JIRA: Update issue with CSV

Question

Hello,

I'd like to update issues using CSV file. I'm using JIRA External importer (admin rights needed)

It's running fine to set or update value but I did not find the way to clear a value. For example, I'd like to clear assignee. When the column assignee is blank pr set to "", the assignee remains unchanged after import. I tried with null value but I got an error ( user unknown).

Do you know how to fill the CSV to unset a value?

Thank you.

Pierre Ibrahim · Answer

In bulk change, try ticking the Change developer field for example, but don't add a value in it, I believe that will clear out the value entirely.

Another option is if these issues share a workflow, you can add an any to all transition that would clear out that field, or all the fields you wish to clear out in one go, and just bulk transition those issues.

Hope that helps!

Abdelaziz · Answer

Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunately, assignee is not the only one. I have to do for other fields (developer for ex) and unassigned does not exist for this field.

Pierre Ibrahim · Answer

Hi @Abdelaziz

I don't believe it's possible to do that with the External System Import in JIRA, however you should be able to clear assignee using the bulk edit functionality within JIRA search.

Simply go to Search for issues, enter your JQL or use the simple search to find the issues you'd like to clear the assignee for, then on the top right, you'll see a cog icon that says Tools, then click on Bulk change, then edit issues, and tick change assignee, and set it to unassigned.

Follow the prompts and you'll have cleared your assignee field!

NB: In the same page as you choose what to bulk edit, all the way down you'll see a box that says something to the effect of "notify users of change", if you leave that ticked, any issue that gets updated will have an email go out to the users watching the issue, or depending on your notification scheme.