How can I automate updating custom date fields in Jira Product Discovery for roadmap usage?

[Nicole Saenger]

In our company, we work with several Jira Product Discovery projects. To keep an overview, we use global custom date fields: "Idea Start" and "Idea Target End". These are both date fields, and in Product Discovery there is only the Idea issue type.

I would like to use these fields in the roadmap view of my Jira project. Technically, this works, but keeping both fields up to date is quite time-consuming.

That’s why I want to set up an automation that updates the fields automatically, depending on changes in the issue. For example:

1. When a new Idea ticket is created → set Idea Start to now and Idea Target End to +3 months.

2. When the workflow status changes to Discovery → update both fields (Start = now, End = +3 months).

3. When the workflow status changes to Done → update Idea Target End to now.

Has anyone implemented something similar, or is there a recommended way to set up these kinds of date-based automations in Jira Product Discovery?

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Nicole Saenger -- Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

Are you trying to set date fields in the JPD Idea?

If so, that has a different format with a JSON expression represented as text, as compared to other Jira date or date / time fields.

For example, to set a JPD date field to the current date, please use this:

{
  "fields": {
    "customfield_12345": "{\"start\":\"{{now.jiraDate}}\",\"end\":\"{{now.jiraDate}}\"}"
  }
}

And, you may use this how-to article to identify the custom field ID values for your fields:

https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/find-the-smart-value-for-a-field/

Kind regards,
Bill

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Nicole Saenger 

Welcome to the community.

That is possible using the date / time functions, For example, start with the {{issue.Idea Start}} and set / increment the pieces needed by adding the functions to the end.

jira-smart-values-date-and-time 

To start with an example.

Rule issue creation.

1. Trigger work item created
2. Condition work type is Idea
3. Edit work item, Choose Idea Start field and set the value to {{now}} and Idea Target Date to {{now.plusMonths(3)}}

[Nicole Saenger]

The "Idea Start" and "Idea Target End" are not listed on the selectable Drop Down List Options. I assume because these two are Global Fields? 

Is it possible to specify these two fields using the JSON Code under the "more options"? 

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Nicole Saenger 

Yes this should be doable,

Use the custom field id's or the field name, but I would start with the custom field Id

[Nicole Saenger]

Where would I find the Field ID though? 

And the JSON should look something like this? 

{
"fields": {
"Idea Start": "{{now}}",
"Idea Target End": "{{now.plusMonths(3)}}"
}
}

[Nicole Saenger]

ok, just tried the above, but get an error message "The automation rule Test just failed with an error on your Jira instance" when trying to use it on an actual idea ticket. 

Thea audit shows: 

Error editing work items

JPD-123 (N/A)

Issues edited successfully

JPD-123