# Ansible shows error on wrong place **URL:** \ **Category:** Get Help\ **Tags:** error, ansible-project, ubuntu\ **Created:** [March 1, 2026, 7:03am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461 "2026-03-01T07:03:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dietrich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dietrich](https://forum.ansible.com/u/dietrich)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 7:03am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/1 "2026-03-01T07:03:34Z")
Hi, I´m just starting with ansible and finishing my first playbook. It´s about downloading released packages from private Github Repositories. They can be either whl packages or packed tar.gz. Therefore I implemented different tasks for each case. The results seem to be ok, the file is downloaded and extracted properly. But there is a very confusing error message appearing when downloading a .whl file, if downloading a tar.gz file, there is no error message. Here´s the code: ```auto - name: Extract tar.gz file ansible.builtin.unarchive: src: "{{ dowloaded_file.dest }}" dest: "{{ package_dir }}" register: file_to_copy when: dowloaded_file.dest.endswith('.tar.gz') - name: Set file_to_copy if whl package ansible.builtin.set_fact: file_to_copy: "{{ dowloaded_file.dest }}" when: dowloaded_file.dest.endswith('.whl') - name: Print filename 2 ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "After unpacking: {{ file_to_copy }}" - name: Copy whl file ansible.builtin.copy: src: "{{ file_to_copy }}" dest: "{{ package_dir }}" mode: "0755" #register: files # there are multiple branches needed, depending on the file type - name: Print filename ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "Finished: {{ file_to_copy }}" ``` The error message is this: ```auto TASK [Copy whl file] *************************************************************************************** [ERROR]: Task failed: '_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' Origin: /home/dw/code/openocd-tcl-controller/repo_config/ansible/download_release.yml:80:7 78 msg: "After unpacking: {{ file_to_copy }}" 79 80 - name: Copy whl file ^ column 7 fatal: [localhost]: FAILED! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Task failed: '_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith'"} PLAY RECAP ************************************************************************************************* localhost : ok=11 changed=0 unreachable=0 ``` Whats confusing is: the Task “Copy whl file” does not have any endswith functionality used from my point of view. Can someone explain what is going on there? Even if it´s working out, I don´t like to have this error there and want to fix it. BR Dietrich ---
**Author:** ![mariolenz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/mariolenz/32/108_2.png) [@mariolenz](https://forum.ansible.com/u/mariolenz)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 12:05pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/2 "2026-03-01T12:05:05Z")
First things first, please mention the ansible-core version you’re using. I think there have been quite some changes to 2.19, so it might be worth knowing what exact version you’re running. That said, you’re using `file_to_copy` both as a host fact (in `Set file_to_copy if whl package`) and as a variable within the play (`register: file_to_copy`). I’m not sure if they are really the same, so maybe Ansible gets confused by this. Just an idea. ---
**Author:** ![felixfontein](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/felixfontein/32/7530_2.png) [@felixfontein](https://forum.ansible.com/u/felixfontein)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/3 "2026-03-01T13:48:17Z")
A way to reproduce this (I used ansible-core devel, but likely everything \>= 2.19 will work): ```yaml - hosts: localhost gather_facts: false vars: dowloaded_file: dest: foo.tar.gz package_dir: /tmp file_to_copy: /tmp/asdf tasks: - name: Extract tar.gz file debug: msg: "foo" register: file_to_copy when: dowloaded_file.dest.endswith('.tar.gz') - name: Set file_to_copy if whl package ansible.builtin.set_fact: file_to_copy: "{{ dowloaded_file.dest }}" when: dowloaded_file.dest.endswith('.whl') - name: Print filename 2 ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "After unpacking: {{ file_to_copy }}" - name: Copy whl file ansible.builtin.copy: src: "{{ file_to_copy }}" dest: "{{ package_dir }}" mode: "0755" ``` The problem is that `file_to_copy` is a dictionary here (thanks to the “Extract tar.gz file” task) and not a string, and the exact error in the “Copy whl file” task is only visible when enabling tracebacks (for example by setting the environment variable `ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_TRACEBACK=error`): ```auto TASK [Copy whl file] ******************************************************************************************************************************************************* [ERROR]: Task failed: '_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' Origin: /path/to/test-error.yml:24:7 22 msg: "After unpacking: {{ file_to_copy }}" 23 24 - name: Copy whl file ^ column 7 Traceback (most recent call last): File "/path/to/ansible/executor/task_executor.py", line 423, in _execute result = self._execute_internal(templar, variables) File "/path/to/ansible/executor/task_executor.py", line 636, in _execute_internal result = self._handler.run(task_vars=vars_copy) File "/path/to/ansible/plugins/action/copy.py", line 469, in run trailing_slash = source.endswith(os.path.sep) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AttributeError: '_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/path/to/ansible/executor/task_executor.py", line 428, in _execute raise AnsibleTaskError(obj=self._task.get_ds()) from ex ansible.errors.AnsibleTaskError: Task failed: '_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' fatal: [localhost]: FAILED! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Task failed: '_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith'"} ``` The error happens in the `copy` task, but it’s a crash in the action plugin. It’s basically a bug in the parameter validation of the `copy` action. (Actually it’s the **missing** error validation of the `copy` action.) (This bug is triggered by a bug in the playbook, see what @mariolenz wrote.) ---
**Author:** ![felixfontein](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/felixfontein/32/7530_2.png) [@felixfontein](https://forum.ansible.com/u/felixfontein)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 2:51pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/4 "2026-03-01T14:51:52Z")
> > > \### Summary > > Reproducer: > \`\`\`yaml > \- hosts: localhost > gather\_facts: false > task…s: > - ansible.builtin.copy: > src: > foo: bar > dest: /tmp/ > mode: "0755" > \`\`\` > This produces an error: > \`\`\` > TASK \[ansible.builtin.copy\] \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* > \[ERROR\]: Task failed: '\_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' > Origin: playbook.yml:4:7 > > 2 gather\_facts: false > 3 tasks: > 4 - ansible.builtin.copy: > ^ column 7 > > fatal: \[localhost\]: FAILED! =\> {"changed": false, "msg": "Task failed: '\_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith'"} > \`\`\` > This error message unfortunately hides the actual error, which can be seen when setting \`ANSIBLE\_DISPLAY\_TRACEBACK=error\`: > \`\`\` > TASK \[ansible.builtin.copy\] \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* > \[ERROR\]: Task failed: '\_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' > Origin: playbook.yml:4:7 > > 2 gather\_facts: false > 3 tasks: > 4 - ansible.builtin.copy: > ^ column 7 > > Traceback (most recent call last): > File "/path/to/ansible/executor/task\_executor.py", line 423, in \_execute > result = self.\_execute\_internal(templar, variables) > File "/path/to/ansible/executor/task\_executor.py", line 636, in \_execute\_internal > result = self.\_handler.run(task\_vars=vars\_copy) > File "/path/to/ansible/plugins/action/copy.py", line 469, in run > trailing\_slash = source.endswith(os.path.sep) > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > AttributeError: '\_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' > > The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception: > > Traceback (most recent call last): > File "/path/to/ansible/executor/task\_executor.py", line 428, in \_execute > raise AnsibleTaskError(obj=self.\_task.get\_ds()) from ex > ansible.errors.AnsibleTaskError: Task failed: '\_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith' > > fatal: \[localhost\]: FAILED! =\> {"changed": false, "msg": "Task failed: '\_AnsibleTaggedDict' object has no attribute 'endswith'"} > \`\`\` > > \### Issue Type > > Bug Report > > \### Component Name > > copy > > \### Ansible Version > > \`\`\`console > stable-2.19 > stable-2.20 > devel > \`\`\` > > \### Configuration > > \`\`\`console > / > \`\`\` > > \### OS / Environment > > / > > \### Steps to Reproduce > > See above > > \### Expected Results > > Either action fails because the dict-to-string converted source doesn't exist, or it fails because the input isn't a string (would be bad in case of integers which match filenames that exist). > > \### Actual Results > > \`\`\`console > See above. > \`\`\` > > \### Code of Conduct > > \- \[x\] I agree to follow the Ansible Code of Conduct ---
