Validate Checklist Header/Tab Completion on Issue Transition

Validate Checklist Header/Tab Completion on Issue Transition

Prevent the Jira issue from transitioning to the next state if checklist items within specific checklist header or tab are no completed ✅

Overview

Smart Checklist supports multiple checklists within a Jira issue, organized into tabs and headers. This helps teams break work into clear phases, such as Definition of Ready and Definition of Done.

You can enforce completion of checklist items within a specific header or tab before allowing an issue to transition.

Use cases:

  • Ensure Definition of Done is fully completed before transitioning an issue to READY FOR TESTING

  • Require the Testing checklist to be completed before moving an issue forward to READY FOR RELEASE

Screen Recording 2026-03-25 at 18.04.10.mov

💡HINT: Read more about Checklist Headers and Tabs here → Checklist Headers Checklist Tabs

 

Set up Validator

  1. Edit Workflow

    • Go to Project Settings → Workflows.

    • Choose the Workflow you want to add validation to and click Edit workflow:

      Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 16.35.14-20251010-133744.png

 

  1. Add Rule:

    • Choose transition and click on “+” for the Validate details.

      image-20260325-155034.png

       

    • Choose Smart Checklist for Jira.

    • Select All items per header/tab completed.

image-20260325-154440.png
  • Click Select.

  • Specify the Header/Tab name. Enter the exact header name without the # symbol (e.g. "Definiton of Done").

  • Click Add.

image-20260325-154556.png
  1. Update Workflow.

  2. Done! ✅ Users will now see an error message if they attempt to transition an issue before the required checklist header or tab is completed.

image-20260325-160706.png