lineinfile - add search_string parameter for non-regexp searching (#70647)

* Add tests for search_string
* Improve examples
* Add changelog

changelogs/fragments/lineinfile-add-search_string-parameter-for-non-regexp-searching.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - lineinfile - add search_string parameter for non-regexp searching (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/70470)

lib/ansible/modules/lineinfile.py

@@ -44,6 +44,17 @@ options:
     type: str
     aliases: [ regex ]
     version_added: '1.7'
+  search_string:
+    description:
+      - The literal string to look for in every line of the file. This does not have to match the entire line.
+      - For C(state=present), the line to replace if the string is found in the file. Only the last line found will be replaced.
+      - For C(state=absent), the line(s) to remove if the string is in the line.
+      - If the literal expression is not matched, the line will be
+        added to the file in keeping with C(insertbefore) or C(insertafter)
+        settings.
+      - Mutually exclusive with C(backrefs) and C(regexp).
+    type: str
+    version_added: '2.11'
   state:
     description:
       - Whether the line should be there or not.
@@ -68,6 +79,7 @@ options:
         does not match anywhere in the file, the file will be left unchanged.
       - If the C(regexp) does match, the last matching line will be replaced by
         the expanded line parameter.
+      - Mutually exclusive with C(search_string).
     type: bool
     default: no
     version_added: "1.1"
@@ -136,6 +148,7 @@ seealso:
 author:
     - Daniel Hokka Zakrissoni (@dhozac)
     - Ahti Kitsik (@ahtik)
+    - Jose Angel Munoz (@imjoseangel)
 '''
 
 EXAMPLES = r'''
@@ -161,6 +174,15 @@ EXAMPLES = r'''
     group: root
     mode: '0644'
 
+- name: Replace a localhost entry searching for a literal string to avoid escaping
+  lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/hosts
+    search_string: '127.0.0.1'
+    line: 127.0.0.1 localhost
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0644'
+
 - name: Ensure the default Apache port is 8080
   ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
     path: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
@@ -168,6 +190,13 @@ EXAMPLES = r'''
     insertafter: '^#Listen '
     line: Listen 8080
 
+- name: Ensure php extension matches new pattern
+  lineinfile:
+    path: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
+    search_string: '<FilesMatch ".php[45]?$">'
+    insertafter: '^\t<Location \/>\n'
+    line: '        <FilesMatch ".php[34]?$">'
+
 - name: Ensure we have our own comment added to /etc/services
   ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
     path: /etc/services
@@ -253,7 +282,7 @@ def check_file_attrs(module, changed, message, diff):
     return message, changed
 
 
-def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
+def present(module, dest, regexp, search_string, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
             backup, backrefs, firstmatch):
 
     diff = {'before': '',
@@ -301,8 +330,8 @@ def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
     # "If regular expressions are passed to both regexp and
     # insertafter, insertafter is only honored if no match for regexp is found."
     # Therefore:
-    # 1. regexp was found -> ignore insertafter, replace the founded line
+    # 1. regexp or search_string was found -> ignore insertafter, replace the founded line
-    # 2. regexp was not found -> insert the line after 'insertafter' or 'insertbefore' line
+    # 2. regexp or search_string was not found -> insert the line after 'insertafter' or 'insertbefore' line
 
     # Given the above:
     # 1. First check that there is no match for regexp:
@@ -315,7 +344,17 @@ def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
                 if firstmatch:
                     break
 
-    # 2. When no match found on the previous step,
+    # 2. Second check that there is no match for search_string:
+    if search_string is not None:
+        for lineno, b_cur_line in enumerate(b_lines):
+            match_found = to_bytes(search_string, errors='surrogate_or_strict') in b_cur_line
+            if match_found:
+                index[0] = lineno
+                match = match_found
+                if firstmatch:
+                    break
+
+    # 3. When no match found on the previous step,
     # parse for searching insertafter/insertbefore:
     if not match:
         for lineno, b_cur_line in enumerate(b_lines):
@@ -350,9 +389,9 @@ def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
         if not b_new_line.endswith(b_linesep):
             b_new_line += b_linesep
 
-        # If no regexp was given and no line match is found anywhere in the file,
+        # If no regexp or search_string was given and no line match is found anywhere in the file,
         # insert the line appropriately if using insertbefore or insertafter
-        if regexp is None and match is None and not exact_line_match:
+        if (regexp, search_string, match) == (None, None, None) and not exact_line_match:
 
