The Principia Machina/Inputs/Refusal messages

The Principia Machina: map
Reading the diagrams Structure key Process key Definition of terms Roles
Reading by audience Start here: the walk through The operator's guide Tutorial: create a UUID Workspace Container (UWC) Public Recorder inputs Sponsors: your first agent
The specification Contents: parts, tables, diagrams TPS 0.5.0 (declared 2026-10-03, revision 8; machine-optimized text) Decisions (the foundations record, one line each)

Public Recorder inputs: a help set for the people who put things into The Principia Machina - authors of a new UWC, operators, and the declaring authority. It explains; the specification governs. Start at the index; for a guided walk from a blank file to a declared UWC, follow the tutorial. Agents read the agent-facing page instead.

Purpose

Every message the draft checks can return, what it means, and how to fix it.

Explains: TPS 0.2.0 (proposed; revision 5 of the tree, imported 2026-09-26, not yet declared; TPS 0.1.0 was declared final on 2026-09-22), whose sections 2.2 to 2.5 now carry the zone schemas at schema 0.4.0 with the optional declared form (records D92.1, D98.1, D99.1, D100.1, D103.1-D105.1, D106.1-D108.1 and D132.1); TPC-PY as built at increment 9 (tpc_zone 0.4.0, tpc_units 0.1.0, tpc_tests 0.2.0, tpc_form 0.1.0; no TPC-PY version is declared yet) with check_draft 0.4.0; the messages as TPC-PY (tpc_zone 0.4.0, tpc_units 0.1.0, tpc_tests 0.2.0, tpc_form 0.1.0) and check_draft 0.4.0 print them; TPX will print the same problems. Where this page and the specification differ, the specification governs.

How to read a message

Each problem is one line. It begins with the component it is about, so you can find it in your file:

• LAW:EOM_X, CONSTANT:x_max and so on: a TPK entry, by kind and name.
• ENV:, SIGNATURE:, TRANSFORMATION:, ENTRY:: parts of the TrM.
• PARAMETERS, CONSTANT:, YARDSTICK:: parts of the TMS.
• TPK:, TrM:, TMS:: the zone as a whole.
• IC1: to IC4(c):, IC4(a): and CODOMAIN:: the isomorphism checks, which name the entry, signature or quantity inside the message.
• A message ending (T2), (T3), (T4), (T5 b), (T5 c) or (T6) comes from a kernel test.
• A line beginning inspection is not a problem: it names a check that stays with the declaring authority because an entry carries no declared form.

A name that cannot be read is shown as ?. All problems in a zone are reported together, sorted alphabetically, each once, so fix them all before you run the check again. Any character the text rules refuse is shown in a message as <U+XXXX>, never as itself, so a message cannot carry hidden text.

In the tables, C is the component, F a field name, N a name, and other italic letters the value quoted.

The file

Message	Meaning	Fix
DRAFT: cannot be read: duplicate key K	the key appears twice in one object	delete one of the two; decide which value you meant
DRAFT: cannot be read: reason	the file is not valid JSON; the reason gives the line and column	fix the syntax at that place: a missing comma, quote or bracket is usual
DRAFT: cannot be read: the draft must be one JSON object	the file holds a list or a single value	wrap the zones in one object: {"TPK": ..., "TrM": ..., "TMS": ...}
DRAFT: unknown zone Z	a top-level key other than TPK, TrM or TMS	remove it, or correct its spelling (case matters)
Z MISSING (not checked)	the zone is not in the file	none needed while you work zone by zone; all three must be present to pass

