Using task length to automatically populate end dates, and entering task dependencies

[Tracy Rouleau]

Hi All, 

New to Jira, but not project management. Trying to find a functionality in Jira that allows me to enter a task start date and length and then Jira will calculate the end date. 

I'd also like to link the start date of one task to the end date of another, or start to start, end to start etc... Can't seem to do that either.

Any suggestions, or is this just the wrong product?

Thanks

[Trudy Claspill · Accepted solution]

Hello @Tracy Rouleau 

Welcome to the Atlassian community.

Jira does not have a native feature to calculate an end date based on start date and duration. You could use Automation Rules to do that calculation and fill in the end date for you.

https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/jira-cloud-automation/

There is free, on-demand training about Automation Rules at Atlassian University - https://university.atlassian.com

When you say you want to link dates between tasks, what does that mean to you in terms of expected functionality? Do you expect automatic updates of dates?

Jira does have a feature for noting finish-to-start dependencies between tasks, but not start-to-start or finish-to-finish.

[Tracy Rouleau]

Thank you for this Trudy! I'll take a look at the automation rules and see if that solves my query. 

My current project is driven more by deadlines than task length, i.e., I know the end dates, and interdependencies, and the duration will be determined by those factors - so I am actually starting at the end and working backwards. 

[Trudy Claspill]

I see that you are on the Premium subscription.

There is some autoscheduling capabilities in the Plans feature. I don't think that will meet your needs, but you might want to take a look at it.

https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/auto-schedule-issues-on-your-advanced-roadmaps-timeline/