@@ -32,6 +32,23 @@
 // fix one and leave N-1, and no reviewer counts to 39. So the count is asserted
 // here instead.
 //
+// ## Two destinations, not one
+//
+// Deleting a copy means re-pointing its call sites, and there are two places to
+// point them. A reader that reports no location takes `recordsOf` directly. A
+// reader that reports a POSITIONAL path cannot: `recordsOf` drops a non-record
+// member, so every index after it shifts and the finding names an entry the
+// author's file does not have there (#15740). Those readers take
+// `collectionEntries` (`collection-entries.ts`) instead — the same drop, made
+// in the reader, with each survivor's real path carried out beside it
+// (`pages[3]` on the array shape, `pages.contact_page` on the map). #15728
+// moved the four page walks that way; the two reference-integrity members
+// below still hold their own copy because the paths #15494 pinned on them are
+// #15740's call, not a developer's.
+//
+// Either destination satisfies this file: neither declares a second
+// `(v: unknown) => AnyRec[]`, which is the shape all three clauses count.
+//
 // ## The three clauses, and what each one refuses
 //
 //  1. `object-graph.ts` declares exactly one such coercion, named `recordsOf`.
@@ -102,26 +119,6 @@ const COPY_LEDGER: Readonly<Record<string, string>> = {
   // index-preserving reader, not on anyone's attention (#15740).
   'validate-object-field-refs.ts': '#15740',
   'validate-list-view-field-refs.ts': '#15740',
-  // 2026-09-05 — the sixteen copies that do not crash today: twelve grew a
-  // local array-branch filter and four read only the list shape behind a
-  // call-site `if (!page) continue`. They are not #15636's defect; they are its
-  // cause, and re-pointing them is bookkeeping this ledger now forces.
-  'validate-action-body-writes.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-ai-agent-authoring.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-ai-surface-affinity.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-ai-tool-references.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-flow-node-writes.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-hook-body-writes.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-jsx-pages.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-nav-object-servability.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-nav-target-refs.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-page-source-styling.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-page-visualization-bindings.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-react-page-props.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-react-pages.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-readonly-action-writes.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-rule-compilability.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-view-page-refs.ts': '#15728',
 };
 
 /**
@@ -139,11 +136,6 @@ const UNGUARDED_ALLOWANCE: Readonly<Record<string, string>> = {
   // first; both guard every member with `isRec` at the call site.
   'validate-object-field-refs.ts': '#15740',
   'validate-list-view-field-refs.ts': '#15740',
-  // 2026-09-05 — removed by #15728.
-  'validate-jsx-pages.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-page-source-styling.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-react-page-props.ts': '#15728',
-  'validate-react-pages.ts': '#15728',
 };
 
 /** Every rule/reader module — tests excluded, this file excluded. */
 
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ import {
   type BodyWritePatternExclusion,
   type HookBodyWritePattern,
 } from './validate-hook-body-writes.js';
+import { recordsOf } from './object-graph.js';
 
 export type ActionBodyWriteSeverity = 'warning';
 
@@ -199,18 +200,6 @@ type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
 
 const isRec = (v: unknown): v is AnyRec => !!v && typeof v === 'object' && !Array.isArray(v);
 
-/** Coerce an array-or-name-keyed-map collection to an array (name injected). */
-function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
-  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.filter((x): x is AnyRec => isRec(x));
-  if (isRec(v)) {
-    return Object.entries(v).map(([name, def]) => ({
-      name,
-      ...(isRec(def) ? def : {}),
-    }));
-  }
-  return [];
-}
-
 /**
  * One L2 action body found in the stack, with the location to report it at.
  *
@@ -284,7 +273,7 @@ export function collectActionBodies(stack: AnyRec): ActionBodySite[] {
   const seen = new Set<string>();
 
   const collect = (actions: unknown, pathPrefix: string, parentObject?: string): void => {
-    asArray(actions).forEach((action, index) => {
+    recordsOf(actions).forEach((action, index) => {
       // Same default the spec declares, and the same one the runtime gate
       // applies — a stack may reach lint unparsed, so an omitted `type` is
       // `'script'`, not "unknown".
@@ -303,7 +292,7 @@ export function collectActionBodies(stack: AnyRec): ActionBodySite[] {
   };
 
   collect(stack.actions, 'actions');
-  asArray(stack.objects).forEach((obj, objIndex) => {
+  recordsOf(stack.objects).forEach((obj, objIndex) => {
     const parentObject = typeof obj.name === 'string' && obj.name ? obj.name : undefined;
     collect(obj.actions, `objects[${objIndex}].actions`, parentObject);
   });
 
