---
title: kapacitor define
description: The kapacitor define command creates or updates a task.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/kapacitor/v1/reference/cli/kapacitor/define/
estimated_tokens: 1045
product: Kapacitor
version: v1
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/kapacitor/v1/reference/cli/kapacitor/define/
date: '2023-10-03T10:49:57-06:00'
lastmod: '2023-10-03T10:49:57-06:00'
---

The `kapacitor define` command creates or updates a task.
A task is defined via a TICKscript that defines the data processing pipeline of the task.

> [!Note]
> When an existing task is updated, the task will be reloaded unless the`-no-reload` flag is included in the command.

## Usage

```sh
kapacitor define [<task-id>] [flags]
```

## Arguments

* **task-id**: Unique identifier for the task

## Flags

|    Flag    |                              Description                               |                                               Input                                                |
|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  `-dbrp`   |Database and retention policy to query (can be specified multiple times)|`"db"."rp"` (double quotes are optional unless identifiers contain whitespace or special characters)|
|  `-file`   |               Path to a YAML or JSON template task file                |                                              Filepath                                              |
|`-no-reload`|                Do not reload the task even when enabled                |                                                                                                    |
|`-template` |                 Template ID to use to create the task                  |                                            Template ID                                             |
|  `-tick`   |            Path to the TICKscript to use to create the task            |                                              Filepath                                              |
|  `-type`   |                               Task type                                |                                        `stream` or `batch`                                         |
|  `-vars`   |          Path to a JSON variables file when using a template           |                                              Filepath                                              |

## Examples

* [Create a new task from a TICKscript](#create-a-new-task-from-a-tickscript)
* [Create a new task from a template](#create-a-new-task-from-a-template)
* [Update the TICKscript of a task](#update-the-tickscript-of-a-task)
* [Update a task without reloading the task](#update-a-task-without-reloading-the-task)
* [Update a task to query multiple DBRP combinations](#update-a-task-to-query-multiple-dbrp-combinations)

### Create a new task from a TICKscript

```sh
kapacitor define my_task \
  -dbrp mydb.myrp \
  -tick /path/to/TICKscript.tick \
  -type stream
```

### Create a new task from a template

```sh
kapacitor define my_task \
  -dbrp mydb.myrp \
  -template alert_template \
  -vars /path/to/vars.json \  
  -type batch
```

### Update the TICKscript of a task

```sh
kapacitor define existing_task \
  -tick /path/to/new_TICKscript.tick
```

### Update a task without reloading the task

```sh
kapacitor define existing_task \
  -tick /path/to/new_TICKscript.tick \
  -no-reload
```

### Update a task to query multiple DBRP combinations

> [!Note]
> If a task queries multiple database and retention policy (DBRP) combinations,
> to add more, you must include all existing DBRPs.
> Any existing DBRPs omitted from the command when updating a task are removed
> from the task.

```sh
kapacitor define existing_task \
  -dbrp mydb.myrp \
  -dbrp otherdb.default \
  -dbrp telegraf.autogen
```
| Flag | Description | Input |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | Description | Input |
| -dbrp | Database and retention policy to query (can be specified multiple times) | "db"."rp"  (double quotes are optional unless identifiers contain whitespace or special characters) |
| -file | Path to a YAML or JSON template task file | Filepath |
| -no-reload | Do not reload the task even when enabled |  |
| -template | Template ID to use to create the task | Template ID |
| -tick | Path to the TICKscript to use to create the task | Filepath |
| -type | Task type | stream  or  batch |
| -vars | Path to a JSON variables file when using a template | Filepath |