diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 95ef384..df9ea93 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ ok, err := fejkdata.IsTemplate(arg)       // an inline template by its shape, el
 `New` refuses a mistake in the data, and `NewTemplate` one in the template. On a loaded
 generator:
 
-- `Fake` fails only for a path that names nothing or could name two things, with the
-  same error every call.
+- `Fake` fails only for a path that names nothing, could name two things, or reads one
+  draw of a level carrying a `repeat`, with the same error every call.
 - `FakeStruct` fails only for a non-struct argument or a type its tags do not describe,
   with the same error every call.
 - `Template.Fake` cannot fail.
diff --git a/data-import/httpmethod.py b/data-import/httpmethod.py
index efcd8ab..0919eef 100644
--- a/data-import/httpmethod.py
+++ b/data-import/httpmethod.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ CACHE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "cache"
 COLUMNS = ["idempotent", "method", "safe"]
 CORE = re.compile(r"\[RFC9110, Section 9\.3\.|\[RFC5789, Section 2\]")
 BOOLEAN = {"yes": "true", "no": "false"}
-SELECTOR = '[]{}"|'  # mirrors inSelector in table.go
+SELECTOR = '[]{}"|'  # mirrors inSelector in internal/grammar/path.go
 EXPECTED = 9
 
 
diff --git a/data-import/protocol.py b/data-import/protocol.py
index bc06769..c4cb73d 100644
--- a/data-import/protocol.py
+++ b/data-import/protocol.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ OUT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "data" / "misc" / "protocol.tsv"
 CACHE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "cache"
 COLUMNS = ["keyword", "name", "number"]
 SKIP = ("Reserved", "deprecated")
-SELECTOR = '[]{}"|'  # mirrors inSelector in table.go
+SELECTOR = '[]{}"|'  # mirrors inSelector in internal/grammar/path.go
 
 
 def rows(text):
diff --git a/fejkdata.go b/fejkdata.go
index f3495e1..491a515 100644
--- a/fejkdata.go
+++ b/fejkdata.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func tablePaths(t *table) []string {
 	out := append([]string{""}, t.rows.Header()...)
 	sort.Strings(out[1:])
 	for _, c := range t.rows.Children() {
-		for _, p := range paths(c.Payload()) {
+		for _, p := range paths(c.Owner()) {
 			out = append(out, join(c.Segment(), p))
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/internal/drawstate/drawstate_test.go b/internal/drawstate/drawstate_test.go
index 1225951..67142dc 100644
--- a/internal/drawstate/drawstate_test.go
+++ b/internal/drawstate/drawstate_test.go
@@ -38,3 +38,16 @@ func TestCountersCountFromOneEach(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("a new state's Seq = %d, want 1", got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestWeightedDrawsByWeight(t *testing.T) {
+	s := New(1)
+	counts := make([]int, 3)
+	for i := 0; i < 30000; i++ {
+		counts[s.Weighted([]float64{1, 2, 6})]++
+	}
+	for i, want := range []float64{1.0 / 6, 1.0 / 6, 4.0 / 6} {
+		if share := float64(counts[i]) / 30000; share < want-0.02 || share > want+0.02 {
+			t.Errorf("index %d drew a share of %.3f, want about %.3f", i, share, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/rows/pins.go b/internal/rows/pins.go
index c7bb991..6e9d5ce 100644
--- a/internal/rows/pins.go
+++ b/internal/rows/pins.go
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ import (
 	"github.com/larvit/fejkdata/internal/invariant"
 )
 
-type pin[P any] struct {
-	t   *Table[P]
+type pin[O any] struct {
+	t   *Table[O]
 	row int
 }
 
 // Pins is the table rows fixed so far.
-type Pins[P any] struct {
-	inline [8]pin[P] // sized so a render over a country's five-deep geo tree stays off the heap
+type Pins[O any] struct {
+	inline [8]pin[O] // sized so a render over a country's five-deep geo tree stays off the heap
 	used   int
-	spill  map[*Table[P]]int
+	spill  map[*Table[O]]int
 }
 
-func (p *Pins[P]) Pinned(t *Table[P]) (int, bool) {
+func (p *Pins[O]) Pinned(t *Table[O]) (int, bool) {
 	for _, q := range p.inline[:p.used] {
 		if q.t == t {
 			return q.row, true
@@ -28,23 +28,23 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) Pinned(t *Table[P]) (int, bool) {
 	return r, ok
 }
 
-// MustRow is the row pinned for t, which the walk reaching a column pinned.
-func (p *Pins[P]) MustRow(t *Table[P]) int {
+// MustRow is the row pinned for t, which the caller pinned.
+func (p *Pins[O]) MustRow(t *Table[O]) int {
 	r, ok := p.Pinned(t)
 	if !ok {
-		panic(invariant.Broken("a column of %s is rendered with no row pinned", t.segment))
+		panic(invariant.Broken("no row of %s is pinned", t.segment))
 	}
 	return r
 }
 
