How not to let bulk change overwrite existing values fields (Component, affected version)

[Rahul Aich [Nagra]]

Hi All

Components and affect versions are multi select fields i.e. can hold more than one values in it.

Now if we are using bulk change feature to add a set of issues with a certain component we find that the old values in them gets overwritten.

e.. say Issue A has component X already in it. and i am bulk changing a set of issues which includes Issue A to add component Y to it. After bulk change i find that Issue A only has component Y andcomponent X is overwritten.

How can we prevent this?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

I'm afraid you can't at the moment.

I am sure there is an issue raised about this in Atlassian's Jira, but it's not in my bookmark list. Possibly because I'm pretty sure it was raised in Jira 2.x, if not earlier...

[Rahul Aich [Nagra]]

Thanks Nic. I guessed so. Is there any workaround to this that you may think of?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Script bulk changes externally is about the only thing I've done - a SOAP call to get the current values, work out what needs updating and perform an edit. (I'd use REST or the script-runner nowadays)

[Madwaraj RJ]

Hi Nic,

I notice Affects version field is not seen during bulk change. I'd need to do bulk update with different value for 'Affects version' filed.....is this not possible with JIRA->Bulk change option? Am using JIRA 7.3.4.

thanks for your reply.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

The original answer is out of date, you can now add values to some fields, rather than overwrite.

If a field is not on the list of things you can bulk-edit, then the most likely reason is that it is not on the "edit" screen.

[Madwaraj RJ]

yeah it is not on the edit screen. is there other way to have such fields also bulk-edited?

thanks

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

To be able to do something in bulk-edit, you have to be able to do it to the issues. 

You'll need to add the field to the screen before you can bulk-edit them.

[Madwaraj RJ]

Yes we will need to add the field required to be edited...is it possible to bring in new fields to the edit screen? If yes, will you help me with steps to achieve pls? Thx

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Go check the project that the issues live in.  Have a look at the project admin screen, where you'll find the "issue type screen scheme".  Work your way down into that, looking for the "edit" screens for the issue types you need to change.