diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 78e5870..fc0a89d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,16 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [3.10.6] - 2026-04-07
+
+### Fixed
+- `visual bind` no longer writes the legacy `Commands` block (SemanticQueryDataShapeCommand) to `visual.json`. PBIR 2.7.0 uses `additionalProperties: false` on the query object, so the `Commands` field is a hard schema violation. Only `queryState` projections are now written.
+- `pbi report validate` and the full PBIR validator no longer flag a missing `layoutOptimization` field as an error. The real Microsoft schema does not list it as required; the previous check was against a stale internal schema.
+- `pbi report set-background` now always writes `transparency: 0` alongside the color. Power BI Desktop defaults a missing `transparency` property to 100 (fully invisible), making the color silently unrendered. The new `--transparency` flag (0-100, default 0) lets callers override for semi-transparent backgrounds.
+
+### Added
+- `--no-sync` flag on `report`, `visual`, `filters`, and `bookmarks` command groups. Suppresses the per-command Desktop auto-sync for scripted multi-step builds. Use `pbi report reload` for a single explicit sync at the end of the script.
+
 ## [3.10.5] - 2026-04-06
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 23f15c5..78016d7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "pbi-cli-tool"
-version = "3.10.5"
+version = "3.10.6"
 description = "CLI for Power BI semantic models and PBIR reports - direct .NET connection for token-efficient AI agent usage"
 readme = "README.pypi.md"
 license = "MIT AND LicenseRef-Microsoft-AS-Client-Libraries"
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/commands/_helpers.py b/src/pbi_cli/commands/_helpers.py
index 9012b51..278eadd 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/commands/_helpers.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/commands/_helpers.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def run_command(
 
 
 def _is_report_write(result: Any) -> bool:
-    """Check if the result indicates a report-layer write."""
+    """Check if the result indicates a report-layer write that should trigger sync."""
     if not isinstance(result, dict):
         return False
     status = result.get("status", "")
@@ -74,11 +74,13 @@ def _is_report_write(result: Any) -> bool:
     if click_ctx is None:
         return False
 
-    # Walk up to the group to find report_path
+    # Walk up to the group to find report_path; also check for --no-sync flag
     parent = click_ctx.parent
     while parent is not None:
         obj = parent.obj
         if isinstance(obj, dict) and "report_path" in obj:
+            if obj.get("no_sync", False):
+                return False
             return True
         parent = parent.parent
     return False
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/commands/bookmarks.py b/src/pbi_cli/commands/bookmarks.py
index 2ae8390..521d928 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/commands/bookmarks.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/commands/bookmarks.py
@@ -15,11 +15,18 @@ from pbi_cli.main import PbiContext, pass_context
     default=None,
     help="Path to .Report folder (auto-detected from CWD if omitted).",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--no-sync",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Skip Desktop auto-sync after write commands. Use for scripted multi-step builds.",
+)
 @click.pass_context
-def bookmarks(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None) -> None:
+def bookmarks(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None, no_sync: bool) -> None:
     """Manage report bookmarks."""
     ctx.ensure_object(dict)
     ctx.obj["report_path"] = path
+    ctx.obj["no_sync"] = no_sync
 
 
 @bookmarks.command(name="list")
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/commands/filters.py b/src/pbi_cli/commands/filters.py
index 33a6525..175fa55 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/commands/filters.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/commands/filters.py
@@ -15,11 +15,18 @@ from pbi_cli.main import PbiContext, pass_context
     default=None,
     help="Path to .Report folder (auto-detected from CWD if omitted).",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--no-sync",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Skip Desktop auto-sync after write commands. Use for scripted multi-step builds.",
+)
 @click.pass_context
-def filters(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None) -> None:
+def filters(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None, no_sync: bool) -> None:
     """Manage page and visual filters."""
     ctx.ensure_object(dict)
     ctx.obj["report_path"] = path
+    ctx.obj["no_sync"] = no_sync
 
 
 @filters.command(name="list")
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/commands/report.py b/src/pbi_cli/commands/report.py
index 4ea94ca..21571b6 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/commands/report.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/commands/report.py
@@ -17,11 +17,18 @@ from pbi_cli.main import PbiContext, pass_context
     default=None,
     help="Path to .Report folder (auto-detected from CWD if omitted).",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--no-sync",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Skip Desktop auto-sync after write commands. Use for scripted multi-step builds.",
+)
 @click.pass_context
-def report(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None) -> None:
+def report(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None, no_sync: bool) -> None:
     """Manage Power BI PBIR reports (pages, themes, validation)."""
     ctx.ensure_object(dict)
     ctx.obj["report_path"] = path
+    ctx.obj["no_sync"] = no_sync
 
