Automation For Jira is not working for removing Bulk watchers

[Rajesh Konda]

Hi Team,

I have requirement to remove a user from watcher list from a bulk of ticket's. Created a automation and selected schedule event then under new rule choose manage watchers and placed user name under remove user field and saved the automation. when i click on run rule it showing rule was success but user still visible on watcher list. can you please help me out how to resolve the issue. Thanks

Automation works if we check "Remove all existing watchers", but not working for a single user.

Regards,
Rajesh

[Bill Sheboy · Accepted solution]

Hi @Rajesh Konda 

If you open up the issue the rule says it changed and check the history, what does it show about the change?

Best regards,
Bill

[Rajesh Konda]

Hi @Bill Sheboy  Thanks for the response, Yes i have checked same but no changes are displayed on ticket.   

[Bill Sheboy]

Interesting... I just checked a company-managed and a team-managed project, and changes to watchers no longer appear in the history.  I am fairly certain this is a change in behavior.  Regardless of that...

I recreated your rule in a team-managed project (next-gen) and it worked for me to delete a specifically named watcher, and leaving the rule actor as Automation for Jira.  I believe changing watchers for team-managed projects requires at least project admin permission.

My JQL for the scheduled rule checked:

project = myProject AND watchers > 0

What JQL are you using, and who is the rule actor?

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Rajesh Konda 

Just following up to ask if this is a team-managed project.  If so, it appears that only project-admin (or higher) permissions can remove the watcher at this time: https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JSWCLOUD-18480  I did not notice this in my test as my permissions were site admin.

If you have at least project admin permission, consider changing the rule actor to yourself and see how that helps.  Thanks!

Kind regards,
Bill

[Rajesh Konda]

Hi @Bill Sheboy  No, it was a Next-Gen project. I created the automation and the actor, owner both are on my name, and I have full access to the instance as I'm the Organization Administrator. I'm not sure what the problem was last year, but it didn't function. However, it is now working tested few min back on next-generation, team-manager, and company-managed projects. Perhaps there was a Glitch at the moment. Thank you very much for your help and support.

[Bill Sheboy]

I am glad it is working now.

FYI that "next-gen" projects are now called "team-managed" and the "classic" ones are "company-managed".  I try searching for both old/new names when looking for posts, defects, etc. to find answers.  Thanks!

[John Funk]

Hi @Rajesh Konda  - Did you ever get this to work?

[Rajesh Konda]

Nope @John Funk , Removed user manually from tickets. Never tried later

[Claudio Gonzalez]

Hi Rajesh. 

First you need verified who execute the rule, and after you need check the "Permission Scheme". 

without permission may be cannot remove the watchers.

[Rajesh Konda]

Hi @Claudio Gonzalez  Thanks for info, I felt same but the automation was written on Next-Gen project. Don't know where to check the permission, on access tab i have given admin rights to my email and over automation changed actor as my email then too it is not working.  I think if issue relates to permission then it would have thrown an error but here automation showing as success. Exactly don't know what could be the issue can you please suggest any alternate way to remove user. Thanks