What's the easiest way to batch copy one field value into another (but not in a postfunction!)?

Question

I have some custom fields that are too similar and should be combined (for example PHONE and PHONE #.  (I will be speaking to people about governance. /;-])

I've been thinking I would add the field we are keeping to the screen with the field we aren't keeping, then use Batch Update to copy any values from the field-to-be-removed into the field that is staying.  But I can't do that, can I?  The batch update allows me to put in something hard-coded, or a selection, but not the value of another field, right?

I suppose I can add a temporary transition and postfunction to accomplish this - I just wondered if there was a simpler way?

Thanks for any help.

Paul O_qqk8km · Answer

If you are importing using the CSV importer then it will create new issues.

To update issues you need to use the external system import which allows both issue creation and issue update (but does require admin rights)

maksushka · Answer

Hi there, so this seem to work to import issues, but it actually creates a new issue instead of just replacing the value in existing due to not able to change Issue Id Field. Anyone else experienced the same and resolved?

Paul O_qqk8km · Answer

I’d remove the field you don’t want from any create or edit screen then create a filter which includes both phone number fields.  Export to csv, copy field values (from ‘wrong’ field to ‘right’ field) in excel and then import the results updating the ‘right’ field back into Jira.  (You can the delete the ‘wrong’ field in Jira).

This is pretty easy to do but you need to have site admin permission and obviously you should  test the import on one or two issues before running a large batch update