# How to change similarity settings runtime?
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime/18639
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [July 14, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime/18639 "2014-07-14T04:11:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@spancer\_ray](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/spancer_ray)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime/18639/1 "2014-07-14T04:11:36Z")
Hi Guys,
I set my similarity type to 'BM25' in elasticsearch.yml , using index.similarity.default.type: BM25.
But in my search case(searching across some indices), I have to use the default similarity type.
Can I set the similarity type runtime without restarting the ES cluster? Or using java api to make
settings take effect for specific indices or ES TransportClient?
I tried put settings in my java code while construct a TransportClient, using code like below:
ImmutableSettings.settingsBuilder().put("index.similarity.custom.type", "default").build();
tried ‘index.similarity.default.type’， but it seems both 'index.similarity.default.type' and 'index.similarity.custom.type' didn't take effect while global settings in elasticsearch.yml is set.
Can anyone help?
Thanks a lot,
Spancer
---
### Author:  [@jprante](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jprante)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 7:00am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime/18639/2 "2014-07-14T07:00:36Z")
You can not change the similarity module of an index during runtime.
Jörg
On Monday, July 14, 2014 6:11:44 AM UTC+2, spancer ray wrote:
> Hi Guys,
>
> I set my similarity type to 'BM25' in elasticsearch.yml , using
> index.similarity.default.type: BM25.
> But in my search case(searching across some indices), I have to use the
> default similarity type.
> Can I set the similarity type runtime without restarting the ES cluster?
> Or
> using java api to make
> settings take effect for specific indices or ES TransportClient?
>
> I tried put settings in my java code while construct a TransportClient,
> using code like below:
> ImmutableSettings.settingsBuilder().put("index.similarity.custom.type",
> "default").build();
>
> tried ‘index.similarity.default.type’， but it seems both
> 'index.similarity.default.type' and 'index.similarity.custom.type' didn't
> take effect while global settings in elasticsearch.yml is set.
>
> Can anyone help?
>
> Thanks a lot,
> Spancer
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> [http://elasticsearch-users.115913.n3.nabble.com/How-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime-tp4059810.html](http://elasticsearch-users.115913.n3.nabble.com/How-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime-tp4059810.html)
> Sent from the Elasticsearch Users mailing list archive at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com).
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### Author:  [@Ivan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Ivan)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime/18639/3 "2014-07-14T18:17:41Z")
Jörg is correct. In general, it would be a bad idea to change the
similarity during runtime, but there are cases were it would be acceptable
and the system should allow for those cases:
>
>
> The current code \[1\] does not allow changing a field's similarity via a mapping …update. While it is true that changing a similarity after an index has been created will probably cause havoc on the scoring, developers should have the flexibility to shoot their own foot. :)
>
> If I were to submit a patch to allow a configurable override of the current behavior, what is the possibility that it would be accepted? Do not want to write code if it will be denied.
>
> \[1\] https://github.com/elasticsearch/elasticsearch/blob/master/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/core/AbstractFieldMapper.java?source=c#L526-L534
--
Ivan
On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 12:00 AM, Jörg Prante [joergprante@gmail.com](mailto:joergprante@gmail.com) wrote:
> You can not change the similarity module of an index during runtime.
>
> Jörg
>
> On Monday, July 14, 2014 6:11:44 AM UTC+2, spancer ray wrote:
>
> > Hi Guys,
> >
> > I set my similarity type to 'BM25' in elasticsearch.yml , using
> > index.similarity.default.type: BM25.
> > But in my search case(searching across some indices), I have to use the
> > default similarity type.
> > Can I set the similarity type runtime without restarting the ES cluster?
> > Or
> > using java api to make
> > settings take effect for specific indices or ES TransportClient?
> >
> > I tried put settings in my java code while construct a TransportClient,
> > using code like below:
> > ImmutableSettings.settingsBuilder().put("index.similarity.custom.type",
> > "default").build();
> >
> > tried ‘index.similarity.default.type’， but it seems both
> > 'index.similarity.default.type' and 'index.similarity.custom.type'
> > didn't
> > take effect while global settings in elasticsearch.yml is set.
> >
> > Can anyone help?
> >
> > Thanks a lot,
> > Spancer
> >
> > --
> > View this message in context: [http://elasticsearch-users](http://elasticsearch-users).
> > [115913.n3.nabble.com/How-to-change-similarity-settings-](http://115913.n3.nabble.com/How-to-change-similarity-settings-)
> > runtime-tp4059810.html
> > Sent from the Elasticsearch Users mailing list archive at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com).
>
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> .
>
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### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-change-similarity-settings-runtime/18639/4 "2017-07-06T01:15:54Z")