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Arguments in JSON Tutorial

Package info

This section references the CliArgs example package, which contains the following manifest:

Move.toml
[package]
name = "CliArgs"
version = "0.1.0"
upgrade_policy = "compatible"

[addresses]
test_account = "_"

[dependencies]
AptosFramework = { git = "https://github.com/aptos-labs/aptos-core.git", rev = "mainnet", subdir = "aptos-move/framework/aptos-framework" }

Here, the package is deployed under the named address test_account.

tip

Set your working directory to aptos-move/move-examples/cli_args to follow along:

cd <aptos-core-parent-directory>/aptos-core/aptos-move/move-examples/cli_args

Deploying the package

Start by mining a vanity address for Ace, who will deploy the package:

aptos key generate \
--vanity-prefix 0xace \
--output-file ace.key
Output
{
"Result": {
"Account Address:": "0xacef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
"PublicKey Path": "ace.key.pub",
"PrivateKey Path": "ace.key"
}
}
tip

The exact account address should vary for each run, though the vanity prefix should not.

Store Ace's address in a shell variable, so you can call it inline later on:

# Your exact address should vary
ace_addr=0xacef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46

Fund Ace's account with the faucet (either devnet or testnet):

aptos account fund-with-faucet --account $ace_addr
Output
{
"Result": "Added 100000000 Octas to account acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46"
}

Now publish the package under Ace's account:

aptos move publish \
--named-addresses test_account=$ace_addr \
--private-key-file ace.key \
--assume-yes
Output
{
"Result": {
"transaction_hash": "0x1d7b074dd95724c5459a1c30fe4cb3875e7b0478cc90c87c8e3f21381625bec1",
"gas_used": 1294,
"gas_unit_price": 100,
"sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
"sequence_number": 0,
"success": true,
"timestamp_us": 1685077849297587,
"version": 528422121,
"vm_status": "Executed successfully"
}
}

Entry functions

The only module in the package, cli_args.move, defines a simple Holder resource with fields of various data types:

Holder in cli_args.move
module test_account::cli_args {
use std::signer;
use aptos_std::type_info::{Self, TypeInfo};
use std::string::String;

struct Holder has key, drop {
u8_solo: u8,
bytes: vector<u8>,
utf8_string: String,
bool_vec: vector<bool>,
address_vec_vec: vector<vector<address>>,
type_info_1: TypeInfo,
type_info_2: TypeInfo,
}

A public entry function with multi-nested vectors can be used to set the fields:

Setter function in cli_args.move
/// Set values in a `Holder` under `account`.
public entry fun set_vals<T1, T2>(
account: signer,
u8_solo: u8,
bytes: vector<u8>,
utf8_string: String,
bool_vec: vector<bool>,
address_vec_vec: vector<vector<address>>,
) acquires Holder {
let account_addr = signer::address_of(&account);
if (exists<Holder>(account_addr)) {
move_from<Holder>(account_addr);
};
move_to(&account, Holder {
u8_solo,
bytes,
utf8_string,
bool_vec,
address_vec_vec,
type_info_1: type_info::type_of<T1>(),
type_info_2: type_info::type_of<T2>(),
});
}

After the package has been published, aptos move run can be used to call set_vals():

tip

To pass vectors (including nested vectors) as arguments from the command line, use JSON syntax escaped with quotes!

Running function with nested vector arguments from CLI
aptos move run \
--function-id $ace_addr::cli_args::set_vals \
--type-args \
0x1::account::Account \
0x1::chain_id::ChainId \
--args \
u8:123 \
"hex:0x1234" \
"string:hello, world\! ♥" \
"bool:[false, true, false, false]" \
'address:[["0xace", "0xbee"], ["0xcad"], []]' \
--private-key-file ace.key \
--assume-yes
Output
{
"Result": {
"transaction_hash": "0x5e141dc6c28e86fa9f5594de93d07a014264ebadfb99be6db922a929eb1da24f",
"gas_used": 504,
"gas_unit_price": 100,
"sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
"sequence_number": 1,
"success": true,
"timestamp_us": 1685077888820037,
"version": 528422422,
"vm_status": "Executed successfully"
}
}

The function ID, type arguments, and arguments can alternatively be specified in a JSON file:

entry_function_arguments.json
{
"function_id": "<test_account>::cli_args::set_vals",
"type_args": ["0x1::account::Account", "0x1::chain_id::ChainId"],
"args": [
{
"type": "u8",
"value": 123
},
{
"type": "hex",
"value": "0x1234"
},
{
"type": "string",
"value": "hello, world! ♥"
},
{
"type": "bool",
"value": [false, true, false, false]
},
{
"type": "address",
"value": [["0xace", "0xbee"], ["0xcad"], []]
}
]
}

Here, the call to aptos move run looks like:

Running function with JSON input file
aptos move run \
--json-file entry_function_arguments.json \
--private-key-file ace.key \
--assume-yes
Output
{
"Result": {
"transaction_hash": "0x60a32315bb48bf6d31629332f6b1a3471dd0cb016fdee8d0bb7dcd0be9833e60",
"gas_used": 3,
"gas_unit_price": 100,
"sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
"sequence_number": 2,
"success": true,
"timestamp_us": 1685077961499641,
"version": 528422965,
"vm_status": "Executed successfully"
}
}
tip

If you are trying to run the example yourself don't forget to substitute Ace's actual address for <test_account> in entry_function_arguments.json!

