| # WCAB normalized observation protocol, version 2 |
|
|
| WCAB evaluates tools that inspect a baseline/candidate workbook change. Native |
| tool reports differ, so an adapter should translate its result into this small |
| JSON protocol before invoking `wcab score`. The protocol is deliberately |
| separate from the fixture truth schema: a tool may keep its own report format, |
| but its benchmark adapter has one portable target. |
|
|
| Version 2 adds scoreable **coverage declarations**. They let the benchmark |
| separately ask whether a tool surfaced a known static-analysis boundary rather |
| than merely finding the surrounding formula edit. Version 1 remains available |
| with the immutable WCAB 0.3.0 release. |
|
|
| ## Start with a template |
|
|
| ```bash |
| wcab observation-template --fixtures fixtures --output observations.json |
| # Run an adapter that replaces unsupported entries with observed evidence. |
| wcab score --fixtures fixtures --observations observations.json \ |
| --output score.json |
| ``` |
|
|
| The template is valid and marks every case `unsupported`. That is intentional: |
| unsupported coverage is visible in the score rather than being treated as a |
| pass. |
|
|
| ## Document shape |
|
|
| ```json |
| { |
| "schema_version": 2, |
| "benchmark": {"fixture_schema_versions": [3]}, |
| "tool": {"name": "example-tool", "version": "1.4.0"}, |
| "cases": [ |
| { |
| "id": "structural.dynamic_reference_introduced", |
| "status": "analyzed", |
| "facts": [ |
| { |
| "fact": { |
| "kind": "dynamic_formula_reference_added", |
| "sheet": "Summary", |
| "cell": "B2", |
| "functions": ["INDIRECT"] |
| }, |
| "evidence": {"native_rule": "dynamic-reference-added"} |
| } |
| ], |
| "review": "block", |
| "coverage": { |
| "declarations": [ |
| { |
| "expectation": { |
| "kind": "dynamic_reference_static_coverage", |
| "sheet": "Summary", |
| "cell": "B2", |
| "functions": ["INDIRECT"] |
| }, |
| "evidence": {"native_rule": "dependency-coverage-warning"} |
| } |
| ], |
| "notes": [] |
| } |
| } |
| ] |
| } |
| ``` |
|
|
| `schema_version` is the observation protocol version. |
| `fixture_schema_versions` must name the truth-schema versions the adapter |
| analyzed. `tool.name` is required; `tool.version` is optional. |
|
|
| Each `facts` item wraps an exact WCAB truth fact in `fact`. The optional |
| `evidence` object is adapter-owned metadata and is never scored; it can record |
| a native rule ID, report location, or another reproducible pointer without |
| making one tool's report schema normative. |
|
|
| ## Coverage declarations |
|
|
| `coverage.declarations` contains zero or more objects with an exact truth |
| `expectation` plus optional adapter-owned `evidence`. A declaration means that |
| the native tool visibly surfaced that specific analysis boundary. Its matching |
| is exact and deterministic, just like fact matching. |
|
|
| For example, the introduced-dynamic fixture requires the |
| `dynamic_reference_static_coverage` expectation. `INDIRECT` turns text into a |
| reference, so a static dependency reviewer must not silently imply complete |
| target or impact coverage. WCAB 0.5 also includes |
| `dynamic_reference_driver_changed`: its exact expectation names both the |
| changed driver and the unchanged dynamic formula. An adapter can use a native |
| input-change record plus a candidate-profile feature as evidence; it need not |
| and must not invent a resolved target value. A tool may have richer evaluation |
| capabilities, but the declaration measures whether the boundary was made |
| visible—not an untestable claim that every possible Excel evaluation is |
| resolved. |
|
|
| For a changed `INDIRECT` driver, an adapter declaration can therefore look |
| like this (the evidence keys remain adapter-owned): |
|
|
| ```json |
| { |
| "expectation": { |
| "kind": "dynamic_reference_driver_changed", |
| "driver": {"sheet": "Inputs", "cell": "E12"}, |
| "formula": {"sheet": "Summary", "cell": "B2"}, |
| "functions": ["INDIRECT"] |
| }, |
| "evidence": { |
| "native_change_kind": "value_changed", |
| "native_profile_feature": "dynamic_reference_cells" |
| } |
| } |
| ``` |
|
|
| `coverage.notes` is an optional array of human-readable adapter notes. It is |
| not scored and is the right place to explain an intentionally unavailable |
| mapping. Unsupported or errored cases may include notes but cannot include |
| facts, reviews, or coverage declarations. |
|
|
| ## Case status and review |
|
|
| | `status` | Required behavior | Score treatment | |
| | --- | --- | --- | |
| | `analyzed` | May report facts, coverage declarations, and one optional `review` disposition. | Its recognized observations can contribute to recall. | |
