fix(webchat): create dashboard sessions from New Chat

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Outbound/security: strip known internal runtime scaffolding such as `<system-reminder>` and `<previous_response>` at the final channel delivery boundary and keep Discord output on targeted tag stripping, so degraded harness replies cannot leak those tags to users. Fixes #73595. Thanks @gabrielexito-stack and @martingarramon.
 - Security/Telegram: load Telegram security adapters in read-only audit/doctor, audit malformed Telegram DM `allowFrom` entries even when groups are disabled, and keep allowlist DM audits from counting stale pairing-store senders, so public/shared-DM risk checks stay accurate. Refs #73698. Thanks @xace1825.
 - Plugins: remove hidden manifest, provider-owner, bootstrap, and channel metadata caches so plugin installs, manifest edits, and bundled-root changes are visible on the next metadata read while keeping runtime/module loader caches for actual plugin code. Thanks @shakkernerd.
-- Control UI/WebChat: create a fresh dashboard session from the New Chat button instead of resetting the current transcript with `/new`, while keeping explicit `/new` reset behavior, preserving in-progress composer state when creation cannot safely switch sessions, and showing retry feedback while sessions are already refreshing. Carries forward #52042 and #52746. Thanks @bobashopcashier and @vincentkoc.
+- Control UI/WebChat: create a fresh dashboard session from the New Chat button instead of resetting the current transcript with `/new`, while keeping explicit `/new` reset behavior, preserving in-progress composer edits during delayed session creation or when creation cannot safely switch sessions, and showing retry feedback while sessions are already refreshing. Carries forward #52042 and #52746. Thanks @bobashopcashier and @vincentkoc.
 - CLI/plugins: use plugin metadata snapshots for install slot selection and add opt-in plugin lifecycle timing traces, so plugin install avoids runtime-loading the plugin registry for metadata-only decisions. Thanks @shakkernerd.
 - fix(plugins): restrict bundled plugin dir resolution to trusted package roots. (#73275) Thanks @pgondhi987.
 - fix(security): prevent workspace PATH injection via service env and trash helpers. (#73264) Thanks @pgondhi987.

ui/src/ui/app-render.helpers.node.test.ts

@@ -589,6 +589,29 @@ describe("createChatSession", () => {
     expect(loadChatHistoryMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(state);
   });
 
+  it("preserves draft and attachment edits made while session creation is in flight", async () => {
+    const state = createChatSessionState();
+    const updatedAttachments = [
+      { id: "att-2", mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,BBB" },
+    ];
+    createSessionAndRefreshMock.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      state.chatMessage = "updated draft";
+      state.chatAttachments = updatedAttachments;
+      return "agent:ops:dashboard:new-chat";
+    });
+    refreshChatAvatarMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    refreshSlashCommandsMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    loadChatHistoryMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    loadSessionsMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+
+    await createChatSession(state);
+
+    expect(state.sessionKey).toBe("agent:ops:dashboard:new-chat");
+    expect(state.chatMessage).toBe("updated draft");
+    expect(state.chatAttachments).toBe(updatedAttachments);
+    expect(loadChatHistoryMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(state);
+  });
+
   it("ignores a stale create response after the active session changes", async () => {
     const state = createChatSessionState();
     createSessionAndRefreshMock.mockImplementation(async () => {

ui/src/ui/app-render.helpers.ts

@@ -617,8 +617,6 @@ export async function createChatSession(state: AppViewState) {
 
   state.lastError = null;
   const previousSessionKey = state.sessionKey;
-  const preservedDraft = state.chatMessage;
-  const preservedAttachments = state.chatAttachments;
   const parentSessionKey = state.sessionsResult?.sessions.some(
     (row) => row.key === previousSessionKey,
   )
@@ -648,6 +646,8 @@ export async function createChatSession(state: AppViewState) {
     return;
   }
 
+  const preservedDraft = state.chatMessage;
+  const preservedAttachments = state.chatAttachments;
   switchChatSession(state, nextSessionKey);
   state.chatMessage = preservedDraft;
   state.chatAttachments = preservedAttachments;