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CSV import with Epic as parent

j.begemann

I am unable to import epics as a parent via csv. I created a simple example by exporting a minimal set of issues to csv and trying to re-import them.

Issue Type;Issue key;Issue id;Summary;Parent
Epic;TESTTENS-90;16361;Epic 1;
Task;TESTTENS-91;16362;Task 1;16361
Sub-task;TESTTENS-92;16363;Sub-task 1;16362
Sub-task;TESTTENS-93;16364;Sub-task 2;16362

The import config:
2026-02-23 14_20_30-External System Import - Jira — Mozilla Firefox.png

the error message i get:



2026-02-23 13:20:54,128 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:54,128 INFO - Importing: Work Items
2026-02-23 13:20:54,128 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:54,128 INFO - Only new items will be imported
2026-02-23 13:20:54,285 INFO - Importing work item: [externalId='16361', summary='Epic 1']
2026-02-23 13:20:55,360 WARN - Cannot add value [ [TESTTENS-106] ] to CustomField Epic Link in Work item with summary 'Task 1'. Probably value was in incorrect format
2026-02-23 13:20:55,365 INFO - Importing work item: [externalId='16362', summary='Task 1']
2026-02-23 13:20:56,084 INFO - Importing work item: [externalId='16363', summary='Sub-task 1']
2026-02-23 13:20:56,825 INFO - Importing work item: [externalId='16364', summary='Sub-task 2']
2026-02-23 13:20:57,623 INFO - 4 work items successfully created
2026-02-23 13:20:57,623 INFO - 0 out of 4 work items successfully updated
2026-02-23 13:20:57,628 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:57,628 INFO - Finished Importing : Work Items
2026-02-23 13:20:57,628 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:57,697 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:57,697 INFO - Importing: Work item 
2026-02-23 13:20:57,697 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:57,697 INFO - Only new items will be imported
2026-02-23 13:20:57,706 INFO - Linking 'TESTTENS-108' and 'TESTTENS-107' as sub-task-link
2026-02-23 13:20:58,226 INFO - Created parent-child (sub-task) relationship between TESTTENS-108 and TESTTENS-107
2026-02-23 13:20:58,234 INFO - Linking 'TESTTENS-109' and 'TESTTENS-107' as sub-task-link
2026-02-23 13:20:58,696 INFO - Created parent-child (sub-task) relationship between TESTTENS-109 and TESTTENS-107
2026-02-23 13:20:58,702 INFO - ------------------------------
2026-02-23 13:20:58,702 INFO - Finished Importing : Work item 
2026-02-23 13:20:58,702 INFO - ------------------------------

importing multiple issues with parent links (Epic-Task-Subtask) was no problem and an quick task using jira server a few years back.. now i can not do it at all....

Accepted answers

All comments

Ugnius Aušra

Hello @j.begemann

"Epic link" was renamed to "Parent" and when uploading CSV for some users it worked for a while (I don't know if it's still working), but i suggest you to try.

j.begemann

no, "Epic link" does not work anymore (as of september 2025). The answers in the linked thread are all refereing to a date before september 25.

John Funk

Hi J,

I am confused by what you are trying to do. Are you just trying to update the Parent field with the Epic for a list of current work items?

Ugnius Aušra

Yes, you are right.

I would recommend, to check these documentations:

https://support.atlassian.com/jira/kb/keep-issue-parent-child-mapping-during-csv-import-to-jira-cloud/

https://support.atlassian.com/jira/kb/fix-epic-link-csv-import-format-errors-jira/

j.begemann

not sure whats confusing about the problem. The content of the csv is given in the thread. I am trying to import this exact CSV into an empty company manged project.

The parent link for Sub-task --> Task is created succesfully, the link for Task --> Epic is not.

John Funk

You don't need to have an attitude when trying to get help. We are users here just like you. And your last sentence is not easily derived from the data you provided.

Having said that, is your use case that you are wanting in a single CSV import to create an Epic and children under the Epic and sub-tasks under the Epic children?

Are you are wanting something else?

j.begemann

sorry, the response was not intended to be rude. I thought the initial posting has all relevant information.

Yes, the assumed use-case is correct.

single CSV import
create an Epic and children under the Epic
create sub-tasks under the Epic children

using this workflow on jira-server worked as intened (with the now deprecated fields "Epic link") in a single import.

Trudy P Claspill

Hello @j.begemann

While it did previously work to create Epics and their child issues within the same CSV file and also actually link the child issues to the Epic through the Parent field, that functionality broke at some point. There were some publicly visible issues recorded about this that I have listed in my response on this post:

https://community.atlassian.com/forums/Jira-questions/CSV-Import-is-not-linking-items-to-epics/qaq-p/3155548?

There is a suggested workaround in this issue:

https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-93760

j.begemann

yes, even using the exact same sample and steps from the links you provided does not work. Try it yourself, would be interesting if anybody can get this to work - if so, it must be an error on my side.

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