Argument types

A full list of argument types are below;

Argument types reference table
Type	Rendered as	Allowed values
(default)	Textbox	If a `type:` is not set, and `choices:` is empty, then `ascii` will be used, and a config warning is reported. It is recommended that you set the type explicitly, rather than relying on defaults.
ascii	Textbox	`a-z`, `A-Z`, `0-9` only. No spaces or punctuation.
ascii_identifier	Textbox	`a-z`, `A-Z`, `0-9`, `-`, `.`, and `_`.
dnsname	Textbox	A DNS hostname (RFC 1123). Short names (e.g. `webserver`) and FQDNs (e.g. `webserver.example.com`). Letters/digits/hyphens only, no underscores. Optional trailing dot allowed.
shell_safe_identifier	Textbox	Like an ascii identifier, but also allows `@` and `+`. Useful for shell-safe usernames and email-style identifiers.
ascii_sentence	Textbox	`a-z`, `A-Z`, `0-9`, spaces, `.`, `,`, `-`, and `_`.
unicode_identifier	Textbox	Same character class as Go’s `\w` plus `-` and `.` (ASCII letters, digits, and `_`, plus `-` and `.`). Despite the name, non-ASCII letters are not accepted by the current server check.
email	Textbox	An email address (parsed with Go’s `mail.ParseAddress`).
password	Password	Any string (not type-checked). Hidden in the UI. Not allowed with `shell:` — use `exec:`.
very_dangerous_raw_string	Textbox	Anything. This is incredibly dangerous, as effectively people can type anything they like, including executing additional commands beyond what you specify. Absolutely should not be used unless your OliveTin instance can only be used by people you trust entirely. Not allowed with `shell:` — use `exec:`.
regex:…	Textbox	Custom regex patterns. See Custom regex arguments. Not allowed with `shell:` — use `exec:`.
int	Textbox	Digits `0-9` only. Negative numbers are not supported.
url	Textbox	A URL with scheme `http` or `https` only (e.g. `https://example.com`). Not allowed with `shell:` — use `exec:`.
datetime	Date & Time	A local datetime in the form `YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS` (seconds may be mangled to `:00` when browsers omit them).
confirmation	Confirmation	A UI gate that requires a checkbox before starting. Usually unnamed (nothing is substituted). If named, the value is only `0` or `1`.
checkbox	Checkbox	Typically used with `choices` for on/off flag values. A checkbox without choices is not allowed with `shell:` — use `exec:` or define choices.
checklist	Checklist	Multiple checkboxes from predefined choices. Selected values are passed as a JSON array string (e.g. `["documents","photos"]`).
n/a, but `choices` used	Dropdown	Predefined choices shown as a dropdown. The submitted value must match one of the choice values (or an entity-expanded choice).
raw_string_multiline	Textarea	Anything (not type-checked). Dangerous, and not allowed with `shell:` — use `exec:`.

Types that cannot be used with `shell:`

When an action uses shell: (including with arguments substituted into the command string), OliveTin rejects these argument types and asks you to use exec: instead:

url
email
password
raw_string_multiline
very_dangerous_raw_string
html (internal/display-oriented; skips normal type checks)
any custom regex:… type
checkbox when it has no choices

See Shell vs Exec.

URL schemes

The url type accepts only http and https. Schemes such as file://, ftp://, and gopher:// are rejected by the server.

Argument types

Types that cannot be used with shell:

Types that cannot be used with `shell:`