Update file.py's initial_diff() to list existing when state: absent (#56353)

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

@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
   when: selinux_installed.stdout != ""
   ignore_errors: true
 
-- name: remote directory foobar
+- name: remove directory foobar
   file: path={{output_dir}}/foobar state=absent
 
 - name: remove file foo.txt
@@ -258,6 +258,24 @@
 - name: copy directory structure over
   copy: src=foobar dest={{output_dir}}
 
+- name: check what would be removed if folder state was absent and diff is enabled
+  file: 
+    path: "{{ output_dir }}"
+    state: absent
+  check_mode: yes
+  diff: yes
+  register: folder_absent_result
+
+- name: assert that the absent check lists expected files and folders
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - folder_absent_result.diff.before.path_content is defined
+      - test_folder in folder_absent_result.diff.before.path_content.directories
+      - test_file in folder_absent_result.diff.before.path_content.files
+  vars:
+    test_folder: "{{ folder_absent_result.path }}/foobar"
+    test_file: "{{ folder_absent_result.path }}/foobar/fileA"
+
 - name: Change ownership of a directory with recurse=no(default)
   file: path={{output_dir}}/foobar owner=1234