Inserting or updating data into a user-defined type (UDT)

How to insert or update data into a user-defined type (UDT).

• Set or replace user-defined type data, using the INSERT or UPDATE command, and enclosing the user-defined type with curly brackets, separating each key-value pair in the user-defined type by a colon.

  cqlsh> INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_stats (id, lastname, basics) VALUES (
    e7ae5cf3-d358-4d99-b900-85902fda9bb0, 
    'FRAME', 
    { birthday : '1993-06-18', nationality : 'New Zealand', weight : null, height : null }
  );

  Note: Note the inclusion of null values for UDT elements that have no value. A value, whether null or otherwise, must be included for each element of the UDT.
• Data can be inserted into a UDT that is nested in another column type. For example, a list of races, where the race name, date, and time are defined in a UDT has elements enclosed in curly brackets that are in turn enclosed in square brackets.

  cqlsh> INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_races (id, lastname, firstname, races) VALUES (
    5b6962dd-3f90-4c93-8f61-eabfa4a803e2,
    'VOS',
    'Marianne',
    [{ race_title : 'Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop Aalburg',race_date : '2015-05-09',race_time : '02:58:33' },
    { race_title : 'Ronde van Gelderland',race_date : '2015-04-19',race_time : '03:22:23' }]
  );

  Note: The UDT nested in the list is frozen, so the entire list will be read when querying the table.

• In Cassandra 3.6 and later, user-defined types that include only non-collection fields can update individual field values. Update an individual field in user-defined type data using the UPDATE command. The desired key-value pair are defined in the command. In order to update, the UDT must be defined in the CREATE TABLE command as an unfrozen data type.

  cqlsh> CREATE TABLE cycling.cyclist_stats ( id UUID, lastname text, basics basic_info, PRIMARY KEY (id) );
  INSERT INTO cycling.cyclist_stats (id, lastname, basics) 
      VALUES (220844bf-4860-49d6-9a4b-6b5d3a79cbfb, 'TIRALONGO', { birthday:'1977-07-08',nationality:'Italy',weight:'63 kg',height:'1.78 m' });
  UPDATE cyclist_stats SET basics.birthday = '2000-12-12' WHERE id = 220844bf-4860-49d6-9a4b-6b5d3a79cbfb;

  The UDT is defined in the table with basics basic_info. This example shows an inserted row, followed by an update that only updates the value of birthday inside the UDT basics.

  cqlsh:cycling> SELECT * FROM cycling.cyclist_stats WHERE id = 220844bf-4860-49d6-9a4b-6b5d3a79cbfb;
  
   id                                   | basics                                                                                                 | lastname
  --------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------
   220844bf-4860-49d6-9a4b-6b5d3a79cbfb | {birthday: '2000-12-12 08:00:00.000000+0000', nationality: 'Italy', weight: '63 kg', height: '1.78 m'} | TIRALONGO

  The resulting change is evident, as is the unchanged values for nationality, weight, and height.

  Note: UDTs with collection fields must be frozen in table creation, and individual field values cannot be updated.