-func (p *Pins[P]) add(t *Table[P], r int) {
+func (p *Pins[O]) add(t *Table[O], r int) {
 	if p.used < len(p.inline) {
-		p.inline[p.used] = pin[P]{t, r}
+		p.inline[p.used] = pin[O]{t, r}
 		p.used++
 		return
 	}
 	if p.spill == nil {
-		p.spill = map[*Table[P]]int{}
+		p.spill = map[*Table[O]]int{}
 	}
 	p.spill[t] = r
 }
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) add(t *Table[P], r int) {
 // pin pins row r of t, and the rows of t's ancestors it links to. It checks nothing, so r must
 // agree with the row p pins of nearestPinned(t): ask clash first, as PinRow does, or draw r inside
 // it, as DrawIn does.
-func (p *Pins[P]) pin(t *Table[P], r int) {
+func (p *Pins[O]) pin(t *Table[O], r int) {
 	for stop := p.nearestPinned(t); t != stop; t = t.parent {
 		p.add(t, r)
 		if t.parent != stop {
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) pin(t *Table[P], r int) {
 
 // nearestPinned is the first of t and its ancestors p pins, where pinning a row of t stops; nil
 // where none is.
-func (p *Pins[P]) nearestPinned(t *Table[P]) *Table[P] {
+func (p *Pins[O]) nearestPinned(t *Table[O]) *Table[O] {
 	for ; t != nil; t = t.parent {
 		if _, ok := p.Pinned(t); ok {
 			return t
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) nearestPinned(t *Table[P]) *Table[P] {
 
 // clash is the table whose pinned row keeps row r of t out: t itself pinned to another row, or the
 // nearest ancestor pinned to a row r is not inside; nil where none does.
-func (p *Pins[P]) clash(t *Table[P], r int) *Table[P] {
+func (p *Pins[O]) clash(t *Table[O], r int) *Table[O] {
 	if pr, ok := p.Pinned(t); ok && pr != r {
 		return t
 	}
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) clash(t *Table[P], r int) *Table[P] {
 }
 
 // PinRow pins row r of t where it agrees with the rows pinned before it.
-func (p *Pins[P]) PinRow(t *Table[P], r int) error {
+func (p *Pins[O]) PinRow(t *Table[O], r int) error {
 	switch a := p.clash(t, r); {
 	case a == t:
 		pr, _ := p.Pinned(t)
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) PinRow(t *Table[P], r int) error {
 }
 
 // Select pins the row of t that sel names, and returns it.
-func (p *Pins[P]) Select(t *Table[P], sel string) (int, error) {
+func (p *Pins[O]) Select(t *Table[O], sel string) (int, error) {
 	r, err := t.find(sel, p)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) Select(t *Table[P], sel string) (int, error) {
 }
 
 // inside keeps the rows of t that sit inside every pinned ancestor.
-func (p *Pins[P]) inside(t *Table[P], rows []int) []int {
+func (p *Pins[O]) inside(t *Table[O], rows []int) []int {
 	for a := t.parent; a != nil; a = a.parent {
 		pa, ok := p.Pinned(a)
 		if !ok {
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ func (p *Pins[P]) inside(t *Table[P], rows []int) []int {
 }
 
 // Above is a pin set holding the rows p pins of t and its ancestors, and none below them.
-func (p *Pins[P]) Above(t *Table[P]) *Pins[P] {
-	q := new(Pins[P])
+func (p *Pins[O]) Above(t *Table[O]) *Pins[O] {
+	q := new(Pins[O])
 	for ; t != nil; t = t.parent {
 		if r, ok := p.Pinned(t); ok {
 			q.add(t, r)
diff --git a/internal/rows/rows.go b/internal/rows/rows.go
index 129003c..053b427 100644
--- a/internal/rows/rows.go
+++ b/internal/rows/rows.go
@@ -14,14 +14,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/larvit/fejkdata/internal/grammar"
 )
 
-// Table is the rows of one table category. P is what owns them, which a step to a linked
-// table reaches through Payload.
-type Table[P any] struct {
-	payload     P
+// Table is the rows of one table category, and O is what owns them.
+type Table[O any] struct {
+	owner       O
 	segment     string // path's last segment
 	path        string // the category's path from the data root, which a selector is written at
 	file        string
-	options     Columns
+	options     Options
 	header      []string
 	col         map[string]int
 	cells       []string // rows × columns, flat
@@ -32,14 +31,14 @@ type Table[P any] struct {
 	weights     []float64 // nil when uniform
 	cum         []float64 // cumulative weights, nil when uniform
 	byKey       map[string]int
-	parent      *Table[P]
-	children    map[string]*Table[P]
+	parent      *Table[O]
+	children    map[string]*Table[O]
 	once        sync.Once
 	lookup      rowLookup
 }
 
-// Columns names the column each option reads, "" where the option is absent.
-type Columns struct {
+// Options names the column each option reads, "" where the option is absent.
+type Options struct {
 	Key, Name, Parent, Weight string
 }
 
