Save drafts or work items in Jira Cloud and Jira Service Management Cloud

Summary

Currently, in Jira Cloud and Jira Service Management cloud, the feature to save drafts or temporarily save work items is not supported. This is a problem for some users who start logging a work item, but then they realize they need to collate more information.

Solution

By utilizing the powerful features of Automation for Jira, work item security, and workflow property settings, as described in the following methods, it is possible to achieve a state similar to a draft feature. While a work item is in the "Draft" status, only the creator can view it. The creator can make it viewable to other users by transitioning the work item to the "Published" status by clicking the transition button.

Workflow Configuration (Please adjust the status names as necessary):

1. Create a "Draft" status and set this as the initial status of the workflow.

2. Create a "Published" status.

3. Create a transition from the "Draft" status to the "Published" status.

Workflow Property Configuration:

1. Set the workflow property "jira.permission.transition.reporter" on the "Draft" status. This allows only the creator to transition the work item when it is in the "Draft" status.

   1. Reference: Use workflow properties

Work Item Security Configuration:

1. Set the default work item security so that when a work item is created (in the "Draft" status), only the creator can view the work item.

   1. Reference: Create security levels for work items > Set the default security level for your work item security scheme

Automation Rule Configuration:

1. Trigger: Transition from "Draft" to "Submitted"

2. Action: Use [Edit work item] to select [Security Level] from [Choose fields to set], and leave the value blank.

   1. This removes the security level from the work item, allowing other users to view it, effectively ending the draft state.

Feature Request:

• Regarding this behavior, a feature request: JRACLOUD-4233: Issue Drafts has been submitted.

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