Can I test a project automation rule?

[Ine Nieuwenhuijzen]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am creating a lot of automation rules with emails and comments that have been send out and I was wondering if and how I can test these automation rules before using them? I have found https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/test-a-jira-automation-rule-using-the-manual-trigger/ but in my project automation rules I cannot see Rule executions. Can you only test the automation rule if you selected Manual when creating the rule?

Thank you in advanced,

[Mykenna Cepek · Accepted solution]

Rule executions for each rule are listed in the Audit Log, available for each rule, in the area where you create and edit rules:

https://YourDomain.atlassian.net/jira/settings/automation

The "Audit Log" area lists every recent execution (subject to quantity/expiration time limtations that I don't recall at the moment).

Access them for a give rule here:

Also, I like to test rules in a sample project before "going live" with a new rule. I have a specific "Playground" project in our Jira Instance which is available for this kind of use.

As for testing things like emails sent by a rule, you'll just have to review the Audit Log to see if the Send Email action succeeded. During testing, I ensure emails go to me (either by hardwiring the action, or setting things appropriately in Jira e.g. me as the assignee of a test issue).

Also, when testing and debugging a rule, remember that the "Log action" component is your friend! You can sprinkle those in a rule to see what's going on (e.g. to see the content of variables or smart values).

[Dirk Ronsmans · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ine Nieuwenhuijzen and welcome to the community!

You should always be able to see the "Rule Executions" menu in the right side bar.

If no rules are defined with a Manual trigger you simply won't be able to select a rule to execute.

Once you set the rule trigger on "Manual" you can then go to an issue and test the rule against that issue. (unless it's a rule that uses a JQL/IQL as data then you can just trigger it from there).

The testing itself is not triggered from the rules menu but from the rule executions within an issue.