Use an Automation Rule within the project to message the user

[Jeanne Howe]

We have a project that would like to set a rule to ensure a field is not empty when transitioning to the Done status. If the field is empty, they would like to display a message indicating the field must contain a value before it can be transitioned.

I know this can be done at the workflow level, but do not see any way of displaying a message as part of a project automation rule. Can this be done?

[Jack Brickey]

Automation rules happen after-the-fact not during a transition so this cannot be achieved.  Why do you want to use automation rather than Validator on WF? Maybe explaining your goal a bit will allow a different solution.

[Jeanne Howe]

Hi Jack,

As a regulated house, we use global workflows. Since the workflows are global, as a general rule, we do not support individual project specific rules. Doing so could result in so many rules that our workflows are no longer scaleable/maintainable, not to mention the impact to performance.

The automation rules at the project level allow me to set a condition that will verify the value of a field (empty, not empty, equal to, etc) during a transition. During this validation, I should be able to display a message in regard to the field, just as I can at the workflow function.

The rule would something like this:

Action: Transition to Done

If [custom field] is not EMPTY

     Transition to Done

Else

      Display message: [custom field] field must contain a value

I would like to display the message rather than sending a notification (via email, slack, etc). Sending a notification would require the user to leave Jira to search for a notification that explains why they issue did not transition as expected by the user.

[nmenere]

Unfortunately @Jack Brickey is right and means this use case cannot be supported. It is only after the issue has been fully transitioned as in a new state that we receive the "Issue transitioned event" and kick off the appropriate rules.

I have seen some customers transition the issue back to the previous state if a condition isn't met. In you r case it would be:

Action: Transition to Done

If [custom field] is EMPTY

     Transition to In Progress

Cheers,
Nick

[Jeanne Howe]

Thanks Nick, Jack.

Unfortunately, this will not be an option for us. Our workflows use Global Transitions, so there is no way of knowing where the issue may have transitioned from. Maybe In Progress, but may also be from Requested, Ready for Acceptance, or any other status in the workflow.

Plus, if I transition the issue back without any kind of message on the screen, my users are simply going to keep hitting the transition button, over and over again, without understanding why it keeps transitioning back. 

Jeanne