How to export information in the order that is presented on the "List" tab

[Bruno Gonçalves]

I usually use the "List" tab on a space, ordering issues by key (ascending). In this tab, is can see the hierarchy of the issues (even if i have the issue 100 inside the number 1), and still continue seeing everything in order. I very much like this view.

So, right now I'm using an app so I can export the information on space, so I have a document that is easy to read, and where I can see the dependencies between issues. It helps if I want to see the "big picture" of something that we are going to develop.

I'm trying to replicate a way to extract the information that way. I'm using the "Easy PDF Export, Word Export, HTML Export, with Automation" app by BOJA Technology. Since I can't use it on that "list" tab, I need to search for issues, and then export.

But I can't replicate the order I get on the "list" tab. 

Even if I copy the JQL that appears on the list, I will not get the same result while searching (example: on my project, on the list tab, the JQL that appears is this: "project = "P0056" ORDER BY key ASC, created DESC", but on this tab the information while taking into account the hierarchy of the issues. If I use the JQL on the search memory, it just order the issues by key, ignoring the hierarchy, obviously, I know I can change the order of things on the list tab... But what I want is the exact result I see, but when I'm on the search screen)

Is there kind of JQL expression that can help me replicate this order? With this, i could get the information exactly as i want it, and then work on the template.

Is there a way to do this? If I can't get a specific JQL, is there another app that can help me get this result (preferably a free one)

Thank you.

[Alexandra Kirk]

The List tab shows hierarchy because Jira applies parent–child structure in the UI, not through JQL, which is why the same query in the Issue Navigator won’t reproduce that order. JQL simply can’t sort by hierarchy or force issues to appear under their parents. To export the view exactly as you see it, you’ll need a hierarchy-aware tool such as Advanced Roadmaps or an add-on like Structure, since most basic exporters don’t support this. Without one of those, the List tab’s layout can’t be replicated through JQL alone.

[Marc -Devoteam-]

Hi @Bruno Gonçalves 

No there is not a way to export this as the List view, as this is a system view.

Doing an export you are exporting the issues based on a JQL, this provides the issues on an export as a row per issue.

You can look at a 3rd party solution, like; JXL for Jira 

[Bruno Gonçalves]

Something that i didn't explain correctly: I just want to replicate the order I get on the list tab on the search screen. I know the List view is a system view, the the component itself has something to make the issues grouped. Perhaps that's why I can't replicate that order using a JQL

Thanks for your help!

[Marc -Devoteam-]

HI @Bruno Gonçalves 

No this can't be replicated in searching, searching only provides results based on the search, but no view options can be defined in JQL, rather then order by options.

[Anne Saunders]

Hi, @Bruno Gonçalves

Welcome to the community!

I haven't done this explicitly from the List view, but I do have an only-slightly-clunky workaround.

1. From the Filter / All Work views, if you include the Parent field in your export, you can do a range sort in the spreadsheet program of your choice. (I use Google Sheets.)



2. You will need to add a helper column in your spreadsheet to set Epic to 1, User Story/Task/etc to 2, and Sub-task to 3.

The formula I use in the helper column is: 

=IF(B2="Epic",1,IF(OR(B2="Task",B2="Story"),2,IF(B2="Sub-task",3,"")))

3. You will also need to copy your Epics' Issue Keys into the Parent Key column.

 4. Select all of your data and do an advanced range sort, sorting first by Parent Key (A-Z), then by Helper Column (A-Z.)

I hope this helps!

[Bruno Gonçalves]

Hello Anne.

This is something that probably i need to do. I probably need to create a custom field on JIRA, and number it the way I want, to get the order i want.

But if I need to export as an excel my list, this is a cool way to order it. I will definitely keep this in mind.

Thank you!

[Aron Gombas _Midori_]

@Bruno Gonçalves 

If this approach suggested by @Anne Saunders  is something will consider in the future, let me mention that with the Better Excel Exporter app you can add the helper column (with the formula) to the Excel template(!).

When you create a new export from this template, the formula will be added to the output file, and you do not need to do any manual work.