# Logstash index format interpreted literally
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [September 30, 2020, 7:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461 "2020-09-30T07:48:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@vinci](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/vinci)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2020, 7:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461/1 "2020-09-30T07:48:43Z")
Hello,
I've created several indices with logstash using the following settings:
```auto
output
{
stdout {
codec => dots
}
elasticsearch {
hosts => ["http://192.168.99.18:9200"]
index => "%{[@metadata][beat]}-%{[@metadata][version]}-%{+YYYY.MM.dd}"
user => "elastic"
password => "password"
}
}
```
The problem is that I ended up literally with this format in elasticsearch:
```auto
%{[@metadata][beat]}-%{[@metadata][version]}-2014.06.26
%{[@metadata][beat]}-%{[@metadata][version]}-2014.06.03
%{[@metadata][beat]}-%{[@metadata][version]}-2014.06.25
etc.
```
Does anyone know where the problem lies and how I can make logstash interpret the variables correctly?
Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@kavierkoo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/kavierkoo)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2020, 12:01pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461/2 "2020-09-30T12:01:56Z")
Hi, What is your logstash version?
For debugging, I would try to add below to output to see what are the fields available.
```auto
stdout {
codec => rubydebug { metadata => true }
}
```
---
### Author:  [@vinci](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/vinci)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2020, 12:20pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461/3 "2020-09-30T12:20:27Z")
Version 7.7.1 So is elastisearch also.
The debug output I'm supposed to see directly in the logstash logs under /var/log, right? (logstash is installed directly on the host).
---
### Author:  [@kavierkoo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/kavierkoo)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461/4 "2020-09-30T12:41:02Z")
` codec => rubydebug` will only print on screen.
If you want it to store in files, you will have to use file plugin
```auto
output {
file {
path => /tmp/my_output_text_file
codec => rubydebug { metadata => true }
}
}
```
Referring Link from:
> [@Where can I find rubydebug output](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/where-can-i-find-rubydebug-output/94905/2):
>
> Your description is a bit basic, so I'm not sure if this is your config. Assuming you have a valid input and filter config part, your output should look something like this: output { stdout { codec =\> rubydebug } } The above example will give you a ruby debug output on your console. If you would rather write it to file you can do it like this: output { file { path =\> /tmp/my\_output\_text\_file codec =\> rubydebug } }
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-index-format-interpreted-literally/250461/5 "2020-10-28T12:41:03Z")
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