xml module: Better change detection, improved tests (#28460)

This PR includes:

- Improvements to change-detection by comparing 2 objectified XML trees
- Implement better integration tests by comparing 2 files using copy

lib/ansible/modules/files/xml.py

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ module: xml
 short_description: Manage bits and pieces of XML files or strings
 description:
 - A CRUD-like interface to managing bits of XML files.
-- You might also be interested in a brief tutorial from U(http://www.w3schools.com/xpath/).
+- You might also be interested in a brief tutorial from U(http://www.w3schools.com/xpath/)
+  and U(https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/XPath).
 version_added: '2.4'
 options:
   path:
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ requirements:
 - lxml >= 2.3.0
 notes:
 - Use the C(--check) and C(--diff) options when testing your expressions.
+- The diff output is automatically pretty-printed, so may not reflect the actual file content, only the file structure.
 - This module does not handle complicated xpath expressions, so limit xpath selectors to simple expressions.
 - Beware that in case your XML elements are namespaced, you need to use the C(namespaces) parameter.
 - Namespaces prefix should be used for all children of an element where namespace is defined, unless another namespace is defined for them.
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from io import BytesIO
 
 try:
-    from lxml import etree
+    from lxml import etree, objectify
     HAS_LXML = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_LXML = False
@@ -256,6 +258,12 @@ _RE_SPLITSUBLAST = re.compile("^(.*)/(" + _NSIDENT + ")\\[(.*)\\]$")
 _RE_SPLITONLYEQVALUE = re.compile("^(.*)/text\\(\\)=" + _XPSTR + "$")
 
 
+def has_changed(doc):
+    orig_obj = etree.tostring(objectify.fromstring(etree.tostring(orig_doc)))
+    obj = etree.tostring(objectify.fromstring(etree.tostring(doc)))
+    return (orig_obj != obj)
+
+
 def do_print_match(module, tree, xpath, namespaces):
     match = tree.xpath(xpath, namespaces=namespaces)
     match_xpaths = []
@@ -535,34 +543,6 @@ def set_target(module, tree, xpath, namespaces, attribute, value):
     finish(module, tree, xpath, namespaces, changed)
 
 
-def pretty(module, tree):
-    xml_string = etree.tostring(tree, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print'])
-
-    result = dict(
-        changed=False,
-    )
-
-    if module.params['path']:
-        xml_file = module.params['path']
-        xml_content = open(xml_file)
-        try:
-            if xml_string != xml_content.read():
-                result['changed'] = True
-                if not module.check_mode:
-                    if module.params['backup']:
-                        result['backup_file'] = module.backup_local(module.params['path'])
-                    tree.write(xml_file, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print'])
-        finally:
-            xml_content.close()
-
-    elif module.params['xmlstring']:
-        result['xmlstring'] = xml_string
-        if xml_string != module.params['xmlstring']:
-            result['changed'] = True
-
-    module.exit_json(**result)
-
-
 def get_element_text(module, tree, xpath, namespaces):
     if not is_node(tree, xpath, namespaces):
         module.fail_json(msg="Xpath %s does not reference a node!" % xpath)
@@ -633,26 +613,55 @@ def children_to_nodes(module=None, children=[], type='yaml'):
     return [child_to_element(module, child, type) for child in children]
 
 
+def pretty(module, tree):
+    xml_string = etree.tostring(tree, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print'])
+
+    result = dict(
+        changed=False,
+    )
+
+    if module.params['path']:
+        xml_file = module.params['path']
+        xml_content = open(xml_file)
+        try:
+            if xml_string != xml_content.read():
+                result['changed'] = True
+                if not module.check_mode:
+                    if module.params['backup']:
+                        result['backup_file'] = module.backup_local(module.params['path'])
+                    tree.write(xml_file, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print'])
+        finally:
+            xml_content.close()
+
+    elif module.params['xmlstring']:
+        result['xmlstring'] = xml_string
+        # NOTE: Modifying a string is not considered a change !
+        if xml_string != module.params['xmlstring']:
+            result['changed'] = True
+
+    module.exit_json(**result)
+
+
 def finish(module, tree, xpath, namespaces, changed=False, msg="", hitcount=0, matches=tuple()):
 
     result = dict(
         actions=dict(xpath=xpath, namespaces=namespaces, state=module.params['state']),
-        changed=changed,
+        changed=has_changed(tree),
         count=hitcount,
         matches=matches,
         msg=msg,
     )
 
