How do I bulk update the create date for already imported issue records?

[Mark K]

I have imported my old Help Desk records in full. All seemed fine until I checked the Created dates on individual issues in the project, which have all been set to dates in January 2021 somehow.

I don't want to delete the whole lot and start importing again, so is there any way that I can easily update the created date in bulk for all the imported issue records, without causing any major damage?

Please note, I'm a newcomer to this, so be gentle! :)

Thanks in advance

[Mark K · Accepted solution]

Quick update - I've found an answer!

[Abhishek Saxena]

Hey Mark, can you please help me with the solution. What worked for you?

Thanks. 

[Mark K]

Hi @Abhishek Saxena 

I used a .CSV import via External System Import. You do need Admin access to do this.

I exported a list of the records I wanted to update, including the Issue Key and Summary. I then constructed a .CSV import file that included:

• Issue Key
• Summary
• A column containing the data I wanted to update.

During the import process, map the Issue Key field from the .CSV file to the Jira Issue Key field. You'll see a message at the top of the screen advising you that this mapping option has been taken. Also map the Summary field to the Jira Summary field. 

Finally, map the data field(s) that you are importing to the Jira relevant field(s).

Once mapped, continue with the import in the usual way.

I did a test on a test project just to be sure that it worked.

Hope that helps!

[Abhishek Saxena]

Thanks @Mark K. I am doing the same steps, but after import all date fields are resetting to import time. So wondering if you can confirm if there is an option in the migration setup to carry forward the historical system dates e.g. Created/ Resolved date.

All other fields are imported successfully.

Thanks.

[Mark K]

Hi @Abhishek Saxena 

I found that mapping a date to the Jira 'Date Created' worked fine. Just be careful of the date formatting in the .CSV. That's what tripped me up on the initial conversion and lead me to having to update the entries.

I used Excel to format it, saved as file type CSV UTF-8.

Using Excel, I found I had to convert the overall Date column format to Short Date, then select the actual Date cells to import and apply custom formatting using dd/MMM/yy hh:mm

I didn't use a resolved date, as I'm not sure how we'll be using teh resolution options yet. I used 'Date Modified' to record it. 

Mark

[Abhishek Saxena]

Hey Mark, This works to some extent, it is now recognizing the created date field but not parsing it correctly. Some how month is setting to January always but day, year and time is good. Wondering what's happening :( 

Attaching the system date format screen. Is it same what you had on JIRA side and in excel?

Thanks.

[Mark K]

That's the issue I had. I didn't look at our main set up, I just dealt with the import.

I had to make sure that the formatting used in the .CSV file was also specified during the import process. For example, I used dd/MMM/yy hh:mm, so:

[Abhishek Saxena]

This works Mark. Thanks for direction. 

I noticed, it supports other formats as well. Only this we need to keep in mind that format for all three places "Excel - Import File" , "JIRA Settings" and in "Import Wizard while import" should be same. 

Sorry for replaying late.

Thanks!

[Siddhant Gupta]

@Mark K - How did you mapped the Issue Key from the CSV to the Jira Issue Key Field, its not appearing in the drop down for me to map.

[Mark K]

Sorry, Siddhant. Haven't done this again since the initial time I did it. From memory, the field was just available.