# Update Tracking Plans using Rudder CLI


> Update existing Tracking Plans in your Data Catalog project as YAML configuration files using the Rudder CLI tool.


This guide shows you how to update existing Tracking Plans in your Data Catalog using Rudder CLI.

## Prerequisites

Before updating a Tracking Plan, ensure you have:

1. [Rudder CLI tool](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/) installed and [authenticated](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/data-governance-walkthrough/#1-authenticate-the-cli-tool)
2. An existing Tracking Plan in your workspace
3. [Events](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/data-catalog-and-tracking-plans/data-catalog/events/) and [properties](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/data-catalog-and-tracking-plans/data-catalog/properties/) defined in your [Data Catalog project](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/project-setup/)
4. Optional [custom types](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/data-catalog-and-tracking-plans/data-catalog/custom-types/) for validation

## Update tracking plans

You can update your Tracking Plans by modifying the YAML files in your Data Catalog project. These updates can include:

- Adding new events and properties
- Modifying validation rules
- Removing obsolete tracking

### Add new events

Add new events to your Tracking Plan by including additional event rules:

```yaml
version: rudder/v1
kind: tracking-plan
metadata:
  name: mytrackingplan
spec:
  id: mytrackingplan
  display_name: "Product Tracking Plan"
  description: "Contains all the events and properties for the Product Tracking Plan"
  rules:
    # Existing rules remain unchanged
    - type: event_rule
      id: product_viewed_rule
      event: "#event:product_viewed"
      properties:
        - property: "#property:product_sku"
          required: true

    # New event rule added
    - type: event_rule
      id: add_to_cart_rule
      event: "#event:add_to_cart"
      properties:
        - property: "#property:product_sku"
          required: true
        - property: "#property:quantity"
          required: true
```

### Modify properties

Update property requirements or add new properties to existing events:

```yaml
rules:
  - type: event_rule
    id: product_viewed_rule
    event: "#event:product_viewed"
    properties:
      # Existing properties
      - property: "#property:product_sku"
        required: true
      # New properties added
      - property: "#property:category"
        required: false
      # Modified requirement
      - property: "#property:price"
        required: true  # Changed from false
```

**Info:** You can also remove events or properties by deleting their entries from the YAML file.

## Example updates

The following examples show how to update Tracking Plans for different scenarios:

#### Ecommerce

```yaml
version: rudder/v1
kind: tracking-plan
metadata:
  name: ecommerce_tracking
spec:
  id: ecommerce_tracking
  display_name: "Ecommerce Tracking"
  description: "Updated Tracking Plan for ecommerce events"
  rules:
    # Existing product view tracking
    - type: event_rule
      id: product_viewed_rule
      event: "#event:product_viewed"
      properties:
        - property: "#property:sku"
          required: true
        - property: "#property:category"
          required: false
      # name and price are removed from the properties

    # New wishlist tracking
    - type: event_rule
      id: wishlist_add_rule
      event: "#event:wishlist_add"
      properties:
        - property: "#property:product_sku"
          required: true
        - property: "#property:list_id"
          required: true
```
#### Authentication

```yaml
version: rudder/v1
kind: tracking-plan
metadata:
  name: user_auth_tracking
spec:
  id: user_auth_tracking
  display_name: "User Authentication Tracking"
  description: "Updated Tracking Plan for user authentication events"
  rules:
    - type: event_rule
      id: user_registered_rule
      event: "#event:user_registered"
      properties:
        - property: "#property:email"
          required: true
        - property: "#property:signup_method"
          required: true
          # referral_source is updated to required
        - property: "#property:referral_source"
          required: true # Changed from false
```

## Validate and deploy updates

Before deploying your Tracking Plan updates, validate them to ensure they follow the correct structure and meet your requirements.

### Validate updates

Run the following command to validate your Tracking Plan updates:

```shell
rudder-cli validate -l ~/tutorial-catalog
```

The command checks your Tracking Plan updates for:

- Required fields and correct structure
- Valid event and property references
- Unique identifiers across your catalog
- Proper YAML syntax

If validation succeeds, the command returns no output. If it finds any issues, it displays specific error messages to help you fix them.

### Deploy updates

After validating your updates, deploy them to your RudderStack workspace:

1. Review the changes before deploying:
```shell
rudder-cli apply -l ~/tutorial-catalog --dry-run
```

2. Deploy the validated updates:

```shell
rudder-cli apply -l ~/tutorial-catalog
```

The above command:

- Updates existing Tracking Plans in your workspace
- Reports the status of each operation
- Requires confirmation before making changes (unless you use `--confirm=false`)

**Info:** See the [End-to-end Walkthrough](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/data-governance-walkthrough/) for steps on validating and deploying Tracking Plan updates along with other Data Catalog resources.

## Best practices

Follow these best practices when updating Tracking Plans:

- **Change management**
   - Review with stakeholders
   - Test thoroughly
   - Deploy gradually

- **Backward compatibility**
   - Consider existing implementations
   - Plan deprecation periods
   - Communicate changes

- **Testing**
   - Validate all changes
   - Test integrations
   - Monitor implementation

## Next steps

- Set up [GitHub Actions](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudder-cli/github-actions/) for automated Tracking Plan management

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