Skip to content
New issue

Have a question about this project? Sign up for a free GitHub account to open an issue and contact its maintainers and the community.

By clicking “Sign up for GitHub”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy statement. We’ll occasionally send you account related emails.

Already on GitHub? Sign in to your account

[DOCS] Updates index patterns docs #81864

Merged
merged 12 commits into from
Nov 3, 2020
215 changes: 159 additions & 56 deletions docs/management/index-patterns.asciidoc
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,100 +1,203 @@
[[index-patterns]]
== Create an index pattern

To explore and visualize data in {kib}, you must create an index pattern.
An index pattern tells {kib} which {es} indices contain the data that
you want to work with.
Once you create an index pattern, you're ready to:
{kib} requires an index pattern to access the {es} data that you want to explore.
An index pattern selects the data to use and allows you to define properties of the fields.
Copy link
Contributor

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

At this point, do users know what fields are?


* Interactively explore your data in <<discover, Discover>>.
* Analyze your data in charts, tables, gauges, tag clouds, and more in <<dashboard, Dashboard>>.
* Show off your data in a <<canvas, Canvas>> workpad.
* If your data includes geo data, visualize it with <<maps, Maps>>.
An index pattern can point to a specific index, for example, your log data from yesterday,
or all indices that contain your data. It can also point to a
{ref}/data-streams.html[data stream] or {ref}/indices-aliases.html[index alias].

You’ll learn how to:

* Create an index pattern
* Explore and configure the data fields
* Set the default index pattern
* Delete an index pattern

[float]
[[index-patterns-read-only-access]]
=== [xpack]#Read-only access#
If you have insufficient privileges to create or save index patterns, a read-only
indicator appears in Kibana. The buttons to create new index patterns or save
existing index patterns are not visible. For more information, see <<xpack-security-authorization>>.
=== Before you begin

[role="screenshot"]
image::images/management-index-read-only-badge.png[Example of Index Pattern Management's read only access indicator in Kibana's header]
* To access *Index Patterns*, you must have the {kib} privilege
`Index Pattern Management`. To add the privilege, open the main menu, then click *Stack Management > Roles*.

* If a read-only indicator appears in {kib}, you have insufficient privileges
to create or save index patterns. The buttons to create new index patterns or
save existing index patterns are not visible. For more information,
refer to <<xpack-security-authorization,Granting access to {kib}>>.

[float]
[[settings-create-pattern]]
=== Create an index pattern

When you don't have an index pattern, {kib} prompts you to create one. Or, you can open the main menu,
then click *Stack Management > Index Patterns*.
If you collected data using one of the {kib} <<connect-to-elasticsearch,ingest options>>, uploaded a file, or added sample data,
you get an index pattern for free, and can start exploring your data.
If you loaded your own data, follow these steps to create an index pattern.

. Open the main menu, then click to *Stack Management > Index Patterns*.

. Click *Create index pattern*.
+
[role="screenshot"]
image:management/index-patterns/images/rollup-index-pattern.png["Menu with rollup index pattern"]
image:management/index-patterns/images/create-index-pattern.png["Create index pattern"]

[float]
==== Standard index pattern
. Start typing in the *Index pattern* field, and {kib} looks for the names of
{es} indices that match your input.
** Use a wildcard (*) to match multiple indices.
For example, suppose your system creates indices for Apache data
using the naming scheme `filebeat-apache-a`, `filebeat-apache-b`, and so on.
An index pattern named `filebeat-a` matches a single source, and `filebeat-*` matches multiple data sources.
Using a wildcard is the most popular approach.

Just start typing in the *Index pattern* field, and {kib} looks for
the names of {es} indices that match your input. Make sure that the name of the
index pattern is unique.
** Select multiple indices by entering multiple strings,
separated with a comma. Make sure there is no space after the comma.
For example, `filebeat-a,filebeat-b` matches two indices, but not other indices
you might have afterwards (filebeat-c).

[role="screenshot"]
image:management/index-patterns/images/create-index-pattern.png["Create index pattern"]
** Use a minus sign (-) to exclude an index, for example, test*,-test3.

. Click *Next step*.

Your index pattern can match multiple {es} indices.
Use a comma to separate the names, with no space after the comma. The notation for
wildcards (`*`) and the ability to "exclude" (`-`) also apply
(for example, `test*,-test3`).
. If {kib} detects an index with a timestamp, expand the *Time field* menu,
and then specify the default field for filtering your data by time.
+
If your index doesn’t have time-based data, or if you don’t want to select
the default timestamp field, choose *I don’t want to use the Time Filter*.
+
NOTE: If you don’t set a default time field, you will not be able to use
global time filters on your dashboards. This is useful if
you have multiple time fields and want to create dashboards that combine visualizations
based on different timestamps.

If {kib} detects an index with a timestamp, you’re asked to choose a field to
filter your data by time. If you don’t specify a field, you won’t be able
to use the time filter.
. Click *Create index pattern*.
+
{kib} is now configured to use your {es} data.

. Select this index pattern when you search and visualize your data.

[float]
[[rollup-index-pattern]]
==== Rollup index pattern
==== Create an index pattern for rolled up data

If a rollup index is detected in the cluster, clicking *Create index pattern*
includes an item for creating a rollup index pattern.
You can match an index pattern to only rolled up data, or mix both rolled
up and raw data to explore and visualize all data together.
An index pattern can match
only one rollup index. When matching multiple indices,
use a comma to separate the names, with no space after the comma.
An index pattern can match one rollup index. For a combination rollup
index pattern with both raw and rolled up data, use the standard notation:

For specific fields, the data in a rollup index includes only summarized metrics.
From the original raw data, you are unable to search any other field.
```ts
rollup_logstash,kibana_sample_data_logs
```
For an example, refer to <<rollup-data-tutorial,Create and visualize rolled up data>>.

