# Problem applying index pattern **URL:** \ **Category:** Index Management\ **Tags:** troubleshoot\ **Created:** [January 31, 2022, 8:54am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470 "2022-01-31T08:54:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rizvaughan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Rizvaughan](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Rizvaughan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 8:54am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/1 "2022-01-31T08:54:53Z")
Edit: Removing one part about ISM policy. I figured out that I was missing an action. I have two opensearch domains `A` and `B` managed by `aws`. `A` has fairly simple `asm policy` which is “delete all indices older than 3 weeks”. The problem is that all the indices have different names, I can’t use a wildcard like “logs\* or logs_access_”. The index pattern I have is something like “ab-cd-fg-something-something.something-2022.04 or abc-sd-something-something-2022.03”. I created an `ism_template` with the following `index_patterns`. ```auto "index_patterns": [ "^[a-zA-Z]+.*-[0-9]{4}.[0-9][0-9]$" ] ``` But the this template is not applied to the new indices. This index pattern is ignored by opensearch. I would like to know how to make this work. As for `B`, the case is a little different. The pattern of indices is quite similar. The only thing I can think of is all the indices have `prod` in their name, either in the middle, beginning or at the end. But the bigger issue is I need two policies. One for two indices which have `updated` and `evaluated` string in the index name. I tried to try some regex but it seems like opensearch works with very few basic regex operations. I cannot create policies for each case as they are a lot and can increase in future. Could somone guide me with this? Thank you ---
**Author:** ![dtaivpp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.opensearch.org/dtaivpp/32/2814_2.png) [@dtaivpp](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/dtaivpp)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/2 "2022-01-31T21:05:34Z")
Hey Rizvaughan! I spent a good bit of time today digging and here is what I found. I believe the index patterns don’t support normal regex patterns. The index pattern field you are referencing is very similar to the ones used to create index patterns from the ‘app/management/opensearch-dashboards/indexPatterns/create’ section of OpenSearch-Dashbaords. On that page there is this little snippit: `Use an asterisk (*) to match multiple indices. Spaces and the characters \, /, ?, ", <, >, | are not allowed.` I believe this is the issue you are seeing right now. I have submitted an issue here and if you’d like you can submit a PR to fix this in the docs. [https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch-Dashboards/issues/1191](https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch-Dashboards/issues/1191) ---
**Author:** ![Rizvaughan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Rizvaughan](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Rizvaughan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/3 "2022-01-31T21:55:17Z")
> [@dtaivpp](#): > > a PR to fix this in the docs Hi @dtaivpp ! Thank you for your comment and for your time. This is one of the few `regex` I came up with which didn’t give me the error you have mentioned above. Yes, it’s not clear at all. I am not very familiar with PR on github to be honest. If you have opened an issue, should I open another one for the same cause? Sorry it’s not the place for you to teach me how PR works but I will leave a comment on your issue. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![dtaivpp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.opensearch.org/dtaivpp/32/2814_2.png) [@dtaivpp](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/dtaivpp)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/4 "2022-02-01T14:58:13Z")
@Rizvaughan no need to open another! I saw your comment and that is more than enough support for us to get some headway. Also, it is 100% okay to ask about creating a PR. I have actually been thinking it might be good to create a guide that walks through the process. Let me know if that would be helpful! ---
**Author:** ![Rizvaughan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Rizvaughan](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Rizvaughan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/5 "2022-02-01T16:03:34Z")
> [@dtaivpp](#): > > ow if that would be Hi again @dtaivpp , Thanks a lot yeah that would be great! Looking forward to it! B.R ---
**Author:** ![dtaivpp](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.opensearch.org/dtaivpp/32/2814_2.png) [@dtaivpp](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/dtaivpp)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/6 "2022-02-04T16:31:00Z")
Just wanted to loop you in, I just want to get one of my Java focused peers to double check and make sure the documentation is correct and we can know exactly how it’s implemented. By this I mean I am looking to see if just wildcards are supported or if it uses something like glob patterns. Thanks for your patience! ---
**Author:** ![Rizvaughan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Rizvaughan](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Rizvaughan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/7 "2022-02-07T07:59:43Z")
> [@dtaivpp](#): > > Just wanted to loop you in, I just want to get one of my Java focused peers to double check and make sure the documentation is correct and we can know exactly how it’s implemented. By this I mean I am looking to see if just wildcards are supported or if it uses something like glob patterns. Thanks for your patience Thank you @dtaivpp ! Yeah it will be very helpful to know what the limitations are. B.R ---
**Author:** ![chcnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chcnet](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/chcnet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 10:05am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/problem-applying-index-pattern/8470/8 "2023-09-21T10:05:47Z")
Hi all Is this yet open? I have a similar problem - I want to create a usergroup which is allowed to see just one index, not all. If I add to the groups index pattern anything different than “\*”, I get permission errors. Kind regards Christoph