Timeline - no automation on linking and parenting tasks

[Matej Petek]

Currently, there is no automation in the timeline if a subtask is longer than its parent. And also, if I move the task that is linked to the next task, it only shows the alert if the task overlaps the previous task, but there is no automation to move the task forward. I know that there are third-party plugins that almost all do exactly this, so it is the basic functionality. Does Jira developers have plans to add this kind of behaviour? Because it is really basic, and for a project with a lot of epics, it is really hard to use it when the project is delayed. Jira is a great product, and this is the only reason why our CEO is pushing towards Microsoft Project. The third party plugins are ok, but they are not as good integrated as the default timeline is and that is why we do not want to use it.

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Matej Petek 

Welcome.

I see you are on a premium cloud plan, for the issues you face you have the integrated plans function.

Or are you already using this and tis request is referring to this?

[Matej Petek]

I am not sure that I understand your question, right. Anyway, we checked the Jira Marketplace for this functionality, and almost all of the plugins have this functionality, but then there are other problems with these plugins that we do not like, and that is why we do not want to use them.

We like the functionality and simplicity of your native planning/timeline, but the only problem is that the native Jira timeline does not support automation of moving based on dependencies and sub issues.

There is the problem described:

You have waterfall of epics. Let say 10 that follows when one is finished, another starts. If you have delay in first epic, you need to manually move 9 other epics. Other software moves other 9 epics automatically when the first epic is moved for let say 5 days, but Jira only alerts that the start of the second epic is before the end of the first epic, and then you must manually move all 9 epics for 5 days.

Because this is so basic functionality that I saw on almost every competitive software, I want to know if Jira is considering adding this functionality to there timeline?     

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Matej Petek 

Do you have Jira Cloud premium subscription, you state you do. 

Then you have an option in the top toolbar the shows a "Plans" option.

This is built-in advanced roadmap/timeline functionality.

If you have this option check out this documentation; what-is-advanced-planning 

[Matej Petek]

I tried to find this functionality in documentation but I did not find it anywhere. Anyway, I found this tutorial that said it was not possible: 

https://www.youtube.com/live/XZ9Y63umBYs?si=Z7YNa7ewfhpxxLc0&t=3116 

Please guide me to documentation if this tutorial is wrong.

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Matej Petek 

No the documentation is not wrong.

Jira is not the best tool for planing and certainly not for Waterfall methodology.

But then I would still use it with an app and not MS project

[Matej Petek]

It will be really hard to convince the CEO to use a tool that does not have such a base functionality that everyone else has. The only functionality that he will use is this planning screen, so if this will not work, then I think we will insist on using MS Project.

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Matej Petek 

I get your point, but I also understand the point of Jira.

If you are not in a waterfall, but in a multi team effort on achieving a project, release, build or else.

You wouldn't want to shift related items on changing the date of a linked item as this would cause issue on other teams boards and planning.

Product Managers/Product Owners should discuss.

Simply pushing dates is in my opinion always wrong. I would like to know why the date needs to be shifted and what would be the impact on other teams

But that's my vision.

[Matej Petek]

In other planning software, you can switch between this functionality. Both options are available, so you can simply switch which option suits better for your needs.