[float]
[[management-cross-cluster-search]]
==== {ccs-cap} index pattern
==== Create an index pattern that searches across clusters

If your {es} clusters are configured for {ref}/modules-cross-cluster-search.html[{ccs}],
you can create an index pattern to search across the clusters of your choosing. Use the
same syntax that you'd use in a raw {ccs} request in {es}:

If your {es} clusters are configured for {ref}/modules-cross-cluster-search.html[{ccs}], you can create
index patterns to search across the clusters of your choosing. Using the
same syntax that you'd use in a raw {ccs} request in {es}, create your
index pattern with the convention `<cluster-names>:<pattern>`.
```ts
<cluster-names>:<pattern>
```

For example, to query {ls} indices across two {es} clusters
that you set up for {ccs}, which are named `cluster_one` and `cluster_two`,
you would use `cluster_one:logstash-*,cluster_two:logstash-*` as your index pattern.
that you set up for {ccs}, named `cluster_one` and `cluster_two`,
use this for your index pattern:

```ts
cluster_one:logstash-*,cluster_two:logstash-*
```

You can use wildcards in your cluster names
to match any number of clusters, so if you want to search {ls} indices across
clusters named `cluster_foo`, `cluster_bar`, and so on, you would use `cluster_*:logstash-*`
as your index pattern.
to match any number of clusters. For example, to search {ls} indices across
clusters named `cluster_foo`, `cluster_bar`, and so on, create this index pattern:

```ts
cluster_*:logstash-*
```

To query across all {es} clusters that have been configured for {ccs},
use a standalone wildcard for your cluster name in your index
pattern: `*:logstash-*`.
pattern:

```ts
*:logstash-*
```

Once an index pattern is configured using the {ccs} syntax, all searches and
aggregations using that index pattern in {kib} take advantage of {ccs}.


[float]
[[reload-fields]]
=== Manage your index pattern
=== Explore and configure the data fields

To explore and configure the data fields in your index pattern, open the main menu, then click
*Stack Management > Index Patterns*. Each field has a {ref}/mapping.html[mapping],
which indicates the type of data the field contains in {es},
such as strings or boolean values. The field mapping also determines
how you can use the field, such as whether it can be searched or aggregated.

[role="screenshot"]
image:management/index-patterns/images/new-index-pattern.png["Create index pattern"]

[float]
==== Format the display of common field types

Whenever possible, {kib} uses the same field type for display as
{es}. However, some field types that {es} supports are not available
in {kib}. Using field formatters, you can manually change the field type in {kib} to display your data the way you prefer
to see it, regardless of how it is stored in {es}.

For example, if you store
date values in {es}, you can use a {kib} field formatter to change the display to mm/dd/yyyy format.
{kib} has field formatters for
<<field-formatters-string, strings>>,
<<field-formatters-date, dates>>,
<<field-formatters-geopoint, geopoints>>,
and <<field-formatters-numeric, numbers>>.

A popularity counter keeps track of the fields you use most often.
The top five most popular fields and their values are displayed in <<discover,*Discover*>>.

To edit the field format and popularity counter, click the edit icon
(image:management/index-patterns/images/edit_icon.png[]) in the index pattern detail view.

[role="screenshot"]
image:management/index-patterns/images/edit-field-format.png["Edit field format"]

[float]
==== Refresh the data fields
Copy link
Contributor

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

This section is only needed for 7.10 and lower.


To pick up newly-added fields,
refresh (image:management/index-patterns/images/refresh-icon.png[Refresh icon]) the index fields list.
This action also resets the {kib} popularity counters for the fields.

[float]
[[default-index-pattern]]
=== Set the default index pattern

The first index pattern you create is automatically designated as the default pattern,
but you can set any index pattern as the default. The default index pattern is automatically selected when you first open <<discover,*Discover*>> or create a visualization from scratch.

. In *Index patterns*, click the index pattern name.
. Click the star icon (image:management/index-patterns/images/star.png[Star icon]).
gchaps marked this conversation as resolved.
Show resolved Hide resolved

[float]
[[delete-index-pattern]]
=== Delete an index pattern

This action removes the pattern from the list of saved objects in {kib}.
You will not be able to recover field formatters, scripted fields, source filters,
and field popularity data associated with the index pattern. Deleting an
index pattern does not remove any indices or data documents from {es}.

WARNING: Deleting an index pattern breaks all visualizations, saved searches, and other saved objects that reference the pattern.

. In *Index patterns*, click the index pattern name.
. Click the delete icon (image:management/index-patterns/images/delete.png[Delete icon]).

[float]
=== What’s next

To drill down into the fields and associated data types in an index pattern,
click its name in the *Index patterns* overview page.
For more information, refer to <<managing-fields, Index Patterns and Fields>>.
* Learn about <<scripted-fields,scripted fields>> and how to create data on the fly.
Copy link
Contributor

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

Are you adding more items to this list? If not, it should stand on it's own instead of an unordered list.

Binary file added docs/management/index-patterns/images/delete.png
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file not shown.
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file not shown.
Binary file added docs/management/index-patterns/images/star.png
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion docs/user/management.asciidoc
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ Kerberos, PKI, OIDC, and SAML.
[cols="50, 50"]
|===

a| <<managing-fields, Index Patterns>>
a| <<index-patterns, Index Patterns>>
|Create and manage the index patterns that retrieve your data from {es}.

| <<managing-saved-objects, Saved Objects>>
Expand Down