How to assign subtask to parent tasks's assignee?

Question

We are working in a next-gen project and I'd like to setup some simple rules around subtasks that are created within a task. As a test case, I am trying to make a rule to assign any subtask that is created to the parent task assignee.

My rules are as follows:

* When: Issue is Created
* If: Assignee is empty
* If: Parent Exists
* Then: Assign issue to copy from parent

To test, I created an issue and it assigned to myself. Then when I create subtasks in that issue I see that my rule runs for the subtasks, but fails on the second conditional. Is there a better way to accomplish this or am I just misunderstanding something about the parent <> subtask relationship? Thanks in advance!

Earl McCutcheon · Answer

Hello @rickgladwin ,

Thanks for reaching out, and good call out.  The Automation for Jira Add-on is now fully integrated into the Jira cloud platform by default so it no longer requires setting up as a separate add-on app and is available in all instances.

Additional details on the functionality can be found in the documentation space here:

* https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/guides/expand-jira/automation
* https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/automate-your-jira-cloud-processes-and-workflows/

and we have a collection of automation rule examples that you can interact with under the Automation Playground here:

* https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/automation-template-library/rules#/

As for an automation rule to assign the subtask to the same user as the parent issue when a subtask is created, you can use the following:

* When:* Issue Created

* IF: Issue matches JQL* type in subTaskIssueTypes()

* Then: Edit issue fields* Assignee* Copy From Parent

There are also some additional recommendations for syncing the parent and sub-task in the following blog post:

* https://blog.codebarrel.io/synchronize-parent-and-sub-task-issues-with-automation-for-jira-bdcca6c9d453

Regards,
Earl

rickgladwin · Answer

Hi Earl,

I came across this thread in April 2021 and I'm wondering if an add-on is still required or if there's now a way to link the subtask default assignment to match the parent assignment.

I know Atlassian has been working hard on the next-gen (team-managed) projects.

Earl McCutcheon · Answer

Hi Eli,

To Automatically assign the sub-task to the parent issues assignee you will need an add-on to handle the logic.

A few options for this:

You could look into  JIRA Misc Workflow Extensions as discussed in This post:

* https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/How-to-Assign-the-same-assignee-to-subtask-as-parent-task/qaq-p/458578

There is Power Scripts™ - Jira script automation as discussed here:

* https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/How-to-Set-sub-task-assignee-from-parent-issue-reporter/qaq-p/996311

Or you could also look into Automation for JIRA as discussed in this post:

* https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Marketplace-Apps-Integrations/Assign-sub-tasks-automatically/qaq-p/255322

Regards,
Earl