When using the Kanban Backlog, can you view Epics in the WIP view?

[Steven Pask]

When using the Kanban Backlog option in JIRA 7.5.3, can you view Epics in the WIP (kanban board) view? 

• I have enabled the 'epics' panel
• Created an epic in the backlog
• Moved it into 'In Progress' on the epic workflow - which is mapped to an appropriate column for the kanban board view

However I cannot see the Epic appear on the Board? Only the issues associated with the epic? 

[Andy Heinzer · Accepted solution]

The ability to view the epics in the backlog of a Kanban board does not currently extend itself into the other sections of the board such as the issues in progress.

There is a feature request to add this per https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JSWSERVER-16477

Sorry there does not appear to be a clear solution for this at this time with a Kanban board.   You could obviously create an additional Scrum type board that uses the same filter as the Kanban, and in turn you could likely use the Scrum board as a means to see and sort the issues on the active sprint section of that board.   But I realize this might not be an ideal work-around.

[Steven Pask]

Hi - thank you for the response, I'll look to vote up that request - however it would be great if you could just have the epics as cards on the Kanban view - not just a panel.

Is it worth creating a separate feature request for that?

Cheers,

Steve

[Andy Heinzer]

Hi Steve,

Sorry I misunderstood the scope of your request.  Epics are not able to be display on these agile boards in that manner because they are intended to be examples of large amounts of work that are not typically managed in a sprint or active view of a kanban.   I think that Geert's 2nd reply on this thread helps explains that too:

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-questions/Create-a-board-showing-epics/qaq-p/73293#U73296

For most of the uses cases of like that, there are other higher level roadmapping products such as either Portfolio for Jira and/or Tempo Planner (there might be others too).

However you could still create a feature request for this.   You should be able to create a feature request yourself if you like under the tracker/project of

https://jira.atlassian.com/projects/JSWSERVER/ If using Jira Software Server

or

https://jira.atlassian.com/projects/JSWCLOUD/ if using Jira Software Cloud.

I would recommend following this format for creating such requests:

h3. Problem Definition

h3. Suggested Solution

h3. Why this is important
 
h3. Workaround
(Optional)