# Multiple files update

**URL:** <https://hub.mender.io/t/multiple-files-update/2793>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Created:** [November 9, 2020, 4:45am UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/multiple-files-update/2793 "2020-11-09T04:45:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SamanRatna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@SamanRatna](https://hub.mender.io/u/SamanRatna)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 4:45am UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/multiple-files-update/2793/1 "2020-11-09T04:45:58Z")

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Hi guys,

I want to create a mender artifact for an application update. The application has many files and directories. If I were to update specific files only at multiple locations, how do I do it?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,  
Saman

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**Author:** ![drewmoseley](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/hub.mender.io/drewmoseley/32/47_2.png) [@drewmoseley](https://hub.mender.io/u/drewmoseley)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/multiple-files-update/2793/2 "2020-11-09T18:31:26Z")

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Hi @SamanRatna you probably want something like the [directory overlay update module](https://hub.mender.io/t/directory-overlay/529). But depending on the details you may be better off with a custom update module for your specific use case.

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**Author:** ![SamanRatna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@SamanRatna](https://hub.mender.io/u/SamanRatna)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/multiple-files-update/2793/3 "2020-11-10T13:00:01Z")

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I am not being able to understand the proper implementation of directory overlay. Can you help me grasp it?

Thanks.

Saman

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**Author:** ![drewmoseley](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/hub.mender.io/drewmoseley/32/47_2.png) [@drewmoseley](https://hub.mender.io/u/drewmoseley)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/multiple-files-update/2793/4 "2020-11-10T16:43:25Z")

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It basically allows you to deploy files scattered throughout the filesystem. It essentially takes a tarball and extracts it so that if you have multiple subdirectories in the artifact the files within those directories will be updated.