Automation selecting random insight asset

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Is there a way to create an automation that will create an issue and select one random insight asset to use in a field?

The asset needs to be random for compliance purposes.

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @DavidBernardoSI1996 -- Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

Although I have never done that before...I wonder if you could use a combination of features of automation for Jira features to do this:

• use math functions, including RANDOM, to generate a random number https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/jira-smart-values-math-expressions/#Functions  I see no additional documentation on that function from Atlassian and so do not know how "random" it is.
• use that number to select an asset using either if/else conditions or the Lookup Table feature: https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Automation-articles/New-Automation-action-Create-lookup-table/ba-p/2311333
• create your issue with the randomly selected asset

Kind regards,
Bill

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Hi thanks for the help, I've almost got the solution, there is just one last problem trying to access the index I want in a lookupObject.

First I'm creating a lookupObject, then I use the size of that lookupObject to get a random number between 1 and the total number of entries of the object, like so:

After that I use another variable to do minus(1) since a want a value between 0 to the size of the object -1 (to access the index)

Then when I'm creating the issue I'm trying to use the applicationIndexFinal to access the desired index in the lookupObjects:

But this is the part that is not working, when I create the issue both the {{lookupObjects}}, the {{applicationIndex}} and {{applicationIndexFinal}} write values on the description, but not the {{lookupObjects.get(applicationIndexFinal)}}.

Example:

lookupObjects will write: Server1, Server2, Server3

applicationIndex will write: 2

applicationIndexFinal will write: 1

And then nothing more is written.

How can I use the applicationIndexFinal to access the value I want inside the lookupObjects?

Note: I'm writing in the description for testing purposes the value should then be inserted in the application field bellow.

[Bill Sheboy]

I believe that get() for Lookup Objects takes a numeric parameter, so try converting with asNumber.

And...I think you can do the index calculation in one variable if you subtract after the CEILING() function in the math expression.

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Thanks for your fast response, I've already tried this:

{{lookupObjects.get(applicationIndexFinal.asNumber)}}, but still nothing :/

[Bill Sheboy]

I wonder...unfortunately some smart value functions will not accept a created variable as a parameter.  Let's try this...

• write that value to the audit log to confirm it is valid: {{applicationIndexFinal.asNumber}}
• enter a hard-coded value in that get() to confirm it works as you expect

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Hello, this were the results of the test:

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

It seems it doesn't allow the use of the created variable... Is there any work around?

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Using this the log is empty:

[Bill Sheboy]

Argh...this is one of those cases where a smart value function cannot take a variable (or smart value) as a parameter.  I'll ponder a bit for other work-arounds, and until then you may want to work with your site admin to ping the support team about this one:

https://support.atlassian.com/contact/#/

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Hello, haven't commented on this issue for a bit, but I've talked with support and there is a solution with the use of a lookup table with the lookupObjects and using the random function for the key. Thanks your help! :)

[Bill Sheboy]

I am glad to learn the support team offered an idea...and I believe the only reason that will work is Lookup Table's implementation of the get() function can take a parameter, unlike most of the other automation rule functions.

[Sana]

@DavidBernardoSI1996 Can you explain how did you do it with lookup tables ?

[Aleksandra Leesment]

+1 for Sana's comment

[DavidBernardoSI1996]

Sorry for the long delay, but I've only seen the question about the solution today.

First get the list of assets from which you want to randomly select:

Then create a lookuptable, like so:

This is the code inside the Value field:

{{#=}}CEILING(RANDOM()*({{lookupObjects.size}} - 1)){{/}}

After that, to access the randomly selected asset use this:

Hope this helps!