@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+'@object-ui/fields': patch
+---
+
+fix(fields): a `user` field's person object is always `sys_user` — the user cell and the person picker no longer read an authored `reference`
+
+Clause-②: no
+Metadata-protocol: none
+
+A `user` field's target is a constant of its type: `@objectstack/spec` refuses a `user` field whose `reference` names any object but `sys_user`, and `referenceTargetOf` resolves every `user` field to `sys_user` whatever the field carries. The console now agrees with it in two places:
+
+- **`UserCellRenderer`** (read-only cell): the field-level read gate on the person's name and avatar is keyed by `sys_user`. A stored object saved before the spec refused a foreign `reference` (for example `reference: 'crm_member'`) used to gate the cell by that object's policy; it is now gated by the `sys_user` policy, the object the runtime expands the field into.
+- **`UserField`** (person picker): the picker targets `sys_user` even when the field carries a foreign `reference`, so it offers users, matching what the runtime stores and resolves.
+
+What to do: nothing for a spec-valid `user` field (no `reference`, or `reference: 'sys_user'`). A field that links to another object is a `lookup`.
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"package":"ui/packages/fields","sources":96,"sha256":"a80484e00e8bc69907a6efbec0af09bd7eb0d1a78b057a4f5092b90432d921cc","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}
+{"package":"ui/packages/fields","sources":96,"sha256":"14f77ca68180dba0ba0226c934cc41bbb0c4d317a1472fb3512d75cf3b4ab7ac","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"package":"ui/packages/plugin-grid","sources":38,"sha256":"871e72570111ff4df50cd03ad7e7f98045364b7d8c7b11ceead655308a9f263a","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}
+{"package":"ui/packages/plugin-grid","sources":38,"sha256":"d34e7acc9010e7fc875131b416c4a83a2bac115c893c2067d3ccb85fcaf8bcd0","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@
  *
  *  - single and multi: a denied name and a denied image are not drawn; the
  *    cell reads exactly as a stripping backend's row makes it read;
- *  - the person's object is the field's `reference`, and `sys_user` when it
- *    names none — the answer `UserField` gives the picker; a retired
- *    `reference_to` names nothing (objectui#11070 round 4);
+ *  - the person's object is always `sys_user`, a constant of the `user` type
+ *    (objectstack#24952) — the answer `UserField` gives the picker and the
+ *    target the runtime's `referenceTargetOf` resolves: an authored foreign
+ *    `reference` (a stored body saved before the spec refused it) is not read,
+ *    and neither is a retired `reference_to` (objectui#11070 round 4);
  *  - a policy that changes after mount relabels the SAME mounted cell;
  *  - lit controls: fields the policy does NOT deny still print, and with no
  *    policy loaded (no provider: `isLoaded` is false) the row is drawn as
@@ -151,17 +153,21 @@ describe('UserCellRenderer — the name and the avatar are drawn from the fields
     expect(gated.html).toBe(served.html);
   });
 
-  it("the person's object is the field's `reference`, and `sys_user` when it names none", () => {
-    // `reference` is the spec's spelling and, since objectui#11070 round 4, the
-    // only one read. `UserFieldMetadata` does not declare it, hence the cast.
+  it("a foreign `reference` is not read — the person's object is `sys_user`, the `user` type's constant (objectstack#24952)", () => {
+    // The spec refuses this field, and `referenceTargetOf` resolves it to
+    // `sys_user` anyway, so a stored body saved before the refusal still
+    // reaches the cell. `UserFieldMetadata` does not declare `reference`,
+    // hence the cast.
     const field = { type: 'user', reference: 'crm_member' } as unknown as FieldMetadata;
-    const gated = drawn({ value: AMY, field, policy: policyDenying('crm_member', 'name', 'image') });
+    // The cell gates by the `sys_user` policy, the object the runtime resolves…
+    const gated = drawn({ value: AMY, field, policy: policyDenying('sys_user', 'name', 'image') });
     for (const secret of SECRETS) expect(gated.html).not.toContain(secret);
+    expect(gated.html).toBe(drawn({ value: AMY, policy: policyDenying('sys_user', 'name', 'image') }).html);
 
-    // A policy on `sys_user` says nothing about a field that points elsewhere.
-    const elsewhere = drawn({ value: AMY, field, policy: policyDenying('sys_user', 'name', 'image') });
-    expect(elsewhere.text).toContain('Amy Lin');
-    expect(elsewhere.imgs).toEqual(['http://x/amy.png']);
+    // …and a policy on the authored object does not reach it.
+    const unreached = drawn({ value: AMY, field, policy: policyDenying('crm_member', 'name', 'image') });
+    expect(unreached.text).toContain('Amy Lin');
+    expect(unreached.imgs).toEqual(['http://x/amy.png']);
   });
 
   it('a retired `reference_to` names no person object — the cell reads `sys_user` (objectui#11070 round 4)', () => {
 
