Is it possible to copy transitions when creating a workflow in JIRA?

[Dylan]

Hello,

When creating a workflow I would like to know how to be able to copy transitions?

Could you please explain to me how to copy transitions in JIRA

It becomes really difficult to create one and the same transiton more than once.

Thanks,

Dylan

[Christian Czaia _Decadis AG_]

Hi guys,

you might want to check out xTools for Jira where you can copy and paste almost all workflow elements and even entire transitions which can really save you some time when dealing with complex workflows:-)

https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRASERVER-37483

Cheers,

Christian

[Tolga Şen]

in JIRA 6, the functions 'reusing and cloning transition' are ignored in new ediyor. You need to switch to classic editor in order to use those function. On the other hand, new feature is created to fix this problem on new editor and waiting for your support. Vote it, Comment it, watch it to show how important it is.

https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRA-37296

[Sorin Sbarnea (Citrix)]

Atlassian missed to provide any way to reuse transitions via the non graphical workflow editor.

Please add your comment to this issue so atlassian will reopen it, it is clear that it was implemented wrongly: https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRA-6975#comment-462274

[Paul Stonehouse]

In JIRA V5.1, you can use the Workflow Editor to do it with a diagram. This editor allows you to create a link between two workflows by drawing a line. After the line is drawn, a dialog will pop up that asks what workflow you want. Options include

• New Transition
• Clone Transition
• Use Common Transition

The last two options should help your situation.

https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRA/Configuring+Workflow#ConfiguringWorkflow-common_transitions

[JiraYo]

Oh yes, that is exactly what i want, however i cant find "clone transition". All i have is add and reuse, no clone. Was this feature removed?

Basically, i want to create parallel transitions. I create one thats super complicated and i want to clone it and just change some variables for the next one.

i will look into x tools too but your comment makes me think this should work. I want to clone and change a transition.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

This thread is 7 years old.  I'd suggest you ask a new question in a more recent context!

[MatthewC]

The only way I can think of doing it is to export the workflow to XML and then copy & paste the transitions. You'd have to remember to change the IDs to match the new source & destination states.

If they aren't that hard & depending how many you have to do, it might be best to do it by hand, at least you won't mess up the XML.

If you do want to try it, start here

http://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRACOM/Editing+JIRA+workflow+XML+by+hand

http://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRAKB/Importing+Workflow+XML+Fails+due+to+Parsing+Error

[Dylan]

Ok, but I don't want to copy the entire workflow.

I would like to be able to copy only specific transitions.

Is it possible in JIRA to copy only specific transtions?

[Dylan]

Ok, but I don't want to copy the entire workflow.

I would like to be able to copy only specific transitions.

Is it possible in JIRA to copy only specific transtions?

[KeriB]

Essentially yes, but it takes some work.

Taken from this page in the JIRA documentation:

http://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRA043/Configuring+Workflow#ConfiguringWorkflow-workflowtransitions

Using 'common transitions'

A 'common transition' is a transition that is defined only once in the workflow, but can be used more than once. That is, a common transition can have more than one originating step. The advantage of common transitions is that if a transition needs to be updated, the update only has to be done in one place.

You can edit common transitions in JIRA, but they cannot be created by the method described in 'Adding a transition' (above). Instead, to create common transitions, you can either:

• Copy the default workflow— thedefault workflowcontains common transitions (e.g. 'Start Progress', 'Resolve Issue', 'Close Issue'). Although you cannot edit the default workflow, you can copy it and then edit its steps and transitions to suit your requirements.
• Create your workflow in XML— see'Using XML to create a workflow'(below).

I believe you can also do it using the Workflow Designer plugin, more info here: http://www.sysbliss.com/jira-workflow-designer/features

Thanks,

Keri

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Common transitions are NOT copies - they are reusing the same thing over again. It's a subtle distinction, but an important one. A common transition will appear >1 in a workflow, but editing, from any of the places it appears will affect all it's uses because there's only one thing. A copied transition would be a separate entity, if you could do it in Jira.

[Dylan]

Ok, but I don't want to copy the entire workflow.

I would like to be able to copy only specific transitions.

Is it possible in JIRA to copy only specific transtions?

[KeriB]

Ah sorry for misunderstanding. I had just been looking at common transitions and that's what I took this as, but I see what you mean. That would be a nice feature.