# Issue with blockinfile overwriting entire file in version 2.2

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850>\
**Category:** Ansible Project\
**Created:** [October 27, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850 "2017-10-27T19:04:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Dave](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Dave)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850/1 "2017-10-27T19:04:13Z")

</div>

It appears when I repeatedly use blockinfile in an Ansible script on the same file, it overwrites any text that was previously in the file before. I’m running version 2.2 and I’m noticing it’s also defining markers in the file that aren’t referenced in my Ansible script. I’ve also tried specifying insertafter: EOF and insertafter: “previous line syntax”, but it seems I can only use the blockinfile module once in the script, from the overwrites. Any advice on how to resolve?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Zimidar\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zimidar\_Boy](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Zimidar_Boy)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850/2 "2017-10-30T16:38:15Z")

</div>

Can you give me more details like your script and file you are changing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Dave](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Dave)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850/3 "2017-10-30T18:30:10Z")

</div>

Sure, please see below:

`---`  
`- hosts: all`  
`remote_user: local_user`  
`become: yes`  
`become_user: root`  
`become_method: sudo`

`vars_prompt:`  
`- name: "set_newsite"`  
`prompt: "What is the name of the new site to create?"`  
`private: no`

`tasks:`  
`- name: Create new config file`  
`file:`  
`state: touch`  
`path: "/var/www/html/{{ set_newsite }}.cfg"`  
`owner: apache2`  
`group: apache2`  
`mode: 0644`

`- name: Add test data to config file`  
`blockinfile:`  
`dest: "/var/www/html/{{ set_newsite }}.cfg"`  
`block: |`  
`test1`  
`test2`  
`test3`

`- name: Confirm variable insertion into test config file`  
`lineinfile:`  
`destfile: "/var/www/html/{{ set_newsite }}.cfg"`  
`insertafter: "test3"`  
`line: 'Name of new site is: {{ set_newsite }}'`

`- name: Second confirmation`  
`when: set_newsite | match("198.7.203.")`  
`lineinfile:`  
`destfile: "/var/www/html/{{ set_newsite }}.cfg"`  
`insertafter: "Name of new site"`  
`line: 'new variable'`

`- name: Add more block data to test config file`  
`blockinfile:`  
`dest: "/var/www/html/{{ set_newsite }}.cfg"`  
`insertafter: EOF`  
`block: |`  
`test4`  
`test5`  
`test6`

It’s a simple script that adds lines in a test config file to ensure the basics work before I add code to it. When I edit out the second ‘blockinfile’ command, I get everything before the word ‘test4’, so I’m definitely seeing something is up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kai\_Stian\_Olstad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kai\_Stian\_Olstad](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Kai_Stian_Olstad)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850/4 "2017-10-30T18:39:42Z")

</div>

When using several blockinfile on same file it's essential that you set unique marker for each blockinfile, if not the second one will overwrite the first one.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Dave](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Dave)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/issue-with-blockinfile-overwriting-entire-file-in-version-2-2/25850/5 "2017-10-31T14:42:56Z")

</div>

I see. Thanks Kai, I’ll give it a try.