Block records
The block records processing rule removes any records that contain a key whose value matches a specified regular expression and preserves all other records.
For a processing rule with the opposite effect, see allow records.
Configuration parameters
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Key | Required. The key whose value to validate against. If this key isn't present in a given record, that record is preserved. | log |
| Regex | Required. The regular expression that determines which records to remove. This expression is evaluated against the value of the specified key. | none |
| Match case checkbox | If selected, the regular expression is case-sensitive. | Not selected |
| Regex engine | Required. The engine to parse your regular expression. Accepted values: GNU, Oniguruma, PCRE2, POSIX, TRE. | PCRE2 |
| Comment | A custom note or description of the rule's function. This text is displayed next to the rule's name in the Actions list in the processing rules interface. | none |
Example
Using the block records rule lets you pare down telemetry data by eliminating records with data you don't want to keep.
For example, given this sample log data:
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:41.64283645Z","user_id":3,"page_id":30,"action":"purchase"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:42.643343109Z","user_id":4,"page_id":10,"action":"purchase"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:48.643600498Z","user_id":1,"page_id":50,"action":"click"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:50.643773688Z","user_id":5,"page_id":40,"action":"purchase"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:51.643932272Z","user_id":1,"page_id":30,"action":"purchase"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:56.644080944Z","user_id":2,"page_id":40,"action":"click"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:03.64425954Z","user_id":3,"page_id":30,"action":"click"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:03.644317046Z","user_id":1,"page_id":20,"action":"view"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:10.64447719Z","user_id":2,"page_id":50,"action":"purchase"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:17.644810963Z","user_id":2,"page_id":10,"action":"view"}
{"timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:20.644994805Z","user_id":1,"page_id":50,"action":"view"}A processing rule with the Key value action and the Regex value purchase
returns the following result:
{"user_id":1,"page_id":50,"action":"click","timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:48.643600498Z"}
{"user_id":2,"page_id":40,"action":"click","timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:08:56.644080944Z"}
{"user_id":3,"page_id":30,"action":"click","timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:03.64425954Z"}
{"user_id":1,"page_id":20,"action":"view","timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:03.644317046Z"}
{"user_id":2,"page_id":10,"action":"view","timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:17.644810963Z"}
{"user_id":1,"page_id":50,"action":"view","timestamp":"2023-03-28T09:09:20.644994805Z"}This rule removed the records associated with user purchases and preserved the records associated with other actions, such as pageviews or clicks.