diff --git a/data.go b/data.go
index f08d07a..a4cb217 100644
--- a/data.go
+++ b/data.go
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func checkRenders(s nodeScope) error {
 	fence := &drawCheck{}
 	refs := false
 	if err := s(func(path string, n node) error {
-		if t, ok := n.(*template); ok && len(t.refs) > 0 {
+		if t, ok := n.(*template); ok && len(t.link.refs) > 0 {
 			refs = true
 		}
 		return fence.checkDrawGroup(path, n)
diff --git a/datatype.go b/datatype.go
index 8dbf0c3..aba4a9b 100644
--- a/datatype.go
+++ b/datatype.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func checkColumns(s nodeScope) error {
 		checked[column] = true
 		items, _ := columnItems(column)
 		for _, it := range items {
-			if r := it.readsColumn; r != nil {
+			if r := it.link.readsColumn; r != nil {
 				if err := check(r.a.key[1:], r.a.tail[0], r.column); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ func columnDatatype(n node) DataType {
 
 // itemDatatype is the datatype a column item declares, else that of the column it reads.
 func itemDatatype(t *template) DataType {
-	if t.datatype == DataTypeString && t.readsColumn != nil {
-		return columnDatatype(t.readsColumn.column)
+	if t.datatype == DataTypeString && t.link.readsColumn != nil {
+		return columnDatatype(t.link.readsColumn.column)
 	}
 	return t.datatype
 }
diff --git a/doc.go b/doc.go
index e079331..a518fdf 100644
--- a/doc.go
+++ b/doc.go
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ package fejkdata
 //     start one each, `FakeStruct` one per record, and `expandAnew` one per
 //     iteration of a `template.repeat`.
 //   - hold — keeping one draw of a name, so every route to it reads that value:
-//     `template.held`, `hold`, `groupHold`, `readField`.
+//     `formatOps.held`, `hold`, `groupHold`, `readField`.
 //   - draw group — reference draws held apart inside one render:
-//     `template.drawGroup` as the data spells it, `template.drawGroupKey` as a
+//     `template.drawGroup` as the data spells it, `templateLink.drawGroupKey` as a
 //     render reads it, `holdSet`, `renderScope`.
 //   - pin — fixing which row of a table the render uses, which the draw fences replay:
 //     `pinSet`, `pinSet.pin`, `table.drawIn`.
diff --git a/drawfence.go b/drawfence.go
index b46aff1..eb08c3f 100644
--- a/drawfence.go
+++ b/drawfence.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (c *drawCheck) checkDraws(path string, n node) error {
 func checkOwnFamily(t *template) error {
 	own := t.table
 	if own == nil {
-		own = t.cellOf
+		own = t.cell.table
 	}
 	if own == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func checkOwnFamily(t *template) error {
 func renderDraws(t *template) *drawWalk {
 	w := newDrawWalk()
 	for _, e := range renderEdges(t) {
-		w.edge(t, e, drawAt{group: t.drawGroupKey, route: drawRoute{e.reached(), e.label}})
+		w.edge(t, e, drawAt{group: t.link.drawGroupKey, route: drawRoute{e.reached(), e.label}})
 	}
 	return w
 }
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func repeats(n node) bool {
 
 func grouped(n node) bool {
 	t, isTemplate := n.(*template)
-	return isTemplate && t.drawGroupKey != ""
+	return isTemplate && t.link.drawGroupKey != ""
 }
 
