jdx/mise · error

"{path_raw}".{id}: position is only valid with line, ignorin

Error message

"{path_raw}".{id}: position is only valid with line, ignoring entry

What it means

The `position` field (append/prepend) only applies to line-based edit entries; block/source edits manage their content via marker lines and cannot be positioned. resolve_entry raises this error and ignores the entry when `position` is set together with a block/source entry (is_block=true, no line).

Source

Thrown at src/system/edits.rs:308

            comment: None,
        },
        EditTomlEntry::Table(table) => table,
    };
    let is_block = entry.block.is_some() || entry.source.is_some();
    let op = match (&is_block, &entry.line) {
        (true, Some(_)) => {
            bail!(
                "\"{path_raw}\".{id}: block/source and line are mutually exclusive, ignoring entry"
            )
        }
        (false, None) => {
            bail!(
                "\"{path_raw}\".{id}: no recognized operation (block, source, or line), ignoring entry"
            )
        }
        (true, None) => {
            if entry.position.is_some() {
                bail!("\"{path_raw}\".{id}: position is only valid with line, ignoring entry")
            }
            let source = match (entry.block, entry.source) {
                (Some(_), Some(_)) => {
                    bail!(
                        "\"{path_raw}\".{id}: block and source are mutually exclusive, ignoring entry"
                    )
                }
                (Some(inline), None) => BlockSource::Inline(inline),
                (None, Some(src)) => {
                    let src = file::replace_path(&src);
                    let src = if src.is_relative() {
                        base.join(src)
                    } else {
                        src
                    };
                    origin.source = Some(src.clone());
                    BlockSource::File(src)
                }

View on GitHub (pinned to afd2eddd3a)

Solutions

1. Remove the `position` field from the block/source entry.
2. If positioning is truly needed, use a `line` entry with position instead.
3. Keep `position` only if you also keep `line` and drop block/source.

Example fix

// before
[[dotfiles]]
id = "aliases"
path = "~/.zshrc"
block = "alias gs='git status'"
position = "append"

// after
[[dotfiles]]
id = "aliases"
path = "~/.zshrc"
block = "alias gs='git status'"

for entry in dotfile_entries {
    if (entry.block.is_some() || entry.source.is_some()) && entry.position.is_some() {
        panic!("entry {}: position only applies to line entries", entry.id);
    }
}

When it happens

Trigger: A [dotfiles] entry sets `block` (or `source`) plus `position = "append"` or `"prepend"` without a `line` field.

Common situations: Copy-pasting a line entry and switching it to block but keeping the position setting; assuming position also controls where a block is placed.

Related errors

• dotfiles: {key} could not be tracked: {reason}
• [dotfiles]."{req.target_raw}": mode symlink-each requires a
• "{path_raw}".{id}: block/source and line are mutually exclus
• "{path_raw}".{id}: no recognized operation (block, source, o
• "{path_raw}".{id}: block and source are mutually exclusive,

AI-assisted analysis of jdx/mise@afd2eddd3a (2026-09-09). Data as JSON: /api/errors/acc374c446648123. Report an issue: GitHub.