| | `unsupported` | Must not report facts, a review, or coverage declarations. | Explicitly counted as unsupported, never as a pass. | |
| | `error` | Must include a non-empty `error` string and must not report facts, a review, or coverage declarations. | Counted separately from unsupported coverage. | |
|
|
| `review` is `allow`, `review`, `block`, or `null`. A non-null disposition is |
| compared with WCAB's reference convention and reported as **reference-policy |
| agreement**. It is not a claim that every organization must use the same |
| approval policy. |
|
|
| Omitting a known case is permitted for partial runs, but it is reported as |
| `not_reported` and cannot contribute to coverage or agreement. |
|
|
| ## What the score means |
|
|
| The scorer returns deterministic per-case details plus these aggregate metrics: |
|
|
| | Metric | Meaning | |
| | --- | --- | |
| | `fact_recall` | Matched declared facts divided by all declared benchmark facts. | |
| | `coverage_disclosure_recall` | Matched required coverage declarations divided by all declared coverage expectations. | |
| | `analysis_coverage` | Cases marked `analyzed` divided by all WCAB cases. | |
| | `review_agreement` | Cases whose analyzed review matches the reference convention divided by all WCAB cases. | |
| | `complete_case_count` | Analyzed cases with every fact and coverage expectation matched, no unrecognized observation, and matching reference review. | |
| | `unrecognized_fact_count` | Reported normalized facts that are not one of the case's declared facts. | |
| | `unrecognized_coverage_declaration_count` | Reported coverage expectations that are not declared for that case. | |
|
|
| WCAB intentionally declares targeted observable facts and explicit boundaries; |
| it does **not** claim an exhaustive inventory of every workbook difference. |
| For that reason, the scorer does not call unrecognized facts or declarations |
| false positives and does not publish a precision metric. They remain reviewable |
| evidence rather than a silent score adjustment. This follows the basic |
| distinction between precision and recall used in the [NIST static-analysis |
| study methodology](https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2021/03/24/CAS%202012%20Static%20Analysis%20Tool%20Study%20Methodology.pdf), |
| while respecting WCAB's deliberately partial oracle. |
|
|
| Use `--strict` when a complete reference-policy run is required. It exits |
| nonzero unless every case is complete and no unrecognized normalized fact or |
| coverage declaration was reported. |
|
|
| ## Optional FormulaFence reference adapter |
|
|
| FormulaFence remains optional and is not a package dependency. If a trusted |
| local executable is installed, WCAB can emit a normalized report from its |
| existing adapter mapping: |
|
|
| ```bash |
| wcab formulafence-observations --fixtures fixtures \ |
| --executable formulafence --output formulafence-observations.json |
| wcab score --fixtures fixtures --observations formulafence-observations.json |
| ``` |
|
|
| The adapter copies a WCAB fact into the normalized report only after it matches |
| the documented native FormulaFence change category. It copies an introduced |
| dynamic-reference expectation only after FormulaFence emits `FF012`; for a |
| pre-existing dynamic formula with a changed driver, it requires both the |
| native `value_changed` record and the candidate profile's |
| `dynamic_reference_cells` feature. For the external-data refresh case, it |
| requires FormulaFence's `external_data_connections_changed` details to contain |
| the exact connection ID and `refresh_on_load` false-to-true transition; the |
| stored control is a fact, not a coverage declaration. For the external-data |
| web-query source case, it requires the high-severity |
| `external_data_connections_changed` record and `FF023` with identical safe |
| one-web-query profiles, `source_configuration_material_changed=true`, and |
| exactly `source_material_change_categories: ["web_query_url"]`. FormulaFence |
| does not serialize either URL, a connection string, a command, a parameter, or |
| a source fingerprint. WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes |
| the two reserved endpoint texts, the stable package graph and formula context, |
| and the `xl/connections.xml`-only package boundary. Neither report opens a |
| connection, fetches a URL, refreshes a query, materializes rows, calculates a |
| workbook, or claims a client result. For the OPC package-signature Manifest |
| case, it requires one high-severity `digital_signature_controls_changed` record |
| and matching `FF050`: FormulaFence's redacted before/after profiles must retain |
