diff --git a/extension/Classes/Core/Constants.php b/extension/Classes/Core/Constants.php
index 53885aa27df06085e32308981fec1e9b9bc53484..5ab89fb658317db3d3e1838cdcafda2c1c2ff73e 100644
--- a/extension/Classes/Core/Constants.php
+++ b/extension/Classes/Core/Constants.php
@@ -679,6 +679,7 @@ const DOWNLOAD_POPUP_REQUEST = 'true';
 const DOWNLOAD_POPUP_REPLACE_TEXT = '#downloadPopupReplaceText#';
 const DOWNLOAD_POPUP_REPLACE_TITLE = '#downloadPopupReplaceTitle#';
 const SYSTEM_DRAG_AND_DROP_JS = 'hasDragAndDropJS';
+const SYSTEM_SQL_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD = 'sqlDirect'; // becomes sqlDirectdownload.php, sqlDirectdl.php, sqlDirectdl2.php, sqlDirectdl3.php
 
 const SYSTEM_PARAMETER_LANGUAGE_FIELD_NAME = 'parameterLanguageFieldName';
 const CSS_REQUIRED_RIGHT = 'required-right';
diff --git a/extension/Classes/Core/Helper/OnString.php b/extension/Classes/Core/Helper/OnString.php
index 2c61ad22309209e2523835479a52796183c15dc5..537be5a9c252c8c61b491b9d13155d02f1ef7921 100644
--- a/extension/Classes/Core/Helper/OnString.php
+++ b/extension/Classes/Core/Helper/OnString.php
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 namespace IMATHUZH\Qfq\Core\Helper;
 
 
- 
-
 /**
  * Class OnString
  * @package qfq
@@ -237,7 +235,7 @@ class OnString {
         }
 
         // Empty? do nothing
-       if ($pathInfo == '') {
+        if ($pathInfo == '') {
             return '';
         }
 
@@ -252,16 +250,16 @@ class OnString {
         $rcArrId = array();
         $rcArrForm = array();
 
-        while (count($param)>0) {
+        while (count($param) > 0) {
 
-            $form= array_shift($param);
+            $form = array_shift($param);
             if (!ctype_alnum($form)) {
                 throw new \UserFormException('Expect alphanumeric string', ERROR_BROKEN_PARAMETER);
             }
-            $rcArrForm[]=$form;
+            $rcArrForm[] = $form;
 
             $id = array_shift($param);
-            if (!ctype_digit((string) $id)) {
+            if (!ctype_digit((string)$id)) {
                 throw new \UserFormException('Expect numerical id', ERROR_BROKEN_PARAMETER);
             }
             $rcArrId[] = $id;
@@ -270,6 +268,23 @@ class OnString {
         return $form;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Splits a path '/name1/name2/' to [ 'name1', 'name2' ]
+     *
+     * @param $pathInfo
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public static function splitPathToArray($pathInfo) {
+        $arr = explode('/', $pathInfo);
+        $final = array();
+        foreach ($arr as $item) {
+            if ($item != '') {
+                $final[] = $item;
+            }
+        }
+        return $final;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns true if the subject string contains any of the given words in targets.
      * Case insensitive!
@@ -278,10 +293,8 @@ class OnString {
      * @param string $subject
      * @return bool
      */
-    public static function containsOneOfWords(array $words, string $subject): bool
-    {
-        foreach($words as $word)
-        {
+    public static function containsOneOfWords(array $words, string $subject): bool {
+        foreach ($words as $word) {
             if (preg_match("/\b" . $word . "\b/i", $subject)) {
                 return true;
             }
@@ -297,8 +310,7 @@ class OnString {
      * @param string $needle
      * @return bool
      */
-    public static function strStartsWith(string $haystack , string $needle) : bool
-    {
+    public static function strStartsWith(string $haystack, string $needle): bool {
         return substr_compare($haystack, $needle, 0, strlen($needle)) === 0;
     }
 
