How do you create issue category

[Michael McCormick]

How do you add categories for issues?

(I already read the support article for adding/creating a category for an issue: Categorize issues in your list view)

The support article only provides information on creating a category once an issue has been created, and doesn't mention how to create a list of categories to select from before entering the issues. And once you leave the List view, the category needs to be re-created as new even when it already exists in other Issues.

Or am I using the Category field incorrectly? I'm managing a project which has different focus areas that are clearly delineated from each other, and I'd like to monitor the progress of those areas as separate categories.

(*Project Categories are completely different, please don't provide details on creating categories for projects.)

[Michael McCormick · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the quick responses @Trudy Claspill & @Bill Sheboy!

I opted to create a custom dropdown field and named it "Category", and then entered the project categories as options for the list. Then I removed the "☰ Category" from the context fields and used the custom "▼ Category" instead. It works perfect.

For uploading (importing) a CSV file of issues, the field (column header) is named "Custom field (Category)."

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Michael McCormick 

Welcome to the Atlassian community.

The Business/Work Management projects where the Category field is used do not provide a way to manage a list of Category values. To create new Categories you have to type the name into the Category field in an existing issue (in List view) and then click the name in the drop down where is says (New category). This appears to be available only from the List view.

Category values are project specific, so if you want the same values in multiple projects they will have to be added to each project.

After having added the value it will remain available for use in your project, through the List view and the Issue Details view, unless you delete it by clicking the trash can icon next to it from the List view Category field.

You can use one issue to enter new Category values, one after another. You can also then clear the Category field on that one issue so that it has no value, or delete the issue entirely. The new Category values you entered will remain available.

It does not appear that the values can be maintained via the REST API yet.

https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JWMCLOUD-721

[Michael McCormick]

Thanks for the detailed info! 😉

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Michael McCormick -- Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

The Category field for Jira Work Management (JWM) projects works more like the Labels field, although new values can only be created from the List view.  I do not believe it is possible to pre-define a list of values in such projects.

Just guessing...perhaps this was a workaround for not having the pre-defined list of Components field in team-managed projects, although apparently Atlassian said they were working on adding Compass Components instead in November 2023: https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-92565

Kind regards,
Bill

[Michael McCormick]

Thanks for the background! 😉