# A Block Conditional is Ignored, Ansible Keeps Rolling Regardless! **URL:** \ **Category:** Get Help\ **Created:** [January 14, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108 "2026-01-14T20:14:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clerambeau370](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/clerambeau370/32/10260_2.png) [@clerambeau370](https://forum.ansible.com/u/clerambeau370)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/1 "2026-01-14T20:14:59Z")
Hi. Ansible ignores a condition in my block. Here is its logic: “Go to the ServiceNow ticketing system. Check if there is a new Change Request with the word “GoldenGate” in the short description. If it does exist, export it out for the log to preserve, and create a /tmp/foo.conf from a template file”. Here is the Playbook: ```auto --- - name: r-able.com Oracle GoldenGate add deployment process ID 2772.86 hosts: localhost gather_facts: true vars_files: - vars/main.yml tasks: - name: Retrieve Change Requests that contain GoldenGate in its short description by using field query servicenow.itsm.change_request_info: instance: host: "{{ sn_instance}}" username: "{{ sn_username }}" password: "{{ sn_password }}" query: - short_description: LIKE GoldenGate # - short_description: LIKE SAP register: new_ogg_cr_custom_out - name: Debug the Change Request data and create the config file in tmp if the condition is met when: new_ogg_cr_custom_out | default('') | length > 0 block: - name: Debug the GoldenGate Change Request data ogg_cr_custom_out ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "new_ogg_cr_custom_out has content: {{ new_ogg_cr_custom_out }}" - name: Apply the template to tmp only if the Change request exists ansible.builtin.template: src: templates/config.j2 dest: /tmp/foo.conf ``` The playbook runs without errors. However, it creates the /tmp/foo.conf whether I use the existing condition , meaning there is an actual GoldenGate Change Request opened, or not: ```auto - short_description: LIKE GoldenGate # - short_description: LIKE SAP ``` or I use a non-existent SAP query: ```auto # - short_description: LIKE GoldenGate - short_description: LIKE SAP ``` ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/d/d78071e5e7ef5e319cc1bfeeb8b1f844eef4040e.png) I expect the playbook to detect that the SAP Change Request isnt there and not to create the /tmp/foo.conf. But the file is created regardless. But it does debug the “GoldenGate” Change Request data from ServiceNow just fine, it gets the CR # and everything. On the “SAP” query it doesnt output any Change Request data which is correct, but still creates the /tmp/ file: ```auto [root@lnx000 tmp]# ls -ltr foo.conf -rw-rw-r--. 1 ansible_admin ansible_admin 140 Jan 14 14:57 foo.conf ``` Here is the output on the “GoldenGate” Change Request commented out, and the “SAP” query specified , which doesnt exist: ```auto [ansible_admin@lnx000 ansible]$ ansible-playbook ./playbooks/itsm_ogg_get_cr_info_004.yml -kK [WARNING]: Ansible is being run in a world writable directory (/etc/ansible), ignoring it as an ansible.cfg source. For more information see https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/reference_appendices/config.html#cfg-in-world-writable-dir SSH password: BECOME password[defaults to SSH password]: /usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/requests/ __init__.py:91: RequestsDependencyWarning: urllib3 (1.26.20) or chardet (3.0.4) doesn't match a supported version! RequestsDependencyWarning) PLAY [r-able.com Oracle GoldenGate add deployment process ID 2772.86] ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] TASK [Retrieve Change Requests that contain GoldenGate in its short description by using field query] **************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] TASK [Debug the GoldenGate Change Request data ogg_cr_custom_out] **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => msg: 'new_ogg_cr_custom_out has content: {''changed'': False, ''records'': [], ''failed'': False}' TASK [Apply the template to tmp only if the Change request exists] *************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** changed: [localhost] PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** localhost : ok=4 changed=1 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0 [ansible_admin@lnx000 ansible]$ ``` Here is the output on the “GoldenGate” query for the existing Change Request (the “SAP” query is commented out). Note the debug correctly outputs the GoldenGate existing CR data: ```auto [ansible_admin@lnx000 ansible]$ ansible-playbook ./playbooks/itsm_ogg_get_cr_info_004.yml -kK [WARNING]: Ansible is being run in a world writable directory (/etc/ansible), ignoring it as an ansible.cfg source. For more information see https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/reference_appendices/config.html#cfg-in-world-writable-dir SSH password: BECOME password[defaults to SSH password]: /usr/lib/python3.6/site-packages/requests/ __init__.py:91: RequestsDependencyWarning: urllib3 (1.26.20) or chardet (3.0.4) doesn't match a supported version! RequestsDependencyWarning) PLAY [r-able.com Oracle GoldenGate add deployment process ID 2772.86] ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] TASK [Retrieve Change Requests that contain GoldenGate in its short description by using field query] **************************************************************************************************************************************************************** [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value Other while mapping field category. [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value while mapping field risk. [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value Software while mapping field category. ok: [localhost] TASK [Debug the GoldenGate Change Request data ogg_cr_custom_out] **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => msg: 'new_ogg_cr_custom_out has content: {''changed'': False, ''records'': [{''parent'': '''', ''reason'': '''', ''watch_list'': '''', ''upon_reject'': ''cancel'', ''sys_updated_on'': ''2026-01-13 14:56:04'', ''type'': ''standard'', ''approval_history'': '''', ''number'': ''CHG0030866'', ''test_plan'': '''', ''cab_delegate'': '''', ''requested_by_date'': '''', ''state'': ''closed'', ''sys_created_by'': ''admin'', ''knowledge'': ''false'', ''order'': '''', ''phase'': ''requested'', ''cmdb_ci'': '''', ''delivery_plan'': '''', ''contract'': '''', ''impact'': ''low'', ''active'': ''false'', ''work_notes_list'': '''', ''priority'': ''moderate'', ''sys_domain_path'': ''/'', ''cab_recommendation'': '''', ''production_system'': ''false'', ''review_date'': '''', ''business_duration'': '''', ''group_list'': '''', ''requested_by'': ''6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441'', ''change_plan'': '''', ''approval_set'': ''2026-01-13 14:53:44'', ''copied_from'': '''', ''implementation_plan'': '''', ''universal_request'': '''', ''end_date'': '''', ''short_description'': ''Oracle GoldenGate replicat replicat RSRCUI1 down, out of sync - CR triggered by incident INC0010595'', ''correlation_display'': '''', ''delivery_task'': '''', ''work_start'': ''2026-01-13 14:53:52'', ''additional_assignee_list'': '''', ''outside_maintenance_schedule'': ''false'', ''std_change_producer_version'': '''', ''service_offering'': '''', ''sys_class_name'': ''change_request'', ''closed_by'': ''6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441'', ''follow_up'': '''', ''reassignment_count'': ''0'', ''review_status'': '''', ''assigned_to'': ''3c589a008334f210f28198c6feaad375'', ''start_date'': '''', ''sla_due'': '''', ''comments_and_work_notes'': '''', ''escalation'': ''0'', ''upon_approval'': ''proceed'', ''correlation_id'': '''', ''made_sla'': ''true'', ''backout_plan'': '''', ''conflict_status'': ''Not Run'', ''task_effective_number'': ''CHG0030866'', ''sys_updated_by'': ''admin'', ''opened_by'': ''6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441'', ''user_input'': '''', ''sys_created_on'': ''2026-01-13 14:53:44'', ''on_hold_task'': '''', ''sys_domain'': ''global'', ''route_reason'': '''', ''closed_at'': ''2026-01-13 14:55:57'', ''review_comments'': '''', ''business_service'': '''', ''time_worked'': '''', ''chg_model'': ''e55d0bfec343101035ae3f52c1d3ae49'', ''expected_start'': '''', ''opened_at'': ''2026-01-13 14:53:44'', ''work_end'': ''2026-01-13 