Why updating an existing issue from CSV clears the issue's field 'Epic'?
Asked by vl2:

Hi,

Trying to update an existing issue from CSV, I've got unexpected result - the issue's field 'Epic' is cleared.

Steps to reproduce:  
1 Create issue.  
2 Add Epic to the issue.  
3 Update the issue's field 'Summary' from CSV mapping Issue Key.  
4 Now the field 'Summary' is updated, but the issue's field 'Epic' is cleared.

Environment: Team-managed project.

Plan: free

The expected results: the issue's field 'Epic' must keep its value in case of updating the issue from CSV mapping Issue Key.

What steps must be performed in order to update the issue from CSV without losing 'Epic' field?


Answers:
author: Andy Heinzer
body: Hi [@vl2](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5417452)

Sorry to hear about this problem. This is a known bug that affects team-managed projects and the external system importer. We are tracking this bug over in [JRACLOUD-81933](https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-81933). While you could also map the parent field as a means to work around this problem, that bug ticket also has an alternative approach of using automation to look for and correct this behavior.

I hope that helps.

Andy

comments: author: vl2
body: Hi Andy,

does this bug impact a restore operation from Jira backup as well?


author: Andy Heinzer
body: Not as far as I am aware. If you have an XML data backup of your Jira site, that uses a completely different means of restoring data than the CSV external system import.


author: John Funk
body: Hi [@vl2](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5417452) - Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

You should be using the Parent field now and not "Epic".

If you look at the history of the issue who does it say is clearing the field?

comments: author: vl2
body: Thank you John for reply!

As you can see, the CSV file is very simple, containing just two columns, and the field Parent is not in use:

*Issue Key,Summary*

*PRJ-10,sometextTASK10*

Looking at the history of the issue I see that during update of issue PRJ-10 from CSV file Parent 12261 changed to None. But Why?

Activity  
Newest first

vl2  
changed the Parent 21 minutes ago  
HISTORY  
12261 \> None

<br />

vl2  
updated the Summary 21 minutes ago  
HISTORY  
Task 10 \> sometextTASK10

vl2  
changed the Parent 25 minutes ago  
HISTORY  
None \> 12261

vl2  
created the Issue 25 minutes ago  
HISTORY


author: John Funk
body: I don't know - maybe that's what happens when you update Sub-tasks by CSV. I would add a column for parent and put in the existing value to be sure.


author: vl2
body: It seems you are right about what happens when update by CSV. It's impossible just to add parent column, since in this case importer asks for additional columns in CSV:

*You have to define which CSV column maps to Issue Id if you want to import parents.*   
*You have to define which CSV column maps to Issue Type if you want to import parents.*

After adding asked columns Issue Id and Issue Type importer just reports error:

*Unable to retrieve issue key for parent : 12261*

Could you, please, inform how to report that there is a bug in Jira updater by CSV?


author: John Funk
body: You can submit here:

<https://support.atlassian.com/contact/#/>


author: John Funk
body: For Free plan, I will see if someone can come help you.


author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

There are two ways to do this - either your CSV has an Epic link or parent field that you have mapped to the link, and then left blank in the CSV, or you have an automation or listener that is blanking it out on the "edit" event.

comments: author: vl2
body: Thank you Nic for fast reply!

The CSV file is very simple, containing just two columns:

*Issue Key,Summary*

*PRJ-10,sometext*

It doesn't seem that Epic field may be erased from CSV.

And I don't have any automation on site: "No rules set up yet". As well no any global rules.

May is it a bug that Epic field is lost after updating from CSV?


author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: I think it probably is a bug, given your file structure!


author: vl2
body: May I report this bug in Free plan?


Tags: atl-rvw

cloud

csv