@@ -310,8 +322,7 @@ class OnString {
      * @param string $needle
      * @return bool
      */
-    public static function strEndsWith(string $haystack , string $needle) : bool
-    {
+    public static function strEndsWith(string $haystack, string $needle): bool {
         return substr_compare($haystack, $needle, -strlen($needle)) === 0;
     }
 
@@ -323,8 +334,7 @@ class OnString {
      * @param string $needle
      * @return bool
      */
-    public static function strContains(string $haystack , string $needle) : bool
-    {
+    public static function strContains(string $haystack, string $needle): bool {
         return strpos($haystack, $needle) !== false;
     }
 }
diff --git a/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Download.php b/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Download.php
index 9d413834754f0227e488f0137cdf7a8b1f71502c..0f88d75157d40d13f91f277a9849fa896782eecf 100644
--- a/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Download.php
+++ b/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Download.php
@@ -680,6 +680,77 @@ class Download {
         return $pathFilenameThumbnail;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Retrieve SQL query from QFQ config, specific to script name.
+     * Four script names are possible: download.php, dl.php, dl2.php, dl3.php
+     *
+     * @return array   //  [ 'sql' -> 'SELECT "d|F:file.pdf"', 'error' -> 'Record not found']
+     * @throws \CodeException
+     * @throws \DbException
+     * @throws \UserFormException
+     * @throws \UserReportException
+     */
+    private function getDirectDownloadSql() {
+        $scriptName = str_replace('.', '', $this->store->getVar('SCRIPT_NAME', STORE_CLIENT . STORE_EMPTY));
+
+        // Example: /var/www/html/qfq/dl.php >> dl.php
+        $scriptName = substr($scriptName, strrpos($scriptName, '/') + 1);
+
+        $arr['sql'] = $this->store->getVar(SYSTEM_SQL_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD . $scriptName, STORE_SYSTEM . STORE_EMPTY);
+        if ($arr['sql'] == '') {
+            throw new \DownloadException(json_encode([ERROR_MESSAGE_TO_USER => 'Missing SQL',
+                    ERROR_MESSAGE_TO_DEVELOPER => "Missing SQL in QFQ extension config variable: " . SYSTEM_SQL_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD . $scriptName
+                ])
+                , ERROR_MISSING_VALUE);
+        }
+
+        $arr['error'] = $this->store->getVar(SYSTEM_SQL_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD . $scriptName . 'error', STORE_SYSTEM . STORE_EMPTY);
+        return $arr;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return int[]
+     * @throws \CodeException
+     * @throws \DbException
+     * @throws \UserFormException
+     * @throws \UserReportException
+     */
+    private function getDirectDownloadModeDetails() {
+
+        $arr = $this->getDirectDownloadSql();
+
+        // Get, Clean: with  http://localhost/qfq/typo3conf/ext/qfq/Classes/Api/download.php/help is $_SERVER['PATH_INFO']='/help'.
+        $pathInfo = $this->store->getVar('PATH_INFO', STORE_CLIENT . STORE_EMPTY, SANITIZE_ALLOW_ALNUMX);
+
+        $pathInfo = Sanitize::sanitize(urldecode($pathInfo), SANITIZE_ALLOW_ALNUMX);
+        $param = OnString::splitPathToArray($pathInfo);
+
+        // In case there are more question mark than parameter, duplicate the last parameter until enough parameter filled.
+        $last = end($param);
+        $questionMark = substr_count($arr['sql'], '?');
+        while ($questionMark > count($param)) {
+            $param[] = $last;
+        }
+
+        if ($arr['error'] == '') {
+            $arr['error'] = 'Key for download not found.';
+        }
+        // Get cmd which defines the download
+        $param = $this->db->sql($arr['sql'], ROW_EXPECT_1, $param, $arr['error']);
+        // In case there are more than one column: implode
+        $cmd = implode('', $param);
+        // Use the link class only to reuse the parsing code of the download element.
+        $link = new Link(Store::getSipInstance());
+        $s = $link->renderLink($cmd, 'r:8|s:1');
+
+        // Retrieve the generated vars
+        $vars = Store::getSipInstance()->getVarsFromSip($s);
+        $vars[SIP_DOWNLOAD_PARAMETER] = base64_decode($vars[SIP_DOWNLOAD_PARAMETER]);
+        $vars[SIP_SIP] = $s;
+
+        return $vars;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Process download as requested in $vars. Output is either directly send to the browser, or a file which has to be deleted later.
      *
@@ -702,7 +773,13 @@ class Download {
     public function process($vars, $outputMode = OUTPUT_MODE_DIRECT) {
 
