# Calling a dictionary based on an existing variable

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/calling-a-dictionary-based-on-an-existing-variable/23729>\
**Category:** Ansible Project\
**Created:** [February 14, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/calling-a-dictionary-based-on-an-existing-variable/23729 "2017-02-14T19:13:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nicholas\_Santiago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Nicholas\_Santiago](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Nicholas_Santiago)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/calling-a-dictionary-based-on-an-existing-variable/23729/1 "2017-02-14T19:13:05Z")

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I have a playbook (ldapconfig.yml) with a variables file (ldapconfig\_vars.yml), and am hoping to use an inventory var to specify which dictionary of the below to call.

So, if env=PVS, it calls the ldapserver\_pvs dictionary, if env=PROD, it calls the ldapserver\_prod dict, and so on.

> ldapserver\_pvs:
> 
> ldapbindDN: cn=serviceaccount,ou=specialAccounts,o=ldap.company.loc
> 
> ldaphost: p-ldap.sys.company.loc
> 
> ldapSSLport: 1234
> 
> ldapport: 5678
> 
> ldapserver\_stage:
> 
> ldapbindDN: cn=serviceaccount,ou=specialAccounts,o=ldap.company.loc
> 
> ldaphost: s-ldap.sys.company.loc
> 
> ldapSSLport: 1234
> 
> ldapport: 5678
> 
> ldapserver\_prod:
> 
> ldapbindDN: cn=serviceaccount,ou=specialAccounts,o=ldap.company.loc
> 
> ldaphost: ldap.sys.company.loc
> 
> ldapSSLport: 1234
> 
> ldapport: 5678

I can’t seem to find a clean way to do so, any suggestions on best practices to proceed?

Nick

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**Author:** ![Stankovic\_Marko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Stankovic\_Marko](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Stankovic_Marko)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/calling-a-dictionary-based-on-an-existing-variable/23729/2 "2017-02-17T11:56:11Z")

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Hi,

How about having three files in vars directory (eg. pvs\_vars.yml, stage\_vars.yml, prod\_vars.yml) with the same variable in it (ldapserver) and using include\_vars module this way:  
- include\_vars: "{{ env }}\_vars.yml"

More info:  
[http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/include\_vars\_module.html](http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/include_vars_module.html)

Cheers,  
Marko  
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**Author:** ![Nicholas\_Santiago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Nicholas\_Santiago](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Nicholas_Santiago)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/calling-a-dictionary-based-on-an-existing-variable/23729/3 "2017-02-20T16:34:47Z")

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Hi, Marko –

> How about having three files in vars directory (eg. pvs\_vars.yml, stage\_vars.yml, prod\_vars.yml) with the same variable in it (ldapserver) and using include\_vars module this way:
> 
> - include\_vars: “{{ env }}\_vars.yml”

That sounds like a considerably easier and more sane approach. Thanks for bringing it up!

Nick