| one signature origin, one XML signature, one Manifest direct-part reference, |
| no certificate/VBA/unrecognized signatures, and no relationship selectors while |
| the direct-part category moves from one workbook part to one worksheet part. |
| It also requires both package-signature material and Manifest-coverage flags. |
| FormulaFence does not expose a URI, selector, digest, signature value, |
| certificate, identity, or trust assertion. WCAB's raw validator—not the |
| adapter—then establishes the synthetic URI transition, fixed bounded package |
| shape, stable cells/formula, and `_xmlsignatures/sig1.xml`-only boundary. |
| Neither report validates a digest, signature, transform, certificate, trust |
| chain, or consumer decision. For the package-signature relationship-selector |
| case, the adapter likewise requires one high-severity |
| `digital_signature_controls_changed` record and `FF050`, but its before/after |
| profiles must be exactly equal: one Manifest reference, one relationship |
| reference, zero direct-part references, one origin, one XML signature, and no |
| certificate/VBA/unrecognized evidence. It accepts the case only when the |
| separate package-signature material and Manifest-coverage flags are both true. |
| FormulaFence exposes no URI, selector, digest, signature value, certificate, |
| identity, or trust assertion; WCAB's raw validator independently establishes |
| the root-relationship source-ID retarget, exact transform sequence, and |
| `_xmlsignatures/sig1.xml`-only boundary. Neither report executes a transform |
| or validates a digest, signature, certificate, trust chain, or consumer |
| decision. For the threaded-comment resolution case, it requires one exact |
| high-severity `threaded_comment_controls_changed` record and matching `FF045`: |
| FormulaFence's redacted one-thread profile retains one worksheet binding, one |
| threaded-comment part, one comment thread/comment/person, zero replies or |
| mentions, two local bindings, and no external or unrecognized metadata while |
| only `resolved_comment_count` moves from `0` to `1` and |
| `threaded_comment_definition_material_changed=true`. FormulaFence exposes no |
| comment text, comment-cell reference, timestamp, relationship ID, comment ID, person |
| ID, or identity data. WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—establishes the |
| fixed synthetic package graph, ordinary cells/formula context, and |
| `xl/threadedComments/threadedComment1.xml`-only boundary. Neither layer proves |
| review or approval, resolves a notification, authenticates a person, enforces |
| authorization, opens a client, or claims workflow completion. For the legacy |
| shared-workbook revision-log case, it requires one exact high-severity |
| `shared_workbook_revisions_changed` record and matching `FF062`: FormulaFence's |
| redacted before/after profiles remain equal with one header part/header, one |
| log part, three log entries, enabled shared/tracking/history/retention/ |
| protection controls, and no unrecognized metadata, while only |
| `revision_log_material_changed=true` differs. FormulaFence exposes no historic |
| value, cell location, author, timestamp, GUID, or relationship ID. WCAB's raw |
| validator—not the adapter—establishes the fixed synthetic workbook-to-header- |
| to-log graph, ordinary cells/formula context, and |
| `xl/revisions/revisionLog1.xml`-only boundary. Neither layer verifies |
| provenance or identity, replays a revision, resolves a conflict, proves review |
| or approval, authenticates or authorizes a person, or claims workflow |
| completion. For the QueryTable case, it requires one exact `query_table_refresh_controls_changed` record and |
| it requires one exact `query_table_refresh_controls_changed` record and |
| matching `FF023`: its redacted profile must retain one |
| `ImportedData` table, connection ID 1, fixed refresh/edit/fill/growth controls, |
| name metadata, and no opaque metadata while only `refresh_on_load` moves from |
| `false` to `true`. FormulaFence does not expose the stored endpoint, XML part, |
| or result rows. WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the |
| direct worksheet-to-QueryTable and workbook-to-connections graph, stable saved |
| cells/formulas, fixed connection-level control, and QueryTable-part-only |
| package change. Neither report opens a connection, fetches a URL, refreshes a |
| query, materializes rows, calculates a workbook, or claims a client result. |
| For the cell-hyperlink target case, it requires one exact |
| `cell_hyperlink_controls_changed` record and matching `FF047`: FormulaFence's |
| redacted profile must retain one external worksheet hyperlink binding and no |
