I am trying to use Structure to add links to my Initiatives -> Epics -> Story -> Tasks

[Brian Feeny]

I am using Jira for Kansan, and I basically have the hierarchy of Initiatives -> Epics -> Story -> Tasks.  I would like links automatically created between these when I move them under another, or if I create them under another.

I created all my issues, with no links.  I put them onto the structure, and I put them in proper order and hierarchy.

Initiative
    Epic
        Story
            Task

Then I clicked on Initiative.  Clicked Automation, then Extend, then "Linked Issues", 
Link type: accompanies

Link Direction: parent issue accompanies sub-issue

Extend Levels: All levels up to 10

Allow changes via Structure: checked

So I already had Epic/Story/Tasks in place when I did this.  I then click on those items and I don't see anywhere it shows links. 

[David Niro · Accepted solution]

Hello @Brian Feeny ,

David from ALM Works here.  Welcome to the Community!

There are a few ways to build a structure, Manually, using Automation and a combination of the two.

From what you have described, it appears that you have built the entire structure Manually. This gives you a lot of flexibility on how you view your hierarchy, but it does prevent us from creating the relationships you can visualize throughout the rest of Jira.

What I believe you will want to do is build the Structure using only Automation.

The First step will be to create a new structure (save the existing one for hierarchy reference).
Next, use an Insert Generator to identify your Initiatives.
Lastly, use the Extend Generator you have added to the structure you built manually

At this point, you should just see a list of your Initiatives with no issues underneath. Now, we will make use of Structure's Double Grid Mode. In the right panel, you can select the structure you built originally.

From here, it's just a matter of dragging the issues to their correct spot in the new structure. Each time you move an issue from the right to left panel, it will ask you if you want to create the "accompanies" issue link, click the link to indicate that you do, and repeat.

All of the links I provided above are for our Cloud version of Structure. If you are using an On-Prem version, you can use the drop down option at the top of the page to switch. Though, everything here does translate 1:1 for the most part.

Please let me know if this helps!

Best,
David

[Brian Feeny]

Thanks David.  I created a Insert and it only adds my Initiatives.  I think created the Extend.  I clicked on the main root of the Structure when I created the Extend, which placed it above the Initiative insert, otherwise it would complain and say "Cannot add generators to Dynamic Content".

I grab an Epic from my Right side pane, and drag it under an initiative and it says "Cannot add items to JQL query result.  You can enable manual adjustments in the structure configuration".

[Brian Feeny]

Ok I see I had to make sure I was indenting the Epics so it was not on same level as Initiative and now that works.

After I dragged in a few Epics, I realized I wanted one initiative to come after another (they had basically inserted into the wrong order) and when I went to move an initiative it complained and said "Cannot move issues inside JQL query result". You can enable manual adjustments in the structure configuration".

So like for example Initiative B was before Initiative A, and I just wanted to move it after Initiative A.

[Brian Feeny]

I turned on the Manual Control and was able to re-arrange my Initiatives, I am hoping that was the correct thing to do.

[David Niro]

@Brian Feeny ,

Glad to hear you worked out the issue link creation!

Regarding the Manual Adjustments, I would advise turning that off and adding a Sort Generator instead.

The two most popular ways are to sort by Rank (Jira rank) or Manual Reorder (this is different than Manual Adjustments.

The former is useful if you want changes in your structure to reflect on your boards / other structures and vice versa.  The latter is useful if you do not want any Jira updates to happen when you reorder in your structure.

Please let me know if this helps!

Best,
David