Set up request types

Each request type in a service project is based on an issue type. Open Project settings > Request types to manage your project's request types:

1. Request name: give the request an intuitive name by using keywords that your customers look for.
2. Issue type: add a new request type by selecting the issue type the request is based on.
3. Description: help your customers choose the right request type by providing helpful descriptions.
4. Edit fields: customize request fields and workflow statuses, and add request types to groups on your customer portal.

A single issue type can be the basis for many different request types. For example, the Service Request issue type serves as the basis for both the "Get IT help" and "Connect to wi-fi" requests.

Organize request types into groups

We recommend using groups if you have seven or more request types, so you can make your request types easier to find on the customer portal. You must have more than one group for the groups to appear in the customer portal. For example, 'Logins and Accounts', 'Applications', and 'Common Requests': 

Administrators and project administrators can manage request type groups in Project settings > Request types. Click on a group to add new or existing request types to it. You can also create a new group by clicking + Add group and these request type groups are unique to each service desk project.

Customize the fields on a request type

The fields and descriptions that appear in a request type are based on the field configured for the issue type (that is, the issue type the request type is based on). 

When editing the request type fields, you can use the Fields tab to change the default Jira field names to more customer friendly language. For example, the "Summary" field appears as "What do you need?" for customers. 

You can also keep fields hidden but available on the request type so that their value can be used for other processes. For more details about how different types of fields work in Jira Service Management, see Hidden fields and unsupported fields.

If the issue type doesn't have the fields you need, you must add a field to the Jira issue type that the request type is based on. If the issue type uses multiple screen schemes, the new field must be available in the create screen. See Associating a screen with an issue operation.

Customize the workflow statuses for a request type

Jira Service Management uses the workflow associated with the request's issue type for the flow of the request.

You can re-map the default workflow statuses to more customer friendly statuses that will appear for customers, and you can also map multiple statuses to a single customer status to simplify the appearance of the workflow. Use the Workflow statuses tab to customize the workflow that customers will see. 

Only changes between these customer-visible 'status names' will be reflected in the Customer Portal and its notifications (e.g. a transition between two workflow statuses can be hidden on the Portal by giving them the same 'status name'). For more information about notifications, see Managing service project notifications.

If you need to change the workflow of a request, you must edit the workflow associated with the service project by going to Project settings > Workflow. 

Hidden fields and unsupported fields

Each request type in a service project is based on an issue type. Every issue type has a set of allowed (and possibly required) fields associated with it. As you set up the request type, you can choose to include fields that are hidden on the customer portal but still provide a value to assist with your internal processes and reporting. For example, you might want to set the value of the "Label" field as "hardware" for the "Request new hardware" request type, and set the value as "software" for the "Request new software" request type.

Some fields used by an issue type are not supported for use in the customer portal; if you include these fields on a request type, they will automatically be added to the Hidden fields with preset values section and you'll be required to set a value for them.

Other fields aren't supported for use in Jira Service Management.

These fields can be added to the request type and given a preset value, but you cannot make them visible on the customer portal:

• Assignee
• Linked issues
• Any fields that are defined by other Jira applications
• Group, project, and version picker custom fields

These types of fields can't be added to a request type and won't appear in the in the Add a field dialog:

• Issue type
• Log work
• Reporter
• Time tracking

Set up URLs with auto-populated request fields

You can generate URLs that will automatically populate selected request fields with contextual data. This way you can direct your customers to the customer portal from an external website and transfer certain details into the request fields.

URLs can fill in the following request field types: