JQL filter for Stories without Subtasks? (without plugin)

[Mike Shkolnik]

I know this has been asked before but the threads are old and the solutions do not appear to work with current Jira. My goal is simple - I need a JQL filter that shows all the plan items (Stories, Bugs, and Chores) that do not have any Subtasks. JIRA version is 6.4.3 with JIRA Agile 6.7.2. I am not permitted to install any plugins (such as "JQL Tricks").

In theory " hasSubtasks()" has been native in JIRA for some time, but does not appear to work. Perhaps I am using it wrong? I tried "issue not in hasSubtasks()" as well as "not (issue in hasSubtasks())" and I still get issues with subtasks. Weird thing is "issue not in hasSubtasks()" shows items that have subtasks while "issue in hasSubtasks()" shows nothing. Not one single item. And I know I have some issues with subtasks because they show when I add "not" :smile:. Here is the full filter I am experimenting with:

issuetype in (story, chore, bug) AND Sprint in openSprints() AND status != Closed AND issue not in hasSubtasks()

[Nicolas_Bourdages · Accepted solution]

hasSubtask() is not native to JIRA. This is the list of native 6.4 functions. It's available in Scriptrunner with this notation:

issueFunction in hasSubtasks() 

Perhaps you have a different plugin? http://www.j-tricks.com/jqlt-subtask-functions.html has a "hasSubtasks()" function with the notation you describe.

[Mike Shkolnik]

That did it! "issueFunction not in hasSubtasks()" is the correct answer. Not sure what "issue not in hasSubtasks()" was doing. Thank you very much!

[Amit Namdhari]

Solution without a plugin.

Use below query as a Quick Filter from the Board Configuration.

issueFunction not in hasSubtasks() AND issuetype != Sub-task

It will sort out every story, which has No or Zero sub-tasks.

[Mike Shkolnik]

That solution requires the ScriptRunner plugin. Basically $1000 per month just for me to use JQL extensions... That's not going to happen at the current job. Two years ago when I posted this question I apparently wasn't aware we were using ScriptRunner at the old job.

[LarryBrock]

Hi @Mike Shkolnik,

Would a no-cost add-on be acceptable?  Not sure if there is one but thought I'd clarify before I want digging.

~~Larry Brock

[Prasun_Kumar]

Thanks, this worked wonders !

[Reg Hawkins]

project = <project name> AND Sprint = <Sprint Name> AND issuetype in subtaskIssueTypes()

[Rafael García]

That will select the subtasks not the issues with no subtask...

[Nam_Nguyen_Phuong]

Then you can use the JQL:

project = <project name> AND issuetype in (Story, Task) AND issuetype not in subTaskIssueTypes()

Thank you Reg Hawkins

[Rafael García]

That will select the stories with or without subtasks not the issues with no subtask...

[Charlie Demsky]

I've asked support to open a feature request for this to be added as a native function:

https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-67108

[gowri goli]

In latest Jira instance I can select Sub-Tasks as a column in the query. is this what you are looking for? AND Subtask IS EMPTY?

[Arjen Breur]

Subtask does not exist:

Subtask IS EMPTY

-> Field 'Subtask' does not exist or you do not have permission to view it.

Subtasks does, but is not searchable:

Subtasks IS EMPTY

-> Field 'Subtasks' is not searchable, it is only sortable.