@@ -52,9 +51,9 @@ type rowLookup struct {
 }
 
 // Parse reads the TSV data, the rows of the table at path, and proves what the options
-// claim of them. payload is what owns the rows.
-func Parse[P any](payload P, segment, path, file, data string, o Columns) (*Table[P], error) {
-	t := &Table[P]{payload: payload, segment: segment, path: path, file: file, options: o, keyIndex: -1, nameIndex: -1, weightIndex: -1, parentIndex: -1}
+// claim of them.
+func Parse[O any](owner O, segment, path, file, data string, o Options) (*Table[O], error) {
+	t := &Table[O]{owner: owner, segment: segment, path: path, file: file, options: o, keyIndex: -1, nameIndex: -1, weightIndex: -1, parentIndex: -1}
 	if err := t.parseRows(data); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", file, err)
 	}
@@ -67,29 +66,25 @@ func Parse[P any](payload P, segment, path, file, data string, o Columns) (*Tabl
 	return t, nil
 }
 
-func (t *Table[P]) Payload() P        { return t.payload }
-func (t *Table[P]) Segment() string   { return t.segment }
-func (t *Table[P]) Path() string      { return t.path }
-func (t *Table[P]) File() string      { return t.file }
-func (t *Table[P]) Options() Columns  { return t.options }
-func (t *Table[P]) Header() []string  { return t.header }
-func (t *Table[P]) Parent() *Table[P] { return t.parent }
+func (t *Table[O]) Owner() O          { return t.owner }
+func (t *Table[O]) Segment() string   { return t.segment }
+func (t *Table[O]) File() string      { return t.file }
+func (t *Table[O]) Options() Options  { return t.options }
+func (t *Table[O]) Header() []string  { return t.header }
+func (t *Table[O]) Parent() *Table[O] { return t.parent }
 
-// LinkColumn is the index of the column holding the parent's key, -1 where there is none.
-func (t *Table[P]) LinkColumn() int { return t.parentIndex }
-
-func (t *Table[P]) Column(name string) (int, bool) {
+func (t *Table[O]) Column(name string) (int, bool) {
 	i, ok := t.col[name]
 	return i, ok
 }
 
-func (t *Table[P]) Len() int { return len(t.cells) / len(t.header) }
+func (t *Table[O]) Len() int { return len(t.cells) / len(t.header) }
 
-func (t *Table[P]) Cell(row, col int) string { return t.cells[row*len(t.header)+col] }
+func (t *Table[O]) Cell(row, col int) string { return t.cells[row*len(t.header)+col] }
 
 // parseRows reads the TSV: the header line names the columns, each following line
 // is a row of as many cells. Cells are substrings of data, so the file is held once.
-func (t *Table[P]) parseRows(data string) error {
+func (t *Table[O]) parseRows(data string) error {
 	data = strings.TrimSuffix(strings.TrimPrefix(data, "\xEF\xBB\xBF"), "\n")
 	header, rest, _ := strings.Cut(data, "\n")
 	header = strings.TrimSuffix(header, "\r")
@@ -130,7 +125,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) parseRows(data string) error {
 }
 
 // appendRow splits one line into as many cells as the header has columns.
-func (t *Table[P]) appendRow(row string, line int) error {
+func (t *Table[O]) appendRow(row string, line int) error {
 	if row == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("line %d is empty; every line below the header is a row", line)
 	}
@@ -148,8 +143,11 @@ func (t *Table[P]) appendRow(row string, line int) error {
 
 // bindOptions resolves each option to its column and proves what it claims of the
 // cells: a key is unique, a weight a positive number.
-func (t *Table[P]) bindOptions() error {
+func (t *Table[O]) bindOptions() error {
 	o := t.options
+	if o.Key != "" && o.Key == o.Name {
+		return fmt.Errorf("name names the key column %q, which a selector already reads; drop it", o.Name)
+	}
 	for _, opt := range []struct {
 		name, value string
 		into        *int
@@ -176,7 +174,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) bindOptions() error {
 }
 
 // proveNamesInsideParent proves a name without a key names one row inside its parent.
-func (t *Table[P]) proveNamesInsideParent() error {
+func (t *Table[O]) proveNamesInsideParent() error {
 	if t.keyIndex >= 0 || t.nameIndex < 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -192,7 +190,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) proveNamesInsideParent() error {
 }
 
 // proveKeys proves every key names one row, and keeps the map a link is proved by.
-func (t *Table[P]) proveKeys() error {
+func (t *Table[O]) proveKeys() error {
 	if t.keyIndex < 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -219,7 +217,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) proveKeys() error {
 
 // sumWeights proves every weight is a positive number, and keeps the weights and their
 // running sum.
-func (t *Table[P]) sumWeights() error {
+func (t *Table[O]) sumWeights() error {
 	if t.weightIndex < 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -240,7 +238,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) sumWeights() error {
 }
 
