Is it possible to have a latest record without having an original record?

The assertion that it is possible to have a latest record without having an original record is indeed true in the context of data management, particularly within data storage systems like AVEVA Historian. This situation can occur due to several reasons.

For instance, when data is being processed or ingested into a system, the latest record could be generated based on a calculation or a derived value that doesn't require a previous or original data point. This can happen in scenarios where initial data is absent, such as when updates and snapshots of real-time data are generated without ever storing the initial entry.

Additionally, in certain configurations of the Historian database, users might choose to create a record that represents the most current state without necessarily saving every step in the history. Therefore, while the term "original record" implies a first entry or a baseline value, the latest record can be an aggregation or synthesized output that reflects the most updated information available from real-time data streams.

In summary, the concept allows for real-time systems or configurable data records where synthetic data can exist as the latest entry without an explicit earlier, original record.