overhauled the textarea component to be as feature complete as possible

app/MindWork AI Studio/Assistants/Dynamic/AssistantDynamic.razor

@@ -12,7 +12,27 @@
             if (component is AssistantTextArea textArea)
             {
                 var lines = textArea.IsSingleLine ? 1 : 6;
-                <MudTextField T="string" @bind-Text="@this.inputFields[textArea.Name]" Label="@textArea.Label" ReadOnly="@textArea.ReadOnly" AdornmentIcon="@Icons.Material.Filled.DocumentScanner" Adornment="Adornment.Start" Variant="Variant.Outlined" Lines="@lines" AutoGrow="@true" MaxLines="12" Class='@MergeClass(textArea.Class, "mb-3")' Style="@this.GetOptionalStyle(textArea.Style)"/>
+                
+                <MudTextField T="string" 
+                              @bind-Text="@this.inputFields[textArea.Name]" 
+                              Label="@textArea.Label"
+                              HelperText="@textArea.HelperText"
+                              HelperTextOnFocus="@textArea.HelperTextOnFocus"
+                              ReadOnly="@textArea.ReadOnly"
+                              Counter="@textArea.Counter"
+                              MaxLength="@textArea.MaxLength"
+                              Immediate="@textArea.IsImmediate"
+                              Adornment="@textArea.GetAdornmentPos()"
+                              AdornmentIcon="@textArea.AdornmentIcon"
+                              AdornmentText="@textArea.AdornmentText"
+                              AdornmentColor="@textArea.GetAdornmentColor()"
+                              Variant="Variant.Outlined" 
+                              Lines="@lines"
+                              AutoGrow="@true"
+                              MaxLines="12" 
+                              Class='@MergeClass(textArea.Class, "mb-3")' 
+                              Style="@this.GetOptionalStyle(textArea.Style)"
+                />
             }
             break;
         case AssistantComponentType.IMAGE:
@@ -139,7 +159,7 @@
             if (component is AssistantColorPicker assistantColorPicker)
             {
                 var colorPicker = assistantColorPicker;
-                var variant = this.GetPickerVariant(colorPicker.PickerVariant);
+                var variant = colorPicker.GetPickerVariant();
                 var elevation = variant == PickerVariant.Static ? 6 : 0;
                 var rounded = variant == PickerVariant.Static;
                 

app/MindWork AI Studio/Assistants/Dynamic/AssistantDynamic.razor.cs

@@ -441,14 +441,6 @@ public partial class AssistantDynamic : AssistantBaseCore<SettingsDialogDynamic>
 
     private string? GetOptionalStyle(string? style) => string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(style) ? null : style;
 
-    private PickerVariant GetPickerVariant(string pickerVariant) => pickerVariant.ToLowerInvariant() switch
-    {
-        "dialog" => PickerVariant.Dialog,
-        "static" => PickerVariant.Static,
-        "inline" => PickerVariant.Inline,
-        _ => PickerVariant.Static
-    };
-
     private string? ValidateProfileSelection(AssistantProfileSelection profileSelection, Profile? profile)
     {
         if (profile == default || profile == Profile.NO_PROFILE)

app/MindWork AI Studio/Plugins/assistants/README.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ This folder keeps the Lua manifest (`plugin.lua`) that defines a custom assistan
 
 Supported types (matching the Blazor UI components):
 
