Roadmap: Is it possible to link the task tickets created under an epic?
Asked by Robert Poddar:

Hi,

I am using the Roadmap feature for the first time. I would like to know whether it is possible to link the task ticket which are created under the Epic?

For example, i have created an EPIC for a product launch and mentioned the start date of the project and expected end date, by dragging the bar on the right pane window.

I have created task tickets such Project Initiation, Engineering Release, GoTo Market release.

Is it possible to:

1. Be able to indicate the start \& end dates for each of these task ( Project Initiation, Engineering Release, GoTo Market release)

2. Link the Engineering Release task to the Project Initiation and the GoTo Market task to the Engineering Release.

3. Is there anyway to baseline the Epic, so that one can compare the trend of the project v/s the baseline.

thank you

Robert


Answers:
author: Andy Heinzer
body: Hi Robert,

I understand that you're using the Roadmap feature in a Jira Software Cloud next-gen project, and have some questions about using it.

1. Yes you can define custom fields of type 'Time stamp' and give them names like 'Start date' and 'Due date' or whatever you want to call them. To do this you will need to go into the project settings -\> Issues Types. Then pick the issue type that has these dates. You mentioned these were Tasks, but it could be Story, or subtask depending on your project. You can then use the far right menu to add a Time Stamp field for this use, like so.   
   ![Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 9.02.45 AM.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/88990i61E898B2C0A58B18/image-dimensions/544x300?v=v2 "Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 9.02.45 AM.png")  
   You might check the bottom right corner first just to see if perhaps there are already fields by this same name and use those, rather than having to create each field manually.
2. You can certainly link each of these tasks to each other if you like. Each of these are already linked to the same Epic, but if you want to create links between them you can do that too. From one of these issues, you can create a link just by clicking the button ![](https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirasoftwarecloud/files/952074202/952074203/1/1528438368183/Link+issue+icon.png) on the issue and then choosing the issue key and relation type. More details in [Link an issue](https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/link-an-issue/).
3. As for baselining a project, well that is more difficult to answer. Next-gen doesn't exactly offer that. But if you enable the project feature called 'Reports' (steps to do this are in [Enable reports](https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/enable-reports/)), then it at least becomes possible to see a graph or chart that I think will be similar to a baseline. Many of these reports might require other features in the next-gen project be enabled (such as sprints). This doesn't exactly compile a baseline of other projects and their timelines, but it does let you see over time if you are on pace, or not based on work planned for and delivered on in a sprint.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions or concerns about this.

Andy

comments: author: Robert Poddar
body: Hi Andy.

first of all, i am extremely sorry for responding late.. your mail got under some other mails and missed seeing it..

Thanks a lot for the detailed feedback.

Regarding linking of tasks/tickets.. i am able to link it, in the "link issue" field. Once linked, i am unable to see graphically / pictorically the link between the task..

I had attended the JIRA Roadmap webinar on 22nd May, to understand if this feature will be helpful from a program/project management perspective. What i understood from that webinar, is that one cannot see a graphical link between tasks in an epic, but the same is possible between epics.

Once again thanks for your feedback and am extremely sorry for not responding earlier..