How do I change the status and resolution of a bug?

[Karl Kalantari]

My team is having trouble with doing just this.  Only one person in the team, the person whom the bug is automatically assigned to when it is raised is able to change the resolution, but both the person the raised and issue and the one that is working on it, as well as other PM's that are organizing the issues should be able to change these fields. I was able to add new statuses but I'm not able to select them when I raise a bug or if I verify an issue, I would like the status to be Verified as Fixed. How do I change the status to one that I feel best represents the status of the bug. Please let us know how to change these fields as they are critical to our bug tracking efforts. 

[Sathish Kumar]

As an JIRA admin when i change the status of a bug, i'm getting the below error. Can someone explain me what's the problem and how to resolve it ?.

"It seems that you have tried to perform an illegal workflow operation.

If you think this message is wrong, please contact your Jira administrators."

Thanks,

Sathish

[Jayashree bai]

It is permission related issue. U might not have a permission to do that particular operation in jira.

[Karl Kalantari]

Hi Walter: 

I'm not even sure what a post function is or how to associate a screen with the resolution field on it with the transition or "add a validator to the transition instead of the type Fields required to make sure the resolution field becomes a required field." Sorry I don't understand what you are talking about. Can you please give me easy to follow directions? 

[Walter Buggenhout]

Hi @Karl Kalantari,

If your resolution is being set automatically, this is because it is being done through a post function in your workflow. If you investigate the transition where your bug is being resolved, you will find a line stating something like "Set resolution to Fixed".

If you want to be able to set the resolution manually, you should remove that post function and instead:

• associate a screen with the resolution field on it with the transition (most likely there will already be a 'resolve issue screen' available. If not, you'll have to create a screen yourself).
• add a validator to the transition instead of the type Fields required to make sure the resolution field becomes a required field.

[Karl Kalantari]

HI Walter and Max: 

I checked and I do have Administrative privileges so I should be able to change the resolution. I read through the documentation and it does explain how the work flow works, but it still does not say anywhere how to change physically go about changing the resolution (i.e. nothing about what screen to go to or what button to push nothing) . We did however figure out how to change the status. It seems that when you change the status the resolution is being automatically picked or  the default setting is being selected which we do not want. We want to be able to set it to what the correct resolution is such as "fixed" and if it is "not to be fixed", "Obsolete", or "not reproducible".

I have worked with Jira before and this was never an issue while using the application, I'm wondering why we are still having trouble with changing the resolution this time around while I'm using the tool. When a bug has work done on it and the work is finished, we should be able to set the resolution to "fixed" and if it is "not to be fixed", "Obsolete", or "not reproducible" we should be able to to set the resolution those resolutions are well, so everyone knows what happened with that bug, whether it was fixed or not, yet we are unable to do so.

The documentation says what the different resolutions are and why you would pick one verses another in the flow chart provided but it does not say how to actually change it. Nothing explains "what button you push?", "what screen you go to", or "what status the bug has to be in". There is nothing explaining this. If it does explain this, please point me and provide me with the exact section and quote it in the comments.  I spoke with the Dev's working on the bugs and they say that the resolution is being selected automatically. They have no control over how to change it. Please help with this issue and explain throughly how to change the resolution. 

[Walter Buggenhout]

Hi @Karl Kalantari,

You are asking about one of the key concepts of Jira here: its powerful workflow engine. To unleash the potential of this very powerful tool, it is crucial that you understand this key concept.

Please have a look at the documentation on Working with Workflows. Everything you need is in there: setting status as part of a Jira workflow and how to deal with the resolution field.

[Karl Kalantari]

Hi Walter: 

Thanks for the information. The link I click gives me an error though, invalid parameter specified. Can you provide a new link or let me know how to access the link you provided?

Thanks

[Karl Kalantari]

This is what I'm seeing when I click the link you provided.

[Walter Buggenhout]

Oops, sorry @Karl Kalantari. My bad. I updated the link. It should be fine now!

[Max Blackmer]

Generally speaking Status is controlled by Workflow transitions and current state.

If you are using JIRA Software you can use the Boards to transition the issue between states.

You can also transition an issue from the Issue Screens. 

This can not be altered by editing the issue.

You may also experience issues if your users do not have the role Administrator or Developer in the project by default security roles in JIRA. This can cause issues if issue permissions is not configured correctly to allow  Transition Issues.