Azure ARM DataFactory InvalidTemplate the runAfter property not valid; scope must belong to same level - azure

Question

Documenting here what I learned, in case it helps someone else. I had a ARM template implementing a DataFactory pipeline, which had a weird InvalidTemplate error. I am simplifying my template to a contrived bare bones template,
resources: [
{
"name": "blah",
"type": "Microsoft.DataFactory/factories/pipelines",
"apiVersion": "2018-06-01",
"properties": {
"activities": [
{
"name": "Foo",
"type": "SetVariable",
"dependsOn": [],
"userProperties": [],
"typeProperties": {
"variableName": "hi",
"value": {
"value": "int(1)",
"type": "Expression"
}
}
},
{
"name": "CoolIf",
"type": "IfCondition",
"typeProperties": {
"expression": {
"value": "#bool(equals(variables('hi'), 1))",
"type": "Expression"
},
"ifTrueActivities": [
{
"name": "Blarg",
"type": "SetVariable",
"dependsOn": [{"activity": "Foo"}],
"userProperties": [],
"typeProperties": {
"variableName": "okay",
"value": {
"value": "#string(1 + int(variables('hi')))",
"type": "Expression"
}
}
},
],
"ifFalseActivities": []
}
}
]
}
}
]
produced the error message
ErrorCode=InvalidTemplate, ErrorMessage=The template validation
failed: 'The 'runAfter' property of template action 'BlargScope'
is not valid: the action 'FooScope' must belong to same level as
action 'BlargScope'. Available actions on same level: ''
I could not find a good answer online.

Answer 1

After a day of trial and error I realized you can put a dependsOn in the IfCondition parent, so below, just moves the dependsOn from the child Blarg to the parent CoolIf. And then it started working =) .
resources: [
{
"name": "blah",
"type": "Microsoft.DataFactory/factories/pipelines",
"apiVersion": "2018-06-01",
"properties": {
"activities": [
{
"name": "Foo",
"type": "SetVariable",
"dependsOn": [],
"userProperties": [],
"typeProperties": {
"variableName": "hi",
"value": {
"value": "int(1)",
"type": "Expression"
}
}
},
{
"name": "CoolIf",
"type": "IfCondition",
"dependsOn": [{"activity": "Foo"}],
"typeProperties": {
"expression": {
"value": "#bool(equals(variables('hi'), 1))",
"type": "Expression"
},
"ifTrueActivities": [
{
"name": "Blarg",
"type": "SetVariable",
"dependsOn": [],
"userProperties": [],
"typeProperties": {
"variableName": "okay",
"value": {
"value": "#string(1 + int(variables('hi')))",
"type": "Expression"
}
}
},
],
"ifFalseActivities": []
}
}
]
}
}
]
In retrospect I feel silly how simple this was haha.