Classic mode workflow designer

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If you are using the latest version of JIRA, there is a newer version of the workflow designer. Go here for details. For the Classic mode workflow designer, see the information on this page.

The illustration below shows the main features of the Classic mode workflow designer, which are discussed on this page.

Usage notes

  • The Statuses and Global Transitions panels are expandable. If these panels are not visible (i.e. collapsed), expand them by clicking the vertical bar (containing a small arrow mid-way along the bar) on the left-hand edge of the workflow design area.
  • Keyboard shortcuts are not available.

Using the main toolbar

The main toolbar lets you visually arrange your workflow's steps/statuses and transitions on the workflow design area. For more on working with transitions, go here.

Button

Description

Select Tool
Selects, moves or edits any item on the workflow design area; selected items are highlighted in red. Click away from any item in the workflow design area to clear the selection.

Create Transition — Straight Line
Creates a transition with a single straight line.

Create Transition — Polygonal Line
Creates a transition with multiple straight lines.

Create Transition — Bezier Line
Creates a transition with a curved line.

Create Annotation
Adds a 'sticky note' where you can add a short description or annotation to your workflow's layout.
(info) Annotations only appear in the workflow design area and are not visible when viewing workflows from the View issue page (via the View Workflow link).

Zoom In

Zoom Out

Save Snapshot Image
Saves an image of the current position of all items on the workflow design area in PNG format.

Toggle Transition Labels
Switches between hiding or revealing transition labels, each of which indicate their Transition (id).
(info) To be able to edit all aspects of a transition – including its conditions, validators, post functions and properties – transition labels must be visible. If transition labels are hidden, you can only edit the Transition Name, Description, Destination Step and Transition View of a transition by double-clicking its transition line.

Using the Statuses panel

The Statuses panel lists all available JIRA statuses that have not already been associated with a step on the workflow design area. It also provides tools for adding new statuses or editing existing ones.

Button

Description

Refresh List
Refreshes the statuses list.

Add New Status
Adds a new global status to JIRA. See Defining Status field values for details.

Status Editor
Opens the Status Editor dialog box where you can edit an existing global status in JIRA. See Defining Status field values for details.

(tick) You can use the Statuses panel to add a step to your workflow.

Using the Global Transitions panel

The Global Transitions panel lists all global transitions used in your workflow. A global transition is one in which the destination step of the transition has all other steps in the workflow as incoming steps, but only requires you to edit or update this transition in one place.

(info) Note:

  • Global Transitions are similar to – but not the same as – common transitions.
    To avoid clutter, global transitions do not appear on the workflow design area. Instead, they display in the Global Transitions panel as well as every step of your workflow in Text edit mode.
  • Global Transitions can only be edited/deleted in Diagram mode. They cannot be configured in Text mode.

The Global Transitions panel also provides tools for adding new global transitions, as well as editing or deleting existing ones.

Button

Description

Add New Transition
Adds a new global transition to the workflow.

Edit Selected Transition
Edits the currently selected global transition in the global transitions panel.

Delete Selected Transition
Deletes the currently selected global transition in the global transitions panel, from the workflow.

Editing or deleting annotations

Once you have added an annotation using the Create Annotation tool (above), you can do the following:

  • To resize an annotation, drag the edges or corners of the sticky note.
  • To edit the text inside an annotation, click inside the annotation and begin modifying the text.
  • To remove an annotation, click the X at the top-right of the sticky note.
Last modified on Sep 12, 2013

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