             # Insert lines
             if insertafter and insertafter != 'EOF':
@@ -428,7 +467,7 @@ def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
             msg = 'line added'
             changed = True
 
-    # insert matched, but not the regexp
+    # insert matched, but not the regexp or search_string
     else:
         b_lines.insert(index[1], b_line + b_linesep)
         msg = 'line added'
@@ -456,7 +495,7 @@ def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, insertbefore, create,
     module.exit_json(changed=changed, msg=msg, backup=backupdest, diff=difflist)
 
 
-def absent(module, dest, regexp, line, backup):
+def absent(module, dest, regexp, search_string, line, backup):
 
     b_dest = to_bytes(dest, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
     if not os.path.exists(b_dest):
@@ -483,6 +522,8 @@ def absent(module, dest, regexp, line, backup):
     def matcher(b_cur_line):
         if regexp is not None:
             match_found = bre_c.search(b_cur_line)
+        elif search_string is not None:
+            match_found = to_bytes(search_string, errors='surrogate_or_strict') in b_cur_line
         else:
             match_found = b_line == b_cur_line.rstrip(b'\r\n')
         if match_found:
@@ -521,6 +562,7 @@ def main():
             path=dict(type='path', required=True, aliases=['dest', 'destfile', 'name']),
             state=dict(type='str', default='present', choices=['absent', 'present']),
             regexp=dict(type='str', aliases=['regex']),
+            search_string=dict(type='str'),
             line=dict(type='str', aliases=['value']),
             insertafter=dict(type='str'),
             insertbefore=dict(type='str'),
@@ -530,7 +572,8 @@ def main():
             firstmatch=dict(type='bool', default=False),
             validate=dict(type='str'),
         ),
-        mutually_exclusive=[['insertbefore', 'insertafter']],
+        mutually_exclusive=[
+            ['insertbefore', 'insertafter'], ['regexp', 'search_string'], ['backrefs', 'search_string']],
         add_file_common_args=True,
         supports_check_mode=True,
     )
@@ -542,13 +585,17 @@ def main():
     path = params['path']
     firstmatch = params['firstmatch']
     regexp = params['regexp']
+    search_string = params['search_string']
     line = params['line']
 
-    if regexp == '':
+    if '' in [regexp, search_string]:
-        module.warn(
+        msg = ("The %s is an empty string, which will match every line in the file. "
-            "The regular expression is an empty string, which will match every line in the file. "
+               "This may have unintended consequences, such as replacing the last line in the file rather than appending.")
-            "This may have unintended consequences, such as replacing the last line in the file rather than appending. "
+        param_name = 'search string'
-            "If this is desired, use '^' to match every line in the file and avoid this warning.")
+        if regexp == '':
+            param_name = 'regular expression'
+            msg += " If this is desired, use '^' to match every line in the file and avoid this warning."
+        module.warn(msg % param_name)
 
     b_path = to_bytes(path, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
     if os.path.isdir(b_path):
@@ -567,13 +614,13 @@ def main():
         if ins_bef is None and ins_aft is None:
             ins_aft = 'EOF'
 
-        present(module, path, regexp, line,
+        present(module, path, regexp, search_string, line,
                 ins_aft, ins_bef, create, backup, backrefs, firstmatch)
     else:
-        if regexp is None and line is None:
+        if (regexp, search_string, line) == (None, None, None):
-            module.fail_json(msg='one of line or regexp is required with state=absent')
+            module.fail_json(msg='one of line, search_string, or regexp is required with state=absent')
 
-        absent(module, path, regexp, line, backup)
+        absent(module, path, regexp, search_string, line, backup)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':

test/integration/targets/lineinfile/files/teststring.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[section_one]
+
+[section_two]
+
+[section_three]

test/integration/targets/lineinfile/files/teststring.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+This is line 1
+This is line 2
+(\\w)(\\s+)([\\.,])
+This is line 4
+<FilesMatch ".py[45]?$">

test/integration/targets/lineinfile/files/teststring_58923.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+case "`uname`" in
+  Darwin*) if [ -z "$JAVA_HOME" ] ; then

test/integration/targets/lineinfile/tasks/main.yml

@@ -253,6 +253,8 @@
     that:
       - "result.stat.checksum == 'ab56c210ea82839a54487464800fed4878cb2608'"
 