| location, display, tooltip, or unrecognized declaration while its binding, |
| definition material, and relationship material all change. FormulaFence does |
| not expose the raw target or relationship ID. WCAB's raw validator—not the |
| adapter—then establishes the fixed ID/type/mode, exact reserved-target |
| transition, stable visible text/formulas, and relationship-part-only package |
| change. Neither report resolves, opens, fetches, visits, or otherwise interacts |
| with a target, or claims that a client follows it. |
| For the external-workbook source case, it requires one exact |
| `external_link_packages_changed` record and matching high-severity `FF025`: |
| FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one external workbook and source |
| sheet, no DDE/OLE link, no cached external data, and no opaque metadata while |
| only `source_material_changed` is set. FormulaFence does not expose the raw |
| source target or relationship IDs. WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then |
| establishes the exact reserved-target transition, fixed workbook-to-externalLink |
| graph, stable formula context, and externalLink-relationship-part-only package |
| change. A generic external-relationship record remains unmapped because it is |
| not sufficient evidence for this narrower fact. Neither report resolves, opens, |
| fetches, authenticates to, trusts, refreshes, calculates, or otherwise |
| interacts with a source, or claims that a client updates a link or returns a |
| value. |
| For the external-defined-name source case, it requires both one exact |
| `external_workbook_link_surfaces_changed` record with high-severity `FF081` |
| and one matching `defined_name_changed` record with `FF008`. The source-surface |
| ledger alone is deliberately insufficient: the adapter also requires the one |
| `ScenarioRate` definition to move between WCAB's two generated qualified |
| expressions. FormulaFence does not expose a package-member boundary. WCAB's raw |
| validator—not the adapter—then establishes the exact definition text, absence |
| of an `externalLink` package and `externalReferences` declaration, stable |
| formula context, and workbook-XML-only package difference. Neither layer |
| resolves, opens, fetches, authenticates to, trusts, refreshes, calculates, or |
| otherwise interacts with a source, or claims a client result. |
| For the named-LAMBDA case, the adapter requires one exact |
| `defined_name_changed` record and `FF008` whose before/after strings match the |
| generated `ScenarioValue` LAMBDA body. FormulaFence does not establish the raw |
| package boundary. WCAB's validator independently proves the one-name workbook |
| shape, exact body transition, stable inputs/calling formula/dashboard path, and |
| workbook-XML-only difference. Neither layer evaluates the function, calculates |
| a result, infers Excel-version support, or claims client behavior. |
| For the Table calculated-column case, the adapter requires one exact |
| `table_definition_changed` record and `FF013` with the stable one-Table |
| profile and `calculated_column_formula_material_changed=true`. FormulaFence |
| intentionally does not expose the master text. WCAB's validator independently |
| proves the exact generated master transition, worksheet-to-Table relationship, |
| stable row/dashboard formulas, and Table-part-only difference. Neither layer |
| fills a column, reconciles a master with row formulas, calculates a structured |
| reference, infers a total, or claims client behavior. |
| For the Power Pivot/Data Model relationship case, the adapter requires one |
| exact high-severity `power_pivot_data_model_changed` record and `FF033`. Its |
| redacted before/after profile must retain one internal model-data part, one |
| workbook binding, one `x15:dataModel` declaration, two model tables, one model |
| relationship, one fingerprinted payload, and no direct/external/uninspected or |
| unrecognized material; only `workbook_data_model_declaration_changed=true` is |
| accepted. FormulaFence does not expose model names, keys, DAX, relationship |
| targets, XML, or payload bytes. WCAB's raw validator independently proves the |
| exact `DateKey`-to-`FiscalDateKey` declaration transition, fixed opaque payload, |
| and workbook-XML-only package difference. Neither layer deserializes a model, |
| evaluates DAX, refreshes it, calculates or renders a report, infers model-to-cell |
| impact, or claims client behavior. |
| For the XLM Auto_Open binding case, the adapter requires one exact |
| high-severity `xlm_automatic_macro_bindings_changed` record and `FF076`. Its |
| redacted before/after profile must retain exactly one automatic-macro binding, |
| one `Auto_Open` binding, and no `Auto_Close`, `Auto_Activate`, or |
