How to change context for an existing custom field without losing old data ?

[Eloïse Bergeret]

For a custom field I have a context with multiple projects associated. One of the projects have a new specific need. So I need to move this project to a new context. But for this project there are already issues created that use this custom field. 

I have found this documentation https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirakb/change-context-for-an-existing-custom-field-without-losing-old-data-674990056.html 

If I understand well, I need to update all previous issues to let them use the new context. In the documentation there is a solution for a custom field type 'Select List' but how can I update issues with a free text field ?

[John Funk]

Hi Eloïse,

It should not be a problem for text fields. I think the article is more related to if you use a different set of values for a drop down field between the contexts. The value in the text field will not get deleted - it will stay in the field for the issue. It should simply show the values of that field associated with issues in that project. 

Run a query first and export all of the issues with that value for the field for the project so you have that as a backup in case something does get lost. 

The other option is to create a couple of test projects and a text field and practice it first to see what happens for your exact scenario. 

[Eloïse Bergeret]

And as additional question. If I don't delete the old context and don't update the previous issues, will I loose the data for this field in this issues ?