Automation - copy the value of the description field from a completey different issue

[markus_neuwald_canon_at]

Hi!

Whenever a user creates an issue, I’d like a table with styled background colors for different columns to be automatically added. Since automation doesn’t seem to support HTML formatting for tables, I had the idea to use a central reference issue that contains the table in the desired design. Automation could then copy the content from that issue into new ones.

I’m currently looking for a smart value like {{issue.CAT-9944.description}} that could be used when automation is triggered by issue creation. This way, the formatted table could be reused consistently.

It’s just an idea for now, and I’m open to any suggestions or alternative approaches.

Thanks a lot!
Markus

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @markus_neuwald_canon_at 

Short answer: you could try using the REST API endpoints, called with the Send Web Request action, to do this.

For the scenario you describe of updating / replacing the Description field from another work item, one could use the Lookup Work Items action with JQL to load it, and then reference it as:

{{lookupIssues.first.description}}

However, this only works for the most basic formatting.  It would not copy over many of the macros and other features of rich text fields in Jira.

The only workaround I know for this is using the REST API and the Atlassian Document Format (ADF) to preserve the formatting:

• Use the search endpoint to read the source work item using its key
• Extract the ADF formatting for the Description field from the web response
• Use the update endpoint for the created work item, passing the ADF formatting to update the field

Kind regards,
Bill