diff --git a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnection.php b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnection.php
index 933062016..d0fab6da6 100644
--- a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnection.php
+++ b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnection.php
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ final class MysqlConnection extends ConnectionAbstract
             || !DatabaseType::isValidValue($this->dbdata['db'])
         ) {
             $this->status = DatabaseStatus::FAILURE;
-            throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+            $this->dbdata['password'] = '****';
+            //throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+
+            return;
         }
 
         $this->close();
@@ -82,7 +85,6 @@ final class MysqlConnection extends ConnectionAbstract
         } catch (\PDOException $e) {
             unset($this->con);
             $this->status = DatabaseStatus::MISSING_DATABASE;
-            throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
         } finally {
             $this->dbdata['password'] = '****';
         }
diff --git a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnection.php b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnection.php
index aa4c7039a..427c72a6a 100644
--- a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnection.php
+++ b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnection.php
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ final class PostgresConnection extends ConnectionAbstract
             || !DatabaseType::isValidValue($this->dbdata['db'])
         ) {
             $this->status = DatabaseStatus::FAILURE;
-            throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+            $this->dbdata['password'] = '****';
+            //throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+
+            return;
         }
 
         $this->close();
diff --git a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnection.php b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnection.php
index 6401edaa3..834619a17 100644
--- a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnection.php
+++ b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnection.php
@@ -74,7 +74,10 @@ final class SQLiteConnection extends ConnectionAbstract
             || !DatabaseType::isValidValue($this->dbdata['db'])
         ) {
             $this->status = DatabaseStatus::FAILURE;
-            throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+            $this->dbdata['password'] = '****';
+            //throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+
+            return;
         }
 
         $this->close();
diff --git a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnection.php b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnection.php
index bab314c42..737a13e1f 100644
--- a/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnection.php
+++ b/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnection.php
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ final class SqlServerConnection extends ConnectionAbstract
             || !DatabaseType::isValidValue($this->dbdata['db'])
         ) {
             $this->status = DatabaseStatus::FAILURE;
-            throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+            $this->dbdata['password'] = '****';
+            //throw new InvalidConnectionConfigException((string) \json_encode($this->dbdata));
+
+            return;
         }
 
         $this->close();
diff --git a/DataStorage/Database/DataMapperAbstract.php b/DataStorage/Database/DataMapperAbstract.php
index 75cd4e0fa..81754c248 100644
--- a/DataStorage/Database/DataMapperAbstract.php
+++ b/DataStorage/Database/DataMapperAbstract.php
@@ -2960,7 +2960,7 @@ class DataMapperAbstract implements DataMapperInterface
         $cachedTables = []; // used by conditionals
 
         foreach (static::$hasMany as $member => $value) {
-            if ($value['writeonly'] ?? false === true || isset($value['column'])) {
+            if ($value['writeonly'] ?? false === true || isset($value['column'])) { // @todo: conflict with getQuery()???!?!?!?!
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -3080,7 +3080,7 @@ class DataMapperAbstract implements DataMapperInterface
         // get HasManyQuery (but only for elements which have a 'column' defined)
         if ($depth > 1 && $relations === RelationType::ALL) {
             foreach (static::$hasMany as $member => $rel) {
-                if (isset($rel['self']) || !isset($rel['column'])) {
+                if (isset($rel['self']) || !isset($rel['column'])) { // @todo: conflict with getHasMany()???!?!?!?!
                     continue;
                 }
 
@@ -3363,6 +3363,7 @@ INSERT INTO `tag_l11n` (`tag_l11n_id`, `tag_l11n_tag`, `tag_l11n_title`, `tag_l1
 */
 
