diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c246505..beb1613 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,6 +92,22 @@ to exist.
 Publish-Page
 ```
 
+## Compatibility
+
+This program is compatible with the following Microsoft PowerShell runtimes:
+
+- Microsoft PowerShell Desktop >=5
+- Microsoft PowerShell Core >=7
+
+## Runtime Dependencies
+
+This program has no runtime dependencies.
+
+On PowerShell Desktop, however, it is necessary to obtain the 
+`Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility` module for JSON schema verification of the 
+manifest. Whether that's possible for PowerShell Desktop; We do not know. 
+Should the aforementioned module not be present, JSON validation is skipped.
+
 ## Debugging
 
 To display debug messages, set 
@@ -108,7 +124,13 @@ Execute `pwsh scripts/analyze.ps1` to do a static code analysis.
 
 ## Testing
 
-This program requires [Pester v5](https://pester.dev/) to execute it's test suite.
+This program requires [Pester](https://pester.dev/) to execute it's test suite.
+
+The test suite aims to be executable under most circumstances. We've been 
+dropping usage of Pester v5 functionalities so that it works with Pester down 
+to version 3, since Pester v3 is available in PowerShell (5) Desktop by default.
+Due to the security mechanisms implemented in PowerShell Desktop, installing the
+Pester v5 module may not be feasible for some.
 
 Execute `pwsh scripts/test.ps1` to run the entire test suite.
 
@@ -116,9 +138,13 @@ Execute `pwsh scripts/test.ps1` to run the entire test suite.
 
 This program does not adhere to Microsoft's Best-Practices of publishing
 PowerShell modules, in the sense of that it does not use the *PowerShellGet*
-module to do so and uses plain `nuget` CLI instead.
+module to do so and uses the plain `nuget` CLI instead.
 
-Execute `pwsh scripts/pack.ps1` to create a nuget package.
+This program requires [nuget
+CLI](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/install-nuget-client-tools). Be
+aware that the `dotnet nuget` CLI may not be sufficient on some platforms.
 
-Execute `pwsh scripts/publish` to publish the nuget package to
+Execute `pwsh scripts/pack.ps1` to create the nuget package.
+
+Execute `pwsh scripts/publish.ps1` to publish the nuget package to
 [PowerShellGallery](https://www.powershellgallery.com).
diff --git a/src/Manifest.psm1 b/src/Manifest.psm1
index d5627ea..2458ca5 100755
--- a/src/Manifest.psm1
+++ b/src/Manifest.psm1
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 
 
-$script:schema = Get-Content (
-    Join-Path -Path  $PSScriptRoot 'schemas' 'manifest.schema.json'
-) | Out-String
+$script:schema = Get-Content `
+    "$PSScriptRoot/schemas/manifest.schema.json" | Out-String
 
 
 function Get-Manifest
@@ -21,6 +20,11 @@ function Get-Manifest
         [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $File
     )
 
+    Begin
+    {
+        $basePath = Split-Path $File
+    }
+
     Process
     {
         try
@@ -35,9 +39,59 @@ function Get-Manifest
             $raw = '{"Pages":[], "attachments": []}'
         }
 
-        $raw | Test-JSON -Schema $script:schema | Out-Null
+        If ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -eq 'Core')
+        {
+            $raw | Test-JSON -Schema $script:schema | Out-Null
+        }
 
-        $raw | ConvertFrom-JSON
+        $manifest = $raw | ConvertFrom-JSON
+
+        ForEach($pageMeta in $manifest.Pages)
+        {
+            # patching to be an absolute path, the inverse function
+            # (Set-Manifest) must check, whether _Ref is set and substitute for
+            # Ref before writing to filesystem
+            If ($pageMeta.Ref)
+            {
+                $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                -NotePropertyName '_Ref' `
+                                -NotePropertyValue $pageMeta.Ref `
+                                -Force
+