 
 @report.command()
@@ -195,9 +202,19 @@ def diff_theme(ctx: PbiContext, click_ctx: click.Context, file: str) -> None:
 @report.command(name="set-background")
 @click.argument("page_name")
 @click.option("--color", "-c", required=True, help="Hex color e.g. '#F8F9FA'.")
+@click.option(
+    "--transparency",
+    "-t",
+    default=0,
+    show_default=True,
+    type=click.IntRange(0, 100),
+    help="Transparency 0 (opaque) to 100 (invisible). Defaults to 0 so the color is visible.",
+)
 @click.pass_context
 @pass_context
-def set_background(ctx: PbiContext, click_ctx: click.Context, page_name: str, color: str) -> None:
+def set_background(
+    ctx: PbiContext, click_ctx: click.Context, page_name: str, color: str, transparency: int
+) -> None:
     """Set the background color of a page."""
     from pbi_cli.core.pbir_path import resolve_report_path
     from pbi_cli.core.report_backend import page_set_background
@@ -210,6 +227,7 @@ def set_background(ctx: PbiContext, click_ctx: click.Context, page_name: str, co
         definition_path=definition_path,
         page_name=page_name,
         color=color,
+        transparency=transparency,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/commands/visual.py b/src/pbi_cli/commands/visual.py
index a1936d7..75118d8 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/commands/visual.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/commands/visual.py
@@ -15,11 +15,18 @@ from pbi_cli.main import PbiContext, pass_context
     default=None,
     help="Path to .Report folder (auto-detected from CWD if omitted).",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--no-sync",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Skip Desktop auto-sync after write commands. Use for scripted multi-step builds.",
+)
 @click.pass_context
-def visual(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None) -> None:
+def visual(ctx: click.Context, path: str | None, no_sync: bool) -> None:
     """Manage visuals in PBIR report pages."""
     ctx.ensure_object(dict)
     ctx.obj["report_path"] = path
+    ctx.obj["no_sync"] = no_sync
 
 
 def _get_report_path(click_ctx: click.Context) -> str | None:
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/core/pbir_validators.py b/src/pbi_cli/core/pbir_validators.py
index bf5276a..5615b90 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/core/pbir_validators.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/core/pbir_validators.py
@@ -163,11 +163,6 @@ def _validate_report_json(definition_path: Path) -> list[ValidationResult]:
                 ValidationResult("warning", "report.json", "themeCollection missing 'baseTheme'")
             )
 
-    if "layoutOptimization" not in data:
-        findings.append(
-            ValidationResult("error", "report.json", "Missing required 'layoutOptimization'")
-        )
-
     return findings
 
 
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/core/report_backend.py b/src/pbi_cli/core/report_backend.py
index d954158..c81a3c6 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/core/report_backend.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/core/report_backend.py
@@ -240,8 +240,6 @@ def report_validate(definition_path: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
             data = _read_json(report_json)
             if "themeCollection" not in data:
                 errors.append("report.json missing required 'themeCollection'")
-            if "layoutOptimization" not in data:
-                errors.append("report.json missing required 'layoutOptimization'")
         except json.JSONDecodeError:
             pass  # Already caught above
 
@@ -420,14 +418,21 @@ def page_set_background(
     definition_path: Path,
     page_name: str,
     color: str,
+    transparency: int = 0,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Set the background color of a page.
 
     Updates the ``objects.background`` property in ``page.json``.
     The color must be a hex string, e.g. ``'#F8F9FA'``.
+
+    ``transparency`` is 0 (fully opaque) to 100 (fully transparent). Desktop
+    defaults missing transparency to 100 (invisible), so this function always
+    writes it explicitly. Pass a value to override.
     """
     if not re.fullmatch(r"#[0-9A-Fa-f]{3,8}", color):
         raise PbiCliError(f"Invalid color '{color}' -- expected hex format like '#F8F9FA'.")
+    if not 0 <= transparency <= 100:
+        raise PbiCliError(f"Invalid transparency '{transparency}' -- must be 0-100.")
 
