A snapshot needs its date — Everyday Platform

A downloaded table can remain unchanged while the system it came from continues to update. Without a date or a clear extraction note, two people may compare different snapshots as though they were the same record.

Record when the information was captured and which period it describes. Those can be different dates. Keep any filters or selection rules with the export so the snapshot’s boundaries remain visible.

Before explaining a discrepancy, compare the extraction context. A late-arriving record or a corrected value may account for the difference. A snapshot becomes easier to trust when its place in the changing collection is clear.

A few starting points

Record capture time and covered period.
Preserve filters with the export.
Check snapshot context before explaining a discrepancy.

A small working example.

Imagine a downloaded catalogue read several months later. Its date helps explain why a listed item differs from the current collection.

A note to keep beside it.

Treat an unexpected value as the start of an investigation. Its source and context matter before you decide whether to remove it or build a story around it.