Github actions does not support variables in uses keyword for resusable workflows

[sy185109]

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Team, Github actions workflow seems to be throwing up an error whenever we put a variable resolving in the uses keyword, it throws an error as invalid owner name in the workflow.

How can I manage to pass the owner name through variables in the uses keyword ?

[sy185109]

@queenofcorgis Please help me with the above query.

[queenofcorgis]

Hi there,

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[sy185109]

I apologize for the action, I was in an urgent need of the answer. Thanks for letting me know, I would strictly abide by the process from now.

[github-actions[bot]]

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[ChrisPage-AT]

I am also running into this issue. I have a private repo with a bunch of reusable workflows. I'm trying to write unit tests for some of them, but I run into the issue that uses: cannot contain any variables. Below is my code:

unit-tests:
    name: "Unit Test - ${{ matrix.test }}"
    runs-on: linux-small
    needs: 
      - set-env-vars
    strategy:
      fail-fast: false
      matrix:
        test: ${{fromJson(needs.set-env-vars.outputs.tests)}}
    env:
      path: ${{ matrix.test }}
    steps:
      - name: Checkout Code
        uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Run Unit Test - ${{ matrix.test }}
        id: unit-test
        uses: ./${{ matrix.test }}/test.yml

The previous job determines which reusable workflow folders have test.yml files and passes them on to be used in the matrix strategy. Everything else about the job looks fine, but the uses: section always comes back as invalid.

Is there any way to accomplish this? Thanks!

[JanneKiiskila]

I think it should work, but I believe the ./ and /test.yml need to be inside the ${{ }}.
You could try this format:

    uses: ${{ ./matrix.test/test.yml }}

and see if that works.

For example with if: clauses all the combinations of the checks need to be inside that same ${{ }} construct.

if: ${{ needs.environment-configuration.outputs.env_up  == 'true' && failure() }}

[ChrisPage-AT]

I just tried that and no dice. Instead of the Unrecognized named-value: 'matrix' error I get with uses: ./${{ matrix.test }}/test.yml, I get Unable to resolve action ${{ ./matrix.test/test.yml }}, repository or version not found and Unexpected symbol: './matrix.test/test.yml'. Located at position 1 within expression: ./matrix.test/test.yml with that change.

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[ChrisPage-AT]

Just because nobody at GitHub has had a chance to look at this question doesn't make it any less valid. I'm happy to provide more information if it is needed.