How to link a custom field with the 'Prompt Action' input with manual triggers in Jira Automation

Summary

In Jira Automation, when you configure a rule with a Manual trigger, you can select "Prompt for input when this rule is triggered" to start configuring input fields.

These fields will then be displayed to users when they trigger the rule. This allows you to gather information from your team members before the rule runs.

Jira Automation has no direct way to link a custom field to a Manual trigger 'Prompt action'. Prompt fields are separate from your actual custom fields, so you can connect them with a variable and an Edit Work Item action. This example uses a Single Choice user field. Not every custom field type supports this approach.

Solution

The below example explains how to link a User custom field to prompt for an input when running the automation rule.

1. Create a custom field called Single Choice User (the type of the custom field is Single Choice)

   

2.  Create the automation rule with a Manual trigger.

When selecting Dropdown (Single choice) in the Add field section, you will be prompted to fill the name of the custom field.

3. Ensure to provide the same name as the custom field that is in use.

Important: Use the same name as the custom field already in use. A mismatched name breaks the link between the prompt input and the field.

4. Make sure that the options of the custom field in the prompt action are the same as those in the actual custom field, Single Choice User. 

Important: Match the prompt options to the options in the Single Choice user custom field. If the options don't match, the rule won't work as expected.

5. Next, save the custom field as a Variable name. For e.g. use customfieldvariable. which can be accessed by {{userInputs.customfieldvariable}}

6. Add an Edit Issue action and select the Single Choice User field as shown below

7. Add a smart value to access the variable that was created before. Variable {{userInputs.customfieldvariable}}  will fetch the value at the time of User input's during the Prompt action.

8. Save and Turn on the Automation rule.

9. Create a test work item and select the Actions tab, then select the automation rule.

10.  Automation rule will now prompt for user Inputs. The options visible in the screen are same as the custom field. 

11. Automation rule will be executed and will update Jira's custom field with the value chosen.

12. Automation audit log displays the Log action output as shown below