 // checkSelectorCells refuses a key or name cell a selector cannot spell.
-func (t *Table[P]) checkSelectorCells() error {
+func (t *Table[O]) checkSelectorCells() error {
 	for r := 0; r < t.Len(); r++ {
 		for _, col := range []int{t.keyIndex, t.nameIndex} {
 			if col < 0 {
@@ -258,7 +256,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) checkSelectorCells() error {
 // link cell is one, and every row of p is linked to. sibling is the table beside t
 // named name, nil where none is. It is the only writer of a table's parent and children.
 // docs/decisions.md#a-parent-row-with-no-child-row-is-a-load-error
-func (t *Table[P]) Link(p *Table[P], sibling func(name string) *Table[P]) error {
+func (t *Table[O]) Link(p *Table[O], sibling func(name string) *Table[O]) error {
 	name := t.header[t.parentIndex]
 	if p.keyIndex < 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("parent %q has no key column to link to", name)
@@ -281,7 +279,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) Link(p *Table[P], sibling func(name string) *Table[P]) error
 	}
 	t.parent = p
 	if p.children == nil {
-		p.children = map[string]*Table[P]{}
+		p.children = map[string]*Table[O]{}
 	}
 	p.children[t.segment] = t
 	return nil
@@ -289,9 +287,9 @@ func (t *Table[P]) Link(p *Table[P], sibling func(name string) *Table[P]) error
 
 // checkAncestors refuses a cycle in the chain of parents starting at p, t's parent, and
 // refuses an ancestor that has a column named like t.
-func (t *Table[P]) checkAncestors(p *Table[P], sibling func(name string) *Table[P]) error {
-	var ancestors []*Table[P]
-	for q, seen := p, map[*Table[P]]bool{t: true}; q != nil; q = sibling(q.header[q.parentIndex]) {
+func (t *Table[O]) checkAncestors(p *Table[O], sibling func(name string) *Table[O]) error {
+	var ancestors []*Table[O]
+	for q, seen := p, map[*Table[O]]bool{t: true}; q != nil; q = sibling(q.header[q.parentIndex]) {
 		if seen[q] {
 			return fmt.Errorf("parent cycle: %s reaches itself through its parents", q.segment)
 		}
@@ -310,8 +308,8 @@ func (t *Table[P]) checkAncestors(p *Table[P], sibling func(name string) *Table[
 }
 
 // Children is the tables linked to t, by segment.
-func (t *Table[P]) Children() []*Table[P] {
-	out := make([]*Table[P], 0, len(t.children))
+func (t *Table[O]) Children() []*Table[O] {
+	out := make([]*Table[O], 0, len(t.children))
 	for _, c := range t.children {
 		out = append(out, c)
 	}
@@ -320,7 +318,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) Children() []*Table[P] {
 }
 
 // Descendant is the table named name among those linked to t, at any depth.
-func (t *Table[P]) Descendant(name string) *Table[P] {
+func (t *Table[O]) Descendant(name string) *Table[O] {
 	if c, ok := t.children[name]; ok {
 		return c
 	}
@@ -332,10 +330,10 @@ func (t *Table[P]) Descendant(name string) *Table[P] {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// StepUp proves a ".." after a row of t can step up: t has a parent, rest has no empty
+// ProveStepUp proves a ".." after a row of t can step up: t has a parent, rest has no empty
 // segment and names it, and no selector follows, since a row selected below the parent row
 // could lie outside it.
-func (t *Table[P]) StepUp(rest []string) error {
+func (t *Table[O]) ProveStepUp(rest []string) error {
 	if t.parent == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf(`%s has no parent table for ".." to step up to`, t.segment)
 	}
@@ -353,7 +351,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) StepUp(rest []string) error {
 
 // climbTo spells the ".." steps from t up to the ancestor rest names first, or the one step to
 // t's parent where no ancestor is named.
-func (t *Table[P]) climbTo(rest []string) string {
+func (t *Table[O]) climbTo(rest []string) string {
 	var b strings.Builder
 	for a := t.parent; a != nil; a = a.parent {
 		b.WriteString(".." + a.segment)
@@ -364,7 +362,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) climbTo(rest []string) string {
 	return ".." + t.parent.segment
 }
 
-func (t *Table[P]) builtLookup() *rowLookup {
+func (t *Table[O]) builtLookup() *rowLookup {
 	t.once.Do(func() {
 		if t.nameIndex >= 0 {
 			t.lookup.byName = make(map[string][]int, t.Len())
@@ -395,7 +393,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) builtLookup() *rowLookup {
 	return &t.lookup
 }
 
-func (t *Table[P]) Draw(s *drawstate.State) int {
+func (t *Table[O]) Draw(s *drawstate.State) int {
 	if t.cum == nil {
 		return s.IntN(t.Len())
 	}
@@ -403,7 +401,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) Draw(s *drawstate.State) int {
 }
 
 // drawUnder picks a row among those linked to parent row pr.
-func (t *Table[P]) drawUnder(s *drawstate.State, pr int) int {
+func (t *Table[O]) drawUnder(s *drawstate.State, pr int) int {
 	lookup := t.builtLookup()
 	k := t.parent.Cell(pr, t.parent.keyIndex)
 	rows := lookup.rowsByParent[k]
@@ -413,10 +411,10 @@ func (t *Table[P]) drawUnder(s *drawstate.State, pr int) int {
 	return rows[s.Weighted(lookup.childCum[k])]
 }
 
