How to get reusable workflow output variables in main workflow

Question

My main workflow mainjob1 calls a reusable workflow reusable_workflow_job and then proceeds to execute its mainjob2

Workflow level variable XML_PATH is passed to and used by reusable workflow which generates a variable $returnvalue" i.e. app_name=myapp1 by calling a powershell getXMLkey-value.ps1 and is set to GITHUB_OUTPUT using echo "$returnvalue" >> $env:GITHUB_OUTPUT.

Inside the reusable workflow the App Name in reusable workflow: ${{ steps.run-scriptsx.outputs.app_name }}" is printed successfully as App Name in reusable workflow: myapp1

The flow then returns to main workflow mainjob2 where I wish to now print the same app_name i.e myapp1 but it does not print anything here: echo "App name in mainjob2: ${{ needs.reusuable_workflow_job.outputs.app_name }}"

How can I print app_name as myapp1 in main workflow's mainjob2?

---

Below are my workflow files:

Main workflow file:

    env:
      XML_PATH: "\\\\remotehost7\\$D\\Logs\\test.xml"
    on:
      push: main
    jobs:
      mainjob1:
        runs-on: "mylocal_windows"
        outputs:
          userxmlpath: ${{ steps.step1.outputs.userxmlpath }}
        steps:
          - name: Print variable
            id: step1
            run: |
              echo "user XML path: ${{ env.XML_PATH }}"
              echo "userxmlpath=${{ env.XML_PATH }}">> $env:GITHUB_OUTPUT
    
      reusuable_workflow_job:
        needs:
          - mainjob1
        uses: knowyrtech/betech/.github/workflows/getvalue.yml@mm365
        with:
          xml_Path: "${{ needs.mainjob1.outputs.userxmlpath }}"
        secrets: inherit
    
      mainjob2:
        needs: 
          - reusuable_workflow_job
        runs-on: "mylocal_windows"
        steps:
          - name: Back to main workflow
            run: |
              echo "App name in mainjob2: ${{ needs.reusuable_workflow_job.outputs.app_name }}"

Reusable workflow:

    name: Read XML
    on:
      workflow_call:
        inputs:
          xml_Path:
            required: true
            default: '\\remotehost5\$D\Logs\test.xml'
    jobs:
      Extract-keys:
        runs-on: "mylocal_windows"
        steps:
          - name: Checkout reusable repo
            uses: actions/checkout@v3
            with:
              repository: knowyrtech/betech
              ref: mm365
              path: "${{ github.workspace }}/betech"
              token: ${{ secrets.my_automated_token }}
    
          - name: Call powershell
            id: run-scriptsx
            run: | 
              set-location "${{ github.workspace}}\betech\scripts"
              $returnvalue=& "./getXMLkey-value.ps1"
              echo "$returnvalue"
              echo "$returnvalue" >> $env:GITHUB_OUTPUT
             
          - name: Inside reusable workflow
            run: |
              echo "App Name in reusable workflow: ${{ steps.run-scriptsx.outputs.app_name }}"

Answer 1

According to the official documentation, you need to add the outputs configuration to your Read XML reusable workflow, in the Extract-keys job, as well as at the workflow_call level:

on:
  workflow_call:
    # Map the workflow outputs to job outputs
    outputs:
      app_name:
        description: "app name description"
        value: ${{ jobs.Extract-keys.outputs.app_name }}  

jobs:
  Extract-keys:
    runs-on: "mylocal_windows"
    outputs:  # HERE
      app_name: ${{ steps.run-scriptsx.outputs.returnvalue }}
    steps:
       
       [ ... ]

       - name: Call powershell
         id: run-scriptsx
         run: | 
           set-location "${{ github.workspace}}\betech\scripts"
           $returnvalue=& "./getXMLkey-value.ps1"
           echo "$returnvalue"
           echo "$returnvalue" >> $env:GITHUB_OUTPUT

Otherwise, you won't be able to access the output value as expected in your mainjob2:

jobs:
  [ ... ] 
  mainjob2:
    needs: 
      - reusuable_workflow_job
    runs-on: "mylocal_windows"
    steps:
      - name: Back to main workflow
        run: |
          echo "App name in mainjob2: ${{ needs.reusable_workflow_job.outputs.app_name }}"

I've made an example here:

• workflow run
• main workflow printing reusable outputs
• reusable workflow with outputs

Observation: This other thread is similar and might give some insights as well)