Smart Issue Templates for Jira Cloud
Smart Issue Templates for Jira Cloud
Breadcrumbs

Configure and test External Data fields

This guide walks through configuring the External Data for Jira Fields app and validating both supported methods in Smart Issue Templates.

  • Method A: Field Option Sync (dropdown). Recommended.

  • Method B: External Data Search Field (type to search).

Follow the prerequisites once, then use whichever method matches your field.

Prerequisites

1. Install External Data for Jira Fields

  1. Go to Jira > Apps > Find new apps.

  2. Search for External Data for Jira Fields by codefortynine.

  3. Install the app.

  4. Open Apps > External Data for Jira Fields.

2. Create an External Data source

  1. Go to Data Sources > Add > REST / URL.

  2. Configure:

Setting

Value

Name

Test Users

URL

https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users

Authentication

None

  1. Select Test Connection, then Save.

3. Configure the JSON paths

Property

JSON path

Select List

$[*]

ID

$.id

Label / Value

$.name

The data source should return values such as Leanne Graham, Ervin Howell, Clementine Bauch and Patricia Lebsack.

Method A: Field Option Sync (dropdown)

This method synchronizes external data into a standard Jira Select List custom field. Smart Issue Templates then shows the options exactly as Jira does.

Configure Jira

  1. Create a custom field of type Select List (single choice). For this walkthrough, name it Synced External Select.

  2. Add the custom field to the project's Create screen and Edit screen.

Configure External Data

Go to Field Configurations > Field Option Sync and configure:

Setting

Value

Data Source

Test Users

Select List Path

$[*]

ID Path

$.id

Label Path

$.name

Target Field

Synced External Select

Activate the configuration, then run Sync.

Validate in Smart Issue Templates

  1. Create or open a template for the same project and work type.

  2. Locate the synced dropdown field.

  3. Choose one of the available values.

  4. Save the template.

  5. Apply the template.

  6. Check the value on the created work item.

Expected result

  • The dropdown displays all synchronized options.

  • The options are available both on the Jira create screen and in the template editor.

  • Applying the template sets the selected value on the work item.

If the dropdown is empty in both Jira and Smart Issue Templates, Field Option Sync has not synchronized any options yet. Check the data source, the mappings, the target field, and that the synchronization is active. Smart Issue Templates only displays options that already exist in Jira.

Method B: External Data Search Field

Use this method when the field is configured as an External Data Search Field. The value is entered manually in the template, then applied to the work item.

Configure Jira

  1. Create a custom field of type External Data - Search Field (single or multiple). For this walkthrough, name it External Search Users.

  2. Add the field to the project's Create screen and Edit screen.

Configure External Data

Go to Field Configurations > Search Field and configure:

Setting

Value

Data Source

Test Users

Select List Path

$[*]

Value / Search Path

$.name

Target Field

External Search Users

Activate the configuration, then confirm that searching works when you create a work item directly in Jira.

Validate in Smart Issue Templates

  1. Create or open a template for the same project and work type.

  2. Locate the External Search Users field.

  3. Type a value exactly as it exists in the external source, for example:

Leanne Graham

  1. Press Enter.

  2. Save the template.

  3. Apply the template.

  4. Check the value on the created work item.

Expected result

  • The field accepts the value.

  • Applying the template writes the value to the work item.

The suggestion list stays empty in the template editor, and that is expected. Smart Issue Templates cannot run the External Data app's live search, so the value has to be typed and has to match the source exactly. Copy values straight from Jira or from the external source to avoid a mismatch. See External Data fields: known limitations.

Troubleshooting

Problem

What to check

The field does not appear in Smart Issue Templates

Verify the project, the work type, and that the field is on the Create screen. Smart Issue Templates builds its field list from the create screen.

The dropdown is empty

Confirm Field Option Sync has successfully synchronized options into Jira.

A Search Field value is not applied

Confirm the value matches the external source exactly, and that the field is on the Edit and View screens.

An Asset Field or Info Panel is missing

Expected. These field types are not currently supported.

Best practices

  • Use the same project and work type in your template as in the Jira configuration.

  • Make sure the field is on the Create screen.

  • Refresh the template editor after changing screens or External Data configurations.

  • For Search Fields, copy values directly from Jira or the external source so they match exactly.