How to add spaces at beginning of block in Ansible's blockinfile?

Question

I found this blockinfile issue, where a user suggested adding a number after the \"|\" in the \"block: |\" line, but gives a syntax error. Basically, I want to use blockinfile m

Answer 1

I was trying to use YAML feature called "Block Indentation Indicator" from the other answer, but it did not work for me (ansible 2.9.10.post0). Ugly, but working solution is:

- name: docker-compose.yml - service has links to another container
  lineinfile:
    path: "/path/to/docker-compose.yml"
    insertafter: "service:"
    line: "    links:\n      - apache2:proxy.example.com\n      - apache2:proxy2.example.com"

You basically need to put as many spaces as necessary before elements. And use \n for newlines.

Answer 2

You can use a YAML feature called "Block Indentation Indicator":

- name: Added a block of lines in the file
  blockinfile:
  dest: /path/some_file.yml
  insertafter: 'authc:'
  block: |2
      line0
        line1
        line2
        line3
          line4

It's all about the 2 after the |

References:

• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/ansible-project/mmXvhTh6Omo
• In YAML, how do I break a string over multiple lines?
• http://www.yaml.org/spec/1.2/spec.html#id2793979