     page_dir = get_page_dir(definition_path, page_name)
     page_json_path = page_dir / "page.json"
@@ -437,12 +442,18 @@ def page_set_background(
     page_data = _read_json(page_json_path)
     background_entry = {
         "properties": {
-            "color": {"solid": {"color": {"expr": {"Literal": {"Value": f"'{color}'"}}}}}
+            "color": {"solid": {"color": {"expr": {"Literal": {"Value": f"'{color}'"}}}}},
+            "transparency": {"expr": {"Literal": {"Value": f"{transparency}D"}}},
         }
     }
     objects = {**page_data.get("objects", {}), "background": [background_entry]}
     _write_json(page_json_path, {**page_data, "objects": objects})
-    return {"status": "updated", "page": page_name, "background_color": color}
+    return {
+        "status": "updated",
+        "page": page_name,
+        "background_color": color,
+        "transparency": transparency,
+    }
 
 
 def page_set_visibility(
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/core/visual_backend.py b/src/pbi_cli/core/visual_backend.py
index f49b2e3..e3142ed 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/core/visual_backend.py
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/core/visual_backend.py
@@ -206,10 +206,10 @@ def _build_visual_json(
     """Fill placeholders in a template string and return parsed JSON."""
     filled = (
         template_str.replace("__VISUAL_NAME__", name)
-        .replace("__X__", str(x))
-        .replace("__Y__", str(y))
-        .replace("__WIDTH__", str(width))
-        .replace("__HEIGHT__", str(height))
+        .replace("__X__", str(int(x)))
+        .replace("__Y__", str(int(y)))
+        .replace("__WIDTH__", str(int(width)))
+        .replace("__HEIGHT__", str(int(height)))
         .replace("__Z__", str(z))
         .replace("__TAB_ORDER__", str(tab_order))
     )
@@ -566,11 +566,6 @@ def visual_bind(
     query = visual_config.setdefault("query", {})
     query_state = query.setdefault("queryState", {})
 
-    # Collect existing Commands From/Select to merge (fix: don't overwrite)
-    from_entities: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] = {}
-    select_items: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
-    _collect_existing_commands(query, from_entities, select_items)
-
     role_map = ROLE_ALIASES.get(visual_type, {})
     applied: list[dict[str, str]] = []
 
@@ -588,14 +583,6 @@ def visual_bind(
         # Determine measure vs column: explicit flag, or role-based heuristic
         is_measure = force_measure or pbir_role in MEASURE_ROLES
 
-        # Track source alias for Commands block (use full name to avoid collisions)
-        source_alias = table.replace(" ", "_").lower() if table else "t"
-        from_entities[source_alias] = {
-            "Name": source_alias,
-            "Entity": table,
-            "Type": 0,
-        }
-
         # Build queryState projection (uses Entity directly, matching Desktop)
         query_ref = f"{table}.{column}"
         if is_measure:
@@ -613,38 +600,18 @@ def visual_bind(
                 }
             }
 
-        projection = {
+        projection: dict[str, Any] = {
             "field": field_expr,
             "queryRef": query_ref,
             "nativeQueryRef": column,
         }
+        if not is_measure:
+            projection["active"] = True
 
         # Add to query state
         role_state = query_state.setdefault(pbir_role, {"projections": []})
         role_state["projections"].append(projection)
 
-        # Build Commands select item (uses Source alias)
-        if is_measure:
-            cmd_field_expr: dict[str, Any] = {
-                "Measure": {
-                    "Expression": {"SourceRef": {"Source": source_alias}},
-                    "Property": column,
-                }
-            }
-        else:
-            cmd_field_expr = {
-                "Column": {
-                    "Expression": {"SourceRef": {"Source": source_alias}},
-                    "Property": column,
-                }
-            }
-        select_items.append(
-            {
-                **cmd_field_expr,
-                "Name": query_ref,
-            }
-        )
-
         applied.append(
             {
                 "role": pbir_role,
@@ -653,20 +620,6 @@ def visual_bind(
             }
         )
 
-    # Set the semantic query Commands block (merges with existing)
-    if from_entities and select_items:
-        query["Commands"] = [
-            {
-                "SemanticQueryDataShapeCommand": {
-                    "Query": {
-                        "Version": 2,
-                        "From": list(from_entities.values()),
-                        "Select": select_items,
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        ]
-
     data["visual"] = visual_config
     _write_json(vfile, data)
 
@@ -714,21 +667,6 @@ def _summarize_field(field: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
     return str(field)
 
