
             for (const inputPort of nodeData.inputPorts){
-                const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(inputPort);
+                const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(inputPort, !isPaletteNode);
                 port.setParameterType(Daliuge.FieldType.Application);
                 port.setUsage(Daliuge.FieldUsage.InputPort);
 
@@ -1662,7 +1651,7 @@ export class Node {
         // add output ports
         if (typeof nodeData.outputPorts !== 'undefined'){
             for (const outputPort of nodeData.outputPorts){
-                const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(outputPort);
+                const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(outputPort, !isPaletteNode);
                 port.setParameterType(Daliuge.FieldType.Application);
                 port.setUsage(Daliuge.FieldUsage.OutputPort);
 
@@ -1682,7 +1671,7 @@ export class Node {
         if (typeof nodeData.inputLocalPorts !== 'undefined'){
             for (const inputLocalPort of nodeData.inputLocalPorts){
                 if (node.hasInputApplication()){
-                    const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(inputLocalPort);
+                    const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(inputLocalPort, !isPaletteNode);
                     port.setParameterType(Daliuge.FieldType.Application);
                     port.setUsage(Daliuge.FieldUsage.OutputPort);
 
@@ -1696,7 +1685,7 @@ export class Node {
         // add output local ports
         if (typeof nodeData.outputLocalPorts !== 'undefined'){
             for (const outputLocalPort of nodeData.outputLocalPorts){
-                const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(outputLocalPort);
+                const port = Field.fromOJSJsonPort(outputLocalPort, !isPaletteNode);
                 port.setParameterType(Daliuge.FieldType.Application);
                 port.setUsage(Daliuge.FieldUsage.InputPort);
 
@@ -1750,7 +1739,7 @@ export class Node {
 
         // add fields
         for (const [id, fieldData] of Object.entries(nodeData.fields)){
-            const field = Field.fromV4Json(fieldData);
+            const field = Field.fromV4Json(fieldData, !isPaletteNode);
             node.addField(field);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/Palette.ts b/src/Palette.ts
index a278e87a..dc8f333c 100644
--- a/src/Palette.ts
+++ b/src/Palette.ts
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ export class Palette {
 
         // add nodes
         for (const [nodeId, nodeData] of Object.entries(dataObject.nodes)){
-            const node = Node.fromV4Json(nodeData, errorsWarnings, false);
+            const node = Node.fromV4Json(nodeData, errorsWarnings, true);
 
             result.nodes().set(nodeId as NodeId, node);
             result.nodes.valueHasMutated();
diff --git a/static/tables.css b/static/tables.css
index 26dfb23d..4c4e57fa 100644
--- a/static/tables.css
+++ b/static/tables.css
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 }
 
 .parameter_table_flags{
-    width: 101px;
+    width: 121px;
 }
 
 .parameter_table_actions{
diff --git a/templates/node_parameter_table.html b/templates/node_parameter_table.html
index 933a5c00..4dfb3948 100644
--- a/templates/node_parameter_table.html
+++ b/templates/node_parameter_table.html
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ <h5 class="bottomWindowHeader">Node Fields Table: <span>(No selection)</span></h
 
                                             <!-- ko if: ParameterTable.getActiveColumnVisibility().displayText() -->
                                                 <td class='columnCell column_DisplayText' data-bind=" css: { selectedTableParameter: ParameterTable.isSelected('displayText', $data) }, eagleTooltip:description">
-                                                    <input class="tableParameter selectionTargets tableFieldDisplayName" placeholder="New Parameter" type="string" data-bind="value: displayText, disabled: ParameterTable.getNodeLockedState($data), valueUpdate: ['afterkeydown', 'input'], click: function(event, data){ParameterTable.select($data.displayText(), 'displayText', $data, $index())}, event:{blur: function(){$(event.target).removeClass('newEmpty')} ,keyup: function(event, data){ParameterTable.select($data.displayText(), 'displayText', $data, $index())}}">
+                                                    <input class="tableParameter selectionTargets tableFieldDisplayName" placeholder="New Parameter" type="string" data-bind="value: displayText, disabled: ParameterTable.getNodeLockedState($data) || !$data.isChangeable(), valueUpdate: ['afterkeydown', 'input'], click: function(event, data){ParameterTable.select($data.displayText(), 'displayText', $data, $index())}, event:{blur: function(){$(event.target).removeClass('newEmpty')} ,keyup: function(event, data){ParameterTable.select($data.displayText(), 'displayText', $data, $index())}}">
                                                     <!-- ko if: Eagle.selectedLocation() === Eagle.FileType.Graph -->
                                                         <!-- ko ifnot: $root.logicalGraph().getActiveGraphConfig()?.hasField($data) -->
                                                         <button class="iconHoverEffect" data-bind="click: function(){ParameterTable.requestAddField($data)}, disabled: !Setting.findValue(Setting.ALLOW_MODIFY_GRAPH_CONFIG) || ParameterTable.getCurrentParamValueReadonly($data), eagleTooltip:'Add Field to Graph Config', style:{'visibility':'hidden'}, clickBubble:false">
@@ -432,6 +432,18 @@ <h5 class="bottomWindowHeader">Node Fields Table: <span>(No selection)</span></h
                                                                 </button>
                                                             <!-- /ko -->
                                                         <!-- /ko -->
+                                                        <!-- ko if: Setting.findValue(Setting.ALLOW_COMPONENT_EDITING)-->
+                                                                <!-- ko if: $data.isChangeable() -->
+                                                                <button type="button" class="changeableFlag" data-bind="click: $data.toggleChangeable, eagleTooltip: 'Parameter is changeable<br/>Click to toggle'" data-bs-placement="left">
+                                                                    <i class="material-symbols-outlined iconHoverEffect">label</i>
+                                                                </button>
+                                                            <!-- /ko -->
+                                                            <!-- ko ifnot: $data.isChangeable() -->
+                                                                <button type="button" class="changeableFlag" data-bind="click: $data.toggleChangeable, eagleTooltip: 'Parameter is not changeable<br/>Click to toggle'" data-bs-placement="left">
+                                                                    <i class="material-symbols-outlined iconHoverEffect">label_off</i>
+                                                                </button>
+                                                            <!-- /ko -->
+                                                        <!-- /ko -->
                                                         <!-- ko ifnot: $data.usage() === Daliuge.FieldUsage.NoPort-->
                                                             <!-- ko if: $data.isEvent() -->
                                                                 <button type="button" data-bind="click: function(){$data.toggleEvent();}, eagleTooltip: 'Port is event port<br/>Click to toggle'" data-bs-placement="left">