Exclude issues with label X, but only when it's the only label

Question

I want to run a search that excludes issues with label X but only where that's the only label. This means I want the search result to include issues with label X but only if there are also other labels attached to those issues.

Example:

Issue 1 has labels X, Y and C

Issue 2 has labels Y and C

Issue 3 has label X

I want my search result to include Issues 1 and 2 but exclude 3.

Note that using labels != X seems to exclude Issues 1 and 3, but I want Issue 1 to be included.

Thanks in advance.

John Funk · Answer

You might post the question to this thread (or even a link back here):

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-articles/Becoming-a-JIRA-Search-Ninja-History-searches-in-JIRA/ba-p/461943#U793004

Someone might respond there - but it's beyond me.  :-(

Adam Reece_vafdy2 · Answer

Thanks John. Yes, I had considered that. All the labels are channels except label X, so my problem is really with how I've approached this. I was hoping a search string that did as I explained might be my get-out-of-jail-free card. I think I'll have to find another approach.

John Funk · Answer

Hi Adam - Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

I am not sure how you would do that other than if you check for every other value that might be in Issue 1. If there are a lot of label possibilities, you are probably out of luck. At least for my knowledge.