How to query multi line text fields with an empty string as their value

[Ralf Fahney]

Hi to all,

my filter 

project = PRJ AND "Multi Line Text Field" is EMPTY

shows issues that never had a value in the "Multi Line Text Field".

Once an issue had a value in the "Multi Line Text Field" but this value was removed completely, then the filter doesn't show this issue any more.

My assumption is that JIRA distinguishes between "Field has no value at all" and "Field has an empty string as its value". In the user interface, both cases are displayed similar. I can't distinguish them in the user interface.

So my question is:

How can I query those issues where the "Multi Line Text Field" has a value but this value is an empty string?

Thanks in advance & Kind regards

Ralf

[Italo Qualisoni [e-Core]]

Probably you are having this issue https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-67435

[Ralf Fahney]

Hi @Italo Qualisoni [e-Core] ,

thanks for your suggestion which I also found prior to asking my question. However, according to my current understanding https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-67435 doesn't address my issue. 

• I can query issues having no value at all
• But I can't query issues that have a value (is EMPTY doesn't return them) where this value is an empty string (neither '=' nor '~' operators compare to an empty string)

Cheers

Ralf

[Kristján Geir Mathiesen]

Hi @Ralf Fahney 

You might want to try "is null":

project = PRJ AND "Multi Line Text Field" is null

HTH,
KGM

[Ralf Fahney]

Hi @Kristján Geir Mathiesen

thanks for your suggestion which unfortunately still doesn't query the issues having an empty string as their value

• There is a value so neither "is EMPTY" nor "is null" queries them
• However this value is an empty string so I can't query it by the '=' or '~' operators

Cheers

Ralf

[Kristján Geir Mathiesen]

Ah dang it! Too bad that didn't work out. To be honest, these null or empty text searches often seem a bit shaky to me, personally. I mean, since we are not looking for a specific value, the results don't always seem like they should be. But I don't have scientific proof of that :) Just feel better when searching for a specific value in the db.

Speaking of db, have you looked at the values in that cf in the db and compared? From issues that the JQL returns vs. those the JQL should have returned.

Sorry I couldn't help. Please post your answer, when you find it, on here so the rest of us can learn :)

KGM

[Ralf Fahney]

Hi @Kristján Geir Mathiesen,

we're working in the Atlassian Cloud. I don't have DB access ;)

And yes, should I find the answer, I'll post it

Cheers

Ralf