         if (!is_array($vars)) {
+
             $vars = $this->store->getStore(STORE_SIP);
+
+            if ($vars === array()) {
+                // No SIP >> this seems to be a DirectDownloadMode
+                $vars = $this->getDirectDownloadModeDetails();
+            }
         }
 
         $this->setOutputFormat(empty($vars[DOWNLOAD_OUTPUT_FORMAT]) ? DOWNLOAD_OUTPUT_FORMAT_RAW : $vars[DOWNLOAD_OUTPUT_FORMAT]);
diff --git a/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Link.php b/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Link.php
index ed78c3ac6da551d7d52078b63261dd280c0f9115..013925d89719b8a284cd687ffab7e8099090fe78 100644
--- a/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Link.php
+++ b/extension/Classes/Core/Report/Link.php
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ class Link {
                 throw new \UserReportException ("Mode not implemented. internal render mode=$mode", ERROR_UNKNOWN_MODE);
                 break;
             case '8':
-                $link = substr($vars[FINAL_HREF], 12); // strip 'index.php?s='
+                $link = substr($vars[FINAL_HREF], -SIP_TOKEN_LENGTH); // get only the last 13 characters (the sip)
                 break;
 
             default:
@@ -850,12 +850,12 @@ class Link {
         }
 
         // Download Link needs some extra work
-        if (isset($rcTokenGiven[TOKEN_DOWNLOAD]) && $rcTokenGiven[TOKEN_DOWNLOAD]) {
+        if ($rcTokenGiven[TOKEN_DOWNLOAD] ?? false) {
             $vars = $this->buildDownloadLate($vars);
         }
 
         // CopyToClipboard (Download) Link needs some extra work
-        if (isset($rcTokenGiven[TOKEN_COPY_TO_CLIPBOARD]) && $rcTokenGiven[TOKEN_COPY_TO_CLIPBOARD]) {
+        if ($rcTokenGiven[TOKEN_COPY_TO_CLIPBOARD] ?? false) {
             $vars = $this->buildCopyToClipboardLate($vars);
         }
 
@@ -985,11 +985,6 @@ class Link {
                     case LINK_PICTURE:
                         $countLinkPicture++;
                         break;
-                    case NAME_FILE:
-                    case NAME_URL:
-                    case NAME_PAGE:
-                        $countSources++;
-                        break;
                     default:
                         break;
                 }
@@ -1008,10 +1003,14 @@ class Link {
             throw new \UserReportException ("Token Mail and Target at the same time not possible'" . TOKEN_PAGE . "'", ERROR_MULTIPLE_DEFINITION);
         }
 
-        if (isset($tokenGiven[TOKEN_DOWNLOAD]) && count($vars[NAME_COLLECT_ELEMENTS]) == 0 && $countSources == 0) {
+        if (isset($tokenGiven[TOKEN_DOWNLOAD]) && $vars[NAME_SIP] == "1" && count($vars[NAME_COLLECT_ELEMENTS]) == 0) {
             throw new \UserReportException ("Missing element sources for download", ERROR_MISSING_REQUIRED_PARAMETER);
         }
 
