Jira Automation To Parse Description Field

[chadunbehaun]

I am trying to write a very simple automation to parse the description field from a story that contains the text 1:2:3:4 and use the Log action to output its empty status, size, and each list item.  What I am seeing is that when I run it, I can output the string in the description, it tells me the smart value is not empty and I can't output the first list item from the split command when I try {{row.get(0)}}.  Any idea what I am missing?  Every example that I have tried has the same result.

Thanks!!!!

[Bill Sheboy · Accepted solution]

Hi @chadunbehaun 

Created variables are always text type.  And when you split() the Description field, the result is the rows variable gets this:

• first the Description is split into a list of text values: [1, 2, 3, 4]
• and because it is then stored in text, it implicitly performs a join(", ")
• with a result of: 1, 2, 3, 4

When you later want to return to a list, the split() command is needed again.  For example, to get the size:

{{rows.split(", ").size}}

Tip: The implicit join() is undocumented type conversion behavior, and so I recommend explicitly adding a join() with your desired delimiter to always know what is in there.

Kind regards,
Bill

[chadunbehaun]

Thank you for the quick response.  Very much appreciated.  That being the case, then how do you reference a row in a advanced branch then?  Assuming the smart value for the branch is still {{issue.description.split(":")}}?

[Bill Sheboy]

Yes, that is one way to do it:

• advanced branch:
  • smart value: {{issue.description.split(":")}}
  • name: varItem

And inside the branch, reference the item as {{varItem}}

Please note well: this assumes there is at least a non-empty Description field with a colon ":" delimiter and no newlines in the field.

• When no data is in the field, the branch will not process anything
• When the branch contains newlines, it may not split() as you expect

The solution is to always test to confirm the behavior matches what you plan.