Any entry, in any zone

Message	Meaning	Fix
C: missing field F	a required field is absent	add it; the zone pages list the required fields
C: unknown field F	the kind has no such field	remove it, or correct its spelling
C: mutable field F is not permitted in the TFK	a status field (STATE, SCRUTINY, RIDER, NOTE, CHECKS_OWED, RECORDS)	remove it; status lives in register records
C: field F has the wrong type	a string where a list or number belongs, or the reverse	decimals in quotes, N_X and S_MAX without, REFS, OVER, BEARS and KEY as lists
C: field F contains disallowed character U+XXXX	an invisible or control character	retype the text; see Text and numbers
C: field F has duplicate entries	a name appears twice in REFS, OVER or BEARS	list each name once
C: DIMENSION D is not a dimension	the dimension does not parse	write base and exponent with a space between tokens: L1 T-1
C: UNIT U is not a unit	the unit does not parse: a slash, a caret, two spaces, or an exponent of five digits	symbols with exponents, single spaces: kg m s-2
C: UNIT U: X is not a unit symbol	a symbol outside the SI list	use an SI symbol; see Text and numbers
C: UNIT U: X takes no prefix	a prefix on min, h, d, ha, au, deg or arcmin	remove the prefix, or use the SI unit: ks for a thousand seconds
C: UNIT U: X is refused, reason	degC, Da, Np, B or dB	use K for a temperature difference; state other values in an accepted unit
C: UNIT U: an exponent is out of range	an exponent beyond 9999, after repeated symbols merge	write the unit plainly
C: F V is not a decimal	VALUE, UNCERTAINTY or K does not parse	digits, an optional point and fraction, an optional exponent; no commas or spaces
C: NAME N is not an identifier	a name with a space, a hyphen, a non-ASCII letter or a leading digit	letters, digits and underscore, not starting with a digit
part is not a list	a kind or part that must be a list is something else	put its entries in [ ]
part: entry is not an object	a list member is not { }	write each entry as an object
TPK: zone is not an object (also TrM, TMS)	the zone is a list or a value	write the zone as { }

The declared forms

An EQUATION on a LAW, a CONDITION on a BOUNDARY, and FORM and IMAGE_FORM on a SIGNATURE are optional (TPS 2.2). Where one is present, these can come back. The first four are part of T1 and stop the kernel's run like any T1 problem.

Message	Meaning	Fix
C: F does not parse: reason	the form breaks the grammar: an unknown function, two operators in a row, a chained ^, no = in an EQUATION, D in a CONDITION, and so on; the reason gives the position	rewrite it in the grammar of TPS 2.2: a*(-b), x^(-1), (a^2)^3
C: F names N, which is not in REFS	the form uses a name the entry's REFS does not list	add it to REFS, or correct the form
C: REFS N is not named in F	REFS lists a name the form does not use (the variable of a derivative counts as used)	remove it from REFS, or correct the form
SIGNATURE:N: FORM requires IMAGE_FORM (or the reverse)	only one of the pair is present	give both, or neither
SIGNATURE:N: FORM names X, which is not in OVER; OVER X is not named in FORM; IMAGE_FORM names Q, which is not in the ENVIRONMENT INVENTORY	the signature's form and its OVER, or its image and the inventory, disagree	make them agree
LAW:N: EQUATION sides have dimensions D1 and D2 (T4)	the two sides of the law are not the same kind of quantity	find the slip: a factor too many or too few
LAW:N: EQUATION reason (T4)	another dimensional fault: + or - joining two dimensions, a function of a quantity that is not dimensionless, a derivative whose variable is not T1, division by a zero	correct the equation; D(x, t) needs t of DIMENSION T1
BOUNDARY:N: CONDITION uses operation with no guard guard (T6)	a partial operation, such as / on x_max, without the conjunct that keeps it defined	add the guard as an and beside the comparison, or rewrite without the operation
BOUNDARY:N: CONDITION uses tan on E, which is not total (T6)	tan is never total in a predicate	rewrite without tan
BOUNDARY:N: CONDITION reason (T6)	a comparison between two different dimensions, or another dimensional fault	make both sides of each comparison the same kind of quantity

No check compares a form with its prose. A STATEMENT that says one thing and an EQUATION that says another pass every message here; the declaring authority reads for it.

