There is a known bug where getindices is unable to get the index Workaroundof a dynamically generated array until the next pass. This comes up from time to time so I thought I would post an example using a pattern shared on the CFEngine help mailing list. The policy below shows 3 working examples. They are mostly similar, example0 shows the simplest workaround, example1 and example2 in addition show ways to suppress the “Duplicate selection of value for variable” messages.

          <td class="line-data">
            <pre class="line-pre"><div class="line" id="file-output-txt-LC1">

cf-agent -KIf ./test_getindices_dynamic_array.cf

!! Duplicate selection of value for variable "idx" in scope example0
!! Rule from ./test_getindices_dynamic_array.cf at/before line 28
!! Duplicate selection of value for variable "idx" in scope example0
!! Rule from ./test_getindices_dynamic_array.cf at/before line 28
R: example0 item1
R: example0 item2
R: example0 item3
R: example1 item1
R: example1 item2
R: example1 item3
R: example2 item1
R: example2 item2
R: example2 item3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
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            <pre class="line-pre"><div class="line" id="file-test_getindices_dynamic_array-cf-LC1">

body common control

{
 
bundlesequence => {
"example0",
"example1",
"example2",
};
}
 
bundle agent example0
# This pattern was shared on the CFEngine help mailing list by cyril
# Thanks!
{
vars:
"list" slist => { "1", "2", "3" };
 
# Autogenerate an array instead of typing it out
# "array[item1]" string => "value1";
# "array[item2]" string => "value2";
# "array[item3]" string => "value3";
"array[item$(list)]" string => "value$(list)";
 
!idx_defined::
"idx"
slist => { getindices("array") },
handle => "$(this.bundle)_get_array_index";
 
classes:
"idx_defined" expression => isvariable("idx");
 
reports:
cfengine::
# should report 3 times itemx where x is a list value
"$(this.bundle) $(idx)";
 
}
 
 
bundle agent example1
# This pattern was shared on the CFEngine help mailing list by cyril
# Thanks!
{
vars:
"list" slist => { "1", "2", "3" };
 
# Autogenerate an array instead of typing it out
# "array[item1]" string => "value1";
# "array[item2]" string => "value2";
# "array[item3]" string => "value3";
"array[item$(list)]" string => "value$(list)";
 
list_defined.!idx_defined::
"idx"
slist => { getindices("array") },
handle => "$(this.bundle)_get_array_index";
 
classes:
"list_defined"
expression => isvariable("list"),
comment => "This is one way to work around 'Duplicate selection of
value for variable' messages. Your forcing get_array_index
to not be evaluated until the next pass";
 
"idx_defined" expression => isvariable("idx");
 
reports:
cfengine::
# should report 3 times itemx where x is a list value
"$(this.bundle) $(idx)";
 
}
 
bundle agent example2
# This pattern was shared on the CFEngine help mailing list by cyril
# Thanks!
{
vars:
"list" slist => { "1", "2", "3" };
 
# Autogenerate an array instead of typing it out
# "array[item1]" string => "value1";
# "array[item2]" string => "value2";
# "array[item3]" string => "value3";
"array[item$(list)]" string => "value$(list)";
 
!idx_defined::
"idx"
slist => { getindices("array") },
policy => "free",
handle => "$(this.bundle)_get_array_index",
comment => "Setting policy free is another way to suppress 'Duplicate
selection of value for variable' messages.";
 
classes:
"idx_defined" expression => isvariable("idx");
 
reports:
cfengine::
# should report 3 times itemx where x is a list value
"$(this.bundle) $(idx)";
 
}
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