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JSON imports with history data?
One of our departments needs us to ""clone"" certain issues from one instance to another, including the changelog/history.
From my searches, the only method I've found that might work is using the JSON importer.
But everytime I try to use it with history data, either it ignores the issue data completely, or returns an error.
If I follow the documentation example basically verbatim:
https://support.atlassian.com/jira-cloud-administration/docs/import-data-from-json/
It just ignores the issue. As if it isn't there. So it just does nothing, claims the import is completed and have a good day sir and/or madam.
Instead, if I use "issue" in place of "work item" and "issueType" in place of "workType", it returns an error saying that fields [issue, history] are not valid.
But if I remove the history section, it works like a charm. The issue, with the correct type, correct project, all the data, even the attachments, gets created without a problem.
I'm basically pulling my hair (or what's left of it) off trying to figure out how to do this.
Has anyone here battled with the cloud JSON import system before and could offer some guidance?
1 answer
Hello @Iker Gómez Eiras
Is this a one time need or an ongoing need?
If this is a one time or infrequent need I recommend that you explore the Copy Data option for copying data from one Jira Cloud instance to another. That would include the history of the work items.
https://support.atlassian.com/organization-administration/docs/copy-product-data/
To the best of my knowledge (disclaimer - I am not all-knowing ;-) ) it is not possible to directly create history records through either the API or import options. History records are generated automatically by the actions taken on a work item.
If the "cloning" is an ongoing need they you could investigate tools to synchronize work items between Jira instances. As changes are made to the source issue the clone would be updated to match, which would create history for the items in real time.
Should be a one-time thing, I'll take a look at the Copy Data option, thanks!
But if JSON imports can't inject changelogs/history, why does the example in the official documentation have a "history" section?
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Good point. I have not actually worked with a JSON import before.
In my internet searches I found this bug that was closed as Can't Reproduce.
JSON import does not import history items
I found a few other issues related to JSON import and history items.
So far I have not found any Community post that indicated successful history import through JSON specifically for Jira Cloud. I did find posts related to that for Jira Server/DC.
Given that you are an admin and using a paid subscription, you might want to open a support case directly with Atlassian about this. If you do, it would be lovely if you share what you learn back here with the community.
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Ended up getting help from a consulting agency. Their JASON imports worked and "injected" the changelogs without problem.
But when I look at their JASONs, the structure was exactly the same as mine. Or at least, I could not find any difference at all. So, quite honestly, I have nooooooooooooo friggin' idea what is going on.
But theirs worked. Whatever. Here's a small piece of what they used (they generated a huge JASON file for hundreds of issues) with the data sanitized, hopefully it will help someone:
{"users": [{"name": "<<Atlassian account ID>>"},{"name": "<<Atlassian account ID>>"},{"name": "<<Atlassian account ID>>"}],"projects": [{"key": "<<project key>>","name": "<<project name>>","issues": [{"externalId": "186176","summary": "<<issue summary>>","issueType": "<<issue type NAME>>","priority": "Medium","status": "To Do","reporter": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-09-30T11:03:20.127+0200","updated": "2025-11-21T13:33:47.616+0100","customFieldValues": [{"fieldName": "<<field Name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textfield","value": "<<field value>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field Name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect","value": ["None"]},{"fieldName": "<<field Name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect","value": ["<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"]},{"fieldName": "<<field Name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:select","value": "<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field Name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:select","value": "<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field Name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiuserpicker","value": ["<<atlassian account ID>>"]}],"history": [{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-09-30T11:03:21.539+0200","items": [{"fieldType": "jira","field": "reporter","from": "<<atlassian account ID>>","fromString": "<<atlassian account display name>>","to": "<<atlassian account ID>>","toString": "<<atlassian account display name>>"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-10-09T16:49:12.473+0200","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "<<field choice ID>>","toString": "<<field choice name>>"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-10-09T16:49:35.375+0200","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "[<<field choice ID>>]","toString": "<<field choice name>>"}]},{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","fromString": "01/01/1001"},{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","fromString": "01/01/1001"},{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "[<<atlassian account ID>>]","toString": "[<<atlassian account display name>>]"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-11-21T13:16:30.686+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","from": "[<<atlassian account ID>>]","fromString": "[<<atlassian account display name>>]","to": "[]","toString": "[]"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-11-21T13:33:47.616+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "[<<atlassian account ID>>]","toString": "[<<atlassian account display name>>]"}]}],"key": "<<project key>>","name": "<<project name>>","issues": [{"externalId": "26097","summary": "<<issue summary>>","issueType": "<<issue type name>>","priority": "Medium","status": "To Do","reporter": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-03-06T15:48:50.906+0100","updated": "2026-02-10T11:58:51.540+0100","customFieldValues": [{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textfield","value": "<<field value>>"},{"fieldName": "Area","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect","value": ["<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"]},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textfield","value": "<<field value>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:select","value": "<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiuserpicker","value": ["<<atlassian account ID>>"]},{"fieldName": "Notes","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textarea","value": "<<comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:select","value": "<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:select","value": "<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect","value": ["<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"]},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:datepicker","value": "2027-04-01"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiuserpicker","value": ["<<atlassian account ID>>"]}],"comments": [{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","body": "<<comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>\n\n<<more comment content>>","created": "2025-03-06T16:23:03.215+0100"}],"history": [{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-03-06T16:21:57.472+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "<<field choice ID>>","toString": "<<field choice name>>"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-03-06T16:22:16.681+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "<<field choice ID>>","toString": "<<field choice name>>"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-03-06T16:22:41.477+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "[<<atlassian account ID>>]","toString": "[<<atlassian account display name>>]"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-03-28T09:37:28.676+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","from": "<<field choice ID>>","fromString": "<<field choice name>>","to": "<<field choice ID>>","toString": "<<field choice name>>"}]},{"author": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2026-02-10T11:58:51.540+0100","items": [{"fieldType": "custom","field": "<<field name>>","to": "2027-04-01","toString": "1/Apr/27"}]}]}],"key": "<<project Key>>","name": "<<project name>>","issues": [{"externalId": "145143","summary": "<<issue summary>>","issueType": "<<issue type name>>","priority": "Medium","status": "To Do","reporter": "<<atlassian account ID>>","labels": ["<<label name>>"],"created": "2025-06-23T09:13:10.750+0200","updated": "2026-02-25T14:03:52.652+0100","customFieldValues": [{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:textfield","value": "<<field value>>"},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect","value": ["<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"]},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiselect","value": ["<<value name, NOT THE ID, THE NAME/ACTUAL VALUE>>"]},{"fieldName": "<<field name>>","fieldType": "com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.customfieldtypes:multiuserpicker","value": ["<<atlassian account ID>>"]}],"attachments": [{"name": "<<file name>>.<<file extension>>","attacher": "<<atlassian account ID>>","created": "2025-11-10T10:08:20.257+0100","uri": "<<link to the file content in a publicly accessible URL>>","description": "<<insert text of choice here>>"}]}]}]}
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