Ansible: How to copy file from `files` directory to `templates` directory in a role directory?

I want to write an Ansible task to copy file from files directory to templates directory.

For example, I have an Ansible role named data and inside this role's directory

~/data$ tree
.
├── defaults
├── tasks
├── templates
└── files
    └── application.j2

So I have a file inside the files directory named application.j2

I want to copy this file application.j2 into the templates directory using an Ansible task.

I've tried to use the below task in the src: path I use files/application.j2 but I don't know what I should write in dest: path.

- name: Transfer File.
   copy:
    src: "{{ item }}"
    dest: 
  with_fileglob:
    - "files/application.j2"

Ansible: How to copy file from files directory to templates directory in a role directory?

Q: "Copy files from files directory to templates directory in a role."

Given the project for testing

shell> pwd
/scratch/tmp7/test-359
shell> tree .
.
├── ansible.cfg
├── hosts
├── pb.yml
├── roles
│   └── data
│       ├── defaults
│       ├── files
│       │   └── application.j2
│       ├── tasks
│       └── templates
├── roles2
│   └── roleX
└── roles3
    └── roleY

A: I read this question as: "What is the directory of a role?"

If you're running a task in a role you can use the special variable role_path. But, this is not the case here. You want to copy the files inside the roles from a task in a playbook. Declare a dictionary with the roles and files you want to transfer between the directories files and templates

  transfer_files:
    data:
      - application.j2

There might be more directories in DEFAULT_ROLES_PATH. For example,

shell> grep roles_path ansible.cfg 
roles_path = $PWD/roles:$PWD/roles2:$PWD/roles3

Get the variable

  my_roles_path: "{{ lookup('config', 'DEFAULT_ROLES_PATH') }}"

gives

  my_roles_path:
  - /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles
  - /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles2
  - /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles3

Find all roles

    - find:
        paths: "{{ my_roles_path }}"
        file_type: directory
        depth: 1
      register: my_roles_out

and declare the variables

  my_roles: "{{ my_roles_out.files|map(attribute='path') }}"
  my_roles_dict: "{{ dict(my_roles|map('basename')|
                          zip(my_roles|map('dirname'))) }}"

gives

  my_roles:
  - /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles/data
  - /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles2/roleX
  - /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles3/roleY

  my_roles_dict:
    data: /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles
    roleX: /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles2
    roleY: /scratch/tmp7/test-359/roles3

Now, you can copy the file(s)

    - copy:
        src: "{{ role_path }}/files/{{ item.1 }}"
        dest: "{{ role_path }}/templates/{{ item.1 }}"
      loop: "{{ transfer_files|dict2items|subelements('value') }}"
      vars:
        role_path: "{{ my_roles_dict[item.0.key] }}/{{ item.0.key }}"

gives

shell> tree .
.
├── ansible.cfg
├── hosts
├── pb.yml
├── roles
│   └── data
│       ├── defaults
│       ├── files
│       │   └── application.j2
│       ├── tasks
│       └── templates
│           └── application.j2   <-- from files
├── roles2
│   └── roleX
└── roles3
    └── roleY

<hr>

<sup>

Example of a complete playbook for testing

- hosts: localhost

  vars:

    my_roles_path: "{{ lookup('config', 'DEFAULT_ROLES_PATH') }}"
    my_roles: "{{ my_roles_out.files|map(attribute='path') }}"
    my_roles_dict: "{{ dict(my_roles|map('basename')|
                            zip(my_roles|map('dirname'))) }}"

    transfer_files:
      data:
        - application.j2

  tasks:

    - debug:
        var: my_roles_path

    - find:
        paths: "{{ my_roles_path }}"
        file_type: directory
        depth: 1
      register: my_roles_out

    - debug:
        var: my_roles
    - debug:
        var: my_roles_dict

    - copy:
        src: "{{ role_path }}/files/{{ item.1 }}"
        dest: "{{ role_path }}/templates/{{ item.1 }}"
      loop: "{{ transfer_files|dict2items|subelements('value') }}"
      vars:
        role_path: "{{ my_roles_dict[item.0.key] }}/{{ item.0.key }}"

</sup>

Let's assume one like to

• Copy files with patterns between different folders
• Let the task run on the Ansible Control Node only

A minimal example playbook

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

  tasks:

  - name: Copy each file that matches the given pattern
    copy:
      src: "{{ item }}"
      dest: "templates/{{ item.split('.') | first | basename }}.j2"
    with_fileglob:
      - "files/app*.j2"

will result into the requested output.

Similar Q&A

For a more detailed explanation see the answer under

• Looping in Ansible templates directory
• Ansible: Copy files with wildcard?