n8n-io/n8n · error · Error

Invalid `--filter` format. Expected: --filter "key:value"

Error message

Invalid `--filter` format. Expected: --filter "key:value"

What it means

Error "Invalid `--filter` format. Expected: --filter "key:value"" thrown in n8n-io/n8n.

Source

Thrown at packages/@n8n/ai-workflow-builder.ee/evaluations/cli/argument-parser.ts:474

	if (!enableIntrospection) return undefined;

	return {
		enableIntrospection: enableIntrospection || undefined,
	};
}

function parseFilters(args: {
	filter: string[];
	notionId?: string;
	technique?: string;
}): LangsmithExampleFilters | undefined {
	const filters: LangsmithExampleFilters = {};

	for (const raw of args.filter) {
		const match = raw.match(/^(\w+):(.+)$/);
		if (!match) {
			throw new Error('Invalid `--filter` format. Expected: --filter "key:value"');
		}

		const [, key, valueRaw] = match;
		const value = valueRaw.trim();
		if (value.length === 0) {
			throw new Error(`Invalid \`--filter\` value for "${key}": value cannot be empty`);
		}
		switch (key) {
			case 'do':
				filters.doSearch = value;
				break;
			case 'dont':
				filters.dontSearch = value;
				break;
			case 'technique':
				filters.technique = value;
				break;
			case 'id':

View on GitHub (pinned to 5ac6606e81)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at packages/@n8n/ai-workflow-builder.ee/evaluations/cli/argument-parser.ts:474 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of n8n-io/n8n@5ac6606e81 (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/a5bc61ab0d021bda. Report an issue: GitHub.