 // readsTable reports whether a reference of n names a table, whose draw the render's
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ func refRead(n node, label string) (arm, bool) {
 	if !isTemplate {
 		return arm{}, false
 	}
-	a := splitArm(label, t.refs)
+	a := splitArm(label, t.link.refs)
 	return a, isRef(a.key)
 }
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ func checkColumnDraws(t *template, columns []string) error { return columnDraws(
 func columnDraws(t *template, columns []string) *drawWalk {
 	w := newDrawWalk()
 	for _, name := range columns {
-		w.walk(t.fields[name], drawAt{group: t.drawGroupKey, route: drawRoute{spelling: fmt.Sprintf("column %q", name)}})
+		w.walk(t.fields[name], drawAt{group: t.link.drawGroupKey, route: drawRoute{spelling: fmt.Sprintf("column %q", name)}})
 	}
 	return w
 }
@@ -311,25 +311,29 @@ func (w *drawWalk) walk(n node, at drawAt) {
 	if repeats(n) {
 		return
 	}
-	if t, isTemplate := n.(*template); isTemplate && t.drawGroupKey != "" {
-		at.group = t.drawGroupKey
+	if t, isTemplate := n.(*template); isTemplate && t.link.drawGroupKey != "" {
+		at.group = t.link.drawGroupKey
 	}
 	if t, isTable := n.(*table); isTable {
 		at.wholeTable = t
 	}
 	for _, e := range renderEdges(n) {
-		cell, isCell := e.to.(*template)
+		to, isTemplate := e.to.(*template)
+		cell := cellSite{}
+		if isTemplate {
+			cell = to.cell
+		}
 		switch {
-		case !isCell || cell.cellOf == nil:
+		case cell.table == nil:
 			w.edge(n, e, at)
-		case cell.cellOf == at.wholeTable:
+		case cell.table == at.wholeTable:
 			in := at
 			in.wholePins = at.wholePins.clone()
-			in.wholePins.add(cell.cellOf, cell.cellRow)
+			in.wholePins.add(cell.table, cell.row)
 			w.edge(n, e, in)
-		case at.pins.clash(cell.cellOf, cell.cellRow) == nil:
+		case at.pins.clash(cell.table, cell.row) == nil:
 			in := at
-			in.pins = at.pins.entered(cell.cellOf, cell.cellRow)
+			in.pins = at.pins.entered(cell.table, cell.row)
 			w.edge(n, e, in)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/graph.go b/graph.go
index 252bcba..5eab557 100644
--- a/graph.go
+++ b/graph.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func renderEdges(n node) []renderEdge {
 				es = append(es, renderEdge{leaf, a.spelling, operand})
 			}
 		}
-		for _, o := range n.ops {
+		for _, o := range n.compiled.ops {
 			for _, a := range o.operands {
 				add(a, o.fn)
 			}
diff --git a/hold.go b/hold.go
index 02ff5d5..54b553b 100644
--- a/hold.go
+++ b/hold.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func readField(s *session, t *template, held *hold, sc renderScope, a arm) readV
 	if s.trace != nil {
 		traceRead(s.trace, t, sc, a)
 	}
-	if !t.held[a.key] {
+	if !t.compiled.held[a.key] {
 		if len(a.tail) > 0 {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("fejkdata: %q reads a path into %q, which the expansion does not hold", a.spelling, a.key))
 		}
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ func traceRead(trace *renderTrace, t *template, sc renderScope, a arm) {
 	var table string
 	var row int
 	switch {
-	case t.cellOf != nil:
-		table, row = t.cellOf.path, t.cellRow
+	case t.cell.table != nil:
+		table, row = t.cell.table.path, t.cell.row
 	case t.table != nil:
 		table, row = t.table.path, sc.rowOf(t.table)
 	}
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ func renderLeaf(s *session, n node, sc renderScope) readValue {
 	case *nullItem:
 		return readValue{null: true}
 	case *template:
-		if leaf.readsColumn != nil {
-			return readField(s, leaf, nil, sc.in(leaf), leaf.readsColumn.a)
+		if leaf.link.readsColumn != nil {
+			return readField(s, leaf, nil, sc.in(leaf), leaf.link.readsColumn.a)
 		}
 	}
 	return readValue{text: render(s, n, sc)}
diff --git a/holdfence.go b/holdfence.go
index 59be3f0..83a14fb 100644
--- a/holdfence.go
+++ b/holdfence.go
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ import (
 // docs/decisions.md#the-expansion-hold-and-the-renders-draws-are-two-fences
 func heldCheck(path string, n node) error {
 	t, ok := n.(*template)
-	if !ok || len(t.held) == 0 {
+	if !ok || len(t.compiled.held) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	readers := pathKeyReaders(t.ops, t.pathKeys)
+	readers := pathKeyReaders(t.compiled.ops, t.compiled.pathKeys)
 	for _, name := range heldNames(t) {
-		if _, isPath := t.pathKeys[name]; isPath && isRef(name) {
+		if _, isPath := t.compiled.pathKeys[name]; isPath && isRef(name) {
 			continue // held for the render: drawCheck compares every read of it, by path, across the render and its groups
 		}
 		if err := checkNameHeld(t, name, readers); err != nil {
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ func heldCheck(path string, n node) error {
 // in name order: a level read both ways is reported by the operand's fence, and
 // which overlap is reported does not vary.
 func heldNames(t *template) []string {
-	names := make([]string, 0, len(t.held))
-	for name := range t.held {
+	names := make([]string, 0, len(t.compiled.held))
+	for name := range t.compiled.held {
 		names = append(names, name)
 	}
 	sort.Slice(names, func(i, j int) bool {
-		_, pi := t.pathKeys[names[i]]
-		_, pj := t.pathKeys[names[j]]
+		_, pi := t.compiled.pathKeys[names[i]]
+		_, pj := t.compiled.pathKeys[names[j]]
 		if pi != pj {
 			return !pi
 		}
@@ -51,12 +51,12 @@ func heldNames(t *template) []string {
 // produces.
 func heldNodes(t *template, name string, readers []reader) map[node]bool {
 	held := map[node]bool{}
-	if _, isPath := t.pathKeys[name]; !isPath {
+	if _, isPath := t.compiled.pathKeys[name]; !isPath {
 		operandDraw(t.head(name), held)
 		return held
 	}
 	for _, r := range readers {
-		if a := splitArm(r.spelling, t.refs); a.key == name {
+		if a := splitArm(r.spelling, t.link.refs); a.key == name {
 			coverPath(t.head(name), a.tail, held)
 		}
 	}
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ func checkNameHeld(t *template, name string, readers []reader) error {
 	if len(held) == 0 {
 		return nil // a fixed head holds nothing to reach
 	}
-	reader, isPath := t.pathKeys[name]
+	reader, isPath := t.compiled.pathKeys[name]
 	seen := map[node]bool{}
 	for _, e := range renderEdges(t) {
-		if splitArm(e.label, t.refs).key == name || !renders(e.to, held, seen) {
+		if splitArm(e.label, t.link.refs).key == name || !renders(e.to, held, seen) {
 			continue
 		}
 		if isPath {
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func checkNameHeld(t *template, name string, readers []reader) error {
 
