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

• Synopsis
• Parameters
• Examples
• Return Values

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)

Parameters

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 Values

Common return values are documented here, the following are the fields unique to this lookup:

Authors

• Bradley Thornton (@cidrblock)