 
-def _collect_existing_commands(
-    query: dict[str, Any],
-    from_entities: dict[str, dict[str, Any]],
-    select_items: list[dict[str, Any]],
-) -> None:
-    """Extract existing From entities and Select items from Commands block."""
-    for cmd in query.get("Commands", []):
-        sq = cmd.get("SemanticQueryDataShapeCommand", {}).get("Query", {})
-        for entity in sq.get("From", []):
-            name = entity.get("Name", "")
-            if name:
-                from_entities[name] = entity
-        select_items.extend(sq.get("Select", []))
-
-
 def _next_y_position(definition_path: Path, page_name: str) -> float:
     """Calculate the next y position to avoid overlap with existing visuals."""
     visuals_dir = definition_path / "pages" / page_name / "visuals"
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/actionButton.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/actionButton.json
index 7ee5a01..8e6eac6 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/actionButton.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/actionButton.json
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
   },
   "visual": {
     "visualType": "actionButton",
-    "objects": {},
     "visualContainerObjects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   },
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/advancedSlicerVisual.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/advancedSlicerVisual.json
index 924a009..e807e50 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/advancedSlicerVisual.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/advancedSlicerVisual.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/areaChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/areaChart.json
index 873f3c1..a65cc27 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/areaChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/areaChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/azureMap.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/azureMap.json
index 2c85ee3..62a1e27 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/azureMap.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/azureMap.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/barChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/barChart.json
index 2dca43c..5c9e693 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/barChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/barChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/card.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/card.json
index cbfd2c8..acd85ac 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/card.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/card.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardNew.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardNew.json
index b9d9cdd..672c357 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardNew.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardNew.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardVisual.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardVisual.json
index 0b7c2e2..8bbeec2 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardVisual.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/cardVisual.json
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
         "isDefaultSort": true
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "visualContainerObjects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredBarChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredBarChart.json
index 63603b0..d42551b 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredBarChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredBarChart.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         "Legend": {"projections": []}
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredColumnChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredColumnChart.json
index dc99792..bee086a 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredColumnChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/clusteredColumnChart.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         "Legend": {"projections": []}
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/columnChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/columnChart.json
index c8a2a2e..9706972 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/columnChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/columnChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/donutChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/donutChart.json
index 80da37e..5532643 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/donutChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/donutChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/funnelChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/funnelChart.json
index 9d3348b..87d7a92 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/funnelChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/funnelChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/gauge.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/gauge.json
index 640a8bb..4fb0b44 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/gauge.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/gauge.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/image.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/image.json
index 5a38429..654a681 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/image.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/image.json
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
   },
   "visual": {
     "visualType": "image",
-    "objects": {},
     "visualContainerObjects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   },
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/kpi.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/kpi.json
index c7832be..0e13a6e 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/kpi.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/kpi.json
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineChart.json
index 1abb4f3..f0f1826 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineStackedColumnComboChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineStackedColumnComboChart.json
index 971090d..b39d6ba 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineStackedColumnComboChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/lineStackedColumnComboChart.json
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/listSlicer.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/listSlicer.json
index edda0bd..432d6c6 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/listSlicer.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/listSlicer.json
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
         "Values": {"projections": [], "active": true}
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/multiRowCard.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/multiRowCard.json
index 004cc20..411a221 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/multiRowCard.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/multiRowCard.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pageNavigator.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pageNavigator.json
index a103b88..b70677e 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pageNavigator.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pageNavigator.json
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
   },
   "visual": {
     "visualType": "pageNavigator",
-    "objects": {},
     "visualContainerObjects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   },
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pivotTable.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pivotTable.json
index 5e31080..9a0f0c0 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pivotTable.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/pivotTable.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/ribbonChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/ribbonChart.json
index 4eb073d..c6893d4 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/ribbonChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/ribbonChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/scatterChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/scatterChart.json
index 4c49108..f455848 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/scatterChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/scatterChart.json
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/shape.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/shape.json
index 0db88ef..0d0a709 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/shape.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/shape.json
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
   },
   "visual": {
     "visualType": "shape",
-    "objects": {},
     "visualContainerObjects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   },
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/slicer.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/slicer.json
index 04911d5..363aedb 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/slicer.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/slicer.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/stackedBarChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/stackedBarChart.json
index 0715c5d..aa8434c 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/stackedBarChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/stackedBarChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/tableEx.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/tableEx.json
index 7e571fa..817d50f 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/tableEx.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/tableEx.json
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textSlicer.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textSlicer.json
index 124ca03..a52e9cd 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textSlicer.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textSlicer.json
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
         "Values": {"projections": []}
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textbox.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textbox.json
index 3d390ae..5d047b8 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textbox.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/textbox.json
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
   },
   "visual": {
     "visualType": "textbox",
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/treemap.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/treemap.json
index 0638bdc..e21fca3 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/treemap.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/treemap.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/waterfallChart.json b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/waterfallChart.json
index 78a7a37..fb44448 100644
--- a/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/waterfallChart.json
+++ b/src/pbi_cli/templates/visuals/waterfallChart.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "objects": {},
     "drillFilterOtherVisuals": true
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_hardening.py b/tests/test_hardening.py
index 41b0034..1799341 100644
--- a/tests/test_hardening.py
+++ b/tests/test_hardening.py
@@ -159,14 +159,8 @@ class TestBindMerge:
         assert len(query["queryState"]["Category"]["projections"]) == 1
         assert len(query["queryState"]["Y"]["projections"]) == 1
 