-    if changed and module._diff:
+    if result['changed']:
+        if module._diff:
             result['diff'] = dict(
-            before=etree.tostring(orig_doc, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print']),
-            after=etree.tostring(tree, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print']),
+                before=etree.tostring(orig_doc, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=True),
+                after=etree.tostring(tree, xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=True),
             )
 
         if module.params['path'] and not module.check_mode:
             if module.params['backup']:
                 result['backup_file'] = module.backup_local(module.params['path'])
-
             tree.write(module.params['path'], xml_declaration=True, encoding='UTF-8', pretty_print=module.params['pretty_print'])
 
     if module.params['xmlstring']:
@@ -741,7 +750,6 @@ def main():
         module.fail_json(msg="Error while parsing document: %s (%s)" % (xml_file or 'xml_string', e))
 
     # Ensure we have the original copy to compare
-    if module._diff:
     global orig_doc
     orig_doc = copy.deepcopy(doc)
 

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

@@ -35,34 +35,35 @@
   when: lxml_xpath_attribute_result_attrname
   block:
 
-  - include: test-add-children-elements.yml
-  - include: test-add-children-from-groupvars.yml
-  - include: test-add-children-with-attributes.yml
-  - include: test-add-element-implicitly.yml
-  - include: test-count.yml
-  - include: test-mutually-exclusive-attributes.yml
-  - include: test-remove-attribute.yml
-  - include: test-remove-element.yml
-  - include: test-set-attribute-value.yml
-  - include: test-set-children-elements.yml
-  - include: test-set-children-elements-level.yml
-  - include: test-set-element-value.yml
-  - include: test-set-element-value-empty.yml
-  - include: test-pretty-print.yml
-  - include: test-pretty-print-only.yml
-  - include: test-add-namespaced-children-elements.yml
-  - include: test-remove-namespaced-attribute.yml
-  - include: test-set-namespaced-attribute-value.yml
-  - include: test-set-namespaced-element-value.yml
-  - include: test-get-element-content.yml
-  - include: test-xmlstring.yml
-  - include: test-children-elements-xml.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-children-elements.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-children-from-groupvars.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-children-with-attributes.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-element-implicitly.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-count.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-mutually-exclusive-attributes.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-remove-attribute.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-remove-element.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-attribute-value.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-children-elements.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-children-elements-level.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-element-value.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-element-value-empty.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-pretty-print.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-pretty-print-only.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-namespaced-children-elements.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-remove-namespaced-attribute.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-namespaced-attribute-value.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-namespaced-element-value.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-namespaced-children-elements.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-get-element-content.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-xmlstring.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-children-elements-xml.yml
 
   # Unicode tests
-  - include: test-add-children-elements-unicode.yml
-  - include: test-add-children-with-attributes-unicode.yml
-  - include: test-set-attribute-value-unicode.yml
-  - include: test-count-unicode.yml
-  - include: test-get-element-content.yml
-  - include: test-set-children-elements-unicode.yml
-  - include: test-set-element-value-unicode.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-children-elements-unicode.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-add-children-with-attributes-unicode.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-attribute-value-unicode.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-count-unicode.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-get-element-content.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-children-elements-unicode.yml
+  - include_tasks: test-set-element-value-unicode.yml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-children-elements-unicode.yml

@@ -1,15 +1,29 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
       add_children:
-        - beer: "Окское"
+      - beer: Окское
+    register: add_children_elements_unicode
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-children-elements-unicode.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-elements-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - add_children_elements_unicode.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-elements-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-children-elements.yml

