[FIXED] How to enclose a string within single quotes in Ansible

Issue

Below is the string

ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 my$pass myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

Desired output with password enclosed in single quotes:

ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 'my$pass' myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

Below is my ansible playbook:

   - debug:
       msg: "utils.dbping string is {{ item.split()[0] ~ ' ' ~ item.split()[1] ~ ' \'' ~  item.split()[2] ~ '\' ' ~ item.split()[3] | trim }}"
     loop: 
       - ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 my$pass myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

However, i get syntax error while executing:

The offending line appears to be:

       - debug:
           msg: "utils.dbping string is {{ item.split()[0] ~ ' ' ~ item.split()[1] ~ ' \'' ~  item.split()[2] ~ '\' ' ~ item.split()[3] | trim }}"
                                                                                       ^ here
We could be wrong, but this one looks like it might be an issue with
missing quotes. Always quote template expression brackets when they
start a value. For instance:

Can you please suggest?

Solution

Since no use case description and no explanation is given, it looks just like a syntax error. You may have a look into the following example

---
- hosts: localhost
  become: false
  gather_facts: false

  tasks:

   - name: Quote in input
     debug:
       msg: "utils.dbping string is {{ item.split()[0] ~ ' ' ~ item.split()[1] ~ ' ' ~  item.split()[2] ~ ' ' ~ item.split()[3] | trim }}"
     loop:
       - ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 'my$pass' myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

   - name: Quote in output
     debug:
       msg: "utils.dbping string is {{ item.split()[0] ~ ' ' ~ item.split()[1] ~ ' ' ~  item.split()[2] | quote ~ ' ' ~ item.split()[3] | trim }}"
     loop:
       - ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 my$pass myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

resulting into an output of

TASK [Quote in input] ************************************************************************
ok: [localhost] => (item=ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 'my$pass' myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445) =>
  msg: utils.dbping string is ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 'my$pass' myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

TASK [Quote in output] ************************************************************************
ok: [localhost] => (item=ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 my$pass myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445) =>
  msg: utils.dbping string is ORACLE_THIN PTEST1 'my$pass' myhost-SCA.mybank.com:1521/OLTP445

In both cases the desired one.

Further Documentation

• Manipulating strings

  To add quotes for shell usage

Answered By - U880D

Answer Checked By - Clifford M. (PHPFixing Volunteer)