 // operandReader names the builtin whose operand holds name.
 func operandReader(t *template, name string) string {
-	for _, o := range t.ops {
+	for _, o := range t.compiled.ops {
 		for _, a := range o.operands {
 			if a.key == name {
 				return o.fn
diff --git a/holdset.go b/holdset.go
index eacf77f..93be3fa 100644
--- a/holdset.go
+++ b/holdset.go
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ func expandAnew(s *session, t *template) string {
 
 // in is the scope t renders in: its draw group where it names one, else its caller's.
 func (sc renderScope) in(t *template) renderScope {
-	if t.drawGroupKey != "" {
-		sc.group = t.drawGroupKey
+	if t.link.drawGroupKey != "" {
+		sc.group = t.link.drawGroupKey
 	}
 	return sc
 }
diff --git a/inline.go b/inline.go
index 3685670..91749e0 100644
--- a/inline.go
+++ b/inline.go
@@ -168,7 +168,6 @@ func linkNodeRefs(scope nodeScope, root map[string]node) error {
 		if !ok {
 			return nil
 		}
-		t.keyDrawGroup("")
 		for _, name := range refTokens(t.tokens) {
 			sigil, rest, err := refShape(name)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -178,6 +177,6 @@ func linkNodeRefs(scope nodeScope, root map[string]node) error {
 				return fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: an inline template has no folder; write {/%s}", path, name, rest)
 			}
 		}
-		return linkTemplateRefs(nil, path, "", t, root)
+		return linkTemplate(nil, path, "", t, root)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/node.go b/node.go
index f4a689c..352f96b 100644
--- a/node.go
+++ b/node.go
@@ -41,9 +41,10 @@ func (*nullItem) isNode() {}
 // template renders a format string, substituting {tokens} from fields. A bare
 // JSON string is a template with no fields. repeat (default 1) renders that format
 // that many times and joins the results with separator (default ""), each render
-// an independent pick. Every format compiles in `linkTemplateRefs`.
+// an independent pick. Every format compiles in `linkTemplate`.
 type template struct {
-	// Filled by `compileString`, `compileTemplate` and `table.compileRowFormat`:
+	// Filled by `compileString`, `compileTemplate`, `table.checkCells` and
+	// `table.compileRowFormat`:
 	format     string
 	tokens     []formatToken
 	fields     map[string]node
@@ -54,24 +55,21 @@ type template struct {
 	fromString bool   // written as a JSON string rather than an object
 	isRecord   bool   // compiled at the top without a repeat, so its fields are record columns
 	table      *table // the table whose format this is, whose columns are the fields
+	cell       cellSite
 
-	// Filled by `checkCells`:
-	cellOf  *table // the table whose cell this is
-	cellRow int    // the row the cell sits in
+	// Filled by `linkTemplate`, from the assembled tree:
+	link     templateLink
+	compiled formatOps
+}
 