-        # Commands block should have both From entities
-        cmds = query["Commands"][0]["SemanticQueryDataShapeCommand"]["Query"]
-        from_names = {e["Entity"] for e in cmds["From"]}
-        assert "Date" in from_names
-        assert "Sales" in from_names
-
-        # Commands Select should have both fields
-        assert len(cmds["Select"]) == 2
+        # PBIR 2.7.0: Commands is a legacy binary format field - must not be present
+        assert "Commands" not in query
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tests/test_pbir_validators.py b/tests/test_pbir_validators.py
index e515d3a..8e00747 100644
--- a/tests/test_pbir_validators.py
+++ b/tests/test_pbir_validators.py
@@ -115,18 +115,6 @@ class TestValidateReportFull:
         assert result["valid"] is False
         assert any("themeCollection" in e["message"] for e in result["errors"])
 
-    def test_missing_layout_optimization(self, valid_report: Path) -> None:
-        _write(
-            valid_report / "report.json",
-            {
-                "$schema": "...",
-                "themeCollection": {"baseTheme": {"name": "CY24SU06"}},
-            },
-        )
-        result = validate_report_full(valid_report)
-        assert result["valid"] is False
-        assert any("layoutOptimization" in e["message"] for e in result["errors"])
-
     def test_page_missing_required_fields(self, valid_report: Path) -> None:
         _write(
             valid_report / "pages" / "page1" / "page.json",
diff --git a/tests/test_report_backend.py b/tests/test_report_backend.py
index 2269219..807da7f 100644
--- a/tests/test_report_backend.py
+++ b/tests/test_report_backend.py
@@ -442,20 +442,6 @@ class TestReportValidate:
         assert result["valid"] is False
         assert any("themeCollection" in e for e in result["errors"])
 
-    def test_report_validate_missing_layout_optimization(self, sample_report: Path) -> None:
-        """report.json without 'layoutOptimization' is invalid."""
-        _write(
-            sample_report / "report.json",
-            {
-                "$schema": _SCHEMA_REPORT,
-                "themeCollection": {"baseTheme": {}},
-            },
-        )
-
-        result = report_validate(sample_report)
-        assert result["valid"] is False
-        assert any("layoutOptimization" in e for e in result["errors"])
-
     def test_report_validate_page_missing_page_json(self, sample_report: Path) -> None:
         """A page folder without page.json is flagged as invalid."""
         orphan_page = sample_report / "pages" / "orphan_page"
@@ -1020,9 +1006,24 @@ def test_page_set_background_writes_color(sample_report: Path) -> None:
     result = page_set_background(sample_report, "page1", "#F8F9FA")
     assert result["status"] == "updated"
     assert result["background_color"] == "#F8F9FA"
+    assert result["transparency"] == 0
     page_data = _read(sample_report / "pages" / "page1" / "page.json")
-    bg = page_data["objects"]["background"][0]["properties"]["color"]
-    assert bg["solid"]["color"]["expr"]["Literal"]["Value"] == "'#F8F9FA'"
+    props = page_data["objects"]["background"][0]["properties"]
+    assert props["color"]["solid"]["color"]["expr"]["Literal"]["Value"] == "'#F8F9FA'"
+    # transparency must always be written so Desktop renders the color as opaque
+    assert props["transparency"]["expr"]["Literal"]["Value"] == "0D"
+
+
+def test_page_set_background_custom_transparency(sample_report: Path) -> None:
+    result = page_set_background(sample_report, "page1", "#0E1117", transparency=50)
+    assert result["transparency"] == 50
+    props = _read(sample_report / "pages" / "page1" / "page.json")["objects"]["background"][0]["properties"]
+    assert props["transparency"]["expr"]["Literal"]["Value"] == "50D"
+
+
+def test_page_set_background_rejects_invalid_transparency(sample_report: Path) -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(PbiCliError, match="Invalid transparency"):
+        page_set_background(sample_report, "page1", "#000000", transparency=101)
 
