# Retrieve a specific field using Java API **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [January 15, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387 "2012-01-15T16:13:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mp2893](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@mp2893](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mp2893)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/1 "2012-01-15T16:13:31Z")
Hi, ## I'm trying to retrieve a specific field of document using Java API. I am using the following code: ## GetResponse response = client.prepareGet(index, type, id).execute().actionGet(); Map\ fieldMap = response.fields(); GetField field = fieldMap.get("title"); return (String)field.getValue(); which fails, because "title" field has null value. But if try "response.exists()", it gives me "true". Strangely, when I try the same thing with the following command: "curl -XGET '[http://localhost:9200/news/type1/12345?fields=title](http://localhost:9200/news/type1/12345?fields=title)'" I get the result I want. So what is the difference here? I chose not to store json source when indexing the document. Is this the cause of the problem? Ed ---
**Author:** ![kimchy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/kimchy/32/44952_2.png) [@kimchy](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/kimchy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/2 "2012-01-15T22:32:54Z")
By default, the source is returned. Use any of the source methods on the GetResponse. If you want to get just a specific field, you can ask for it in the get request (and then, \_source will not be returned unless you ask for it explicitly as well). On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 6:13 PM, mp2893 [mp2893@gmail.com](mailto:mp2893@gmail.com) wrote: > Hi, > > I'm trying to retrieve a specific field of document using Java API. > I am using the following code: > > * * * > > GetResponse response = client.prepareGet(index, type, > id).execute().actionGet(); > Map\ fieldMap = response.fields(); > GetField field = fieldMap.get("title"); > return (String)field.getValue(); > > * * * > > which fails, because "title" field has null value. > But if try "response.exists()", it gives me "true". > > Strangely, when I try the same thing with the following command: > "curl -XGET '[http://localhost:9200/news/type1/12345?fields=title](http://localhost:9200/news/type1/12345?fields=title)'" > I get the result I want. > > So what is the difference here? > I chose not to store json source when indexing the document. Is this > the cause of the problem? > > Ed ---
**Author:** ![mp2893](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@mp2893](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mp2893)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/3 "2012-01-16T02:48:42Z")
Thanks for the info. I tried the following code: "GetResponse response = client.prepareGet(index, type, id).setFields("title").execute().actionGet();" and it returned with the "title" object. The "setFields" option is what did the trick. Thanks again. Ed 2012/1/16 Shay Banon [kimchy@gmail.com](mailto:kimchy@gmail.com) > By default, the source is returned. Use any of the source methods on the > GetResponse. If you want to get just a specific field, you can ask for it > in the get request (and then, \_source will not be returned unless you ask > for it explicitly as well). > > On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 6:13 PM, mp2893 [mp2893@gmail.com](mailto:mp2893@gmail.com) wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > I'm trying to retrieve a specific field of document using Java API. > > I am using the following code: > > > > * * * > > > > GetResponse response = client.prepareGet(index, type, > > id).execute().actionGet(); > > Map\ fieldMap = response.fields(); > > GetField field = fieldMap.get("title"); > > return (String)field.getValue(); > > > > * * * > > > > which fails, because "title" field has null value. > > But if try "response.exists()", it gives me "true". > > > > Strangely, when I try the same thing with the following command: > > "curl -XGET '[http://localhost:9200/news/type1/12345?fields=title](http://localhost:9200/news/type1/12345?fields=title)'" > > I get the result I want. > > > > So what is the difference here? > > I chose not to store json source when indexing the document. Is this > > the cause of the problem? > > > > Ed ---
**Author:** ![Wes\_Plunk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/wes_plunk/32/2446_2.png) [@Wes\_Plunk](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Wes_Plunk)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/4 "2012-02-22T18:02:29Z")
what about when you want multiple fields. I tried a comma delimited list and it assumed the entire string was the field name. I tried calling setFields for each field and it only takes the last field. I tried setting setField with a String[] but that too failed. Is there something I'm missing here? ---
**Author:** ![kimchy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/kimchy/32/44952_2.png) [@kimchy](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/kimchy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/5 "2012-02-26T09:50:32Z")
How are you indexing it? Is it a field with multiple values (an array in json)? If so, you will get an array back. On Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 8:02 PM, Wes Plunk wrote: > what about when you want multiple fields. I tried a comma delimited list and it assumed the entire string was the field name. I tried calling setFields for each field and it only takes the last field. I tried setting setField with a String but that too failed. Is there something I'm missing here? ---
**Author:** ![Ruben\_Moraleda](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ruben_moraleda/32/2549_2.png) [@Ruben\_Moraleda](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Ruben_Moraleda)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/6 "2013-01-09T11:26:10Z")
The setFields method accepts multiple strings as parameters: GetResponse response = client.prepareGet(index, type, id).setFields("title", "name","postDate").execute().actionGet(); String title = (String)response.field("title").getValue(); String name = (String)response.field("name").getValue(); String postDate = (String)response.field("postDate").getValue(); El miércoles, 22 de febrero de 2012 19:02:29 UTC+1, Wes Plunk escribió: > what about when you want multiple fields. I tried a comma delimited list > and it assumed the entire string was the field name. I tried calling > setFields for each field and it only takes the last field. I tried setting > setField with a String but that too failed. Is there something I'm > missing here? -- ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/retrieve-a-specific-field-using-java-api/6387/7 "2017-07-06T02:57:15Z")