-- `TEXT_AREA`: any user input field with `Name`, `Label`, `UserPrompt`, `PrefillText`, `IsSingleLine`, `ReadOnly`.
+- `TEXT_AREA`: user input field based on `MudTextField`; requires `Name`, `Label`, and may include `HelperText`, `HelperTextOnFocus`, `Adornment`, `AdornmentIcon`, `AdornmentText`, `AdornmentColor`, `Counter`, `MaxLength`, `IsImmediate`, `UserPrompt`, `PrefillText`, `IsSingleLine`, `ReadOnly`, `Class`, `Style`.
 - `DROPDOWN`: selects between variants; `Props` must include `Name`, `Label`, `Default`, `Items`, and optionally `ValueType` plus `UserPrompt`.
 - `SWITCH`: boolean option; requires `Name`, `Label`, `Value`, `LabelOn`, `LabelOff`, and may include `UserPrompt`.
 - `COLOR_PICKER`: color input based on `MudColorPicker`; requires `Name`, `Label`, and may include `Placeholder`, `ShowAlpha`, `ShowToolbar`, `ShowModeSwitch`, `PickerVariant`, `UserPrompt`, `Class`, `Style`.
@@ -115,6 +115,48 @@ ASSISTANT.BuildPrompt = function(input)
 end
 ```
 
+### `TEXT_AREA` reference
+- Use `Type = "TEXT_AREA"` to render a MudBlazor text input or textarea.
+- Required props:
+  - `Name`: unique state key used in prompt assembly and `BuildPrompt(input.fields)`.
+  - `Label`: visible field label.
+- Optional props:
+  - `HelperText`: helper text rendered below the input.
+  - `HelperTextOnFocus`: defaults to `false`; show helper text only while the field is focused.
+  - `Adornment`: one of `Start`, `End`, `None`; invalid or omitted values fall back to `Start`.
+  - `AdornmentIcon`: MudBlazor icon identifier string for the adornment.
+  - `AdornmentText`: plain adornment text. Do not set this together with `AdornmentIcon`.
+  - `AdornmentColor`: one of the MudBlazor `Color` enum names such as `Primary`, `Secondary`, `Warning`; invalid or omitted values fall back to `Default`.
+  - `Counter`: nullable integer. Omit it to hide the counter entirely. Set `0` to show only the current character count. Set `1` or higher to show `current/max`.
+  - `MaxLength`: maximum number of characters allowed; defaults to `524288`.
+  - `IsImmediate`: defaults to `false`; updates the bound value on each input event instead of on blur/change.
+  - `UserPrompt`: prompt context text for this field.
+  - `PrefillText`: initial input value.
+  - `IsSingleLine`: defaults to `false`; render as a one-line input instead of a textarea.
+  - `ReadOnly`: defaults to `false`; disables editing.
+  - `Class`, `Style`: forwarded to the rendered component for layout/styling.
+
+Example:
+```lua
+{
+  ["Type"] = "TEXT_AREA",
+  ["Props"] = {
+    ["Name"] = "Budget",
+    ["Label"] = "Budget",
+    ["HelperText"] = "Enter the expected amount.",
+    ["Adornment"] = "Start",
+    ["AdornmentIcon"] = "Icons.Material.Filled.AttachMoney",
+    ["AdornmentColor"] = "Success",
+    ["Counter"] = 0,
+    ["MaxLength"] = 100,
+    ["IsImmediate"] = true,
+    ["UserPrompt"] = "Use this budget information in your answer.",
+    ["PrefillText"] = "",
+    ["IsSingleLine"] = true
+  }
+}
+```
+
 ### `COLOR_PICKER` reference
 - Use `Type = "COLOR_PICKER"` to render a MudBlazor color picker.
 - Required props:

app/MindWork AI Studio/Plugins/assistants/plugin.lua

@@ -70,10 +70,21 @@ ASSISTANT = {
                 ["Props"] = {
                     ["Name"] = "<unique identifier of this component>", -- required
                     ["Label"] = "<heading of your component>", -- required
+                    ["Adornment"] = "<Start|End|None>", --  location of the `AdornmentIcon` OR `AdornmentText`; CASE SENSITIV
+                    ["AdornmentIcon"] = "Icons.Material.Filled.AppSettingsAlt", -- The Mudblazor icon displayed for the adornment
+                    ["AdornmentText"] = "", -- The text displayed for the adornment
+                    ["AdornmentColor"] = "<Dark|Error|Info|Inherit|Primary|Secondary|Success|Surface|Tertiary|Transparent|Warning>", -- the color of AdornmentText or AdornmentIcon; CASE SENSITIVE
+                    ["Counter"] = 0, -- shows a character counter. When 0, the current character count is displayed. When 1 or greater, the character count and this count are displayed. Defaults to `null` 
+                    ["MaxLength"] = 100, -- max number of characters allowed, prevents more input characters; use together with the character counter. Defaults to 524,288
+                    ["HelperText"] = "<a helping text rendered under the text area to give hints to users>",
+                    ["IsImmediate"] = false, -- changes the value as soon as input is received. Defaults to false but will be true if counter or maxlength is set to reflect changes
+                    ["HelperTextOnFocus"] = true, -- if true, shows the helping text only when the user focuses on the text area
                     ["UserPrompt"] = "<direct input of instructions, questions, or tasks by a user>",
