diff --git a/libraries/chain/abi_serializer.cpp b/libraries/chain/abi_serializer.cpp
index 6c6752dad6f063c8c6441c1c2feb7f14eb62a620..59817288928764929080d6d8280626763cfbbf0c 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/abi_serializer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/abi_serializer.cpp
@@ -346,12 +346,12 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
    }
 
    fc::variant abi_serializer::binary_to_variant(const type_name& type, const bytes& binary, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const {
-      impl::binary_to_variant_context ctx(max_serialization_time);
+      impl::binary_to_variant_context ctx(*this, max_serialization_time, type);
       return _binary_to_variant(type, binary, ctx);
    }
 
    fc::variant abi_serializer::binary_to_variant(const type_name& type, fc::datastream<const char*>& binary, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const {
-      impl::binary_to_variant_context ctx(max_serialization_time);
+      impl::binary_to_variant_context ctx(*this, max_serialization_time, type);
       return _binary_to_variant(type, binary, ctx);
    }
 
@@ -360,23 +360,29 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
       auto h = ctx.enter_scope();
       auto rtype = resolve_type(type);
 
+      auto v_itr = variants.end();
+      auto s_itr = structs.end();
+
       auto btype = built_in_types.find(fundamental_type(rtype));
       if( btype != built_in_types.end() ) {
          btype->second.second(var, ds, is_array(rtype), is_optional(rtype));
       } else if ( is_array(rtype) ) {
+         ctx.hint_array_type_if_in_array();
          vector<fc::variant> vars = var.get_array();
          fc::raw::pack(ds, (fc::unsigned_int)vars.size());
-         auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( fundamental_type(rtype), ctx.is_path_empty() );
+
+         auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( impl::array_index_path_item{} );
+         auto h2 = ctx.disallow_extensions_unless(false);
+
          int64_t i = 0;
          for (const auto& var : vars) {
             ctx.set_array_index_of_path_back(i);
-            auto h2 = ctx.disallow_extensions_unless(false);
            _variant_to_binary(fundamental_type(rtype), var, ds, ctx);
            ++i;
          }
-      } else if ( variants.find(rtype) != variants.end() ) {
-         auto& v = variants.find(rtype)->second;
-         auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( v.name, ctx.is_path_empty() );
+      } else if( (v_itr = variants.find(rtype)) != variants.end() ) {
+         ctx.hint_variant_type_if_in_array( v_itr );
+         auto& v = v_itr->second;
          EOS_ASSERT( var.is_array() && var.size() == 2, pack_exception,
                     "Expected input to be an array of two items while processing variant '${p}'", ("p", ctx.get_path_string()) );
          EOS_ASSERT( var[size_t(0)].is_string(), pack_exception,
@@ -385,16 +391,13 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
          auto it = find(v.types.begin(), v.types.end(), variant_type_str);
          EOS_ASSERT( it != v.types.end(), pack_exception,
                      "Specified type '${t}' in input array is not valid within the variant '${p}'",
-                     ("t", variant_type_str)("p", ctx.get_path_string()) );
+                     ("t", ctx.maybe_shorten(variant_type_str))("p", ctx.get_path_string()) );
          fc::raw::pack(ds, fc::unsigned_int(it - v.types.begin()));
-         std::stringstream s;
-         s << "<variant(" << (it - v.types.begin()) << ")=" << *it << ">";
-         auto h3 = ctx.push_to_path(s.str());
+         auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( impl::variant_path_item{ .variant_itr = v_itr, .variant_ordinal = static_cast<uint32_t>(it - v.types.begin()) } );
          _variant_to_binary( *it, var[size_t(1)], ds, ctx );
-      } else {
-         const auto& st = get_struct(rtype);
-
-         auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( st.name, ctx.is_path_empty() );
+      } else if( (s_itr = structs.find(rtype)) != structs.end() ) {
+         ctx.hint_struct_type_if_in_array( s_itr );
+         const auto& st = s_itr->second;
 
