How to fully export Jira board and data to another company

[Ray Bartlett]

I have been working with an app development company (call it Z) that I have had to cut ties with.  Z had its own internal Jira bug tracking set up and now that we are severing relations, I need to migrate that in its entirety to my own account so that the bugs, images, Kanban board, etc., is not simply lost.  They have agreed to export into CSV format but I want to ensure that as much of the data is retained as possible.  Will CSV retain images, for example?  Most of the bugs have images attached that show what the issue is, losing this will be very damaging.

Is there a native file format that I can tell them to export to, which I can then import into my own account?  Barring a native export option, what settings and parameters should I make sure they use so that a full and complete export is done?  (I should say that the separation is less than amicable, unfortunately, so I envision them saying, "We sent it to you, there!" and I open the CSV to find that it's all but unusable.  By specifying this clearly in the separation agreement I want to head problems off before they start.)

Thank you for the help.  Unfortunately this is tied to a legal document that needs to be sent asap, so any assistance that's asap would be very appreciated.

[Michael Yaroshefsky - Visor for Jira]

Hey @Ray Bartlett welcome to the Atlassian Community, and sorry to hear about this difficult situation you're in - sounds stressful!

Images will not be retained in the native, standard Jira CSV export, so it sounds like you'll need to find another solution, or something in addition to the CSV export that will allow you to tie everything back together.

Also be aware that you can only export up 1000 issues at a time to CSV. This might not be an issue for you, but I just want to make sure you're aware in case it would be!

Do you have access to the instance or have you been locked out? Would you perhaps be able to use a migration plugin or something like Coupler.io? It sounds like a long shot given your comments on the nature of the relationship.

Failing that, would they be willing to provide you with an XML based backup of the Jira instance instead of a CSV? 

[Ray Bartlett]

Thank you so much, @Michael Yaroshefsky - Visor for Jira , this reply is hugely helpful though disappointing as so much was contained in those images.  It's going to be a painful transition.  I've been locked out of the account, so I can't tell if it's 1000 or more, but hopefully fewer, and if it's more, perhaps they can be filtered and exported in batches until everything's all set? 

Yes, unfortunately the relationship is sour to say the least, so I doubt I can use a 3rd party but I'll look into Coupler.io. 

Can you explain more about the benefits of getting a XML backup?  Is that relatively straightforward?  Will it include images that way?  Or is it just more robust and able to include more than 1000 tickets?

[Michael Yaroshefsky - Visor for Jira]

Happy to help @Ray Bartlett

An XML backup can be configured to include attachments (just by changing the export settings in backup manager). It can also include comments, issue link types, and preserves the hierarchies of the Jira issues (subtasks below issues for example).

CSV exports are usually used to import into other systems, or to do some excel analysis, whereas XML exports are designed to be used as backups (in lieu of proper Jira backup tools) that can be reimported to Jira to restore an instance. 

Yes, if it has to be a CSV then they could use filters to reduce the issue count, or do multiple batches of exports. 

I think the best thing to do would be to talk to the company (Z) informally and explain that:

1. You need the images attached to issues
2. You understand this won't be possible using a CSV
3. If they have a solution already in their Jira instance they can use to give you what you need

Based on what you've said I'm not sure if that's possible, but my thinking is they may already have a backup tool, migration tool, or something else in their Jira instance that they can use to give you the Jira issues you need with attachments and any other required details. 

[Ray Bartlett]

Great, thank you so much for the info.  I'll check with them and see what transpires.  This has been VERY helpful.  :-)

[Michael Yaroshefsky - Visor for Jira]

Best of luck!