Quick filters on custom fields

[Inna S]

Dear community,

I'm coming from  a tool where a user can quickly add any field to form a filter. Built-in fields and custom fields. 

By default, the values in the fields are assumed to work with AND operator. Empty filters are ok too.

An advanced mode, available on the same page via a switch, allows to form more complex queries using AND, OR, NOT, Greater Than etc. operators. 
The user can also define which  fields to show in the results.

And the user can save the view, that is filter + columns + order of columns + sorting, as a personal or shared view.

I do not see the way to get similar experience in Jira Software.

The quick filter cannot be created with an empty value, that does not make sense. Consider this: filter by the Customer Name. None is going to manually add every new customer to the filter, right?

I found the workaround: use Search box on the Issues screen.

But this is not good enough:

I need an ability to filter by more than one custom field, link them with different operators and let users to control the layout of the results EASILY and dynamically. That is during the meeting and without having a Jira admin stand-by.

Any suggestions? 

[Walter Buggenhout _ACA IT_ · Accepted solution]

Hi @Inna S,

This is definitely an area where Jira can be improved. You can come pretty close to what you describe in the overall search.

Navigate to Filters > Advanced Search and set your screen to Basic Search. You will be able to select all kinds of fields and build dynamic search results:

By clicking + More you can add more fields and search on those too by simply selecting available options.

As you describe from your other tool, search results are combined with AND. If you need to build more complex searches and combine criteria with OR, you can do so by switching to JQL. That implies a certain learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, you can do some pretty flexible searches with it.

Hope this helps!  

[Bill Sheboy]

Hi @Inna S 

Yes, and...to Walter's suggestions:

As you note, you are working with a new tool (Jira) and so it will have different capabilities than what you previously used.  I recommend taking this free online training from Atlassian as it shows how to answer questions about issues using Jira Query Language, JQL: https://university.atlassian.com/student/path/849533-gain-project-insights-through-jql

Kind regards,
Bill

[Inna S]

Thank you, @Bill Sheboy and @Walter Buggenhout _ACA IT_ .

I'll definitely have to invest into learning the advanced JQL now.

Honestly, I do not understand how people cope with this. Our developers are not paid to master JQL, they are hired to design, code and manage the product we sell.

The whole Jira UI and UX look horrible. I understand the Cloud version is new and Jira Server was different, so this is something new. But how do you people think this is ok a product?

[Walter Buggenhout _ACA IT_]

On a positive note: for developers this is not a steep learning curve usually. Most of them even like the flexibility they have by typing in their search queries. JQL is very similar to other search languages like SQL - the hardest part is usually to familiarise oneself with the available fields in Jira. But switching between basic and advanced mode is very helpful to master that quickly.

[Inna S]

I'm sure we will manage, eventually. But the amount of waste that will go into this beats me every time I'm faced with yet another "Jira way" of doing the basics.

:(

[John Funk]

Hi @Inna S  - I am going to mark this answer from Walter as Accepted. Pleas let us know if you need additional assistance.