How to read from/write to an external text file (CSV)

[Mark]

(I'm very new to this, so there's probably a better way to do this than automation.  I'd welcome other ideas.)

As a part of our implementation of Jira Assets Manamgent, we need to create some simple batch integrations with other systems/files.

Periodically, I'll need to read or import PO/ manifest data to facilitate receiving against the manifest.  I can set up a simple CSV import and run it nightly if I can figure out how to launch an import from an automation.  Or alternately, I could potentially read and process the text file line by line if that's easier.

Additionally, I need to be able to write to a simple text (.CSV) file on a local shared drive so that our accounting system can process certain inventory transactions.  

I see actions to create work items and even Google Docs, but I don't see how to create, read, or write a local text file.

Thanks - I'd appreciate any guidance on this!

Mark

[Bill Sheboy · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mark 

Short answer: I do not believe that is possible with built-in features of automation rules.

Some parts of what you describe are possible, although you may want to investigate marketplace addons / apps for a more complete solution, or a custom-built one using the REST API endpoints.

Regarding what is possible with built-in features of automation rules:

• An automation rule could read an attachment to a work item, and if it contained JSON or newline-delimited CSV, parse it for use as rows with fields
• The REST API supports adding an attachment (and so could be called from a rule), but that attachment must be in a public location for access using a URL.  I do not believe the content could be added via rule data (which the endpoint does support).
• A rule can add a new Google doc, but unfortunately the only format currently supported is text, and it cannot read or update an existing doc.  I experimented last year using that feature to save a CSV file, but the extension prevented accessing it as a table unless it was renamed, or pasted into a spreadsheet tool.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Mark]

Thank you for the information.

Sounds like I need to start by scanning the marketplace for options.  If that goes nowhere, I'll try to leverage your first option by working from an attachment.

[Rick Westbrock]

We solved this exact use case by doing the following:

1. Present the CSV file on a web server (in our case the server sits behind an API gateway which we control)
2. Trigger the import via API from our orchestration tool

I think that you should be able to use a scheduled automation rule with a web request action in place of an orchestration tool in the second step. Setting up the we request action can be a bit tricky but I used the Post import start API but found that I had to trigger the import manually the first time in order to get the import configuration ID from the history to use in the web request sent by the orchestration tool.

[Charlie Gavey]

Hi @Mark - would Automation actions to read/write to a cloud document (Google Sheets, Excel, etc.) help unblock your use case, or do you specifically need the automation to be interacting with your local shared drive?

If there's any third-party integrations that you'd like to see in Automation, we'd love to hear! Feel free to book a chat with the Automation PM team here: https://calendly.com/cgavey/automation-feedback?month=2023-06&date=2023-06-30