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@
  * the signal has to be an authoring-time nudge rather than a build break.
  */
 
+import { recordsOf } from './object-graph.js';
+
 export const AGENT_AUTHORING_WITHDRAWN = 'agent-authoring-withdrawn';
 
 /** `app.defaultAgent` names something outside the platform agent roster. */
@@ -100,14 +102,6 @@ export interface AiAgentAuthoringFinding {
 
 type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
 
-function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
-  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.filter((x): x is AnyRec => !!x && typeof x === 'object');
-  if (v && typeof v === 'object') {
-    return Object.entries(v as AnyRec).map(([name, def]) => ({ name, ...(def as AnyRec) }));
-  }
-  return [];
-}
-
 function strName(v: unknown): string | undefined {
   return typeof v === 'string' && v.length > 0 ? v : undefined;
 }
@@ -154,7 +148,7 @@ export function validateAiAgentAuthoring(stack: AnyRec): AiAgentAuthoringFinding
   const findings: AiAgentAuthoringFinding[] = [];
   if (!stack || typeof stack !== 'object') return findings;
 
-  const agents = asArray(stack.agents);
+  const agents = recordsOf(stack.agents);
   for (let ai = 0; ai < agents.length; ai++) {
     const agent = agents[ai];
     const name = strName(agent.name) ?? `#${ai}`;
@@ -189,7 +183,7 @@ export function validateAiAgentAuthoring(stack: AnyRec): AiAgentAuthoringFinding
   }
 
   const roster = CANONICAL_AGENT_NAMES.join(', ');
-  const apps = asArray(stack.apps);
+  const apps = recordsOf(stack.apps);
   for (let appIdx = 0; appIdx < apps.length; appIdx++) {
     const app = apps[appIdx];
     const defaultAgent = strName(app.defaultAgent);
 
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
  * contract is reported.
  */
 
+import { recordsOf } from './object-graph.js';
+
 export const AI_SKILL_SURFACE_MISMATCH = 'ai-skill-surface-mismatch';
 
 export type AiSurfaceAffinitySeverity = 'error' | 'warning';
@@ -49,14 +51,6 @@ export interface AiSurfaceAffinityFinding {
 
 type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
 
-function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
-  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.filter((x): x is AnyRec => !!x && typeof x === 'object');
-  if (v && typeof v === 'object') {
-    return Object.entries(v as AnyRec).map(([name, def]) => ({ name, ...(def as AnyRec) }));
-  }
-  return [];
-}
-
 function strName(v: unknown): string | undefined {
   return typeof v === 'string' && v.length > 0 ? v : undefined;
 }
@@ -75,12 +69,12 @@ export function validateAiSurfaceAffinity(stack: AnyRec): AiSurfaceAffinityFindi
   if (!stack || typeof stack !== 'object') return findings;
 
   const skillsByName = new Map<string, AnyRec>();
-  for (const skill of asArray(stack.skills)) {
+  for (const skill of recordsOf(stack.skills)) {
     const n = strName(skill.name);
     if (n) skillsByName.set(n, skill);
   }
 
-  const agents = asArray(stack.agents);
+  const agents = recordsOf(stack.agents);
   for (let ai = 0; ai < agents.length; ai++) {
     const agent = agents[ai];
     const agentName = strName(agent.name) ?? `#${ai}`;
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 import { PLATFORM_PROVIDED_TOOL_NAMES, PLATFORM_TOOL_FAMILY_PREFIXES } from '@objectstack/spec/system';
 
