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Decoded Actions

The DAO Café indexer automatically decodes proposal calldata into human-readable format. This feature uses the 4bytes.directory API to look up function signatures and decode the parameters. Endpoint: https://dao.cafe/graphql

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How It Works

When a proposal is created on-chain, the calldata (raw encoded function calls) is decoded into a structured format:
  1. Extract Selector: The first 4 bytes of the calldata are extracted as the function selector
  2. Lookup Signature: The selector is looked up in the 4bytes.directory API
  3. Decode Parameters: Using the signature, the remaining calldata is decoded into typed parameters
  4. Store Result: The decoded actions are stored alongside the raw calldata

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Query Decoded Actions

Fetch a proposal with its decoded actions: 
query GetProposalWithDecodedActions($id: String!) {
  proposal(id: $id) {
    id
    description
    state
    targets
    values
    calldatas
    decodedActions
  }
}

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Response Structure

The decodedActions field returns an array of decoded actions, one for each target/calldata pair in the proposal:

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Successful Decoding

{
  "decodedActions": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "target": "0xe2bfada6771b3e2d0a2b8a1d13e27090fa1a4c71",
      "value": "0",
      "calldata": "0x0dbec5ea00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001f4",
      "decoded": {
        "status": "success",
        "functionName": "setFee",
        "signature": "setFee(uint256)",
        "args": [
          {
            "name": "arg0",
            "type": "uint256",
            "value": "500"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "setFee(500)"
      }
    }
  ]
}

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Failed Decoding

When the function selector is not found in 4bytes.directory: 
{
  "decodedActions": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "target": "0x7a250d5630B4cF539739dF2C5dAcb4c659F2488D",
      "value": "1000000000000000000",
      "calldata": "0xabc12345...",
      "decoded": {
        "status": "error",
        "error": "Function selector not found in 4bytes directory",
        "selector": "0xabc12345",
        "hint": "Submit the contract ABI at https://www.4byte.directory/api/v1/import-solidity/ to enable decoding"
      }
    }
  ]
}

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ETH Transfer (Empty Calldata)

When a proposal action is a pure ETH transfer: 
{
  "decodedActions": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "target": "0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f...",
      "value": "1000000000000000000",
      "calldata": "0x",
      "decoded": {
        "status": "success",
        "functionName": "transfer",
        "signature": "transfer()",
        "args": [],
        "summary": "ETH Transfer"
      }
    }
  ]
}

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Multi-Action Proposals

Proposals can have multiple actions. Each action is decoded independently: 
query GetMultiActionProposal($id: String!) {
  proposal(id: $id) {
    id
    description
    decodedActions
  }
}
Example response with 3 actions: 
{
  "proposal": {
    "id": "11155111_0xf3dfd...efc6da8_302905...",
    "description": "# Treasury Management\n\nUpdate fee structure and transfer funds",
    "decodedActions": [
      {
        "index": 0,
        "target": "0xe2bfada6771b3e2d0a2b8a1d13e27090fa1a4c71",
        "value": "0",
        "calldata": "0x0dbec5ea...",
        "decoded": {
          "status": "success",
          "functionName": "setFee",
          "signature": "setFee(uint256)",
          "args": [{ "name": "arg0", "type": "uint256", "value": "500" }],
          "summary": "setFee(500)"
        }
      },
      {
        "index": 1,
        "target": "0xA0b86991c6218b36c1d19D4a2e9Eb0cE3606eB48",
        "value": "0",
        "calldata": "0xa9059cbb...",
        "decoded": {
          "status": "success",
          "functionName": "transfer",
          "signature": "transfer(address,uint256)",
          "args": [
            { "name": "arg0", "type": "address", "value": "0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f..." },
            { "name": "arg1", "type": "uint256", "value": "1000000000" }
          ],
          "summary": "transfer(0x742d35Cc...595f, 1000000000)"
        }
      },
      {
        "index": 2,
        "target": "0x7a250d5630B4cF539739dF2C5dAcb4c659F2488D",
        "value": "1000000000000000000",
        "calldata": "0xabc12345...",
        "decoded": {
          "status": "error",
          "error": "Function selector not found in 4bytes directory",
          "selector": "0xabc12345",
          "hint": "Submit the contract ABI at https://www.4byte.directory/api/v1/import-solidity/ to enable decoding"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

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DecodedAction Type Reference

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DecodedAction

FieldTypeDescription
indexIntOrder of action in proposal (0-indexed)
targetStringTarget contract address
valueStringETH value in wei
calldataStringOriginal raw calldata (hex)
decodedObjectDecoded data or error info

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Decoded (Success)

FieldTypeDescription
statusStringAlways "success"
functionNameStringFunction name (e.g., "setFee")
signatureStringFull signature (e.g., "setFee(uint256)")
argsArrayDecoded arguments
summaryStringHuman-readable one-liner

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Decoded (Error)

FieldTypeDescription
statusStringAlways "error"
errorStringError message
selectorStringThe 4-byte function selector
hintStringHow to fix the issue

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DecodedArg

FieldTypeDescription
nameStringGeneric name (arg0, arg1, etc.)
typeStringSolidity type (uint256, address, etc.)
valueStringStringified value

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Adding Missing Signatures

If a function selector is not found in 4bytes.directory, you can submit it:

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Via API

curl -X POST https://www.4byte.directory/api/v1/signatures/ \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"text_signature": "myFunction(uint256,address)"}'

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Via Contract ABI

curl -X POST https://www.4byte.directory/api/v1/import-solidity/ \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"contract_abi": "[{\"type\":\"function\",\"name\":\"myFunction\",...}]"}'

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Via Solidity File

curl -F [email protected] https://www.4byte.directory/api/v1/import-solidity/
After submitting your signature, future proposals using that function will be decoded automatically.

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UI Display Example

Here’s how you might display decoded actions in your frontend: 
function ProposalActions({ decodedActions }) {
  return (
    <div className="actions-list">
      {decodedActions.map((action) => (
        <div key={action.index} className="action-card">
          <div className="action-header">
            Action {action.index + 1}
            {action.decoded.status === 'success' ? (
              <span className="badge success">{action.decoded.summary}</span>
            ) : (
              <span className="badge error">Unknown Function</span>
            )}
          </div>
          
          <div className="action-details">
            <div>Target: {action.target}</div>
            <div>Value: {action.value} wei</div>
            
            {action.decoded.status === 'success' && (
              <div className="args">
                {action.decoded.args.map((arg, i) => (
                  <div key={i}>
                    {arg.name}: {arg.value} ({arg.type})
                  </div>
                ))}
              </div>
            )}
            
            {action.decoded.status === 'error' && (
              <div className="error-hint">
                {action.decoded.hint}
              </div>
            )}
          </div>
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

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SDK Support

The decodedActions field is available through the daocafe-sdk: 
import { getProposal } from 'daocafe-sdk';

const proposal = await getProposal('11155111_0xf3dfd...efc6da8_302905...');

// Access decoded actions
proposal.decodedActions?.forEach(action => {
  if (action.decoded.status === 'success') {
    console.log(`${action.index}: ${action.decoded.summary}`);
  } else {
    console.log(`${action.index}: Unknown function (${action.decoded.selector})`);
  }
});