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Troubleshooting GraphQL deployment in a Stackbit/Gatsby project with Sanity

11 replies
Last updated: Aug 22, 2020
I am trying to Deploy GraphQL inside a Sanity/Stackbit/Gatsby project. Running into
Error: Encountered anonymous inline object "header" for field/type "Config". To use this field with GraphQL you will need to create a top-level schema type for it. See <https://docs.sanity.io/help/schema-lift-anonymous-object-type>
AI Update

This is a common error when deploying GraphQL with Sanity schemas that contain inline/anonymous objects. GraphQL requires all nested objects to be defined as named, top-level schema types rather than defined inline within a field.

In your case, you have a header field defined as an inline object within your Config type. To fix this, you need to "lift" that anonymous object into its own named schema type.

Here's how to resolve it:

1. Extract the inline object into a named type

Instead of defining the object inline like this:

// ❌ This causes the GraphQL error
{
  name: 'config',
  type: 'document',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'header',
      type: 'object', // anonymous inline object
      fields: [
        { name: 'title', type: 'string' },
        { name: 'logo', type: 'image' }
        // ... other fields
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Create a separate, named schema type:

// ✅ Create a top-level schema type
export const header = {
  name: 'header',
  type: 'object',
  fields: [
    { name: 'title', type: 'string' },
    { name: 'logo', type: 'image' }
    // ... other fields
  ]
}

// Then reference it in your config
export const config = {
  name: 'config',
  type: 'document',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'header',
      type: 'header' // reference the named type
    }
  ]
}

2. Add the new type to your schema

Make sure to include your new header type in your schema array when you initialize the Studio:

import { header } from './schemas/header'
import { config } from './schemas/config'

export default {
  // ... other config
  schema: {
    types: [header, config, /* other types */]
  }
}

The Sanity documentation on this specific issue provides more details, and there's also a helpful community answer about creating top-level schemas for GraphQL.

After making these changes, redeploy your GraphQL API and the error should be resolved. This pattern of creating named object types is also better for reusability if you ever need to use the same structure elsewhere in your schema.

This what the code looks like inside the source of the error
I am hitting this struggle while in process of trying to set up Live Preview with Gatsby; I would have assumed a GraphQL was already deployed, but none has been yet for this project
Stackbit probably did something weird; I am a borderline amateur, and while I have read the recommended documentation , delving this deep into already established code in order to "lift anonymous object types" is out of my range
I really need the Live Preview; designing Content without it has been quite difficult. So if anyone can help/guide me in this process to get the GraphQL deployed, or move me in an alternative route, it would be awesome 🙏🤖
Hi, Matt!
You need to define the header object as a global schema type. Create 
header.js


export default {
  "type": "object",
  "name": "header",
  "title": "Header Configuration",
  "validation": null,
  "fields": [
    {
      "type": "string",
      "name": "title",
      "title": "Header Title",
      "description": "The title displayed in the header if no logo image added.",
      "validation": null
    },
    {
      "type": "image",
      "name": "logo_img",
      "title": "Logo",
      "description": "The logo image displayed in the header.",
      "validation": null
    },
    {
      "type": "boolean",
      "name": "has_nav",
      "title": "Enable Navigation Menu",
      "description": "Display the navigation menu bar in the header.",
      "initialValue": true,
      "validation": null
    },
    {
      "type": "array",
      "name": "actions",
      "title": "Action Buttons",
      "description": "The action buttons displayed in the menu.",
      "validation": null,
      "of": [{"type": "action"}]
    }
  ]
}

Import 
header.js
in 
schema.js
and use it in your 
config
document like this
{
  "type": "header",
  "name": "header",
  "title": "Header Config",
}
Thank you for helping
user A
🙇‍♂️
Ok, about to test it out!
Wow Yes - had to repeat the process you described for other anon object types, but I really got the hang of it and feel I understand working with schemas more intimately. Thank you for whittling it down
user A
And to add a final piece necessary piece to your instructions, for anyone who has a similar problem, in your Schema.js file, after importing the newly created non-anon object, make sure to add it to the list of schema types at the end of the file also

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