The Prime Kernel

Message	Meaning	Fix
TPK: unknown kind K	a key other than the six kinds	use DOF (degree of freedom), CONSTANT, LAW, ASSUMPTION, CONSTRAINT or BOUNDARY
TPK: duplicate name N	two entries share a name, perhaps in different kinds	rename one; names are unique across the TPK
C: cites itself	an entry's REFS or TARGET names the entry	cite the DOF or constants instead
C: REFS R does not resolve	no entry has that name	correct the name, or add the missing DOF or constant
C: REFS R is a KIND, not a DOF or CONSTANT	REFS names a law, assumption, constraint or boundary	cite only DOF and constants
C: TARGET T is not a DOF	a constraint acts on something other than a DOF	name the DOF it removes or fixes
C: ACTION A is not REMOVE or FIX	an unknown action	use REMOVE or FIX, in capitals
C: FIX requires VALUE	a FIX constraint without the value it fixes	add VALUE
C: FIX requires UNIT	a FIX constraint without the unit of its value	add UNIT, with the TARGET's dimension
C: REMOVE forbids VALUE	a REMOVE constraint with a value	remove VALUE, or change the action to FIX
C: REMOVE forbids UNIT	a REMOVE constraint with a unit	remove UNIT, or change the action to FIX
C: UNIT U has dimension D1, not D2	a constant's unit measures something else	use a unit of the constant's dimension
C: UNIT U has dimension D1, not D2 of TARGET T	a FIX constraint's unit does not fit its DOF	use a unit of the DOF's dimension
C: VALUE requires UNIT	a constant with a value and no unit	add UNIT
C: UNIT requires VALUE	a constant with a unit and no value	add VALUE, or remove UNIT
C: UNCERTAINTY requires VALUE	an uncertainty without a value	add VALUE
C: UNCERTAINTY U is negative	a negative uncertainty	state its magnitude

The Translation Manifold

Message	Meaning	Fix
TrM: missing part P / TrM: unknown part P	HEADER or ENTRIES absent, or an extra part	the TrM has exactly HEADER and ENTRIES
TrM: HEADER is not an object	HEADER is a list or a value	write it as { } with its three parts
TrM HEADER: missing part P / unknown part P	a header part absent, or an extra one	the header has ENVIRONMENT_INVENTORY, SIGNATURE and TRANSFORMATIONS
ENV:Q: ENVIRONMENT_QUANTITY Q is not an identifier	an inventory name that is not an identifier	letters, digits and underscore
TrM: duplicate environment quantity Q	an inventory name appears twice	list each quantity once
SIGNATURE:N: OVER D is not a TPK DOF	a signature acts on a name that is not a kernel DOF	name kernel DOF only
TrM: duplicate signature name N (also transformation, entry)	two members share a name	rename one
ENTRY:N: DOF D is not a TPK DOF	the entry identifies something the kernel does not have	name a kernel DOF
ENTRY:N: ENVIRONMENT_QUANTITY Q is not in the ENVIRONMENT INVENTORY	the entry names a quantity the header does not list	add it to the inventory, or correct the name
ENTRY:N: DOMAIN is empty (also FALSIFIER)	the field is blank or only spaces	state it; every entry needs both
ENTRY:N: FALSIFIER_CLASS F0 is inadmissible	an entry declares no falsifier	state a falsifier and its class
ENTRY:N: FALSIFIER_CLASS X is not one of F1 F2 F3	an unknown class	use F1, F2 or F3
ENTRY:N: BEARS B is not a TPK LAW or CONSTRAINT	BEARS names a DOF, constant, assumption or boundary, or an unknown name	name kernel laws and constraints only

