Automation not working

Question

Hi all,

I'm trying to add some automated calculations to some number fields but although it calculates correctly, it doesn't update some of the fields as required. The workflow looks like the below.

Inherent Risk TEST field is a selection field.

As you can see below it runs correctly. I can see the Inherent Risk Total field (number field) update but the Inherent Risk TEST field doesn't update and remains blank.

Am I missing something?

Bill Sheboy · Answer

Hi @Trevor de Souza

Please post an image of the second Edit Work Item Fields action for context.  Thanks!

Until we see those...

This is not a timing problem; it is a storage / scoping one.

When a Jira Cloud automation rule updates a field, such as with the Edit Work Item Fields action, it updates the data only in the Cloud.  It does not update what the rule has stored for the work item.  (I hypothesize this design choice was done for both performance and behavior -predictability reasons.)

And so the changes from your first action cannot be "seen" later in the rule.  When you want the updates to be seen in later rule steps, add the Re-fetch Work Item Data action after the first edit.

Kind regards,
Bill

Gor Greyan · Answer

Hi @Trevor de Souza

The automation doesn't have time to update that field; that is why "Inherit Risk Test" is blank.
Try to add the "Refetch issue data" action before the "Inherit Risk Test" field edit. I think, that should solve your issue.

Thanks!

Walter Buggenhout · Answer

Hi @Trevor de Souza

From your screenshots, I have the impression that you are trying to use the value you set in the second step of your automation rule as a condition for an update in your fourth step of the same rule.

If that is the case, I am quite sure that Jira won't have enough time to update the issue before your automation rule (which continues to run asynchronously) tries to validate the condition. By the time your condition is being tested, the data won't simply be stored on the issue yet.

Since you mention you are trying to set the result of a calculation here, it might be an option to store that result as a variable in your automation rule before you edit your field(s). Then use that variable to check your condition instead of the actual field. Or, as an alternative use the refetch issue data action after you edit the issue before you run any additional checks on it.

Hope this helps!