| `Auto_Deactivate` binding; only |
| `automatic_macro_binding_material_changed=true` is accepted. FormulaFence does |
| not expose the macro-sheet name, cell targets, XML, package-member boundary, or |
| macro instructions. WCAB's raw validator independently proves the |
| `$A$1`-to-`$A$2` stored target transition, fixed byte-identical two-`HALT()` |
| macro sheet, very-hidden state, fixed relationship/content types, and |
| workbook-XML-only difference. Neither layer opens Excel, enables or executes |
| XLM code, parses or emulates macro instructions, resolves a dynamic name, |
| inspects security or trust state, infers dispatch behavior, calculates a |
| workbook, or claims client behavior. |
| For the sheet-protection sort-permission case, it requires one exact |
| `sheet_protection_changed` record with high-severity `FF022`: the protected |
| `Controls` profile must retain every action lock except `sort`, which moves from |
| locked to permitted. FormulaFence does not establish the raw attribute or |
| package boundary. WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the |
| exact `1`-to-`0` transition, stable formulas, and worksheet-only package |
| difference. Neither layer tests a password, encryption, authorization, an |
| actual client sort operation, or a resulting value. |
| For the standards-form protected-range descriptor case, it requires one exact |
| high-severity `protected_range_permissions_changed` record and `FF022`: the |
| redacted before/after profiles must retain one named `Controls!B2:B2` range, |
| one legacy verifier, one security descriptor, and no opaque metadata while |
| only `security_descriptor_material_changed=true` differs. FormulaFence must |
| not expose an account descriptor, identity, range name, or verifier. WCAB's |
| raw validator independently establishes the nested child, stable locked input |
| and formula path, and worksheet-only package difference. Neither layer tests a |
| password, encryption, authentication, authorization, editable-range |
| enforcement, a spreadsheet client, or a resulting value. |
| For the sensitivity-label metadata case, it requires one exact high-severity |
| `sensitivity_label_metadata_changed` record and `FF118`: equal redacted |
| profiles must retain one relevant custom-property part, one standard label-ID |
| property, seven MIP properties, one label ID, one LabelInfo part, one internal |
| LabelInfo relationship, and no malformed or external metadata, while only |
| `sensitivity_label_metadata_material_changed=true` and |
| `sensitivity_label_custom_properties_changed=true` differ. FormulaFence must |
| not expose a label ID or name, action/site ID, timestamp, property name/value, |
| LabelInfo XML, relationship ID, or target. WCAB's raw validator independently |
| establishes the root relationship and LabelInfo shape, stable formula context, |
| and `docProps/custom.xml`-only package difference. Neither layer resolves a |
| label, contacts a policy service, determines effective classification, inspects |
| encryption or permissions, infers access rights, enforces a policy, or claims |
| Office, SharePoint, OneDrive, or storage-service behavior. |
| For the relationship-bound worksheet-control macro-assignment case, it requires |
| one exact critical `worksheet_embedded_controls_changed` record and `FF029`: |
| equal redacted profiles must retain one control sheet, one worksheet control, |
| one form-control-properties part, one control macro assignment, one related |
| relationship, and no ActiveX, OLE, legacy VML, external, or unrecognized |
| surface, while only `worksheet_control_definition_material_changed=true` |
| differs. FormulaFence must not expose a control identity, shape ID, macro name, |
| relationship ID, or raw XML. WCAB's raw validator independently establishes |
| the bounded private assignment transition, stable formula context, and |
| worksheet-XML-only package difference. Neither layer loads a control, inspects |
| or executes VBA, resolves a macro, evaluates permissions, or claims Office |
| client behavior. |
| For the PivotCache case, |
| it requires one exact |
| `pivot_cache_refresh_controls_changed` record and matching `FF023`: its |
| redacted cache-level profile must retain the worksheet source type, cache ID, |
| and all controls except `refresh_on_load`, which moves from `false` to `true`. |
| WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the `Source!A1:B5` |
| binding, `Report!A1:B2` PivotTable location, stable stored report/dashboard |
| cells, direct dashboard edge, and cache-definition-only package change. |
| Neither report refreshes or renders a PivotTable. For the PivotTable |
