Can I display text from one Jira issue in another Jira issue without actually copying it.

[Jef Lee]

Our company uses Jira Cloud to manage software production. We have programs and subroutines on the database host and UI programs and subroutines on the display host. In order to ensure we have a cohesive and integral release, we create a Jira issue for the display components and a linked Jira issue for the database components. The development, production and release paths will continue to differ for some time to come - hence the two Jira issues.

The acceptance criteria are always in the UI Jira issue. So we have sometimes copied these to the linked issue. This does, however, lead to differences where the UI one is changed.

Is there a way to display the acceptance criteria from the UI issue in the linked issue without actually copying them, AND, without clicking a link in the linked issue and going to another page?

If this feature is available it would save time and screen real estate. It would be great!

Can it be done?

Jef

[Michael Andolfatto · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jef Lee ,

Out of the box, I don't believe this functionality exists. Jira Cloud does offer some handy automation though, especially in the scope of a single project. Do the UI and DB issues currently live in the same project?

In either case, you can create an automation rule to monitor the UI issue's Acceptance Criteria field, and any time it's modified, you can update the field of the linked DB issue.

[Jef Lee]

Thanks for your response Michael

Yes they are in the same project. 

I don't know what an automation rule is. Do I just look into the documentation? Does it go into the issue that gets edited and then tell the user to copy to the linked issue? Or, does it go into the linked issue and advise me when I display the linked issue that I need to refresh the copied acceptance criteria?

I appreciate your comments but I do not want to take up too much of your time. Feel free to tell me to look into the docco.

Jef

[Michael Andolfatto]

No problem at all, I'm happy to help.

Atlassian recently integrated Jira Cloud with a powerful automation app that I highly suggest you read up on: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/guides/expand-jira/automation

In essence, you define (at a minimum) a trigger and an action, likely with a specified condition.

So for your use case, you could have the automation monitor your project for changes made to the Acceptance Criteria field, and whenever it changes value the app can automatically push that new value to the linked DB issue and you'll know the Acceptance Criteria field is always up to date.

There are quite a few things you can do with the app, you'll just need to be the administrator of the project in order to create or manage rules.

There are also unlimited rule executions allowed within the scope of a single project. If your rule affects issues in more than one project however, there is a monthly cap. (~500 or so I believe, depending on your plan)

[Jef Lee]

Thank you very much Michael. I will try that. It sounds perfect.

Jef