The Measure Set

Message	Meaning	Fix
TMS: missing part PARAMETERS / TMS: unknown part P	PARAMETERS absent, or an extra part	the TMS has PARAMETERS and, if needed, CONSTANTS and YARDSTICKS
TMS: PARAMETERS is not an object	PARAMETERS is a list or a value	write it as { }
PARAMETERS: STEP_CONVENTION is empty	the convention is blank	state what counts as one step
PARAMETERS: K V is not a positive decimal in double range	K is zero, negative, or too small or too large for a double	give a positive decimal of ordinary size
PARAMETERS: N_X must be at least n / at most n	N_X outside its range (zone schemas 4.2)	choose a value inside it
PARAMETERS: S_MAX must be at least n / at most n	S_MAX outside its range	choose a value inside it
PARAMETERS: IC2_POLICY V is not GAP or REJECT	an unknown policy	use GAP or REJECT, or leave it out
PARAMETERS: PROMOTION_FLOOR V is not F1, F2 or F3	an unknown floor	use F1, F2 or F3, or leave it out
TMS: duplicate constant name N (also yardstick)	two members share a name	rename one

The kernel tests

T2 and T5 run as the kernel is entered, once it passes T1, and T4 and T6 with them where forms are declared (above); T3 runs at the final pass, over the constraints and over the laws.

Message	Meaning	Fix
ASSUMPTION:N: PROPOSITION joins claims with "W" (T2)	the proposition is joined at its top level by and, but, whereas or as well as (any case)	split it into one assumption per claim; if the word does not join claims, rephrase: "x lies between 0 and 1" becomes "0 < x < 1"
ASSUMPTION:N: PROPOSITION joins claims with "&" (T2)	an ampersand at top level; the logical-and sign gives the same line with U+2227 in place of "&"	split it into one assumption per claim
ASSUMPTION:N: PROPOSITION has a semicolon (T2)	a semicolon at top level	split it, or put the second part in brackets if it only qualifies the first
ASSUMPTION:N: PROPOSITION has more than one sentence (T2)	a full stop, ! or ? followed by a space and a capital letter; also after an abbreviation such as "e.g."	one sentence per assumption; write "for example" for "e.g." before a capital
ASSUMPTION:N: PROPOSITION is a list (T2)	a new line beginning with -, *, +, a bullet or a number	one assumption per list item
DOF:D: named by no LAW (T5 c)	no law's REFS names the DOF, so it is idle	add the law that governs it, or delete the DOF
CONSTRAINT:N: TARGET T is named by no LAW, so no law leaves it free (T5 b)	the constraint acts on a DOF no law uses	correct the TARGET, or add the law
CONSTRAINT:N1 and CONSTRAINT:N2: T is both removed and fixed (T3)	one constraint removes the DOF and another fixes it	keep one of them
CONSTRAINT:N1 and CONSTRAINT:N2: T fixed at V1 U1 and at V2 U2 (T3)	two FIX constraints give one DOF different values, compared in SI	keep one value
CONSTRAINT:N1 and CONSTRAINT:N2: the two FIX values of T cannot be compared: units of different kind: K1 and K2 (T3)	the units have one dimension and a different kind, such as Hz and rad s-1	write both values in units of one kind, or keep one constraint
CONSTRAINT:N1 and CONSTRAINT:N2: the two FIX values of T cannot be compared (T3)	a value too large or too small to convert	write the values at ordinary size, or keep one constraint
LAW:N and CONSTRAINT:C: N evaluates V1 = V2 under the fixed values (T3)	every name in the law has a value - a constant with a VALUE, or a DOF under a FIX - and the law, evaluated in SI, is false	the law and the fixed values contradict each other: correct the law, the constant or the constraint; often a force is missing (see tutorial step 6)
LAW:N: N evaluates V1 = V2 under the declared values (T3)	the same, with only constants' values	correct the law or the constants
LAW:N1 and LAW:N2: the left side L is equated to R1 and to R2 (T3)	two laws give one left side, as written, two different right sides	keep one law, or combine them
LAW:N: the two sides of EQUATION cannot be compared: units of different kind: K1 and K2 (T3)	the values have one dimension and a different kind, such as Hz and rad s-1	write the values in units of one kind
LAW:N: EQUATION cannot be evaluated ...: reason (T3)	the evaluation fails: a division by zero, ln or sqrt outside its domain, or a result that is not finite	correct the law or the values
T3: S_MAX is not a declared depth of at least 1	the Measure Set gives T3 no depth	declare S_MAX in PARAMETERS

The isomorphism checks

They run as the manifold is entered, once it and the kernel pass their structure checks. Every line but the untied-DOF line refuses the manifold.