          if( var.is_object() ) {
             const auto& vo = var.get_object();
@@ -404,22 +407,27 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
                _variant_to_binary(resolve_type(st.base), var, ds, ctx);
             }
             bool extension_encountered = false;
+            uint32_t i = 0;
             for( const auto& field : st.fields ) {
                if( vo.contains( string(field.name).c_str() ) ) {
                   if( extension_encountered )
-                     EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Unexpected field '${f}' found in input object while processing struct '${p}'", ("f",field.name)("p",ctx.get_path_string()) );
+                     EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Unexpected field '${f}' found in input object while processing struct '${p}'",
+                                ("f", ctx.maybe_shorten(field.name))("p", ctx.get_path_string()) );
                   {
+                     auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( impl::field_path_item{ .parent_struct_itr = s_itr, .field_ordinal = i } );
                      auto h2 = ctx.disallow_extensions_unless( &field == &st.fields.back() );
-                     auto h3 = ctx.push_to_path( field.name );
                      _variant_to_binary(_remove_bin_extension(field.type), vo[field.name], ds, ctx);
                   }
                } else if( ends_with(field.type, "$") && ctx.extensions_allowed() ) {
                   extension_encountered = true;
                } else if( extension_encountered ) {
-                  EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Encountered field '${f}' without binary extension designation while processing struct '${p}'", ("f",field.name)("p",ctx.get_path_string()) );
+                  EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Encountered field '${f}' without binary extension designation while processing struct '${p}'",
+                             ("f", ctx.maybe_shorten(field.name))("p", ctx.get_path_string()) );
                } else {
-                  EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Missing field '${f}' in input object while processing struct '${p}'", ("f",field.name)("p",ctx.get_path_string()) );
+                  EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Missing field '${f}' in input object while processing struct '${p}'",
+                             ("f", ctx.maybe_shorten(field.name))("p", ctx.get_path_string()) );
                }
+               ++i;
             }
          } else if( var.is_array() ) {
             const auto& va = var.get_array();
@@ -429,20 +437,22 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
             uint32_t i = 0;
             for( const auto& field : st.fields ) {
                if( va.size() > i ) {
+                  auto h1 = ctx.push_to_path( impl::field_path_item{ .parent_struct_itr = s_itr, .field_ordinal = i } );
                   auto h2 = ctx.disallow_extensions_unless( &field == &st.fields.back() );
-                  auto h3 = ctx.push_to_path( field.name );
                   _variant_to_binary(_remove_bin_extension(field.type), va[i], ds, ctx);
                } else if( ends_with(field.type, "$") && ctx.extensions_allowed() ) {
                   break;
                } else {
                   EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Early end to input array specifying the fields of struct '${p}'; require input for field '${f}'",
-                             ("p", ctx.get_path_string())("f", field.name) );
+                             ("p", ctx.get_path_string())("f", ctx.maybe_shorten(field.name)) );
                }
                ++i;
             }
          } else {
             EOS_THROW( pack_exception, "Unexpected input encountered while processing struct '${p}'", ("p",ctx.get_path_string()) );
          }
+      } else {
+         EOS_THROW( invalid_type_inside_abi, "Unknown type ${type}", ("type",type) );
       }
    } FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW( (type)(var) ) }
 
@@ -460,13 +470,15 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
       return temp;
    } FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW( (type)(var) ) }
 
-   bytes abi_serializer::variant_to_binary(const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const {
-      impl::variant_to_binary_context ctx(max_serialization_time);
+   bytes abi_serializer::variant_to_binary(const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time, bool short_path)const {
+      impl::variant_to_binary_context ctx(*this, max_serialization_time, type);
+      ctx.short_path = short_path;
       return _variant_to_binary(type, var, ctx);
    }
 
-   void  abi_serializer::variant_to_binary(const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, fc::datastream<char*>& ds, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const {
-      impl::variant_to_binary_context ctx(max_serialization_time);
+   void  abi_serializer::variant_to_binary(const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, fc::datastream<char*>& ds, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time, bool short_path)const {
+      impl::variant_to_binary_context ctx(*this, max_serialization_time, type);
+      ctx.short_path = short_path;
       _variant_to_binary(type, var, ds, ctx);
    }
 
@@ -489,4 +501,276 @@ namespace eosio { namespace chain {
       return itr->second;
    }
 