+- import_tasks: test_string01.yml
+
 - name: use create=yes
   lineinfile:
     dest: "{{ output_dir }}/new_test.txt"
@@ -806,7 +808,8 @@
       - oneline_insbefore_test2 is not changed
       - oneline_insbefore_file.stat.checksum == '4dca56d05a21f0d018cd311f43e134e4501cf6d9'
 
-###################################################################
+- import_tasks: test_string02.yml
+
 # Issue 29443
 # When using an empty regexp, replace the last line (since it matches every line)
 # but also provide a warning.
@@ -848,6 +851,49 @@
       This may have unintended consequences, such as replacing the last line in the file rather than appending.
       If this is desired, use '^' to match every line in the file and avoid this warning.
 
+###################################################################
+# When using an empty search string, replace the last line (since it matches every line)
+# but also provide a warning.
+
+- name: Deploy the test file for lineinfile
+  copy:
+    src: teststring.txt
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the test file was deployed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result is changed
+      - result.checksum == '481c2b73fe062390afdd294063a4f8285d69ac85'
+      - result.state == 'file'
+
+- name: Insert a line in the file using an empty string as a search string
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    search_string: ''
+    line: This is line 6
+  register: insert_empty_literal
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file contents match what is expected and a warning was displayed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - insert_empty_literal is changed
+      - warning_message in insert_empty_literal.warnings
+      - result.stat.checksum == 'eaa79f878557d4bd8d96787a850526a0facab342'
+  vars:
+    warning_message: >-
+      The search string is an empty string, which will match every line in the file.
+      This may have unintended consequences, such as replacing the last line in the file rather than appending.
+
+- name: meta
+  meta: end_play
+
 ###################################################################
 ## Issue #58923
 ## Using firstmatch with insertafter and ensure multiple lines are not inserted
@@ -1126,6 +1172,120 @@
       - insertbefore_test5 is not changed
       - insertbefore_test5_file.stat.checksum == '3c6630b9d44f561ea9ad999be56a7504cadc12f7'
 
+########################################################################################
+# Same tests for literal
+
+# Test insertafter with literal
+- name: Deploy the test file
+  copy:
+    src: teststring_58923.txt
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+  register: initial_file
+
+- name: Assert that the test file was deployed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - initial_file is changed
+      - initial_file.checksum == 'b6379ba43261c451a62102acb2c7f438a177c66e'
+      - initial_file.state == 'file'
+
+# Regarding the documentation:
+# If the search string is passed to both search_string and
+# insertafter, insertafter is only honored if no match for search_string is found.
+# Therefore,
+# when search_string expressions are passed to both search_string and insertafter, then:
+# 1. search_string was found -> ignore insertafter, replace the founded line
+# 2. search_string was not found -> insert the line after 'insertafter' line
+
+# literal is not present in the file, so the line must be inserted after ^#!/bin/sh
+- name: Add the line using firstmatch, regexp, and insertafter
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+    insertafter: '^#!/bin/sh'
+    search_string: export FISHEYE_OPTS
+    firstmatch: true
+    line: export FISHEYE_OPTS="-Xmx4096m -Xms2048m"
+  register: insertafter_test1
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+  register: insertafter_test1_file
+
+- name: Add the line using firstmatch, literal, and insertafter again
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+    insertafter: '^#!/bin/sh'
+    search_string: export FISHEYE_OPTS
+    firstmatch: true
+    line: export FISHEYE_OPTS="-Xmx4096m -Xms2048m"
+  register: insertafter_test2
+
+# Check of the prev step.
+# We tried to add the same line with the same playbook,
+# so nothing has been added:
+- name: Stat the file again
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+  register: insertafter_test2_file
+
+- name: Assert insertafter tests gave the expected results
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - insertafter_test1 is changed
+      - insertafter_test1_file.stat.checksum == '9232aed6fe88714964d9e29d13e42cd782070b08'
+      - insertafter_test2 is not changed
+      - insertafter_test2_file.stat.checksum == '9232aed6fe88714964d9e29d13e42cd782070b08'
+
+# Test insertbefore with literal
+- name: Deploy the test file
+  copy:
+    src: teststring_58923.txt
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+  register: initial_file
+
+- name: Assert that the test file was deployed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - initial_file is changed
+      - initial_file.checksum == 'b6379ba43261c451a62102acb2c7f438a177c66e'
+      - initial_file.state == 'file'
+
+- name: Add the line using literal, firstmatch, and insertbefore
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+    insertbefore: '^#!/bin/sh'
+    search_string: export FISHEYE_OPTS
+    firstmatch: true
+    line: export FISHEYE_OPTS="-Xmx4096m -Xms2048m"
+  register: insertbefore_test1
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+  register: insertbefore_test1_file
+
+- name: Add the line using literal, firstmatch, and insertbefore again
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+    insertbefore: '^#!/bin/sh'
+    search_string: export FISHEYE_OPTS
+    firstmatch: true
+    line: export FISHEYE_OPTS="-Xmx4096m -Xms2048m"
+  register: insertbefore_test2
+
+- name: Stat the file again
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring_58923.txt"
+  register: insertbefore_test2_file
+
+- name: Assert insertbefore with literal tests gave the expected results
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - insertbefore_test1 is changed
+      - insertbefore_test1_file.stat.checksum == '3c6630b9d44f561ea9ad999be56a7504cadc12f7'
+      - insertbefore_test2 is not changed
+      - insertbefore_test2_file.stat.checksum == '3c6630b9d44f561ea9ad999be56a7504cadc12f7'
 