+        if (isset($tokenGiven[TOKEN_DOWNLOAD]) && $vars[NAME_SIP] == "0" && count($vars[NAME_COLLECT_ELEMENTS]) > 0) {
+            throw new \UserReportException ("For persistent downloads, sources are not necessary/allowed in the link definition. Instead, please define the sources in QFQ extension setup > file.", ERROR_MISSING_REQUIRED_PARAMETER);
+        }
+
         if (isset($tokenGiven[TOKEN_ACTION_DELETE])) {
             $this->checkDeleteParam($vars);
         }
@@ -1107,11 +1106,14 @@ class Link {
             $vars[NAME_EXTRA_CONTENT_WRAP] = str_replace(DOWNLOAD_POPUP_REPLACE_TEXT, $altText, $vars[NAME_EXTRA_CONTENT_WRAP]);
             $vars[NAME_EXTRA_CONTENT_WRAP] = str_replace(DOWNLOAD_POPUP_REPLACE_TITLE, 'Download: ' . addslashes($vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD]), $vars[NAME_EXTRA_CONTENT_WRAP]);
 
-            $tmpUrlParam = array();
-            $tmpUrlParam[DOWNLOAD_MODE] = $this->getDownloadModeNCheck($vars);
-            $tmpUrlParam[DOWNLOAD_EXPORT_FILENAME] = $vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD];
-            $tmpUrlParam[SIP_DOWNLOAD_PARAMETER] = base64_encode(implode(PARAM_DELIMITER, $vars[NAME_COLLECT_ELEMENTS]));
-            $vars[NAME_URL_PARAM] = KeyValueStringParser::unparse($tmpUrlParam, '=', '&');
+            if ($vars[NAME_SIP] == '1' || $vars[NAME_SIP] == '') {
+                // Special encoding only necessary for SIP based downloads.
+                $tmpUrlParam = array();
+                $tmpUrlParam[DOWNLOAD_MODE] = $this->getDownloadModeNCheck($vars);
+                $tmpUrlParam[DOWNLOAD_EXPORT_FILENAME] = $vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD];
+                $tmpUrlParam[SIP_DOWNLOAD_PARAMETER] = base64_encode(implode(PARAM_DELIMITER, $vars[NAME_COLLECT_ELEMENTS]));
+                $vars[NAME_URL_PARAM] = KeyValueStringParser::unparse($tmpUrlParam, '=', '&');
+            }
         }
 
         // CopyToClipboard
@@ -1655,6 +1657,8 @@ EOF;
      * @param $vars
      * @return array
      * @throws \CodeException
+     * @throws \UserFormException
+     * @throws \UserReportException
      */
     private function buildDownloadLate($vars) {
 
@@ -1683,6 +1687,11 @@ EOF;
             }
         }
 
+        // Download links should be by default SIP encoded.
+        if (($vars[NAME_SIP]) === false) {
+            $vars[NAME_SIP] = "1";
+        }
+
         // No download link! Only text/button
         if ($vars[NAME_RENDER] == '3') {
             return $vars;
@@ -1703,18 +1712,29 @@ EOF;
         $onClick = <<<EOF
            onclick="$('#qfqModalTitle101').text($(this).data('title')); $('#qfqModalText101').text($(this).data('text'));"
 EOF;
-
-        $vars[NAME_URL] = Path::appToApi(API_DOWNLOAD_PHP);
+        // Check for SIP encoded download link or persistent download link
+        if ($vars[NAME_SIP] == '1') {
+            // SIP encoded.
+            $vars[NAME_URL] = Path::appToApi(API_DOWNLOAD_PHP);
+        } else {
+            // Persistent Download Link
+            if ($vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD] == '') {
+                throw new \UserReportException("Persistent download link (s:0): please specify target key like 'd:1234'", ERROR_MISSING_VALUE);
+            }
+            // Check if there is a shortcut version defined like d:dl.php/123.
+            if (strstr($vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD], '.php/') === false) {
+                // Set the default: API_DOWNLOAD_PHP
+                $vars[NAME_URL] = Path::appToApi(API_DOWNLOAD_PHP) . '/' . $vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD];
+            } else {
+                // Take given shortcut
+                $vars[NAME_URL] = $vars[NAME_DOWNLOAD];
+            }
+        }
         $vars[NAME_LINK_CLASS_DEFAULT] = NO_CLASS;
 