 
 def test_page_set_background_preserves_other_objects(sample_report: Path) -> None:
@@ -1110,6 +1111,7 @@ def test_page_set_background_accepts_valid_color(sample_report: Path) -> None:
     result = page_set_background(sample_report, "page1", "#F8F9FA")
     assert result["status"] == "updated"
     assert result["background_color"] == "#F8F9FA"
+    assert result["transparency"] == 0
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tests/test_visual_backend.py b/tests/test_visual_backend.py
index cbcb7e0..89a91cf 100644
--- a/tests/test_visual_backend.py
+++ b/tests/test_visual_backend.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def test_visual_add_matrix(report_with_page: Path) -> None:
 
 
 def test_visual_add_custom_position(report_with_page: Path) -> None:
-    """Explicitly provided x, y, width, height are stored verbatim."""
+    """Explicitly provided x, y, width, height are stored as integers, not floats."""
     result = visual_add(
         report_with_page,
         "test_page",
@@ -206,18 +206,35 @@ def test_visual_add_custom_position(report_with_page: Path) -> None:
         height=450.0,
     )
 
-    assert result["x"] == 100.0
-    assert result["y"] == 200.0
-    assert result["width"] == 600.0
-    assert result["height"] == 450.0
+    assert result["x"] == 100
+    assert result["y"] == 200
+    assert result["width"] == 600
+    assert result["height"] == 450
 
     vfile = report_with_page / "pages" / "test_page" / "visuals" / "positioned" / "visual.json"
     data = json.loads(vfile.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
     pos = data["position"]
-    assert pos["x"] == 100.0
-    assert pos["y"] == 200.0
-    assert pos["width"] == 600.0
-    assert pos["height"] == 450.0
+    assert pos["x"] == 100
+    assert pos["y"] == 200
+    assert pos["width"] == 600
+    assert pos["height"] == 450
+    # Positions must be integers, not floats (Desktop normalises to int)
+    assert isinstance(pos["x"], int)
+    assert isinstance(pos["y"], int)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 7b. visual_add - no empty objects key
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_visual_add_no_empty_objects(report_with_page: Path) -> None:
+    """Scaffolded visuals must not contain an empty 'objects' key."""
+    visual_add(report_with_page, "test_page", "bar_chart", name="clean_bar")
+    vfile = report_with_page / "pages" / "test_page" / "visuals" / "clean_bar" / "visual.json"
+    data = json.loads(vfile.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    assert "objects" not in data.get("visual", {}), \
+        "visual.json must not contain empty 'objects: {}' -- Desktop strips it and schema validators reject it"
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -357,19 +374,19 @@ def test_visual_update_position(report_with_page: Path) -> None:
 
     assert result["status"] == "updated"
     assert result["name"] == "movable"
-    assert result["position"]["x"] == 50.0
-    assert result["position"]["y"] == 75.0
-    assert result["position"]["width"] == 350.0
-    assert result["position"]["height"] == 250.0
+    assert result["position"]["x"] == 50
+    assert result["position"]["y"] == 75
+    assert result["position"]["width"] == 350
+    assert result["position"]["height"] == 250
 
     # Confirm the file on disk reflects the change
     vfile = report_with_page / "pages" / "test_page" / "visuals" / "movable" / "visual.json"
     data = json.loads(vfile.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
     pos = data["position"]
-    assert pos["x"] == 50.0
-    assert pos["y"] == 75.0
-    assert pos["width"] == 350.0
-    assert pos["height"] == 250.0
+    assert pos["x"] == 50
+    assert pos["y"] == 75
+    assert pos["width"] == 350
+    assert pos["height"] == 250
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -469,8 +486,15 @@ def test_visual_bind_category_value(report_with_page: Path) -> None:
     assert cat_proj["queryRef"] == "Date.Year"
     assert cat_proj["nativeQueryRef"] == "Year"
 
-    # The semantic query Commands block should be present
-    assert "Commands" in data["visual"]["query"]
+    # PBIR 2.7.0: Commands is a legacy binary format field - must not be present
+    assert "Commands" not in data["visual"]["query"]
+
+    # Column (category) projections must have active: true so Desktop renders the axis
+    assert cat_proj.get("active") is True
+
+    # Measure (value) projections must NOT have active: true
+    val_proj = query_state["Y"]["projections"][0]
+    assert "active" not in val_proj
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------