| aggregation case, it requires one exact `pivot_table_definitions_changed` |
| record and matching `FF031`: FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one |
| PivotTable, one local cache, one data field, two cache fields, four cache |
| records, and no other material flag except |
| `pivot_table_layout_material_changed`. FormulaFence does not expose the source |
| labels, selected aggregate function, or a rendered report. WCAB's raw |
| validator—not the adapter—then establishes the local graph, stable stored |
| cells, exact `sum`-to-`average` `dataField/@subtotal` transition, and |
| PivotTable-part-only package change. Neither report refreshes, calculates, or |
| renders a PivotTable. For the PivotTable Slicer-selection case, it requires |
| one exact `slicer_timeline_cache_definitions_changed` record and matching |
| `FF032`: FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one Slicer cache, one |
| local PivotCache binding, one PivotTable binding, two Slicer items, one selected |
| item, and no timeline or auxiliary material while only |
| `slicer_filter_state_or_definition_material_changed` is set. FormulaFence does |
| not expose the Slicer name, selected item/value, or a rendered report. WCAB's |
| raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the local graph, stable stored |
| cells, exact selected `North`-to-`South` item transition, and Slicer-cache-part- |
| only package change. Neither report creates a visual Slicer, applies a filter, |
| refreshes, calculates, or renders a PivotTable. For the Power Query M-filter |
| case, it requires one exact `power_query_changed` record and matching `FF024`: |
| FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one parsed mashup, one formula |
| document, one metadata item, three package parts, local permission controls, |
| and no embedded or opaque content while only `formula_material_changed` is set. |
| FormulaFence does not expose M text, local-table values, or a query result. |
| WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the package-root custom |
| XML binding, connection-only controls, exact local `SourceData` source, stored |
| `North`-to-`South` M literal, and custom-XML-part-only package change. Neither |
| report executes M, refreshes a query, materializes output, calculates a |
| workbook, or infers returned rows. For the Scenario Manager stored-input case, |
| it requires one exact `scenario_manager_changed` record and matching `FF035`: |
| FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one scenario-bearing worksheet, one |
| scenario, two stored inputs, one selected/locked scenario, one summary |
| reference, one formatted input, and no malformed declaration while only |
| `scenario_definition_material_changed` is set. FormulaFence does not expose |
| the scenario name, stored values, input references, comment, or user metadata. |
| WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the generated `B2` |
| `0.08`-to-`0.16` stored transition, stable scenario metadata, visible cells, |
| formula path, and Inputs-worksheet-only package change. Neither report shows or |
| applies a scenario, calculates a result, or generates a Scenario Summary. For |
| the What-If Data Table case, it requires one exact |
| `what_if_data_tables_changed` record and matching `FF034`: FormulaFence's |
| redacted profile must retain one Data Table, one column-oriented one-variable |
| table, three declared output cells, one recalculation request, no deleted input |
| reference, and no unrecognized declaration while only |
| `data_table_definition_material_changed` is set. FormulaFence does not expose |
| the output range, input references, or calculated table values. WCAB's raw |
| validator—not the adapter—then establishes the generated `D3:D5` master, |
| exact `B2`-to-`B3` `r1` transition, stable input grid and formulas, ordinary |
| static model/dashboard lower bounds, and Sensitivity-worksheet-only package |
| change. Neither report substitutes inputs, calculates, resolves a circular |
| dependency, or claims client behavior. For the list data-validation source |
| case, it requires one exact `data_validation_changed` record and matching |
| `FF020`: FormulaFence must expose the one list rule's `Inputs!B2` range, |
| source-formula transition, and every entry-control attribute. It does not |
| evaluate either source list or decide whether a future input is permitted. |
| WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the exact |
| `Lists!$A$2:$A$4`-to-`Lists!$B$2:$B$4` declaration, stable source values and |
| ordinary formula path, direct static lower bounds, and Inputs-worksheet-only |
| package change. Neither report accepts/rejects an entry, calculates a |
