Help with automation on linked subtasks

Julian Beardman_03oz6z

Hello, 

I am trying to build an automation that will automatically update the start and due dates of linked issues from the trigger ticket. 

So far I have the linked issues updating fine but the linked issues have subtasks and i would also want their dates to be updated at the same time. I have tried many things, but cant get it to work. Does anyone have an idea on how I could do this?

 

Current setup of rule:

Bill Sheboy

Hi @Julian Beardman -- Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

First thing:

Scenarios like this are quite challenging for automation because of the possibility of errors or missing some cases.  And when implemented incorrectly, they can cause runaway rule execution and halt all automation processing.

And so, what problem are you trying to solve by syncing the date fields?  That is, "why do this?"  Knowing that may help the community to suggest alternatives.

 

Next, the rule image you show is triggered on Issue Updated, and so that will run for all changes.  Is that what you wanted?  If instead you want the rule to only run when the Start Date or Due Date change, consider changing the trigger to check for changes to only those fields.

 

Next, when trying to update multiple issue levels / links, normally that cannot be easily done with one rule.  And when a second rule is used (just to update the subtasks) that could lead to runaway rule triggering for unrelated issues because this option must be enabled: "Check to allow other rule actions to trigger this rule..."

If you are setting all of the Start Dates to the same value (and the same thing for the Due Dates), one possible workaround to prevent problems is:

• gather the issue keys for all of the issues to update, using the Lookup Issues action and dynamic JQL expression
• then use a branch on JQL to iterate over them

This approach will only work when there are 100 issues or less to update.

 

Kind regards,
Bill