**Author:** ![dietrich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dietrich](https://forum.ansible.com/u/dietrich)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/5 "2026-03-01T22:02:05Z")
> [@mariolenz](#): > > First things first, please mention the ansible-core version you’re using. I think there have been quite some changes to 2.19, so it might be worth knowing what exact version you’re running. > > That said, you’re using `file_to_copy` both as a host fact (in `Set file_to_copy if whl package`) and as a variable within the play (`register: file_to_copy`). I’m not sure if they are really the same, so maybe Ansible gets confused by this. Just an idea. Version is ansible [core 2.20.3] installed with pip and running on Ubuntu WSL2 distribution. I understood your second point. I assumed here that the same variable will be set with this approach, no matter which task is executed. Would something like pulling file\_to\_copy to the beginning of the play be more ansible-compliant? ---
**Author:** ![dietrich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dietrich](https://forum.ansible.com/u/dietrich)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/6 "2026-03-01T22:06:34Z")
Impressive. Can I do something as a workaround, until it is fixed and released? ---
**Author:** ![flowerysong](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/flowerysong/32/2305_2.png) [@flowerysong](https://forum.ansible.com/u/flowerysong)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/7 "2026-03-01T22:36:14Z")
> [@dietrich](#): > > Can I do something as a workaround, until it is fixed and released? Pass a valid path instead of an invalid one. ---
**Author:** ![dietrich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dietrich](https://forum.ansible.com/u/dietrich)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 5:37am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/8 "2026-03-02T05:37:33Z")
What do you mean? The paths are valid, files are downloaded and extracted as expected. Just the message is confusing. ---
**Author:** ![mariolenz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/mariolenz/32/108_2.png) [@mariolenz](https://forum.ansible.com/u/mariolenz)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/9 "2026-03-02T18:01:16Z")
@flowerysong If you really want to be helpful, you probably shouldn’t just say ~~pass a valid path instead of an invalid one~~ you’re holding it wrong 😏 ---
**Author:** ![jborean](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/jborean/32/1525_2.png) [@jborean](https://forum.ansible.com/u/jborean)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/10 "2026-03-02T18:56:55Z")
> [@dietrich](#): > > The paths are valid, files are downloaded and extracted as expected. Just the message is confusing. You have ```yaml src: "{{ file_to_copy }}" ``` But you are registering `file_to_copy` as a task result ```yaml register: file_to_copy ``` You can’t pass in a dictionary value, select the key inside that dictionary that represents your path or use another variable that has your path. ---
**Author:** ![dietrich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dietrich](https://forum.ansible.com/u/dietrich)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 6:49am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-shows-error-on-wrong-place/45461/11 "2026-03-04T06:49:24Z")
I think I got it. This one causes no errors: ```auto - name: Extract tar.gz file ansible.builtin.unarchive: src: "{{ dowloaded_file.dest }}" dest: "{{ package_dir }}" register: file_to_copy when: dowloaded_file.dest.endswith('.tar.gz') ... - name: Set file_to_copy if whl package ansible.builtin.set_fact: file_to_copy: "{{ dowloaded_file }}" when: dowloaded_file.dest.endswith('.whl') ... - name: Copy whl file ansible.builtin.copy: src: "{{ file_to_copy.dest }}" dest: "{{ package_dir }}" mode: "0755" ``` Is it better? I would still like to have this additional step if tar.gz is downloaded, so in the last step it does not make a difference whether tar.gz or whl is downloaded. Do you have any suggestions to improve here?