# Why shard failed exception is happening when trying to get a sub-string using scripetd fields?
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085
**Category:** Kibana
**Created:** [November 25, 2018, 8:27am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085 "2018-11-25T08:27:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@elasticheart](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/elasticheart)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2018, 8:27am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/1 "2018-11-25T08:27:50Z")
Hi,
I am using ELK GA 6.3.0.
I am trying to create a scripted field using the below script, in Kibana;
```
return doc['field_a.keyword'].value.substring(17,4);
```
below is a sample data in `field_a`;
```
qw_er_qwerty_123_1234.QwertyQwerty.QwertyQwertyQwertyQwerty
```
below is the mapping;
```
"field_a": {
"type": "text",
"fields": {
"keyword": {
"type": "keyword",
"ignore_above": 256
}
}
}
```
When I create the field and go to discover, I am getting shard failed exception and data is not getting populated. Why is this happening?
Thanks
---
### Author:  [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/2 "2018-11-25T12:41:45Z")
Do all indices and documents have this field and mapping present?
---
### Author:  [@elasticheart](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/elasticheart)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/3 "2018-11-26T05:46:39Z")
Hi @Christian_Dahlqvist yes, it is present.
---
### Author:  [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2018, 6:11am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/4 "2018-11-26T06:11:27Z")
I would recommend adding a check to see if the feats exists and is long enough in the script and return a default value if it does not. That will make it more resilient.
---
### Author:  [@elasticheart](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/elasticheart)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2018, 6:32am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/5 "2018-11-26T06:32:50Z")
Hi @Christian_Dahlqvist , I already did that.. still no hope.. 😞
Below is the script;
```
def token1 = doc['field_a.keyword'].value;
def token2 = '';
if(token1 != null){
int firstIndex = token1.indexOf('.');
if(firstIndex > 0){
token2 = token1.substring(0,firstIndex);
int secondIndex = token2.indexOf('_');
if(secondIndex > 0){
return token2.substring(4,secondIndex);
}
}
return "";
}
return "";
```
---
### Author:  [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2018, 6:36am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/6 "2018-11-26T06:36:59Z")
You are still trying to use the field before checking that it exists. Have a look at [this thread](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/painless-if-two-field-exists-then-calculate/117489) for an example of how to do it.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2018, 6:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/why-shard-failed-exception-is-happening-when-trying-to-get-a-sub-string-using-scripetd-fields/158085/7 "2018-12-24T06:37:05Z")
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