-// DrawIn is the row of t a path or a named pick reads: the one pinned in p, else one drawn inside the nearest
+// DrawIn is the row of t inside the rows p pins: the one pinned in p, else one drawn inside the nearest
 // pinned ancestor — its parent drawn inside that first where the ancestor is further up — or
 // over the whole table, and pinned with its ancestors.
-func (t *Table[P]) DrawIn(s *drawstate.State, p *Pins[P]) int {
+func (t *Table[O]) DrawIn(s *drawstate.State, p *Pins[O]) int {
 	if r, ok := p.Pinned(t); ok {
 		return r
 	}
@@ -439,10 +437,10 @@ func (t *Table[P]) DrawIn(s *drawstate.State, p *Pins[P]) int {
 }
 
 // parentRow is the row of t's parent that row r links to.
-func (t *Table[P]) parentRow(r int) int { return t.parent.byKey[t.Cell(r, t.parentIndex)] }
+func (t *Table[O]) parentRow(r int) int { return t.parent.byKey[t.Cell(r, t.parentIndex)] }
 
 // under reports whether row r of t sits inside row pr of ancestor a.
-func (t *Table[P]) under(r int, a *Table[P], pr int) bool {
+func (t *Table[O]) under(r int, a *Table[O], pr int) bool {
 	for c, row := t, r; c.parent != nil; c, row = c.parent, c.parentRow(row) {
 		if c.parent == a {
 			return c.parentRow(row) == pr
@@ -453,7 +451,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) under(r int, a *Table[P], pr int) bool {
 
 // find is the row a selector names: by key first, then by name, where a name
 // naming several rows resolves inside the ancestors pinned.
-func (t *Table[P]) find(sel string, pins *Pins[P]) (int, error) {
+func (t *Table[O]) find(sel string, pins *Pins[O]) (int, error) {
 	if t.keyIndex < 0 && t.nameIndex < 0 {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("%s has no key or name column to select a row by", t.path)
 	}
@@ -475,7 +473,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) find(sel string, pins *Pins[P]) (int, error) {
 
 // ambiguous names each row a selector could have meant: a keyed table by its keys,
 // and one told apart only by its parent by the path that selects it.
-func (t *Table[P]) ambiguous(sel string, rows []int) error {
+func (t *Table[O]) ambiguous(sel string, rows []int) error {
 	spellings := make([]string, len(rows))
 	for i, r := range rows {
 		if t.keyIndex < 0 {
@@ -497,7 +495,7 @@ func (t *Table[P]) ambiguous(sel string, rows []int) error {
 
