Can you add a hyperlink in a custom field descriptor?

[Raj Vora]

A few of our custom fields have a descriptor associated with it (placed underneath the field).  For example:

Field: POC

Descriptor: The point of contact for an issue.

In the Descriptor field, instead of explicitly referring to a web link (e.g. https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira) is there anyway we can include a hyperlink to make things a bit more aesthetically pleasing?

[Andy Heinzer · Accepted solution]

Yes.  The custom field description does allow you to use HTML and/or javascript.  In this case, you can use an HTML tag to create a link.  This is also documented in Creating Help for a Custom Field.  The example listed there would be to use something like this:

<a href="http://www.example.com/jirahelp/fieldhelp.html">get help</a>

[Emma McGahan]

You beauty!

[Laszlo Heredy]

Any chance there is a setting somewhere to auto-link URLs in custom fields?

[Andy Heinzer]

Just wanted to clarify a bit here.  Starting with Jira Server 8.7.0, we turned off HTML support for custom field descriptions by default.  This was shipped in JRASERVER-70859 : Disallow HTML in custom field descriptions and list item values by default.

That said though, it is still possible to enable this feature as explained in Configuring Jira application options.  We understand that many Jira server installations have been using this as a means to customize the layout of pages or make other changes.  So installations that have been using this feature and upgrade Jira to 8.7 or higher will continue to have this enabled by default.

However new installations of Jira will ship with this feature disabled by default.  But again, a system administrator can enable that feature if you wish.

That might help explain why some users try use this and are unsuccessful.

[Jose Luis Casarrubias]

Hello @Andy Heinzer 

Do you know if this feature is still avaiable for Jira Cloud?

Regards,

JLuis

[Andy Heinzer]

Hi @Jose Luis Casarrubias 

Jira Cloud does not allow for HTML to used in field descriptions.  We have noted this previously in some KBs such as HTML Code Appears in Description Fields.

That said, Jira Cloud today can allow you to use markup in custom field descriptions when you edit a custom field.  This can effectively still let you create links like so

So yes you can create links in field descriptions in Jira Cloud, but it's done a bit differently than was described by this original post 3 years ago in Jira Server.

[Jose Luis Casarrubias]

Hello @Andy Heinzer 

Sorry for late response.

Thank you for your feedback it has been really useful

Regards,

JLuis

[Markus Gyulai]

I've been using the field description with hyperlink for some time now. Thanks to this thread I was able to implement it.

But now I have a problem. In our FAQ, which the hyperlink leads to, we have a new structure and the link doesn't exist anymore or leads to nothing.

Unfortunately, I can't change the link. Any change is ineffective and the old link remains.

Does anyone have experience with this bug?

[Oleksandr Chalyi]

I mistakenly updated Description in Custom field - Edit (field) whereas it must be done on Field Configuration level since current custom field have been already created some time ago and was used by several projects.

[Laszlo Heredy]

Any chance there is an easy way to get custom text fields to automatically link URLs?

Hajrá Magyarok!