Have "Issue Links" appear in the Kanban issue sidebar even when empty (no issues linked)

[France T]

Hi,

I'm using Atlassian Jira Project Management Software (v8.3.4#803005), Project Type = Software, using JIRA server (please no Cloud answers, thank you) and my permissions are "Extended project administration". 

On the Kanban Board, we use the issue sidebar a lot (we love that feature!) but "Issue Links" doesn't appear in the column list unless an issue has been linked (see attached screenshot). 

When we're using the issue sidebar, we'd like the Issue Links field to appear so that it's available for use even if there aren't any issues linked because it's easy to add/update information using the sidebar.  To link an issue, we have to go to More Options > Link (see attached screenshot).   

Question: how can we get "Issue Links" to appear in the issue sidebar even when the link field is empty, i.e., when there are no issues linked?

We're using "Kanban Issue Type Scheme" and I've checked Project Settings > Issue Types.  All issue types use "Kanban Default Issue Screen" and when I click on the screen link, "View issue screen" comes up with "Linked Issues" appearing in the field list.  

On the Kanban board, Board > Configure > Issue Detail View, "Linked Issues" appears in the list.

Many thanks,
Frances

Using More Options > Link to link issues:

Issue Links field only appears when there are issues linked:

[Hernan Halabi - Elite IT Consulting Group · Accepted solution]

I'm afraid you won't be able to change that. I would suggest you take advantage of the keyboard shortcuts to make it less tedious. While seeing the ticket press the period button on your keyboard and start typing link. It should suggest you to link issues and you know the rest.

[France T]

Thank you Hernan.  JIRA is so flexible with what's displayed, I was hoping this was one of them.