group_vars and host_vars ignored when placed inside inventory folder (as per Ansible documentation)

[hagaram]

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Bug Summary

When I create a job template, using some static inventory from repository (inventory --> add --> sync from source control), which is the same repository where also playbooks and group_vars/host_reside... the vars are ignored when the folders are placed inside invetory folder... unless I move them to playbooks folder.

I can't even, because my variables are encrypted with Ansible vault, but I'm unable to select vault secret for inventory sync job. (there asi already like a dozen issues reporting this, so I won't be creating new one for that).

How exactly does AWX work with variables/ Where does it read variables from ? I don't really need to import the variables to awx, as they are already in the repository.

AWX version

24.6.1

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Installation method

kubernetes

Modifications

no

Ansible version

No response

Operating system

No response

Web browser

No response

Steps to reproduce

Run some playbook, with group_vars and host_vars being folders being inside the directory, where the static inventory is stored.

After moving the group_vars and host_vars to playbook directory, they are read properly - but this is something we don't want to do for various reasons.

Expected results

Ansible should read the variables.

Actual results

Ansible ignores the variables.

Additional information

No response

[hagaram]

Anyone?

[robschm]

I have exactly the same problem.
It only works, when the variables are inside the playbooks directory.

This is my directory structure:

inventory/
  group_vars/
    all/
       all.yml
  inventory
playbooks/
  test_group_vars.yml
ansible.cfg

If I put my inventory file and group_vars on root level it does not work either.