-import { suggestName } from './object-graph.js';
+import { recordsOf, suggestName } from './object-graph.js';
 
 export const AI_SKILL_TOOL_UNRESOLVED = 'ai-skill-tool-unresolved';
 
@@ -57,14 +57,6 @@ export interface AiToolRefFinding {
 
 type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
 
-function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
-  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.filter((x): x is AnyRec => !!x && typeof x === 'object');
-  if (v && typeof v === 'object') {
-    return Object.entries(v as AnyRec).map(([name, def]) => ({ name, ...(def as AnyRec) }));
-  }
-  return [];
-}
-
 function strName(v: unknown): string | undefined {
   return typeof v === 'string' && v.length > 0 ? v : undefined;
 }
@@ -152,19 +144,19 @@ function materialisesAsTool(action: AnyRec): boolean {
 function collectToolUniverse(stack: AnyRec): Set<string> {
   const universe = new Set<string>(PLATFORM_PROVIDED_TOOL_NAMES);
 
-  for (const tool of asArray(stack.tools)) {
+  for (const tool of recordsOf(stack.tools)) {
     const n = strName(tool.name);
     if (n) universe.add(n);
   }
 
   const addActionFamily = (actions: unknown) => {
-    for (const action of asArray(actions)) {
+    for (const action of recordsOf(actions)) {
       const n = strName(action.name);
       if (n && materialisesAsTool(action)) universe.add(`action_${n}`);
     }
   };
   addActionFamily(stack.actions);
-  for (const obj of asArray(stack.objects)) {
+  for (const obj of recordsOf(stack.objects)) {
     addActionFamily(obj.actions);
   }
 
@@ -179,13 +171,13 @@ function collectToolUniverse(stack: AnyRec): Set<string> {
 function collectUnexposedActionNames(stack: AnyRec): Set<string> {
   const names = new Set<string>();
   const scan = (actions: unknown) => {
-    for (const action of asArray(actions)) {
+    for (const action of recordsOf(actions)) {
       const n = strName(action.name);
       if (n && !materialisesAsTool(action)) names.add(n);
     }
   };
   scan(stack.actions);
-  for (const obj of asArray(stack.objects)) scan(obj.actions);
+  for (const obj of recordsOf(stack.objects)) scan(obj.actions);
   return names;
 }
 
@@ -211,7 +203,7 @@ export function validateAiToolReferences(stack: AnyRec): AiToolRefFinding[] {
     return universe.has(ref);
   };
 
-  const skills = asArray(stack.skills);
+  const skills = recordsOf(stack.skills);
   for (let si = 0; si < skills.length; si++) {
     const skill = skills[si];
     const skillName = strName(skill.name) ?? `#${si}`;
 
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ import {
   unprovisionedAnchorHint,
 } from './system-fields.js';
 import { walkFlowNodes, flowNodeLabel } from './flow-walk.js';
+import { recordsOf } from './object-graph.js';
 
 /**
  * `error` for the existence verdict — a literal key against a literal object is
@@ -182,18 +183,6 @@ type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
 
 const isRec = (v: unknown): v is AnyRec => !!v && typeof v === 'object' && !Array.isArray(v);
 
-/** Coerce an array-or-name-keyed-map collection to an array (name injected). */
-function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
-  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.filter((x): x is AnyRec => isRec(x));
-  if (isRec(v)) {
-    return Object.entries(v).map(([name, def]) => ({
-      name,
-      ...(isRec(def) ? def : {}),
-    }));
-  }
-  return [];
-}
-
 /**
  * The target object of a CRUD node, when statically knowable. Reads the
  * canonical `objectName` and its historical `object` alias — a pre-parse source
@@ -220,7 +209,7 @@ export function validateFlowNodeWrites(stack: AnyRec): FlowNodeWriteFinding[] {
   const findings: FlowNodeWriteFinding[] = [];
   if (!isRec(stack)) return findings;
 
-  const flows = asArray(stack.flows);
+  const flows = recordsOf(stack.flows);
   if (flows.length === 0) return findings;
 
   // Built lazily: a stack whose flows carry no write node never pays it.
 