14:53:53'', ''phase_state'': ''open'', ''work_notes'': '''', ''close_code'': ''successful'', ''assignment_group'': ''db53580b0a0a0a6501aa37c294a2ba6b'', ''description'': ''Refreshing the target Oracle instance from source INC0010595 on 2026-01-13T14:53:32Z for replicat RSRCUI1'', ''on_hold_reason'': '''', ''calendar_duration'': '''', ''close_notes'': ''Hyperautomation has successfully closed CR at "2026-01-13T14:53:32Z"'', ''sys_id'': ''fc6efca783563210f28198c6feaad306'', ''contact_type'': '''', ''cab_required'': ''false'', ''urgency'': ''low'', ''scope'': ''3'', ''company'': '''', ''justification'': '''', ''activity_due'': '''', ''comments'': '''', ''approval'': ''approved'', ''due_date'': '''', ''sys_mod_count'': ''8'', ''on_hold'': False, ''sys_tags'': '''', ''cab_date_time'': '''', ''conflict_last_run'': '''', ''unauthorized'': ''false'', ''location'': '''', ''risk'': ''low'', ''category'': ''Other'', ''risk_impact_analysis'': '''', ''attachments'': [{''size_bytes'': ''5750256'', ''file_name'': ''ansible.log'', ''sys_mod_count'': ''1'', ''average_image_color'': '''', ''image_width'': '''', ''sys_updated_on'': ''2026-01-13 14:56:06'', ''sys_tags'': '''', ''table_name'': ''change_request'', ''sys_id'': ''0beef8e783563210f28198c6feaad3de'', ''image_height'': '''', ''sys_updated_by'': ''system'', ''download_link'': ''https://dev276659.service-now.com/api/now/attachment/0beef8e783563210f28198c6feaad3de/file'', ''content_type'': ''text/x-log'', ''sys_created_on'': ''2026-01-13 14:56:04'', ''size_compressed'': ''502837'', ''compressed'': ''true'', ''state'': ''available'', ''table_sys_id'': ''fc6efca783563210f28198c6feaad306'', ''chunk_size_bytes'': ''700000'', ''hash'': ''af4b778148f3bad79c09b39b3911cf47214999e69be15f46e95b99414e0e5f61'', ''sys_created_by'': ''admin''}]}, {''parent'': '''', ''reason'': '''', ''watch_list'': '''', ''upon_reject'': ''cancel'', ''sys_updated_on'': ''2026-01-14 11:28:00'', ''type'': ''normal'', ''approval_history'': '''', ''number'': ''CHG0030884'', ''test_plan'': '''', ''cab_delegate'': '''', ''requested_by_date'': '''', ''state'': ''new'', ''sys_created_by'': ''admin'', ''knowledge'': ''false'', ''order'': '''', ''phase'': ''requested'', ''cmdb_ci'': ''0c43d5e2c61122750182c132a8b9e2d9'', ''delivery_plan'': '''', ''contract'': '''', ''impact'': ''low'', ''active'': ''true'', ''work_notes_list'': '''', ''priority'': ''low'', ''sys_domain_path'': ''/'', ''cab_recommendation'': '''', ''production_system'': ''false'', ''review_date'': '''', ''business_duration'': '''', ''group_list'': '''', ''requested_by'': ''6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441'', ''change_plan'': '''', ''approval_set'': '''', ''copied_from'': '''', ''implementation_plan'': '''', ''universal_request'': '''', ''end_date'': '''', ''short_description'': ''Add an Oracle GoldenGate Deployment'', ''correlation_display'': '''', ''delivery_task'': '''', ''work_start'': '''', ''additional_assignee_list'': '''', ''outside_maintenance_schedule'': ''false'', ''std_change_producer_version'': '''', ''service_offering'': ''04b89573835e7210f28198c6feaad3f0'', ''sys_class_name'': ''change_request'', ''closed_by'': '''', ''follow_up'': '''', ''reassignment_count'': ''1'', ''review_status'': '''', ''assigned_to'': ''3c589a008334f210f28198c6feaad375'', ''start_date'': '''', ''sla_due'': '''', ''comments_and_work_notes'': '''', ''escalation'': ''0'', ''upon_approval'': ''proceed'', ''correlation_id'': '''', ''made_sla'': ''true'', ''backout_plan'': '''', ''conflict_status'': ''Not Run'', ''task_effective_number'': ''CHG0030884'', ''sys_updated_by'': ''admin'', ''opened_by'': ''6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441'', ''user_input'': '''', ''sys_created_on'': ''2026-01-14 10:28:21'', ''on_hold_task'': '''', ''sys_domain'': ''global'', ''route_reason'': '''', ''closed_at'': '''', ''review_comments'': '''', ''business_service'': ''281a4d5fc0a8000b00e4ba489a83eedc'', ''time_worked'': '''', ''chg_model'': ''007c4001c343101035ae3f52c1d3aeb2'', ''expected_start'': '''', ''opened_at'': ''2026-01-14 10:23:49'', ''work_end'': '''', ''phase_state'': ''open'', ''work_notes'': '''', ''close_code'': '''', ''assignment_group'': ''db53580b0a0a0a6501aa37c294a2ba6b'', ''description'': ''Asset