fix(blocks): move type coercions from tools.config.tool to tools.config.params

Number() coercions in tools.config.tool ran at serialization time before
variable resolution, destroying dynamic references like <block.result.count>
by converting them to NaN/null. Moved all coercions to tools.config.params
which runs at execution time after variables are resolved.

Fixed in 15 blocks: exa, arxiv, sentry, incidentio, wikipedia, ahrefs,
posthog, elasticsearch, dropbox, hunter, lemlist, spotify, youtube, grafana,
parallel. Also added mode: 'advanced' to optional exa fields.

Closes #3258

Author: waleedlatif1

.claude/commands/add-block.md

@@ -454,6 +454,8 @@ Enables AI-assisted field generation.
 
 ## Tools Configuration
 
+**Important:** `tools.config.tool` runs during serialization before variable resolution. Put `Number()` and other type coercions in `tools.config.params` instead, which runs at execution time after variables are resolved.
+
 **Preferred:** Use tool names directly as dropdown option IDs to avoid switch cases:
 ```typescript
 // Dropdown options use tool IDs directly

CLAUDE.md

@@ -238,14 +238,16 @@ export const ServiceBlock: BlockConfig = {
   bgColor: '#hexcolor',
   icon: ServiceIcon,
   subBlocks: [ /* see SubBlock Properties */ ],
-  tools: { access: ['service_action'], config: { tool: (p) => `service_${p.operation}` } },
+  tools: { access: ['service_action'], config: { tool: (p) => `service_${p.operation}`, params: (p) => ({ /* type coercions here */ }) } },
   inputs: { /* ... */ },
   outputs: { /* ... */ },
 }
 ```
 
 Register in `blocks/registry.ts` (alphabetically).
 