@@ -1,15 +1,29 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
       add_children:
-        - beer: "Old Rasputin"
+      - beer: Old Rasputin
+    register: add_children_elements
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-children-elements.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - add_children_elements.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-children-from-groupvars.yml

@@ -1,14 +1,28 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      add_children: "{{ bad_beers }}"
+      add_children: '{{ bad_beers }}'
+    register: add_children_from_groupvars
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-children-from-groupvars.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-from-groupvars.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - add_children_from_groupvars.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-from-groupvars.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-children-with-attributes-unicode.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
@@ -12,6 +13,19 @@
       - beer:
           name: Окское
           type: экстра
+    register: add_children_with_attributes_unicode
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-children-with-attributes-unicode.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-with-attributes-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - add_children_with_attributes_unicode.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-with-attributes-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-children-with-attributes.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
@@ -12,11 +13,23 @@
       - beer:
           name: Ansible Brew
           type: light
+    register: add_children_with_attributes
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-children-with-attributes.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   # NOTE: This test may fail if lxml does not support predictable element attribute order
   #       So we filter the failure out for these platforms (e.g. CentOS 6)
   #       The module still works fine, we simply are not comparing as smart as we should.
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-with-attributes.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-    register: diff
-    failed_when: diff.rc != 0 and lxml_predictable_attribute_order
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - add_children_with_attributes.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    when: lxml_predictable_attribute_order
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-with-attributes.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-element-implicitly.yml

@@ -1,62 +1,118 @@
 ---
 - name: Setup test fixture
-  copy: src={{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml dest=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+  copy:
+    src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+
 
 - name: Add a phonenumber element to the business element. Implicit mkdir -p behavior where applicable
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/phonenumber value=555-555-1234
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/phonenumber
+    value: 555-555-1234
 
 - name: Add a owner element to the business element, testing implicit mkdir -p behavior 1/2
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/owner/name/last value=Smith
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/owner/name/last
+    value: Smith
 
 - name: Add a owner element to the business element, testing implicit mkdir -p behavior 2/2
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/owner/name/first value=John
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/owner/name/first
+    value: John
 
 - name: Add a validxhtml element to the website element. Note that ensure is present by default and while value defaults to null for elements, if one doesn't specify it we don't know what to do.
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/website/validxhtml
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/website/validxhtml
 
 - name: Add an empty validateon attribute to the validxhtml element. This actually makes the previous example redundant because of the implicit parent-node creation behavior.
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/website/validxhtml/@validateon
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/website/validxhtml/@validateon
 
 - name: Add an empty validateon attribute to the validxhtml element. Actually verifies the implicit parent-node creation behavior.
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/website_bis/validxhtml/@validateon
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/website_bis/validxhtml/@validateon
 
 - name: Add an attribute with a value
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/owner/@dob='1976-04-12'
+  xml:
+     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+     xpath: /business/owner/@dob='1976-04-12'
 
 - name: Add an element with a value, alternate syntax
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath="/business/beers/beer/text()=\"George Killian's Irish Red\"" # note the quote within an XPath string thing
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/beers/beer/text()="George Killian's Irish Red"  # note the quote within an XPath string thing
 
 - name: Add an element without special characters
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/testnormalelement value="xml tag with no special characters" pretty_print=true
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/testnormalelement
+    value: xml tag with no special characters
+    pretty_print: yes
 
 - name: Add an element with dash
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/test-with-dash value="xml tag with dashes" pretty_print=true
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/test-with-dash
+    value: xml tag with dashes
+    pretty_print: yes
 
 - name: Add an element with dot
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/test-with-dash.and.dot value="xml tag with dashes and dots" pretty_print=true
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/test-with-dash.and.dot
+    value: xml tag with dashes and dots
+    pretty_print: yes
 