View functions

Once the values in a Holder have been set, the reveal() view function can be used to check the first three fields, and to compare type arguments against the last two fields:

View function
    struct RevealResult has drop {
u8_solo: u8,
bytes: vector<u8>,
utf8_string: String,
bool_vec: vector<bool>,
address_vec_vec: vector<vector<address>>,
type_info_1_match: bool,
type_info_2_match: bool
}

#[view]
/// Pack into a `RevealResult` the first three fields in host's
/// `Holder`, as well as two `bool` flags denoting if `T1` & `T2`
/// respectively match `Holder.type_info_1` & `Holder.type_info_2`,
/// then return the `RevealResult`.
public fun reveal<T1, T2>(host: address): RevealResult acquires Holder {
let holder_ref = borrow_global<Holder>(host);
RevealResult {
u8_solo: holder_ref.u8_solo,
bytes: holder_ref.bytes,
utf8_string: holder_ref.utf8_string,
bool_vec: holder_ref.bool_vec,
address_vec_vec: holder_ref.address_vec_vec,
type_info_1_match:
type_info::type_of<T1>() == holder_ref.type_info_1,
type_info_2_match:
type_info::type_of<T2>() == holder_ref.type_info_2
}
}

}

This view function can be called with arguments specified either from the CLI or from a JSON file:

Arguments via CLI
aptos move view \
--function-id $ace_addr::cli_args::reveal \
--type-args \
0x1::account::Account \
0x1::account::Account \
--args address:$ace_addr
Arguments via JSON file
aptos move view --json-file view_function_arguments.json
tip

If you are trying to run the example yourself don't forget to substitute Ace's actual address for <test_account> in view_function_arguments.json (twice)!

view_function_arguments.json
{
"function_id": "<test_account>::cli_args::reveal",
"type_args": ["0x1::account::Account", "0x1::account::Account"],
"args": [
{
"type": "address",
"value": "<test_account>"
}
]
}
Output
{
"Result": [
{
"address_vec_vec": [
[
"0xace",
"0xbee"
],
[
"0xcad"
],
[]
],
"bool_vec": [
false,
true,
false,
false
],
"bytes": "0x1234",
"type_info_1_match": true,
"type_info_2_match": false,
"u8_solo": 123,
"utf8_string": "hello, world! ♥"
}
]
}

Script functions

The package also contains a script, set_vals.move, which is a wrapper for the setter function:

script
script {
use test_account::cli_args;
use std::vector;
use std::string::String;

/// Get a `bool` vector where each element indicates `true` if the
/// corresponding element in `u8_vec` is greater than `u8_solo`.
/// Then pack `address_solo` in a `vector<vector<<address>>` and
/// pass resulting argument set to public entry function.
fun set_vals<T1, T2>(
account: signer,
u8_solo: u8,
bytes: vector<u8>,
utf8_string: String,
u8_vec: vector<u8>,
address_solo: address,
) {
let bool_vec = vector::map_ref(&u8_vec, |e_ref| *e_ref > u8_solo);
let addr_vec_vec = vector[vector[address_solo]];
cli_args::set_vals<T1, T2>(account, u8_solo, bytes, utf8_string, bool_vec, addr_vec_vec);
}
}

First compile the package (this will compile the script):

aptos move compile --named-addresses test_account=$ace_addr
Output
{
"Result": [
"acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46::cli_args"
]
}

Next, run aptos move run-script:

Arguments via CLI
aptos move run-script \
--compiled-script-path build/CliArgs/bytecode_scripts/set_vals.mv \
--type-args \
0x1::account::Account \
0x1::chain_id::ChainId \
--args \
u8:123 \
"hex:0x1234" \
"string:hello, world\! ♥" \
"u8:[122, 123, 124, 125]" \
address:"0xace" \
--private-key-file ace.key \
--assume-yes
Output
{
"Result": {
"transaction_hash": "0x1d644eba8187843cc43919469112339bc2c435a49a733ac813b7bc6c79770152",
"gas_used": 3,
"gas_unit_price": 100,
"sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
"sequence_number": 3,
"success": true,
"timestamp_us": 1685078415935612,
"version": 528426413,
"vm_status": "Executed successfully"
}
}
Arguments via JSON file
aptos move run-script \
--compiled-script-path build/CliArgs/bytecode_scripts/set_vals.mv \
--json-file script_function_arguments.json \
--private-key-file ace.key \
--assume-yes
Output
{
"Result": {
"transaction_hash": "0x840e2d6a5ab80d5a570effb3665f775f1755e0fd8d76e52bfa7241aaade883d7",
"gas_used": 3,
"gas_unit_price": 100,
"sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
"sequence_number": 4,
"success": true,
"timestamp_us": 1685078516832128,
"version": 528427132,
"vm_status": "Executed successfully"
}
}
script_function_arguments.json
{
"type_args": ["0x1::account::Account", "0x1::chain_id::ChainId"],
"args": [
{
"type": "u8",
"value": 123
},
{
"type": "hex",
"value": "0x1234"
},
{
"type": "string",
"value": "hello, world! ♥"
},
{
"type": "u8",
"value": [122, 123, 124, 125]
},
{
"type": "address",
"value": "0xace"
}
]
}

Both such script function invocations result in the following reveal() view function output:

View function call
aptos move view \
--function-id $ace_addr::cli_args::reveal \
--type-args \
0x1::account::Account \
0x1::chain_id::ChainId \
--args address:$ace_addr
View function output
{
"Result": [
{
"address_vec_vec": [["0xace"]],
"bool_vec": [false, false, true, true],
"bytes": "0x1234",
"type_info_1_match": true,
"type_info_2_match": true,
"u8_solo": 123,
"utf8_string": "hello, world! ♥"
}
]
}
note

As of the time of this writing, the aptos CLI only supports script function arguments for vectors of type u8, and only up to a vector depth of 1. Hence vector<address> and vector<vector<u8>> are invalid script function argument types.