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

Note

This filter plugin is part of the ansible.utils collection (version 5.1.2).

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 lookup plugin for convenience.
  • Using the parameters below- var|ansible.utils.to_paths(prepend, wantlist)

Keyword parameters

This describes keyword parameters of the filter. These are the values key1=value1, key2=value2 and so on in the following example: input | 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 will be used.

This option represents the value that is passed to the filter plugin in pipe format.

For example config_data|ansible.utils.to_paths(), in this case config_data represents this option.

wantlist

boolean

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

Choices:

  • false
  • true

Examples

#### Simple examples

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

- ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    paths: "{{ a|ansible.utils.to_paths }}"

# 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: "{{ a|ansible.utils.to_paths(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
  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: "{{ result.json|ansible.utils.to_paths }}"

# 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'
#       <...>

Authors

  • Bradley Thornton (@cidrblock)

© 2012–2018 Michael DeHaan
© 2018–2025 Red Hat, Inc.
Licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3.
https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/collections/ansible/utils/to_paths_filter.html