Error when cloning a ticket and child tickets

Question

I am getting the following error, when trying to clone an Epic and the child items:

Error Summary : We couldn't clone [Issue Reference]

Error Description: [InvalidInputException: [Error map: [{}]] [Error list: [[We can't copy field value from 'Team' to 'Team' field due to a misconfigured workflow postfunction. Ensure 'Create issues originally' is executed first.]]]

Clara Belin-Brosseau_Elevatic · Answer

Hi @Zoe Hurst

If you’re looking for a faster and more straightforward solution compared to Automation to clone an epic with all its child items, I can suggest trying our app Elements Copy & Sync.

You'll be able to do it automatically and to clone any information you need from each work item (summary, description, label, assignee, comments, attachments and more).

You can try it for free for 30 days (and it stays free under 10 users).

Philipp Sendek _catworkx_ · Answer

Hi @Zoe Hurst and welcome to the community,

What are the steps you're taking in order to clone the Epic and it's child items?
Can you assess whether this is a function that is provided by an app or a built-in function of Jira?

Following the error message, it would also help if you could share the list of post-functions in the Create transition of the workflows that the Epic and the work item types underneath it are using.

You can find the Workflow names by clicking on the Status-Dropdown and select "View Workflow" within the work items.
Then, you can find them in the Administration under the cog-icon in the top-right corner -> Work Items -> Workflows (in the sidebar). 
In each workflow, go into the Diagram mode, click on the Create transition (the line between the grey-circle and the first transition) and click on Post-Functions in the property panel.

The information should narrow down the root cause of the problem.

Greetings
Philipp

Jasmeet Kaur_xrxtha · Answer

Hello @Zoe Hurst

Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

When cloning, Jira uses the "Create" transition in the workflow for each new issue. The error indicates that a workflow post-function is trying to copy the value of the 'Team' field, but the issue hasn't technically been created yet. This happens if the post-function "Create the issue originally" is not the first post-function in the "Create" transition.

Kindly check the following steps:

1. Identify the Workflow

* Determine which workflow is used by the Epic and its child issue types (e.g., Story, Task, Bug).

* You can find this in Project Settings > Workflows.

2. Edit the Workflow

* Go to Jira Administration > Issues > Workflows.

* Click Edit on the relevant workflow (it may be shared by multiple issue types).

3. Check the "Create" Transition

* In the workflow designer, click on the Create transition for each affected issue type.

* Click Post Functions.

4. Verify and Reorder Post-functions

* Ensure that the first post-function is:
Create the issue originally.

* Any post-function that copies or sets field values (like "Copy value from 'Team' to 'Team'") must come after "Create the issue originally".

* If not, use the Move Up button to reorder the post-functions.

5. Publish the Workflow

* After making changes, publish the workflow draft.

6. Test the Clone Operation

* Try cloning the Epic and its child issues again to confirm the error is resolved.

Thank you!