diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18e14aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/tests export-ignore
diff --git a/src/RepositoryFactory.php b/src/RepositoryFactory.php
index bb8c72c..6c1b6a5 100644
--- a/src/RepositoryFactory.php
+++ b/src/RepositoryFactory.php
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public static function fromConfig(array $storage, string $entityClass): Reposito
 
         return match ($driver) {
             'file' => new FileRepository(
-                self::requiredString($storage, 'path', 'file', "'path' => '/var/data/articles.json' — the JSON collection file"),
+                self::requiredString($storage, 'path', 'file', "'path' => '/var/data/<collection>.json' — the JSON collection file"),
                 $entityClass,
             ),
             'sqlite' => new SqliteRepository(
@@ -107,8 +107,9 @@ public static function fromConfig(array $storage, string $entityClass): Reposito
 
     /**
      * The non-empty string stored under `$key`, or the teaching error naming the exact key —
-     * `storage.{$key}` — and a copy-pasteable example. An empty string is as absent as a missing
-     * key: `''` opens nothing.
+     * `storage.{$key}` — and an example of its value. The example names nothing of its own: where the
+     * value is the caller's to name it shows a placeholder, and otherwise only the app itself. An empty
+     * string is as absent as a missing key: `''` opens nothing.
      *
      * @param array<string, mixed> $storage
      */
diff --git a/tests/RepositoryFactoryTest.php b/tests/RepositoryFactoryTest.php
index 51ed4b8..8dd1fc9 100644
--- a/tests/RepositoryFactoryTest.php
+++ b/tests/RepositoryFactoryTest.php
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ public function testFileWithoutAPathTeachesTheExactKeyAndAnExample(): void
             $message = $e->getMessage();
             $this->assertStringContainsString('storage.path', $message, 'the error must name the exact missing key');
             $this->assertStringContainsString("'file'", $message, 'the error must name the driver that needs the key');
-            $this->assertStringContainsString('/var/data/articles.json', $message, 'the error must carry a copy-pasteable example');
+            $this->assertStringContainsString("'path' => '/var/data/<collection>.json'", $message, 'the error must show what the value looks like');
         }
     }
 
@@ -215,6 +215,32 @@ public function testMysqlWithoutADsnTeachesTheExactKeyAndAnExample(): void
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * AN EXAMPLE IS NOT THE EXAM (greenhouse decisions/0594 §5, question 7). A teaching error is read by
+     * whoever configures storage, whatever they are building. Where its example has to name the thing being
+     * stored into, it names nothing of its own: a placeholder for what is the caller's to name, or the app.
+     */
+    public function testTheExampleOfAValueNamesNothingOfItsOwn(): void
+    {
+        $named = [];
+        foreach (['file' => '~/([^/\']+)\.json\'~', 'sqlite' => '~/([^/\']+)\.db\'~', 'mysql' => '~dbname=([^;\']+)~'] as $driver => $name) {
+            try {
+                RepositoryFactory::fromConfig(['driver' => $driver], TestEntity::class);
+                $this->fail("the '{$driver}' driver without its key must throw the teaching InvalidArgumentException");
+            } catch (\InvalidArgumentException $e) {
+                $this->assertSame(1, preg_match('/\be\.g\. (.+)$/s', $e->getMessage(), $example), "the '{$driver}' error shows an example");
+                $this->assertSame(1, preg_match($name, $example[1], $found), "the '{$driver}' example names what it stores into");
+                $this->assertTrue(
+                    preg_match('/^<[a-z]+>$/', $found[1]) === 1 || $found[1] === 'app',
+                    "the '{$driver}' example names «{$found[1]}»: it shows a placeholder for what is the caller's to name, or the app",
+                );
+                $named[$driver] = $found[1];
+            }
+        }
+
+        $this->assertSame(['file' => '<collection>', 'sqlite' => 'app', 'mysql' => 'app'], $named, 'the control: all three examples were read');
+    }
+
     /** An empty-string value is as absent as a missing key — '' opens nothing. */
     public function testAnEmptyStringPathIsAsMissingAsNoPath(): void
     {