 - name: Add an element with underscore
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/test-with.dash_and.dot_and-underscores value="xml tag with dashes, dots and underscores" pretty_print=true
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/test-with.dash_and.dot_and-underscores
+    value: xml tag with dashes, dots and underscores
+    pretty_print: yes
 
 - name: Add an attribute on a conditional element
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath="/business/beers/beer[text()=\"George Killian's Irish Red\"]/@color='red'"
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/beers/beer[text()="George Killian's Irish Red"]/@color='red'
 
 - name: Add two attributes on a conditional element
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath="/business/beers/beer[text()=\"Pilsner Urquell\" and @origin='CZ']/@color='blonde'"
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/beers/beer[text()="Pilsner Urquell" and @origin='CZ']/@color='blonde'
 
 - name: Add a owner element to the business element, testing implicit mkdir -p behavior 3/2 -- complex lookup
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml xpath=/business/owner/name[first/text()='John']/middle value=Q
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    xpath: /business/owner/name[first/text()='John']/middle
+    value: Q
 
 - name: Pretty Print this!
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml pretty_print=True
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    pretty_print: yes
+
+- name: Compare to expected result
+  copy:
+    src: results/test-add-element-implicitly.yml
+    dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+  check_mode: yes
+  diff: yes
+  register: comparison
 
 - name: Test expected result
-  command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-element-implicitly.yml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+  #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-element-implicitly.yml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
 
-#
-# Now we repeat the same, just to ensure proper use of namespaces
-#
 
+# Now we repeat the same, just to ensure proper use of namespaces
 - name: Add a phonenumber element to the business element. Implicit mkdir -p behavior where applicable
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
@@ -112,21 +168,21 @@
 - name: Add an element with a value, alternate syntax
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
-    xpath: "/business/a:beers/a:beer/text()=\"George Killian's Irish Red\"" # note the quote within an XPath string thing
+    xpath: /business/a:beers/a:beer/text()="George Killian's Irish Red"  # note the quote within an XPath string thing
     namespaces:
       a: http://example.com/some/namespace
 
 - name: Add an attribute on a conditional element
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
-    xpath: "/business/a:beers/a:beer[text()=\"George Killian's Irish Red\"]/@a:color='red'"
+    xpath: /business/a:beers/a:beer[text()="George Killian's Irish Red"]/@a:color='red'
     namespaces:
       a: http://example.com/some/namespace
 
 - name: Add two attributes on a conditional element
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
-    xpath: "/business/a:beers/a:beer[text()=\"Pilsner Urquell\" and @a:origin='CZ']/@a:color='blonde'"
+    xpath: /business/a:beers/a:beer[text()="Pilsner Urquell" and @a:origin='CZ']/@a:color='blonde'
     namespaces:
       a: http://example.com/some/namespace
 
@@ -142,8 +198,8 @@
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
     xpath: /business/testnormalelement
-    value: "xml tag with no special characters"
-    pretty_print: true
+    value: xml tag with no special characters
+    pretty_print: yes
     namespaces:
       a:  http://example.com/some/namespace
 
@@ -152,8 +208,8 @@
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
     xpath: /business/test-with-dash
-    value: "xml tag with dashes"
-    pretty_print: true
+    value: xml tag with dashes
+    pretty_print: yes
     namespaces:
       a:  http://example.com/some/namespace
 
@@ -161,8 +217,8 @@
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
     xpath: /business/test-with-dash.and.dot
-    value: "xml tag with dashes and dots"
-    pretty_print: true
+    value: xml tag with dashes and dots
+    pretty_print: yes
     namespaces:
       a:  http://example.com/some/namespace
 
@@ -170,10 +226,12 @@
   xml:
     file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
     xpath: /business/test-with.dash_and.dot_and-underscores
-    value: "xml tag with dashes, dots and underscores"
-    pretty_print: true
+    value: xml tag with dashes, dots and underscores
+    pretty_print: yes
     namespaces:
       a:  http://example.com/some/namespace
 
