Automation-prepopulate fields

[Amitee Chang]

Hi guys, 

I tried to use automation to prepopulate some texts in description field for my QA team, however it never worked. 

I confirmed audit rules and the status of the automation and all seem normal. Please help to enlighten me on this, appreciate your help!

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Amitee Chang 

Welcome to the Atlassian community.

Are you wanting the text to display in the Description field when a user is in the process of creating the issue - in the Create Issue dialog?

Automation rules can't be used to prepopulate fields in the Create Issue dialog. Automation rules are triggered in reaction to an event. The Issue Created trigger is activated after the issue is created and saved in the database, which occurs when you click the Create button within the Create Issue dialog.

For many fields you can use the Field Context to set a default value for a field, to be shown in the Create Issue dialog. That option is not available for the Description field though.

If you don't want to use a third party app to try to do that, then the solution using native functionality is described here:

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/Default-text-for-Description-field-on-Jira-Cloud/qaq-p/785597

It involves create a custom field for which you can set default text, showing that field in the Create Issue dialog, and then using Automation to copy that text to the built-in Description field after the issue is saved.

[Amitee Chang]

Hi Trudy, 

Many thanks to your answer! I realized where my logic got wrong and your answer proves that!

I managed to set up the custom field, default text but after setting up the create/ view issue screen, my ticket layout got messed up so everytime I fixed the layout my screen scheme is broken.

I am still figuring out how to manage the copy function with smart value in automation. I will dig deeper in the article you shared. 

[Amitee Chang]

In case anyone is also confused like I am, I will post my "correct" set up down there as a record and hope that it can help other JIRA rookies!

[Amitee Chang]

So this is what I did to make it work- I am using JSW Cloud

1. create a custom field called description' ( or whatever that suits your liking)
2. In config custom field, put in the content you want under default value
3. go to Screen- find the bug issue type and make description' visible in Create Issue (hide system field Description) ; and description (system field) visible in View Issue ( hide description')
4. Go to Automation: at Edit Issue step, copy Description' to system field Description. 

This is by far the easiest and more straightforward solution I have found. Hope someday it would be helpful to others.