-	// Filled by `template.compileFormat` at link, from `template.tokens` and `template.refs`:
-	ops  []op // what expand walks
-	grow int  // minimum output size, to size the render buffer
-	// pathKeys maps each key a dotted path in the format starts from to one path token
-	// reading it, which is the half of an overlap the fences name. nil when the
-	// format takes no path.
-	pathKeys map[string]string
-	// held is every name drawn once per expansion: the path keys above, plus the
-	// siblings a {calc()} reads. nil when the format holds nothing (see expand).
-	held      map[string]bool
-	heldLocal bool // some held name is kept by the expansion itself, so expand makes its hold
+// cellSite is the table cell a template is compiled from; table is nil for any other template.
+type cellSite struct {
+	table *table
+	row   int
+}
 
-	// Filled by `linkTemplateRefs` and `keyDrawGroup`, from the assembled tree:
+// templateLink is what a template's references resolve to in the assembled tree.
+type templateLink struct {
 	refs         map[string]refBinding // each reference the format reads -> what it resolves to
 	refHeads     map[string]node       // each refBinding.key -> the category it names
 	readsColumn  *columnRead           // set when the format is one reference alone reading a record's column
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ func (*template) isNode() {}
 // head is the node an arm's key names: a sibling field, or a reference's category.
 func (t *template) head(key string) node {
 	if isRef(key) {
-		return t.refHeads[key]
+		return t.link.refHeads[key]
 	}
 	return t.fields[key]
 }
@@ -220,15 +218,14 @@ func (t *template) fixedText() (string, bool) {
 	return "", false
 }
 
-// compileFormat compiles the format into ops, and applies the fences that need the
+// compileFormat compiles a format into ops, and applies the fences that need the
 // compiled reads.
-func (t *template) compileFormat() error {
-	c := compileOps(t.tokens, t.refs)
-	t.ops, t.grow, t.pathKeys, t.held, t.heldLocal = c.ops, c.grow, c.pathKeys, c.held, c.heldLocal
-	if err := checkNoOverlap(t.ops, t.pathKeys); err != nil {
-		return err
+func compileFormat(toks []formatToken, refs map[string]refBinding) (formatOps, error) {
+	c := compileOps(toks, refs)
+	if err := checkNoOverlap(c.ops, c.pathKeys); err != nil {
+		return c, err
 	}
-	return checkNoRepeatedRead(c)
+	return c, checkNoRepeatedRead(c)
 }
 
 func compileChoice(items []any, pos position) (node, error) {
@@ -442,14 +439,6 @@ func drawGroupOf(m map[string]any, repeat int) (string, error) {
 	return name, nil
 }
 
-// keyDrawGroup keys t's draw group by the category t sits in, "" for an inline template, so a name
-// is local to its category.
-func (t *template) keyDrawGroup(category string) {
-	if t.drawGroup != "" {
-		t.drawGroupKey = category + "/" + t.drawGroup
-	}
-}
-
 // weightOf reads a node's "weight" (default 1) from its raw JSON form. Only
 // template objects carry weight; a present one must be finite and positive.
 func weightOf(raw any) (float64, error) {
diff --git a/node_test.go b/node_test.go
index f994f27..225f496 100644
--- a/node_test.go
+++ b/node_test.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func TestEveryFormatCompilesAtLink(t *testing.T) {
 		compiled := map[string]bool{}
 		if err := eachNode(n, "t", func(path string, m node) error {
 			if tm, ok := m.(*template); ok {
-				compiled[path+" "+tm.format] = tm.ops != nil
+				compiled[path+" "+tm.format] = tm.compiled.ops != nil
 			}
 			return nil
 		}); err != nil {
diff --git a/reference.go b/reference.go
index 4814a10..0563604 100644
--- a/reference.go
+++ b/reference.go
@@ -74,52 +74,63 @@ func refSegments(name string, folder []string) ([]string, error) {
 func linkRefs(root map[string]node) error {
 	return eachTemplate(root, func(folder []string, path string, t *template) error {
 		category := strings.Join(strings.Split(path, ".")[:len(folder)+1], ".")
-		t.keyDrawGroup(category)
-		return linkTemplateRefs(folder, path, category, t, root)
+		return linkTemplate(folder, path, category, t, root)
 	})
 }
 
-func linkTemplateRefs(folder []string, path, category string, t *template, root map[string]node) error {
-	if t.cellOf != nil {
-		path = fmt.Sprintf("%s, line %d", path, t.cellRow+2)
+// linkTemplate resolves t's references in category, "" for an inline template, and
+// compiles its format against them.
+func linkTemplate(folder []string, path, category string, t *template, root map[string]node) error {
+	if t.cell.table != nil {
+		path = fmt.Sprintf("%s, line %d", path, t.cell.row+2)
 	}
-	if names := refTokens(t.tokens); len(names) > 0 {
-		if err := t.bindRefs(folder, path, category, names, root); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+	link, err := t.resolveLink(folder, path, category, root)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-	if err := t.compileFormat(); err != nil {
+	compiled, err := compileFormat(t.tokens, link.refs)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", path, err)
 	}
-	t.readsColumn = columnReadOf(t)
+	t.link, t.compiled = link, compiled
 	return nil
 }
 
-// bindRefs fills refs and refHeads, refusing a reference to t's own category:
+// resolveLink binds every reference t reads, refusing one to t's own category, and keys
+// t's draw group by that category, so a name is local to it:
 // docs/decisions.md#a-category-never-references-itself-and-a-records-fences-run-at-load
-func (t *template) bindRefs(folder []string, path, category string, names []string, root map[string]node) error {
-	t.refs = make(map[string]refBinding, len(names))
-	t.refHeads = make(map[string]node, len(names))
+func (t *template) resolveLink(folder []string, path, category string, root map[string]node) (templateLink, error) {
+	var link templateLink
+	if t.drawGroup != "" {
+		link.drawGroupKey = category + "/" + t.drawGroup
+	}
+	names := refTokens(t.tokens)
+	if len(names) == 0 {
+		return link, nil
+	}
+	link.refs = make(map[string]refBinding, len(names))
+	link.refHeads = make(map[string]node, len(names))
 	for _, name := range names {
 		segments, err := refSegments(name, folder)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: %w", path, name, err)
+			return link, fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: %w", path, name, err)
 		}
 		categorySegs, target, tail, err := resolveCategory(root, segments)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: %w", path, name, err)
+			return link, fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: %w", path, name, err)
 		}
 		key := "/" + strings.Join(categorySegs, ".")
 		if category != "" && key == "/"+category {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: names the category it sits in; read a sibling field as a path, or move the shared value into its own category and reference that", path, name)
+			return link, fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: names the category it sits in; read a sibling field as a path, or move the shared value into its own category and reference that", path, name)
 		}
 		if err := checkPath(target, tail, key); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: %w", path, name, err)
+			return link, fmt.Errorf("%s: reference {%s}: %w", path, name, err)
 		}
-		t.refHeads[key] = target
-		t.refs[name] = refBinding{key, tail}
+		link.refHeads[key] = target
+		link.refs[name] = refBinding{key, tail}
 	}
-	return nil
+	link.readsColumn = columnReadOf(t, link)
+	return link, nil
 }
 
 // columnRead is a record's column read by a format of that one reference alone, which is the
@@ -129,13 +140,13 @@ type columnRead struct {
 	column node
 }
 
