Transition work item to previous status using automation for Jira

Summary

There can be cases where you'd like to transition a work item back to its most recent previous status. Automation can be used to extract the previous status of a work item for this purpose.

This is a possible workaround for AUTO-473.

Environment

Jira Cloud, Jira Software DC 9.12 and later.

Solution

Create custom fields to store previous status information

To transition to a previous status, you'll first have to capture previous status details in a custom field. This can be used later to transition the work item. We'll need two fields:

• One text field to store the status name

  • This can be later used to display the previous status name on the screen if required

• One text field to store the status ID

  • This would be required while transitioning the work item to a previous status

Create an automation rule to capture the previous status details

1. Use the Trigger: Field value changed: for the Status field

2. Add the Action:  Edit work item

   • Set old status name field to {{fieldChange.fromString}}

   • Set old status ID field to {{fieldChange.from}}

3. Save this rule 

Create an automation rule to transition to previous status

1. Use any trigger based on your requirements

2. Add the action: Transition work item

   • Destination status: {{issue.old status ID}}

3. Save and run the rule