diff --git a/boxes/__init__.py b/boxes/__init__.py
index d9f5516..ba6754b 100755
--- a/boxes/__init__.py
+++ b/boxes/__init__.py
@@ -178,6 +178,18 @@ class ArgparseEdgeType:
               e, self.names.get(e, "")) for e in self.edges))
         return """<select name="%s" size="1">\n%s</select>\n""" % (name, options)
 
+class BoolArg:
+    def __call__(self, arg):
+        if not arg or arg in ("None", "0", "off", "False"):
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    def html(self, name, default):
+        return """<input name="%s" type="hidden" value="0">
+<input name="%s" type="checkbox" value="1"%s>""" % \
+            (name, name, ' checked="checked"' if default else "")
+
+boolarg = BoolArg()
 
 ##############################################################################
 ### Main class
@@ -207,7 +219,7 @@ class Boxes:
             choices=self.formats.getFormats(),
             help="format of resulting file")
         defaultgroup.add_argument(
-            "--debug", action="store", type=bool, default=False,
+            "--debug", action="store", type=boolarg, default=False,
             help="print surrounding boxes for some structures")
         defaultgroup.add_argument(
             "--reference", action="store", type=float, default=100,
@@ -288,7 +300,7 @@ class Boxes:
                     default="e", help="edge type for top edge")
             elif arg == "outside":
                 self.argparser.add_argument(
-                    "--outside", action="store", type=bool, default=False,
+                    "--outside", action="store", type=boolarg, default=True,
                     help="treat sizes as outside measurements that include the walls")
             else:
                 raise ValueError("No default for argument", arg)
diff --git a/boxes/generators/box2.py b/boxes/generators/box2.py
index 6a548eb..a43537a 100755
--- a/boxes/generators/box2.py
+++ b/boxes/generators/box2.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Box2(Boxes):
         self.addSettingsArgs(edges.FlexSettings)
         self.buildArgParser("top_edge", "bottom_edge", "x", "y", "h")
         self.argparser.add_argument(
-            "--chestlid",  action="store", type=bool, default=False,
+            "--chestlid",  action="store", type=boolarg, default=False,
             help="add chest lid (needs hinges)")
         self.angle = 0
 
diff --git a/boxes/generators/trafficlight.py b/boxes/generators/trafficlight.py
index 0a3f3e5..6cfb012 100644
--- a/boxes/generators/trafficlight.py
+++ b/boxes/generators/trafficlight.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class TrafficLight(Boxes): # change class name here and below
             "--n",  action="store", type=int, default=3,
             help="number of lights")
         self.argparser.add_argument(
-            "--upright",  action="store", type=bool, default=False,
+            "--upright",  action="store", type=boolarg, default=True,
             help="stack lights upright (or side by side)")
 
     def backCB(self):
diff --git a/scripts/boxesserver b/scripts/boxesserver
index 0e3e3b5..00e615e 100755
--- a/scripts/boxesserver
+++ b/scripts/boxesserver
@@ -86,15 +86,12 @@ class BServer:
         row = """<tr><td>%s</td><td>%%s</td><td>%s</td></tr>\n""" % \
               (viewname, a.help or "")
         if (isinstance(a, argparse._StoreAction) and
-            isinstance(a.type, boxes.ArgparseEdgeType)):
+            hasattr(a.type, "html")):
             input = a.type.html(name, a.default)
         elif a.dest == "layout":
             val = a.default.split("\n")
             input = """<textarea name="%s" cols="%s" rows="%s">%s</textarea>""" % \
                     (name, max((len(l) for l in val))+10, len(val)+1, a.default)
-        elif a.type is bool:
-            input = """<input name="%s" type="checkbox" value="1"%s>""" % \
-                                        (name, ' checked="checked"' if a.default else "")
         elif a.choices:
             options = "\n".join(
                 ("""<option value="%s"%s>%s</option>""" %