 - name: Pretty Print this!
-  xml: file=/tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml pretty_print=True
+  xml:
+    file: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-implicit.xml
+    pretty_print: yes

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-add-namespaced-children-elements.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add namespaced child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
@@ -12,7 +13,20 @@
         bus: http://test.business
         ber: http://test.beers
       add_children:
-        - beer: "Old Rasputin"
+      - beer: Old Rasputin
+    register: add_namespaced_children_elements
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-namespaced-children-elements.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes 
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-namespaced-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - add_namespaced_children_elements.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-namespaced-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-children-elements-xml.yml

@@ -1,16 +1,30 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element with xml format
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
       input_type: xml
       add_children:
-        - "<beer>Old Rasputin</beer>"
+      - '<beer>Old Rasputin</beer>'
+    register: children_elements
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-add-children-elements.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes·
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - children_elements.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-add-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-count-unicode.yml

@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
 
+
   - name: Count child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
       xpath: /business/beers/beer
-      count: true
+      count: yes
     register: beers
-    failed_when: beers.count != 2
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - beers.changed == false
+      - beers.count == 2

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-count.yml

@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add child element
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers/beer
-      count: true
+      count: yes
     register: beers
-    failed_when: beers.count != 3
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - beers.changed == false
+      - beers.count == 3

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-get-element-content-unicode.yml

@@ -1,21 +1,32 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
 
+
   - name: Get element attributes
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      content: 'attribute'
+      content: attribute
     register: get_element_attribute
-    failed_when: get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating'] is not defined or get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating']['subjective'] != 'да'
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - get_element_attribute.changed == false
+      - get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating'] is defined and get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating']['subjective'] == 'да'
 
   - name: Get element text
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers-unicode.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      content: 'text'
+      content: text
     register: get_element_text
-    failed_when: get_element_text.matches[0]['rating'] != 'десять'
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - get_element_text.changed == false
+      - get_element_text.matches[0]['rating'] == 'десять'

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-get-element-content.yml

@@ -1,21 +1,32 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Get element attributes
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      content: 'attribute'
+      content: attribute
     register: get_element_attribute
-    failed_when: get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating'] is not defined or get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating']['subjective'] != 'true'
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - get_element_attribute.changed == false
+      - get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating'] is defined and get_element_attribute.matches[0]['rating']['subjective'] == 'true'
 
   - name: Get element text
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      content: 'text'
+      content: text
     register: get_element_text
-    failed_when: get_element_text.matches[0]['rating'] != '10'
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - get_element_text.changed == false
+      - get_element_text.matches[0]['rating'] == '10'

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-mutually-exclusive-attributes.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Specify both children to add and a value
     xml:
         path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
@@ -12,4 +13,10 @@
         - child02
         value: conflict!
     register: module_output
-    failed_when: "module_output.failed == 'false'"
+    ignore_errors: yes
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - module_output.changed == false
+      - module_output.failed == true

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-pretty-print-only.yml

@@ -2,10 +2,24 @@
   - name: Setup test fixture
     shell: cat {{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml | sed 's/^[ ]*//g' > /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Pretty print without modification
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-      pretty_print: True
+      pretty_print: yes
+    register: pretty_print_only
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-pretty-print-only.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - pretty_print_only.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-pretty-print.yml

@@ -1,16 +1,30 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Pretty print
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      pretty_print: True
+      pretty_print: yes
       add_children:
-        - beer: "Old Rasputin"
+      - beer: Old Rasputin
+    register: pretty_print
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-pretty-print.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - pretty_print.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-remove-attribute.yml

@@ -1,14 +1,28 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Remove '/business/rating/@subjective'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating/@subjective
-      ensure: absent
+      state: absent
+    register: remove_attribute
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-remove-attribute.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-attribute.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - remove_attribute.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-attribute.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-remove-element.yml