+   namespace impl {
+
+      void abi_traverse_context::check_deadline()const {
+         EOS_ASSERT( fc::time_point::now() < deadline, abi_serialization_deadline_exception, "serialization time limit ${t}us exceeded", ("t", max_serialization_time) );
+      }
+
+      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> abi_traverse_context::enter_scope() {
+         std::function<void()> callback = [old_recursion_depth=recursion_depth, this](){
+            recursion_depth = old_recursion_depth;
+         };
+
+         ++recursion_depth;
+         EOS_ASSERT( recursion_depth < abi_serializer::max_recursion_depth, abi_recursion_depth_exception,
+                     "recursive definition, max_recursion_depth ${r} ", ("r", abi_serializer::max_recursion_depth) );
+
+         EOS_ASSERT( fc::time_point::now() < deadline, abi_serialization_deadline_exception,
+                     "serialization time limit ${t}us exceeded", ("t", max_serialization_time) );
+
+         return {std::move(callback)};
+      }
+
+      void abi_traverse_context_with_path::set_path_root( const type_name& type ) {
+         auto rtype = abis.resolve_type(type);
+
+         if( abis.is_array(rtype) ) {
+            root_of_path =  array_type_path_root{};
+         } else {
+            auto itr1 = abis.structs.find(rtype);
+            if( itr1 != abis.structs.end() ) {
+               root_of_path = struct_type_path_root{ .struct_itr = itr1 };
+            } else {
+               auto itr2 = abis.variants.find(rtype);
+               if( itr2 != abis.variants.end() ) {
+                  root_of_path = variant_type_path_root{ .variant_itr = itr2 };
+               }
+            }
+         }
+      }
+
+      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> abi_traverse_context_with_path::push_to_path( const path_item& item ) {
+         std::function<void()> callback = [this](){
+            EOS_ASSERT( path.size() > 0, abi_exception,
+                        "invariant failure in variant_to_binary_context: path is empty on scope exit" );
+            path.pop_back();
+         };
+
+         path.push_back( item );
+
+         return {std::move(callback)};
+      }
+
+      void abi_traverse_context_with_path::set_array_index_of_path_back( uint32_t i ) {
+         EOS_ASSERT( path.size() > 0, abi_exception, "path is empty" );
+
+         auto& b = path.back();
+
+         EOS_ASSERT( b.contains<array_index_path_item>(), abi_exception, "trying to set array index without first pushing new array index item" );
+
+         b.get<array_index_path_item>().array_index = i;
+      }
+
+      void abi_traverse_context_with_path::hint_array_type_if_in_array() {
+         if( path.size() == 0 || !path.back().contains<array_index_path_item>() )
+            return;
+
+         path.back().get<array_index_path_item>().type_hint = array_type_path_root{};
+      }
+
+      void abi_traverse_context_with_path::hint_struct_type_if_in_array( const map<type_name, struct_def>::const_iterator& itr ) {
+         if( path.size() == 0 || !path.back().contains<array_index_path_item>() )
+            return;
+
+         path.back().get<array_index_path_item>().type_hint = struct_type_path_root{ .struct_itr = itr };
+      }
+
+      void abi_traverse_context_with_path::hint_variant_type_if_in_array( const map<type_name, variant_def>::const_iterator& itr ) {
+         if( path.size() == 0 || !path.back().contains<array_index_path_item>() )
+            return;
+
+         path.back().get<array_index_path_item>().type_hint = variant_type_path_root{ .variant_itr = itr };
+      }
+
+      constexpr size_t const_strlen( const char* str )
+      {
+          return (*str == 0) ? 0 : const_strlen(str + 1) + 1;
+      }
+
+      void output_name( std::ostream& s, const string& str, bool shorten, size_t max_length = 64 ) {
+         constexpr size_t min_num_characters_at_ends = 4;
+         constexpr size_t preferred_num_tail_end_characters = 6;
+         constexpr const char* fill_in = "...";
+
+         static_assert( min_num_characters_at_ends <= preferred_num_tail_end_characters,
+                        "preferred number of tail end characters cannot be less than the imposed absolute minimum" );
+
+         constexpr size_t fill_in_length = const_strlen( fill_in );
+         constexpr size_t min_length = fill_in_length + 2*min_num_characters_at_ends;
+         constexpr size_t preferred_min_length = fill_in_length + 2*preferred_num_tail_end_characters;
+
+         max_length = std::max( max_length, min_length );
+
+         if( !shorten || str.size() <= max_length ) {
+            s << str;
+            return;
+         }
+
+         size_t actual_num_tail_end_characters = preferred_num_tail_end_characters;
+         if( max_length < preferred_min_length ) {
+            actual_num_tail_end_characters = min_num_characters_at_ends + (max_length - min_length)/2;
+         }
+
+         s.write( str.data(), max_length - fill_in_length - actual_num_tail_end_characters );
+         s.write( fill_in, fill_in_length );
+         s.write( str.data() + (str.size() - actual_num_tail_end_characters), actual_num_tail_end_characters );
+      }
+
+      struct generate_path_string_visitor {
+         using result_type = void;
+
+         generate_path_string_visitor( bool shorten_names, bool track_only )
+         : shorten_names(shorten_names), track_only( track_only )
+         {}
+
+         std::stringstream s;
+         bool              shorten_names = false;
+         bool              track_only     = false;