 # Test inserting a line at the end of the file using regexp with insertafter
 # https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/63684
@@ -1155,3 +1315,32 @@
       - testend1 is changed
       - testend2 is changed
       - testend_file.stat.checksum == 'ef36116966836ce04f6b249fd1837706acae4e19'
+
+# Test inserting a line at the end of the file using search_string with insertafter
+
+- name: Create a file by inserting a line
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/testendliteral.txt"
+    create: yes
+    line: testline
+  register: testend1
+
+- name: Insert a line at the end of the file
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/testendliteral.txt"
+    insertafter: testline
+    search_string: line at the end
+    line: line at the end
+  register: testend2
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/testendliteral.txt"
+  register: testend_file
+
+- name: Assert inserting at the end gave the expected results.
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - testend1 is changed
+      - testend2 is changed
+      - testend_file.stat.checksum == 'ef36116966836ce04f6b249fd1837706acae4e19'

test/integration/targets/lineinfile/tasks/test_string01.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+---
+###################################################################
+# 1st search_string tests
+
+- name: deploy the test file for lineinfile string
+  copy:
+    src: teststring.txt
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the test file was deployed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result is changed
+      - "result.checksum == '481c2b73fe062390afdd294063a4f8285d69ac85'"
+      - "result.state == 'file'"
+
+- name: insert a line at the beginning of the file, and back it up
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: present
+    line: "New line at the beginning"
+    insertbefore: "BOF"
+    backup: yes
+  register: result1
+
+- name: insert a line at the beginning of the file again
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: present
+    line: "New line at the beginning"
+    insertbefore: "BOF"
+  register: result2
+
+- name: Replace a line using string
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: present
+    line: "Thi$ i^ [ine 3"
+    search_string: (\\w)(\\s+)([\\.,])
+  register: backrefs_result1
+
+- name: Replace a line again using string
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: present
+    line: "Thi$ i^ [ine 3"
+    search_string: (\\w)(\\s+)([\\.,])
+  register: backrefs_result2
+
+- command: cat {{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt
+
+- name: assert that the line with backrefs was changed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - backrefs_result1 is changed
+      - backrefs_result2 is not changed
+      - "backrefs_result1.msg == 'line replaced'"
+
+- name: stat the test after the backref line was replaced
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert test checksum matches after backref line was replaced
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - "result.stat.checksum == '8084519b53e268920a46592a112297715951f167'"
+
+- name: remove the middle line using string
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: absent
+    search_string: "Thi$ i^ [ine 3"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the line was removed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result is changed
+      - "result.msg == '1 line(s) removed'"
+
+- name: stat the test after the middle line was removed
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert test checksum matches after the middle line was removed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - "result.stat.checksum == '89919ef2ef91e48ad02e0ca2bcb76dfc2a86d516'"
+
+- name: run a validation script that succeeds using string
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: absent
+    search_string: <FilesMatch ".py[45]?$">
+    validate: "true %s"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert that the file validated after removing a line
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result is changed
+      - "result.msg == '1 line(s) removed'"
+
+- name: stat the test after the validation succeeded
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert test checksum matches after the validation succeeded
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - "result.stat.checksum == 'ba9600b34febbc88bfb3ca99cd6b57f1010c19a4'"
+
+- name: run a validation script that fails using string
+  lineinfile:
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+    state: absent
+    search_string: "This is line 1"
+    validate: "/bin/false %s"
+  register: result
+  ignore_errors: yes
+
+- name: assert that the validate failed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - "result.failed == true"
+
+- name: stat the test after the validation failed
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.txt"
+  register: result
+
+- name: assert test checksum matches the previous after the validation failed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - "result.stat.checksum == 'ba9600b34febbc88bfb3ca99cd6b57f1010c19a4'"
+
+# End of string tests
+###################################################################