-func columnReadOf(t *template) *columnRead {
+func columnReadOf(t *template, link templateLink) *columnRead {
 	name, lone := loneRef(t.tokens)
 	if !lone || t.repeat != 1 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	a := splitArm(name, t.refs)
-	target, isTemplate := t.head(a.key).(*template)
+	a := splitArm(name, link.refs)
+	target, isTemplate := link.refHeads[a.key].(*template)
 	if !isTemplate || !target.isRecord || len(a.tail) != 1 {
 		return nil
 	}
diff --git a/render.go b/render.go
index 9bffb12..5fe866a 100644
--- a/render.go
+++ b/render.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func render(s *session, n node, sc renderScope) string {
 			return expand(s, n, sc)
 		}
 		var b strings.Builder
-		b.Grow(n.repeat * (n.grow + len(n.separator)))
+		b.Grow(n.repeat * (n.compiled.grow + len(n.separator)))
 		for i := 0; i < n.repeat; i++ {
 			if i > 0 {
 				b.WriteString(n.separator)
@@ -104,19 +104,19 @@ func pick(s *session, c *choice) node {
 // cannot fail.
 func expand(s *session, t *template, sc renderScope) string {
 	var b strings.Builder
-	b.Grow(t.grow)
+	b.Grow(t.compiled.grow)
 	// One draw per held name, for this expansion only: a nested template and each
 	// repeat iteration get their own, since each is its own expansion. A reference
 	// path reads the render's hold in sc instead.
 	var held *hold
-	if t.heldLocal {
+	if t.compiled.heldLocal {
 		held = &hold{
-			variant: make(map[string]node, len(t.held)),
-			value:   make(map[string]readValue, len(t.held)),
+			variant: make(map[string]node, len(t.compiled.held)),
+			value:   make(map[string]readValue, len(t.compiled.held)),
 		}
 	}
-	for i := range t.ops {
-		o := &t.ops[i]
+	for i := range t.compiled.ops {
+		o := &t.compiled.ops[i]
 		switch o.kind {
 		case literalRun:
 			b.WriteString(o.lit)
diff --git a/render_test.go b/render_test.go
index 4302a69..d0da7aa 100644
--- a/render_test.go
+++ b/render_test.go
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ func TestGrowIsALowerBound(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		for i := 0; i < 50; i++ {
 			var set holdSet
-			if got := len(expand(f.rand, tmpl, renderScope{set: &set})); got < tmpl.grow {
-				t.Errorf("format %q: expand emitted %d bytes, below grow %d", format, got, tmpl.grow)
+			if got := len(expand(f.rand, tmpl, renderScope{set: &set})); got < tmpl.compiled.grow {
+				t.Errorf("format %q: expand emitted %d bytes, below grow %d", format, got, tmpl.compiled.grow)
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/shape_test.go b/shape_test.go
index 9747da2..bc72377 100644
--- a/shape_test.go
+++ b/shape_test.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func readsFact(n node) string {
 				collect(cell)
 			}
 		case *template:
-			for _, b := range n.refs {
+			for _, b := range n.link.refs {
 				set[strings.TrimPrefix(b.key, "/")] = true
 			}
 			for _, field := range n.fields {
diff --git a/table.go b/table.go
index 65b2ec8..4c9165d 100644
--- a/table.go
+++ b/table.go
@@ -308,15 +308,14 @@ func (t *table) checkCells() error {
 		if strings.IndexByte(cell, '{') < 0 && strings.IndexByte(cell, '}') < 0 {
 			continue
 		}
-		n, err := compileString(cell)
+		toks, err := parseChecked(cell, nil)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("line %d, %s: %w", row+2, t.header[col], err)
 		}
 		if t.cellTemplates == nil {
 			t.cellTemplates = map[int]*template{}
 		}
-		t.cellTemplates[i] = n.(*template)
-		t.cellTemplates[i].cellOf, t.cellTemplates[i].cellRow = t, row
+		t.cellTemplates[i] = &template{format: cell, tokens: toks, repeat: 1, fromString: true, cell: cellSite{t, row}}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/value.go b/value.go
index 4b405c6..3a764d8 100644
--- a/value.go
+++ b/value.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func (p *valueProof) checkDatatype(path string, n node) error {
 	if !ok || t.datatype == DataTypeString {
 		return nil
 	}
-	if r := t.readsColumn; r != nil && columnDatatype(r.column) == t.datatype {
+	if r := t.link.readsColumn; r != nil && columnDatatype(r.column) == t.datatype {
 		return fmt.Errorf(`%s: %s takes datatype %s from the column it reads; drop "datatype"`, path, t.format, t.datatype)
 	}
 	if reason := p.proveColumnItem(t).not[t.datatype]; reason != "" {
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ func (p *valueProof) checkDatatype(path string, n node) error {
 
 // proveColumnItem proves a column item: what it renders, or, when it is a column it reads, that column.
 func (p *valueProof) proveColumnItem(t *template) proven {
-	if t.readsColumn == nil {
+	if t.link.readsColumn == nil {
 		return p.prove(t)
 	}
-	return p.proveColumn(t.readsColumn.column)
+	return p.proveColumn(t.link.readsColumn.column)
 }
 
 // proveColumn proves a column over what its items draw, a null item marking it null rather than
@@ -149,12 +149,12 @@ func (p *valueProof) proveTemplate(t *template) proven {
 		return unproven(fmt.Sprintf("%q carries a repeat, which composes text rather than one value", t.format))
 	case fixed:
 		return literalValue(lit)
-	case len(t.ops) != 1:
+	case len(t.compiled.ops) != 1:
 		v := unproven(notOneValue(t.format, typedCalls))
 		v.notOperand = notOneValue(t.format, operandCalls)
 		return v
 	}
-	o := t.ops[0]
+	o := t.compiled.ops[0]
 	body, name, args := o.body, o.fn, o.args
 	switch _, isTransform := transforms[name]; {
 	case o.kind == fieldAlternation: