How to automatically move tasks from backlog to board when the status changes

[Ari Herberman]

When we change the status of a backlog item, we have to manually move it to the board. Is there any way to automate this so that tasks in the backlog will automatically move to the board when the status is updated?

[Ari Herberman · Accepted solution]

Thanks @Jack Brickey and @Tobias H - we are in a team-managed project using a Kanban board. So when I view the Backlog, and within the backlog update the status of a task from Backlog to any other status, it still shows in the Backlog until manually moved to Board. 

[Tobias H]

Sadly, it's not possible to have it behave that way currently :/

Team managed kanban boards do not have any issue fields to call on to have it auto transition like that.

One "work around" (that adds a lot of fluff to your board) is to create a new column on the board called Backlog and just keep all the up-coming items in there.

What you could look at instead is:

• Company-managed projects: Use a Kanban board, where the Status change itself when moved from Backlog to Board.
• Team-managed project: Enable Sprints (i.e Scrum board), then use automation to add the sprint when the issue transitions, thus moving it from Backlog > Board.

There is a feature request for this you can vote for: JSWCLOUD-21481 

[Camilo Gomez]

Hi Ari,

I know it's been a while but I am adding this comment in case someone else comes to this page with the same question. We now have an action in Jira to do just that:

[Tobias H]

@Camilo Gomez I was just now looking into this again, and funnily enough came across this post that I had replied to through Google.

Great to see that you have finally launched this feature, but I would like to ask for the possibility to have this be the Trigger step as well.

Just like Transition can be both a trigger and an action.

Case:
IF user moves Issue A from the Backlog to the Board
THEN transition issue from `New` to `To Do`

This would allow us to cover up with automations to make sure the issue always end up on the Board as status `To Do`, whether it was moved there first or if the status was updated to To Do without being moved from Backlog to Board.

Best,
Tobias

[Camilo Gomez]

Let me check with the team @Tobias H I'm sure we can do it.

[Stefan]

That feature would be amazing! 

[Paul Merrill]

I'm trying to do this but with no luck. I have generated the new task and I can see it in the backlog but I can't find a rule that will move it from the backlog to the current sprint. I'm using the action "move issue to board" but it's not working.

[Tobias H]

Hi @Paul Merrill!

This feature is only to move an issue between backlog and board when in a Kanban board, not to move issues into sprints. 

To achieve that, you need to use an "Edit issue" action, with the Sprint box checked. 

This will have your issue be moved to the active sprint, which in turn moves into onto the board.

If you are using different status for backlog issues and issues in sprints, I'd probably throw in a Status transition in the automation as well.

[Elliot Keder]

@Camilo Gomez is the "Move Issue to Board" feature only usable in company-managed projects? I am trying to use this in a team-managed project but cannot search for / select my board. I would love to have this available in team-managed projects as well.

[Jack Brickey]

Hi @Ari Herberman ,  Welcome to the community.

Typically this is automatic but the actual behavior depends on a few things. Can you provide more information about your project? Is this a company managed or team manage the project? You can find this information in the bottom left. Is this a Kanban board for a scrum board?

as an example, if you have a CMP project, using a kanban board and if you have To Do mapped to the backlog and In Progress and Done on the board then moving an issue from To Do to In Progress you should see the issue on the board.

The more information you can provide, and possibly screenshots, the more people we will be able to support your question.

[Tobias H]

Hello Ari!

Are you working in Sprints, and would like the issue to move from the Backlog into the Current sprint when the status changes from "Backlog" to "In Progress" (or your equivalent statuses?)