ID:\r\nClient: \r\nApplication:\r\nEnvironment:\r\nBusiness Unit:\r\nApproval:\r\nBilling:'', ''on_hold_reason'': '''', ''calendar_duration'': '''', ''close_notes'': '''', ''sys_id'': ''b03a4d7f83da7210f28198c6feaad3a4'', ''contact_type'': '''', ''cab_required'': ''false'', ''urgency'': ''low'', ''scope'': ''3'', ''company'': '''', ''justification'': '''', ''activity_due'': '''', ''comments'': '''', ''approval'': ''not requested'', ''due_date'': '''', ''sys_mod_count'': ''2'', ''on_hold'': False, ''sys_tags'': '''', ''cab_date_time'': '''', ''conflict_last_run'': '''', ''unauthorized'': ''false'', ''location'': '''', ''risk'': '''', ''category'': ''Software'', ''risk_impact_analysis'': '''', ''attachments'': []}], ''warnings'': [''Encountered unknown value Other while mapping field category.'', ''Encountered unknown value while mapping field risk.'', ''Encountered unknown value Software while mapping field category.''], ''failed'': False}' TASK [Apply the template to tmp only if the Change request exists] *************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** changed: [localhost] PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** localhost : ok=4 changed=1 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0 ``` ```auto [root@lnx000 tmp]# ls -ltr foo.conf -rw-rw-r--. 1 ansible_admin ansible_admin 140 Jan 14 15:11 foo.conf [root@lnx000 tmp]# ``` Please help. This has something to do with the conditional in the block. Thanks in advance. Nestor. ---
**Author:** ![bvitnik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/bvitnik/32/4132_2.png) [@bvitnik](https://forum.ansible.com/u/bvitnik)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/2 "2026-01-14T20:33:55Z")
And what does this block print to the output for first and second case? ```auto - name: Debug the GoldenGate Change Request data ogg_cr_custom_out ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "new_ogg_cr_custom_out has content: {{ new_ogg_cr_custom_out }}" ``` ---
**Author:** ![clerambeau370](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/clerambeau370/32/10260_2.png) [@clerambeau370](https://forum.ansible.com/u/clerambeau370)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/3 "2026-01-14T20:38:55Z")
I updated the description for both “GoldenGate” and “SAP” runs. Thank you for the question. ---
**Author:** ![bvitnik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/bvitnik/32/4132_2.png) [@bvitnik](https://forum.ansible.com/u/bvitnik)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/4 "2026-01-14T20:45:21Z")
As you can see from the output, `new_ogg_cr_custom_out` is not a list but a dict with the following content: ```auto new_ogg_cr_custom_out: changed: false records: [] failed: false ``` So when you are testing the length of this variable with `| length > 0` it always returns value greater than `0`. Also, `length` test is applicable only to lists, it’s not applicable to dicts. The value you want to test is `new_ogg_cr_custom_out['records']` so the code looks like this: ```auto when: new_ogg_cr_custom_out['records'] | default([]) | length > 0 ``` ---
**Author:** ![clerambeau370](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/clerambeau370/32/10260_2.png) [@clerambeau370](https://forum.ansible.com/u/clerambeau370)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/5 "2026-01-14T21:04:11Z")
I cannot thank you enough, sir. It works on both entries! Creates the template on GoldenGate Change Request and nothing else ---
**Author:** ![bvitnik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/bvitnik/32/4132_2.png) [@bvitnik](https://forum.ansible.com/u/bvitnik)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/6 "2026-01-14T21:12:10Z")
Just use `debug` module often and analyze the format of the variable. Solves 90% of problems in Ansible 😆. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/1X/1882d9a01da5d8996a862359b0913cc568a39b84.svg) [@system](https://forum.ansible.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/a-block-conditional-is-ignored-ansible-keeps-rolling-regardless/45108/7 "2026-02-13T21:12:25Z")
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