Summary field

[Marco Scicluna]

I wish to prepopulate the Summary field. 

I created an automation rule to do that. However, when I press the Create button and enter the details, I am getting an error to fill in the Summary field.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[John Funk · Accepted solution]

Hi Marco,

Quick answer is that you cannot prepopulate the Summary field. 

You can create an automation rule to update the Summary field after the issue is created, but that's the best you can do. 

[Anahit Sukiasyan]

Dear @Marco Scicluna

Prepopulating the Summary field through an automation rule typically won't work as expected because automation rules are triggered after the issue is created. This means they can't populate fields during issue creation.

These possible solutions may be helpful:

1. Use a Custom Field Configuration 

• You can configure a Default Value for the field using Jira's Custom Field Configuration.
  • Navigate to Settings > Issues > Field Configurations.
  • Edit the field configuration for the project.
  • Add a default value to the Summary field.

However, this approach might be limited, as it doesn't allow dynamic changes.

2. Use a Workflow Post Function

• You can set up a Post Function in your project's workflow to populate the Summary field during issue creation.
  • Navigate to Settings > Issues > Workflows.
  • Edit the workflow for the project.
  • Add a post function on the Create transition to populate the Summary field.

[Marco Scicluna]

Dear Anahit, Thank you for your prompt feedback.

Excuse my ignorance in this world of JIRA :) Could you please give me an example on how to create the post function in (2) above? Thank you.

[Anahit Sukiasyan]

No worries at all!

Sure! Here’s how you can create a Post Function to populate the Summary field during issue creation:

1. Navigate to the Workflow:

   • Go to Settings > Issues > Workflows.
   • Find the workflow associated with the project where you want to add the Post Function.
   • Click Edit to open the workflow in Diagram or Text mode.

2. Select the "Create" Transition:

   • In the workflow, locate the Create transition (the arrow from the "Start" status).
   • Click on the Create transition.

3. Add a Post Function:

   • In the transition settings, select the Post Functions tab.
   • Click Add Post Function.

4. Choose the Post Function Type:

   • Select "Update Issue Custom Field" or similar (depending on your Jira version and add-ons).
   • Click Add or Next to proceed.

5. Configure the Post Function:

   • Select the Summary field as the field to update.
   • Enter the value you want for the Summary field. For example:
     • Static Value: "Default Summary for New Issues"
     • Dynamic Value: "New Issue Created by ${reporter}" (You can use Jira smart values here for customization.)
   • Click Add or Update.

6. Reorder the Post Functions:

   • Ensure your newly added Post Function is positioned after the default Post Functions like "Create the issue originally" but before functions like "Fire a generic event."
   • Use the up/down arrows to reorder the Post Functions.

7. Publish the Workflow:

   • Once you've configured the Post Function, click Publish Draft to activate the changes.
   • Jira will ask you to confirm the changes. Click Publish.

[Marco Scicluna]

I am not seeing the Post Functions tab. Could it be because I am using JIRA Cloud?

[Anahit Sukiasyan]

No dear, if you're using a Company-managed project in Jira Cloud you should have a possibility to add post functions, providing a screenshot below, which may help you to find it: simply click on the transition and check the last option opened.

[Marco Scicluna]

Thank you Anahit.

My screen looks like this.

[Anahit Sukiasyan]

Got it, Marco.

Seems, you're in a Team-managed Project: These projects do not support Post Functions in workflows, unfortunately. Workflows are simplified and cannot be customized to this extent.

[Marco Scicluna]

Than you Anahit.