                     ["PrefillText"] = "<text to show in the field initially>",
                     ["IsSingleLine"] = false, -- if true, shows a text field instead of an area
-                    ["ReadOnly"] = false -- if true, deactivates user input (make sure to provide a PrefillText)
+                    ["ReadOnly"] = false, -- if true, deactivates user input (make sure to provide a PrefillText)
+                    ["Class"] = "<MudBlazor or css classes>",
+                    ["Style"] = "<css styles>",
                 }
             },
             {
@@ -177,7 +188,7 @@ ASSISTANT = {
                     ["ShowAlpha"] = true, -- weather alpha channels are shown
                     ["ShowToolbar"] = true, -- weather the toolbar to toggle between picker, grid or palette is shown
                     ["ShowModeSwitch"] = true, -- weather switch to toggle between RGB(A), HEX or HSL color mode is shown
-                    ["PickerVariant"] = "<DIALOG | INLINE | STATIC (default)>",
+                    ["PickerVariant"] = "<Dialog|Inline|Static>", -- different rendering modes: `Dialog` opens the picker in a modal type screen, `Inline` shows the picker next to the input field and `Static` renders the picker widget directly (default); Case sensitiv
                     ["UserPrompt"] = "<help text reminding the user what kind of file they should load>",
                 }
             },

app/MindWork AI Studio/Tools/PluginSystem/Assistants/DataModel/AssistantColorPicker.cs

@@ -64,4 +64,6 @@ internal sealed class AssistantColorPicker : AssistantComponentBase
         get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.Style));
         set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.Style), value);
     }
+
+    public PickerVariant GetPickerVariant() => Enum.TryParse<PickerVariant>(this.PickerVariant, out var variant) ? variant : MudBlazor.PickerVariant.Static;
 }

app/MindWork AI Studio/Tools/PluginSystem/Assistants/DataModel/AssistantSwitch.cs

@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ internal sealed class AssistantSwitch : AssistantComponentBase
 
     public bool Value
     {
-        get => this.Props.TryGetValue(nameof(this.Value), out var val) && val is true;
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadBool(this.Props, nameof(this.Value), false);
-        set => this.Props[nameof(this.Value)] = value;
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteBool(this.Props, nameof(this.Value), value);
     }
 
     public string UserPrompt

app/MindWork AI Studio/Tools/PluginSystem/Assistants/DataModel/AssistantTextArea.cs

@@ -17,6 +17,42 @@ internal sealed class AssistantTextArea : AssistantComponentBase
         get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.Label));
         set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.Label), value);
     }
+    
+    public string HelperText
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.HelperText));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.HelperText), value);
+    }
+    
+    public bool HelperTextOnFocus
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadBool(this.Props, nameof(this.HelperTextOnFocus), false);
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteBool(this.Props, nameof(this.HelperTextOnFocus), value);
+    }
+    
+    public string Adornment
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.Adornment));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.Adornment), value);
+    }
+    
+    public string AdornmentIcon
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.AdornmentIcon));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.AdornmentIcon), value);
+    }
+    
+    public string AdornmentText
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.AdornmentText));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.AdornmentText), value);
+    }
+    
+    public string AdornmentColor
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.AdornmentColor));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.AdornmentColor), value);
+    }
 
     public string UserPrompt
     {
@@ -30,16 +66,34 @@ internal sealed class AssistantTextArea : AssistantComponentBase
         set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.PrefillText), value);
     }
 
+    public int? Counter
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadNullableInt(this.Props, nameof(this.Counter));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteNullableInt(this.Props, nameof(this.Counter), value);
+    }
+
+    public int MaxLength
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadInt(this.Props, nameof(this.MaxLength), PluginAssistants.TEXT_AREA_MAX_VALUE);
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteInt(this.Props, nameof(this.MaxLength), value);
