# Update same output dir in different stages

**URL:** <https://discuss.dvc.org/t/update-same-output-dir-in-different-stages/620>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [January 14, 2021, 11:04am UTC](https://discuss.dvc.org/t/update-same-output-dir-in-different-stages/620 "2021-01-14T11:04:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![jorgeorpinel](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discuss.dvc.org/jorgeorpinel/32/46_2.png) [@jorgeorpinel](https://discuss.dvc.org/u/jorgeorpinel)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://discuss.dvc.org/t/update-same-output-dir-in-different-stages/620/2 "2021-01-15T02:06:54Z")

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Hi @mauro,

> [@mauro](#):
>
> `dvc run` complains the output is already specified in another stage.

Your case is similar to a recent question which you can find here: [Managing pipelines operating per dataset element](https://discuss.dvc.org/t/managing-pipelines-operating-per-dataset-element/613). It lists some options to workaround the current overlapping output limitation of DVC (with regular files/dirs).

> [@mauro](#):
>
> each stage appends new arrays

In your case the problem is harder for DVC though, because we work at the file level and have no understanding of internal data formats. So DVC can’t see what’s inside `results-file1*`, much less track only certain parts of that file per stage.

Is there perhaps any way to create a “view” of a Zarr file that the file system sees as regular dirs and files? Perhaps using symlinks? If so, that could be what DVC tracks (as a proxy to `results-file*`.

Related issues you may want to read and perhaps participate in:

- [Plugins for semantic changes tracking in dependencies · Issue #1577 · iterative/dvc · GitHub](https://github.com/iterative/dvc/issues/1577)
- [Support function specific dependencies · Issue #3439 · iterative/dvc · GitHub](https://github.com/iterative/dvc/issues/3439)
- [Reconfigurable pipelines · Issue #1462 · iterative/dvc · GitHub](https://github.com/iterative/dvc/issues/1462#issuecomment-450821953)

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