Jira Search Omitting Parent

[Jeff Shepherd]

I have a list of tasks. Some have sub-tasks. How do I list all tasks omitting the parent tasks? For example:

assignee = currentUser() AND (IS NOT parent)

[Jeff Shepherd · Accepted solution]

To summarize the (above) discussion, what I want can't easily be done with the Jira queries at present.

It looks like a combination of the following two queries could accomplish what I want:

• List my subtasks (issuetype in subTaskIssueTypes())
• List my issues with no subtasks (can't be done at this time)

Thank you to @Jack Brickey and @Nic Brough -Adaptavist- for your help on this!

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

assignee = currentUser and issuetype in subTaskIssueTypes()

should do the trick.  Strictly, it's not what you're really asking, but it will give you the right answer.

[Jack Brickey]

And if you happen to want to include issues without subtasks…

assignee = currentUser and (issuetype in subTaskIssueTypes() OR issueLinkType is EMPTY)

[Jeff Shepherd]

Thank you, Jack!

Getting closer.

Here is the query I'm currently using. It still seems to be missing my top-level stories

assignee = currentUser() and (issuetype in subTaskIssueTypes() OR issueLinkType = EMPTY) AND resolution = Unresolved

[Jack Brickey]

Unsure why story 2 would be assigned to you if no action required by you. But that is a horse of a different color.

In any event, you could not achieve the goal with native JQL. Maybe Scriptrunner and Nic can likely assist there if SR is an option.

[Jeff Shepherd]

(Sorry, I'm trying to edit my replies so the threads make sense. I think I'm just making a mess of it)

My issue is a bit more complicated than the example. Story 2 is assigned to and there are many subtasks assigned to multiple people. I still need to herd the cats, but want a query for the times when I just need to look at my action items

[Jeff Shepherd]

Nic and Jack, you've got me on the right track. I think. I've found the following documentation and I hope I can find the query fields I want.

https://support.atlassian.com/jira-work-management/docs/advanced-search-reference-jql-fields/

I'll post a solution to my own question when I find it (hopefully).

[Jeff Shepherd]

Hmmm... I'm having problems with issueLinkType. There seem to be outstanding bugs

• https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-73416
• https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-73640

issueLinkType = EMPTY is not working the way I think it should (to find an issue without a subtask) or I am misunderstanding something.

The following ticket seems to indicate problems finding issues without subtasks:

• https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRASERVER-24973

[Jack Brickey]

Ugh…. My bad @Jeff Shepherd I have totally gone astray here while answering multiple questions. IssueLinkType is for links not sub-tasks. 😖

my sincere apologies!

You can leverage "Parent Link" is empty

[Jeff Shepherd]

@Jack Brickey,

I can find my subtasks with (issuetype in subTaskIssueTypes()).

What I need now is to find my issues without subtasks.

Parent seems to be a search that helps find a subtask.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Do you mean you need a clause like "issue has no sub-tasks"?

[Jeff Shepherd]

Yes! 

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Sorry, I was quite blunt there, I was trying to avoid an if/then/else essay that you only needed about 5% of!

There isn't a simple way to do this in Jira server I'm afraid.  You need one of the apps that can provide advanced JQL (functions usually).  Or something that can do "count sub-tasks" as though it's a field, so you can then use a clause like "and this issues subtask count is empty or 0"

[Jack Brickey]

There is this request you may wish to vote/watch - JRACLOUD-67108 

[Jeff Shepherd]

No offense taken. The exclamation was excitement, not irritation.

While I'd rather have a "here is your solution" answer, an "it can't be done" is an answer too. At least I'm not left hanging.

Thank you for your attention to my question.