Ansible remove block of text from file file – Manage files and file properties The official documentation on the file module. The replace module in Ansible is used to seek and replace text or specific patterns within files on remote hosts. This guide includes step-by-step instructions and examples. I can’t use markers for blockinfile since after a version update, the function may be somewhere else and the mar… Synopsis This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. replace – Replace all instances of a particular string in a file using a back See the ansible. 5, because this module modifies the contents of the file so follow=no doesn’t make sense. With this task block, I simply want to remove all text between the two specified lines. WIndows now only have win_lineinfile which isn't of much help, if we were in need of multiple lines to be updated in the file. How to use multi-line YAML variables in Ansible using the "|", Literal Block Scalar, and the ">", Folded Block Scalar, operators. By leveraging its ability to add, modify, or delete lines based on patterns, you can ensure consistent and correct configurations. In this post, we Jun 29, 2025 · Hello I’m struggling to find a solution to removing multiple lines from a js file thousands of rows long. The lineinfile module is a core module in Ansible designed to manage the contents of specific lines within text files Nov 19, 2021 · How to delete a specific string from a line using ansible Ask Question Asked 3 years, 11 months ago Modified 3 years, 11 months ago Learn how to use the Ansible lineinfile module to insert, update, or delete multiple lines of text in a file. 3, the dest option has been changed to path as default, but dest still works as well. What is the easiest way to do it? Preferably within the task, but any idea is welcome. 0) textfile - giraffe This is my text to add Noooooooooooooo penguin robot #BEGIN Nov 4, 2020 · # BEGIN ANSIBLE MANAGED BLOCK line 1 line 2 # END ANSIBLE MANAGED BLOCK I would like to add a blank line (newline) before the marker " # BEGIN ANSIBLE MANAGED BLOCK " for visual effect. blockinfile module. Jun 14, 2022 · You can use those modules, replace & lineinfile, to search for a pattern and replace it with something. Builtin ansible. blockinfile module – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines Edit on GitHub Feb 9, 2015 · As of Ansible 2. That means if you remove the markers, blockinfile will no longer be able to identify the block, which will result in the module to add the block to the file every time you run the task. Jan 13, 2025 · In this case, if the file doesn't exist, it will be created using the create: true option, and the line will be added. May 27, 2022 · Synopsis ¶ This module ensures a particular line is in a file, or replace an existing line using a back-referenced regular expression. Aug 31, 2017 · I have this text file and I was trying to delete some text that I had just added. For instance, to Jun 28, 2025 · Hello I’m struggling to find a solution to removing multiple lines from a js file thousands of rows long. Blocks also offer ways to handle task errors, similar to exception handling in many programming languages. The blockinfile module is particularly useful when you need to ensure that a 3 days ago · Collection Index Collections in the Ansible Namespace Ansible. Ansible - Change or remove a line in a file using the replace module Jul 5, 2016 · The below code only deletes the first file it gets inside the web dir. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Need a module similar to blockinfile for Linux also for Windows. I need to delete a particular line using an Ansible script. Three of the key modules that Ansible provides for file modification are lineinfile, replace, and blockinfile. Sep 24, 2024 · Learn to use the lineinfile module of Ansible with these real world examples. May 27, 2025 · The file module in Ansible is a powerful tool for managing the state of files and directories on your target systems. Introduction to Ansible Modules What are Ansible Modules? Ansible modules are discrete units of code that perform specific tasks in automation workflows. replace module if you want to change multiple, similar lines or check ansible. logstash: hash: $fj;kdjjfajf;ajKFJ;dfj;dkfja;dfjFJ:LFJj;kj;lfkajs #password is: some_pw I’m trying to remove the block u… Sep 22, 2020 · As of Ansible 2. ) may be set, even when the file or directory already exists on the target system. This block is going to be surrounded by customizable marker lines, just to identify that this edit was performed by Ansible. Grouping tasks with blocks Handling errors with blocks Grouping tasks with blocks All tasks in a block inherit directives applied at the block level. jc filter with the ini parser can be used to read ini files without section headers. Notice that the first line in the code in the answer has four spaces underneath the block: |2 line. Similarly, the `blockinfile` module is designed for adding blocks of text but inserts Synopsis This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. I want to remove all the files and folders inside the web directory and retain the web directory. ini_file module to edit it. Oct 9, 2025 · Ansible is a powerful and flexible automation tool, capable of handling many complex tasks, including modifying files. This often escapes line breaks as \n, making multiline content hard to read, especially when printing structured data like logs, PGP keys, or code blocks the ">" Folded Block Scalar" It's easy for me to show you the behavior by example. Not sure how I would go about deleting The entire text tree and the wrappers #BEGIN ANSIBLE MANAGED BLOCK Just deleting the text tree Can anyone explain? Thanks The delete functionality is not functioning as expected (ansible 2. Feb 4, 2025 · The Ansible lineinfile module is a handy tool for managing text file configurations across multiple systems. replace – Replace all instances of a particular string in a file using a back Feb 13, 2016 · The markers are actually used to identify the block. Sep 6, 2016 · Block styles with block chomping indicator (>-, |-, >+, |+) You can control the handling of the final new line in the string, and any trailing blank lines (\n\n) by adding a block chomping indicator character: Synopsis This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. Jan 2, 2024 · The lineinfile module in Ansible is used to insert a line, modify, remove, or replace an existing line. The problem is when I try to remove a line that includes a '+' character. The ansible. 