# Updating fields without effecting version number (using external versioning)
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/updating-fields-without-effecting-version-number-using-external-versioning/16801
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [April 3, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/updating-fields-without-effecting-version-number-using-external-versioning/16801 "2014-04-03T19:08:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dhruv\_Garg](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Dhruv_Garg)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/updating-fields-without-effecting-version-number-using-external-versioning/16801/1 "2014-04-03T19:08:50Z")
I am using external versioning with my document.
However, I have the need to update a certain field in the document
regardless of the external version number for that document. I don't want
to modify the external or internal version number when making this update.
And lastly, I want the update to fail if the document does not exist.
What is the ideal way to achieve this?
Thanks,
Dhruv
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com).
To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/d7277885-cdfc-4fb3-9ca7-99e1e1e79559%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/d7277885-cdfc-4fb3-9ca7-99e1e1e79559%40googlegroups.com).
For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).
---
### Author:  [@Binh\_Ly\_2](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Binh_Ly_2)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/updating-fields-without-effecting-version-number-using-external-versioning/16801/2 "2014-04-03T21:47:15Z")
Unfortunately no. The only way to not increment the version is to pass one
in. In 1.1 you can do (with care) version\_type=force&version=\
and this will do a force update with your specified new version.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com).
To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/68f6a5b3-34bc-4551-bd42-99c8772fc6f8%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/68f6a5b3-34bc-4551-bd42-99c8772fc6f8%40googlegroups.com).
For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/updating-fields-without-effecting-version-number-using-external-versioning/16801/3 "2017-07-06T01:38:21Z")