diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index beae77f..b8e99bd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-# forge-cli-utils [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils) [![npm version](https://badge.fury.io/js/forge-cli-utils.svg)](https://badge.fury.io/js/forge-cli-utils)
+# forge-cli-utils
+
+[![build status](https://travis-ci.org/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils)
+[![npm version](https://badge.fury.io/js/forge-cli-utils.svg)](https://badge.fury.io/js/forge-cli-utils)
+![node](https://img.shields.io/node/v/forge-cli-utils.svg)
+![npm downloads](https://img.shields.io/npm/dw/forge-cli-utils.svg)
+![platforms](https://img.shields.io/badge/platform-windows%20%7C%20osx%20%7C%20linux-lightgray.svg)
+[![license](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg)](http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
 
 Command line tools for Autodesk Forge services.
 
@@ -108,6 +115,7 @@ forge-da create-workitem ActivityName ActivityAlias --input PartFile --input-url
 > `--input InputA --input-local-name house.rvt --input InputB --input InputC --input-url https://foobar.com`.
 > Such a sequence will define three inputs: _InputA_ with local name _house.rvt_, _InputB_ (with no additional
 > properties), and _InputC_ with URL _https://foobar.com_.
+> For more details, see https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs
 
 #### Model Derivative
 
@@ -120,3 +128,7 @@ forge-md get-viewable-props dXJuOmFkc2sub2JqZWN0czpvcy5vYmplY3Q6cG9jLWJvdXlndWVz
 ```
 
 > For additional examples, check out the _examples_ subfolder.
+
+## Additional Resources
+
+- blog post on auto-deploying Design Automation plugins from Visual Studio: https://forge.autodesk.com/blog/deploying-design-automation-visual-studio
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 0598bdf..9e5f11f 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "forge-cli-utils",
-  "version": "0.8.0",
+  "version": "0.8.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 1,
   "requires": true,
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1263922..6dfcd54 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "forge-cli-utils",
-  "version": "0.8.0",
+  "version": "0.8.1",
   "description": "Command line tools for Autodesk Forge services.",
   "author": "Petr Broz <petr.broz@autodesk.com>",
   "license": "MIT",
diff --git a/src/forge-da.js b/src/forge-da.js
index 107fb17..587ff63 100755
--- a/src/forge-da.js
+++ b/src/forge-da.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ async function promptAppBundleVersion(appbundle) {
 
 async function promptAppBundleAlias(appbundle) {
     const aliases = await designAutomation.listAppBundleAliases(appbundle);
-    const answer = await prompt({ type: 'list', name: 'alias', choices: aliases });
+    const answer = await prompt({ type: 'list', name: 'alias', choices: aliases.map(item => item.id).filter(id => id !== '$LATEST') });
     return answer.alias;
 }
 
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ async function promptActivityVersion(activity) {
 }
 
 async function promptActivityAlias(activity) {
-    const activities = await designAutomation.listActivityAliases(activity);
-    const answer = await prompt({ type: 'list', name: 'alias', choices: activities });
+    const aliases = await designAutomation.listActivityAliases(activity);
+    const answer = await prompt({ type: 'list', name: 'alias', choices: aliases.map(item => item.id).filter(id => id !== '$LATEST') });
     return answer.alias;
 }
 
@@ -304,6 +304,9 @@ function _collectActivityInputs(val) {
 }
 
 function _collectActivityInputLocalNames(val) {
+    if (_activityInputs.length === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot assign local name property when no --input was provided. See https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs.');
+    }
     _activityInputs[_activityInputs.length - 1].localName = val;
 }
 
@@ -312,6 +315,9 @@ function _collectActivityOutputs(val) {
 }
 
 function _collectActivityOutputLocalNames(val) {
+    if (_activityOutputs.length === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot assign local name property when no --output was provided. See https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs.');
+    }
     _activityOutputs[_activityOutputs.length - 1].localName = val;
 }
 
@@ -495,10 +501,16 @@ function _collectWorkitemInputs(val) {
 }
 
 function _collectWorkitemInputLocalNames(val) {
+    if (_workitemInputs.length === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot assign local name property when no --input was provided. See https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs.');
+    }
     _workitemInputs[_workitemInputs.length - 1].localName = val;
 }
 
 function _collectWorkitemInputURLs(val) {
+    if (_workitemInputs.length === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot assign url property when no --input was provided. See https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs.');
+    }
     _workitemInputs[_workitemInputs.length - 1].url = val;
 }
 
@@ -507,10 +519,16 @@ function _collectWorkitemOutputs(val) {
 }
 
 function _collectWorkitemOutputLocalNames(val) {
+    if (_workitemOutputs.length === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot assign local name property when no --output was provided. See https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs.');
+    }
     _workitemOutputs[_workitemOutputs.length - 1].localName = val;
 }
 
 function _collectWorkitemOutputURLs(val) {
+    if (_workitemOutputs.length === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Cannot assign url property when no --output was provided. See https://github.com/petrbroz/forge-cli-utils/wiki/Design-Automation-Inputs-and-Outputs.');
+    }
     _workitemOutputs[_workitemOutputs.length - 1].url = val;
 }