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ import {
   unprovisionedAnchorCause,
   unprovisionedAnchorHint,
 } from './system-fields.js';
+import { recordsOf } from './object-graph.js';
 
 // The TypeScript compiler must NOT be imported at module top level: it is
 // ~9 MB of CJS, and @objectstack/lint sits on the kernel boot path — while
@@ -382,18 +383,6 @@ type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
 
 const isRec = (v: unknown): v is AnyRec => !!v && typeof v === 'object' && !Array.isArray(v);
 
-/** Coerce an array-or-name-keyed-map collection to an array (name injected). */
-function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
-  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.filter((x): x is AnyRec => isRec(x));
-  if (isRec(v)) {
-    return Object.entries(v).map(([name, def]) => ({
-      name,
-      ...(isRec(def) ? def : {}),
-    }));
-  }
-  return [];
-}
-
 /**
  * object name → its declared field names (both `fields` authoring shapes).
  *
@@ -402,11 +391,11 @@ function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
  */
 export function indexObjectFields(stack: AnyRec): Map<string, Set<string>> {
   const out = new Map<string, Set<string>>();
-  for (const obj of asArray(stack.objects)) {
+  for (const obj of recordsOf(stack.objects)) {
     const name = typeof obj.name === 'string' ? obj.name : undefined;
     if (!name) continue;
     const names = new Set<string>();
-    for (const f of asArray(obj.fields)) {
+    for (const f of recordsOf(obj.fields)) {
       if (typeof f.name === 'string' && f.name) names.add(f.name);
     }
     out.set(name, names);
@@ -725,7 +714,7 @@ export function extractHookBodyWriteSet(source: string): ExtractedHookBodyWriteS
  */
 export function validateHookBodyWrites(stack: AnyRec): HookBodyWriteFinding[] {
   const findings: HookBodyWriteFinding[] = [];
-  const hooks = asArray(stack.hooks);
+  const hooks = recordsOf(stack.hooks);
   if (hooks.length === 0) return findings;
 
   // Built lazily: a stack whose hooks are all L1/handler-based never pays it.
 
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 // class of error an AI author is most likely to emit.
 
 import { parseJsx, compile, type Manifest } from '@objectstack/sdui-parser';
+import { collectionEntries } from './collection-entries.js';
 
 export type JsxPageSeverity = 'error' | 'warning';
 
@@ -36,24 +37,21 @@ export interface JsxPageFinding {
 }
 
 type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
-const asArray = (v: unknown): AnyRec[] => (Array.isArray(v) ? (v as AnyRec[]) : []);
 
 export function validateJsxPages(stack: AnyRec, opts: { manifest?: Manifest } = {}): JsxPageFinding[] {
   const findings: JsxPageFinding[] = [];
-  const pages = asArray(stack.pages);
-  for (let p = 0; p < pages.length; p++) {
-    const page = pages[p];
+  for (const { rec: page, path: pagePath } of collectionEntries(stack.pages, 'pages')) {
     // html tier (+ deprecated 'jsx' alias). react pages are not constrained JSX.
     if (!page || (page.kind !== 'html' && page.kind !== 'jsx')) continue;
-    const name = String(page.name ?? `#${p}`);
+    const name = String(page.name ?? pagePath);
     const source = page.source;
     if (typeof source !== 'string' || source.trim() === '') {
       // (PageSchema's superRefine also covers this; keep it for the build path.)
       findings.push({
         severity: 'error',
         rule: 'jsx-page-empty-source',
         where: `page "${name}"`,
-        path: `pages[${p}].source`,
+        path: `${pagePath}.source`,
         message: `kind:'${page.kind}' page has no \`source\`.`,
         hint: 'Author the page as a constrained JSX/Tailwind string in `source`.',
       });
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ export function validateJsxPages(stack: AnyRec, opts: { manifest?: Manifest } =
         severity: d.severity,
         rule: `jsx-${d.code}`,
         where: d.tag ? `page "${name}" › <${d.tag}>` : `page "${name}"`,
-        path: `pages[${p}].source`,
+        path: `${pagePath}.source`,
         message: d.message,
         hint: 'The source is parsed (never executed) and compiled to the SDUI tree at save time — fix the JSX.',
       });