How to Export All Issues to Excel or CSV in Jira Data Center

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It is simple to export issues in Jira Data Center, whereas it is not that simple to export their complete change history. That is another thing. It is not possible to export issue history, comments, and field changes in Jira Data Center in an easy built-in way.

This article will discuss how to export issues and complete change history in Jira Data Center within a few clicks. Regardless of whether you are planning an audit, data migration, or have a compliance need, this step-by-step guide will make you more efficient and ensure your data is secure.

The Importance of Issue History Export

Multiple reasons exist for exporting issues from Jira Data Center. Let’s explore some of them:

• Jira records every change made to an issue, with complete details about status updates and who made them. Team members can better track the changes and see how tasks have developed through time.
• Companies needing to follow strict rules must keep complete issue records to satisfy their compliance requirements. The history log shows if teams complied with protocols and proves who made changes.
• A complete issue history helps teams discover the exact time and location of problems.

Although Jira offers native export tools, they do not provide all the needed data. The native export system in Jira does not include important details like change records, comments, and attached files. You can only export a limited number of issues in Jira. The built-in export limitations force users to find different ways to get all necessary issue information.

How to Export Issues from Jira Data Center

Built-in CSV Export

Jira Data Center allows users to export their issues as CSV files for basic data analysis and reporting purposes. You can use this feature as follows:

• Choose "Issues": In the top menu, select "Search for Issues"

• Choose Filters: Look for issues in the search bar or use JQL queries to narrow down results. Verify that your list contains all the issues you want to share from Jira.
• Click Export: Analyze the fields present in the CSV file by clicking the Export button, which appears at the top-right side of the Issue Navigator window. Select "Export Excel CSV (all fields)" to create the file download, then open your chosen spreadsheet program to inspect the data.

The method has important operational limits. The exported CSV file does not include an entire issue history because it lacks details about changes made by users, including their comments and attachments. The export system does not work for audit and analysis because it cannot show all changes made to issues.

Jira prevents users from exporting more than 1,000 issues together at one time. You need to modify system files to increase exports, but this action requires administrative access and reduces operating speed.

REST API

Jira Data Center provides users with full issue information through its REST API.

Key considerations:

• Before accessing the REST API, a user requires authentication. Users must show their permission to access and modify data through the REST API.
• The API provides results in JSON format that both people and machines can understand easily.
• Users can access the API through command-line tools and other specialized applications or custom-made code.

The API features usage limits to prevent system overloads. Users need to follow the established API limits to help maintain system performance. The REST API lets users see all information about an issue's development process, improving project management and decision-making.

However, you need programming knowledge, HTTP protocol, and an understanding of JSON data format to interact correctly with the REST API. Technical requirements make the REST API difficult for people who do not have programming knowledge. Due to these problems, non-technical users find it easier to work with Jira export functions or third-party tools instead of learning the REST API system.

Export with Issue History for Jira App

Jira Data Center users can use the Issue History for Jira app to export issue histories with ease. This Marketplace app allows users to export issue history data without advanced setup or technical skills.

The app shows the complete history of every change made to status changes, data field edits, and task assignments. Users can set custom parameters for their reports by selecting projects, assignees, sprints, and time periods to focus on the data they need.

Also, the app allows users to export issue histories in XLSX and CSV formats to support additional data analysis and documentation. Moreover, using Issue History for Jira, it is possible to find and recover deleted issues so you don't lose important data.

Steps to export multiple issue history from Jira Data Center via this app:

• Install the App. Go to Atlassian Marketplace to install and set up the Issue History for Jira app on your Data Center instance.
• Access the App: After installing it, you will find the app inside your Jira dashboard.
• Set your preferred filters: Get a precise list of issues that matter to you. For example, you can refine the report results by selecting projects, team members, and entering date limits to view specific times.
• Export the Report: Once you complete your report settings, export the issue history data to XLSX or CSV files for future use.

Issue History for Jira app allows you to easily monitor what changes were made, when, and who was responsible for them.

Moreover, with the help of Issue History app, you can also download the history of one issue with its updates in Excel, CSV, and PDF formats. For that, you need to do the following:

• Open the needed issue.
• Go to Activity section and choose Issue History tab (you will see it immediately after the app installation). 
• You can export all issue history or use the specific filters by date range, updater, and fields. Then, you can click Export button in the top right corner and choose the preferred format. 

✅ The app is available on Atlassian Marketplace: Issue History for Jira

Summing Up

Jira Data Center gives users different ways to get their issue history data. The built-in Jira export tool lets you save issue data in CSV format, but you must accept its limits, which prevent exports larger than 1,000 issues and exclude valuable information like comments and attachments.

Using the Jira REST API gives you complete access to data, but you need programming skills to use it. Using Issue History for Jira, you can export data easily through its app interface without any programming skills.