diff --git a/src/Controller/Component/ACLComponent.php b/src/Controller/Component/ACLComponent.php
index ead5a48..a1f06ea 100644
--- a/src/Controller/Component/ACLComponent.php
+++ b/src/Controller/Component/ACLComponent.php
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class ACLComponent extends Component
             'connectLocal' => ['perm_admin'],
             'delete' => ['perm_admin'],
             'edit' => ['perm_admin'],
-            'exposedTools' => ['perm_admin'],
+            'exposedTools' => ['OR' => ['perm_admin', 'perm_sync']],
             'index' => ['perm_admin'],
             'connectorIndex' => ['perm_admin'],
             'view' => ['perm_admin'],
diff --git a/src/Controller/Component/CRUDComponent.php b/src/Controller/Component/CRUDComponent.php
index e2e8fbe..2c4704d 100644
--- a/src/Controller/Component/CRUDComponent.php
+++ b/src/Controller/Component/CRUDComponent.php
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
                 }
             } else {
                 $this->Controller->isFailResponse = true;
-                $validationMessage = $this->prepareValidationError($data);
+                $validationErrors = $data->getErrors();
+                $validationMessage = $this->prepareValidationMessage($validationErrors);
                 $message = __(
                     '{0} could not be added.{1}',
                     $this->ObjectAlias,
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
                 if ($this->Controller->ParamHandler->isRest()) {
                     $this->Controller->restResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->viewData($message, 'json');
                 } else if ($this->Controller->ParamHandler->isAjax()) {
-                    $this->Controller->ajaxResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->ajaxFailResponse($this->ObjectAlias, 'add', $data, $message, $validationMessage);
+                    $this->Controller->ajaxResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->ajaxFailResponse($this->ObjectAlias, 'add', $data, $message, $validationErrors);
                 } else {
                     $this->Controller->Flash->error($message);
                 }
@@ -183,6 +184,21 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
         $this->Controller->set('entity', $data);
     }
 