+                $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                -NotePropertyName 'Ref' `
+                                -NotePropertyValue (
+                                     Join-Path $basePath $pageMeta.Ref | Resolve-Path
+                                ) `
+                                -Force
+            }
+        }
+
+        ForEach($attachmentMeta in $manifest.Attachments)
+        {
+            # patching to be an absolute path, the inverse function
+            # (Set-Manifest) must check, whether _Ref is set and substitute for
+            # Ref before writing to filesystem
+            If ($attachmentMeta.Ref)
+            {
+                $attachmentMeta | Add-Member `
+                                -NotePropertyName '_Ref' `
+                                -NotePropertyValue $attachmentMeta.Ref `
+                                -Force
+
+                $attachmentMeta | Add-Member `
+                                -NotePropertyName 'Ref' `
+                                -NotePropertyValue (
+                                     Join-Path $basePath $attachmentMeta.Ref | Resolve-Path
+                                ) `
+                                -Force
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    End
+    {
+        $manifest
     }
 }
 
@@ -62,9 +116,38 @@ function Set-Manifest
 
     Process
     {
+        ForEach($pageMeta in $Manifest.Pages)
+        {
+            # patching to be an absolute path, the inverse function
+            # (Set-Manifest) must check, whether _Ref is set and substitute for
+            # Ref before writing to filesystem
+            If ($pageMeta._Ref)
+            {
+                $pageMeta.Ref = $pageMeta._Ref
+
+                $Manifest.Pages.PSObject.Properties.Remove('_Ref')
+            }
+        }
+
+        ForEach($attachmentMeta in $Manifest.Attachments)
+        {
+            # patching to be an absolute path, the inverse function
+            # (Set-Manifest) must check, whether _Ref is set and substitute for
+            # Ref before writing to filesystem
+            If ($attachmentMeta._Ref)
+            {
+                $attachmentMeta.Ref = $attachmentMeta._Ref
+
+                $Manifest.Attachments.PSObject.Properties.Remove('_Ref')
+            }
+        }
+
         $raw = $Manifest | ConvertTo-JSON
 
-        $raw | Test-JSON -Schema $script:schema
+        If ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -eq 'Core')
+        {
+            $raw | Test-JSON -Schema $script:schema
+        }
 
         if ($Backup)
         {
@@ -136,7 +219,7 @@ function New-AncestralPageGenerationCache {
         {
             $generation = 0
 
-            $pageMeta = $Title ? $Manifest[$Index.$Title] : $pageMeta
+            $pageMeta = If ($Title) {$Manifest[$Index.$Title]} Else {$pageMeta}
 
             $ancestor = $pageMeta.AncestorTitle
 
diff --git a/src/PSConfluencePublisher.psm1 b/src/PSConfluencePublisher.psm1
index 1136573..9d36105 100755
--- a/src/PSConfluencePublisher.psm1
+++ b/src/PSConfluencePublisher.psm1
@@ -33,3 +33,112 @@
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 
 
+function Initialize-Manifest
+{
+    <#
+
+    #>
+    Param(
+        # path of manifest to load
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $Path
+    )
+
+    Begin
+    {
+        $literalPath = Resolve-Path -Path $Path
+    }
+
+    Process
+    {
+        Write-Debug 'loading manifest...'
+
+        $manifest = Get-Manifest $literalPath
+
+        Write-Debug 'creating pages manifest index...'
+
+        $pagesManifestIndex = New-PagesManifestIndex -Manifest $manifest.Pages
+
+        Write-Debug 'creating ancestral page generation cache...'
+
+        $ancestralGenerationCache = New-AncestralPageGenerationCache `
+                                        -Manifest $manifest.Pages `
+                                        -Index $pagesManifestIndex
+
+        Write-Debug 'sorting pages manifest...'
