Jira is a powerful tool for issue tracking and project management, widely used by software development teams, IT service desks, and business teams. One of its essential features is the ability to link issues together, allowing users to establish relationships between different tasks, track dependencies, and improve collaboration. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to manage Jira linked issues using native features. Then, we’ll explore a more efficient way to do this using Elements Copy & Sync, an app that simplifies and automates issue linking across projects.
Creating linked issues in Jira natively
Jira allows users to link issues manually, providing better visibility into dependencies, blockers, or related tasks. You can establish links between tickets in different projects or within the same project. Managing Jira issues is crucial for ensuring smooth project execution and helping teams work efficiently.
Step 1: Open the issue you want to link
- Log in to Jira and navigate to your project.
- Open the issue that you want to link to another issue.
Step 2: Select “link issue”
- In the issue view, look for the “link” option. This is usually found in the issue’s action menu or under the “more” dropdown, depending on your Jira version.
- Click “link”, and a dialog box will appear.
Step 3: Choose the link type
Jira provides different types of issue links to specify relationships. Some common link types include:
- blocks: the linked issue prevents work from proceeding.
- is blocked by: the issue cannot be completed until another issue is resolved.
- relates to: the issue is connected but does not have a dependency.
- duplicates: the issue is a duplicate of another.
- clones: the issue is a clone of another.
By carefully choosing the correct link type, you ensure that your Jira issues are properly categorized for better tracking and collaboration.
Step 4: Enter the issue key or search for the issue
- If you know the issue key (e.g., “PROJ-123”), enter it directly.
- Alternatively, use the search function to find the issue you want to link.
Step 5: Confirm and save
Once you’ve selected the correct issue and link type, click “link” to save the relationship. The Jira issues will now appear in the issue view under the “issue links” section, making it easy to track connections between tasks and work dependencies.
A smarter way to create linked issues: Elements Copy & Sync
While Jira’s native issue linking works well, it often requires multiple manual steps, especially when dealing with complex workflows or repetitive tasks. This is where Elements Copy & Sync comes in.
Elements Copy & Sync is a Jira app that streamlines issue creation and linking by allowing users to:
- create and link issues in one action
- automatically copy issue data to new issues
- sync field updates between parent and child issues
- apply predefined templates for consistency
How to create Jira linked issues with Elements Copy & Sync
Step 1: Install and configure Elements Copy & Sync
- Go to Jira administration > apps and install Elements Copy & Sync from the Atlassian Marketplace.
- Configure the app by setting up copy rules and linking rules based on your use case.
Step 2: Choose the copy & sync action
- Open the source issue.
- Select Elements Copy & Sync in the issue actions menu.
Step 3: Select the target project and issue type
- Choose whether you want to copy the issue within the same project or to a different project.
- Select the issue type (e.g., task, bug, story).
Step 4: Define what data to copy
Elements Copy & Sync allows you to automatically copy:
- summary and description
- custom fields
- assignee and reporter
- attachments and comments
This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures consistency across Jira issues.
Step 5: Enable synchronization (optional)
If you need the Jira issues to remain updated in real-time, enable sync rules. This ensures that changes to the original issue (e.g., status updates, field changes) are reflected in the linked issue.
Step 6: Click “create linked issue”
The new issue is created instantly with the link already established.
Synchronize issues automatically with Elements Copy & Sync
Another powerful feature of Elements Copy & Sync is its ability to synchronize Jira issues automatically using synchronization recipes. When creating links, you can define specific synchronization rules that ensure updates in one issue are reflected in the related issue(s). You can also choose which type of link to synchronize, whether it’s “blocks”, “is blocked by”, “relates to”, or any other custom link type in Jira.
With synchronization recipes, you can configure which fields should stay in sync between Jira issues, such as status, assignee, priority, or custom fields. If you need to find which issues have been synchronized, you can use Jira’s search function to filter issues based on their link type and status.
Learn more about how to synchronize issues with Elements Copy & Sync here.
You can also synchronize any type of issues across projects and instances if needed.
Display issues in the Jira customer portal
One of the unique advantages of Elements Copy & Sync is its ability to display Jira issues directly in the Jira Service Management (JSM) customer portal. This provides customers with real-time visibility into related tickets, such as escalated support tickets, feature requests, or bug fixes.
Learn more about how to display issues in the customer portal here.
Why use Elements Copy & Sync for Jira issues?
Here are some key benefits of using Elements Copy & Sync over Jira’s native linking system:
- Faster issue creation: no need to manually enter details for issues—data is copied automatically.
- Reduced errors and inconsistencies: by automating data transfer, Elements Copy & Sync ensures that Jira issues contain accurate information.
- Synchronization between issues: updates in one issue can be automatically reflected in its related issue(s), preventing communication gaps and improving team workflows.
- Simplified workflows: instead of manually linking issues each time, users can rely on pre-configured automation to handle repetitive tasks across multiple projects.
Conclusion
Creating Jira issues is essential for managing dependencies and improving issue tracking. While Jira offers a built-in way to link issues, the manual process can be time-consuming.
For teams that need a faster and more automated approach, Elements Copy & Sync provides a powerful solution. With its ability to automate issue creation, copy data, and sync updates, it simplifies workflows and enhances collaboration.
If your team frequently works with issues, try Elements Copy & Sync to save time and improve efficiency. 🚀
