This article explains the steps required when migrating a JIRA Server instance to JIRA Cloud when you were using JMWE workflow extensions on your JIRA Server instance.
Background:
Because of the way Atlassian's Connect framework is implemented, workflow extensions (validators, conditions and post-functions) provided by add-ons are incompatible between JIRA Server and JIRA Cloud. The entire JMWE configuration is contained within the workflows themselves. So you need to take a backup of your entire JIRA Server instance, identify the workflows and transitions that use JMWE workflow extensions, and fix them.
See here for Server/Cloud migration challenges or limitations.
Challenges
Workflows using JMWE post-functions/conditions/validators in the Server will break on the Cloud because post-function configurations are incompatible with their Cloud equivalents.
Some workflow extensions are unavailable in the Cloud and hence they need to be removed
Some workflow extensions need to be completely recreated looking at their equivalents in the Server, followed by deleting the existing one in the Cloud
Some workflow extensions might be
Run as a specific user
which fail to reflect the user in the Run as section after the import. You will have to identify them, edit them and add the user in the configuration looking at the Server.Some workflow extensions might use Groovy scripts either to execute the post-function conditionally or set a field value or comment an issue. Wherever you use Groovy scripts, write its equivalent Nunjucks template. You can test your script result using the Nunjucks tester. Examples:
Because of architectural differences between Jira Server and Jira Cloud, post-functions on Jira Cloud run asynchronously. This has two consequences:
You cannot rely on the order of execution of JMWE post-functions based on their position in the list of post-functions (unless you take advantage of the "Delayed Execution" option to sequence post-function execution using different delays)
Post-functions run after the transition completes, and thus after the issue is refreshed in the browser. Unless you take advantage of View Issue Page Actions, the result of post-functions will not be visible until you manually refresh the issue view page.
Missing features
Some features of workflow extensions mentioned below are unavailable in the Cloud.
The Assign to last role member and Assign to role member post-functions do not have the option to customize the assignment
Send Issue commented notification: This option is irrelevant in Comment issue and Comment linked issues post-functions of JIRA Cloud because the notifications will always be sent.
Use value before current transition: The Copy value from field to field post-function does not have the option to use the value before the current transition.
Clear field value/Clear field value of linked issues: These post-functions are not available in the Cloud version of the add-on. You can use either the in-built Clear field value post-function of Cloud or the Set field value post-function of JMWE and clear the field value.
Migrating workflows
Before you begin fixing your workflows, publish all your workflows to avoid duplicate work (between the draft and corresponding published workflow)
Identify transition name from XML file
After identifying the condition/validator/post-function searching by the class name work your way up on the file from the line that to find the name of the transition on which the workflow extension is configured. You can identify it under the <actions> tag.
Identify workflow name from XML file
After identifying the transition name work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow> tag. Refer to the above image.
Step 1 - Backup the Server instance and open the XML file
Using JIRA's XML backup utility backup your entire JIRA Server instance.
Unzip the backup.
Find the entities.xml file.
Open it in an editor that supports very large files.
Step 2 - Identify workflows and transitions using JMWE conditions
Condition Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
At the end of this step, you will create a table with the workflow name and the transition names of all the workflows that contain JMWE conditions.
Current Status Condition
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.CurrentStatusCondition"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.CurrentStatusCondition"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Hide transition
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.NonInteractiveCondition"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.NonInteractiveCondition"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Previous Status Condition
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.PreviousStatusCondition"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.PreviousStatusCondition"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Linked Issues Condition
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.LinkedIssuesCondition"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.LinkedIssuesCondition"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Linked Issues Status Condition
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.LinkedIssuesStatusCondition"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.LinkedIssuesStatusCondition"
Repeat step 2 to 9 until you reach the end of the file
Scripted (Groovy) Condition
Find the text "
com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.GroovyCondition"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "
com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.GroovyCondition
"Repeat step 2 to 9 until you reach the end of the file
Separation of Duties Condition
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.SeparationOfDutiesCondition
"
Write down the transition name in the table.