@@ -1,14 +1,28 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Remove '/business/rating'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      ensure: absent
+      state: absent
+    register: remove_element
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-remove-element.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-element.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - remove_element.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-element.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-remove-namespaced-attribute.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Remove namespaced '/bus:business/rat:rating/@attr:subjective'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
@@ -13,7 +14,20 @@
         ber: http://test.beers
         rat: http://test.rating
         attr: http://test.attribute
-      ensure: absent
+      state: absent
+    register: remove_namespaced_attribute
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-remove-namespaced-attribute.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-namespaced-attribute.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - remove_element.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-namespaced-attribute.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-remove-namespaced-element.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Remove namespaced '/bus:business/rat:rating'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
@@ -13,7 +14,20 @@
         ber: http://test.beers
         rat: http://test.rating
         attr: http://test.attribute
-      ensure: absent
+      state: absent
+    register: remove_namespaced_element
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-remove-element.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-element.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - remove_namespaced_element.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-remove-element.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-attribute-value-unicode.yml

@@ -1,16 +1,29 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Set '/business/rating/@subjective' to 'нет'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
       attribute: subjective
-      value: "нет"
+      value: нет
+    register: set_attribute_value_unicode
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-attribute-value-unicode.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-attribute-value-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-    changed_when: False
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_attribute_value_unicode.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-attribute-value-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-attribute-value.yml

@@ -1,16 +1,29 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Set '/business/rating/@subjective' to 'false'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
       attribute: subjective
-      value: "false"
+      value: 'false'
+    register: set_attribute_value
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-attribute-value.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-attribute-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-    changed_when: False
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_attribute_value.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-attribute-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-children-elements-level.yml

@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
-    command: cp {{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    copy:
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+
 
   - name: Set child elements
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      set_children:
+      set_children: &children
         - beer:
-            name: "90 Minute IPA"
+            name: 90 Minute IPA
             alcohol: "0.5"
             _:
               - Water:
@@ -21,7 +24,7 @@
               - Yeast:
                   quantity: 20g
         - beer:
-            name: "Harvest Pumpkin Ale"
+            name: Harvest Pumpkin Ale
             alcohol: "0.3"
             _:
               - Water:
@@ -31,41 +34,41 @@
                   quantity: 25g
               - Yeast:
                   quantity: 20g
+    register: set_children_elements_level
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-children-elements-level.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements-level.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_elements_level.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements-level.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
-  - name: Set child elements
+
+  - name: Set child elements (again)
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      set_children:
-        - beer:
-            name: "90 Minute IPA"
-            alcohol: "0.5"
-            _:
-              - Water:
-                  quantity: 200g
-                  liter: "0.2"
-              - Starch:
-                  quantity: 10g
-              - Hops:
-                  quantity: 50g
-              - Yeast:
-                  quantity: 20g
-        - beer:
-            name: "Harvest Pumpkin Ale"
-            alcohol: "0.3"
-            _:
-              - Water:
-                  quantity: 200g
-                  liter: "0.2"
-              - Hops:
-                  quantity: 25g
-              - Yeast:
-                  quantity: 20g
+      set_children: *children
     register: set_children_again
 
-  - fail:
-      msg: "Setting children is not idempotent!"
-    when: set_children_again.changed
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-children-elements-level.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_again.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-children-elements-unicode.yml

@@ -1,27 +1,46 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
-    command: cp {{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    copy:
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+
 
   - name: Set child elements
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      set_children:
-        - beer: "Окское"
-        - beer: "Невское"
+      set_children: &children
+      - beer: Окское
+      - beer: Невское
+    register: set_children_elements_unicode
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-children-elements-unicode.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_elements_unicode.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
-  - name: Set child elements
-    xml:
-      path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-      xpath: /business/beers
-      set_children:
-        - beer: "Окское"
-        - beer: "Невское"
-    register: set_children_again
 
-  - fail:
-      msg: "Setting children is not idempotent!"
-    when: set_children_again.changed
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-children-elements-unicode.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_again.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-children-elements.yml