+
+        Optimize-PagesManifest `
+            -Manifest $manifest.Pages `
+            -Lo 0 `
+            -Hi ($manifest.Pages.Count - 1) `
+            -GenerationCache $ancestralGenerationCache | Out-Null
+    }
+
+    End
+    {
+        @{
+            'Path' = $literalPath
+            'Manifest' = $manifest
+            'Index' = @{
+                'Pages' = New-PagesManifestIndex `
+                              -Manifest $manifest.Pages
+                'Attachments' = New-AttachmentsManifestIndex `
+                                    -Manifest $manifest.Attachments
+            }
+        } 
+    }
+}
+
+
+function Initialize-Connection
+{
+    Param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [String]$Host,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [String]$Space,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [String]$PersonalAccessToken
+    )
+
+    Process
+    {
+        Register-PersonalAccessToken `
+            -Host $Host `
+            -Token $PersonalAccessToken | Out-Null
+
+        Test-Connection -Host $Host | Out-Null
+    }
+
+    End
+    {
+        @{
+            'Host' = $Host
+            'Space' = $Space
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
+function Publish-Pages
+{
+    Param(
+        # connection object created through Initialize-Connection
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Collections.Hashtable]$Connection,
+        # manifest object created through Initialize-Manifest
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [PSCustomObject]$Manifest,
+        # 
+        [Parameter()] [Switch]$Strict,
+        # 
+        [Parameter()] [Switch]$Force,
+        # title of page to be published
+        [Parameter()] [String]$Title
+    )
+
+    Process
+    {
+         $Manifest.Manifest.Pages | Publish-Page `
+             -Host $Connection.Host `
+             -Space $Connection.Space `
+             -Title $Title `
+             -Index $Manifest.Index.Pages `
+             -Strict:$Strict `
+             -Force:$Force | Out-Null
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Page.psm1 b/src/Page.psm1
index 2a2f71c..e430ebf 100755
--- a/src/Page.psm1
+++ b/src/Page.psm1
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ function New-Page
         # title of page to be published
         [Parameter()] [string]$Title,
         # pages manifest
-        [Parameter(Mandatory, ValueFromPipeline)] 
-            [Collections.Hashtable[]]$Manifest,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] 
+            [PSCustomObject[]]$Manifest,
         # pages manifest index, mandatory for ancestor lookup
         [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Collections.Hashtable]$Index,
         # flag on whether to fail hard, or just continue
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ function New-Page
 
             ElseIf (-Not $pageMeta.Ref)
             {
-                $errMsg = "no reference to local content for page ``$Title``."
+                $errMsg = ("``$($pageMeta.Title)``: no reference to local " + 
+                           'content for page .')
 
                 If ($Strict) {throw $errMsg}
 
@@ -78,7 +79,10 @@ function New-Page
             ElseIf ($pageMeta.Id)
             {
 
-                Write-Debug "skipping, page already published: $($pageMeta.Id)"
+                Write-Debug (
+                    "New-Page: ``$($pageMeta.Title)``: skipping, already " +
+                    "published ($($pageMeta.Id))"
+                )
 
                 $pageMeta
 
@@ -87,13 +91,29 @@ function New-Page
 
             Else
             {
-                $content = Get-Content -Path $pageMeta.Ref
+                Write-Host "New-Page: ``$($pageMeta.Title)``: creating"
+
+                Try
+                {
+                    $content = Get-Content -Path $pageMeta.Ref | Out-String
+                }
+
+                Catch
+                {
+                    $errMsg = "``New-Page: $($PageMeta.Title)``: $_"
+
+                    If ($Strict) {throw $errMsg}
+
+                    Write-Host $errMsg
+
+                    continue
+                }
 
                 $contentHash = (Get-StringHash $content).Hash
 
                 $transportBody = @{
                     'type' = 'page'
-                    'title' = $Title
+                    'title' = $pageMeta.Title
                     'space' = @{
                         'key' = $Space
                     }
@@ -103,7 +123,7 @@ function New-Page
                             'representation' = 'storage'
                         }
                     }
-                } | ConvertTo-JSON
+                } | ConvertTo-JSON -Depth 5
 
                 Try
                 {
@@ -120,10 +140,12 @@ function New-Page
 
                 Catch
                 {
-                    $errMsg = "skipping ``$pageMeta.Title``: $_"
+                    $errMsg = "skipping ``$($pageMeta.Title)``: $($_)"
 
                     If ($Strict)
                     {
+                        $_
+
                         throw $errMsg
                     }
 
@@ -141,7 +163,7 @@ function New-Page
 
                 $pageMeta | Add-Member `
                                 -NotePropertyName 'Version' `
-                                -NotePropertyValue $response.version.number `
+                                -NotePropertyValue "1" `
                                 -Force
 
                 $pageMeta | Add-Member `
@@ -176,107 +198,224 @@ function Update-Page
 {
     <#
         .SYNOPSIS
-            Add a confluence page
+            Update an existing Confluence page
 
         .DESCRIPTION
 
+            This function is unaware of the publishing status of ancestors and
+            assumes that ancestral hierarchy is maintained through the
+            manifest's item order, therefore an index must be supplied.
