Jira Automation rule returns empty Description when using a smart value

Summary

The issue description field is not being copied and returned via email and audit log when the smart value {{issue.description}} is used.

Diagnosis

• As per the document: https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/jira-smart-values-issues/ the smart value to fetch the value of the description of the issue is {{issue.description}}

• Validate the field "Description" and its value on the issue (captured in the audit log)via API call: https://<your_site>.atlassian.net/rest/api/3/issue/<issue_key>?expand=names

• In the audit log value is empty as the screenshot below indicates:

• Email content also has the same behavior

Cause

Description is a system field, the above smart value is used to fetch the value of the system field "Description"

The above behavior has been observed when there is a custom field available with the same name on the instance.

Solution

The recommendations to mitigate this problem are:

• Remove or rename the custom field and then try to update the Description field (system field) on the issue then it should be returned in the email

• Use the smart value below with the value, following the format indicated in our documentation

  • {{issue.[Custom Field]}}