# \_update\_by\_query throws null\_pointer\_exception
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-throws-null-pointer-exception/248574
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [September 14, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-throws-null-pointer-exception/248574 "2020-09-14T18:30:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rui\_Goncalves](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rui_Goncalves)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-throws-null-pointer-exception/248574/1 "2020-09-14T18:30:32Z")
I've created an index, and I'm trying to add one field. using this script:
POST test\_kris\_assignment/\_update\_by\_query
{
"script": {
"source": "ctx.\_source.field1.field2\_1 =10",
"lang": "painless"
},
"query": {
"match\_all": {}
}
}
field1 and field2\_1 fields don't exist, the idea it's to have field1 at parent levell and then values for fiels2\_1, field2\_2, field2\_3.... at same child level. Thank you. The complete error:
{
"error": {
"root\_cause": [
{
"type": "script\_exception",
"reason": "runtime error",
"script\_stack": [
"ctx.\_source.field1.field2\_1.index1 =10",
" ^---- HERE"
],
"script": "ctx.\_source.field1.field2\_1.index1 =10",
"lang": "painless"
}
],
"type": "script\_exception",
"reason": "runtime error",
"script\_stack": [
"ctx.\_source.field1.field2\_1.index1 =10",
" ^---- HERE"
],
"script": "ctx.\_source.field1.field2\_1.index1 =10",
"lang": "painless",
"caused\_by": {
"type": "null\_pointer\_exception",
"reason": null
}
},
"status": 400
}
---
### Author:  [@spinscale](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/spinscale)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-throws-null-pointer-exception/248574/2 "2020-09-17T13:20:17Z")
please take your time to properly format your messages. This forums support markdown which in turn allows for super readable snippets.
You need to instantiate the `ctx._source.field1` first, before assign a variable inside of that map. Try `ctx._source.field1 = [:]` first and then your inside assignments.
---
### Author:  [@Rui\_Goncalves](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Rui_Goncalves)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-throws-null-pointer-exception/248574/3 "2020-09-19T00:52:44Z")
Thank you so much, this was really helpful
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-by-query-throws-null-pointer-exception/248574/4 "2020-10-17T00:52:49Z")
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