new custom fields not displaying on preexisting issues

[Nannette Mori]

Jira version 8.6.1

When you add a new custom field to an Issue type - the existing issues do not inherit the new custom field.  I know for an issue you can click configure and check the box next to the field, however if you have 500 existing Issues that are not displaying the new custom fields how do you get the 500 existing Issues to display the new custom field?

The behavior I have seen is when I add a new custom field or add a new constraint I can only see the new custom field or constraint when I create a new Issue.  The existing issues do not automatically inherit the new custom fields or constraints.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Creating a new custom field does not populate data into that field for existing issues, it just tells the issues that they have a new field available.

I am sorry to have to ask, but the previous conversations have confused me as to what the symptoms of this are.

Can you tell me what happens when you edit an old issue?  Is the problem that you have to click "configure" and select the new field to get it to appear on the edit screen, or does it simply not appear on the screen at all?

[Flavien Gache]

Hi Nannette.

To be clear, when you say that you add a custom field to an issue type, do you mean on the screens linked to that issue type (edit/view, create) ?

If so, it is possible that when you view an old issue with the old configuration, you will not see the new field. I think Jira will not display it since it is empty.

If you edit the ticket however, you may be able to see the edited field in the view screen.

If you need to edit a new field for a lot of old issues, you can use the bulk edition option.

[Nannette Mori]

But the new custom fields display in a new Issue and there is no values in the new Issue?

[Niranjan]

Hi @Nannette Mori ,

Fields will not be displayed on issue view screen unless they have a value for it. Adding the field to the project and screen will allow you to see that on create screen, but you need to edit and provide values on existing issues.

If that is a select list field, do add  "Not Applicable" as a select list option and bulk edit issues to that value. This will let you to see the field on the view screen.

[John Funk]

Hi Nannette - so you added a constraint for an issue type to the new custom field?

And you added the field to the screen?

And you just can't see it because it has no value in it?

I don't use the server version, but do you have to click an Edit button to see fields with no values in them?