Direct answer: Treat every catalogue sighting as a point with three coordinates: market, observation date, and visible pack version. Link two points only when the saved evidence supports the link; resemblance alone is a reason to investigate, not a reason to merge records.
The mixing problem appears when two packs carry the same name but come from different places or years. If both are entered as one timeless product, a later reader cannot tell which photograph supports which detail. An atlas-style map prevents that collapse by keeping each observation in its own place and period.
A compact market-by-version grid
| Record | Market | Observed | Visible version | Evidence | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | North Coast | 2024-05-12 | Northline Cedar 20, blue band | Dated full-pack image | Supported observation |
| A2 | South Coast | 2025-02-03 | Northline Cedar 20, silver band | Dated catalogue page | Separate pending link |
| A3 | North Coast | 2025 | Not observed | No suitable record saved | Unresolved cell |
Northline Cedar 20 and every place and date in this grid are synthetic teaching data, not a real product record.
Read the grid before drawing a line
A1 establishes only that the blue-band version was documented in the fictional North Coast on the stated date. A2 establishes a different dated observation. The shared name supports a candidate relationship, but the changed band and market mean the records should remain separate while the relationship is tested.
Use three link decisions
- Link: a dated source explicitly connects the versions, or identity-bearing evidence matches within the same supported scope.
- Keep separate: evidence shows different markets, periods, pack counts, or versions and no source resolves the difference.
- Unresolved: the material is incomplete or conflicts. Record what would settle it, such as a dated manufacturer catalogue that covers both observations.
Do not fill A3 from A1 simply because both rows concern North Coast. A missing 2025 observation says nothing about continued sale, withdrawal, or unchanged packaging.
What evidence can change the decision?
A source must apply to the named market and period. A readable dated catalogue, regulator record, or manufacturer document may support a relationship if it identifies the relevant version. A retailer search result or a similar color scheme may help locate better material but cannot establish identity on its own.
Atlas publication wording
Prefer: “A blue-band version is documented in North Coast on 12 May 2024. A silver-band item with the same displayed name is documented separately in South Coast on 3 February 2025; the relationship remains unresolved.” This wording preserves both coordinates without inventing a continuous history.
Adult and compliance notice
This research method is neutral reference material for adults of legal age. It does not establish real-product identity, availability, price, legality, origin, composition, health, or safety. Jurisdiction-specific claims require applicable primary evidence.