+**IMPORTANT:** `tools.config.tool` runs during serialization (before variable resolution). Never do `Number()` or other type coercions there — dynamic references like `<Block.output>` will be destroyed. Use `tools.config.params` for type coercions (it runs during execution, after variables are resolved).
+
 **SubBlock Properties:**
 ```typescript
 {

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/ahrefs.ts

@@ -485,14 +485,6 @@ Return ONLY the date string in YYYY-MM-DD format - no explanations, no quotes, n
     ],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert numeric string inputs to numbers
-        if (params.limit) {
-          params.limit = Number(params.limit)
-        }
-        if (params.offset) {
-          params.offset = Number(params.offset)
-        }
-
         switch (params.operation) {
           case 'ahrefs_domain_rating':
             return 'ahrefs_domain_rating'
@@ -514,6 +506,12 @@ Return ONLY the date string in YYYY-MM-DD format - no explanations, no quotes, n
             return 'ahrefs_domain_rating'
         }
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.limit) result.limit = Number(params.limit)
+        if (params.offset) result.offset = Number(params.offset)
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
   inputs: {

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/arxiv.ts

@@ -110,11 +110,6 @@ export const ArxivBlock: BlockConfig<ArxivResponse> = {
     access: ['arxiv_search', 'arxiv_get_paper', 'arxiv_get_author_papers'],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert maxResults to a number for operations that use it
-        if (params.maxResults) {
-          params.maxResults = Number(params.maxResults)
-        }
-
         switch (params.operation) {
           case 'arxiv_search':
             return 'arxiv_search'
@@ -126,6 +121,11 @@ export const ArxivBlock: BlockConfig<ArxivResponse> = {
             return 'arxiv_search'
         }
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.maxResults) result.maxResults = Number(params.maxResults)
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
   inputs: {

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/dropbox.ts

@@ -309,14 +309,6 @@ Return ONLY the timestamp string - no explanations, no quotes, no extra text.`,
     ],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert numeric params
-        if (params.limit) {
-          params.limit = Number(params.limit)
-        }
-        if (params.maxResults) {
-          params.maxResults = Number(params.maxResults)
-        }
-
         // Normalize file input for upload operation - use canonical 'file' param
         const normalizedFile = normalizeFileInput(params.file, { single: true })
         if (normalizedFile) {
@@ -348,6 +340,12 @@ Return ONLY the timestamp string - no explanations, no quotes, no extra text.`,
             return 'dropbox_upload'
         }
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.limit) result.limit = Number(params.limit)
+        if (params.maxResults) result.maxResults = Number(params.maxResults)
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
   inputs: {

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/elasticsearch.ts

@@ -457,24 +457,20 @@ Return ONLY valid JSON - no explanations, no markdown code blocks.`,
     ],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert numeric strings to numbers
-        if (params.size) {
-          params.size = Number(params.size)
-        }
-        if (params.from) {
-          params.from = Number(params.from)
-        }
-        if (params.retryOnConflict) {
-          params.retryOnConflict = Number(params.retryOnConflict)
-        }
-        // Append 's' to timeout for Elasticsearch time format
-        if (params.timeout && !params.timeout.endsWith('s')) {
-          params.timeout = `${params.timeout}s`
-        }
-
         // Return the operation as the tool ID
         return params.operation || 'elasticsearch_search'
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.size) result.size = Number(params.size)
+        if (params.from) result.from = Number(params.from)
+        if (params.retryOnConflict) result.retryOnConflict = Number(params.retryOnConflict)
+        // Append 's' to timeout for Elasticsearch time format
+        if (params.timeout && typeof params.timeout === 'string' && !params.timeout.endsWith('s')) {
+          result.timeout = `${params.timeout}s`
+        }
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
 

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/exa.ts

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       title: 'Use Autoprompt',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'type',
@@ -62,20 +63,23 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       ],
       value: () => 'auto',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'includeDomains',
       title: 'Include Domains',
       type: 'long-input',
       placeholder: 'example.com, another.com (comma-separated)',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'excludeDomains',
       title: 'Exclude Domains',
       type: 'long-input',
       placeholder: 'exclude.com, another.com (comma-separated)',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'category',
@@ -95,6 +99,7 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       ],
       value: () => '',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'text',
@@ -107,12 +112,14 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       title: 'Include Highlights',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'summary',
       title: 'Include Summary',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'livecrawl',
@@ -125,6 +132,7 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       ],
       value: () => 'never',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_search' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     // Get Contents operation inputs
     {
@@ -147,26 +155,30 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       type: 'long-input',
       placeholder: 'Enter a query to guide the summary generation...',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_get_contents' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'subpages',
       title: 'Number of Subpages',
       type: 'short-input',
       placeholder: '5',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_get_contents' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'subpageTarget',
       title: 'Subpage Target Keywords',
       type: 'long-input',
       placeholder: 'docs, tutorial, about (comma-separated)',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_get_contents' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'highlights',
       title: 'Include Highlights',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_get_contents' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     // Find Similar Links operation inputs
     {
@@ -196,19 +208,22 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       type: 'long-input',
       placeholder: 'example.com, another.com (comma-separated)',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'excludeDomains',
       title: 'Exclude Domains',
       type: 'long-input',
       placeholder: 'exclude.com, another.com (comma-separated)',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'excludeSourceDomain',
       title: 'Exclude Source Domain',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'category',
@@ -228,18 +243,21 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       ],
       value: () => '',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'highlights',
       title: 'Include Highlights',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'summary',
       title: 'Include Summary',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     {
       id: 'livecrawl',
@@ -252,6 +270,7 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       ],
       value: () => 'never',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_find_similar_links' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     // Answer operation inputs
     {
@@ -267,6 +286,7 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
       title: 'Include Text',
       type: 'switch',
       condition: { field: 'operation', value: 'exa_answer' },
+      mode: 'advanced',
     },
     // Research operation inputs
     {
@@ -309,16 +329,6 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
     ],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert numResults to a number for operations that use it
-        if (params.numResults) {
-          params.numResults = Number(params.numResults)
-        }
-
-        // Convert subpages to a number if provided
-        if (params.subpages) {
-          params.subpages = Number(params.subpages)
-        }
-
         switch (params.operation) {
           case 'exa_search':
             return 'exa_search'
@@ -334,6 +344,16 @@ export const ExaBlock: BlockConfig<ExaResponse> = {
             return 'exa_search'
         }
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.numResults) {
+          result.numResults = Number(params.numResults)
+        }
+        if (params.subpages) {
+          result.subpages = Number(params.subpages)
+        }
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
   inputs: {

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/grafana.ts

@@ -606,26 +606,6 @@ Return ONLY the folder title - no explanations, no quotes, no extra text.`,
     ],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert numeric string fields to numbers
-        if (params.panelId) {
-          params.panelId = Number(params.panelId)
-        }
-        if (params.annotationId) {
-          params.annotationId = Number(params.annotationId)
-        }
-        if (params.time) {
-          params.time = Number(params.time)
-        }
-        if (params.timeEnd) {
-          params.timeEnd = Number(params.timeEnd)
-        }
-        if (params.from) {
-          params.from = Number(params.from)
-        }
-        if (params.to) {
-          params.to = Number(params.to)
-        }
-
         // Map subblock fields to tool parameter names
         if (params.alertTitle) {
           params.title = params.alertTitle
@@ -645,6 +625,16 @@ Return ONLY the folder title - no explanations, no quotes, no extra text.`,
 
         return params.operation
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.panelId) result.panelId = Number(params.panelId)
+        if (params.annotationId) result.annotationId = Number(params.annotationId)
+        if (params.time) result.time = Number(params.time)
+        if (params.timeEnd) result.timeEnd = Number(params.timeEnd)
+        if (params.from) result.from = Number(params.from)
+        if (params.to) result.to = Number(params.to)
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
   inputs: {

apps/sim/blocks/blocks/hunter.ts

@@ -204,11 +204,6 @@ Return ONLY the search query text - no explanations.`,
     ],
     config: {
       tool: (params) => {
-        // Convert numeric parameters
-        if (params.limit) {
-          params.limit = Number(params.limit)
-        }
-
         switch (params.operation) {
           case 'hunter_discover':
             return 'hunter_discover'
@@ -226,6 +221,11 @@ Return ONLY the search query text - no explanations.`,
             return 'hunter_domain_search'
         }
       },
+      params: (params) => {
+        const result: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+        if (params.limit) result.limit = Number(params.limit)
+        return result
+      },
     },
   },
   inputs: {