Registry stack documentation: machine-readable Markdown.
Index of all pages: https://docs.registrystack.org/v/0.38.0/llms.txt
Full corpus: https://docs.registrystack.org/v/0.38.0/llms-full.txt

# evidencectl request prepare command reference

> Generated syntax and options for evidencectl request prepare.

{/* Generated from Clap command definitions by scripts/generate-cli-reference.mjs. Run npm run generate. */}

Prepare the request, authorization header, and verification context.

## Contract status

This page is generated from the public Clap command tree for Registry Stack source version `0.38.0` and catalog SHA-256 `cd13c658f65af295f9df3c6db86dc045ac06e9e040afc1f5f5b27c3184ab653d`. Hidden implementation commands are omitted.

## Usage

```text
evidencectl request prepare [OPTIONS] --name <NAME> <QUESTION|--profile <PROFILE>>
```

## Constraints

| Condition | Requirement |
| --- | --- |
| Command invocation | Exactly one of `[QUESTION]`, `--profile <PROFILE>` is required. |
| `--requirement <REQUIREMENT>` is present | `--profile <PROFILE>` is required. |
| `--purpose <PURPOSE>` is present | `<QUESTION>` is required. |
| Command invocation | `--profile <PROFILE>` and `[QUESTION]` cannot be used together. |
| Command invocation | `--subject <SUBJECT>` and `--subjects-file <PATH>` cannot be used together. |

## Arguments

| Argument | Always required | Default | Values | Environment | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `[QUESTION]` | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Question defined by the active local project |

## Options

| Option | Always required | Repeatable | Default | Values | Environment | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `--profile <PROFILE>` | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Owner-only progressive client profile |
| `--requirement <REQUIREMENT>` | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Stable public requirement handle from the selected contract catalog |
| `--purpose <PURPOSE>` | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Exact purpose declared by the question |
| `--subject <SUBJECT>` | No | Yes | n/a | n/a | n/a | Subject selector. Repeat role:field=value; local alternatives require role@profile:field=value |
| `--subjects-file <PATH>` | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Owner-only JSON file containing typed role, field, and value entries; local alternatives also require profile |
| `--name <NAME>` | Yes | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Safe name for this retained request |
| `--client <CLIENT>` | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Registered local application used to request authorization |
| `--response-format <FORMAT>` | No | No | `signed-jws` | `signed-jws`, `sd-jwt-vc` | n/a | Response format to request and verify |
| `--format <output_format>` | No | No | `human` | `human` | n/a | Select human-readable output; this command provides no JSON report |
| `-h, --help` | No | No | n/a | n/a | n/a | Print help |

## Generation contract

Run `npm run generate` from `docs/site` after changing a public command, argument, option, default, environment binding, or help description.