@@ -1,27 +1,53 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
-    command: cp {{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    copy:
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+
 
   - name: Set child elements
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      set_children:
-        - beer: "90 Minute IPA"
-        - beer: "Harvest Pumpkin Ale"
+      set_children: &children
+        - beer: 90 Minute IPA
+        - beer: Harvest Pumpkin Ale
+    register: set_children_elements
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-children-elements.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_elements.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
-  - name: Set child elements
+
+  - name: Set child elements (again)
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/beers
-      set_children:
-        - beer: "90 Minute IPA"
-        - beer: "Harvest Pumpkin Ale"
+      set_children: *children
     register: set_children_again
 
-  - fail:
-      msg: "Setting children is not idempotent!"
-    when: set_children_again.changed
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-children-elements.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_again.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-children-elements.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-element-value-empty.yml

@@ -1,14 +1,28 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
-  - name: Set /business/website/address to empty string.
+
+  - name: Set '/business/website/address' to empty string.
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/website/address
       value: ''
+    register: set_element_value_empty
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-element-value-empty.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-element-value-empty.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_element_value_empty.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-element-value-empty.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-element-value-unicode.yml

@@ -1,37 +1,43 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add 2nd '/business/rating' with value 'пять'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business
       add_children:
-        - rating: "пять"
+      - rating: пять
 
   - name: Set '/business/rating' to 'пять'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      value: "пять"
+      value: пять
     register: set_element_first_run
 
   - name: Set '/business/rating' to 'false'... again
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      value: "пять"
+      value: пять
     register: set_element_second_run
 
-  - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-element-value-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-    changed_when: no
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-element-value-unicode.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
-  - name: Test registered 'changed' on run 1 and unchanged on run 2
+  - name: Test expected result
     assert:
       that:
-        - set_element_first_run.changed
-        - not set_element_second_run.changed
-...
+      - set_element_first_run.changed == true
+      - set_element_second_run.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-element-value-unicode.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-element-value.yml

@@ -1,37 +1,43 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Add 2nd '/business/rating' with value '5'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business
       add_children:
-        - rating: "5"
+      - rating: '5'
 
   - name: Set '/business/rating' to '5'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      value: "5"
+      value: '5'
     register: set_element_first_run
 
-  - name: Set '/business/rating' to 'false'... again
+  - name: Set '/business/rating' to '5'... again
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
       xpath: /business/rating
-      value: "5"
+      value: '5'
     register: set_element_second_run
 
-  - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-element-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-    changed_when: no
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-element-value.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
-  - name: Test registered 'changed' on run 1 and unchanged on run 2
+  - name: Test expected result
     assert:
       that:
-        - set_element_first_run.changed
-        - not set_element_second_run.changed
-...
+      - set_element_first_run.changed == true
+      - set_element_second_run.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-element-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-namespaced-attribute-value.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Set namespaced '/bus:business/rat:rating/@attr:subjective' to 'false'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
@@ -14,8 +15,20 @@
         rat: http://test.rating
         attr: http://test.attribute
       attribute: attr:subjective
-      value: "false"
+      value: 'false'
+    register: set_namespaced_attribute_value
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-namespaced-attribute-value.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-namespaced-attribute-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
-    changed_when: no
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_namespaced_attribute_value.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-namespaced-attribute-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-namespaced-children-elements.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+---
+  - name: Setup test fixture
+    copy:
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-xml.xml
+
+  - name: Set child elements
+    xml:
+      path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-xml.xml
+      xpath: /bus:business/ber:beers
+      namespaces:
+        bus: http://test.business
+        ber: http://test.beers
+      set_children:
+      - beer: 90 Minute IPA
+      - beer: Harvest Pumpkin Ale
+
+  - name: Copy state after first set_children
+    copy:
+      src: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-1.xml
+
+  - name: Set child elements again
+    xml:
+      path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-xml.xml
+      xpath: /bus:business/ber:beers
+      namespaces:
+        bus: http://test.business
+        ber: http://test.beers
+      set_children:
+      - beer: 90 Minute IPA
+      - beer: Harvest Pumpkin Ale
+    register: set_children_again
+
+  - name: Copy state after second set_children
+    copy:
+      src: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-2.xml
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-1.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-2.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
+    #command: diff /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-1.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers-2.xml
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - set_children_again.changed == false  # idempotency
+      - set_namespaced_attribute_value.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-set-namespaced-element-value.yml

