"Updated" field on a parent ticket to be affected when a subtask is created or updated.

Question

Hi Team,

We have a system field called "Update Date" (the actual field name is "Updated," which is located under the "Created" field). I have a requirement to update this "Updated" field whenever a sub-task is created or when any changes are made to the sub-task (such as field updates, status changes, etc.). This should ensure that the parent "Updated" date reflects the most recent changes of the sub-task. Is this a feasible requirement?

Ram Kumar Aravindakshan _Adaptavist_ · Answer

Hi @jira_admin_cu

For your requirement, the simplest approach I can suggest is not to use the Automation tool, but instead to use ScriptRunner's Listener.

You will need to create a Listener with an 'Issue Created' Event and an 'Issue Updated' Event.

Below is a sample working code for your reference:-

import com.atlassian.jira.event.type.EventType
import com.atlassian.jira.event.issue.IssueEvent

def issue = event.issue

if (issue.issueType.name == 'Sub-task') {
    if (event instanceof IssueEvent && event.eventTypeId == EventType.ISSUE_CREATED_ID) {
        
        issue.parentObject.update {
            setCustomFieldValue('Date Time Sample', issue.created)
        }
    } else if (event instanceof IssueEvent && event.eventTypeId == EventType.ISSUE_UPDATED_ID) {

issue.parentObject.update {
            setCustomFieldValue('Date Time Sample', issue.updated)
        }
    }
}

Please note that the sample working code above is not 100% exact to your environment. Hence, you must make the required modifications.

Below is a screenshot of the Listener configuration:-

The example above enables the Listener to update the Date Time Sample field, which is a Date Time field.

Whenever a Sub-task type issue is created or updated, it displays the exact timestamp in the Date Time field of the Parent issue.

Note: The Updated field is not a field that can be controlled, which is why I provided an example using a custom Date Time field.

I hope this helps to solve your requirement.

Let me know how it goes.

Thank you and Kind regards,

Rma

Ana Livia Rocha Silva · Answer

Hi @jira_admin_cu,

Yes, that is totally possible. You can build an automation similar to the one below:

The trigger should be the creation and update of a ticket, followed by a condition to check if it's a Sub-task. Then you need a branch so the update is done to the parent ticket.

I hope I was able to help!

Kind regards,

Ana

Matteo Vecchiato · Answer

Hi @jira_admin_cu

The updated field as you said is a system field and you can't update it directly.

As a workaround, you can add a date custom field named "subtasks update date"to the parent, and arrange with automations the update of this field when a change occurs in the sub-tasks.

This allows, indirectly, to update the system updated field on parent.

I hope it helps