v2-refactor-temp/docs/breaking-changes/2026-09-01-knowledge-reindex-reacquires-source.md
Reindexing a knowledge base data source now re-acquires it from its real source before rebuilding the search index, instead of rebuilding from the copy the knowledge base already holds:
Reindexing a file or folder whose original has been moved or deleted is now rejected with "Cannot reindex a knowledge item whose source file or folder no longer exists; delete it and add it again to rebuild". Previously it succeeded by rebuilding from the internal copy.
Reindex finally means "pick up my edits". Editing a document in your own editor and clicking Reindex now updates search results — previously it changed nothing, because only the app's private copy was ever read.
Two visible consequences:
If reindex reports the source no longer exists, delete the data source and add it again.
To maintain a document outside the app and have reindex pick up the edits, add it as a file data
source pointing at your own file. Editing the raw/*.md files inside a knowledge base directory is
not a supported workflow — reindex overwrites them.
Pairs with the fix for the note preview / search inconsistency reported in #19492: a note's text in the app is authoritative, and its snapshot file is now regenerated from it on every reindex, so the preview panel and search results can no longer disagree.