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.conditions.SeparationOfDutiesCondition"
Repeat step 2 to 9 until you reach the end of the file
Step 3 - Identify workflows and transitions using JMWE validators
Validator Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
At the end of this step, you will create a table with the workflow name and the transition names of all the workflows that contain JMWE validators.
Comment Required Validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.CommentRequiredValidator"
Find the transition
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.CommentRequiredValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Field has been modified validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.FieldChangedValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.FieldChangedValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Field has been single value validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.FieldHasSingleValueValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.FieldHasSingleValueValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Field Required validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.FieldRequiredValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.FieldRequiredValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Parent Status validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.PreviousStatusValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.PreviousStatusValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Linked Issues Validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.IssueLinkingValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.IssueLinkingValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Linked Issues Status Validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.LinkedIssuesStatusValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.LinkedIssuesStatusValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Scripted (Groovy) validator
Find the text "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.GroovyValidator"
Find the transition name
Write down the transition name in the table.
Find the workflow name
Write down the workflow name.
Find the next instance of "com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.validators.GroovyValidator"
Repeat step 2 to 6 until you reach the end of the file
Step 4 - Identify workflows and transitions using JMWE post-functions that need to be recreated
At the end of this step, you will create a table with the workflow name and the transition names of all the workflows containing JMWE post-functions that need to be recreated
Transition Names | Workflow Name |
---|---|
Unlink Issues post-function
Search for the text - <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
Find the next instance of <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
Repeat steps b to g until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name.
List of transitions | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
|
|
Link issues to the current issue post-function
Search for the text <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
Find the next instance of <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
Repeat steps b to g until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name.
List of transitions | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
|
|
Email issue post-function
Search for the text <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
Find the next instance of <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
Repeat steps b to g until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name.
List of transitions | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
|
|
Create issue post-function
Find for the text <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
Find the next instance of <arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
Repeat steps b to g until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name.
List of transitions | Workflow Name |
---|---|
|
|
|
|
Now you will have three tables with List ot transitions, Workflow name that contain post-functions to be recreated.
Sort the table by Workflow name
Workflow Name | List of transitions |
---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 5 - Identify workflows and transitions using JMWE post-functions that need rework
In this step identify workflows and transitions using JMWE post-functions that need rework. At the end of this step you will have three tables with workflows, transitions and post-functions that have:
Groovy scripts in the Conditional execution section
Groovy expressions or Groovy templates to set a field of an issue or comment an issue
a specific user in the Run as section
Identify post-functions with Conditional execution script
Search for the text <arg name="useGroovyCondition">yes</arg>
Work your way up and look at <arg name="
class.name
">
to identify the name of the post-function (look at the end of the line).
Ignore and find the next instance of the search if it is either of the following:
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
If not write down the name of the post-function looking at the class name.
Post-function name | Transition name | Workflow name |
---|---|---|
|
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="useGroovyCondition">yes</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Post-function Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Post-function Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Find the next instance of the search
Repeat steps 2 to 10 until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name for post-functions that have a conditional execution script.
Workflow Name | List of transitions | Post-functions with Conditional script |
---|---|---|
|
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| |
|
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|
Identify post-functions with Groovy template to set a field value or comment an issue
Identify post-functions with Groovy template
as the Value type
Search for the text <arg name="valueType">template</arg>
Work your way up and look at <arg name="
class.name
">
to identify the name of the post-function (look at the end of the line).
Ignore and find the next instance of the search if it is either of the following:
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
If not, write down the name of the post-function looking at the class name
Post-function Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="valueType">template</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Post-function Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Post-function Name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Find the next instance of the search
Repeat steps b to j until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name with post-functions that have a Groovy template.
Workflow Name | List of transitions | Post-functions with Conditional script |
---|---|---|
|
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| |
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|
Identify post-functions with Groovy expression
as the Value type
Search for the text <arg name="valueType">expression</arg>
Work your way up and look at <arg name="
class.name
">
to identify the name of the post-function (look at the end of the line).
Ignore and find the next instance of the search if it is either of the following:
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
If not, write down the name of the post-function looking at the class name
Post-function name | Transition name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
Work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="valueType">expression</arg>
to find the name of the transition on which the post-function is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Post-function name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Post-function name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
| PKP flow |
Find the next instance of the search
Repeat steps b to j until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name with post-functions that have a Groovy expression.
