Update NULL customfields via REST API (jira-ruby)

[Tom Allison]

I'm specifically working with Ruby jira-ruby but I'm having trouble even finding examples in the Atlassian Tutorial on how to do this -- which makes me suspicious.

I create an issue and some custom fields are NULL and others are populated.

For those custom fields that are populated, I can update those fields through the API. Actually I can do this a number of ways with different libraries.

For those custom fields that are NULL I haven't been able to update those fields through the REST API.

Is there a different structure to the JSON for adding a customfield? I'm just trying to update a custom field of "First Name" from NULL to "Tom". it's a simply string, not a drop down or select list. And I'm stuck.

[Tom Allison]

The issue isn't trying to fill in a NULL field.

The issue is that you have to have a valid issue before you can do this.

I was trying to edit one field, but there were several required fields that weren't popluated. This failed screen validation. this happens when you create a ticket from email.