+
+            If a page's metadata does not include a reference, it will be
+            treated as a publishing failure and therefore not output the
+            original metadata.
+
+        .OUTPUTS
+
+            When no $Title is provided and the $Manifest array only contains 1
+            page metadata, the ``Count`` attribute is faulty. Why? Don't know.
+
         .EXAMPLE
-            Update-ConfluencePage 
+            Add-ConfluencePage `
                 -Host 'confluence.contoso.com' `
                 -Space 'TIARA' `
                 -Title 'Testitest' `
-                -Manifest @{}
+                -Content @{}
     #>
     Param(
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Host,
-        # The name of the Confluence space to publish to
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Space,
+        # confluence instance hostname
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Host,
+        # name of the Confluence space to publish to
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Space,
         # title of page to be published
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Title,
+        [Parameter()] [string]$Title,
         # pages manifest
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Array] $Manifest,
-        # pages manifest index
-        [Parameter()] [Collections.Hashtable] $Index
+        [Parameter(Mandatory, ValueFromPipeline)] 
+            [PSCustomObject[]]$Manifest,
+        # pages manifest index, mandatory for ancestor lookup
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Collections.Hashtable]$Index,
+        # flag on whether to fail hard, or just continue
+        [Parameter()] [Switch]$Strict,
+        # flag on whether to force update of page, regardless of content
+        [Parameter()] [Switch]$Force
     )
 
+    Begin
+    {
+        $pat = Get-PersonalAccessToken $Host
+    }
+
     Process
     {
-        $pageMeta = Get-PageMeta `
-            -Host $Host `
-            -Space $Space `
-            -Title $Title `
-            -Manifest $Manifest `
-            -Index $Index
-
-        if (-Not $pageMeta.Ref)
+        If ($Title -And $Manifest[$Index.$Title])
         {
-            throw "no reference to local content for page '$Title'."
+            $Manifest = @(
+                $Manifest[$Index.$Title]
+            )
         }
 
-        if (-Not $pageMeta.Id)
+        ForEach($pageMeta in $Manifest)
         {
-            throw "no id for page '$Title'."
-        }
+            If ($Title -And $pageMeta.Title -ne $Title) {continue}
 
-        $content = Get-Content -Path $pageMeta.Ref
+            ElseIf (-Not $pageMeta.Ref)
+            {
+                $errMsg = "no reference to local content for page ``$Title``."
 
-        $hash = (Get-StringHash $content).Hash
+                If ($Strict) {throw $errMsg}
 
-        if ($hash -eq $pageMeta.Hash)
-        {
-            Write-Host "content unchanged, skipping: '$Title'"
+                Write-Host $errMsg
 
-            # yep, this is funny... This behaves like a return statement, because
-            # a cmdlet, treats the input as an array of inputs. We keep it that
-            # way so that all functions can properly act upon pipes. See
-            # additional information on 'Process' blocks.