+         path_item         last_non_array_path_item;
+
+         void add_dot() {
+            s << ".";
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const empty_path_item& item ) {
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const array_index_path_item& item ) {
+            if( track_only ) {
+               last_non_array_path_item = item; // ?????
+               return;
+            }
+
+            s << "[" << item.array_index << "]";
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const field_path_item& item ) {
+            if( track_only ) {
+               last_non_array_path_item = item;
+               return;
+            }
+
+            const auto& str = item.parent_struct_itr->second.fields.at(item.field_ordinal).name;
+            output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const variant_path_item& item ) {
+            if( track_only ) {
+               last_non_array_path_item = item;
+               return;
+            }
+
+            s << "<variant(" << item.variant_ordinal << ")=";
+            const auto& str = item.variant_itr->second.types.at(item.variant_ordinal);
+            output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+            s << ">";
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const empty_path_root& item ) {
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const array_type_path_root& item ) {
+            s << "ARRAY";
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const struct_type_path_root& item ) {
+            const auto& str = item.struct_itr->first;
+            output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const variant_type_path_root& item ) {
+            const auto& str = item.variant_itr->first;
+            output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+         }
+      };
+
+      struct path_item_type_visitor {
+         using result_type = void;
+
+         path_item_type_visitor( std::stringstream& s, bool shorten_names )
+         : s(s), shorten_names(shorten_names)
+         {}
+
+         std::stringstream& s;
+         bool               shorten_names = false;
+
+         void operator()( const empty_path_item& item ) {
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const array_index_path_item& item ) {
+            const auto& th = item.type_hint;
+            if( th.contains<struct_type_path_root>() ) {
+               const auto& str = th.get<struct_type_path_root>().struct_itr->first;
+               output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+            } else if( th.contains<variant_type_path_root>() ) {
+               const auto& str = th.get<variant_type_path_root>().variant_itr->first;
+               output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+            } else if( th.contains<array_type_path_root>() ) {
+               s << "ARRAY";
+            } else {
+               s << "UNKNOWN";
+            }
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const field_path_item& item ) {
+            const auto& str = item.parent_struct_itr->second.fields.at(item.field_ordinal).type;
+            output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+         }
+
+         void operator()( const variant_path_item& item ) {
+            const auto& str = item.variant_itr->second.types.at(item.variant_ordinal);
+            output_name( s, str, shorten_names );
+         }
+      };
+
+      string abi_traverse_context_with_path::get_path_string()const {
+         bool full_path = !short_path;
+         bool shorten_names = short_path;
+
+         generate_path_string_visitor visitor(shorten_names, !full_path);
+         if( full_path )
+            root_of_path.visit( visitor );
+         for( size_t i = 0, n = path.size(); i < n; ++i ) {
+            if( full_path && !path[i].contains<array_index_path_item>() )
+               visitor.add_dot();
+
+            path[i].visit( visitor );
+
+         }
+
+         if( !full_path ) {
+            if( visitor.last_non_array_path_item.contains<empty_path_item>() ) {
+               root_of_path.visit( visitor );
+            } else {
+               path_item_type_visitor vis2(visitor.s, shorten_names);
+               visitor.last_non_array_path_item.visit(vis2);
+            }
+         }
+
+         return visitor.s.str();
+      }
+
+      string abi_traverse_context_with_path::maybe_shorten( const string& str ) {
+         if( !short_path )
+            return str;
+
+         std::stringstream s;
+         output_name( s, str, true );
+         return s.str();
+      }
+
+      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> variant_to_binary_context::disallow_extensions_unless( bool condition ) {
+         std::function<void()> callback = [old_recursion_depth=recursion_depth, old_allow_extensions=allow_extensions, this](){
+            allow_extensions = old_allow_extensions;
+         };
+
+         if( !condition ) {
+            allow_extensions = false;
+         }
+
+         return {std::move(callback)};
+      }
+   }
+
 } }
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/abi_serializer.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/abi_serializer.hpp
index 9682f0a150675de63be77bffb3bf5b950408f20e..c3e1669fb20a0c0db755492ad3331946a5149b0a 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/abi_serializer.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/abi_serializer.hpp
@@ -18,12 +18,13 @@ using std::pair;
 using namespace fc;
 
