# Max depth in decode\_json\_fields not working
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/max-depth-in-decode-json-fields-not-working/198874
**Category:** Beats
**Tags:** filebeat
**Created:** [September 10, 2019, 10:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/max-depth-in-decode-json-fields-not-working/198874 "2019-09-10T10:28:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@w00f](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/w00f)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2019, 10:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/max-depth-in-decode-json-fields-not-working/198874/1 "2019-09-10T10:28:46Z")
I am trying to decode a json fields and try to limit the depth to 1.
My config as below:
```auto
- decode_json_fields:
fields: ["message"]
process_array: true
max_depth: 1
target: "logger"
overwrite_keys: true
```
And here is the original message field:
```auto
"message":"{\"timestamp\":\"2019-09-10T16:53:57.723998+08:00\",\"level\":\"INFO\",\"logger\":\"Rails\",\"message\":{\"method\":\"PUT\",\"path\":\"/api/workforces/profiles/159\",\"format\":\"json\",\"controller\":\"Hubble::Workforces::Api::V1::ProfilesController\",\"action\":\"update\",\"status\":200,\"duration\":117.48,\"view\":5.68,\"db\":23.94,\"params\":{\"name\":\"Green Earth Admin 01\"}},\"exception\":null,\"stacktrace\":null}",
```
Somehow, the params field are expanded and cause us a lot of problems since this field normally contains 2-3 level of nested json fields.
May I know what am I doing wrong and what can I do in this situation?
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2019, 10:38am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/max-depth-in-decode-json-fields-not-working/198874/2 "2019-10-08T10:38:16Z")
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