Message	Meaning	Fix
IC1: environment quantity Q is identified by no entry	the inventory lists a quantity no entry uses	add the entry that identifies it, or remove it from the inventory
IC2: DOF D is untied	no entry identifies the DOF. Not a problem: a named gap, held for the final pass	add an entry; or leave it, and IC2_POLICY decides at the final pass
IC2: DOF D is untied and IC2_POLICY is REJECT	the Measure Set refuses untied DOF	add the entry, or change the policy to GAP
IC3: DOF D is identified with inequivalent quantities Q1, Q2 (entries)	two entries tie one DOF to two different quantities	keep one entry for the DOF
IC3: environment quantity Q is identified with DOF D1, D2 (entries)	two entries tie one quantity to two DOF	keep one entry for the quantity
IC4(b): ENTRY:N: DIMENSION D1 differs from DOF X's D2	the entry's dimension is not its DOF's	correct the entry's DIMENSION
IC4(b): ENTRY:N: DIMENSION D1 differs from environment quantity Q's D2	the entry's dimension is not its quantity's	correct the entry's or the inventory's DIMENSION
IC4(c): ENTRY:N: BEARS LAW:L, which names DOF D that no entry identifies	the entry carries a law about a DOF with no entry	add an entry for that DOF, or stop bearing the law
IC4(c): ENTRY:N: BEARS CONSTRAINT:C, whose TARGET T no entry identifies	the entry carries a constraint on a DOF with no entry	add an entry for that DOF, or stop bearing the constraint
IC4(a): SIGNATURE:N: FORM under the entries reads X, not IMAGE_FORM Y	the signature's FORM, with each DOF replaced by the quantity its entry names, is not its IMAGE_FORM	correct the IMAGE_FORM, the FORM, or the entries' quantities
IC4(a): SIGNATURE:N: DOF D untied, not decided	a DOF of the FORM has no entry, so the signature cannot be read. Not a problem: IC2's gap	give the DOF an entry, or leave the gap to IC2_POLICY
CODOMAIN: ENTRY:N identifies DOF D, which CONSTRAINT:C removes	an entry for a DOF the kernel removes	delete the entry

Lines that report the run

Message	Meaning	Fix
IC1-IC4 not run: the TPK does not pass T1 (or is missing)	the checks need a kernel that passes T1	fix the kernel first
IC1-IC4 PASS with n untied DOF, held for the final pass	the manifold passes; the named gaps follow on the next lines	nothing yet; IC2_POLICY decides at the final pass
and n untied DOF, held for the final pass	the same, after a refusal	fix the problems above; the gaps are settled at the final pass
T4 NO FORM (by inspection), T6 NO FORM (by inspection)	no law carries an EQUATION, or no boundary a CONDITION, so the test has nothing to read	nothing; the lines below list what the declaring authority inspects instead
inspection LAW:N: no EQUATION; T4 and T3 over this law by inspection	this law has no declared form	nothing, or add an EQUATION
inspection BOUNDARY:N: no CONDITION; T6 totality by inspection	this boundary has no declared form	nothing, or add a CONDITION
inspection SIGNATURE:N: no FORM; IC4 (a) by inspection	this signature has no declared pair	nothing, or add FORM and IMAGE_FORM
FINAL not run: a zone is missing	the final pass needs all three zones	add the missing zone
FINAL not run: it runs once every check above passes	an earlier check refused something	fix what is refused above
FINAL T3 (constraints and laws) and IC2 PASS, admitted with n named gap(s) (IC2_POLICY GAP)	the draft passes; the gaps stay named on the UWC	nothing; or add the missing entries

Yardsticks

The first eight come from the key rules at entry; the last three from running the yardstick on the synthetic record suite, which happens only when the Measure Set has passed.

