Configure global default issue preferences

Last update: April 23, 2025

Topics:
System Setup and Administration

CREATED FOR:

Intermediate
Experienced
Admin

Several system-wide settings establish defaults for how issues behave in certain circumstances in Workfront.

Best practice is to leave the global defaults as they are and allow project managers to make adjustments they need at the project level or in project templates.

The global issue preferences can be adjusted, but it’s recommended that you and your Workfront consultant discuss what settings are needed for your organization’s workflows, processes, and reporting needs. Your consultant also can help you understand what will happen if certain settings are changed.

Issue preferences allow system administrators to control the options when issues are converted to tasks or projects, how actual dates are calculated, and who gets project access when issues are assigned. Let’s take a look at where those settings are in Workfront.

Converted issue preferences

These settings control what happens to an issue when it’s converted to a task or a project in Workfront.

Tasks & Issues preferences window with Issues section highlighted

Click Setup in the Main Menu.
Expand the Project Preferences section in the left menu panel.
Select Tasks & Issues.
Scroll to the Issues section.
Click the desired options.
Save when you’re done.

Let’s take a look at the options in this section, so you can choose the appropriate options for your organization.

Automatically update Resolvable Issue status when the status of the Resolving Object Changes

This setting lets you correlate the resolution of the original issue to the resolution of the new object (task or project).

With this setting enabled (checked), you can create custom issue statuses that have the same status key as a task or project status. When the task or project (the resolvable object) is set to the custom status, the change also shows up on the issue status.

When disabled, the resolving object status is set automatically to the default status, instead of custom ones.

In order for this setting to have any effect, the “Keep the original issue and tie its resolution to the task” option must be selected.
Keep the original issue and tie is resolution to the task/project

When the issue is converted, this tells Workfront to keep the original issues. The status of the issue changes as the status of the task or project is changed. Once the task or project is marked as complete, the issue is marked as resolved.

If this option is not checked, the original issue is deleted and only the converted task or project remains.

This setting affects reporting on issues originally logged on a project or that come through a Workfront request queue.
Allow Primary Contact to have access to the task/project

This gives the person who created the original issue access to the task or project created during the conversion. They can review the work, make updates, and stay informed of its progress.
Allow these settings to be changed during conversion

When selected, this option means the default settings for “Keep original issue” and “Allow Primary Contact” can be changed by the user converting the issue. If you want the defaults to remain unchanged, deselect this option.

Actual dates preferences

There are multiple types of dates used throughout Workfront. Actual dates are a “timestamp” that Workfront generates when certain status changes occur.

The Actual Start Date timestamp is created when the issue status changes from New to another status. The Actual Completion Date timestamp is when the issue status changes to a status that indicates it is closed.

It’s important to note that this preference controls the actual date settings for both tasks and issues.

Tasks & Issues preferences window with Actual Dates section highlighted

Click Setup in the Main Menu.
Expand the Project Preferences section in the left menu panel.
Select Tasks & Issues.
Scroll to the Actual Dates section.
Select the desired option for the Actual Start Date — Now (the current date and time) or The Planned Start Date (the Actual Start Date matches the start date set in the issue details).
Now select the option for the Actual Completion Date — Now (the current date and time) or The Planned Completion Date (the Actual Start Date matches the date set in the issue details).
Save when you’re done.

Issue access

The Access settings for issues control what access a user is granted when they’re assigned an issue in Workfront. These settings control access to the issue itself, in addition to access to the project the issue is associated with.

Before changing these settings, discuss any workflow or process needs with your Workfront consultants and your internal governance team.

Tasks & Issues preferences window with When someone is assigned to an ISSUE section highlighted

Click Setup in the Main Menu.
Expand the Project Preferences section in the left menu panel.
Select Tasks & Issues.
Scroll to the Access section and find the “When someone is assigned to an ISSUE” option.
Set the sharing access for the issue itself — View, Contribute, or Manage. Workfront recommends leaving the advanced options as-is.
Check the box if the issue assignee should also have access to the project
Then select the sharing access for the project — View, Contribute, or Manage. As you set the Advanced Options, keep in mind your organization’s workflows and access needs.
Save when you’re done.

Access window showing Contribute options

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