Empty nested object with partial update on ElasticSearch

Question

I've the following document indexed in ElasticSearch

{
  "myObj":{
     "name": "test",
     "elements": {
        "val": 1
     }
  }
}

I want to do a partial update to empty the nested attribute elements so I should be elements": {}; So I tried to send a partial update:

POST /entities/_doc/1/_update

{
   "doc" : {
      "myObj":{
         "elements": {}  
      }
   }
}

But this does nothing and the document keeps untouched. How can I empty a nested object in a document using partial updates ?

Well, I'm not familiar with ElasticSearch terms but it is a simple attribute of my object. Like myObj.elements.val and I want it to be myObject.elements == empty — invalid_address
– invalid_address, Commented Jan 24, 2019 at 16:15

Val · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-24 16:34:04Z

1

I suggest to do a scripted update like this and it will work:

POST entities/_doc/1/_update
{
   "script" : {
      "source": """
         ctx._source.myObj.elements.clear(); 
         ctx._source.myObj.name = params.name;
      """,
      "params": {
        "name": "newTest"
      }
   }
}

edited Jan 24, 2019 at 16:34

answered Jan 24, 2019 at 16:18

Val

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5 Comments

invalid_address Over a year ago

But what if I want to update other fields as well ? Can I do a partial update along with this script ? Because when I tried here, I got an error Validation Failed: 1: can't provide both script and doc

Val Over a year ago

You can definitely line up several updates in the script

invalid_address Over a year ago

How can I do that ? Suppose that I want to update the name attribute as well on the same request.

Val Over a year ago

See my updated answer (note that the three " are intended and that's how you can send new lines separated scripts to ES and make your scripts more readable)

invalid_address Over a year ago

Thanks @Val. It works, but it is a pain when we have a more complex object. Would be great if ES provides a way to send scripts and objects together.

Nishant · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-24 16:18:05Z

1

You can simply set the value as null to empty the object completely.

POST /entities/_doc/1/_update
{
   "doc" : {
      "myObj":{
         "elements": null  
      }
   }
}

answered Jan 24, 2019 at 16:18

Nishant

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4 Comments

Val Over a year ago

The problem is that the elements map will be null instead of empty.

Nishant Over a year ago

@Val But does it make a difference? In any case both are same if we consider the behaviour of exists query. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Val Over a year ago

Sure, I'm just stating that given the requirements stated by the OP. Not sure what he does with the elements map next. Also, the problem is that when seeing elements: null you don't know if it was an object field or a normal field originally

Nishant Over a year ago

@Val Agree to that. It totally depends how one is going to further use the object field. Thanks for your prompt reply.

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