ansible.utils.to_paths lookup – Flatten a complex object into a dictionary of paths and values

Note

This lookup plugin is part of the ansible.utils collection (version 2.12.0).

You might already have this collection installed if you are using the ansible package. It is not included in ansible-core. To check whether it is installed, run ansible-galaxy collection list.

To install it, use: ansible-galaxy collection install ansible.utils.

To use it in a playbook, specify: ansible.utils.to_paths.

New in ansible.utils 1.0.0

Synopsis

  • Flatten a complex object into a dictionary of paths and values.

  • Paths are dot delimited whenever possible.

  • Brackets are used for list indices and keys that contain special characters.

  • to_paths is also available as a filter plugin.

  • Using the parameters below- lookup('ansible.utils.to_paths', var, prepend, wantlist)

Keyword parameters

This describes keyword parameters of the lookup. These are the values key1=value1, key2=value2 and so on in the following examples: lookup('ansible.utils.to_paths', key1=value1, key2=value2, ...) and query('ansible.utils.to_paths', key1=value1, key2=value2, ...)

Parameter

Comments

prepend

string

Prepend each path entry. Useful to add the initial var name.

var

any / required

The value of var will be used.

wantlist

boolean

If set to True, the return value will always be a list.

This can also be accomplished using query or q instead of lookup.

https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/plugins/lookup.html

Choices:

  • false

  • true

Examples

#### Simple examples

- ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    a:
      b:
        c:
          d:
            - 0
            - 1
          e:
            - true
            - false

- ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    paths: "{{ lookup('ansible.utils.to_paths', a) }}"

# TASK [ansible.builtin.set_fact] ********************************************
# ok: [nxos101] => changed=false
#   ansible_facts:
#     paths:
#       b.c.d[0]: 0
#       b.c.d[1]: 1
#       b.c.e[0]: True
#       b.c.e[1]: False

- name: Use prepend to add the initial variable name
  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    paths: "{{ lookup('ansible.utils.to_paths', a, prepend='a') }}"

# TASK [Use prepend to add the initial variable name] **************************
# ok: [nxos101] => changed=false
#   ansible_facts:
#     paths:
#       a.b.c.d[0]: 0
#       a.b.c.d[1]: 1
#       a.b.c.e[0]: True
#       a.b.c.e[1]: False


#### Using a complex object

- name: Make an API call
  ansible.builtin.uri:
    url: "https://nxos101/restconf/data/openconfig-interfaces:interfaces"
    headers:
      accept: "application/yang.data+json"
    url_password: password
    url_username: admin
    validate_certs: false
  register: result
  delegate_to: localhost

- name: Flatten the complex object
  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    paths: "{{ lookup('ansible.utils.to_paths', result.json) }}"

# TASK [Flatten the complex object] ******************************************
# ok: [nxos101] => changed=false
#   ansible_facts:
#     paths:
#       interfaces.interface[0].config.enabled: 'true'
#       interfaces.interface[0].config.mtu: '1500'
#       interfaces.interface[0].config.name: eth1/71
#       interfaces.interface[0].config.type: ethernetCsmacd
#       interfaces.interface[0].ethernet.config['auto-negotiate']: 'true'
#       interfaces.interface[0].ethernet.state.counters['in-crc-errors']: '0'
#       interfaces.interface[0].ethernet.state.counters['in-fragment-frames']: '0'
#       interfaces.interface[0].ethernet.state.counters['in-jabber-frames']: '0'
#       interfaces.interface[0].ethernet.state.counters['in-mac-control-frames']: '0'
#       <...>

Return Value

Key

Description

Return value

string

A dictionary of key value pairs.

The key is the path.

The value is the value.

Returned: success

Authors

  • Bradley Thornton (@cidrblock)

Hint

Configuration entries for each entry type have a low to high priority order. For example, a variable that is lower in the list will override a variable that is higher up.