# Why does update not allow version\_type to be external **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [December 3, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-update-not-allow-version-type-to-be-external/21063 "2014-12-03T16:48:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Srikar\_Nadipally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Srikar\_Nadipally](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Srikar_Nadipally)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-update-not-allow-version-type-to-be-external/21063/1 "2014-12-03T16:48:25Z")
Hi, I am using the bulk api to update some of my records. but I get the following error. _ActionRequestValidationException[Validation Failed: 1: version type [EXTERNAL] is not supported by the update API_ What are my alternatives if I do not want to send the entire record each time I want to update a field and I also need the external versioning support. Thanks in Advance Sri -- 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/b6123794-6875-4fa5-a0cf-a080976e5ee4%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/b6123794-6875-4fa5-a0cf-a080976e5ee4%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**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, 12:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-does-update-not-allow-version-type-to-be-external/21063/2 "2017-07-06T00:46:09Z")