Automation | Rule fails with error "A JQL search in this automation rule has exceeded the allowed maximum number of issues"

Summary

Automation rules can also fail after hitting service limits. This article will discuss approaches to avoid service limit throttling due to JQL processing.

Diagnosis

The error that can be observed in the audit log of the automation rule is: A JQL search in this automation rule has exceeded the allowed maximum number of issues to retrieve per search. Only the first issues up to the following limit were processed:1000

Cause

The error implies that scheduled JQL search that isn't streamlined enough and returns more than 1000 issues as mentioned in the Service Limit Document.

Solution

Setup the JQL query in a way that can reduce the returned search results. Example, add the specific issue Type to narrow the search, put additional conditions if looking for specific fields values in particular, specify the status or limit the issue creation date.

Sample JQL : "Start Date[Date]" < {{now.jiraDate}} AND status != Done AND (Custom_field_XXXX > 0 AND "ABCD_Field" in (Pending))