 /* C1: conditional values with priorities
+https://dbfiddle.uk/?rdbms=mariadb_10.4&fiddle=54359372c3481cfee85f423af76665e4
 SELECT
     `tag_3`.`tag_id` as tag_id_3, `tag_3`.`tag_bla` as tag_bla_3,
     `tag_l11n_2`.`tag_l11n_title` as tag_l11n_title_2, `tag_l11n_2`.`tag_l11n_language`
@@ -3390,3 +3391,23 @@ ORDER BY
     `tag_3`.`tag_id` ASC
 LIMIT 25;
 */
+
+/* C2: try this
+SELECT
+    `tag_3`.`tag_id` as tag_id_3,
+    COALESCE(`tag_l11n_2`.`tag_l11n_title`, `tag_l11n_3`.`tag_l11n_title`, `tag_l11n_4`.`tag_l11n_title`) as tag_l11n_title_2
+FROM
+    `tag` as tag_3
+LEFT JOIN
+    `tag_l11n` as tag_l11n_2 ON `tag_3`.`tag_id` = `tag_l11n_2`.`tag_l11n_tag`
+                            AND `tag_l11n_2`.`tag_l11n_language` = 'it'
+LEFT JOIN
+    `tag_l11n` as tag_l11n_3 ON `tag_3`.`tag_id` = `tag_l11n_3`.`tag_l11n_tag`
+                            AND `tag_l11n_3`.`tag_l11n_language` = 'en'
+LEFT JOIN
+    `tag_l11n` as tag_l11n_4 ON `tag_3`.`tag_id` = `tag_l11n_4`.`tag_l11n_tag`
+                            AND `tag_l11n_4`.`tag_l11n_language` NOT IN ('en', 'it')
+ORDER BY
+    `tag_3`.`tag_id` ASC
+LIMIT 25;
+*/
diff --git a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnectionTest.php b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnectionTest.php
index 2a5f94e19..668bd67d3 100644
--- a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/MysqlConnectionTest.php
@@ -52,122 +52,114 @@ class MysqlConnectionTest extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database type returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseType() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         unset($db['db']);
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database host throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database host returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidHost() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         unset($db['host']);
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database port throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database port returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidPort() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         unset($db['port']);
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabase() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         unset($db['database']);
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database login throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database login returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidLogin() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         unset($db['login']);
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database password throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database password returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidPassword() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         unset($db['password']);
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A invalid database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A invalid database type returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseTypeName() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db       = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         $db['db'] = 'invalid';
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A invalid database throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A invalid database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\MysqlConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseName() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['masters']['admin'];
         $db['database'] = 'invalid';
 
         $mysql = new MysqlConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $mysql->getStatus());
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnectionTest.php b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnectionTest.php
index 32db192ed..2b613ee57 100644
--- a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/PostgresConnectionTest.php
@@ -50,100 +50,93 @@ class PostgresConnectionTest extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database type returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseType() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         unset($db['db']);
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database host throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database host returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidHost() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         unset($db['host']);
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database port throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database port returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidPort() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         unset($db['port']);
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabase() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         unset($db['database']);
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database login throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database login returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidLogin() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         unset($db['login']);
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database password throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database password returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidPassword() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         unset($db['password']);
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A invalid database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A invalid database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\PostgresConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseTypeName() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db       = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['postgresql']['admin'];
         $db['db'] = 'invalid';
         $psql = new PostgresConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $psql->getStatus());
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnectionTest.php b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnectionTest.php
index 97367d1b9..309d9d999 100644
--- a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SQLiteConnectionTest.php
@@ -48,31 +48,29 @@ class SQLiteConnectionTest extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database type returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SQLiteConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseType() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['sqlite']['admin'];
         unset($db['db']);
         $sqlite = new SQLiteConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $sqlite->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SQLiteConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabase() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['sqlite']['admin'];
         unset($db['database']);
         $sqlite = new SQLiteConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $sqlite->getStatus());
     }
 
     public static function tearDownAfterClass() : void
diff --git a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnectionTest.php b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnectionTest.php
index 282ac3943..f9bcecf11 100644
--- a/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/DataStorage/Database/Connection/SqlServerConnectionTest.php
@@ -51,115 +51,106 @@ class SqlServerConnectionTest extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database type returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseType() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         unset($db['db']);
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database host throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database host returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidHost() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         unset($db['host']);
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database port throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database port returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidPort() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         unset($db['port']);
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabase() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         unset($db['database']);
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database login throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database login returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidLogin() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         unset($db['login']);
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A missing database password throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A missing database password returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidPassword() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         unset($db['password']);
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A invalid database type throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A invalid database type returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseTypeName() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
         $db       = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         $db['db'] = 'invalid';
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 
     /**
-     * @testdox A invalid database throws a InvalidConnectionConfigException
+     * @testdox A invalid database returns a failure
      * @covers phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Connection\SqlServerConnection
      * @group framework
      */
     public function testInvalidDatabaseName() : void
     {
-        self::expectException(\phpOMS\DataStorage\Database\Exception\InvalidConnectionConfigException::class);
-
-        $db = $GLOBALS['CONFIG']['db']['core']['mssql']['admin'];
         $db['database'] = 'invalid';
 
         $ssql = new SqlServerConnection($db);
+        self::assertEquals(DatabaseStatus::FAILURE, $ssql->getStatus());
     }
 }