 // selectorSpelling is how a path writes a selected row, for messages: by key, or
 // by name inside its parent's row.
-func (t *Table[P]) selectorSpelling(r int) string {
+func (t *Table[O]) selectorSpelling(r int) string {
 	switch {
 	case t.keyIndex >= 0:
 		return t.path + "[" + t.Cell(r, t.keyIndex) + "]"
diff --git a/internal/rows/rows_test.go b/internal/rows/rows_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2728616
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/rows/rows_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package rows
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/larvit/fejkdata/internal/drawstate"
+)
+
+func parse(t *testing.T, segment, data string, o Options) *Table[string] {
+	t.Helper()
+	tb, err := Parse(segment, segment, "g."+segment, segment+".tsv", data, o)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Parse(%s): %v", segment, err)
+	}
+	return tb
+}
+
+// family is a country table with two cities linked to it, each with a name only unique inside its country.
+func family(t *testing.T) (country, city *Table[string]) {
+	t.Helper()
+	country = parse(t, "country", "code\tname\nSE\tSweden\nNO\tNorway\n", Options{Key: "code"})
+	city = parse(t, "city", "country\tname\nSE\tBorg\nNO\tBorg\nSE\tLund\n", Options{Name: "name", Parent: "country"})
+	if err := city.Link(country, func(string) *Table[string] { return nil }); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Link: %v", err)
+	}
+	return country, city
+}
+
+func TestParseRefuses(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		name, data string
+		o          Options
+		want       string
+	}{
+		{"no header", "", Options{}, "no header line"},
+		{"one row", "a\n1\n", Options{}, "has one row"},
+		{"a short row", "a\tb\n1\t2\n3\n", Options{}, "line 3 has fewer cells"},
+		{"a repeated key", "k\nx\nx\n", Options{Key: "k"}, `key "x" repeats line 2`},
+		{"the key named as name", "k\nx\ny\n", Options{Key: "k", Name: "k"}, "name names the key column"},
+		{"a weight of zero", "k\tw\nx\t1\ny\t0\n", Options{Weight: "w"}, `weight "0" is not a positive number`},
+		{"a key a selector cannot spell", "k\nx\ny|z\n", Options{Key: "k"}, `contains "|"`},
+		{"an option naming no column", "k\nx\ny\n", Options{Key: "nope"}, `key names no column "nope"`},
+	} {
+		if _, err := Parse("o", "t", "g.t", "t.tsv", c.data, c.o); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.want) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Parse = %v, want %q", c.name, err, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLinkRefusesAParentRowNoChildLinksTo(t *testing.T) {
+	country := parse(t, "country", "code\nSE\nNO\n", Options{Key: "code"})
+	city := parse(t, "city", "country\tname\nSE\tLund\nSE\tBorg\n", Options{Parent: "country"})
+	if err := city.Link(country, func(string) *Table[string] { return nil }); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `country "NO"`) {
+		t.Errorf("Link = %v, want the unlinked row NO named", err)
+	}
+	if city.Parent() != nil {
+		t.Error("a refused link set the parent")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOwnerIsWhatParseWasGiven(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, city := family(t); city.Parent().Owner() != "country" {
+		t.Errorf("Owner = %q, want country", city.Parent().Owner())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectResolvesANameInsideThePinnedParent(t *testing.T) {
+	country, city := family(t)
+	var p Pins[string]
+	if _, err := p.Select(city, "Borg"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "names 2 rows") {
+		t.Fatalf("Select(Borg) with no country pinned = %v, want it ambiguous", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := p.Select(country, "NO"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	r, err := p.Select(city, "Borg")
+	if err != nil || r != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("Select(Borg) inside NO = %d, %v, want row 1", r, err)
+	}
+	if err := p.PinRow(city, 2); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "two rows of g.city") {
+		t.Errorf("PinRow(Lund) over Borg = %v, want a clash", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPinRowRefusesARowOutsideThePinnedParent(t *testing.T) {
+	country, city := family(t)
+	var p Pins[string]
+	if err := p.PinRow(country, 1); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := p.PinRow(city, 2); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is not inside g.country[NO]") {
+		t.Errorf("PinRow(Lund) inside NO = %v, want it refused", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDrawInDrawsInsideThePinnedParentAndPinsItsAncestors(t *testing.T) {
+	country, city := family(t)
+	s := drawstate.New(1)
+	for i := 0; i < 50; i++ {
+		var p Pins[string]
+		if err := p.PinRow(country, 0); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if r := city.DrawIn(s, &p); city.Cell(r, 0) != "SE" {
+			t.Fatalf("DrawIn inside SE drew a city of %s", city.Cell(r, 0))
+		}
+		var q Pins[string]
+		r := city.DrawIn(s, &q)
+		if pr := q.MustRow(country); country.Cell(pr, 0) != city.Cell(r, 0) {
+			t.Fatalf("DrawIn pinned country %s above a city of %s", country.Cell(pr, 0), city.Cell(r, 0))
+		}
+		if above := q.Above(country); func() bool { _, ok := above.Pinned(city); return ok }() {
+			t.Fatal("Above(country) kept the city's pin")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProveStepUpNamesTheParent(t *testing.T) {
+	country, city := family(t)
+	if err := city.ProveStepUp([]string{"country", "name"}); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ProveStepUp(country.name) = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := city.ProveStepUp([]string{"name"}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "..country") {
+		t.Errorf("ProveStepUp(name) = %v, want ..country named", err)
+	}
+	if err := country.ProveStepUp([]string{"x"}); err == nil {
+		t.Error("ProveStepUp from a table with no parent passed")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/path.go b/path.go
index fd9fa29..37509de 100644
--- a/path.go
+++ b/path.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func stepInto(n node, seg string) (node, error) {
 			return child, nil
 		}
 	case *tableColumn:
-		if n.i == n.t.rows.LinkColumn() {
+		if n.name() == n.t.rows.Options().Parent {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("no field %q: %q is the link column, holding its parent's key; to read the row it links to, step up with ..%s.%s", seg, n.name(), n.name(), seg)
 		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no field %q: %q is a column, and a cell holds no fields", seg, n.name())
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ func (t *table) route(tail []string, descended bool) (tableRoute, error) {
 		return tableRoute{}, err
 	}
 	if len(tail) > 0 && tail[0] == ".." {
-		if err := t.rows.StepUp(tail[1:]); err != nil {
+		if err := t.rows.ProveStepUp(tail[1:]); err != nil {
 			return tableRoute{}, err
 		}
-		return tableRoute{sel: sel, draw: sel == "", next: t.rows.Parent().Payload(), rest: tail[2:], descends: true, up: true}, nil
+		return tableRoute{sel: sel, draw: sel == "", next: t.rows.Parent().Owner(), rest: tail[2:], descends: true, up: true}, nil
 	}
 	column, child, err := t.step(tail)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -128,42 +128,56 @@ func (w *pathCheck) run(n node) (node, error) {
 }
 
 func (w *pathCheck) walk(n node, tail []string) (node, error) {
-	for descended := false; len(tail) > 0 || descended; {
-		if c, ok := n.(*choice); ok {
-			return w.walkEvery(c, tail)
+	at := pathPos{n: n, tail: tail}
+	for at.more() {
+		if c, ok := at.n.(*choice); ok {
+			return w.walkEvery(c, at.tail)
 		}
 		var err error
-		if n, tail, descended, w.steps, err = takeStep(n, tail, descended, w.tail, w.level, w.steps, &w.pins); err != nil {
+		if w.steps, err = takeStep(&at, w.tail, w.level, w.steps, &w.pins); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
-	w.leaves = append(w.leaves, n)
-	return n, nil
+	w.leaves = append(w.leaves, at.n)
+	return at.n, nil
 }
 