+    }
+
+    public bool IsImmediate
+    {
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadBool(this.Props, nameof(this.IsImmediate));
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteBool(this.Props, nameof(this.IsImmediate), value);
+    }
+
     public bool IsSingleLine
     {
-        get => this.Props.TryGetValue(nameof(this.IsSingleLine), out var val) && val is true;
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadBool(this.Props, nameof(this.IsSingleLine), false);
-        set => this.Props[nameof(this.IsSingleLine)] = value;
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteBool(this.Props, nameof(this.IsSingleLine), value);
     }
 
     public bool ReadOnly
     {
-        get => this.Props.TryGetValue(nameof(this.ReadOnly), out var val) && val is true;
+        get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadBool(this.Props, nameof(this.ReadOnly), false);
-        set => this.Props[nameof(this.ReadOnly)] = value;
+        set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteBool(this.Props, nameof(this.ReadOnly), value);
     }
 
     public string Class
@@ -53,4 +107,8 @@ internal sealed class AssistantTextArea : AssistantComponentBase
         get => AssistantComponentPropHelper.ReadString(this.Props, nameof(this.Style));
         set => AssistantComponentPropHelper.WriteString(this.Props, nameof(this.Style), value);
     }
+
+    public Adornment GetAdornmentPos() => Enum.TryParse<MudBlazor.Adornment>(this.Adornment, out var position) ? position : MudBlazor.Adornment.Start;
+    
+    public Color GetAdornmentColor() => Enum.TryParse<Color>(this.AdornmentColor, out var color) ? color : Color.Default;
 }

app/MindWork AI Studio/Tools/PluginSystem/Assistants/DataModel/ComponentPropSpecs.cs

@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@ public static class ComponentPropSpecs
             ),
             [AssistantComponentType.TEXT_AREA] = new(
                 required: ["Name", "Label"],
-                optional: ["UserPrompt", "PrefillText", "ReadOnly", "IsSingleLine", "Class", "Style"]
+                optional: [
+                    "HelperText", "HelperTextOnFocus", "UserPrompt", "PrefillText", 
+                    "ReadOnly", "IsSingleLine", "Counter", "MaxLength", "IsImmediate",
+                    "Adornment", "AdornmentIcon", "AdornmentText", "AdornmentColor", "Class", "Style",
+                ]
             ),
             [AssistantComponentType.BUTTON] = new(
                 required: ["Name", "Text", "Action"],

app/MindWork AI Studio/Tools/PluginSystem/Assistants/PluginAssistants.cs

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ public sealed class PluginAssistants(bool isInternal, LuaState state, PluginType
     public bool AllowProfiles { get; private set; } = true;
     public bool HasEmbeddedProfileSelection { get; private set; }
     public bool HasCustomPromptBuilder => this.buildPromptFunction is not null;
+    public const int TEXT_AREA_MAX_VALUE = 524288;
 
     private LuaFunction? buildPromptFunction;
 
@@ -240,13 +241,29 @@ public sealed class PluginAssistants(bool isInternal, LuaState state, PluginType
         }
 
         component = AssistantComponentFactory.CreateComponent(type, props, children);
+
+        if (component is AssistantTextArea textArea)
+        {
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(textArea.AdornmentIcon) && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(textArea.AdornmentText))
+                LOGGER.LogWarning($"Assistant plugin '{this.Name}' TEXT_AREA '{textArea.Name}' defines both '[\"AdornmentIcon\"]' and '[\"AdornmentText\"]', thus both will be ignored by the renderer. You`re only allowed to use either one of them.");
+
+            if (textArea.MaxLength == 0)
+            {
+                LOGGER.LogWarning($"Assistant plugin '{this.Name}' TEXT_AREA '{textArea.Name}' defines a MaxLength of `0`. This is not applicable, if you want a readonly Textfield, set the [\"ReadOnly\"] field to `true`. MAXLENGTH IS SET TO DEFAULT {TEXT_AREA_MAX_VALUE}.");
+                textArea.MaxLength = TEXT_AREA_MAX_VALUE;
+            }
+            
+            if (textArea.MaxLength != 0 && textArea.MaxLength != TEXT_AREA_MAX_VALUE)
+                textArea.Counter = textArea.MaxLength;
+            
+            if (textArea.Counter != null)
+                textArea.IsImmediate = true;
+        }
+
         return true;
     }
 
-    private bool TryReadComponentProps(
+    private bool TryReadComponentProps(AssistantComponentType type, LuaTable propsTable, out Dictionary<string, object> props)
-        AssistantComponentType type,
-        LuaTable propsTable,
-        out Dictionary<string, object> props)
     {
         props = new Dictionary<string, object>();