Importing subtasks for an existing issue from an excel file

[Alphy Joseph]

Hey Everyone!

Very new to Jira so please help me out.

I have created an issue under which there should be about 15-20 subtasks, which as of now I'm looking at the data from an excel file and creating manually.

Is there a way I an make this process more efficient? Like import the excel or create a csv file and import that?

As there are more issues and just as many subtasks under each issue.

[Jürgen Späder · Accepted solution]

Jira Version: 

• v7.13.5#713005

First off some clarification:

1) Userstory issue exist in Jira and we want to import subtasks to the existing issues

2) naming conventions:

Jira -internal:

• issue_key: the visible issue number (e.g. TEST-123)
• parent_key: the visible key of the parent issue (e.g. TEST-444)

Jira Import tool / csv fields:

• issue-id: a logical key in the csv, used for new isues only
• parent-id:  a reference in the csv to the issue-id of another line in the SAME file for creating sub-tasks for NEW issues created in the SAME file.

Fact: Creating a NEW tasks and NEW subtasks (or issues with both issues_type = e.g. Story and Sub-Task) referrering to each other in one file works flawlessly.

Fiction: when it comes to create an issue with issue-type "sub-task" for an existing issue (issue-type != sub-task) this does not work at all with none of all descriptions i found so far.

I tried all of the following combinations (in CSV i have to fields name issue-id and parent-id):

i know i missed some combinations but frankly speaking before i lost my mind i stopped with it.

Can anybody tell me the right field mapping (which field in the mapping dialog has to be chosen for my csv fields issue-id and parent-id) and how to fill the issue-id (empty or logical number?) and parent-id (visible issue number (aka jira.issue_key) or internal non visual issue_id (internal key inside jira)?)

thanks in advance

[Isidoro Legido]

The same problem here :-( : when creating SubTask for existing Issues I get an error of Invalid Parent and I have tried using the Key and the Id.

Any update on that? 

Thanks!

[Jeffrey Reed]

I'm having the same issue.  Can someone provide an sampl upload file?

[Ananth]

Is there a basic template that could be followed?

[Deleted user · Accepted solution]

Hi @Alphy Joseph,

You can definitely do this taking the csv route. When you are creating sub-tasks for an existing issue, the only additional thing to keep in mind is that you will need to have the parent Issue ID called out in the csv file, against each entry of the sub-tasks.

While I would like to put more detail here, I noticed that this has already been discussed and addressed as part of the Community here - https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/CSV-Importing-of-sub-tasks-and-linking-to-existing-Story/qaq-p/224226

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

Kalyani

[Alphy Joseph]

Thank You for your help @[deleted]

The link you mentioned says we use the external issue id of the parent in the csv file. Can you tell me how to find it? I am not an admin.

[Alphy Joseph]

https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirakb/how-to-get-issue-id-from-the-jira-user-interface-827341428.html

is this the an external id or an internal id?

[Deleted user]

Hi @Alphy Joseph - There is a clarification on the page link (https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/CSV-Importing-of-sub-tasks-and-linking-to-existing-Story/qaq-p/224226) shared earlier, that the Issue Key is what needs to be used in the context of a sub-task association with an existing (parent) Issue and not the Issue Id. Did you happen to try using the Parent Issue Key?

When you are in the Issue Detail View of a Sub-Task, the parent is shown where the red arrow is pointing in the screen capture below. Hovering on that will show the URL associated at the bottom of the browser that has the Issue Key (of the parent staying on the Subtask Issue View page) reflected.

If you have already tried this with no luck, please let me know. 

Thanks!

Kalyani 

[Noel Fernando]

Thank You @[deleted]. Yes it is the key and not the id to be uploaded. Was just a little confused on that aspect. Thank You so much for clearing it

[Rambabu Patina _Appfire_ · Accepted solution]

Hi @Alphy Joseph,

You can prepare a csv file with the needed subtask details and import it into the jira.
For how to prepare csv file please see: https://confluence.atlassian.com/adminjiraserver073/importing-data-from-csv-861253680.html#ImportingdatafromCSV-formatPreparingyourCSVfile

And see how to Importing data from CSV.

OR have a look on some third party apps which manages jira issues using excel.
Excel connector for Jira (paid app) and Jexcel LITE (free app)

Hope this helps for you.

Thanks,
Ram.

[Alphy Joseph]

Thank You Ram!

[Debashish Chakravarty]

@Alphy Joseph 

Here is something which I created and worked for me in my JIRA project.

With this template, we can create multiple subtasks under a user story present in JIRA. Create a .csv file with the columns as mentioned in the attached image.

Only point to note is map - Issue key to Parent Id while you map the fields from .csv to JIRA fields.

Do let me know, if this helps.

Thanks,

@Debashish Chakravarty 

[raad fageeh]

did not work

[raad fageeh]

[Debashish Chakravarty]

@raad fageeh - Yes that is something which I mentioned in my answer, that needs to be done.

In your case, you have mapped the parent id in two fields hence its giving an error. Once map them correctly, save the configuration file.

I did this now again, with the saved configuration file, it worked and issues got created in bulk.

[Joseph Cohen]

@Debashish Chakravarty  I just used your solution and it worked!!! Thank you so much!

[Debashish Chakravarty]

Welcome !!! @Joseph Cohen 

[natalia.lezhai]

hi @Debashish Chakravarty 

It gives me the error even though the fields are mapped as you suggested

[Debashish Chakravarty]

@natalia.lezhai  - Can you please this, I just tried with my sample field mappings, did not get the error as mapping in csv thing, please try check. Not sure why it gave the issue.

[Claire Robinson]

@Debashish Chakravarty wondering if you can help. I think I have followed what you have suggested but I am struggling to get this to work.

[Ananth]

Hey,

One other solution that works for me is that I keep the Issue Id column empty and Parent ID column will be the standard issue key. Sending a sample format as well. Hope this helps.

[Claire Robinson]

That worked for me, thanks so much :)

[Debashish Chakravarty]

Yes, it would also work that way; only thing is additional column of Parent ID to be maintained in the upload .csv.

I reverified it, was able to still move further and map the Issue key to Parent ID,

Since, it worked for you by keeping the Issue ID column blank as mentioned by @Ananth 

[Cordelia Turner]

Works great, thanks!