@@ -3142,17 +3142,19 @@ export function UnresolvedReferenceMark({
  * the viewer may read it (objectui#10535): with a loaded policy, the fields it
  * denies on the person's object are removed first ({@link withoutDeniedFields},
  * `id` kept), and everything below reads that row — exactly as it reads the
- * row a stripping backend serves. The person's object is the field's
- * `reference`, and `sys_user` when it names none: the object `UserField`
- * points the picker at.
+ * row a stripping backend serves. The person's object is always `sys_user`,
+ * a constant of the `user` type (objectstack#24952): the spec refuses a `user`
+ * field whose `reference` names any other object, and `referenceTargetOf`
+ * resolves every `user` field to `sys_user` whatever its carrier says — so a
+ * stored body that still carries a foreign `reference` is gated by the
+ * `sys_user` policy, the object the runtime expands it into and the object
+ * `UserField` points the picker at. The field's `reference` is not read.
  */
-export function UserCellRenderer({ value, field }: CellRendererProps): React.ReactElement {
+export function UserCellRenderer({ value }: CellRendererProps): React.ReactElement {
   // Called before any early return (rules of hooks). A policy that loads or
   // changes re-renders this cell through the context, and the drawing follows.
   const perms = usePermissions();
-  const personObject =
-    (field as { reference?: string } | undefined)?.reference ||
-    'sys_user';
+  const personObject = 'sys_user';
 
   // THE FLOOR by name (objectui#8496) plus ONE extension: every falsy scalar.
   // `!value` alone never saw `[]` — a truthy empty array reached the
 
@@ -40,13 +40,16 @@ export function UserField(props: FieldWidgetComponentProps<any>) {
     && ('reference' in raw.field || 'type' in raw.field);
   const meta = metaIsNested ? raw.field : raw;
 
-  // Ensure the picker always targets sys_user (even if the author omitted an
-  // explicit reference), presents user names by default, and defaults to the
-  // search-first PeoplePicker with sensible person display + candidate hygiene.
-  // `reference` is the only target spelling read (objectui#11070 round 4).
+  // The picker always targets sys_user, presents user names by default, and
+  // defaults to the search-first PeoplePicker with sensible person display +
+  // candidate hygiene. The target is a constant of the `user` type
+  // (objectstack#24952): the spec refuses a foreign `reference` on a `user`
+  // field and `referenceTargetOf` resolves every `user` field to `sys_user`, so
+  // an authored `reference` is not read — a stored body that still carries a
+  // foreign one picks users, as the runtime resolves it.
   const normalized = {
     ...(meta || {}),
-    reference: meta?.reference || 'sys_user',
+    reference: 'sys_user',
     displayField: meta?.displayField || meta?.reference_field || 'name',
     picker: meta?.picker ?? 'search',
     subtitle: meta?.subtitle ?? ['primary_business_unit_id.name', 'email'],
 
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ export interface RelationalMetaEntry {
  */
 export const RELATIONAL_META_READ_SET: Readonly<Record<string, RelationalMetaEntry>> = {
   // ── The relational target ────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  reference: { verdict: 'spec', readers: ALL_THREE, note: "FieldSchema.reference — the served spelling for a lookup's target object, and since objectui#11070 round 4 the only one any consumer reads." },
+  reference: { verdict: 'spec', readers: CELL_AND_LOOKUP_EDITOR, note: "FieldSchema.reference — the served spelling for a lookup's target object, and since objectui#11070 round 4 the only one any consumer reads." },
   // ⭐ objectui#11070 round 4 removed the `reference_to` row. It is not a
   // verdict change: the key left this table because the three consumers
   // stopped reading it and the choke point stopped stamping it, and a row here
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -1 +1 @@`
`1`		`-{"package":"ui/packages/fields","sources":96,"sha256":"a80484e00e8bc69907a6efbec0af09bd7eb0d1a78b057a4f5092b90432d921cc","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}`
	`1`	`+{"package":"ui/packages/fields","sources":96,"sha256":"14f77ca68180dba0ba0226c934cc41bbb0c4d317a1472fb3512d75cf3b4ab7ac","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}`
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -1 +1 @@`
`1`		`-{"package":"ui/packages/plugin-grid","sources":38,"sha256":"871e72570111ff4df50cd03ad7e7f98045364b7d8c7b11ceead655308a9f263a","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}`
	`1`	`+{"package":"ui/packages/plugin-grid","sources":38,"sha256":"d34e7acc9010e7fc875131b416c4a83a2bac115c893c2067d3ccb85fcaf8bcd0","manifestSha256":"1f6e1ccb925a678eaa393f9091dfc7d0285e4e3626e0a5c61a5474687debabb7"}`