Automation to link parent epic of linked issue

[Geoff Robles]

Fellow Automators,

We have a hierarchy where an epic is linked to a story, which is then linked to tasks. I want to automate applying the epic from the linked story directly to any associated tasks. 

For example, a story is linked to an epic. Then tasks are created to break down that story. I want an automation that assigns the same epic to all those tasks when the ticket is linked to the Story. All link types are "Splits From" on the Tasks

Epic -> Story - > Task

I have it working when tasks are linked to a story, but I also want it to work when the Story is updated for existing tasks, in case the Story moves to a different epic or really whenever either the Story or Task is updated. Is there a way to do that within a single automation?

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Geoff Robles 

Short answer: no, this will require multiple rules.

First, I recommend mapping out all of the cases you want to cover.  Next...

• With the trigger Issue Linked, the rule can handle linking the Tasks to the Story (or from the Story to the Task).  If your link has direction, the rule could use an if / else block and conditions on the issue type to handle the two possible paths.
• With the trigger Issue Link Deleted, you can handle the cases of a Task unlinked from a Story
• With the Field Value Changed trigger on the Epic Link field, you can handle several cases using the changelog smart values:
  • Story initially added to a parent Epic
  • Story removed from a parent Epic
  • Story changed to a different parent Epic
• With the Issue Created trigger, you could handle the edge case of a new issue which is added to a parent Epic and linked to Tasks at the same time
• Another edge case to consider, if you allow people to delete issues: what should happen to Tasks if the Story to which they are linked is deleted from Jira
• etc.

Considering the cases you want to handle will determine how many rules you need, their triggers, and what is needed to test them.

Kind regards,
Bill