| workbook, or claims client behavior. For the conditional-formatting threshold |
| case, it requires one exact `conditional_formatting_changed` record and |
| matching `FF021`: FormulaFence must expose one `Operations!B2:B4` `cellIs` |
| rule whose only before/after rule difference is its `100`-to-`50` formula |
| threshold. FormulaFence exposes stored rule metadata but does not render a |
| workbook or determine which cells receive a format. WCAB's raw validator—not |
| the adapter—then establishes the stable priority, operator, differential fill, |
| metric values, calculation properties, and Operations-worksheet-only package |
| change. Neither report evaluates the rule, calculates a workbook, or claims |
| client behavior. For the custom number-format case, it requires one exact |
| `number_format_controls_changed` record and matching `FF039`: FormulaFence's |
| redacted before/after profiles must each contain one direct-cell custom |
| assignment, no default/row/column or built-in assignment, no unrecognized |
| control, and only `number_format_definition_material_changed`. FormulaFence |
| deliberately does not expose a code or target. WCAB's raw validator—not the |
| adapter—then establishes the declared `0.0%;[Red](0.0%);-`-to-`;;;` code |
| transition, target/style/value/formula context, and styles-only package change. |
| Neither report renders a format, calculates a workbook, or claims client |
| behavior. For the stored ignored-error case, it requires one exact |
| `ignored_error_controls_changed` record and matching `FF037`: FormulaFence's |
| redacted profile must move from no controls to one standard container, one |
| target range, and one `formula_range_omission` category with no unrecognized |
| controls, while only `ignored_error_definition_material_changed` is set. |
| FormulaFence deliberately does not expose the target range or formula. WCAB's |
| raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the generated `Operations!B5` |
| target, `formulaRange=1` flag, stable cells/formulas, and worksheet-only |
| package change. Neither report determines whether Excel would show a warning, |
| evaluates a formula, renders an indicator, or claims client behavior. For the |
| workbook-structure case, it requires one exact `workbook_protection_changed` |
| record and matching `FF022`: FormulaFence's non-secret before profile must have |
| only `lock_structure=true`, while the after profile has all three workbook |
| locks false and neither side reports a credential or opaque metadata. WCAB's |
| raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the generated |
| `workbookProtection/@lockStructure` `1`-to-`0` transition, stable hidden-sheet |
| and formula context, and workbook-XML-only package change. Neither report |
| tests a password, encryption, authentication, authorization, or client action. |
| For the chart-series case, it requires one exact |
| `chart_definitions_changed` record and matching |
| `FF030`: FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one host sheet, one |
| drawing, one legacy chart, one series, three data references, no chart cache, |
| and no related payloads while only `chart_definition_material_changed` is set. |
| FormulaFence does not expose a chart source formula or visual result. WCAB's |
| raw validator—not the adapter—then proves the Dashboard-to-drawing-to-chart |
| binding, `D2` anchor, stable title/category references, exact local |
| value-reference transition, and chart-part-only package change. Neither report |
| calculates or renders the chart. For the external-workbook |
| policy case, it requires the exact `external_data_refresh_settings_changed` |
| details: `update_links` moves from `never` to `always`, while the three other |
| workbook-wide refresh controls retain their defaults. For the array-mode case, |
| it requires `array_formula_mode_changed` at the exact anchor with the declared |
| legacy-CSE and dynamic modes plus the declared output range; a generic array |
| change is not enough. For the iterative-calculation case, it requires the |
| exact `calculation_settings_changed` details: `iterate` moves from `false` to |
| `true`, while the explicit 100 / 0.001 bounds and other stored calculation |
| controls remain unchanged. For the precision-as-displayed case, it requires |
| the exact `calculation_settings_changed` details: `fullPrecision` moves from |
| `true` to `false`, while the declared input, number format, formula, and all |
| other stored calculation controls remain unchanged. For the saved-formula-result |
| case, it requires one `formula_cached_result_changed` record with FormulaFence's |
| stable two-formula/one-numeric-cache profile, exactly one unexplained cache |
