with_items: expects a list or a set by using it with when:

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1

I have the following two statements which have the same when part. The first one is skipped correctly but the second creates an error. It should be skipped also.

`

  • debug: var=“{{ sites[env].restricted_areas }}”
    when: sites[env].restricted_areas is defined

  • template: src=“apache/site_credentials” dest=“{{ apache_vhost_base_path }}/{{ sites[env].server_name }}/conf/{{ item.area.internal_name }}”
    with_items: sites[env].restricted_areas | list
    when: sites[env].restricted_areas is defined
    tags: create

`

result:

`
TASK: [website | debug var=“{{sites[env].restricted_areas}}”] *****************
skipping: [TSSDMZPORTAL002]

TASK: [website | template src=“apache/site_credentials” dest=“{{apache_vhost_base_path}}/{{sites[env].server_name}}/conf/{{item.area.internal_name}}”] ***
fatal: [TSSDMZPORTAL002] => with_items expects a list or a set
`

can someone help me?

2

The when is evaluated for each step in the loop, not before looping, which is the source of confusion here.

3

I’m having the same issue. How can we make this task check if the variable exists before looping ? If we can’t use when here, what can we do ?

4

you could put the tasks in a different yml file and do a conditional include based on your “when”.

5

first no moustaches in var, it just wants a variable name

- debug: var=sites[env].restricted_areas

you are putting several variables that can be undefined in your when
statement so to be safe you should check each step:

when: env is defined and env in sites and 'restricted_areas' in sites[env]

Now you can split them up and check each step to make sure what you
expect to be defined is there

6

Markus,

That’s exactly what I ended up doing. Thanks for your help.