# Update\_by\_query taking a partial document
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-taking-a-partial-document/65940
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [November 14, 2016, 7:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-taking-a-partial-document/65940 "2016-11-14T07:26:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rob\_Bygrave](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rob_Bygrave)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2016, 7:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-taking-a-partial-document/65940/1 "2016-11-14T07:26:41Z")
Hi,
I'm looking to use update\_by\_query with something like:
```
{
"script": {
"inline": "ctx._source.customer.name='Rob'; ctx._source.customer.billingAddress.line1='42 foo way'; ctx._source.customer.billingAddress.line2='Niceplace'; ",
"lang": "painless"
},
"query":{"bool":{"filter":{"term":{"customer.id":"42"}}}}
}
```
When the number of "properties/paths" that need to be updated increases this starts to look messy. I realise that an alternative is to create an \_ingest pipeline with a list of "set field value" processors but then that seems more chatty and painful (create the pipeline, perform the upate\_by\_query, delete the pipeline).
What I'd like / expect is to be able to provide the list of processors to the update\_by\_query rather than using a script or even better provide a partial document.
Are these options available for update\_by\_query? Or is there any plan/request to add this type of feature?
Thanks, Rob.
---
### Author:  [@Rob\_Bygrave](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rob_Bygrave)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2016, 10:39am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-taking-a-partial-document/65940/2 "2016-11-14T10:39:47Z")
It seems you can do something like:
```
{
"query": {
"bool": {
"filter": {
"term": {
"customer.id": "2"
}
}
}
},
"script": {
"lang": "painless",
"inline": "ctx._source.customer = params.customer",
"params": {
"customer": {
"id": 2,
"name": "CustJ4",
"anotherProperty" : {
"foo" :123,
"baz" : true
}
}
}
}
}
```
Which overrides the embedded/nested document (although this approach isn't documented so it's not clear if it is an officially supported approach).
It would be nice to be able to do a partial document update in a similar manor (without the complete override). Anyone got anything to say on this?
Thanks, Rob.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2016, 10:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-taking-a-partial-document/65940/3 "2016-12-12T10:40:28Z")
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