+    private function prepareValidationMessage($errors)
+    {
+        $validationMessage = '';
+        if (!empty($errors)) {
+            if (count($errors) == 1) {
+                $field = array_keys($errors)[0];
+                $fieldError = implode(', ', array_values($errors[$field]));
+                $validationMessage = __('{0}: {1}', $field, $fieldError);
+            } else {
+                $validationMessage = __('There has been validation issues with multiple fields');
+            }
+        }
+        return $validationMessage;
+    }
+
     private function prepareValidationError($data)
     {
         $validationMessage = '';
@@ -192,7 +208,7 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
                 foreach ($errorData as $key => $value) {
                     $errorMessages[] = $value;
                 }
-                $validationMessage .= __(' {1}', $field, implode(',', $errorMessages));
+                $validationMessage .= __('{0}: {1}', $field, implode(',', $errorMessages));
             }
         }
         return $validationMessage;
@@ -261,14 +277,15 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
                     }
                 }
             } else {
-                $validationMessage = $this->prepareValidationError($data);
+                $validationErrors = $data->getErrors();
+                $validationMessage = $this->prepareValidationMessage($validationErrors);
                 $message = __(
                     __('{0} could not be modified.'),
                     $this->ObjectAlias
                 );
                 if ($this->Controller->ParamHandler->isRest()) {
                 } else if ($this->Controller->ParamHandler->isAjax()) {
-                    $this->Controller->ajaxResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->ajaxFailResponse($this->ObjectAlias, 'edit', $data, $message, $data->getErrors());
+                    $this->Controller->ajaxResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->ajaxFailResponse($this->ObjectAlias, 'edit', $data, $message, $validationErrors);
                 } else {
                     $this->Controller->Flash->error($message);
                 }
@@ -699,7 +716,8 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
                     }
                 }
             } else {
-                $validationMessage = $this->prepareValidationError($data);
+                $validationErrors = $data->getErrors();
+                $validationMessage = $this->prepareValidationMessage($validationErrors);
                 $message = __(
                     '{0} could not be modified.{1}',
                     $this->ObjectAlias,
@@ -707,7 +725,7 @@ class CRUDComponent extends Component
                 );
                 if ($this->Controller->ParamHandler->isRest()) {
                 } else if ($this->Controller->ParamHandler->isAjax()) {
-                    $this->Controller->ajaxResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->ajaxFailResponse($this->ObjectAlias, 'toggle', $message, $validationMessage);
+                    $this->Controller->ajaxResponsePayload = $this->RestResponse->ajaxFailResponse($this->ObjectAlias, 'toggle', $message, $validationErrors);
                 } else {
                     $this->Controller->Flash->error($message);
                     if (empty($params['redirect'])) {
diff --git a/src/Lib/default/local_tool_connectors/SkeletonConnectorExample.php b/src/Lib/default/local_tool_connectors/SkeletonConnectorExample.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce9b62d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Lib/default/local_tool_connectors/SkeletonConnectorExample.php
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+<?php
+// set a namespace for the module
+namespace SkeletonConnector;
+
+// These can be left as is. We want to have access to the commonconnector tools as well as basic http / exception functions
+require_once(ROOT . '/src/Lib/default/local_tool_connectors/CommonConnectorTools.php');
+use CommonConnectorTools\CommonConnectorTools;
+use Cake\Http\Client;
+use Cake\Http\Exception\NotFoundException;
+use Cake\Http\Exception\MethodNotAllowedException;
+use Cake\Http\Client\Response;
+
+class SkeletonConnector extends CommonConnectorTools
+{
+
+    /*
+     *
+     * ====================================== Metainformation block ======================================
+     *
+     */
+    public $description = '';
+    public $connectorName = 'SkeletonConnector';
+    public $name = 'Skeleton';
+    public $version = '0.1';
+
+    // exposed function list and configuration
+    public $exposedFunctions = [
+        'myIndexAction' => [
+            'type' => 'index',
+            'scope' => 'child',
+            'params' => [
+                'quickFilter',
+                'sort',
+                'direction',
+                'page',
+                'limit'
+            ]
+        ],
+        'myFormAction' => [
+            'type' => 'formAction',
+            'scope' => 'childAction',
+            'params' => [
+                'setting',
+                'value'
+            ],
+            'redirect' => 'serverSettingsAction'
+        ]
+    ];
+
+    public function health(Object $connection): array
+    {
+        /*
+            returns an array with 2 keys:
+            [
+                status: the numeric response code (0: UNKNOWN, 1: OK, 2: ISSUES, 3: ERROR),
+                message: status message shown
+            ]
+        */
+        return $health;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     *
+     * ====================================== Exposed custom functions ======================================
+     *
+     */
+
+    public function myIndexAction(array $params): array
+    {
+        // $data = get data from local tool
+
+        //if we want to filter it via the quicksearch
+        if (!empty($params['quickFilter'])) {
+            // filter $data
+        }
+
+        // return the data embedded in a generic index parameter array
+
+        return [
+            'type' => 'index',
+            'title' => false,
+            'description' => false,
+            'data' => [
+                'data' => $data,
+                'skip_pagination' => 1,
+                'top_bar' => [
+                    'children' => [
+                        [
+                            'type' => 'search',
+                            'button' => __('Filter'),
+                            'placeholder' => __('Enter value to search'),
+                            'data' => '',
+                            'searchKey' => 'value',
+                            'additionalUrlParams' => $urlParams
+                        ]
+                    ]
+                ],
+                'fields' => [
+                    [
+                        'name' => 'field1_name',
+                        'sort' => 'field1.path',
+                        'data_path' => 'field1.path',
+                    ]
+                ],
+                'pull' => 'right',
+                'actions' => [
+                    [
+                        'open_modal' => '/localTools/action/' . h($params['connection']['id']) . '/myForm?myKey={{0}}',
+                        'modal_params_data_path' => ['myKey'],
+                        'icon' => 'font_awesome_icon_name',
+                        'reload_url' => '/localTools/action/' . h($params['connection']['id']) . '/myIndex'
+                    ]
+                ]
+            ]
+        ];
+    }
+
+
+    public function myFormAction(array $params): array
+    {
+        if ($params['request']->is(['get'])) {
+            return [
+                'data' => [
+                    'title' => __('My Form Title'),
+                    'description' => __('My form description'),
+                    'submit' => [
+                        'action' => $params['request']->getParam('action')
+                    ],
+                    'url' => ['controller' => 'localTools', 'action' => 'action', h($params['connection']['id']), 'myFormAction']
+                ]
+            ];
+        } elseif ($params['request']->is(['post'])) {
+            // handle posted data
+            if ($success) {
+                return ['success' => 1, 'message' => __('Action successful.')];
+            } else {
+                return ['success' => 0, 'message' => __('Action failed spectacularly.')];
+            }
+        }
+        throw new MethodNotAllowedException(__('Invalid http request type for the given action.'));
+    }
+
+    /*
+     *
+     * ====================================== Inter connection functions ======================================
+     *
+     */
+
+    public function initiateConnection(array $params): array
+    {
+        // encode initial connection in local tool
+        // build and return initiation payload
+        return $payload;
+    }
+
+    public function acceptConnection(array $params): array
+    {
+        // encode acceptance of the connection request in local tool, based on the payload from the initiation
+        // return payload for remote to encode the connection
+        return $payload;
+    }
+
+    public function finaliseConnection(array $params): bool
+    {
+        // based on the payload from the acceptance, finalise the connection
+        // return true on success
+        return $success;
+    }
+}
+
+ ?>
diff --git a/src/Model/Table/BroodsTable.php b/src/Model/Table/BroodsTable.php
index 4502a76..ce783f4 100644
--- a/src/Model/Table/BroodsTable.php
+++ b/src/Model/Table/BroodsTable.php
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ class BroodsTable extends AppTable
 
