diff --git a/.changeset/grouping-notify-describe-align.md b/.changeset/grouping-notify-describe-align.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..55fa4d1809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/grouping-notify-describe-align.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+'@objectstack/spec': patch
+---
+
+Align two schema `.describe()` strings with their measured acceptance faces (docs-only; no acceptance change — every previously-valid input is judged byte-identically):
+
+- `GroupingConfigSchema.fields` no longer claims "(supports up to 3 levels)". The gate is `.min(1)` with no upper bound, nothing downstream enforces a cap, and the grid renderer recurses over all configured levels — the describe now states the shape instead: array order is nesting order (first entry outermost), at least one field. (#7084)
+- `NotifyConfigSchema.sourceObject` / `sourceId` no longer say "Requires sourceId." / "Requires sourceObject.". The schema deliberately accepts the half-specified pair — the executor drops it at execute time so the inbox never renders a dead link (the module JSDoc's recorded contract) — and the describes now state that tolerance. (#7085)
diff --git a/content/docs/references/automation/io-node-config.mdx b/content/docs/references/automation/io-node-config.mdx
index 213dc5acf3..5b51cc6826 100644
--- a/content/docs/references/automation/io-node-config.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/references/automation/io-node-config.mdx
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ const result = HttpConfigSchema.parse(data);
 | **channels** | `string \| string[]` | optional | Channels to fan out to (default: inbox) |
 | **topic** | `string` | optional | Event topic (default: "notify") |
 | **severity** | `string` | optional | info \| warning \| critical |
-| **sourceObject** | `string` | optional | Object name of the record the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_object). Requires sourceId. |
-| **sourceId** | `string` | optional | Record id the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_id). Requires sourceObject. |
+| **sourceObject** | `string` | optional | Object name of the record the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_object). Only takes effect together with sourceId — a half-specified click-through target is dropped at execute time, so the inbox never renders a dead link. |
+| **sourceId** | `string` | optional | Record id the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_id). Only takes effect together with sourceObject — a half-specified click-through target is dropped at execute time, so the inbox never renders a dead link. |
 | **actorId** | `string` | optional | User id that caused the event (writes sys_notification.actor_id) |
 | **actionUrl** | `string` | optional | Explicit click-through URL; overrides the link synthesized from sourceObject/sourceId |
 | **payload** | `Record<string, any>` | optional | Extra template inputs merged into the notification payload |
diff --git a/content/docs/references/ui/view.mdx b/content/docs/references/ui/view.mdx
index 3754b24c35..0b009859a7 100644
--- a/content/docs/references/ui/view.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/references/ui/view.mdx
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ Record grouping configuration
 
 | Property | Type | Required | Description |
 | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
-| **fields** | `{ field: string; order: Enum<'asc' \| 'desc'>; collapsed: boolean }[]` | ✅ | Fields to group by (supports up to 3 levels) |
+| **fields** | `{ field: string; order: Enum<'asc' \| 'desc'>; collapsed: boolean }[]` | ✅ | Fields to group by, in nesting order — the first entry is the outermost group and each later entry nests one level deeper (at least one field) |
 
