Timeline View - Won't allow me to map Initiatives instead of Epics

[Liz Lehtonen]

I would really appreciate help :) My initial reads suggested this was a natural solution to ensure I had something layered above Epics, but the implementation is slowing me down.

Background:

• - On Enterprise Version of Jira
• - Using Kanban, have Timeline 
• - Have created issue type "Initiative," added it in Issue Hierarchy above Epic

My Issue:

I want to view Initiatives & their linked Epics on my timeline view and then only Tasks on my Kanban board.  As an example, I would have an Initaitive "Build Garage" with Epics "Create Walls" "Create Ceiling" and a bunch of tasks under that.  Build Garage should show up at the highest level on my Timeline, with an ability to see the related Epics.  Tasks are not visible.

Right now though:

• - Timeline only allows me to see and create epics. 
• - I can't find a filter that could be blocking my view of Initiatives. 

And going slightly broader, I would like to see Initiatives on my backlog the same way I have Epics setup (i.e. that I don't see them by default, but can select them)

[Trudy Claspill · Accepted solution]

Hello @Liz Lehtonen 

Welcome to the Atlassian community.

Timeline is the basic roadmapping functionality. It supports only the Epics and below issue hierarchy.

To create a timeline/roadmap that includes the hierarchy levels above Epic you have to use the Advanced Roadmaps functionality and create a Plan (under the Plans menu).

https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/guides/advanced-roadmaps/overview#what-are-advanced-roadmaps

https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/plan-and-view-cross-project-work-with-advanced-roadmaps/

Regarding your last statement about wanting to see Initiatives in the backlog the same way you see Epics (in a panel on the side), that is not an available feature at this time.

[Liz Lehtonen]

Got it - thank you for the information! 

[Trudy Claspill]

You're welcome!

If your question has been satisfactorily addressed, please consider marking the Answer as Accepted.

[Sanja Oosthuizen]

Hi @Trudy Claspill I have a follow-up question, please. The documentation suggests that Initiatives are groupings of Epics, but I'm not finding any way to link an Epic to an Initiative (they seem to be created as issues, living in the backlog where Epics don't). We have the Premium version.

Ideally, I would like to see it on the relevant Board timeline, but I also cannot see this on the Plan. I'm not sure if this is a configuration issue?

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Sanja Oosthuizen 

Welcome to the Atlassian community.

The basic Timeline feature available from the navigation panel on the left when viewing a board...

...will not be able to show you the hierarchy of an Initiative as a parent of an Epic which is a parent of other issues. That basic Timeline is only capable of showing the Epic and its child issues.

To visualize the extended hierarchy you have to use an advanced roadmap Plan which you can create from the Plans menu if you have sufficient permissions.

The extended hierarchy issue types above Epic will indeed show up in the backlog list, like the child issues of Epics do.

There are multiple ways to set the parent issue of an Epic.

1. To add an Epic to an Initiative you would modify the Parent field in the Epic and insert the issue key of the Initiative.

2. When viewing the Epic click on the Add Parent option in the breadcrumbs at the top of the issue.

3. From the Plans Timeline screen find the Epic in the section titles "Issues without parents". Drag the epic up the list and position it under the Initiative you want to become its parent.

If you have additional questions about the use of the extended issue type hierarchy and basic Timeline or advanced roadmaps Timeline, please start a brand new Question in the community. That will ensure your question gets maximum visibility.

By posting on an old Question the only people who have seen your post are the original author, people who responded to the original post, and anybody that elected to Watch the post.