3. In most cases, you can use the short module name file even without specifying the collections keyword. To break a string over multiple lines in Ansible, you can use the following operators: Literal Block Scalar (|): This operator tells Ansible to treat the string as a literal block scalar. See the replace module if you want to change multiple, similar lines or check blockinfile if you want to insert/update/remove a block of lines in a file. In most cases, you can use the short module name template even without specifying the collections keyword. Master essential modules like copy, template, and lineinfile for effective file operations and automation. Introduction to Ansible blockinfile Ansible is a powerful open-source automation tool that simplifies the process of managing and configuring infrastructure across multiple systems. Nov 12, 2021 · How to comment out and uncomment lines in a file using the Ansible's `replace` module. copy – Copy files to remote locations The official documentation on the copy module. Mar 13, 2025 · I’m working on a valkey role and using a template to generate the configuration file (s) and using the description from the argument specification to generate a comment for each variable using this: { { valkey_argument_sp… The Ansible blockinfile module is a powerful tool that allows users to manage specific blocks of text within configuration files. Collection Index Collections in the Ansible Namespace Ansible. The Ansible replace module operates by scanning within the file specified in the task for a defined string or regular expression and replacing it with a desired new value. 3 days ago · Note This module is part of ansible-core and included in all Ansible installations. The content of 10 files should be separated by their filenames respectively (similar to header as in blockinfile). It must deal with and manage the inserting, updating, or removing a block of lines from the file on the remote nodes. This guide covers common file operations, best practices, and patterns for file manipulation. general. blockinfile if you want to insert/update/remove a block of lines in a file. In this blog, we use In the first task, we collect the existing files in the specific directory and register the result. Apr 14, 2022 · I would like to know how to remove space from a variable or item in ansible. These blocks are within the makers such as begin and end, and these can also be custom markers, and the module will help the user to deal with multiple file types. That is interpreted to mean the following block to insert starts after 2 spaces (on See the ansible. Mar 30, 2021 · Hi, I’d like to edit a file using block in file and delete anything in the file that isn’t in that block, in an idempotent way i,e, not just deleting the file first. conf file on our servers with Ansible as a temporary measure whilst some domain controller maintenance was going on: # Start-Temp-NS-Flip See also blockinfile – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines The official documentation on the blockinfile module. Sep 24, 2024 · Learn to replace strings and lines across multiple systems or files with the Ansible replace module. I have a file with aline like this: abc de fg I do: - name: set fact set_fact: output: "{{ item }}". Plus how to elide the new line "\n" at the end of the line and print multi-line with debug module on a terminal. It allows you to control various aspects of files Aug 28, 2023 · When working with Ansible, you’ll sometimes be required to add, remove, or update a line within files stored in the hosts. The lineinfile module is a core module in Ansible designed to manage the contents of specific lines within text files Feb 24, 2024 · Ansible lineinfile module could be the saviour of your day when you want to work with files and especially modify their content on the run, like adding a new line in the file or updating a line in the file or replace a line in the file when certain text is found and much more. template for easy linking to the module documentation and to avoid conflicting with other collections that may have Sep 21, 2023 · I added the following lines of config to the /etc/resolv. Option follow has been removed in Ansible 2. Jul 24, 2019 · Learn how to replace a specific block of text in a file using Ansible with this Stack Overflow guide. replace module – Replace all instances of a particular string in a file using a back-referenced regular expression Mar 31, 2023 · Introduction to Ansible blockinfile Ansible blockinfile module, which is a part of the ansible-base and comes with the default installation of the ansible, which is responsible to insert, update or remove a block of lines (multi-line text) from the file on the remote nodes, and these blocks are surrounded by the marker like begin and end which can be a custom marker and this module helps to May 27, 2022 · Synopsis ¶ This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. This means that Ansible will preserve the newlines in the string. So the markers before and after the written block are a requirement by the module and cannot be removed. See also blockinfile – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines The official documentation on the blockinfile module. Feb 25, 2015 · I have a file called authorized_keys. Jun 21, 2014 · To add multiple Lines in a configuration file you can use " " instead of ' ' and escape sequence \n for the new line in lineinfile ansible module: - name: Configure core-site. Most of what you can apply to a single task (with the exception of loops) can be applied at See the ansible. blockinfile – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines Note This module is part of ansible-core and included in all Ansible installations. 