| change, and material-change evidence. FormulaFence deliberately redacts raw |
| cache values and formula-cell locations from that record; WCAB's independent |
| raw validator establishes the declared `Model!B2` location and `20`-to-`25` |
| value change. For the workbook-date-system case, it requires one |
| `workbook_date_system_changed` record and `FF117` with normalized |
| `date1904=false` to `true`, explicit `dateCompatibility=true` on both sides, |
| and zero unrecognized date controls. WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then |
| establishes the stable serial, style, formulas, direct dependency edges, and |
| workbook.xml-only package change; neither report calculates a date or infers a |
| client display. For the active-AutoFilter case, it requires one exact |
| `filter_visibility_controls_changed` record and `FF036` with FormulaFence's |
| redacted one-filter-column/one-criterion profile and material-definition flag. |
| WCAB's raw validator—not the adapter—then establishes the `North`-to-`South` |
| criterion, stable `SUBTOTAL` and dashboard formulas, direct dependency edge, |
| and report-worksheet-only package change. Neither report applies the filter, |
| calculates a subtotal, or infers a visible row set. |
|
|
| For the saved Named Sheet View case, it requires one exact |
| `named_sheet_views_changed` record and `FF038`: FormulaFence's redacted |
| profile must retain one worksheet, part, view, filter, column, and criterion; |
| no sort rule or condition; no unrecognized control; and only |
| `named_sheet_view_definition_material_changed`. FormulaFence does not expose |
| the view name, IDs, bound range, or selected value. WCAB's raw validator—not |
| the adapter—then establishes the `North`-to-`South` criterion, base |
| AutoFilter binding, stable formulas, direct dashboard edge, and |
| Named-Sheet-View-part-only package change. Neither report activates, renders, |
| or applies the view, calculates a subtotal, or infers visible rows. The adapter |
| requires one exact `xml_mapping_controls_changed` record and `FF049` for the |
| XML Map case. FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one map part, |
| schema, map, data binding, file binding, table binding, and sheet-level |
| single-cell binding with no unrecognized metadata, while only its binding |
| material flag changes. It does not expose the schema, map, XPath, table, or |
| cell values. WCAB's raw validator independently establishes the synthetic |
| `NetAmount`-to-`TaxAmount` XPath transition, stable map/schema/bindings and |
| formulas, direct dashboard edge, and table-part-only package change. Neither |
| report accesses a file, imports or exports XML, materializes data, or infers |
| a result. The adapter |
| requires one exact `office_web_addins_changed` record and `FF028` for the |
| Office Web Add-in case. FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one |
| declared task-pane part, task pane, web-extension part, and store reference; |
| one locked hidden task pane; no bindings, snapshots, external relationships, |
| in-content references, or unrecognized parts; and an auto-show count from |
| zero to one. It does not expose add-in IDs, the store name, or the property |
| value. WCAB's raw validator independently establishes the generated local |
| relationship graph, false-to-true property transition, stable ordinary |
| workbook context, and web-extension-part-only boundary. Neither report |
| installs, loads, executes, or fetches an add-in or manifest, or claims that a |
| task pane opens. The adapter requires one exact |
| `worksheet_embedded_controls_changed` record and `FF029` for the embedded OLE |
| auto-load case. FormulaFence's redacted profile must retain one control-bearing |
| worksheet, one OLE object, one internal fingerprinted payload, and no ActiveX, |
| VML, linked object, external relationship, or unrecognized control, while only |
| its auto-load count moves from zero to one. It does not expose the ProgID, |
| relationship target, content type, or bytes. WCAB's raw validator independently |
| establishes the inert local relationship, fixed opaque bytes, false-to-true |
| property transition, stable formula context, and worksheet-only boundary. |
| Neither report deserializes, opens, renders, executes, registers, or invokes an |
| object server, or claims successful loading. The adapter |
| leaves `review` |
| as `null`: FormulaFence surfaces evidence but does not impose WCAB's reference |
| policy as a universal approval decision. Any intentionally unmapped fact or coverage expectation |
| becomes an adapter note and remains missing from its respective recall metric. |
|
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