Jira Automation for Updating Description without Replacing Form Text

[Pfortmiller, Lee]

Hi all,

I've created a simple Jira Automation as follows:

When: Issue created

If: Issue matches JQL (type = story)

Then: Edit issue fields (Description)

The Description field is given some standard template text I need to be automatically added to the field.

This solution, for the most part, works great.  My only concern is that when using Create button and its associated Create Issue popup form, anything that is entered for the Description gets replaced by the template text.  I would prefer that the template text get appended to whatever I add to the Description field within the popup form. 

I can attempt to train my users not to enter anything in Description field until after it is first saved, but I could easily see someone spending a lot of time entering a lot of text only to have it replaced.

Thanks

[John Funk · Accepted solution]

Hi Lee - Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

That's a pretty easy fix. 

Just add this to your existing rule at the very top of the Description text you are placing in the field:

{{triggerissue.Description}}

That will keep the text that the user entered on create and then will add your part after it. Be sure to leave all of your text in there starting on a line or two below it. 

[Pfortmiller, Lee]

This worked!  Thanks, John!  

[John Funk]

Great!

[Bill Sheboy · Accepted solution]

Hi @Pfortmiller, Lee -- Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

Automation rules run after the trigger (issue created), so if you want a template *before* you generally need either an addon from the marketplace or to set the field default for all.

To add after with a rule, you can do that by referencing the description smart value when you make the edit.  For example:

• trigger: issue created
• action: re-fetch (This is good to add for a use case like yours because the trigger for Issue Created can fire before all of the data is available.)
• condition: issue type is story
• action: edit the issue description

{{issue.description}}

Here is my template text!

Kind regards,
Bill

[Pfortmiller, Lee]

I configured to include the re-fetch to be safe.  This worked!  Thanks, Bill!