-// takeStep takes the step tail starts with from n, which is no choice, and appends what it takes
-// to steps: a field, or the route a table passes. whole is the path tail ends, and level names its
-// head in errors.
-func takeStep(n node, tail []string, descended bool, whole []string, level string, steps []pathStep, pins *pinSet) (node, []string, bool, []pathStep, error) {
-	at := len(whole) - len(tail)
-	switch x := n.(type) {
+// pathPos is where a walk stands: the node reached, the tail left to walk from it, and whether
+// the step into it came from a row of an ancestor table, so a table there reads a row even
+// where the tail is empty.
+type pathPos struct {
+	n         node
+	tail      []string
+	descended bool
+}
+
+func (p pathPos) more() bool { return len(p.tail) > 0 || p.descended }
+
+// takeStep moves at past the step its tail starts with, from its node, which is no choice, and
+// appends what it takes to steps: a field, or the route a table passes. whole is the path at's
+// tail ends, and level names its head in errors.
+func takeStep(at *pathPos, whole []string, level string, steps []pathStep, pins *pinSet) ([]pathStep, error) {
+	i := len(whole) - len(at.tail)
+	switch x := at.n.(type) {
 	case *table:
-		r, err := x.route(tail, descended)
+		r, err := x.route(at.tail, at.descended)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, false, steps, err
+			return steps, err
 		}
-		steps, err = routeSteps(steps, pins, x, r, at)
-		return r.next, r.rest, r.descends, steps, err
+		*at = pathPos{r.next, r.rest, r.descends}
+		return routeSteps(steps, pins, x, r, i)
 	case *template:
-		if x.repeat > 1 && !grammar.IsSelector(tail[0]) {
-			return nil, nil, false, steps, fmt.Errorf("the level %q carries a repeat, which a path reading one draw of it cannot apply", join(level, strings.Join(whole[:at], ".")))
+		if x.repeat > 1 && !grammar.IsSelector(at.tail[0]) {
+			return steps, fmt.Errorf("the level %q carries a repeat, which a path reading one draw of it cannot apply", join(level, strings.Join(whole[:i], ".")))
 		}
 	}
-	next, err := stepInto(n, tail[0])
+	next, err := stepInto(at.n, at.tail[0])
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, false, steps, err
+		return steps, err
 	}
-	return next, tail[1:], false, append(steps, pathStep{kind: stepField, at: at, name: tail[0]}), nil
+	steps = append(steps, pathStep{kind: stepField, at: i, name: at.tail[0]})
+	*at = pathPos{n: next, tail: at.tail[1:]}
+	return steps, nil
 }
 
 // routeSteps appends the steps r takes past t, the first at at, pinning in pins the row
@@ -225,17 +239,16 @@ func (w *pathCheck) walkEvery(c *choice, tail []string) (node, error) {
 // which carriedByAll lets stand for all.
 func probePath(n node, tail []string, steps []pathStep) ([]pathStep, error) {
 	var pins pinSet
-	whole := tail
-	for descended := false; len(tail) > 0 || descended; {
-		if c, ok := n.(*choice); ok {
-			if err := carriedByAll(c, tail); err != nil {
+	for at := (pathPos{n: n, tail: tail}); at.more(); {
+		if c, ok := at.n.(*choice); ok {
+			if err := carriedByAll(c, at.tail); err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
-			n = c.items[0]
+			at.n = c.items[0]
 			continue
 		}
 		var err error
-		if n, tail, descended, steps, err = takeStep(n, tail, descended, whole, "", steps, &pins); err != nil {
+		if steps, err = takeStep(&at, tail, "", steps, &pins); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -290,9 +303,9 @@ func (t *table) drawStep(s *drawstate.State, st pathStep, pins *pinSet) node {
 	case stepColumn:
 		return t.formatTemplate.fields[st.name]
 	case stepChild:
-		return t.rows.Descendant(st.name).Payload()
+		return t.rows.Descendant(st.name).Owner()
 	case stepParent:
-		return t.rows.Parent().Payload()
+		return t.rows.Parent().Owner()
 	}
 	panic(invariant.Broken("drawStep has no case for step kind %d", st.kind))
 }
@@ -327,7 +340,7 @@ func (t *table) step(tail []string) (column node, child *table, err error) {
 	if d == nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("no column or linked table %q in %s", tail[0], t.rows.Segment())
 	}
-	return nil, d.Payload(), nil
+	return nil, d.Owner(), nil
 }
 
 // carriedByAll is the choice rule a path that must resolve on every call obeys:
diff --git a/table.go b/table.go
index 16cdfec..f6c5004 100644
--- a/table.go
+++ b/table.go
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@ type table struct {
 	rows           *rowsTable
 	formatTemplate *template // fields are the column nodes
 	rowNode        *tableRow
-	cellTemplates  map[int]*template
+	cellTemplates  map[int]*template // by cellIndex
 }
 
 type (
-	rowsTable = rows.Table[*table]
 	pinSet    = rows.Pins[*table]
+	rowsTable = rows.Table[*table]
 )
 
 func (*table) isNode() {}
@@ -43,9 +43,11 @@ func (*tableRow) isNode() {}
 // cellTemplate is what a cell renders: its compiled template where it carries tokens,
 // else nil for its text.
 func (t *table) cellTemplate(row, col int) *template {
-	return t.cellTemplates[row*len(t.rows.Header())+col]
+	return t.cellTemplates[t.cellIndex(row, col)]
 }
 