 namespace impl {
-  struct abi_from_variant;
-  struct abi_to_variant;
+   struct abi_from_variant;
+   struct abi_to_variant;
 
-  struct abi_traverse_context;
-  struct binary_to_variant_context;
-  struct variant_to_binary_context;
+   struct abi_traverse_context;
+   struct abi_traverse_context_with_path;
+   struct binary_to_variant_context;
+   struct variant_to_binary_context;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -52,11 +53,11 @@ struct abi_serializer {
 
    optional<string>  get_error_message( uint64_t error_code )const;
 
-   fc::variant binary_to_variant(const type_name& type, const bytes& binary, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const;
-   fc::variant binary_to_variant(const type_name& type, fc::datastream<const char*>& binary, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const;
+   fc::variant binary_to_variant( const type_name& type, const bytes& binary, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time )const;
+   fc::variant binary_to_variant( const type_name& type, fc::datastream<const char*>& binary, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time )const;
 
-   bytes       variant_to_binary(const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const;
-   void        variant_to_binary(const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, fc::datastream<char*>& ds, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time)const;
+   bytes       variant_to_binary( const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time, bool short_path = false )const;
+   void        variant_to_binary( const type_name& type, const fc::variant& var, fc::datastream<char*>& ds, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time, bool short_path = false )const;
 
    template<typename T, typename Resolver>
    static void to_variant( const T& o, fc::variant& vo, Resolver resolver, const fc::microseconds& max_serialization_time );
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ private:
 
    friend struct impl::abi_from_variant;
    friend struct impl::abi_to_variant;
+   friend struct impl::abi_traverse_context_with_path;
 };
 
 namespace impl {
@@ -129,24 +131,9 @@ namespace impl {
       : max_serialization_time( max_serialization_time ), deadline( deadline ), recursion_depth(0)
       {}
 
-      void check_deadline()const {
-         EOS_ASSERT( fc::time_point::now() < deadline, abi_serialization_deadline_exception, "serialization time limit ${t}us exceeded", ("t", max_serialization_time) );
-      }
-
-      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> enter_scope() {
-         std::function<void()> callback = [old_recursion_depth=recursion_depth, this](){
-            recursion_depth = old_recursion_depth;
-         };
-
-         ++recursion_depth;
-         EOS_ASSERT( recursion_depth < abi_serializer::max_recursion_depth, abi_recursion_depth_exception,
-                     "recursive definition, max_recursion_depth ${r} ", ("r", abi_serializer::max_recursion_depth) );
+      void check_deadline()const;
 
-         EOS_ASSERT( fc::time_point::now() < deadline, abi_serialization_deadline_exception,
-                     "serialization time limit ${t}us exceeded", ("t", max_serialization_time) );
-
-         return {std::move(callback)};
-      }
+      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> enter_scope();
 
    protected:
       fc::microseconds max_serialization_time;
@@ -154,85 +141,93 @@ namespace impl {
       size_t           recursion_depth;
    };
 
-   struct binary_to_variant_context : public abi_traverse_context {
-      using abi_traverse_context::abi_traverse_context;
+   struct empty_path_root {};
 
-      binary_to_variant_context( const abi_traverse_context& ctx )
-      : abi_traverse_context(ctx)
-      {}
+   struct array_type_path_root {
    };
 
-   struct variant_to_binary_context : public abi_traverse_context {
-      using abi_traverse_context::abi_traverse_context;
+   struct struct_type_path_root {
+      map<type_name, struct_def>::const_iterator  struct_itr;
+   };
 
-      variant_to_binary_context( const abi_traverse_context& ctx )
-      : abi_traverse_context(ctx)
-      {}
+   struct variant_type_path_root {
+      map<type_name, variant_def>::const_iterator variant_itr;
+   };
 
-      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> disallow_extensions_unless( bool condition ) {
-         std::function<void()> callback = [old_recursion_depth=recursion_depth, old_allow_extensions=allow_extensions, this](){
-            allow_extensions = old_allow_extensions;
-         };
+   using path_root = static_variant<empty_path_root, array_type_path_root, struct_type_path_root, variant_type_path_root>;
 