Message	Meaning	Fix
YARDSTICK:N: KEY is empty	the key has no terms	begin with SR1
YARDSTICK:N: KEY must begin with SR1	the first term is not SR1	put SR1 first
YARDSTICK:N: SR1 may appear only as the first term	SR1 appears again later	remove the later SR1
YARDSTICK:N: term t is not well-formed	the term does not parse: a space, an unknown atom, an atom twice in one WSUM, or a missing *	see the term table on Yardsticks
YARDSTICK:N: constant c is not a TMS constant	a weight names no constant	declare it under CONSTANTS
YARDSTICK:N: KEY ranks a record higher when an assumption is added (SR9 C2)	the key prefers records with more assumptions	make the first A-dependent term increase with A, or move the rule into a LIMITING case with its DOMAIN
YARDSTICK:N LIMITING D: DOMAIN is empty	a limiting case has a blank domain	state where it applies
YARDSTICK:N: duplicate limiting DOMAIN D	two limiting cases share a domain	merge them, or make the domains distinct
YARDSTICK N: REFUSED, FIELD terms await the record field schema (C-16)	the evaluator cannot run a FIELD term yet	do not use FIELD terms until C-16 lands
YARDSTICK N: REFUSED, weight c is not a finite double	a weight is too large to compute with	use a weight of ordinary size
YARDSTICK N: REFUSED, a yardstick value is not finite	the weights overflow on the test records	use smaller weights

The end of the output

When every check passes, the final pass included, the checker prints the four digests and the inspections still owed to the declaring authority, then:

Advisory result (TPC-PY: tpc_zone 0.4.0, tpc_units 0.1.0, tpc_tests 0.2.0, tpc_form 0.1.0; schema 0.4.0). TPX decides at the gate.

The exit status is 0 only when all three zones are present and every check passes. A named gap under IC2_POLICY GAP passes.

Non-goals

A clean result is not a certificate. It says the draft is well-formed under the checks that exist; the inspections listed at the end of a passing run are still owed, and TPX decides at the gate. No message ever says what the kernel leaves out: a force you did not declare is absent, not refused.

Worked example

The kernel below (examples/spring_mistakes_tpk.json) has six mistakes: a status field, a name with a space, a dimension without the space between its tokens, a REFS name that does not exist, a unit of time on a constraint that fixes a length, and a boundary REFS that follows the misspelled name. The declared forms report two of them more than once:

TPK  REFUSED, 9 problems
       ASSUMPTION:A_kpos: mutable field STATE is not permitted in the TFK
       BOUNDARY:B_small: CONDITION names x_max, which is not in REFS
       BOUNDARY:B_small: REFS x max is not named in CONDITION
       CONSTANT:x max: NAME x max is not an identifier
       CONSTRAINT:C_NOZ: UNIT s has dimension T1, not L1 of TARGET z
       DOF:v: DIMENSION LT-1 is not a dimension
       LAW:EOM_X: EQUATION names k_s, which is not in REFS
       LAW:EOM_X: REFS k does not resolve
       LAW:EOM_X: REFS k is not named in EQUATION
TrM  MISSING (not checked)
TMS  MISSING (not checked)
FINAL not run: a zone is missing

Advisory result (TPC-PY: tpc_zone 0.4.0, tpc_units 0.1.0, tpc_tests 0.2.0, tpc_form 0.1.0; schema 0.4.0). TPX decides at the gate.

The fixes are on tutorial step 6.

Governing sections: TPS 5.5, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4; zone schemas 8.1.

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