How can I import data from a CSV to specific fields in an existing company-managed JIRA project?

[Steve Hooczko]

I want to import data for 1 field in an existing project from a CSV.

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Steve Hooczko 

You would need to create the field via the GUI or the API.

If you want to use it on screens associate it with the correct screens.

If you want the current issues in the project to have data in this field, export all issues via csv, you require the summary and issue key.

In the csv, you only need the issue key column and the summary column and a new column that represents the custom field, provide the custom field value.

The values is based on the type of custom field you have created.

Then import the csv, all existing issues will be updated.

Do try this on your sandbox first.

[Steve Hooczko]

When I do this via the external import option it forces me to create a new project. I want to add the single select drop-down data to an existing field in an EXISTING project.

[Marc - Devoteam]

Hi @Steve Hooczko 

Atlassian introduced a new importer. I have seen loads of complaints about it.

You should see a link on the external import option, that says: "switch to the old experience"

Then you will have the old importer, that should work perfectly

[Hannes Obweger - JXL for Jira]

Hi @Steve Hooczko

I don't know if this use case justifies additional tooling for you, but just to put it out there: If you're open to solutions from the Atlassian Marketplace, you may want to have a look at the app that my team and I are working on, JXL for Jira.

JXL is a full-fledged spreadsheet/table view for your issues that allows viewing, inline-editing, sorting, and filtering by all your issue fields, much like you’d do in e.g. Excel or Google Sheets. It also allows bulk-editing your issues via copy/paste. This works within JXL, but also between JXL and pretty much any other tool, including Excel or Google Sheets.

This is how it looks in action:

So what you could do is to set up a JXL sheet with the relevant fields added, open your CSV file in Excel or Google Sheets, and simply copy over the values.

I should also add that JXL can do much more than the above: From support for configurable issue hierarchies, to issue grouping by any issue field(s), sum-ups, or conditional formatting.

Any questions just let me know,

Best,

Hannes