-         if( !condition ) {
-            allow_extensions = false;
-         }
+   struct empty_path_item {};
 
-         return {std::move(callback)};
-      }
+   struct array_index_path_item {
+      path_root                                   type_hint;
+      uint32_t                                    array_index = 0;
+   };
 
-      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> push_to_path( const string& n, bool condition = true ) {
+   struct field_path_item {
+      map<type_name, struct_def>::const_iterator  parent_struct_itr;
+      uint32_t                                    field_ordinal = 0;
+   };
 
-         if( !condition ) {
-            fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> h([](){});
-            h.cancel();
-            return h;
-         }
+   struct variant_path_item {
+      map<type_name, variant_def>::const_iterator variant_itr;
+      uint32_t                                    variant_ordinal = 0;
+   };
 
-         std::function<void()> callback = [this](){
-            EOS_ASSERT( path.size() > 0 && path_array_index.size() > 0, abi_exception,
-                        "invariant failure in variant_to_binary_context: path is empty on scope exit" );
-            path.pop_back();
-            path_array_index.pop_back();
-         };
+   using path_item = static_variant<empty_path_item, array_index_path_item, field_path_item, variant_path_item>;
 
-         path.push_back( n );
-         path_array_index.push_back( -1 );
+   struct abi_traverse_context_with_path : public abi_traverse_context {
+      abi_traverse_context_with_path( const abi_serializer& abis, fc::microseconds max_serialization_time, const type_name& type )
+      : abi_traverse_context( max_serialization_time ), abis(abis)
+      {
+         set_path_root(type);
+      }
 
-         return {std::move(callback)};
+      abi_traverse_context_with_path( const abi_serializer& abis, fc::microseconds max_serialization_time, fc::time_point deadline, const type_name& type )
+      : abi_traverse_context( max_serialization_time, deadline ), abis(abis)
+      {
+         set_path_root(type);
       }
 
-      void set_array_index_of_path_back( int64_t i ) {
-         EOS_ASSERT( path_array_index.size() > 0, abi_exception, "path is empty" );
-         path_array_index.back() = i;
+      abi_traverse_context_with_path( const abi_serializer& abis, const abi_traverse_context& ctx, const type_name& type )
+      : abi_traverse_context(ctx), abis(abis)
+      {
+         set_path_root(type);
       }
 
-      bool extensions_allowed()const { return allow_extensions; }
+      void set_path_root( const type_name& type );
 
-      bool is_path_empty()const { return path.size() == 0; }
+      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> push_to_path( const path_item& item );
 
-      string get_path_string()const {
-         EOS_ASSERT( path.size() == path_array_index.size(), abi_exception,
-                     "invariant failure in variant_to_binary_context: mismatch in path vector sizes" );
+      void set_array_index_of_path_back( uint32_t i );
+      void hint_array_type_if_in_array();
+      void hint_struct_type_if_in_array( const map<type_name, struct_def>::const_iterator& itr );
+      void hint_variant_type_if_in_array( const map<type_name, variant_def>::const_iterator& itr );
 
-         std::stringstream s;
-         for( size_t i = 0, n = path.size(); i < n; ++i ) {
-            s << path[i];
-            if( path_array_index[i] >= 0 ) {
-               s << "[" << path_array_index[i] << "]";
-            }
-            if( (i + 1) != n ) { // if not the last element in the path
-               s << ".";
-            }
-         }
+      string get_path_string()const;
 
-         return s.str();
-      }
+      string maybe_shorten( const string& str );
+
+   protected:
+      const abi_serializer&  abis;
+      path_root              root_of_path;
+      vector<path_item>      path;
+   public:
+      bool                   short_path = false;
+   };
+
+   struct binary_to_variant_context : public abi_traverse_context_with_path {
+      using abi_traverse_context_with_path::abi_traverse_context_with_path;
+   };
+
+   struct variant_to_binary_context : public abi_traverse_context_with_path {
+      using abi_traverse_context_with_path::abi_traverse_context_with_path;
+
+      fc::scoped_exit<std::function<void()>> disallow_extensions_unless( bool condition );
+
+      bool extensions_allowed()const { return allow_extensions; }
 
    protected:
-      bool            allow_extensions = true;
-      vector<string>  path;
-      vector<int64_t> path_array_index;
+      bool                   allow_extensions = true;
    };
 