test/integration/targets/lineinfile/tasks/test_string02.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+---
+###################################################################
+# 2nd search_string tests
+
+- name: Deploy the teststring.conf file
+  copy:
+    src: teststring.conf
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the teststring.conf file was deployed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result is changed
+      - result.checksum == '6037f13e419b132eb3fd20a89e60c6c87a6add38'
+      - result.state == 'file'
+
+# Test instertafter
+- name: Insert lines after with string
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+    search_string: "{{ item.regexp }}"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    insertafter: "{{ item.after }}"
+  with_items: "{{ test_befaf_regexp }}"
+  register: _multitest_5
+
+- name: Do the same thing again and check for changes
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+    search_string: "{{ item.regexp }}"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    insertafter: "{{ item.after }}"
+  with_items: "{{ test_befaf_regexp }}"
+  register: _multitest_6
+
+- name: Assert that the file was changed the first time but not the second time
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - item.0 is changed
+      - item.1 is not changed
+  with_together:
+    - "{{ _multitest_5.results }}"
+    - "{{ _multitest_6.results }}"
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file contents match what is expected
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result.stat.checksum == '06e2c456e5028dd7bcd0b117b5927a1139458c82'
+
+- name: Do the same thing a third time without string and check for changes
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    insertafter: "{{ item.after }}"
+  with_items: "{{ test_befaf_regexp }}"
+  register: _multitest_7
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file was changed when no string was provided
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - item is not changed
+  with_items: "{{ _multitest_7.results }}"
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file contents match what is expected
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result.stat.checksum == '06e2c456e5028dd7bcd0b117b5927a1139458c82'
+
+# Test insertbefore
+- name: Deploy the test.conf file
+  copy:
+    src: teststring.conf
+    dest: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the teststring.conf file was deployed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result is changed
+      - result.checksum == '6037f13e419b132eb3fd20a89e60c6c87a6add38'
+      - result.state == 'file'
+
+- name: Insert lines before with string
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+    search_string: "{{ item.regexp }}"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    insertbefore: "{{ item.before }}"
+  with_items: "{{ test_befaf_regexp }}"
+  register: _multitest_8
+
+- name: Do the same thing again and check for changes
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+    search_string: "{{ item.regexp }}"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    insertbefore: "{{ item.before }}"
+  with_items: "{{ test_befaf_regexp }}"
+  register: _multitest_9
+
+- name: Assert that the file was changed the first time but not the second time
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - item.0 is changed
+      - item.1 is not changed
+  with_together:
+    - "{{ _multitest_8.results }}"
+    - "{{ _multitest_9.results }}"
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file contents match what is expected
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result.stat.checksum == 'c3be9438a07c44d4c256cebfcdbca15a15b1db91'
+
+- name: Do the same thing a third time without string and check for changes
+  lineinfile:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+    line: "{{ item.line }}"
+    insertbefore: "{{ item.before }}"
+  with_items: "{{ test_befaf_regexp }}"
+  register: _multitest_10
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file was changed when no string was provided
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - item is not changed
+  with_items: "{{ _multitest_10.results }}"
+
+- name: Stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}/teststring.conf"
+  register: result
+
+- name: Assert that the file contents match what is expected
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - result.stat.checksum == 'c3be9438a07c44d4c256cebfcdbca15a15b1db91'
+
+# End of string tests
+###################################################################