Jira Issues Import Blocks is the same as Blocked By

[Joshua Clarke]

I'm trying to import a list of issues from a CSV using the Blocked By link, however regardless of whether I choose blocked by or Blocks it will always use blocks.

Heres a snip of the csv

The mapping fields

And here it says blocked by but this is the first issue which should be blocking 2, 3 and 4 but its imported it the wrond way around. This should say Blocks.

Issue-5 is another example where it clearly shows this is the wrong way around

If I chose Link "Blocks" in the config I get the exact same result, it seems like something in the importer isn't working correctly or am I missing something?

[Ste Wright · Accepted solution]

Hi @Joshua Clarke 

This is how it currently works - see this help page:

When importing the issue link via CSV, Jira will consider the link you provide as the Outward link description. You can't choose between Inward or Outward links. 

There is a feature request you can view/vote for though, see: MIG-925 

Ste

[Joshua Clarke]

Thanks for the response, I'm just trying to understand inward/ourward links.

Can you explain what the "Blocked By" import field is used for then?

Alternatively, can I put multiple Issues in an Outward Link column for the CSV?

[Ste Wright]

Hi @Joshua Clarke 

"Blocked By" is likely the name of your Link Type, rather than the inwards or outwards description (even if one of them is also called "Blocked By") - which clarifies which direction the link is moving in per Issue.

This is defined as:

• Outward description: The description of how an issue affects other issues

• Inward description: The description of how an issue is affected by other issues

See more on Issue Linking on this help page.

I find it easiest to have the Link Type's name and each description different, to avoid this kind of confusion.

---

You could modify the upload to still make it work - to do this:

• Add multiple columns for the linked issues - but ensure the columns have the same name
• Place in each column the Issue IDs blocked by the actual Issue being uploaded
• Map the columns as normal

If you have multiple columns with the same name, Jira should pick up on this and allow for multiple values to be applied to the same field.

Ste

[Joshua Clarke]

Perfect, thank you for the suggestion, just tested with multiple columns with the same name and it works as expected.

[Ste Wright]

No worries Joshua.

If this helped answer your question, could you accept it using the button above, so others who find this question in future know it can help them too?

Ste