How to automatically update the start date and end date of two issues linked together

[Loann RAZZANO]

Hello,

In my example, I have two issues. The task 1 have to be finish before to start the task 2. I would like to create an automation to change the start date of the task 2 if the end date of the task 1 change (to keep my schedule updated !).

I don't know how to create my automation. Do you have any ideas ?

Thanks in advance !

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Loann RAZZANO -- Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

Two suggestions to help are:

(1) Successfully using automation rules requires learning and experimentation.  I recommend trying to create a rule, and if you run into challenges, to post images of your rule, the audit log details, and explain what is not working as you expect.  To get you started on creating your rule, please refer to these documentation and example sources:

• https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/guides/automation/overview#what-is-automation
• https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/automation-template-library#/rule-list?systemLabelId=all&page=1&pageSize=20&sortKey=name&sortOrder=ASC
• https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/jira-smart-values-issues/
• https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/use-advanced-search-with-jira-query-language-jql/

(2) The scenario you describe of shifting dates is not unusual, however the specifics will determine if it can be solved with an automation rule.  Please consider these questions to help guide writing your rule:

• Are there only 2 tasks involved, or could there ever be more in the chain?  If there are more, a rule may not be possible to solve this.
• You note the dates for starting and ending the tasks.  I will assume those are the issue fields Start Date and Due Date.  Is that correct?
• You describe when the Due Date of task 1 changes that the Start Date of task 2 should change.  Does task 2 have a Due Date also?  And if so, do you want that to shift by a similar amount to the date changes?
• What should happen if the dates in the second, task 2 issue are changed independently of any task 1 changes: nothing, set them back, something else?
• There are lots of ways to link issues.  Writing this rule successfully will require using links which have direction so they can be distinguished.  For example, "Blocks" and "Is Blocked By".  Once the link types are identified, a JQL branch or Linked Issues branch with a condition can be used.

Once those things are figured out, the basics of your rule could be:

• trigger: issue field changed for Due Date
• condition: some conditions to verify it is your "task 1"
• branch to the second task
  • depending upon above, capture information to also change the Due Date
  • action: edit the Start Date, and possibly also the Due Date

Kind regards,
Bill