Rule fails and still deletes issue

[Dennis_H]

I have a rule set to based on a field setting to clone an issue then delete the original. Problem is that if the clone fails for some reason (in this case it was because the reporter was an inactive user) the original issue is still deleted. Is there a way to set the rule that if there are any errors to not delete the original issue?

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Dennis_H 

Without seeing your rule...and depending upon its structure/design...

If you are doing the clone outside of a branch, the rule will run one action at a time.  And so you could add a re-fetch after the clone to slow the rule, and then use a condition to look for the new issue.  Then only delete the source issue if the clone was found.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Dennis_H]

Its a rule to move a subtask from one parent task to another parent task (by selecting from a dropdown field in the subtask named Move issue to:). In the JQL it checks if the selection is the same parent and won't do anything if the selected parent matches the parent it's already in.

[Simmo]

Ouch, thats a bit nasty. @Bill Sheboy was on the right path with this one.

I suggest that you use an advanced condition here:

Do this after the clone. If the clone is successful then you'll have a created issue smart value. Check if it does not equal empty and then you'll only continue the rule if it was successful.

Note: Don't type empty into the second value input, just leave it empty.

FWIW, we revisited whether components should continue or stop rule execution on failure some years ago. We were set to change it so that things like this would not happen but we didn't because there were probably a lot of rules that relied on that behaviour. All new components will stop the rule if they error. A little history for you :D

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Dennis_H 

When asking for help with a rule it is very helpful to us for you to post a copy of the rule. 

This can probably be handled with branching or a condition, but it is hard to say without seeing your rule.