The insertion into a data stream of collection records associated with multiple collections of data items in the data stream, for purposes of aiding in subsequent processing of the data stream by collections. Each collection record comprises a collection definition that does not overlap with the collection definition in any of the sequence of collection records including the collection definition of any neighboring collection record in the sequence of collection records. Each collection record also includes a data stream address range extending from the first data item to the last data item in the collection.