# Merge Multiline json into single line json using codec multiline plugin

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/merge-multiline-json-into-single-line-json-using-codec-multiline-plugin/143175>\
**Category:** Logstash\
**Created:** [August 6, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/merge-multiline-json-into-single-line-json-using-codec-multiline-plugin/143175 "2018-08-06T13:30:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vinit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ecc23a/32.png) [@vinit](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/vinit)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/merge-multiline-json-into-single-line-json-using-codec-multiline-plugin/143175/1 "2018-08-06T13:30:57Z")

</div>

What pattern I need to apply in input plugin to merge multiline json?

I am using below multiline json:

{  
"end-time": "2018-07-18T07:43:01",  
"start-time": "2018-07-17T15:36:39",  
"status": "SUCCESS",  
"steps": [  
{  
"dependency-list": [  
"ConfigureCoreNodes"  
],  
"end-time": "2018-07-17T16:19:18",  
"log-file": "/var/log/platform/eos-iaas-install/step-log-files/ConfigureCoreServices/step-ConfigureCoreServices-20180717161206.log",  
"name": "ConfigureCoreServices",  
"start-time": "2018-07-17T16:12:07",  
"status": "SUCCESS",  
"tasks": [  
{  
"dependency-list": [  
"SetupNTP"  
],  
"end-time": "2018-07-17T16:14:27",  
"log-file": "/var/log/platform/eos-iaas-install/step-log-files/ConfigureCoreServices/task-SetupCoreProxy-20180717161359.log",  
"name": "SetupCoreProxy",  
"retry": {  
"attempts": 0,  
"interval": 0  
},  
"start-time": "2018-07-17T16:13:59",  
"status": "SUCCESS",  
"time-consumed": "0:00:28"  
},  
{  
"dependency-list": [  
"LifecyclePrimordialActivation"  
],  
"end-time": "2018-07-18T05:35:45",  
"log-file": "/var/log/platform/eos-iaas-install/step-log-files/LifecycleRealActivation/step-LifecycleRealActivation-20180718043722.log",  
"name": "LifecycleRealActivation",  
"start-time": "2018-07-18T04:37:22",  
"status": "SUCCESS",  
"tasks": [  
{  
"dependency-list": [],  
"end-time": "2018-07-18T05:35:44",  
"log-file": "/var/log/platform/eos-iaas-install/step-log-files/LifecycleRealActivation/task-Activate-20180718043722.log",  
"name": "Activate",  
"retry": {  
"attempts": 0,  
"interval": 0  
},  
"start-time": "2018-07-18T04:37:22",  
"status": "SUCCESS",  
"time-consumed": "0:58:22"  
}  
],  
"time-consumed": "0:58:23"  
}  
],  
"time-consumed": "16:06:22"  
}

Below is the logstash input file:  
input {  
file {  
type =\> "eos-iaas-output"  
path =\> "/tmp/iaas-install.output.json"  
codec =\> multiline {  
**pattern =\> "}$"**  
negate =\> "true"  
what =\> "next"  
max\_lines =\> 3000  
}  
sincedb\_path =\> "/dev/null"  
start\_position =\> "beginning"  
}  
}

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Badger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/badger/32/25190_2.png) [@Badger](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Badger)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/merge-multiline-json-into-single-line-json-using-codec-multiline-plugin/143175/2 "2018-08-06T14:08:58Z")

</div>

If you want to read the entire file as a single event I would use this

```
input {
    file {
        path => "/tmp/iaas-install.output.json"
        codec => multiline { pattern => "^Spalanzani" negate => true what => "previous" auto_flush_interval => 2 }
        start_position => "beginning"
        sincedb_path => "/dev/null"
    }
}

```

That is, use a pattern that never matches and then auto\_flush after reading the whole file.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/merge-multiline-json-into-single-line-json-using-codec-multiline-plugin/143175/3 "2018-09-03T14:09:03Z")

</div>

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