         $vars[NAME_EXTRA_CONTENT_WRAP] = '<span ' . $attributes . $onClick . '>';
         $vars[NAME_BOOTSTRAP_BUTTON] = '0';
 
-        // Download links should be by default SIP encoded.
-        if (($vars[NAME_SIP]) === false) {
-            $vars[NAME_SIP] = "1";
-        }
-
         return $vars;
     }
 
diff --git a/extension/Classes/Core/Report/RestClient.php b/extension/Classes/Core/Report/RestClient.php
index ff56ce8cb26b2160532c0e870b0eeac2e351c3c7..d3ccb372e42f4312c7422412df73c71c000a0735 100644
--- a/extension/Classes/Core/Report/RestClient.php
+++ b/extension/Classes/Core/Report/RestClient.php
@@ -117,6 +117,15 @@ class RestClient {
         return $param;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @param string $method
+     * @param string $url
+     * @param string $data
+     * @param array $header
+     * @param int $timeout
+     * @return array
+     * @throws Exception
+     */
     public static function callApiCurl(string $method, string $url, string $data = '', array $header = [], int $timeout = 5) {
 
         // Header: Set content-type if not set
diff --git a/extension/Classes/Core/Store/Session.php b/extension/Classes/Core/Store/Session.php
index e444afe5f24cd9c35a197c84009f466ee6363c2c..c27a381995a78e2f1624d80757b9dc4cc63cec9f 100644
--- a/extension/Classes/Core/Store/Session.php
+++ b/extension/Classes/Core/Store/Session.php
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class Session
         if (self::$phpUnit === true) {
             self::$sessionLocal = array();
         } else {
+
             ini_set('session.cookie_httponly', 1);
 
             $lifetime = SYSTEM_COOKIE_LIFETIME;
diff --git a/extension/Tests/Unit/Core/Report/LinkTest.php b/extension/Tests/Unit/Core/Report/LinkTest.php
index 523ec6fa321755b1a2c5b35658e9f0076ba54afe..d30cdaaa12d5596f923669cf9b3a3ca1cad62936 100644
--- a/extension/Tests/Unit/Core/Report/LinkTest.php
+++ b/extension/Tests/Unit/Core/Report/LinkTest.php
@@ -1506,17 +1506,30 @@ EOF;
         $result = $link->renderLink('d');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @expectedException UserReportException
+     *
+     * @throws \CodeException
+     * @throws \UserFormException
+     * @throws \UserReportException
+     */
+    public function testDownloadException1() {
+        $link = new Link($this->sip, DB_INDEX_DEFAULT, true);
+
+        // Empty
+        $result = $link->renderLink('d|F:file.pdf|F:file2.pdf|s:0');
+    }
+
     /**
      * @throws \CodeException
      * @throws \UserFormException
      * @throws \UserReportException
      */
-    public function testDownload() {
+    public function testDownloadSecureLink() {
         $link = new Link($this->sip, DB_INDEX_DEFAULT, true);
 
         // Single file
         $result = $link->renderLink('d|F:file.pdf');
-//        $this->assertEquals('<a href="typo3conf/ext/qfq/Classes/Api/download.php?mode=pdf&_exportFilename=&_b64_download=RjpmaWxlLnBkZg==" class="0" title="Download" ><span class="btn btn-default"  data-toggle="modal" data-target="#qfqModal101" data-title="Download: " data-text="Please wait" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="false"            onclick="$(\'#qfqModalTitle101\').text($(this).data(\'title\')); $(\'#qfqModalText101\').text($(this).data(\'text\'));"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-file" ></span></span></a>', $result);
         $this->assertEquals('<a href="typo3conf/ext/qfq/Classes/Api/download.php?s=badcaffee1234" class="0" title="Download" ><span class="btn btn-default"  data-toggle="modal" data-target="#qfqModal101" data-title="Download: " data-text="Please wait" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="false"            onclick="$(\'#qfqModalTitle101\').text($(this).data(\'title\')); $(\'#qfqModalText101\').text($(this).data(\'text\'));"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-file" ></span></span></a>', $result);
 
