Workflows in queues

A workflow in a queue is a set of statuses that change at different stages of issue progress and rules for making transitions between the statuses.

Workflow components

Workflows are characterized by the following Yandex Tracker entities:

• Issue types: A queue may contain multiple issue types, such as New feature, Improvement, or Bug. Workflows are set up for specific issue types in the queue. This allows considering the specifics of issue types and creating a convenient workflow for each type.
• Issue statuses and resolutions: A workflow defines the statuses for the selected type of issues and the resolutions to close them with.
• Transitions between statuses: Using transitions, you can set up both elementary rules for issue status updates and auto actions to be performed at status update, as well as transition screens for users to fill in certain issue fields.

In the workflow visual editor's diagram, statuses are represented as blocks of a larger size filled in color matching the status types, while small transparent blocks indicate transitions between the statuses.

Do I need to create a workflow immediately when creating a queue?

No, when a queue is being created, a template with a standard workflow is used. This workflow immediately applies to the queue issues. The queue owner can use the workflow editor's diagram to see the workflow components, adjust it, or create new workflows for new issue types.

How to manage workflows

Queue workflow management is available to the queue owner and users granted permission to access the queue settings. If you're the queue owner or you're granted this permission, you can:

• Add issue types to existing workflows or create new issue types.
• Set up resolutions for different issue types.
• Edit and remove workflows, bearing in mind compatibility with existing queue issues.
• Copy workflows.
• Open the workflow editor where you can create a workflow, add statuses to it, and set up transitions between workflows.

Rules for creating workflows

1. A workflow should contain at least two statuses and a transition between them.

2. A workflow may not have statuses without any transitions.

3. One of the statuses should be the workflow start. Statuses of any type can act as the workflow start.

4. At least one status must be of the Completed or Canceled type: you will not be able to close issues in your queue without it.

Creating a workflow

To create a workflow:

1. In the left-hand panel, click  Queues and select a queue.

2. In the top right corner of the queue page, click  Queue settings.

3. Go to the Workflows tab and click Create workflow. The workflow visual editor will open.

4. In the workflow editor:

   • Add statuses to the diagram.
   • Set up transitions between statuses.

   When everything is ready, click Save in the upper-right corner.

   For all transitions to a final status (for example, Closed), we recommend that you require filling in the Resolution field on the transition screen: see Transition screen. Resolutions can affect closed issue tracking and searching with filters.

5. Select the types of issues the created workflow will be used for and click Apply. Learn more about issue types

6. Go back to the Workflows tab in the queue settings and add resolutions to your new workflow:

   1. One after another, select each issue type on the workflow card.
   2. Hover over the Resolutions column and click the icon that appears.
   3. Select a resolution from the list.

   Learn more about resolutions

Copying a workflow from a different queue

To copy a workflow from a different queue:

1. In the left-hand panel, click  Queues and select a queue.

2. In the top right corner of the queue page, click  Queue settings.

3. In the Workflows tab, click .

4. In the window that opens, fill in the fields:

   • Copy from queue.
   • Copying workflow.
   • New workflow name.

5. Click Copy.

Deleting a workflow

To delete a workflow:

1. In the left-hand panel, click  Queues and select a queue.

2. In the top right corner of the queue page, click  Queue settings.

3. Go to the Workflows tab.

4. Select the appropriate workflow and click .