Configuring sub-tasks

Sub-tasks are generally used to split up a parent issue into a number of tasks which can be assigned and tracked separately.

Sub-tasks have all the same fields as standard issues, although note that their issue type must be one of the sub-task issue types, rather than one of the standard issue types.

If sub-tasks are enabled and you have defined at least one sub-task issue type, your users will be able to:

  • create sub-tasks
  • convert issues to sub-tasks (and vice versa)

On this page:

Disabling sub-tasks

Sub-tasks are enabled by default. However, this feature can be disabled from the Sub-Tasks administration page.

Sub-tasks will be disabled by default if your Jira installation was upgraded from a version prior to 4.2 that had sub-tasks disabled.

  1. Log in as a user with the Jira administrators global permission.
  2. Go to Administration () > Issues. Select Issue types > Sub-tasks to open the Sub-tasks page.

  3. Select Disable sub-tasks. The page reloads and informs you that sub-tasks are now disabled.

Sub-tasks cannot be disabled if one or more sub-tasks exists in the system. You must remove any existing sub-tasks (or convert them to standard issues) before you can disable this feature.

Enabling sub-tasks

Sub-tasks can be enabled from the Sub-tasks administration screen.

  1. Log in as a user with the Jira administrators global permission.
  2. Go to Administration () > Issues. Select Issue types > Sub-tasks to open the Sub-tasks page.

  3. Select Enable sub-tasks. The page will reload and inform you that the sub-tasks are now enabled.
    (info) A default sub-task issue type is automatically available for use. You can edit it by selecting its Edit link in the Operations column.

Defining sub-task issue types

Sub-tasks must be assigned one of the sub-task issue types, which are different to standard issue types. Please note that at least one sub-task issue type must be defined in Jira for users to be able to create sub-tasks.

Sub-task issue types can be customized on the Sub-tasks administration page. The Sub-tasks administration page also allows you to create, edit parameters like the name, description, or icon, and translate your sub-task issue types.

Create a sub-task issue type

  1. Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
  2. Go to Administration () > Issues. Select Issue types > Sub-tasks to open the Sub-tasks page.

  3. Select Add issue type to open the Add issue type dialog box.
  4. Complete the following:

    • Name — enter a short phrase that best describes your new sub-task issue type.

    • Description — enter a sentence or two to describe when this sub-task issue type should be used.

    • Type — select Sub-task issue type.

  5. Select Add.

Edit a sub-task issue type

  1. Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
  2. Go to Administration () > Issues. Select Issue types > Sub-tasks to open the Sub-tasks page.
  3. Select Edit in the Operations column for the sub-task issue type that you wish to edit.
  4. Edit the Name, Description, or Icon.
  5. Save your changes.

Delete a sub-task issue type

You can only delete sub-task issue types through the Manage issue types page. For details, see Deleting an issue type. 

Blocking issue workflows by sub-task status

It is possible to restrict the progression of an issue through workflow depending on the status of the issue's sub-tasks. For example, you might need to restrict an issue from being resolved until all of its sub-tasks are resolved. To achieve this, you would create a custom workflow and use the Sub-task blocking condition on the workflow transitions that are to be restricted by the sub-tasks' status.

Configuring sub-task fields displayed on parent issues

Jira system administrators can define which fields of sub-tasks are displayed in the Sub-tasks section on a parent issue, which contains one or more sub-tasks. You can do this by editing the value of the jira.table.cols.subtasks property on the Configuring advanced settings page.

Specify which fields you want to show in the Sub-tasks section of a parent issue by entering the appropriate value for each field in a comma-separated list.

The jira.table.cols.subtasks property can accept the values indicated in right-hand column of the IssueFieldConstants table on the Constant field values page of the Jira API documentation.

(info) Please note:

  • The order of each value in this list determines the order of their representative fields in the Sub-tasks section of a parent issue.
  • The Summary field is a mandatory value which assumes the first position in the property value.
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Do more with Jira

Extend what you can do with sub-tasks using these apps from the Atlassian Marketplace:  

Last modified on Sep 21, 2023

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