Workflow Name | List of transitions | Post-function name |
---|---|---|
| To Do |
|
|
|
Identify post-functions with Run as specific user
Search for the text - <arg name="runAsUser">
Proceed to the next step if the argument has a value, similar to this: <arg name="runAsUser">djohn</arg>.
If not find the next instance of the search.
Work your way up and look at <arg name="
class.name
">
. Identify the name of the post-function looking at the class name under the same function element.
Ignore and find the next instance of the search if it is either of the following:
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.CreateIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.EmailIssueFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.LinkIssuesFunction</arg>
<arg name="
class.name
">com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction</arg>
If not write down the name of the post-function looking at the class name
Post-function name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
work your way up on the file from the line that contains <arg name="runAsUser">
to find the name of the transition on which the validator is configured. You can identify it under the <actions>
tag.
Write down the transition name in the table.
Post-function name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
Work your way up further on the file from the line you have found the transition, to find the name of the workflow. You can identify it under the <Workflow>
tag.
Write down the workflow name.
Post-function name | Transition Name | Workflow Name |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Find the next instance of the search
Repeat steps 2 to 10 until you reach the end of the file.
Now you will have a list of transitions and their corresponding workflow name with post-functions that are run as a specific user.
Workflow Name | List of transitions | Post-function name |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Comment issue |
Now prepare a single table sorting it based on the Workflow name, Transition name. Add the count if a transition has a post-function more than once, as shown in the table
Workflow Name | Transition name | Post-function name | Fix |
---|---|---|---|
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Step 6 - Import the backup into your JIRA Cloud instance
Re-zip the extracted files.
In Windows: Select all the extracted files and re-zip them using any tool, say 7z or
In Linux: Navigate to the directory where the files are that you want to zip. Then type: zip newbackup file1 file2 file3
In Mac: Navigate to the directory where the files are that you want to zip. Then type: zip -r backup.zip newbackup.zip
Log in to JIRA Cloud as an administrator.
Import the backup into your JIRA Cloud instance using Jira Import Wizard in Import and Export section.
Step 7 - Install the JMWE add-on
See here to know how to install the JMWE add-on
Step 8 - Fix your workflows
In this step you will do the remaining fixes:
Recreating the workflow extension and deleting the existing ones or
Edit the workflow extension and modify it.
Recreate the workflow extensions in Jira Cloud
Refer to the table prepared in Step 4
For each affected workflow listed in the table, open the workflow in an edit mode in the Cloud and Server.
For each affected transition listed of the workflow, go to that transition in the editor and then to the Post-functions tab.
Locate the post-function in JIRA Cloud. You can easily identify JMWE post-functions imported from Server because they appear strange with the Class: com.innovalog.jmwe.plugins.functions.UnlinkIssuesFunction
similar to this:
Identify the name of the post-function looking at the class name (look at the end of the line).
Locate the same post-function in JIRA Server by its position in the list and edit it to see its full configuration.
Recreate the post-function:
Click on Add post-function
in JIRA Cloud.
Recreate the post-function looking at its equivalent configuration in JIRA Server.
Move the post-function right before the existing post-function
Delete the existing post-function in JIRA Cloud.
Once all the transitions in a workflow are fixed, publish the workflow.
Modify the workflow extensions in Jira Cloud
Refer to the table prepared in Step 5
For each affected workflow listed in the table, open the workflow in an edit mode in the Cloud and Server.
For each affected transition listed for the workflow, go to that transition in the editor and then to the Post-functions tab.
For each post-function listed in the table locate the Post-function in JIRA Cloud looking at the same post-function in JIRA Server by its position in the list.
Edit the post-function. If the fix is for
A Conditional execution/Groovy expression/Groovy template, look at the script in the Server and write a Nunjucks template that is equivalent to the existing one. Save the post-function.
The Run as specific user, look at the selected user in the Server and select the same in the Cloud. Save the post-function.
Once all the transitions in a workflow are fixed, publish the workflow