# Can you configure a Token filter on a pre-existing index?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-you-configure-a-token-filter-on-a-pre-existing-index/54210>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [June 28, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-you-configure-a-token-filter-on-a-pre-existing-index/54210 "2016-06-28T22:33:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brigzzy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/brigzzy/32/10609_2.png) [@brigzzy](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/brigzzy)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-you-configure-a-token-filter-on-a-pre-existing-index/54210/1 "2016-06-28T22:33:39Z")

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Hello all! First time poster, but a big fan of ElasticSearch in general.

I'm trying to configure Auto Completion for an index, following these steps from the docs ([https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/guide/current/\_index\_time\_search\_as\_you\_type.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/guide/current/_index_time_search_as_you_type.html)), but they seem to apply to creating a new index. In my case, I already have an index that I want this token filter to be applied to. Is this possible, or do I need to create a new index with the Filter and Analyzer at the same time?

Thanks!

Danny

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**Author:** ![danielmitterdorfer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/danielmitterdorfer/32/110510_2.png) [@danielmitterdorfer](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/danielmitterdorfer)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-you-configure-a-token-filter-on-a-pre-existing-index/54210/2 "2016-07-05T06:02:25Z")

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Hi @brigzzy,

you need a new index. If you already have an existing index and you're on Elasticsearch 2.3 or later you can use the [reindex API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/2.3/docs-reindex.html) to simplify this task.

See the section on [Index Aliases and Zero Downtime](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/guide/2.x/index-aliases.html) in the Definitive Guide how you can reindex without having your users noticing.

Daniel

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**Author:** ![brigzzy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/brigzzy/32/10609_2.png) [@brigzzy](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/brigzzy)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-you-configure-a-token-filter-on-a-pre-existing-index/54210/3 "2016-07-05T15:14:09Z")

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Thanks @danielmitterdorfer, I'll check that out later today.

Cheers!

Danny

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-you-configure-a-token-filter-on-a-pre-existing-index/54210/4 "2017-07-05T22:37:54Z")

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Closed on July 5, 2017, 10:37pm UTC