# Staged machine owner display correction — 2026-09-11

Owner: Codex-9e8r6t `/root/palette_finish`. Root authorized only the display path
in `crates/oa-desktop/src/behavior/creation.rs` and this report. No compiler,
native input, Git operations or changes to source-draft/command/recovery code
were made. The existing-source chooser remains owned by its existing worker.

## Observed problem and cause

On immutable GUI 52DE82 at 1100×700, root created a pending SA machine named
`Field team operating modes`, opened Create new owner, explicitly chose
SystemActor `Field rescue team`, then Use. The parent correctly displayed
`New · System actor · Field rescue team`, but its ordinary owner picker also
displayed `Selected: Missing element — choose a replacement` and a no-matching
participant prompt. Root's screenshot is
`.local/native-qa/contextual-source-20260911-v1/sa-machine-staged-false-missing.png`.

`picker_view` looked up every selected ID through `reference_label` against the
accepted Project. The staged owner's reserved ID intentionally is absent from
that catalog. The parent already renders `d.source.label(d.owner)` above the
picker; that helper returns a label only when the staged draft's ID equals the
currently selected ID. The incorrect warning came from the redundant accepted
catalog lookup, not from a missing staged owner.

## Frozen correction

Only four display changes in `picker_view`:

```diff
     let selected = match picker {
         Picker::Owner => d.owner,
         Picker::Context => d.context,
     };
+    let staged_owner = picker == Picker::Owner && d.source.label(selected).is_some();
     let title = match picker {
+        Picker::Owner if staged_owner => "Or choose an existing participant",
         Picker::Owner => "Owned by participant",
         Picker::Context => "Scenario context · optional",
     };
```

```diff
-    if let Some(id) = selected {
+    if let Some(id) = selected
+        && !staged_owner
+    {
         out = out.push(text(format!("Selected: {}", reference_label(p, id))).size(12));
```

```diff
         out = out.push(text(match picker {
+            Picker::Owner if staged_owner => "No existing participants match this search. The new owner above remains selected.",
             Picker::Owner => "No matching participant. Refine the search or choose Create new owner.",
```

The selected staged owner is shown once by the existing New label. Existing
participants remain searchable/selectable as explicit alternatives. No staged
record is injected into `Project`, `choices`, pagination or accepted catalog
membership. The source labels, choice messages, validation, command batches,
reserved IDs, commit behavior and recovery state are unchanged.

Frozen `creation.rs` SHA256:
`0fb19be3a5688c4bd3ca3643c47a97da7e7f85add8a860cd046a0d9cb3ce9dfc`.
The exact delta and hash were sent to `behavior_audit`; `release_audit` is
coordinating the combined source freeze and compiler gate.

## Source-backed controls and native follow-up

| State | Result of the new condition |
| --- | --- |
| Owner ID equals active staged source ID | New owner label remains; accepted-catalog missing row is omitted; empty search explains the new owner remains selected |
| Existing accepted owner selected while a different staged draft is retained | `State::label` returns None; ordinary selected owner label and search behavior remain |
| Missing accepted owner ID with no matching staged ID | Original `reference_label` missing-element warning remains |
| No owner selected | Existing no-selection/empty-catalog guidance remains |
| Scenario context picker, including a stale context | Owner-only condition is false; original context label, missing warning and empty-context behavior remain |

These are source-path checks, not executed widget tests. No broad new test was
added for this wording/condition correction, as requested. No compile or native
pass is claimed here.

Root's acceptance path: on the matching rebuilt GUI, repeat the exact minimum
window machine/owner route, confirm the New owner appears once without the false
missing warning, and confirm search/selection of an existing owner still works.
For an empty or unmatched accepted catalog, the text must distinguish existing
choices from the selected staged owner. Retain a separate real missing accepted
owner control in source/recovery review. The independently specified machine,
owner, first-view and one-step history/source oracle remains unchanged.