Add new element to existing JSON array with jq

Question

I want to append an element to an array in a JSON file using the jq``add command, but it\'s not working.

report-2017-01-07.json file:

Answer 1

Rather than using |=, consider using +=:

.data.messages += [{"date": "2010-01-07T19:55:99.999Z",
   "xml": "xml_samplesheet_2017_01_07_run_09.xml",
   "status": "OKKK", "message": "metadata loaded into iRODS successfullyyyyy"}]

Prepend

On the other hand, if (as @NicHuang asked) you want to add the JSON object to the beginning of the array, you could use the pattern:

 .data.messages |= [ _ ] + .