-            continue
-        }
-
-        # we're not updating this in place, so that we don't have to reset the
-        # value opon failure
-        $version = $pageMeta.Version + 1
-
-        $transportBody = @{
-            'id' = $PageMeta.Id
-            'type' = 'page'
-            'title' = $Title
-            'space' = @{
-                'key' = $Space
+                continue
             }
-            'body' = @{
-                'storage' = @{
-                    'value' = $content
-                    'representation' = 'storage'
+
+            ElseIf (-Not $pageMeta.Id)
+            {
+                $errMsg = "``$($pageMeta.Title)``: unknown page id"
+
+                If ($Strict) {throw $errMsg}
+
+                Write-Host $errMsg
+
+                continue
+            }
+
+            ElseIf (-Not $pageMeta.Version)
+            {
+                Write-Host "``$($pageMeta.Title)``: unknown (current) version"
+
+                $pageMeta
+
+                continue
+            }
+
+            Else
+            {
+                Try
+                {
+                    $content = Get-Content -Path $pageMeta.Ref | Out-String
+                }
+
+                Catch
+                {
+                    $errMsg = "``$Title``: $_"
+
+                    If ($Strict) {throw $errMsg}
+
+                    Write-Host $errMsg
+
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                $version = [Int]($pageMeta.Version) + 1
+
+                $contentHash = (Get-StringHash $content).Hash
+
+                If (
+                    $pageMeta.Hash -And 
+                    $pageMeta.Hash -eq $contentHash -And
+                    -Not $Force
+                )
+                {
+                    Write-Debug (
+                        "Update-Page: ``$($pageMeta.Title)``: skipping, no " +
+                        "content changes"
+                    )
+
+                    $pageMeta
+
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                Else
+                {
+                    Write-Host "``$($pageMeta.Title)``: updating"
+                }
+
+                # status needs to be set as to restore the page, if it is
+                # trashed
+                $transportBody = @{
+                    'id' = $PageMeta.Id
+                    'type' = 'page'
+                    'title' = $pageMeta.Title
+                    'space' = @{
+                        'key' = $Space
+                    }
+                    'body' = @{
+                        'storage' = @{
+                            'value' = $content
+                            'representation' = 'storage'
+                        }
+                    }
+                    'status' = 'current'
+                    'version' = @{
+                        'number' = $version
+                    }
+                } | ConvertTo-JSON -WarningAction 'SilentlyContinue'
+
+                Try
+                {
+                    Invoke-WebRequest `
+                        -Uri ("https://${Host}/rest/api/content/" +
+                              $PageMeta.Id) `
+                        -Method 'Put' `
+                        -Headers @{
+                            'Authorization' = "Bearer $pat"
+                        } `
+                        -ContentType "application/json" `
+                        -Body $transportBody `
+                        -OutVariable rawResponse | Out-Null
+                }
+
+                Catch
+                {
+                    $errMsg = "skipping ``$($pageMeta.Title)``: $_"
+
+                    If ($Strict)
+                    {
+                        $_
+
+                        throw $errMsg
+                    }
+
+                    Write-Host $errMsg
+
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                # response isn't needed since no field will be updated by the
+                # Confluence instance itself
+                #$response = ($rawResponse.Content | ConvertFrom-JSON)
+
+                $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                -NotePropertyName 'Version' `
+                                -NotePropertyValue $version `
+                                -Force
+
+                $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                -NotePropertyName 'Hash' `
+                                -NotePropertyValue $contentHash `
+                                -Force
+
+                If (
+                    ($Title -And $pageMeta.Title -eq $Title) -Or 
+                    $Manifest.Count -eq 1
+                )
+                {
+                    # TODO: further research mechanism of expanding single item
+                    # array pipelines. For now we have to apply the unary
+                    # operator, otherwise we get a wrong count on the output
+                    ,@($pageMeta)
+
+                    break
+                }
+
+                Else
+                {
+                    $pageMeta
                 }
             }
-            'version' = @{
-                'number' = $version
-            }
-        } | ConvertTo-JSON
-
-        Invoke-WebRequest `
-            -Uri "https://${Host}/rest/api/content/$($PageMeta.Id)" `
-            -Method 'Put' `
-            -Headers @{
-                'Authorization' = "Bearer $(Get-PersonalAccessToken $Host)"