 
 ---
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.test.ts b/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.test.ts
index 83b346653a..9b1e02592f 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.test.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,40 @@ describe('NotifyConfigSchema — strict as of #4001 批 9', () => {
         .error?.issues.some((i) => i.code === 'unrecognized_keys')).not.toBe(true);
     }
   });
+
+  it('sourceObject/sourceId describes state the documented pair tolerance, not a phantom requirement (#7085)', () => {
+    const shape = (NotifyConfigSchema as unknown as { shape: Record<string, { description?: string }> }).shape;
+    for (const [key, partner] of [
+      ['sourceObject', 'sourceId'],
+      ['sourceId', 'sourceObject'],
+    ] as const) {
+      const doc = shape[key]!.description ?? '';
+
+      // Non-empty arm FIRST — the negative arm below passes vacuously on ''
+      // (the #6918 demonstration), so this arm is what gives it teeth.
+      expect(doc.length, `${key} .describe() must not be empty`).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+      // Substance, by idiom borrowed from the module JSDoc (#6881 — no third
+      // spelling): the pair only takes effect together, and a half-specified
+      // click-through target is DROPPED at execute time rather than rejected
+      // at the gate.
+      expect(doc).toMatch(/only takes effect together/i);
+      expect(doc).toContain(partner);
+      expect(doc).toMatch(/dropped at execute time/i);
+
+      // The #7085 defect: "Requires <partner>." read as gate-enforced
+      // requiredness, while the schema deliberately keeps both keys optional
+      // (module JSDoc: the executor tolerates/drops the half pair). The
+      // phantom-requirement wording must not return in any casing or tense.
+      expect(doc).not.toMatch(/\brequire[sd]?\b/i);
+    }
+
+    // The tolerance the describes now document, proven live on the same
+    // schema — this is the acceptance face this change must NOT move: each
+    // half pair still parses green.
+    expect(NotifyConfigSchema.safeParse({ recipients: 'u1', title: 't', sourceObject: 'showcase_task' }).success).toBe(true);
+    expect(NotifyConfigSchema.safeParse({ recipients: 'u1', title: 't', sourceId: 'r1' }).success).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('HttpConfigSchema — strict as of #4001 批 9', () => {
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.zod.ts b/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.zod.ts
index 03dd68e1cd..d55f3fad26 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.zod.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/automation/io-node-config.zod.ts
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ export const NotifyConfigSchema = lazySchema(() => strictObject({
   severity: z.string().optional().describe('info | warning | critical'),
   /** Click-through target object — only effective together with `sourceId` (#2675). */
   sourceObject: z.string().optional()
-    .describe('Object name of the record the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_object). Requires sourceId.'),
+    .describe('Object name of the record the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_object). Only takes effect together with sourceId — a half-specified click-through target is dropped at execute time, so the inbox never renders a dead link.'),
   /** Click-through target record id — only effective together with `sourceObject`. */
   sourceId: z.string().optional()
-    .describe('Record id the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_id). Requires sourceObject.'),
+    .describe('Record id the notification links to (writes sys_notification.source_id). Only takes effect together with sourceObject — a half-specified click-through target is dropped at execute time, so the inbox never renders a dead link.'),
   /** User id that caused the event. */
   actorId: z.string().optional().describe('User id that caused the event (writes sys_notification.actor_id)'),
   /** Explicit click-through URL; overrides the sourceObject/sourceId link. */
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/ui/view.test.ts b/packages/spec/src/ui/view.test.ts
index 56e846111c..d740ad1bff 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/ui/view.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/ui/view.test.ts
@@ -1511,6 +1511,31 @@ describe('GroupingConfigSchema', () => {
 
     expect(() => GroupingConfigSchema.parse(grouping)).toThrow();
   });
+
+  it('fields .describe() states shape semantics without a fixed level cap (#7084)', () => {
+    const shape = (GroupingConfigSchema as unknown as { shape: Record<string, { description?: string }> }).shape;
+    const doc = shape.fields!.description ?? '';
+
+    // Non-empty arm FIRST — the negative arms below pass vacuously on '',
+    // so this arm is what makes them non-vacuous (the #6918 demonstration).
+    expect(doc.length, 'fields .describe() must not be empty').toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+    // Substance, by idiom not verbatim: array order IS nesting order, and the
+    // gate's real lower bound (`.min(1)`) is stated.
+    expect(doc).toMatch(/nesting order/i);
+    expect(doc).toMatch(/outermost/i);
+    expect(doc).toMatch(/at least one/i);
+
+    // The #7084 defect must not return under a new number: the gate is
+    // `.min(1)` with NO upper bound, and nothing downstream enforces one
+    // either (objectui useGroupedData's buildLevel recurses over ALL
+    // configured levels — its only stop is `depth >= fields.length`). So any
+    // fixed-count support envelope here is prose the acceptance face does not
+    // have; house rule E17 says "up to N" is the same defect as "up to 3".
+    expect(doc).not.toMatch(/\bup to \d+\b/i);
+    expect(doc).not.toMatch(/\b\d+\s+levels?\b/i);
+    expect(doc).not.toMatch(/\bmax(?:imum)?(?:\s+of)?\s+\d+\b/i);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('GroupingFieldSchema', () => {
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/ui/view.zod.ts b/packages/spec/src/ui/view.zod.ts
index afa68f516a..c166dc7d06 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/ui/view.zod.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/ui/view.zod.ts
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ export const GroupingConfigSchema = lazySchema(() => strictObject({
   surface: 'this grouping configuration',
   history: VIEW_HISTORY,
 }, {
-  fields: z.array(GroupingFieldSchema).min(1).describe('Fields to group by (supports up to 3 levels)'),
+  fields: z.array(GroupingFieldSchema).min(1).describe('Fields to group by, in nesting order — the first entry is the outermost group and each later entry nests one level deeper (at least one field)'),
 }).describe('Record grouping configuration'));
 
 /**