Is there a way to make the text displayed for a custom field differ from the field name?

[Logan G Hawkes]

I've been asked to create a new custom field with the name "Did you check the code for similar cases?". Obviously, that's a lousy name for a field. Is there a way to make the name of the custom field something shorter ("codeChecked") but display the longer string on the various screens?

[GilesG · Accepted solution]

Hi BryonOrpheus,

Not that I'm aware of. Have you considered naming the custom field something short like "Code Checked" and be more explicit in that field's description (i.e. the bit of text appearing underneath the field's option on the form/screen itself) by specifying it as "Did you check the code for similar cases?". This might make your custom field look tidier on the form too.

Are you also aware that you can create a single custom field in JIRA and make that field's description differ according to the project that custom field is used in. The procedure described in this answer explains how to do this (and it should also explain how to add a description to your custom field).

Cheers,

Giles.

[JamieA]

You could change it via javascript on the edit/view screens... but the js you use depends on whether it's a checkbox/radio or some other type. Let us know and I could give you an example.

You need to know the custom field ID which you can get from the url when you are editing the custom field. Then in the description you might paste in:

<script type="text/javascript">

AJS.$(function () {

AJS.$("label[for='customfield_10011']").empty().append("Have you checked this code?");

});

</script>

(code box doesn't seem to work when editing an answer).

[Logan G Hawkes]

In this case, the field was a Select List. I ended up taking Giles' advice, but your Javascript idea intrigues me. Could I see the example?

I wasn't aware that a checkbox was an option. I've used radio buttons but I don't see checkboxes in the list of custom fields (I'm using Jira 4.2.2). Is that a new feature?

[JamieA]

I modified my answer to give an example. That will only change it on edit screens.

Checkboxes have been around for a long time, the field type is called Multi Checkboxes.