-            } `
-            -ContentType "application/json" `
-            -Body $transportBody `
-            -OutVariable rawResponse | Out-Null
-    }
-
-    End
-    {
-        $response = ($rawResponse.Content | ConvertFrom-JSON)
-
-        Update-PageMeta `
-            -Title $Title `
-            -Id $pageMeta.Id `
-            -Version $response.version.number `
-            -Hash $hash `
-            -Manifest $Manifest `
-            -Index $Index
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -284,82 +423,43 @@ function Update-Page
 function Publish-Page
 {
     Param(
-        # title of the page (used for manifest lookup)
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Title,
-        # hostname of Confluence instance
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Host,
-        # name of Confluence space
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Space,
-        # manifest object
-        [Parameter(Mandatory, ValueFromPipeline)] [PSObject] $Meta
+        # confluence instance hostname
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Host,
+        # name of the Confluence space to publish to
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Space,
+        # title of page to be published
+        [Parameter()] [string]$Title,
+        # pages manifest
+        [Parameter(Mandatory, ValueFromPipeline)] 
+            [PSCustomObject[]]$Manifest,
+        # pages manifest index, mandatory for ancestor lookup
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Collections.Hashtable]$Index,
+        # flag on whether to fail hard, or just continue
+        [Parameter()] [Switch]$Strict,
+        # flag on whether to force update of page, regardless of content
+        [Parameter()] [Switch]$Force
     )
 
     Process
     {
-        ForEach($meta in $Meta)
-        {
-            $meta = Get-PageMeta `
-                            -Host $hostname `
-                            -Space $spaceName `
-                            -Title $Title `
-                            -Manifest $Manifest
+        $result = Update-Page `
+                      -Host $Host `
+                      -Space $Space `
+                      -Manifest $Manifest `
+                      -Index $Index `
+                      -Strict:$Strict `
+                      -Force:$Force
 
-            if ($meta.AncestorTitle)
-            {
-                $ancestorPageMeta = Get-PageMeta `
-                                        -Host $hostname `
-                                        -Space $spaceName `
-                                        -Title $pageMeta.AncestorTitle `
-                                        -Manifest $Manifest
+        $result = New-Page `
+                      -Host $Host `
+                      -Space $Space `
+                      -Manifest $result `
+                      -Index $Index `
+                      -Strict:$Strict
+    }
 
-                if (-Not ($ancestorPageMeta -Or $ancestorPageMeta.PageId))
-                {
-                    Write-Host "ancestor, not published, skipping: $Title"
-
-                    continue
-                }
-            }
-
-            if (-Not $pageId)
-            {
-                Write-Host ("create ${_}: $prettyName")
-
-                try {
-                    New-Page `
-                        -Host $hostname `
-                        -Space $spaceName `
-                        -Title $Title `
-                        -Manifest $Manifest
-                }
-
-                catch
-                {
-                    Write-Host "error for '$Title', skipping: $_"
-
-                    continue
-                }
-            }
-
-            else
-            {
-                Write-Host ("update ${_} (${pageId}): $prettyName")
-
-                try
-                {
-                    Update-Page `
-                        -Host $hostname `
-                        -Space $Space `
-                        -Title $Title `
-                        -Manifest $Manifest
-                }
-
-                catch
-                {
-                    Write-Host "error for '$Title', skipping: $_"
-
-                    continue
-                }
-            }
-        }
+    End
+    {
+        $result
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/PageMeta.psm1 b/src/PageMeta.psm1
index cb998ba..9927c68 100755
--- a/src/PageMeta.psm1
+++ b/src/PageMeta.psm1
@@ -1,60 +1,7 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env pwsh
+
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 
 
-function Get-PageMetaCache
-{
-    <#
-        .SYNOPSIS
-            Get a locally indexed/cached Confluence page id
-
-        .EXAMPLE
-            Get-PageMetaCache `
-                 -Title 'Page Title' `
-                 -Manifest @() `
-                 -Index @{}
-
-        .NOTES
-            To test or not to test, that is the question... Since the
-            `Test-JSON` cmdlet requires serialized JSON, but we are working with
-            the deserialized Hashtable, it's too computationally intense to
-            always test the input upon every call. We therefore only make sure, 
-            that correct data is written to the filesystem. For the rest, each 
-            function is responsible for themself (learned that that's a valid 
-            reflexive pronoun today 🤓).
