"$app:" doesn't work in metaobject_type for theme app extension settings

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1

I was trying to use an app-owned metaobject declared in shopify.app.toml (e.g. [metaobjects.app.xyz]) as an input setting for an app block.

When using $app:xyz, it gets denied by cli schema validation.

The documentation only shows the example of hard-coding the <appid> and doesn’t explicitly say $app isn’t supported. “Assistant” hallucinated a few “yes” answers before I found the preceding doc example.

It seemed intuitive to use $app, so just wanted to make sure I’m not missing anything.

2

You’re not missing anything, $app: is only resolved when declaring the definition in shopify.app.toml. Everywhere else it’s referenced (theme settings schema, Liquid), you need the fully qualified app--APPID--xyz form, with your numeric app id in place of APPID.