Cannot rename workflow step/status name

[Evgeniy Galaktionov]

I am trying to rename a step in a workflow

1. Workflow -> Edit -> Select Status -> Edit

2. Change Step Name.

Result name is changed in workflow editor but it is not change on workflow view and is not changed in status dropdown on issue view.

Any ideas why it does not work?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

There are three names to look at in a workflow (and there's a long complicated history of why it's this way, but it's a boring story, so I won't volunteer it unless asked).

• Workflows are not a list of status, they are a list of steps. 
• Steps have a single Status associated with them, which is the searchable object for end-users, and are labelled with a name.
• Steps are joined up together by transitions, that let issues move from one step to another, changing the status of the issue

All three of these items have display names.

• Status names are obvious - they are what people see, and in your screenshot, the third diagram shows three status names - open, in review, and review.
• Step names are less obvious.  In fact, they do not get seen by your users at all.  Only admins get to see them, when viewing and editing workflows
• Transition names are what appear in the workflow actions.

So, in your first screenshot, you've focussed on the step name, when what you really want to look at is the transition name.   Compare the "transitions(id)" column with what you see in the workflow actions dropdown.

TLDR - the step name is irrelevant, your users will never see it!  Check status and transition names

[Evgeniy Galaktionov]

So what is the point to have a "Step Name" ?

In some answers here I have read that a step name can be used to override a Status name for a specific project. (In this case other projects will not be affected.) If step name is never visible to users then is there a way to override status name for a specific project/workflow?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Admins are human and think in names, not step 1, step 2, step 3.

I am not sure what you think you have read about "using a step name to override a status name", I've never seen that.

The status name is what the users see.  Status is separate from the step, which means you can rename status without having to edit every single workflow in the system, and hang translations off it.

If you want to use different status in different projects, then you have to have the projects use separate workflows for each project.

[Evgeniy Galaktionov]

This part is clear. The question still remains: So what is the point to have a "Step Name" ?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Again: Because humans work better with step names than random numbers.

[Evgeniy Galaktionov]

The issue is that there are no random numbers there are Status names. 

These step names are seen ONLY in "Text" workflow view. No where else. Why to have it at all? 

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Because humans find it easier to work with than random numbers.

Consider a workflow with step names:

To do -> In Dev -> Dev Done -> In Test -> Closed

Represented without step names, I would see

1 -> 14 -> 6 -> 12 -> 42

This is a real workflow that I have with one client who has been using Jira for years, and I need to point out that their status names are mostly different to their step names.  I can't see how the random number version is of any use to them.

The text editor is the whole point of having them.  We didn't get a diagram editor until Jira 4.something (possibly 5?), and the text editor is a nightmare to use without step names.  True, the diagram editor doesn't need them, and nor do non-admins have any use for them.  But they do make the text editor usable.  And for a lot of us, the text editor is still a lot easier and faster than the diagram.

[Slava Dobromyslov]

Your statement "TLDR - the step name is irrelevant, your users will never see it!" is wrong.

User can view the whole workflow and see step names instead of statuses in the popped-up window.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Nope, sorry, but you need to look again - your users do not see the step names.

They see the status, which, by default, is used as the step name, but can be changed.  I suspect you are looking at a workflow where the step names all match their associated status.

[daviddykstra]

If the above answers don't help make sure to check the translations of the statuses.

Jira Settings -> Issues -> Statuses

Click the Translate statuses button (top right)

Change the names and descriptions there, and it should update the status name

[Steven Herr]

I'm with you on this one.  If you create a workflow using existing statuses shared by other workflows, you're stuck with those status names. If you change the status name, it will change it in all other projects using that status.  If you want to replace a status with an existing or custom-named status, now you have to make a copy of the workflow, edit, then re-associate ... which is an involved and time consuming operation for a simple customization.  There should be a "replace status" option.

[Sachin Dhamale]

@Evgeniy Galaktionov 

To Change the Status name 

1. Go to Admin Section

2. Select Issues

3. Select Status From Left hand side 

4. Edit the Status

Note- Its will apply for all workflows

Accept the answer if it helps

[Evgeniy Galaktionov]

I know this approach. However, I am trying to change Status/Step name only for 1 single project.

[Sachin Dhamale]

@Evgeniy Galaktionov 

Status are global so like i mentioned its applicable for all workflow. you cannot restrict it base on project

Step name you can change but its just for workflow understanding purpose ( on edit view) it will not visible on the UI level. 

Every organization has different steps but when it comes to jira it has to associate to some logical status like open/In Progress/done ( which is Display on issue level)

When you edit the workflow so step name help you to understand what exactly that status define.

This is the default behavior of workflow

[Ollie Guan]

Hi @Evgeniy Galaktionov ,

It looks like you want to modify the Status but actually modify the Step name.

[Evgeniy Galaktionov]

I actually want to modify the Step name. In this case this will make only one workflow changed for one project and all other projects will have original Status name.