Jira Backlog not showing all Subtasks

Question

Hello,

when I go to the Backlog I can see that there are 47 issues (stories, tasks, subtasks) in the backlog.

But when I go to the issue search and query for issues with the Status = Backlog, then I can see 83 issues

After digging deeper I have the assumption that some subtasks are not shown in the backlog and some are shown. I can confirm that the backlog is not filtert anyhow and subtasks are generally visible in the backlog.

This is really bugging us, since we want to have an overview of all the open work in backlog.

Toni Ikar · Answer

For that query I also get more issues than in the backlog. I identified a few subtasks and the Fix Version field is empty.

I found one pattern though, all sub-tasks for which the parent Story isn't in Backlog/Review status and therefore isn't in the backlog also aren't visible despite being in the right status. Could it be that subtasks are only visible in the backlog, if the parent story is also in the backlog ?

Trudy Claspill · Answer

Can you compare the list of 91 from the JQL search to the 77 in the Backlog and identify the specific issues that are missing?

Once identified look at the Fix Versions field for those issues. Is it empty or does it have a value?

What do you get if you use this JQL?

project = ITB and (fixVersion in unreleasedVersions() OR fixVersion is EMPTY)

Toni Ikar · Answer

@Trudy P Claspill Here is a screenshot of my settings:

I found out that it's at least somehow related to the sub-tasks, I just can't find a pattern..

When filtering backlog to show all issue types except sub-tasks -> 48 issues
When JQL filtering for issue in status backlog and issue types except sub-tasks -> 48 issues

Doing the same but this time including sub-tasks, I get 77 issues in the backlog and 91 in JQL search... ? So somehow 14 sub-tasks are in status backlog, but not shown in the backlog