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 ---
   - name: Setup test fixture
     copy:
-      src: '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml'
+      src: fixtures/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
       dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
 
+
   - name: Set namespaced '/bus:business/rat:rating' to '11'
     xml:
       path: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@
         rat: http://test.rating
         attr: http://test.attribute
       xpath: /bus:business/rat:rating
-      value: "11"
+      value: '11'
     register: set_element_first_run
 
   - name: Set namespaced '/bus:business/rat:rating' to '11' again
@@ -25,15 +26,21 @@
         rat: http://test.rating
         attr: http://test.attribute
       xpath: /bus:business/rat:rating
-      value: "11"
+      value: '11'
     register: set_element_second_run
 
-  - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-namespaced-element-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
-    changed_when: no
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      src: results/test-set-namespaced-element-value.xml
+      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-set-namespaced-element-value.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-namespaced-beers.xml
 
-  - name: Test registered 'changed' on run 1 and unchanged on run 2
+  - name: Test expected result
     assert:
       that:
-        - set_element_first_run.changed
-        - not set_element_second_run.changed
+      - set_element_first_run.changed == true
+      - set_element_second_run.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical

test/integration/targets/xml/tasks/test-xmlstring.yml

@@ -1,31 +1,74 @@
 ---
-  - name: Read from xmlstring
+  # NOTE: Jinja2 templating eats trailing newlines
+  - name: Read from xmlstring (not using pretty_print)
+    xml:
+      xmlstring: "{{ lookup('file', '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml') }}"
+      xpath: .
+    register: xmlresponse
+
+
+  - name: Compare to expected result
+    copy:
+      content: "{{ xmlresponse.xmlstring }}\n"
+      dest: '{{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml'
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
+
+  - name: Test expected result
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - xmlresponse.changed == false
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+
+
+  # NOTE: Jinja2 templating eats trailing newlines
+  - name: Read from xmlstring (using pretty_print)
     xml:
       xmlstring: "{{ lookup('file', '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml') }}"
-      pretty_print: True
+      pretty_print: yes
     register: xmlresponse
 
-  - name: Write result to file
+  - name: Compare to expected result
     copy:
-      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-      content: "{{ xmlresponse.xmlstring }}"
+      content: '{{ xmlresponse.xmlstring }}'
+      dest: '{{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml'
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
+  # FIXME: This change is related to the newline added by pretty_print
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - xmlresponse.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print-only.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+
 
+  # NOTE: Jinja2 templating eats trailing newlines
   - name: Read from xmlstring
     xml:
       xmlstring: "{{ lookup('file', '{{ role_path }}/fixtures/ansible-xml-beers.xml') }}"
       xpath: /business/beers
-      pretty_print: True
+      pretty_print: yes
       add_children:
-        - beer: "Old Rasputin"
+      - beer: Old Rasputin
     register: xmlresponse_modification
  
-  - name: Write result to file
+  - name: Compare to expected result
     copy:
-      dest: /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
-      content: "{{ xmlresponse_modification.xmlstring }}"
+      content: '{{ xmlresponse_modification.xmlstring }}'
+      dest: '{{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print.xml'
+    check_mode: yes
+    diff: yes
+    register: comparison
 
+  # FIXME: This change is related to the newline added by pretty_print
   - name: Test expected result
-    command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - xmlresponse_modification.changed == true
+      - comparison.changed == false  # identical
+    #command: diff -u {{ role_path }}/results/test-pretty-print.xml /tmp/ansible-xml-beers.xml