3 days ago · See the ansible. copy module copies a file or a directory structure from the local or remote machine to a location on the remote machine. 3 days ago · Blocks Blocks create logical groups of tasks. Saw a pull Hi, We'd like to put some lines (a block) in a certain file on hundreds of servers. A couple things, first this should be the correct answer! Second, this is not broken but rather the interpretation of the block starts at the "Block Indentation Indicator" as the answer correctly demonstrates. In the second task, we run through the result with the existing files and remove any file whose name is not included in our list of expected files. It allows you to insert, replace, or delete lines in a target file on your managed nodes. How can I do that? - name: r Synopsis This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. If this is a one-time playbook that will never be Jul 19, 2023 · Setting `lstrip_blocks: True` in the template file will change the template rendering, remove leading white-spaces before a block and return the initial state of the rendered output file. Note that the two Ansible ini file filters can’t be used since they don’t support ini files without section headers, however the community. conf. This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. Dec 17, 2024 · Since /etc/default/grub is a ini / conf file I’d suggest using the community. Introduction Ansible is a powerful open-source automation tool that simplifies the process of managing and configuring remote systems. Parameters Oct 20, 2024 · I have 10 files and I want those content to be copied to a single file. In most cases, you can use the short module name blockinfile even without specifying the collections: keyword. However, we recommend you use the Fully Qualified Collection Name (FQCN) ansible. builtin. 3 days ago · The advanced YAML syntax examples on this page give you more control over the data placed in YAML files used by Ansible. Ansible lineinfile has a lot of parameters to help you get the job done quickly. Each module is designed to execute a particular action, such as managing files, installing packages, or configuring Apr 6, 2025 · Solution: Clean Multiline Output in Ansible msg Results with a Custom Callback Plugin Hi everyone, Ansible’s default callback plugin renders msg: outputs — including debug, failed, and other task messages — as single-line JSON strings. This block is already present on some servers because it was added manually eons ago but it is missing from a lot of other servers. Tested in a target Linux machine as well for idempotency of the Ansible Playbook. [public] path = /opt/samba/public guest ok = yes browsable = yes writable = yes read only = no Blockinfile modul Jul 2, 2023 · Discover how to manage text blocks in files using Ansible's blockinfile module, with examples on inserting, updating, and removing content. When more then one block should be handled in one file you must change the marker per task. I can’t use markers for blockinfile since after a version update, the function may be somewhere else and the markers will be gone then and I can’t use a fixed position either, since this could also change then. Synopsis ¶ This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. Dec 27, 2023 · These situations are exactly where Ansible‘s lineinfile module shines. blockinfile - Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines Sep 9, 2015 · I have a file, It has a line DocumentRoot path/to/folder I have to remove this line, What should be the regular expression. It functions similarly to the replace option in a text editor. The lineinfile module – add, remove, or replace a line in a text file The lineinfile module is an important […] Oct 4, 2024 · I would like to replace an unmanaged block of text from a configuration file (for Dovecot) with a managed block. They serve as fundamental building blocks for configuration management and infrastructure deployment in IT environments. In this tutorial, we will explore how to use Ansible to update file content on remote hosts, enabling you to efficiently manage your infrastructure and ensure consistency across your environment. You can use it to ensure specific settings, insert new directives, delete deprecated lines, and more – all from Ansible playbooks. blockinfile module – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines Edit on GitHub ansible. Ansible - Append, change, or remove a block of lines in a file using the blockinfile module by Jeremy Canfield | Updated: April 15 2024 | Ansible articles Introduction to Ansible blockinfile Ansible is a powerful open-source automation tool that simplifies the process of managing and configuring infrastructure across multiple systems. With this task block, I simply want to remove See the ansible. If I redefine the marker, it will affect both the " BEGIN " and " END Nov 7, 2022 · Ansible blockinfile