         // With download filename
@@ -1577,6 +1590,25 @@ EOF;
 
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @throws \CodeException
+     * @throws \UserFormException
+     * @throws \UserReportException
+     */
+    public function testDownloadPersistentLink() {
+        $link = new Link($this->sip, DB_INDEX_DEFAULT, true);
+
+        Store::setVar(SYSTEM_SQL_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD . 'downloadphp', 'SELECT "d|F:file.pdf"', STORE_SYSTEM);
+
+        $result = $link->renderLink('d:123|s:0');
+        $this->assertEquals('<a href="typo3conf/ext/qfq/Classes/Api/download.php/123" class="0" title="Download" ><span class="btn btn-default"  data-toggle="modal" data-target="#qfqModal101" data-title="Download: 123" data-text="Please wait" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="false"            onclick="$(\'#qfqModalTitle101\').text($(this).data(\'title\')); $(\'#qfqModalText101\').text($(this).data(\'text\'));"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-file" ></span></span></a>', $result);
+
+        Store::setVar(SYSTEM_SQL_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD . 'dlphp', 'SELECT "d|F:file.pdf"', STORE_SYSTEM);
+        $result = $link->renderLink('d:dl.php/123|s:0');
+        $this->assertEquals('<a href="dl.php/123" class="0" title="Download" ><span class="btn btn-default"  data-toggle="modal" data-target="#qfqModal101" data-title="Download: dl.php/123" data-text="Please wait" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="false"            onclick="$(\'#qfqModalTitle101\').text($(this).data(\'title\')); $(\'#qfqModalText101\').text($(this).data(\'text\'));"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-file" ></span></span></a>', $result);
+
+    }
+
     /**
      * @throws \CodeException
      * @throws \UserFormException
diff --git a/extension/ext_conf_template.txt b/extension/ext_conf_template.txt
index 21ca72536835e0c607878e17b4668c9cd434415d..888a4d3ce73130c9089c93207c0bea0310c070d9 100644
--- a/extension/ext_conf_template.txt
+++ b/extension/ext_conf_template.txt
@@ -387,6 +387,27 @@ custom29 =
 # cat=custom/layout; type=string; label=Custom variable 30
 custom30 =
 
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Query for direct download mode. Access via download.php. No default.: SELECT CONCAT('d:output.pdf|F:', n.pathFileName) FROM notiz AS n WHERE n.id=? AND NOW()<n.expire
+sqlDirectdownloadphp =
 
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Message shown to the user if record isn't found.
+sqlDirectdownloadphperror =
 
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Query for direct download mode. Access via dl.php. No default.: SELECT CONCAT('d:output.pdf|F:', n.pathFileName) FROM notiz AS n WHERE n.id=? AND NOW()<n.expire
+sqlDirectdlphp =
+
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Message shown to the user if record isn't found.
+sqlDirectdlphperror =
+
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Query for direct download mode. Access via dl2.php. No default.: SELECT CONCAT('d:output.pdf|F:', n.pathFileName) FROM notiz AS n WHERE n.id=? AND NOW()<n.expire
+sqlDirectdl2php =
+
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Message shown to the user if record isn't found.
+sqlDirectdl2phperror =
+
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Query for direct download mode. Access via dl3.php. No default.: SELECT CONCAT('d:output.pdf|F:', n.pathFileName) FROM notiz AS n WHERE n.id=? AND NOW()<n.expire
+sqlDirectdl3php =
+
+# cat=file/file; type=string; label=Message shown to the user if record isn't found.
+sqlDirectdl3phperror =