    /**
@@ -389,7 +384,7 @@ namespace impl {
                auto type = abi->get_action_type(act.name);
                if (!type.empty()) {
                   try {
-                     binary_to_variant_context _ctx(ctx);
+                     binary_to_variant_context _ctx(*abi, ctx, type);
                      mvo( "data", abi->_binary_to_variant( type, act.data, _ctx ));
                      mvo("hex_data", act.data);
                   } catch(...) {
@@ -552,7 +547,7 @@ namespace impl {
                if (abi.valid()) {
                   auto type = abi->get_action_type(act.name);
                   if (!type.empty()) {
-                     variant_to_binary_context _ctx(ctx);
+                     variant_to_binary_context _ctx(*abi, ctx, type);
                      act.data = std::move( abi->_variant_to_binary( type, data, _ctx ));
                      valid_empty_data = act.data.empty();
                   }
diff --git a/plugins/chain_plugin/chain_plugin.cpp b/plugins/chain_plugin/chain_plugin.cpp
index 183e7a48ecc25a591cb34c511cc5de9c9bad4cfa..cff24929a6d151d02d094b4591a46e6b1f1a41a6 100644
--- a/plugins/chain_plugin/chain_plugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/chain_plugin/chain_plugin.cpp
@@ -1727,7 +1727,7 @@ read_only::abi_json_to_bin_result read_only::abi_json_to_bin( const read_only::a
       auto action_type = abis.get_action_type(params.action);
       EOS_ASSERT(!action_type.empty(), action_validate_exception, "Unknown action ${action} in contract ${contract}", ("action", params.action)("contract", params.code));
       try {
-         result.binargs = abis.variant_to_binary(action_type, params.args, abi_serializer_max_time);
+         result.binargs = abis.variant_to_binary(action_type, params.args, abi_serializer_max_time, true); // TODO: Allow configuration to output verbose error messages
       } EOS_RETHROW_EXCEPTIONS(chain::invalid_action_args_exception,
                                 "'${args}' is invalid args for action '${action}' code '${code}'. expected '${proto}'",
                                 ("args", params.args)("action", params.action)("code", params.code)("proto", action_abi_to_variant(abi, action_type)))
diff --git a/unittests/abi_tests.cpp b/unittests/abi_tests.cpp
index f2f415825c97241fe1118aaa3177467068f8d948..dacce90cc744b65596552a1ab58ff6efa6005747 100644
--- a/unittests/abi_tests.cpp
+++ b/unittests/abi_tests.cpp
@@ -3761,6 +3761,8 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(abi_serialize_detailed_error_messages)
       "types": [
          {"new_type_name": "foo", "type": "s2"},
          {"new_type_name": "bar", "type": "foo"},
+         {"new_type_name": "s1array", "type": "s1[]"},
+         {"new_type_name": "s1arrayarray", "type": "s1array[]"}
       ],
       "structs": [
          {"name": "s1", "base": "", "fields": [
@@ -3781,6 +3783,9 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(abi_serialize_detailed_error_messages)
             {"name": "f0", "type": "int8[]"},
             {"name": "f1", "type": "s1[]"}
          ]},
+         {"name": "s5", "base": "", "fields": [
+            {"name": "f0", "type": "v2[]"},
+         ]},
       ],
       "variants": [
          {"name": "v1", "types": ["s3", "int8", "s4"]},
@@ -3812,7 +3817,95 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(abi_serialize_detailed_error_messages)
                              pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i0' in input object while processing struct 'v1.<variant(2)=s4>.f1[1]'") );
 
       BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("s2[]", fc::json::from_string(R"([{"f0":{"i0":1,"i1":2},"i2":3},{"f0":{"i0":4},"i2":6}])"), max_serialization_time),
-                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 's2[1].f0'") );
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 'ARRAY[1].f0'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("s5", fc::json::from_string(R"({"f0":[["bar",{"f0":{"i0":1,"i1":2},"i2":3}],["foo",{"f0":{"i0":4},"i2":6}]]})"), max_serialization_time),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 's5.f0[1].<variant(0)=foo>.f0'") );
+
+      verify_round_trip_conversion( abis, "s1arrayarray", R"([[{"i0":1,"i1":2},{"i0":3,"i1":4}],[{"i0":5,"i1":6},{"i0":7,"i1":8},{"i0":9,"i1":10}]])", "0202010203040305060708090a");
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("s1arrayarray", fc::json::from_string(R"([[{"i0":1,"i1":2},{"i0":3,"i1":4}],[{"i0":6,"i1":6},{"i0":7,"i1":8},{"i1":10}]])"), max_serialization_time),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i0' in input object while processing struct 'ARRAY[1][2]'") );
+   } FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW()
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(abi_serialize_short_error_messages)
+{
+   using eosio::testing::fc_exception_message_is;
+
+   auto abi = R"({
+      "version": "eosio::abi/1.1",
+      "types": [
+         {"new_type_name": "foo", "type": "s2"},
+         {"new_type_name": "bar", "type": "foo"},
+         {"new_type_name": "s1array", "type": "s1[]"},
+         {"new_type_name": "s1arrayarray", "type": "s1array[]"}
+      ],
+      "structs": [
+         {"name": "s1", "base": "", "fields": [
+            {"name": "i0", "type": "int8"},
+            {"name": "i1", "type": "int8"}
+         ]},
+         {"name": "s2", "base": "", "fields": [
+            {"name": "f0", "type": "s1"},
+            {"name": "i2", "type": "int8"}
+         ]},
+         {"name": "very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_struct_name_s3", "base": "s1", "fields": [
+            {"name": "i2", "type": "int8"},
+            {"name": "f3", "type": "v2"},
+            {"name": "f4", "type": "foo$"},
+            {"name": "very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_field_name_f5", "type": "s1$"}
+         ]},
+         {"name": "s4", "base": "", "fields": [
+            {"name": "f0", "type": "int8[]"},
+            {"name": "f1", "type": "s1[]"}
+         ]},
+         {"name": "s5", "base": "", "fields": [
+            {"name": "f0", "type": "v2[]"},
+         ]},
+      ],
+      "variants": [
+         {"name": "v1", "types": ["very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_struct_name_s3", "int8", "s4"]},
+         {"name": "v2", "types": ["foo", "bar"]},
+      ],
+   })";
+
+   try {
+      abi_serializer abis( fc::json::from_string(abi).as<abi_def>(), max_serialization_time );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("bar", fc::json::from_string(R"({"f0":{"i0":1},"i2":3})"), max_serialization_time, true),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 's1'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary( "very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_struct_name_s3",
+                                                     fc::json::from_string(R"({"i0":1,"i2":3})"), max_serialization_time, true ),
+                             pack_exception,
+                             fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 'very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_...ame_s3'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary( "very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_struct_name_s3",
+                                                     fc::json::from_string(R"({"i0":1,"i1":2,"i2":3,"f3":["s2",{}]})"), max_serialization_time, true ),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Specified type 's2' in input array is not valid within the variant 'v2'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary( "very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_struct_name_s3",
+                                                     fc::json::from_string(R"({"i0":1,"i1":2,"i2":3,"f3":["bar",{"f0":{"i0":11},"i2":13}]})"), max_serialization_time, true ),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 's1'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary( "v1",
+         fc::json::from_string(R"(["very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_struct_name_s3",{"i0":1,"i1":2,"i2":3,"f3":["bar",{"f0":{"i0":11,"i1":12},"i2":13}],"very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_field_name_f5":0}])"),
+                                                    max_serialization_time, true ),
+                             pack_exception,
+                             fc_exception_message_is("Unexpected field 'very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_...ame_f5' found in input object while processing struct 'very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_very_long_...ame_s3'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("v1", fc::json::from_string(R"(["s4",{"f0":[0,1],"f1":[{"i0":2,"i1":3},{"i1":5}]}])"), max_serialization_time, true),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i0' in input object while processing struct 's1'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("s2[]", fc::json::from_string(R"([{"f0":{"i0":1,"i1":2},"i2":3},{"f0":{"i0":4},"i2":6}])"), max_serialization_time, true),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 's1'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("s5", fc::json::from_string(R"({"f0":[["bar",{"f0":{"i0":1,"i1":2},"i2":3}],["foo",{"f0":{"i0":4},"i2":6}]]})"), max_serialization_time, true),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i1' in input object while processing struct 's1'") );
+
+      BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION( abis.variant_to_binary("s1arrayarray", fc::json::from_string(R"([[{"i0":1,"i1":2},{"i0":3,"i1":4}],[{"i0":6,"i1":6},{"i0":7,"i1":8},{"i1":10}]])"), max_serialization_time, true),
+                             pack_exception, fc_exception_message_is("Missing field 'i0' in input object while processing struct 's1'") );
    } FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW()
 }