chef only_if attribute equals true

Question

Problem: I have a chef statement that should only run if the attribute is "true". But it runs every time.

Expected Behavior: When default[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install] = "false" dotnet4 should not be installed.

Actual Behavior: No matter what the attribute is set to, it installs dotnet4.

My code:

attribute file:

default[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install] = "false"

recipe file:

windows_package "dotnet4" do
    only_if node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install]=='true'
    source "#{node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_URL]}"
    installer_type :custom
    action :install
    options "/quiet /log C:\\chef\\installLog4.txt /norestart /skipmsuinstall"
end

Answer 1

Guards that run Ruby must be enclosed in a block {} otherwise Chef will try to run the string in the default interpreter (usually bash).

windows_package "dotnet4" do
    only_if        { node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install] == 'true' }
    source         node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_URL]
    installer_type :custom
    action         :install
    options        "/quiet /log C:\\chef\\installLog4.txt /norestart /skipmsuinstall"
end

Check if you need boolean true instead of "true"

Also, use the plain variable name (for source) unless you need to interpolate other data with the string quoting.

Answer 2

That is a Ruby conditional, so you need to use a block for your not_if:

only_if { node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install]=='true' }

(Please take note of the added {}). You can also use the do..end syntax for multiline conditions:

only_if do
  node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install]=='true'
end

Finally, please make sure your value is the String "true" and not the value true (see the difference). In Ruby, true is a boolean (just like false), but "true" is a string (just like "foo") Checking if true == "true" will return false.