Can you use JQL on a User Picker (multiple users) custom field to query by number?

[Michael Novotny]

I have a custom field in JIRA of type "User Picker (multiple users)". Let's call it Approvers. 

I'd like to write some JQL like "Approvers" > 3, but JIRA is unhappy about that saying "The operator '>' is not supported by the 'Approvers' field.".

Is this even possible?

Thanks!

[Nic Brough [Adaptavist]]

That's because "approvers" is a list of users.  The question you're asking if translated into plain English is "Are Dave, Alice and Bob greater than three?".  Which is not a valid question.

You will need to set up a sensible question - either create a JQL function that will count up the number when given a field name, or a custom scripted field that can add it up.  Either way, you'll need an add-on of some sort to provide the code to do this.

[Michael Novotny]

In case others run into the same problem, I wound up using automation to solve my problem.

Specifically, I wound up creating a hidden number field, that when the "User Picker (multiple users)" field was updated, it would use issue.field.customfield_1234.size to update the count of the hidden number field.