+func (t *table) cellIndex(row, col int) int { return row*len(t.rows.Header()) + col }
+
 // tableOptions are the keys a table object takes; every other key is refused.
 var tableOptions = []string{"format", "key", "name", "parent", "rows", "weight"}
 
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ func compileTable(m map[string]any, dir []string, name string, readRows func(fil
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	t := &table{}
-	if t.rows, err = rows.Parse(t, name, categoryPath(dir, name), o.rows, data, o.columns); err != nil {
+	if t.rows, err = rows.Parse(t, name, categoryPath(dir, name), o.rows, data, o.options); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if err := t.checkCells(); err != nil {
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ func compileTable(m map[string]any, dir []string, name string, readRows func(fil
 
 type tableOptionValues struct {
 	format, rows string
-	columns      rows.Columns
+	options      rows.Options
 }
 
 func readTableOptions(m map[string]any) (tableOptionValues, error) {
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ func readTableOptions(m map[string]any) (tableOptionValues, error) {
 			return o, fmt.Errorf("a table takes %s; %q is none of them", strings.Join(tableOptions, ", "), k)
 		}
 	}
-	for k, into := range map[string]*string{"format": &o.format, "key": &o.columns.Key, "name": &o.columns.Name, "parent": &o.columns.Parent, "rows": &o.rows, "weight": &o.columns.Weight} {
+	for k, into := range map[string]*string{"format": &o.format, "key": &o.options.Key, "name": &o.options.Name, "parent": &o.options.Parent, "rows": &o.rows, "weight": &o.options.Weight} {
 		v, ok := m[k]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
@@ -112,9 +114,6 @@ func readTableOptions(m map[string]any) (tableOptionValues, error) {
 	if !strings.HasSuffix(o.rows, ".tsv") || strings.Contains(o.rows, "/") {
 		return o, fmt.Errorf("rows names a .tsv file beside the category, not %q", o.rows)
 	}
-	if o.columns.Key != "" && o.columns.Key == o.columns.Name {
-		return o, fmt.Errorf("name names the key column %q, which a selector already reads; drop it", o.columns.Name)
-	}
 	return o, nil
 }
 
@@ -134,7 +133,7 @@ func (t *table) checkCells() error {
 			if t.cellTemplates == nil {
 				t.cellTemplates = map[int]*template{}
 			}
-			t.cellTemplates[row*len(header)+col] = n
+			t.cellTemplates[t.cellIndex(row, col)] = n
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -207,7 +206,7 @@ func refuseTableBinding(toks []grammar.Token) error {
 func linkTables(sites []categorySite) error {
 	for _, s := range sites {
 		t, isTable := s.n.(*table)
-		if !isTable || t.rows.LinkColumn() < 0 {
+		if !isTable || t.rows.Options().Parent == "" {
 			continue
 		}
 		if err := t.linkParent(s.in.children); err != nil {
@@ -227,8 +226,8 @@ func (t *table) linkParent(siblings map[string]node) error {
 	case !ok:
 		return fmt.Errorf("parent %q is not a table; a link column reads a table's key", name)
 	}
-	return t.rows.Link(p.rows, func(name string) *rowsTable {
-		if q, ok := siblings[name].(*table); ok {
+	return t.rows.Link(p.rows, func(sibling string) *rowsTable {
+		if q, ok := siblings[sibling].(*table); ok {
 			return q.rows
 		}
 		return nil
diff --git a/todo.md b/todo.md
index e654c40..d14c233 100644
--- a/todo.md
+++ b/todo.md
@@ -416,11 +416,11 @@ An `int64` or `float64` field unproven in range is told to become itself, and a
 
 ### 51. Spell a table one way across the errors that name it.
 
-`pinRow` names `t.path` and `mustRow` panics with `t.category`, so one table is `territory` and `misc.territory`, and the short spelling names no file where two folders hold that name.
+In `internal/rows`, `Pins.PinRow` names `t.path` and `Pins.MustRow` panics with `t.segment`, so one table is `territory` and `misc.territory`, and the short spelling names no file where two folders hold that name.
 
 ### 115. Spell a rows file's line one way in every error, naming the file.
 
-Today a cell reads `g.t.b, line 3` (`namedNode.labelIn`), a cell check `t.tsv: line 3, b` (`checkCells`) and a link `t.tsv line 3` (`proveParent`). A reference cycle found from a table's format through a cell names no line at all: `reference cycle: g.t -> format -> b -> b -> /h -> …`, where the column-to-cell step in `renderEdges` repeats the column name.
+Today a cell reads `g.t.b, line 3` (`namedNode.labelIn`), a cell check `t.tsv: line 3, b` (`checkCells`) and a link `t.tsv line 3` (`rows.Table.Link`). A reference cycle found from a table's format through a cell names no line at all: `reference cycle: g.t -> format -> b -> b -> /h -> …`, where the column-to-cell step in `renderEdges` repeats the column name.
 
 ### 10. Test that every node kind reaches each switch over node kinds.