# Put

## Description

This command allows you to modify data at a given selector.

Dasel will create any data items that do not already exist allowing you to create entire data structures from nothing.

## Usage

```shell
dasel put <type> -f <file> <selector> <value>
```

{% hint style="warning" %}
If `--file` is used without `--out` then the source file will be updated.
{% endhint %}

| Flag                                                                     | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `<type>`                                                                 | <p>The type of value you want to put.</p><p>Available arguments:</p><ul><li>string</li><li>int</li><li>bool</li><li><a href="/pages/-MXgNyl7ffGG2BSMMQ-V">object</a></li><li><a href="/pages/-MXgNyl8K87ymt2xTTtt">document</a></li></ul>                                               |
| <p><code>\<value></code></p><p><code>-v</code>, <code>--value</code></p> | <p>The value to write.</p><p>Dasel will parse this value as a string, int, or bool from this value depending on the given <code>type</code>.</p><p>If no <code>-v</code>, <code>--value</code> flag is given, the value is assumed to be the last argument.</p><p>This is required.</p> |
| <p><code>--value-file</code><br>Since <code>v1.27.0</code></p>           | <p>A path to a file containing the value.<br>If present, the contents of the file takes precedence over <code>-v, --value</code>.</p>                                                                                                                                                   |
| `-f`, `--file`                                                           | <p>Specify the file to query. This is required unless you are piping in data.</p><p>If piping in data you can optionally pass <code>-f stdin</code>/<code>-f -</code>.</p>                                                                                                              |
| `-o`, `--out`                                                            | <p>Specify the output file. If present, results will be written to the given file. If not present, results will be written to the input file (or stdout if none given).</p><p>To force output to be written to stdout, pass <code>-o stdout</code>or<code>-o -</code>.</p>              |
| `-r`, `--read`                                                           | <p>Specify the parser to use when reading the input data.</p><p>This is required if you are piping in data, otherwise dasel will use the given file extension to guess which parser to use.</p><p>See <a href="/pages/-MXgNylC4AkvSj351jU3">supported file types</a>.</p>               |
| `-w`, `--write`                                                          | <p>Specify the parser to use when writing the output data.</p><p>If not provided dasel will attempt to use the <code>--out</code> and <code>--read</code> flags to determine which parser to use.</p><p>See <a href="/pages/-MXgNylC4AkvSj351jU3">supported file types</a>.</p>         |
| `-p`, `--parser`                                                         | Shorthand for `-r <value> -w <value>`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| `-m`, `--multiple`                                                       | <p>Tells dasel to put multiple items.</p><p>See <a href="/pages/-MXgNylAqqL66l3g7A2u">multiple</a>.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| `-s`, `--selector`, `<selector>`                                         | <p>Specify the selector to use. See <a href="/pages/-MXgNylFbABKYJMirPOA">selectors</a> for more information.</p><p>If no selector flag is given, dasel assumes the first argument given is the selector.</p><p>This is required.</p>                                                   |
| `--plain`                                                                | <p>By default, dasel formats the output using the specified parser.</p><p>If this flag is used no formatting occurs and the results output as a string.</p>                                                                                                                             |
| `-c`, `--compact`                                                        | This tells dasel to output compact data where possible. E.g. not pretty printing JSON.                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| `--merge-input-documents`                                                | See [merge input documents](/v1/usage/flags/merge-input-documents.md).                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| `--escape-html`                                                          | See [escape html](/v1/usage/flags/escape-html.md).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |

## Example

### Put string

```shell
$ echo "name: Tom" | ./dasel put string -p yaml ".name" Jim
name: Jim
```

### Create documents from scratch

You can pipe multiple dasel commands together in order to build entire documents or make multiple changes:

```shell
$ echo '' |
dasel put string -p yaml '.servers.[].bind_dn' 'x' |
dasel put string -p yaml -m '.servers.[*].attributes.name' 'y' |
dasel put string -p yaml -m '.servers.[*].group_mappings.[].group_dn' 'a' |
dasel put string -p yaml -m '.servers.[*].group_mappings.[].group_dn' 'b'
servers:
  - attributes:
      name: "y"
    bind_dn: x
    group_mappings:
      - group_dn: a
      - group_dn: b
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://daseldocs.tomwright.me/v1/usage/put.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.