     public function validationDefault(Validator $validator): Validator
     {
-        return $validator;
+        return $validator
+            ->requirePresence(['name', 'url', 'organisation_id'], 'create')
+            ->notEmptyString('name')
+            ->notEmptyString('url')
+            ->url('url', __('The provided value is not a valid URL'))
+            ->naturalNumber('organisation_id', false);
     }
 
     public function genHTTPClient(Object $brood, array $options=[]): Object
diff --git a/templates/Broods/add.php b/templates/Broods/add.php
index ffd525f..6069870 100644
--- a/templates/Broods/add.php
+++ b/templates/Broods/add.php
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@
                     'field' => 'organisation_id',
                     'label' => __('Owner organisation'),
                     'options' => $dropdownData['organisation'],
-                    'type' => 'dropdown'
+                    'type' => 'dropdown',
+                    'empty' => __('-- pick one --')
                 ),
                 array(
                     'field' => 'trusted',
diff --git a/templates/element/genericElements/Form/Fields/dropdownField.php b/templates/element/genericElements/Form/Fields/dropdownField.php
index 84ea7b8..eb4ea14 100644
--- a/templates/element/genericElements/Form/Fields/dropdownField.php
+++ b/templates/element/genericElements/Form/Fields/dropdownField.php
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?php
     $controlParams = [
         'options' => $fieldData['options'],
+        'empty' => $fieldData['empty'] ?? false,
         'class' => ($fieldData['class'] ?? '') . ' formDropdown custom-select'
     ];
     echo $this->FormFieldMassage->prepareFormElement($this->Form, $controlParams, $fieldData);
diff --git a/templates/element/genericElements/ListTopBar/group_search.php b/templates/element/genericElements/ListTopBar/group_search.php
index 814ffcc..b7b711e 100644
--- a/templates/element/genericElements/ListTopBar/group_search.php
+++ b/templates/element/genericElements/ListTopBar/group_search.php
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
             .click(function() {
                 const url = `/${controller}/filtering`
                 const reloadUrl = `/${controller}/index${additionalUrlParams}`
-                openFilteringModal(this, url, reloadUrl, $(`#table-container-${randomValue}`));
+                openFilteringModal(this, url, reloadUrl, $(`#index-table-${randomValue}`));
             })
 
         function doFilter($button) {
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@
         }
 
         function openFilteringModal(clicked, url, reloadUrl, tableId) {
-            UI.overlayUntilResolve(clicked, UI.submissionModalForIndex(url, reloadUrl, tableId))
+            const modalPromise = UI.submissionModalForIndex(url, reloadUrl, tableId)
+            UI.overlayUntilResolve(clicked, modalPromise)
         }
     });
 </script>
diff --git a/webroot/js/bootstrap-helper.js b/webroot/js/bootstrap-helper.js
index 09e5719..6c4176b 100644
--- a/webroot/js/bootstrap-helper.js
+++ b/webroot/js/bootstrap-helper.js
@@ -996,21 +996,22 @@ class FormValidationHelper {
     injectValidationErrorInForm(fieldName, errors) {
         const inputField = Array.from(this.form).find(node => { return node.name == fieldName })
         if (inputField !== undefined) {
-            const $messageNode = this.buildValidationMessageNode(errors)
+            const $messageNode = this.buildValidationMessageNode(fieldName, errors)
             const $inputField = $(inputField)
             $inputField.addClass('is-invalid')
             $messageNode.insertAfter($inputField)
         } else {
-            const $messageNode = this.buildValidationMessageNode(errors, true)
+            const $messageNode = this.buildValidationMessageNode(fieldName, errors, true)
             const $flashContainer = $(this.form).parent().find('#flashContainer')
             $messageNode.insertAfter($flashContainer)
         }
     }
 
-    buildValidationMessageNode(errors, isAlert=false) {
+    buildValidationMessageNode(fieldName, errors, isAlert=false) {
         const $messageNode = $('<div></div>')
         if (isAlert) {
             $messageNode.addClass('alert alert-danger').attr('role', 'alert')
+            $messageNode.append($('<strong></strong>').text(`${fieldName}: `))
         } else {
             $messageNode.addClass('invalid-feedback')
         }
@@ -1020,7 +1021,7 @@ class FormValidationHelper {
                 if (hasMultipleErrors) {
                     $messageNode.append($('<li></li>').text(error))
                 } else {
-                    $messageNode.text(error)
+                    $messageNode.append($('<span></span>').text(error))
                 }
             }
         } else {