Configuring estimation field and handling errors

Owned by Anton (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Feb 20, 2024 by Magic Apps Team
5 min read

Overview

As we mentioned in Estimation process | Errors while saving part, it is possible that Magic Estimation can’t find a field to save the estimates.

Magic Estimations can’s save estimates to the selected field if it is not present in issue details. There are 2 things you can do:

  1. Select another field that is valid for the selected issues.

  2. Configure Jira and add the field to the issue details.

Below you will find all the possible ways of fixing the problem.

Selecting proper estimation fields

While selecting an estimation field, remember these simple rules:

  1. Jira Custom fields created for Company-managed projects are not available for Team-managed projects.

    • The only exception is when issues from a Team-managed project are added to a board of a Company-managed project.

  2. Custom fields created for Team-managed projects are not available for Company-managed projects.

  3. Custom fields of one Team-managed project are not available for another Team-managed project.

In order to check the project type navigate to Projects → View all projects and check Type for the project you are interested in.

Story Points vs Story point estimate

As mentioned above, Jira custom fields of Team-managed and Company-managed projects are different. The same case is for default fields that stand for estimates:

  • In Company-managed projects estimates are usually stored in Story Points field;

  • In Team-managed projects estimates are usually stored in Story point estimate field.

Configuring custom fields in Jira

Let’s stop on Team- and Company- managed projects separately.

Team-managed project configuration

Enabling Estimation feature

If you want to use standard estimation fields for a Team-managed project, like Story point estimate, make sure Estimates feature is enabled in project settings:

  1. Open a Team-managed project of the issue you want to estimate

  2. Choose Project Settings from the navigation menu.

  3. Select Features from Settings menu:

     

  4. Enable Estimation feature.

  5. Choose Story points to enable Story points estimate field or TIme for Original estimate field.

Once done, follow the suggestions below to make sure your estimation fields are added to all interested issue types.

Configuring Context fields

In order to estimate a specific field from a Team-managed project, the field must be present in Context fields of issue types you plan to estimate:

  1. Open a Team-managed project of the issue you want to estimate

  2. Choose Project Settings from the navigation menu.

  3. Select Issue types from Settings menu.

  4. Select an issue type you would like to estimate.

  5. Add the estimation field to Context fields, make sure it’s not hidden:

     

  6. Repeat #4 for other issue types in case you plan to estimate them.

  7. Click on Save changes button from the lower part of the screen.

That’s it, you are all set! Please let us know how helpful this part was: support@magicapps.io

Company-managed project fields configuration

Usually, there are 3 main reasons for not being able to save estimates for:

  1. Estimation field is missing from Screens for one or more issue types

  2. Estimation field is missing from custom field contexts

  3. Estimation field is hidden by default.

Let’s stop in details on what happens if you try to save estimates for non configured field and how to manually configure it.

Errors while saving

If you see a screen similar to the screenshot above, please follow the instructions and try saving estimates again. You can find detailed instructions below if you face any problems.

Edit issue Screens

One of the possible problems might be the absence of a selected estimation field in the screen configuration for a specific or all issue types. Even if your field is present and editable in issue details, but absent on the appropriate Screen, the app won’t be able to save it.

Please note that for estimating time format fields like the Original estimate field the “Time tracking” group of fields must be added to the Screen

In order to configure screens:

  1. Open a project of the issue you want to estimate

  2. Choose Project Settings from the navigation menu

  3. Select Screens from Project Settings navigation

  4. Click on the Screen name of the needed Issue Type and add the required field to the screen

  5. Try to save estimates for the issue again.

In case it didn’t help, proceed to the recommendation below.

Edit custom field contexts

In order to use a field for estimation, it must be configured in Contexts for projects and issue types you want to estimate.

 

  1. Select  Jira Settings (gear icon from the top right) > Issues.

  2. Under FIELDS, click Custom fields.

  3. Find the custom field you want to configure and click  > Contexts and default value. Alternatively, you can click a field's screens or contexts link and then click Contexts > Create, edit, or delete contexts.

  4. Locate the context you want to change and click Edit Configuration.

  5. In the applicable issue types section, select or unselect the relevant issue types.

  6. In the applicable contexts section, select or unselect the relevant projects.

  7. Select Modify. 

Edit issue layout

If you are using New Issue layout, navigate to Project Settings → Issue layout and make sure that the estimation field is showed by default

Once done, try to save estimates for the issue again.

Let us know if you need further assistance: support@magicapps.io