module has the default installation of ansible. blockinfile module – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines Edit on GitHub Collection Index Collections in the Ansible Namespace Ansible. File system meta-information (permissions, ownership, etc. You can find additional information about Python-specific YAML in the official PyYAML Documentation. Dec 27, 2023 · Ansible lets you automate system administration. replace module – Replace all instances of a particular string in a file using a back-referenced regular expression — Ansible Documentation ansible. It is useful when managing configurations where blocks of text (like multiple lines of settings) need to be programmatically controlled. See the ansible. Learn to deploy and manage files on RHEL with Ansible. Example $ Nov 8, 2023 · Are you looking to effectively manage configurations and automate infrastructure with Ansible? If so, mastering the Ansible file module is a must. file for easy linking to the module documentation and to avoid conflicting with other collections that may have the same You are able to insert, update and remove a block of multi-line text in a file. One of the key modules in Ansible is the blockinfile module, which allows you to manage and modify specific blocks of text within a file. And the replace module provides a way to manipulate text files without all those SSH sessions. Mar 1, 2018 · I am trying to remove the below section from samba config file smb. lineinfile module – Manage lines in text files — Ansible Documentation or use the shell module to work with sed! Ansible provides robust capabilities for handling various file types, including YAML, JSON, text, and configuration files. With replace, you can use a single command to: Find and replace strings across your infrastructure Employ regex patterns for advanced matching Control replacements selectively in certain file sections Create automatic backups to prevent mistakes This Synopsis ¶ This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. Sep 23, 2016 · I have a file with the following bock of text in it. lineinfile has a various set of examples and it provides many parameters to get your job done easily. This means if we run the playbook on all the servers, ansible will duplicate this block in the files if it was added manually before. Such a task requires one to search for a line in the file that matches a specified regular expression and then perform the specified action on that line. Jan 9, 2025 · Ansible’s blockinfile module is a powerful tool in Ansible that allows you to insert, update, or remove a block of multi-line text within a file. Apr 17, 2024 · I want to output some text with tab as separator using ansible here's task snippet - name: Create output file blockinfile: block: | Some text\tmore text path: ' { { playbook_dir }}/ou 3 days ago · When managing infrastructure with Ansible, a common task is modifying configuration files—whether adding, updating, or removing lines. I have text before and after the text block. Feb 4, 2025 · I've been trying to replace all text between two specified lines in a configuration file using Ansible. Apr 26, 2021 · ansible. Synopsis This module will insert/update/remove a block of multi-line text surrounded by customizable marker lines. Lineinfile allows you to manage lines inside files, without having to rewrite entire configs. xml The file module can be used to set attributes of files itself, such as change owner, group and permission, create a symlink, create a new directory and delete a symlink, file or directory. blockinfile – Insert/update/remove a text block surrounded by marker lines ¶ Note This module is part of ansible-base and included in all Ansible installations. For other cases, see the Apr 9, 2020 · COMPONENT NAME Blockinfile alternative for WIndows, to help Insert/Update/Remove block of text in files on Windows host. ansible. It enables users to insert, replace, or remove blocks of text in a file, making it an essential component of efficient configuration management. The blockinfile module is particularly useful when you need to ensure that a Oct 26, 2023 · I've been trying to replace all text between two specified lines in a configuration file using Ansible. Once you run this playbook, you should see the following output: Remove a line in a file To remove a specific line from a file with the Ansible lineinfile module, you can use the state: absent option, along with regexp, to match the line you want to remove. Ansible blockinfile module is used to insert/update/remove a block of lines in a file. ? 3 days ago · Note This module is part of ansible-core and included in all Ansible installations. The file module allows you to powerfully manage files and directories on remote servers. While Ansible’s `template` module is powerful for generating entire files, it can be overkill for simple scenarios where you only need to append or insert a few lines. This is primarily useful when you want to change a single line in a file only. Ansible’s lineinfile module makes it possible to implement such tasks neatly and with ease. Ansible is not able to Delete file or directory - Ansible module file A real-life example about how the \"deleteme\" file and the \"deleteme\" directory with Ansible. I have tried lineinfile and replace modules and the regex that would work ansible. May 27, 2025 · It allows you to insert, replace, or delete lines in a target file on your managed nodes. The difficulty is that the two blocks have different content, so I thought of splitting it up into two steps: first find and remove the old block, then add the new block using the ansible. fukw dyrim cncguv fmlibt yvpcw pvrxjs jquqt tsyjhd sbfl eohb exeacah rsph wru kqmqvby frve