Documentation for JIRA 5.2. Documentation for other versions of JIRA is available too.

A 'workflow scheme' defines a set of associations (or 'mappings') between any workflow and any issue type. A workflow scheme is associated with a project, which thereby defines what issue types available in the project use what workflows. Workflow schemes make it possible to use a different workflow for every combination of project and issue type.

If a project's workflows have not yet been edited, it will use JIRA's system workflow 'jira' via JIRA's 'default workflow scheme'. The default workflow scheme:

  • Associates JIRA's system workflow 'jira' with all issue types (available to the JIRA project).
  • Appears as Default Workflow Scheme in JIRA (or just Default in the context of workflow scheme selection dropdown menu).

The instructions on this page describe how to configure a workflow scheme, that is, configure the workflows and issue type-workflow associations in the scheme.

(info) If you want to associate a workflow scheme with a project (part of activating a workflow), see Activating Workflow.

On this page:

Adding a workflow scheme

  1. Log in as a user with the JIRA Administrators global permission.
  2. Choose Administration at the top right of your screen. Then choose Issues > Workflows > Workflow Schemes (tab) to open the 'Workflow Schemes' page.
    (tick)  Keyboard shortcut: g + g + start typing workflow schemes

  3. Click the Add Workflow Scheme button.
  4. Enter the Name and Description of the new workflow scheme.
  5. Click the Add button. The new workflow scheme will be created. It will not have any workflows associated with it.
  6. Follow the instructions in Configuring workflows for a workflow scheme below.

Configuring workflows for a workflow scheme

If your scheme is associated with a project, follow the instructions in the Configuring a workflow scheme that is associated with a project section below. Otherwise, follow the instructions in Configuring a workflow scheme from the workflow scheme list.

Configuring a workflow scheme that is associated with a project

Before you begin:

  • You cannot configure a workflow scheme if it is shared by more than one project — it will not be editable.
  • If you want to configure a workflow scheme that is shared by more than one project, you will need to do one of the following:
    • disassociate the workflow scheme from all other projects, or
    • copy the workflow scheme, edit the copy and associate it with the desired projects.
  • JIRA's 'default workflow scheme' cannot be modified. If you attempt to modify JIRA's 'default workflow scheme', a copy of the scheme' will be created instead. The copy will take its name from the project that you are administering, when modifying the scheme.

To configure the workflow scheme associated with a project:

  1. Log in as a user with the JIRA Administrators global permission.
  2. Choose Administration at the top right of your screen. Then choose Projects from the menu bar and select the name of the project of interest. Otherwise, choose your project from the Projects list or Project Categories.
    (tick)Keyboard shortcut: g + g + start typing projects
  3. On the left of the Project Summary page, click the Workflows tab (or in the Workflows section, click either the name of the current workflow scheme or the More link). The Workflows page is displayed, indicating the current workflow scheme used by the project (see 'Workflow scheme page (unedited)' screenshot below).

  4. Configure the workflows for the workflow scheme as desired (see the table of operations below). When you make a change to the scheme, a draft will be created (see 'Workflow scheme page (draft)' screenshot below).  

  5. Click the Publish button when you have finished making changes. 

  6. Follow the wizard, which will guide you through migrating all the project's issues to the updated scheme's workflows.

    Screenshot: Workflow scheme page (unedited)

    Screenshot: Workflow scheme page (draft)

    OperationInstructions
    Add a workflow to the scheme1. Click the Add Workflow button.
    2. Select the desired workflow and then the desired issue types for the workflow in the dialog that appears.
    3. Click Finish.
    Edit a workflowHover over the desired workflow and click the Edit button. See Configuring Workflow for further instructions.
    Note, the Edit button will only display for a workflow if you have permission to edit it. The Edit button will only display for the system workflow, if you are viewing it in JIRA's default workflow scheme.
    Remove a workflow from the schemeClick the cog icon for the desired workflow and select Remove this workflow.
    Change the issue types associated with a workflow1. Click the Assign link under Issue Types for the desired workflow.
    2. Select the desired issue types in the dialog that appears.
    3. Click Finish.
    View the text-based representation of a workflowHover over the desired workflow and click the View as Text link. Click any screen name to configure the screen.
    Change the workflow scheme associated with the projectClick the Switch Scheme button next to the scheme name. See Activating Workflow for further instructions.

Configuring a workflow scheme that is not associated with a project

Before you begin:

  • If your workflow scheme is associated with a project, follow the instructions instructions above instead.

To configure the workflow scheme that is not associated with a project:

  1. Log in as a user with the JIRA Administrators global permission.
  2. Choose Administration at the top right of your screen. Then choose Issues > Workflows > Workflow Schemes (tab) to open the 'Workflow Schemes' page.
    (tick)  Keyboard shortcut: g + g + start typing workflow schemes
  3. Click the Assign link under the Operations column for the desired workflow.

  4. Click the Associate an Issue Type with a Workflow button.

  5. Select the Issue Type and Workflow, and click Assign.

    OperationInstructions
    Add a workflow to the schemeChoose the desired new workflow when selecting the Issue Type and Workflow. The new workflow will be added when it is associated with an issue type.
    Remove a workflow from the schemeDisassociate all issue types from the desired workflow, by assigning the issue types to another workflow.
    Change the issue types associated with a workflowRepeat steps 3 to 5 as needed.

Editing, copying and deleting existing workflow schemes

Before you begin:

  • You cannot delete an active workflow scheme. You must first disassociate it from all projects.

To edit, copy or delete an existing workflow scheme:

  1. Log in as a user with the JIRA Administrators global permission.
  2. Choose Administration at the top right of your screen. Then choose Issues > Workflows > Workflow Schemes (tab) to open the 'Workflow Schemes' page.
    (tick)Keyboard shortcut: g + g + start typing workflow schemes

    OperationInstructions
    Edit the name and description of a workflow scheme1. Click the Edit link.
    2. Update the Name and Description as desired and click Update.
    Copy a workflow schemeClick the Copy link. A copy of the workflow scheme will be created. The copy will have the name of the old scheme prefixed with "Copy of"
    Delete a workflow schemeClick the Delete link and confirm the deletion.