-
-            This function is lucky to get this note, because it's at the top 💯. 
-            Of course this applies to every function.
-    #>
-    Param(
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Title,
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Array] $Manifest,
-        [Parameter()] [Collections.Hashtable] $Index
-    )
-
-    Process
-    {
-        If ($Index -And $Manifest.Count -gt 0 -And $Manifest[$Index.$Title])
-        {
-            $Manifest[$Index.$Title]
-        }
-
-        Else
-        {
-            For ($i = 0; $i -lt $Manifest.Count; $i += 1)
-            {
-                If ($Manifest[$i].Title -eq $Title)
-                {
-                    $Manifest[$i]
-
-                    break
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-
 function Get-PageMeta
 {
     <#
@@ -74,127 +21,112 @@ function Get-PageMeta
                  -CacheIndexFile 'confluence-page-cache.json'
     #>
     Param(
+        # Confluence instance hostname
         [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Host,
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Title,
+        # Page title
+        [Parameter()] [string] $Title,
+        # Confluence space id
         [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string] $Space,
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Array] $Manifest,
-        [Parameter()] [Collections.Hashtable] $Index
+        # pages manifest
+        [Parameter(Mandatory, ValueFromPipeline)] [Array] $Manifest,
+        # page metadata index for faster lookup of single page
+        [Parameter()] [Collections.Hashtable] $Index,
+        # force to get metadata from remote
+        [Parameter()] [Switch] $Force = $false,
+        # throw an exception on error
+        [Parameter()] [Switch] $Strict = $true
     )
 
-    Begin
-    {
-         $pageMeta = Get-PageMetaCache `
-             -Title $Title `
-             -Manifest $Manifest `
-             -Index $Index
-    }
-
     Process
     {
-        If ($pageMeta -And $pageMeta.Id)
+        If ($Title -And $Index -And $Manifest[$Index.$Title].Id)
         {
-            $pageMeta
+            $Manifest[$Index.$Title]
 
             return
         }
 
-        $escapedTitle = [Uri]::EscapeDataString($Title)
-
-        #TODO: move this to a separate function
-        $query = "title=${escapedTitle}&spaceKey=${Space}&expand=history"
-
-        Invoke-WebRequest `
-            -Uri "https://${Host}/rest/api/content?$query" `
-            -Method 'Get' `
-            -Headers @{
-                'Authorization' = "Bearer $(Get-PersonalAccessToken $Host)"
-            } `
-            -OutVariable response | Out-Null
-
-        $results = ($response.Content | ConvertFrom-JSON).results
-
-        if ($results.Count -gt 1)
+        ForEach ($pageMeta in $Manifest)
         {
-            throw "more than one result for query: $query"
-        }
+            If ($Title -And $pageMeta.Title -ne $Title) {continue}
 
-        elseif ($results.Count -eq 1) 
-        {
-            Update-PageMeta `
-                -Id $results[0].id `
-                -Version $results[0]._expandable.version `
-                -Title $Title `
-                -Manifest $Manifest
+            If ($pageMeta.Id -And -Not $Force)
+            {
+                Write-Debug "local (cache): $($pageMeta.Title) ($($pageMeta.Id))"
+
+                $pageMeta
+            }
+
+            Else
+            {
+                $escapedTitle = [Uri]::EscapeDataString($pageMeta.Title)
+
+                $query = (
+                    "title=${escapedTitle}&spaceKey=${Space}&expand=version"
+                )
+
+                Invoke-WebRequest `
+                    -Uri "https://${Host}/rest/api/content?$query" `
+                    -Method 'Get' `
+                    -Headers @{
+                        'Authorization' = 'Bearer ' +
+                                          $(Get-PersonalAccessToken $Host)
+                    } `
+                    -OutVariable response | Out-Null
+
+                $results = ($response.Content | ConvertFrom-JSON).results
+
+                If ($results.Count -gt 1)
+                {
+                    $errMsg = "error: more than one result for query: $query"
+
+                    If ($Strict) {throw $errMsg}
+
+                    Write-Host $errMsg
+
+                    $pageMeta
+
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                ElseIf ($results.Count -eq 1) 
+                {
+                    Write-Debug (
+                        "Get-PageMetadata: ``$($pageMeta.Title)``: " +
+                        "updating metadata through remote ($($results[0].id))"
+                    )
+
+                    $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                    -NotePropertyName Id `
+                                    -NotePropertyValue $results[0].id `
+                                    -Force
+
+                    $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                    -NotePropertyName 'Version' `
+                                    -NotePropertyValue `
+                                        $results[0].version.number `
+                                    -Force
+                }
+
+                Else
+                {
+                    Write-Debug "local: $($pageMeta.Title) (no remote)"
+                }
+
+                If (-Not $pageMeta.Hash)
+                {
+                    $content = Get-Content $pageMeta.Ref | Out-String
+
+                    $hash = (Get-StringHash $content).Hash
+
+                    $pageMeta | Add-Member `
+                                    -NotePropertyName 'Hash' `
+                                    -NotePropertyValue $hash `
+                                    -Force
+                }
+
+                $pageMeta
+            }
         }
     }
 }
-
-
-function Update-PageMeta
-{
-    <#
-        .SYNOPSIS
-            Register a Confluence page's metadata in the local cache
-
-        .DESCRIPTION
-            Synchronizes the locally cached page metadata (in manifest) with the
-            data stored by the Confluence instance. Therefore it is required to
-            supply a page id, since this is the reference linking the locally
-            cached page to a published instance of a page.
-
-        .EXAMPLE
-            Update-PageMeta `
-                -Title 'foobar' `
-                -PageId 'pageId' `
-                -Version 9001 `
-                -AncestorTitle 'ancestorTitle' `
-                -Hash 'hash' `
-                -Manifest $mockManifest
-    #>
-    Param(
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $Title,
-        # remote Confluence page instance id
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $Id,
-        [Parameter()] [Int] $Version,
-        [Parameter()] [String] $AncestorTitle,
-        [Parameter()] [String] $Hash,
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [Array] $Manifest,
-        [Parameter()] [Collections.Hashtable] $Index
-    )
-
-    Process
-    {
-        $pageMeta = Get-PageMetaCache `
-                        -Title $Title `
-                        -Manifest $Manifest `
-                        -Index $Index
-
-        If (-Not $pageMeta)
-        {
-            throw "page titled `$Title` not indexed in Manifest."
-        }
-
-        $pageMeta.Id = $Id
-
-        If ($Version)
-        {
-            $pageMeta.Version = $Version
-        }
-
-        If ($AncestorTitle)
-        {
-            $pageMeta.AncestorTitle = $AncestorTitle
-        }
-
-        # if content didn't update, hash stays the same
-        If ($Hash)
-        {
-            $pageMeta.Hash = $Hash
-        }
-
-        Write-Debug "register: $Title -> $PageId"
-
-        $pageMeta
-    }
-}
-